Chapter 15. An Unexpected Clash (1)

The summer heat had subsided.

But beads of sweat continuously trickled down Lee Byeok’s forehead as he pulled the cart. His breathing naturally grew rough.

Kkiik, kkiik!

Come to think of it, when he first followed Lee Jincheon towards Flower Pavilion Village, Lee Byeok had to pull a cart up the mountain path as well.

But going down the mountain path while supporting the weight of the cart was even more difficult than going up.

Seuk.

“Oppa, are you okay?”

A small hand approached.

She wiped Lee Byeok’s forehead with a handkerchief. And her clear, bright eyes met Lee Byeok’s.

“Are you thirsty? Would you like some water?”

“……”

Ever since they left the village, Wang Suyeon had been following Lee Byeok with small steps, as if afraid of being left behind.

Of course, this wasn't something that had just started yesterday or today. He should have been used to it, but for Lee Byeok, it was still an awkward distance.

“Hey! Wang Suyeon! Get away from him, now!”

Just then, a rough voice shouted.

And a large figure that had run down from above squeezed in between Lee Byeok and Wang Suyeon.

“Wh-what’s it to you—!”

“It is my business! You’re getting in Big brother’s way!”

“……”

“He’s working hard on his physical training, so stop sticking to him and bothering him!”

Jang Seok-du laid down the law.

Kkubeok. He bowed his head to Lee Byeok.

“Big brother! I'm dying to pull this cart for you… but this is all part of the training to become a master, right? Right?”

“……”

This… I’m not sure.

Lee Byeok thought. He was pulling it because he was told to, but would something like this really help improve his martial arts?

Kkiik, kkiik.

In front and behind, several other carts were going down the mountain path alongside the one Lee Byeok was pulling.

They were all carts that had departed from Flower Pavilion Village and were heading towards the city at the foot of the mountain.

They sold their harvests or medicinal herbs in time for the opening of the market and bought necessary goods.

That was the village’s way of life.

Moo~

“……”

Of course, they were naturally carts pulled by livestock.

Among the oxen and horses in front and behind, Lee Byeok, being the only human, wanted to believe Jang Seok-du’s words.

“As much as you’re working hard! As soon as we arrive at the market, I will definitely treat you well!”

Tung. Jang Seok-du thumped his chest.

Jang Seok-du’s friendly attitude was also somewhat awkward for Lee Byeok. It was difficult to find a response.

“…Seok-du, you didn't happen to injure your head, did you? Like suddenly awakening to something……”

“What? What does that mean?”

It seemed Lee Byeok wasn't the only one who hadn't adapted to Jang Seok-du’s change in attitude.

“Ah, no, more importantly! Don't tell me you’re planning to stick with oppa when we get to the market?!”

“Huh? Of course. Who else would attend to Big brother if not me?”

“N-No way! You go play with the other kids! Byeok oppa is going to be with just me!”

“What?! Who says?!”

And between the two of them, a debate began over the future possession of Lee Byeok.

Amidst the chattering voices, Lee Byeok took a breath.

If he let his guard down for even a moment, it felt like all the strength would leave his body.

“Puhuhu, our youngest is so popular~ Now that we’ve gotten close with the village chief’s family, we might not have to worry about the official subsidy for a few years, huh?”

“More importantly, that, is it really okay?”

And from the opposite side of where the children stood, the voices of Lee Jincheon and Jaegal Somi could be heard.

“Huh? What is?”

“The griz was fine because he’s a griz, but entrusting the cart to that scrawny little kid……”

“Ayy, no way. Our youngest may be small, but you think he can't do what Dae-woong does? It's something Dae-woong did as easily as eating. Ayy, no way there'd be such a difference when they're the same age.”

“……”

Lee Byeok gritted his teeth.

He moved one step at a time, carefully.

“Wang Suyeon, how much money do you have?”

“I, I have a lot of money, okay?! I saved up all my allowance for today without spending a single penny!”

In the midst of it all, the children’s squabble continued. Wang Suyeon took out a few coins from her pocket.

Hut. Jang Seok-du laughed lightly. And he reached into his clothes and took out a string of coins.

“Wh-what’s with that money?!”

“Oh, it’s nothing much. I got some special allowance from my father? He told me to treat Big brother to a feast and not even bring back any change.”

“Uh, uh……”

“Hahaha, you call that money? You’ll be a beggar after buying one bean~ A penniless kid should go buy some candy~”

“Keut!”

Wang Suyeon’s hand trembled.

“Nyah nyah~ She’s a beggar~”

Jang Seok-du circled around Wang Suyeon, frivolously sticking out his tongue.

Wang Suyeon’s face turned bright red.

Tak!

The next moment, she pushed Jang Seok-du.

“Uh, uhh……?”

