Chapter 250: Fishing for Time (2)
“Hyung-nim, we have arrived!”
“Great General So-mu!”
An untimely commotion arose in the quiet, remote mountain village. Over a dozen guests had arrived, carrying a slaughtered pig and several jars of alcohol.
They were looking around the yard of a nearby house.
“Your voices are as booming as ever. My ears are ringing.”
A woman clutching a fruit basket approached silently from behind.
Upon recognizing her, they could not hide their delight.
“Ah, Sister!”
“Haha, how long has it been?”
“Wow, you’ve grown even more beautiful. What is your secret?”
They were the warriors of the Wolf Fang Squad, meeting for the first time in ten years. A faint smile appeared on Yeon Seo-hwa’s face as she looked at them.
“You guys haven’t changed a bit. The others will be here soon, so wait a moment while I prepare the pork.”
“Yes, Sister!”
The warriors divided the tasks and began to handle them efficiently.
Some prepared firewood, others dressed the pork and washed the ingredients, bringing life to the yard for the first time in a long time.
Yeon Seo-hwa sat on the wooden veranda and played her seven-string zither, while the warriors hummed along to the melody.
About an hour passed in this manner.
“What is everyone so happy about?”
The warriors turned their heads in unison toward the voice.
So-mu, wearing a straw hat with his trousers rolled up to his knees, was walking toward them. He looked exactly like a farmer.
“Ah, Captain!”
“Have you become a farmer?”
So-mu took off his straw hat, hanging it to one side, and spoke.
“Just a hobby. Anyway, what brings you all here? Judging by your clothes, it seems you have all retired as well.”
Their clothes were all different. Hyeonjeong and Cheong-hae wore Taoist robes, suggesting they had returned to the Mount Hua Sect, while other members wore merchant or warrior attire.
“Yes. Some are still in the military, but those of us who retired and stayed in touch decided to gather and visit. We were reminiscing about the old days…”
Nodding, So-mu looked at the warrior standing on the far right.
“Welcome. Cheol-du, how is your grandmother’s health?”
“Haha. Yes, she is doing well. Thanks to you, Captain, she is famous for being the oldest person in our village. I live with her now, taking care of her.”
So-mu recalled how Cheol-du had volunteered for the military to earn money for his sick grandmother’s medicine.
Seeing his subordinate’s happiness warmed So-mu’s heart.
“Since you have to take care of your grandmother, you must not be able to work. Is making a living difficult? If it is, take a sack of rice with you when you leave.”
Cheol-du quickly waved his hands.
“Oh no. The state provides a pension to retired officers who achieved merit, so we have no issues making a living.”
“The world has indeed improved. You must all be hungry after the long journey, so let us talk over dinner.”
“Yes, it will be ready soon!”
Hearing his former subordinates after so long put So-mu in a good mood.
As he went to wash up, a neighbor arrived.
“Look at you rascals. You see your Hyung-nim and you don’t even greet him?”
A middle-aged man of massive build approached with a baby on his back. Next to him, Cho-hee walked with her hands pressed together.
“Hyung-nim Il-gwang! Have you been well?”
“The baby looks sturdy, probably taking after you.”
“Is it a boy or a girl?”
Il-gwang turned his head, gesturing as if to kiss the baby.
“Have you ever seen such a handsome boy? It’s a girl!”
“Haha. Well, at least she takes after her mother’s looks. Thank goodness, that was a close one.”
Il-gwang glared at them, his lips still pouted toward the baby.
“You punks, do you want to get beaten up for old times’ sake?”
None of the warriors looked scared. Despite his words, he had never once beaten any of them.
“Haha. Of course not.”
“Where should we light the fire, Hyung-nim?”
Pointing to the pile of firewood, Il-gwang said, “Grilling meat is my specialty. You two, follow me.”
An hour later.
Everyone sat in a circle around the firewood campfire near the lookout hut.
It was impossible not to enjoy meeting after so long. Laughter echoed continuously. As the atmosphere ripened, So-mu asked the warriors.
“Does anyone know of a martial artist called the Sword Queen?”
It was because of the challenge letter he had received a few days ago.
Unlike him, who was cut off from the affairs of the martial world, some of the warriors were still active. The prime examples were Hyeonjeong and Cheong-hae, who had returned to the Mount Hua Sect.
Cheong-hae looked at Hyeonjeong, letting him answer.
“It would be best for the Sect Leader to speak.”
“Sect Leader?”
Not only Il-gwang but even So-mu looked surprised. Judging by his robes, they assumed he held an important position, but they had not imagined he was the Sect Leader.
It was likely because the elders of the Mount Hua Sect had been wiped out during the sect’s crisis.
“Although there are those with higher seniority than me, they have all stepped down to elder positions and left the post to me.”
“Well, I suppose that makes sense. But who is the Sword Queen?”
Hyeonjeong tilted his head, asking in return, “You truly do not know? The supreme master who appeared like a comet three years ago, defeated all of the Ten Great Masters, and rose to the position of the absolute ruler of the martial world?”
“It has been over ten years since I turned my back on the martial world. I guess a new absolute master has emerged. Well, as the old flowers fade, new ones bloom. That is the way of the world.”
It was not particularly surprising.
Il-gwang gulped down his alcohol, wearing a bitter expression.
“Now we are just retired old-timers living in seclusion.”
However, the expressions of Hyeonjeong and Cheong-hae were unusual.
The two exchanged glances, conversing via internal transmission.
– Does he really not know?
– It seems so. Should we tell him?
– Let’s ask why he’s looking for her first.
Cheong-hae casually asked So-mu.
“But why do you suddenly ask about the Sword Queen?”
“Yes. A challenge letter arrived. She wants to fight for the title of the number one under heaven.”
