MTL NOVEL Chapter 4
“Ah! You were Sir Byul Rak! Excuse me, but how did you come by such an alias…?”
“There isn’t one.”
“Ahaha… Is that so?”
The man who had just displayed his skills a moment ago turned out to be an unknown without an alias.
Though hard to believe, the leader of the ghostly spirits dared not ask further.
The immense internal energy felt when his palm technique was received earlier was of the kind only encountered when facing the master of the Green Forest Sect.
No, maybe even greater in magnitude and depth…
‘What am I thinking?’
The only person capable of such a feat would be the Sword Sage among the Five Greats, how could this be some wild hallucination.
The leader of the ghostly spirits berated himself for the fleeting thought and sought a way to resolve the situation.
This task, carried out for kickbacks from Jin Cheon Geom, the influential uncle of the Taewon Jin Clan, originally aimed to undermine the reputation of Sword Flower.
It was planned to have Sword Flower captured by third-rate bandits, thereby incurring a debt of three thousand gold taels to the Taewon Jin Clan.
To achieve this would result in her being shunned as incapable by the public, thus plummeting her status within the family.
However, complications arose.
A sudden appearance of the short-haired man.
At a glance, with his slightly grown beard and dark eye circles, he seemed like a vagrant off the streets.
‘Monster. There’s no way we can oppose him.’
The plan must be revised.
No, it should simply be abandoned.
We should retreat now.
Assuming, that is, that this monster will let us leave unharmed.
Gulping dryly,
First things first, the parched throat must be held while engaging him in discourse.
“I shall be straightforward. My deepest apologies.”
“Is that so?”
“Spare us. We shall do anything.”
No ridiculous tricks or schemes.
Because against a warrior of such extraordinary realm, frivolous scheming would be meaningless.
“That is not for me but for our master to decide,” Byul Rak gestured towards Gayoung Jin.
Taking the initiative in the conversation shift, Gayoung Jin calmly continued.
She was accustomed to such situations, always being harassed by her uncle.
“Our family has no intention to fight against the Green Forest Sect. We won’t shy away from incoming challenges though.”
“… Yes. What do you desire?”
“You’ve been informed by someone, right? Tell us who commissioned you. The one who informed you about our numbers and my, Sword Flower Jin Gayoung’s, passing through this path.”
“Uh… hmm…”
It’s a basic rule not to reveal the identity of the commissioner.
Otherwise, how could one sustain such a business?
Initially, why would everyone choose to use the assassins of the Green Forest Sect without worry of repercussions? Because the assassins were equipped with poison pills to commit suicide if captured during missions.
Thus, if this instance exposes the commissioner and the news spreads across the martial world, they would undoubtedly lose all opportunities for work.
Glancing sideways,
Is that really the pressing issue right now?
When facing this monster who, with just a flick of his finger, could dismember them into pieces?
“Why? Are you unwilling? If so, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Ah, no! I was merely delaying a bit! I shall reveal it right away!”
Frantically waving his hands, the Ghostly Spirit Leader desperately responded.
“The commissioner is Jin Cheon Geom, Gayoung’s uncle! He disclosed her route and ordered us to disgrace her!”
“… I knew it would come to this.”
“Then, can we go now…?”
A cautious inquiry.
To which Gayoung Jin forced a smile and replied.
“Yes. Send our regards to the Green Forest Sect Master.”
A house like Taewon Jin could hardly fight against the Green Forest Sect, after all.
Though theoretically, considering that the Sword Sage was on their side, it could have been attempted, but she did not want to burden him after a life of hardship.
At least during their time together, she wanted him to be at peace.
So she held back her temper.
How repugnant these people are, and how tempting it was to kill them right now.
But his peace was more important than her feelings.
“Uh… That… Well, it seems the Green Forest Sect Master is unaware.”
“Hmm, can you understand? Recently, our funds aren’t as stable as before…”
“It’s alright. Please, go. And cease such actions.”
“Haha, truly, your magnanimity is boundless. My sincere admiration for you as a righteous lady knows no bounds.”
Though internally treading on thin ice, externally maintaining harmonious ambiance.
“Well then, we shall take our leave. Farewell.”
Seeing Gayoung Jin nodded, the Ghostly Spirit Leader finally turned around with a sense of relief.
Just as he was about to retreat with his Blood Demon Horse when beside him,
“Phew, did you see how well our lord handled that situation? Impressive, right?”
“Indeed, somewhat impressive. But what now? Abandoning the mission will mean trouble, it seems.”
