Chapter 57
It was a short time, but it was a time when they could learn a lot about each other.
It wasn't that getting a lot of information was important; it was good to know that the time they spent together was not boring or uncomfortable, but enjoyable.
"I think I will miss this time today."
Baek Yuhwa said.
"I think so too. I will look forward to a time like this again."
At Ya Socheong's words, a blush appeared on Baek Yuhwa's face.
After looking at that for a moment, Ya Socheong bowed his head.
"Then I will be on my way."
And he used his lightness technique.
He could more than guess how anxious his junior brothers, who must have followed him, would have been because he had left on a boat.
Even though he hadn't told them to do so.
* * *
When he returned to the mountain bandit stronghold, Yeon Cheongha was there and came out to meet Ya Socheong in a hurry.
"Welcome, Socheong. I thought I wouldn't be able to see you today and would have to go back like this. The family head would like to see you. He said that if it's difficult for you to come, he will come."
Ya Socheong had guessed that the family head of the Danli family would be anxious by now.
"You don't have to do that. I fully understand the family head's position, so I don't resent him. Just as I have to think of the interests and safety of my junior brothers first, the family head is just doing the same. If I am weak, I will have to accept difficult things even if my junior brothers are sacrificed, but if I am strong, I won't have to. The family head has been firmly protecting the family until now to do that, so I respect his decision."
Yeon Cheongha had a cautious look, as if he were wondering how much of Ya Socheong's words he should take to heart.
At that, Ya Socheong laughed out loud.
"Master, I will show you everything that is in my heart. So you can believe all my words as they are."
Only then did Yeon Cheongha let out a sigh of relief.
"That's a relief. I was really worried. I was really worried about what I was doing, being a master and not being able to be of any help to you. I probably didn't enter the path of a martial artist to enjoy wealth and glory, but seeing my disciple go on a dangerous mission and turning a blind eye..."
To such a Yeon Cheongha, Ya Socheong quietly spoke.
"Master, actually, there is something I would like to discuss with you."
Yeon Cheongha, seeing Ya Socheong wait until they were alone to speak, seemed to have guessed something.
"Actually, I'm on my way back from meeting Miss Baek Yuhwa of the Baek family."
He had a face that said, 'I knew it,' and then he laughed.
"Why... are you laughing?"
"If you're talking to me when Maseong is not here, I thought it would be related to Maling. It's not about Maling, but it seems similar. But you, what are you going to do about Maling? Do you have no feelings for Maling at all? It seems that Maling likes you very much and is waiting for you."
"Master, I've seen Maling since she was very young, so I don't see her as a woman."
"That's why you're a fool."
"Master, that's not the important thing right now."
When I said that I might be receiving the attention of the Heavenly Demon Dan Mok-san in the future, he nodded.
"Yes, that's a very possible thing."
"So I would like to hear your advice on how to protect the children."
"If you just want to, I can have them join the Danli family's martial force. The family head will also allow that at any time. It's not just that he will allow it; he will actively want it. Since the skills of the children of the Nether Shadow Faction are widely known in secret. But it's not just that we should entrust them to the Danli family; now the Baek family will also covet the children. How about we place them evenly in each family?"
Since the rise and fall of the families could be divided, it didn't seem bad.
"Both the Danli family and the Baek family value bloodlines, but they also accept outsiders and give them many opportunities. In both places, the number of people who have risen to high positions as outsiders is gradually increasing."
"I will talk to my junior brothers."
"Yes, have a thorough discussion. Isn't this all thanks to you? Since you trained the children in advance, there are many places they can go at a time like this. If it weren't for that, I would have been quite burdened when you said this."
Yeon Cheongha said and laughed.
Hearing that, it seemed that it would have really been so.
It was a request from Ya Socheong, so it would have been awkward not to grant it, and at the same time, it would have been burdensome to take on difficult problems every time.
"But I don't know if this conversation is meaningful. I don't think the children will say they'll go."
Then Yeon Cheongha said that it would be better to be open with the children about the matter.
He also gave the advice that if he talked about his relationship with Baek Yuhwa, Pae Maseong might be sad, but it would be okay to talk about it without revealing Ya Socheong's feelings.
Yeon Cheongha left the mountain bandit stronghold with a very relieved expression.
He seemed to be in a good mood because he had found out that Ya Socheong did not resent the family head of the Danli family.
Ya Socheong did not postpone the matter.
After Yeon Cheongha left, he immediately gathered everyone in the open space in front of the mountain bandit stronghold.
The first and second generations all sat down in a natural and comfortable way, and Pae Maseong, Dan Yujong, and Jeok Soju took their places near Ya Socheong.
Ya Socheong said that because of the Baek family's cooperation in this matter, the Heavenly Demon's gaze might be directed towards the Nether Shadow Faction, and then he looked at the children.
