Chapter 61
“Daddy!”
“Palace Lord, what are you saying?!”
“It cannot be, that… that tiger-faced… how can you give the young lady to a foreigner!”
There was no such chaos as this.
Good heavens, the person who was supposed to give the rice cake wasn’t even thinking about it, so what was all this fuss about?
‘It’s hard to make money, so hard.’
So-ah’s brow furrowed automatically.
Wang So-yeong?
She was pretty.
Anyone could see she was pretty, so it would be a lie to say she wasn’t.
So he had just answered as he saw it, that she was pretty.
But to tell him to get married out of the blue!
“You all be quiet. I am in the middle of a conversation with Young Master Jin.”
Wang Bang-tae spat out in an unusually solemn voice.
With his brow furrowed.
But,
“Daddy, if you really do this, I’m really going to get angry.”
As Wang So-yeong glared at him with venomous eyes, Wang Bang-tae was, as expected, intimidated in one go.
“Ahem! You brat. Let this father speak too.”
But it was too much for Wang So-yeong to press her father any further.
Although her father was infinitely generous to her, this was strictly the Palace Lord’s office.
Since she could not tarnish her father’s reputation any further in an official setting, she had no choice but to shut her mouth with a pained expression.
Only then did Wang Bang-tae let out another dry cough and ask So-ah again.
“Ahem! Young Master Jin. Why is that? Surely, you don’t dislike our So-yeong. Or perhaps, the North Sea is not to your liking as a wife’s family?”
‘Sigh…’
So-ah sighed inwardly.
‘This old man is serious… my goodness…’
How could he overcome this difficult situation?
He would have to consider So-yeong’s position as well.
After much deliberation, So-ah opened his mouth in a solemn voice.
“Palace Lord.”
“Speak comfortably, Young Master Jin.”
“I do not dislike So-yeong. No, I rather like her. In the first place, she overlooked the big mistake of the Liaoning Escort Agency and trusted me, who was not even verified. Thanks to that, I was also able to finish the request well. So-yeong is a good friend.”
At that, the corners of Wang Bang-tae’s mouth went up as if they were hooked on his ears.
Wang So-yeong’s eyes were filled with an unreadable emotion.
But So-ah, without caring about their reactions, continued to speak with an indifferent face.
“Also, the words that the North Sea Ice Palace is not to my liking as a wife’s family are also absurd. Among the three great sects outside the pass, where is there a place as famous as the North Sea? Moreover, what about this immense wealth? Even if I were a royal, it would be an honor to become a son-in-law in a place like this.”
“Kekeke! I really like you. You’re handsome, intelligent, and outstanding in martial arts! I can imagine how much the head of the Moyong Family adores you. Hahaha!”
Wang Bang-tae looked like he was dying of joy.
Should I say he was magnanimous, or should I say he was frivolous?
Anyway, he didn’t seem to fit as a respected leader of a sect outside the pass.
“But, sir.”
“Yes?”
“Even if So-yeong is the most wonderful woman in the world, and the North Sea is a marriage proposal of a humbling level!”
“…”
“I cannot get married. No, I have no intention of getting married.”
At So-ah’s words, a look of disappointment appeared on Wang Bang-tae’s face.
At the same time, a strange bitterness seemed to flash across Wang So-yeong’s face.
“Aren’t you of age? In the North Sea, everyone gets married at that age. Or is it not so in the Central Plains?”
“No. People in the Central Plains also get married and engaged at my age. But I am different.”
“What’s different?”
“Because I am a martial artist, not a person of the Central Plains.”
A sense of determination was evident in So-ah’s expression and voice.
For a moment, Wang So-yeong’s shoulders trembled very slightly, so slightly that no one could notice.
“I was an orphan. The one who took me in, fed me, clothed me, put me to sleep, and taught me martial arts was the previous Grand Family Head of my family, Grandpa Moyong Cheon.”
“Young Master Jin…”
“As a way of repaying my grandfather’s kindness, I intend to make the Moyong Family the number one family in the world. The most prestigious family in the martial world.”
