Chapter 221
Chapter 221
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: What Was Left Behind (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A long time ago, back when I was forced to attend a Hall Masters’ meeting after being dumped with the task by the Outer Hall’s Vice Hall Master Ga Rip.
The Great Pure Adept and Master Bukgung, who had come to see me, had a conversation like this.
‘It’s been a while. How has your father been?’
‘It’s been over ten years since he entered the Great Snow Mountains, so I haven’t heard from him, but I imagine he’s doing fine.’
‘True, there are few in the world who could challenge him. By the way, may I borrow this fellow?’
‘If the Great Pure Adept of Mount Diancang needs him, then of course you may.’
A master acknowledged by the Great Pure Adept, known as the greatest sword in the Nine Dragons Fortress.
I was curious about who he was back then, but I soon forgot.
I figured he wouldn’t tell me even if I asked, and at the time, my only goal was to save up a target amount of money and leave the Nine Dragons Fortress immediately.
And it was much later that I heard the story about the War King.
‘I’m telling you. The beggar—no, the gentleman beggar—who was panhandling in front of the market went out, said a few words, and they just turned back.’
‘No, how is that possible? You know what those Ten Demon Alliance bastards are like…’
‘I was curious too, so I asked Grand Hero Yuk, and guess what? He said that beggar was the War King.’
The Ten Demon Alliance’s hidden gambit, which had lured Gold Dragon Hall Master Geum Geuk and targeted Hanzhong.
However, Hanzhong remained unscathed.
The War King, who was in Hanzhong at the time, had forced the retreat of the Ten Demon Alliance’s forces led by the Twin Axe Killing Demon, Jo Gwang.
I was surprised that such a master had been hiding in Hanzhong disguised as a beggar, but I soon forgot about this as well.
I just thought it was a coincidence.
After all, the martial world was overflowing with eccentrics and hidden masters, as numerous as grains of sand.
However, seeing the War King use the War King Arts, I was certain my thinking had been wrong.
An absolute master who knew the War King Arts had saved Hanzhong. Twice, at that.
There was no way this could be a coincidence.
‘Both then and now, he came to Hanzhong to help me.’
An absolute master who used the War King Arts and helped me without any conditions.
The father of my master, Bukgung Baek, a master acknowledged by the Great Pure Adept.
These two were, in fact, the same person.
“It is an absolute honor to finally meet you, sir. Hehe.”
How could I just stand by?
An absolute master, ranked just below the Lord of the Martial Emperor Fortress among the Ten Great Masters, was now my grandmaster.
“Ahem, put a little more strength into your hands. This barely feels like a massage…”
I squeezed harder on his stiff shoulders.
*Crack.*
As I kneaded with enough grip strength to crush stone, he finally showed a look of satisfaction.
“Is that better, sir?”
“Yes, now I can finally feel some of the fatigue leaving.”
I had to treat him as well as possible and keep him in Hanzhong.
Without its Lord, the Nine Dragons Fortress was bound to become a cauldron of chaos.
Just having an absolute master in residence would perfectly guarantee Hanzhong’s safety and my effective control over it.
‘Well, I have a few things to ask of him, too.’
I continued to massage his slightly relaxed shoulders and spoke.
“By the way, the fight just ended, and you’re already planning to leave? Why don’t you stay and rest for a while since you’re here? Your grand-disciple is disappointed.”
*Twitch.*
The corner of the War King’s eye twitched at the words “grand-disciple.”
‘I knew it.’
My guess was right.
The War King wanted to be called a grandfather.
The heart of a parent watching their son live as an old bachelor must be the same everywhere.
For reference, this idea came from thinking about my cousin in my past life.
That cousin hadn’t gotten married even by the age of forty.
My aunt and uncle said he wasn’t interested, but in my eyes, the reason was clear.
‘How could an ugly, unemployed man get married…?’
However, our Master Bukgung was different.
He might look a little… no, quite rugged, but he had a very masculine and handsome face.
Moreover, with his skills as an absolute master, he was a prime candidate for marriage.
What must the War King feel, watching such a son grow old as a bachelor?
