## Chapter 90 – 90. Xi’an (2)
# 90. Xi’an (2)
In the guest house packed with customers, not even the sound of an ant moving could be heard.
It was only natural.
After witnessing a disciple of the White Blossom Gate flying several times across the floor and crashing into the wall, no one was brave enough to speak carelessly.
“S, Senior Brother?!”
“That cowardly bastard!!”
“Senior Brother, Senior Brother!! Wake up!!”
“H, He’s unconscious!!”
The disciples of the White Blossom Gate were horrified and rushed towards Lee Gun, who had collapsed.
A closer look at Lee Gun’s state was miserable. Not only was he unconscious, but he also had a nosebleed and a broken nose.
The fact that the leader of the second-generation disciples had been reduced to this state in an instant made the third-generation disciples of the White Blossom Gate swallow hard without realizing it.
To think they would encounter such a vicious Demonic Path fiend when their other senior brothers were not around.
Fear seemed to grip their entire bodies.
However, apart from that, how could they call themselves fellow disciples if they didn’t avenge their senior brother?
“Draw swords!”
The desire for revenge against the enemy who had made their senior brother look like that, and the chivalry to deal with the Demonic Path fiend, momentarily made them forget their fear.
It was a combined martial art they had trained together for the past several years. Of course, its depth was incomparable to that of their senior brothers, but they were determined and convinced that today would be different.
However.
“Hey.”
In that instant, it felt as if the air had become as heavy as cotton soaked with water.
In the oppressive atmosphere that seemed to weigh down their shoulders, none of the White Blossom Gate disciples surrounding their enemy could carelessly draw their swords.
“If you draw your swords now, you’ll die.”
No one in this place was unaware that as righteous martial artists, they should not succumb to the threats of a Demonic Path fiend.
However, knowing it in their heads and putting it into practice were not always the same.
The legs of the third-generation disciples, who were almost twenty years old, were pathetically trembling. In their eyes, there was no sign of the burning desire for revenge or chivalry.
They had the eyes of typical weaklings who were desperate to run away right now. Among the third-generation disciples who looked like they would collapse on the spot at any moment, a particularly large man stepped forward.
He respectfully clasped his hands towards Kang Hyun-woo.
“This humble martial arts student, Jo Ja-ryang, a third-generation disciple of the White Blossom Gate, greets Senior.”
His intention to somehow get out of the situation was evident in his respectful bow, bending his waist in half.
“I have short sight and failed to recognize you, Senior. I humbly ask that you show your great generosity this once and consider our circumstances.”
Everyone in the guest house held their breath and watched the scene.
A disciple of the White Blossom Gate acting so subserviently? Just who was that man?
Some showed curiosity at the rare sight, but most kept their heads buried in the table, trying not to make eye contact.
No one was unaware that unnecessary curiosity shortened one’s life. Moreover, it was a dispute between martial artists; a wrong move could cost them their lives.
“Ah, so you’re saying you were rude because you didn’t know who I was?”
“…Yes, so if you would be generous this once, my sect will surely provide appropriate compensation.”
Snickers flowed from the surrounding onlookers who had a foot in the martial world.
A mere third-generation disciple mentioning the sect’s name and promising compensation?
In such cases, it was mostly a lie to get out of the situation.
However.
‘Come to think of it, the White Blossom Gate Lord’s youngest son’s age…’
Occasionally, there were those who had enough influence to mention the sect’s name and promise compensation despite their low status.
The White Blossom Gate Lord’s name was Jo Ja-won, and he had two sons. And the name of that third-generation disciple was Jo Ja-ryang?
Only then did those who knew the internal affairs of the White Blossom Gate realize the seriousness of the situation, but it was already far too late.
Thwack!
“These bastards are seriously malicious. So you’re saying you pick fights with the powerless.”
“Cough?!”
Before they could even escape from the guest house, Jo Ja-ryang, who had been kicked by Kang Hyun-woo, was groaning while clutching his abdomen.
Horror washed over the faces of some who witnessed the scene.
“Ja, Ja-ryang!”
“That bastard!”
“Everyone, take your positions!!”
It looked as if the other third-generation disciples were about to draw their swords, their hands on the hilts.
“S, Stop!”
Jo Ja-ryang, who had struggled to his feet as if crawling on the floor, stopped the third-generation disciples.
Unlike the other disciples who were blinded by anger, Jo Ja-ryang knew that even if they all rushed in, they wouldn’t be able to touch him.
In the worst case, all of their heads could be blown off.
Those fierce, beast-like eyes, that inhuman bloodlust.
He was definitely a Demonic Path grandmaster who hadn’t yet become widely known.
“…My impetuous friends have made a mistake. I earnestly ask that you show your great generosity.”
I don’t know how many times he was going to ask for generosity, but those who were watching could only swallow hard and couldn’t even lift a finger.
They, too, had instinctively realized it.
If a great tragedy occurred here, with the man annihilating the disciples of the White Blossom Gate, then their next target would be themselves.
It would be easier to escape if there were no unnecessary witnesses.
“Why would I?”
“…As I said, if you would be generous this once, the White Blossom Gate will provide you with a generous token of gratitude…”
“Forget that.”
Kang Hyun-woo, who had interrupted Jo Ja-ryang’s words, drew Millennium from his waist.
As the sharp blade pointed towards them, Jo Ja-ryang and the third-generation disciples’ faces turned pale.
“Hand over everything you have.”
***
After the commotion, Cheon Yeo-hwa and I immediately left the guest house and headed to a nearby fabric store.
It wasn’t exactly because I was afraid of retaliation. I wouldn’t be scared even if dozens of those guys rushed at me, and I didn’t think I would lose.
