Chapter 6

No matter how strong they were, if their appearance was not handsome, it was of no use. It meant that the strong person he desired was definitely not a bandit leader with shaggy hair or an old master with a thick white beard. Moreover, Cheong-ra looked at his own face in the mirror every morning, and his uncle was also a perfect gentleman, so his standards were high, and he could not be satisfied with just any face.

In addition to the two most absolute conditions, there were several other conditions that followed. It could not be someone from Moon Lake Sect. Moon Lake Sect was like a home to Cheong-ra, and they were his family.

Also, they had to be strong and beautiful, possess a certain level of dignity, and maintain a clean physical state. It would be nice if they had a rough, violent, and ruthless personality, but of course, they could not be someone who wanted to kill him. Cheong-ra wanted to be defeated, not die.

In this process, it was also absolutely unacceptable for his desire to be revealed. If he were to reveal such abnormal sexual desires and tarnish the reputation of his master or Moon Lake Sect, he would rather choose to live a life of celibacy or die. Therefore, naturally, Cheong-ra had given up on fulfilling his desire.

If only he had not encountered that man by chance at Full Moon Lake a few nights ago.

And if only that man had not pressed down on him so roughly and rudely, he would not have been agonizing like this...

"Martial Brother!"

Cheong-ra, who had unknowingly fallen into other thoughts, came to his senses belatedly at the urgent warning. As Cheong-ra stepped back, Gong Hyeok-rin hurriedly twisted his sword technique, and fortunately, he was able to end it at the point where his sleeve was barely cut off. Sighing in relief, Gong Hyeok-rin stopped the sparring and put on a stern expression.

"Martial Brother Baek Ri, you shouldn't dangerously fall into other thoughts during sparring."

"I apologize, Great Senior Brother..."

It was clearly his fault for falling into idle thoughts during a sparring session using real swords, not wooden ones, so Cheong-ra bowed his head deeply. The Great Senior Brother, who was about to scold him more strictly, made a strange sound when he saw his dejected reaction and relaxed his straight lips. He was a very soft and kind person.

"What's wrong? Did something happen? You're doing something you don't usually do."

Gong Hyeok-rin asked in a kind and concerned voice and then said the following.

"Oh my, there's dust on Martial Brother's clothes."

Then, he even personally brushed off the dust from Cheong-ra's sleeves with a delicate touch. Why were there only incomparably good people or weak and wretched evil faction members in this Central Plains? The elders of Moon Lake Sect were only benevolent, and the juniors were only gentle and kind children. Today, Cheong-ra deeply lamented inwardly and politely replied.

"It's nothing. I just got distracted for a moment."

"Nothing, you say. You've been spacing out frequently for the past few days."

"Could it be because you've been bothering Martial Brother too much to spar with you?"

Song Geum-hye, who had been watching their sparring, reprimanded him. Then, when she threw a water container filled with cool water, Gong Hyeok-rin swiftly caught it. Instead of throwing it to Cheong-ra, she personally went and handed the water container to him.

"Thank you, Martial Sister Song."

Seeing Song Geum-hye click her tongue and wipe the sweat from Cheong-ra's straight forehead with a handkerchief, Gong Hyeok-rin drank the water from the container in one gulp and grumbled.

"Geum-hye, isn't the treatment too different between Martial Brother Baek Ri and me?"

"Of course. Are you the same as Martial Brother Baek Ri? I'm accepting this endless sparring because it's Martial Brother Baek Ri."

"Martial Brother Baek Ri also likes sparring, so it's the same as me helping him."

Gong Hyeok-rin spoke in a deliberately aggrieved tone, but Song Geum-hye snorted. Ju Mu-gwang, who had been watching the sparring with his arms crossed, also agreed with her words. He shook his head repeatedly.

"Even if he likes sparring, at this rate, if he continues like this every day, Cheong-ra's body won't be able to handle it."

"Tsk. This guy doesn't understand the Great Senior Brother's great intentions and dares to be rude."

Gong Hyeok-rin, who had casually put his arm around Mu-gwang's sturdy shoulders, lightly squeezed and teased him. Even though Mu-gwang was much larger than Gong Hyeok-rin, he had no choice but to endure it without being able to move. It was not because the other person was the Great Senior Brother but because there was that much difference in their martial arts skills.

"Alright. If you're so worried about Martial Brother Baek Ri, then next time, it'll be Martial Brother Ju's turn."

"Ack... Just spar with Cheong-ra. I don't want to!"

"Are you going to dare refuse the Great Senior Brother's teachings?"

