Chapter Text
Baek Cheon rarely dared to interfere in the orders given by the Sect Leader, but at that moment he slightly regretted not expressing his concerns more assertively.
Since the moment Chung Myung had offered to run to the Ice Palace alone, he knew things wouldn't end smoothly.
Was there ever anything that ended smoothly with that personified hurricane in the middle?
"Sect Leader doesn't need to worry. I'll be back in two jumps, with my legs backward, my four arms tied behind my back, and upside down."
"Is this a horror book? Don't come back like that, if possible."
When the elder spoke up, Hyun Jong massaged his temples, seeking sudden enlightenment.
"And which disciples should go with him?"
"That's the problem."
The issue was that the disciples who usually gathered around the youngest, nicknamed the Five Swords, were currently busy with individual activities.
Baek Cheon himself and Yoo Iseol were busy with the training of Baek's generation, and Yoon Jong with Chung's generation.
Tang Soso was assisting Tang Gunak with the project to integrate the women of the Tang family into the family's medical area or exchange them to learn martial arts on Mount Hua.
The fake monk was thrown from side to side, and his powers were always drained by helping to build temporary houses for refugees for the upcoming war with the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
Obviously, there was no chance of sending Jo Gul with Chung Myung on a mission without supervision.
"Sasuk, that's unfair! I don't cause more trouble than that demon!"
Jo Gul pointed frantically at the younger disciple while defending himself against the great Sasuk, who only looked at him arrogantly.
"That's not the problem. The issue is putting a smaller bomb next to a bigger bomb and throwing it far away. What do you think will happen?"
The widened eyes of the older prevented another rebellion from emerging. Except for the troublemaker who neither knew nor tried to read the atmosphere.
"With the time you're spending on this conversation, I could have already gone and come back."
The grumpy and irritated voice drew everyone's attention, and he waved his hand weakly.
"I'll go alone, quick and practical. It's not like I'm doing this because I have free time."
No one could refute him. As much as everyone was as busy as possible, Chung Myung was the one with a huge responsibility on his shoulders as the Alliance Commander.
Unfortunately, it was normal to see him doing the work that would require 20 people together to complete. And now he was even willing to solve the problem of the missing carriage that brought ice crystals from the Ice Palace.
"The Lord of the Palace said he should accompany you."
Baek Cheon added the information.
"Nonsense. He'd better not skip training while I'm not there, that's what."
"Isn't it better to go accompanied by the Lord himself to avoid problems?"
Tang Soso questioned while dividing her attention between the situation and the various papers in her hands.
"Besides, it's not safe to leave this pseudo-bandit alone. He can't even stand the cold."
"Soso... I'm your Sahyung... Oi!"
While Chung Myung was vehemently ignored by his junior who hid behind Yoo Iseol, Hyun Jong, who had been closing his eyes for some time, tapped on the table, drawing everyone's attention.
"Chung Myung-ah, will you be okay?"
The youngest smiled timidly and puffed his chest slightly.
"Sect Leader, who am I? You can count on me."
"Hyun Young, prepare everything so he can have a smooth journey."
"Of course, everything will be prepared properly."
The Sect Leader smiled satisfactorily. At least he was sure that Hyun Young would be even more careful in preparing the younger one's luggage.
"Isn't this a bit too much?"
That's what Hyun Jong's gaze seemed to be asking the elder responsible for the luggage.
"Even if it's Chung Myung. How is he going to carry around these three carrieges?"
"That's true. I appreciate the elder's gesture, but I won't be able to move aroun—"
Chung Myung couldn't continue when he saw those bright, moist eyes ready to shed tears at any moment.
"How can I let my Chung Myung roam around without preparations? And the food? And the backup food?! Emergency food?!
'What the hell? Why so much food?
"The clothes, the desserts, the mooncakes, the alcoho—"
"Ah! I'll take that alcohol."
"Chung Myung."
Hyun Jong's low call made the disciple step away from the carriages he was about to invade.
"A large, well-organized backpack is enough."
.
.
.
It didn't take long for them to see the back of that little goblin disappearing into the sunlit landscape.
Hyun Jong dispersed the commotion of the disciples to return calmly to their tasks, but he remained there a little longer with the elders close behind.
"It takes about 3 months for a round trip."
Logically, it was expected that Chung Myung would return faster considering his skill and personality. There was no chance the disciple would choose a calm journey on his own, even though Hyun Jong preferred the younger one to take some time for himself.
In addition to the common concern of sending a disciple alone on a mission so far away, winter was almost here.
If it weren't something so important, he wouldn't even think of sending someone who didn't handle low temperatures well.
