Surviving as a Rival in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 112 – Afterword – Still alive

“You should have brought at least a scythe.”

When I saw the weeds growing profusely no matter how many times I removed them, I wondered whether I should be happy or be troubled because it was because the soil was good.

Still, there was nothing to do leisurely today, so I was able to spend my free time pulling out the weeds I saw in the bunbong by hand.

Two years have passed since the fall of Black Moon.

According to the promise we made back then, I returned to Wolhyang, and Wolhyang kept her promise and was waiting for me.

We started living together in Yakgok without being separated from each other, and eventually, after three months, when Wolhyang became unable to move properly, we came here… To the head office of Cheongshim Glass Gate.

After that, Wolhyang stayed with me for three months, and finally, in the spring of last year, she asked me a request she didn’t usually make, saying she wanted to see flowers.

I quickly looked for flowers around me, but even though the weather got warmer, the flowers didn’t bloom right away, so I went a little further away…

When I arrived, Wolhyang was sleeping leaning against the wall with a comfortable smile.

“I guess they did that on purpose… They’re surprisingly naughty.”

When I think about it again, it was a miraculous time.

Originally, it only lasted a few days, but she reached her limit to the point where she couldn’t even bear my return, but since then, we’ve been living together for half a year.

Wolhyang told me that the end of one’s life is not sad, but no matter how hard she tried to accept it, she couldn’t help feeling sad.

Sadness quickly turns into longing, and sometimes I get lost in thoughts, but even I would be surprised to see that it quickly went back to normal and I am now managing her burial mound without a care in the world.

“Hmm… Now that I think about it, I wonder if weeds are growing because of these.”

When I first picked and brought the flowers that looked pretty from the mountain, they seemed to be covered with weed seeds and spread, so from now on… I will have to buy flowers from a flower shop.

There was nothing that had changed between the original work and the current situation, but the meaning of this place felt the same to me as the original work.

The most precious place for Yeoncheonghe.

A grave where the person you love the most throughout your life is buried.

However, unlike Yeoncheongha, who did not come to see her unless it was during her final battle because she did not have the courage to see this place again, I wonder if the difference is that I come to see her quite often.

She hugs her cheeks and cups her face, as if kissing her forehead.

When I was like this, it felt like I was smelling the scent of Wolhyang, which made the tip of my nose sting, but since no one came here anymore, I was able to shed tears to my heart’s content.

“I’ll come again tomorrow.”

I have to find beautiful flowers and show them to you tomorrow too. Because we naturally want to see good things together.

When I returned after forcing myself to take steady steps, I was busy sweeping and cleaning the temple gate, which was too wide for me to use alone.

But it’s okay. If she is busy doing her work and spending her day like this, her time will pass quickly and I can go visit her tomorrow.

Geomseong’s treasured sword and black sword were already offered to Jinjueonga and the now abandoned Chae Myeong-wol… To the tombstone of Wolhyang’s mother, but the two weapons were meaningless to me as the Heart Sword had already been completed.

Complete the mind and sword. That was when the mind and sword disappeared.

Just as the swordsman liked talking and laughing with each other rather than swinging his sword, a truly necessary sword is one that never uses force.

So, as the sword of my heart was completed, it was no longer pulled out, nor did it burn as fiercely or bend my body as before.

“Tomorrow, I will have to visit Seolwha for the first time in a while…”

In order to repent for the sins committed under the Murim Lord, Seolhwa took in as his disciples and protected the children who had already discovered the Murim Lord’s plan and had fled from the clan he had exterminated after defeating the Black Moon Party.

She said that wouldn’t make her pay for her sins, but it would at least atone for her a little bit.

Of course, there were children who did not accept Seolhwa’s behavior as hypocrisy, but Seolhwa was unable to leave the room to help them, so she made regular appointments with the teacher and went to visit occasionally.

This time, since Seolhwa’s birthday is getting closer, I’m thinking of secretly visiting him by myself as a way to surprise him.

‘And then should we stop by the Murim Alliance together? ‘I should say hello to Mubong before he leaves for the Demon Church.’

The Demon Cult suffered great damage during the fall of the Black Moon last time and was momentarily staggered, but the Heavenly Demon was fine and Jin Hong-seon and the two were talking about what had happened as their eyes met each other.

“I also found a tonic that might be helpful to Geumseonmahu, so I decided to bring it to her…”

The only thing to worry about is that Geumseonmahu’s body is getting weaker as she has consumed the True Wonjin energy while dealing with the head of the Black Moon Party. However, due to her personality of not wanting to show her weakness, if she is not deliberately taken care of and fed, she will not receive any tonic medicine. Because I will eat it.

At least when I gave it to her, she ate it without saying anything, so I received support from Cheonma and went around to rescue her myself.

“Even the Heavenly Demon must be troublesome…”

Ban Gyu-seong was forced to retire because one of his arms was cut off, and he seems to have decided to live as a guest house, staying with Han So-so.

Right before he decided to retire, he tried to talk to me a few times, but in the end, he bowed his head and said he was grateful for the time, but I felt a little disappointed, perhaps because we had all the hate and good feelings while fighting.

‘Still, Han Soso will take good care of it.’

Although Han Xiao has a bad personality, she takes great care of her friends.

After cleaning, I simply take out the cooled rice and mix it with the vegetables I found. When Wolhyang was around, I was scolded and told that eating like this was bad for my health, so I always cooked the rice hot, but when a man lives alone, it naturally becomes like this. It was the law.

“……”

Today as well, I braced myself for the last room with traces of Wolhyang, the room used in the past by Seolhwa, but I didn’t have the courage to clean up the inside, so I ran my hand through the door from the outside and went back to my room.

If Wolhyang saw this, she would get scolded… But I wish we could give her a little more time.

