Chapter 27: It’s Time to Keep an Old Promise

We got on the carriage.

Jin Cheong-un, who had used the workers of the Daeheung Inn to load the coffin containing Shin Pil-ju’s body onto the back of the carriage, sat in the driver’s seat. The Mad Guest was puzzled when he, who had an inconvenient hand, said he would drive the carriage. However, after a while, he looked convinced after confirming his skillful handling.

In fact, the Mad Guest had no room to pay attention to Jin Cheong-un. After hearing the result of the duel with the Sword Emperor’s Son, he was excited like a vampire bat that had smelled blood and chattered ceaselessly. I learned for the first time that he was a man who talked as much as the Eccentric Immortal.

The Mad Guest also showed great interest when he learned that I had met the Sword King. He said he had never met any of the Ten Kings. Then, when I frankly shared my impression of the Sword King, he suddenly became sullen.

Strangely, I was relieved by that reaction. The Mad Guest was a brave man who did not shy away from a conflict with the five great families. However, the Ten Kings were beings on a different level. If he tried to face them without regard for his own safety, his end was as clear as day.

A disposition that is strong against the strong sounds cool, but it was a shortcut to a dog’s death. My father, who had spent half his life on the battlefield where survival was the highest virtue, devalued that kind of person. He had told me several times that fighting when it was obvious you would lose, unless it was a special situation such as having to save a ‘true comrade’ in a critical situation or having no choice but to choose annihilation, was not courage but recklessness, and that when I encountered an opponent I couldn’t handle, I should either prostrate myself or run away unconditionally.

As I grew older, the areas where my opinion did not agree with my father’s increased, but as far as this matter was concerned, I basically agreed with my father’s teachings. Wouldn’t I have to survive first to plan for the future?

But it was not as simple as it sounded.

For example, when I met the Sword King, I couldn’t apply that principle. No matter how thoroughly I lowered my posture and acted servile, it would have been a meaningless humiliation if he had had the intention to harm me. Fleeing was also impossible. In short, I couldn’t escape the crisis just by handling it well. My life and death were entirely in the hands of a monster I couldn’t possibly handle.

I didn’t want to be in that situation again. To do that, I had to become stronger. Much stronger than now. As soon as possible.

Clenching my fists, I resolved to achieve the goal I had set for myself, no matter what.

Less than a quarter of an hour after leaving the Daeheung Inn, the Mad Guest, saying that the inside of the carriage was stuffy, opened the window while it was running and went outside. The startled Jin Cheong-un hurriedly stopped the horses. However, at the Mad Guest’s words that he would follow by lightness skill, so just go, he pulled the reins again.

As the Mad Guest, who had been spouting rambling words, left, and I was left alone with Jin So-wol, I felt both awkward and satisfied. Glancing at her cheeks, which were shining white in the cool moonlight, I spat out the words that had been stuck in my throat for half a watch.

“You’ve suffered a lot because of me, Miss Jin.”

A characteristic bitter smile appeared on Jin So-wol’s pink lips.

“It’s not Young Master Jeon’s fault. So don’t worry about it.”

Although I wanted to add some more words of comfort, I couldn’t find the right words and changed the subject.

“How do you think they will come out?”

As if she had thought about it beforehand, Jin So-wol answered immediately.

“They will probably test the waters.”

“What do you mean?”

“There is a high probability that the Hyeon family will call Young Master Jeon to Boseong soon. With the condition that you come alone.”

“Are you saying they will try to separate me and the Mad Guest?”

“Yes. And they will decide their next move depending on Young Master Jeon’s response. If Young Master Jeon goes to Boseong alone as they demand…”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have no intention of doing that.”

“I also hope that Young Master Jeon will not do that.”

“Is there any possibility that they will compromise at a suitable point and let it go?”

Jin So-wol bit her lip slightly. It was a sign that a negative answer would come.

“Unfortunately, it’s extremely unlikely.”

“Why is that? Although he was hale and hearty for his age, wasn’t that old man of an age where he didn’t have long to live? I don’t think I caused a great loss to the Hyeon family by sending him to the King of Hell a little early. And anyway, that old man wasn’t a blood relative of the Hyeon family, was he? I don’t think they would risk being at odds with the Mad Guest and try to punish me. Just like the Gwangyang Seong family did in the past.”

“In a normal case, there is a high probability that things will go as Young Master Jeon expects. But this time, there is a major variable that will make it deviate from the norm.”

“What is it?”

After a moment’s pause, Jin So-wol gave an unexpected answer.

“It’s Lady Buyong.”

The carriage barely reached the villa just before dawn.

Before the sunlight spread across the land, Jin So-wol hurriedly entered the tiled house. As she went down to the underground stone chamber for rest and sleep, I also entered meditation. The Mad Guest volunteered to be my guard. Since I trusted him completely, I was able to concentrate on healing my internal injuries with peace of mind.

When I opened my eyes after finishing my meditation, a sudden curse hit my ears.

“Hey, you rotten brat! Why didn’t you tell me you had defeated the wart of the Taegeuk Sword Sect? The whole world is talking about you, but I, who was involved from the beginning, was the only one who didn’t know, wasn’t I? Were you trying to make a fool of me?”

I also returned the curse with a curse.

“Ah, damn it. I just finished my breathing exercises, and the effect has all gone away. By the way, when did you come?”

“Don’t change the subject, you brat. No, since we’re on the subject, I have to say it. Why did you only call him and leave me out? Are you discriminating against people?”

