Episode 13
The Dream of a Hidden Powerhouse
"If it's a water pitcher, isn't it over there?"
I pointed to a good-looking water pitcher placed next to the Vice Sect Leader.
"That's just well water. I don't drink anything unless it's clear spring water flowing from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains."
Then you're telling me…
"Are you telling me to fetch spring water flowing in this mountain right now?"
"Yeah, so?"
I hoped I had misunderstood the Vice Sect Leader's words…
My hope was shattered by his brazen reply.
No, don't give up.
Get a grip, Seol Cheon-seong, man! Remember, Seol Cheon-seong, keep your wits about you and you can get through anything!
If I use my head, there might be a way to avoid this ridiculous request.
"I don't know the geography of this mountain very well. I don't even know where the spring is."
I gave the Vice Sect Leader my best pitiful look.
No matter how cruel he is, he wouldn't make a seven-year-old kid who doesn't know the way wander around the mountain trails, would he?
"Perfect. You can familiarize yourself with the mountain trails while fetching spring water. And considering it's your first time here, I won't yell at you no matter when you get back."
He spoke as if he were bestowing great generosity upon me.
I'm not grateful for that at all!
Rather, shouldn't you be looking for a young child like me who hasn't even learned swordsmanship if I don't return for a long time!
What if I get lost?
Wow, the Demonic Cult is ruthless, even to a seven-year-old.
That damn Vice Sect Leader!
I clattered the empty water pitcher as I walked out of the building where his residence was located.
"If you're gonna make me hike all the way up there, you could at least feed me first!"
I was complaining about the Vice Sect Leader to myself when suddenly a delicious-looking rice ball filled my vision.
"The Vice Sect Leader isn't even feeding you? You little scamp."
Well, I'm still alive, you know.
Why do you keep calling a living person a ghost?
It was Chaechae, one of the Chili twins, who handed me the rice ball.
"Yeah, I'm hungry…"
I had nowhere to vent about the devilish Vice Sect Leader's atrocities, so I was just bottling it up…
When Chaechae spoke to me first, a surge of emotion and sadness washed over me.
"Then eat this at least. I brought an extra just in case."
Chaechae, seeing my tearful face, seemed flustered and placed the rice ball in my hand.
"…Thank you. Goch…, no. Chaechae, you're really kind."
"Brother?"
My favorability towards Chaechae skyrocketed with just one rice ball, and I called him by a friendly term.
They say if someone gives you something delicious, they're a good person, and if they're handsome, they're oppa material!
Chaechae seemed embarrassed and hesitant at the unfamiliar title coming from my mouth, but he looked pleased.
"Well, if I get the chance, I'll bring you one tomorrow too."
"Thank you, Chaechae oppa."
I took a bite of the rice ball Chaechae gave me.
Rice balls are delicious when you're hungry!
"Hey, slow down, you'll choke! Sit here and eat."
Chaechae, who was watching me gobble down the rice ball, placed his hand on my waist and lifted me to sit on a flat rock nearby.
"Is it that good?"
"Yeah! It's delicious!"
Being hungry, I devoured one rice ball in an instant.
Now that my stomach is full, my head seems to be working a bit better.
And at the same time, I saw the empty water pitcher that I had to fill with spring water from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
"Chaechae oppa, is there a big difference in taste between well water and spring water flowing from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?"
"Of course, there's a difference. The water from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains feels a bit clearer and cooler."
"Do you think the Vice Sect Leader can tell the difference?"
"A guy as skilled as the Vice Sect Leader would probably be able to tell by the mountain's energy in the water."
Ugh... that guy's senses are way too sharp.
I was going to try to trick him by saying well water was spring water if it was hard to distinguish, but that's out too.
Now I have no choice but to hike up the mountain and find spring water.
The only saving grace is that I have someone to ask about the location of the spring!
"Chaechae oppa, do you know where the spring water flows from?"
"Did the Vice Sect Leader tell you to fetch spring water?"
"Yeah, he told me to fill this up."
I held up the water pitcher in my hand towards Chaechae.
"It's a tough climb... but it's not too far."
Not far. That's good news in this misfortune.
"Could you tell me the location?"
"Here, if you follow the path I'm pointing to straight up, you'll come to an uphill path, and if you follow the main road up from there, you'll find the spring. You can get water there."