Because my mind is not yet organized enough to get rid of the items that still have her scent on them.

* * *

‘……Did you oversleep…?’

The pillowcase was wet with tears, as if I was having a vague dream.

I don’t remember the contents of the dream, but it felt like the heartache that was so painful was telling me who I was dreaming about.

‘If you don’t wake up quickly…’

I was planning to leave this morning to find Seolhwa, but I ended up oversleeping without realizing it.

“Ahem… Are you there? Are you there!”

When I felt the presence of someone, I woke up my foggy head and spread energy around to check the owner of the voice.

A high-pitched voice that has not gone through a period of transformation. He was still young, but the way he spoke and the clothes he wore made me think of him as a mature master.

“I came here after hearing a rumor that Teacher Chamwol was here.”

‘What a ridiculous nickname…’

It rattled.

When I opened the door using an attack technique, a boy with a fine jawline appeared in front of the room where I was lying with a confident expression.

“Huh……”

He seemed surprised the moment he saw my face, but I thought he was because his face was cut until his body was tattered during the battle with Hewol, so anyone who saw it for the first time could not help but be surprised.

It would be strange if a young boy like this wasn’t surprised when he saw my face.

“What’s going on?”

“It is said that the living person is Namgung Yeon-dong, from the Namgung family. I arrived here after hearing the orders of my uncle.”

Namgung-jeon had a sparse beard and was of manly stature, but Namgung Yeon-dong had the handsome face of a gisaeng brother who would make many women cry.

“First of all, Baekbu said hello to his close friend, Mr. Chamwol…”

“Nangungjeon is not that kind of guy. Tell me your real purpose.”

When I forced her to skip the greeting ceremony, Namgung Yeon-dong looked embarrassed and said she didn’t expect this to happen, and she carefully spoke again.

“The reason I came to Master Chamwol’s residence was because Master Chamwol, famous for being the best swordsman in the central region, came to ask me to accept this weak-willed person as his disciple.”

“She is neither Teacher Chamwol nor the best sword in the central plains. She is currently the closest person to the best sword in the central plains…”

She tried to tell him the name of Seolhwa, but she couldn’t bear to bother her, thinking of her sister-in-law who was currently in retirement looking after her young disciples, so she remembered her suitable master.

“It must be your uncle, the Emperor Sword Dragon.”

Because it was the Emperor Sword Dragon Namgungjeon, which is the strongest transcendental master that the Murim League boasts, it can be called the best sword in the central region.

“But you said that you cannot reach the level of Master Chamwol, who quelled the Black Moon Rebellion and ended it by avenging the Sword Saint. Therefore, please accept her as a disciple despite her shortcomings.”

“The only swordsmanship I can teach is for the self-defense of children and women, and Master Ok Cheol-woong of the Murim Alliance knows better about that.”

“B, but your sword is needed in the central plains right now. If you let that great swordsmanship disappear quietly, it would be a loss for the entire martial arts community.”

‘It would be better if I didn’t need my sword…’

As I was thinking that way, something I had forgotten suddenly occurred to me.

‘Now that I think about it, Wolhyang… Wanted to see a child running around and playing healthy even if it wasn’t our child.’

Because I spent a depressed time mourning the loss of my mother when I was young, and because I only saw sick parents or sick children in Yakgok.

She remembered how much she wanted to see children smiling brightly.

“Jade Rangcheon Sword.”

“Yes?”

“There is a sword technique called Okrangcheongeom. It is a sword art that helped me gain fame as a transcendent master.”

“Really?”

“It’s a one-man swordsmanship. Do you want to learn it?”

“Yes! If you teach me, I will sacrifice my life to learn this Namgung Yeondong!”

Yes. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have at least one person teach me this sword technique.

“Well, ever since my uncle became the head of the Namgung family, I was worried that he only tried to teach me swordsmanship that involves striking with force, but I’m so glad that I was able to learn Master Chamwol’s elegant and beautiful swordsmanship.”

The name of the Okrang Heavenly Sword looks soft and elegant, but the Emperor Invincible Sword Gang is a sword that can be looked down upon… There is no need to break the illusion now.

“Then, Master, please accept the bow of the Buddhist disciple!”

Seeing her bowing flatly, not caring that her silk clothes got dirty, I thought she had the basics.

“Go back to Namgung House, talk to your uncle and his family, and then come here. I plan to be away from here for a while, too.”

“Yes! I understand!”

The student, who answered bravely with dust on his forehead, was seen grinning as she patted his forehead with her hand, wondering what was so good about it.

“The Namgung family has a lot of money, so I talked to my uncle and brought a lot of pocket money.”

“Yes!”

“And if you come back earlier than me, clean it up. My living quarters are over there…”

I hesitated for a moment, but then I smiled and thought it was pointless.

Now that a year and a half has passed, there is no way her scent still remains on her clothes.

“Try to use a small room. You can organize all the things inside.”

“Yes! Master, where are you going?”

“I’m going to go see her sister-in-law.”

“Then go! I’ll come back quickly and sweep and polish it until it shines!”

She didn’t need to go that far since it was an old cabin anyway, but there was no need to spoil the excitement of an enthusiastic student from the beginning, so I just patted her on the head.

Maybe, just a little bit, I thought I needed to make a change in this life.

“Still, I can’t leave this to my disciple.”

I didn’t have a sickle, but I sharpened the blade of the practice sword that Samae used in the past and cut down all the weeds growing in the burial mound.

The departure time may be a little late, but Seolhwa Samae will understand that.

“It’s nice and clean.”

After the beolcho ceremony was over, I left and offered wild flowers I picked near my house to her grave.

“I’ll be back.”

Unlike before, I felt a little lighter.