Chapter 84: Three stories
Mi-na, Yunsung and Olcadan arrived at a small Nepalese village, where they expected to find some information regarding Ling-Sheng Su Temple.
They asked every person they met, but nobody knew anything about it.
However, a passerby told them something useful.
- If I were you, I would look for the doctor. He is a well-read person, he surely knows something about that temple.
- Where can we find him? – asked Yunsung.
- He lives outside the village. Hesees his patients there,and he doesn't like to be interrupted, so you'd better go later, because at this timehe would probably be taking care of them.
Following his advice, Mi-na, Yunsung and Olcadan decided to wait until night time, when the doctor would probably be not so busy.
Meanwhile, they parted to poke around the village, after agreeing to meet at the central square before it got dark.
Mi-na went to aclothing storein order to look for some dresses (she had been wearing the same three pieces of clothing for months), but unfortunately she didn't have enough money to buy anything.
Olcadan, since it was daytime, was in his owl form, so he flew over the placelooking for something interesting. However, the most interesting thing he saw was a flock grazing.
Finally, Yunsung decided that it was a good moment to train himself again, something he hadn't done for a long time.
...
So he left the village throughthe same way they had entered it and he got into the forest in order not to bother anybody.
Something interesting would happen to him indeed, but he surely had preferred it not to happen.
He had been training for about forty-five minutes when he heard something moving among the trees around him. He stopped and listened more carefully.
He suspiciously raised his saber to defend himself against any danger.
- Who's there? – he yelled.
He didn't get any answer.
- Whoever you are… If you try to do any harm, I swear I'll slice your neck with my saber.
- Do you mean MY saber? – asked a voice behind his back.
When Yunsung turned around, he was punched in his face and fell to the ground, dropping the saber.
His attacker picked it up and sheathed it.
- Don't worry, I didn't miss it too much. – he said, mockingly.
Yunsung soon recognized Hwang's arrogant voice.
- What are you doing here? – asked the youngster from the ground.
- Did you think that I was going to give up? That I would stop following you?
Yunsung stood up quickly and confronted Hwang.
- Did you really travel so far just to get Mi-na back?
Hwang looked at him with contempt,but he didn't answer his question.
- Wait a moment... You didn't come here for Mi-na, right? You're following us to reach Soul Edge.
- It seems like you are smarter than I've thought. – said Hwang. – It's a pity that it hasn't been of any use to you.
He made a signal with his hand and two other men came out from the trees. They grabbed Yunsung and immobilized him, forcing him to kneel down.
Hwang unsheathed his saber again and put it on Yunsung's chin.
- You're moving away from Mi-na. You won't see her again. You are going away the same way you've come here through and you're not saying goodbye. – he ordered.
- Or what? – replied Yunsung insolently.
- What do you think?
Yunsung looked at Hwang as if he were the most despicable being in the world.
- Understand me, Yunsung. I'm following directorders from the master.
- Did the master order you to kill me?
- Yes, if you don't leave Mi-na in peace.
- She's better with me than she has ever been. I'm not moving away from her.
- Are you sure, boy?
- Completely. – asserted the youngster looking at him with hatred.
Hwang sighed.
- So we're solving this in a nasty way, right?
Yunsung didn't answer. He just lowered his head.
- It's okay. Believe me, I didn't want to reach this far.– claimed Hwang, with a more serious tone.
He looked around and, when he saw there wasn't anybody there, he finally said:
- Kill him.
...
At night, Mi-na and Olcadan were at the central square just like they had started to feel worried about Yunsung's lateness.
- That blockheadhas probably lost the sense of time fighting against a tree. – said Olcadan, who was already in his owl-man form. – We should go without him. He'll reach us.
- I'm not sure, Olcadan. What if something wrong has happened to him?
- What could have possibly happened to him? A revengeful tree? An angry sheep? This village is harmless, Mi-na.
- Yes, but…I'm restless.
- Okay, let's do this: I'll start moving while you wait for him.
- Fine. But be careful.
- Don't worry, I can take care of myself.
Without saying any more words, the owl-man started walking quickly towards the doctor's house.
Mi-na waited. Ten minutes. Half an hour. One hour. Yunsung continued missing.
She had been waiting for one hour and a half (though it seemed three hours to her) when something happened.
A boy arrived at the village, running at full speed.
When he saw Mi-na, he stopped.
- Hey! Where does the doctor live?
- What? – said a surprised Mi-na.
- The doctor! – yelled the boy. – I was training in the forest along with a friend and I hit him. He's wounded.
- Did you leave him alone?
- No, no. My girlfriend is taking care of him. So, do you know where the doctor lives?
- Eh…yes. –finally answered Mi-na. – He lives outside the village. That way.
She pointed at the way Olcadan had taken.
- Thank you. – he replied before starting to run again.
- My name is Mi-na, by the way! – she exclaimed.
- I'm Kilik! – he yelled as he got out of sight.
...
Meanwhile, Olcadan was about to arrive at the doctor's house when something stopped him.
- Olcadan! – said someone.
The owl-man turned around and saw the hooded man.
- You again! What are you doing here?
- I've information regarding Soul Edge. – he claimed.
- What?
- You remember the Lost Cathedral, don't you?
- Ah? Yes, of course.
- Fine. You must forget Ling-Sheng Su Temple. There's nothing left in there.
- Nothing left? Did Edge Master tell you where the temple is?
- He didn't say to me more than to you.
- Then…how do you know that?
- Because Edge Master is dead.
- What?
That revelationshocked Olcadan. Few things surprised him, but that one had taken him completely by surprise.
- I found his corpse during one of my journeys looking for Soul Edge. – retold the hooded man. – But I also found something useful. Apparently, he was going to the Lost Cathedal. I'm sure there's something in there.
- Why don't you check it out yourself, Zasalamel?
- Because I don't dare to handle Soul Edge unless there's someone near who can have a solution if things go out of control.
Olcadan doubted for a few seconds.
- Okay. I'll go.
- I'm glad to hear that. See you soon. – said the hooded man. – Atthe Lost Cathedral.
After saying that, the hooded man disappeared right before Olcadan's eyes,but he didn't seem to be surprised at this.
While he headed back to the village, Olcadan came across a boy who was also looking for the doctor. The owl-man showed him the way.
He had no idea, but that boy had come from the very Ling-Sheng Su Temple, and he had been Edge Master's best pupil.