Chapter 42
##42fury. Is there anything you want to say??
“Do you know how nervous I was just now? Because of you, I really... … . Ugh!”
“I'm going to get my ears pierced. Stop nagging and eat this.”
I covered Ak Yeon-ho's non-stop nagging mouth with a large dumpling..
Next to him, Myung Il-oh sipped his drink and giggled..
“Don't say anything to Yeonho. If Yeonho hadn't asked me to postpone my brother's turn, I would have been drinking comfort liquor right now..”
“Ugh… … . That's right! Tell me to thank you!”
Ak Yeon-ho gulped down the dumplings and said with his brows drawn together grimly..
Even so, it looked like a gisaeng brother frowning, so instead of being scary, it just looked funny..
I smiled and filled Ak Yeon-ho's glass with alcohol..
“okay. Aren’t you buying alcohol like this because you’re grateful?.”
After returning from the demonstration lecture, we were sitting in my room, ordering food and alcohol that had been set out on our hands, telling us to pour it out and drink it..
“But what on earth are you doing to be so late??”
In response to Myung Il-oh’s question, I remembered the hardships of the past few days and let out a long sigh..
“Don't even talk. I went to meet someone…….”
The plan itself of resolving Wi Ji-cheon's coinage problem and coming to Namchang with Wi Ji-yeol and Wi Ji-cheon was good..
‘The problem is that they were both wanted criminals, so they had no choice but to move around the mountain path..’
In order to avoid being pursued by the unknown Murim Alliance or the Heuklipin who handed Wi Ji-cheon the secret weapon of the fake martial arts sword, we had no choice but to move towards the mountain path, avoiding people as much as possible..
Of course, it took longer than planned..
When I finally arrived in Nanchang, I was able to get into the city by making a call from outside the city to Cheongcheon, and obtaining a temporary hostage card..
I couldn't tell the whole story in detail, but only said that I went to help someone I knew roughly and came back after a hard time..
“……Thanks to you, I was told to practice light attack on the way home..”
As I sighed and shook my head, Myeong Il-oh smiled mischievously and looked at Yeon-ho Ak..
“I almost recognized the site of the real White Dragon School..”
“Baekryong Academic Hall?”
“I heard your brother said that before? If they fail, they will build a school building on the other side of Cheongryong School Building. When Yeonho said that earlier, the expression on the head teacher's face was so worth seeing.…….”
“Huh! Why are you talking so embarrassingly that everything is over??”
When I told him about Ak Yeon-ho's activities when I was away, he cleared his throat as if he was embarrassed..
I said, refilling the glass of Ak Yeon-ho, who did something amazing..
“Damn. I'll treat you today, so drink up to your heart's content..”
“lol. He won't refuse anything I give him again. Brother, get a drink too..”
While we were taking a drink, Myung Il-oh said with a slightly worried expression..
“But two people. I won't forget to spar tomorrow.?”
There were a total of two practical tests for new instructors at Cheongryong Academic Center..
The first is a pilot lecture completed today..
The second is a bimu sparring tomorrow..
‘‘Non- Music Sparring’ refers to a new instructor applicant competing against one of the existing instructors to prove his/her martial arts level, and it is not necessary to win..
‘In other words, winning is of course advantageous for passing..’
However, the parties do not know who will face whom in this non-marriage sparring until the day of the event..
That's because the bracket is traditionally drawn up by the school's owner..
‘Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara statue.’
Even decades ago when Hyeolgyo was active, he was renowned as a hundred great masters and was a warrior who killed many masters of Sapa..
In the past, he was a person close to my enemy, but now he is surprisingly friendly to me..
‘Is there something you want from me??’
But to say that, what I have now is insignificant..
“Hmm… … . At best, he's handsome and capable.…….”
“Huh. Brother Lee, seriously, look at you talking to yourself and showing off..”
I said as I poured alcohol into Myung Il-oh’s glass, which made the surface glisten, as he clicked his tongue..
“Is there anything wrong with sparring?.”
“that's right. That's all, just destroy whoever comes out.!”
Having reached level 3 in Reverse Heaven, I had no worries about sparring, and Yeon-ho Ak, who seemed less advanced on the outside, was a peak expert in his own right..
