Chapter 78

"People... can't give endlessly. They can only give what they have. Of course, if you keep giving, you'll run out. That's why those in higher positions should cherish those below them, and those below should respect those above... This should be the case even among family and friends."

"It doesn't have to be that way."

"What did you say?"

Since he had mumbled it so quietly, she almost missed it.

Ryeon, with a shocked expression, looked at Hwaryun and shook his shoulder.

"Are you really going to some strange temple? Is someone there exploiting you?"

"No, no, I'm not!"

"Then what do you mean by 'It doesn't have to be that way'? You... You! Come to think of it, you said you go to a temple when we first met! Where is it?"

"That was just a joke!"

"Right after we met? You think talking about a cult right after meeting someone is a joke?"

Ryeon held Hwaryun's shoulder with a serious expression.

"Hwaryun, I... I hope you... keep some distance from religion. I hope you don't get involved with Daoism or Buddhism... or anything like that..."

"..."

"Of course, if you want to believe in Buddha, maybe Buddha is... or even Taishang Laojun, that might be okay..."

"What about Guchunxian?"

His appetite, which wasn't great to begin with, vanished.

'That's something they believe in in the Macheon religion!'

"Is religion... necessary? Is your heart... feeling a bit empty? No, I don't mean that believing in religion makes your heart feel empty. Ah! Then, will you just believe in me?"

"..."

"Did I go too far?"

"A little."

"I was just saying it. And I noticed that your actions and words are a bit different."

"What?"

Hwaryun, looking flustered, stared at Ryeon.

"You always try to give back even when you receive just one thing."

"That's... because I think I have to repay it."

Even though he didn't particularly dislike snacks, he wouldn't eat snacks given by others and would give them to Ryeon because he believed he had to repay them.

This was also the reason why he didn't show interest in the various things Ryeon suggested he learn. Learning something requires a significant cost, and the thought of having to repay it made him not want to learn.

When Hwaryun mumbled, Ryeon shook his head.

"You don't have to repay everything."

"What do you mean by 'you don't have to repay everything'?"

"I'm giving it to you because you're cute, so just take it and say thank you!"

"What's the use of being cute? I don't even know what to do with it."

"Do you even know you're cute?"

"Answering a question with another question is something I just learned."

"Is that so? You shouldn't do that, right?"

Hwaryun glanced at Ryeon and pouted.

Ryeon, who was about to say something more, stopped. Although he had spoken confidently, he couldn't say for sure if he had kept all his words.

And there was a boy watching them from a distance, behind a wall, his face hidden by branches.

Danmok Jun

Trait: Rotten Tangerine / Kicking Over the Rice Bowl / Under the Dark Shadow / Overgrown Branch

Nakseong Twelve Swords: 1 Star

Talent and Five Virtues: Medium-Low (中-下)

Worries: How can I secure that position?

The moment the words appeared on the fan, Ryeon scowled.

'Danmok Jun, you bastard!'

Danmok Jun.

When he saw this name, he wanted to burn the documents and kick the boy out immediately.

Danmok Jun was the one who had created the tragic situation where Danmok Seong had to stay behind to protect Danmok Bee.

At the time, the only direct descendants were Danmok Hyonyo, who couldn't be called a supreme master, Danmok Hyunwoo, who couldn't shake off his inner demons, and Danmok Seong and Danmok Bee.

So, Danmok Jun, thinking he could achieve something by getting rid of Danmok Seong and Danmok Bee, plotted within the family while the Blood Demon Valley was in turmoil.

The Blood Demon Valley disaster affected the entire martial world, but the Danmok family suffered particularly because of the small number of direct descendants.

'Even though he was close to Seong...'

Danmok Seong, who appeared cold and aloof on the outside, wasn't so on the inside. His trait is 'two-faced' for a reason.

Danmok Seong, who cherished his family with the same surname, dreamed of developing the family.

Danmok Jun, who had worked hard with him, was also cherished and treated warmly by Danmok Seong.

