Where The Sword Points (3)

The training only ended as the sun began to set. The two headed straight back to their quarters.

Heart method or not, because the emotional drain had been so heavy, Im Yeo-wol seemed exhausted and lay down to sleep at once.

‘Has Brother Han gone to help Lady Seol train?’

Neither Han Cheol-sang nor Seol So-ha was in the room.

In the end, Jin-hyeon went down alone to the first floor of the inn and drank.

Even though the semifinals were tomorrow, there were not many people in the tavern. There were plenty of places to drink outdoors. Once the sun fully set, the crowds would grow.

‘Still, it’s winter, yet they insist on drinking outside. I suppose that means they are that happy.’

Thanks to that, he easily took the same corner seat where he had drunk before. It was not because he was feeling nostalgic. Even if he suppressed his presence, his looks were what they were, so he might draw eyes.

He didn’t mind it much anymore, but today he wanted time alone.

‘The drink tastes good.’

He only had stir-fried vegetables as a side, yet a single cup seemed to ease body and mind. That was enough. This seat was worth it for that one cup.

Chewing the stir-fry that had cooled to an easy warmth, Jin-hyeon fell into thought.

‘She must have had it rough.’

As he saw it, Im Yeo-wol was not someone who fit the Kangho.

At least so far. People can change at any time, so if she soaked into the Kangho she might become a person wholly different from now.

Seol So-ha came to mind as well.

Seol So-ha was a stark contrast to Im Yeo-wol.

Born to a martial family, Seol So-ha could be said to have ample Kangho experience, but she had never rolled at the bottom of it, so she lacked real combat experience.

On the other hand, Im Yeo-wol had lived at the bottom and gained rich real combat experience, yet because she had lived like a doll, she could not be said to have enough Kangho experience.

‘If the two grew close, they could be of great help to each other.’

Unconsciously, Jin-hyeon let out a sigh.

‘My people.’

He, Han Cheol-sang, and Seol So-ha had yet to see Im Yeo-wol’s true face.

‘Find yourself quickly. Only then will you know whether a blade suits you or coin does.’

Even if Im Yeo-wol learned outstanding arts, he did not mean to force her into the main fighting force. If she grew quickly and helped with force, good. If it did not suit her nature, who would force her.

Even in Murim and the Kangho there is no law that you must only swing a blade, so for now he would see what path suited her.

‘It is this hard just to look after one or two of my own.’

Inwardly, Jin-hyeon wore a wry smile.

‘Make Sichuan my house… This is no ordinary ambition.’

One cup became two, two became three.

Drinking neither in haste nor slowly, Jin-hyeon’s face looked at ease apart from his tangled thoughts.

After some time passed, a shadow fell across his table.

Finishing a mouthful of stir-fry, Jin-hyeon poured a cup and asked,

“Want a drink?”

“…”

“Dropping by unannounced is not rude, but if you just stare without a word you make me feel awkward.”

At that, the bamboo-hat youth bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

“I wonder how conversations can be this clumsy lately. What is that sudden thanks for?”

“For the part about the Seeping Energy… thank you for telling me.”

Awkward and stiff, and slow besides, the youth’s voice was nothing if not stifling.

Smirking, Jin-hyeon asked,

“Have you eaten?”

“…Not yet.”

“Eat. I’ll pay.”

“Ah, no. I didn’t even pay for the noodles last time, and you warned me when I was nearly hurt. I cannot take a meal on top of that.”

“Yeah?”

“If you do not mind, I will pay.”

“Quick with calculations, are you? You’ll go far.”

“…”

“What are you doing, not sitting.”

“Ah, may I?”

“You’re a funny one, really.”

Carefully sitting on the opposite side, the youth’s posture was especially polite.

Jin-hyeon drank in silence. The stir-fry was half gone. After pointlessly gauging the mood, the youth fidgeted and took off his bamboo hat.

Only then did Jin-hyeon meet the youth’s eyes.

“Is this the first time we sit facing each other calmly like this?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you keep covering that handsome face? Your features are clear. Not bad.”

It was no empty flattery. His face truly was handsome. The eyes drooped a little, so though the features were distinct, he gave an impression not of fierceness but of kindness.

The youth coughed, abashed.

“You are far more handsome, Great Hero.”

“Do not call me great hero. I am not that good a person.”

“…Ah, yes.”

“Do not just sit there. Order something. You must be hungry.”

The youth immediately called the server and ordered noodles, a bottle of liquor, and a plate of stir-fried vegetables.

Jin-hyeon tapped the table with his chopsticks.

“I get that you like noodles. But stir-fried vegetables again?”

“Huh? Ah, so you can have more…”

“We’re not rabbits. How does a person live on greens alone? Order meat.”

Blinking for a moment, the youth rushed to the server and returned after adding an order of duck.

‘An amusing kid.’

Smiling, he emptied his cup. The liquor and cups arrived before the noodles and duck. Jin-hyeon poured his drink into the youth’s cup.

“Thank you. If there is anything else you would like…”

“Jin-hyeon.”

“Yes?”

“That is my name.”

“Ah, Great Hero Jin.”

He was neither surnamed Jin nor a great hero, but Jin-hyeon let it pass. He was too tired to correct it each time.

“And you?”

“I…”

Hesitating, the youth finally spoke in a creeping voice.

“I am Do Il-gang.”

“I was not there before the matches began, so I didn’t hear the calling of your name. I suppose you used an alias.”