“Such…”
“In fact, the current strength of my family is insignificant. We have been led by relying on only one person, my grandfather, and our finances are also so, and our numbers are small, and even our scale is shabby. In a word, the Moyong Family, which is called one of the Five Great Families, is a good-looking but useless thing.”
It was an unusual thing.
Who would belittle their own sect in a sect outside the pass where there were no vested interests?
But it was the truth.
Currently, not only among the Five Great Families of the martial world, but even if the scope was expanded to the Eight Great Families, there was no place as small in scale, as lacking in personnel, and as financially weak as the Moyong Family.
For the proud So-ah, it was as if he had revealed his naked body to the Palace Lord, Wang Bang-tae.
“Young Master Jin…”
At that sincerity, Wang Bang-tae became solemn.
‘What a truly precious friend…’
Wang Bang-tae had felt a thrill when he saw So-ah.
There was no doubt that he was invincible among his peers.
He was also handsome.
He looked intelligent.
Moreover, he was also proficient in medicine.
Above all,
‘Has So-yeong ever been so comfortable with someone…’
Leaving everything else aside, because of his judgment that his daughter So-yeong had So-ah in her heart, Wang Bang-tae had wanted to make him his son-in-law.
But,
“I learned that if a martial artist sets a goal, he must achieve it. At least, my grandfather and uncle taught me that way.”
Seeing So-ah’s solemn attitude, Wang Bang-tae felt that he could never persuade him.
“I dream of the Moyong Family’s reign over the world. And I will run and run again to realize that dream. After I achieve that dream, I will also be able to date a woman, get married, and start a family.”
“Then, Young Master Jin.”
“Yes, Palace Lord.”
“When the Moyong Family is born as the number one family in the world, will you visit our palace one more time?”
At that question, So-ah burst into a dry laugh.
“Why? Are you going to force me to get married again?”
“Ahem! No, you brat.”
“I’ll come before that. Isn’t So-yeong my friend? I’ll stop by to see my friend from time to time, so don’t give me a guest expulsion order.”
“A guest expulsion order! I promise you, you will be treated as an eternal guest of honor of the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“A man’s word is.”
“Worth a thousand gold pieces. Kekeke!”
The atmosphere, which could have become chilly, quickly became warm.
In that moment,
“Palace Lord!”
“Yes, Young Master Jin.”
“Then I… if I may be so bold.”
For some reason, So-ah hesitated a little.
Wang So-yeong naturally guessed what he was about to say.
‘That’s right, of course. So-ah, you… hohohot.’
As expected,
“Haha. I… in fact, So-yeong promised to give me an additional fee…”
***
‘Phew! I was scared to death acting. By the way, why am I so good at acting? At this rate, I could be the best actor in the Tyrant’s Opera Troupe.’
That’s right.
So-ah’s act of passionately protesting in front of Wang Bang-tae was a kind of ‘acting’.
Of course, it wasn’t a lie.
Because most of it was true, and sincere.
But to suddenly give a passionate speech full of tragic beauty?
It didn’t fit So-ah’s personality, nor did it suit him.
If the students of the White Martial Academy had seen it, they might have thrown up or thrown a knife.
‘Still, it turned out well. It turned out really well. Hahaha!’
A smile was drawn on his face.
If no one was watching, he wanted to lie down on the floor and roll around, bursting into laughter.
Why?
‘30 gold ingots! 30!’
It was because he had gotten a huge sum of money.
“So-ah!”
Wang So-yeong, watching such a So-ah with narrowed eyes, said.
“Huh?”
“You want to go crazy and jump around right now, don’t you? You want to sing a song because you’re so happy, right?”
“Hmm… what are you talking about?”
“Aww. It’s true, isn’t it? The money you like the most. You’ve earned a lot.”
“It’s not like that.”
“It is. Why don’t you sing another song? You know, the one you sang in Qinghai.”
“Ah! The number one hero in the world?”
“Is the title of that song ‘The Number One Hero in the World’?”
“Yeah.”
“Anyway, sing that again. Huh?”
“Ah! Like the sand of the Yangtze River! The heroes of the Jianghu~ Among them! The most shining one is me! Let’s go! Let’s go! To the martial world! Upholding righteousness!”
“Hahahahat!”
So-ah, who immediately sang when asked to sing.
