[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 295

Naegakju Yang Ik-jun, leading the way with Han Ga-eul and Jeon Ho in tow, stops in front of a large hall.

At the same time, a solemn voice echoes from inside.

“Come in.”

*Creak.*

As Yang Ik-jun opens the door upon hearing the voice, there sits an old man with a white beard, his back straight as a rod.

Steam rises gently from a teacup on the thick wooden table.

From the people to the items, everything exudes an antique charm. Han Ga-eul feels as though she’s catching a glimpse of the room owner’s personality just by looking around.

What’s peculiar is the palm print on the wooden table and the large crack running through it, as if it could break at any moment.

“Welcome, Naegakju.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader. A precious guest has arrived.”

The Naegakju, having fully slid open the door, turns and gestures respectfully toward Han Ga-eul with his palm.

The number of people the Naegakju would call a “precious guest” can be counted on one hand. Thanks to this, the Alliance Leader immediately knew who the VIP accompanying the Naegakju was.

“Greetings, Shin Yi. I am the leader of this alliance.”

The Alliance Leader, who initiated the greeting, appeared calm on the outside but was inwardly restless and surprised.

He had already seen Shin Yi’s portrait sent by the information organization, Gaebang.

Gaebang claimed it was painted by a skilled artist, but the difference between the painting and the real person was staggering.

The Shin Yi the Alliance Leader saw in person was a beauty that no painting could ever capture.

‘She could topple nations. This is dangerous…’

In the Central Plains, powerless beauty is nothing but suffering.

However, more important than Shin Yi’s beauty was the answer that would come from her lips.

“Hello. You sent a bunch of pigeons to find me, I hear.”

“Ahem. I was in a hurry, so it was unintentional…”

The Alliance Leader, clearing his throat, gulps down the tea on the wooden table.

Even as he drinks the steaming hot tea, the corner of his mouth twitches upward.

Contrary to reports that she’d lash out if displeased, he sensed no hostility from her.

“So, where’s the patient? I’m a bit busy, so I’d like to finish this quickly and get going.”

*Thud!*

The Alliance Leader, slamming the teacup down, glances at the Naegakju before turning his gaze back to Shin Yi.

“Ahem! There’s something I’d like to discuss with you, Shin Yi.”

“Sure.”

“First, the one in need of treatment is my grandchild.”

“Okay.”

As Shin Yi’s short replies continue, the Alliance Leader feels his throat drying up and takes another sip of tea.

Han Ga-eul, listening to this, thinks they’re just going on about irrelevant things.

To Han Ga-eul, whether it’s a grandchild or a great-grandchild, it’s of no interest and has nothing to do with the treatment.

But to the Alliance Leader, it’s a crucial matter.

First, as the grandchild of the Murim Alliance Leader, most people would bow their heads. Second, by subtly revealing the patient’s blood relation, he intended to gauge Shin Yi’s hostility.

It was a Murim Alliance teeming with raccoons that had lived with century-old snakes inside them, and as the leader of such a place, this kind of conversation was natural for him.

“Ahem!”

The leader coughed again.

Even when he asked the question, he had intended it to be that way, but he hadn’t expected such a reaction as if asking, “What am I supposed to do now?” It was also the first time he had ever experienced such indifference since taking the position of leader.

The vast majority of people had always wagged their tails in some way to please him, the leader.

‘His personality is definitely peculiar…’

“So, where is your grandson, Grandfather?”

At Shin Yi’s continued questioning, the Naegakju, who had been watching from the side, reluctantly stepped in.

“Lord Namgung is receiving treatment at the Medical Hall.”

“Namgung?”

As soon as Shin Yi heard the Naegakju’s answer, the leader’s office instantly turned cold.

There was a thick hostility in Shin Yi’s voice.

Thanks to that, the leader’s shoulder twitched slightly as a bonus.

“That Namgung bastard?”

“Shin, Shin Yi…”

“Ah, just hearing it makes my blood pressure rise. Jeon Ho, where is the Medical Hall? It’s not like he’s some cockroach, when did he slip out?”

“Han So-jeo, please calm down first…”

As Shin Yi turned to leave, Jeon Ho rushed to grab him.

“Wait, hold on. Grandson?”

Shin Yi’s gaze turned back to the leader.

Even under such a cold gaze, the leader silently sipped his tea without a word.

“Hey, Grandfather. Is your surname Namgung by any chance?”

“……”

The leader was pondering how to respond to Shin Yi’s sudden hostility, but Shin Yi didn’t wait for him.

“Jeon Ho, explain.”

“……”

“Jeon Ho?”

At Shin Yi’s urging, Jeon Ho reluctantly opened his mouth.

“The leader of the Murim Alliance, the Sword King… is Namgung Hwi.”

“Why does this sound like the first time I’m hearing it?”

Behind him, Jeon Ho was sweating profusely under Shin Yi’s gaze.

It was clear that he had deliberately avoided conveying this information.

“Why did you hide it?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Wow, if saying sorry solves everything, life must be easy for you, huh?”

