Chapter 122
I had thought that as the finals of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering approached, the Zhongnan Disciples would look at me and Dongryong specially.
But…
“Huu…”
“Finally, Zhongnan is…”
…I didn’t know they would go as far as shedding tears.
Ah, of course, if a Sect that had been subtly looked down upon recently suddenly made such a huge splash at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, it would naturally feel good, but…
'No, it’s really this extreme?…?'
…It was hard for me to Understand.
If I were actually a Lay Disciple of Zhongnan, would I be able to Understand their feelings?
But I am not a true Disciple of Jongrimun, just a Bandit Bastard who disguised his identity.
The finals of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering aren’t that far off, so our identities will be exposed soon enough.
What do we do when that happens?
Especially…
“I am so glad that you are disciples of Zhongnan and not some other Sect…!”
…It felt like this gentleman, the Sect Leader, would suffer from Qi Deviation once he found out my true identity.
When that time comes, well…
I’ll just have to apologize politely.
For now, there was nothing else to do but humor this gentleman.
“I am also very proud to be a Disciple of Zhongnan. Haha.”
“M-me too…”
Dongryong-i couldn’t easily continue speaking as if his conscience pricked him, but I smiled naturally and answered like that, as if I were truly a Disciple of Zhongnan.
Seeing that, the Zhongnan Sect Leader seemed moved again, wrapping his arms around the shoulders of all three top-eight Qualifiers and speaking to the disciples.
“Right now, someone among them might become the winner…, or they might not. However, let us applaud these children for making it this far.”
“Waaaaah-!!”
At the Sect Leader’s words, all the disciples began to applaud thunderously.
Along with that, the Sect Leader spoke to us with a pleased expression.
“You are truly proud disciples of Zhongnan…, indeed.”
At this, Dongryong-i whispered to me via Sound Transmission.
“Leader… My conscience is really pricking me.”
'Just smile comfortably, Dongryong. Unlike Unorthodox Faction Bastards like us, these people are Righteous Faction Elders, so they’ll accept it well if we apologize.'
I smiled brightly and accepted the Applause given by the Zhongnan Disciples.
“Zhongnan! Zhongnan! Zhongnan!”
“Jongrimun! Jongrimun!”
And so, the night deepened along with the cheers of the Zhongnan Disciples.
* * *
The next day.
A one-day Rest Period arrived before the start of the quarterfinals.
For today at least, the participants and spectators alike forgot about the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering and enjoyed the sights and leisure while wandering around Anhui City.
And it was the same for the Shanxi Yu Family.
Usually too busy to even see each other’s faces, they gathered as a whole Family for the first time in a while and went out into Anhui City.
Of course…
“…”
“…”
…It wasn’t exactly the atmosphere of a simple outing.
'Older Brother…, I’m suffocating…'
“Somyung, endure it just a little longer…”
Yesterday, they were caught by their father, Yu Haseong, turning a blind eye to Muyeon’s existence.
Yu Haseong was furiously angry that they had pretended not to know even after realizing that a Martial Artist of the Unorthodox Faction was secretly participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering while hiding from the eyes of the Murim Alliance.
Because of this, the two had suffered a bombardment of nagging from their father until late last night, and were now on their way to meet Muyeon to settle the matter.
However, Yoo Somyung’s heart was full of worry as she followed behind her father to meet Muyeon.
The Family Head of the Shanxi Yu Family, Yu Haseong, had a benevolent personality, but he absolutely never tolerated seeing something wrong.
And wasn’t this clearly a case of Muyeon interfering with an event of the Murim Alliance?
“Will that guy…, be able to persuade father?”
Perhaps Muyeon wouldn’t be able to continue the rest of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering and might be chased out by her father.
'…I don’t want that.'
It was then that she briefly thought about a plan to help Muyeon somehow.
Bump.
“Ah…!”
Was it because she was walking carelessly on the crowded Main Street?
She ended up bumping shoulders with someone else.
Feeling that she was at fault, Yoo Somyung bowed her head to apologize…
“I’m sorr…”
“…”
“…?”
…The counterpart wearing a bamboo hat didn’t even accept Yoo Somyung’s apology and silently left the spot while she had her head bowed.
Feeling puzzled by this, Yoo Somyung felt something hit her foot.
“Ah…”
It was a money pouch left behind by the person she had just bumped shoulders with.
It felt unpleasant that they just bumped shoulders and left, but she still couldn’t just stand by and watch someone else’s misfortune.
“Excuse me! You dropped your money pouch here!”
She approached the person wearing the bamboo hat and grabbed their shoulder.
Then the Counterpart turned around, and she finally saw their face…
“Ah…”
…Seeing her face, Yoo Somyung couldn’t help but let out a low groan.
To begin with, she was a Martial Artist, and since all the Shanxi Yu Family members, including herself, had outstanding looks, she tended to be insensitive to beauty.
But the young girl in front of her right now was…, beautiful enough to leave even someone like Yoo Somyung speechless.
Her lustrous black hair contrasted with her pure white skin that looked as if it had never seen the light of day…
“…Is she sick?”
…Her pitiful impression, as she looked slightly sickly, aroused a Protective Instinct even in someone of the same sex.
At this, Yoo Somyung stared at her face for a moment like someone who had lost her mind before…
“…What.”
“Ah.”
At the counterpart’s question, she was finally able to come to her senses.
“You dropped your money pouch here, so…”
“…”
After receiving the money pouch from Yoo Somyung, she whispered softly as if grasping the situation.
