First Righteous Journey (1)

Inside the Fragrant Medical Pavilion, the medical wing of the Bongrae Sect.

"Ughhh... *cough*."

As the female disciples wiped the blood and sweat from Cheon Dohwa's body and changed her clothes, she coughed and opened her eyes.

"Fairy, are you alright?"

"Sh-should I brew some medicine?"

"Is there anything you want to eat, Junior Sister?"

"Ughhh... *groan*. Did I cough up blood again?"

"Are you okay?"

"Ah, I think I'm feeling better now."

"Would you like some cold water?"

A cup with a straw was offered to her. As she parted her lips and sipped the cool water, a refreshing breeze washed over her. Two disciples had brought over large plantain-leaf fans and begun fanning her from both sides. She looked just like a Daoist fairy being pampered by her attendants.

Yeonji, a first-generation disciple, asked carefully, "Junior Sister Dohwa... what on earth did you do?"

"What do you mean?"

"The final two stances of the Butterfly Dream Fist were lost during the Mongol invasions of Goryeo."

"...Mongol invasions?"

"When the Mongols invaded Goryeo."

Ah, that long ago? Well, a lot of places suffered damage back then.

"For over eight hundred years since then, the Butterfly Dream Fist has been an incomplete martial art, lacking those last two stances... How in the world did you recover them, Junior Sister?"

Should I reveal my Mind Reader of Martial Arts ability? No, there was no reason to. The mental image itself wasn't something exclusive to me. What was special was that I could see the mental image of any martial art, without exception.

"It seems... I saw a mental image, the kind I've only heard stories about."

"A mental image...!"

The crowd stirred.

"There was a butterfly, and a fairy was dancing, mimicking its movements. The martial art was being created based on her dance. I just watched the rest of the stances there and copied them."

—Baby Fairy.

"Huh...?"

"What is it, Junior Sister?"

"Oh, nothing. Just lost in thought for a second."

"...Daoist Cheon Dohwa."

The elderly Daoist, Hyeonmun—the one who had lectured me earlier about my attitude toward my seniors—stood before me. Since I was lying down and he was standing, he felt incredibly imposing. His expression was also dead serious.

Strict, solemn, and grave.

Ugh. What was this grandpa's deal now? What was he going to nag me about this time?

"Our sect has run into a debt of gratitude with you that we can never repay!!"

Hyeonmun bowed deeply from the waist right then and there.

Wait, what?

"Thanks to you, a lost martial art has been recovered after eight hundred years! How could we ever express our gratitude for such a favor...!!"

This was so awkward! I never knew receiving a sincere bow from a white-haired grandpa with a long beard could feel this suffocating!!

"P-please, it's fine. Raise your—"

"Daoist...!"

Tears dripped from Hyeonmun's eyes.

"Thank you...!"

He let out the choked, hitching sob of someone desperately trying to hold back their tears.

"Truly, thank you...!!!"

"..."

What did martial arts mean to these Murim people? How precious was it to them? I was realizing it all over again.

"My junior brother is right."

Sect Leader Hyeonmyeong also bowed his head toward me.

"Daoist Cheon Dohwa. By restoring this single martial art, you have become an eternal benefactor of our Bongrae Sect. As the Sect Leader, I express my deepest gratitude on behalf of the entire sect."

"I-I understand, so please, both of you, raise your heads!!"

The pressure was insane. Seriously, the pressure was off the charts!

"It just so happened that my compatibility with this martial art was good, so I saw the mental image. Even if it wasn't me, someone else would have succeeded in restoring it eventually."

"To think you are so humble as well...!!"

Elder Hyeonmun? Isn't your attitude a bit too different from earlier?

"Daoist Cheon Dohwa! Anything is fine. What is it that you wish to learn most right now?! Whatever it is, I shall personally teach you!"

"Anything?"

"Yes, anything! That would be acceptable, wouldn't it, Sect Leader Senior Brother?"

"Of course."

Hyeonmun was in charge of managing the Scripture Library within the Bongrae Sect. If Cheon Dohwa just said the word, he was ready to run to the library, grab whatever she wanted, and teach her himself.

"Is really anything okay?"

"Naturally! Tell me what you wish to learn most right now!"

"Then..."

Cheon Dohwa smiled brightly.

"Could you teach me Hanja?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Hanja?

"Oh? Is it not possible to teach me Hanja?"

"Well... of course we can teach you. We can, but..."

That... wasn't exactly a secret technique exclusive to the Bongrae Sect, but rather common knowledge, wasn't it? We would be much happier if you wanted to learn some supreme, hidden martial art that we've kept locked away...

"Ah, is knowing Hanja a prerequisite to joining the Bongrae Sect, so I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠should have learned it beforehand?"

"No, it's not that, but..."

Hyeonmyeong and Hyeonmun exchanged glances.

Normally, Hanja was taught by the disciples of the generation above. The current youngest, the third-generation disciples, were taught by the second-generation disciples, who in turn had been taught by the first-generation disciples when they were the youngest.

Of course, the Sect Leader's generation could teach it. But that would be like an astrophysics professor teaching multiplication to an elementary schooler. Sure, they could do it. But did a physics professor really need to? They probably wouldn't even be that good at it.

It was the same here. If there was someone in the sect who could teach Hanja best...

"...It would be best to assign that child from the second-generation disciples."

"I think exactly the same as you, Sect Leader Senior Brother."