“I hope both of you are relaxed.…….”
“So why didn’t you study martial arts a little harder??”
While Myung Il-oh, whose skills were vague, broke his glass and drank alone and sighed, Ak Yeon-ho and I made fun of him and giggled..
“Hehehe… … . Hey, I heard you were really cool earlier.?”
……right. This guy had a weak drink..
Before I knew it, a drunk Ak Yeon-ho was next to me, grinning sinisterly..
“I mean earlier. When the Tao Pung split. Did you see the expressions on the girls’ faces at that time? Everyone just loved it so much. You were good too, right? When I hear the squealing, I secretly love it.?”
“……Get away now before I get a blood transfusion..”
I pushed away Ak Yeon-ho's face, which kept getting stuck, with my hand. Maybe he was drunk enough, but he was struggling and fell backwards..
When I got up from my seat, Ak Yeon-ho looked at me with an expression that looked like he was about to cry..
“Hyungniyiim. Where are we going again??”
“I'm going behind the scenes. Do you want to follow me??”
“Boo, what are you talking about? … . But you can't come late again! Come quickly!”
“Do you know what you're talking about??”
I feel like the injections are getting worse..
I sighed and asked Myeong Il-oh to take care of himself..
“It's work. Hold on tight to this guy so he doesn’t come out after me..”
“……I'll try my best, but I'm weak in martial arts, so it might be difficult..”
That guy is also secretly narrow-minded..
On the way back after safely stopping by the back yard to do some business, I felt a familiar presence and slowly turned around..
‘This presence…….’
Gulp.
I swallowed my saliva and spoke with a nervous expression on my face that I had never shown during the demonstration lecture..
“……Grandfather?”
“My arms are stretched out. Do you think I have already passed the final exam??”
An old man carrying a cold wind like the cold snow of the north wind.
When Mae Geuk-ryeom glared at me with a cold gaze, I felt like all the intoxication I had had was gone in an instant..
“Goyan guy. I guess I like alcohol just like Abby.…….”
The moment my eyebrows twitched and the veins on my forearms twitched, I immediately changed my posture to a humble and polite posture..
“haha. I had a light drink to relieve the fatigue of the day… … . But what is going on here, grandpa?……?”
“why? Have you come to a place I can't come to??”
“…….”
“My grandfather came, but he didn't tell me to sit down..”
“Hey Jeomsoy! Here, bring me a cup of tea! Grandfather. The view is nice here, so please sit down..”
I polished the table with my sleeve before Jeomsoy arrived..
Mae Geuk-ryeom, who sat down with a disapproving expression, looked at my face and suddenly asked:.
“Are you hurt anywhere??”
“……yes?”
“That Chosik that cut off Dopung earlier. It seemed too much to unfold with your body..”
“…….”
As an excellent swordsman, Mae Geuk-ryeom knew that the sword I opened earlier was quite hard on the body..
In fact, it was true that my muscles were quite stiff..
However, it was not to the point where I could say it was too much, thanks to my regular practice of the 18 Green Rime techniques..
So, I was drinking like this..
“it's okay.”
“Don't be overconfident because you're young.”
Mae Geukryeom glared at me, then sighed softly..
“…… Your mother was weak. Even though I searched all over Gangho and looked for a doctor, I couldn't find a way to make him healthy. When I first saw you, your body didn't look very healthy either..”
Calm-looking eyes. But deep inside, I felt deep regret..
“Take care of it. When will it be useful?.”
Mae Geuk-ryeom took something out of her arms and held it out to me..
It was a pill neatly packaged in paper..
A faint scent emanated from the room, and at first glance it seemed like a precious item..
I was a little bit pricked by my conscience so I gave it a try..
“I'm really fine…….”
“If an adult gives you something, just take it..”
“……Thank you very much.”
Well, it's not polite to keep refusing when it's given to you..
After finishing his errand, Mae Geuk-ryeom immediately got up and left. Jeomsoy had not even touched the tea he brought out..
“Let’s go now.”
“Already? Eat something and leave.…….”
“I'm busy with work. You too, drink in moderation..”
“I will stop drinking today.”
“…….”
Maegeukryeom looked at me blankly for a moment and then opened his mouth..
