The Feeling Of Ascension. (4)

Yu Jinsan’s feet were running as if stepping on empty air.

The feeling of racing through the sky by his own will was indescribable.

It was a light footwork skill he couldn’t even have dreamed of before.

“Heh!”

At that moment, Yu Seol matched his stride and asked as she drew near.

“Is it fun?”

“Yes. Until now, I alone had indulged in this feeling.”

Who would have thought the day would come to perform aerial steps with his granddaughter.

Joy that had come after a long while made Yu Jinsan’s heart burn warmly.

The cool wind brushing his skin felt excellent.

“Grandpa, catch me!”

Suddenly Yu Seol accelerated her light footwork skill and was gone in an instant.

Her speed was astonishing, almost like a flash, and her wind-like suppleness drew involuntary admiration.

Yu Jinsan dug in his feet and tried to increase his speed.

But catching up was out of the question; even with the same aerial steps, there was a world of difference between Profound Realm and Supreme realm techniques.

If he was stepping on empty air, Yu Seol moved as if she were flying through the sky.

“Stop right there!”

Yu Jinsan chased after his granddaughter, playing along.

He was entertaining her even though he knew he couldn’t catch her.

She had given him an opportunity for enlightenment, so she deserved this treatment.

The two, running without thinking, arrived at Ho County’s market in no time.

Yu Seol landed on the ground and pointed to a stall.

“That grilled skewer place over there is the tastiest.”

He knew she sometimes went to the market alone without realizing it.

But that she could pick out the exact stall was amusing.

“When did you come here before?”

“Me? I even came this morning and ate.”

“Grandpa was spaced out, and you came alone to the market and bought skewers?”

Yu Seol flinched for a moment.

But what could she do? She quickly smiled, dimples showing.

“Hehe~ I just popped over.”

Yu Jinsan chuckled and patted his granddaughter’s back once.

“I was joking. If you want something to eat, don’t hold back—eat as much as you like.”

“Okay. Then I’ll buy you lots of tasty things today.”

“All right. It’s been a while—I should let my granddaughter treat me.”

He had no choice anyway; in the chaos he hadn’t brought his money pouch.

Yu Seol, quick to notice, must have known and brought it up first.

Standing in front of the stall, the middle-aged woman looked warm and asked first.

“Shall I give you the usual?”

She was definitely a regular.

Yu Seol held out her index and middle fingers folded forward.

“Yes, two please.”

After a moment the owner handed over skewers of grilled chicken hearts.

The nutty aroma assaulted his nose and he could barely focus.

‘Now that I think about it, I’ve had nothing to eat for five days.’

It had been the period he wandered in a dreamlike trance.

Although the perceived time felt like an instant, his instincts could not be hidden.

Suddenly hunger crashed over him like a tide.

“Hurry and try it, Grandpa. It’s good.”

Yu Jinsan quickly took the skewer his granddaughter handed him and bit into it.

The chewy texture and savory taste were superb.

Perhaps because he’d starved for five days, the skewer in his hand became light in an instant.

When he came to his senses, only an empty skewer remained in his hand.

In that moment Yu Jinsan tilted his head—his granddaughter was staring straight at him.

“Why are you staring like that?”

Yu Seol wiped his face with her thumb and asked.

“Were you very hungry?”

Understanding the question’s implication, Yu Jinsan cleared his throat.

To have eaten so hastily that he’d smeared food on his face—his pride was in shambles.

But hunger brooks no pride.

“You haven’t eaten for days. Buy one more.”

“Buy another skewer?”

Having starved for five days, one chicken-heart skewer wouldn’t fill him.

Yu Jinsan clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky.

“Hmm! Very well.”

The savory taste from just now lingered in his mouth.

But Yu Seol, seeming to have other ideas, grabbed her grandfather’s hand and pulled.

“No, let’s go over there. I’ll buy you something else.”

“It’s fine. I want to eat that one.”

“No. You have to eat a variety of things.”

Yu Jinsan wore an incredulous expression.

He wanted another of the skewer he had just eaten, but being refused like this—

There was nothing he could do; the one with the money decides what to eat.

He bitterly regretted not bringing his money pouch.

“Just so you know, Grandpa doesn’t eat candied hawthorns.”

“No. We’re going to eat something even tastier now.”

Yu Seol linked her arm in her grandfather’s as if excited.

As they walked somewhere for a while—

To the right was a stall five shops away.

Four people at an outdoor table sprang up and offered their salutations.

From their attire it was clear they were martial folk of the Heterodox factions.

Yu Seol gave them a little wave.

“Long time no see, misters.”

“Please keep an eye on us!”

Yu Jinsan, watching silently, asked in bewilderment.

“Child. How did you know those guys?”

“They’re disciples of the Dagger Clan. I’ve seen them a few times in the market.”

“Good grief. When did you build such connections without Grandpa knowing?”

The freewheeling Evil factions distribute status according to skill and fame.

As a Evil Faction’s member and a celebrated hero known as the Yin Monster, it was natural she was popular.

Before long another group recognized and greeted them.

“Yin Monster, warrior, where are you going!?”

