There is no way, right? (4)
“So what I’m trying to say is…..”
“Wait.”
Just as Chung Myung was about to continue, Baek Cheon urgently stepped in.
“Come outside for a moment.”
“Hm? What, what is it?”
“I understand, so… Just for now.”
Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon grabbed both of Chung Myung’s arms and, lifting him as he was still seated, carried him straight outside.
“What are you doing all of a sudden?”
“I’m saying this out of concern.”
Seeing Chung Myung frown in confusion, Baek Cheon opened his mouth in an extremely cautious tone.
“You must not get angry or hit him.”
“Eh?”
Before Chung Myung could even answer, Yoon Jong spoke as if pleading with him to keep it in mind.
“That’s right. Listen carefully to Sasuk. Don’t go kicking him just because you get irritated. There are people who come to their senses when they get hit, but there are also those who only go further astray. From what I can tell, that one is clearly the latter.”
“And here I wondered what you were going to say.”
Chung Myung spoke, looking dumbfounded.
“Are you worried I’m going to get into a fight with that little brat or something?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah.”
“…”
Chung Myung’s face twisted in irritation.
“What do you take me for? You think I can’t handle one little brat?”
“In any case, I said it clearly. Use words.”
“Ah, I said I get it!”
Chung Myung let out a sharp snort. There was a limit to how much they could look down on a person. How old did they think he was? Why would he get into a fight with a kid that young?
“Just watch quietly.”
Chung Myung strode back into the house.
He dropped down heavily in front of Seok Hanbin, fixed him with a sharp gaze and spoke in a firm tone.
“Yu Hanbin.”
“…”
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No. It’s nothing.”
“What is it? Say it.”
“No. Well, there’s really no need…”
“I told you to say it?”
Seok Hanbin glanced away once, then smiled awkwardly and said.
“I did tell you once before that my name was Seok Hanbin, but seeing as you’re steadfastly calling me Yu Hanbin anyway…”
“Hmm?”
“It seems like either communication isn’t getting through, or you might have a bit of… an issue. So there’s not much point in me putting in the effort.”
“…”
Chung Myung’s mouth fell open. Looking at him, Seok Hanbin smiled faintly.
“It’s all right. What does a family name matter? Just call me whatever you like. Since I’m younger, I should be the one to show understanding.”
“Chung Myung.”
“Hm?”
“Lower your fist.”
“…”
Chung Myung flinched and turned his head. At some point, his hand had betrayed his will and risen up beside his face.
“Wh-Why is this here?”
“Look at the veins standing out on the back of his hand.”
“Good heavens, he was going to hit a child…”
“Beast.”
“…”
At the reproach of the Five Swords, Chung Myung’s head turned to the side with a clatter, like a broken machine. Rather than anger, this was some sort of new… some new emotion he had never experienced before.
“Weren’t you going to say something? If you’re done, may I go? I’m rather busy, you see.”
“…”
Chung Myung took a long, deep breath. Right. Getting worked up over a little runt like this wasn’t right.
“Fine, Seok Hanbin.”
“Yes.”
“Are you planning to keep living like that?”
“Like what?”
“Swindling the members of the Black Path, scamming wealthy people, and fooling around with little brats?”
Seok Hanbin’s head tilted to the side. As if he did not understand the intent behind the question.
“Well…”
“Yeah?”
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”
“…”
“I’d say I’m doing just fine as it is, wouldn’t you? I don’t see any particular problem.”
Chung Myung’s mouth fell wide open.
“No problem? An assassin came after you. If things had gone even a little wrong today, you’d be dead! And you’re saying there’s no problem?”
“Well, you’re not wrong.”
Seok Hanbin shrugged.
“But in the end, I didn’t die, so it’s fine? If the result is good, then everything is good. If you think about it, they lost money because of me, and I’m perfectly fine.”
“…”
“Then that means I won.”
Chung Myung stared at Seok Hanbin, who was smiling faintly, then opened his mouth in a daze.
“No, this crazy little bast…”
“Chung Myung.”
