Chapter 30: Chapter 29
Book I Chapter 29
…
The expression of Ma Chulwoo turned awkward as he looks around the dining hall.
He noticed that the beautiful young girl is looking at him with a deep frown on her pretty face.
Her intense gaze is almost glaring as she has her eyes squinted while watching him in suspicion.
Hyuna suddenly discovered that the guy before her is actually the same guy that she threatened that night at the festival. She could have sworn that the guy is just a mortal, but upon seeing the guy now, she could tell that he is actually a Body Refinement stage cultivator.
This discovery comes as a bit of a surprise to her as it seems that the guy has some ways to mask his cultivation.
"You… you are a cultivator…" she suddenly said with a deep frown.
When the people in the room heard this they all look at Man Chulwoo who suddenly looks at the woman agape.
How could she suddenly reveal his secret just like that?
He has been keeping this secret for a long as he did not want to be sent to a sect. But this damnable girl actually revealed his secret right in front of his uncle and his family.
"No… no you must be mistaken… How could the weak me be a cultivator?" he quickly denied it.
Hyuna frowned upon hearing that and did not say anything more as she turned her attention to the young child beside her.
Man Chulwoo's back is now covered in a cold sweat as he forcefully pries his gaze off the young girl and then looks at his uncle.
After a few pleasantries and discussions, he left and quickly went back to the main family's manor.
Upon entering he was called by his father into the study room.
"How is your uncle doing?" a tall and sturdy-looking man seated behind a black mahogany desk looks at Man Chulwoo with a serious gaze.
This man is the father of Man Chulwoo, the mayor of Yemo Town, Man Changwoo.
"Uncle is fine… he lost a couple of his men, but the family was fine due to some outside help…" Man Chulwoo explained.
"I heard that it was a young girl… Have you seen her?" the mayor asked with a deep frown.
"Yes… I've actually met the girl. She… She is somewhat different."
"Different? Is she a cultivator?"
"Not necessarily father… I think she is just a mortal, but… her strength is something different…"
"Hmm… Good work… Go back and don't cause more trouble." The mayor said with a voice of warning.
Man Chulwoo flinched after hearing those words.
He did not know if his father knew of his relationship with the maiden of the Seok family or not. However, he did not want to cut off his connection with Seok Minji.
Though love and attraction are good, when benefit and profit are at hand he would always choose the latter.
He could gain a lot of benefits from his connection with Seok Minji, he just needs to be careful and tread lightly on that path.
…
Meanwhile, Hyuna went back to her courtyard and began her usual writing practice and then her martial arts training.
When she finished she is already filled with sweat and went to the house to change her clothes.
Unknown to her, a pair of eyes are watching her from the shadows and soon left after she went inside the house.
"Hmm… I need to leave this place soon… I've been staying here for a while now… Too bad I can't say my goodbyes to them…" she thought as she began carving some runes on her arm.
When she activates the rune array her body suddenly transformed into that of a male.
Right now, she is wearing the robe that she wore when coming to the town. She plans to report to the sect as she has already finished her business in this place.
Knock! Knock!
She heard someone knocking at the door.
Hyuna's heart immediately skipped a beat as she quickly became guarded.
She did not know if there are enemies outside, as she could only detect a single life sign.
She carefully opened the door and saw a little girl standing in front of her door.
"Huh, Little Eun Ji… Why are you here?" she asked showing a faint smile on her face.
"Ah… Your clothes… you look… really awesome, big sister!" the little girl chimed in.
She suddenly handed a basket to her.
"Big brother Jun-su wanted me to give this to you…" she said then skipped out of the courtyard after handing Hyuna the basket.
Hyuna frowned and then checked what is inside. She saw a box and a leather parcel.
As she opened the box, she noticed a paintbrush with a unique design.
"I know you like writing, so I hope you like my gift…" she reads.
Hyuna could not help but chuckle as she take the box and looks in the direction of the tree where the little girl is giggling as if talking to someone standing behind it.
