Chapter 9. Wang Suyeon and Jang Seok-du

Swaaa!

A valley appeared before the two of them.

Among the lush leaves was a rock that seemed to have been carved out. The waterfall beat upon it, endlessly creating white foam.

The valley water was deep and clear.

Leaves floated down.

“Hah, hah, hooah! How is it, oppa?! It’s cool, right? Right?! It was worth following, right?”

Wang Suyeon said, catching her breath.

Lee Byeok silently nodded.

“Right? This Falling Dragon Waterfall is the pride of our village! It’s still cold, but when the weather warms up a little more, everyone will be swimming in that valley, you know?!”

Wang Suyeon chattered excitedly.

Lee Byeok looked at the valley.

It wasn't as big as the waterfall near the Seonwoo Clan, but it had a clear and neat energy.

It felt like his frustration was subsiding a little.

Thud, Wang Suyeon sat down on the spot. Lee Byeok silently sat down next to her.

“Um, you know, where did Byeok-i oppa come from?”

“…Kunming.”

“Ah, I know! Kunming! It’s the capital of Yunnan Province, isn’t it? The tea leaves are really famous, right?”

“You know well.”

“Yes, I saw it in a book! If you have a book, you can know anything and go anywhere.”

“……”

“I like reading books.”

Suddenly, Wang Suyeon’s voice dropped. When Lee Byeok looked back, she had a slightly gloomy expression.

“But you know. If the Sect Leader or Somi unnie hadn’t come to this village, I wouldn’t have been able to learn how to write, and I would never have known the joy of reading books for my whole life.”

“……”

“I’m sorry. It’s trivial, right? You came from a big city like Kunming, and all I have to show you is a waterfall like this……”

“No, I think it’s magnificent.”

“But this is all our village has. Everyone is born in the mountains, grows up, gets married, has children, farms, and lives… and then they are buried in the mountains again.”

“……”

He thought that it wasn’t particularly bad. But Lee Byeok couldn’t find the right words to say.

“Oppa, are you going back to Kunming?”

Wang Suyeon continued to speak.

“…No, I have no place to return to.”

“Still, someday when your martial arts get stronger, you’ll leave this village and go somewhere far and dangerous, right?”

“I don’t particularly have a place to go either.”

Lee Byeok turned his gaze to the waterfall. The water in the valley flowed from top to bottom without any obstruction.

He wanted to regain his inner arts.

He wanted to walk the path of the sword.

But… even if he were to recover his martial arts, he had never thought about what his next steps would be.

Lee Byeok shook his head.

He didn't have the capacity to think that far.

“Oppa, are you not having fun with me?”

Squeeze, his sleeve was pulled.

Lee Byeok’s gaze turned to Wang Suyeon.

“……!”

And he was thrown into confusion. Tears were welling up in Wang Suyeon’s eyes. As if they would fall at the slightest touch.

Why? He couldn’t understand the reason.

But if something was wrong, he had to comfort her. Suddenly, Lee Byeok’s gaze turned down to the valley.

An idea flashed.

Tat, Lee Byeok kicked off the spot.

Splash!

“Ack! Oppa?!!”

Lee Byeok jumped straight into the valley. The cold water coolly enveloped his entire body.

It was too deep for his feet to touch, but he was quite used to swimming. Lee Byeok slowly treaded water.

After taking a deep breath, he parted the water and sank to the bottom of the valley.

And Lee Byeok slowly opened his eyes.

He chased a fast-moving object at the bottom of the valley. Lee Byeok’s eyes scanned under the water like a beast.

The moment he read its path, his hand shot out like lightning. Grab, he snatched the moving thing.

Chwaak!

And he shot back up.

Lee Byeok climbed out of the water. Drip, drip, dripping water, he approached Wang Suyeon’s side again.

“O-oppa, right now, what on earth, why……”

“This.”

Wang Suyeon with rabbit-like eyes.

Lee Byeok held out his right hand.

“…Uh, a fish?”

In his hand was a silvery fish. It was moving, flapping vividly.

“Take it.”

“…Ahahaha.”

Wang Suyeon let out a hollow laugh.

Thud, she sat down as if her strength had left her.

“Ahahaha, what……”

Wipe, she wipes her eyes with her sleeve.

“Ahaha! Ahahaha!”

And then she started laughing again for a long time. The clear sound of laughter spread throughout the valley.

“Ahahaha! You surprised me. Why did you suddenly jump into the water? Are you telling me to grill this and eat it?”

“…Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I think I understand a little about what kind of person Byeok-i oppa is. I’ll just take the thought of the fish. You’ll catch a cold, so let’s go home now.”

Lee Byeok became embarrassed.

He broke off a suitable branch from nearby. After skewering the fish, he set off on the path following Wang Suyeon.

They began to descend the mountain along the path they had come. Wang Suyeon’s steps in front were quite light.

Fortunately, her mood seemed to have lifted. Then suddenly, Lee Byeok was engulfed in a sense of unease.