“Well, as long as Jin Cheon Geom remains unknown, no one will ever find out. We can just kill him before he spreads the word.”
“Nice! Really, my mind’s sharp today.”
“Thank Sword Flower. Damn it… Saving us.”
“True? If I were in that situation, I’d have killed them outright. Very generous, isn’t it?”
“Besides, bluntly speaking, we aren’t as vile as the Sword Sage accused of martial law violations, right? Ha ha.”
“True. Do we go around raping children or practicing malevolent martial arts? Heh heh heh…”
An inadvertent blunder.
An irreversible one.
“Hold it.”
The chilly voice of Gayoung Jin cut across them.
A voice that sent chills down their spines.
Turning around despite the overwhelming feeling of fear, they saw Sword Flower glaring at them with eyes full of killing intent.
“They’ve crossed the line.”
“And anyway, bluntly speaking, we haven’t committed acts of evil comparable to the Sword Sage, right? Ha ha.”
“True. Do we go around raping children or practicing malevolent martial arts? Heh heh heh…”
In a flash, just a mere two sentences.
To them, words blurted out without thought.
Gritting his teeth,
The rage surged to his very scalp.
In front of the revered figure, it was undesirable to display his uncouthness.
But an intense urge to tear apart these insolents who insulted his venerated one arose.
First thing Jin Gayoung did upon hearing their slip was to gauge Beul Rak’s reaction.
Would he be enraged? Would he feel wronged?
No.
He…was trembling.
With his head lowered slightly, feigning nonchalance, his face shrouded in darkness, attempting to suppress his trembling hands and eyes.
A sight that could make anyone sense his obvious terror.
The greatest man in the world.
The most virtuous individual in the world.
And here he was, cowering in panic at mere insults.
Just what…kind of suffering must he have endured?
‘Damn it, if I had known this would happen, I should have tracked him down sooner.’
She was angry at herself for not visiting him earlier, indulging in the self-satisfactory desire to strengthen herself enough to protect him.
She was angry at the world that had reduced this unshaken man, leading the great war to victory over the past decade, to this state.
She was angry at those worm-like beings that criticized him behind his back, forgetting that it was due to him that their lives weren’t taken by Blood Sect and Black Sect long ago.
“Young master.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Take care of these quickly.”
“All of them?”
“Yes. I find them utterly disgusting.”
Immediately after Gayoung Jin’s order,
Beul Rak’s arm swung widely, releasing a colossal circle of sword energy toward every direction.
Swishh!
Guards, Gayoung Jin, the carriage, trees, etc., were spared.
The sword energy aimed solely at the bandits.
Crash!
A sudden flash infused with lightning struck.
Chop chop chop…
The neatly severed heads of bandits flew around.
Among them were the heads of the Blood Demon Horse rider and the Ghostly Spirit Leader, both considered pinnacle-level experts, who couldn’t even let out a scream.
An even higher martial prowess compared to their encounter in the past.
It should have been fascinating, yet Gayoung Jin focused her gaze solely on Beul Rak, seemingly unmoved and expressionless.
“Are you okay?”
He had stopped trembling.
“I am fine.”
“Don’t think of cleaning up the bodies. Anyway, the Green Forest Sect Master is unaware of us, so no one will know that Taewon Jin killed these.”
“Taewon Jin… is that correct?”
“You’re from Taewon Jin now. All your actions will be borne by them. Thus, …”
‘Live however you want, follow your heart freely.’
Because you have all the qualifications to do so, a statement she refrained from concluding.
For reasons unknown, she didn’t want to bury the remnants of his past for this new life he seemed to yearn for.
She simply wanted him to enjoy everything he desired.
Whether it was peace, rest, indifference…
Or herself.
“I’m sorry…”
Yet, despite her resolve, she ended up using his hands once again.
She caused more bloodshed through his hands and burdened his heart.
Even though it was all out of concern for him, if she had been just a bit stronger, she could have done it herself without depending on him.
‘One day sooner, I will grow strong enough not to fall behind you!’
“… Thank you.”
“I’m grateful too. For granting my unreasonable request.”
“Was it a request rather than an order?”
“I do not order you. In fact, I cannot. Never could, and never will. Forever.”
The vow was not only directed at him but also at herself.
What’s this…?
“Eat it. It’s freshly boiled, so please have some.”
Inside the carriage, Jin Gayoung handed me a bowl of porridge.
With finely chopped mushrooms, meat, ginger, green onions, etc., it was, frankly, closer to a nutrient-rich food than just porridge.