"?"

Back in my guest room, Ju-seo, who had brought a mountain of Hanja study materials, bowed politely.

"I look forward to working with you starting today, Sister!"

"Ah, ahaha... I look forward to working with you too, Junior Niece."

Wow. I'm so glad we made up. Seriously. If I had acted like a brat yesterday, how awkward would this be right now? This is why you should live your life making as few enemies as possible. Or just kill them off entirely.

"First, what is your current level, Sister?"

"I only know the very basics. Things like 'water' and 'fire'... Actually, I was reading this before I came here."

I showed her my phone.

"Oh my?"

Ju-seo looked at the screen, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Sister Dohwa, you browse the gallery too? You don't look like the type at all..."

Ah.

Come to think of it, browsing the forums isn't exactly a hobby everyone boasts about. Especially since Cheon Dohwa is supposed to maintain a sweet, feminine image. Did I slip up?

"My older sister loves browsing the gallery, so I ended up lurking because of her..."

I'm sorry, older sister Cheon Doyeon. It's okay, I forgive you, younger ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sister Cheon Dohwa.

"Is it weird? A girl browsing the gallery..."

"No, not at all! It's just... I'm the one who wrote this series!"

"What? You wrote this Hanja study series?! But you're a famous named user! I feel like I'm meeting a celebrity right now!"

"You're the one who looks like a celebrity, Sister! What are you even saying...!"

Ju-seo blushed even as she said that. Thank goodness. I think I'm going to get along great with her.

"Ugh..."

By the time we finished today's lesson, I felt like squiggly characters were floating in front of my eyes.

I guess there's no shortcut to Hanja. You just have to brute-force it.

Honestly, I had held out a tiny sliver of hope. What if, the moment I picked up a Hanja textbook, I suddenly saw the mental image of Hanja? And once I snapped out of it, I'd suddenly be able to read classical Chinese fluently, like some language cheat code!

But of course, it didn't work like that. I mean, if that were possible, I should have seen the mental image of Hangul a long time ago. Still, if I study hard, I should be able to read a decent amount within six months, right?

"Dohwa."

"Ah, Master Hyeonsong!"

I quickly sat up.

"Yes. How is Ju-seo?"

"She's a really great teacher!"

"I am glad to hear that. I have come because I have urgent news to share, so listen carefully."

My master's expression turned serious.

"This poor Taoist, along with all the elders of the Sect Leader's generation and several first-generation disciples, must depart for Uijeongbu immediately. We will be away for at least a few days."

"Oh, okay! I'll pack my bags right—"

"It is the opposite. Do not follow us; stay here."

Master pressed down on my forehead as I tried to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get up, pushing me back down.

"Do you understand? While we are away, you must continue to rest. Learn plenty of Hanja. Do not worry about this poor Taoist."

She must ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have been in a real hurry, because she left immediately after saying those words.

Uijeongbu is where the Dobong Sect is... Ah, right.

Now that I have a phone, there's someone I promised to contact. Juyeon of the Dobong Sect, who stood up to her own sect leader to help me escape.

But which phone should I use? Cheon Doyeon's or Cheon Dohwa's?

I should call her first and explain the situation.

I dialed the number she had given me.

Ring... ring...

Ring... ring...

But she didn't pick up. That's weird. I couldn't have remembered the number wrong.

I left a text message.

「I'm the person you helped last time. I wanted to call you, so could you reply when you see this?」

She should recognize who it is from that.

Ding.

What? She replies to texts instantly?

But the next reply didn't come.

"..."

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

Juyeon was timid, but she wasn't the type to act like this.

The gallery.

Because of the bait I threw, posts about the Dobong Sect started popping up.

...I can guess the situation.

Juyeon is timid. If they split in two, she would definitely stand with the cautious faction. If Juyeon suddenly sent a message like that...

She was forced into doing something dangerous.

Something so dangerous she had to prepare for her own death.

"..."

I couldn't be sure. Maybe she just got drunk and sent it?

"..."

For the past ten years, survival was my only goal. It was true that I no longer had to worry about surviving day-to-day. I had found what I wanted to do in the long run and set goals.

But did I really need to stick my nose into someone else's business and expose myself to danger? If I had been that righteous and chivalrous, I wouldn't have survived even a year after the Gate outbreak. I wouldn't have regretted helping Hyeonsongcheonnyeo in Paju, either.

"..."

So, it was the same now. I should just mind my own business and pretend I knew nothing. Even if Juyeon died, no one would blame me. Not even Juyeon herself. Let's just pretend I didn't notice anything. Let's pretend my brain was too tired from studying Hanja to think straight. Anyone could see that was the best choice for my survival.

"..."

But Juyeon had helped me when I was hurt and vulnerable. She bandaged my wounded eye from the Gate, and she stole the keys from her own sect leader to help me escape from prison. If Juyeon hadn't given my eye that initial treatment back then, would the Divine Physician have been able to save it? Maybe it would have had to be surgically removed before I even reached her.

"..."

And.

Juyeon.

Is my friend.

What makes a friend, anyway? If you exchange contact info and promise to meet again, you're friends. Excluding the kids I can't even remember anymore, she was the first friend I had made in ten years.

"..."

Just.

I'll just.

Just.

"Sister, I brought your dinner—"

"Junior Niece Ju-seo."

Just.

"Please. Teach me a footwork technique."

I'll just go make sure she's okay and come right back.