Now that I’d created a crack in his heart, it was time to shatter it.
I delivered the final line.
“And shouldn’t you take a look around Hanzhong as well?”
“Ahem, what would I know, even if I looked?”
“No, if you think that way, this grand-disciple will be disappointed again. Grandmaster, you are, after all, the Grand-Grand-Sect Leader of the War King Gate.”
“Grand-Grand-Sect Leader?”
“Of course. Since I am the Sect Leader, Master Bukgung is the Grand Sect Leader. It is only natural that you, the War King and father of Master Bukgung, would be the Grand-Grand-Sect Leader.”
“I-Is that how it works?”
“It most certainly is. So, since you’re here, please take a look around. If you see anything lacking, please point it out. How about staying for a few years and overseeing our children’s martial arts training? As the Grand-Grand-Sect Leader of the War King Gate.”
“Ahem!”
“Who knows? The War King Gate of today might become the foundation for rebuilding the Bukgung family in the future. The names fit perfectly, don’t they? War King, War King Gate. This is definitely fate.”
The War King shot up from his seat. As I stared blankly, not knowing why, he asked with eyes full of motivation.
“Where is it?”
“Sir?”
“My quarters. You told me to stay for a few years.”
*Grin.*
“I will show you to the finest room. But, your grand-disciple still doesn’t know your esteemed name, Grandmaster.”
“Ah, we haven’t properly introduced ourselves. My name is Bukgung Sip.”
“…”
***
On my way back from taking Grandmaster Bukgung to his quarters, I couldn’t help but lament.
‘One, ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand…’
If Master Bukgung had a son, he would be Bukgung Cheon, and if Bukgung Cheon had a son, he would be Bukgung Man. I didn’t even want to think about what came after that.
Even if it was just until the family was re-established, I couldn’t understand how they came up with such a naming convention.
In a way, it was more shocking than the Jeok Il, Yi, and Sam brothers of the Red Dragon Hall or the Lee Jeok-sang, jung, and ha brothers of the Martial Emperor Fortress.
At least their names looked somewhat normal when taken individually.
‘Well, still.’
It would be ridiculous for me to step in when the biggest victim, Grandmaster Bukgung Sip, was fine with it.
And as long as Master Bukgung grew old as a bachelor, future victims like Bukgung Man and Bukgung Simman wouldn’t be born.
Thinking about it, maybe Master Bukgung was remaining single to break the chain of this curse. With that thought, I headed toward the infirmary.
I was going to visit the Great Pure Adept, who had lost his right arm.
I had also heard from Cheong So-so that he had just regained consciousness.
“Sect Leader!”
“It’s the Sect Leader!”
“Fighting Dragon!”
The disciples, lying down with their bodies wrapped in bandages, tried to get up when they saw me.
“Stay where you are. What kind of salute are you giving when you look like you’re at death’s door?”
“N-No, sir!”
“Lie down at once, or you’re expelled.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
After easily subduing them, I went up to the second floor, hearing whispers from below.
“Is the Sect Leader immortal?”
“That’s what I’m saying. I clearly saw him collapse from a serious injury…”
“To think he’s perfectly fine after facing the Lord of the Ten Demon Alliance… Perhaps he’s the future greatest under heaven…”
“Hey, you fool… Why state the obvious?”
“…”
It seemed there was some misunderstanding, but since it wasn’t a bad one, I decided to let it slide.
*Creeak.*
As I opened the door to the innermost room, the Great Pure Adept was pouring tea with his left hand.
He greeted me with a benevolent face.
“You’re here?”
“…Are you alright?”
“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Still, the arm that has held a sword your entire life…”
While it would be true for anyone, losing one’s dominant arm is a particularly devastating blow for a swordsman.
A lifetime of swinging a sword and training is gone in an instant.
One might think you could just use the other arm, but it’s not that easy.
While muscle strength can be rebuilt, the durability of the meridians, cultivated by emitting sword ki and sword aura, is difficult to regain.
Of course, being the Great Pure Adept, the greatest sword in the Nine Dragons Fortress, he could probably recover with time, but there was no telling when that would be.
He might even ascend to the heavens before then.