Gong Hyeok-rin smiled as brightly as the sun, and his face did not have a single drop of sweat even after a long sparring session. He was the owner of a monstrous stamina. Even Cheong-ra, who sparred with Gong Hyeok-rin every day, sometimes felt irritated when he saw such a clean face. After teasing Mu-gwang to his heart's content, Gong Hyeok-rin asked Cheong-ra again.

"Did you perhaps see a bug in your room and it disappeared somewhere? Or did your hair get damaged or something?"

Before Cheong-ra could answer no, Song Geum-hye asked with a worried face.

"Martial Brother, did you run out of incense to repel bugs? Your hair looks fine, but if there's any damaged part, should I trim it for you?"

At their words, Cheong-ra, whose face had turned slightly red, answered very calmly.

"Great Senior Brother, Martial Sister Song. How could I make a fuss over such trivial matters?"

However, the people here knew Cheong-ra too well, so they trailed off their words, saying, "Well, I guess so." Or when Gong Hyeok-rin was about to ask if he had not slept well, a presence was heard from afar, and soon a disciple approached with quick steps. He first greeted the Great Senior Brother and then delivered a message to Cheong-ra.

"Senior Brother Baek Ri. The master is calling for you."

Cheong-ra, who found it troublesome that the two kept asking questions, quickly replied.

"Tell the master that I will be there soon."

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

When he said that he would go early today because the master had called for him, Mu-gwang's face contorted. It was because when Cheong-ra, who usually always sparred with Gong Hyeok-rin, left, he had no choice but to be the sparring partner of the Great Senior Brother, who was a sparring maniac. Leaving behind Mu-gwang, who was crying out for the Great Senior Brother's mercy, Cheong-ra first stopped by his quarters. He headed to the master only after meticulously tidying his attire more than ever.

His master, Oh Tae-ryeong, was with someone else. It was Baek Ri Yeong-hyeon, Cheong-ra's uncle. Seeing the two people he respected and loved the most in Moon Lake Sect, Cheong-ra's mood improved, and his steps became a little faster. A faint smile appeared on his face, which usually had minimal emotional changes.

"Greetings to the master and uncle."

"Yes, Cheong-ra, you're here."

His master, Oh Tae-ryeong, was a top expert and elder representing Moon Lake Sect. Her swift sword had even surpassed the realm of extreme swiftness, and Cheong-ra could barely see her movements when she drew her sword.

The best true disciple of Oh Tae-ryeong was the Great Senior Brother Gong Hyeok-rin, but his swordsmanship was far from a swift sword. Therefore, the disciple who truly inherited Oh Tae-ryeong's sword intent could be said to be Cheong-ra. Reaching the same level as his master someday was Cheong-ra's dream. Baek Ri Yeong-hyeon looked at his nephew with a satisfied gaze.

"It seems you had another round with Hyeok-rin today."

"Yes, uncle. Thankfully, the Great Senior Brother sparred with me."

Unlike Baek Ri Yeong-hyeon, who was endlessly gentle and kind to his nephew, Oh Tae-ryeong looked at Cheong-ra with a stern gaze.

"You and Hyeok-rin are deeply immersed in sparring. However, unlike Hyeok-rin, you seem to be using sparring as a means to vent your frustration, so this master is worried that you might harm your body."

"I apologize, master. I will always be careful."

At his master's insight that pierced through his heart in an instant, Cheong-ra flinched inwardly. Of course, he knew well that his master had not read the dark desire he harbored deep in his heart. Nevertheless, he felt guilty and lowered his eyes.

"I'm just telling you to be careful, not calling you to reprimand you, so lift your head."

"Yes, master."

Oh Tae-ryeong was a strict and scary master, but she was somewhat lenient towards Cheong-ra. Cheong-ra knew that it was not because Oh Tae-ryeong favored him but rather because she paid more attention to a sore finger. Still, he was grateful and happy for that attention.

"I called you because I have an urgent task to entrust to you."

"What is it? If you just entrust it to me, this disciple will gladly accomplish it."

"You need to go to Dragon Spring to investigate a matter and come back."

"Do you mean Dragon Spring?"

Dragon Spring was one of the towns where Moon Lake Sect's lay disciples resided, located in Central Plains. It was about a three-day walk from Moon Lake Sect, which was close if it was close and far if it was far.

"It is said that a spirit beast has appeared there and is causing various damages to the people's homes. Some time ago, two lay disciples went missing, and they sent a request for help to the main sect."

Central Plains was particularly prone to damage from wild beasts compared to other places due to the spiritual energy and rugged mountain terrain caused by the Yangtze River and the gorges. Dragon Spring was also a place where stories of spirit beast sightings were often heard, so it was not a big surprise.

"Prepare thoroughly and depart in two days with a few junior brothers. Track the whereabouts of the missing lay disciples but don't overdo it. I believe you will handle it well."

"Yes, master."