Chapter 429: Chapter 429

Turning her head, there he was.

A person she hadn’t seen for a very long time.

A man she thought she would never be able to see again.

Such a long time that even the feeling of longing would be washed away cleanly.

But the beating of her heart she felt the moment she faced him was definitely not a lie. Looking at the person in front of her, Namgung Ju-ryeon opened her mouth coldly while suppressing her trembling heart.

“Funny, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it’s interesting.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s single word, Namgung Ju-ryeon let out a chuckle.

The name Three Heavens symbolizes the friendship of three people. Although they hadn’t been together since childhood, they were those who walked the path of martial arts aiming for the same person.

Because of this, they were thicker than anyone else and also thought they would navigate through anything together no matter what happened.

However, Cheon Mu-gwang’s betrayal and the act of killing Tae Gong-jin.

Even with an opponent who was no different from a perfect enemy right in front of her, there was also a sliver of hesitation in a corner of her heart, wondering if he would return again.

She swung her sword fiercely, but Cheon Mu-gwang would have noticed it.

If they had properly clashed swords, Cheon Mu-gwang would have definitely dug into that heart, and the one to die would have been none other than Namgung Ju-ryeon.

In fact, Cheon Mu-gwang tried to kill Namgung Ju-ryeon.

Although for a brief moment, Namgung Ju-ryeon, who felt a terrifying murderous intent, let out a long sigh recalling it and sheathed her sword.

“Sometimes…”

“There are things like this and things like that?”

Namgung Ju-ryeon cut off Dan Woo-hyun’s words.

Although it was bound to happen that people encountered unavoidable situations, she couldn’t understand Cheon Mu-gwang’s betrayal at all.

The angry Namgung Ju-ryeon’s aura exploded.

“Even so, I can’t tolerate it.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you can’t.”

“You’re always the same, you.”

A blunt gaze.

An expression where not even a fingernail’s worth of interest could be found in any matter. The words he spat out were also just indifferent as if he had no emotions.

Even though a thousand years had passed, these aspects really hadn’t changed.

She felt a sense of bitterness even while liking it because it was like seeing the past.

“…There must be things that have changed too.”

“…”

Namgung Ju-ryeon looked at Dan Woo-hyun with a surprised gaze.

Whether he was thinking of someone, his expression had become much softer. That sight of him wearing a good smile to an extent she couldn’t have imagined in the past was unbelievable even while looking at it with her own eyes.

“You have… changed.”

Namgung Ju-ryeon smiled without realizing it.

She had wanted to see that expression of Dan Woo-hyun even just once.

Did he finally find a place where he belonged?

Having such a thought made her mind at ease.

Also, the fact that Dan Woo-hyun could change meant that Cheon Mu-gwang could also change.

Therefore, she could understand and accept this whole situation.

“Cheon Mu-gwang… I will kill him.”

“Alright…”

“Don’t step forward.”

“I don’t have any thoughts of stepping forward either.”

Namgung Ju-ryeon firmly made up her mind.

Just as Cheon Mu-gwang killed Tae Gong-jin, giving rest to a person walking the wrong path as the last remaining friend was also the role of a friend.

Thus, she held a bitter feeling in her heart and turned her back.

Swoosh-!

Along with thick fog, her figure disappeared before he knew it.

“She doesn’t even say goodbye.”

Dan Woo-hyun watched that and shook his head side to side. Just as Cheon Mu-gwang changed and Dan Woo-hyun changed, Namgung Ju-ryeon had also changed.

He felt somewhat regretful thinking that he was the one who caused this whole situation, but it was too far gone to turn everything back now.

“But… the cause can be eliminated.”

Dan Woo-hyun narrowed his eyes sluggishly while recalling a certain person.

* * *

“Y-Young Lady, are you really okay?”

“Eung! I’m really okay. Doing it like this is fine, isn’t it.”

Yeo Eun-wol, who had come out to the streets of Yueyang, looked around with a somewhat anxious expression.

Because she had covered about half of her face with a bandana, people glanced at the child.