“That’s not it…”

With each step Shin Yi took and each question he asked, Jeon Ho’s body flinched.

“No? What do you mean no?”

“Uh… I’m sorry.”

In the end, Jeon Ho bowed his head deeply.

Shin Yi could somewhat understand Jeon Ho’s reaction.

The first Namgung he met was bad luck, and the second Namgung he met was also bad luck.

To put it bluntly, it was a series of bad luck.

“If I had told you the truth, Han So-jeo would have gone crazy trying to kill the leader.”

“You know me well?”

The Naegakju was startled by Shin Yi’s response.

In Murim, even joking about life and death was not done.

Thus, even in the vast Central Plains…

The story I was about to tell was definitely not one to be shared in front of the Main Leader, who is known as the core of power.

‘Is she crazy…?’

She casually spits out words that even the leader of the Demon Cult wouldn’t dare to say.

“I thought we had become close, but I’m really disappointed.”

Jeon Ho, with his head bowed, chews on his lips in response to Shin Yi’s words.

He chews so hard that a trickle of blood flows from his mouth.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Is that all you have to say? Did you just pretend to be close to me to bring me here? Was I the only one who misunderstood?”

At Shin Yi’s words, Jeon Ho’s head sinks even lower.

“…I’m sorry.”

“This feels like betrayal, really? Is that all you can say?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sigh.”

Shin Yi, who had been conversing with Jeon Ho, finally lets out a deep sigh and turns his head.

—Click, click.

“Phew—”

As Shin Yi takes out a tobacco pipe from his pocket and lights it, smoke begins to fill the Main Leader’s office.

Doing such a thing in the Main Leader’s office was shocking, but no one dared to stop him.

The Main Leader, who had been tense due to Shin Yi’s sudden hostility, actually felt pity upon seeing this.

For warriors who live by the sword, the word “friend” was never a light one.

“I thought we were friends.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Shin Yi’s face fills with sorrow.

The Main Leader and Naegakju, seeing this, felt as if it was all their fault.

No matter how much Shin Yi was, he was still young.

For Shin Yi, who lacked worldly experience, a friend would have been even more precious.

The Main Leader and Naegakju were people who had survived day by day in the ruthless political arena and on the edge of a blade. They were as tough externally as they were internally.

Yet, such a friendship was shattered in an instant by the schemes of old men.

“Ah, I am the sinner…”

A deep sorrow emanates from the young Shin Yi, who had become a sacrificial lamb for the schemers.

Having survived in the martial world until now, the two of them knew better than anyone how painful it is to lose a friend.

Thus, they found it hard to lift their heads due to guilt.

“We should get treatment and go.”

“I’ll lead the way.”

At Shin Yi’s words, the Main Leader rises from his seat and exits the office.

Even as he walks towards the Medical Hall, the Main Leader remains on edge, but all he hears is the sound of Shin Yi exhaling tobacco smoke behind him.

“Phew—”

As they continue walking, they come across a hall filled with the smell of bitter medicinal herbs.

“Main Leader…”

“Enough. Let’s visit quietly and leave.”

The Main Leader brushes past those who greet him and moves forward.

Tap.

The Main Leader stops where two very similar-looking individuals lie, battered and bruised.

“It’s these two.”

At the Main Leader’s words, Shin Yi’s pupils move.

“This bastard was lying here.”

“Ahem!”

“Shin Yi. I, on behalf of… apologize.”

“Enough already.”

The medical hall members, who had been murmuring while watching the scene, fell into silence at Shin Yi’s words.

“Just one person.”

As Shin Yi cut off the conversation and concluded it with just one person, the Alliance Leader felt his heart sink.

“Is there no way to save both?”

“Grandfather, if you treat both, those Namgung bastards will double their eggs.”

At that moment, a white light began to blend into the air, taking the shape of flower buds.

Gradually, the light buds took form and eventually began to bloom.

“What is this…?”

Those caught in the absurd situation looked around, but nothing changed.

The calmly blooming flowers soon began to flutter and scatter into the air.

Gradually, the petals that had been falling more and more began to land on Shin Yi.

**〈White Peach Transformation〉**

Whoosh—!

A strong wind blew into the inner hall.

At the same time, Shin Yi’s appearance changed completely.

“Right? ‘Namgung’ Grandfather.”

“…”

“If it’s hard to choose, I’ll choose for you. Let’s go with this one.”

Shin Yi’s finger pointed towards the first son of the Namgung family, known as a failure.

***

“Even the pulled-out teeth grew back. Truly, Shin Yi. His reputation is well-deserved.”

“Indeed…”

The people watching Shin Yi’s treatment couldn’t help but marvel.

Namgung Woon-hwi, the second son of the Namgung family, who had been disfigured and crippled with bones misaligned, had transformed into a perfect state.

The problem was that such a Namgung Woon-hwi was being dragged out by Shin Yi, holding onto his ankle.

“Alliance Leader. But why did you make such a decision?”

“…To save both, there was no other choice.”

“I’ll do the laundry for you. In return, give up on this guy being the second son’s offspring.”