Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Growing Pains
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The two-week seclusion training had been incredibly effective.
Everyone except one had come back vomiting their guts out.
And as if they'd coordinated it beforehand, they each handed me a Bigeok Pill like it was a gift. They'd apparently brought them out from the seclusion training grounds.
"You really have such a unique taste..."
"It's not about the taste."
Mind not dismissing my unbreakable will as just having weird tastes?
"But why are you covering both eyes with your bangs now?"
"I was stuck in seclusion and thought about it—this looks cooler. Oh, and spare me the snide remarks about whether I can even see ahead since my vision's secured just fine."
Bijun, who had emerged even more deep in his delusions than before, swept back his bangs with an exaggerated flourish and shrugged his shoulders.
"This punk skipped the actual training in there!"
He'd overheard his own master say that from behind him, so he bolted like a scared rabbit.
Judging by how he tripped over a rock right in front of his feet and got caught, it seemed his vision wasn't as secured as he claimed.
I gave Bihwan a pat on the back. Before being dragged off to seclusion, he'd had a face full of anguish and gloom, but now it looked like his thoughts had sorted themselves out a bit—he seemed much better.
"So, did you figure out why we apply the Way to the blade? Why Mount Hua's martial arts revolve around plum blossoms? The meaning of your existence?"
"If I knew that, I'd be the founding patriarch of Mount Hua Sect. The meaning of existence... well, I was born, so I'm living."
This one seemed even more entrenched than before, not better. Why'd he go from pessimism to cynicism?
Wait, the Way...
You said only those who comprehend the unchanging truth of the Way can bloom plum blossoms. So that means I have to find the answers to all of Bihwan's worries.
What if I end up being the only one who fails to grasp the Way, reaching peak mastery but unable to bloom plum blossoms, becoming an inferior student and an eternal disgrace to Mount Hua... Boundless Buddha, Boundless Buddha!
My imagination veered into grim territory, so I immediately headed to see the Supreme Sect Leader.
After hearing my story and questions, the Supreme Sect Leader didn't give me the answers I wanted—instead, he piled on more food for thought with his advice.
"Biyeon, the Way has no meaning unless you comprehend it yourself. The Way recited by others can serve as a signpost, but it can't become your own understanding."
"The ancestors already found the right answers. Can't I just memorize them?"
He gently refuted my sullen retort in a calm tone.
"How could there be a single right answer to the Way? Even if you memorize it, without understanding it in your head and heart, it's not enlightenment—it's just pretentious knowledge."
"That's too hard..."
As I slumped and mumbled, the Supreme Sect Leader burst into hearty laughter.
"The process of seeking it out is precisely the training of our Daoist path, isn't it?"
"What if I never find it in my lifetime? What if I'm the only one who can't bloom plum blossoms? Martial arts attainment and the Way are different, aren't they?"
In the end, my true feelings, which I'd held back out of pride, spilled out.
Pat. A rough, wrinkled palm rested on the crown of my head. As I stared at the floor, quietly accepting the comforting touch, a gentle voice spoke.
"Mount Hua's sword isn't just about plum blossoms."
Hearing those words from the one who always supported me and guided me right eased the anxiety in my heart bit by bit.
Right. It's not like I'd be excommunicated from Mount Hua for failing to bloom plum blossoms. If I truly couldn't, I could just inherit the other martial arts of Mount Hua.
"Don't get fixated on plum blossoms. You must let go of attachments for enlightenment to come. This is the final lesson from this old man."
"Why's it the final one? You won't answer my questions anymore?"
In response to my question, he just gave a kindly smile.
Who am I supposed to ask now? The Supreme Elder Muyeong's training grounds were too far and treacherous to bother with. Tch.
* * *
As I circulated my qi, the natural energy drawn in through my deep breathing coursed through my meridians before settling into my dantian.
The spiritual energy from the Jasper Pill that had lingered in my body for years was now gone.
"Feels empty without it."
To be precise, it wasn't gone. It was fully stored in my dantian as my own inner energy now.
After thirteen years, half a jia of inner energy, plus a bit more. Even excluding my share from the Jasper Pill, it was an accomplishment worth bragging about. If I could just handle this much inner energy naturally, I'd be at the first-class realm.
At this growth rate, reaching peak mastery by twenty wouldn't even be empty talk.
With light steps, I descended from the Jade Maiden Peak and arrived at the hall, where I immediately ran into Bikyung.
"Oh, how's the spirit of the plum blossoms doing?"
"Please forget about that, Eldest Brother..."
Bikyung covered his face. His reaction every time I dug up one of these black history moments was entertaining in its own way.
My junior brothers seemed to hope I'd forget their black histories quickly, but unfortunately, since generating black history was an annual event, the ledger of quotable lines stacked up in one corner of my bookshelf, far from being forgotten.
Even with such excellent negative examples every year, this year too, a few had predictably gone through their stormy rebellious phase and been dragged off to seclusion.