However, whenever that happened, Dan So-mi shot a sharp glare, so no one could whisper and walked as quietly as dead mice.

There was no one in this Yueyang who didn’t know Dan So-mi.

The precious daughter of the Hunan Dan Family.

That alone was enough to kill everyone’s spirits.

“I think you don’t really have to cover it, you know?”

At that time, Hong Jin-rang stealthily approached and tried to touch the bandana covering her face. If the startled Yeo Eun-wol hadn’t stepped back, that hideous face would have been fully revealed.

Ju Ji-yak sent a sharp gaze and smacked Hong Jin-rang’s hand with a ‘slap!’ sound.

“You can’t do that! Especially to a girl!”

“Uh… Eung…”

Holding his breath like a dead mouse, Hong Jin-rang had no choice but to nod. He didn’t know about others, but he couldn’t rebel against Ju Ji-yak.

Of course, it was the same for Dan So-mi as well, though.

“So where are we planning to go today since we gathered?”

Then Hong Jin-rang asked with a somewhat annoyed expression.

He was dragged out during the time he should be studying. Of course, it was fine since he didn’t have to do the tiresome studying, but being dragged around by girls wasn’t very appealing to him.

It would have been better if only boys gathered since there would be many things to do, but since there were girls, he couldn’t act as he pleased.

“I just came out because I wanted to show Eun-wol around the streets of Yueyang?”

“Don’t call people out one by one for something like that…”

“Hehe, it’s boring if it’s just the two of us.”

Hong Jin-rang frowned.

However, looking at Dan So-mi’s smiling face, his face turned red without him realizing it and he turned his gaze away. As if shaking something off, he shook his head and looked at the marketplace.

“Shall we go to the marketplace first?”

“Eung!”

Yeo Eun-wol continuously looked around and followed behind Dan So-mi.

She didn’t know whether her not wanting to absolutely fall behind was due to an anxious feeling or the thought that she had to protect Dan So-mi.

Tension was evident in her eyes.

It had also been a long time since she came out to a marketplace like this.

Because, except for when she was very young, she hadn’t tried to step out in front of people and had been busy hiding herself.

Therefore, despite sticking to her side as if protecting Dan So-mi, her eyes still looked around, engraving that complex sight into her eyes.

“Here, try eating this. The skewers here are very delicious.”

At that time, Hong Jin-rang handed over skewers he had bought from somewhere. Perhaps because of that sudden goodwill, Yeo Eun-wol sent a cautious gaze.

“You’ve looked at me for so long but you’re still the same.”

“It’s because she’s scared, you know, your expression.”

Ju Ji-yak laughed heartily.

Since it took quite a long time coming all the way from Sichuan to Yueyang here, Hong Jin-rang and Ju Ji-yak could become quite close with Yeo Eun-wol.

However, Ju Ji-yak, who was a girl, seemed fine, but whenever only Hong Jin-rang approached, she hid her body or sent a cautious gaze.

It couldn’t be known whether it was because of his big build or his more rugged face compared to children his age, but it seemed to be a pretty big wound for Hong Jin-rang.

Hong Jin-rang hardened his face and wore a blank expression.

Then, Yeo Eun-wol, realizing her mistake, checked Dan So-mi’s mood and carefully reached out her hand.

“T… Thank you.”

“What’s there to be thankful for over just one skewer?”

“Ah… B-But still…”

“Speak properly. I can’t even hear you well and you’re just stuttering. Aow…”

“You just have to listen properly!”

Ju Ji-yak, who was listening to the two people’s conversation, forcefully kicked Hong Jin-rang’s leg with an angry expression. As he collapsed letting out a groan as if it hurt, Yeo Eun-wol was startled and approached.

“A-Are you okay?”

“Ugh…”

The sight of Yeo Eun-wol watching Hong Jin-rang with a worried expression was somehow restless, and resentment dwelt in the gaze she gave Ju Ji-yak.

Ju Ji-yak, quietly watching that situation, clapped her hands with a ‘smack’.

“Aha!”

“Eung? What’s wrong?”

