Chapter 41: One Fine Day
Although the scoundrels, including the Red Wolf, did not pillage since they had a specific purpose, quite a few things were damaged.
Once the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect stepped forward, the village was restored in an instant.
The disciples of the Nine Sects generally had good hands-on skills. Because they basically lived away from the secular world, self-sufficiency was half-normalized in their daily lives.
Meanwhile, I was left(?) in a quiet place under the pretext of having to tend to my wounds.
Even when I said I was fine, contrary to appearances, it did not work at all.
Well, thanks to that, I became able to talk comfortably with my masters, so maybe it was a good thing.
“I am sorry. For making you wait.”
[It’s nothing to be sorry about.]
[Come to think of it, we made you wait longer.]
Master Zhang Sanfeng who spoke bluntly, and Master Bodhidharma who spoke considerately.
Their methods were different, but I could feel that both of them were thinking of me.
Huh? But only the two of them?
“Uh, where is Master Heavenly Demon?”
[If it’s that fellow, he is currently at work.]
“Ah, yes.”
He was busy. Scooping up poop to fry sinners in hell.
I wasn’t being sarcastic, okay?
It’s really what he does.
When Master Heavenly Demon was around, I should make sure to avoid asking questions about this sort of thing. If I accidentally let this slip out of my mouth, it would be a major disaster.
“He seems very busy.”
[He’s always busy on that side. Sometimes we are also drafted to go out.]
“Ah… yes!”
Just now, I almost accidentally asked if Master Zhang Sanfeng and Master Bodhidharma also scooped poop.
Indeed, the best policy is not to mention this topic at all.
[Well, even so, we won’t be leaving our posts all at once like this in the future. We did live without much thought during that time.]
[Our leaving for a few days this time was also because there was a need to systematize it a bit.]
“Ah.”
The conclusion was that they would take turns to look after me more systematically in the future.
It was a good thing for me.
However, one regrettable thing was that if that happened, there might be no occasion for the three of them to gather.
It was something I had secretly anticipated.
And for good reason, they were among the most prominent legends in the history of Martial World.
No other modifiers were needed.
Master Zhang Sanfeng, Master Bodhidharma, and Master Heavenly Demon. Just mentioning them all at once brought about an immense sense of presence.
Still, it didn’t seem completely impossible, so maybe I could look for an opportunity later?
In the midst of that, Master Zhang Sanfeng asked in an intrigued voice.
[Right, it seems quite a few things happened during the few days we briefly left. Let’s talk about that.]
He seemed curious about what kind of thing I did to receive such praise from the people.
Speaking of which, there was one thing I was curious about when I unleashed the Heavenly Demon Boundless Hand.
What would my masters say if I risked my life for people I had never even met?
Would they praise me, or would they scold me to cherish my life?
“When I was about to arrive near Mount Hua with Baek Mu-ho, I met a Mount Hua Sect disciple named Jeong Man-jok and heard an absurd story. That the Mount Hua Sect was currently under attack. But smoke was rising from Hwaseong Village…”
I spun the story at length. With the feeling of a grandson recounting a fresh adventure to his grandfather, I deliberately mixed in unnecessary stories and even my impressions.
That story was a small heroic tale.
“……I had to use the Heavenly Demon Boundless Hand. By risking my life. I didn’t know the dharma treasure Master Bodhidharma used would break, but this broke as well.”
Of course, it wasn’t a heroic tale that was only bright like a fairy tale.
[The Heavenly Demon Boundless Hand…]
[Hmm.]
For some reason, I could feel hesitation in their voices.
Actually, in Master Zhang Sanfeng’s case, he had personally seen me enter that domain. Naturally, he would also know well how dangerous it was.
As expected, would it be a scolding?
[Have you come to terms with it?]
“Pardon?”
However, the reply that came back was different from my expectations.
It wasn’t a scolding, but it wasn’t praise either.
He wanted to hear my words.
[Risking your life for people you had never met before. Losing a precious treasure of which there are few in the world. I am asking if you have come to terms with those things.]
