Chapter 27
"Master."
As I called him with lingering feelings, Yeon Cheongha shook his head and continued.
"I don't want to let you go either. Having a disciple like you is something every martial artist would wish for. But because I cherish you so much, I think I have to let you go now. Fortunately, I'm not going far, and we'll be in the same Danli family, so if you need anything, come and find me anytime."
If it weren't for him, it would have been difficult to persuade me to that extent.
If it weren't for him, who had been doing assassination missions.
But after hearing Yeon Cheongha's words, it seemed that everything he said was right.
Rumors about me had spread due to the events at Mohwa Mountain Manor, and there was a high possibility that Danli Yeonmuk would also actively say that I was the protagonist of the rumors.
To not let the deaths of the Danli family martial artists who had died be in vain, and to get the most benefit that the Danli family could get from their deaths.
Even if not many people knew about me until now, the situation could change in the future.
"I understand, master."
Yeon Cheongha smiled bitterly and patted my shoulder.
* * *
On the way, the decomposition of the corpses suddenly accelerated.
It was probably an unavoidable result as the time spent on the road became longer than initially expected.
In the end, we disposed of the carriages, put the corpses on the horses, and rode.
It seemed that it would save more time that way, and we were able to arrive at the Heavenly Demon Sect just in time.
Because of the thought that we had to arrive at the Danli family before the corpses decomposed, I had no time to feel any other emotions.
All the difficult and complicated procedures for entering the Heavenly Demon Sect were omitted thanks to Danli Yeonmuk.
The people guarding the Heavenly Demon Sect recognized Danli Yeonmuk first and opened the way, and we entered the Danli family faster than ever before.
Since the news had already been delivered before we arrived, the people of the Danli family were waiting for us.
No matter how much Danli Yeonmuk was the strongest martial force of the Danli family, it was not a matter for the family head to come out just because he had returned.
However, since the corpse of the family head's son, Danli Zong, was among the corpses we had moved, a solemn welcome was held that day.
Among them were the elders of the Danli family who had met us before, but since the situation was what it was, we could not show any signs of being glad to see each other.
Sadness and regret were visible on the faces of the people, including the family head.
"You've worked hard."
The family head spoke briefly, told us where we could rest, and disappeared.
I saw him again that evening.
Danli Yeonmuk had a lot to do since he arrived there, so it was hard to see his face, and I waited quietly with Yeon Cheongha.
"Are you nervous, Socheong?"
"I don't know."
"You're better than me. I'm nervous."
Yeon Cheongha said with a laugh.
Then he took a deep breath.
"I'm very much looking forward to it. I still can't believe that I'm here now. It's something that would have been unimaginable if it weren't for you. So I'm really grateful to you, Socheong."
Yeon Cheongha was a special person in many ways.
No adult I knew was as honest as him.
As you live, an older person can be indebted to a younger person and receive help, but there weren't many people who would honestly say thank you every time, and even fewer people who would admit that they had benefited.
But Yeon Cheongha did not hesitate to say such things.
Listening to Yeon Cheongha's words, I realized once again that the time to part with him was approaching.
"I will visit you so often that you will say it's annoying."
"Yes, please do. Please do."
Then Yeon Cheongha let out a small sigh.
"I think the team leader will keep his promise. I think he can give me the position of grandmaster of the martial force. But the real problem starts after that. Isn't it something I have to achieve by proving myself after that? How easy would it be for the martial force of the Danli family to listen to the orders of an assassin?"
Hearing those words, it really seemed to be the case.
Even the Cho family's martial artists had great pride, and the Danli family was a place that was evaluated as a greater martial family than them.
In terms of pure martial prowess, Yeon Cheongha would not be superior to them.
Even if the family head gave him the position of grandmaster, it was Yeon Cheongha's job to keep that position.
No one could do that for him.
I understood the burden that Yeon Cheongha was feeling.
Here I was the young Ya Socheong, but wasn't I a person who had been worn out by social life as much as I could be?
"You will do well, master. Just as you won our hearts, you will be able to win the hearts of the members. If you approach each person thinking about what will be most helpful to them, I think everyone will recognize your heart."
"Thank you for saying that. Since you're saying it, Socheong, I have more faith."
Then Yeon Cheongha patted my arm and said.
"You're not just like a child, so I always found myself listening to what you say. Looking back, everything you said came true."
Then he cheered me on.
"You must be nervous, Socheong, but this master has only been complaining."
"No. You are the only one I can rely on in this vast Danli family, and I will be the closest to you, so it's best if you speak comfortably anytime."
