Chapter 22
Woonhyun, who was leaving the Ascending Dragon Pavilion, discovered So Moogyeol sprawled out in the garden.
"What are you doing?"
So Moogyeol, still lying down, only glanced at him.
"What do you think I'm doing?"
"Nothing."
"Then why are you asking when you know?"
"Wow..."
Woonhyun let out a hollow laugh. But he soon plopped down next to So Moogyeol.
"By the way, why is your face like that again?"
Blue bruises were stuck here and there, making it colorful.
"Aish. I'm already annoyed to death because of that."
"Did Moyong Gi do that?"
"Who else would do such a thing besides that guy? He's a complete madman."
So Moogyeol's face contorted.
"He doesn't do that to Myung Jin or Zhuge Yeon, but only to me."
"Then quit. Why do you keep sticking around?"
"Do you think I want to do this? I'm doing it because my master told me to. If I don't, my master will try to eat me alive."
"Wow... your master?"
"If not, why do you think I'm doing this?"
Woonhyun looked at So Moogyeol with curious eyes.
"What is it? Putting you and Myung Jin aside, even Cheon Youngyoung and your master... what on earth does that guy have?"
"You know well too. That guy's martial arts are ridiculously strong."
"What does that have to do with it?"
"What do you mean, what does it have to do with it... my master told me to learn from that guy."
Woonhyun's eyes widened.
"Your master? Really?"
"If not, why do you think I'm doing this?"
"Then is it the same reason for Cheon Youngyoung?"
"She stuck to him on her own."
"Stuck to him? Cheon Youngyoung? With her personality?"
So Moogyeol did not answer further. Instead, he stealthily sat up.
"Ugh."
"Hey. Where are you going without answering?"
"Where am I going. I'm going to train."
Woonhyun quickly got up and followed So Moogyeol.
"What's with you again?"
"I'm going to watch too. What's so special about that guy."
***
Zhuge Yeon was uncomfortable without Moyong Gi.
It was less uncomfortable when Baek Unseol or So Moogyeol were with her.
But So Moogyeol was a little late today, and Baek Unseol hadn't shown her face for a month.
Being in the same space with Myung Jin, who was trapped in his own thoughts, and Cheon Youngyoung, who was just as quiet, was suffocating.
So she was happy to see So Moogyeol opening the door and coming in.
"You're late?"
"I had something to do... but where did that Gi guy go?"
"He went out for a moment. He said he'll be back soon. By the way, what brings Daoist Master Woonhyun here?"
Zhuge Yeon looked at Woonhyun, who was following So Moogyeol in.
So Moogyeol pouted his lips.
"What Daoist Master... he followed me because he was bored."
"Hey. You always have to say things like that."
Woonhyun glared and then quickly fixed his expression and looked at Zhuge Yeon.
"It's been a while, Young Lady Zhuge."
Even though they were in the same space called the Dragon and Phoenix Inn, their paths did not cross, so they had no chance to meet.
It had been almost two months since they had seen each other's faces.
"Yes. It's been a while, Daoist Master Woonhyun."
Zhuge Yeon, who replied with a bright smile, was so dazzling that words could not describe it.
Lately, she had been dressing down more than usual because of her training, but her natural beauty was not going anywhere.
Woonhyun stared at Zhuge Yeon with a dazed face.
So Moogyeol poked him in the side. Woonhyun's face contorted.
"Why?"
"I know what you're thinking. Don't do that in front of that guy. He might really try to kill you."
"What are you talking about, Young Master So."
Zhuge Yeon had a troubled expression.
Woonhyun looked at So Moogyeol with a look of disbelief.
"It's not like that. By the way, is he Young Lady Zhuge's husband? What nonsense is this?"
"Then try it. But don't act like you know me. If you're going to die, die alone."
"Forget it. That won't happen."
Woonhyun snapped and then looked around the training room.
Then, he discovered Cheon Youngyoung and Myung Jin in a corner and walked straight over.
"Hey. Aren't you guys even going to acknowledge me?"
Cheon Youngyoung glanced at Woonhyun and just nodded her head.
"It's been a while."
But that was the least of it.
Myung Jin didn't even acknowledge him and was still engrossed in his own thoughts.
Woonhyun's brow furrowed. But So Moogyeol's voice stopped Woonhyun.
"Hey. Don't touch him. You might get stabbed if you touch him wrongly."