In that instant, Hyeonjeong and Cheong-hae, who were drinking, sprayed their alcohol.
“Pfft!”
“Puhaha!”
Il-gwang looked at them in confusion.
“Are you guys crazy doing that in front of food? What is wrong with you?”
“Haha. It is nothing. But what is the date of the duel?”
“Probably tomorrow.”
Cheong-hae calmed his laughter and spoke to Hyeonjeong.
“Sect Leader, let us stay one more day. We cannot miss such an entertaining spectacle.”
“I was planning to do just that.”
Il-gwang was still tilting his head in confusion.
The first to realize the truth was Yeon Seo-hwa. She quietly rose and headed toward the kitchen.
***
The next morning, early.
Two figures were moving busily in the quiet morning.
Chop! Chop! Chop!
It was the sound coming from the kitchen.
“Is it ready?”
“Yes, catch!”
As So-mu waved his hand, finely chopped vegetables and seasoning powder floated in the air.
Without even looking, Yeon Seo-hwa extended her left hand. The ingredients hovering in the air gathered and descended neatly into the pot.
“The fire looks weak.”
As Yeon Seo-hwa extended her palm, the fire in the hearth flared up. The lukewarm water boiled instantly, emitting thick steam.
Behind them, a lavish feast of various dishes was already prepared. It was grand enough to be called an imperial banquet.
With her hands on her waist, Yeon Seo-hwa tilted her head.
“Did we make too much?”
“No. Our daughter is visiting after so long, so we must prepare this much. Her appetite must have grown, right?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. And it seems we finished just in time.”
As soon as he spoke, the yard outside grew noisy.
Having finished his preparations, So-mu went outside first. In that instant, his pupils shook. He was delighted to see his daughter after so long.
“Father!”
His grown daughter boasted a beauty that was second to none, yet a trace of her childhood remained. Thus, in So-mu’s eyes, she was still just a child.
Running over, So-so threw herself into So-mu’s arms.
“Whoops, a grown lady shouldn’t be so hyperactive.”
“Hehe. Father, did you not miss me?”
“Haha. Of course I did. You haven’t changed at all.”
Smiling, So-so ran to Yeon Seo-hwa, who was emerging from the kitchen, and hugged her.
“I missed you, Mother.”
“Our daughter has grown up.”
The warriors who had been sleeping in the lookout hut also rushed over.
“Our So-so is here! And Darong is here too?”
The Mountain Lord also seemed pleased, approaching the familiar faces and growling playfully.
“This fellow wants to play because it has been so long.”
The silent village burned with even greater vitality than the day before.
Bright smiles blossomed on everyone’s faces.
When Yeon Seo-hwa opened the kitchen door wide, everyone’s eyes went wide.
Dozens of dishes were prepared, all of them So-so’s favorites.
With her mouth agape, So-so sniffed the aroma, wearing a happy smile.
“Wow~. It looks delicious!”
“Thanks to our niece, we get to enjoy such an imperial feast.”
Under Yeon Seo-hwa’s direction, the warriors moved the food to the lookout hut.
Since the lookout hut was quite spacious, there was plenty of room for everyone.
A moment later, everyone sat down together, except for two people.
Father and daughter were walking shoulder-to-shoulder in the field about thirty zhang away.
“Father, did you receive my letter?”
“I guess challenge letters are called ‘letters’ in the martial world these days.”
“Hehe.”
He recalled how she had played, claiming to be “So-so, the number one under heaven,” since she was seven years old.
It seemed that had been her dream.
“You are indeed my daughter. Although it has been some time since I laid down my sword, I won’t be easy to defeat. Are you prepared?”
“Yes. Are you, Father?”
What preparation was there to speak of? So-mu smiled, plucking a reed from the field.
Once one’s swordplay reached the state of union, it did not matter what weapon one clutched.
So-so also plucked a reed, trimming it.
So-mu asked in surprise, “You aren’t using palm techniques?”
The technique of So-so he knew was the Tathagata Divine Palm. Clutching a reed meant she intended to use swordplay.
“I modified the forms into a sword technique.”
To be skilled enough to modify supreme martial arts—this was not a situation he could take lightly.
However, he could not afford to be astonished. So-so was already cupping her hands in respect opposite him.
“I look forward to your guidance, Father. I am the Sword Queen, So-so.”
So-mu also lowered his reed, replying softly.
“I am the farmer, So-mu. I will yield the first strike, so come.”
As soon as he spoke, So-so kicked off the ground and soared.
Step-stepping through the air, she closed the distance like an arrow. Her martial prowess was beyond imagination.
‘This is no situation to hold back.’
Soon, the two reeds clashed, beginning a sword dance.
Without using set forms, they exchanged sword concepts, gauging each other’s skill.
Although it lacked flashiness, their every movement carried tens of thousands of variations.
To those watching, it looked like immortals had descended to dance. With Yeon Seo-hwa’s seven-string zither music added to the scene, it was a picture-perfect landscape.
Watching from a distance, Il-gwang yelled, drinking his cup.
“Hahaha! Splendid! Go, So-so!”
The spellbound warriors could not close their mouths. The simple movements of the father and daughter contained the changes of all things in the universe, and watching them felt like gaining enlightenment.
An hour passed, and no one could take their eyes off the scene.
And as the beauty reached its peak, the two reeds broke simultaneously. The duel had concluded.
Everyone watching cheered.
“Wow!”
“That was truly the best!”
So-mu and So-so walked over, taking their seats in the lookout hut.
“Who won?”
At Cheong-hae’s question, So-mu only stared at the sky with a mysterious expression.
Only the two of them knew the outcome, but they kept their silence.
A moment later, So-so shrugged and smiled. It was the brightest and most beautiful smile of her life.
– The End –