Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Mount Hua (4)
***
Immediately after the spar with Myeong Ryong-geom ended, I was talking with Hyun Mujin-in, when I noticed that the sun was setting.
As dusk fell, Hyun Mujin-in quickly cleared his throat and said.
“That’s enough for today.”
“…I agree.”
I let out a small smile.
As I continued a deep discussion about martial arts with the sect leader, I had lost track of time and continued the conversation.
Fortunately, it was not without its results, so I could feel a certain amount of satisfaction.
‘If this continues, the level of Mount Hua’s martial arts will one day develop further.’
I nodded my head.
The future of a sect that is content with reality and does not look to the future is bleak.
In that sense, the identity and will of Hyun Mujin-in, the sect leader of Mount Hua, regarding martial arts was praiseworthy.
No, it would be more correct to say that it was something to be emulated.
At that moment when I was organizing the conversation in my head for a while, Hyun Mujin-in said as if giving a message.
“Seong-ah.”
“…Yes, Sect Leader.”
“From tomorrow, come to the pavilion where I reside. I shall impart martial arts to you with Yeong-ah.”
“……!”
After hearing those words, I was so surprised that my eyes widened.
The meaning of the words that Hyun Mujin-in had just uttered was simple.
It meant that he would accept me, Eun Ha-seong, as a direct disciple of the sect leader.
In fact, at the will of Hyun Mujin-in to accept me as his disciple, despite the opposition of the other elders, I was impressed and lowered my head.
“Yes, I understand. Sect Leader.”
“Hmm…! Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Please rest well.”
After cupping my fists, I drew a curve on my lips and looked at the back of Hyun Mujin-in, who had quickly left the place.
‘I must work hard so that the day will not come when the sect leader regrets his decision.’
The pressure is great.
Feeling that, I let out a long sigh.
“Huu.”
“Huhu. Seong-ah, you’ve finally been acknowledged by the sect leader.”
“Master…”
“I knew this day would come, but… I never thought you would receive direct teachings from the sect leader so soon.”
“……”
“I’m so proud of you.”
I turned my head and looked at my master, Myeong Ryong-geom.
His face was mixed with various emotions.
Emotions such as joy, regret, admiration, worry, and anticipation were clearly visible on his face.
I, who was staring at Myeong Ryong-geom’s face, let out a small smile.
“…Master.”
“Yes, my disciple.”
“How about we have a drink together after a long time.”
“Hmm…! Yes, that’s a good idea.”
Since it had come to this, I decided to spend the night with Myeong Ryong-geom.
Even if I were to be severely scolded by the sect leader tomorrow, having a drink with Myeong Ryong-geom, which could be the first and last time, was something I had to do so that I would not regret it later.
Perhaps Myeong Ryong-geom had also noticed that, as he was stroking his beard with a satisfied smile on his face.
“…No, are you going to have a drink without me?”
“Mister Mu-yeong?”
“I’m starting to feel a little left out.”
Mu-yeong interjected from the side as if chiding.
At the appearance of Mu-yeong, who had been forgotten for a moment, Myeong Ryong-geom and I burst out laughing without anyone starting first.
“Hahahaha!”
“Hahahahat!”
***
The next morning dawned.
According to Myeong Ryong-geom’s words, from today, I would start living as an unofficial direct disciple of the sect leader.
When I reached the pavilion where the sect leader resided, I could see Hyun Mujin-in already meditating in a seated position.
“Hmm…”
“……”
I watched Hyun Mujin-in meditating in silence.
And besides Hyun Mujin-in, I could feel the presence of one more person, and that was Mu-yeong.
Mu-yeong, who was in a far corner, said to me in a telepathic message.
[Junior Brother.]
[…Yes, Senior Brother.]
[Don’t disturb the master’s meditation. I’ve disturbed his meditation a few times because of my carelessness, and I was severely scolded.]
[Hmm, I understand.]
At some point, Mu-yeong and I had become senior and junior brothers and were calling each other comfortably.
Anyway, according to Mu-yeong’s words, I carefully moved to a corner of the pavilion so as not to disturb Hyun Mujin-in.
At that, Mu-yeong, who had already taken a seat there, let out a small smile and said to me,
“By the way, are you prepared?”
“Prepared… you mean?”
“Yes, it’s a bit strange for me to say this, but the way the sect leader of Mount Hua teaches his direct disciples is quite harsh.”
“I am prepared for that much.”
In the first place, if I was not prepared, I would have had to consider even joining Mount Hua.
I, who had answered Mu-yeong’s words nonchalantly, soon watched Hyun Mujin-in finish his meditation and stand up from his seat.
“Good morning, Sect Leader.”
“Hmm. Seong-ah has come. Originally, only Yeong-ah was waiting in this place.”
