I Was Glad To Be Together. (4)

Before long, the Yin Monster will arrive here.

Murim Alliance leader Hwa Ryeong Satae had to make a decision quickly.

Either wait and fight back, or simply flee as they were.

There wasn’t much time left.

But the outcome was as good as already decided.

Considering the shoulder wound sustained from the Yang Monster’s Blazing Light Single-Line Pierce, fighting the Yin Monster would be reckless.

To make matters worse, didn’t the Storm Rider—whom they thought they had grievously wounded—still seem far from well?

Hwa Ryeong Satae glared at Yu Jinsan with eyes full of rage.

“We’ll withdraw for today, but we’ll meet again soon.”

She felt like losing a fish she had nearly caught right before her eyes.

If only a little more time had been given, she could have annihilated them.

The Murim Alliance leader, Elder Mu-jin of the Wudang Sect, and Hwa Ryong-gae of the Beggars Union didn’t hesitate and turned their backs to flee.

Watching them run, the crowd that had gathered from the minor sects cheered.

“Those wicked bastards are running away!”

“Wooooaaah!!!”

They were no longer people who feared the leader.

As the shouting died down, someone could no longer hold back and voiced reproach.

“Everyone, did you see that!? Just now the Murim Alliance leader tried to exterminate us!”

With the Yin Monster coming, what was there to be afraid of?

Others also looked toward the direction the leader had disappeared and chimed in.

“We all saw it! Truly the vilest scoundrels under heaven!”

“The Yin Monster Great warrior will not forgive you!”

“Hey, you foul-tempered nun, aren’t you afraid of heaven!!”

They were hurling insults at the retreating Murim Alliance leader when it happened.

The Storm Rider raised a hand and restrained the crowd’s provocation.

Silence fell, and Meng Nam-cheon limped toward him.

“Are you alright, Master?”

The Storm Rider’s complexion, normal just a moment ago, was rapidly turning pale.

He looked as if something was terribly wrong, like a person choking on rice cake, about to stop breathing.

A short time passed like that.

Suddenly, black blood gushed from his mouth.

“Ugh!”

Immediately his body sagged and collapsed. This was the same Storm Rider who had been fighting bravely against the Murim Alliance leader moments before.

It was an almost unbelievable sight.

“M-Master!”

With the one he relied on collapsing, Meng Nam-cheon looked thrown into confusion.

Yu Jinsan, who was in relatively better condition, quickly approached and laid the Storm Rider down neatly.

He then checked pulses here and there and was considerably shocked.

“The condition is grave. Perhaps…”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.

His insides were so completely turned over that it was a wonder he was still alive.

‘How on earth did he hold on with this body?’

Until the Murim Alliance leader vanished from sight he had seemed fine. He was clearly pretending to be okay.

His indomitable will was almost worthy of respect.

“H-How is it?”

Meng Nam-cheon was visibly restless.

Yu Jinsan understood his feelings, but there was no way to hide the truth.

Yu Jinsan slowly shook his head.

“All his meridians and blood channels are severed; there’s no remedy. It seems he even drew upon his innate vital energy…”

Innate vital energy is the primal life force one is born with. It’s more powerful than ordinary internal skill, but if used up completely, it kills the user.

He must have used every means to withstand Hwa Ryeong Satae’s fierce assault.

“W-What did you say just now?”

Yu Jinsan sighed in frustration and rose from his seat.

“I’m sorry… you must prepare for the end.”

In truth, Meng Nam-cheon had guessed to some extent; he simply didn’t want to believe it.

“M-Master!”

A person who had seemed fine moments ago was dying. It was impossible to accept.

Yet Storm Rider was clearly losing life force rapidly.

Meng Nam-cheon dropped to his knees, cradled him, and sobbed aloud.

He was the protector of Zhejiang Province and a pillar of strength.

There was no one who did not grieve.

“R-Really, are you saying the elder is passing away?”

“This cannot be…”

The atmosphere sank dramatically.

Then a girl’s voice, full of internal qi, echoed from somewhere.

“Who’s dying!?”

Everyone’s gaze turned upward.

Yu Seol, who had left for Jiangsu Province, was descending from the sky.

Swoosh!

The martial folk stepped aside left and right to clear a path.

So the Yin Monster could reach him.

The winded Storm Rider weakly turned his head.

“…Um, Yin Monster sister.”

A small child of about seven was lying there with difficulty; the sight was unbearably pitiful.

Yu Seol ran over in a stride and sat by his head to check his condition.

What on earth had happened?

With his meridians severed, even adding qi was impossible.

“Who did this? Who did it!?”

