Martial Arts Ain't That Big of a Deal

Chapter 72

Night fell, and Seo-jun, after putting Chun-bong to bed, wandered aimlessly around the yard.

The accommodations provided by the Namgung family were as grand as their reputation. It wasn't just a single building; the courtyard was filled with well-maintained plants and a pond. Seo-jun stood by, listening to the soothing sound of water while gazing at the moon reflected on the pond's surface.

'What is this feeling...?'

He couldn't shake the nagging thought from his mind.

Namgung Sua's expression—one could call it meddling, but the look on her face, from someone he had grown fond of, wasn't something he could easily dismiss.

"Hmm..."

With a frown, his lips pursed, and he absentmindedly scratched the ground with his foot. Then, abruptly, Seo-jun launched himself onto the roof.

It was there, not far away, that he noticed someone in a similar situation to his own.

Gliding silently through the air, Seo-jun landed on the roof next to the person and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Oh, you, sir," came the reply.

It was Namgung Sua.

She had been staring blankly at the sky but smiled softly when she noticed Seo-jun.

"And what about you, sir? What are you doing out so late?"

"Well... I just couldn’t sleep."

Seo-jun plopped down next to Namgung Sua, rolling his eyes as he gave her a small grin.

"By the way, sis, your father doesn’t seem to be pressing you too much about marriage, does he?"

"Huh?"

"Then why did you act like we were in a relationship? I mean, pretending to be lovers."

"Oh..."

Namgung Sua awkwardly chuckled as she brushed her long hair behind her ears.

"It’s embarrassing..."

Seo-jun remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"Honestly... it’s nothing big. I just felt weird following you guys around all the time without a reason. I thought it might seem strange."

"What's so strange about it? If you want to stick around, you can stick around."

"Hehe, do you think so? I just... wanted to spend more time together. That’s all."

Namgung Sua blew into her hands as the night air grew chilly, burying her face between her knees.

"It looked like fun, you know? Traveling with you and Chun-bong, chatting together."

"Really?"

"Yeah... really."

Namgung Sua didn’t say anything else for a while.

Instead of speaking, Seo-jun simply sat beside her, gazing up at the sky.

The stars were abundant, and even the crescent moon, though small, shone brightly.

After a few moments, Seo-jun hesitated before gently patting Namgung Sua on the back.

"I’m not sure what’s bothering you, but... cheer up. Why do you seem so down?"

"I don’t know. I just feel like an idiot."

"Hmm..."

Seo-jun scratched his head.

"You know, if you say things like that in front of me, it leaves me at a loss for words. Should I tell you about all the dumb things I’ve done instead?"

"Will you?"

She really wants to hear this? Seo-jun was a little flustered but started wracking his brain.

It had been almost two years since he ended up in the martial world. He had made more than his share of mistakes, but recalling them wasn’t as easy as he thought.

Still, he began recounting some events from the beginning.

When he first arrived in the martial world, hearing a woman's scream and recklessly charging at a knife-wielding man in his confusion, getting his belly slashed open. The time he checked Chun-bong, who was pretending to be a boy, only to discover her true gender. And grabbing a branch to seek revenge on yet another knife-wielding opponent.

"...Wait a second. There are too many. If I keep talking, we’ll be here all night."

"Hehe, you’re such an idiot."

"Wha—!"

Namgung Sua lifted her head and giggled.

"I wasn’t calling you an idiot. I just feel stupid for getting hung up on something that’s not even a big deal."@@@@

"So, what is it?"

"Are you curious?"

"Of course I am. And they say that pain shared is halved. Though, to be honest, that sounds like a lie, but who knows, right?"

Namgung Sua, resting her chin on her knees, smiled at Seo-jun with a chuckle.

To be fair, he could feel it. Her heart was pounding quickly, thudding under his hand.

If an expert martial artist like him couldn’t sense a heartbeat this obvious, it would be a disgrace to his rank.

"Here."

Namgung Sua pressed his hand deeper into her abdomen.

"Haa..."

Her hot breath brushed past Seo-jun’s ear, making him shudder.

"How is it?"

"What...?"

"I’m not getting excited from being hit, am I?"

What on earth was he supposed to do in this situation?

Feeling flustered, Seo-jun quickly pulled his hand away and stepped back.

"P-pervert!"

Namgung Sua giggled.

"You’re cute."

"What?!"

Seo-jun snapped out of his daze. This was serious. His pride as a man was on the line.

He took a step forward, and Namgung Sua, still laughing, looked up at him.

"Why?"

"Ha..."

Seo-jun raised his hand. Namgung Sua tilted her head, wondering what he was going to do, just as his hand swiftly moved.

Smack!

"Kyaa!"

Namgung Sua grabbed her plump bottom and plopped down.

"S-sir...?"

"See! You like getting hit!"

"No, that’s not—"

Namgung Sua tried to stand, but her legs gave out, and she collapsed again.

"Huh?"

Seo-jun stared at her blankly as she smiled awkwardly.

"My legs... gave out."

It really was a day full of events.

Last night, Seo-jun had no choice but to carry the now-docile Namgung Sua back to her room.

Leaving her on the roof would’ve been too cruel, even for him.

On the way to her room, and as he laid her on her bed, the strange atmosphere between them left his mind restless.

As a result, Seo-jun spent the entire day staring blankly into space, earning a frown from Chun-bong.

"What’s wrong with you? Did you eat something bad?"

"Seems like it."

"What the hell..."

Chun-bong sighed, crossing her arms and pouting.

"You said you had something to teach me. Are you going to keep acting like this?"

"Oh, right."

Seo-jun snapped back to reality and stood up abruptly.

There was no time to be distracted when something important lay ahead.

For peace of mind, Seo-jun squeezed Chun-bong's cheeks a few times before declaring loudly:

"Blue Cloud Divine Art Mk.2!"

This was the beginning of Chun-bong's Meridian Sealing Cure Operation.

‘Wait a minute.’

But if her meridians get fully healed... will she grow even more? That would be disappointing.

Thinking of an all-grown-up Chun-bong gave Seo-jun a slight headache.

"The heavens are so cruel!"

Why must children inevitably grow up!

"...You’re really something," Chun-bong sighed.