This is the Side Story included in the physical release of Volume 7. This is the final part (Part I, Part II). The story is set at Jongnam Sect, before Jin Dongryong joins Hwasan.
________
At a very late hour, the shadow of someone not yet fully grown cut through the night at Jongnam Sect. Jin Dongryong had slipped out of his home and was hurrying his steps.
‘Not here.’
He had made up his mind. If he was to be truly acknowledged, he had to leave the grounds of Jongnam behind. His gaze slid briefly behind him. He had slipped out this carefully, so surely he had not been discovered. Once he got off Mount Jongnam, then…
“Stop right there, Dongryong.”
But a voice that came from somewhere caught him by the ankle. Startled, Jin Dongryong looked up at the person who had suddenly blocked his path.
“Hyeong? H-How did you know…”
Jin Eunryong was walking out from behind a large tree ahead. He let out a deep sigh and approached his flustered younger brother.
“What goes on inside that head of yours is obvious.”
There was a trace of pity in Jin Eunryong’s gaze as he looked down at his younger brother, who had gone so far as to run away from home. He found himself thinking that things must have been unbearable for him to do this.
“I understand how you feel. But for now, let’s go back. If you get caught, you’ll only be scolded more. It’s still…”
“I’m not going.”
“Dongryong-ah.”
Jin Dongryong stared straight at Jin Eunryong.
“I didn’t come out just because I was angry, Hyeong. No… Of course I was angry. But that’s not why I’m doing this.”
“It seems like it is?”
“I said it’s not!”
Watching Jin Dongryong flare up in anger, Jin Eunryong silently rubbed his stomach.
He wondered whether this brat would ever come to know this feeling. This feeling of one’s stomach twisting because of someone younger than oneself. It would be nice if he understood someday, but that would probably never happen. After all, there couldn’t possibly be another such a bastard in this world with a temper this rotten.
“Dongryong. No matter what you say, what cannot be allowed cannot be allowed. Let’s go back while I’m still asking nicely.”
“I’m not going.”
“You little…!”
When even firm persuasion failed, Jin Eunryong unconsciously flung one hand up. But Jin Dongryong glared straight at him and asked.
“Why? Are you going to beat me up and drag me back too, Hyeong?”
“…What?”
“That’s how it always is. If I don’t act the way everyone wants me to, they get angry, scold me, and beat me.”
“You shouldn’t describe Father taking up the rod for the sake of teaching you discipline just as a beating.”
“But that’s what it is anyway. Am I wrong?”
Jin Dongryong said, looking at Jin Eunryong.
“Are you going to do that too, Hyeong?”
“No……”
Somehow at a loss for words, Jin Eunryong let the end of his sentence trail off vaguely. All the more so because, until just a moment ago, he too had been thinking of doing exactly that. Thinking about it, it was no different from the methods of Jin Geumryong or Jin Chobaek. It struck him anew then. The blood of the Jin Family flowed through his veins as well.
“I want to be acknowledged too. I’d like to become someone Father or you would nod at proudly. But that’s not the only reason I’m doing this now. It’s just… I think I finally understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That if things continue like this, I’ll never become the person I want to be.”
Jin Eunryong pondered with a complicated expression on his face before finally forcing the words out.
“Dongryong-ah. Father and your elder brother are…”
“I know, I do. I know that Father and my elder brother treat me sternly because they want me to do well. That it’s not simply because they hate me. But… if things go on like this, I’ll end up becoming just another ordinary sort of person. And that frightens me, Hyeong.”
They were truly clumsy words. A complete mess. There was no real basis behind them either. But the sincerity within them was painfully clear.
The reason Jin Eunryong could feel that sincerity was because he had it too. That sort of feeling, those sorts of worries.
When he began to be compared to an elder brother who was far too outstanding, and even came to keenly realize that he did not even have the talent to follow after such a brother, Jin Eunryong learned how to satisfy himself rather than fight. He gave up competing, and did not try to win. He set martial arts aside and chose the path of avoiding conflict. In the end, that was also the reason he had entered Jongnam’s Financial Hall.