'No. I can slowly deal with this bastard.'

He wanted to run to the wall, grab him by the hair, and kick him out, but he held back.

He couldn't do that to a child who hadn't done anything yet.

Ryeon turned his head away, and at that moment, there was a loud thud and the sound of running footsteps.

'Hmph, he fell over before I even approached.'

Ryeon silently scolded him and deliberately made a tapping sound as he walked to the quarters. Hwaryun matched his leisurely pace.

The sunset faded behind them as the final test approached.

* * *

The vast training ground was full of people, but since the tension was higher during the last sparring with Jinjagang, Ryeon sat at the table set up at the top without any concern.

The other adults hadn't arrived yet, and the training ground buzzed with whispers when the young girl sat at the top.

— Is she going to be a judge too?

— Who is she? She looks younger than me.

— Is she a direct descendant?

— The eldest granddaughter, why is she... that corpse...

— They say she made the Blue Lotus Water, is that true?

— She must be a genius.

— She's sitting there because she's a genius? She's sitting there because she's a direct descendant. You're here because you're a collateral descendant.

Ryeon, while carefully listening to the last voice, Danmok Jun's, also checked Hwaryun's reaction.

'What if Hwaryun heard it?'

Hwaryun, who pretended not to care but was secretly affectionate—Ryeon knew Hwaryun had worked hard to find the jade piece, even though he didn't know exactly what he did—couldn't bear to see Ryeon humiliated.

He once said he would beat someone up because Danmok Seong was a bit cold to him.

But Hwaryun, standing next to him, looked like he hadn't heard anything. Ryeon, feeling relieved, heard Hwaryun whisper.

"Sister, can I go out for a moment?"

"Why? Are your legs hurting a lot? Do you want to sit in a chair?"

"No, that's not it. I forgot to bring Biya's carp food."

"You don't have to do that."

Recently, Danmok Bee had been trying hard to tame the carp in the pond at Danmok Hyunwoo's quarters.

She was captivated by the carp that would approach Ryeon and splash water with its tail.

Hwaryun shook his head and shrugged.

"If I bring it, I don't have to play with her for a day."

"That sounds like a lie."

Danmok Bee was desperate to play with Ryeon and him. There was no way she would let Hwaryun go for a day.

But since Hwaryun wanted to leave and it would be boring just standing there, Ryeon silently nodded.

Hwaryun moved Ryeon's teacup a bit closer to her and left the training ground.

The moment Ryeon's eyes left Hwaryun's disappearing back, Danmok Hyunwoo, Danmok Hyonyo, and finally Danmok Cheongi entered.

The training ground became tense.

The fierce scar Danmok Cheongi had obtained during the Dongjeong Bloodshed simultaneously evoked glory and fear.

Ryeon was the first to break the silence, quickly standing up to greet the adults.

"It's quite cold, yet you came dressed so lightly."

Danmok Cheongi, who had entered leisurely, frowned and quickened his pace upon seeing Ryeon.

Ryeon looked down at her outfit and felt embarrassed. She had put on a vest to match the autumn temperature, but to Danmok Cheongi, it looked like she was only wearing a thin cotton red shirt.

"It's not that cold, and my clothes are warm!"

Danmok Hyonyo snorted but didn't say to Danmok Cheongi, "I dressed her warmly, so why are you making a fuss, Father?"

He couldn't show contempt for the family head, Danmok Cheongi, or his nephew in front of everyone.

"My grandmother didn't know what cold was..."

Danmok Cheongi, somewhat wistfully, mumbled and sat next to Ryeon.

Danmok Hyonyo, unable to say, "You should sit in the middle, Father!" just sighed.

Instead, Danmok Hwanso, who seemed to be memorizing the scene, slowly walked over and placed a table next to Ryeon.

If Danmok Hyonyo and Hyunwoo sat next to Danmok Cheongi, he would be in the middle.

As the whispers in the hall subsided, Danmok Cheongi spoke.