MTLNOVEL Chapter 561
We must rescue the Cheonhwa-geom.
No matter which bloodline stands in our way, or even if life fades away, there’s absolutely no regret.
The future of our Orthodox Martial World is engaged in a lonely battle, so what’s the hardship in adults protecting children and burning themselves out?
If the situation calls for it, I’ll even brace myself for the most critical showdown.
With such a solemn determination, we finally set sail!
Cheonhwa-geom rescue operation, initiate!
“Are you talking about the Cheonhwa-geom? Oh dear, you’re a bit late. They set off for Gaebong District about half an hour ago.”
Cheonhwa-geom rescue operation, conclude!
“By the way, you all came here to see the Cheonhwa-geom? I didn’t expect the fame of the most beautiful maiden, Lady Seomun, to spread so quickly. This really speaks to the cultural strength of Gangnam leading the Central Plain. Hahaha!”
“……?”
Just as we landed, the Orthodox warriors, who had dashed out to gather intel, returned looking deflated.
But really, who is this Lady Seomun, the ‘most beautiful maiden’?
It’s not just ordinary beauty; she’s exceptionally fragrant and lovely, making everyone else’s beauty seem inferior.
What’s that about ‘noble qualities’?
Seomun is quite the peculiar appellation here.
In the Central Plain, calling someone ‘Lady’ is the highest honor reserved for divine beings, so you can’t carelessly say her name.
Leaving behind countless questions, the Martial Alliance Rescue Team quietly slipped back into the waterway.
And so, the Martial Alliance.
“Insuk, Ah-ui!”
The former leader of the Cheonhwa-geom rescue team, the mighty Mo Yongseong, called out to his kin in a stern voice.
I’d taken a breath of relief lately thinking they had matured, but I never expected them to cause such a mess.
Heart Consumption Technique, huh? Did they recklessly charge this way without knowing how much others covet that cursed technique?
It’s understandable, at least partly, since they want to help a friend.
Yet if you’re genuinely helping your friend, you should have stopped them.
Even if you couldn’t dissuade them, you should have informed family or any elder of the orthodox sect.
How could they head out without letting anyone know?
If things went wrong, they could have lost their most cherished daughter forever. This time, I’ll really scold them soundly!
“Ah, Father…!”
“Hey! No matter how silly you are, this is too much—”
Scold them soundly! Soundly?
“Hm? My daughter? Why does your face look so beautiful today? Let me think, it’s not just that you’re my daughter and beautiful; no, my dear! You’ve undergone a transformation, oh my! Supreme Martial Artist, supreme indeed! Oh my, dear, do you see? Our daughter has achieved the supreme level! Just twenty-five years old, this budding child, aww, you should have seen how magnificent our daughter is!”
A single tear rolled down Mo Yongseong’s cheek.
Mo Yongseong occasionally cries.
Even as the head of one of the five great families, he’s a well-known romantic who has yet to contemplate remarrying, mourning the loss of his late wife.
“Um, Father? This is embarrassing, so can we not…?”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? Well done, my daughter! With the help of the sun and moon, no, this accomplishment is entirely yours! How can I liken your achievement to heavenly assistance?”
“No, really. I’m embarrassed. Please…?”
“What’s embarrassing about it? In light of this joy, ah, you’ve made a fine friend, your efforts truly pleased me! Now you’ve reaped this fruit, your friendship is paramount; you’ve risked your life for it! Ah, this is a joy not just for our family but for all of Liaoning!”
“Dad, really stop, this is truly embarrassing. What’s so great about being a Supreme Martial Artist…?”
“What do you mean what’s great about being a Supreme Martial Artist? At your age, being a Supreme Martial Artist is an extraordinary achievement! We must return and hold a grand celebration! I’ll empty my storehouse to treat everyone in Liaoning to this joy! This is such a wonderful occasion—”
“Ah! Lord Mo Yong! How have you been?”
“Oh, Cheonhwa-geom. Yes, I’ve heard of your feats. You present yourself splendidly as a great hero, so now I must treat you with respect. However, do remember your place—”
At that moment, Mo Yongseong’s eyes widened.
What? Why can’t I read her realm?
Around the realm, a Supreme Martial Artist should sense the qi intuitively, or at least have an inkling of it.
And if that fails?
That would indicate a realm beyond recognition.
Among martial masters, even if they’d never met, they’d know each other’s characteristics.
So someone youthful was in such a state, and yet they couldn’t discern my realm? That must mean they’ve reached a higher realm or perhaps are hiding their identity.
Either way, twenty-one is just unreasonable.
Hmm. If she’s twenty-one and a hidden master, then that’s earnestly commendable.