Jin Eunryong did not think this had been the wrong choice. Because within the framework of Jongnam and martial arts, there was no way to defeat Jin Geumryong. Because the only place where he could breathe was there.
And yet his younger brother, despite being placed in almost the exact same situation, refused to compromise. Somehow, he was searching for a way to fight back and win. Even if that way, in the eyes of others, seemed endlessly foolish and childishly reckless.
“What will you do, then, if I say I’m going to stop you anyway?”
Jin Eunryong’s gaze became quite serious. If he answered that he would fight, he intended to beat him down here. Just as Jin Geumryong had said, that temper of his, always trying to climb a tree he could not climb, would one day drive his younger brother to his death.
If so, it would be better for Jin Eunryong, rather than Jin Geumryong, to break him. Of course, Jin Eunryong’s martial arts were not on a level to be compared with Jin Geumryong’s. But at the very least, he was not someone who would be defeated by Jin Dongryong, who was still young. If he were to be defeated by Jin Eunryong, his younger brother would feel it all the more keenly. He would become a little more cautious.
But the answer that came back strayed far from Jin Eunryong’s expectations.
“I’d run away.”
“…..Huh?”
“Because I can’t beat you yet. So I’d run with everything I have. Catch me if you can.”
For a moment, Jin Eunryong, flustered, stared blankly at Jin Dongryong.
“I never thought I would end up saying something like this with my own mouth, but… aren’t you a little stupid? You and I learned the same thing. Do you think it’s possible to run away from someone you can’t beat in a fight?”
“It’s still better than charging in and fighting blindly.”
…That seems like a valid point.
“Of course I’ll get caught. I’ll be dragged back and beaten. Then I’ll run away again. Whenever I get the chance, I’ll run away, and run away again. No matter how much they beat me, lock me up, or tie me down, it’s no use. Because I’ll keep running until I succeed. Then someday, at least once, I’ll succeed. Or maybe I’ll end up completely broken before I do. That’s my answer.”
Jin Dongryong was more serious than he had ever been. Jin Eunryong grew more and more dumbfounded. No matter how he thought about it, his younger brother seemed to be twice as insane as he had originally believed.
“You call that an answer? Can that even be called an answer?”
“Yeah.”
“…I’m at a loss for words.”
Even when he had predicted Jin Dongryong’s runaway attempt and came to block his path, he had never imagined the situation would turn out like this.
“Do you think that makes any sense?”
“Whether it makes sense or not doesn’t matter. Because that’s what I’ve decided.”
“Hey, you…”
“I’ll never give up.”
Jin Eunryong let out a faint groan, rummaged inside his robes, took out a pill, and tossed it into his mouth. It was a premium stomach medicine from Hwang Family Pharmacy [황가약방(黃家藥房)], the finest pharmacy in Xian.
“Fine. Do as you like. I’m absolutely not letting you go.”
“Try it, then.”
Jin Dongryong crouched down. He was like a spring ready to shoot out at any moment. He would probably get caught. Jin Eunryong’s lightness technique was nothing to take lightly either. But even so, he had not the slightest intention of being caught and dragged back. Because he had already steeled his resolve. If you failed to resist when you needed to resist, eventually you became someone who no longer understood how to resist at all. From what Jin Dongryong had experienced so far, that was how it was. He would fight until the very end. So that he would not become just another mediocre martial artist.
‘With everything I have….’
At that moment, something dropped with a soft thud near Jin Dongryong’s feet. Reflexively glancing down at it, he narrowed his eyes.
“….Huh?”
What Jin Eunryong had thrown was a money pouch. Judging from the sound it had made earlier and its size, there seemed to be quite a bit of money inside as well. Jin Dongryong blinked. Jin Eunryong said.
“Put it away.”
“Hyeong?”
“…Even if you’re going to run away, you still have to eat.”
“…”
“Hurry.”
Without a word, Jin Dongryong picked up the pouch. It felt heavy in his hand. Jin Eunryong added in a threatening tone.
“I’ll say it again: I’m absolutely not letting you go. I’m going to chase you with everything I have, so if you think you can escape, then go ahead and try.”
“….Hyeong.”
