When word got out that Cho Myung had returned, everyone gathered in a hurry.
Jeok Yorap, Hua Sochen, and even Seokcheong.
The head of the pharmacy was not present, so he had not heard the news of Cho Myung's return.
"So, you met a spider with a human face in a cave and fought it, and you just came back after taking something like an inner core left by a Taoist named Yoryo. Is that it?"
"Yes. I did have a very long dream-like experience... but it really feels like I just slept for one night."
At Cho Myung's answer, which was still as if he were in a dream, Hua Yunhui looked around at the other people with a bewildered face.
Everyone had the same bewildered expression as him.
It was a good thing that they knew a little about what kind of things Cho Myung had been through in the past and what had happened to his body, otherwise it was a story so absurd that he would have been treated as a madman.
"That doesn't matter. What does it matter if it's three years or ten years? It's enough that you've returned so healthy."
The old man with half-gray hair said with a satisfied smile.
It was Jeok Yorap.
As if three years had really passed, not only his white hair but also the wrinkles on his face had increased.
"I'm sorry, grandfather."
"No. Thank you for returning safely, and thank you for still calling me grandfather."
At Jeok Yorap's words, Cho Myung smiled gently.
Jeok Yorap also made an even more satisfied face.
Just with that smile, they could feel enough of the affection they had for each other.
Soon, Cho Myung turned his gaze from Jeok Yorap and looked at Seokcheong.
"Three years have passed, but you're still the same, big brother."
"I eat and study, eat and study. There's nothing to change. But you've really changed a lot. To think you've become the same height as me. Your voice has also gotten quite a bit deeper."
"I know. To think my eye level is the same as yours, big brother, it still doesn't feel real. I feel like everyone else has gotten smaller, not that I've gotten bigger."
As he spoke, he looked back and saw Hua Sochen, who had been sitting quietly until now.
She had truly become a fully bloomed woman.
Since three years had passed, she was twenty.
It was the age when a woman's beauty was at its peak.
"You've become even prettier, sister."
"Seeing you talk, it's not just your body that has grown."
At Hua Sochen's words, everyone nodded.
His way of speaking was quite different from the Cho Myung of the past. It was the way of speaking of a boy, not a child. He even had a calm feeling, so he looked quite mature.
"I told you I had a dream-like experience. As I listened to the words of the Taoists and faced the things I had experienced one by one, I came to think a lot."
Cho Myung also knew that he had grown quite a bit.
Whether it was one night or three years, he was no longer a five-year-old child.
It seemed he had also grown quite a bit mentally.
So much so that when he saw Hua Yunhui again, the title of 'big brother' felt awkward and embarrassing.
"I'm glad you're safe. I'm glad you overcame your master's death well and returned like this."
"Yes."
Cho Myung answered in a low voice and nodded.
When the story of Old Man Ban came up, everyone made a solemn face.
"So, what are you going to do from now on?"
"What?"
"Now that you've returned, what are you going to do with your life?"
"Sister, why are you asking such a thing already? He can go to the old master's grave tomorrow to pay his respects, rest a little, and then we can talk slowly."
Hua Yunhui interjected.
"Head of the family, that would be good. Myung must also be confused because of the three years that felt like one day."
Jeok Yorap also added a word.
His attitude towards Hua Sochen was polite.
It was because in the meantime, Hua Sochen had become the official head of the family, and Jeok Yorap had been hired as a member of the pharmacy.
"I understand. Myung."
Hua Sochen, who had answered as if she had agreed, got up from her seat, looked down at Cho Myung, and called him. And when Cho Myung looked at her, she left a word and went outside.
"Go and wash up."
The flustered Cho Myung stared blankly and then looked around at the other people.
"Do I smell?"
"Yeah, you do. A lot. Go and wash."
At Hua Yunhui's answer, who was holding his nose and making an exaggeratedly frowning face, Cho Myung's face turned embarrassed.
But Seokcheong's reaction was a little different.
He twitched his nose and gradually approached Cho Myung.
"Sniff, sniff! What did you eat? You smell dirty, but you also smell sweet. What did you eat?"
"What do you mean, what did I eat? If three years have passed, I must have starved all this time."
Cho Myung pushed Seokcheong's face and got up from his seat.
