The Return of the Sw Chapter 68 : If You Don’t Know the Subject. -01

Chapter 68: If You Don’t Know the Subject. -01

Jeong I-ryong’s eyes grew as large as oil lamps.

For a moment, he wondered what those words even meant.

So, without realizing it, Jeong I-ryong asked back.

“Now is the time for you to broaden your horizons as well. There are things you can gain by leaving the secular world behind, but there are also things you can clearly gain by living among people in the world. I knew that too, but it seems I forgot as I lived too long. Perhaps I was thinking only of myself.”

“Absolutely not.”

Jeong I-ryong shook his head firmly.

To him, Sang Il-gi was both master and parent.

It had been Sang Il-gi who saved him when he was starving to death, and it was also the Sang Il-gi standing before him now who had taught him martial arts and raised him to what he was.

If not for Sang Il-gi, he would have died on the streets, so Jeong I-ryong could not agree with those words.

“I’m grateful that you say that. In any case, what I want to say is that you should descend the mountain together with Ban So-hyeop’s group. If you see and feel the world firsthand, you will surely gain something. Or do you dislike descending the mountain?”

“That’s not it. I’m just worried about you, Master.”

“Hahaha. My age isn’t small, but it’s not so great that I’m on my last days either. And didn’t I tell you? To go down first.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Jeong I-ryong’s pupils widened.

Only then did he understand Sang Il-gi’s words.

“While talking with Ban So-hyeop, I realized many things. So I, too, am thinking of traveling around the Central Plains. With eyes different from before.”

“When the time is right, I’ll come and find you.”

“How?”

“Uh, couldn’t I ask Brother Ban for a favor?”

Seeing his disciple casually calling Ban Hojin “brother,” Sang Il-gi let out a soft chuckle.

And once again, he realized something anew.

That even though they had lived together since childhood, it didn’t mean he knew everything about Jeong I-ryong.

“That’s one way, I suppose. Or I could be the one to come find you. So train diligently. At any time, at any moment, I might come to check.”

“I understand.”

“Don’t cause trouble.”

“Yes.”

Sang Il-gi smiled gently.

Though he spoke as if worried, he knew.

That Jeong I-ryong would train and strive harder than anyone else.

And the same was true for him.

‘There isn’t only one path of cultivation.’

Ban Hojin’s appearance had been a shock to Jeong I-ryong, but it was the same for Sang Il-gi.

Sang Il-gi had never heard of a martial artist who had reached such a realm at the age of coming of age.

No— even in the history of Murim, it would surely be counted on one hand.

But what mattered was that such a martial artist had appeared before his eyes, and that everything Sang Il-gi thought he knew had been shaken.

‘I am also a martial artist. And…….’

Sang Il-gi’s brow narrowed slightly.

Ban Hojin had not come to see him simply to spar with a strong opponent.

Sparring was indeed the purpose, but it was not everything.

Ban Hojin had not spoken in detail, but Sang Il-gi felt it.

‘He clearly has a picture he’s drawing. One only he knows.’

Despite having achieved such a tremendous realm at that age, Ban Hojin did not show the slightest bit of arrogance.

What that implied was obvious.

There was a reason he could not afford to be arrogant.

Sang Il-gi intended to find that out as well during this journey through Jianghu.

“But will Brother allow it?”

At that moment, Jeong I-ryong’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

At his disciple’s worry-filled voice, Sang Il-gi smiled faintly.

“You’re more than qualified, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Qualified?”

“Look at the companions who are with Ban So-hyeop right now.”

“Ah.”

“Although Young Master Seonwu seems lacking at present, he will be different later. The taller and higher the tower, the longer it takes to build its foundation.”

Sang Il-gi spoke as if he were peering straight into Jeong I-ryong’s mind.

He had instantly grasped what Jeong I-ryong was thinking.

“I suppose so. Given Brother Ban’s personality, he wouldn’t travel together without a reason.”

“You’ve seen it clearly. That said, it doesn’t seem that only those of equal rank can associate with one another either.”

“Still, hearing you say that makes me feel much lighter.”

