Chapter 47
“Die! You bastard—!!”
Yoo Somyung shrieked, leaping at me with her sword drawn.
Then, in mid-air, she began to unleash her Sword Art.
Naturally, the Sword Art she displayed was the Shanxi Yu Clan's Willow Flower Sword Art, but...
“Hmm?”
I noticed something a little strange.
She used the Willow Flower Sword Art imbued with the Profound Principle of Speed before she met me. Its trajectory was different from the Willow Flower Sword Art imbued with the Profound Principle of Grasping.
*I taught her something new, and she's using the old stuff?*
Feeling a slight pang of disappointment, I threw a punch. Whatever the case, I couldn't *not* counterattack in this situation.
But then...
*Whirl—.*
“Oh?”
The moment my fist was about to connect with her sword, her sword changed its trajectory instead of meeting me head-on. At the same time, she spun her body, instantly closing in on me, leaving me completely exposed.
*The Profound Principle of Grasping?*
At first, she thrust with the Profound Principle of Speed, but when my counterattack came, she reacted with the Profound Principle of Grasping.
Is she adjusting her pace to the situation?
The Willow Flower Sword Art imbued with the Profound Principle of Grasping was originally created by the Founder of the Shanxi Yu Clan, and the Willow Flower Sword Art imbued with the Profound Principle of Speed was later recreated by generations after the former was lost.
If one were to argue where the true essence of the Shanxi Yu Clan lies, it would indeed be the former, but the latter Sword Art is not without its merits.
In fact, because it contained the Profound Principle of Speed, it was more suitable for sudden situations or surprise attacks.
Yoo Somyung was aware of this and was skillfully blending and applying both.
Yes, this is how it should be.
This kind of adaptability was what I wanted from Jeokyeom. Somyung really does seem to have talent.
But...
*Thud.*
“Ugh—!”
...Even so, she was still no match for me.
I grabbed the collar of her robe as she lunged at me, slammed her to the ground, and then pinned her by twisting her arm behind her back.
“Let go! You wicked man!”
“Haa... Young Lady. What’s wrong? I thought we had a beautiful parting.”
“You shameless bastard! Let go of me right now and give back my Clan’s secret manuals and elixirs!”
So it was because of that, after all.
Secret manuals and elixirs were the greatest assets a Clan possessed, treasures containing their very history.
Therefore, I had expected the Shanxi Yu Clan to try and retrieve them somehow.
However, I was a little surprised that Yoo Somyung came here herself, alone, and without anyone else.
Well... it’s easier for me since Somyung came alone, anyway.
I tightened my grip on Somyung and whispered to her.
“Hey, Young Lady. Why should I give those back? We had a deal, didn’t we? If I helped your Clan, you’d pay me protection money.”
“Then you should’ve just taken the protection money, why did you steal it arbitrarily?! And what you asked for as protection money was just some strange gibberish...!”
*Ah? That “ttattabeul” thing?*
It was natural that Somyung didn't understand it then, as I had used modern language. Of course, I had intended that.
“You might not know, Young Lady, but “ttattabeul” in Western Regions Language means “I will take everything you have.””
“W-what kind of nonsense is that?”
“Nonsense or not, if you had a problem, you should’ve argued then.”
“Y-you...! That’s a lie, isn’t it, that it’s Western Regions Language?! Let go of me—! I’ll take our Clan’s belongings myself! Let go—!”
“Haa... this won’t do.”
Even with a good explanation, persuading Somyung was still not easy. And I couldn’t just leave her to keep squawking like this...
The only remaining method was a bit more drastic.
“Young Lady, this might bring back some old memories.”
“You wouldn’t dare... sl—”
Before Yoo Somyung could finish her sentence, I struck the back of her neck with the edge of my hand.
*Thwack—!*
“Kuh-heok—!”
She let out a dying shriek and flinched violently, seemingly in great pain.
But...
“Ughhh... you are bad...”
“Hmm... she’s not fainting.”
...It seemed she was just in pain, as she kept writhing without losing consciousness.
This always worked in movies, but every time I tried it in real life, it failed.
“...Sorry, Young Lady. I’ll do it one more time.”
*Thwack—!*
“Ugh-huh-huh...”
“Hmm...”
...Another failure.
I failed to make her lose consciousness, but it seemed to hurt quite a bit, as Somyung was drooling and groaning in agony.
*This feels pretty bad, doesn't it?*
Seriously, if I hit the back of her neck one more time, Yoo Somyung would probably hold a grudge and come stab me in the night.
Instead of striking her again, I channeled my *qi* into my finger.
“Sorry, Young Lady. I’ll just use a Pressure Point Attack.”
...
Then, finding the right spot, I applied the pressure point technique...
*Thwip—!*
“...”
...Yoo Somyung fainted immediately.
“Hoo.”
It had been a long time since I’d actually used a Pressure Point Attack. I checked to make sure I hadn’t done anything wrong, and Yoo Somyung was simply asleep.
As I stood up, leaving the unconscious Somyung, Bangsam asked me with a blank expression.
“...Leader. You knew how to use Pressure Point Attacks too?”
“Just, you know, to some extent? Actually, this much is basic.”
“But why didn’t you use it earlier...”
“...”
As he spoke, Bangsam’s gaze fell upon Somyung’s neck, which was red and swollen.
“...Would you believe me if I said I forgot?”
