Even the Sword God Needs Paternity Leave

Chapter 19: White Path Indeed

Before regression.

As I remembered, it was a small ferry landing.

The Demonic Cult had attacked a village, and people attempted to escape by boat from the nearby ferry landing.

How could commoners be faster than martial artists?

When the Demonic Cult members chased to the ferry landing, they say the commoners hadn't even all boarded the boats yet.

However.

Before the Murim Alliance support team arrived, the commoners had succeeded in escaping.

I was included in the support team.

So I saw it directly.

The corpses of Demonic Cult members lined up to the far end of the ferry landing, where the boats had been tied.

After clearing away those corpses, one man lay sprawled dead.

The blade in his hand was broken.

On his thick chest and belly, countless spears and blades were embedded.

He must have used twin blades—at someone's words, we looked around and indeed saw one blade.

It was stuck in a small wooden pillar.

It seemed he had thrown it to cut the rope tying the boats.

We all sighed together.

Blood that had dripped in drops mixed with the river water and flowed away without a trace.

Cold winter wind blew futilely over it.

On the ferry landing where the fight had ended, the dead man, Kwak Daebang, was looking up at the sky.

White Path indeed.

Someone shouted.

.

.

Bwuuuuk—Kwak Daebang blew away my reverie with a vigorous fart.

"Ah, really. Are you going to be like this, uncle?"

Yang Cheonjo irritably complained to his heart's content. After fighting together once, they seemed to have become somewhat close. Farts and irritation were exchanged.

I was slightly confused whether this was a good thing.

"Mm, I'm peckish. I didn't eat dinner."

Kwak Daebang rubbed his belly regardless.

Yang Cheonjo rose from his seat and went out to the street holding his nose. He vented frustration by kicking innocent pebbles.

After interrogating One-Eyed Ghost at the alley house, we had returned to Oga Pharmacy.

Because the pharmacy people had evacuated, the door was firmly closed. Thinking they might come soon to check the situation, we sat on the low steps in front of the door passing time.

"Brother Kwak, you learned Body Protection Technique? If it's not rude, can you tell me what level?"

"Rude is too much. I haven't achieved complete mastery so it's not that great. Still, I can at least block the blades of those Black Path bastards from earlier."

"What about Demonic Cult members?"

"Demonic Cult? Suddenly?"

"Just hypothetically."

"Hmm, many would be difficult."

"But you could at least escape from the battlefield?"

"Of course. If I swing my blade while running out, I could flee."

At the ferry landing, he hadn't been unable to flee but had chosen not to.

To evacuate all the commoners.

"White Path indeed."

"What are you saying?"

"Nothing."

That's why even when he picked a fight with me in the Alliance courtyard, I wasn't angry.

Because I knew what kind of person he was inside.

"Oh right, Brother Kwak. Didn't you say you had something to tell me after the work was done?"

"Ah, that."

Then he closed his mouth.

Just then, Yang Cheonjo could be seen returning to his spot after finishing tormenting the pebbles.

"Yang Cheonjo, go run a lap around the area."

"What? Suddenly?"

"I thought your skills were decent. But watching you fight earlier, you were even better than I thought."

First, one compliment.

Yang Cheonjo was bewildered for a moment, then his lips gradually rose.

"Right? I'm good, right? I was the strongest in my neighborhood except for mom!"

"That's why. This time let me see your movement arts."

"Shall I?"

The kid looked left, then right, fidgeting with a happy face.

"Run left. Just run about ten alleys and come back."

"Yes. Um, but."

"Mm?"

"You saw my movement arts when we first met. Shall I show you something different?"

This is why I dislike perceptive children.

"Even rekindling dying embers requires looking again. Let's see again."

"What? Yes!"

Yang Cheonjo vigorously ran out.

"So. Brother Kwak?"

"...It hasn't been long since we fought—is it okay to make him run ten alleys?"

"That's what's good about being young."

Kwak Daebang stared at me blankly for a moment, then chuckled and spoke.

"Deputy Branch Leader Gong Pilsang called me. To monitor you."

"Monitor?"

"Monitor."

