MTL NOVEL Chapter 49
“……!”
– You fool! If you’ve come to your senses, take your hands off her at once!
Without any time to comprehend the situation, I hastily released my hands that had been choking Miss Gayoung Jin’s neck.
Despite the immense strength used and the stiffness in my body from being frozen moments ago, I managed to release my grip with the determination that my fingers would be torn off if I didn’t.
“Guh! Kehk! Ughh…!”
And then there was Miss Gayoung Jin collapsing immediately, clutching her throat, which had been constricted, and letting out a groan.
– Ha… To think I would have to entrust our descendants to a fellow like this. It’s lamentable. Blindly admiring his overly kind nature has led to side effects like this.
Even hearing Woo-yong Jin’s muttered words, my stiffened mind swiftly began to piece together the situation.
“Ugh… Ah, Uncle….”
“……”
Whether unfortunate or fortunately, understanding this ‘situation’ wasn’t difficult.
Only, I didn’t want to accept it.
‘I…’
– Why, do you have something to say? Well, let’s hear it. I’m curious what excuse you’ll come up with.
‘What on earth have you done?’
The following admonishing words from Woo-yong Jin confirmed my vague and uneasy truth that I had faintly suspected.
– You acted like a lunatic. Not only did you laugh wildly in your sleep, but worse, tears that didn’t fit your face kept streaming down.
‘Ha…’
– Even more alarming was the fact that when our descendant tried to place her hand on your forehead, you immediately pounced and choked her. When she was startled by this, I hurriedly entered into your dream world to see nothing but that ridiculous scene.
I have no memory of why I had such a dream, nor why I did such a thing.
What’s important right now is that I dared to choke my ‘Lord.’
An unforgivable act, something that occurred without my knowledge.
Whang!
Without any time to continue my thoughts, my head smashed into the wooden floor.
The warmth from the heated floor mixed with the coldness of my head, creating a sharp sensation.
No thoughts came to mind. All I could think was that I must beg for forgiveness.
Forgiveness for the unforgivable act of choking my Lord.
“…….”
– Ha… There’s nothing to be said to this pitiful fellow.
Funny, though. This wasn’t purely based on remorse.
Despite being a vile and inappropriate thought, a sense of ‘fear’ had existed deep in my heart.
“…….”
– Poor guy, truly a pitiful man.
The fear that Miss Jin might drive me away.
The fear that I might be cast out again.
The fear of becoming alone.
How could the mind of someone who has reached enlightenment be so unstable? Yet, that’s where I was.
“Hooch, huch, hooch…!”
Though I couldn’t see Miss Jin’s face as she knelt down, I could roughly guess the situation from the sniffles I heard.
She was crying.
Because of me.
“Haauuh… hooch, huch, haooaaang…!”
What would she say now?
Why did I choke her? Will she tell me to leave at once?
Because I couldn’t bring myself to dare any words, I remained silent, bowing my head to the floor, merely waiting for her verdict.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…!”
Yet, Miss Jin’s verdict was far from what I expected.
“I… I was wrong… I’m so, so sorry… Really sorry…”
It wasn’t just a different level.
It was fundamentally wrong.
Why is she apologizing?
The one who should apologize is me, the one who should seek forgiveness is me; why is she apologizing?
“It’s because of my unnecessary greed that I didn’t go to you sooner…”
“…”
“I couldn’t be there for you while you were falling apart this much… All because of my baseless greed…”
Ah…
“If I had known you would deteriorate to this extent, I would’ve immediately come and taken care of you… But I indulged in this absurd ambition, wanting to be at the same level as you before coming to you…”
Miss Gayoung Jin was, quite frankly, much purer than I had imagined.
“It’s all because of me, because of my pointless ambitions, that I lingered and made you like this…”
Though she became a bit cunning to survive in this malevolent martial arts world, her essence was purer than anyone else’s.
And I, driven by strange dreams, had strangled such a benevolent Lord.
Swoosh-.
A warm and moist sensation covered my head.
It was Miss Gayoung Jin’s face.
Her tear-soaked face felt particularly damp.
Pooof-.
