By Zephyria What Doesn’t Change (4)
“……”
Despite the cheerful self-introduction, Il-gwang coldly looked down at his hand. When he showed no intention of taking it even after waiting, Peng Do-hwan took a step closer.
“Huh? Don’t want to reveal your name? Well, we can get to know each other later. I’ll just call you hyung for now!”
“……”
“Hyung, after we clean up these Demonic Cult bastards, how about a duel with me later……”
Seong Mu-yeon, noticing Il-gwang’s gaze growing increasingly fierce, hurriedly stepped between them.
“Ahahaha, you must be Young master Peng! It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Oh! You know this hyung? That’s great. Men are supposed to be taciturn, but not saying a word is a bit much……. Does this hyung even know how to talk…….”
Seong Mu-yeon quickly cut him off.
“Have you perhaps! Seen Mazincheon Headmaster!”
Peng Do-hwan nodded, taken aback by the sudden question.
“I saw him earlier at that restaurant over there, and oh, I also saw Heartless Sword a little while ago. Both Heartless Sword and this hyung, for some reason, no one acknowledges my greetings today, which is a bit disappointing…….”
“Is Mazincheon Headmaster safe!”
“……He seemed fine the last time I saw him, but why do you ask? Heartless Sword was also looking for his master, so what’s going on? I’m sure it’s nothing. I came all the way here chasing after Shaolin, but over there…….”
“I see. Thank you for the information! Well, we have urgent business, so we’ll be going!”
Seong Mu-yeon grabbed Il-gwang and quickly moved away.
It all happened so fast that Peng Do-hwan didn’t have a chance to stop them. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“……Since I have my hyung.”
“Whew. That was close.”
Only after getting far enough away did Seong Mu-yeon wipe the cold sweat from his brow. If the conversation had gone on any longer, he would have been asked for his name as well.
‘Peng Do-hwan is here at this point. That means……. Hyung is nearby too.’
The Hebei Twin Extremes.
The two brothers always traveled together. After wandering the Central Plains, they both made great contributions during the war, and thanks to that, the Peng family of Hebei boasted even greater fame after the war.
With a hopeful heart, he looked around, but unfortunately, it was full of bald heads.
“Why are you so wary of that man?”
Il-gwang asked, his brow furrowed, his voice clearly displeased. He seemed unhappy about the hasty retreat. He considered it an act that tarnished the honor of a demonic cultist.
“Are you really asking that now?!”
Seong Mu-yeon shouted. He felt so frustrated that he might get a stomachache. He thumped his chest in frustration.
“Why? Do you not know? Who caused this mess? It’s us.”
“It’s not ‘us,’ but the Demonic Cultists under Fourth Young master…….”
“That’s what people inside think. But to outsiders, we’re all the same demonic cultist. No matter how much we explain, they have no obligation to understand us, and they don’t want to.”
“……”
“Do you have the confidence to survive right now if you reveal your affiliation to those monks, or even to Peng Do-hwan?”
Il-gwang glanced sideways at the Shaolin monks fighting nearby. Each time the magnificent fist techniques imbued with sacred Buddha-light struck the Demonic human, the ground shook. The formidable status of Shaolin was clearly evident.
Seeing that, Il-gwang shut his mouth. Even he didn’t think he could defeat so many experts. Of course, he shouldn’t.
“Until the situation is resolved, don’t stand out and stay still like you’re dead. If you can’t handle it because of your petty pride, then go die alone! Don’t drag me down with you!”
“……I understand. I understand what you’re saying.”
Seong Mu-yeon clicked his tongue. To survive in the middle of enemy territory, this was nothing. Il-gwang still had a long way to go.
And although he didn’t show it, he had other intentions in mind.
‘First impressions are so important.’
The protagonist of Finger Sword Lone Battle was Baek Ryeo-il, but he was too taciturn and acted like a deus ex machina who only did what needed to be done quickly.
But Peng Yuan-jin was different.
Peng Yuan-jin would later lead the martial alliance and be a haven that embraced people with a warm smile, a warm healing hand that soothed the Central Plains suffering from the pain of war.
With a slight apology to Baek Ryeo-il, he was the kind of reliable person you wouldn’t want to be friends with.
Seong Mu-yeon wanted to make a good impression on Peng Yuan-jin. If possible, he wanted to be friends with someone like that.
So he wanted to make a good impression on Peng Yuan-jin. To do that, he needed to make a good impression on his younger brother, Peng Do-hwan, as well.
What would have happened if Il-gwang had lost control and started a fight?
Peng Yuan-jin would have heard bad things about Seong Mu-yeon through his younger brother before even seeing Seong Mu-yeon’s face.
He asked a passing bald monk for the location of Baek Ryeo-il and Peng Yuan-jin.
“Amitabha……. Heartless Sword Headmaster and Young master Peng should be at the temporary shelter with the people from Mount Hua.”
“Thank you, monk.”