He had already heard about Chung Myung's pure qi. How apparently it was so precious and in such small quantities that Chung Myung considered it "useless" for anything but battles.
"That child is always so hard on himself."
He let his feelings escape at the top of the mountain and be carried away by the cold breeze.
"Let's trust him, Sect Leader. He may seem impulsive, but he's an extremely smart child."
Hyun Jong silently agreed with Hyun Sang's words.
'Still, I wish he wouldn't look at himself so coldly.'
.
.
.
Baek Cheon looked at the snow-covered figure from head to toe, with only those sparkling pink eyes visible.
Three months was a considerable fast time for a trip to the Ice Palace.
Considering Chung Myung, it wouldn't be surprising if that bastard returned in less than two months to haunt them. But
Three?
THREE WEEKS?!
"You came back in three weeks after going back and forth from the Northern Palace?!"
Baek Cheon's irritated and deep voice silenced the disciples who were approaching.
"Oi, why is the Sasuk yelling at me? It's too cold for that."
"I should drown you in this snow, but you've become one with it, you bastard!"
Soon the disciples understood the situation and approached again.
"Hey, is this serious?! Couldn't you have come back slower?"
"Who's chasing you, you demon?!"
Yoon Jong and Jo Gul in succession voiced their complaints.
Tang Soso ran ahead with towels in her hands.
Yoo Iseol was right beside her, with a less-than-content expression on her otherwise indifferent face.
"Sahyung, you bastard! Is it too much to ask for you to act like a human being?!"
The doctor desperately wiped off the layers of snow on the younger one's shoulders and head before touching the almost blue skin on the face and being startled.
"You're freezing, shit! You're not even at human temperature. Get more towels for me! Sahyung, take off your clothes!"
"Are you crazy?! Just get those ice crystals."
"No one cares about those ice crystals, bastard!"
"This is a more important matter. And I need to talk to the Sect Lead—"
"It's not necessary to call me."
Hyun Jong appeared well wrapped up, walking towards them like a hellish guardian walking briskly.
"Sect Leader! Look! Look! This idiot just ran here like a horse homesick and now he's dying."
"Put some sense into this demon, please."
The disciples complained almost tearfully.
"OI! When I was your age, I used to go to sleep peacefully in the middle of snow after a battle that lasted for four days and four nights."
"You're the youngest among us, Chung Myung."
"And what does that have to do with anything?!"
"You bastards! Who do you think I—"
*ACHOO*
"..."
"H-haha, that was just a coincide—"
*ACHOO*
"W-wait a minut—"
*ACHOO*
"Put him inside."
The voice sounded like an order impossible to defy.
"Sect leader—"
"We'll talk later."
'It feels more like he's going to kill me.'
"Yoon Jong, help me prepare a hot bath."
Baek Cheon stormed in, annoyed, and quickly entered the dorms.
"And someone brings this idiot inside?!"
Chung Myung was easily carried by Yoo Iseol and couldn't even complain due to the rare expression of irritation on the girl's face.
'These kids nowadays.'
"Hey! Isn't anyone going to pick up those ice crystals over there?"
"Sahyung, if you say one more word, I'll throw those crystals down the mountain."
The younger one simply allowed himself to be carried like a sack of potatoes.
Before he knew it, he had been undressed and placed in a bathtub of water so warm that he didn't even have time to complain.
"But why are you guys here?"
"We're not here. Take your bath. Soso said you need to submerge your whole body to warm up."
Yoon Jong said simplistically, arms crossed with his back against the door. Beside him, Jo Gul maintained the same pose with an irritated expression and ended up grumbling,
"But what got into this lunatic's head? How much did you run to get here in 3 weeks?"
"It wasn't hard. Don't you guys know how fast I am?"
'That's not the point, idiot.'
"Anyway, you kids don't need to worry. I should be asking myself if you trained as I instructed you during this time."
"Oh sure! Jo Gul, grab the needle Soso lent us."
"U-uh, Sahyung?"
"She told us that as soon as you deflect the subject and talk about training and work, I should stick your mouth with this. Shall we talk more?"
"..."
"I'll take my bath."
"Good."
Yoon Jong grumbled but ended up putting the needle away again.
'You don't know what self-preservation is, stupid?'
It was already irritating not being able to keep up with the youngest one. And it was even more irritating to think about the reasons that made him run so quickly to return as soon as possible.
Chung Myung decided to give in to all that forced attention and enjoyed the warm and comfortable water that made him feel better.
The truth was, because he never had any problems with temperature changes in his first life, he was extremely sensitive to it in this body. And there was still the fact that he refused to use his precious ki just to warm himself up.
