Chapter 173. Time (5)

A few days after Jin Yuseong was dragged away by the Fighting Venerable.

Jin Yuseong’s companions arrived at their destination, the Seomoon Clan.

They delivered the news of killing the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader to Blacksmith Yeo and Yeo Yun along with returning the Twin Axes, and passed on the story about the Unwavering Heart Divine Art to Sama Hyeon.

In addition, they informed them that there was a force spreading wicked martial arts in the Jianghu, and finally delivered everything up to the incident of Jin Yuseong being kidnapped.

After handling all the tasks Jin Yuseong had entrusted. Dang Sopyeong spoke to the party.

“Ahem. Since the Red Moon Falling Flowers is gone now, Miss Cho, it would be better for you to stay here.”

Choyeon’s condition had not completely healed yet.

That was also why he told her to stay here.

Staying with her younger sister would be more helpful for her emotions.

“Brother Hwangbo and Brother Nam, and Miss Baek, what do you intend to do now?”

At Dang Sopyeong’s question, Hwangbo Ak laughed heartily.

“Hehehe. Since Brother Jin is gone too, I plan to go on a duel journey alone. If we ever meet again in the Jianghu, let’s share a conversation with our bodies then!”

Hwangbo Ak, who got up leaving only those words, did not leave the Seomoon Clan immediately.

Hwangbo Ak, who left the door, dashed across the Seomoon Clan’s manor and visited the Leader’s Hall.

“Seomoon Clan Head!! I have come to request a duel!!”

Whether Hwangbo Ak caused a disturbance or not, Baek Hyang answered with a serious face.

“I intend to continue Senior Brother’s will. I will punish villains and cultivate my skills.”

“I, I will also be w-with Hyang-ie. So, Sopyeong, let’s go together!”

At Nam Geon’s words, Dang Sopyeong shook his head.

“The Jin guy’s will is good, but it will be difficult for me to join you. Brother Nam.”

“Wh-why can’t you go together?”

“……Because my skills are vastly inferior compared to the two of you.”

“N-no! So, Sopyeong uses hidden weapons well! W-we caught the Nine Dragons Fortress Leader thanks to Sopyeong!”

“Hidden weapon arts can be improved while together, but the Poison Art is the problem. So for a while, I want to focus on cultivating my skills.”

Dang Sopyeong said so with a very serious expression.

As Nam Geon tried to say something to hold him back, Baek Hyang gently held Nam Geon.

Nam Geon looked at Baek Hyang with a face like he was about to cry, but Baek Hyang shook her head.

“Then I will be looking forward to you coming out after finishing your isolated training. Young Master Dang. Ah, and have you decided where you will train?”

At that question, Dang Sopyeong told them the destination he had in mind since moving toward the Seomoon Clan.

And a few days later. They scattered.

Hwangbo Ak, who eventually fought a duel with the Seomoon Clan Head, left with a satisfied expression.

Dang Sopyeong also left after receiving new hidden weapons from Yeo Yun, and finally, Baek Hyang and Nam Geon also left the Seomoon Clan.

Just as they did when they were with Jin Yuseong, they traveled around training lightness arts and swordsmanship every day.

But that didn’t mean they were just focusing on training.

While journeying through the Jianghu, fights with the Black Way, bandits, and water bandits arose easily.

It could be seen as good luck.

Tremendous masters did not come looking for them, nor did huge traps target them.

Unlike when they were with Jin Yuseong.

But it wasn’t because Jin Yuseong wasn’t there.

After mishaps occurred to the leaders of the three major factions, chaos came to the Black Way and the Unorthodox factions of the Jianghu.

They were busy fighting for power among themselves, and the three major factions, having lost their focal points, also split into several groups.

It could be seen as thanks to the Fighting Venerable.

But they didn’t feel grateful to the Fighting Venerable.

‘If Senior Brother does not return, I will cultivate my skills and surely take revenge on that person.’

Baek Hyang always recalled this vow inwardly and devoted herself to training.

“Do not worry. Brother. Senior Brother will surely be safe.”

While soothing Nam Geon, whose body was ridiculously sturdy but whose heart was tender.

However, Nam Geon didn’t just whine either.

“Ye, yeah. Hy, Hyung-ah will return. So Hyang-ie don’t worry either. Re, recently you seem to be overdoing it.”

Like that, the two moved forward relying on each other.

***

About a year had passed.

Nam Geon and Baek Hyang visited the Seomoon Clan again.

They often visited the Seomoon Clan once in a while to deliver this and that news.

After conveying all appropriate words. Baek Hyang cautiously broached a subject.

“Perhaps…….”

As Baek Hyang cautiously trailed off and asked, Sama Hyeon shook his head.

The biggest reason Baek Hyang and Nam Geon often visited here wasn’t to convey information.