“Hurry!”
Jin Dongryong looked down at the pouch for a moment, then said to Jin Eunryong seriously.
“I’ll repay the debt.”
“What are you talking about, you little runt.”
Jin Dongryong bowed his head deeply to his brother, then sharply turned around.
“I’m going!”
Soon, he ran off at full speed without looking back even once. Jin Eunryong, who had been staring intently at his retreating figure, let out a deep sigh only when Jin Dongryong was out of sight.
“…I wonder if this is the right thing to do.”
No, of course it wasn’t. By morning, the household would probably be thrown into complete chaos like a stirred up beehive. Just thinking about what might happen made his stomach start aching again.
As he weakly reached to take out another stomach pill, a cold voice pierced his ears.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
When he turned around, he saw someone walking towards him through the darkness.
“…How long have you been watching?”
“From the moment you threw the money pouch and that brat ran off with it in his hand.”
So he had seen everything. Jin Eunryong shook his head. On Jin Geumryong’s face, his displeasure was plain to see.
“A man who calls himself an elder brother… Never mind. I’ll go bring him back.”
“Please stop.”
For a moment, Jin Geumryong doubted his own ears. Jin Eunryong might usually be an irritating younger brother who constantly nagged and complained, but he had never directly interfered with something Jin Geumryong truly intended to do.
“What do you mean, stop?”
“Let him be. How long can a kid like him really last? Eventually, he’ll come back.”
“…Am I hearing this wrong?”
“…”
“Are you saying you’ll cast your own younger brother out into that harsh world?”
“Dongryong is not a child.”
For an instant, Jin Geumryong was so dumbfounded that he did not even bother hiding the expression on his face. And reasonably so, because was it not Jin Eunryong himself who constantly called Jin Dongryong a child?
“At home, he may be a child, but he is also a martial artist who has learned martial arts. He’s not someone who would fall to the likes of third-rate thugs.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“If you truly want to break that arrogance of his, then instead of cornering him inside a warm house, let him see and experience the harshness of the world on his own. Then maybe he’ll change a little.”
Jin Geumryong’s head tilted slightly to the side.
“You’re spouting complete nonsense.”
Jin Eunryong squeezed his eyes shut. Of course his words would not get through. In a way, every single thing Jin Geumryong did was a twisted form of overprotection towards Jin Dongryong. How could someone like that possibly cast Jin Dongryong out into danger? He was the type who believed the boy ought to remain right in front of his eyes, where he could disapprove of him personally.
“There’s no need for a long discussion. First, that brat…”
“Hyeong-nim. Think about it. Is that affection? Or is it your greed, wanting to control Dongryong however you please?”
Jin Geumryong, who had been about to step forward, came to an abrupt halt. The gaze with which he looked back at Jin Eunryong was fierce and cold.
“What did you say?”
“If I don’t obey you, Hyeong-nim, if I don’t live according to what you believe is right, then would I also become worthless trash that needs to be fixed even if you have to break my arms and legs to do it?”
“You…”
“Leave him be. Let him do as he wants, even if only for a moment.”
Jin Geumryong glared at Jin Eunryong, then asked coldly.
“Then let me ask you. Are those words truly for Dongryong’s sake, or are they what you’ve always wanted to say to me?”
Jin Eunryong made no reply. The two of them faced each other in silence for a long while. The one who opened his mouth first was Jin Geumryong.
“What do you plan to do if I insist on bringing him back?”
“I’ll have to stop you.”
“You?”
“I’m not someone who can compare to you, Hyeong-nim. But at the very least, I’m still capable of clinging to your ankle and slowing you down. That much time should be enough for Dongryong to get pretty far away.”
Jin Geumryong snorted.
“You overestimate your own ability. Or are you perhaps underestimating me?”
“Maybe so. But if I’m prepared to risk my life, I can manage at least that much. What will you do? Shall we put it to the test?”
A chill emanated from Jin Geumryong’s gaze. Riding the tension, Jin Eunryong drew his energy.
“…Greed, you say?”
But those words from Jin Geumryong eased the tension that had been drawn taut.
“You fool.”
