Chapter 10: The Master's Keepsake (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 10: The Master's Keepsake (1)
“You knew it was me?”
The two of them sat on a low stone wall beside the pavilion.
There was no gazebo nearby, but a large boulder with an eroded, flat side served as a suitable substitute for a chair. Seok Myeong had led her there.
“More or less.”
“From the very beginning?”
“I didn't know at first. But by the third exchange, when I saw you using only the scabbard while keeping the sword sheathed, I had a hunch.”
“Hmph, always the same.”
Seok Myeong scratched his head at Yeon-hui’s grumbling. He stole a glance at her, wondering if he had made a mistake.
“Eldest Disciple.”
“Y-yes?”
Seok Myeong was startled by Yeon-hui speaking so loudly from such a close distance. It might have been because it had been a long time since he’d seen his junior sister, but that wasn't the only reason.
In the time they had been apart, she had become incredibly beautiful.
“I arrived yesterday.”
“Ah, I see,” Seok Myeong answered hesitantly. He wasn't acting like his usual, composed self.
“Hehe, you’re always the same, Sahyeong.”
“Huh? Me? I’m always like this, I guess.”
“I was quite surprised when you weren't at the Azure Moon Secret Pavilion. I had to wander around quite a bit before I finally found you. Did something happen while I was away?”
“No. Nothing much. I just got a bit bored, and I thought it might help with my research if I moved...”
“Is it livable here?”
“Of course. It’s comfortable.”
“Is it?”
Yeon-hui smiled brightly. Seeing her smile, Seok Myeong let out a silly grin of his own.
“Yeon-hui, I heard you became a Qingcheng Swordsman last year.”
“...”
“I wanted to congratulate you... but when I went to see you, they said Martial Uncle Song Jin was busy preparing for your Jianghu travel.”
“...”
“I felt bad. Sending you off without even a single warm word.”
Yeon-hui immediately cut in. “I waited.”
“You waited?”
“Until evening... I thought you would come, Eldest Disciple.”
Seok Myeong blinked, looking flustered.
“And I waited yesterday, too.”
Seok Myeong lowered his head. He didn't know what to say. He hadn't even considered that she might have waited for him for so long.
Seeing him look dejected, Yeon-hui burst into a bright smile again.
“Don't look so serious. I’m just joking.”
“Huh? Oh, right. Of course you are.” Seok Myeong forced a bright smile back.
“But Eldest Disciple.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you not going to take the Qingcheng Swordsman exam?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I just thought it might be nice if you showed up at least once.”
She was curious. While the other first-generation disciples made a huge fuss whenever the exam day approached, Seok Myeong was different. Far from caring about it, he didn't even apply. Consequently, she had never once seen him at the testing grounds.
“I’m thinking of giving it a try this time.”
“What? Are you serious?”
Yeon-hui’s eyes widened in surprise as she leaned in close. Her large, sparkling eyes filled Seok Myeong’s entire field of vision.
Seok Myeong’s face turned red. “Y-yeah.”
“That’s a great decision! Really! Wow, then I’ll finally get to see you there, Sahyeong.”
Yeon-hui clapped her hands, looking as happy as if it were her own achievement. She looked like someone congratulating a person who had already passed.
“You shouldn't get your hopes up too high.”
Yeon-hui stopped laughing and turned her gaze back to him. “Why?”
“I’ve set my mind to it, but it won't be easy. I know very well how difficult the Qingcheng Swordsman exam is.”
“Your skills are already more than enough, Sahyeong. Didn't you just block my sword?”
“Wasn't that because you were holding back on purpose? If you fought seriously, I wouldn't last three forms.”
“That’s not true. Of course, I suppressed my internal energy as much as possible, but other than that, I really did my best. In fact, I was flustered because your attacks were sharper than before.”
“Hahaha. You shouldn't tease your Sahyeong like that.”
Seok Myeong frowned for a moment before his expression softened.
Yeon-hui was the daughter of the current Sect Leader. She had grown up under the devoted care of the elders without having to go through the True Martial Hall. Because of that, she didn't realize how high a level she had reached over the past decade. He assumed that was why she was humbling herself to praise him.
“But it’s true...” she muttered to herself.
After stealing another glance at him, she continued. “Anyway, are you going to stay here?”
Yeon-hui changed the subject.
“I plan to, for the time being.”
“Then I’ll come to see you often.”
“You’ll be busy...”
