The Teacher’s Grace Is Like Heaven

22 – No Retreat (1)

‘You make funny noises,’

the voice said. It jolted me awake, and I pushed my upper body upright. I let out a deep sigh.

My whole body was damp with sweat. I wiped the sweat from my face with the palm of my hand. I can’t believe how much time has passed already…….

Still, the memory of that day haunted me like a curse. I turned my head slightly; it was the middle of the night, and the thick darkness had not yet receded.

I sighed, grabbed the wooden sword I’d set aside, and stepped outside. I’m awake anyway, so this is better than lying around with nothing to do.

I was greeted by a cold breeze that seemed out of place on a spring day. I thought winter was over, but it was still chilly at dawn.

I didn’t care, though, and drew my wooden sword. Despite the chill, my mind was burning hot with memories of that day.

Ten years ago, no…… it was twelve years ago now, I had appeared before the warlords, and I had been full of confidence, for I was a reincarnation, and I knew a great deal about the warlords. Instead, I thought in vain about what kind of honor I would receive, what kind of sutra I would obtain, and so on.

I was a clueless, rampaging foal then. I was foolish as hell. I knew nothing about the subject. I felt like the hero of a novel.

‘I’ve learned my lesson, Xiao Xiao.’

‘…….’

But my confidence was short-lived. I experienced my first defeat. No matter how hard I gritted my teeth and kept charging, I couldn’t even land a decent blow.

Something was wrong, I thought. This can’t be happening. I’m the hero. I can’t lose. That’s what I thought, desperately denying it.

My sword strokes became faster and faster. As if trying to deny the memory of that time. Sweat or tears, I don’t know which, kept rolling down my face.

“Draw your sword.”

And two years later, in a tavern, I met the man. He was not a known master, nor was he old.

He was a young man about my age. But there was something about him that I didn’t have. Just looking at him, I felt like I had to bow my head.

It was like looking at the vastness of the sky. I felt inferior because I could tell by looking at him that he was out of the ordinary.

So I challenged the young man. I stopped him from doing exactly what he was about to do. He looked at me and opened his mouth.

“Then they will survive.”

The young man’s voice was like thunder. I didn’t dare resist the ear-piercing binge. My legs began to shake.

The young man was looking at me, expressionless. He was testing me. My body trembled with fear. It was like a natural disaster.

“But instead…… you die.”

I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. I let out a ragged breath and eventually collapsed. Sweat poured down my body.

Before I knew it, the sun was more than halfway up in the sky. I swung my sword with more force than usual, perhaps due to old memories.

I sheathed my wooden sword and rose from my seat. With that thought, I turned my head and was startled.

Her glossy black hair reached her waist. Her height, which had been near my waist, had now grown to touch my collar.

The garment she wore was made of silk, revealing her sternum. Her cheeks were lightly painted, and her lips were covered with blotting paper.

“Did you have a peaceful night, Master?”

“Yes, but not the makeup. What about the clothes?”

“What do you think, Master?”

“…… Pretty.”

“Gah, thank you.”

From noble mtl dot com

I smiled bitterly as I watched Bi Yan blush and avert her gaze as if embarrassed.

Judging by the way she was putting on her best face, she had found a man she liked.

But I had no intention of interfering with her love. If she truly loves me, I should be her teacher, blessing her path and believing in her.

With that thought, I extended my hand to her. But she didn’t hand me the wet wipes she was holding.

“I’ll wipe it for you, Master.”

“Gu, that’s not necessary.”

“How can a disciple make a master go to the trouble?”

“…….”

“Please, look at my face and don’t refuse.”

So resolute was Bi Yan’s appearance that she resembled a spirit from the underworld. Under her overwhelmingly terrifying momentum, I could only nod my head.

Then she smiled and began to meticulously wipe the sweat from my body with a wet towel, which is literally a damp towel.

I felt the cold wetness of the towel wipe away the sweat from my body. Bi-Yeon carefully lifted her hand and untied my forelock. I clicked my tongue.

“That’s it. That’s enough.”

“…….”

I sighed, turning my taste buds away from her in disappointment.

This was a bit much, though, even for a pupil helping a master. I gathered up my clothes again and put them on. By then, Bi-Yeon was carrying breakfast from the kitchen to the floor.

And I locked eyes with it in a hot, boiling iron bowl. Sticking out of the side of the bowl was the unmistakable head of Zara,

and inside was a skinless, halved chicken, with an assortment of vegetables covering it. I opened my mouth to laugh.

“What kind of food is this?”

“It’s a soup made with zara and chicken.”

“You’ve been working hard since morning.”

“It’s a nourishing meal for the upcoming summer.”

“…….”

As far as I know, it’s early spring. As I thought so, I picked at the chicken with my chopsticks, and medicinal herbs spilled out from the inside.

At the incredible situation where there were more medicinal herbs than chicken, I turned my head to look at Bi Yan without saying a word. Bi Yan smiled and said.

“It’s you, Master. I didn’t expect you to recognize a golden fowl.”

“A golden fowl?”

“Yes, it’s a chicken that has been fed nothing but numerous spiritual medicines and herbs for its entire life.”

“Then what are these herbs inside?”

“They are precious medicinal ingredients obtained from the Jigalsegae.”

“…….”

Two years ago, from the time I went to see Dr. Yang Dujin until now. She brought all kinds of unheard-of medicines and foods.

From what I’ve heard, she became involved with Jegalsegae. She gets them from him.

Most of them were precious herbs or ingredients, and some of them were even precious pandan. Naturally, I refused them all. I didn’t want to rely on something like pandan now.

However, each time, Bi Yan would bow her head in tears. This caused me to panic, and I ended up eating the whole thing.

I sighed and tore off a piece of Zara’s meat and popped it into my mouth. It tasted like tears, but I forced it all down my throat.

“Did you like it?”

“It was bitter.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

“…….”

“I’ll have to teach Bi-Yeon how to say it later.” Just when I was thinking that. I remembered that I was out of food in the house.

Come to think of it, it’s about time I went grocery shopping, because if I leave it to Yan Yi, she’ll buy strange ingredients again. I looked at Yan Yi and said.

“I’m going to the market for a while.”

“I’ll be ready right away.”

“There’s no need for you to follow me.”

“As a disciple, how could I not serve my master?”

I had no reason to refuse, so I agreed. An hour or so passed, and the kite that had entered the room reappeared.

The makeup I had seen on her in the morning had already been removed. He had changed from his luxurious silk clothes to common boy’s clothes. I said.

“It would not be proper for you to dress up when you go out, would it?”

“No, this is right for me.”

“I only needed you to think so.”

“Thank you, Master.”

I sighed, and stepped out of the house. The kite clung to my side as I did so. I smiled bitterly at it.

But why? Despite the peacefulness of the day, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding in the corner of my mind. Just like that time.

* * *

Three years have already passed.

I don’t know what kind of joke this is…… but what the heck.

In order to accomplish our mission, we must use everything we have at our disposal.

……So, there were traitors who dared to interfere with our mission?

If so, then we must take the risk.