The youth, Do Il-gang, opened his eyes wide.

“How did you know?”

“How many like you do you think there are in the Kangho? It’s not hard to give three syllables of a name after skipping out on paying for noodles, yet you chose not to. That means you used an alias on the duel stage as well.”

Unlike Jin-hyeon, who spoke and emptied his cup, Do Il-gang only fiddled with his cup in both hands.

Jin-hyeon did not press him to drink.

“First time out in the Kangho?”

Do Il-gang smiled awkwardly.

“It shows a lot, doesn’t it?”

“It pours off you. Your whole body screams first-timer. Have you been swindled out of money anywhere yet?”

“…Not yet, I think.”

“As expected, you still have a long way to go.”

“Huh?”

“You’re being swindled by me right now.”

Do Il-gang set his face and said,

“You told me something that might have left me gravely ill. I received a great favor. I cannot call this being swindled.”

“Kangho has always grown by sucking the blood of the generous.”

“Even if I were to lose all I have like this, I would never regret it. In my heart I would rather repay the favor formally than with money.”

“Do you not know how important money is?”

“I think nothing is more important than a debt on the heart.”

His blatant awkwardness was amusing, but Jin-hyeon chose to stop joking.

“Hold fast to that.”

“Huh?”

“Guard that gentle, steadfast mindset.”

“?!”

“The gales of the Kangho can turn even a gentleman into a villain if he grows careless. But those truly strong do not lose their roots though swept by the world’s waves.”

“!!”

“Even if you are stained and worn down, even if you despair and feel like dying, keep that nature. Yours is a rare one worth using.”

“…”

Do Il-gang’s eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.

About to pour his own cup, Jin-hyeon cocked his head.

“Hey. Are you only going to let me pour? My cup is the empty one, why aren’t you pouring it for me? So heartless.”

“It’s the first time.”

“Pouring a drink?”

“It’s the first time I’ve met someone who said the same as my master.”

“Do not make me laugh. You said you are new to the Kangho. You’ve yet to meet many people. What’s grand about being the first?”

“But…”

Do Il-gang recalled his master’s words.

‘This master has lived committing many wrongs. The greatest wrong was losing myself. My disposition was not even as good as yours. Your nature is gentle and steadfast, a talent to complete your master’s art, yet I fear you may be swept by the Kangho’s violence and lose your roots. After great trials in later days, you must always look back on yourself.’

Lost alone in thought, he looked back to Jin-hyeon.

Jin-hyeon was grumbling as he drank alone. Mostly things like heartless fellow, awkward as Yeo-wol and the like.

Unthinkingly, Do Il-gang asked,

“Is that really possible?”

“I’m the one who should be asking you that. My cup is empty again.”

“I have heard that being steadfast is not a positive in one who lives in the Kangho.”

Jin-hyeon paused and looked at Do Il-gang.

Do Il-gang kept fiddling with his cup and continued.

“I do not know the knack, nor am I wise. They say that being simple is no different from being easy to deceive in the Kangho.”

“…”

“With such a nature, I would say I am unfit for the Kangho…”

“You. Do you know what accounts for the largest portion of tiger deaths?”

“Huh? Ah, I do not.”

“They die to their prey.”

“?!”

“They die to deer and cattle horns, to the kick of a horse, or take fatal blows from boars. They rarely die fighting one another.”

“…”

“In the Kangho, not everyone needs to be fierce, violent tigers. If you’re stubborn, be a big ox. If you’re plain and honest, be a swift horse. That’s enough.”

Do Il-gang’s eyes went round.

Pouring, Jin-hyeon said,

“If you let your nature rot, it ends there. You can be steadfast yet wise, simple yet quick-witted. And that is a matter of experience, pure and simple.”

“!”

“Do not become sly chasing wisdom, nor become petty chasing tact. The moment you are trapped by the meaning of a word, you can no longer see beyond it.”

Emptying another cup, Jin-hyeon grumbled,

“Enough. I’ll fill my own cup.”

“Ah, I’m sorry!”

Do Il-gang hurried to fill his cup. Jin-hyeon smiled and received it with courtesy.

“I was enjoying the mood of drinking alone and starting to get bored. Good timing for an amusing kid to show up.”

“Let us drink.”

“Good.”

The two drained their cups clean.

After a moment, the duck and noodles arrived.

Jin-hyeon happily tore into the meat. But Do Il-gang ate neither noodles nor meat.

“Why are you not eating? Do you mean for me to eat it all?”

“Great Hero.”

“Fine, call me what you like. What is it?”

After hesitating, Do Il-gang asked carefully,

“In that case, may I ask one more piece of advice?”

“I had wondered why you ordered so much. What is it?”

“As you said, the Cheongyang Association’s Second Young Master contacted me.”

Jin-hyeon gave a sneer.

“How predictable.”

“He asked so politely that I wondered if I should go, then your words came to mind. I wanted to handle it myself, but I had a bad feeling, so I thought to ask you.”

“So was that your purpose after all?”

“Ah, no. I did think of that, but first I wanted to offer thanks. Truly.”

“You are fun to tease.”

Do Il-gang’s face flushed red.

“Did his underling come in person?”

“Yes. He also delivered a letter from Young Master Ha Jun.”

“Let me see.”

Do Il-gang took the letter from his breast and handed it over.

Jin-hyeon unfolded it, read, and his eyes gleamed.

“Well, well, would you look at them?”