Chapter 145: Tracking (2)

To the east of Anhui was Mount Huangshan, renowned across the continent for its breathtaking scenery.

Beside it stood Mount Jiuhuashan, counted among the four great Buddhist mountains of the continent along with Mount Wutaishan, Mount Emeishan, and Mount Putuoshan.

With so many famous mountains, Anhui was a land known for its peaks. However, Myoseon Mountain, despite being so steep that only wild cats could climb it, was still called “Little Huangshan” by the people of Anhui because its scenery was said to rival that of Mount Huangshan.

Upon hearing this, Jegal Yeongcheon spoke.

“There’s a chance that Ihwa Palace might be on Myoseon Mountain.”

However, Namgung Yoo shook her head.

“There’s never been a report of such a large structure existing there. We’ve even questioned the people living near Myoseon Mountain, but no one has ever claimed to have seen a sect or a pavilion there. Our clan checks the surrounding mountains every few years to monitor activity, so we know this well.”

“Then why is the tracking hound heading toward Myoseon Mountain?”

“We can’t be certain. It might change direction midway.”

“There are only a few counties between here and Myoseon Mountain. It doesn’t make sense for Ihwa Palace to be in any of them, does it? If it’s anywhere, it has to be on Myoseon Mountain.”

Namgung Yoo replied to Jegal Yeongcheon.

“That’s something we can’t know for sure.”

Determined to be certain, Yong Hwarin continued following the tracking hound.

Since the hound hadn’t lost the scent, he believed they would eventually find their target.

While they pursued the trail, Pang Cheollyeon became noticeably withdrawn, avoiding conversation with anyone.

She only spoke to Yong Hwarin when necessary and never initiated a conversation.

She was tormented by the guilt that Pang Giyok had been captured by Ihwa Fairy because of her.

Yong Hwarin had been about to approach her to offer comfort when he noticed someone else doing so first, making him smile.

It was Mu Iso, currently serving as the captain of the Heavenly Central Sect’s Bi-ryong Squad of ten.

“Lady Pang, I noticed you haven’t been eating,” Mu Iso said.

Pang Cheollyeon gave a sorrowful smile as she looked at him.

“I can’t seem to swallow anything.”

“Because of Master Pang?”

Pang Cheollyeon nodded.

“My brother could have escaped that day, but he threw me to Brother Hwarin to save me.”

“Are you starving yourself because you feel guilty?”

“Yes. Just thinking about my brother makes my chest ache… He’s the one who should restore the Pang Clan’s honor. Imagining what might happen to such a man in the hands of that wicked woman…”

Pang Cheollyeon, who had always seemed like a woman of iron will, trembled slightly.

Mu Iso started to offer words of comfort but then firmed his resolve.

In truth, that wasn’t why he had come to her.

“Lady Pang, there are only two choices available to you right now.”

“What are they?” Pang Cheollyeon asked as she looked at Mu Iso.

Since the first day of their pursuit, he had always treated her kindly, so she had no ill impression of him.

Besides, he didn’t seem to harbor any personal desires toward her, so she didn’t mind speaking with him.

He felt more like a cousin from her clan than anyone else, making her feel more at ease than she did even with Yong Hwarin.

“First, you need to steel your heart and bring your body to its best condition so that when you face the enemy, you have the strength to save your brother. If you’re too weak when the opportunity comes, it will haunt you for the rest of your life. Second, you need to grow stronger so you can create even more chances to save him if you face the enemy again. As his sister, isn’t saving him with your own strength the best thing you can do? Right now, by withdrawing like this, refusing to eat or train, you’re throwing away every opportunity with your own hands.”

Hearing this, Pang Cheollyeon’s face stiffened for a moment.

“If you’re truly of the Pang Clan, shouldn’t you return every blow you’ve received? That’s what I’ve always heard about the people of the Pang Clan. That’s why I’m proud that our Young Sect Leader is friends with you, Lady Pang.”

At those words, Pang Cheollyeon suddenly began to shed tears.

“Do I seem like a fool?”

“Lady Pang looks foolish when she cries, but still beautiful.”

That comment finally brought a smile to Pang Cheollyeon’s face.

“After I eat, will you spar with me? I think you’re right—I don’t have time to waste like this.”

“Of course. I may not match the Young Sect Leader, but I won’t fall short in helping you train.”

“We’ll see if that’s true soon enough.”

Pang Cheollyeon, pure as ever, immediately stood and began eating.

After finishing her meal, she took her sword and stepped into the inn’s backyard.

“Come to the yard. Don’t complain later about having to spar all night. I’ll make you regret snapping me out of it, Brother Mu.”

Seeing Pang Cheollyeon regain her spirit, Yong Hwarin let out a sigh of relief.

‘Even if I had tried to comfort her, I wouldn’t have done it as well as Captain Mu. I guess I can leave her in his care for now. The two of them actually make a good pair.’

As he watched the two with a pleased smile, Jegal Cheongyeong’s voice sounded from behind him.

“It’s like watching a big brother with his little sister.”

Yong Hwarin sensed Jegal Cheongyeong approaching but didn’t move away.

He hadn’t properly spoken with her since leaving the Namgung Clan. There had been too many eyes on them even on the Soho ship, leaving no chance for a private conversation.

Both Jegal Cheongyeong and Yong Hwarin didn’t want to keep things ambiguous any longer, so she had approached him even though the timing wasn’t ideal.

“Because Yeon Mae seems to have regained her strength.”

“You were looking at her like she was your younger sister.”

As Jegal Cheongyeong said that, she felt a sharp ache in her chest.

It was because the one who used to look at her with that same gaze was none other than Yong Hwarin himself.