"What are you talking about? Why would I suddenly get stabbed?"
"If you're curious, try touching him."
Woonhyun narrowed his eyes and observed Myung Jin.
He was seriously contemplating whether to touch him.
But before his contemplation was over, the door burst open and Moyong Gi entered the training room.
So Moogyeol grumbled as he saw Moyong Gi.
"Hey. Why are you so... huh? Hey, you crazy bastard!"
So Moogyeol shouted as he saw the three guard dogs that Moyong Gi was dragging in.
A month ago, he had put in one more. The dog bite marks that had barely disappeared had increased again. He had run like his life depended on it for a month and thought he wouldn't get bitten anymore, but he had brought another one.
"What is this? Are you determined to kill someone?"
"You didn't die."
"That's because I struggled not to die! Don't you see the holes here? And you're going to put another one in?"
So Moogyeol showed his forearm, which was full of holes, with an excited face. Moyong Gi chuckled.
"That's all because you're lacking in training. You'll get better if you keep doing it."
"I'll die before I get better, you bastard."
"You talk too much. If you don't want to do it, tell your master. Then I won't make you."
When Hong Sochen's name came up, So Moogyeol shut his mouth.
In fact, after he had once resisted, saying he didn't want to do it, and had been beaten until he was dusty on a rainy day, he hadn't even opened his mouth.
However, he still grumbled with a dissatisfied face.
"Aish. I must have been crazy to enter as that old man's disciple... but why three?"
"Because Yeon is going to do it starting today."
Zhuge Yeon's eyes widened.
"Me?"
"What are you so surprised about? Were you not going to do it then? You asked me to teach you the lightness technique too."
"That's true, but..."
That was before she knew Moyong Gi's teaching method.
She had never even imagined that he would teach so foolishly.
Although she wasn't as scared as before, she was still worried.
"Don't worry. If it were in the past, I don't know, but now you'll barely get bitten."
Still, he didn't say she wouldn't get bitten at all.
Zhuge Yeon, who had understood the meaning, her face contorted.
Moyong Gi, who was grinning as he saw that, finally discovered Woonhyun, who was standing awkwardly.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
Woonhyun smiled awkwardly and raised his hand.
"Hello."
Moyong Gi chuckled.
"What hello... I asked what you're doing here."
"He's bored. He followed me to watch because he was bored."
So Moogyeol answered for him. Woonhyun readily nodded.
"That's right. I came to watch."
"There's probably nothing to see... well, do as you please."
Moyong Gi observed Woonhyun with ambiguous eyes and then soon lost interest. And then he shifted his gaze to Myung Jin.
"Does that guy really not rest for a single day?"
"As if it's something new... has he ever been normal?"
At So Moogyeol's reply, Moyong Gi sighed.
Then, he drew his sword, approached Myung Jin, and thrust his sword.
Woonhyun was greatly surprised.
"What!"
Clang!
But it was buried by the sound of swords clashing.
Myung Jin, whose eyes had shot open, had deflected the sword like lightning.
"Hey! You guys!"
So Moogyeol caught Woonhyun, who was trying to stop them urgently.
"Leave them alone. You won't see a good outcome if you get swept up in it for no reason."
"You're telling me to just leave them alone? What if they get hurt?"
"Hurt, my ass. They do that every morning, if they were going to get hurt, they would have gotten hurt a long time ago."
Woonhyun understood immediately.
This was training. And then, he unknowingly observed Cheon Youngyoung.
'Could it be...'
Woonhyun's guess was right.
Cheon Youngyoung, as if she was possessed by something, could not take her eyes off Myung Jin and Moyong Gi's swords.
At that sight, Woonhyun, who had snapped to his senses, widened his eyes and took in Myung Jin and Moyong Gi's movements.
And then, not long after, he swallowed hard.
'It's murderous.'
They exchanged three or four moves in an instant, and each one was a killing move with a sharp sword wind flying in all directions.
As So Moogyeol had said, if he approached carelessly, he would be swept away.
At that moment, Woonhyun had an intuition.
'I'm no match.'
He had trained like his life depended on it for the past two months.
As a native of Kunlun, he had even pestered Jeoksong, who was in charge of the Dragon and Phoenix Inn, and had immersed himself in martial arts training.
Thanks to that, he had been able to awaken the hidden essence of the Great Void Sword Art.
