Chapter 151: The Banquet (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 151: The Banquet (2)
Having no friends of his own at the gathering, Seo-jun trailed after Namgung Myeong and mingled with his group.
The circle included Cheong-song of the Qingcheng Sect, Mu-hye of the Wudang Sect, and Eun Wi-ryong of the Diancang Sect. Though, to be precise, Eun Wi-ryong had been dragged here against his will by Cheong-song.
“Haha, aren’t you having fun too?” Cheong-song asked, grinning.
“Hah, fun? Is a bunch of Rising Stars rubbing shoulders really that big of a deal?”
Eun Wi-ryong clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair.
Cheong-song just laughed at his cynical reaction. “Oh, don’t be like that. Why not open up about what's bothering you? We have the great Jin Gi-jae-cheon himself sitting right here with us.”
“…Are you running your mouth again?”
Eun Wi-ryong shot Cheong-song a fierce glare, but the Qingcheng disciple didn’t even pretend to be intimidated.
“Senior, what do you think?” Cheong-song asked, turning to Seo-jun. “This guy has zero motivation lately. He’s just idling his life away.”
Seo-jun inwardly rolled his eyes at Cheong-song, who clearly possessed the exhausting temperament of a social butterfly. “Well… it happens.”
“See? Even Senior agrees,” Cheong-song said, turning back. “So who are you to complain?”
“Honestly, why even bother practicing martial arts?” Eun Wi-ryong grumbled. “Those who are meant to make it will, and those who aren't, won't.”
“You never know until you try.”
“Do you really have to try climbing a tree you know you can’t reach just to be satisfied? Stop talking nonsense and put something in your mouth.”
Eun Wi-ryong skewered a large piece of meat with his chopsticks and practically shoved it into Cheong-song’s mouth.
Once Cheong-song was effectively silenced, Mu-hye spoke up.
“Do you have no desire to see the end of the martial path? Why turn your back on something so enchanting when you can only imagine its heights?”
She still spoke with her usual masculine tone.
Eun Wi-ryong frowned, irritated by the delicate-looking woman speaking with such an impassive expression. “Are you mocking me? That’s easy to say for a genius like you. It’s completely out of reach for an ordinary man like me.”
“If you don't even try—”
“Enough! If this is how it’s going to be, I’m leaving.” Eun Wi-ryong glared at Cheong-song, who was still chewing. “Dragging me here when I explicitly said I wouldn’t come…”
Having finally swallowed the meat, Cheong-song gave a broad grin. “Now, now, why the constant fuss? You need to mingle with people more.”
“…….”
Eun Wi-ryong didn’t respond, merely picking despondently at the food on the table.
As the atmosphere grew awkward, Namgung Myeong spoke up softly. “Cheong-song, don’t push him too hard. Young Master Eun surely has his own thoughts. There are many things in this world worth being interested in besides martial arts, aren't there?”
“I’m not particularly interested in anything other than martial arts.”
Namgung Myeong shut his mouth, looking thoroughly embarrassed by Eun Wi-ryong’s blunt reply.
A moment later, Eun Wi-ryong let out a deep sigh and stood up. “I’m going to get some fresh air.”
Once he was gone, Cheong-song scratched his head awkwardly. “I’m sorry, Senior. I arranged this because he seemed to be having a hard time lately, but I’ve unintentionally caused a disturbance.”
“No, well… it happens.”
Everyone went through a phase like that at his age. Whether it was delayed adolescent rebellion or just the wandering angst of youth, it was easier to simply dismiss it as a period of storm and stress.
“Haha, thank you.” Cheong-song smiled, offering a respectful fist and palm salute.
After a few more brief exchanges, Namgung Myeong looked at Seo-jun. “By the way, brother, since you’re here, why don’t you talk to some of the others?”
“The others?”
Seo-jun poked his head out to scan the room. He saw the Rising Stars gathered in their respective cliques. Among them, he spotted Chun-bong, looking wildly excited as she gave a passionate speech about something to a captive audience.
Look at her go, our Chun-bong.
Seo-jun wore a satisfied smile but shook his head. “No thanks. I’m more comfortable hanging out with the old folks.”
“Is that so?”
Hahaha—!
A sudden burst of laughter erupted nearby.
“What did you just say?”
A sharp voice cut across the ambient noise of the banquet hall. In an instant, everyone’s attention shifted. Seo-jun also looked toward the source of the commotion and spotted a familiar face.