“Should I be allowed to partake in such a precious offering?”
“You deserve it for all your hard work. I plan to increase your pay officially, but please accept this for now. As a favor.”
“If my master requests it…”
Taking the bowl, I could feel its warm heat.
Whether it was the warmth from the freshly cooked porridge, or the warmth of human emotion transmitted through the porridge, I could not tell.
But one thing was certain: it had been a very long time since I felt warmth in my body and heart.
“Hehe.”
As I held the bowl with my left hand and the spoon with my right, Jin Gayoung gave me a pure and kind smile, the kind I had once seen often in my past.
If Jin Gayoung knew I was the former Sword Sage, Namgung Cheolbin, how would she act towards me?
With a 99% chance, she’d denounce and reject me.
Because it’s normal to.
“Do you like me, Sir?”
Yet, I couldn’t help but indulge in the slight hope.
There was a 1% chance she might accept me even after knowing my true identity, this 1% chance unknowingly pulling my heart.
Given how long it’s been since I’ve experienced human warmth, it felt like a precious drop of rain after a drought.
Like a bear seeking honey, or a dog seeking bones, I couldn’t help but search for this human warmth.
Isn’t it alright?
“Thank you.”
“Eat it before it gets cold.”
“Yes.”
I wasn’t hungry.
At my current level of martial prowess, the sensation of hunger no longer existed.
“Ah.”
But it tasted good.
Even after eating the finest and most sumptuous dishes until just yesterday.
This was by far the best I’ve eaten in the past few years.
So good that it made my spirit hazy and my vision blurry.
“…”
Gulping, gulping.
How pathetic must it seem for this middle-aged man to be ravenously eating porridge in front of a young girl?
I wanted to eat slowly, but I couldn’t resist the overwhelming taste.
“Mm?”
“Would you like more?”
“I’m good. I’m not hungry.”
“For someone who’s not hungry, you ate quite well.”
“I’ve been longing for… love.”
It felt cruel to ask for more of this honey-like porridge, lest the joy turns into sorrow later.
Because sooner or later, my true identity would be unveiled.
And when that time comes, the more I’ve gained, the more painful it would be to lose it.
I don’t want to endure that pain again.
“Are you crying?”
“No.”
“Are you experiencing a headache? Why are you holding your forehead?”
“… It hurts a little.”
I could never admit that I used the Namgung family’s legendary skill, the Sanhopji, pretending to wipe away unsightly tears with my hand on my forehead.
“If you’re in pain, lie down here. You’ve worked hard today.”
Jin Gayoung stretched out her legs and pulled my sleeve, surprising me a bit.
I thought she was unexpectedly cautious when she ordered the annihilation of all bandits earlier, but indeed, she was too careless.
How could she allow herself to be vulnerable in front of an adult man!
“…”
“Why not? Lie down for comfort.”
“No matter… how can a man rely on a woman not his wife…?”
“Are you married?”
“…”
“No, you aren’t, are you? Then why does it matter? You’re not asking for a hug or anything. It’s just a small lean, right?”
I am married.
To Soeun Yu, who I loved more than anyone in the world, and still do.
The Soeun Yu who sacrificed her life for me, so that I could never stop loving her despite her resentment towards me.
But…
“I’ve never seen a monster like you.”
She no longer loves me.
Since I have been expelled from the Namgung family, our marriage is essentially annulled.
In such a situation, is it right for me to selfishly hold on to someone who doesn’t love me anymore?
“…”
No, it’s not.
If I truly love Soeun Yu, I must let her go for her happiness.
Yes, that’s what I should do.
And, had I not resolved to ignore those who judged me falsely because they couldn’t distinguish truth from lie?
Soeun Yu is just one of them.
For a new life, one must let go of the old life.
“I am… unmarried.”
“Your voice is trembling, you know?”
“… I really am.”
“Then lean on me. It’s meaningless, I know. Just think of it as your lord granting a reward to her hardworking subordinate.”
“Thank you.”
Sliding down, I rested my temple on Jin Gayoung’s thigh.
The softness touched my ear.
“Does it feel good?”
“…Yes.”
It’s not that the physical touch feels good, it’s the heartwarming sentiment.
I hadn’t realized until now that I could be someone others depend on.
This was an emotion I hadn’t experienced during the ten thousand-year-long regression.
For the first time, instead of wanting to protect someone, I yearned to lean on someone.
And if possible, I wish that person would be Jin Gayoung, the one who has reintroduced warmth to my life.
It’s probably just wishful thinking.
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