Chapter 51: Chapter 51
“Mmh…”
Cheon Woo-jin let out a low groan. He had often heard and knew what kind of life Master Black Elder had lived.
It was to the point where Master White Elder had said, ‘Regardless of Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic, it is safe to consider any martial artist an enemy of Black Elder for now.’
However, witnessing the bad karma his master left behind with his own eyes was a slightly different matter.
For no reason, even Song Yi-yeon beside him was feeling dizzy inside. To inflict such an injury on the eye of the contemporary Righteous Path’s greatest elder, just what kind of master had he served?
At the sight of the two, Master Beop-jin smiled faintly. It was because seeing two men who clearly possessed grit sweating profusely like this was quite amusing.
Cheon Woo-jin rose from his seat and clasped his hands. It was a common occurrence in the martial world for a master’s karma to pass down to the disciple.
“I cannot replace my master, but I apologize on his behalf…”
“It was that rascal Baek.”
“Pardon?”
Cheon Woo-jin was rarely flustered.
Master White Elder did that?
It was something he could not understand at all. It was because he was someone who had devoted his entire life to annihilating evil and upholding the spirit of goodness.
Master Beop-jin, who had been watching Cheon Woo-jin’s changing expressions with amusement, calmly continued speaking.
“When Baek was young, he was on the verge of death just once, and I saved him. It was the same when he grew old, but in his youth, he was a reckless fellow. He charged into the Heavenly Demon Cult alone, declaring he would wipe out the Demonic Path.”
Song Yi-yeon’s mouth fell wide open. He did not even have the presence of mind to maintain his dignity before the greatest elder of the martial world.
No, where on earth was there such a crazy… person who would charge into the Demonic Cult alone?
However, Young Hero Cheon’s expression seen from beside him was surprisingly calm. As if he was someone capable of doing just that.
‘Just what kind of people did he live with and serve?’
For Song Yi-yeon, he could not even dare to imagine.
Cheon Woo-jin chewed on Master Beop-jin’s words with an attitude of attentive listening.
“If it is my master, it makes complete sense.”
“Hahaha! Yes, he was that kind of fellow. Anyway, upon hearing the news, I belatedly chased after him to the Demonic Cult and brought that dying rascal Baek back myself. The current Demonic Cult Leader’s father was running the cult as the leader at the time, and I reached an agreement with that guy.”
Cheon Woo-jin tilted his head.
“I do not think the Demonic Cult Leader would have let him go easily…”
Cheon Woo-jin trailed off. It was because only then did he understand the wound on Master Beop-jin’s eye.
Song Yi-yeon also wore a similar expression. No matter how distinguished a veteran of the Righteous Path was, how many people in the world could give up one of their eyes for a junior?
Cheon Woo-jin, rising from his seat, bowed with a solemn expression.
“Thank you.”
If it was someone who saved his master’s life with such a great sacrifice, he could bow hundreds of times.
At that sight, Master Beop-jin gave a pleased smile.
“No. Borrowing one worthless eyeball of mine to save the world’s foremost chivalrous hero means the price was cheap.”
Having spoken so, Master Beop-jin looked into Cheon Woo-jin’s face for a moment. It was a deep gaze that seemed to peer into the passing years Cheon Woo-jin had lived.
“So, what do you think the world is like?”
It was a question about the bet between White Elder and Black Elder.
Cheon Woo-jin fell into deep thought.
It was a matter he had not yet answered.
Master White Elder had said that atop the goodness supporting the world, a few vile things splattered ink, while Master Black Elder had said that atop an entirely black world, hypocrites plastered in white bird droppings ran rampant.
Having served two masters who viewed the world with contradictory eyes, Cheon Woo-jin could not help but be confused.
Cheon Woo-jin was ultimately unable to give a definitive answer, so he merely spoke of what he had felt until now.
“I do not yet know for sure. There were various people even in the Martial Alliance, which is called the roof of the Righteous Path. On a small scale, there was someone like the squad leader who unyieldingly held onto his righteous convictions to an ignorant degree, and on a broad scale, there was the Alliance Leader whose hair turned white from watching over the affairs of the entire world.”
“Indeed. The White Egret Sword Saint and that kid, the Black Tortoise Squad Leader, are truly fine fellows.”
Master Beop-jin let out a laugh, thoroughly satisfied.
However, Cheon Woo-jin’s continuing words did not contain only the bright side of the Martial Alliance.
“Yet, there was also a division head corrupted by greed for money, and someone who spread malicious words out of jealousy toward a peer’s auspicious occasion. Furthermore, among the men of the Unorthodox Path, there was someone who shed tears like chicken droppings before his daughter’s life and shouted that he would repay the grace…”
Cheon Woo-jin felt that the more he spoke, the more confused he became instead.
“At any rate, I still do not know well.”
“Haha, that is how the world originally is. A fellow might seem stupidly good, yet when push comes to shove, he plunges a knife into a comrade’s back, while someone who seems like the world’s worst villain gives away grain to eat to the poor. Human beings are inherently like that. The martial world is also something made by people gathering together, so it cannot help but be so.”