Hearing more of the story, it seemed he'd made the excuse that my words and actions had suddenly changed and told him to monitor me.

He said to report in detail about who I contacted.

"Oh, while giving monitoring instructions, he said something in passing."

"?"

"He was thinking of rejecting your childcare leave."

"What?"

Then.

"I'll need to visit the branch soon. This time what should I break besides the desk?"

"Kuhahahat!"

Kwak Daebang burst into roaring laughter.

"Ink Sword Hero, did something happen to you recently? Why have you changed so much?"

"I had a child."

"But shouldn't you become more mature and quiet then? The jianghu seniors I know were like that."

"For me, this is maturing. Before was being stupid."

"Kuhahat!"

Kwak Daebang shook his large body.

"Good! I noticed from when you interrogated the swordsman at the inn! Before you were really unlucky, but you were different."

"I was even unlucky?"

"I'd never seen someone as sincere about the branch's menial work as you."

Thinking about it briefly, my head nodded. Since I had done all the missions the branch gave, I could have looked that way.

"That's the reason I earned Brother Kwak's dislike?"

"Right. But looking now, the reason not to like you seems to have disappeared."

Kwak Daebang had always been blunt with me, but actually talking with him had a sincere taste.

"The Deputy Branch Leader knew that and sent Brother Kwak to me."

"Hmph, but there was something the Deputy Branch Leader didn't know."

"What?"

"I hate the Branch Leader and Deputy Branch Leader more."

"Why?"

"Look at how Luoyang is turning out. Can you say the Alliance is doing proper work?"

His words were correct.

Black Path was overflowing—too much overflowing.

No matter how much they lure them in seeking profits from Luoyang's reconstruction, it was too excessive.

"Those bastards are only interested in politicking. Branch Leader Hwangbo Gak isn't even attached to the branch, is he?"

Kwak Daebang kept grumbling.

Looking carefully, even his constant bluntness within the Alliance seemed to be because he was White Path inside.

"Brother Kwak, you'll return to duty now?"

"I will."

"Then keep an eye on the Deputy Branch Leader for me."

"?"

I knew that Gong Pilsang later died after things went wrong while receiving Black Path money.

"There's talk that he receives Black Path money. I'm not sure if it's certain."

"Even bribes? That's a serious crime."

"There's no evidence yet. Since I've taken leave now, Brother Kwak will have more opportunities to watch. I ask this of you."

Kwak Daebang nodded heavily.

Unexpectedly, I had gained one ally in the branch.

We talked about the branch until we could hear the sound of Yang Cheonjo kicking off the street running back.

"Haek, haek, haek, how was it?"

I told him to run ten alleys but he was quite fast. As expected, his skills were decent for his age.

"Train more."

"What?"

"The pharmacist is coming."

Oh Hungi, who had spotted us, was running over.

"You three, are you alright?"

Shouting full of worry.

***

Commotion continued.

"Kehek. Cough, cough!"

Oh Hungi wasn't someone with outstanding martial arts.

Because he had overexerted himself running out of worry for us, he coughed for a long time and sweated like rain.

It didn't end there.

Following that, reinforcements called by other pharmacy people arrived.

They'd said sects that could be reinforcements were distant, but while we were fighting, they'd sent word.

"Ink Sword Hero? Where are the Black Path members? Ah, we're people from Baeklim Sect!"

"We came from Danseon Hall. Where are those bastards?"

"Cheolyun Sect. To think they'd try to attack a pharmacy. Are there such damned bastards!"

White Path indeed.

These were outfits that had rushed out as soon as receiving the news.

Only the weapons in their hands gleamed sharply.

When we explained the circumstances, the White Path members cheered our names.

"Ink Sword Hero, truly impressive!"

"Hero Kwak Daebang, excellent!"

"Young Hero Yang Cheonjo may be young but your heroic spirit is outstanding!"

Young Hero—Yang Cheonjo became intoxicated by the resonance of those three syllables.

"That's right! I am Hero Yang Cheonjo! My name is Yang Cheonjo, yes, hero. Let me say again! My name is Yang Cheonjo..."

Mute point acupressure.

I made him quiet.

Only after a long period of cheering did Oh Hungi greet the White Path sects and send them back.

