Chapter 81
“Are these the benefactors who saved you, Suyeon?”
“Yes, Head Master. He said his name is Gwangryong.”
Now that even the Head Master had joined them, there was no way to avoid the situation any longer.
Tsk.
Dokgo Ryong clicked his tongue silently. However, he soon lowered his head with a calm expression, pretending as if nothing was wrong.
“I greet the Head Master of Hae-nam. I am called Gwangryong. This is my nephew and our companion.”
“I am Dang Jin-ak, the young head of the Sichuan Dang family.”
“I’m Eun Sowol!”
Eun Sowol raised the hand that had been holding Dokgo Ryong’s high into the air.
The Head Master of Hae-nam looked slightly surprised at Dang Jin-ak’s affiliation but soon smiled gently.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Hyeonje, the Head Master of the Hae-nam Sect.”
Then, he suddenly noticed that there was one more person standing behind the group.
Hyeonje, having not seen them clearly as they were slightly obscured between Dam Suyeon and Dang Jin-ak, now turned his gaze to the figure.
“There’s one more person in your group…”
But he couldn’t finish his sentence. Hyeonje’s eyes wavered uncontrollably.
“It’s been a long time, Jeya. How have you been?”
“Brother Yang? Isn’t that you, Brother Yang?!”
Hyeonje momentarily forgot his position as Head Master and showed an uncharacteristically shaken appearance.
Such an unreserved reaction and that intimate form of address—there was only one person he would call “Brother Yang.”
“It is an honor to meet the famed Hwarang Senior of the world.”
Following the elder behind the Head Master, everyone clasped their fists in greeting to pay respect to Hwarang.
Though more and more people’s gazes gathered, Hwarang merely waved his hand with visible annoyance, clearly uninterested.
“No need for all this. It’ll just cause misunderstandings.”
“Haha, we can’t greet someone like Hwarang half-heartedly. Did you arrive today? But how did you end up with Young Hero Gwangryong…?”
“Didn’t your disciple tell you? We already exchanged greetings on the ship.”
Hyeonje and the other disciples of Hae-nam narrowed their eyes and looked toward Dam Suyeon.
“Huh? I didn’t mention the elder…? Wait, did I forget?”
She had been too busy talking about her benefactor Gwangryong and had completely forgotten to mention Hwarang.
Watching Yoon Taeshin glare at her, Hyeonje turned his head with a light chuckle.
“Haha, my clumsy disciple… Are you acquainted with Young Hero Gwangryong? Ah! Could it be—you’re finally taking a disciple?!”
“Bah! Who’d take in a punk like that!”
“What a horrifying thing to suggest…!”
At the word “disciple,” both men glared at each other like wildcats.
Hyeonje, who had been clapping with laughter, gradually drooped his shoulders.
“Ahem! It’s just a temporary arrangement due to circumstances! Who’d ever take in that brat as a disciple…”
“If I displease you that much, I’ll go separately.”
“Shut it! Who said you displease me?! If only you were half as decent as my nephew!”
Dokgo Ryong’s unbothered attitude made Yang Hwichun simmer inside.
To think that Yang Hwichun was being caught up in this with just a few words.
He might be grumbling, but if he truly disliked the man or felt uneasy, he would’ve acted already.
‘He’s no ordinary man.’
To be traveling with the young head of the Sichuan Dang family and to have saved Dam Suyeon’s life using just a fishing rod?
His aura might be a bit fierce and intense, but for a wanderer, that level of sharpness was expected.
“This here is the only one I’m watching as a potential disciple! Don’t misunderstand!”
Hyeonje followed Yang Hwichun’s pointing finger and looked down.
What he saw was a small child with a round face, delicate features, and an adorable appearance.
“Oh my, how intriguing. If she’s caught your eye, Brother Yang, she must be no ordinary child.”
As he tried to lean closer to get a better look, two arms suddenly stretched out in front of him.
Dokgo Ryong’s and Yang Hwichun’s.
“Apologies, Head Master. The child is very tired from the long journey.”
“Don’t pay attention to her. That one’s already marked by me.”
“What do you mean ‘marked’? I told you I won’t let this kid go to anyone.”
“Hmph! We’ll see about that! If I offer to teach her how to whack your head properly, she’ll learn in a heartbeat. See? Even Sowol’s interested already!”
“You little—!”
“Ah, no, Uncle! I didn’t say anything!”