“Weren’t you far away, old man? Time was short…”

“Where are you spouting such red lies, you brat. Who do you think doesn’t know? The hour of the rat on the Double Tenth Festival was more than enough time for you to stop by Baekjung and take me to Sinchang. But you sent that man-like woman, wait, talking about it makes me even more angry. If that woman had come to me first instead of going to him…”

“Is Juwon closer from here, or is Baekjung closer? Isn’t it natural to stop by the closer place first?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, you brat. So wasn’t it enough for you to send that woman to him and for you to come to Baekjung where I was?”

“I had to control the internal injuries I had suffered in the duel with the Sword Emperor’s Son. To get to Sinchang within the time limit via Baekjung, I would have had to use my lightness skill for two whole days, and I couldn’t jump into a dangerous place where I didn’t know what kind of enemies were lurking with that body, could I? Can’t you even understand that?”

“…”

The argument was my victory. I opened a way out for the Eccentric Immortal, who was panting, unable to find a rebuttal.

“Still, I’m glad you’re here, old man.”

As if his anger had not yet subsided, the Eccentric Immortal showed his lingering feelings.

“You cunning brat. I know what you’re saying, but don’t even dream of it, you brat. Do you think I’ll be your shield? You buttoned the first button wrong, so you have to take responsibility yourself. If you had called me to that place, you wouldn’t have had to worry about the aftermath. Why did you break that old man’s neck, you brat? You should have just broken his arm like you did to the wart. There’s a time and place to get angry…”

“Ah, that’s enough. What’s the use of talking about it now? If you don’t feel like being on my side…” “Well, look at you. Are you going to act all brave now? Do you think you and him alone can handle the beasts of the Hyeon family? Not even a half-penny’s worth, you brat.” The Mad Guest, who had been listening silently to the argument between me and the Eccentric Immortal, intervened.

“If you’re not going to join us, just go, Eccentric Immortal. The benefactor and I…”

“You shut up, Tae-san. You only know how to charge forward without looking left or right, and you don’t know how to use your head at all. It won’t do any good if you interfere…”

“Don’t insult me.”

“Insult? If you can’t even accept this much of a bitter word, where are you… with such a narrow mind…”

“Narrow-minded? Who’s talking? Put your hand on your chest and think, Eccentric Immortal. Who is the really narrow-minded person?”

“Are you trying to have a go at me right now, Tae-san?”

“I don’t see why not.”

A sigh escaped me automatically. In the eyes of those who didn’t know the situation, it would look like a touch-and-go situation, but in reality, neither of the two old men had any intention of exchanging blows. It was an unavoidable self-restraint on their part, as it would lead to a life-and-death battle if they started.

I, who had been ignoring the blatant gazes of the old men who wanted me to stop them, changed my mind.

“Please yield to me this time, sir.”

Although I was talking to the Mad Guest, the Eccentric Immortal took my words.

“What do you mean, you brat?”

I turned my eyes to the Eccentric Immortal.

“It’s time to keep an old promise, old man.”

A beautiful sunset fell.

Coming out of the tiled house, I realized that I had been in meditation for half a day. And I also finally realized that the Eccentric Immortal had dropped Kang Tae-su off at Baekjung and had come to the villa alone. Since the difference in lightness skill speed between the Eccentric Immortal and Kang Tae-su was considerable, Kang Tae-su would arrive at the villa late at night.

I was a little at a loss. The villa courtyard was too small to have a duel with the Eccentric Immortal. The surrounding bushes, which served as a fence, would surely be burned to a crisp by the Eccentric Immortal’s flame palm.

Having no choice, I asked the Mad Guest to guard Jin So-wol, who was in the underground stone chamber of the tiled house. Although he had a look of desire to watch my duel with the Eccentric Immortal on his face, the Mad Guest reluctantly accepted when I asked him again.

The Eccentric Immortal and I, who had left the villa, wandered around and looked for a suitable place. About ten li west of the villa, there was a swamp that was untouched by human feet. We stood at the edge of the swamp, keeping our distance.

As I took out my jade flute and iron staff, the Eccentric Immortal wiggled his abnormally long index finger.

“Let’s see you work your magic, you brat.”

I, who had infused my iron staff and jade flute with the primal energy drawn from my bones, rushed at the Eccentric Immortal. The Eccentric Immortal, not allowing my approach, sent a thunderbolt of fire.

The development of the second battle was quite different from the first. It was because we knew each other’s martial arts and martial power well, so we skipped the probing battle and poured out our full strength from the beginning.

Although I had mobilized a primal energy close to the maximum, I did not gain an advantage in terms of internal energy. In fact, I was at a slight disadvantage. It was as I had expected. Even at the maximum, it would be difficult to surpass the Eccentric Immortal’s immortal power. I had confirmed the size of his immortal power at Bulhoegok about twenty days ago.

I was not disappointed. The primal energy of my mother that resided in my bones was like a growing tree. Although it had passed the seedling stage, it was still far from growing into a large tree. Although I didn’t know the exact time, I predicted that it would achieve full growth in about five or six years. That was why I had set a five-year deadline to ascend to the throne of the martial world’s supreme ruler when I left the secluded valley.

I was curious. Could I rival the Sword King when my primal energy was complete? If my martial arts also became more profound along with the increase in my primal energy, it didn’t seem impossible. In fact, the latter was a more important task than the former. It was because as one’s martial prowess increased, the depth of one’s martial arts, rather than one’s internal energy, determined the difference.

Recalling my goal for the distant future, I, who had been distracted for a moment, decided to focus on the battle at hand. Although he acted like a child, the Eccentric Immortal was the real deal when it came to martial power. He was a strong man whose victory I could not guarantee even if I used my full strength. That’s why I wanted to beat him. A victory won against a formidable opponent would make me take a step forward.

[End of Chapter]