Appearance of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 17
* * *
As they climbed higher into the mountains away from the Gwan Estate, the path grew narrower and fewer travelers appeared.
Woon Hyun and Yeon Woo made their way up the sparse mountain trail hand in hand.
“The place you were hit—it doesn’t hurt anymore?”
Yeon Woo, walking with long strides while leaning on Woon Hyun’s grip, nodded his head.
“Nope. Doesn’t hurt now.”
“Good. You’re lucky it wasn’t a serious injury.”
“But, you know, Grandfather?”
“Hmm?”
“Why did I lose?”
Woon Hyun turned to look at Yeon Woo.
The boy’s round eyes were quite serious.
“You’re wondering why you lost?”
“Yeah. I was stronger than that boy.”
Woon Hyun’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
“What makes you think you’re stronger than that boy?”
“I had way more strength. You can tell when you collide.”
Interesting.
Woon Hyun’s eyes flickered with new light.
Judging an opponent’s strength was no easy task, even for a seasoned martial artist.
“So it wasn’t just your sense of smell that’s exceptional.”
“Huh?”
“No, that’s right. You’re correct—your strength is superior.”
Yeon Woo’s strength stemmed from his constitution, which made him exceptionally strong for his age.
“But what truly matters is the difference in experience.”
“Experience?”
“Yes. That boy has trained in Martial Arts for at least five years. In that time, he’s crossed blades with the estate’s warriors many times at least.”
Though judging by his fighting style and movements, he seemed to train primarily with a bow rather than a sword.
“In a Sparring Match, strength is not what’s decisive. Especially not among those who have mastered the Martial Arts.”
“So I lost because I haven’t learned Martial Arts?”
“You could say that.”
“I see.”
As Yeon Woo stretched his arms out wide in understanding, Woon Hyun harbored a private hope.
‘I hope this incident made him even a little interested in Martial Arts.’
No matter how much one tries to teach by force, what truly matters in learning the Martial Arts is the desire to learn.
While it pained him to see the boy hurt, if this incident had kindled even a spark of that desire, then today would be a blessing beyond measure.
“Oh, Grandfather! That’s Am Yeong over there!”
Yeon Woo shouted, pointing ahead.
At the far end of the path leading to the house, Am Yeong Ma Gun was waving toward the two of them—though it was unclear when he had returned.
“Am Yeeeong!!”
Woon Hyun watched with calm eyes as Yeon Woo ran after Am Yeong Ma Gun, calling out to him as though they were old friends.
‘One step.’
With the hope that this single step today would transform the boy’s entire life.
* * *
“Here. A Rabbit.”
Late afternoon.
Yeon Woo looked bewildered as Gwan Hyuk suddenly appeared and thrust a Rabbit toward him.
Yeon Woo glanced back at Woon Hyun standing behind him, his eyes asking what this meant.
When Woon Hyun shrugged as if he had no idea, Yeon Woo looked again at the Rabbit being held out in front of him.
Gwan Hyuk turned his gaze away and shook the Rabbit.
“You like them, don’t you?”
“You’re giving it to me?”
“Yeah! Why else would I be offering it to you? It took a while to catch.”
Yeon Woo finally broke into a broad smile and accepted the Rabbit.
“Welcome back, Yeon Woo.”
“Don’t call me that!”
Gwan Hyuk bit back the rebuke that was about to burst out—something about how he’d told him not to call him that.
‘He came to apologize.’
I shouldn’t argue. I shouldn’t get angry.
No matter what I say, I mustn’t get swept up in this….
“But just one? Son, whose nose are you going to stick this on?”
“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to catch even one?! Because of this, I had to cut through places that weren’t even roads, set traps, and spent more than an hour watching over them—I thought my eyes would fall out…!!”
Oh, no.
Don’t get angry, don’t get angry…!
“What I’m saying is! Since I caught it with such difficulty, you should eat it deliciously….”
“That’s what Yeon Woo does best.”
Yeon Woo knows at least a thousand different ways to eat rabbit meat deliciously!
“A thousand different ways?”
What kind of counting is that?
He was slightly bewildered.
“Today we’re having rabbit meat—”
Gwan Hyuk let out a soft laugh.
Watching Yeon Woo dance about excitedly filled him with an unexpected sense of pride.
‘It took some time, but….’
He was glad he’d brought it back.
Gwan Hyuk cleared his throat with a small cough and scratched the back of his neck.
“And….”
“……?”
“Ah, I… I’m sorry about earlier. For venting my anger on you like that.”
“Did you come to apologize, son?”
“Yes.”
Gwan Hyuk’s face had turned bright red.
It was his first time apologizing to anyone, let alone to a child younger than himself, and the awkwardness was overwhelming.
He wanted nothing more than to flee this moment right then and there.
“I owe you an apology.”
Gwan Hyuk met Yeon Woo’s gaze directly.