Hyuna actually felt a bit conflicted as she did not know if it would be the right thing to leave or not.
But she also needed to go back to the sect as she is afraid that her auntie and uncle would be worried for her.
She gripped tightly the box and then looked back at the house, and then her eyes landed on the letter on top of the table.
"Sorry…" she muttered as she quickly left.
Walking down the road of the town, Hyuna suddenly saw that there are posters on the notice board… and those posters show her face.
"The… The sect is looking for me?" she muttered.
As she turns around, she suddenly saw a frowning figure standing behind her.
That familiar handsome face made Hyuna feel a hint of happiness and sadness at the same time.
This is because… the person standing behind her is no other than her best friend, Il Kwan.
…
In a restaurant inside the town, inside a private room sat two people in silence.
Hyuna had her head hanging low as she dare not look the handsome young man in the eye.
"Almost 4 days… You've been missing for almost 4 days… do you know how worried mother is?" Il Kwan was the first to break the silence as he scolded.
"Tell me your excuse…"
Hyuna bit her lips and then looks at the table. She dare not look at him as she could feel that searing gaze from him as if he wanted to bore a hole inside her head and read her mind.
"I… I was escaping at that time… when… when the town was in trouble. But… but I was involved in a fight… I got wounded and needed to…" before she could finish her words, Il Kwan has already made his move and grabbed her wrist.
"What?! How is your injury? Why are you outside right now?" he suddenly blurted in panic.
How could he have known that Wu Jin was injured? In his mind, he is already scolding that bastard Han Joonho who dragged his friend into this mess.
Suddenly, Il Kwan lifted his gaze and noticed the blush on his friend's face and he was suddenly dumbstruck.
"What the heck?! Why… why do you…" his mind is now in turmoil as he could not remove his eyes from his friend's face.
Pa!!!
He suddenly slaps his face which startled Hyuna.
When he grabbed her wrist, her heart skipped a beat.
Actually, it has been a while now since she developed this kind of good feeling toward Il Kwan.
Since the two grew up together and have been close, she developed that dependency on him.
As time went by, that dependency became deeper and it made her miss him a lot these past few days that she has not seen him.
"Sorry about that…" Il Kwan released her wrist and then quickly grabbed a cup and drinks its contents.
Then pour another cup and chugged its contents.
Sniff… Sniff…
Suddenly Hyuna sniff the air and then frowned.
"Are you drinking liquor?" she asked with wide eyes then looks at the pot which seem to contain alcohol.
"Yeah… so what?" Il Kwan grumpily said.
Pa!
She immediately hit the back of his head as if by reflex and then berated him.
"You… I will tell this to aunt and uncle… Let's see if they will not scold you for drinking liquor too early…" she scolded.
The eyes of Il Kwan suddenly turned a bit scared as he looks at Hyuna in fear.
"No… please don't do that… I… I promise not to do it again, I swear!" he suddenly pleaded.
According to what his father told him, he could only start drinking wine when he reaches the age of 18. The reason for this is because… wine has an adverse effect on the technique that his father is teaching him.
The clear mind technique requires one to be sober and has clarity of mind to be able to advance faster in his cultivation. Once one began drinking at a young age, it would have a bad effect on their mind and would hamper their cultivation speed.
"Now, I know why you have not reached the Dantian Condensing stage after all these years…" Hyuna suddenly muttered.
"Hey… Junior brother… Let me remind you… I'm still 15 years old. So it is natural for me to have not reached that stage at my age…" he suddenly countered.
"Heh… You are justifying your wrongdoings again… Then how would you explain Senior Ji? At 15 he has already reached the Dantian Condensing when the both of you almost have the same talent…" she said with a sneer.
However, Hyuna suddenly froze as she seems to have misspoken some words.
She suddenly saw the eyes of Il Kwan looking straight right at her.
In those eyes, she could see disbelief and confusion.
She knew that she blurted out one of her secrets… which is her sharp sense in analyzing one's talent and cultivation level.
Then she saw Il Kwan's face changing and she knew that she has gotten herself in trouble.
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