“Hyeong-nim……”
At some point, the hostility had already faded from Jin Geumryong’s eyes. He abruptly turned around.
“How far could a little brat possibly get by running away? He said his goal was to surpass me. Then he won’t be able to live a life that is not that of a martial artist, and he won’t be able to entrust himself to some ragtag sect either.”
“…”
“If we send word only to Shaolin and Wudang, in the end, he’ll come back to Jongnam. Yes, as you said, perhaps it may become a good experience for him.”
Jin Geumryong clicked his tongue briefly and added in a reproachful tone.
“I thought you’d become at least a little more mature.”
Those were not words directed at Jin Dongryong. Those words were directed at Jin Eunryong, who was only now acting on youthful impulse. Quietly, Jin Eunryong said.
“…There was a time when I wanted to run away too.”
“And if you had back then, you think things would have been better than they are now?”
Jin Eunryong stole a glance at Jin Geumryong, who let out a small sigh.
“Honestly, every one of you is impossible.”
Muttering in a dissatisfied tone, Jin Geumryong began walking back towards the house. Then, without even turning around, he added.
“You’d better start thinking of an excuse for Father by tomorrow morning.”
To Jin Eunryong’s eyes, Jin Geumryong’s shoulders somehow looked strangely slumped as he walked away. Suddenly, his stomach began protesting with pain again. Recalling the medicine he had been about to take earlier, he tossed the pill in his hand into his mouth.
“…Ow, ow. This is killing me.”
It seemed this bout of stomach pain would last quite a while. Rubbing his belly, he looked once more in the direction Jin Dongryong had run.
“….You foolish brat.”
Before he knew it, a small smile bloomed on his face. Perhaps it was the amusement of an older brother watching his younger sibling’s rebellion. Or perhaps it was encouragement for the younger brother attempting what he himself had never been able to do.
But neither Jin Geumryong nor Jin Eunryong knew it at the time. They believed their youngest brother’s ‘runaway escapade’ would end as nothing more than a brief act of rebellion. They had no idea how long that escape would last. Nor could they imagine how bitterly they would one day pound the ground in regret over this very decision.
They, too, did not yet know very well what sort of person their younger brother was. Jin Dongryong’s madness had not yet become known to the world.
Someone who later came to know all of these circumstances evaluated it with a fed-up expression. That Jin Dongryong, more than anyone, was the ‘Greatest Madman of Hwasan.’
❀ ❀ ❀
“Uuuggghhhh.”
A trembling hand gripped the rock.
“What kind of mountain is…”
Arms not yet fully grown strained to drag his body up, and legs that had grown as heavy as a thousand geun, with not even the strength left to move, barely managed to push his body up. Having finally climbed a cliff twice the height of a grown man, Jin Dongryong collapsed on the spot as if he had fainted.
“Th-This is insane…”
Ever since he was young, he had gone in and out of Mount Jongnam as if it were his own home. So he had been confident when it came to climbing mountains, but this mountain was not even something that could be compared to that one. If Mount Jongnam was simply a rugged mountain, then this mountain seemed as if it had been shaped after long deliberation over how best to make people fall to their deaths.
“…Why would anyone choose to live in a place like this? Why on earth?”
From the past into the distant future, those who climbed Hwasan for the first time had muttered, and would continue to mutter, those very words. Jin Dongryong, having recited them word by word, laboriously wiped his sweat-soaked face. Only now did the unease suddenly come over him.
“…Am I doing the right thing?”
After enduring a dreadful journey all the way from Xian to this place, he had finally arrived. Each and every incident he had gone through along the way was the sort that, if told in full, could fill an entire book on its own. But now that he had reached this place at the end of that long, long journey, uncertainty, rather than conviction, wound itself around his mind.
But the conclusion did not change. Jongnam would not do. If he followed the same path, he would never be able to win. That much was certain now.
But he could not go to a better sect, either. If he did, then it would not be he who had won, but the superior martial arts of that sect.
‘So this is the only place.’
This was a fallen prestigious sect, the ideal sect for earning praise if he managed to revive it. Moreover, since it was geographically close to Xian, they too would be able to watch his achievements with their own eyes.
