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When the Wind Blows from Shandong ⑷

[I’m Cheonma!]

Cheonma shouted at my question.

[I wasn’t asking who you are. I was asking if you’ve ever been in love.]

[You fool! I’m Cheonma! Do you think I’d let my heart waver over a woman?]

[Sounds like you’re criticizing your grandfather.]

Cheonma hesitated at my words, but quickly raised his voice again.

[You brat! My grandfather is my grandfather, and I am me. I’ve never once…]

[Who was your first love?]

Cheonma flinched. I could see his eyes waver.

Ha, so there was someone.

[Are you listening to me with your ears or your backside?]

[If there wasn’t anyone, why are you getting so worked up? It makes it seem like there really was someone.]

[There wasn’t, you fool! Stop ruining the taste of my drink and just drink.]

It was clear there had been someone. After all, Cheonma wasn’t raised in some underground cave like a monster. As the precious young master of the Blood Heaven Sect, he must have grown up surrounded by attention and affection. Surely, he too had experienced the fever of first love, his heart racing at the sight of a beloved woman.

Cheonma changed the subject, launching a counterattack.

[Hey, Casanova. Your fiancée is quite beautiful. How could you cheat on someone like her?]

It’s a good thing no one else heard him, or I’d be in for a world of trouble.

[I’ve told you a thousand times, I’ve never cheated.]

[Do you think the tragic Lady Baekryeon would agree?]

[Don’t throw around words like ‘tragic.’]

[Heh heh heh.]

This time, I echoed Cheonma’s earlier words.

[Come on, let’s just drink.]

We clinked glasses and drank together.

Maybe it was the rare daytime drinking, but I suddenly felt sentimental.

[Those were the days when we used to fight.]

[Heh heh. Indeed.]

[You were a bit older back then, weren’t you?]

[Only by a few years!]

[We’re about six or seven years apart, right? How old are you exactly?]

[Enough. We’re close enough to be friends.]

[Ha ha.]

Cheonma seemed lost in memories, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

After emptying his glass, he spoke enviously.

[But you got to be young again.]

[Yes, and I plan to enjoy every moment of it.]

[You should feel a bit guilty saying that right in front of me.]

How could I not feel a twinge of guilt saying such things to his face?

Still, I hid my feelings and replied coolly.

[Not at all. Why should I?]

[Heartless scoundrel, liar, womanizer, self-righteous old man…!]

If I let him drink more, I’d have to endure Cheonma’s drunken ramblings again, but I raised my glass for another toast.

＊ ＊ ＊

Three days later, Jeokyo arrived at the manor.

Jeokyo was a woman with a voluptuous figure and alluring looks. Her attire left little to the imagination, revealing more skin than fabric.

“It’s been a while.”

“How have you been?”

“Oh, you know me, always having fun. I spotted a handsome man on the way here, but you were in such a hurry to summon me that I came straight away.”

“So, in a way, I saved that man.”

“Oh my, hardly! You deprived him of a precious experience of reaching nirvana through pleasure.”

The Blood Merchant chuckled. Jeokyo was a seductress who drained men of their energy. The difference was that at the peak of passion, she didn’t just drain their energy but sucked out all their blood.

Like the Blood Merchant, Jeokyo also gained strength through blood.

“What about Danwol? He should have arrived first.”

“He’s dead.”

Jeokyo flinched at the blunt response.

“What happened?”

“He chose the wrong master.”

A moment of silence passed. Jeokyo smiled wryly.

“That’s bad news. I serve the same master.”

“Then you’d better stay sharp.”

Jeokyo knew the Blood Merchant well enough to understand he wasn’t a foolish master. The answer to how Danwol died was likely that he met the wrong enemy.

“Who are we up against? The merchants?”

The Blood Merchant’s expression hardened.

“Don’t speak carelessly!”

Jeokyo giggled.

“You’re too harsh on someone who thrives on vulgarity. I’ll go rest now. It’s been a long journey.”

As she turned to leave, she suddenly asked.

“It’s a man, right?”

“Yes, a very young one.”

Jeokyo’s eyes sparkled, her lips twitching.

Before she could say more, the Blood Merchant cut her off.

“Go rest.”

“Yes.”

Jeokyo stretched and entered the building, playfully addressing the Blood Swordsmen standing guard.

“My door is always open, especially for handsome brothers.”

The Blood Swordsmen didn’t spare her a glance. They knew that opening her door could be their last day on earth.

＊ ＊ ＊

I was busy organizing the sword sect, while Song Hwarin was occupied helping with the formation.

After a few busy days, I finally had some time alone with her. We couldn’t go out, so we strolled through the garden.

“I heard about the Shandong Assembly. You played a big role, didn’t you?”

“No, I just helped the sect leader and my father.”

I knew better. She had played a significant role, enough to boast about.

“This is the time to brag a little. Let people know.”

“But somehow…”

“If you don’t, people won’t recognize your efforts.”

She looked at me shyly.

“Some people know without being told. Like you.”

I pulled her closer, holding her hand.

I hugged her tightly.

“Thank you.”

I hadn’t expected her to handle the task so well. It couldn’t have been easy, as it was something she’d never done before.

But she had done it splendidly.

I couldn’t see her face, but I could feel it. She was smiling happily.

After a while, she pulled away and spoke.

“I should be the one thanking you. Thank you for saving me that day. It was a precious experience.”