“Don't hate too much the student who hit you. I scolded him enough before he came. They say he did it because he was angry with his youthful spirit.…….”
I said with a grin..
“Don't worry. I'm not narrow-minded enough to take my anger out on a student..”
Instead, I plan to take my anger out on the guy who made the student do that..
Mae Geukryeom, who had no way of knowing what I was thinking, nodded with an amused expression..
“Is that so? I get it.”
“I will see you off to the academy. together…….”
“Done. don't do anything useless.”
Mae Geukryeom, who stopped me with his stern eyes, turned and walked away..
I bent down against his back..
“Grandfather. Please take a look.”
“…….”
Mae Geukryeom left the guesthouse without replying or even looking back..
I looked at him, and then I looked at the pills he gave me that were left in my hand..
“I don't think I need to eat it right away.…….”
It was then.
“Huh. I didn't know you two were related..”
I was startled by the sudden voice and turned around..
‘I didn't feel it until I got this close.?’
But after checking the other person, it was worth it..
The head of Cheongryonghakwan, the thousand-armed Avalokitesvara statue of Lao, was standing behind me, smiling like a hermit..
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. The atmosphere seemed serious, so I looked around for someone to intervene, but then… … . Hehehe.”
The warrior who was called a devil by the Safa people in the past was smiling hollowly as if he was embarrassed..
* * *
With a steaming cup of tea between us, I sat across from Mr. Roh..
Holding the teacup, Noh Gun-sang slowly savored the scent, took a sip, and furrowed his brows..
“Umm. I don't know if tea is really delicious at this age..”
“……Should I ask Jeomsoi to bring a drink table??”
“Heh heh. It's okay. Isn't it hard to drink with an old man like this?.”
“Not so…….”
“Who did you learn martial arts from??”
I narrowed my eyes at the sudden question..
‘Could it be that you noticed something??’
But even if Noh had noticed something, I had nothing to worry about..
Until now, I have never used any martial arts from the blood religion, nor have I done anything suspicious..
That's why I answered confidently.
“I learned it from my father.”
“Did your father also study at Cheongryong Academy in the past??”
“yes. I heard that about 30 years ago, he was very famous as a maniac..”
“Hehehe.”
Perhaps my answer was too honest, and Noh seemed speechless for a moment..
But then he chuckled and asked the next question..
“Why haven't you been a strong player until now??”
It was a question that could be interpreted in many ways, but I interpreted it this way:.
‘With that level of skill, why didn’t he make a name for himself in martial arts??’
Since it was a compliment from a warrior who was as good as a hundred masters, I responded by saying thank you..
“When I was young, I was too weak to go out, but as I grew older, I realized that it was useless to risk my life and compare who was stronger..”
“Hehehe…….”
Noh Gun-sang laughed as if he was genuinely embarrassed..
“Did you know that? I am also a person who clings to that futility..”
“Because everyone has different thoughts. I like teaching and learning more than fighting with martial arts. If possible, I want to eat well and live well with it..”
“in short… … I don't want to get caught up in Kangho's complex financial situation, this is it..”
“It's similar.”
Noh seemed to think carefully about what I said and said:.
“Sometimes there are people like you. People who come to the academy to become instructors because they are afraid of taking someone's life, or because they are afraid of losing their life. I have no intention of criticizing or ignoring them..”
“thank you for your understanding…….”
“But you are different from them..”
At that moment, Noh Gunsang's eyes turned fierce. It was a sharp look that seemed to penetrate a person's heart..
“You don't seem like the kind of person who would be afraid of shedding blood. rather…….”
“…….”
“For some reason, I feel like I'm sick of losing a lot of blood. Hehehe.”
Mr. Noh smiled and looked straight at me, and I did not avoid his gaze either..
No matter how many times you look at me, you won't be able to find out anything.
“…….”
“…….”
Our eyes met in the air, and there was silence for a moment..
Noh Gun-sang, who had been assessing me for a while, eventually smiled strangely and withdrew his gaze..
He asked me after taking another sip of tasteless tea..
“……Last question. Is there something you want to say to me??”
there was.
I answered without hesitation.
“Please let me fight Namgungsu in tomorrow's bimu sparring..”
Noh smiled as if he knew I would do that..
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