Chapter 317 |
317. Fallen Blossoms
A small-framed yet stern-auraed woman opened her mouth.
“Blood Wolf. As thou knowest, this Ironblood Hall is akin to a place of exile.”
“Is it all right for the Ironblood Hall Master to say it so bluntly? Today is the first day I’ve been assigned here.”
“What of it, when such is the truth?”
The woman covered her lips with her sleeve and laughed.
Her clothes were far too loose, as though she had forced herself into garments not meant for her size, and even those had been patched repeatedly.
It was truly a pitiful sight, as if her impoverished life were exposed on the surface—
Yet such things could never tarnish her value.
If clothes were meant to conceal a person, then for one who needed no concealment, regardless of what she wore, her nobility naturally shone through.
Tang Sowol, Seol Lihyang, and Seo Mun-Hwarin, the three of them, swallowed unconsciously and exchanged nervous whispers.
“We can hear their conversation, but the fact that they can’t perceive us… it feels strange.”
“You too, Sister Tang? I also feel like I’m eavesdropping, which is a bit…”
“But are we not indeed peeking into Cheon Hwi’s memories? We have permission, so it’s not really stealing…”
They had grown used to memory scenes forming a complete world of their own. It was still astonishing, but all of them had experienced it once.
However, this was the first time even Tang Sowol could clearly hear a proper conversation.
Voices were blurred enough to mask identities, yet the contents of the conversation were perfectly audible—no wonder it felt strange.
With expectation that they would learn far more than last time, Tang Sowol raised her index finger to her lips.
“Shh. Once things quiet down, we’ll talk among ourselves. For now, let’s focus on the story.”
“Indeed. Shh.”
Seo Mun-Hwarin copied Tang Sowol, lifting her index finger—But Seol Lihyang only looked around with a heavy, complicated expression.
The final scene from the previous memory had been her own death, and the burning pavilion.
But now, it seemed the tragedy was still far off.
Seol Lihyang knew well that in his previous life, she had been someone extremely precious to Cheon Hwi.
After all—she had been the first woman that stone-hearted man ever liked.
First love, and first experience.
Even if she herself could not remember, Cheon Hwi surely remembered her as such.
Around the time of her death, and with a similar weight on his Heartscape, another traumatic event had struck Cheon Hwi.
It was obvious it would not be something ordinary.
Nor would it end well.
While Seol Lihyang smiled bitterly, vaguely guessing the final moment of this memory—
The small woman spoke again to Cheon Hwi, who was wordlessly gulping down scalding tea.
“By what I have heard, Blood Wolf, thou art a promising late-stage adept.”
“Promising late-stage adept, my foot. That sort of ranking is only something the orthodox sects care about. A sword does not avoid killing simply because one is young. Please treat me like a normal martial artist.”
“Hm. Seeing thy crooked attitude, I understand somewhat how thou drifted here—but I shall still ask. How didst thou come to be exiled to the Ironblood Hall?”
“I was previously assigned to the Ruined Heaven Hall.”
“Oh. The place where the Black Lotus Sect gathers its best martial artists.”
“They were nothing but outstanding cowards.”
“…Mm?”
“Because they had caught the Black Lotus Sect Master’s eye and knew they would rise someday, they protected themselves.”
“Well, that is only natural, is it not?”
“Protecting oneself does not change the tasks that must be done, nor does it make incoming threats disappear. Someone must shoulder them.”
“Explain in more detail?”
“The Five-Poison Fabrication Workshop was raided by the Green Forest bandits and had all the weapons meant for the Black Lotus Sect stolen. Our mission was to destroy their mountain stronghold and recover them.”
“The Black Lotus Sect Master and the Green Forest do not get along, so such things happen often.”
“But upon finding the mountain stronghold, instead of fighting, they attempted negotiation. They said they would pay a suitable price, so we should leave the weapons and go.”
“Not a bad choice. Unless one defeats White Peak Mountain King, the general stronghold master, erasing a single hideout makes little difference.”
“The problem is—they planned to take that ‘price’ by extorting the silver from nearby villages under the Black Lotus Sect’s protection.”
“Unexpected. Did Blood Wolf perhaps possess compassion?”
“And they even tried to extract silver from my former pouch, a newcomer’s pouch.”
Ah. So that was the real reason.
“So? What didst thou do? Judging from things, thou disobeyed and got hated for it.”
“Hm? Why would I spare someone who covets my pouch? I cut down the squad leader and then wiped out the stronghold as originally planned.”
“…??”
“He acted arrogantly just because someone weaker than me joined first. He probably intended to establish a pecking order, but he didn’t expect me to draw my sword immediately.”
“If one claims to be a swordsman, he should at least know that anyone he can cut can just as easily cut him back. A ridiculous death, is it not?”
Cheon Hwi’s lips curled into a cold sneer.
The Ironblood Hall Master stared at him blankly for a moment, then nodded as if arranging her thoughts.
“I understand. Though one thing makes me curious.