He looked at the fish in his hand.

Why did I do such a thing? The moment he thought he had to comfort a crying child, his body had automatically jumped into the water.

As if it were a routine event.

Suddenly, a brief memory flashed by.

—Big Brother! Here! This way!

—Hyeop. Watch your step.

—Wow! The carp is as big as Big Brother’s forearm!

“……”

Lee Byeok’s face contorted.

Throb, he felt the presence of a stone lodged in his heart.

What… is this.

Wasn’t I fine with it?

Twitch.

Something inside his body trembled.

“Oppa, you’re really not going anywhere, right?”

Whip, Wang Suyeon turned around.

“…I have nowhere to go.”

“Then that’s fine. If you have nowhere to go, just stay here. There’s nothing here, but it’s a good place to live.”

* * *

“Suyeon-i is like a real younger sister to me.”

“……”

“So Lee Byeok, if you make Suyeon-i cry, you’ll be spewing blood from your seven orifices that very day.”

“S-Senior Sister, isn’t that too harsh? Byeok-i and I are also your younger brothers……”

“What are you talking about. You guys aren’t cute.”

“……”

Hyuk Dae-woong’s words were blocked.

Mumble, mumble. Soundless words swirled in Hyuk Dae-woong’s mouth and quietly died down.

“By the way, what’s with the single fish, for heaven’s sake? Who is that supposed to feed?”

On the dinner table where the three were gathered, along with the usual side dishes, was a single grilled fish.

“……”

Lee Byeok thought.

A brief confusion flashed through his mind.

He didn’t care about the past. To move forward, there were things he had to ask and forget. He had thought so.

But…….

“Lee Byeok, if you don’t eat now and think about other things, it’s no use crying and whining later, you hear?”

Jaegal Somi said.

The fish was quickly becoming gaunt, revealing its bones. Lee Byeok quickly picked up his chopsticks. But it was then.

Bang bang! Bang!!

A sudden noise echoed.

The three of them turned their gazes to the door at once. It was the sound of someone knocking on the main gate.

“Sect Leader Lee!! Is Sect Leader Lee here?!!”

“That’s the village chief’s voice……”

A gruff man’s urgent voice followed. The moment Hyuk Dae-woong, with chopsticks in his mouth, tilted his head, Jaegal Somi stood up.

Slide, click.

Jaegal Somi passes through the training ground and opens the main gate.

“Village chief? What brings you here at this hour? The Sect Leader went down the mountain a few days ago.”

“Oh, Somi. Somi.”

Urgency was written all over the face of the large middle-aged man. He hastily looks inside the gate.

“Seok-du? Is he here by any chance?”

“…No? Seok-du hasn’t been to our sect for the past three days?”

“Wh-what did you say?!”

“Village chief, what’s the matter?”

The middle-aged man raised his voice.

Then, Hyuk Dae-woong approached. He stands one step in front of Jaegal Somi and faces the village chief.

The village chief opened his mouth.

He hastily explains the situation.

“What? You’re saying Seok-du left the house saying he was going to the sect? Even for the past three days?”

“Yes. This kid stubbornly won’t listen to his parents, but he listens to you guys well, so I didn’t suspect anything……”

“…And he still hasn’t come home today?”

The two looked up at the sky.

The time had passed the hour of the rooster, and the sun was slowly setting over the western mountains. There was nowhere else to go in the tiny village.

And the mountain at night is dangerous.

* * *

Jang Seok-du left the house.

Of course, he wasn't going to the Falling Sword Sect today either. Just thinking about Lee Byeok’s pale face made him grind his teeth, grit.

But a loss is a loss.

He had been beaten up and even vomited in front of everyone, so no excuse would be meaningful.

Above all.

—Foolish and pathetic! I really hate it!!

He didn't have the confidence to see Suyeon-i playing around with that damn outsider bastard.

So Jang Seok-du made a decision.

A bow and a quiver were slung over his sturdy shoulders. Not only that. A hatchet, a dagger, and even a rope were at his waist.

Even if he couldn't win in a fight, hunting was different.

Like a hunter's son, he wanted to make up for it by presenting delicious meat as a gift.

Then Suyeon-i would surely look back at him again.

However.

Contrary to his expectations, Jang Seok-du had already come up empty for three days straight.

Catching prey was not easy. In the first place, they were not easily spotted, and even when he occasionally found something like a pheasant, he would often lose it in vain.

And for a good reason, as it was Jang Seok-du's first time going out hunting alone without his father or other adults.

Jang Seok-du came to resent himself for having neglected hunting and focusing only on learning the sword.

But today is different.

He will definitely see it through no matter what.

‘If a man draws his sword, he must at least cut a radish.’

Jang Seok-du renewed his resolve. If he delayed any longer, he might lose Suyeon-i forever.

Like that, Jang Seok-du, who had left the village, wandered the mountains all day.

But in the bushes near the village, there was strangely no prey.

