Chapter 33

The Divine Blade (33)

Hanseol-hwa, who had come down to the first floor, walked straight to the table located between the inn entrance and the stairs.

There, Myeonggeum was sitting alone, drinking tea.

Although it seemed at a glance that he was letting his guard down, leaning against the wall and cradling his sword at an angle, Hanseol-hwa could clearly feel the subtle web of senses surrounding Myeonggeum.

"Why aren't you sleeping?"

Upon noticing Hanseol-hwa, Myeonggeum straightened his posture.

Since she appeared to be around his age, he only maintained a proper level of courtesy. They had not yet properly introduced themselves due to the commotion during the day.

Hanseol-hwa, who had been staring at Myeonggeum, asked with a faint smile.

"You never let your guard down, even for a moment."

A hint of surprise flickered in Myeonggeum's eyes.

The words she mentioned were the very essence of the Huashan Sect's martial arts, the core chant (歌訣).

The most fundamental and important teaching in learning martial arts.

A secret that had only been passed down orally and could never have leaked outside.

'Was it a coincidence?'

While Myeonggeum was flustered and unable to continue speaking, Hanseol-hwa nodded slightly.

"Well, that's the spirit of Honglin (紅林)."

"Honglin...?"

Myeonggeum, looking puzzled, asked.

"Don't you use 'Meiyin Honglin (梅影紅林)' anymore?"

"Oh!"

Myeonggeum exclaimed.

"In the past, we used to express our sect that way. But when was that expression used...?"

Myeonggeum trailed off ambiguously.

Clearly, they were of a similar age, yet his manner of speaking was slightly uncomfortable. At that moment, Hanseol-hwa met Myeonggeum's gaze.

"From tomorrow, there's no need for you to guard us."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm telling you to return. I think Huashan has shown enough courtesy."

Though unexpected, Myeonggeum quickly composed himself.

"I apologize, but this is not something I can decide on my own."

His attitude was resolute, showing no sign of wavering.

"What if we find it inconvenient?"

Myeonggeum gave a bitter smile.

Guarding someone was meant to ensure safety, even if it meant enduring a bit of inconvenience.

"I am merely following my master's orders."

"You're a stubborn child, aren't you?"

"I don't think I'm a child anymore."

Myeonggeum frowned oddly, as if he were offended.

He had never been treated this way anywhere.

Yet, he couldn't openly show his anger.

'Do I look that young?'

Myeonggeum, taking a new bow, spoke.

"By the way, I should have introduced myself earlier. I am Myeonggeum, one of the three major disciples of the Huashan Sect, and I am in my early twenties this year."

"I heard that already."

"If it's not too much trouble, may I ask for your name and age, young lady?"

"That's impolite."

"Excuse me?"

"A woman's age is not something to be asked."

As Myeonggeum looked at Hanseol-hwa with a perplexed expression, she lifted the veil covering her face.

The moment her face was fully revealed,

"......!"

Myeonggeum was momentarily breathless.

He was captivated by her indescribable beauty. Hanseol-hwa, pouring tea into an empty cup, spoke quietly.

"Your protection was unnecessary from the start."

"......"

"Is there a tiger that needs a rabbit's protection in this world?"

"......"

"Are you listening?"

"Excuse me?"

Myeonggeum, belatedly realizing his rudeness, quickly composed himself. However, he couldn't hide his perplexed feelings when he recalled her words.

Her informal speech, which had been uncomfortable, was no longer an issue. The only problem was how to explain the position of the Plum Blossom Swordswoman in the current martial world.

If he told the truth, it would only tarnish his own reputation.

But if he admitted it without a word, it would damage Huashan's honor.

After some deliberation, Myeonggeum made his decision.

No matter what, he couldn't accept being reduced to a rabbit.

"That's too harsh an evaluation. In the current martial world, each of the Plum Blossom Swordswomen could easily be counted among the hundred great masters."

"Plum Blossom Swordswomen...?"

Hearing the word, Hanseol-hwa's expression softened slightly, and Myeonggeum's heart raced again.

"Have you seen that look before?"

"Excuse me?"

Hanseol-hwa, staring intently at the puzzled Myeonggeum, spoke again.

"Wasn't the leader of the Plum Blossom Swordswomen called the Chief Plum Blossom Swordswoman?"

"Yes."

"Someone who held that position once told me that if I could win his heart, he would throw away that hollow position and all its pretenses. He said he would take off his robe and return to secular life, clinging to me persistently."

"......!"

"That's absurd!"

Myeonggeum revealed his anger for the first time.

He had been restraining himself, trying to fulfill his master's order to guard her with all his heart, but her words had crossed the line.

He, the current Chief Plum Blossom Swordswoman, had never said such things. If her words were true, it must have been the previous Chief Plum Blossom Swordswoman.

'My master would never do such a thing.'

Leaving Huashan for a woman?

"Do not defile my master's reputation with such false dishonor!"

"I don't lie."

"This is your final warning. Huashan does not tolerate insults!"

"Can't you believe me?"

Looking into Myeonggeum's blazing eyes, Hanseol-hwa smiled faintly.

"If what I say is true? Will you stop guarding us?"

"Can you take responsibility for that?"

"How can I take responsibility?"

After a moment of thought, Myeonggeum's face turned red.

"Grant me one wish."

"Whatever it is?"

Hanseol-hwa's voice had a slight chill to it.

"Fine. Do so."