“Now. Deep breaths, deep breaths.”
Chung Myung stared at Seok Hanbin with a dumbfounded expression, then suddenly shouted.
“I’m saying you almost died! Can’t you grasp the situation? If things had gone even a little wrong, you really would have died!”
“I said I know, didn’t I?”
“You know, and you’re still acting like that?”
At those words, Seok Hanbin’s expression turned slightly sullen.
“Well, seems like you’ve lived a very comfortable life.”
“…What?”
“How many times do you think an orphan living on the streets comes close to dying just trying to get by? If I made a fuss over something like this every time, how would I survive? In a world this harsh. Then again, how would a Taoist who spends his days cultivating in the mountains know anything about the dangers of the world? I should be understanding.”
“Da-Dangers?”
Chung Myung felt the back of his neck begin to stiffen.
The dangers of the world? So this brat was now standing in front of him, lecturing him about the dangers of the world?
With earnest desperation on his face, Chung Myung turned his head to look at Baek Cheon.
“…Sasuk.”
“No.”
“Can I just hit him once? Just once?”
“No.”
“I’m just so dumbfounded. And it’s almost depressing, too.”
“Why would you hit someone because you’re sad, you lunatic?”
Chung Myung’s head began to heat up on its own. But in the end, suppressing the fury that threatened to burst out, he took a deep breath.
Right. This was not a matter of him being the Sect Leader Sahyeong’s descendant or anything like that.
The one before his eyes right now was a very young kid. If he had had a child long ago, he could have had a grandson this age… No. A great-grandson this age, couldn’t he?
“Listen carefully.”
“I’ve been listening since earlier, though?”
“…”
No. No, that was wrong. If this really were his great-grandson, he felt he would have beaten him half to death already and hung him from a tree.
“Do you think if you keep living like that, you won’t end up dying on the streets someday?”
“Well, that might happen. But it’s not as if I can just sit around sucking my thumb.”
“Then don’t do anything dangerous! Just don’t!”
“Ahh. You really don’t understand, Taoist Master. If you want big gains, you have to risk big things. That’s just how success works.”
“That’s success? That’s success?! If you’re going to succeed, you should do it properly. You think making some money by swindling Black Path bastards counts as success? What a waste of a bloodline! The bloodline!”
“Success is success all the same. What difference does it make?”
“People with any sense don’t go around calling something so trivial ‘success’!”
“Haha. I suppose I’ve always been a bit small-minded. I apologize if it displeases you.”
“Kkeugeuk… Kk…….”
“Grab him!”
The Five Swords swiftly rushed in and pinned Chung Myung down.
“Calm down and breathe! Breathe!”
“Uaaaaah!”
Chung Myung flung off the Five Swords clinging to him and roared at Seok Hanbin.
“There’s an old saying – if you’re born a man, you should establish yourself and make a name! First, establish yourself, build your foundation properly…!”
“I’ve done that though? For an orphan, this is plenty.”
“And make your name known, spread your name far and wide…”
“Ah. I’m famous. Maybe you don’t know because you haven’t been in Jinan long?”
“That’s not the kind of fame I’m talking about, you bastard!”
“No, if you’re famous, you’re famous. Are there types of fame now? Either way, it’s a reputation, isn’t it!”
“Succeed! You should rise in the world and make your name known!”
“Ah, succeeding?”
Seok Hanbin nodded readily.
“That’s true. I suppose I haven’t exactly made it big yet.”
“Exactly! Success is what matters! Money isn’t everything!”
If Seok Hanbin made his name known, then not only Seok Hanbin himself, but the fallen Shandong Yu family could be rebuilt as well. Wasn’t that the ultimate reason Chung Myung had come all this way? So if only this bastard would listen…
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes!”
“Succeeding and establishing one’s name is the best thing?”
“That’s right! Now you’re finally starting to understand.”
At last seeming to agree, Seok Hanbin clapped his hands together.
“Then you can do it yourself.”
“…..Huh?”
As Chung Myung blinked, Seok Hanbin spoke seriously.
