28 – 02# The Reality of the Earth after Rain (11)

Her ebony hair, shimmering with health, cascaded lightly over her shoulders. The woman’s sharp gaze remained fixed solely on Mu-myung. Judging by her appearance alone, she seemed a young woman, barely past twenty.

It appeared she favored rather provocative attire. The outfit, revealing tantalizing legs and a deep décolletage, would be considered quite daring even by modern standards.

Sua, witnessing such an audacious display for the first time, felt her face flush crimson. In stark contrast, Seol-hwa’s expression remained icily composed as she glared at the woman.

“Rest easy, little dears. Half of what I say is laced with a light jest.”

“Half…? Then what’s the other half?”

“Why, the truth, of course. It is indeed true that my esteemed father’s name is Mu-myung.”

“I can explain all of this.”

Mu-myung, feeling the pressure from either side, desperately tried to cut her off, his tongue tripping over the words. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that every word out of her mouth was like a ticking bomb.

Thankfully, Mu-myung succeeded in recapturing the woman’s attention, pulling it back from the wide-eyed girls. The woman offered a bewitching smile, one that had surely ensnared countless men, and spoke.

“Are we cutting to the chase? I do prefer things to be swift.”

“I, too, have little patience for idle chatter. But we do not even know your name?”

“Is there truly a need to share my name?”

“How can one easily exchange words with someone whose name is unknown?”

The more Mu-myung spoke, the more he realized she was no pushover. The way she wielded her tongue was extraordinary, like dealing with a bewitching serpent.

“A fair point, indeed.”

“Goodness, it’s difficult just to hear a name.”

“Forgive my tardiness. I am Mu-wol, the unworthy leader of the Sado Alliance.”

“…Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the Leader of the Sado Alliance would grace such a place with her presence.”

And as a figure of such immense stature emerged, Mu-myung’s body stiffened with tension. The Sado Alliance was akin to the Murim Alliance among the Righteous Sects – a kind of federation.

Which meant Leader Mu-wol was the equivalent of the Murim Alliance Leader in the Righteous Faction. Mu-myung, who had at most expected the vengeful head of the Black History Sect, now faced a shock that was amplified tenfold. Especially because the Sado Alliance, and indeed the Demonic Path itself, hadn’t held much prominence in recent martial arts novels.

‘Usually, unless the protagonist is from the Demonic Path, they don’t feature much.’

“It seems Great Hero is fatigued.”

“Forgive me, I was lost in thought for a moment.”

“It is quite alright. Now that introductions are complete, shall we perhaps relocate?”

Following Leader Mu-wol’s suggestion, they settled down in a pleasant pavilion. During a brief respite, Mu-myung splashed cold water on his face from a nearby stream, trying to regain his composure. This was more dangerous than he’d anticipated.

‘I was too flustered at first and allowed myself to be led around by the nose. She’s far more dangerous than she appears, I must keep my wits about me…’

The way she commanded the conversation like an unstoppable general rivaled the strength of ten fierce warriors. He had engaged in sword fights countless times, but this verbal battle was his first, leaving him comparatively vulnerable.

From the start, I’d only spent, at most, seven years with Master. And of that, the time we could truly converse was barely two. Even then, most of them were fleeting exchanges.

At best, I’d come down to the village to trade crops and a few beasts from the hunt, but even then, the times we shared anything resembling a real conversation were few enough to count on one hand.

‘But I can grasp the flow of things easily enough.’

Perhaps it was thanks to the cold water that had cooled my muddled head. At last, Myeong’s mind began to whir furiously. The same given name as Father, you said? Then there’s only one answer.

‘She must have come seeking my vanished father… Master, that is.’

Myeong reached the conclusion without difficulty, but it only resulted in a heavier heart. How could one convey a father’s death to his child without causing pain?

But it’s precisely at times like these that you must harden your heart. Cold and callous, perhaps, but ultimately, that is reality. For if you fail to grasp reality, life itself will only become a living hell.

Regaining his composure, Myeong returned to the pavilion. He could already see the warriors of the Sado Clan had arranged themselves there. Small tables laden with food, cushions… and at the center.

“You’ve finally arrived, Great Hero.”

