Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Why? Why?
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"I had you!"
"I'm sorry, Martial Uncle."
"You rolled around like a madman until I grabbed your back!"
"......Yes."
"Argh, this bastard... I had you right there... but you're so damn slow."
"I'm sorry."
Anyone could see that Cheongsang had lost.
Yet Jinmu was the one pinning Cheongu down.
Why?
"You got hit at the end because you attacked too hastily. If that had been a real sword, you'd be dead."
Ah!
Only then did Cheongsang understand why Jinmu was scolding Cheongu.
If the sword in his hand had been real? Just as he said, Cheongu would have died—with it plunged into his nape.
"You couldn't even watch meat roast for two days straight!"
"Pardon? Even against Senior Brother Cheongsang, I put up a fight..."
Cheongu made a miserable face.
"Shut it! You made me lose meat that was practically caught!"
Huh? Meat that was practically caught?
He didn't fully understand, but Cheongsang couldn't hide his shock.
He had lost to Cheongu.
All his pride from before crumbled in an instant.
"Hey, you."
"Yes?"
At the sudden call, Cheongsang answered without thinking.
"Apologize. Cheongu lost. I thought you'd win..."
If he had won, he could have lured in one more to corrupt.
"No, that's not... I..."
His speech was turning polite before he knew it, but Jinmu didn't listen anymore, yanking Cheongu's ear as he headed into the woods.
"I told you—you were done for."
With a chilling voice...
"Martial Uncle..."
Cheongsang stood dazed, watching their backs disappear into the forest.
Suddenly, a hollow laugh escaped him.
What an eccentric. His young martial uncle was...
How strange.
Why does he keep coming?
Jinmu frowned as he stared at the Sword-Shedding Pool.
Thud! Bang! Thunk!
Sounds of driving in stakes.
It had been half a month since repairs on the Sword-Shedding Pool began.
At first, he'd thought Cheongsang wouldn't return after that, but the next day, he showed up with Cheongu.
Hmm, he clearly won, so there's nothing for him here.
And the day after, and the day after that. Cheongsang kept coming.
What for?
And moreover...
"Martial Uncle, I've driven in all ten wooden stakes."
He'd even become polite.
Wasn't this kid like that before? Has the food at Wudang gone bad lately? Did he eat something rotten...?
He even came close to whisper secretly.
"Shall I prepare some meat?"
"......"
"I hear pheasant is especially delicious."
Winking disgustingly... Well, it was a good sign, at least.
Jinmu eyed Cheongsang sourly. He didn't like this voluntary change. Corruption was fine, but it didn't feel satisfying.
"Y-Yeah..."
"Understood, Martial Uncle. I'll catch some right away."
Cheongsang bowed politely and approached his martial brothers.
"Cheongu."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Kids grow close through fights, it seemed—they'd become quite friendly these past few days.
"Start a fire so Martial Uncle isn't inconvenienced. I'll hurry and catch some pheasants."
"Yes. Be safe, Senior Brother."
Bowing to Jinmu once more, Cheongsang dashed into the woods.
"Damn it, what's going on here?"
A strong feeling that something was off began to creep in.
"Hmm... Uh... Sigh..."
As Jinmu propped his chin and furrowed his brow, Cheongu tilted his head while building the fire.
"Martial Uncle, do you have some worry?"
"No, it's nothing... Hmm..."
Jinmu stared blankly at Cheongu.
"Why?"
"Well... Hmm..."
No matter how he looked, the kid seemed dim-witted.
Slow to learn martial arts, no common sense.
It couldn't possibly be because of this guy that Cheongsang kept coming.
"Martial Uncle, if something's troubling you, please tell me."
Cheongu smiled brightly, his eyes disappearing into chubby cheeks.
Right, of course not.
Moments later, Cheongsang returned with both hands full of pheasants.
Two per hand.
Four in total.
"My hunting skills are lacking, so this is all I caught, Martial Uncle. These things are so nimble."
Offering the pheasants with a toothy grin, Cheongsang's hands and face were covered in glorious(?) scratches.
Like a late learner of thievery fearing dawn—he'd tasted meat a few times and now aimed to wipe out the pheasant population.
Jinmu was flustered, mouth agape, but Cheongu excitedly skewered the birds on branches and set them over the fire.
"Ah, no, pluck the feathers first..."
You idiot!
Before he could stop them, the pheasants vanished into the roaring flames.
What's the point of tasting meat if you don't know how to eat it?
What should have been golden-brown turned pitch-black.
He'd ruined perfectly good pheasant. Well-roasted skin is the best part of meat.
Still, for whatever reason, Cheongu and Cheongsang each held a charred bird and looked at Jinmu.
They wanted him to eat first.
They didn't know how to roast, but manners were spot-on.
'Sigh...'
Jinmu sighed, peeling off the least-burnt innards and taking a bite. At once, the starving pups lunged in his mind's eye.
Did you two even eat?
"D-Delicious!"
It's burnt.
"What a flavor!"
I said it's burnt!
Cheongsang and Cheongu, faces smeared with soot, grinned at each other.
Feeding them meat was good, but regretting not teaching them how to eat it properly.
