The fifteenth person to receive an entry pass this ti, including the Five Swords of Wudang, was a total of fifteen.
Yet, no one has gone outside the Wudang Sect yet.
Because everyone knew well that the entry pass was not given to go out and play, but ant that they were now responsible for their own actions.
And so, when fifteen days had passed without anyone going out.
I had finished all my preparations to go out for the first ti.
I did not inform the Wudang Sect where I was going. I just said I would be traveling the martial world for a while.
"Normally... I would not be able to allow it, but since you have successfully completed the martial arts tournant this ti, I will send you off, thinking of it as a reward. You are not a child who would do anything foolish anywhere."
Fortunately, the Sect Leader granted my request.
Even if I have an entry pass, I have to report my destination accurately, but at least this ti, I was able to get an exception.
The next place I visited after the Sect Leader was my master.
My master, who was training hard, dripping with sweat, did not even ask where I was going or why I was going out, and said to , "When are you planning to co back?"
"I'm not sure how long it will take yet."
"One month."
"Yes?"
"Co back within a month. Unconditionally."
My head tilted on its own. Because my master is not a person who forces such things.
I wondered if there was a special reason, so I was looking at my master, and as if he had noticed my gaze, my master opened his mouth again.
"I'm going to the Martial Alliance exactly one month from today."
"Ah...! I understand."
No further explanation was needed.
My master had said he would introduce to the Martial Alliance Leader after the martial arts tournant, so it must be for that reason.
Although I couldn't understand why it had to be a month later, I didn't bother to ask.
My master must have his own schedule and circumstances. I decided to just let it go.
"Then, go out safely and co back."
My master, with those words, fell into a state of training samadhi again.
After losing the duel with , my master had been devoting himself to training with a frightening intensity.
Recently, my master is growing day by day.
I had a strong intuition that soday, one of the greatest combat powers in the Wudang Sect would be my master.
'Please let return safely and et my master again. And et my senior brothers again.'
I, trying to hide my heavy heart, left the Wudang Sect with light steps.
***
A full four days had passed since I left the Wudang Sect.
I had been playing and eating for four days at an inn in a city called Shiyan, not far from the Wudang Sect.
Rather than training in martial arts, I just rested well, ate well, and slept well to maintain my body in the best possible condition.
Anyone who saw would think I had co here because I wanted to slack off, I rested that well.
And on the fifth day of my stay here.
After sleeping in until the sun was high in the sky, I was having a late breakfast when soone entered the inn.
"Welco! Are you here to eat? Please co this way."
The waiter went to greet him, and the man said to the waiter in a very kind voice, "Little one. I have a companion."
"A companion?"
The waiter, with surprised eyes, looked back at the table where I was sitting.
The ti is now midday. Coincidentally, I am the only person sitting in the restaurant right now.
For the past five days, I had not gone out of the inn much and had been playing and eating here, so the waiter had a face as if he was not sure if he was my guest.
But the man, after seeing my face, smiled broadly and naturally approached .
I also put down the bowl of noodles I was eating and stared at him.
The man suddenly made a sad face and said in a pitiful voice, "Why are you only eating one bowl of noodles? Is this enough for a al? Don't you have money?"
"No. I have a lot of money, but I'm trying to eat light. Look at the ti. I haven't even been awake for long."
"Hey, little one! Go and bring so more food."
"Yes! What kind of food should I bring?"
"Whatever your inn is confident in, three dishes."
Ting—
He threw a silver coin to the waiter.
The waiter's eyes widened like saucers when he confird that the money he threw was a silver coin, not a copper coin.
"Keep the change for your pocket money. If you're a good kid, share so with the cook."
"Th-Thank you, great hero!"
The waiter bowed his head and rushed into the kitchen.
"Even three dishes won't even be half the value of a silver coin, are you trying to show off your money?"
"I've been cooped up all the ti, so I have no place to spend money. I've saved up quite a lot of money to buy delicious food for a talented disciple if I get one."
He and I t eyes. It was as if sparks were flying from our eyes.
Anyone who had only seen our appearance at the inn so far would surely think that we were in a very comfortable friendly relationship.
So might even think that we were catching up after not seeing each other for a long ti.
But the relationship between and this person was not such a positive relationship at all.
No, it could be said to be closer to a bad fate.
"Have you been well? Unhwi of the Wudang Sect?"
"Of course. Have you been well too? Demonic Flower Hall Master?"
"Huhu. Of course. I thought my eyeballs would fall out waiting for today to co."
That's right.
The person sitting opposite now is the Demonic Flower Hall Master, Yi Gwak-sa.
The reason I had left the Wudang Sect was to keep my promise with him.
The Demonic Flower Hall Master, just like when I saw him before, has a smiling face from beginning to end.
Especially when he looks at , he looks at with a gaze that feels sticky for so reason, and it gives the creeps to death.
"But do you perhaps not know how to count the days?"
"I see them well, why?"
"The promise at that ti was clearly six months, right? But eight months have passed since then."