Cho Myung went to the well.
He took off his upper garment and poured water from his head.
And he washed every corner of his body.
After washing for a long time, he poured water several more times.
After washing like that, he was about to take off his lower garment when he heard a sign of someone and looked back.
Hua Sochen was approaching with a set of clothes.
"I don't know if it will fit."
"Thank you."
Cho Myung took the clothes and put them down on one side.
Hua Sochen did not go back, as if she had something to say.
"Do you have something to say?"
Hua Sochen hesitated once more and then opened her mouth.
"On that day three years ago, the master of Hundred Herb Forest came to visit. He said he didn't know anything about it and apologized, offering a hundred taels of gold. It was money I shouldn't have received, but since my grandfather told me to just take it, I did."
"You did well."
A person's life cannot be converted into money.
How could a master's life be calculated in money?
The money that the master of Hundred Herb Forest had given was just money.
If one had to be picky, it would be the price for not teaching his child properly.
That person might think that he had settled it with that, but it was not even close.
Blood for blood.
A life for a life.
He didn't know his name. He knew he was the son of the master of Hundred Herb Forest, and he also knew his face.
So if he saw him again, that person would not be intact.
He must.
"Are you really okay?"
"Sister."
"Speak."
"My master has passed away. I shouldn't just forget, right?"
"What are you going to do?"
"I won't leave that person alone."
Hua Sochen, who had heard Cho Myung's answer.
She was not surprised or flustered.
In her calm state, her eyes rather sparkled.
"After that day, they all ran away. I found out that it was because of the martial prowess that you, Myung, had shown that day."
Cho Myung thought of that person for a moment.
Just with that, the embers in his chest were about to catch fire.
"I have to meet him again."
"Even if you don't go out and look for him, it will happen. The world is smaller than you think. Besides, since his father is here, he will come back someday."
"I hope so."
Cho Myung, who was nodding vigorously.
Hua Sochen looked at such a Cho Myung and asked.
"Have you become stronger?"
"Yes."
"May I ask how much stronger you have become?"
"Is there something you want from me?"
"After the Ghost Blade Sect and all of them ran away that day, gangs that took their empty places appeared. And behind them is the Iron Wall Sect."
"What's the Iron Wall Sect?"
"When my father was alive, he came to visit every other day, but as soon as he passed away, he's a detestable person who clung to Hundred Herb Forest."
"He's a traitor."
"He's not a traitor, he's a hypocrite."
"A hypocrite?"
"Yes, a hypocrite. A very cunning hypocrite."
"What did they do?"
"They are telling us to stop buying from Hundred Herb Forest at half price and to trade at the normal price."
"I thought I heard it was for five years, isn't it?"
"That's right."
The contract clearly stated that it was for five years.
The master of Hundred Herb Forest himself.
"But they still threatened you?"
"After Old Man Ban passed away and you also disappeared, they must have been relieved, and for the past six months, it seems they have been threatening the head of the pharmacy every time he goes."
Hearing Hua Sochen's words, the situation became clear.
This was also a change, if it was a change.
Three years ago, since he was just a child, he had no interest in what the adults were doing, and it was full of things he didn't understand. But now, he knew that the adults' work was his own. He understood roughly with just a few words.
Cho Myung nodded.
And he looked at Hua Sochen and said suddenly.
"Sister, thank you."
"For what?"
"For telling me. You're saying you're going to rely on me."
"Yes, I want to rely on you. Because you're the only one who can protect the main family."
"So thank you. Because you're accepting me enough to rely on me."
"You're my family. My... my younger brother."
"Yes, sister."
Cho Myung answered and smiled brightly.
Hua Sochen also smiled back.
"Then, I'll trust you and go."
"Tell the head of the pharmacy to take me with him next time he goes."
"I will. Sleep well."
"Yes, sister."
Hua Sochen, who was returning to her residence while listening to Cho Myung's answer, suddenly looked back without realizing it.
She could see Cho Myung turning away in the distance.
She hadn't noticed when they were talking, but now that she saw it, his bare upper body had a quite strong build.
Moreover, the muscles that were firmly and finely in place all over his body were developed so wonderfully, as if they were compressing a strong power.
'Is that the body of a martial artist?'
A look of surprise appeared on Hua Sochen's face.