“Isn't that your future sister-in-law?”
“Pardon?” Namgung Myeong looked at Seo-jun in shock. “Was she not?”
“It’s not like that yet!”
“Aha. That kind of vibe? Got it.”
As Seo-jun smirked, Namgung Myeong’s eyes darted around nervously.
Regardless, teasing was teasing. Looking closer at the situation, it seemed Hwangbo Hye-ji was in the middle of a heated argument with someone.
And that someone was…
“Oh.”
It was Eun Wi-ryong.
He said he was going out for fresh air, but it seemed he had managed to pick a fight in record time.
“Lady Hwangbo, you’re just looking for trouble,” Eun Wi-ryong scoffed. “If your mother’s words are so incredibly important, why don’t you ask her to live your life for you too?”
“…Aren’t you taking this too far?”
“Did I say anything wrong? Your life is yours to live, not your mother’s. Even if you regret it later, do you think you can change anything then?”
Grind—!
Hwangbo Hye-ji gnashed her teeth. She glared at Eun Wi-ryong with fierce eyes and spat, “Why don’t you worry about yourself, Young Master Eun? You do nothing but slack off—how long do you think your master will put up with that?”
“What did you just—”
“All you’re doing is dragging your master’s name through the mud! If I were your master, I would have scolded you a dozen times over by now!”
“I was giving you advice!”
“If you try to 'advise' me a second time, we might just end up in a life-and-death duel.”
The atmosphere turned vicious.
Seo-jun rolled his eyes. “Myeong. Myeong?”
“…Yes, brother.”
“Why don’t you go stop them? Go take care of your sister-in-law over there.”
“Yes…” Namgung Myeong didn’t even try to argue and immediately stood up.
Seo-jun then turned to Cheong-song. “You should do something about your friend too.”
“What in the world…” Cheong-song muttered, seeming genuinely flustered this time. He pondered with a serious expression for a moment before bowing to Seo-jun with a formal fist and palm salute. “Senior. I am truly sorry, but could you perhaps have a word with him?”
“Me? Wouldn’t you be better suited for that?”
“He’s not usually like this. It seems he’s suffering from an inner demon due to his worries… and when it comes to advising on martial arts, I believe you would be far better suited than me, Senior.”
“I thought you said it wasn't because of martial arts.”
“No. Wi-ryong was more dedicated to the martial path than anyone. If he’s acting out like this suddenly, I can’t think of any reason other than martial arts.”
“Um…”
Seo-jun groaned inwardly. He really didn’t want to get involved. Glancing over at the scene of the argument, he saw Namgung Myeong frantically trying to console Hwangbo Hye-ji.
Eun Wi-ryong was nowhere to be seen.
“Good grief…” Seo-jun let out a deep sigh and stood up. “Don’t blame me if things go wrong, okay?”
“Of course! Thank you, Senior! I will surely repay this favor!”
* * *
Seo-jun found Eun Wi-ryong outside the building.
In a secluded spot bathed in moonlight, the young swordsman was swinging his drawn blade through the air. His distorted expression betrayed a whirlwind of complex, agonizing emotions.
“Whew…!”
Exhaling deeply, Eun Wi-ryong slowly thrust his sword forward. Dense internal energy gathered at the tip of the blade, shimmering brilliantly before extending fully to pierce the night air.
His sword definitely doesn't belong to someone who thinks martial arts are useless.
It wasn't a technique that could be performed with half-hearted training. It was an achievement in swordsmanship that couldn't possibly be attained at his age unless he had honed his blade with his entire heart and soul.
Yet, Eun Wi-ryong didn't seem satisfied in the slightest.
“God damn it…!”
He spat out a curse entirely unbecoming of a Rising Star from the Sixteen Major Sects and hurled his sword away.
Clang—!
With a sharp ring of steel, the sword tumbled across the dirt. After huffing and puffing in front of it for a long moment, Eun Wi-ryong slumped heavily to the ground.
“So pathetic…”
“I agree. Why are you being so pathetic?”
Startled by the sudden voice, Eun Wi-ryong’s head snapped up to see Seo-jun.
“You…!” He looked like he was about to snap, but he forced himself to take a deep breath and tilted his head. “…What brings you here, Senior?”
“Your friend Cheong-song is worried about you.”
“That guy… Haaa… Never mind. I’m fine, so you don’t need to concern yourself.”