“Hohoho, it’s nothing.”

Now she thought she knew why Yeo Eun-wol was so shy in front of Hong Jin-rang. Come to think of it, from the moment they first met, Hong Jin-rang took exceptionally good care of Yeo Eun-wol.

He said a lot of bitter words but also helped her well while doing so.

It was bound for the name Hong Jin-rang to be engraved in the tender child’s heart.

At that time, Dan So-mi tightly pulled Ju Ji-yak’s collar.

It was a gaze asking to let her know if she knew something.

“Since So-mi is a little kid…”

“Eung? I’m not a little kid! We’re the same age!”

Dan So-mi shouted as if it was unfair.

However, Ju Ji-yak had no intention of listening and was busy teasing Dan So-mi. The moment the children’s laughter was spreading.

“S… Someone catch him! I-It’s a thief!”

A loud sound was heard.

The startled people’s gazes turned around. Even the children looked at that place, and a man with a sturdy build was seen running while sweating cold sweat.

In one hand, a stolen money pouch was held, and in the other hand, a dagger was grasped, perhaps to threaten people.

If there was someone blocking the front, he swung it and made a path.

Like that, the man ran towards where the children were.

Seeing that, Hong Jin-rang and Yeo Eun-wol quickly stepped forward as if to protect Dan So-mi.

Despite seeing that he was holding a knife, the two children had no signs of being scared.

The moment Ju Ji-yak, who watched that situation, subtly raised her hand and was about to give an order to the guards.

Thwack-!

“Keogh!”

Crash, bang!

Something that flew unexpectedly struck the man’s face.

Everyone watched that sight in astonishment. A man with a big build enough to even scare adults couldn’t overcome the kick of a mere boy.

“Phew- are you guys okay?”

The boy wiped off cold sweat and looked at Dan So-mi. A youthful appearance that, even at a glance, didn’t seem to have much of a difference compared to Dan So-mi or the other children.

Yet, that sight of suppressing an adult with a single blow could be called a martial artist itself that Hong Jin-rang had always thought of. His spirit was unknowingly broken and he lowered his gaze.

“Eung, we’re fine, but what about you?”

Dan So-mi stared blankly at the boy and asked. In truth, since they didn’t suffer any damage, there was no ‘fine’ or anything. Rather, the boy who hit an adult was the greater worry.

“T… This bastard…!”

At that time, the kicked man sprang up from his spot and shouted. He put strength into the dagger he was holding and rushed forward while glaring at the child who struck him.

“You little runt! I’ll kill you!”

The man, whose anger reached the top of his head, had no sense of reason. His red, flushed face did not calm down easily. To have been kicked by a young child, just how much shame must it have been?

At that time, a bizarre thing happened.

Someone passing by struck the head of the man rushing towards the children.

Thwack!

Then, along with a tremendous sound, the man collapsed powerlessly.

“Oops, what’s this? Some weird bastard…?”

It was a person wearing black clothes. They hadn’t realized since when he was there, but he naturally hoisted the collapsed person on his shoulder and walked down the street leisurely.

At that sight, people wore blank expressions.

He appeared unexpectedly and disappeared suddenly. It seemed no one knew that man wearing black clothes.

While even Dan So-mi was wearing a blank expression.

“Puhahaha.”

A moment ago, that young child laughed with a loud voice. It was unknown what was so funny, but the ringing voice sounded quite cheerful.

“Ah, it’s really fun. I heard there are many hidden masters in this Yueyang, could that person be one too?”

“Hidden… master?”

“Eung! Oh, right, my introduction hasn’t been done yet? I’m Yoo Baek. I just moved here. We seem to be the same age, so please take care of me!”

Yoo Baek gave a bright smile and held out his hand.

Then, he naturally grabbed the hand of Hong Jin-rang in front of him and shook it. At the overly unreserved action, the four children readily nodded.

Enjoyed the chapter?

If you like our work, consider supporting us on Ko-fi. This site solely runs on donations. Every donation helps us keep translating!

Support on Ko-fi