There’s quite the time left, and yet they can’t break free from this hidden destiny.
If hidden mastery is reachable under certain conditions.
“Umm. Daughter. Should we keep the celebration subdued?”
Mo Yong Joo-hee lowered her head deeply.
To Qing, friends are extraordinarily invaluable, hence she is always ready to sacrifice for them.
Look, even now, she’s sacrificing so much.
She’s giving the opportunity of hosting a great hero of the renowned Martial World to fledgling supreme martial artists!
For those who are still fumbling around at the title of Supreme Martial Artist and can’t grasp something simple like harmonious balance, how could there be a joy more immense than hosting the Cheonhwa-geom?
Qing couldn’t help but shudder with the awareness of her broad-minded generosity.
In that regard, Young Lady Mo Yong is indeed in a rather unfortunate position.
On a golden opportunity to serve the great Changgu of a million transformations and flourishing peaks, she has to focus on family during the duty!
But family is always a major concern.
What can one do?
Hmm, I’m a bit envious, though.
I wonder if my parents are doing well?
My gluttonous younger sibling better take good care!
Don’t stuff two chicken legs at a time; hand one at a time, you pig!
Do they think my mom and dad will eat those for you, or what, you, swine?
In any case, let’s not dwell on these heavy thoughts.
Since this anchor of today has left due to unavoidable circumstances, I can’t just lay in bed all day.
Sure, walking alone isn’t completely impossible.
But just like Seoliri last time, I’d have to grit my teeth and struggle, so why bother when I can rest?
Hence, we find ourselves in need of a temporary anchor.
“Ah, then I’ll do it.” “Me too.” “What’s with you guys? Why are you butting in?”
Thus, Yeojin and Gunyongi, each trying to volunteer, was a comedic sight.
This was the unfortunate struggle of those beneath striving to be close to the heroes of the Martial World.
However, friends tend to quarrel over surprisingly trivial things.
Like the childhood friend always hogging chicken legs, thinking it’s just natural to pull rank when waiting to go out for five minutes, slyly pocketing the smallest share of their drinks, and so on.
They’ll have a massive blow-up, then in no time, they’re chugging drinks and acting like nothing happened afterwards.
Yet these small grievances accumulate and create distance, teaching a significant lesson on treating friends.
The closer you are, the more attention you need to pay to the little things!
That’s why, on a day like today, it wouldn’t be right to take sides while still navigating this special service.
For that reason.
“Enough. Today’s anchor is none other than San!”
“…… Anchor?”
Saying that, Qing noticed Pang Dae-san’s eyebrow twitch, which was his tell when he was upset.
Whenever he gets irked, his brows react before anything else.
Indeed, Qing always praises how wonderful the realm is, lamenting they don’t know how to express it. He must pick these comments to boost his friends’ motivation.
For what it’s worth, the remaining crew is simply here for entertainment.
That’s why every time she rambles about the wondrous realm, it seems like Pang Dae-san, attempting to suck down a meal, is quietly pleading to be part of the service.
They say even the wishes of the deceased can be granted, but what’s left for the living?
However, this is just—
As an anchor, this is completely useless.
“Ugh, come on, San, can’t you support better? I’m a patient, you know? Do you know what a full-body fracture is? Want me to explain how bones look? If I pulled on a cracked stick, would it hurt or not? I think my rear end might just fall off! Oh dear, I’m dying. Uggg.”
“Um, sorry. Hm.”
“Aww, San! Support the weight. Don’t hang on, just prop me up. Am I a weight you’re supposed to carry?”
“Ummm.”
“Ummm? What’s that supposed to mean? Just lowering your voice won’t solve everything. You fundamentally don’t get it. Arm parallel to the ground, mm, yes. It should work like this.”
While adjusting herself from lying to a seated position, Qing squirmed.
“Okay, let’s go. Destination: Hall of Books.”
“……”
“San?”
“…… Alright.”
Pang Dae-san has a strange expression.
Feeling the solid weight pressing down on his left arm, the veins bulging in his clenched fist show how much strain he’s exerting.
Yet he feels oddly offended by it.
How could this girl sit on a man’s arm like this, and does she really think she’s the woman of the hour?
Or does he not appear manly to her?
Maybe it could be the latter.
Considering how indifferent the crowd is toward such a scene.
“Oh, Miss! I see you’re off to the Hall of Books. The Martial Alliance’s Hall of Books is—”
“It’s built by the first leader. At the start, it was meant to share realizations. However, too profound insights can—”
“A truth beyond one’s measure can indeed be poison! Hence, the Hall of Books has various reading levels, not to discriminate based on status but—”
“To embody the Martial Alliance spirit of helping everyone to study—”
“But the current situation can’t just be viewed that way, it’s the reading levels—”
“Haha, you’ve got to be kidding me! Where does an heir of the Five Great Families come to criticize reading levels?”