After walking for a long time, Jang Seok-du finally reached a valley that separated two peaks.

Halt.

Jang Seok-du stopped walking.

Going beyond this valley was strictly forbidden. If his father found out, he would be in big trouble.

But he had already taken a step. After a brief moment of hesitation, Jang Seok-du crossed the valley.

Just a few steps.

But beyond it was a completely different mountain, not the one where Jang Seok-du was born and raised.

The sun was gradually beginning to set in the sky.

A faint fear arose in his heart. Only the sound of helpless insects could be heard from all directions.

“Ah!”

It was around that time that he discovered an animal’s footprint. It was a shape he was familiar with.

Two large toes pointing upwards and two small toes pointing sideways.

A wild boar!

Jang Seok-du’s heart sank.

Moreover, judging by the depth of the indentation and the clear shape, it was a recent track.

A wild boar is a ferocious beast that can only be caught when several village adults gather.

He had to escape as soon as possible.

Jang Seok-du hastily turned back.

—Foolish and pathetic! I really hate it!!

Slap!

Then, the image of Suyeon-i came to his mind. Jang Seok-du slapped his own cheek.

He couldn't go back just because he was scared of a mere footprint. If it became known in the village, he would be a laughingstock for a long time.

In any case, even if he went back now, it was too late to arrive at the village on time. In other words, it was only a matter of time before his father found out.

And once that happened, he would never get the chance to go out hunting alone again.

This was his last chance.

Besides, on closer inspection, the footprint was not that big. If it was a young wild boar, he might be able to handle it alone.

At the very least, let's just check.

Jang Seok-du encouraged himself and cautiously approached, following the footprint.

Wild boars have sensitive noses and ears, so he had to reduce the sound of his footsteps.

One step, one step. Cautiously.

He hadn’t even taken a few steps.

Rustle.

The moment he parted a clump of bushes, Jang Seok-du almost screamed. It was in the shadow of a tree.

A huge back covered in thick fur.

The distance was only a few yards.

Thud.

Jang Seok-du ended up sitting down. But the wild boar didn't react.

It was just lying on its side, breathing up and down.

…Is it asleep?

If he were to escape, it had to be now.

But at that moment, another conflict arose in Jang Seok-du’s mind. And an imagination unfolded.

If he caught that wild boar and brought it to the Falling Sword Sect, everyone would eat their fill of meat.

All the children would look up to him again, and he would also be acknowledged by his father and Brother Dae-woong.

And, Suyeon-i too…….

‘Alright.’

Gulp, Jang Seok-du swallowed his saliva.

Encountering a sleeping wild boar at this distance was a stroke of luck in itself. If he missed this opportunity, he wouldn’t be a hunter.

Jang Seok-du slowly took the bow from his back. He took out an arrow and nocked it.

Creak, he carefully drew the bowstring.

He aims for the heart. If he pierces it in one go, there will be no danger. Jang Seok-du held his breath.

Shwoook, puk!

It went in! The arrow was embedded deep. Kweeeok! For a moment, the wild boar began to struggle with a scream.

Rustle!

Jang Seok-du hastily lowered his body. He hid himself in the bushes. He peeked at the wild boar through the grass.

The wild boar was struggling pitifully. It seemed to be trying to get up somehow. But in the end, it couldn't.

After struggling for a while like that, the wild boar’s legs went limp. Its breathing stopped.

Gulp, Jang Seok-du swallowed his saliva.

He remained prostrate for a long time even after the wild boar stopped moving.

Only after about a quarter of an hour did he cautiously get up.

The wild boar… was definitely dead.

Its tongue was hanging out, and it was completely motionless.

“U-uh.”

Something welled up from the depths of his chest.

“Uwaaaaaah!!!!!”

Clench! Jang Seok-du made a fist.

He had caught a wild boar.

And with just a single arrow.

He couldn't believe it himself, but if he threw this wild boar in front of them, they would have no choice but to believe.

A feat that none of the village adults had accomplished—

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, Jang Seok-du noticed something strange. The wild boar’s lower body was stained with blood.

Since the arrow had hit the heart area, the blood on the lower body was not from his attack.

The answer was easily found.

Jang Seok-du discovered ferociously mangled bite marks near the wild boar’s rump.

“Huh……?”

These bite marks… could it be……?

The blood in his entire body turned cold.

Even before he shot his arrow, the wild boar had already been attacked by ‘something’ and was dying.

And if his imagination was correct, the wild boar was not the problem. He had to get out of this place right now.

But the smell of the wild boar’s blood was already permeating the surroundings.

Moreover, Jang Seok-du had even shouted in excitement.

Come to think of it, it was strangely quiet around.

The sound of insects that had been piercing his ears just a moment ago could not be heard at all.

And… was it his imagination?

It seemed like a different, gamey smell, completely different from the wild boar, was coming from somewhere not far away.

Rustle!

He couldn't look behind him.

Jang Seok-du felt the urge to pee.

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