Jang Seok-du’s body, which had been fooling around, tilted backward.

Lee Byeok hastily reached out and supported Jang Seok-du’s back.

“…Be careful. This is a mountain path.”

“H-Big brother! You’ve saved my life once again!”

Jang Seok-du’s eyes shone brightly. Lee Byeok couldn't bring himself to meet his gaze and averted his eyes.

He faced the pale-faced Wang Suyeon.

“O-Oppa, the c-cart! The cart!”

Deolkeong deolkeong!

Lee Byeok hastily turned his gaze.

But the moment Lee Byeok let go, the cart, with no one holding it, naturally began to roll downhill.

It gained speed in an instant.

Kureureureung, kwaaaang!

“…Ah.”

Ttaak!

A pebble struck the back of Lee Byeok’s head with perfect accuracy. It was Jaegal Somi’s handiwork.

“Don't you ‘ah’ me. You idiot!”

***

“Salt! Salt!! Get your salt!!”

“Here!! Tea leaves that even the high-ranking officials can’t get their hands on!! Come and smell the fragrance at least!!”

Before noon, the group from Flower Pavilion Village arrived at Gathering Lake, the region’s commercial center.

The street, stretching long from east to west, was so crowded with merchants selling goods and passersby that there was no room to set foot.

“Wow, there are so many people……”

“Th-This is nothing! Why are you acting like it’s your first time here?”

When Wang Suyeon spoke in a dazed voice, Jang Seok-du immediately chided her.

But Jang Seok-du’s eyes were also darting around.

If the two oldest were like that, there was no need to mention the other children from the Falling Sword Sect.

Kkiik, kkiik!

“Alright then, see you all later!”

The villagers exchanged greetings and then dispersed, each pulling their own cart. They had to go to their designated spots to buy and sell goods.

Originally, going to the market was the work of the village adults, and it was rare for children to tag along.

But since the Falling Sword Sect had settled in Flower Pavilion Village, the children had the opportunity to come for a look around like this about once a year under the sect’s lead.

“Iya~ Our grand disciple is truly the best, I tell you. It’s so convenient to have a sharp disciple~ Well then, see you later?”

Lee Jincheon also quickly disappeared, pulling the cart that Lee Byeok had brought.

The excuse was that he was going to look for a client who would buy the tiger hide.

“That man is definitely going to a brothel.”

“……”

“It’ll be a relief if he just sells everything, gets drunk, and brings back some change. Ehyohyo, my fate.”

Jaegal Somi let out a sigh.

But the next moment, her gaze changed. Jjak! She clapped her hands and turned to the dazed children.

“Alright, alright, snap out of it! Don't get lost while spacing out! Pair up and hold hands!”

Urururu. The children flocked around Jaegal Somi. Jaegal Somi’s gaze moved again.

“Wang Suyeon, Jang Seok-du.”

“Yes, unnie!”

“You two are all grown up, so go play on your own. You know where and when to meet, right?”

“Yep! Of course, Sister!”

And the last place her gaze landed was on Lee Byeok.

“You too, Lee Byeok.”

“…No, there is no need for that.”

Lee Byeok looked around at the children.

It couldn't be an easy job to take care of about ten excited children all by herself.

“I will help as well—”

“Hah, what are you talking about? You’re a kid too.”

“……”

“It’s easier for me if there’s one less person. So don’t make a fuss and just hold out your hand.”

Seuk. As

Lee Byeok held out his hand, Jaegal Somi grabbed it. And a few coins were placed in Lee Byeok’s palm.

“……”

Jaegal Somi smirked.

“Pocket money. I can’t give you much. Don’t get into trouble and go play.”

Hwoi, hwoi. Jaegal Somi waved her hand as if her business was done.

Then she led the children and disappeared into the crowd.

Lee Byeok watched her retreating back.

She was only two years older. A girl who had not even reached her coming-of-age, yet she was supporting the entire practical household of the Falling Sword Sect.

That wasn't all.

From martial arts and formations to academics.

The more he got to know her, the more remarkable she seemed. And he became curious again. Just what kind of past had she gone through to end up at the Falling Sword Sect—

Deobseok

“Hm, hm!”

Wang Suyeon grabbed Lee Byeok’s arm.

“Oppa, let’s hurry and go play!”

“…What do you mean by play?”

“That’s obvious, Big brother!”

Jang Seok-du chimed in.

And Wang Suyeon’s and Jang Seok-du’s eyes met. Euheuheu, they both laughed at the same time.

***

“It’s grilled chicken skewers!”

Tadadat, wagu wagu.

“Ah! Red bean dumplings! There’s sesame too!”

Tadadat, wagu wagu.

“Oh my, jeonbyeong(sweet rolled pancakes)! I have to eat that!”

Tadadat, wagu wagu.

