Chapter 30
Translator: uly
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Black-Haired Writer - 4
It started with the third-generation disciples.
A life as a Mount Hua Sect disciple is arduous.
You wake at dawn and start the day with Energy Circulation Breathing. After finishing the breathing exercises, you cultivate and train all day long.
Young disciples who have only recently entered the sect often don't even have the strength to hold chopsticks by dinnertime.
The pride of being one of the Nine Sects and Six Schools. The Southern Respect for Mount Hua. Becoming a disciple of such a sect is no easy task.
That's why the limited sleep time is precious to the third-generation disciples.
If someone dared to disturb the third-generation disciples' sleep? Considering their youthful vigor, it was obvious they'd be furious even if the Primordial Heavenly Venerable himself showed up.
But then, Cheong-song, the junior disciple who had borrowed the Story of the Gallant Wanderer from Cheong-un, caused a scene. Cheong-song shouted in the middle of the night, waking up the other disciples.
"Ah, dammit, who is it!"
"What's going on!"
"Sorry! I just had a nightmare."
That damn Woon-hyeon. No, that amazing Woon-hyeon. To bravely challenge the ringleader of the bullying to a martial arts duel...
Originally, Cheong-song had planned to read just a little of the Story of the Gallant Wanderer before sleeping. But he felt he simply couldn't sleep without seeing the duel scene through.
What if he shows a cool side right there? To use the technique of the later-comer's advantage like that. And he hasn't even been a Mount Hua Sect disciple for long.
He couldn't help but cheer at the thrillingly cool sight.
"No, it sounded like cheering."
"That guy was reading a book, wasn't he?"
"Hey! Cheong-song screamed while reading a lewd novel!!"
"Shut up! Let's just sleep!"
As the entire third-generation dormitory, filled with teenagers, grew noisy, Cheong-song sensed it would be hard to calm things down. Since everyone was tired, the atmosphere settled and they went back to bed, but the problem was the next day.
"What were you looking at yesterday?"
The next day, Cheong-song's inquisition began. What should he say? Cheong-song pondered for a moment. Should he say it was a lewd novel or a spring painting?
Of course, secretly reading lewd novels or spring paintings from outside is something everyone does knowingly or unknowingly. But saying he had smuggled a lewd novel into Mount Hua Sect was a different matter.
If one of the third-generation disciples who lost sleep yesterday reported him, he'd be in big trouble.
"I was reading a novel Senior Brother Cheong-un lent me, and I screamed because it was so interesting."
In the end, Cheong-song decided to confess honestly. Among the third-generation disciples, Senior Brother Cheong-un, an adult, was a respected figure known for being a model of virtue and having a good character.
Among the teenage third-generation disciples, the adult senior brother Cheong-un was an object of respect. If he borrowed Cheong-un's name, he'd probably get off easily.
"A book Senior Brother Cheong-un lent was interesting? It'd be more convincing if you just honestly said you were reading a lewd novel."
One of the third-generation disciples looked at Cheong-song pityingly. Oops. Cheong-song had forgotten that while Senior Brother Cheong-un was respected by the third-generation disciples, his taste in books was not.
"No! It's true! This is the first time I've ever seen a novel like this in my life!"
Cheong-song showed the Story of the Gallant Wanderer he had hidden in his clothes to the third-generation disciples.
"Story of the Gallant Wanderer? Doesn't seem like a real lewd novel."
"Wow, look at that shabby book. Where did Senior Brother Cheong-un even get that?"
"So you really screamed because the book Senior Brother Cheong-un read was that interesting?"
The third-generation disciples started murmuring.
"If you don't believe me, I'll finish this book today and lend it to someone as a representative. It's seriously an amazing book!"
Cheong-song believed that anyone who read this book would have the same reaction as him.
"It looks boring at a glance..."
"Hey Cheong-song, since you've been hanging out with Senior Brother Cheong-un, has your taste in books gone weird?"
Most of the third-generation disciples were suspicious of the Story of the Gallant Wanderer that Cheong-un found interesting.
However, in the monotonous life of a Mount Hua Sect disciple, there are always people in need of a new spark.
"Alright. Then let me read it after you finish."
One of the third-generation disciples raised his hand.
"Me next!"
"If the first two say it's interesting, I'll read it too."
"Don't waste your time for nothing."
"Just reading it looks like it'll put me to sleep."
While some third-generation disciples tried to dissuade him, several others started reserving the Story of the Gallant Wanderer one after another.
"No, I have to return it, so I can only lend it to one person... Ah, never mind. I'll lend it to everyone."