He would rather freeze to death and become Tang Bo's joke in the afterlife.
However, he didn't understand why these kids were so agitated. Maybe they wished Chung Myung had taken longer so they could have more freedom in their exercise routines.
Tsk, tsk. Raising so many kids was complicated.
After his supervised bath, the youngest wasn't left alone even to change clothes.
"Hey, isn't this too much?"
"Stay quiet, put on the clothes."
"There are like 10 layers of fabric here, Sasuk. And why are you watching me?"
"Do as ordered, please. You need to cover yourself completely after being so exposed to the cold."
The Great Sasuk had a distorted expression trying to restrain himself from exploding.
"You guys are acting like I'm going to die..."
"I might just kill you."
Chung Myung chuckled slightly at that curious reaction. Those angry chicks seemed adorable to his eyes, but Baek Cheon didn't like seeing that paternal smile on his sajil's face.
'What's this idiot laughing at? Does he think it's a joke?! Should I use the needle Soso lent me?'
The Great Sasuk remembered attentively the orders of the medical disciple, telling them to watch Chung Myung for any suspicious symptoms.
Even if he was inhuman, they shouldn't fall into the trap of thinking that Chung Myung couldn't get hurt just because he acted like nothing bothered him. At least Baek Cheon refused to see his sajil injured or sick due to his incompetence as a senior disciple.
Especially when it was about that goblin who acted like the most idle person in the world when he was the opposite. It was so hard to see him actually resting.
Irritating.
When dressed in his robes and covered in various soft blankets that made his movements difficult, the youngest was once again dragged to the infirmary instead of the dining hall.
"S-Sasuk? Hey! This isn't the right way."
"Soso will examine you before anything else. Behave."
"Am I a dog or something?"
Chung Myung just grumbled as he was placed on the cot and left alone with the intimidating doctor.
"Sahyung..."
"...Yes?"
"If you want to die, next time talk to me. I'll do it for free with great pleasure."
"I'm your sahyung."
"Tch!" The irritated expression made Chung Myung lower his head slightly. The medical disciple took his temperature and asked how he was feeling.
"Maybe a little sleepy and my nose is itching a bit?"
Tang Soso carefully noted the symptoms along with the slightly elevated temperature but didn't inform him.
"For now, you need to eat hot foods. I've already informed Elder Hyun Young."
Chung Myung sighed in defeat. He could already imagine the elder running in despair and excessive concern.
"Is this necessary? I don't feel sick."
"Sahyung. You've done what you needed to do. As part of the medical team, this is my job."
The youngest reluctantly agreed but only accepted it since he had no other choice.
He couldn't even have dinner with the others.
He had to stay in the medical wing in front of the fireplace, with a silent swordsman holding a bowl of soup and seeming ready to shove the entire pot down his throat.
Chung Myung agreed that if he was sick, he shouldn't be so close to the disciples, but that pot of soup with so few pieces of meat depressed him. Furthermore—
"I can eat by myself!"
Yoo Iseol just lifted the spoonful towards him, completely ignoring him until the youngest got tired and accepted the food.
"At least don't make such face. You're ruining my meal."
"Stupid old man."
TUK
"Irresponsible sajil."
TUK
"Idiot."
"I got it already!"
Yoo Iseol clicked her tongue and continued to feed him until it was finished.
"I should at least do my nighttime training."
"Denied."
"Seriously, I skipped a few days to get her—"
"Negative."
"Listen to me, damn it— Don't pull out that damn needle! Why do all of you have one?!"
knock knock
For the first time, Chung Myung was thankful for the knocks on the door followed by the disciple inspecting the scene as if it were normal to see Chung Myung being threatened with a ridiculously large needle.
'At least pretend to care, you damn brat.'
"The Sect Leader is calling you, Chung Myung. He asked for Yoo Iseol to accompany, so you won't try to escape."
"... You took care of me just to send me to the slaughter?"
Chung Myung almost felt his eyes welling up with tears, yet the disciples by his side at that moment showed no empathy and just led him away as he was becoming accustomed to being taken around.
Inside the of the Sect Leader's residence, Chung Myung alone remained seated in his armchair and covered in his warm sheets, head bowed.
The three elders looked at him with wide, red eyes.
'Blink, please. Your eyes are going to explode.'
The disciple, however, didn't dare say anything when even Hyun Young seemed far from pleased.
"Chung Myung."
" Sect Leader?"
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"That's good. Report to anyone if you feel anything different."
The disciple obediently nodded.
"I won't ask why you ran so desperately to come back, but do you at least understand that it was wrong?"