Mu-wol greeted Myeong with a smile that was almost excessively bright and beautiful. Slightly startled by the unexpected warmth, Myeong quickly regained his focus and spoke.

“There is something I must say.”

“I know.”

“What?”

“I know everything already.”

Thirty years. A full thirty years it had been since she lost her father, vanished when she was only five, and she’d spilled countless pints of blood in her relentless pursuit. Even amidst it all, the woman held fast to her faith.

Her father, who had always been so kind, would never abandon his family without a cause. Some misfortune must have befallen him, therefore, she must become the Clan Lord and aid him.

…With that resolve, she had persevered, finally succeeding in ascending to the position of Clan Lord. Though her elder brothers were foolish and greedy, their skills and talents alone rivaled those of her father.

Far more time had passed than she’d anticipated. Yet even through it all, no sign of her father had emerged. What could that possibly mean?

“Even so, I’ve refused to give up and have come this far. It may be a rude request to make of you, Great Hero… but if you would be so kind, would you humor me to the very end?”

Her voice trembled weakly, like that of a person pushed to the very brink. Myeong could not bring himself to refuse the request. It would be fine, wouldn’t it, to humor her for a single day.

More than anything, she was Master’s child.

He had a debt of gratitude to repay, did he not?

◇

The Sohak states that one must revere one’s teacher as one would a parent, that one must always be respectful and deferential. It was perhaps only natural that Sua, a scion of a renowned Righteous Sect family, was familiar with the Sohak.

That was why Sua had initially refused to acknowledge Myeong as her master. At the time, she had yearned to be recognized by Mo Yong-gang. She had believed that it was the only way she would ever become a true member of the family.

But having belatedly realized that it was nothing more than a fleeting dream, Sua’s desires were now solely focused on Myeong, her master. At least, that was what she initially believed.

However, with the appearance of Seol-hwa, the very foundation of that belief began to crumble. Was it truly the case that she merely wished to revere and respect her master as a parent, as the Sohak prescribed?

‘No, that’s absurd. I simply want to revere Master as a parent. Master is the only one who has ever cared for me, he is like a father to me.’

Once ignited, that doubt began to consume Sua’s heart. Especially the sight of Mu-wol acting so familiarly with Myeong. The sight of it filled her with repugnance.

In the end, Sua could not bear it and sought out the stream to splash cold water on her face. After washing her face for some time, Sua let out a hollow laugh. Even this was the same as Master’s behavior.

“Mistress… what are you doing?”

“Ah… Seolhwa. You can just call me comfortably when we’re alone.”

“Does that mean I can call you ‘unni’?”

“Yes. Call me as you please.”

The girl, with her pale skin and snow-white hair, beamed at Su-ah’s answer, and nestled into Su-ah’s arms. This child, too, had lost her family and survived in solitude.

In truth, her circumstances were even more pitiful than her own. To think she had even felt jealousy, if only for a moment. And in that moment, Su-ah’s face began to contort with shock.

Jealousy?

Did I harbor envy?

And towards my teacher, who is like a parent?

If the members of the Moyeong Clan heard this, she would have been punished severely without a doubt. Regardless of age, how could she not know what it meant to harbor romantic feelings for one’s teacher, who was akin to a parent?

“Unni, is something troubling you?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“It’s something. I can tell immediately.”

“What?”

“You’re anxious that that woman will steal Master away, aren’t you?”

The crimson eyes, gleaming eerily in the moonlight, seemed to pierce her heart like arrows. At the sharp words, Su-ah could only stammer, unable to answer properly.

“…How did you know?”

“You got angry once before, remember? Your eyes look exactly the same as they did then.”

“Yes, that’s right. But…this is something I cannot dare interfere with.”

“Why?”

“It’s Master’s affair. Besides, Master also…”

But she couldn’t bring herself to say more. The thought of another woman at Master’s side suffocated her, the constricting feeling so unbearable she felt like she would go mad.

“So, you don’t like it either, do you?”

“…Yes, I don’t like it. But…”

“Then we should just take her place.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! We are Master’s disciples!”

“Why?”

Seolhwa’s crimson eyes glowed redly. A gaze full of conviction, devoid of even a shred of doubt or worry. It was a savage look, more akin to a beast than a person.

“Why can’t it be us?”