“I’ll come even if I’m busy. So don't hide anymore.”
“When did I ever hide?”
“Don't lie. You’ve been avoiding me on purpose.”
Embarrassed by her reproach, Seok Myeong scratched his head.
“See you later, Eldest Disciple. It looks like someone is looking for me, so I’ll head out for today.”
Whoosh.
Yeon-hui vanished in an instant. As expected of someone with powerful internal energy, her departure was instantaneous, leaving a strange afterimage behind.
“I’m glad. I’m glad I got to see Yeon-hui’s bright face.”
Seok Myeong stretched and stood up. Perhaps because he had exerted himself for the first time in a while, his whole body felt stiff.
“That was dangerous. If I’d had a sword or if I’d realized it was Yeon-hui any later, it could have been a disaster. If I had used a killing stroke and she got hurt...”
If he had continued to execute his sword techniques, he certainly wouldn't have stayed still. He would have been unable to restrain himself and would have attacked.
“Ha, listen to me. What a ridiculous thought. Thinking I could actually wound her with my skills.”
Seok Myeong chuckled at his own thought. The term 'mutual destruction' only applied to opponents of the same level; the very idea was absurd. Surely, Yeon-hui was far superior to him.
Seok Myeong looked up.
A full moon floated in the sky. Amidst the moonlight, the events of a few days ago suddenly flashed through his mind.
“What will you do if you look at me like that? Are you going to draw your sword against me, your Martial Uncle, right here and now?”
In an instant, Seok Myeong’s grip tightened. The humiliation of that moment flickered before his eyes.
“I will surely get an apology from you. Including for those words that insulted my Master.”
Seok Myeong remained lost in thought for a moment before turning away. His expression was resolute, reflecting his firm determination.
*
“I wonder if your actions weren't a bit excessive.”
Early in the morning, shortly after Song Hak had woken up, Song Mun came to visit him. It seemed to be a serious matter, as he had barged into the sleeping quarters at dawn before the sun had even risen.
As soon as Song Hak saw him, he guessed what he was going to say. Since Song Mun managed the Azure Moon Storehouse, he would have naturally heard that Seok Myeong was no longer there.
“Can you tell me the reason?”
“...”
“Surely you wouldn't have cast him out without a reason.”
Song Mun spoke with a sense of trust. Although Song Hak was known for his sharp tongue and stern actions, Song Mun wanted to believe he wasn't the type of person to handle such an important matter without grounds.
Song Hak replied calmly to his reaction. “I didn't like him.”
“What?”
“Just everything about him.”
“...”
Song Mun continued to stare with a silent expression. At this, Song Hak let out a sheepish smile.
“I’m joking. Really, you’re far too serious...”
Song Hak got out of bed and walked to a corner. Putting on the blue robe hanging there, he continued.
“I thought he needed a stimulus.”
“A stimulus?”
“Yes. I felt that is what the boy needs right now.”
“Explain in more detail.”
“Seok Myeong is the last remaining disciple of the Azure Cloud lineage. He’s a boy carrying a very heavy burden.”
“...”
“Do you know what he does every single day? He’s a bookworm. He claims to be researching martial arts, but he spends all day just looking at books.”
“...”
“Seeing that, I thought a change was necessary. So, I decided to give him a jolt. I was curious to see how a free-spirited child would change when he feels pressure. Of course, I admit it might not be the best method. But I wanted to discipline him a bit more strictly and make him stronger.”
Song Hak turned around and met Song Mun’s eyes. “Do you remember? That incident in the past.”
“That incident?”
“The incident where Seok Myeong identified the flaw in the Azure Origin Heart Method.”
Song Mun’s eyes widened at those words. It seemed he remembered.
“He was only five years old. He found a weakness in the Azure Origin Heart Method that no one had questioned for hundreds of years.”
“How could I possibly forget? Wasn't that why Song Hye pleaded with us to take the boy in? That’s also why the Azure Wind Origin Heart Method was created.”
Both Song Hak and Song Mun remembered. It was an event that had marked a turning point for Qingcheng.
Hardness overcomes softness.
These were the words written in the first line of the manual by Taoist Zixun, who created the Azure Origin Heart Method hundreds of years ago. Taoist Zixun was a man so respected he was called the greatest under heaven at the time, and he was the founding patriarch who built the Qingcheng Sect as it is today. This spirit was passed down to future generations and became the deep roots of Qingcheng.