Cheon Woo-jin regarded Master Beop-jin’s words as teachings beyond mere reflection and chewed over them several times.
“…Good and evil are not distinct. Then are my masters wrong?”
He had no choice but to come to such a conclusion. However, Master Beop-jin shook his head with a firm face.
“My point is not that there is no good and evil in the world, but that through what eyes one sees the world is the most important. To someone, clouds might be immortals they wish to reach, but to someone else, an enemy they want to tear apart and kill. Also, to someone, ink might be an evil they dislike having near lest they be tainted, but to someone else, an object of yearning and a dream.”
Cheon Woo-jin realized that the clouds and ink symbolized White Elder and Black Elder respectively.
He could not yet fully understand Master Beop-jin’s words. It was because he lacked experience in observing the world.
However, he thought that the day would come when this teaching would resonate deeply within him.
“Thank you for the teaching.”
Master Beop-jin, smiling pleasingly at that sight, spoke.
“By the way.”
“Yes.”
“Those two fellows probably did not send you to the Martial Alliance merely for that reason.”
Cheon Woo-jin tilted his head. In the first place, he had headed for the Martial Alliance because Master White Elder had designated the ‘Sword Slower Than a Turtle’ as the first among the five departed acquaintances to inform of his passing.
Yet, Master Beop-jin was speaking as though the two, Black Elder and White Elder, had reached an agreement to send Cheon Woo-jin to the Alliance.
And as though having him verify whether the Alliance was a good place or a group of hypocrites was not the sole reason.
“Then what thoughts did my masters have?”
At Cheon Woo-jin’s question, Master Beop-jin stroked his chin with his index finger and thumb, falling into thought for a moment.
How much time had passed like that? Around the time Song Yi-yeon bit his tongue to hold back a yawn.
“Hm, there is something White Elder often said in his later years. That the thing he did best in his life was taking in and raising a disciple, and what he regretted most was walking alone.”
“…”
“I have always been together with my fellow junior monks inside this small temple so I do not know, but he said that path was very lonely.”
Cheon Woo-jin kept his mouth shut. It was the same for Master Black Elder, but Master White Elder was also someone who had walked alone throughout his life.
The masters in his memories were always boundlessly strong, yet to think they felt loneliness. Somehow, his heart turned bitter.
“He probably wished that his disciple, unlike himself, would live in a place where there were always people by his side.”
Master Beop-jin thought so. Moreover, given White Elder’s disposition, if he wanted his disciple to mingle and live among people, he naturally would have sent him to the Martial Alliance. For White Elder was a man who cherished the juniors of the Martial Alliance and the Righteous Path more than anyone else under the heavens.
“…I will keep that in mind.”
Cheon Woo-jin merely nodded. It was just regrettable that he could no longer ask for answers from his two masters who were no longer in this world.
Master Beop-jin covered his mouth with a hand and let out a long yawn. At that sight, Song Yi-yeon wore an apologetic expression.
“Ah, I am sorry if you have become tired because of us for no reason.”
Master Beop-jin looked warmly upon Song Yi-yeon as if looking at a youngest grandson.
“That rascal. You truly are handsome.”
“Mmh, thank you.”
It was words he had heard to death his entire life, but hearing it from the greatest elder of the Righteous Path, and a Buddhist elder at that, made him feel embarrassed anew.
“Have you cultivated the Pure Yang Boy Art?”
“Pardon!?”
Song Yi-yeon was startled for a moment, but soon nodded his head, thinking it was not strange for someone like Master Beop-jin to recognize it.
“Y-Yes, that is correct. Although my achievement is still meager…”
“Wonderful. Originally, is there not a proverb in the martial world that one must beware of women, children, and the elderly?”
“…Yes, that is so.”
“In particular, handsome men like you must be even more cautious, but since you happen to cultivate the Pure Yang Boy Art, you only need to beware of children and the elderly now.”
“…Thank you?”
In truth, he felt ambiguous about whether it was a compliment or teasing, but whose words would he dare dispute?
Master Beop-jin gave a faint smile at that sight.
“Everyone speaks of it lightly, but in truth, cultivating the Pure Yang Boy Art at a young age when blood runs hot is by no means an easy feat. How could discarding innate desires ever be simple?”
“…”
“You are already doing splendidly, so if you continue as you are doing now, you will reap fruits twice as great as others.”
“Thank you.”
Song Yi-yeon rose from his seat and clasped his hands.
Master Beop-jin, who had been nodding, spoke.
“People often say you lose sleep as you age, but perhaps because I ate too much age, I get even sleepier instead. I should catch some shut-eye now.”
Cheon Woo-jin and Song Yi-yeon rose from their seats. Having already received many teachings, there was no regret.
As the two gave their greetings and were about to leave, Master Beop-jin suddenly spoke.
“Ah, Alliance Member Song, come visit again later when you think you have attained the qualifications. No matter how precious the Pure Yang Boy Art is, there are plenty of secret manuals rolling around Shaolin.”
Song Yi-yeon, whose face had blossomed into a smile for a moment, tilted his head.
“How should I judge whether I have attained the qualifications?”
“Do I have to spoon-feed you even that?”