He had thought that with this much, he could take on Myung Jin.
But it was a mistake. Not only was he no match, but the gap had widened even more. It was devastating.
"Damn it."
Just as Woonhyun was gritting his teeth, Moyong Gi's sword flashed for a moment and scattered a sword light, and Myung Jin's sword was helplessly deflected.
Soon, with the tip of the sword at his neck, Myung Jin's face contorted.
"Damn it!"
Moyong Gi sheathed his sword and shook his head.
"There's no need for that. You've improved a lot."
It wasn't an empty word. He had really improved a lot.
Myung Jin was the first person to thrust his sword at him after learning for only about a month.
Even Zhuge Yeon, who had learned for a longer time, and So Moogyeol still couldn't bring themselves to attack Moyong Gi himself. His innate talent was dazzling.
However, it was only Moyong Gi's thought. Myung Jin still did not relax his face. He left the training room without a reply.
"Anyway, that temper... huh. What are you doing?"
So Moogyeol shook his head and then called Woonhyun, who was drawing his sword with a serious face.
Woonhyun, who stood facing Moyong Gi without even replying to those words.
Moyong Gi looked at him with eyes full of questions.
"What?"
"It's my turn this time."
His low voice showed that he had made up his mind. His momentum was quite fierce.
Moyong Gi, who was staring at him blankly, chuckled and replied.
"Who said I'd fight you?"
"Huh?"
Woonhyun, who was flustered for a moment, rolled his eyes and unknowingly looked for So Moogyeol.
So Moogyeol, who met his eyes, sighed. The reaction was bad.
This time, he turned his gaze to Cheon Youngyoung, but Cheon Youngyoung left the training room without any lingering attachment.
Woonhyun's gaze had nowhere to go.
So Moogyeol pulled the wandering Woonhyun.
"Hey, let's go."
"Huh? Why?"
"Do you think he's doing free service? Why would he fight you?"
"Huh? Isn't this how you do it?"
"Ah, really, so embarrassing. Get out, quickly."
So Moogyeol led Woonhyun.
Just as So Moogyeol was about to leave the door, Moyong Gi called So Moogyeol.
"Hey."
"Why?"
"Take those with you on your way out. Release one in each of your training rooms. Put one in Yeon's training room too."
Moyong Gi gestured to the guard dogs with his chin. So Moogyeol glared.
"You should have done it on your way here."
Even while saying that, he grabbed the leashes and then pushed Woonhyun, who was still half-leaning against the door.
"I said get out."
***
"Hey. What is it?"
Woonhyun looked at So Moogyeol with eyes full of questions.
So Moogyeol replied with an indifferent face.
"What?"
"Moyong Gi. Why is he only facing Myung Jin?"
"Ah, that? He's not just facing Myung Jin, he's also facing me and Yeon."
At So Moogyeol's answer, Woonhyun had a wronged expression.
"Then what about me?"
"You? Why you?"
"Why isn't he facing me?"
So Moogyeol sighed.
"He's not just not facing you, he's also not facing Cheon Youngyoung and Baek Unseol. Baek Unseol is so upset about that that she hasn't even shown her face lately."
"Then why is he only facing you guys?"
"That's because we paid the price."
"You gave him money? Is that okay?"
"Who said I gave him money? I said we paid the price."
"What is it?"
"You don't need to know. Just know that it's expensive. So expensive that it's difficult for you to afford..."
"Is it worth it? If it's expensive coming from you, it must be really expensive..."
"Don't you know by looking at Myung Jin? He's been learning from that Gi guy for a month."
Woonhyun was startled.
"That's his skill after learning for a month? Then you too?"
"No. I can't be like Myung Jin even if I die trying. But my master did say I've improved a lot."
Woonhyun, who seemed to be pondering again at those words, soon finished his calculations and lowered his voice to ask So Moogyeol.
"Can I learn too if I pay the price?"
"Forget it. It's difficult for you to afford, and even if you can, don't you know by looking at Cheon Youngyoung and Baek Unseol? He says he doesn't have time and doesn't want to."
Woonhyun's face contorted. Then, at a thought that suddenly occurred to him, he asked again.
"Then why was Cheon Youngyoung there?"
"Ah, that? He lets her watch when he bickers with Myung Jin every morning. If you need it, you can watch that too."
Woonhyun's eyes sparkled.
(End of Chapter)