NOVEL NEXT Chapter 199
199th Chapter: Mom, Don’t Worry!
“Dad?”
The words spoken by the aged master, who had reached the 108th realm this year, sounded far too childish.
Of course, she looked like a girl who could be taken for my dad, but the problem was that she was the previous incarnation of Cheonma.
Cheonma experienced a feeling of incredulity shooting up to the heavens once again.
“So, what do you want to say, Senior?”
There was only one method to inherit the title of Cheonma from the Demon Sect.
Defeating the current Cheonma. There were no restrictions on the means. However, there was an unspoken rule: to ascend to the position of Cheonma, the challenger must secure victory in at least one life-or-death duel with the current Cheonma.
It was only a minimum requirement, so the Demon Sect often split into two factions—one supporting the current Cheonma and the other the challenger—engaging in internal wars.
Thus, it was extremely rare throughout the history of the Heavenly Horse Church for a previous Cheonma to enter the Elder Senate as a patriarch without dying in the blood-soaked succession process.
After all, wasn’t the current Cheonma, Baek Murang, the one who killed the previous Cheonma, Hyeollumajon, to take the throne?
And now, we had the living embodiment of the previous previous Cheonma.
Even though the New Religion’s hierarchy was weaker compared to the Orthodox Faction, it still existed. The New Religion wasn’t merely a gathering of people; it was a society. So how to treat her became somewhat perplexing.
The Sosumahu, under Baek Murang’s gaze, felt humiliated.
Grrrr…
She bit her lip.
There wasn’t much time left to stay sane. She wasn’t thrilled about this either. It was all because of the Geumje. Another personality created because of the Geumje. The memories, habits, and emotions of that personality were affecting her.
She couldn’t fall away from it. She instinctively clutched the hand of her “mom,” Heuksaryong, and said,
“…Until the Geumje is resolved, it seems I must temporarily stay at the Gongdong Sect where dad is. Of course, mom should also… stay with me.”
Sosumahu’s face flushed red with shame.
Heuksaryong Wi Soryeon was taken aback by her words.
She, too, knew very well who the girl claiming to be her daughter was. As expected, she was the previous previous Cheonma of the Demon Sect, rivaling the mastery of Sado Ryeonju.
“B-but, Sosumahu-senpai.”
Wi Soryeon spoke to her.
Upon hearing Wi Soryeon’s words, Sosumahu quivered. Hearing “senpai” from her “mom” created an indescribable discomfort.
The Geumje kicked in. A headache throbbed in her head. Sosumahu pressed her temples and said,
“Just call me Jiyagi. Hearing words like that makes me uncomfortable. And please, don’t use honorifics. My head hurts because of the Geumje.”
Sosumahu’s once pale face was now as red as a ripe tomato.
The gazes of Cheonma and Jeoksawol rested upon Sosumahu and Wi Soryeon.
As Wi Soryeon felt the eyes of the three masters upon her, her face went pale.
She might hold the grand titles of being the Post-Stimulation Indicator of the Orthodox Faction and the Head of the Heukryongbang, but she was still a teenage girl.
She wasn’t used to the gaze of absolute masters who were at least double her age.
“…O-Okay.”
Wi Soryeon spoke in a trembling voice.
Huff.
Sosumahu, hearing her response, felt a mix of relief and extreme embarrassment.
It was shameful.
But without this, the Geumje would keep tormenting her, leaving her no choice.
Yes, this is all because of the Geumje!
Fueled by her hatred towards the Blood Sect that created this damn Geumje, she spoke,
“So, mom. Do you have anything to tell me?”
Wi Soryeon stammered out a reply.
“Umm, I… I lost during the Orthodox Faction Competition… I promised never to set foot in Gansu Province again… So…”
“…Hmph. So you mean you can’t be with dad?”
“Y-Yeah. Besides, I’m of the Demon Sect…”
Wi Soryeon said in a small voice.
Indeed.
Two years ago, during the Orthodox Faction Competition. The price of losing in a duel deemed unwinnable was never setting foot in Gansu Province again.
Unless it was something special like cooperating on the Demon Sect’s path, Wi Soryeon couldn’t enter the Gongdong Sect. Moreover, she was from the Orthodox Faction and the Demon Sect? Thinking about that made her melancholic again.
Wi Soryeon’s face frowned slightly.
After so long, they had finally met again.
Could it be that they really weren’t meant to be? If so, why did he make her heart flutter…?
Scenes of the past flashed through Wi Soryeon’s mind.
The words he said that she looked good just as she was echoed in her head.
What a jerk.
To say that and then claim responsibility…
As Wi Soryeon bit her lip,
“Mom! Don’t worry! I’ll convince Dad!”
Sosumahu exclaimed. Wi Soryeon’s gaze shifted to her.
“R-Really?”
“I promise you. Hahaha. Mom and Dad should always be close!”
Sosumahu proudly thumped her frail chest.
She laughed but then froze.
Why am I smiling?
Sosumahu cursed the Geumje inwardly.
Her heart was in turmoil.
“…I don’t really know what to make of all this.”
Cheonma murmured, clicking his tongue at the sight.
It was a scenario that made everyone feel embarrassed. Especially seeing the New Religion’s esteemed senior acting like that made it even worse.
“This time, I agree with you, Cheonma. No matter how senior you are… I don’t wish to spend my twilight years like that.”
Jeoksawol mumbled softly beside him.
Although it was due to the Geumje, Sosumahu appeared to be in a state of typical senility.
“…”
Cheonma shot a cold glance at Jeoksawol.
Swish.
Cheonma distanced himself from Jeoksawol and spoke.