“That’s enough. If you’re leaving tomorrow, there will be quite a lot to prepare.”

“Good night.”

At the natural dismissal, Jeong I-ryong rose to his feet.

But his expression was completely different from when he had first entered the room.

“Sleep well, you too.”

“Yes.”

After seeing Jeong I-ryong off, Sang Il-gi looked around his room with deep eyes.

Unlike his disciple, he wasn’t leaving immediately tomorrow, yet his heart felt unsettled.

The thought of leaving the home he had stayed in for so long made his feelings complicated.

But at the same time, he felt excited as well.

“Waaah! An inn, an inn!”

The moment they entered the village, Murong Cheok spread both arms wide as if cheering, having found the largest inn.

He was savoring the fact that the long, arduous stretch of sleeping rough had finally come to an end.

“I thought sleeping rough was fun too.”

“Comfort is better than fun. Don’t you know the saying that the most delicious food is food made by someone else?”

“That sounds like you’re saying my cooking wasn’t good.”

Seo Jo-woon shot Murong Cheok a glare.

It felt like he was indirectly criticizing his cooking.

“Hey, that sounds like you’re criticizing my cooking too, doesn’t it?”

“Ah, no way. That’s not what I meant. If it were tasteless, would I have eaten it?”

When Sunwoo Bang joined in, Murong Cheok hurriedly waved his hands.

He couldn’t say it was delicious, but it wasn’t exactly bad either.

“You have to eat to survive. And an adequate amount of food is essential for training as well.”

“Alright, let’s go in. Shouldn’t we secure rooms first? It’s been a while since we came to a village, so we need to buy some necessities too. We have a very full schedule.”

Cracking jokes, Murong Cheok took the lead and entered the inn.

Then, as if it were only natural, he booked the most expensive detached annex.

Knowing that their funds were plentiful, Murong Cheok placed the order without hesitation.

“Huh? A detached annex? We’re only staying for one night anyway— is there really a need to get a detached annex?”

“I know what you’re worried about, but there’s no need for that.”

“That’s right. Not only our brother, but Brother Sunwoo and I have quite a lot of money too. Just look at him— he’s the young lord of the Murong Family.”

Sunwoo Bang and Seo Jo-woon smiled crookedly as they spoke to Jeong I-ryong, who was hesitantly voicing his opinion.

They knew exactly what Jeong I-ryong was worried about, but it was a needless concern.

“Still, it’s best to avoid waste whenever possible.”

“It’s fine. And if we want to avoid being disturbed by others, and also avoid disturbing them, it’s better to stay separately in a detached annex. We’re not just going to sleep, are we?”

“That’s true.”

“When you consider those things, this option is actually more advantageous.”

Jeong I-ryong soon nodded in agreement.

After hearing it, it wasn’t wrong.

Besides, looking around at the group, it seemed like they were accustomed to situations like this.

“Don’t worry about pointless things and think about what to eat for dinner instead. We’ve come to an inn after so long— shouldn’t we eat something good?”

“Yes.”

Ban Hojin said this as he lightly tapped Jeong I-ryong on the shoulder.

Jeong I-ryong soon smiled as well.

“Um, e-excuse me…….”

“Hm?”

Although it was his first time there, Murong Cheok was naturally making various orders to the inn server when someone approached Ban Hojin.

As a boy of around ten cautiously approached while looking around, a question rose in Ban Hojin’s eyes.

“I have something to say, Great Hero Ban.”

“You’re a child from the Hao Sect.”

“Yes.”

“Come with me.”

Seeing that a child he had never met knew who he was, Ban Hojin realized it immediately.

Where the boy belonged.

That was why Ban Hojin, without hesitation, took the boy and entered the detached annex.

“Is there a reason for the Hao Sect to come looking for me?”

“There hasn’t been any separate contact since you parted ways at the Geum Family Estate, right?”

“As far as I know. But who knows. Hojin might have been exchanging messages with them behind our backs.”

As they sat down, Sunwoo Bang and Seo Jo-woon exchanged words.