“Ah.”
And then…
Slip-.
…She took out a single gold ingot straight from the pouch and handed it to Yoo Somyung.
One tael of gold.
That was absolutely not an amount one should receive as a reward for picking up a dropped item.
When she pulled out such a large sum of money without hesitation, Yoo Somyung immediately waved her hands in refusal.
“Ah! I didn’t do it expecting a reward!”
“…”
At this, she kept Staring blankly at Yoo Somyung as if looking at a Strange person before…
Slip-.
She just turned around and walked away as if nothing had happened.
“Hah.”
Seeing her retreating figure, Yoo Somyung clicked her tongue in disbelief.
What kind of person lacks social skills to that extent…
'Is she some Young Lady from a Noble Family who’s been locked up at home for over a decade?'
She herself was a Young Lady from a Noble Family too, but that girl really crossed the line just now.
At this, Yoo Somyung stared Vacantly at her retreating figure before…
“Somyung-a! What are you doing? Hurry up and come!”
“Ah… Yes!”
…Hearing her Older Brother’s call, she moved her steps in the opposite direction of where the girl had gone.
It was a truly bizarre encounter.
* * *
As soon as day broke, Dongryong-i stepped out of Zhongnan’s Lodging with the Leader.
It was because today was the day he and the Leader were scheduled to meet with the Shanxi Yu Family Head.
Since the Appointment Time was at noon, the two of them simply had Breakfast at a nearby inn beforehand.
It was when they had finished eating, had paid the bill, and were stepping out of the inn’s entrance.
“Ugh…, am I nervous…?”
“What’s wrong, Leader?”
“My stomach hurts… I’m going to the Latrine for a bit. Wait here for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Perhaps nervous about the meeting with the Shanxi Yu Family Head, the Leader complained of a stomachache and headed to the Latrine. Dongryong-i decided to wait for the Leader while watching the people in front of the inn.
It was then.
“Oh my…, Monk! I told you, you can’t…”
“Ahem-!! Goodness, why do you have no Compassion!”
Hearing a commotion from the corner of the Street, he turned his head and saw a massive Monk arguing in front of a Street vendor.
Intrigued by this, he observed for a moment…
'Is the Monk trying to buy food? But over there… Isn’t that a place that sells meatballs…?'
…The place where the Monk stood was a Street vendor’s stall that exclusively sold Meatball skewers.
His interest piqued, Dongryong-i approached and immediately understood the reason the two were arguing.
“No, Monk…! If you don’t have money, I can’t give it to you!”
“Look here, man! Did I say I wouldn’t pay?! I’m just saying I don’t have money right now because something came up! If you give me the food first, I’ll pay you double the price later.”
It seemed the Monk was trying to eat food without any money. But is a Monk allowed to eat meat…?
“No, how can I trust that and give you food…? What if you run away…?”
“Ahem-!! How can you say such profane words-!! Almsgiver, you shouldn’t be like that. Do you know how old I am this year? I’ve lived a hundred and twelve years this year! How can you spout such nonsense to someone old enough to be your grandfather…!”
Listening to the story, he was truly a troublemaker among troublemakers, an absolute nuisance.
'It also seems like he’s gone slightly senile…'
Of course, the Monk looked old, but 112 years old? How could a human live that long?
“Then if you could just tell me which Temple you’re a Monk from…”
“Hmm…, that’s a secret… Or how about this? I’ll teach you Martial Arts instead of paying for the food, so…”
“…Hold on a moment.”
Unable to just watch, Dongryong-i eventually stepped in between them and pulled out his money pouch as he spoke.
“I’m just a passerby, but I’ll pay the price. How much is it?”
It was an impulsive decision made out of pity upon seeing a decrepit Old Monk begging for food on the Street.
When Dongryong-i paid the price, only then was the old Monk able to get his hands on the meatballs he wanted.
“Ooh! Thank you!”
The old Monk expressed his gratitude to Dongryong-i while tearing into the meatballs ferociously, in a manner truly unbefitting of a Monk.
At this, Dongryong-i roughly bowed his head in return and was about to head back when…
“No, it’s nothing. Then, I have some business to attend to, so I’ll be…”
“Ahaha! What’s the rush, Young Friend!”
Grab-.
…The old Monk grabbed Dongryong-i’s shoulder and wouldn’t let go.
“What kind of old man has this much strength…!”
The old Monk had merely placed a single hand on Dongryong-i’s shoulder, yet the weight felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Dongryong-i could immediately feel that this old Monk was no Ordinary Monk.
“Ah, come to think of it, your face looks Familiar…! Didn’t you participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?”
“T-that’s right.”
“Wow! This is quite a welcome encounter. Let’s go talk in the corner over there.”
“A-no. I have someone waiting for me…, uwaaah…”
And so, led by the old Monk’s hand, Dongryong-i was half-forced into the corner of the Street.
The old Monk finished the Meatball skewer he was eating, sat Dongryong-i down, and sat next to him side-by-side.
“Shouldn’t I pay you back for the food I was treated to? Sit down for a moment.”
“You don’t have to worry about it… Phew…, no, more importantly, Monk. Just from which Temple are you a Monk to have this much strength…”
“Ah, that’s a secret. You want to achieve excellent results in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, right? As payment for the food, I’ll teach you a way to exert several times more strength than usual in a Sparring Match.”
“…Excuse me?”
…It seems he’s gone completely senile. Or else he’s a swindler.
At this sudden and bizarre encounter, Dongryong-i desperately prayed for the Leader to return quickly.