Anyway, Senior Brother Cheong-un has read it a lot already. It should be fine. Cheong-song revised his opinion as he saw the third-generation disciples' eyes change.
"And Cheong-song!"
"Yeah?"
"You clean the outhouse alone today."
"... Okay. Got it."
So I have to take the punishment. At least it's not for a week. Cheong-song accepted.
And so, the Story of the Gallant Wanderer began to circulate among the third-generation disciples.
That night.
"Wow!"
"Hey! Is it Cheong-song again today?"
"No! I finished reading it during lunch!"
"Who is it!"
"Sorry! I'll clean the outhouse alone tomorrow!"
The next night.
"Whoaaaa!!"
"Don't read books in the middle of the night!"
"What the hell is this on the third day in a row!"
The third night.
"Wow!" "This is crazy!" "It's too cool! Hurry, next chapter, next chapter!"
"Now three people are reading the book together."
"Just how interesting is this Story of the Gallant Wanderer?"
The third-generation disciples began to feel curiosity, beyond resignation, about this situation where someone screamed every night.
As the Story of the Gallant Wanderer spread among the third-generation disciples, a strange atmosphere formed.
After finishing today's cultivation during free study time. Normally, they should have been meditating or studying diligently by reading Taoist scriptures. But now they were discussing a different topic.
"Who do you think the young lady Woon-hyeon met at the end really is?"
"Since she was being chased by villains, maybe she's a daughter of a wealthy family?"
"Eh. Would a mere daughter of a wealthy family be chased by people with such strong martial arts? That's unlikely."
"Then how about a young lady from a martial family?"
"That's a bit more plausible."
The third-generation disciples were having a discussion time about the contents of the Story of the Gallant Wanderer.
"I haven't read the Story of the Gallant Wanderer yet, stop talking about it here!!"
"Who told you to read it late~"
The third-generation disciples who had already read the Story of the Gallant Wanderer teased those who hadn't.
"You guys who screamed in the middle of the night! What are you doing instead of hurrying up!"
It's a loss not to read it. Though they are future Taoist masters who will receive the title of 'Daoshi', they were still young people sensitive to trends.
Other disciples who hadn't read the Story of the Gallant Wanderer yet shouted at other third-generation disciples writing something in a corner.
"We're diligently copying it by hand too."
"That's right! We're copying it character by character with all our heart, so we're disappointed too."
On one side were other third-generation disciples whose sleeves were stained with ink.
Looking closely, the Story of the Gallant Wanderer was being written on the paper originally prepared for copying scriptures.
"There are only three hand-copied volumes so far. Hurry up and copy faster."
"Then you come over here and copy next to us!"
"If I copy while reading, immersion breaks, so no."
"Ugh... We who screamed in the middle of the night are sinners. Sinners."
At the urging to produce the hand-copied volumes quickly, the hands of the other third-generation disciples copying grew even busier.
"What on earth are you all doing right now!!!"
The second-generation disciples of Mount Hua who came to monitor the third-generation disciples saw this chaotic situation and shouted.
"Senior Brothers!"
This is bad. We have to hide the books. All third-generation disciples holding the Story of the Gallant Wanderer had the same thought. Everyone quickly hid the books in their own ways. But the second-generation disciples weren't ones to miss that.
"What were you hiding!"
"Were you looking at spring paintings during scripture study time?"
"Hand it over!"
The second-generation disciples swiftly snatched away the Story of the Gallant Wanderer the third-generation disciples had hidden.
"Story of the Gallant Wanderer? Doesn't seem like a lewd novel. A storybook?"
"..."
The third-generation disciples couldn't say anything, knowing that if someone spoke up as a representative, that child would be severely scolded.
"To be reading such miscellaneous books that hinder training. We're confiscating all these books!"
"Your minds have grown lax, so you're reading books like this. Everyone, assemble at the training ground!!"
"Yes, sir!"
The third-generation disciples hurriedly headed to the training ground.
"The future of Mount Hua is truly bright. So bright."
One of the second-generation disciples sighed, looking at those third-generation disciples.
"What on earth is this that multiple copies came out of the third-generation disciples' possession?"
"Probably just a frivolous miscellaneous book. Let's burn it later."
"Hmm... We should check it first. I'll burn it this evening."
"We have too much time on our hands. Right. Let's burn it later."
No one could have predicted what repercussions the decision of one second-generation disciple would bring.
A few days later, at the training ground where the second-generation disciples of Mount Hua were gathered.
"So!! You shouldn't start the Eight Trigrams Sword Technique like that!!"