It was a body so amazing that she could not take her eyes off it.
"......!"
Hua Sochen, who had been captivated by Cho Myung's body, was startled and had to turn around.
It was because Cho Myung was taking off his lower garment to wash the rest of his body.
Hua Sochen shook her head and hurried to her residence and disappeared.
***
Cho Myung, who had woken up early in the morning, opened the window of the Jangsaengwon patient room first.
At that sound, Jeok Yorap woke up.
"You're already up?"
"Yes. I have to go to my master."
"Now?"
"I haven't been able to greet him for three years, I can't eat first."
"That's true. I'll take you."
"I can go alone. Just tell me the location."
"No. Let's go see him together."
"Okay."
Thus, the two headed to Old Man Ban's grave.
A ridge where the Hua Family Clinic could be seen at a glance.
Old Man Ban's grave was located in a place where the sunlight was good.
"I thought your big brother would be able to watch over you from here."
"Thank you."
"You rascal, he was also a big brother to me."
Cho Myung just nodded and then bowed to the grave.
Come to think of it, he had only said he would serve him as a master. So he performed the nine bows.
When Cho Myung had finished the nine bows, Jeok Yorap, who was watching, said with reddened eyes.
"Your master will be happy too."
"I think he'll scold me for being too late."
"Well, I think he'll just laugh."
The image of his master laughing heartily was clear in his eyes.
"Grandfather."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"You risked your life to save me. At that time, I just thought 'thank you', but now I know. How difficult and amazing that was. Thank you very much."
"Yes, that's right. It was an amazingly difficult thing. I don't know what possessed me to have such courage then."
Jeok Yorap laughed freely, recalling the past.
Cho Myung looked at his face and smiled back.
That he was truly grateful was expressed more than enough with just that smile.
Soon, Cho Myung knelt down in front of Old Man Ban's grave. And he began to remove the weeds with his two hands.
"Thank you too, master. You taught me the way to live."
The teaching to fight to protect happiness.
Thanks to that teaching, he has been able to overcome the terrible memories of the past and live happily day by day.
And now.
Even now, that teaching was the guide for the life he would live in the future.
Cho Myung, who had removed all the visible weeds, stepped back a few steps. And he took the basic stance of the Hundred Strikes Art that Old Man Ban had taught him.
He stood with his left foot slightly forward, crouched his upper body slightly, and then placed his two fists in front of his face, a posture as if he were about to rush forward explosively at any moment.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack, thwack!
When Cho Myung threw his fist, the sound of the air bursting was heard.
Cho Myung began to perform the fist techniques of the Hundred Strikes Art that he had learned from Old Man Ban one by one.
Thud! Thud! Thud, thud, thud, thud!
The sound of the air bursting became louder and louder, and the speed also became faster and faster.
From some point on, Jeok Yorap, who was watching, could not even see Cho Myung's fists.
Cho Myung, who was moving quickly in all directions, front, back, left, and right.
That movement also became faster and faster, and Jeok Yorap's eyes widened.
'Big brother, what on earth did you teach him? Is that really the body movement of a person?'
While Jeok Yorap was unable to hide his surprise like that, Cho Myung stopped. And with Old Man Ban's grave watching, he threw his fist powerfully at the distant empty space.
At that moment, Jeok Yorap saw.
The sight of an invisible energy piercing through space and stretching for dozens of zhang, bursting with a thunderous sound like 'Kwa-reung!'.
Although it was just that the space was distorted, it was clear that it was some kind of amazing power, although he did not know for sure.
"Grandfather."
"Yeah, yeah?"
Jeok Yorap, who had been surprised, looked at him with a dazed face, and Cho Myung had a hardened face as if he were somewhat depressed.
"I... I thought it was right for me to be sold for my family to eat and live. But that was a wrong thought. I realized it while watching my grandfather and master save me and teach me the way to live. That no matter what difficulties come, a family must be together. To abandon them because it's hard is not a family. I've come to know that."
Jeok Yorap could not say anything.
He could not say it was wrong, and he could not say it was right even more.
"To me, my master and grandfather are my real family. So please live a long life, grandfather."
Cho Myung's face, who was looking back as he said that, looked very sad. It seemed that the absence of his master had not yet sunk in.
(End of Chapter)