“……”

The children’s appetite was endless.

Putting Jang Seok-du aside, it was amazing how all that food could fit into Wang Suyeon’s small body.

Of course, Lee Byeok had to join in.

If Lee Byeok didn't take a bite, the children would glance at him nervously.

Jang Seok-du’s money had to be spent on Lee Byeok. Therefore, Lee Byeok had to at least pretend to eat.

“Hehe. It’s delicious, right, oppa?”

“……”

Lee Byeok nodded with difficulty.

Every single thing was slathered in grease and sweetness.

Although he had only taken a bite of each, Lee Byeok quickly felt bloated.

“…We should be having dinner soon.”

“Huh? But oppa. Meals and snacks go into different stomachs.”

“It all goes to your height! Eat up, Big brother!”

“That’s right. Oppa needs to eat a lot too!”

The two of them chattered away as if they had never argued, while stuffing food into their mouths.

Perhaps it was natural for children of the same age who grew up in the same village to get along so well.

“Seok-du! Over there too!”

“Ooh, great! Follow me!”

The children would squeeze their way into any place where a crowd had gathered and come back with something they had acquired.

It was as if they had become a couple of years younger now that there were no other younger siblings to look after.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with it.

It was money given to be spent.

The amount of food they ate in the village was always fixed, and with no younger siblings to give way to, it wouldn't be a big deal to overeat for a day.

“Big brother!”

“Byeok oppa!”

Most importantly, they looked happy.

The two of them grabbed Lee Byeok by both arms and dragged him around everywhere. Lee Byeok obediently followed.

—Big brother! Over here!

“……”

However, he couldn't quite feel the same as the children. Memories were connected to every little thing.

Maybe someday he could.

If not now, then someday.

Bukjeok bukjeok

And spotting another crowd in the distance, the children led Lee Byeok inside.

Unexpectedly, he found someone he knew.

“Welcome! Welcome, everyone! With this medicine, I tell you! You will no longer fear the night! A miraculous medicine that can even make a stooped old man stand up straight! Tiger's Roar Pill, made by grinding a whole tiger’s bone!”

“Ooh, liar!”

“Ah, have you only been deceived all your life! I, this Mo, have been a medicine peddler in this Gathering Lake for three years! Ah, this is really. It’s really good for a man! But there’s no way to explain it!”

“……”

“……”

The children quietly left the spot.

The three of them, feeling a little embarrassed, fell silent for a moment. As if by agreement, no one spoke.

But not even a long while had passed before the children became lively again as if nothing had happened, and they roamed around everywhere.

“Gwe-ek. I can’t eat anymore……!”

“Keuk, I-it’s regrettable, uwe-ek!”

And so, the children who had been eating as if possessed finally began to feel nauseous well past noon.

“B-But there’s still stuff I haven’t eaten……”

“I-It’s been so long since we went out! We absolutely have to have dinner at an inn too……!”

They looked like a pair of ducks waddling around, holding their unusually protruding bellies.

“……”

“…Huh? Byeok oppa, did you smile?”

Hwik. Wang Suyeon’s gaze quickly turned back to face Lee Byeok.

Lee Byeok reflexively averted his gaze.

“Wow… It’s the first time I’ve seen you smile, oppa.”

“Big brother! You look even more handsome when you smile! Please smile a lot more from now on!”

“……”

This is awkward.

Lee Byeok avoided the two pairs of overly focused gazes and looked at the street opposite them.

Woongseong woongseong

Suddenly, a commotion arose over there.

From the distance, the crowd on the street was parting to both sides, hastily making way.

“Big brother—”

Ttagadak! Ttagadak!

The moment he felt the vibration of horses’ hooves, Lee Byeok hastily pushed the children to the left corner and retreated with them.

Ttagadak! Ttagadak!

And no sooner had they moved back, a group of riders on horseback passed by, trampling the very spot they had just been.

About ten men.

As if they naturally expected everyone to get out of their way, they showed no sign of caring about their surroundings as they galloped through the crowded street.

“Hmph! What a smell. It’s quite the countryside. How on earth do people live in a mountain valley like this?”

The young man at the front wrinkled his nose and frowned, covering it with his sleeve.

“Watch your words, Uhak! This is not Sichuan territory. You don’t know who might be watching.”

“Ehei, Elder, you’re being so strict. I was just stating the facts as they are, wasn’t I?”

The young man shrugged.

And laughing amongst themselves, the group quickly moved away.

Of course, they didn’t even spare a glance for the passersby who had almost collided with them, including Lee Byeok.

“……”

“Wh-What’s with those people?”

Wang Suyeon said in a dumbfounded voice.

Lee Byeok watched their retreating backs.

Neat Daoist attire. Most notably, a sword was hung at each of their waists.

They were Murim-in.

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