13 Chapter 13 (1/2)
Baek-gap was curious as to what Kang-hyuk's true identity was.
He wondered what kind of man would go to the infamous White Sun Valley just to collect compost. Not only that, he was able to placate a spiritual animal with a single punch.
At the same time, he had a feeling that it was best not to know, and reminded himself that the Clan Leader most likely omitted this information from him for a good reason.
He sighed, picked up a broom, and began to sweep the courtyard when he suddenly felt a presence near him.
'What could that be?'
He looked around, but was unable to see anyone.
”Am I imagining things because I'm tired? I did have quite an experience today as well…”
Baek-gap muttered this under his breath, and resumed his sweeping.
As he was sweeping, he could feel a touch on his body.
”...!”
He felt as though it was most definitely a person's touch.
'But there's no one here at all?'
He had heard that Kang-hyuk's residence, and the residence opposite, had both been vacant for quite some time.
The rumoured reason being ghosts.
As a member of the Jimilgak, Baek-gap was well aware that the rumour had been spread to conceal the secret passage in the forest which was nearest to the two houses.
'I know that it can't be ghosts, yett there's still cold sweat dripping down my back! I need to pull myself together..... as a warrior of Jimilgak, how can I be so weak?'
Baek-gap slapped himself, and turned around.
\tThe morning glory vines were swaying back and forth with the wind. This was what had touched him.
”Hahaha! Morning glory vines? I was so frightened by a vine's touch? Hahaha!”
A look of astonishment began to spread across Baek-gap's face.
”Wait, morning glory vines? We sowed the seeds for those today…. these aren't even a magical plant, these were ordinary seeds from the market.”
Baek-gap slowly turned his head away and let out a scream.
”Aaaaah!”
***
As Kang-hyuk entered the restaurant, he immediately spotted a man wearing a blue uniform waving at him.
”Over here!”
Kang-hyuk walked over to him, and spoke politely.
”Are you Ju Gung-wol Seonsaeng?”
”I am Ju Gung-wol!”
”It's nice to meet you. I'm Kang-hyuk.”
They bowed to each other in greeting, and sat down.
Kang-hyuk began to look into Ju Gung-wol's energy.
”Does he have a peak level of cultivation?'
Ju Gung-wol smiled as he spoke, ”It's a relief you didn't fall into the martial teachers' trap. I also heard you won the drinking contest last night.”
The rumours had spread quickly.
”I guess I did. Hahaha.”
”The prices of the drinks there are eye-wateringly high, I'm glad you didn't have to foot the bill in the end!”
Kang-hyuk wriggled his eyebrows. Ju Gung-wol seemed to be unaware of the debt settlement he had with the teachers.
'They've concealed it on purpose.'
Ju Gung-wol burst out laughing.
”I was almost caught in that trap, but I was able to evade it as I had to leave the banquet early as I became ill and vomited.”
”Is that so?”
”I got quite lucky. In fact, I've escaped similar unfortunate situations with this luck of mine!”
The food soon arrived, and the table was filled with a variety of gourmet dishes.
Ju Gung-wol's mouth slightly opened as Kang-hyuk brought out a bottle of Wolsoru wine.
Their conversation had begun to flow when there was a sudden interruption.
”Seonsaengnim! Kang Seonsaengnim!”
The door of the restaurant swung open as a man rushed in. It was Baek-gap.
”Oh? Baek-gap? What's the matter?”
Baek-gap jumped to speak.
”There- there's a big problem!”
”A big problem?”
”There's a problem at the residence!”
Ju Gung-wol quickly spoke up.
”A big problem! You should hurry and go see what it is!”
”You'll have to excuse me then.”
After apologizing to Ju Gung-wol once more, Kang-hyuk got up and left the restaurant.
”What on earth is the big problem?”
Baek-gap attempted to formulate an explanation but was unable to, and simply cried out.
”A-anyway, you'll see when we get there.”
Kang-hyuk wondered what could cause a peak warrior like Baek-gap to be in such a state, and hurried back to the residence.
***
”Oh my….”
Kang-hyuk had arrived back at his residence and was unable to hide his surprise. His residence was filled to the brim with vegetation.
It was still spring, and in summer, there was definitely going to be a profusion of flowers.
Not to mention the fact that he had only just planted the seeds.
”It's a good thing that the neighbouring houses are empty! If anyone caught sight of this….”
”They would just think you're a talented Horticulturist.”
”....”
”Ah! I can see the Hollyhock and the Morning glory vines! And that tall plant is Rose Balsam. The trees have grown significantly as well!”
Kang-hyuk looked pleased and nodded.
Baek-gap cried out at Kang-hyuk's observations.
”Seonsaengnim! How can you be so laid back about this! The trees' growth in this single day is as much as a hundred-year-old tree. Not to mention the flower seeds. They didn't just grow slightly, they're already vines! It doesn't make any sense!”
Kang-hyuk laughed heartily at Baek-gap's protestations.
”It doesn't make any sense? Baek-gap.”
”Yes?”
”The thing is, throughout my life thus far, I've seen many things which don't make any sense.”
His own age-reversal was one of those things.
The exaggerated growth was obviously not a natural occurrence, and Kang-hyuk pondered why it could have happened.