Whether I had come to terms with it.
If this was a question of whether I regretted it, my answer was already decided.
When I saw the result of carrying out what I wanted to do.
When many people looked at my path and expressed their gratitude.
I did not regret my choice.
“I have come to terms with it.”
[Then that’s enough.]
“Really?”
[That’s enough. Then what? Did you think I would act like a doting parent and tell you not to do this or that?]
“Uh… yes and no?”
[Look at this guy.]
I could guess what Master Zhang Sanfeng’s expression would be like if he were right in front of me. Wouldn’t he be looking at me with slightly narrowed eyes?
“Haha……”
Having hung out only with Baek Mu-ho for a while, it seemed my sense had dulled a bit.
Could I gloss this over by laughing?
As I carefully read their countenances, Master Bodhidharma’s gentle voice followed.
[Everyone dies someday. Someday, there will also be a day when your life ends. In the end, humans cannot avoid death, and whether it is early or late, when a person dies, that death ultimately falls into one of two categories. Is it a death you can accept, or a death you cannot accept?]
“Acceptance…”
Humans fear death. There is the aspect of having to go through a painful and agonizing process, but one can tell that thoughts about the world after death are just as deeply ingrained.
Is there really an afterlife?
What happens to a person in that world after death?
Death does not end with death but gives rise to countless thoughts.
An unknown land that living people cannot know.
That is what they fear.
However, my masters had transcended that process.
In other words, to my masters, death was not the end but merely a process.
Therefore, their perspective was different.
If death was truly unavoidable, how should one accept that unavoidable thing?
“Morning hear Tao, evening die content.”
If one hears the Tao in the morning, one can die in the evening.
Words that those who strive and seek enlightenment must not forget.
As expected of my masters.
We had only exchanged a few words, but a clear line was drawn on the boundary of my vague thoughts.
To me, Master Bodhidharma threw the question Master Zhang Sanfeng had asked earlier once again.
[Do you accept it?]
It was the same, but the feeling it touched me with was different.
Just as the amount of thought accepted by a child and an adult is different even for the same question.
“Yes.”
[Then there is no need to seek confirmation of your path from us. A master is a person who suggests a direction, not an entity that walks it on your behalf.]
Master Bodhidharma’s words were much gentler.
However, the gist of what the two said was the same.
[Still, I am proud of you.]
The moment I felt relieved, my heart swelled at Master Bodhidharma’s subsequent words.
Not even the satisfaction of seeing the results of carrying out what I wanted to do.
Not even the sense of accomplishment when many people looked at my path and expressed their gratitude.
A sense of pride incomparable to anything else.
[Well done.]
I felt that I was recognized by my master.
***
[Hm! So those kinds of things happened? It is indeed time to teach you acupuncture point manipulation.]
The next lecture would likely be about acupuncture point manipulation.
[Is there anything else you need?]
Even without that, there was one more thing I wanted to learn.
“A way to run faster than a horse.”
[Simple. Cloud Ladder Stride.]
[Vajra Immovable Body Method.]
As if they had been waiting, Master Zhang Sanfeng and Master Bodhidharma brought out the secret techniques of Wudang and Shaolin.
[Isn’t the Vajra Immovable Body Method closer to footwork? It would be difficult to employ it at the level of a movement method, wouldn’t it? Besides, its characteristics are so distinct, what are you going to do if someone questions where and when you learned it?]
[Speaking of which, I believe the Cloud Ladder Stride also has characteristics that are quite noticeable on the surface?]
Due to their disagreement, the two began to bicker for a moment.
Before long, they were silent for a bit. Were they organizing their opinions?
[Cloud Ladder Stride. Since it means walking while arranging ladder clouds, if we mix it with the words Vajra Immovable…… shall we roughly name it the Cloud-Soaring Golden Light Step?]
[What does the name matter? The substance is what is important.]
[Then let’s go with this.]
Excuse me? I feel like some terrifying conversation just went by casually?
