Chapter 14
Myung Jin stared blankly at the floor.
Even though half a shichen had already passed, there was not even a slight movement.
So Moogyeol, who had been constantly glancing at him, could no longer bear it and spoke first.
"What's with the serious face? You don't have to be like that just because you lost to that guy. The other guys all lost too. At least you lasted for three seconds, right? The other guys were all taken out in one blow, so that's amazing."
Myung Jin, still with his head lowered, replied.
"It's not that."
"If it's not that, then what is it?"
"The gap is bigger than I thought, so I'm thinking about how to catch up."
So Moogyeol had a look of disbelief.
"Catch up?"
"Yes."
He knew that Moyong Gi was amazing, but that was it.
The depth of the Moyong family and the Nine Sects One Gang was different. With time, he could eventually catch up.
But he could instinctively tell that the meaning of Myung Jin's words was not that. So he asked one more time.
"By any chance... right now?"
"Yes."
So Moogyeol's face contorted.
"How is there not a single sane person? He's a guy who even beat up Grandmaster Yoon, how are you going to catch up to him right now..."
It wasn't just anyone, but an elder-level person. He still didn't think that Moyong Gi had won with skill, but a win was a win.
Even though Diancang seemed to be a step behind the other Nine Sects One Gang, it wasn't a big difference.
But Myung Jin was vowing to catch up to such a guy right now.
It was the same as vowing to beat his own sect's elder right now.
"There is no difference in internal energy. It's a matter of technique. That can be overcome right away."
Myung Jin had hit the nail on the head.
Moyong Gi did not use a martial art that pressed down heavily like the elders of his sect. He did not feel that he was overwhelmingly strong like them.
He was just soft, fast, and sharp. If it was something that could be done with the same internal energy, there was no reason why he couldn't catch up.
So Moogyeol stared blankly for a while and then let out a groan.
"Aish. Do whatever you want."
So Moogyeol turned his head with a sullen face. It was just a waste of breath to talk.
"By the way, where did this guy go?"
Moyong Gi had disappeared saying he needed something, and there had been no news for half a shichen already.
He grumbled out of annoyance and then turned his gaze to Zhuge Yeon, who was next to him.
"Do you happen to know where he went?"
"I don't know either."
He had moved without a word, so she didn't know either. Zhuge Yeon was also curious about Moyong Gi's location.
So Moogyeol looked at Zhuge Yeon, who was shaking her head, and glanced at her.
"By the way... did you know that guy before?"
"No. I also saw him for the first time yesterday."
"But he's being so friendly? Isn't that strange?"
"I think so too, but... he wouldn't answer when I asked."
So Moogyeol knew that fact well. He had poked at it to see if there was anything more, but it seemed there wasn't.
'It doesn't seem like she's hiding anything either...'
He had observed her carefully without being obvious, but he couldn't see any trace of a lie. There was no reason for her to lie either.
'There's no answer for now.'
It was a question that couldn't be solved right away. It needed time.
So Moogyeol shook off his thoughts and brought up another topic.
"By the way... we're the same age, so how about we speak comfortably?"
Zhuge Yeon smiled brightly.
"Do as you please."
"Sh-shall I? Then you too?"
"I'm comfortable with this."
So Moogyeol's eyes narrowed.
'So full of suspicion...'
She didn't approach easily, and she didn't let others approach easily. She always drew a line. Not just Zhuge Yeon, but all of the Five Great Families were like that. They stuck together and didn't let anyone in.
Still, So Moogyeol spoke comfortably with a shameless face.
"Then I'll speak comfortably?"
"Go ahead."
Zhuge Yeon replied with a slight smile. So Moogyeol licked his lips.
'I'm doing it because I have to, but...'
He had decided to put on a thick skin, but he felt reluctant.
The fact that she was from the Five Great Families was already a concern, but the fact that she drew a line made him even more conscious.
So Moogyeol licked his lips bitterly. Then, he turned his gaze at the sound of a door opening that he heard just in time.
"Hey. Where did you go..."
But it wasn't the face he had expected. He narrowed his brow and shut his mouth.
Baek Unseol, who was entering the training room, discovered the three of them sitting in a corner and her eyes widened.
