Chapter 67: When the First Snow Falls Again (3)

Translator: hwarang

Editor: Klaurem

The spies that I sent, Silver and Spoon, returned after completing their mission.

“All the girls that were held captive due to Jo Byuk have returned home. All the old rats who were caught were thrown in jail. Not only that, everyone who used that place was thrown in jail. It seems as if they received a life sentence. The place that they were sent to is full of criminals so they won’t make it too long.”

I was satisfied with the news. The core of the Murim Alliance still hadn’t turned bad.

However, slowly as years pa.s.s it will change. How could the water in the bottom of the mountain be clear if the top is polluted? Things would change over time.

“Can you get any information on the things that Jo Byuk did for Sa Ma Chun?”

“It will take some time but it is possible.”

Jo Byuk probably did a lot for Sa Ma Chun. There must be some evidence supporting this. If I am able to obtain it. I could use it against Sa Ma Chun in the future. Of course, I wouldn’t use it right now but when it was crucial.

“Always be careful.”

“Yes, sir.”

“At the same time can you look further into the Alliance?”

“Understood.”

“But good work.”

“No need to compliment us.”

I liked the way they worked. They were fast and reliable.  But I was going to watch and test them more.

After my meeting with Silver and Spoon, I went to Kong Soo Chan. He was looking over doc.u.ments in his room.

“It is going well?”

“Yes, I am taking everything into consideration. As you can see…”

“No, I didn’t come for that. I will leave everything in your capable hands.”

“Then why have you come here, sir?”

“Have you seen Kw.a.n.g Du today? I haven’t seen him all day today.”

Since he sent Kw.a.n.g Du to guard Kong Soo Chan, he a.s.sumed that he was here.

“I haven’t seen him either.” There was a slight hesitation in his answer.

“Alright”

Just as I was about to leave he said, “Young master.”

“Yes.”

After some hesitation he said, “What would happen if Warrior Kw.a.n.g caused an incident? Would it be a major problem?”

***

When Baek Pyo came out of his shop to open it for the day, he saw someone standing across the street. It was Kw.a.n.g Du.

“I came here since I remembered this place.”

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes”

“Come in then.”

Kw.a.n.g Du entered and sat in the place the Byuk Lee Dan usually sits.

Baek Pyo quickly went inside and started preparing for the day. Since he was quick with his hands everything was ready rather fast.

Kw.a.n.g Du just quietly watched as Baek Pyo cleaned up. But Baek Pyo’s movements weren’t that of a normal owner.

“Should I give you the one that you had before?”

“Yes, I would appreciate it. And can you give me the snack from last time as well?”

Baek Pyo brought the alcohol.

“I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it.”

“My young master talks about you all the time.”

“About me? What does he say about me?”

“That you are a great person to meet.”

“Haha, I think he is complimenting me too much.”

“What do you think about my master?”

“Master Byuk? Without a second thought I know he is a great person.”

“He is right? He is a great person.”

“Yes.”

Before he got here. He was planning to make this very businesslike. However after having a conversation with him, he couldn’t do it. Part of it was because he was afraid of Baek Pyo since he knew that Baek Pyo was the head guard of the previous Mengju. He didn’t know how Baek Pyo would react if he told him.

-Who do you see me as? That you help me secretly behind my back?

Would he start beating him? If it ended like  that it wouldn’t be that bad.

-Are you my enemy? Do you plan on taking my family? I must get away from here after eliminating you.

What if he wanted to kill them? Although he mastered the Seven Stances of the North Sea, he couldn’t do anything against a master like him.

Kw.a.n.g Du drank his alcohol deep in thought.

As they said, you could never judge a book by its cover. Although he looked calm and normal, he is a master that most people would not be able to take on.

‘No, the person who used to be the head guard of the mengju wouldn’t be like that. I should tell him. He could react like this.’

-I have been waiting for a new master after leaving the Alliance. Thank you for telling me.

‘Should I? Should I not?’

Kw.a.n.g Du was filled with conflicting thoughts.

Then he spoke, “Is there something in your mind?”

When Kw.a.n.g Du looked up it was Baek Pyo with the food.

“I am sorry for surprising you.”

“No, I was just thinking about something.”

With a smile, Baek Pyo laid down the food in front of him.

As he was as about to turn away Kw.a.n.g Du said, “If you have time can I have a word with you?”

“Of course.”

Baek Pyo sat across Kw.a.n.g Du. Seeing Kw.a.n.g Du come here alone and seeing him deep in thought, Baek Pyo knew he had something to say.

Then Kw.a.n.g Du filled a cup and gave him it, “Here have a drink.”

“I usually don’t drink when I am working, but I guess I’ll have this one.”

The two of them cheered.

Kw.a.n.g Du started the conversation, “The thing that I am about to tell you is related to my master.”