It was because of a shred of expectation that perhaps news about Jin Yuseong had been delivered.

Disappointment momentarily dwelled on Baek Hyang and Nam Geon’s faces.

While Baek Hyang struggled to manage her expression. Sama Hyeon smiled gently, pretending not to know anything, and opened his mouth.

“When do you plan to leave again?”

“Since we finished our business, we are thinking of leaving right away.”

“Hmm. Could you spare a little time?”

While Baek Hyang and Nam Geon made puzzled expressions. Sama Hyeon, who had left the room for a moment, returned. With Choyeon, who had an indifferent face.

“How about Miss Cho joins you from now on?”

All three looked at Sama Hyeon with puzzled expressions.

***

After the party left.

Choyeon spent time with Sama Hyeon and the children who had been kidnapped by the Red Moon Falling Flowers.

They were peaceful days.

She learned writing and benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom from Sama Hyeon, and also engaged in training together.

Sama Hyeon and the children trained with the martial arts manuals Jin Yuseong gave them, and also trained with the basic mental cultivation of the Sama Clan instead of the Unwavering Heart Divine Art.

If Sama Hyeon was the teacher when learning writing, Choyeon was the teacher when training martial arts.

She sometimes gave advice to the children in an indifferent tone, and also corrected Sama Hyeon’s posture.

“The sword tip is shaking. You must focus a little more on your wrist.”

“Thank you. Miss Cho.”

A short while after correcting his posture according to Choyeon’s advice. A strange scene entered Sama Hyeon’s eyes.

Her younger sister Chohui was throwing a question to Choyeon.

“Sister……. Why are you training that?”

Choyeon was training stealth techniques and the killing sword. Exactly the martial arts she learned at the Red Moon Falling Flowers.

To this, Choyeon responded in an indifferent tone.

“Someone said this. It is not what you learned, but how you use it that is more important.”

“Who?”

Choyeon hesitated for a moment and answered calmly.

“Senior Brother.”

For a moment, complex emotions dwelled on the face of Choyeon who said that.

Although she quickly returned to her original indifferent expression, Sama Hyeon did not miss that change.

A few months after that.

Choyeon mostly had an indifferent face, but occasionally revealed expressions.

There were cases where she laughed while with her sister, but it was mostly when stories about Jin Yuseong or the party came up.

One day, Sama Hyeon called Choyeon separately and had a conversation.

“It seems you miss Great Hero Jin and the party.”

Choyeon hesitated for a moment and answered.

“I do not know.”

It was sincere.

She couldn’t know what the emotion of missing someone was.

“I just think of them occasionally.”

It was a journey of only a few months, but for some reason, they kept coming to mind.

Jin Yuseong’s firm tone, Baek Hyang and Nam Geon’s smiling faces.

Even the appearance of Dang Sopyeong who always took care of his comrades while acting grumpy.

At the appearance of the girl who still couldn’t fathom her own emotions, Sama Hyeon nodded and said.

“It seems the Young Lady’s journey has not ended yet.”

A few days later. Baek Hyang and Nam Geon visited the Seomoon Clan.

And when they left, one person had increased.

***

After that, Choyeon joined them again. A small change occurred in their journey.

The atmosphere, which had been somewhat tenacious, softened a little. Even though Choyeon, who spoke the least, had joined.

“Yeo, Yeon-ie eat a little of this too.”

“I am full. Brother.”

“Yeo, Yeon-ie is too thin. You, you must gain weight.”

“……You speak exactly like a grandmother.”

“Hm? Junior Sister. Did we have a grandmother too?”

“……It seems we did when we were young.”

“What kind of person was she?”

At Baek Hyang’s question, Choyeon, who halted, frowned, retraced her memory, and answered.

How long was it that they traveled together taking care of each other like that.

Time flowed, and over three years had passed since the day Jin Yuseong disappeared.

They were still journeying through the Jianghu, but they had changed a little.

“You discovered the tracks of the Unwol Sect?”

“That is so. Sword Phoenix.”

At the Beggar’s Gang beggar’s answer, Baek Hyang nodded.

Recently, instead of moving randomly, they were moving after obtaining information through the Beggar’s Gang and the Twin Heroes Alliance.

What they mainly chased was the Black Way forces that were expanding their power recently, including the Unwol Sect.

After obtaining the necessary information from the Beggar’s Gang beggars. They left the village.

And two days later.

A young man dressed in black visited the Beggar’s Gang beggars.

That young man asked the Beggar’s Gang members about the whereabouts of Nam Geon, Baek Hyang, and Choyeon.

“I am looking for these three.”

The Beggar’s Gang members answered acting like beggars as usual.

“Aigo. What do you mean to us beggars for whom even begging is difficult.”

“We have never seen such people.”

