Chapter 524: The Female Martial Artists Sent a Dish

TL: FoodieMonster007

Hwi, who was driving the carriage, looked toward the sky where dark clouds were gathering, threatening to pour down rain at any moment.

"We'll stop in a village today."

Hwi steered them from their original path, heading for a nearby village.

Geom Mugeuk leaned out of the carriage window and spoke. "I hope there's a beautiful Young Lady in this village who will capture the heart of our Sanzu Hall Director."

At his words, Seo Daeryong, who sat in the driver's seat, felt his face turn red. He didn't back down, of course.

"I'll recite a poem for that lady!"

Just then, the sound of thunder rumbled from a distance.

RUMBLE!

Seo Daeryong flinched.

Of all the times for thunder to strike!

As he looked dejected, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's voice came from inside the carriage.

"Looks aren't everything. A man is his heart!"

Seo Daeryong's expression brightened at the encouraging words for his disciple.

"Yes! Master! A man is his heart!"

He honestly would have asked Hwi if he were just a little closer. Martial artist Hwi, which side are you on? It's the heart, right? Right?

Feeling his excitement on the wind, Geom Mugeuk, still leaning out, laughed to himself. What woman wouldn't like Seo Daeryong once she got to know the kind of person he was?

The road widened as their carriage entered the marketplace.

An old herbalist set up an awning to prepare for the rain, situated next to a fruit merchant who was haggling with a customer over a single extra apple.

The owner of a dumpling stall gestured for Hwi and Seo Daeryong to try some, while a clerk from a wooden carving shop gathered the silk that was displayed outside. Children ran about, surrounded by the bustling sounds and delicious smells.

Geom Woojin silently observed the scene unfolding outside his window.

If the first purpose of this journey was to create memories with his father, the second was this very moment. He wished for his father to see every corner of the Central Plains with his own eyes.

Father, if a war breaks out, we will only focus on where, how, and how many of our Cult's martial artists are killing and being killed. But in the meantime, that merchant over there will die, and those children will die too. Their numbers will not be caught in our statistics.

That was the reason. While the memory of tilling a field together was good, it was also why it was precious for his father to leave a bank draft for the old couple's grandchild's wedding. Every moment of this trip was not just for fun, but also a moment of confrontation with his father.

The carriage stopped at the largest inn in the village.

Hwi booked all six rooms on the second floor and instructed the owner to prevent any other guests or waiters from coming up.

They all decided to unpack first, get some proper rest, and eat later, so each went to their respective rooms.

Whenever Geom Mugeuk had time to himself, he would unconditionally enter the space of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique to train with the Heavenly Space Secret Art.

But today, he just sprawled out on the bed.

Sometimes, when he was too engrossed in training, he felt as if he were being consumed by martial arts. He knew that's exactly how he would feel if he trained on a day like today. Let's rest. Let's rest well today.

Lying on the bed, he stared blankly at the dark clouds outside the window and eventually dozed off.

He wasn't sure how long he had slept.

SHWAAAAAAAAA.

The sound of pouring rain woke him. He thought that waking up to the sound of rain was surprisingly pleasant.

He then suddenly recalled that he had hated the rain before his regression. When it poured while he was out alone gathering materials for the grand technique, his loneliness and melancholy would only deepen.

But now, he liked the rain.

This leisure of just rolling around on the bed while listening to the rain. He didn't envy anyone in the world.

That feeling lasted only for a moment. Perhaps because he had only ever lived a life of running and fighting, his body grew restless, and he could no longer lie still.

He rose from the bed and left his room.

Standing before Seo Daeryong's room across the hall, he checked for any presence inside. He wondered if he was asleep, but he was awake.

"What are you doing? Can I come in?"

"Yes, please come in."

When Geom Mugeuk opened the door and entered, he found Seo Daeryong reading a book. It was the poetry collection the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had bought for him.

"Is it interesting?"

"To be honest, it's not that interesting… but as I read, there are passages that make me sink into thought without my realizing it."

Perhaps because he knew Seo Daeryong was a smart person who studied hard, the sight of him reading a poetry collection suited him quite well.

"It's raining. Shall we have a drink?"

At Geom Mugeuk's words, Seo Daeryong closed his book as if he had been waiting for them.

"Sounds great."

They left the room, passing his father's, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's, and Hwi's rooms.