They bickered playfully, but there was undeniable affection between them.
Having known Yang Hwichun for a long time, Hyeonje found the scene simply amusing.
“Haha, rather than standing around here, why not move to Hae-nam for a proper chat? It’s been a while since I saw you, Brother Yang, and we can’t just let our benefactor who saved Suyeon go like this.”
“No, it’s fine. I didn’t do it expecting anything in return…”
“Please don’t refuse. At Hae-nam, we never forget a favor. If you haven’t decided where to stay, we can offer a guest house.”
Courtesy demands reciprocity. Unable to find a valid reason to decline any longer, Dokgo Ryong reluctantly agreed to Hyeonje’s proposal.
“See? Didn’t I tell you? Doing Hae-nam a favor wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”
As Yang Hwichun chuckled, Dokgo Ryong frowned deeply and turned away with a look of dissatisfaction.
‘Uncle lost this time.’
He’d deny it if said aloud, but it was clear he’d lost this round.
*
“Wooooow…!”
Eun Sowol, still holding Dokgo Ryong’s hand, passed through the main gate bearing the Hae-nam Sect’s plaque.
As rows of magnificent buildings came into view, she couldn’t help but gasp in awe.
‘It feels different from Dokgo or even the Dang family.’
Even though many people lived there and the estate was large, the overall atmosphere was neat and composed.
It felt like entering a temple—like she needed to calm both body and mind.
“Why is Sowol so quiet today?”
Dang Jin-ak smirked at her.
Usually, when they arrived at new places, Eun Sowol would marvel aloud with sparkling eyes.
But today, she simply clutched Dokgo Ryong’s hand and took tiny, quick steps.
“Shh. Uncle Aki, don’t be loud.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“Because this is one of the Nine Great Sects. If we’re loud, we’ll get scolded.”
“You were laughing loudly with Jinmyeong at our house.”
“Well, that’s ‘cause you were there, Uncle Aki.”
As the young lord’s guest, no one would dare scold her. Of course, she was also here as a benefactor who saved Dam Suyeon—but still, the nuance felt different!
“Hahaha! A child is free to run and be loud as much as she wants!”
Just then, hands slipped under her arms, and a cheerful laugh followed as someone lifted her up.
It was Dam Suyeon. She smiled brightly and placed Eun Sowol on her shoulders like a piggyback ride.
“Sis, I’m heavy…!”
“Gosh, no you’re not! Compared to my rascals back home, you’re light as a feather!”
“Still…”
Seeing her hesitate, Dokgo Ryong gave her a look of reassurance. The white fox Baekwoon also rubbed its face against hers playfully.
“Kyaaaaha!”
Kyururung!
Laughter from a little girl and a small animal echoed joyfully from Dam Suyeon’s shoulders.
“Is this the child you said was almost in danger?”
‘Oh? It’s the crying uncle from before.’
Yoon Taeshin, who she had clung to and cried with before, approached with other disciples.
Seeing the group of large adults suddenly gather, Eun Sowol instinctively trembled.
She looked around.
‘Where did my uncles go?’
Somehow, the area around her had emptied.
“She’s our benefactor’s niece. Her name is Eun Sowol. Isn’t she adorable?”
“Indeed. After always seeing rough boys, this is refreshing.”
“Senior, our juniors are still children too…”
“They’re twice her size. And all of them are troublemakers.”
“Look how pale her skin is. Are all people from the Central Plains this fair?”
“Looks like she’s dusted with flour.”
“Are kids always this small?”
Surrounded by the group, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Eun Sowol.
Normally friendly with adults, she still felt overwhelmed, even sitting on someone’s shoulders, surrounded by such massive people.
Suddenly, memories of being kidnapped by Hongwol Trading Company and almost eaten by Yin-Yang Twin Heads resurfaced.
“U-Uncle…”
She finally whimpered out for Dokgo Ryong.
Sensing her unease, Baekwoon bared its teeth in an instant.
HISSSSS!
“Waaah!”
As Baekwoon raised a paw with its claws out, one man who’d reached for Sowol stumbled back in shock.
Only then did everyone realize how close she was to bursting into tears.
“W-What do we do?”
“See? You scared her!”
“I just thought she was cute…”
“She’s scared because you all look terrifying!”
“You’re no different, senior!”
“Shut up, you brats! Back off, all of you, ten steps!”
At Yoon Taeshin’s growl, they all quickly retreated.