Of course, he knew it would not be an easy road. No, it would be terribly difficult. But unless it was something of this magnitude, he would never surpass his elder brother for the rest of his life. Rather than fight half-heartedly and lose in an obvious way, it would be a hundred times better to attempt an impossible gamble and suffer a crushing defeat.
And yet, he felt there was no need to think only pessimistically. Fallen though it might be, a prestigious sect was still a prestigious sect. One or two peerless martial arts that had once allowed it to make its name known in the past might still remain. Perhaps they simply had no talent capable of learning them and putting them on display. And he had more than enough confidence that he could learn such martial arts. Once he did, defeating his elder brother would surely become at least a little easier.
“Hup!”
Shaking off his unease, he forced strength back into his body and rose to his feet. A somewhat desolate-looking mountain gate came into view. Compared to Jongnam’s splendid and elegant one, this thing was difficult even to compare at all – somehow it looked strangely like an abandoned house…
“Ah, no!”
He hurriedly shook his head. What was he doing, thinking like this already? From the moment he heard the sect had fallen into ruin, he had prepared himself for at least this much.
“If anything, this is better. It has to be at least this bad for reviving it to feel worthwhile!”
If he could restore a sect like this and lead it back to being the greatest sect in Shaanxi… no, the greatest sect under heaven, then someone like Jin Geumryong would be nothing. Perhaps he might even become someone whose name would remain in the history of Gangho forever. The history of Gangho… Jin Dongryong, whose eyes had been sparkling with hope, suddenly lowered his head.
“Should I just go back….“
In truth, did this make any sense at all? If they had peerless martial arts, why would they have fallen? If reviving a sect were easy, would it ever have ended up in this state? Thinking about it coldly, the right thing to do would be to turn back here. It had been nearly a month since he left home, so the household must have been turned upside down by now, and if he returned around this time, he would probably be treated better than before. Of course, he would have to endure a storm of scolding for quite a while.
Jin Dongryong paced about for a long time, his face full of conflict. But before long, he let his shoulders droop and trudged towards the worn-out gate.
“It’d look pretty pathetic to come all the way here just to turn around and leave. I’m only going to meet someone and then go back. Really.”
Right, this was enough. This much should have already shown the depth of his resolve. So he really would just confirm things for himself and leave.
Swallowing dryly, he stopped in front of the old gate. Dust sat thickly atop the rusted iron door knocker. It meant that no one had passed through here for quite some time.
‘Is it empty?’
They said it had fallen into ruin – did even all the disciples run away? Jin Dongryong’s heart sank a little further. He gripped the door knocker and struck the door with a thud.
“Is anyone there?”
No answer came.
“Is anyone there?! Is anybody here?!”
He raised his voice a little more, but this time as well, he could not sense even the faintest sign of human presence. After waiting a while longer, Jin Dongryong felt his energy leave him and sank down heavily on the spot.
“Ah, what a waste.”
He had thought something might change. That he might be able to find another path.
But reality was only reality. Thinking about it rationally, what could he possibly find here?
When he looked back, the clouds hanging over the lofty mountain lay thick, like a dense fog. As though they were walls surrounding him. In that moment, overcome by a feeling of helplessness, Jin Dongryong let out a sigh and staggered to his feet. He was already exhausted, and hungry as well. But he could not spend the night here. However difficult it might be, he had to descend the mountain. The sun would set soon.
‘Should I just… go back to Jongnam?’
It seemed there was no other choice now. Henan, where Shaolin and Wudang were, was too far away. Even after thinking about it, Jin Dongryong lingered for a long time, unable to move his feet out of inexplicable sense of regret, and it was just as he finally moved his body…
From behind him came the sound of twisted hinges shifting, along with a voice that seemed to belong to someone rather advanced in years.
“Who was it that was looking for someone?”
Jin Dongryong turned around sharply. The one who had opened the door and come out was an old man wearing a worn Taoist robe. The old man, whose features were gentle, widened his eyes slightly in surprise.
“Hm. What is a child doing here? Were you the one knocking on the door?”