“Yewang, I didn’t expect to hear the word ‘senility’ from your mouth. Haven’t you already been senile? Talk about irony.”
Inconsistent Sosumahu or Jeoksawol who calls a youthful boy “Gaga” looked the same in Cheonma’s eyes.
“Cheonma, are you suggesting that I fight her now?”
Jeoksawol glared furiously.
Seeing that, Cheonma fell silent before speaking.
“…Well, it seems that Baekli-senpai has no intention of remaining with us, so I’ll transfer her to your side. Take good care of her.”
“Alright. I’ll ensure that Sosumahu-senpai is protected in our sect. I’ll also manage to find a way to tackle the Geumje as well.”
Thus, by Cheonma and Yewang’s discussions, Sosumahu’s situation was decided.
“Mom!”
Sosumahu exclaimed with a bright voice, grabbing Heuksaryong’s sleeve.
“Jiyagi! I want to see Dad!”
Sosumahu raised her arms high like a child.
She had reverted back to her childish personality.
“Alright! Let’s go see Dad.”
Heuksaryong stroked Sosumahu’s head and said.
Jeoksawol watched Sosumahu with an expression of concern.
I must not get old like that.
As Jeoksawol was lost in thought, observing the immature Sosumahu, Cheonma sighed internally.
What a state for the so-called masters of their generation; I worry for the future of the Martial World.
*
“Pulling my clothes off? What does that mean?”
I narrowed my eyes at So Cheonma.
Upon hearing my words, So Cheonma chuckled lightly.
“Why are you asking back? Goeryong? I heard that you must tear your opponent’s clothing in an all-out martial arts duel. If you give your all in this upcoming Post-Stimulation Indicator Martial Arts Tournament, you should naturally tear my outfit, shouldn’t you?”
She spoke with confidence.
Upon hearing her, I felt a headache coming on.
Why on earth does giving your all equate to tearing clothes?
“Listen well, So Cheonma Baek Cheon-hwa. I am a Post-Stimulation Indicator of the honest White Path Orthodox Faction. I will not commit the rudeness of tearing a woman’s attire without consent.”
I provided a model response.
I’m not interested in any weird nicknames or rumors.
I thought I had made myself clear.
At that moment,
“Goeryong, before I am a woman, I am a martial artist. Treat me as a martial artist. This is the New Religion. There’s no need to adhere to the empty formalities of your Orthodox Faction.”
Baek Cheon-hwa said to me seriously.
Evidently, she had no intention of understanding.
There was no choice but to resort to Plan B.
As I contemplated this, I said,
“Fine, if you wish to be treated like a martial artist, then so be it. But only if you are worthy of that treatment.”
Upon hearing my words, Baek Cheon-hwa bit her lip.
Exactly.
It was far better to handle it this way than to hear humiliating rumors about tearing her clothes.
Baek Cheon-hwa’s expression turned stony. Her fists trembled in rage.
How humiliating it must be.
But that’s not my concern.
Perhaps it could be problematic in the Orthodox Faction, but Baek Cheon-hwa wasn’t of the Orthodox Faction.
As she said, she was a Demon Sect member, so I must treat her accordingly.
“You were the one who said to treat you as a Demon Sect member. Baek Cheon-hwa. You’re not planning to go back on your words, are you?”
“…No, Goeryong. I admit my shortcomings. At that time… If you and Yujinhwi hadn’t intervened, I might not even be in this world anymore. For that, I am grateful. And I do recognize that I am weaker than you. But—”
Baek Cheon-hwa trailed off, gazing intently at me.
“I will make sure that you have a mind to tear my clothes… I shall put in the effort. Hmph. I’m leaving now.”
Baek Cheon-hwa turned on her heels and walked away.
Tap.
The door closed again.
When So Cheonma’s presence finally faded completely, Yujinhwi looked at me and asked,
“Disciple, you’re not really planning to tear So Cheonma’s clothes, are you?”
Her eyes were fixed on me.
“Of course not. Why would I tear a woman’s clothes during a martial arts duel? What would that say about our faction’s reputation?”
Right.
Why would I do such a thing for anyone’s pleasure?
Hearing my response, my disciple chuckled.
“Glad to hear that. But…”
She whispered in my ear,
“If necessary, you can tear my clothes.”
No way.
What on earth is she suggesting with this?
Why is our innocent disciple suddenly acting like this? Removing her lips from my ear, she chuckled sweetly, and the scent of wildflowers brushed my nostrils.
Seeing her innocent smile, she appeared to be her usual self. Who would corrupt our innocent disciple like that?
Before I could express my bewilderment, suddenly—
Creek.
The door swung open.
“Dad!”
Whoosh.
And a white-clad girl rushed into my arms. It was Sosumahu.
Is the Geumje problem still unresolved?
“I’m here! Brother! I’m glad to see you safe.”
Then, a somewhat regretful voice came from Heuksaryong. They had arrived.
“I love Dad.”
As I patted the head of the Sosumahu who was nuzzling into my embrace, I looked at Heuksaryong and asked,
“Why are you here?”
“Well, that is…”
Heuksaryong trailed off, blushing as she said,
“I’m embarrassed to say, but after the Demon Sect’s path is over, I wish to stay as a guest in the Gongdong Sect. Jiyagi… said that Mom and Dad must always be together…”
“What did you say?”
The moment Heuksaryong finished her sentence.
The first to react was none other than our disciple.
Her feelings mirrored mine.
So wait.
Not only is the reckless Dang Yeong-ryeong staying at the Gongdong Sect, but now Heuksaryong and Sosumahu too?
Is the Gongdong Sect some sort of temporary shelter?