But the children seemed to think that that was natural, and their eyes shone as if they thought that the really important story would come out from now on.
"I gathered you to talk about that, though?"
Rather, Ya Socheong was flustered and said, and the children had bewildered expressions.
"That's natural, Senior Brother. The Sect Leader must have been watching us from before. It would be strange to think that he wouldn't, having made such a big deal."
When Ya Socheong glanced at Pae Maseong, he also nodded.
"It's certain that we'll get more attention because of this. It seems that Miss Baek Yuhwa is completely smitten with you. The young lady whom the Sect Leader had his heart on, who hadn't even budged at his proposals, asked you to go on a boat ride. The news must have already reached the Sect Leader."
At that, the children finally fully grasped the true meaning of what Ya Socheong had said and were surprised with their mouths open.
"Senior Brother, were you that great? No, when did the person who was always with us at the mountain bandit stronghold go around setting other people's hearts on fire?"
Ya Socheong was worried that these junior brothers seemed to have no sense of reality at all.
"So for now, I think you should go to the martial force of the Danli family or the Baek family..."
"Uh, I don't want to."
"Me neither, Senior Brother."
"I'm going to stay here."
Before he could even finish his words, the junior brothers refused Ya Socheong's proposal.
Pae Maseong laughed out loud as if he had known that it would turn out like that.
"Even if you go somewhere else, it's hard to learn as well as you do here. It's a good fit for these guys for you and me to give them guidance and sparring once in a while. If they go somewhere else now and try to match with those people, they'll have to give up what they've learned so far and put on new clothes, and it will just be a waste of time. If what they learn by doing that is something great, it would be different, but it's not that either."
Listening to Pae Maseong's words, the children also nodded.
Pae Maseong said that with such confidence because he had learned from other places, but it was just funny to see the children who hadn't, nodding as if his words were right.
"It's no use trying to send us somewhere else, Senior Brother. We're not going to leave you."
Seeing the second-generation junior brothers also say that and grin, Ya Socheong also eventually nodded.
"I get it, so don't regret it. The intensity of the training will be even stronger from now on."
The smiles slowly disappeared from the faces of the children who had heard Ya Socheong's words.
Because they knew that if their senior brother said that, the intensity would definitely get stronger.
* * *
In the end, the worries became a reality.
The children of the Nether Shadow Faction experienced what felt like going back and forth between life and death several times a day.
The intensity of the training gradually became stronger, to the point where it seemed that they were determined to kill them.
"Senior Brother, we are people. I'm saying that we are not made of steel."
"Really? Then do you want to stop?"
Ya Socheong did not ask for long.
If he answered yes to that, it seemed that he would not say it again and would just say to stop.
It wasn't that he was training only them with a severe intensity; Ya Socheong and Pae Maseong were training even more harshly, so his junior brothers eventually shut their mouths.
Unless there was something special, Pae Maseong also did all the training together at the mountain bandit stronghold, but there were a few times when he left the mountain bandit stronghold and returned.
Ya Socheong had been trying not to ask persistently if Pae Maseong didn't speak first, but he spoke first.
"Socheong, the family head of the Danli family said he wants to adopt Maling as his foster daughter. So I also gave my permission, and now Maling is the family head's foster daughter."
"Really? That's good news for Maling. That's really great."
"That's right. Now Maling is not a child from a shabby family, but a direct descendant of the family head of the Danli family. So I hope you'll think of that when you see Maling. If you marry Maling, you can get the help of the Danli family. But I'm not saying you shouldn't meet Miss Baek. I'm not in a position to say that, and I probably don't have the right."
"Maling will be able to marry into a good family, Pae Maseong."
"Maling will marry the person she likes. That's you. Do you dislike Maling?"
"That's not it, but."
"Then that's enough, so let's not talk about it anymore. Even if you say it, Maling probably won't listen."
Pae Maseong said meaningfully and laughed.
* * *
Ya Socheong felt quite burdened that his relationship with Pae Maling seemed to be rapidly progressing due to others.
If others hadn't created that atmosphere by his side, Pae Maling would have been the most comfortable and cute younger sister to Ya Socheong by now.
Although she herself had no intention of being satisfied with being Ya Socheong's younger sister.
In the meantime, when Pae Maling suddenly came to the mountain bandit stronghold, Ya Socheong was tense, thinking that what was to come had come.
But the expression of Pae Maling, who had come to see Ya Socheong, was unusual.
She did not look like a childish child who had come to court him, but she looked as if she had come, shouldering a grave matter of the family.
"Brother, I admit that I have used some petty tricks through my brother or the Grandmaster of the Blood Martial Force to win your heart. But I hope you will listen to what I have to say because I absolutely did not come for that reason this time."
It was strange and surprising that she had come to see him first, leaving Pae Maseong behind, so Ya Socheong urged Pae Maling to hurry up and say what was going on.
(End of Chapter)