He finally made his decision to tell him everything.

“Did something happen to young master Byuk?”

“Yes, something happened.”

“What is it?”

“Because of you.”

“Because of me?”

Baek Pyo was surprised.

Kw.a.n.g Du told him everything that Byuk Lee Dan told him. How Sa Ma Chun ordered his subordinate Jo Byuk to prey on his family. And how Byuk Lee Dan prevented it.

Kw.a.n.g Du believed that the most important part of it was that he needed to tell Baek Pyo that Byuk Lee Dan saved him and his family.

Although Baek Pyo was surprised at hearing such a thing since he was the former head guard of the mengju, Baek Pyo acted calm after hearing it.

“Why did he help me in secret?”

Baek Pyo was not longer Baek Pyo the owner, but he had turned into Baek Pyo the head guard of mengju.

“Since he is someone like that. He isn’t the type to boast about doing something honorable.”

“Then why did you tell me?”

“Because my master likes you very much.”

Baek Pyo was surprised even more.

“He likes me?”

“Yes, He wants to achieve his goal with you. Since he doesn’t know how to express his feeling, I am telling this to you in his stead. He knows that you will indebted to him if he told you, so he will never tell this to you. So you would never know what happened. I am telling you like this so that you can follow my master.”

After telling him everything Kw.a.n.g Du closed his eyes. His heart was racing, and he was afraid that Baek Pyo would act against him.

“If he knows that I told you this I would be disciplined by him.”

Then someone came into saying, “Ah, so you already know.”

Kw.a.n.g Du was turned his head to the door with a surprised look on his face, “Young Master.”

“I was wondering where you went all day. It seems like you were causing an incident here.”

I entered the tavern but didn’t ask Kw.a.n.g Du what he talked about.

I said to Baek Pyo, “You disregard everything that he said. And I am sorry for not telling you about Sa Ma Chun.”

“How did you learn about it?”

I wanted to tell him that I was Chun Ha Jin, and I was here to protect him, but I couldn’t.

“As you can see I am trying to make the Kang Ho a better place. Then suddenly I learned that young girls were being kidnapped. After investigating it, it brought me to this place. Then I learned that Jo Byuk was kidnapping the girls. I then found out that he was after you and your family.  Since I had already eliminated them I believed that I didn’t need to tell you.”

Baek Pyo didn’t say anything. Since what I just said to him was pretty hard to take in.

“You don’t need to dwell on it too much. It"s already over.”

“Thank you for looking after me but… my relation with Kang Ho is… over. I am sorry.”

“There no need to be sorry. You don’t have to worry about it.”

Then Kw.a.n.g Du said with his head lowered, “I messed up everything right?”

“Not”

Kw.a.n.g Du said with a sigh, “I think I did.”

Kw.a.n.g Du looked at me with watery eyes, “I am sorry young master. However, I believe… you shouldn’t hide your true feelings. If you go about without saying anything then Mister Baek would never know your feelings young master. But I knew that the final decision was up to Mister Baek. I am sorry young master.”

I approached Kw.a.n.g Du and patted him on the shoulder, “I know your feelings.”

Since Kw.a.n.g Du revealed everything, I felt much better. Kw.a.n.g Du probably already knew that I would never tell him and just leave. Since he knew me the best.

But I wanted what was best for Baek Pyo.

Then Kw.a.n.g Du said with a surprise, “Ah?”

Both Baek Pyo and I looked at where Kw.a.n.g Du was looking.

It started snowing.

Kw.a.n.g Du forgot about the previous conversation and said with a light tone, “It"s snow.”

This was the first snow of the year.

“Don’t they say watching the first snowfall would bring forth a good year?”

Hearing what I said, Baek Pyo was surprised. This was what Baek Pyo said to me before I died.

“Let us go Kw.a.n.g Du-ya.”

“Yes.”

Kw.a.n.g Du got up from his seat.

I said my final words to Baek Pyo, “This may be our last meeting. If fate allows us I am sure we will meet again.”

But Baek Pyo was still stunned.

I didn’t know what to say to him. I am sure that he wasn’t ready yet. My last words were my last present for him. ‘Always be cheerful after watching the first snowfall.’

Right as I was about to leave.

Wuuuuu!

Something started vibrating.

Everyone including me was surprised.

The thing that was shaking was the decoration on the wall.

I was the most surprised out them all since I didn’t send any energy to it, but it was giving off some sort of reaction.

Wuuuu!

Divine Sword of King Shura was crying.

Although I used him for a long time. This was the first time that he cried.

Wuuuuu!

The vibration became stronger and the decoration shattered.

Bang!

The wooden decoration surrounding the sword exploded and it showed its true self.

Everyone was looking at it with a surprise. But I knew that it was calling for me.

Jiiinnng!

It was calling for me.