Chapter 647
Chapter 647
Chapter 647. The Ghost’s Identity (3)
I asked Daoist Inbong.
“Then are you saying, Daoist, that you think the person who introduced himself as a ghost is not a ghost?” (I)
At my words, he nodded.
“I have known for a long time already that Mister is not a ghost.” (Daoist Inbong)
“How did you know?” (I)
“He did not leave footprints, but when it snowed or rained, I saw the raindrops bounce off his body or snow pile on him.” (Daoist Inbong)
Ah, that person had not thought that far either.
“In any case, I want to face my father directly. That is why I am asking you like this.” (Daoist Inbong)
I could only give a bitter smile.
“Now that I see it, this was not counseling, but a request you intended to make.” (I)
“I am sorry.” (Daoist Inbong)
Daoist Inbong bowed his head deeply to me.
“There is nothing to be sorry about. In truth, I was not feeling good about it either. So I will try persuading him as well. But please do not expect too much. I cannot be certain I will be able to change his mind.” (I)
“I am grateful even for you doing that.” (Daoist Inbong)
“But…… why do you not directly ask him to reveal himself?” (I)
“That is…….” (Daoist Inbong)
He hesitated, then continued speaking.
“These days, he has not appeared at all.” (Daoist Inbong)
Well, even if he wanted to talk about that, he would have to be able to meet the other person.
In that case, he may have noticed that Daoist Inbong had realized his identity.
Then that would explain why he had not appeared before him.
He was surely still circling around Daoist Inbong and watching over his safety.
But because he did not speak to him, Daoist Inbong thought he was not nearby.
When the assassin targeted Daoist Geumbong not long ago, if Daoist Inbong’s father had not helped, things would have been a little more troublesome.
Perhaps there might even have been a disciple struck by a poisoned needle.
.
.
.
I returned to the tent again.
“Young Master! Where have you been?” (Palgap)
“A walk. But what is this savory smell?” (I)
“It is corn.” (Palgap)
What Palgap answered while holding out was corn roasted over the fire.
“It is today’s dinner, and it is quite tasty roasted over fire.” (Palgap)
It seemed to be supplies for relief.
Unlike Chengdu, it was impossible to eat plentiful meals here.
Even this much was something to be grateful for.
I sat in front of the campfire and took a bite of the roasted corn skewered on a stick.
“Oh! Why is this so good?” (I)
At my admiration, Warrior Seowoo explained.
“It was roasted after being brushed with the special sauce Palgap made.” (Warrior Seowoo)
“It is salty and sweet…… truly delicious. It is a flavor that makes me want to sell it.” (I)
“I am glad it pleases you, Young Master.” (Palgap)
I looked at the other corn roasting over the campfire and asked.
“Is there perhaps one left?” (I)
“Yes, I made one extra just in case.” (Palgap)
I received the corn Palgap held out and stood up.
“Thanks. I will step out somewhere for a bit.” (I)
I left the tent and headed behind a building where there were few people.
It was a half-collapsed building, so others did not approach it.
Sitting on one of the large chunks of debris, I spoke.
“I know you are here.” (I)
……
There was no answer, but I could feel his presence.
“Would you like to eat? My attendant roasted it after brushing it with a special sauce, and it is quite tasty.” (I)
I held the corn forward and released the strength from my hand.
Floating.
The corn stayed floating in midair.
It was psychokinesis.
Using psychokinesis to eat corn, is that not a waste of inner arts?
I grumbled inwardly and looked at the corn floating in the air.
The corn kernels began to disappear.
“Mm…… well, it does taste good.” (Sunchung)
“Right?” (I)
Like that, we silently ate the corn.
Whatever the conversation is, if you have it while hungry, both sides are bound to become sensitive.
That is why, normally, when I have serious conversations, I tend to do it after feeding the other person something delicious.
Of course, feeding them too much can have the opposite effect.
“I ate well.” (Sunchung)
“So, until when do you intend not to speak to your son?” (I)
“Hm?” (Sunchung)
“You were nearby earlier too, when I was talking with Daoist Inbong, were you not?” (I)
I had not said it in front of Daoist Inbong earlier, but even when I received his request for counseling, I had felt this person’s presence.
He was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“You heard that fellow…… realized I am his father, did you not?” (Sunchung)
“Yes. I heard.” (I)
“I failed to think of that knot.” (Sunchung)
“Daoist Inbong said he wanted to face his father. That is why he asked me to persuade you.” (I)
“What do you mean elder…… I have not even passed sixty yet.” (Sunchung)
“Then I will call you Master.” (I)
“I am a Daoist. Though I left the Qingcheng Sect due to certain circumstances, there has never been a single moment when I was not a disciple of Qingcheng. That is why I returned like this.” (Sunchung)
“Yes, Reverend. Then what is your Daoist name?” (I)
“Sunchung.” (Sunchung)
“Yes?” (I)
For a moment, I could only doubt my ears.