“Lady Sama? While the Sama family is not part of the great ten families, they’ve long managed the library—”
“Because they already have experience operating the realm.”
“It’s only been three generations!”
“Haha, three generations is still impressive. How could you entrust such life to the Martial Alliance when you squandered it all in just one era?”
Somehow, there’s a crackle of tension.
Zhe-gal Lee-hyun, always tactful and amiable, is acting just like a conniving strongman today, displaying an unpleasant demeanor.
And Sama Chun-bong has a naturally ugly expression.
“San, can’t you shoo them away?”
“Can’t even handle one chatterbox.”
Flanking them, Zhe-gal Lee-hyun and Sama Chun-bong hurl useless information the other doesn’t care to hear, each cutting the other off in a competition of who knows better.
Seems like it’s an age-old rivalry, where they grasp each other’s quirks more than any martial arts superiority.
Let’s treat this as white noise.
“By the way, do you even read?”
“What, San? Are you looking down on people? A gentleman should read at least five wagons worth of books—”
“Du Fu!” “Je-bak Scholar Mo-Ok!” “Under the Old Texts, Chats about the Young Eye!” “Riots of Chang Wu-Chung!”
“—as if. I’m a Hall of Literature graduate. Just a book snatcher, you see?”
“Right. You had the idea when you realized cooking could be challenged. Thought you could duel with books too?”
“Oh really? Laughing? Are you chatting with a Supreme Martial Artist of the Ultimate Transformation?”
“That ultimate transformation is just nonsense,”
“That ultimate transformation is it what again?”
“Well, I’ve said it was a joke. It could surely shatter the eardrums. Hurry up, let’s get moving.”
Thus began an excessive background chatter leading them toward the Hall of Books.
Once the Hall’s warrior let them in, it was an entire ocean of books.
Perhaps due to fire prevention, the library was a massive five-story brick tower filled with shelves stacked to the brim.
Of course, books catch fire easily.
Given that, was there really a need to build entirely out of bricks if they weren’t prepared?
Hmm. Asking to find one book in here?
Like finding a grain of sand on a beach?
Thinking about it, perhaps this wasn’t just an ominous personality trait from the land of Liaoning.
But answers are always there.
“Uh, what was the title? It was a rare book discussing anatomical evolution based on sword form during the Tang dynasty? I can’t find it! Um, if there are many visitors in the Hall of Books, I would have been able to find it.”
Just for reference, the name of the secret manual Young Lady Unyeonjeong had hidden was “Anatomical Developments Corresponding to Sword forms based on Tang Dynasty Records.”
It seems it got a bit sweetened during the adaptation process.
“Sister! Isn’t the Hall of Books the place I stayed every time I visited the Martial Alliance?”
“I practically grew up in this Hall of Books, but the few nights I’ve spent here don’t give me the stature of a frog who can’t even rise from this spot. Heh heh!”
Then they shot each other a glare and dashed off.
“You really know how to take charge, don’t you?”
“Not really, I just gave you all a chance to prove yourselves. I tend to be thoughtful and nurturing!”
“More like forceful! But if it’s a joke, you’re at least kind of funny.”
“Oh, San. Your lips seem to be splitting a bit today? Mouth, lips, hmm, even the mouth feels dull. Is there no snack allowed here?”
“Eating is prohibited here.”
Of course, in a library, even thinking about food is quite inappropriate and makes one feel disheartened.
In that sense, Qing felt a little downcast.
“No one’s watching anyway, so it should be fine.”
Pang Dae-san dropped a pouch onto the table.
At that, Qing’s face lit up, bright enough to illuminate the dark library.
As Pang Dae-san momentarily gazed in disbelief, Qing sniffed in his direction, expanding her nostrils eagerly.
“What’s this? Oh, jerky, oh, what, mmm, incense? And spicy, oh, there’s some lamb here.”
“Wait, do you recognize that by smell?”
“Whoa, it’s jerky! This, did San pack this for me?”
Jerky refers to soft beef or lamb that’s flavored and tenderized, unlike the hard, tasteless travel provisions.
So having this flavorful jerky as a rare treat is quite a luxury.
Given Pang Dae-san has no particular taste for such foreign snacks, what reason could he have to bring this expensive treat?
Thus, Pang Dae-san cleared his throat, overly self-conscious.
“I picked it up along the way. I was scared someone would see, so just eat it.”