"Huh? Isn't this Gi's training room? What are you doing here?"
As Baek Unseol looked at So Moogyeol, whom she was relatively comfortable with, So Moogyeol stepped forward.
"That's what I want to ask. What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Gi. But... I don't see him?"
The training room was only about ten zhang in size, so a quick look around was enough. There was nowhere to hide. But when she couldn't see him, Baek Unseol expressed her question to So Moogyeol.
"Where did Gi go?"
"How would I know. He told me to wait and there's no news."
Baek Unseol's nose wrinkled.
"What? I heard he fought with Young Master Namgung, so I came because I was worried, but he's not even showing his face..."
"Who fought?"
"Who do you think. I'm talking about Gi. Am I wrong?"
So Moogyeol chuckled.
"Fought, my ass. A fight requires an opponent, but he was knocked out in one blow, what fight."
"Then... the rumor was true?"
"There were more than one or two people watching, how could it be a lie? By the way, you came at a good time. Let me ask you something. What did that guy do to get so strong? He wasn't the same guy from a year ago."
Baek Unseol shook her head.
"I don't know that either."
"You're childhood friends and you don't even know that?"
"I was only at Mount Hua. I also saw him for the first time in a long time yesterday."
Baek Unseol looked at So Moogyeol, who had shut his mouth with a groan, and then turned to Myung Jin, who was next to him.
"By the way, what's wrong with him again?"
"Leave him alone. He's also not in his right mind from the shock."
"Shock? What shock?"
"I don't know either. Don't ask. Ask him yourself later."
It was awkward to talk about someone else's business. So he shook his head, but in Baek Unseol's eyes, it just looked like he was being lazy.
Baek Unseol glared at So Moogyeol and then spoke to Zhuge Yeon, who was staring blankly next to him.
"Hello."
Zhuge Yeon replied with an awkward smile.
"Ah... hello."
"Do you happen to remember me?"
"Of course. We met at Wudang before, right?"
At Zhuge Yeon's reply, Baek Unseol's face lit up.
"You remember that? We only met briefly, so I thought you wouldn't remember..."
"Of course. Young Lady Baek is so pretty... how could I not remember?"
"What are you talking about? I've never seen a woman as pretty as Young Lady Zhuge. Don't say such things even as a joke."
"A joke? No. Young Lady Baek is really so pretty."
So Moogyeol, who was listening quietly, clicked his tongue.
"We all know you're pretty, so can you stop? It's not like you're taking turns..."
At So Moogyeol's sarcastic tone, Zhuge Yeon had an awkward expression. Baek Unseol glared.
'I was trying so hard to get close, and he's ruining it.'
In fact, besides being pretty, Zhuge Yeon did not leave much of an impression. The fact that she remembered that they had met was thanks to her pondering with a groan last night. It was because she needed to have a deep conversation with Zhuge Yeon. So she was displeased when So Moogyeol interrupted. But she didn't hold it in her heart for long.
'Well... there's plenty of time...'
There was plenty of time anyway. She just had to do what she could first.
"By the way, what are you doing here? Did Gi call you by any chance?"
"Yes."
"For what...?"
Even with a face full of smiles and a gentle tone, Zhuge Yeon felt that Baek Unseol's question was uncomfortable. And she knew the reason too. Naturally, it was difficult to answer.
Then, So Moogyeol replied for her with an unconcerned face.
"What do you mean, for what. That guy fell for her."
Zhuge Yeon was startled and said quickly.
"It's not like that."
"What do you mean, it's not? That's why he brought her here to teach her martial arts without any compensation. He asked me and him for a favor in return for teaching us the lightness technique, but he didn't do that to you, right?"
"That's..."
Zhuge Yeon had a troubled expression.
It wasn't that there was no compensation, but from Moyong Gi's attitude, it was difficult to see it as a reasonable compensation. And she couldn't go around blabbing about it. It would be a threat to her uncle. So she naturally shut her mouth.
Baek Unseol, still smiling brightly, asked.
"He decided to teach you... martial arts?"
"...Yes."
Her shoulders slumped for no reason. She felt guilty without having done anything. Her heart was uncomfortable.
Zhuge Yeon intentionally avoided Baek Unseol's gaze. Fortunately, Baek Unseol soon turned her gaze to So Moogyeol without any particular expression.