Yeon Cheongha nodded.
As if he thought he had to say it in advance when he had time, he diligently told me the things I should be careful about.
He also told me about things like the etiquette between martial artists and the biggest difference between an assassin and a martial artist.
He said it was really important, and he said many times that I shouldn't use tricks here.
Assassins did not shy away from any method to cut off their opponent's breath, and it was natural to hide their bodies in the dark and attack.
But that would not be accepted by martial artists.
They were people who thought that using poison and hidden weapons was not fair.
I diligently took Yeon Cheongha's words to heart.
Then, when a sound was heard from outside, I stood up from my seat with Yeon Cheongha.
The words that the family head had arrived were very unfamiliar.
Hearing those words, I realized once again that I was in the Danli family.
The door opened, and a man dressed in a splendid silk robe entered with his entourage.
Next to him was Danli Yeonmuk.
Danli Yeonmuk, as if to reassure us that the story had gone well, smiled slightly at us.
I was grateful.
I hated waiting without knowing how things were progressing.
It wasn't like I had to be here, so it wasn't something to be very sad about even if the story didn't go well, but I knew that Yeon Cheongha was looking forward to life here, so I was relieved by Danli Yeonmuk's expression.
"I heard the story from the team leader. I heard the news about the events at Mohwa Mountain Manor a while ago. You've done a great job."
He said, no longer showing the sadness of losing his son.
"Due to the events at Mohwa Mountain Manor, it was inevitable to reorganize the martial force, so we decided to split the martial force into two. And I intend to entrust one of them, the Blood Martial Force, to you."
Yeon Cheongha looked at him with disbelief.
Even if he was entrusted with a martial force, he didn't seem to have expected to be entrusted with such a great martial force.
But hearing what he was saying now, wasn't he saying that he would entrust one of them while dividing the strongest martial force of the Danli family?
Yeon Cheongha had a moved face and said thank you several times.
But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed that this was not a problem to just be grateful for and happy about.
It seemed that I could already vividly picture how severe the backlash would be.
The family head looked at me and Yeon Cheongha for a long time.
His gaze seemed to linger on me longer than on Yeon Cheongha, who had become the new grandmaster of the martial force.
The family head looked at Danli Yeonmuk and told him to take Yeon Cheongha and let him greet the members.
I was about to follow, but he told me to stay for a moment.
Seeing that, I wondered if he was sending Yeon Cheongha out to talk to me.
When Yeon Cheongha paused and looked at me, the family head reassured him.
"I'll just talk to him for a moment and send him, so don't worry and go."
"Yes, family head."
Yeon Cheongha said and then looked at me, and I nodded to mean that he shouldn't worry.
As if he had seen all of that, the family head was smiling, and when Yeon Cheongha left, he said.
"Aren't you scared?"
"What do you mean?"
"About being alone with me."
"I heard you are a good person."
At that, the family head laughed out loud.
"You're saying something funny. There's probably no one who would say that about me."
Then he looked at me as if that wasn't very important.
"I heard you wrote for them. Why did you do that?"
"Yes?"
I didn't expect him to ask about the writing, let alone about Mohwa Mountain Manor or the Blood Flesh Herb.
From the family head's point of view, what would be much more curious would be about the Blood Flesh Herb.
"There were people who had a lot to say but couldn't write. So I just gave them the help I could."
"Do you usually do that?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"I'm asking if you're the type to give help you can to others."
"I'm the type to do so if my heart is moved. If my heart is not moved, I'm the type not to do it, no matter how justified it is."
"Interesting."
The family head laughed out loud.
Even so, he was observing me with his eyes.
"Considering your age, I shouldn't treat you like a child."
Then he looked at the people around him.
"You may all leave."
At that, the people next to him paused as if surprised and looked at the family head.
But thinking that they couldn't go against the family head's words, they all retreated.
"I want to talk about something important from now on. Danli Yeonmuk came and asked me to entrust the martial force to Yeon Cheongha. Of course, he didn't say that from the beginning. Perhaps wanting to make it so that I couldn't refuse his words, he went on at length about the events at Mohwa Mountain Manor. He also talked about what the common people were saying about the sect. And he said that Yeon Cheongha had saved my son."
While he was speaking, the family head's gaze did not leave me.
He seemed to be trying not to miss what kind of expression I was making as I listened to those words.
So Danli Yeonmuk had said that much.
That was not true, but there was no way for the family head to know that.
(End of Chapter)