“I still think I should be the one going to Ma Ryong Gwan. You’re still weak, and you’re not ready yet. But….”
He knew that facing this embarrassment was the only way to offer a true apology.
“Even so, I shouldn’t have acted the way I did today. I went too far. I’m sorry for hurting you.”
“…….”
“My desire to look good in Father’s eyes got ahead of everything else….”
“I think you should be the one going too.”
“…! What…?”
Yeon Woo lifted his gaze and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“Because you want to go, and you’re working hard to prepare for it, so…?”
“…….”
“That’s the right choice!”
“…Really?”
“I’m sorry for taking that away from you.”
Gwan Hyuk’s eyes trembled slightly.
Took…away?
In truth, Gwan Hyuk had known all along.
What it meant for Yeon Woo to go to Ma Ryong Gwan in his place.
Why Father had paid such a large sum to their parents.
And yet, when it came down to it, everything that had happened was because of him—it was his fault entirely.
‘Sorry for taking it away….’
This child truly….
In that moment, something small suddenly thrust itself before Gwan Hyuk’s downcast eyes.
It was Yeon Woo’s small, round hand.
“……?”
Gwan Hyuk looked at him questioningly.
“A reconciliation handshake!”
“A handshake…?”
What was a handshake?
Before Gwan Hyuk could make sense of it, Yeon Woo grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously up and down.
“……!”
Gwan Hyuk’s eyes widened.
“Next is a hug!”
“A hu…!?”
Just as Po-ung was beginning to understand, his alarm only deepened.
Whoosh—!
“…!!”
Before Gwan Hyuk could even react, Yeon Woo suddenly wrapped his arms around him in a tight embrace.
Gwan Hyuk’s eyes went wide as saucers, caught off guard by the smaller boy’s sudden hold.
He froze entirely, unable to think of escaping that small embrace.
“What on earth are you doing!”
Woon Hyun rushed over in alarm and pulled the two apart.
“Young master…!”
Si Dong stood watching, his mouth hanging open in shock.
Woon Hyun scolded Yeon Woo, while the boy spread his arms wide with innocent cheerfulness, insisting it was a “peace hug,” his lips twisted wryly.
It was something he’d seen once, long ago in another life—through a small window—when a mother reconciled two quarreling brothers.
He’d learned it then, and now merely imitated it; for his trouble, Woon Hyun gave him a swift flick on the head.
“Don’t go around hugging people!”
“Owww.”
Even as the boy clutched his head and shed a few tears, Gwan Hyuk and Si Dong remained frozen in place, utterly motionless.
* * *
“That really startled me!”
On the path down the mountain.
Si Dong chuckled, recalling what had just happened.
“I’ve never seen anyone approach the young master so casually before. You were quite taken aback yourself, weren’t you?”
What was there to say?
Gwan Hyuk trudged forward with his head bowed, his cheeks still flushed.
But Gwan Hyuk was a man.
“I, well. Hardly.”
“Pardon? It didn’t bother you at all, sir?”
“Right. Well. Not particularly. Well. I…”
“……?”
Why was the young master speaking so strangely?
Si Dong glanced sideways at Gwan Hyuk.
For a moment, he wore a vacant, dazed expression.
Gwan Hyuk suddenly snapped back to awareness, startled by Si Dong’s stare, and raised his voice defensively.
“What’s the matter with some silly hug, anyway?! I’m not bothered at all!”
“Ah. Yes.”
“Really, I’m not bothered—I’m not the sort to care about some… some… some…”
Gwan Hyuk’s face, which had begun cooling, blazed bright red again.
Si Dong couldn’t help but grin.
Gwan Hyuk quickened his pace and hurried ahead rapidly.
“I should check the traps on the way down!”
“Sir?”
Check the traps?
Si Dong was startled and tried to stop him.
“It’s already too late today! If we go on like this, the sun will set before we even reach the house!”
He hurried his steps to catch Gwan Hyuk, but the young master moved so quickly Si Dong couldn’t keep pace.
“Young master!”
“What if the game caught overnight escapes? I’ll be quick about it! I’ll just circle back that way, so you wait at the crossroads!”
“But… it’s dangerous, so let me come with you!”
“Your pace would slow me down! I’ll go first, so just wait for me at the junction!”
“Young… master!”
Before Si Dong could even catch up, Gwan Hyuk disappeared beyond the brush.
Using the Light Body Art as he fled, there was no way Si Dong could follow.
Si Dong looked up at the darkening sky with worry in his eyes.
“It really is getting too late…”
If they returned after sunset, the master would be angry again.
He should have taken the master’s advice to sleep and head down tomorrow, like he’d suggested when he was with Yeon Woo.
“Oh no! I’m going to be late myself!”
Si Dong rushed down the mountain path.
He could only hope his master returned without delay.
He quickened his pace urgently.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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