Yu Seol narrowed her brow and looked around.

She was trying to find the villain.

Yu Jinsan, watching silently from behind, quietly informed her.

“The Murim Alliance leader did it.”

One of Yu Seol’s hands trembled. She could hardly contain her anger.

“Grr…”

The Murim Alliance leader, whom she had been itching for, had come here.

Yu Seol felt like finding her immediately and beating her to death.

But she couldn’t do that now; Storm Rider’s life was hanging by a thread.

His body began to convulse slowly.

“…Guh…”

Tears like drops of chicken droppings fell from Yu Seol’s eyes. (note: idiomatic small tears)

“D-Don’t die!”

They had only known each other a short time, but she had grown fond of him in that span.

A small body barely reaching her chest, with a round head.

And a hand as small and fitting as a baby’s. Seeing his fragile form broke her heart.

She knew he was older than her, but Yu Seol felt as if she were losing a real younger brother.

Everyone was engulfed in sorrow and could not speak.

After a short time of sobbing like that.

Suddenly, something strange occurred.

“M-Master!?”

Meng Nam-cheon widened his startled eyes.

Suddenly vitality returned to the dying Storm Rider’s face.

A clarity of righteous aura filled his eyes like never before.

“Do not grieve, my disciple.”

It was a small voice, but the pronunciation was clear as if from a healthy person.

But it wasn’t something to be rejoiceful about.

Meng Nam-cheon could easily perceive that this was only a temporary phenomenon.

A final flare. Like a candle burning bright for a moment just before it goes out.

It wouldn’t last long.

“…M-Master.”

A benevolent smile appeared on the Storm Rider’s face as he looked up at Meng Nam-cheon.

“Seeing you today, I know I didn’t teach you wrongly. Always hold your pride and stand tall as you do now.”

“…Yes. I swear it.”

“Alright. I have something to say to Yin Monster sister, so give us some space.”

There wasn’t much time.

Meng Nam-cheon sprang up, raised both hands, and signaled everyone to back away.

As everyone widened the distance, Yu Seol formed a sound barrier around them to block noise.

Then, bursting into tears, she spoke.

“Sob… I’m sorry for tricking you until now, Grandfather.”

Now she had to tell the truth.

It was something she couldn’t hide until the end.

But the Storm Rider still looked like he didn’t understand.

“What do you mean by that?”

Yu Seol wiped her tears with her sleeve and said.

“I’m actually eleven years old…”

The Storm Rider didn’t believe a word of it.

Instead, a warm smile spread across his face.

“Sister. Are you sparing me so I can leave smiling at the end?”

“Hing.”

What could she do if he didn’t believe her?

In any case, having told the truth, she would have no regrets.

At that moment the Storm Rider spoke in an even weaker voice.

“Q-Quickly, search my left inner pocket. There’s a gift there for you, sister.”

Yu Seol hurriedly opened his clothing.

Her heart ached at the sight of the red, scorched wound through the torn fabric.

And somewhere in there, a neatly folded bundle of papers came out.

“Th-This?”

“This contains the martial art I’ve devoted my life to studying. I failed, but perhaps… perhaps you, sister, could complete it.”

It was surely a precious item, but there was no mind to inspect its contents now.

Nodding, Yu Seol hurriedly searched her own bosom and pulled out something that glittered.

“I brought a gift too. A golden frog… pretty, isn’t it?”

Yu Seol pressed it firmly into the Storm Rider’s small hand.

But what use was a gift when he was already dying?

Still, the Storm Rider looked truly happy.

“Th-Thank you. Take it with you to the afterlife… And could you grant me one favor?”

The Storm Rider’s voice grew ever softer. There didn’t seem to be much time.

“…Mm. Say it quickly.”

“This place is where I have lived for one hundred and eighty years. Protect those children here in my stead.”

He meant the martial folk of Zhejiang Province, including Soyo Mountain Villa.

Even dying, he diligently performed his role as guardian of this place.

Yu Seol, choking with tears, spoke urgently.

“I won’t let anyone touch them. So don’t die, okay?”

But the Storm Rider’s life was already fading rapidly.

The final flare was drawing to its end.

Gasping for breath, he squeezed out his last words in this world.

“Short, it was short, but still… I was glad to have been with you, sister.”

“Me too. I was glad to be together.”

At that moment, a faint smile crossed the Storm Rider’s face.

A short while later.

His head slowly fell to the side.

For someone regarded as the supreme of the eastern martial world to pass so pathetically.

The watching crowd began to wail without exception.

Yu Seol closed the Storm Rider’s eyes and sobbed for a long time.