"...I should have come back slower?"
"Yes, it wouldn't have been a problem even if it took weeks longer. However, you came back covered in snow and without the backpack that was given to you before you left."
"..."
"How would you feel if one of the other disciples did the same?—"
"I'd kick them to the sky."
Hyun Jong coughed awkwardly at the direct response.
'If you know it doesn't make sense, then don't act that way.'
"Chung Myung, we've been through many complicated times together, and I like to think that you also trust us."
"Sect Leader..."
"Don't do something like this again. No amount of crystals is more important to me than your well-being."
Chung Myung just nodded reluctantly.
It was possible to see that the youngest maybe still didn't understand what he had done wrong. Their youngest was someone who loved practicality and agility.
As long as he got the desired result and was the only one to suffer any consequences, that was a completely positive outcome in his mind.
Hyun Jong could never think that way, however.
"Is the Sect Leader done?"
The diabolical voice came from the corner of the room and startled both the disciple and the Hyun Jong. Hyun Sang seemed so close and ready to grab the elder.
"W-well, I've said what I wanted but—"
"Then I can talk to Chung Myung alone."
'Am I being kicked out of my own room?'
After seeing that distorted expression, Hyun Jong didn't even try to argue and quickly called Hyun Sang.
"Haha! Since you need to talk alone, the elder and I will start our nighttime training."
"H-hey, Sect Leader?! I-I also—"
"Don't forget to go to bed early tonight, Chung Myung-ah."
Hyun Sang interrupted and took large steps toward the exit. Closing the door, the Sect Leader and the elder breathed a sigh of relief, but they couldn't forget the betrayed look they received from the youngest disciple.
"Will everything be okay?"
"It's still Chung Myung, Hyun Young won't be able to do much."
Curious, the two approached the door but couldn't hear anything. Soon, the Sect Leader opened just a tiny crack in the door—
"SHOULD I RUN TO THE ICE PALACE AND SET EVERYTHING ON FIRE FOR MAKING MY BABY RUN HERE?!"
"H-HEY, ELDER?!"
"SHUT UP! You should have asked me for more money. I would have given you everything, even if I had to sell the Sect Lead—"
The Hyun Jong immediately closed the door and accompanied Hyun Sang as far away from that situation as possible.
Chung Myung simply threw himself onto the bed as soon as he had the chance.
He didn't think anyone could surpass the lectures of his Sect Leader Sahyung, but apparently, the world was much bigger than he thought.
'What is this bastard talking about?'
"Hey, not you too, Sahyung. One after another is too much."
The brunette waved his hands to dispel that hallucination. He felt even more exhausted than usual and his body felt a bit sore.
Still—
"Everyone is so dramatic. I hope they calm down tomorrow or I'll throw them all off the cliff."
Comfortably resting his head on the cushion, he was slightly surprised by the elongated 'fur ball' that jumped onto his chest and greeted him enthusiastically.
"Tch! Who do you think you're fooling?! Where have you been, you bastard?"
The white martin, pure white as snow, tilted its head in confusion with its big innocent eyes.
"Don't play innocent with me, or I'll turn you into a great scarf. Especially today."
The martin seemed to protest but then licked the other's face as an apology.
"Stop it, damn it! Don't you know I might be sick or whatever the hell Soso said?!"
Baek-Ah didn't seem to care and just went to its usual spot around the disciple's neck, which he found particularly warm and comfortable, and couldn't argue with the creature that made its noises.
"It's true that this damn thing is a spiritual beast. So just stay still if you really want my forgiveness."
The red eyes closed heavily, and sleep easily shut down his minds brimming with thoughts.
.
.
.
The chilly morning and the snow covering everything around weren't excuses for the disciples, who woke up at the usual time for their joint training.
Quickly, they joined the senior brothers who always woke up first, under the command of the Great Sasuk, to serve as an example for the younger ones. That extreme weather, in a way, was great to train the resilience of their bodies.
"But is that goblin going to show up?"
One of the Chung generation disciples' questions caught everyone's attention, as they were acting as if it were a normal routine day.
Baek Cheon was the target of several glances but had also forgotten about the confusion from the previous day.
"I'll go take a look at that little monster."
"I'll go too, Sasuk! If that sahyung bastard went out earlier to train in the middle of the night, he'd meet the biggest needle I have."
'Soso... how many needles do you have? Didn't you already give one to each to keep an eye on Chung Myung? Do you really need so many?'
"I'll go too."
Yoon Jong interrupted the thoughts of the Great Sasuk, accompanied by Jo Gul beside him and Yoo Iseol suddenly appearing.