Sunchung?
Surely…… in my previous life, before I died, the Daoist name of the new Sect Leader of Qingcheng Sect had been Sunchung?
Well, thinking about it, it was not strange.
His skill was among the best even in the current Qingcheng.
But because he did not show himself at public events, some had raised doubts about his actual identity.
“Why are you so surprised?” (Sunchung)
“It is nothing. It is just a gentler Daoist name than I expected.” (I)
“It is a Daoist name my master gave me. It means to follow heaven’s will…… but to be honest, I did not like it.” (Sunchung)
He grumbled slightly and continued speaking.
“But I felt sorry toward my master, who suffered cleaning up after his disciple who was always going around causing trouble, so I did not change my Daoist name.” (Sunchung)
“I see.” (I)
I nodded and said.
“Putting that aside, I would like to hear your answer to what I mentioned just now. The request from Daoist Inbong that he wants to see his father directly with his own two eyes.” (I)
“…….” (Sunchung)
No answer.
“Why are you hesitating?” (I)
“Did I not tell you? In the course of taking revenge for my wife, my body was completely ruined.” (Sunchung)
“He said it did not matter what you looked like.” (I)
“Hoo…….” (Sunchung)
A brief silence flowed, and then a telepathic message sounded in my mind again.
“Look closely.” (Sunchung)
At that moment, the shape of a person slowly began to appear before my eyes.
And finally, his full appearance became visible.
“…….”
As he had said, his appearance was wretched beyond words.
His face was entirely festering due to something unknown, whether fire or poison, and his left ear had lost its shape.
In addition, there were severe scars on his neck and wrists as well.
“It must have been quite a fierce fight.” (I)
“It was.” (Sunchung)
As though even his vocal cords had been damaged, his voice sounded like scraping metal.
“I was caught in those bastards’ scheme and became like this.” (Sunchung)
“Did you get your revenge?” (I)
“Of course.” (Sunchung)
He nodded.
But soon he added in a bitter voice.
“But what do you think that fellow would feel if he saw me like this?” (Sunchung)
I answered.
“Daoist Inbong is a strong person. Since he said it did not matter what his father looked like, he will quickly accept this appearance of yours as well, Reverend.” (I)
“I know that too.” (Sunchung)
“Yes?” (I)
At those words, I blinked and tilted my head.
Because I could not understand what he was worried about when he knew that his son would accept his horrifying appearance.
“Then why do you not reveal yourself?” (I)
“I worry that if he sees me like this, he will be saddened or blame himself.” (Sunchung)
He continued in a sorrowful voice.
“What wrong has that fellow done? If there is fault, it lies with me.” (Sunchung)
Is this a parent’s heart?
My chest grew moved.
“But you said, Reverend, that you returned to Qingcheng Sect because you are a disciple of Qingcheng.” (I)
“I did.” (Sunchung)
“But in my view, that does not seem to be the only reason you returned to Qingcheng.” (I)
I continued gently.
“Was it not because you wanted to see your son?” (I)
“…….” (Sunchung)
He let out a sigh and nodded.
“Yes, you are right.” (Sunchung)
“Then reveal yourself and face him. To be honest, is hiding with concealment arts and unilaterally sending telepathic messages really seeing your son? You must face each other for it to truly be seeing.” (I)
I continued speaking.
“So please muster your courage. I did not know a disciple of the great Qingcheng would be this much of a coward.” (I)
“Eing! Who are you calling a coward?” (Sunchung)
“And in my view, Daoist Inbong has already passed the stage of being saddened or blaming himself over that.” (I)
“Hm?” (Sunchung)
“When he realized that the knot on the mirror and the knot on the pouch where you had placed food for him were the same, he must have already been saddened and blamed himself. He is smarter than expected.” (I)
“I-is that so?” (Sunchung)
“Yes. The more you do this, the harder it is only for Daoist Inbong. Abandoning your son once was enough. Will you abandon him twice?” (I)
“That is…… not it.” (Sunchung)
“Then please stop making your son’s insides burn.” (I)
. . .
Inbong woke as soon as the sun rose, did qi circulation breathing, then picked up his sword and began training.
It was basic training he never skipped each morning.