For a moment, Jin Dongryong was at a loss for words. If only the door had opened a little earlier, he would have smoothly said all the words he had prepared in advance, but meeting someone at the very moment he had given everything up and was about to turn back made his mind go blank.
“What brings you all the way here? It could not have been easy to climb this rugged mountain.”
“T-That is…”
The old man looked Jin Dongryong up and down. Only after receiving that gaze did Jin Dongryong realize. Having wandered the roads for as long as a month, his appearance was now beyond miserable. Seeing a child this shabby, would anyone not think him a beggar? And on top of that, he had even climbed the mountain in the midst of it all and was now soaked with sweat. It was hardly an appearance suited for seeking another person’s goodwill.
‘I should have bought some new clothes before coming.’
He still had plenty of money left, so why had he not thought of it beforehand? Looking like this, it was only natural that he would be turned away at the door.
“I, I am…”
He hurriedly opened his mouth, intending to make some sort of excuse at least. But the old man was slightly faster.
“Have you eaten?”
“…Pardon?”
Startled, Jin Dongryong abruptly lifted his head. The old man was still looking down at him with a gentle smile. Somehow, seeing those eyes made all the tension leave his body.
Grrrumbbleee!
And he was desperately hungry. Jin Dongryong’s face flushed red in an instant. Though it was hardly the time for it, perhaps because the tension had eased, his stomach suddenly began to churn.
“This is, it is not that…”
“Come inside.”
“…Pardon?”
The old man spoke with a faint smile.
“I do not know what circumstances brought you here, but you must be terribly hungry after climbing the mountain. Our means are not so abundant, but we are not so destitute that we cannot offer you a meal, so come in quickly and fill your stomach first.”
The old man opened the door wide for Jin Dongryong to enter and stepped aside.
“And the sun will set soon. The mountain at night is dangerous, so stay here tonight and go down after the sun rises tomorrow.”
Jin Dongryong’s shoulders trembled faintly. It was a strange feeling. They were not particularly remarkable words, and yet each and every one of them reached his heart. Perhaps it was not because of the meaning contained in the words, but because of the consideration held within them.
“…Would it really be all right?”
The old man smiled faintly.
“Will you come in?”
For a moment, Jin Dongryong nearly nodded comfortably without even thinking. Then, startled, he quickly gathered his wits.
“I, I apologize. I should have greeted you first. I am sorry that an uninvited guest has committed such discourtesy. I have enough money to repay you for one night, so for my rudeness…”
“It is all right.”
The old man spoke, still wearing a smile.
“You are a very well-mannered child. But this is not such a cold-hearted place that we would expect payment from a guest. Hwasan is a place where even the mountain birds rest when they are weary. Simply rest here comfortably for a day before you go.”
The corners of Jin Dongryong’s lips trembled slightly.
“If you truly insist on repaying us so that your heart may be at ease, there is a child about your age here, so it would be good if you kept them company. I am worried because this child is so terribly quiet.”
“…Then, Taoist Master. Ah, no, Elder, may I ask your honored name? Since I have received your kindness, at the very least that much…”
“My name, you say. I have nothing so grand, but people call me Hyun Jong.”
“Hyun Jong….”
“Now. Come in quickly.”
The old man turned around and entered first, and Jin Dongryong stared blankly at the door opened wide for him and the space within it. In the world where fog-like clouds covered everything in a haze, only the space beyond that door seemed clear. As if bewitched, Jin Dongryong took one step forward.
It was still unfamiliar and frightening, but even so, the reason he could put his foot forward was because the old man’s eyes, watching him without urging him on, were warmer than anything. At last, his heart had reached the place it was meant to reach.
Only a single mountain bird flying far away was watching over that small beginning.
❀ ❀ ❀
An afterword.
⠀
“So then… even at worst, we’ll make it to the finals. We’re still a little short…”
Jin Eunryong scratched his cheek as he compared the documents with the items laid out before him.
It was not only those participating in the Martial Tournament who were too busy to even catch their breath. People like Jin Eunryong, who managed and supplied the sect’s goods, were just as overwhelmed. Of course, Shaolin provided the basics, but since the event drew such an enormous crowd, there were always supplies that ended up running short.