"What's with all this commotion? Haven't you started training yet?"
Un Gum approached, curious about the unusual delay of the children.
"Sasuk, we were going to visit Chung Myung and see if he ran away or something."
"Ah! I heard he came back yesterday. In that case, I'll take care of today's training. Don't let that rascal roam freely if he's sick."
The disciples entered the room without even knocking on the door but with a certain caution not to be surprised by being beaten for invading that demon's room.
However, instead, the first thing they saw was the youngest one all covered up and slightly huddled in his bed with Baek-Ah, wearing a confused expression, gently tapping his shoulder with her paw.
The disciples made eye contact with the animal and surprisingly seemed to understand.
"Is he still sleeping?"
Tang Soso approached first along with Baek Cheon.
The medical disciple quickly hissed upon touching the youngest's hot forehead.
"He has a fever."
Baek Cheon wasted no time in confirming it himself and soon recoiled his hand in surprise.
"He's quite hot. It wasn't that bad yesterday."
"Usually, you don't instantly get sick; I was trying to prevent him from getting so bad suddenly, yesterday," Tang Soso explained.
The disciples further back tried to look at the youngest's face.
"Is it okay to let him sleep?" Jo Gul asked in an anxious tone.
"He doesn't seem comfortable."
Chung Myung's expression wasn't serene, and there was a bit of cold sweat accumulating on his temples.
"Sleeping is part of the body's healing process, but it's not good to let him be like this. Someone bring me a basin with warm water and some towels, please."
Yoo Iseol quickly left the room to obey the medical disciple's orders. Tang Soso opened the window slightly, just enough to freshen up the room.
"I'll need to fetch and prepare a fever-reducing medicine."
"Don't worry about that, we'll stay here,"
Yoon Joon said confidently and received a nod from the disciple.
Baek Cheon removed some of the various blankets from the youngest, as recommended by Soso, and saw Chung Myung's face subtly ease after adjusting him back against the mattress.
"I thought idiots didn't get sick, tch!" The Great Sasuk sat on the edge of the bed with crossed arms, observing any changes in the other's expression.
Baek-Ah seemed unwilling to make any bothersome noise and simply curled up right next to her master. Her big black eyes watching him directly.
"Jo Gul, go inform the Sect Leader about the situation, and Un Gum too, if possible."
The disciple did as ordered, even though he was hesitant to leave the room.
Shortly after, Yoo Iseol returned with the towels and warm water. She quickly used the dampened and wrung-out towel to wipe away the accumulated sweat on the other's forehead.
Her expressionless face softened when she saw the youngest appear a bit more comfortable in his sleep.
It didn't take long for the Hyun generation to arrive, panting against the door of the room.
"What happened to my baby?!"
Hyun Young whispered loudly and, without accepting any refusal, joined Yoo Iseol in the task of applying warm compresses and wiping away the cold sweat that appeared on his face and neck.
The Sect Leader prevented Baek Cheon from standing up and greeting him properly.
"How is he?" the question came from Hyun Sang right behind him.
"Tang Soso went to prepare the medicine. For now, he has a relatively high fever."
"Now I feel bad for arguing with him yesterday. My baby! I'm definitely going to set fire to the Ice Palace."
'Don't try to burn down our allies' home, you bastard.'
Hyun Jong approached and placed his hand on the forehead when Yoo Iseol removed the compress.
It was indeed hot, and the disciple's breathing seemed irregular. It wouldn't be comfortable to see any disciple in the slightest pain, especially someone who hardly showed any weakness, like Chung Myung. It caused an uncomfortable reaction.
The Sect Leader sighed, feeling helpless without being able to help much.
Tang Soso didn't take long to appear with various medications in hand, in pill and liquid form.
"With these, his fever should go down a bit,"
The doctor informed, as Baek Cheon gently lifted the youngest's head so she could administer the liquid that trickled through his parted lips and was automatically swallowed calmly until it was finished.
Even against everyone's will, they were instructed to carry on with their normal activities, and only Soso and one other companion at a time were allowed to stay in the room.
They didn't even remember that everyone there had various tasks to do. They felt the urge to keep a close watch on that goblin who occasionally grumbled softly in his sleep.
"And try not to go talking about this to others. They'll get too worried, and besides, there's the rest of the alliance,"
Tang Soso warned them, and of course, those cursed sahyungs would do exactly the opposite of what was asked.
.
.
.
'I understand a bit why Chung Myung sahyung is always on the verge of beating them all.'
The doctor massaged her temple while looking out at the crowd outside through the window, seeming on the verge of breaking through the wall and invading the room.