If This One were to command thee to hand over thy pouch, what wouldst thou do? For reference, This One is a Flowering Stage martial artist on par with the Black Lotus Sect Master.”
“Of course I would obey.”
“And if one day Blood Wolf becomes stronger than This One?”
“It depends on how much silver you took… but if you seized my entire fortune, I suppose I would take your neck in return.”
“What a beastly fellow.”
As Cheon Hwi tilted his head sincerely, unable to understand, the Ironblood Hall Master sighed deeply.
“Blood Wolf, thou truly art a beastly man.”
“It is improper to tease me so on our first meeting.”
“If thou dost not wish to be beaten like a beast on our first meeting, hold thy tongue.”
As she raised a fist, Cheon Hwi immediately shut his mouth.
The Hall Master sighed once more, even deeper than before.
“Thou bearest grudges without end, shamelessly preys on the weak, and feelest no shame submitting to the strong. If such a one is not called a beast, what should be?”
“But do not misunderstand. This does not mean thy nature is evil. Thou merely livest by instinct. Thus thou art not a villain—but a beast.”
“And beasts may be taught until they become human.”
“From today forth, thou shalt learn letters from This One.
Thou mayest know the Thousand Character Classic, but that will not suffice. At least the Four Books and Three Classics mustst thou complete.”
“Thou may speak now.”
“At this point, why teach me letters? Just leave me be as a beast. In the short time I roamed the world, I saw countless humans worse than beasts.”
“Dost thou know that beasts are tamed through beating?
This One’s fist will hurt more than most whips, so prepare thy heart and resist properly.”
“In truth, not being taught remained a regret since my youth. I leave myself in your care, teacher.”
“Either grovel or be sarcastic—choose one.”
“Did you not say groveling before the strong is the way of beasts? I am simply putting your teaching into practice, so please look kindly upon me, Ironblood Hall Master.”
“Very well. Receive This One’s benevolence.”
Pang!
She flicked her fingers, sending a gust of qi.
A mere breeze, yet infused with internal energy, it held far more force than a simple flick.
“Ghhk!”
Cheon Hwi’s head snapped back as he clutched his reddened forehead.
The Ironblood Hall Master smirked slightly and continued.
“Do not be so displeased. If thou study well, This One shall personally examine thy martial arts.”
“Truly?”
“Truly. As thou hast seen, the Ironblood Hall is quite a quiet place. It will be perfect as a pastime.”
“I shall work hard from today. Please guide me, Master.”
“Master? How greedy. This One said she would look at thy martial arts, not grant thee true martial arts.”
The Ironblood Hall Master smiled bitterly as she clenched and unclenched her small hand.
“Yes. This One’s martial arts are fated to disappear with This One.”
Her voice was steeped in deep regret—and deeper resignation.
Even Cheon Hwi did not dare speak lightly, remaining silent.
Forcing a bright smile, the Hall Master patted his shoulder.
“Blood Wolf, thou shalt address This One as Ironblood Hall Master.”
“Yes, Ironblood Hall Master.”
It was like returning to the first exchange.
But no one failed to notice this meant the story would go no further.
Cheon Hwi clasped his fists lightly and left the Hall Master’s room.
Following behind him, Tang Sowol, Seol Lihyang, and Seo Mun-Hwarin all exhaled the breaths they had been holding and burst into whispered commentary.
“Whew… I knew Brother Cheon wasn’t an easy personality, but I didn’t expect this level.”
“He does not listen to those weaker than him… So he has always been like this.”
“B-but he still agreed to study letters! This One thinks his present self matters more than his past!”
Tang Sowol spoke half-exhausted, Seol Lihyang nodded as if impressed, and only Seo Mun-Hwarin defended him—
Though none denied that Cheon Hwi’s past self exceeded their imagination.
The three fell silent briefly, then Tang Sowol spoke with sudden seriousness.
“She said not to call her teacher, but… if the memory we saw last time is correct, she does become something like Brother Cheon’s teacher later, right?”
“Most likely? They didn’t say it, but they treated each other that way.”
“And the fact that this memory begins not after the last one but with a different person shown…It must mean she, too, lost her life in the burning pavilion.”
“You think so too, Sister Tang?”
Seol Lihyang’s face darkened.
It meant losing another precious person in an instant.
It was hard to even imagine how painful that must have been for Cheon Hwi.
As gloom settled in, Seo Mun-Hwarin gently patted their backs.
“I heard Hwi lost his parents when young. Though they met later in life, someone who taught him the ways of being human… he must have regarded her as both teacher and parent. If so, we must witness this story to its end.”
They had each lived different lives, yet the future they sought converged into one—To become Cheon Hwi’s family.
If so, knowing something—anything—about their possible future mother-in-law (or not) was better than knowing nothing.
Nodding, Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang followed the unfamiliar yet familiar back of Cheon Hwi through the memory.
Time passed.
***
“You said she was like his teacher! Like his parent!!”
Tang Sowol shouted in betrayal.
Before her eyes—
The Ironblood Hall Master was dashing toward her room while secretly clutching Cheon Hwi’s underwear she had stolen.