Softness overcomes hardness.
However, many members of the Qingcheng Sect also remembered this. It was a statement made by Zhang Sanfeng of the Wudang Sect, who was also one of the greatest masters in history.
The Taiji is ultimately a cycle, emphasizing continuous softness over a single burst of strength. To this day, the people of Wudang still pursue the meaning behind that one sentence.
Qingcheng, where hardness overcomes softness.
Wudang, where softness overcomes hardness.
Naturally, a debate between the two emerged.
From Wudang’s perspective, the teachings of the Azure Origin Heart Method went against the Taiji. From Qingcheng’s perspective, Zhang Sanfeng’s teachings went against the spirit of Qingcheng.
The debate went in circles until eventually, the focus shifted from 'what does it mean' to 'who said it,' and people began to study the individuals themselves.
Taoist Zixun and Zhang Sanfeng.
One was a man strong enough to be called the greatest under heaven. He was a magnificent Taoist who could be considered the pillar of Qingcheng.
In contrast, the other was a man called the greatest of all time, across both past and future generations. He was a man whose achievements were so great that his name alone was weighed against Dharma of Shaolin. In that sense, Taoist Zixun was no match for Zhang Sanfeng.
Ultimately, the argument that the level of credibility depends on the realm achieved by the teacher began to gain traction. With Zhang Sanfeng’s dominance, Taoist Zixun’s words became 'wrong' in people’s memories.
It became a world where softness overcomes hardness, rather than hardness overcoming softness.
Since then, the people of Qingcheng didn't speak of it openly, but it remained engraved as a painful memory. They couldn't deny the words of Zhang Sanfeng, a figure who was never omitted when discussing the greatest masters in history, unlike Taoist Zixun.
However, about ten years ago, an incident occurred that reignited that debate.
It seemed a child in the True Martial Hall had mentioned that softness overcomes hardness while receiving Qingcheng’s teachings. Even the instructor in charge of the children at the time didn't know what to say. The selected children were so brilliant that a haphazard answer wouldn't suffice.
At that moment, surprisingly, another child spoke up and gave the answer the instructor should have given.
“Softness does not overcome hardness because softness is superior. It is because the hardness was not strong enough to overcome the softness.”
The words were simple, but truly shocking. Song Mun, who was the instructor at the time, was speechless for quite a while. He had never once thought of it that way.
Many Qingcheng members had avoided or deferred answering this question. Yet, the words of a single child had instantly restored the pride of Qingcheng, which had been wandering in the fog.
“Yes, he was such a brilliant child. It seems that same child is now hesitating to challenge himself. Sahyeong Song Hye told us not to be forceful and to lead him as his heart desires, but I think differently. Such a child needs the whip even more. Only then can he truly make the Azure Wind Origin Heart Method his own, don't you think?”
In truth, they hadn't even begun teaching the Azure Wind Origin Heart Method in the True Martial Hall, which they had planned to start last year. Song Hak had met with the elders separately and persuaded them to wait and see.
Song Hak continued. “I plan to make that boy a Qingcheng Swordsman in two years.”
“Did he say he would do it himself?”
“Well, there were various reasons... but regardless, that is my plan.”
“...”
“Don't you want to watch? The path of the child everyone in Qingcheng is anticipating. Isn't that what Sahyeong Song Hye wanted?”
As Song Hak showed his burning gaze, Song Mun’s expression softened. At the same time, he felt ashamed. Song Hak’s heart for the child was so passionate, yet Song Mun had barged into his quarters so rudely.
Song Mun admitted his rashness. “I’m sorry. I failed to read your intentions.”
“No. It’s understandable. I acted too unilaterally.”
“No, no. I think I let my emotions get ahead of me without knowing your deep thoughts.”
Song Mun let out a short laugh. The lingering resentment in his heart seemed to have vanished like melting snow.
“Then please tell him to work harder until that day comes. Tell him to display his talents to his heart's content.”
“I will do so.”
Song Mun finally showed proper etiquette. Then, with a solemn posture, he turned and left.
Song Hak watched Song Mun walk out. He watched Song Mun’s back for a long time, and only when he had disappeared from sight did Song Hak’s eyes slowly narrow.
At the same time, the corners of his lips curled upward.
‘I’m sorry, but you’re wrong. A boy like Seok Myeong has no talent whatsoever. That incident back then was nothing more than a child’s simple fluke.’