Five martial artists lined up across from them and offered their salutations.

Yu Seol, recognizing them, smiled brightly in reply.

“Come eat something delicious with my grandpa.”

The eldest-looking of the five asked cautiously.

“If it’s all right, may we treat you?”

“Not now; let’s eat together later.”

As Yu Seol tried to decline, he called out urgently.

“W-warrior!”

“M-May we visit your home sometime?”

Yu Seol hesitated a moment, then nodded.

“All right. I’ll invite you—so bring something tasty when you come.”

“Y-Yes, warrior!”

Their response was full of vigor.

They kept offering salutations until the Yin Yang Twin Monster disappeared from sight.

Yu Jinsan looked at his granddaughter with an incredulous expression.

“What are those kids?”

The martial artists from earlier were not ordinary.

By his estimate, all five were masters of at least peak-level skill.

“They’re called the Knife cut noodles. They once ate noodles with me at the market.”

“When did you even eat noodles with them… But how do they know where our house is?”

“Ah~ I bragged a bit about our home.”

He had tried so hard to keep the location of their home secret.

Yu Jinsan felt a sharp headache at his granddaughter speaking so boldly.

He couldn’t even imagine how many martial folk would come bother them in the future.

Normally he would have said something, but not today.

Today was a day he could accept anything.

“Our child has become a market celebrity.”

“Heehee. Those uncles are so fun. Want to play with them next time?”

“All right. Let’s do whatever Seol wants.”

Yu Jinsan emptied his mind and walked.

Throughout their walk, there were more than a few martial folk greeting them.

Being the heart of Ho County, a stronghold of the Evil factions, it was unavoidable.

Whispers among the martial arts folk everywhere were all about them.

His superhuman hearing from Supreme realm now conveyed even the smallest sounds in detail.

They had been walking for quite a while when—

“Stop for a moment.”

Yu Jinsan stopped and glanced to the right.

There stood a pavilion with a signboard reading ‘Nanhwa Inn.’

He had halted because interesting whispers came from inside.

“Is that really true? Even the Kunlun Martial Emperor was dealt with?”

“That’s what they’re saying. The Murim Alliance is turned upside down and in chaos.”

Yu Jinsan had already heard about it from Baek Gyu.

The rumor that a figure called the Blood Death Guest challenged warriors across the land.

But that even the Kunlun Martial Emperor, counted among the Ten Great Warriors, had been struck—that was unexpected.

This was not something to be brushed off lightly.

Yu Jinsan listened more closely to the conversation coming from inside the pavilion.

“It’s good that a Justice Faction warrior died, but someone has to stop him, right?”

“That’s what I mean. I’m curious who his next target will be.”

“Based on their location, they might be coming over to Shaanxi.”

“Well, that’s possible. Then their destination would be either the Mount Hua Sect or Ho County.”

“If they’re coming to Ho County, they’re after the leader of the Defeating Blade Clan, right?”

“I don’t know. If they’re crazy, they might seek out the Yin Monster.”

“So, they’re coming to commit suicide?”

The martial artists who had been talking all burst into laughter.

As expected, the story about the Blood Death Guest seemed certain.

It would be best to stop by the Paedo Sect soon to find out more.

As he was gathering his thoughts, Yu Seol asked, his voice rasping.

“Do you want to hear more?”

“No. I’m hungry. Let’s go.”

The two returned home only after dusk.

It was past bedtime, but Yu Jinsan couldn’t lie down. He was too full.

He sat alone in a pavilion under the moonlight, panting.

“Oh, my stomach.”

His belly bulged out like a tadpole.

He had never eaten so much in his entire life.

It was because his granddaughter had dragged him around, sharing all sorts of snacks with him.

“This is making it hard to even breathe. I’ll have to digest it somehow.”

After much deliberation, he headed toward the training hall.

He wanted to test Hwa-gyeong’s physical abilities anyway.

Gripping his bamboo stick, he slowly began to dance the spear dance.

It felt distinctly different from before.

His movements, now more delicate and flowing with the wind, resembled the movements of a dancer descended from heaven.

Yu Jinsan was immensely satisfied with his improved martial arts skills.

“Hey, how about a try at herbalism?”

His left foot took a step forward.

At the same time, the spearhead shot out like lightning, unleashing a gust of wind.

Paaaaang-!!

The power was clearly different from before.

In speed. And in depth.

The feeling of the now heavier wave of qi being transmitted to his hand was pleasant.

‘I don’t have to rely on this evil thing anymore.’

I was smiling contentedly, looking at the prayer beads on my left wrist.

“Oh, my grandpa is so cool!”

Yu Seol was approaching with brisk strides, clutching a bamboo stick.

“Aren’t you asleep yet?”

“You promised me we’d spar after the market.”

He hadn’t forgotten that. He was so full he didn’t feel like it, but a promise was a promise.

And Yu Jinsan was also curious at that moment. How long could he last against his granddaughter?

But before that, there was something he had to make clear.

“But there’s one condition.”

“Huh? What is it?”

Yu Jin-san relaxed his shoulders and answered softly.

“You can’t hit my stomach. It hasn’t fully digested yet.”