‘Let’s see, I should buy a little more tea for the Sect Leader as well…’
As Jin Eunryong was writing down a long list of additional items to purchase in the ledger, he suddenly turned his head at the loud cheers that came from outside the hall. Only after even the lingering echo of those cheers, drawn out for a very long time, had died down did Jin Eunryong withdraw his gaze from the window.
‘Dongryong-ah.’
By now, the match would have ended. The fight between Jin Geumryong and Jin Dongryong, that is.
He truly was an impressive guy. The result of the match was obvious, of course, but even so, Jin Eunryong wanted to praise Jin Dongryong simply for having stood proudly across from his eldest brother. After all, that meant he had far surpassed the limits their family had once imposed on him.
“Environment really is such a…”
Just then, as a gentle smile formed on Jin Eunryong’s lips, the door to the hall burst open and panicked Jongnam’s disciples rushed in.
“S-Sahyeong! Geumchang-yak! They say they need Geumchang-yak and, uh, Yosangdan*.”
Jin Eunryong’s face instantly turned pale.
“Is someone badly hurt?”
“No, I don’t think anyone is badly hurt, but they didn’t prepare any in the first place…”
“Why would they not prepare that…. Hm?”
No. Thinking about it, it made sense that they had not prepared any. After all, the one fighting today was Jin Geumryong. There was no reason he would be injured in the first place… As Jin Eunryong had pondered over this thought, his face turned ashen and he asked in a hurry.
“P-Perhaps Dongryong was badly hurt?”
“Dongryong? Ah….. You mean Baek Cheon of Hwasan.”
“Baek… of Hwasan. Yes, Baek Cheon! Did my elder brother perhaps go too far?”
That madman, did he really go and do it!
“…..Well, that is…”
Unable to endure the disciples’ continued hesitation and evasive mumbling, Jin Eunryong finally snapped.
“Spit it out already!”
“Th-The…! The one who was injured is Daesahyeong!”
“Huh?”
“Of course, Baek Cheon of Hwasan was injured too, but, ah… no, he was more injured than Sahyeong was.”
“….What are you even saying right now?”
“In the end, he lost. Daesahyeong did.”
“Huh?”
“Daesahyeong lost. Baek Cheon of Hwasan defeated him. It was truly close…. Ah, truly.”
Jin Eunryong stood there blankly, his eyes wide. Who defeated whom?
“Ah, in any case, we will take Geumchang-yak and Yosangdan.”
“Uh… uh, yes.”
Jin Eunryong was so out of it that he merely nodded absentmindedly without thinking. Even after the door closed again and he was left alone, he stood there blinking for quite a while.
Dongryong beat elder brother? That Jin Geumryong?
“Ha…. Haha……”
Words he had once heard in the past came back to him.
– Do you think that brat could ever surpass me?
Those were Jin Geumryong’s words, and back then Jin Eunryong too had shaken his head and answered no to that question.
“And yet, he did? Hahaha…“
Still dumbfounded, Jin Eunryong slowly trudged to the window and threw it wide open. Cheers were pouring out again.
“Hwasan, huh……”
Muttering to himself as he alternated his gaze between the ledger he had been writing in and the scene outside the window, Jin Eunryong let out a somewhat bitter smile.
“Should I have gone there too, at least once?”
Later, when he met that brat Dongryong again, he would definitely ask him. Just what kind of place it was.
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*금창약(金瘡藥) – geumchang-yag – metal wound medicine, medicine used to treat wounds caused by blades (swords, knifes, spears etc). Yosangdan – 요상단(療傷丹) – “Healing Pill for Internal Injuries,” in contrast to geumchang-yag.
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I would really appreciate it if someone could boost my discord server! https://discord.gg/vhSBPjTDqv – pretty 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.
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I am really happy to finish this side story. I have always wanted to know who Jin Eunryong is, and he was basically just as I expected him to be? We still have 2 side stories to read from Volume 7 (short ones) and 1 huge side story from Volume 10. When it will be more clear what Biga is doing with the spinoff I will have an understanding of the amount of spare time I have for them.
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