After greeting him with a bow, he headed in the direction the monk had indicated.
As the monk had said, a shelter was set up where the Shaolin gate began. Refugees who had lost their homes endured the cold night, eating the tents and food provided by Shaolin.
As the shelter got closer, Seong Mu-yeon hurriedly adjusted his clothes. He fixed his disheveled hair, re-tied it, and checked that his hair ornament wasn’t crooked.
“……Seventh Young master?”
Il-gwang looked at him with suspicious eyes.
“What! What is it!”
“No, it’s nothing…….”
Il-gwang whispered softly.
“Seventh Young master, I must go for a moment. I must report to the Demonic Cult. Given the nature of the matter, I cannot delay even a moment.”
Il-gwang disappeared into the darkness. It seemed he was going to give instructions to the Black Shadow Unit hiding.
After all, the branch in this area had been wiped out in an instant. This incident was carried out independently by the Henan branch, but it would greatly harm the prestige of the Demonic Cult. The Demonic Cult would have to come up with countermeasures.
“Okay. Go ahead.”
As Seong Mu-yeon entered the shelter, his heart began to pound.
‘Peng Yuan-jin is here…….’
Seong Mu-yeon slowly looked around. The thought of running into Peng Yuan-jin at any moment made his palms sweat.
How long had it been since he had been so nervous because of one person?
Perhaps it was the first time.
The first person he noticed was Baek Ryeo-il. A protagonist was that kind of existence. Someone who always caught the eye first, no matter when or where.
“You’re here?”
Baek Ryeo-il approached with a wave.
“Where’s Mazincheon Headmaster?”
Even though he asked, he could tell from Baek Ryeo-il’s expression that nothing had happened to him.
Baek Ryeo-il gestured with his chin.
Following his gaze, he saw Mazincheon handing out candy to the children of the commoners. Seeing him unharmed, Seong Mu-yeon felt relieved.
He had saved people.
Although it was late at night, many children were still awake. When they became depressed from losing their homes or families, Mazincheon had somehow obtained a lot of sweet snacks and distributed them.
The children were used to seeing the monks, but they seemed scared of the martial artists with swords. Except for a few fearless children, they only looked around cautiously, hiding behind their parents’ clothes.
It was then.
“Children, don’t worry and take it.”
Seong Mu-yeon stiffened at the gentle voice coming from somewhere.
A tall man with a bamboo hat slung over his shoulder bent down towards the children. Unlike his younger brother, he didn’t braid his long hair, but instead put some of it up in a topknot with a hat and left the rest hanging long. In many ways, he didn’t seem like a descendant of the Peng family of Hebei, but rather a scholar who studied books. Only the huge Greatsword on his back hinted at his origins.
“This person is a good person who went out of his way to get snacks for you. Don’t be afraid and take them.”
Whether those words worked or not, the children approached Mazincheon one by one and took the candy. Soon, all the children were holding a handful of candy and returning.
“Thank you. Young master Peng. I must look scary.”
In fact, the children were afraid to approach because of Baek Ryeo-il, who was walking around Mazincheon, but they were able to muster the courage to approach Mazincheon because Peng Yuan-jin blocked their view. Mazincheon, unaware of this fact, drooped his shoulders dejectedly.
“No, it’s just that everyone has gone through a lot tonight. Don’t worry too much about it.”
“By the way, it’s been a long time. How is Peng Family Head doing?”
“Of course, he’s doing well. It’s fortunate that he’s still leading the family while wielding the Greatsword with such vigor, so we can come out and roam around as we please.”
The two revealed their friendship and continued their conversation amicably. The conversation didn’t stop as they caught up on the years that had passed.
Baek Ryeo-il, who wasn’t interested in such trivial topics, quickly lost interest. He turned away indifferently and suddenly realized that Seong Mu-yeon, who was standing next to him, was strange.
“Seong Mu-yeon. What’s wrong?”
Seong Mu-yeon was as stiff as if he had been struck by lightning. His pupils were dilated, and his mouth was slightly open. This was the first time he had looked so foolish since he had met him.
Peng Yuan-jin, hearing Baek Ryeo-il’s voice, turned towards them. His handsome eyes, filled with a smile, lingered on Baek Ryeo-il before widening slightly as they reached Seong Mu-yeon.
Peng Yuan-jin excused himself to Mazincheon and slowly approached the two. He bowed politely to Seong Mu-yeon.
“You must be Seong Mu-yeon Young master. I’ve heard a lot about you. I am Peng Yuan-jin of the Peng family of Hebei.”
Seong Mu-yeon, who had been stiff until then, barely managed to bow his head, his joints creaking as he did so.
“Ah, yes……. Yes. S-Seong Mu-yeon……. I’ve heard a lot……. about you as well.”
Seong Mu-yeon’s deeply bowed head showed no sign of rising. Baek Ryeo-il narrowed his eyes. Seong Mu-yeon’s slightly exposed ear was flushed red.