Unlike Murong Cheok or Jeong I-ryong, the two of them had met Nan Hee-ju before, so they weren’t particularly surprised that the child belonged to the Hao Sect.

“You sit too.”

“Yes!”

“No need to be so nervous. We’re all just people like you. So speak comfortably.”

“Uh…….”

Despite Ban Hojin’s words, the boy couldn’t readily open his mouth.

He had been told to speak comfortably, but it wasn’t easy.

With Ban Hojin— a figure whose name was resounding throughout Jianghu— standing right before him, the boy took a deep breath.

“You can take your time, so don’t feel too pressured.”

“Please help our Rumor Lord.”

At the sight of the boy cutting away everything else and stating only the core issue, Ban Hojin and the others all showed startled expressions.

Being asked for help so abruptly, without any explanation, made them wonder what was going on.

“If you say it like that, even I can’t understand. You need to explain the whole situation.”

“Ah! I’m sorry!”

“There’s no need to apologize. What happened?”

“Well, you see…….”

The boy, who had hurriedly bowed his head in apology, began to explain.

The beginning was difficult, but once he got started, the boy clearly and neatly explained the situation Nan Hee-ju was currently facing.

“So, in short, some butcher from the Shangguan Family is pestering Miss Nan, right?”

“Yes. But the situation is very awkward. The Shangguan Family doesn’t belong to the Five Great Families, but it’s still a place that easily ranks among the Ten Great Families.”

“Hm. But tell me this. Does Miss Nan know that you came to find me?”

At Ban Hojin’s words, the boy avoided his gaze.

He didn’t answer, but that alone was enough for Ban Hojin.

“If she really needed help, I feel like Miss Nan would have come herself.”

“Ah, she probably doesn’t know yet. She’s been truly overwhelmed with work lately. I also just happened to see Great Hero Ban by luck. I was probably the first one to spot you.”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The boy hurriedly continued speaking, but Ban Hojin didn’t open his mouth.

Instead, he tapped the table with his fingers and sank into thought.

He understood the situation Nan Hee-ju was in, but the problem was her own intentions.

It could end up being unnecessary interference.

‘She wasn’t called the Iron-Blooded Witch for nothing. She may be less hardened than back then, but that temperament wouldn’t just disappear.’

Ban Hojin pondered and pondered again.

In truth, whichever choice he made, Ban Hojin had nothing to lose.

“What are you going to do?”

“She’s nearby, so should we go meet her once? If she knows I’m here, it feels like Miss Nan will come looking for us.”

“That’s how it always was.”

Sunwoo Bang nodded as he recalled the past.

He hadn’t been there when they went to the Seo Family Estate, but at the Geum Family Estate, he had seen Nan Hee-ju together with Ban Hojin.

That was why Sunwoo Bang thought there was a strong chance she would come if she heard news about Ban Hojin.

“This time, shouldn’t we be the ones to go? She’s not a stranger, and it’s Miss Nan’s matter.”

“You just want to see Miss Nan again, don’t you?”

“Hey. It’s not exactly like that. I’m not such a frivolous man. We do have some ties, and knowing the situation yet pretending not to would feel wrong. Even if we don’t help, we can at least greet her, right? We met like this by chance.”

Seo Jo-woon said this while waving his hands, as if insisting he had absolutely no ulterior motives or personal desires.

Still, his words did make sense.

If they hadn’t known at all, that would be one thing, but knowing she was nearby and not going would be strange.

“There’s also some time before the sun sets.”

“I don’t mind either way. I’ll follow Brother Ban’s decision.”

Sunwoo Bang and Jeong I-ryong added.

At those words, Ban Hojin stood up from his seat.

“At the very least, we should greet her.”

“Th-thank you!”

At Ban Hojin’s decision, the boy’s face brightened.

He hadn’t said he would help, but just going to meet Nan Hee-ju was enough to make the boy happy.

Just the fact that Ban Hojin’s group was going would surely exert considerable deterrence.

Even the butcher of the Shangguan Family who rampaged like a thunder-struck hooligan would behave in front of Ban Hojin.

“Lead the way.”

“Yes!”