However, the fact that Cheon Yeo-hwa was currently being pursued by the Heavenly Demon Sect bothered me.
Of course, it was unlikely that a pursuit team would have followed her all the way to Seoseo, far from the Heavenly Demon Sect, in an era without cars or airplanes, but I couldn’t let my guard down.
Besides, Cheon Yeo-hwa wasn’t just a regular follower; she was the Second Young Lady of the sect. It didn’t seem like the pursuit team would easily give up on her.
In that situation, I needed to avoid spreading rumors about us in Xi’an due to unnecessary commotion.
“Hyun-woo, how is it?”
While I was lost in thought, Cheon Yeo-hwa, who had changed her clothes inside the changing area, caught my eye.
It was an ordinary martial arts uniform with a good mix of white and black, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“Wow…”
The fabric of the clothes itself wasn’t that expensive. I had emptied the pockets of those White Blossom Gate guys, or whatever they were called, but all I got were a few coins and a silver piece.
However, the fact that the model was Cheon Yeo-hwa was enough to make the fabric store owner’s jaw drop.
“Oh my! For a moment, I thought a fairy had descended from the sky! Even the Five Flowers, who have made their name known throughout the vast Jungwon, could never reach our guest!”
If someone else had come out wearing the clothes, I would have thought it was a typical merchant’s flattery.
‘She’s unbelievably pretty.’
I’m glad I chose the most plain clothes possible. If I had chosen something more ornate and flowing, rumors about Cheon Yeo-hwa would have spread throughout Xi’an.
For reference, the clothes Cheon Yeo-hwa had been wearing originally were thrown away. The fabric itself was of the highest quality, enough to surprise even the fabric store owner, but it had been torn and stained in many places due to the rough journey, making it unwearable.
“Pretty.”
“…Isn’t your reaction too bland?”
Cheon Yeo-hwa’s expression turned slightly sulky, as if she didn’t like the overly short answer. Who in the world would think that this cute figure was the Second Young Lady of the Heavenly Demon Sect?
I hugged Cheon Yeo-hwa, who was kicking the floor, and whispered.
“You’re so pretty that I don’t think I’ll let you sleep tonight?”
“…”
I grabbed Cheon Yeo-hwa’s butt in an angle where the fabric store owner couldn’t see. I enjoyed the firmness and softness that I could feel even through the martial arts uniform.
Cheon Yeo-hwa glared at me with a rare look of embarrassment, but she didn’t exactly resist.
“Now, let’s do this before we go out.”
I took out the veil I had bought in advance. Anyone who had ever seen a martial arts story would know what it was.
Just think of it as a mask that women wear in martial arts stories. For reference, it was more expensive than the martial arts uniform I was wearing, even though it was small enough to only cover the lower half of the face.
At first, I was going to buy something cheap because of my poor financial situation, but the merchant said that if I bought a cheap veil, the woman would suffer in her daily life, so I had no choice but to scrape together the remaining money and buy something decent.
My pride wouldn’t allow me to skimp on money for a woman.
“…Thank you.”
Cheon Yeo-hwa’s smile, with her lips gently raised, never got old. It was worth spending all the remaining money on it.
“I bought it for you because all the other men will only look at your face when you go outside.”
“Hehe, are you jealous?”
Jealous? Well, it could be jealousy, or it could be possessiveness. But what was certain was that if another man looked at Cheon Yeo-hwa carelessly, I would want to gouge out his eyes.
In that respect, it was very unusual that those White Blossom Gate guys, or whatever they were, had gotten away unscathed.
I had already let them off for talking to my woman and even warned them that I would kill them if they drew their swords.
I had already let them off twice, but Jo Ja-ryang kept making excuses, and the other guys even showed hostility towards me again.
Honestly, if it weren’t for the pursuit team, half of them would have been killed by me, but those guys probably didn’t know how many times I had drawn the character for “patience” in my mind.
“Hyun-woo?”
“…Let’s go.”
I brushed aside the memories that made me annoyed just thinking about them. I grabbed Cheon Yeo-hwa’s soft hand and left the fabric store.
The streets of Xi’an were filled with merchants selling goods and people looking at and buying them.
But no matter where I looked, there was nothing that looked like a monster’s byproduct.
‘Are there no monsters in this world?’
It wasn’t unusual. In Earth’s martial arts novels, there were often settings without monsters.
Still, a world without monsters… I couldn’t help but feel a little envious.
“Hyun-woo.”
“Huh?”
“…I have something to tell you, so how about we go back to the inn?”
I was about to ask what she wanted to talk about, but I stopped when I saw Cheon Yeo-hwa’s face, which looked somewhat dark.
“Okay.”
The way back to the inn wasn’t far. It was in a location where we could easily arrive after doing a little sightseeing in the market.
After walking for about 20 minutes, we were able to reach the inn. I roughly unpacked my luggage and lay down on the bed as if entrusting my body to it.
The overall condition of the room was ordinary, but the bed was the queen-size bed that I carried around as a spare, so it was comfortable without any annoying parts.
It was the same product as the bed I used when I first had sex with Iris in the cave.
“So? What did you want to talk about?”
Even after returning to the inn, Cheon Yeo-hwa was still hesitating in the corner. Her uncharacteristic appearance made me start to get a little nervous.
What in the world was she trying to say?
Even when I tapped the bed, Cheon Yeo-hwa didn’t come closer.
“…Hyun-woo.”
Cheon Yeo-hwa was the first to speak in the heavy silence.
However, she only called my name and didn’t easily say the next word, chewing on her lips several times.
When I couldn’t stand watching her like that and tried to get up and approach her, Cheon Yeo-hwa stepped back instead.
I was shocked by that sight for a moment.
“…Let’s break up here.”
A greater shock came crashing down on the back of my head.