In the past, there were a few who had made such wagers. Most of them were now frozen at the bottom of the Binglin pond.

It was a fitting response to those who made indecent demands.

Unaware of this, Myeonggeum innocently stated his wish.

"Let me continue to guard you."

Surprise flickered in Hanseol-hwa's eyes.

"Is that enough?"

"Of course. A wager should be fair, shouldn't it?"

Hanseol-hwa was pleased with the young man before her.

"Fine. Then how will you verify the truth of my story?"

"My master is currently visiting the Wu Lin Alliance's Xi'an branch on official business."

Myeonggeum wrote a simple letter and handed it to one of the Plum Blossom Swordswomen.

"Make sure to convey everything you've seen and heard here accurately."

Her voice, regardless of age, carried the authority of a leader of the Plum Blossom Swordswomen.

The Plum Blossom Swordswoman, who also showed respect, had a sense of discipline.

After the letter was taken and the Plum Blossom Swordswoman left, Hanseol-hwa invited Myeonggeum to sit.

"Let's drink tea while we wait for the result."

"I'll wait standing."

"Your heartbeat seems too fast. Don't you need to rest a bit?"

"I'm, I'm fine."

"An elder's kindness should not be refused."

"Elder...?"

The word made Myeonggeum's heart uneasy.

If her words were true, she would be of a similar age to his master. Since the day his name was inscribed in Huashan's list of disciples, he had never felt so disoriented.

"Sit down, will you?"

"Ah!"

Myeonggeum's voice betrayed his shock.

A force he couldn't resist enveloped his body, and when he regained his senses, he found himself sitting in the chair opposite Hanseol-hwa.

'What is this?'

It felt as if he had been bewitched by a fox.

Unable to meet her gaze, Myeonggeum fixed his eyes on the window and began to sip his tea.

Fortunately, the woman opposite him didn't speak any further.

That was a relief.

Otherwise, calming his racing heart would have been even more difficult.

* * *

The night in Xi'an was splendid.

Especially in the Hongdeng District, where brothels were densely packed, the phrase "city of light" was not an exaggeration.

However, the brighter the light, the deeper the darkness.

Behind the sweet fragrance of alcohol and the coquettish laughter, countless sighs and tears of women lingered. Disputes over alcohol bills were minor, and bloody incidents with casualties were not uncommon.

That's why someone like Wooi was necessary.

Wooi was someone who lived off the darkness of the Hongdeng District.

He was what they called a "shoulder," a bodyguard hired by the brothels.

Once a renowned bodyguard in a famous escort agency in the martial world, he now guarded this Iwharou. The money from the agency wasn't enough to cover his sister's medical expenses.

Wooi's basic job was to deal with drunk customers.

Those who caused a scene over alcohol bills or behaved badly with the courtesans had to have a conversation with Wooi in a quiet place.

Each time, he resolved the issue using the most primitive and effective method of communication.

Violence.

But occasionally, he had to face experts whose skills surpassed his own, and in those cases, there was no other way.

He had to take the beating until the other person's mood improved.

Fortunately, if he died on the job, a substantial compensation would be paid to his sister.

However, as time passed, Wooi felt the darkness within him deepening.

It was due to the gap between his ideals and reality.

The money he received to save his sister.

That money was ultimately earned by women of a similar age to his sister, selling their laughter and tears.

It was gradually tormenting him.

'There are no customers today again.'

Wooi, watching Iwharou from the darkness, sighed.

The recent unrest caused by the Wu Lin Alliance's martial artists had made the atmosphere in Xi'an uneasy.

As a result, the number of customers had significantly decreased.

Most of the courtesans were sold into debt.

If they didn't pay off their debts daily, the interest would only increase. Thinking about the courtesans who were sighing due to the unexpected downturn, Wooi felt uneasy as well.

At that moment,

Boom.

"......!"

Wooi's lazy eyes turned to shock.

A giant had suddenly dropped from the sky.

'An expert!'

Having spent nearly fifteen years in the martial world, he had never seen such astonishing lightness of body.

A once-in-a-lifetime great figure.

Wooi approached the giant immediately.

"Welcome to Iwharou."

Bangeui turned his head to look at Wooi.

The moment their gazes met, Wooi felt his heart sink.

The continuous stream of light in Bangeui's eyes.

Beyond that, the overwhelming presence that made him feel intimidated.

"Is this where I was really born as a man?"

Wooi belatedly noticed the child Bangeui was carrying.

The child couldn't be more than twelve years old, far too young to enter a brothel.

But there was something even more surprising.

The oppressive aura from Bangeui had vanished as if it were a lie.

"Clear out all the guests inside. I will rent this place entirely for tonight."

"Understood."

Wooi, who answered immediately, led Bangeui to the grand hall.

Fortunately, there were no guests at the moment.

Now, he had to do his best to please the other party. It was best to avoid danger before a minor issue escalated into an uncontrollable disaster.

Wooi, leading the way, signaled to the manager of the brothel. The manager, though slightly hesitant, soon had dozens of beautifully dressed courtesans bring out alcohol and food.

"Ah! The water here is good?"

Bangeui, sitting at the head of the table, smiled at Danaksun.

"Dan Doctor, choose one yourself."

"Why?"

"Pick someone who catches your eye from the women you see here."

Danaksun carefully observed the lined-up courtesans.

"Hmm?"

Danaksun raised his hand and pointed to one.

"That one."

Following Danaksun's finger, Bangeui nodded with a satisfied look.