He welcomed us into the pharmacy.

Now we could talk quietly.

"There are more medicine boxes packed tight than what I saw from outside."

"Right? I can't help it gathering from here and there."

While answering, Oh Hungi stroked the medicine boxes as if stroking treasures.

They are treasures. We protected them. These medicines.

"You three, thank you so much. To save us from such danger. I should boast to people about what you three did. Hehehe."

Yang Cheonjo excitedly tried to open his mouth, but Kwak Daebang waved his hand.

"This happened thanks to the Ink Sword Hero. Just thank the Ink Sword Hero."

"Is that so?"

"If the Ink Sword Hero hadn't started tracking, we couldn't have prevented the disaster. I just got involved by chance."

Kwak Daebang's large fist dropped a knuckle rap onto Yang Cheonjo's head.

"This brat goes without saying."

Since it was correct, Yang Cheonjo couldn't make any retort. He just touched the crown of his head where he got rapped.

"Ink Sword Hero, thank you."

"Not at all. What White Path martial artist would sit still hearing that Black Path is gathering?"

Kwak Daebang laughed from the side.

"There would be some?"

Oh Hungi also nodded.

"There would be. People like the Ink Sword Hero are rare."

Mm.

Thinking about it, there did seem to be many.

"Ink Sword Hero, come this way for a moment."

Oh Hungi took me inside.

"Master, I brought it."

One pharmacy disciple brought the beef that had been my purpose.

Oh Hungi received it and held it out to me.

"Now, this is the medicinal beef the Divine Physician spoke of."

It was beef kept cold by digging a stone cave under the pharmacy.

"When told to receive beef from a pharmacy, at first I was puzzled what it meant."

"Hehehe. Researching methods to give medicine to newborn babies led to this. Feed medicinal herbs to cattle, the mother eats the beef, and thus purified and refined medicinal energy is transmitted to the baby."

Though he spoke casually.

Indeed, how many pharmacies researched such methods?

"Thank you."

Truly grateful.

Also, the sight of Jayeong deliciously eating beef dishes, Taebok smiling without illness after drinking breast milk—these events that hadn't happened yet were painted before my eyes.

"I'll keep it in the stone cave, so take it tomorrow morning."

Good.

Now I just need to go back and sleep soundly.

However.

"Now, receive this too."

Oh Hungi smoothly pushed forward one medicine case.

"What is this?"

"A pill that helps absorption of medicine. Have your wife take it with the beef."

"Ah, I see. It helps properly absorb the medicinal components of the beef."

"I put in three pills. Just have her take one."

"Then what are the other two for?"

"Use them when you obtain spiritual medicine."

"?"

"It will help you absorb the spiritual medicine's energy without waste."

"!"

Even ordinary food is absorbed differently depending on the eater's body condition, how it was prepared, etc. If not received well, it's expelled again through vomiting or excretion.

How much more so for spiritual medicine containing great energy?

There were reasons for preparing the body and consuming spiritual medicine in a quiet place.

But to think there was medicine that helps absorb spiritual medicine's energy without remainder.

"Can you give this to me? Such medicine can't be made easily."

"I make about three pills each year."

"Three pills means this is everything."

Oh Hungi extended his hand to close mine.

"Without you, would this pharmacy have survived today? If not, this medicine wouldn't have been the problem. Please accept it."

I felt deep gratitude in his eyes.

I'm also grateful.

For me who must eat spiritual medicines corresponding to the Eight Trigrams, there's no greater reward than this.

"I'll use it well."

I could feel Oh Hungi's heart. I accepted without declining.

I obtained everything that could be obtained from the pharmacy.

Tomorrow I should return home.

However.

The last one who entered the alley house where Black Path members had gathered, One-Eyed Ghost. He was the estate steward of the couple Madam Cheolseon and Master Dongpae.

Thanks to that, we could learn all about the estate's location and defenses.

Not even far.

Money piled up too.

Not many enemies either.

Such an estate was waiting for me.

Above all, there was the Young Manor Lord there who had told the Master Dongpae couple to attack the pharmacy.

Then I should do what White Path must do, right?