---

After the tumultuous storm passed, peace at Soyo Mountain Villa was restored before long.

Since that day, Yu Seol’s mindset underwent many changes.

In the past she would have recklessly gone after the villain.

But now she did not act rashly.

Whooosh!

A refreshing breeze swept through Yu Seol’s cross-legged hair as it fluttered by.

Yu Seol had been meditating in a cross-legged position at the top of the gorge for days, to calm her mind.

How much time had passed?

After a long while, she sensed someone approaching from behind.

“We finally found you.”

At that moment, Yu Seol slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze looked somewhat different from before.

Her eyes were deep as an abyss and clear as a lake, almost dazzling.

She had grown even more in the meantime.

“Where have you been?”

“He says he’s been staying at the Hogwang Inn in Buyang County.”

Yu Seol rose from her seat and glanced back.

A middle-aged warrior stood there with his hands joined.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Of course it’s our duty. Yang Monster Great warrior and the village chief are already waiting at the entrance.”

---

About 25 km from Soyo Mountain Villa lies a village called Buyang county.

At the inn there, elders of the Murim Alliance sat facing each other.

They hadn’t left and were staying nearby.

Perhaps because of the intimidating presence they exuded, there were no other patrons in the inn; no one dared enter.

And now Hwa Ryong-gae of the Beggars Union was looking at the Murim Alliance leader and asking.

“How is the wound from the Yang Monster?”

Hwa Ryeong Satae still had a bandage wrapped around her shoulder.

The wound from the Yang Monster’s Blazing Light Single-Line Pierce had not yet fully healed.

“It’s healing, so don’t worry. By the way, when will Great Monk Hye-gwang arrive?”

Hye-gwang is the foremost master of the Shaolin Temple and a disciple of Renegade monk Jeong Hye, counted among the top ten martial experts.

He seemed to be joining them here.

“He stopped by the Namgung clan and will join Lord Ga. He should arrive within a few days.”

“We plan to depart as soon as he arrives, so prepare in advance.”

“Are you really going to attack Soyo Mountain Villa again like this?”

They were planning to reinforce their forces and attack Soyo Mountain Villa again.

It was to avenge the earlier humiliation.

Recalling that day’s events, one of the Murim Alliance leader’s eyes flared like a flame.

“Storm Rider is dead; there’s no reason to hesitate.”

“Still…”

Hwa Ryeong Satae spoke firmly as if her decision was already made.

“The Yin Yang Twin Monster are more vicious fellows than the Sword Marquis. If we don’t kill them this time, a backlash will certainly hit us.”

At that moment, Elder Mu-jin of the Wudang Sect, watching silently, spoke with discomfort.

“More than that, the atmosphere in this region seems unusual. It’s as if we’ve come into Heterodox factions territory; everyone is looking at us with unpleasant eyes.”

Hwa Ryeong Satae raised a hand and shut him up.

“So… is that a problem?”

Her single remaining eye stared intently at Elder Mu-jin’s face.

She only sent a look, but receiving it felt like walking on a blade—chilling.

“If we attack Soyo Mountain Villa again without justification, the Murim Alliance’s reputation will…”

“So I asked what the problem is.”

Elder Mu-jin averted his gaze and answered in a low voice.

“…It’s nothing.”

Hwa Ryeong Satae curled one corner of her mouth and snorted a laugh.

“Bugs crawl because they have somewhere to hide their faith. If we crush that, all the noise will disappear.”

Her words were gentle, but her voice was full of intimidation.

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

Hwa Ryeong Satae nodded without the slightest hesitation.

“Elder, you know as well: strength is justification and law. That is the martial world.”

The moment she finished speaking.

Suddenly the inn’s door flung open with a bang.

A girl clutching a spear appeared in the doorway.

“You? Bald one-eyed nun.”

Mu-jin and Hwa Ryong-gae wore stunned expressions. By instinct they sensed the adversary’s identity as the Yin Monster.

Hwa Ryeong Satae twitched her brows and began to assess the situation.

Amid the calm silence.

Yu Seol ignored them and trudged toward the kitchen.

“Uncle. The inn’s going to get a bit wrecked from now on, okay?”

The innkeeper, at a loss, asked back in a dying voice.

“…Yes?”

At that moment Yu Seol piled something up on the shelf in the kitchen.

Clatter-clatter!

“I’ll pay the repair costs in advance.”

It was the staggering sum of six silver coins.

For a small inn like this, it was enough to build a new one and still have money left.

What a windfall! The flustered owner snatched up the coins like a blink.

“Go ahead and make a mess if you must; enjoy yourselves. I’ll step outside.”