"You guys decided to learn too?"
"That's why we're here. Why else would we be here?"
Baek Unseol narrowed her eyes.
"Is that so? Should I ask him to teach me too?"
***
Moyong Gi, who was entering the training room, discovered Baek Unseol and had a puzzled expression.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean, what am I doing. Did I come to a place I can't come to?"
"It's not that, but... you don't come without a reason. What's your business?"
Baek Unseol pouted her lips.
"I heard you fought, so I came because I was worried, is that something to say?"
"Forget it. You don't have to worry about me."
Moyong Gi replied with a faint laugh. It wasn't a special reaction. It was a common reaction. But Baek Unseol narrowed her eyes.
'Is he really Gi?'
Baek Unseol knew Moyong Gi well.
He was kind, but he liked to show off a little.
In the past, he would have boasted about beating Namgung Seocheon until his mouth wore out.
But there was no such sign at all. Moyong Gi seemed unfamiliar.
As Baek Unseol was looking at Moyong Gi with a strange expression, So Moogyeol stood up.
"By the way, what are those?"
So Moogyeol gestured with his chin to the two dogs that Moyong Gi had brought.
"What do you mean, what are they? They're guard dogs. Can't you tell by looking?"
"I know that. But why are they so obedient?"
The guard dogs of the Orthodox Justice Alliance were famous for being fierce. They didn't get intimidated even against decent masters.
But the guys who were the size of calves had their tails down and were panting with gentle eyes. That was what was puzzling.
"You don't need to know that. Shall we start the lightness technique training now?"
So Moogyeol, as if a thought had struck him, narrowed his brow as he looked back and forth between Moyong Gi and the guard dogs.
"Surely... you're not telling me to run away from them, are you?"
Moyong Gi grinned.
"You know well."
"Hey, you punk! Are you saying that as if it makes sense?"
So Moogyeol got angry.
No matter how fierce, a dog is a dog. There is no martial artist who is afraid of a dog after training for only a year or two. He was angry.
"Hey. You say something too. This guy seems to be out of his mind."
So Moogyeol nudged Myung Jin with his foot.
Myung Jin stood up and met Moyong Gi's eyes.
"Is this helpful?"
"Of course. I did it this way too."
"Then let's do it that way."
Myung Jin nodded without showing any particular question.
So Moogyeol said urgently.
"Hey, do you believe that?"
Myung Jin crossed his arms without a reply. It meant to start quickly.
So Moogyeol covered his face with both hands.
"How did I end up with guys like this... huh?"
So Moogyeol looked at Moyong Gi with a surprised face.
While he was opening his mouth, Moyong Gi had lightly tapped him, and at that moment, his body had become drastically heavy.
So Moogyeol shouted urgently.
"What is this?"
"What do you mean, what is it. Is that about five years' worth of internal energy?"
It was said to be five years' worth, but it was as if it had been completely blocked.
Even ordinary people who had not learned martial arts had that much internal energy.
"Untie this right now! What are you doing?"
"If I was going to untie it, why would I have gone through the trouble of blocking it? Think a little, you punk."
"Hey, you bastard! That's not what I mean."
Moyong Gi sent everyone except So Moogyeol out of the training room. And then, standing in front of the door, he looked at So Moogyeol and grinned.
"Be grateful. I was originally going to release two, but I reduced it to one."
"Untie this, not that! The acupoints, the acupoints!"
Moyong Gi didn't even listen and slammed the door of the training room shut.
So Moogyeol belatedly ran to the door.
"Hey! Aren't you going to open this? Hey, you punk!"
He didn't know what he had done, but the door wouldn't budge.
"Hey! Open the door! Open the door... huh?"
So Moogyeol, who was roughly pounding on the door, suddenly flinched and trembled. The back of his neck felt cold and his heart was anxious.
'Should I just pretend I don't know?'
He pondered for a moment, but it wasn't the answer. The persistent gaze continued. So Moogyeol had no choice but to stealthily turn his eyes.
"Grrrrr."
The fangs, the size of an adult's thumb, glittered in the light.
'Oh, damn! Look at those teeth...'
So Moogyeol swallowed hard.
(End of Chapter)