When Geom Mugeuk playfully pretended to stop, Seo Daeryong whispered from behind as if he knew what was coming.

"You can't!"

A drinking session with his father and the Blade Demon? It was obvious how difficult that would be for the guy.

When they went down to the first floor, a dozen or so guests were scattered about, eating and drinking.

Geom Mugeuk and Seo Daeryong chose a spot with a good view of the outside and ordered drinks and side dishes.

The rain was pouring down refreshingly.

Outside, passersby in straw raincoats and hats ran by, and in the distance, people took shelter from the rain under the eaves. It was a comforting scene just to watch.

Small bamboo trees planted beside the building across from the inn swayed in the rainwater, and ripples spread ceaselessly in the puddles.

In the meantime, their drinks and food arrived.

"Have a drink, Young Cult Leader."

Seo Daeryong politely poured him a drink. After receiving it, Geom Mugeuk filled Seo Daeryong's cup as well.

"It's been a while since the two of us had a drink like this."

"I've been looking forward to this."

Because no matter what anyone said, he was someone who missed Geom Mugeuk and wanted to be with him.

The two of them coolly emptied their first cups.

After refilling their cups, they silently watched the falling rain. Listening to the sound of the rain, they didn't need any side dishes.

"The smell of rain is nice."

At Geom Mugeuk's words, Seo Daeryong flared his nostrils.

"Does rain have a smell?"

"It does."

"Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever consciously tried to smell the rain."

There are things you can never see if you don't pay attention, and smells you can never detect if you aren't conscious of them.

"It's nice. This smell of rain today."

Hearing Geom Mugeuk, Seo Daeryong inhaled through his nose, trying to catch the scent.

They had a drink while listening to the rain. They had another while talking about the past.

They continued drinking like that, pouring for each other.

"When did you learn to fish?"

To have beaten the Cult Leader three times, it had to be skill. Young Cult Leader, is there anything you can't do?

"You're pretty good at fishing yourself, aren't you?"

"I was just lucky."

But as if he had been waiting for just those words, Seo Daeryong's eyes sparkled. He looked around and lowered his voice.

"I can't forget the feel of it."

He clenched and unclenched his hands, pulling and pushing his arms. He couldn't hide his excitement as he mimicked the act of fishing.

"Who would have thought I'd beat the Cult Leader and Master at fishing? I'm only telling you this, Young Cult Leader. You absolutely can't mention this anywhere else. Even if we compete again, I'm confident I can beat the Cult Leader and Master when it comes to fishing. Master said it was beginner's luck, but who knows? Maybe I was born with a talent for fishing."

Geom Mugeuk laughed and asked, "That feeling, how does it compare to when you first unleashed the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique?"

Seo Daeryong thought for a moment.

"No matter what, it can't compare to the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique."

Just then, Seo Daeryong saw it. Geom Mugeuk's gaze was directed behind him.

Startled, Seo Daeryong's voice became as small as a crawling ant.

"It's not him, is it? Please tell me it's not."

Then, a cold voice came from behind him.

"You seemed to be thinking quite deeply about which 'feel' you prefer."

At the sound of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's voice, Seo Daeryong shot up from his seat.

"Yikes, that's not it, Master."

When he turned around, it wasn't just his master. Geom Woojin was also standing side-by-side with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Surely he didn't hear me say I could beat the Cult Leader at fishing, right?

"If the 'feel' is that good, you should put down your blade and pick up a fishing rod."

"That's not it, Master. It's a misunderstanding."

Geom Mugeuk stepped in for the pale-faced Seo Daeryong.

"Seeing you two coming down, I dangled a little bait, and our Sanzu Hall Director took it just like that. Fishing for people is more fun than fishing for fish, isn't it? Here, please sit."

And so, with Hwi who had been behind them, the five of them sat together. Geom Mugeuk went around and poured drinks for everyone.

The atmosphere that the rain bestowed upon people was the same for the Heavenly Demon, the Young Cult Leader, the Demon Supreme, the bodyguard Captain, and the Sanzu Hall Director. They all soaked in the mood and drank.

As he drank, Geom Mugeuk looked at his father.

Was it because of the rain? His father's gaze, which looked particularly lonely today, wasn't on the rain in front of him. What was reflected in his eyes were clearly fragments of memory.

Who are you thinking of?