“Was it your first time dealing with sorcery?”

“I was so shocked when the blood rose from the dead bodies. And I didn’t expect the formation to be broken so easily.”

The formation she and her mother had hidden in was a basic one, which was why it was easily broken.

“Fighting any enemy is the same, but especially with sorcerers, the key is not to panic.”

She nodded in agreement.

“There are two main ways to deal with sorcery. Either have overwhelming power so the sorcery doesn’t affect you at all.”

“That’s a distant goal for me. What if you’re caught in sorcery?”

“Then you have to find a way to break it as quickly as possible. Just as every formation has a weak point, every sorcery has a way to break it.”

“How do you find the way to break it?”

“You have to rely on your instincts. And to develop those instincts, you need a lot of experience.”

“Sorcery is… terrifying.”

The enemies we faced would undoubtedly use all sorts of sorcery. It was crucial to know this.

“It is. Just remember this: there’s always a way to break it. Stay calm and look for it.”

She nodded, determination in her eyes.

“I want to become stronger.”

“You are strong.”

“No, I’m still lacking. You have no idea how scared I was that day. I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to protect my mother.”

“Even if you don’t know, your mother probably felt the same.”

“Yes, she must have.”

I understood that kind of fear well.

In my past life, I never started a family, perhaps because of that fear.

The fear of not being able to protect the ones you love. It’s not the fear of death, but the fundamental fear of losing someone you love.

I had been afraid, even with the greatest martial arts skills.

But not anymore.

Now, I live to protect. To enjoy what I have without fearing loss. To find happiness in what I can hold onto, no matter how difficult it is.

I’ve learned that the happiness gained from protecting is greater than the freedom gained from running away. That’s the lesson this life has taught me.

“Is your mother okay?”

I nodded, and Song Hwarin smiled.

“I’m so glad everyone’s safe.”

Don’t worry, we’ll get through all of this safely. I’ll make sure of it.

Cheonma didn’t say a word until I returned to my room. He could have teased me about hugging Song Hwarin, but he remained silent.

[Why so quiet?]

[I disconnected from the outside world and took a nap.]

[You can do that?]

[Of course. I can’t stay awake all the time.]

[Why did you disconnect?]

[Because I have some manners.]

His unexpected words surprised and touched me. I hadn’t been bothered by much else, but when I was with Song Hwarin, Cheonma’s presence was a bit distracting. Yet, he had shown me an unexpected courtesy.

[Thinking about an old flame, huh?]

[You fool! I told you, there wasn’t anyone!]

[I don’t get why having no women is considered manly.]

[Well…]

[It’s a preconception.]

[Hmph!]

[By the way, there’s something I need to tell you.]

[What is it?]

[What if the woman we’re up against is your grandfather’s descendant? I’m planning to kill her.]

[It doesn’t matter.]

[It doesn’t matter?]

[Are you sure he’s even related to your grandfather? And even if he is, you’ve never met him in your life. All this talk about family ties is pointless. Haven’t you heard the saying that distant relatives are worse than strangers? Just tell him to get lost.]

He was right. What meaning could it possibly hold?

Anyway, I was slightly bothered, but now I could deal with it without any burden.

Cheonma suddenly blurted out, then stopped.

[Still, thanks for asking…]

It seemed he couldn’t bring himself to say thank you. Before he could feel awkward, I spoke up first.

[I’m just an old-school traditionalist, aren’t I? Of course, I had to ask.]

I could sense Cheonma chuckling softly. He realized I was trying to be considerate.

Yes, at least our relationship, where we once tried to kill each other, is far better than a blood tie with someone I’ve never even seen.

＊ ＊ ＊

Hyeollu arrived at the manor.

He was an elderly man with a robust build, and it was immediately clear why he was called Hyeollu. A tattoo of red tears was etched near his eyes.

A white-haired old man with a tattoo of bleeding eyes was both bizarre and terrifying.

“How have you been?”

Hyeollu greeted curtly. His nature was always cold and indifferent.

“If I had been well, we wouldn’t be meeting now, would we?”

“Who is the target?”

“A real nuisance.”

“Where is he now?”

Hyeollu seemed ready to go and deal with the target immediately.

Just then, someone spoke from behind.

“What kind of big secret is it that you won’t even tell us? And you won’t let us leave. I’m bored to death from arriving early.”

Turning around, I saw Jeokyo perched on the wall, raising a hand in greeting.

“Long time no see.”

A flash of displeasure crossed Hyeollu’s face. It wasn’t directed at Jeokyo, but at the situation.

“Wasn’t I the only one called?”

The blood merchant replied.

“Not just Jeokyo, but Seobulpae was called too. Danwol was invited, but he’s already dead.”

Hyeollu was taken aback. His earlier dissatisfaction vanished in an instant.

“Who on earth is this person?”

“Take a rest. Let me show you to your room.”

Just then, about a dozen Blood Swords arrived. There were already over a hundred who had arrived earlier. Seeing the Blood Swords continue to gather, Hyeollu’s expression grew more serious.

Still perched on the wall, Jeokyo asked Hyeollu, “So, senior, are you still up for it? We’re bored…”

Swoosh!

Boom!

Without turning around, Hyeollu swung his arm, creating a large hole where Jeokyo had been sitting.

But Jeokyo had already vanished.

After Hyeollu entered the building, Jeokyo’s face appeared through the broken hole.

“Hmm… I guess he’s not up for it.”