“Basic training? If it is that, I did it to death when I was a trainee.” (Inbong)
“What about now?” (Sunchung)
“There are many other things I have to learn, so I am not doing it.” (Inbong)
“You are wrong. Among those who neglect basic training because it is trivial and boring, or because they have many other things to do, there is not one who reaches a high realm.” (Sunchung)
“Is basic training that important?” (Inbong)
“Yes. Let us make one promise. From now on, even if your realm becomes Peak, no, even Transcendent Peak, never skip basic training.” (Sunchung)
Since that promise made at the Repentance Pavilion, he had not skipped basic training even a single day.
By now, it had become a habit.
After reaching the Peak Realm, he understood to some extent why basic training had been emphasized so much.
After finishing his training like that, he wiped his sweat with a towel.
“You are still keeping the promise well.” (Sunchung)
“……!”
An extremely rough, metallic voice.
It was a voice he was hearing for the first time, but the emotion contained in that voice was familiar.
Startled, he dropped the towel and turned around.
But still, no figure could be seen.
“M-Mister…….” (Inbong)
“Yes.” (Sunchung)
Inbong bit his lip.
That voice, though he was hearing it for the first time, he felt he knew it.
The voice of his father…… who had always stayed by his side.
He had to call him Father…….
But…….
The word Father did not come out easily.
That was only natural, because the title Father was a title far too unfamiliar to him.
No, rather than an unfamiliar title…… it was no different from a seal blocking the dam that confined his emotions.
Because he felt that if he tore off that seal, just as everything inside would pour out, if he used the title Father, his emotions would collapse.
“Um, th-thanks to you…… I was able to escape that place safely. Thank you for bringing me food.” (Inbong)
“Yes.” (Sunchung)
“That cliff too…… it must have been hard to climb…….” (Inbong)
“They say even the Emperor climbs over another person’s wall when he sees his child starving. And that level of cliff was not very difficult for me.” (Sunchung)
“……I heard that the knot on that sack was a knot Father made.” (Inbong)
“That is right. What do you think, can you copy it?” (Sunchung)
“No. I do not know how. So…… could you not teach me? That, that…….” (Inbong)
Inbong hesitated, unable to continue any further.
At that moment, a stern telepathic message came.
“Are you not going to call him Father?” (Eun Seoho)
It was Eun Seoho’s telepathic message.
“Was that feeling that you wanted to face your father not sincere?” (Eun Seoho)
No.
That was absolutely not it.
“Or do you not want to call him Father?” (Eun Seoho)
“No.” (Inbong)
“Then call him Father.” (Eun Seoho)
At Eun Seoho’s advice, Inbong took a deep breath and cautiously spoke.
“That…… Father, please teach me. That knot.” (Inbong)
He had called him. Father.
But no answer came for a long while, and with a thud, something fell to the ground.
“Rain?” (Inbong)
No, it was not rain.
To begin with, rain was not falling, and rain was not something that fell in only one drop.
“……I shall.” (Sunchung)
“Father.” (Inbong)
The first time was hard, but the second was not hard.
“I want to see your face.” (Inbong)
“It is not a very good sight.” (Sunchung)
“I know. Master told me.” (Inbong)
“…….” (Sunchung)
Even at Inbong’s words, Sunchung could not help hesitating.
“It is all right. It was not as terrible as you think.” (Eun Seoho)
Eun Seoho’s telepathic message sounded in his mind.
“Was I surprised when I saw your appearance yesterday, Reverend?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is not so.” (Sunchung)
“Please muster your courage. Or are you truly a coward, Reverend?” (Eun Seoho)
At Eun Seoho’s provocation, he flared up.
“There are no cowards among the disciples of Qingcheng!” (Sunchung)
“Exactly. An opportunity like this does not come easily.” (Eun Seoho)
Sunchung let out a sigh and released his concealment arts.
And at the sight of the man revealed before him, Inbong blinked.
“It is a little, hide…….” (Sunchung)
Sunchung was startled and could not continue speaking.
Because Inbong had come into his arms.
But his surprise was only for a moment, and he patted Inbong’s back and embraced him in return.
. . .
I was watching the two father and son embrace each other for the first time.
Although I had persuaded him with all my might, I had not been certain whether it would go well.
So I had gone looking for Daoist Inbong to talk about it, but his father, Reverend Sunchung, had gone to him first.
The result that came from pushing them forward by sending telepathic messages to them as they hesitated was this.
That is a relief.
To be honest, I could have refused Daoist Inbong’s request, but there was a reason I had not.
His father was a master of the Transformation Realm, and Daoist Inbong was also one of Qingcheng’s foremost prodigies.
If I helped people like them, it would be of help to the Eunha Trading Company in the future as well.
Seeing that sight, I suddenly miss Father.
I looked up at the sky.
Today, the ghost of Qingcheng Sect disappeared.