"Thanks to Martial Uncle, we've tasted something like this. Truly grateful."
"Yes. Since eating meat, I feel stronger. Less fatigue during training too."
What? Bootlicking now?
Of course, better than their gut-shrinking vegetarian diet, but no way.
A few days of meat wouldn't change that much. Psychological effect, surely.
"There must be a reason Cheongu's stamina improved. Look how he lifts that."
At Cheongsang's words, Cheongu puffed up his chest proudly.
Whatever. Jinmu just sighed. Damn, this pheasant tastes awful.
Seeing their blackened faces and greasy lips killed his appetite.
"Um, Martial Uncle."
After devouring the awful pheasant like it was gourmet and cleaning up, Cheongsang called in a subtle tone.
"What?"
"About that flaw in the Flowing Cloud Sword Art you mentioned last time."
"......"
"It's harder to fix than I thought..."
This was it.
The reason this punk kept coming steadfastly.
No wonder he'd been sucking up.
Jinmu smirked inwardly.
Of course, he couldn't raise the dim, innocent Cheongu, no matter how much he tried.
But the reward must never be too generous.
One by one, just enough to stave off hunger each time.
"Ah, too much meat? My mouth's dry—water would be nice."
"Martial Uncle, shall I fetch some?"
Just as dim Cheongu butted in without reading the mood, Cheongsang was already running off.
Thankfully, this underling had some tact.
"What? Again? Breaking the precepts!"
Myeonggong's shout echoed through Pure East Hall.
"Yes. From what I observed, not only are they not repairing the Sword-Shedding Pool stakes, they're openly feasting on meat."
Myeonggong nodded nonchalantly at Jinhye's words.
"Eating meat again?"
"Yes, Master."
It was a taboo already temporarily lifted.
Regardless of Myeonggong's awkward expression, Jinhye smiled meaningfully.
"I know the elders showed mercy thinking of Senior Brother Myeongjin's feelings. But instead of gratitude, they're repeating the offense. We must punish them severely to correct their ways."
"W-Well, of course..."
What the Sect Leader wanted was change in Wudang.
They were already discussing revisions to the remaining Ten Precepts in elders' meetings. Moving forward bit by bit for Wudang's sake.
He understood Jinhye's feelings, but couldn't punish for breaking a lifted taboo.
Even after the announcement, other disciples still followed it.
"Lately, even Cheongsang's been swept up, heading to the Sword-Shedding Pool during personal training time."
"Cheongsang too?"
"Yes. Ever since he lost to Cheongu..."
"Huh? Who lost to whom?"
Myeonggong's eyes widened.
"Cheongsang lost to Cheongu."
"......"
In the past, maybe, but Second Generation Disciples were few.
Especially as Palace Lord of Welcoming Grace Hall, in charge of precepts—he knew current disciples best.
"Isn't Cheongsang one of the top among the Second Generation?"
"Yes. That's why it's a big problem. Such a promising talent fell for Jinmu's temptations. I'm worried this atmosphere will badly influence others. So we must punish..."
Though Jinhye repeated Jinmu's faults, only one thing rang in Myeonggong's ears.
"Heh, the most lacking among the Jade Generation who received Taoist names beat Cheongsang?"
"Yes!"
"H-How did he win?"
At Myeonggong's curious gaze, Jinhye spilled like a fish in water.
"That's the issue too. He openly used the Donkey Roll, targeting the side of Cheongsang's sword hand."
"What! The D-Donkey Roll?"
"Yes! Shameless. The Donkey Roll, of all things. He must be punished."
Myeonggong was too shocked to speak for a while.
The Donkey Roll—ass rolling on the ground—was despised by all righteous sects as shameful.
But the Flowing Cloud Sword Art's flaw.
Lower body vulnerable, poor offense-defense shift on sword-hand side.
Thus, practitioners supplemented with other arts.
Of course, First Generation Disciples wouldn't know such flaws.
They'd learned supplements before feeling inconvenienced.
Yet how did Jinmu know?
Impossible without deep martial insight and contemplation—pondering counters before even learning it.
'Impressive. Even without anyone telling him, that child is changing Wudang himself?'
The more he heard, the more astonishing the feat.
Myeongjin's disciple.
Everyone knew his goodness serving his master as Taoist Boy.
He thought that was it, but his growth speed was miraculous.
"That kid..."
Myeonggong stroked his beard, smacking his lips.
"Shall I summon Jinmu to the Precepts Hall right away?"
"Hmm..."
Though 'that kid' and 'hmm' were positive, Jinhye noticed nothing.
"Master?"
"......"
At Jinhye's insistent punishment talk, the troubled Myeonggong hurriedly changed topics.
"Ah! Look at me. Didn't you say the Qingyang Merchant Group arrives today?"
"Ah, yes. I'll head to the Sword-Shedding Pool soon."
"Good. The Sect Leader's very interested, so entertain them properly."
"Understood, Master. But about Jinmu's punishment..."
"......That kid, hmm."
"Master?"
"Heh heh."
Ignoring Jinhye, Myeonggong rose slowly, muttering 'heh' repeatedly as he left Welcoming Grace Hall.
"......"