Although he spoke in a gentle voice, and with a smiling face, there was a strange killing intent in his voice.
"Then you should have co to two months ago. I was outside the Wudang Sect at that ti."
I deliberately said it in a more regretful tone.
The Demonic Flower Hall Master I have grasped is this kind of person.
A person whose interest in grows the more I treat him rudely and arrogantly.
So, a person to whom I should never show a submissive appearance.
"You think I didn't know that? I waited because you seed to be busy with other things at that ti."
He still said in a gentle voice.
"The food is here!"
A little while later, the waiter ca out with several dishes, and the Demonic Flower Hall Master and I began to eat without a word.
Anyone who saw it would think that the two of us were really old friends, it was that natural of an appearance.
But we had already started fighting.
The Demonic Flower Hall Master is trying to overwhelm by emitting his qi in all directions, and I am also generously releasing my energy and handling his montum.
Although it was not an easy task to chew and swallow food as if nothing was wrong while concentrating like this, I sohow managed it.
Because I had a strong intuition that I should never be pushed back by his montum here.
"Haha, what is this? What kind of fortuitous encounter did you have?"
The Demonic Flower Hall Master said, suddenly withdrawing his energy.
Although I didn't show it, I was able to catch my breath because it suddenly beca easier to breathe.
"To beco this strong at this age, it's not sothing that can be achieved by eting an ordinary fortuitous encounter."
"I like it. As expected."
He, with a face like a person who had chosen a favorite item, looked up and down and continued, "Let's go out."
"Why should we go out?"
"We can't have a brawl here, can we? Well... I don't mind doing it here. If that happens, this inn will be completely destroyed, and then the innocent people around might be sacrificed, right?"
A sigh escaped without realizing it.
In the end, the Demonic Flower Hall Master is threatening with the lives of the common people.
I couldn't let the waiter and cook of this inn die just because I chose to stay at this inn, so I got up from my seat.
"Alright. Let's go out."
I stood up abruptly and left the inn.
Yi Gwak-sa followed with a silly smile.
And so, after walking for a long ti, when we reached an open space where no people were visible, he said with a cackle, "Amazing."
"What is?"
"I was almost completely fooled. You must have wanted to create such a relaxed situation. Why? Because you didn't want to be pushed back by my montum?"
"What are you talking about?"
"A person who ca down to eat breakfast as soon as they woke up, also brought a sword, and wore martial arts clothes like that? And even a soft sword on your waist."
That's right. In fact, I had always been fully prepared so that I could respond imdiately whenever he ca.
The soft sword on my waist was my trump card, but since I had used it once when I fought the Demonic Flower Hall Master last ti, it can no longer be called a trump card.
"Yes. That's right. To be honest, I thought you would co in three days, but I didn't know it would take five days."
"To be honest, as you said, it's true that I arrived at that inn on the third day after you entered it."
"Then why did you make waste two days?"
"In case you ca with soone. What if you brought the Sect Leader to catch ? No matter how much I like you, the most important thing in the world is my own life."
Although my brow furrowed on its own, I cald my heart's agitation as much as possible and stared into his eyes.
"Those eyes. I thought of those arrogant eyes every day. Because I wanted to make them mine."
"That will never happen. I ca to this place to tell you that I will not follow you. And also to tell you not to be interested in in the future."
"If a person's heart changes so easily, why would I be in this place?"
Although he said to with a sly expression, I lightly ignored him and said to him, "How will you let go today? For your information, if you try to drag away by force, I will sohow commit suicide. Whether by biting my tongue, hitting my celestial spirit gate, or stabbing myself with a sword, by any ans necessary."
"Oh my. You say such terrible things so well."
The Demonic Flower Hall Master said, waving his hand.
Anyone who doesn't know him would have the impression that he couldn't even kill a mosquito.
But I must never forget that inside him is a demon who can kill hundreds, thousands of people without batting an eye.
"To be honest, I didn't co to this place today to take you with ."
"Really? Then that's a relief. Then I'll be going now. I told my master I would go back soon."
"Wait. That doesn't an you can go."
"Then what. What do you want to do?"
"Grant one favor. Then I will not touch you for a year."
"A favor?"
The Demonic Flower Hall Master, looking at with a face as if he were a harmless person, said, "Wouldn't it be a little more likely for you to win if you grant my favor and fight a year later, rather than having a life-or-death battle with now and being dragged away?"
That's right. After eting him today, I know for sure. I can't beat the Demonic Flower Hall Master yet.
But after a year, the story might be different.
Because I am growing day by day.
And within that ti, I can also obtain the fortuitous encounters I already know a little earlier.
"I'll answer after hearing what the favor is."
"It's not a very difficult favor. On the contrary, it might be a very easy thing for you."
"What on earth is it?"
"Beco a righteous hero."
"What?"
"It's a simple matter of punishing villains."
He, after spitting out such trendous words that did not suit him at all, had a calm face as if nothing had happened.
(End of Chapter)
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