At this, the young man sighed lightly, searched his sleeve, and took something out.

“I came from the Seomoon Clan.”

It was a silver token indicating a guest recognized by the Seomoon Clan Head.

Then the reaction of the Beggar’s Gang members changed.

“Ahem. You were a young hero from the Twin Heroes Alliance.”

“Hoh. Although it is the Twin Heroes Alliance, seeing that the Seomoon Clan Head recognized you, your skills must be quite outstanding.”

At the reaction of the Beggar’s Gang members, for some reason, that young man paused for a moment and nodded.

“That is so. I came from the Twin Heroes Alliance. So, please tell me where these three people headed.”

At the young man’s question, the beggars answered with all their heart and sincerity.

At this, the young man frowned and asked back.

“Even the Unwol Sect’s martial force unit and an Elder moved, so why did they send only those three there?”

At the question full of worry, the Beggar’s Gang members let out hollow laughs.

“What kind of nonsense is that? If the Chairman stepped forward himself, it might be different. But do you think mere Black Way bastards can do anything to Adamant Sword Great Hero, Sword Phoenix, and Cold Flower?”

“……I heard the three are quite young?”

“Did you perhaps just come out from training in some mountain? You joined the Twin Heroes Alliance knowing nothing.”

“Ahem. I am on my way out after finishing isolated training a while ago.”

“Hahaha. So that was it.”

The Beggar’s Gang members who burst into laughter chattered proudly as if it were their own business.

“There is no need to even worry about Adamant Sword Great Hero. Even if a supreme master attacks with full power, not a single downy hair will be hurt.”

“Also, Cold Flower’s footwork and stealth techniques have already reached a high stage. Fairly decent Black Way bastards won’t even be able to chase Cold Flower’s shadow. Do you know what Cold Flower’s other alias is? It is Shadowless Fairy.”

“And speaking of Sword Phoenix……. Honestly, she is the scariest of the three.”

At the last old beggar’s words, the other Beggar’s Gang members showed puzzled reactions.

“Scary, what do you mean by that?”

“Yes. Doesn’t her always smiling appearance look exactly like a fairy?”

“If only I wasn’t a beggar, I would want to try talking to her once. Hall Leader.”

At the young beggars’ reactions, the old beggar snorted.

“Tsk. Beggar’s Gang members being this stupid. Are you chattering like that after seeing Sword Phoenix fight in person?”

“Have you seen it, Hall Leader?”

“Yes. I saw it in person. I think I understand why the Black Way bastards call Sword Phoenix that. Do you know what the Black Way bastards call Sword Phoenix?”

As the young beggars stood blankly, the old beggar answered himself.

“Two-Faced Rakshasa. Usually, she is always smiling, but when she sees Black Way bastards, she slaughters them with a face colder than that Cold Flower.”

As if recalling the appearance of Sword Phoenix slaughtering Black Way bastards, the old beggar trembled.

Finding that appearance funny, the young man smirked and turned his back.

“I have urgent business, so I will get going.”

As the opponent didn’t seem to believe his words, the old beggar shouted urgently.

“Look here! It is true! She is a really scary young lady, so do not even think about doing anything strange just because you are captivated by her looks!”

Despite the old beggar’s warning, the man left without a word.

“Tsk. Tsk. He is a guy who surely invites trouble.”

At the old beggar’s monologue, a young beggar beside him asked.

“By the way, is Sword Phoenix really that scary?”

Since the Beggar’s Gang members had only seen Baek Hyang’s gently smiling face, they didn’t dare imagine it.

To this, the old beggar nodded with a serious face.

“Have you heard of the Ghost Sword Young Master revered by the Twin Heroes Alliance?”

“Is there any Beggar’s Gang member who doesn’t know the Ghost Sword Young Master? By any chance, have you met the Ghost Sword Young Master too, Hall Leader?”

“I haven’t met him, but honestly, in my view, it seemed Sword Phoenix would grow into a more terrifying master than that Ghost Sword Young Master.”

“Ah…….”

While the young beggars let out exclamations. The old beggar who was discussing Sword Phoenix tilted his head.

Why was it?

discussing the Ghost Sword Young Master, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

Pondering over this, the old beggar recalled something and made an astonished expression.

The face of the young man who visited just now was familiar.

Three years ago. It was similar to the face in a certain portrait that circulated among Beggar’s Gang members.

“Gh, Ghost Sword Young Master.”

“Yes. Hall Leader. I understood the saying that Sword Phoenix is superior to Ghost Sword Young Master.”

“Th, that is not it. I mean the Gh, Ghost Sword Young Master has returned.”

“……Yes?”

Whether the beggars looked at him as if he had dementia or not, the old beggar shouted with an astonished face.

“I’m saying that guy just now is that very Ghost Sword Young Master!!”

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