[The martial art you will learn is the Cloud-Soaring Golden Light Step. Got it?]
“……Yes!”
They had mixed the Wudang and Shaolin secret arts in that brief moment?
“Haha.”
Unable to hold back the laughter that leaked out, I let it slip.
Yes, this feeling.
I missed it a bit.
Only now did it sink in that my masters had truly returned.
***
The next day.
Around the time Baek Mu-ho and I, heading toward the Mount Hua Sect, were about to leave Hwaseong Village with the main temple disciples of the Mount Hua Sect, the villagers gathered in large numbers to see us off.
“Thank you, Young Hero Yeon Cheong-un!”
“We wish you good fortune in battle!”
“Please visit us again sometime!”
“Goodbye, older brother!”
At the very front of those villagers, the young boy who resembled Cheong-u waved his hand the most enthusiastically.
My nose tingled for no reason.
At the same time, I was also a bit embarrassed.
“This, I wasn’t the only one who went through trouble…”
“Haha! You deserve that much praise. They say excessive politeness is a discourtesy. Feeling embarrassed about receiving what you deserve to receive is not what a gentleman should do. You must confidently puff out your chest and accept it so they will also be happy.”
The elderly Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect, who had looked upon me favorably yesterday, smiled and said so.
Excessive politeness is a discourtesy.
Hearing those words, I waved my hand toward the villagers who came to see us off.
Along with a brief cheer, the villagers were pleased.
By the way.
“What is that fellow doing over there?”
Amidst those cheering people, Baek Mu-ho late-ly slipped out and ran over here.
It looked like he was giving something to the villagers?
“What are you doing?”
At my question, Baek Mu-ho frowned slightly, pondered something deeply, and then replied.
“A safety device?”
“……What do you mean?”
What kind of irrelevant answer was this.
“Because I don’t want to be choked.”
Baek Mu-ho was serious.
***
Yeon Cheong-un’s father, Yeon Gyeong-eung, warmly welcomed Baek Jin-seong, the Chief of the Baek Family Escort, who visited after a long time.
“It was lonely drinking this alone.”
“Haha! My goodness. Alcohol from the afternoon.”
Actually, Baek Jin-seong’s visit was a visit, but the medicinal liquor in his hand was also very welcome.
If he drank alcohol in broad daylight, he would definitely be nagged. Even without that, his wife’s nerves were extremely sharp because of their child who was wandering the Martial World.
However, as long as Baek Jin-seong was here, it would be tolerated for now.
Yeon Gyeong-eung knew the reason well. Because he was secretly eyeing Baek Jin-seong’s daughter, Baek Seol-ah, who had grown up beautifully, as a daughter-in-law.
“Shall we have just one cup then?”
“Yes, just exactly one cup.”
Although he knew that nagging surely awaited him after Baek Jin-seong left, Yeon Gyeong-eung accepted Baek Jin-seong’s offer.
Originally, doing what others tell you not to do is more fun.
As the two men were creating a harmonious atmosphere like that.
“Is something wrong?”
Yeon Gyeong-eung felt that Baek Jin-seong was strangely anxious. Anyone could tell it was strange that he caressed the back of his neck five or six times in a brief moment.
“Ah, haha. It’s nothing. Just that I’m also worried about the kids.”
“Ah.”
Although he spoke lightly, Yeon Gyeong-eung felt the sincerity in Baek Jin-seong’s words.
Certainly, just the fact that he came looking for him with alcohol from the afternoon was different from the Baek Jin-seong he usually knew.
“That’s how a parent’s heart is. I am the same.”
Yeon Gyeong-eung, who fully understood, brushed it off lightly.
‘It seems Chief Baek’s wife also nags quite a bit. Well, it’s not strange to resent the husband who watched idly when their precious son suddenly left for the harsh Martial World.’
“I just hope the children of both families return safely.”
“Of course, it must be so.”
Baek Jin-seong chimed in.
“……It really must be so.”
In Baek Jin-seong’s words, as he replied while caressing his neck once again without realizing it, sincerity was fully contained.