The Great Pure Adept couldn’t be unaware of this, yet he simply smiled benevolently, showing not a hint of regret.
“Keke, since when have you ever worried about me?”
“Hey, when someone shows concern, can’t you just take it at face value?”
“Worry about your own grandfather’s memorial day.”
“I do see him from time to time. I even met him in a dream yesterday.”
“Tsk, you’ll go to hell for treating an old man like a fool, you brat.”
Seeing him act no different than usual was a relief.
“I’ll make a huge donation, so please get well soon.”
“That’s a given. Do you have any idea how hard I rushed over here, worried you might die?”
“That’s why I’m saying I’ll donate that much. Look forward to it. From now on, the children of the Black Dragon Hall will grow up eating rice with meat soup.”
“Keke, you certainly are straightforward. My senior brother really did pick up a good one.”
After laughing for a moment, he put down his teacup and continued.
“I’m thinking of retiring.”
“What?!”
“What’s there to be surprised about? I’m already eighty. Having lived as a martial artist to this age, haven’t I done my duty?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Perhaps because he had finally voiced the retirement he had only been thinking about, the Great Pure Adept’s expression became much more serene.
“I’ve already passed on all the martial arts and enlightenment I possess to the Hall Master and Pung. I have no regrets.”
“Should I congratulate you?”
“Save that for Pung. That boy looks like he’ll be able to cross the boundary within a few years.”
“N-Not the Black Dragon Hall Master, but Brother Wi Ji?”
“Martial talent is never fair.”
No matter how much of a genius Wi Ji-pung was, how could he surpass his master with such an age gap?
As I stood there in shock, he chided me.
“And you, you’ve already set foot in that realm, haven’t you? You’re a far greater monster than Pung. No matter how I think about it, I should have made you a Taoist back then…”
“Don’t say such horrible things.”
It was true.
When I unleashed the Hellscape technique against the Lord of the Ten Demon Alliance, I had found the path to the Transformation Realm.
In other words, I could now be considered a true master of the Transformation Realm.
Though I nearly died in the process.
“Ahem, if you know that, then from now on, let’s show each other some respect…”
*Thwack!*
“Ack!”
“You’re still far from it, you brat. What respect is there for a whelp who hasn’t even married yet?”
“This crazy old geezer, seriously!”
“Want to try me?”
He swung a small stick that was beside him.
*Thwack!*
My vision flashed as the tip of the stick struck the exact center of my forehead.
“Ack!”
A scream burst out, but the pain wasn’t what was important.
“The descendant who resolved to shoot down the sun considered not speed or power to be the most important, but direction…”
The secrets of the Sun-Shooting Sword and the enlightenment he had accumulated over a lifetime began to flow from the Great Pure Adept’s lips.
“O-Old man…”
Flustered, I called out to him, but he continued speaking with his eyes closed.
“This applies to all who walk the path of the sword. Therefore… straighten your fingertips and empty your mind… make your internal energy vast… deep and narrow… and there shall be nothing you cannot pierce.”
Having imparted all the secrets, he slowly opened his eyes.
“T-This is too much for me to receive.”
“Hmm? What are you talking about?”
“No, just now…”
“I don’t know what you’re saying to someone who just woke up. Ahem.”
He lay down with a clueless expression.
“I’m tired. You may leave.”
The Great Pure Adept was trying to act as if nothing had happened.
Toward the man I might never see again after his retirement, I offered my thanks.
“…Thank you.”
“You’re spouting nonsense.”
“Thank you for saving my life.”
“Repay me with a donation. A life is expensive, so don’t forget to bring a hefty sum.”
“Thank you for taking care of a nine-year-old beggar who just rolled in. Thank you for buying me martial arts robes with money from picking and selling herbs. Thank you for sending me to the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion when I refused to join the Black Dragon Hall. Thank you for watching over me even after I graduated.”
My grandfather brought me in, but the Great Pure Adept had also helped raise me.
“…”
For a debt I could never repay in my lifetime, I bowed to him.
“I will never forget this kindness for as long as I live.”
*Snore. Zzzz.*
“…”
Well, patients are always tired.