Below my face, a soft and fluffy sensation hit me.
It was Miss Gayoung Jin’s thigh.
Her muscles were either too limp or overly tensed after being strangled by me just moments ago.
“I’m sorry…! Really, really sorry… Huuuung…”
“…”
To her, repeatedly apologizing, I couldn’t bring myself to utter a single word.
– Poor son-in-law.
At that moment, Woo-yong Jin spoke up, observing us.
– Do you know why you harbor such fear?
I don’t, though there’s no need to voice the denial as he’s probably already heard my thoughts.
– Do you know why you accepted the subordinate offer made by my descendant the first time you met her?
What?
– You felt such disillusionment with this decayed martial world, so why are you helping my descendant, who is the rightful master of a martial house?
Isn’t it just because my heart led me to it? Does any special reason exist?
– For almost ten thousand years… or actually even longer, you have lived your life for others.
“…”
– Suddenly being told to fend for yourself, you tried to discard your life and commit suicide because you’ve lost the meaning of your existence.
“…”
– Of course, the damn suicidal tendencies I mentioned before had some influence too. Consider it the result of compounded emotions. Regardless, that’s not the important thing right now.
“Huuuu… I’m sorry… Uncle… I’ll do better from now on…”
My ancestor and descendant seem to be shaking my mind together in confusion.
– That’s why you’re such a pitiful person. Living your whole life for others, even your ‘fear that Miss Gayoung might discard me’ which you think is impure, arises from the fear of losing ‘your descendant’, the ‘object you must protect’.
“I’ll take care of Uncle’s broken heart… I’ll fully take responsibility and treat you…”
– That endless regression established that abnormal value system, and yet, through that regression, you somehow achieved the salvation you longed for so much. It’s impossible to comment on that.
“Uncle, just… leave your body and heart to me… Please don’t overwork yourself… Just lean on me, that’s all I ask…”
– You’ve endured unimaginable trials by self-destructing while breaking through that ‘end of the world and rewind’ ordeal. Enduring such extreme solitude that you couldn’t confide in anyone but someone like me, who has reached a certain ‘level’.
“I’ll take it all… I’ll accept everything, Uncle’s body and heart…”
I’ve never once thought of myself as a pitiful human being.
I’ve always seen myself as a cursed one. That perception barely changed since meeting Miss Gayoung Jin.
If I’ve sinned in some way, surely it’s because heaven bestowed such trials upon me, creating ties I couldn’t abandon and looping an impossible noose of regression around my neck.
So, I always believed.
– Speaking of which, among the people aware of your regression in this current cycle… wasn’t there also that old Buddhist monk?
“…Please don’t speak irreverently about him. He’s a revered person.”
– That’s unimportant. After this Seven Heroes Contest is over, why don’t you go visit him? It’s the truth that resting and cultivating at a place with good water and air is beneficial during times of mental instability.
“…”
But, in Shaolin…
– Wait. Isn’t your son also in Shaolin? Perfect timing. You haven’t seen him since he was five, right? Go see his face. Even staying there for just a few days will heal your mind considerably. Your predecessor, that swordsman, also did this and got better, they say.
“With my records in Namgung still existing, am I even a father?”
– Isn’t that kid in monastic life? That commendable child who left at five to study the teachings of the Buddha. It seems he might be in seclusion given the lack of word from him so far. If his father comes, surely he’ll return.
“Can I truly call him like that?”
– Have confidence. What’s with the shrinking of a guy who was acting like the Lü Bu from Romance of the Three Kingdoms just moments ago in his dream?
“…”
Every word of Woo-yong Jin’s penetrates deep into my heart.
If I’ve done nothing wrong, why am I acting so weak?
“Ah, Uncle? Why are you getting up? It’s fine to keep leaning on me for a while…”
I get a little frustrated.
With myself.
With my old self who fled fearing insults and stares branded as arrogance, and the unjust accusations.
– Just for this Seven Heroes Contest, try shedding your mask.
“…Is there any special reason?”
– Don’t you know it better? I’m saying you need to be more self-assured.
“Some people will recognize me.”
– Let them. Know this well, Heavenly Lord? Jade Flower? Your ex-wife? Or that girl? The more they misunderstand and curse you, the more their bad karma accumulates. You just need to stand beside Gayoung without hiding too much. You’re making things worse by hiding excessively.
“…”
It’s a proposal that requires some thought.
But, no matter how much I deliberate, the conclusion is already decided.
Because I haven’t committed any sin.
There’s no reason for me to shrink back from their misunderstandings and curses. Just as Woo-yong Jin says.
“…For the first time.”
– Hm? What’s that now?
“For the first time, you’re calling Miss as Gayoung.”
– …Stop making useless comments. It’s not your concern how I address my descendant.
“Haha.”
Show my face to the world that abandoned me once again.
Not as a hero, but as a mere bystander.
“…I’m quite sensitive lately.”
– I know. Who doesn’t know you’ve become as sensitive as a teenager?
“If someone curses me, I might explode.”
– Explode then. You’ve always been exploding in your dreams, haven’t you? You’re one who will eventually burst. Let it out now, and it might be good.
“You said you saw blood.”
– Those young monks of Shaolin don’t want their blood to be seen. That said, don’t lose your mind and strangle our Gayoung’s neck like you did earlier. I won’t stay silent as her father if it happens again.
Though inclined towards accepting his suggestion, I can’t answer easily.
Apparently, I’ll need to deeply ponder this matter tonight.
There’re only two days left until the Seven Heroes Contest.
Since I’ve already taken a nap today, I suppose it’ll be fine.
*
Knock, knock.
The sound of a gentle knock reached the Lord of Heaven, who was reading scriptures.
He spread out his spiritual awareness slightly at the sound, detecting a delicate plum scent tickling his nose.
Creeak.
Upon opening the door, Master Baihua stood outside, performing a formal bow.
It was rather late at night, an uncommon time for any woman martial artist to visit.
“Baihua? What brings you here? Please come in.”
“Have you been well these past days? I’ve been at Wudang Mountain for a few days now, but I haven’t had the chance to properly greet you.”
Though confused by her visit, Lord of Heaven received her courteously, inviting her inside.
“Ho ho, why don’t you visit tomorrow instead? Why come at such a late hour?”
His sharp gaze remained even through his aged appearance.
“I wanted to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings? What do you mean?”
“Yes, misunderstandings.”
Sitting face-to-face, Baihua handed him a case she brought with her.
Swoosh.
However, when Lord of Heaven showed no intention of opening the case placed before him, Baihua kindly opened the lid herself.
Clink.
Inside were numerous gold ingots, making a clinking sound.
“Is this…?”
When Lord of Heaven looked at her with a questioning gaze, Baihua smiled innocently.
“It’s just a small token of appreciation from me. To a grand senior and hero of the martial world.”
“Ho ho, I appreciate your gesture, but it’s better if you officially make a large donation to my sect. It would be used meaningfully that way.”
“No, I brought this specifically for Master Tianzun.”
“Vindao has no need for this much money.”
“Well, we’ll see. Sometimes things are unpredictable.”
Baihua slightly leaned towards Lord of Heaven.
As a result, her cleavage became conspicuously exposed.
Lord of Heaven never let his gaze wander there, instead focusing intently on Baihua’s face.
“Actually, I heard that you will be one of the judges in the upcoming Seven Heroes Contest.”
Baihua’s fingers grazed the Lord of Heaven’s chin.
It was a gesture clearly aimed at seducing a man, recognizable by anyone.
“Baihua, this is inappropriate.”
But despite Lord of Heaven’s firm refusal…
“I’d also like to know… a bit about the matchups in the Seven Heroes contest.”
Without hesitation, Baihua slowly moved closer, leaning into Lord of Heaven’s embrace.
“How about just a little?”
The next moment.
The moment Baihua gave him a兔子-like (rabbit-like) smile, and at the instant his right hand was raised as if possessed by some unknown force.
Whack!
“……!”
The Lord’s righteous punch struck her forehead.
“Hm… Who would have thought to see such a young one in this martial world…”
It was a miscalculation, arising from the same perception others in the martial world had about ‘that Heavenly Lord’.