And Wang So-yeong, who burst into a big laugh at that foolish sight.
Today, both of them were foolishly excited and happy for no reason.
***
Hwiiiiing…
It was when the frosty wind of the North Sea brushed against their cheeks, just like when they first came.
“So-ah. Are you really planning to visit the North Sea from time to time?”
“Of course. Well, I won’t be able to come often. But I’ll really stop by when I have time. You’ll welcome me, right?”
“Of course, you brat! Just come. I’ll give you delicious food, good things, everything.”
“Really? You promised?”
“Alright, alright.”
“Can’t you give me some pocket money too? You have a lot of money.”
“I said I would! I’ll give you pocket money too, so just come. You prankster.”
The figure of Wang So-yeong, who was being hit by the heavy snow piling up on the snowfield, was particularly beautiful today.
“Then I’m going. Take care. Especially your stamina! You know? A martial artist, you brat, is all about stamina, stamina. If you train consistently, your lightness skill will probably be…”
“Ah, stop nagging! Ugh, he’s still talking about stamina until the very end.”
“The importance of stamina cannot be overemphasized, you brat.”
So-ah curled up the corners of his mouth.
Wang So-yeong also smiled along with him and,
“Go well. My friend, Jin So-ah.”
“Be well. My friend, Wang So-yeong.”
The two clapped their palms together three times.
It was the North Sea’s way of saying goodbye, which Wang So-yeong had taught him.
—Papapang
The Swift Whale Steps was performed.
Every time he saw it, it was a truly amazing lightness skill and footwork.
Wang So-yeong, who was watching So-ah’s back disappear into the distance, scattering afterimages, with misty eyes, waved her hand.
‘Please be well!’
***
“Ugh… I’m so worried I could die!”
Moyong Baek had been groaning for nearly a week.
How could this great disciple not send a single letter?
He had heard from the Liaoning Escort Agency’s Chief Jang.
The whereabouts of So-ah, who had left for the Great Desert, the Mad Wind Sand, with the young lady of the North Sea Ice Palace.
But that was it.
How many months ago was that?
‘It would be impossible to wipe out the Mad Wind Sand alone. Since he’s such an intelligent child, he wouldn’t do anything reckless… but really.’
He walked this way, walked that way, drank water, and just stared at the distant mountains.
If anxiety was a disease, even Hua Tuo couldn’t cure this.
“Ugh! Father. Please stay still. You’re making me dizzy.”
As expected, Moyong Hwa began to scold her father.
He should have done it in moderation.
But,
“You brat! Aren’t you worried about your only senior brother? How can you be so heartless… tsk tsk.”
“That’s because you don’t know the true nature of my senior brother. He’s not just strong in martial arts. He’s a person who is not only intelligent but also cunning, not only thorough but also venomous, that’s my senior brother!”
“How dare you speak ill of your heavenly senior brother?!”
“Ugh, it’s frustrating. Su-ya. You tell him. Do you think my senior brother is someone who would get into trouble or be taken advantage of?”
At that, even Moyong Su, who was always gentle, proactive, and arguably the most decent person in the Moyong Family, took his sister’s side.
“No, sister. Absolutely not. There’s no way.”
“See? I told you, you don’t know my senior brother at all.”
Although she said that, in fact, Moyong Hwa was also worried about So-ah.
But seeing her father, who was restless like a seven-year-old child, she had emphasized So-ah’s ruthlessness even more to reassure him.
Just then.
Creak!
The door opened.
At the same time, the one they had been waiting for entered.
“Uncle! Junior Sister! Junior Brother!”
The first to run out at So-ah’s voice was his junior sister, Moyong Hwa, who had been speaking ill of him just a moment ago.
“Senior Brother! What happened? You could have at least sent a letter. Huh?”
“Did you miss this senior brother that much?”
“Of course… you bastard!”
“But what should I do? I think you’ll regret it from this afternoon, you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Have you heard of it? The returned hell instructor. Testing stamina, perseverance, patience, insight, endurance, and the strength of the body…”
“Shut uuuup!”
Because of Moyong Hwa’s shouting, So-ah could not finish his words.
(End of Chapter)