After sending the Lim siblings away, Cho Yoon agonized for a long time over Cheon-oh’s faint social skills.
But he couldn’t endanger other people’s children just to raise his own.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t quietly slip Cheon-oh—who lacked empathy, morality, and ethics, and also possessed physical and intellectual abilities far beyond average—into a crowd of civilian kids. Unless Cho Yoon followed him and taught him one by one, it felt inevitable that problems would arise.
Since it’s come to this, let’s just teach him everything first. We’ll hammer it all into his head, and once he has a basic framework of common sense, release him into the world.
Having chosen the next best plan, Cho Yoon made an effort to finish Cheon-oh’s basic education by having the disciple accompany him or run errands whenever they occasionally went down to the village at the foot of the mountain, struggling to maintain his communication skills.
Seeing the successful result appearing before his eyes, he couldn’t help but feel pleased. Naturally, he failed to notice the frozen hostility flowing between the two.
Believing firmly that this conversation, polite only on the surface, was an excellent scene of social interaction, Cho Yoon watched with satisfaction before opening his mouth. He wanted to leave them alone to get closer, but since the carriage was heading somewhere, he felt he should inform them of the destination early.
“I plan to pass through Fujian and go as far as Guangdong. The weather in Fujian Province during this season is fickle, practically poison to someone with a weak body, so do not even think of following.”
“…It is true that coming as far as Zhejiang Province was a mere whim, but my mother permitted it when I left home. She said, ‘Since you are leaving on a long journey, do everything you wish to do before returning.’”
“….”
“I dare not hope to accompany a Great Hero, especially for a half-wit who cannot use even a shred of martial arts. However… just once more would be enough, but I wish to receive your teachings again, Great Hero. I wish to broaden my perspective with your profound knowledge. I am grateful enough that you rode along with my stubbornness, and I am only ashamed to be so unreasonable.”
When would be the time for a child—at most sixteen years old—who had never left her home due to a rare incurable illness to ‘do everything she wished to do’?
Zhuge Seol-rin’s mother knew this outing was the last opportunity given to her daughter, and it meant Seol-rin also felt she didn’t have much time left.
Has she become so accustomed to the thought that she’ll eventually die that she can’t even have lingering attachments to life?
Oddly enough, there was no sign of pessimism on Seol-rin’s face as she continued speaking clearly, though her head was bowed in shame.
Watching a kid who hadn’t even lived twenty years filling out her bucket list as if it were nothing left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Coming all the way here because she wanted to see the ocean—what kind of death flag was this…
Huh?
Cho Yoon suddenly recalled the cities in this vicinity.
Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong stretched in a line from north to south along the coast.
Anhui Province, where the medicinal herb market was located, was adjacent to Jiangsu, and Zhejiang was merely attached slightly to the southeast of Anhui.
If Zhuge Seol-rin suddenly wanted to go to the seaside from Bozhou, she should have gone to Jiangsu, which was right next door, rather than traversing down Anhui and then heading east to Zhejiang. In other words, unless there was a specific purpose, Zhuge Seol-rin’s route was extremely inefficient.
Setting aside cliffs, there’s nothing in Zhejiang that could be called a magnificent ocean view… Why come all the way here? Since the Namgung Clan has a tight grip on Anhui, the atmosphere wouldn’t be that great either… Ah, the Namgung Clan!
The contemplation didn’t last long.
Cho Yoon immediately asked Seol-rin about the hypothesis that had surfaced.
“Did you try to ask the Namgung Clan for help directly?”
“…That is correct. I intended to visit in person and ask about the source of the rumors.”
Seol-rin’s face, which had briefly shown surprise like a startled rabbit, quickly turned gloomy. Cheon-oh, who had been staring silently at Cho Yoon’s knees with his eyes cast down, quietly lifted his gaze to show interest when the Namgung Clan was mentioned.
How did he know?
The only thing south of Anhui was the Namgung Clan. It seemed Zhuge Seol-rin had indeed come down to Huangshan City, where the Namgung Clan’s main residence was, to request help personally, and then came to the nearby Zhejiang Province.
Thinking this far, the corner of Cho Yoon’s lips twisted faintly as if displeased, then quickly returned to normal.