“If you think succeeding in this world and establishing your name is such a good thing, it’s still not too late, so you should take the civil service exam. Good things ought to be shared, shouldn’t they?”
“I’m a Taoist, you lunatic!”
“Then you can return to secular life.”
“Our ages are different!”
“Tsk, tsk. There’s no age limit on learning. Ah? Do you not know because you’re a Taoist monk? To think I even have to teach you things like this…”
“Uaaaaaaaaagh!”
Chung Myung sprang up from his seat, grabbed Jo Geol, who had been behind him, and began beating him mercilessly.
“Uah! Uaaaaah!”
“Aaagh! Agh! You madman! Why me?! Aaaaaagh!”
“Endure it, Geol. It’s not as if he can hit the child.”
“Yeah. That’s true.”
“If someone has to be hit, it’s only right that you’re the one.”
“What kind of bullshit is that! Aaaaagh!”
“Hoo. Hoo. Hoo. Hoo!”
After beating Jo Geol for quite a while, Chung Myung stood there, panting heavily, his face flushed as if it might burst.
Though he had barely managed to calm himself down, seeing Seok Hanbin yawning with a face that said, ‘Are you done with your business now?’ made his blood surge back again.
‘No… how did Sect Leader Sahyeong manage to let me live? Ah, right. I was stronger.’
– How the hell did you come to that conclusion, you bastard!
Why not? Otherwise he would’ve beaten me to death long ago! How is a person supposed to endure this!
“Tsk. I told you, there’s no getting through to you.”
Just then, Seok Hanbin rose from his seat.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“We’ve only known each other for a day. Why should I tell you? You’ve already taken over someone else’s house as you please!”
“…That is true, but.”
Seok Hanbin stared at Chung Myung, then suddenly bowed his head deeply.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“…Hm? All of a sudden?”
Seok Hanbin soon raised his head and spoke in a calm tone.
“I’ve expressed my thanks, so let’s not see each other again. If I keep talking with you people, I feel like my insides are going to burst too.”
With those words, Seok Hanbin was about to go outside, when Chung Myung opened his mouth. In a voice a little different from before.
“Turning away won’t change anything.”
“…”
Seok Hanbin silently turned his head and looked at Chung Myung.
“Whether you’re a Yu or a Seok, it’s the same. No one would want you to live the way you do now. Whether they’re alive, or already dead.”
“What other people think is…”
“And you, too.”
“…”
“Am I wrong?”
Seok Hanbin bit down on his lips a couple of times, then his face contorted in a grimace.
“…all this nagging…”
And Seok Hanbin spun around and ran outside.
“W-Wait. It’s still dangerous……”
Just as Tang Soso tried to stop Seok Hanbin, Yu Iseol grasped Tang Soso’s shoulder.
“Sago.”
Yu Iseol shook her head. It meant that trying to force him any further wouldn’t do any good.
“But it’s still dangerous…”
At that moment. Chung Myung grabbed Baek Ah, who had been perched on his shoulder, and set it down in front.
“Go keep watch over him. If anything happens, let us know.”
“Kii!”
Baek Ah swiftly chased after Seok Hanbin.
“Mm. Chung Myung-ah.”
Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung and spoke.
“He doesn’t seem like a kid who can be persuaded with a few words.”
“I know.”
“We can’t keep waiting forever.”
“I know that too.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
Chung Myung closed his eyes for a moment. What had Chung Mun done at times like this?
“Let’s wait just two more days, and if it still doesn’t work out, we’ll go back.”
“…Are you sure that’s all right?”
“It’s enough that we confirmed he’s alive. What that bastard said isn’t exactly wrong either. If he himself doesn’t want it, then it’s nothing but forcing him.”
“Mm.”
The Five Swords’ gazes remained fixed on the doorway through which Seok Hanbin had left.
Someone’s sigh spread slowly through the air.
________
Please, subscribe/donate on Patreon or Buymeacoffee – support my work and help me buy official cookies to purchase the chapters. My schedule is on the About page.
Leave a Reply to GabrielGames MamedesCancel reply