Having witnessed Bikyung's plight firsthand, Bihwan tried to hurry past, but no chance now that I'd spotted him.
"Hey, Bihwan, the one who lives just because he was born!"
"That was just me being too lazy to give a real answer! How many years are you gonna milk that one?!"
Bihwan's cynicism had clearly worn off too. The elders said everyone goes through a phase like that once.
As Bihwan scowled, Bijun—who'd cut his bangs short—backed away before sparks could fly and bolted.
"Bring my broom back when you come!"
I shouted at Bijun's retreating back.
The upper palace was in the midst of a massive cleaning frenzy.
Normally, outer disciples handled the cleaning, but us third-generation core disciple hopefuls had no choice but to pitch in for these big cleanups too.
Biwon, who wasn't sweeping as told but propping his chin on the broom end, grinned crookedly.
"Now that you mention it, the Dragon-Tiger Assembly's this year, right? Our dear Eldest Brother's 'that person' will be coming soon too."
"Hmm, yeah. For this year's sparring matches, I hope we can win against the Black Flame Dragon of the Left Hand with Future Vision and 70% power fully unleashed. Oh, and if you wanna look cool to the Wudang disciples, shouldn't you start growing out your bangs now?"
"Uwaaaah, Eldest Brother, please!"
Biwon, the comprehensive black history prize box, clutched his head and writhed. Serves him right for showing off.
'Come to think of it, has it been four years? At fifteen, he's probably grown a ton.'
I glanced at the now-tall Bihun and gauged how much Baek Geon must have grown too. Since Bihun and Baek Geon were the same age, he'd be about that size.
"I'm looking forward to this Dragon-Tiger Assembly."
"Looking forward or not, as long as the Selection Hell doesn't come back like last time."
Bihwan shook his head at my humming, frowning.
"Why worry about it already? This time, we just need to flip it to 17 wins against 13."
"One win for the junior brother isn't ten wins for Mount Hua."
In conclusion, Bihwan's worries were unfounded.
Because the Dragon-Tiger Assembly this year never happened.
* * *
"Not even today?"
As I stomped my feet and looked up pleadingly, Elder Jinsan—the master of the medical pavilion—shook his head with a troubled expression. I glared resentfully at the firmly shut door behind him.
"Yeon-ah."
Uihyeon, who had rushed over late, placed a hand on my shoulder and called me.
"I know. I know, but..."
My eyes burned hot. But I bit my lip hard to hold back the tears.
Pat. Elder Jinsan's palm rested on my head.
"The Supreme Sect Leader is merely resting for a bit. He'll shake off his sickbed and rise soon enough, so don't worry."
Everyone present knew that was a white lie born of good intentions, but no one could add anything to it.
And so, today too, I turned away without even being able to visit his bedside.
Gripping Uihyeon's hand tightly and staring at the ground as I walked, Uihyeon matched my steps silently before speaking calmly.
"He'll be fine."
That was a lie. I'd heard what the adults said. He might not last the year.
Adults often think kids know nothing. They don't realize we know, but just keep our mouths shut.
"Can't I just wait outside? Like with Elder Mujin, I could stay in the upper palace."
Back then, I'd been in the selection hall, so the belated farewell hadn't hurt as much. So if I avoided facing it directly like that, maybe it'd be okay.
"Biyeon!"
At the startled shout, I slipped my hand from Uihyeon's and crouched down on the ground.
"I don't want to..."
Drip, drip. Droplets fell, staining the ground dark. Uihyeon let out a heavy sigh and carefully scooped me up into a hug.
As I buried my face in Uihyeon's shoulder, the hand stroking the back of my head patted my back.
"The pain of parting from a loved one is the same for everyone, Yeon-ah."
"But still, sniff."
"Yet if you run away from it because it's painful, all you'll have left is lifelong regret. Farewell is the last moment for those who remain, but also for those who leave."
Uihyeon adjusted his hold on me and advised gently.
"To grow, you must experience both meetings and farewells. What life is free of partings?"
I didn't answer, just sobbed and buried my face deeper into Uihyeon's shoulder. His collarbone grew soaked.
That evening.
I groaned, alternating between clutching my aching knees and ankles. They'd only throbbed faintly the past few days, but today the pain surged all at once, bad enough to keep sleep away.
Muscle pain was familiar, but the chill aching in my joints was new.
As I kept groaning, Biryeong stirred from a sound sleep on the bed beside me. She rubbed her sleep-crusted eyes and asked,
"What's wrong, junior brother?"
"It hurts."
Curled up clutching my knee, I mumbled weakly.
"My ankle hurts, and my knee too."
Biryeng instructed me to move my legs, then pressed firmly on my knee. When I showed no reaction, she gave her diagnosis.
"Growing pains."
Biryeng got up to fetch some medicine from the medical pavilion. As she woke Biran to go with her, I watched her back and covered my eyes with my arm.
If this was growing pains, I never wanted to grow up.
```