“Is something not working out?”
“No.”
“It looks like you’ve hit a wall somewhere. Did your master not give you any advice?”
Eun Wi-ryong glared at Seo-jun as if he wanted to kill him.
Seo-jun seriously debated whether he should smack the top of this brat's head to flatten it, but ultimately decided against it. “What’s the problem? You have to speak up for others to know.”
“Isn't this a bit rude for a first meeting?”
“I’m allowed to be rude. If you don't like it, reach the Super Peak Realm.”
The defiant fire in Eun Wi-ryong’s eyes died out, quickly replaced by a heavy sense of exhaustion. “Yes, I suppose so. A genius like you, Senior, wouldn't understand the feelings of a frog in a well like me.”
“I saw you made it to the round of sixteen. Don't you count as a genius in other people's eyes?”
“If I hadn't achieved at least that much after training at the Diancang Sect since I was a child, I should have just drowned myself in a shallow dish of water out of shame.”
“Goodness.” Seo-jun clicked his tongue and searched his memory. “Diancang Sect… was the Sun-shooting Sword Technique famous there?”
“That’s right.”
“Shooting the sun. It sounds impressive.”
“There are few in Diancang who can actually do it. Shooting the sun isn't as easy as it sounds.”
Eun Wi-ryong dusted off his pants and stood up to retrieve his sword. Gazing at the minor nicks on the blade with a complicated look, he sighed and sheathed it.
“I’m done here, so please go back and enjoy the banquet, Senior. I’ll be heading back.”
“Hey, you disrespectful brat.”
“I’m allowed to be a bit like this. I am a man of Diancang, after all.”
Should I really flatten this kid's head?
As Seo-jun stared at him intently, Eun Wi-ryong instinctively felt a chill of genuine threat and took a step back. “W-what is it?”
“A frog in a well sits and looks at the sky.”
“…What kind of nonsense is that?”
A frog in a well. Sitting in a well looking at the sky. Both idioms meant having a narrow, ignorant perspective of the world. Was he mocking him for having such a narrow view that he felt the need to say the exact same thing twice?
When Eun Wi-ryong glared at him, Seo-jun gave a short laugh.
“Do you really need to know how wide the world is to pierce the sun?”
“Pardon?”
“From inside the well, you can see nothing but the sky. That means you must know its depth better than anyone else. If you have captured the sun in your eyes, then just strike.”
“What kind of sophistry is that?”
“If you don't get it, forget it. I’ve done my part.”
“Right.”
Eun Wi-ryong left Seo-jun behind and walked away. As he walked, he glanced back a few times to see Seo-jun watching him with an unreadable expression.
Knowing the depth of the sky. How could a mere frog know how deep the sky is?
* * *
“I’m back, Master.”
“You’ve returned.”
Eun Wi-ryong leaned his sword haphazardly in a corner and plopped down in front of his master, Eun Yu-do.
“You said you were going to a banquet, but you’re back early.”
“A banquet is nothing special. I just left in the middle.”
“What a dull fellow.” Eun Yu-do clicked his tongue and personally brewed some tea. Setting a teacup in front of his disciple, he spoke casually. “It seems something happened. Your eyes are full of worry.”
“I just… heard some strange things.”
“Like what?”
“Just things.”
“You rascal.”
Eun Wi-ryong stared at his master for a long moment before asking, “Master.”
“What is it?”
“Do you not have any regrets?”
“What nonsense are you on about now?”
“You must be uncomfortable having such a pathetic disciple.”
“You little brat. Watch your mouth. If you know that, then do better.”
“…It doesn’t always go the way I want it to.”
Eun Wi-ryong sighed.
Watching his disciple wallow, Eun Yu-do spoke up. “Don’t sigh. You’ll chase away your luck.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Disciple.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why I took you in as my disciple?”
“Didn't you say it was because you saw potential in me?”
“That’s right.”
Eun Yu-do took a slow sip of his tea. “In any case, our fates are already intertwined. Is there any parent who abandons their child just because the child is lacking?”
“Aren't there quite a few?”
“…You piece of work. Just take the meaning.”
“Yes, yes.”
Eun Yu-do clicked his tongue, though his gaze softened. “You are already my disciple. I have no intention of nagging you about your martial arts. If there is something you want to do, do it.”
“…Is that really okay?”
“Why not? That is the Dao.”