“Haha, it’s the first time I have a junior brother, so I won’t be lonely from now on.”
As I cupped my fists, Hyun Mujin-in answered, and then Mu-yeong said.
As the three of us were talking, Hyun Mujin-in finally drew a slight curve on his lips and said to Mu-yeong.
“In a normal situation, you wouldn’t be in this place either, Yeong-ah.”
“…Yes? What is that.”
“You, Yeong-ah, are always wandering around outside, so you rarely train in one place, let alone skip your morning meditation.”
“……”
At Hyun Mujin-in’s words, Mu-yeong could only remain silent without saying anything.
Hyun Mujin-in let out a short sigh at Mu-yeong’s reaction and then said.
“Anyway… I’ll stop my reprimand here. It seems that I won’t see any good effect even if I continue to reprimand you, Yeong-ah.”
“…I’m sorry.”
As Mu-yeong lowered his head and conveyed his words of apology, Hyun Mujin-in shrugged his shoulders and then said to us.
“Today, I will simply gauge your skills.”
“……!”
“Gauge… you mean?”
As I asked that, Hyun Mujin-in grinned and continued to speak.
“Isn’t it simple? As I teach you two, I shouldn’t discriminate between you, but on the other hand, I need to know the gap between you, that is, the difference in your martial prowess.”
“Hmm…!”
“I already know that the gap between you is not large… yes, I’ll be frank. I want to know who is stronger between you two.”
“……!”
“It’s a natural question to have in the world of the strong. Can you answer this question?”
At Hyun Mujin-in’s words, Mu-yeong and I turned our gazes towards each other without anyone starting first.
I, who had turned my gaze to Mu-yeong, swallowed hard.
And it seemed that Mu-yeong was the same, as he opened his mouth in a clearly tense state.
“Hmm… Master, no matter what, today is only the first day that Seong-ah has become the sect leader’s disciple, so I think it’s a bit early to gauge his skills.”
“……”
“Shouldn’t this kind of thing be decided after more time has passed, after we have sparred with each other and gauged our skills…”
“I also know that your words are not wrong.”
Hyun Mujin-in answered Mu-yeong’s question nonchalantly.
But Hyun Mujin-in did not seem to have any intention of bending his will, as he continued to hold his head high and spoke as if to provoke Mu-yeong.
“But, Yeong-ah.”
“…Yes, Master.”
“Seong-ah is already a master who has reached the peak of the peak masters, a master whose martial prowess even you cannot easily look down on. On the other hand, I am worried.”
“…Yes?”
“From your perspective, you have no intention of winning against a latecomer who has not even been learning martial arts for two years, and you only think of going out and drinking and wandering around?”
“……!”
“Think of it as a kind of punishment. It’s a punishment for neglecting the affairs of the sect and fighting with the brats of the Zhongnan Sect outside.”
It seemed that Hyun Mujin-in had no intention of giving up at all.
‘Come to think of it, the sect leader already knew what my senior brother was doing outside… I should also be careful with my words and actions from now on.’
He was indeed worthy of being the sect leader of Mount Hua, one of the Nine Great Sects.
His ability to acquire information was not ordinary.
‘Come to think of it… on the other hand, I also wanted to spar with Mu-yeong at least once.’
Swish—
I slowly stood up from my seat.
At that, Mu-yeong, who was standing next to me, let out a sound of “Uh, uh,” and then groaned and frowned slightly.
“…It seems that this child, who has just become a disciple today, has also made up his mind, Yeong-ah. Are you really scared?”
“Huu… Sect Leader.”
“What is it?”
“How could I be? I have no intention of being quietly trampled by a junior brother I met for the first time today.”
“Hehe… that’s my disciple.”
Mu-yeong reluctantly acknowledged that this spar had been arranged.
In fact, the reason why Hyun Mujin-in had organized this spar was simple.
‘He wanted to awaken a sense of crisis in my senior brother, who was wandering around outside without knowing how high the sky was, and at the same time, he wanted to fully understand my skills that had pushed Myeong Ryong-geom.’
Thud, thud—
I slowly walked towards the training ground.
“Hmm, in the end, it has come to this.”
“……”
Looking at Mu-yeong’s attitude, it seemed that he had already expected this to happen.
Feeling that, I let out a small smile and said to Mu-yeong.
“Then, please give me a lesson. Senior Brother.”
“…Yes.”
Although Mu-yeong was grumbling, I could feel that his eyes were still filled with a fighting spirit.
Our cold gazes soon filled the training ground.
‘As expected, my senior brother, while worrying a little about this spar being arranged, had also been looking forward to having a match with me at some point.’
Seureureung—
As I watched Mu-yeong slowly draw his beloved sword, I was convinced of that.