...It’s possible. Anyway, what are you going to do now?
The meaning behind Bangsam’s question was obvious. He was asking what I would do with Yoo Somyung, who had come all this way.
“I don’t know either. For now, I should lay her down comfortably so she can sleep.”
I picked up the unconscious Yoo Somyung, carried her on my back, and clicked my tongue.
“Sigh, didn’t she know she’d end up in such a rough state if she came back? Why on earth did she come all the way here herself?”
“...”
Naturally, no answer came from the already unconscious Yoo Somyung.
“Ughhh...”
“You’re awake?”
Yoo Somyung woke up around dawn the next day.
She opened her eyes groggily and showed no reaction, so I waved my hand in front of her. She then startled and sat up in bed.
“W-where is this...!”
Yoo Somyung’s eyes widened as she looked around, trying to figure out where she was.
So I immediately told her.
“My room.”
“...”
“You slept well.”
...This pervert again... W-where’s my sword—!
“Ugh, why are you like this again, seriously...!”
Of course, she might be surprised to find herself having spent the night in an Outside man’s bed. But I couldn’t just leave an unconscious girl to sleep on the cold ground, could I?
And the only suitable place to lay down Yoo Somyung, a young master/lady of a prestigious family, was my room.
So I even gave up my bed for her, but why is she acting like a troublemaker again?
I didn't even play any tricks this time.
Exasperated by her outburst, I clutched my forehead and asked.
“Haa... Young Lady, you came all the way here to find the secret manuals and elixirs, right?”
“Yes...! If you don’t hand them over right now...”
“Are you sure that you personally came all this way just to find the secret manuals and elixirs? Or... is there perhaps another reason?”
“...”
As my questions continued, Yoo Somyung’s expression softened, and she fell silent.
“Did you come perhaps because you wanted to see me? Do you have something to say?”
“...”
Finding the secret manuals and elixirs was, of course, important. However, if she were truly serious about finding them, she would have moved more “efficiently”.
It would have been more efficient to use the Clan’s martial forces to search the world for the secret manuals and elixirs, rather than a Clan member wandering the world alone.
But Yoo Somyung chose the former.
I don't know how long she wandered, but her emaciated face and changed complexion told me she had been searching for us for quite some time.
What could be the reason?
I waited quietly for her to speak, but...
“...I don’t know.”
“...”
“I don’t really know myself.”
...She couldn’t give me the answer I wanted.
She stammered, her face showing she didn’t even understand herself.
“There were so many things I wanted to ask you if I had met you, but you wouldn’t answer anyway. About how you knew about the lost Willow Flower Sword Art, and...”
...about the sword that cleaved the air that day.
“...”
Of course, I wouldn’t answer anything. I was about to tell her my true thoughts.
“Actually... I don’t think I even understand my own feelings for you yet. I hate you, a pervert, a womanizer, and a shameless scoundrel who stole someone else’s secret manuals and elixirs, but...”
“No, I *am* shameless, but I’m not a pervert or a womanizer...”
...Whenever I see you, my heart beats strangely, and when I close my eyes, you appear before me.”
“...Huh?”
What did she just say...? Didn't that wording sound a bit strange...?
...I still don’t know anything. So.
“...”
“...I want to find out about my feelings and about you by your side.”
“...Hoo-hoo.”
My heart pounds whenever I see you.
*When I close my eyes, you appear before me.*
I want to get to know you.
Damn it... even a romantically clueless virgin who’s never had a partner would recognize this as a confession, wouldn’t they...?
I was severely flustered by this, but Yoo Somyung, the one who said it, had an innocent expression as if she didn’t understand anything.
Somyung, who had grown up like a hothouse flower, was even more clueless than a passing romantically inept virgin.
*No, but seriously, what exactly did she fall for...?*
No matter how I think about it, I’ve tormented her more than I’ve helped her.
Even amidst the confusion, I had to give her an answer quickly. If I didn’t, she might decide on her own and whine about staying by my side.
And my answer was, of course...
“No.”
“...”
“It’s a rejection, a refusal.”
...It was a perfect rejection.
“...Why?”
There were several reasons, but first...
“I have no feelings for you.”
I don’t see Yoo Somyung as a woman. How could I feel lust for someone who still looks like a mere child?
“And...”
“And...?”
*...Because you’re a character in a novel.*
I couldn’t bring myself to say those words: that if she needlessly followed me, it could cause problems for the future plot development.
“Haa...”
Feeling a tightness in my chest, I turned my back. And watching the morning sun rise, I said softly.
“...I’ll help you find the secret manuals and elixirs.”
“...What?”
“Instead, you’ll have to accept the financial damage. It might cost your Clan several years’ worth of budget...? Well, anyway, consider it compensation for my having helped your Clan.”
*Damn it all.*
If I had known this would happen, I should have just openly taken protection money from the Shanxi Yu Clan instead of stealing their things, even if it meant getting less money.
Who knew things would get so complicated?
...You’re saying you’ll help me find the secret manuals and elixirs, but they’re not in your hands right now? How do you plan to help find them?”
“How to help, you ask?”
When you want to get back something that was sold, you go to the one who sold it.
Just recently, a message came via carrier pigeon. The senders had settled down and told me to visit.
I’d been invited, and I was planning to go anyway to discuss some things with them.
I spoke to Yoo Somyung, who was still sitting on my bed.
“When day breaks, let’s go to Haomun.”