Episode 198

It was all by a chance that Dan Somi came across it.

Dan Somi, who was playing and running around, stopped as she looked at one place.

There was a person inside.

They had used bushes to conceal the entrance and were hiding in this small cave-like structure. Their entire body was covered in blood and their breathing was staggered. There were cuts and slashes visible on their body.

Dan Somi, who was so tired, slowly stuck her head in to peek into that place.

“Ugghh…”

The person must have sensed her presence and opened their eyes. For a moment, a fierce look flashed in their eyes, startling Dan Somi so she retreated back into the bushes. Even Baek Myo was surprised at that and rushed into her arms.

“Are… are you alright?”

She asked carefully.

It was easy for any child to have bolted from there, yet she was trembling but remained there.

The man looked at Dan Somi and gritted his teeth.

“Go away.”

Those sharp words, which were filled with the killing intent in his voice, caused goosebumps to rise on her body.

Dan Somi had gone pale as she gulped her fear down and turned as she ran.

“Haa… damn…”

The man was none other than Jumun Won, who looked at the child and frowned.

His mental strength had deteriorated and even though he still had some strength left, it was difficult to handle his body.

“Those people…”

Jumun Won gritted his teeth.

There was the sound of teeth breaking. That was how angry he was. He could feel the blood flowing out from his cuts.

It was truly not an optimal situation when a body couldn’t feel pain.

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t even have known that blood was flowing out.

Jumun Won ripped his clothes to stop the bleeding and gasped. Because he had lost so much blood he had to circulate his qi to move his body even a little.

But his body wasn’t moving at all. He thought about moving his head, but even that didn’t listen; it was as if his body didn’t belong to him.

“Damn those guys…! I will surely kill them all!”

Even since the first bit of the fight, he had the upper hand and if he continued to push, he would have won over them.

But then two more people suddenly appeared. Ma Jang-kang, who was among them, was the cause of his defeat.

The skills of that guy were even stronger than the rumors made out and when he tried to throw them off, he joined the fight and swung his blade at him.

And there was that swift and sharp sword technique of Namgung Sohye, a technique that was different from what was known to the public about the arts of the Namgung family.

If he thought he had predicted and avoided the sword path, the blade just followed, mocking him.

Ma Jang-kang was a scary man, but what shocked him even more was that unknown sword technique of Namgung Sohye.

Considering that most of his wounds were dealt by her, he didn’t need to think further.

‘I need to move.’

Jumun Won forced himself to stand. At that moment, his legs lost their strength and he collapsed.

Thud!

He couldn’t do anything more than frown when his body was refusing to cooperate.

But he couldn’t give up.

He tried to stand up, again and again.

And he tried for about half an hour or so. Jumun Won, finally able to stand on his own, walked slowly and tried to locate water.

But even when he tried to concentrate on the sounds, he couldn’t hear the sound of water around, maybe it was because the water source was far away or because his senses had weakened along with the depletion of his qi.

He took a deep breath and raised his qi.

That was when…

As soon as he heard the rustling sound, Jumun Won turned his head. He gathered all the qi into one hand and raised his hand to swing at them.

The moment he finally realized that what appeared was not an enemy, he was shocked.

“You… didn’t you run?

“Water, I brought water. Here you go!”

Dan Somi held her hand out and handed him what she held. It was a vessel roughly made using the leaves from the trees in the area.

And what was inside was most definitely water.

Jumun Won looked at Dan Somi strangely, but as if he couldn’t resist the need for water, he reached out and took it.

He had no doubts about it being poison or not. Right now, all his body and mind needed was water.

And he gulped.

The water flowed slowly into his throat.

The moment he drank it, he felt a little vitality return to his body.

“Puah… fine then. Where are you from?”

“There.”

Dan Somi pointed in a direction and he wasn’t sure where she was pointing to, but it felt like the child was speaking without being able to explain.

Jumun Won sighed and smiled at that.

“Have this!”

“What’s that now?”

“I picked it up on the way. Hehe.”

Dan Somi burst out laughing.

Jumun Won looked puzzled. What she held in her hand were surely mushrooms and raspberries.

It was a bit odd to say this, but this person went to collect water and brought food in a short time.

But to survive now, he had to eat something.