No, let’s not jump to conclusions. The Namgung Clan is truly a trashy group, but maybe they really didn’t know the cure for Severed Meridians and couldn’t teach it. The protagonist also said he found out by chance decades later.
“However, I could not even have a proper conversation, and was merely told they would send word to the Beggars’ Sect as they knew nothing of such nonsense rumors. They said a grave matter had occurred within the family, and before I could look into it, I was hospitably kicked out.”
No, they really are just trashy bastards. The entire Central Plains knows the Namgung Clan controls Bozhou, and they said what?
The medicinal herbs and physicians gathering in Bozhou had long brought immense wealth, power, and technology to the Namgung Clan. And the Namgung Clan made tireless efforts in both the shadows and the light to protect these interests. Now, enjoying supreme hegemony after the launch of the White Chivalry Alliance, the entire massive province of Anhui was in the Namgung Clan’s grasp.
That was why Cho Yoon didn’t pass through Anhui when coming to Zhejiang.
Instead, he came down from Shaanxi to Hubei and used the waterways of the Yangtze River. Given his unpredictable luck—meeting the King of Green Forests on a mountain he climbed without thought—he worried he might encounter the Eighteen Fortresses of the Yangtze Waterway on the river, but he thought it was better than the Namgung Clan. And fortunately, the road here had been smooth.
Though I ended up meeting Seol-rin right when I was relieved that the big crisis was over…
Still, it was far better than causing unnecessary trouble with the Namgung Clan. This was a common perception not just for Cho Yoon, who knew every detail of the Namgung Clan’s secrets and evil deeds, but for all martial artists living in the current Murim.
A sick child traversed such a dangerous city to visit in person… and they kicked her out because of family matters?
What was the Namgung Clan doing during this period?
Isn’t the protagonist still only fourteen? Doesn’t the Demonic Cult’s invasion start in earnest after he turns at least sixteen, and the Namgung Clan comes to the forefront then?
Since Cheon-oh, who would have been the Lesser Cult Leader, wasn’t there, things couldn’t be progressing quickly, could they?
Then is it just an excuse? But isn’t there nothing to gain by casting out the precious daughter of the Zhuge Clan with such a flimsy excuse? Did they decide to just devour everything and go rogue anyway?
Cho Yoon’s gaze unconsciously touched the side of Cheon-oh’s face. Cheon-oh, who rarely showed interest in anyone other than his master, turned his head sharply to meet his eyes. Cho Yoon shook his head lightly to signify it meant nothing, then looked at Seol-rin again.
“So, meeting you here, Great Hero, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I know I am shamelessly appealing to your compassion while putting forward a life that is like a lamp before the wind…”
Unable to even lift her face, Seol-rin poured out words that blurred the line between excuse and plea. Judging by her bright red ears and cheeks, she seemed to feel ashamed of her own actions.
Cho Yoon briefly recalled the ‘Heroine Zhuge Seol-rin’ in his mind.
The Seol-rin before his eyes was acting in ways he couldn’t have predicted from the text, but for that very reason, he couldn’t just leave her be.
Cho Yoon sighed shortly and cut off Seol-rin’s voice. From the moment this child appeared in this state, Cho Yoon’s choice had been set.
“Did you pursue such arduous studies just to give up so easily like this? To speak of being a lamp before the wind with a body still perfectly alive is not only unlike you but utterly disappointing.”
“…Pardon?”
“Do not think of wandering around; return to the inn and bathe and purify yourself. I will visit at half past the Hour of the Ox, so you must dismiss everyone and be alone.”
Zhuge Seol-rin’s mouth slowly fell open. Taking advantage of the moment her shocked face slowly crumpled and her throat choked up preventing any words, Cho Yoon pulled his bamboo hat over his head and reached out the window. As the carriage stopped immediately, he got off with Cheon-oh.
He didn’t look back as he blended into the marketplace. Since she was a smart child, she would understand well and prepare.
His sensitive hearing caught faint sobbing until they were quite far away.
Even knowing there was no need to comfort her and that he couldn’t say affectionate words, a sigh escaped him for no reason.