One of the second-generation disciples drew his sword, swinging it in front of everyone as he spoke.
The second-generation disciples had also fallen into the Story of the Gallant Wanderer.
As if asking when they had scolded the third-generation disciples, the second-generation disciples also began discussing the contents of the Story of the Gallant Wanderer.
"It's a Mount Hua sword technique, so Softness Overcomes Hardness is fundamental. Can you swing like that first?"
"It's a sword technique that pursues myriad changes. It must be the Illusion Sword, of course."
If the third-generation disciples consisted of teens and twenties, the second-generation disciples were martial artists just entering middle age. They got absorbed in the book's content and started debating the Eight Trigrams Sword Technique that appeared in the story.
"Tsk tsk. You haven't read the Story of the Gallant Wanderer properly. That's why compared to someone who's read it once..."
"What! Did I say something wrong?"
"It's a sword technique that starts from Mount Hua's Taiji and pursues myriad changes. Can you make such clumsy movements like that?"
"The Fifth Generation Sect Leader said to wield it for the sake of the secular world. Of course, it must be a sword technique to draw first and subdue villains in advance! Are you going to watch the enemies one by one and decide when to swing?"
"Friend, I didn't see it that way... This won't do. Let me show you the Eight Trigrams Sword Technique as I understand it!"
"Face me! I'll defeat you with my Eight Trigrams Sword Technique!"
The Mount Hua Sect Leader noticed the chaotic atmosphere in Mount Hua Sect about a month later.
"What is the meaning of this!"
The current Mount Hua Sect Leader, Hyeoncheon Jinin, roared at the elders in Jasogung.
"A mere miscellaneous book is interfering with the training of the great Mount Hua!!"
For Taoists of Mount Hua, who should be discussing the Dao, to be engrossed in discussions about a mere miscellaneous book. As the sect leader guiding Mount Hua, it was lamentable.
At Hyeoncheon Jinin's roar, the elders of Mount Hua couldn't say anything. By now, there were virtually no disciples in Mount Hua who hadn't read the Story of the Gallant Wanderer.
"Calling it a miscellaneous book seems a bit harsh."
One of the elders who had secretly read the Story of the Gallant Wanderer that a disciple was reading objected to the sect leader.
"Isn't it because they're reading such miscellaneous books that all the disciples have become lax lately! Mount Hua disciples, who should be models for others, aren't learning the sword techniques they should, and are talking about some absurd sword technique called the Eight Trigrams Sword Technique!"
"It's not absurd. Though there was no detailed description of the sword technique, what was written inside was clearly Mount Hua's sword technique."
"Elder!! Are you now defending the sword technique from that absurd miscellaneous book? Have you perhaps been impressed by reading that miscellaneous book?"
"I wish to say it is not a miscellaneous book."
"Even the elder would defend that book. The very act of reading such an absurd story is the problem!! How can Mount Hua disciples read such a preposterous tale!!"
"It's not preposterous. No, rather, the number of disciples who read the Story of the Gallant Wanderer and devote themselves to training has even increased. It is clearly not a miscellaneous book."
"If it's not a miscellaneous book, then is it some kind of wondrous book!! A demonic person comes to the great Mount Hua, fights him, falls off a cliff, and encounters the remains of a former sect leader. Where does such nonsense exist in the world!!"
"How do you know that part so well, Sect Leader?"
"..."
As the elders looked at him with suspicious eyes, the sect leader awkwardly cleared his throat and continued.
"Anyway!! Confiscate all miscellaneous books in Mount Hua Sect!! And discipline any disciples who talk about that book's story. From now on, disciples who continue talking about that book will be sent to the Punishment Hall!!"
The sect leader shouted at the elders, issuing a stern warning.
Though some elders were dissatisfied with the sect leader's declaration, they couldn't openly oppose the sect leader's decision.
"It's a disaster!!!!!!!!!!"
At that moment, a second-generation disciple suddenly burst into the Jasogung hall where the meeting was taking place, panting heavily. It was a breach of etiquette, but his expression was so urgent that the sect leader decided to ask the reason.
"What is it? Has a demonic person appeared?"
What on earth could have happened for him to barge in so rudely?
Had a demonic person appeared? Or perhaps martial world bandits? It could be an evil old monster or a lecherous demon from the unorthodox faction.
Or perhaps a great calamity had occurred in the martial world?
The sect leader and elders all focused on the second-generation disciple's mouth.
"No, it's not that!! Third-generation disciple Cheong-un, while exploring the cliffs of Mount Hua, claims to have discovered the remains and a secret manual of the Eighth Generation Sect Leader!!"