But now, those eyes, which seemed to be looking at someone entirely different, felt like a dagger piercing her heart.

“Was it like that? I guess it’s because Giyok is her friend, so I’m concerned.”

Of course, that was part of it, but Yong Hwarin also hoped that Pang Cheollyeon and Mu Iso might grow close and form a good relationship.

However, the difference in their status made it unlikely they could truly be together.

Mu Iso was nothing more than an ordinary martial artist from a small, insignificant sect, while Pang Cheollyeon was the cherished jewel of the Pang Clan.

Even if they couldn’t become a couple, watching them lean on each other gave a pleasant feeling.

“That person is a lot like Brother Hwarin.”

“Is that so?”

“He knows how to comfort other people’s pain. Brother Hwarin used to be like that too.”

“I see.”

Yong Hwarin replied as if it were something from long ago, making Jegal Cheongyeong smile bitterly.

“Have you recovered from your internal injuries?”

“Yes.”

As Yong Hwarin was about to speak again after a brief silence, Jegal Cheongyeong opened her mouth at the same time.

“Um, about that… I mean—”

“Brother Hwarin—”

They both stopped and looked at each other, letting out a small chuckle.

It was laughable how stiff and awkward things had become between them.

After all, they had once been betrothed before birth and might have even married.

Yet now, they treated each other like distant strangers, which was almost ridiculous.

“You go first.”

When Jegal Cheongyeong yielded, Yong Hwarin smiled softly.

In the past, Jegal Cheongyeong would have spoken first and looked him straight in the eyes without hesitation.

But now, she had learned to step back and yield to others. It was a sign of her growth.

Yong Hwarin believed that the difference between maturity and immaturity was whether one could suppress their own desires and consider others first.

“No, you go first. You must have something to say since you came all the way here.”

He spoke gently, and Jegal Cheongyeong licked her lips before opening her mouth.

“Do you resent me?”

“Are you talking about breaking off the betrothal?”

“Yes.”

Yong Hwarin felt a pang in his heart, realizing she was still holding on to that.

In truth, to him, not only Jegal Cheongyeong but all the daughters of prestigious clans seemed more like little girls than women.

Even though they were of similar age now, Yong Hwarin couldn’t see them as women but as young girls, and he felt no romantic emotions toward them.

When Jegal Yohye gave him strange glances, he felt like he was committing a crime. Whenever Shangguan Mijong, Seomun Seoseol, or Pang Cheollyeon looked at him with affection, he felt his heart shrink and pretended not to notice.

After all, his mind had already lived for fifty years, and he couldn’t see such young women as potential companions.

Jegal Cheongyeong was no exception, and that was why he had let her go to give her freedom.

“I was the one who suggested breaking off the engagement. If anyone should feel guilty, it should be me. Why are you burdened by it? That’s foolish. I guarantee that you will become one of the greatest female martial artists in the future. So stop worrying about things like that and follow the path you want.”

“Really? Stronger than Brother Hwarin?”

She had let it slip, unintentionally revealing that she still saw Yong Hwarin as her rival.

But Yong Hwarin smiled and answered without hesitation.

“Of course, really. You’ll surpass me. In the future, when people talk about female masters of the martial world, they won’t leave you out.”

In fact, Jegal Cheongyeong would one day be recognized as one of the Three Great Female Masters of the Martial World, so it wasn’t a lie.

Whether she would surpass him was another matter entirely.

Jegal Cheongyeong couldn’t help but smile at Yong Hwarin, who spoke as if he truly believed it.

‘Brother Hwarin was always like this. He always spoke with confidence about me. Back then, I thought he was just trying to flatter me, but now I realize he genuinely believed in me.’

Seeing that the atmosphere between them had softened, Yong Hwarin carefully brought up another topic.

“I didn’t want to say this because I thought it might sound presumptuous, but since we share some history, I hope you won’t take it the wrong way. You must have been deeply shocked by what happened this time. You’ve devoted your life to martial arts, so I can only imagine how devastating it must have been. But don’t ever think that you lost because your level was low. They were senior masters from the previous generation, and the ones commanding them are even greater. It’s not unreasonable that we couldn’t handle them.”

In truth, the one who needed comfort the most right now wasn’t Pang Cheollyeon, but Jegal Cheongyeong.

She had lost almost all her pride as a martial artist and had been feeling crushed lately.

Since she was young, she had been called a genius and had received countless privileges from her clan. As she grew, her talent stood out even more, and no one of her age could match her.

Even though she was a woman, she had no shortcomings in her growth as a martial artist.

She had considered Namgung Soomyung and Pang Giyok as her only worthy rivals.

But now, all of those thoughts had crumbled, leaving her feeling empty.

And the one standing before her was the person who had shattered all her preconceived notions of martial arts.

‘Perhaps Brother Hwarin is stronger than all of us combined.’

She could never have imagined thinking like that before.

After all, Yong Hwarin had once been nothing more than the Young Sect Leader of a small sect in Henan, barely keeping its name alive.

Moreover, he had been so frail that it seemed like he could die at any moment.

Yet now, he had surpassed the heirs of prestigious clans and even killed senior masters from the previous generation, reaching a level that was beyond comprehension.

‘I didn’t even realize that and dared to throw him away, thinking he was a hindrance to my martial cultivation. I trampled on his pride, not even worth a fraction of him.’

Jegal Cheongyeong looked at Yong Hwarin and asked.

“Brother Hwarin, how did you become so strong? Was that frail appearance of yours really just an act to deceive people, like the rumors say?”

Jegal Cheongyeong still couldn’t forget the sight of Yong Hwarin turning pale just from running a little.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep