Chapter 71: At the tip of Destiny’s Branch (3)
Translator: hwarang
Editor: Klaurem
I wasn’t someone who was ignorant in the relations between a man and a woman. Although I wasn’t like Ma Bong Gi who flirted with different girls, I still had many female acquaintances.
When I was the Strongest Under the Heaven, many women chased after me. As I said previously, I even dated the Number One Beauty Under the Heaven. This happened after I ended my previous date’s clan when she tried using me for political power.
I also dated the Number One Beauty of the Central Plain, Number One Beauty of so and so. I truly met a lot of beauties, so much so that I do not know what love, fun, hate, manipulation, or just a personal relationship is anymore.
After breaking up with one beauty I wanted to meet a more beautiful woman, more and more…
If I wasn’t the mengju, I probably would have been ensnared by them even though I knew that nothing would last forever. I would be trapped in in this cycle trying to get out.
“What are you thinking about?”
I woke up from my thoughts. I couldn’t say my previous women, could I?
“I just remembered a good dancer.”
“Who?”
“It's nothing. Let's have another cup.”
I raised my cup of alcohol while she raised her cup of tea and we cheered again.
The restaurant regained its calm after the dancers left the stage.
Staring at her empty glass I asked, “Do you want a glass?”
“No.” She shook her head.
We continued our conversation about various things. From the different things about the San Dong City to our parents.
“Your mother is a wonderful person.”
She must be thinking like this since her mother passed away when she was young.
“It's because you’ve never been disciplined by her.”
“Really? It can’t be that bad, She really is a good person.”
“Hoho. You might learn it later then. Her true self underneath.”
When I raised my fist, she started laughing.
This alcohol tasted better than ever with her company. After finishing the bottle we continued our conversation.
I didn’t know what she thought of me, but I rather liked this sort of relationship with her.
“This was fun.”
She smiled at my words, “I enjoyed it too.”
She looked more beautiful when she smiled.
When we left the restaurant we saw a couple of men riding horseback.
Since they were all wearing the same sort of outfit it must mean that they were from the same organization. The person who was at the helm of it had a fierce atmosphere around him.
The horses that passed us came to a stop, and the man who was at the helm got off his horse and came this way.
I could see the worrisome expression that Song Hwa Rin had.
The man said to Song Hwa Rin with a surprised expression, “Junior-Apprentice sister.”
Junior-Apprentice sister?
“Senior-Apprentice Brother.”
From their exchange, I could tell that they had a junior-senior relationship.
“What happened? You went back home without saying anything.”
“Well, something came up.”
She introduced me to him. “He is my senior-apprentice brother from the Ho Yeon School, Ho
Yeon Tak. This is …”
I didn’t give her the opportunity to finish, “My name is Byuk Lee Dan and I am Song Hwa Rin’s fiancé.”
“Ah, so you are the fiancé from birth.”
“Yes.”
“Nice meeting you. We must take our leave now. I am Rin-ee’s Senior Apprentice brother Ho Yeon Tak.”
Although he appeared to have a bright and light personality, it must just have been a show since I couldn’t see any emotion coming out of Song Hwa Rin as she looked at him.
“Then, please take good care of our Junior-Apprentice Sister.”
“I should be the one saying that.”
Song Hwa Rin asked Ho Yeon Tak, “Why did you come here senior-apprentice brother?”
“There are some things we need to take care of at San Dong so I came down here with our master.”
Song Hwa Rin’s expression darkened after hearing the word ‘master’.
“Did master come down as well?”
“Of course. We came together. I am sure he will be pleased to see you. Please come by soon. We are currently living at Fort Chu. Since I am busy I need to get going. Make sure to come by.”
“Yes”
Ho Yeon Tak said his farewell, “Until next time.”
“Until next time.”
Ho Yeon Tak and his convoy left the area.
I could sense her mood had hit rock bottom.
“Should we get going as well?”
She turned around and grabbed my arm, “We should have a drink, for real this time.”
*****
We arrived at a tavern not far from the ‘Phoenix’
This time she drank for real. It was as if she was unleashing all of her desire for alcohol in one go. She really looked like wanted to kill the whole bottle in a single try. She kept gulping down the bottle.
I just watched her action from the sideline.
After stopping she told me a story that was hidden deep within her heart.
It was about her master.
“I started learning my martial arts from my master when I was fifteen. My father was really happy since I was able to get an expert from the Ho Yeon school as my master.”
Ho Yeon school was one of the Four Great powers of Kang Ho that was a level below that of the Five Great Clans.
“At first everything was great. My master treated me well, but as I got older his gaze changed. I brushed those thoughts aside since he treated me like his daughter. One night after I turned twenty, when I opened my eyes from my sleep, my master was looking down at me in my room. He reeked of alcohol, and I didn’t understand his stare. He said he wanted to hug me but he was hesitating. He seemed to be deciding whether he was going to attack me or not. Then I slapped him in the face. Since he was drunk he probably doesn’t remember. But I left and quickly returned home.”
Tears started forming in her eyes.
I finally understood why she hated alcohol.
When she returned home she saw Byuk Lee Dan acting a fool because of alcohol. I truly wanted to apologize to her in his stead.
I finally understood why she wanted to prove her worth through her strength and not her beauty. It was because men would do anything because of her beauty.
“I couldn’t say anything to my father. I just told him I came back since my training had ended. However I kept having nightmares after that day. I still remember it as if it was yesterday. I want to believe that it is a thing of the past but it keeps coming back to haunt me.”
It was because she was betrayed by the person she trusted the most. Tears finally fell from her eyes.
It pained me to see her as well as Baek Pyo having nightmares about the past.
After wiping her tears with her sleeves, she emptied another glass.
“Did he ever contact you again?”
She shook her head, “No. There was nothing. I thought our relationship was over…”
“You are still having nightmares. Then it's not over yet.”
“No everything is over. Ahh… I don’t know.”
She emptied another glass and I filled it for her.
I drank with her but I didn’t say anything to comfort her. I couldn’t think of anything to say to her.
All I could think of was how I felt sorry for her.
Yes, if this helps ease your pain just a bit, I will drink with you.
Drink and be angry. Scream if you want to. Curse if you have to.
Whether it starts big or small, if something is locked away in your heart it will only grow bigger until it becomes as big as Mt. Tai.
So you need to let it out before it grows that big.
***
I carried her all the way back home.
She was mumbling something as I carried her on my back, “…don’t hate me too much. I am trying.”
“I don’t hate you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Bite
She bit my shoulder.
“Ahha!”
“Liar! I know you don’t like me.”
This girl...
I tried to say something but she was fast asleep.
I could only smile at the situation. I didn’t dislike her actions. She told me something difficult. One of her deepest secrets. She was giving her trust to me.
This was my first time, being bitten by a woman that is.
It was at the break of dawn when we arrived at her house.
I was expecting there to more chaos in the Song Clan but it was rather calm.
Soo Ran gave me an eye but seeing that Song Hwa Rin was safe, she didn’t say anything.
“I didn’t worry too much since she was with you.” Song Wu Kyung as he watched Soo Ran-ee take her away.
How could he not be worried? His only daughter went out with a grown man and didn’t come back home until at dawn.
But seeing her come home safe he could relax a bit.
“I am sorry. We were enjoying ourselves too much and didn’t see the time go by.”
“Why did she drink until she became drunk? Have you...?”
“We didn’t do anything bad. We just had fun drinking.”
“Then it's fine. You must be tired. Go back home and rest. Thank you for bringing her back safe.”
“No, I will make sure this never happens again.”
I didn’t want him to worry nor did I want to betray her trust. Since I knew what the root of the
problem was I should take care of it.
But first I needed to know if I needed to kill him or teach him a lesson.
“I will come back at midday.”
“Please come then.”
I could tell from his words that he truly wanted us to be together.
As she was being carried away by Soo Ran, Song Hwa Rin said, “Hey! Byuk Lee Dan!”
Everyone was surprised at her yell.
“Who is she? The person that you said was a good dancer?”
Everyone’s eyes widened and I made my escape from the premise.
Oh my god! She still remembered that. It seems that she is still a woman.
***
The next day I went to investigate about the masters of Ho Yeon.
Song Hwa Rin’s master’s name was Ho Yeon Nam. He was the third brother of the Ho Yeon school’s grandmaster and was a pretty famous person in Kang Ho. This was the easy part.
Now I needed to know what he was here for, but I was able to learn it from father.
“There is a disturbance in the Murim-in of San Dong.”
“What is it father?”
“Do you remember the person from the Heavenly Dao Gate. Ma Jung Soo?”
“Of course.”
“I thought he just left, but in actuality it seems that he died.”
I showed a surprised expression.
“What? Who did it?”
“There are rumors going around saying that it was the work of the Dark Guild of San Dong.”
“So that’s how it is.”
This was a rumor that I spread.
“To investigate the matter. Heavenly Dao Gate sent someone named Yeom Hwa.”
Ultimate Blade Yeom Hwa.
He was someone that I knew. He had the title Decimator within the ranks of Heavenly Dao Gate. He only made an appearance when the Heavenly Dao Gate needed to eliminate someone or something.
Since he wasn’t an assassin, he was someone that Heavenly Dao Gate used to show their strength and force. This was how he got his name Decimator.
The reason why they sent him here was to take revenge and show their strength.
“How did the Dark Guild respond?”
The Dark Guild had many mysteries shrouding them as they were spread throughout the Central Plain.
“They also sent someone because they didn’t want to be the victim of it.”
Could it be?
“I heard that to pacify the situation an expert from the Ho Yeon School came.”
Now I knew why Ho Yeon Nam and his disciples had arrived at San Dong.
It was to help the Dark Guild of San Dong.
Since both sides made their move, this would turn out to be a very ugly battle.
I didn’t need to say anything about the Heavenly Dao Gate and the Dark Guild, but now the Ho Yeon school was starting to get on my nerves. Part of it was because of Song Hwa Ring, and part of it was because they were helping out the Dark Guild.
Now, since the things have come this way, I must observe their movements very carefully. I must understand every move that they make.
Since I had my plans for them.