Separate from having grown closer to his father, it was in moments like this that he could feel he still didn't know his father well.

Geom Mugeuk asked the Blood Heaven Blade Demon instead of his father.

"Elder, is there anyone you think of on rainy days?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head.

"No. What about you?"

"Same for me. I hate it when it rains because it's slippery when I use my movement arts. I'm living such a dry life."

"A young punk like you, complaining about life!"

Even while scolding him, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was smiling.

"But now I have."

"Now you have? What do you mean?"

"The people here. Having gathered like this today to watch the rain, won't I think of today whenever it rains?"

At Geom Mugeuk's words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon thought of his master.

Master, you have never met a real phony. That is why you called me pretentious.

Perhaps the reason he heard such words from his master in the first place was because he was influenced by this real phony.

Master should have gotten a taste of this phoniness long ago.

Would his master's life have changed then? He had decided not to think about his master anymore. But with the rain, thoughts of his master came to him like this.

SHWAAAAAAAAA.

And so, each lost in their own thoughts, they drank while watching the falling rain.

Just then, new guests entered the inn.

The ones who entered were female martial artists wearing swords. When they took their seats and removed their cloaks and bamboo hats, Seo Daeryong's eyes widened.

He had been pretending not to look but was conscious of them since they entered. Among the three women, one in particular caught his eye.

He was staring blankly for a moment when his eyes met with that woman's.

As he was panicking inwardly, the woman slightly bowed her head in greeting. Seo Daeryong also replied with a light clasped hands greeting.

It was nothing more than a common greeting among martial artists, but Seo Daeryong's heart pounded like a hammer. It was an excitement he couldn't handle alone.

[Did you see that? That woman just greeted me. She was even smiling.]

Geom Mugeuk replied to Seo Daeryong's excited telepathy.

[She was smiling at me.]

[What are you talking about! It was me, definitely me.]

Seo Daeryong drank to calm his excitement, but his heart only beat faster.

[Ah, but unfortunately, they look like women from the orthodox sects, don't they?]

[They're probably relieved about that.]

[Young Cult Leader!]

[I'm kidding, sorry.]

Geom Mugeuk smiled and poured him a drink.

Seo Daeryong took another drink and glanced toward the women.

[Ah, our eyes met again. That woman is conscious of us too.]

[Which one of the three?]

[Don't look!]

Seo Daeryong felt a pleasant excitement for the first time in a while. The feeling of being alive, the feeling of 'I am a man!'

In that moment, overcome with excitement, a poem flowed from Seo Daeryong's lips.

Before Geom Mugeuk could stop him, Seo Daeryong, his face flushed red from the alcohol, became a lonely swordsman on a rainy night, setting out on the night road.

"…A lonely shadow hides in the wind, and the dream held in the jianghu is answered by the sound of rain."

Since he had been conversing with Geom Mugeuk via telepathy until now, it seemed as if Seo Daeryong had suddenly started reciting a poem.

When the gazes of Geom Woojin, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and Hwi focused on him, Seo Daeryong realized his mistake.

Truly, in that moment, he didn't even see the Cult Leader or his master. His only thought was to coolly recite a poem in front of the women.

Did reciting the poem have an effect?

The women glanced their way and discussed something among themselves. They were surely talking about the poem he had just recited.

A moment later, the owner brought over a dish.

"The female martial artists over there sent this dish."

Geom Mugeuk asked, "To which one of us did they send it?"

Seo Daeryong was naturally expecting to hear this.

[The female martial artists said they enjoyed the poem.]

Just then, the owner placed the dish he brought down in one spot. Everyone stared at the recipient with surprised expressions. The person the owner placed the dish in front of was none other than Geom Woojin.

Geom Woojin, as if uninterested, was still watching the falling rain.

Silence flowed.

Seo Daeryong sent a telepathic message in a desperate, yet still hopeful, voice.

[It probably wasn't sent by my lady.]

Geom Mugeuk had no time to answer his telepathy.

He alternately stared at his father and the dish with eyes full of jealousy.

"I think this came to the wrong person."

Geom Mugeuk pulled the dish in front of himself.

"Father and I look alike at a glance, so the owner must have been mistaken. This is right, isn't it?"

At that, Geom Woojin, who had been looking outside without any reaction, turned his head. With the haughty, unconcealable smile of a victor, he pulled the dish back in front of himself.

"It's mine."