“Come here.”

“Thank you! Is what you should say, Dad told me so. If someone gives you something you need to thank them.”

Dan Somi said, then retracted her hands and pouted. For a moment Jumun Won’s face contorted but he just mumbled, unable to do anything to hurt the child.

“Th-thank you.”

“Hehe, have them!”

Jumun Won ate what Dan Somi offered.

He was just glad to eat and drink water to recover his strength.

Jumun Won, who had been chewing on the food like a mad man, sat down and patted his full stomach. Although there was a bit of bleeding there, he felt a lot more alive.

‘I will kill you all.’

Jumun Won thought back on all those faces. This was something that will never be forgotten. He will use every means to crush them.

Give it back a hundred and if not a thousand times worse than what he suffered.

“Mister, your eyes are strange.”

“Huh, they were always like that.”

Jumun Won snorted and looked to the side. He saw the child looking at him with curiosity on her face.

Without realizing it he was looking into that innocent face.

“I have some herbs too.”

Dan Somi smiled brightly and removed some herbs from inside her sleeve. It wasn’t known at all just what was being kept hidden on this small child’s body for things to constantly pop out.

Jumun Won mumbled with an incredulous look.

“I am glad you brought herbs. It must be tough for a child like you, not to mention going through all…?”

“Hehe, it is my specialty. I used to often go out with Dad to eat.”

Jumum Won frowned.

Were they struggling with no money? If not, there was no reason for a child like her to climb up this mountain.

‘Well, that’s the way the world is… do anything to survive.’

He clicked his tongue.

“How old are you?”

“Hmm, seven… no, I am eight this year!”

“With that height and size?”

Jumun Won was shocked.

No matter how he looked at it, she looked more like five or six. He didn’t know if she was just skinny or just looking like that because of constantly working up at the mountains.

“Ugh… I hear that a lot… Ji Yak and Jin Rang are a lot bigger than me, right? And only Somi is small. Still, Grandpa and Dad say Somi is the prettiest. Hehe.”

It was clear that because she wasn’t eating right, her growth had stopped. Jumun Won felt a bit nervous and looked at the child. He thought to himself as he treated his body with the herbs Somi brought.

Food, water, and herbs—he received many things so he had to give something back.

“Will you come with me?”

“Me?”

Dan Somi was shocked at those words.

She blinked and looked at Jumun Won.

“I will get you food. Nice food too, nice clothes, and everything else that you want.”

“Hehehe.”

Dan Somi scratched her cheek.

There was a bit of awkwardness on her face. Jumun Won smiled looking at that. Even if she was a child she would understand what he said.

“Will you come with me?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to. Somi likes it here now. There is Dad, grandfathers, and unnies too. Ah! And Mister Kwon.”

Dan Somi was thinking, her head tilted.

‘I think I forgot someone. Is there a mistake?’

“I like nice clothes and delicious food, but… I like my family better now and I love them. So Somi doesn’t want to go anywhere. And when Somi goes… Dad will be sad.”

“Ugh… I see.”

This is one word which shows her utmost sincerity. The moment he heard it, he realized that what touched his heart wasn’t a lie.

Jumun Won clicked his tongue.

How could it not be funny to see that a little child kicked her fortune aside?

At that time.

“Somi…! Somi…!”

A voice rang out.

A voice which was coming from afar and getting closer now, was anxiously calling.

“Somi is here!”

She waved her hand and looked at one spot.

At the same time, Jumun Won turned his gaze to the side.

‘Is the child’s mother here?’

Although it was still a bit far away, she looked like a young woman.

At that moment, Jumun Won frowned, looking at the woman.

Ho Yeon-ji, who was coming closer too, stopped.

The two people faced each other. Ho Yeon-ji trembled as her face paled, and Jumun Won was shocked as he went through his memories.

Eventually he got up.

His face changed and he sighed. He smiled up at the sky and then laughed.

Soon, his body relaxed.

Dan Somi tilted her head at how he changed.

“Child, is your house the Hunan Dan family?”

“Woah! How did you know? Is it because of Grandpa using that huge board?”

Dan Somi was surprised, smiling.

That was when Ho Yeon-ji’s shout rang in her ears.

“Somi, run!!!”