Listening to Chaechae's explanation, it didn't seem too difficult to get to the spring.
If I keep sitting here, I'll become even more reluctant to move, so I should go and come back quickly.
"Thank you for telling me. Then I'll go fetch spring water."
"Well, I was gonna go with you, but I have training soon. You gotta come back alive, you little scamp!"
As I turned towards the direction Chaechae pointed, he poured out words that I couldn't tell if they were encouragement or a curse.
Come back alive, but little scamp.
What's he playing at?
No, I was relieved because he said it wasn't far, but what on earth is there that makes him say things like that…?
Anyway, I decided to believe that the meaning behind his words was Chaechae's encouragement to come back alive and stepped onto the mountain path.
* * *
"This is steep, way too steep!"
The uphill path Chaechae mentioned was such a difficult course that I had to half-crawl.
Is this why Chaechae told me to come back alive?
What kind of crazy place has Dad been living in?
Suddenly, a description of Dad strolling through the Ten Thousand Great Mountains in one stride came to mind.
And I thought he was sickly...
Boy, was I wrong.
As I moved forward, feeling newly impressed by Dad, I saw streams of water flowing down the rocky path in several directions.
If water is flowing down, does that mean the spring is nearby?
"Yes!"
It'll be easier to find the spring if I just follow the streams!
I totally spaced on Chaechae's directions about the main road and followed the streams like I'd struck gold!
Then, a cave with a small entrance that my body could barely fit through appeared.
"Chaechae didn't say anything about a cave…"
But the streams were definitely flowing out from inside the cave.
'I've come this far, might as well go in!'
Even if this isn't the place Chaechae mentioned, it's still water flowing from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, so it shouldn't matter if I take it, right?
As I entered the cave, I heard the sound of water flowing along with the sound of water droplets falling, drip, drip.
'It's darker than I thought.'
There was some light coming in from the entrance, so once my eyes adjusted, I could see inside the cave.
At that moment, I shouted in joy.
"I found it! Spring water!"
There was spring water inside the cave.
The spring water, with unopened lotus flower buds floating on it, had a somewhat mysterious atmosphere.
"First, let me quench my thirst."
Thirsty from climbing the uphill path, I cupped my hands, scooped up the spring water, and drank it down.
Then, I felt like strength surged through my body as the water flowed through my bloodstream.
"The taste of the water is definitely different."
It's almost like just drinking the water gives you strength.
"That Vice Sect Leader knows what's up. He should've told Dad about this stuff, instead of keeping it all to himself. Right, flower bud?"
I complained about him to the flower bud while filling the water pitcher with spring water.
"I found the spring water quickly, so let's rest for a bit."
I decided to sit down in front of the spring water and take a break.
'I figured I'd be sore all over from that climb, but I feel totally fine. What gives?'
At this point, my arms and legs should be throbbing, but nothing hurt.
"Maybe I have super stamina like Dad…"
Could it be that I'm actually a hidden powerhouse?
"If I'm curious, I can just check."
I brought a rock about the size of my foot that was nearby and stood in front of it.
"Hiyah!"
At the same time as I shouted and struck the rock with my hand blade.
"Aaaaargh! My hand!"
I grabbed my hand, writhing in pain that resonated to my bones.
"Seriously, am I even Dad's kid? Maybe I was adopted! Shouldn't I be able to, like, smash a rock, no problem?"
I put my burning hand in the spring water and sobbed.
Fortunately, it didn't seem to be seriously injured, and the pain subsided just by putting my hand in the spring water.
Then, I suddenly saw the flower bud floating in the spring water.
"Sorry you had to see that. Let me wash you off as an apology."
Before leaving the cave, I scooped up spring water and sprinkled it on the flower bud.
"Drink this water and grow big and strong!"
I don't know if it was just my feeling, but the lotus flower bud that received the spring water seemed to have become even more vibrant.
"Then, see you again next time I come to fetch water!"
I said goodbye to the lotus flower bud and left the cave.
* * *
After Cheon-seong left the cave, a bright golden light flashed in the darkness, and the figure of a man with golden hair appeared.
Even in the darkness, the man's golden eyes shone brightly.
As if he had been splashed with water, the man's body was damp.
The man's reddish lips, which looked even more vibrant because of the moisture, curved upwards in a slanted arc.
"An interesting little brat.”
