NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Afternoon Adventures
With the arrival of Woo-jin and Min-ah, the number of orphans residing in the Redwood Estate have risen to eight. The older kids, like Han-ju and Woo-jin, soon enough started to talking about martial arts among one another. Han-ju tried to do kick but it was clumsy, he bragged about how he was taught by his father before... well, before. Woo-jin answered back by showing off a swift footwork motion that he claims he learned from a group of traveling monks.
Heuk Cheon, upon seeing them train so earnestly, decided to step in. "If you keep your guard that low," he told Han-ju, "you will be wide open here, it will be easy for someone to strike you." He tapped the boy's gap in defense. "And you, Woo-jin. Your stance and form are off balanced. You depend too much on your right leg."
Both of them looked at Heuk Cheon. They were both impressed but at same time they feared how he was able to notice their mistakes so easily. "Can you please show us how to do it properly?" Woo-jin asks him, in his tone was curiosity rather than a challenge.
Heuk Cheon stopped in his tracks and looked around to make sure that no immediate task was being ignored. Then finally, with a calculated breath, he displayed to the two kids the correct basic stance. His feet was planted very firm, one arm was raised to prepare for blocking, the other was ready to strike at any moment. His smooth movements carry a dangerous grace that had once destroyed entire sects. But here it was calm and tamed, it was used as a lesson and not a threat.
Han-ju tried to copy him, but he ended up slipping. Woo-jin got it a bit better, but there are still many openings in his form. Heuk Cheon clicked his tongue, "There is no use trying to learn advanced moves if your base is this weak. Learn how to stand like a tree, not a frail grass."
The boys accepted his advice wholeheartedly with determined eyes. Han-ju asks Heuk Cheon, "You're really strong, aren't you?"
Heuk Cheon shrugged his shoulders. "I am strong enough, yes." he simply said. Then, he stepped back to let them practice on their own.
As dusk fell, the kids were ordered to back into the main chamber for a very simple meal. It was rice, soup, and a few fried vegetables that Lee Jin-Ho had managed to get from a local farmer near the estate. The vibes in the room was a mix of the children's hunger and their excitement.
Jin-mu had a bunch of flour stuck on his right cheek, though he was brimming with pride when the other children complimented the soup that he had helped Seo Ryung prepare. Even Ae-rin gave out a shy praise. "It's better than what we had to eat back in the orphan caravans." she said shyly while mixing the soup with her spoon.
Meanwhile, Chul-woo decided that the soup needed "just a little something", so he rummaged through the kitchen condiments until Seo Ryung used some force to drive him back to the dining table. "You will get your little something all over the floor if you keep this up." Seo Ryung muttered. He was a bit entertained, but he was also tired.
During their meal, Su-yeon tugged on Heuk Cheon's shirt. He froze, having someone touch him like that was something he was not used to. "What is it, young one?" he asked while trying not to sound intimidating towards her.
She showed him her doll, it was missing an eye and almost all of its hair. "Do you know how to fix her?"
He froze again, as he was surprised about her innocent request. With a look at the doll's scratched up state, he muttered, "I am sorry... I am not good enough in sewing."
Seo Ryung overheard their conversation and snorted. "Master, are you perhaps afraid of a needle and thread?"
Heuk Cheon glared at him with a scary look in his eyes. Before he could answer back with a reply though, Lee Jin-Ho broke the silence before them. "I can try to patch her for you , Dear Su-yeon. I may not be an expert but let's see if I can do something about it."
The girl looked to be relieved as shown on her face. She bobbed her head gratefully. "Thank you." she whispered.
Heuk Cheon let out a deep breath. He thanked Lee Jin-Ho for the rescue. Handling swords was much more doable than handling sewing needles.
With their meal being finished, the kids jumbled around the estate in little groups. Some ventured on to explore corridors, others chose to stay at the dining table to talk amongst themselves. A couple of them convinced Jung-soo and Do-won to tell stories about the martial world using their their eyes that shined with a bright curiosity that only children like them possess.
One by one, they eventually found themselves heading up the stairs to sleep, they were guided by Lee Jin-Ho to their sleeping quarters. Although some of them needed a little more convincing than others, Chul-woo was insistent on claiming that he wasn't sleepy, Su-yeon needed an extra lantern to help her sleep and avoid nightmares, and Ae-rin asked if she could keep her pouch of trinkets by her bedside.
Downstairs, Heuk Cheon was watching Seo Ryung with his arms folded. He was gathering up the empty bowls. The ex demon lord's attention was changed towards the manor's windows, observing the dark forest. That disgusting feeling of being being stalked was still nagging on him constantly. It was a reminder that Redwood Estate, no matter how warm and fuzzy, might not be that safe.
Seo Ryung noticed that his Master was concerned about something. "Master, is everything all right?"
Heuk Cheon merely nodded, although the look on his eyes remained uneasy. "We've already got our hands full with these pesky brats," he said to change their topic. "Ah, they are quite the handful now, and to think we just got started."
"That is true." Seo Ryung replied while placing the wooden bowls on a tray. "But it's... it's a nice feeling to see them here, isn't it? They are much better off here than in the cold.
Heuk Cheon slightly nodded, he wasn't ready to admit that he felt the same.