“Ahem, I am sorry…”
Master Beop-jin let out a playful laugh and added.
“You will surely know for yourself.”
“Mmm…”
It was rather ambiguous, but whose words would he dare dispute? He merely nodded his head.
* * *
Leaving Master Beop-jin’s residence, the two walked slowly.
“It is a fortuitous encounter. He said they were secret manuals rolling around, but if the Master offers one personally, it is obvious that it will be a supreme martial art.”
“I will not expect much. If expectations are high, disappointment is great as well.”
Song Yi-yeon had spoken so, but he could not help his nostrils flaring slightly with anticipation.
Around the time Cheon Woo-jin chuckled at that sight.
“Look here, look here!”
An urgent voice was heard. Turning their heads, it was a face that was not particularly welcoming.
It was Third Escort Leader of the Henan Escort Agency, and running with such haste, his thin goatee was fluttering in the wind.
Cheon Woo-jin asked nonchalantly.
“Were you perhaps waiting here?”
“…Ahem, how could that be? I was touring around Shaolin and was just about to head down when I spotted you fellows.”
Of course, it was not believable, but since it was not an important matter, Cheon Woo-jin roughly nodded.
Third Escort Leader, observing Cheon Woo-jin and Song Yi-yeon’s expressions with sly eyes, spoke.
“Actually, I have been watching ever since you sparred with Shaolin’s martial monks. It was truly magnificent. From what I hear, the ones who lost to you were also renowned disciples in Shaolin.”
A flicker of greed crossed Third Escort Leader’s eyes. In the Henan Escort Agency, political strife among the escort leaders was quite severe. Places where large sums of money flowed were inherently like that.
Because of this, escort leaders built their influence by securing outstanding escort warriors and porters, but Third Escort Leader had fewer escort warriors compared to the other escort leaders.
But a talent had just caught his eye.
“By the way, what on earth is your relationship with Master Beop-jin? Could you perhaps be from the Five Great Clans? Judging by your demeanor, you do not seem to be from the Nine Great Sects and One Clan.”
Third Escort Leader scanned Cheon Woo-jin up and down with suspicious eyes. A raw vibe emanated heavily from him, making it seem he was definitely not from the Nine Great Sects and One Clan no matter how one looked at it.
‘Still, someone of Master Beop-jin’s stature would not converse this long with a mere Martial Alliance member…’
Of course, someone who was a descendant of the Five Great Clans would never work as an escort warrior. However, merely establishing friendly relations would be of great help in the upcoming branch director competition.
Cheon Woo-jin stared quietly at the opportunist whose eyes glistened with greed, then gave a brief answer.
“I am an orphan.”
“Goodness.”
Soon, Cheon Woo-jin moved his steps. In the spot left behind, a chilling aura lingered as though a midwinter north wind were blowing.
* * *
Leaving Third Escort Leader behind, the two set out from Shaolin and headed straight for Hubei.
Although there was still plenty of time left for their assigned mission, having nowhere else to look around, they intended to return straight to the Alliance.
While running with lightness art at a speed neither slow nor fast, Song Yi-yeon suddenly asked.
“Young Hero, will you really leave the Martial Alliance?”
“I do not know yet.”
“Well, did not your master say he wished for you to live in the Martial Alliance?”
Cheon Woo-jin shook his head. That was merely Master Beop-jin’s speculation, and nothing had been confirmed yet.
Thinking about it now, it was a bit strange.
Would his two masters have sent him here expressly for the reason of judging the good and evil of the Martial Alliance?
Furthermore, seeing Master Beop-jin hale and hearty as he approached ninety, it was puzzling anew that his two masters, who possessed martial arts superior to anyone, had already passed away.
‘Could there be something I do not know?’
Cheon Woo-jin looked up at the sky for no reason. Even when they were alive, they were difficult people to fathom, but because they had departed this world, he felt their intentions had vanished even deeper into the fog.
It was then.
The sky he had looked up at seeking his masters for no reason was red. The problem was that it was currently deep into the night.
Song Yi-yeon also looked toward the distant reddened sky with grave eyes and spoke.
“Young Hero, it seems a huge fire has broken out. At that scale, it looks like an ordinary small village is burning whole…”
The place where the fire broke out was in the direction of civilian houses.
Song Yi-yeon looked at Cheon Woo-jin. Since it was a look suggesting they go check it out, Cheon Woo-jin nodded his head.
Soon increasing their speed with lightness art, upon arriving before the massive blaze, the two could not help but swallow their bewilderment.
The villagers were fetching and carrying water in earthenware pots, and among them, two truly familiar faces were mixed in.
“What are you two doing here?”
“Ah, Young Hero Song! Even Young Hero Cheon…”
They were Jin Un of the Mount Hua Sect, who took fourth place in the Martial Alliance recruitment exam, and Seok Do-byeok, whose rank was unknown.
Cheon Woo-jin looked at Jin Un with bewilderment.
‘It seems they have been doing that for quite a while already.’
Befitting a Daoist, the pure white hero headband wrapped around his forehead was scorched so much that the plum blossom pattern could not even be seen, and his long, trailing black hair was tangled with sweat and dust.