Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Value of a Word - 3
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Sayoon and Yuhee looked just as shocked to see me. While the two of them stared at me with wide eyes, I shrugged.
"Doesn't look like you're here to buy anything. What brings you all the way out here?"
"Ah. Well..."
Sayoon scratched her cheek with an awkward smile. A faint blush colored her cheeks, as if she found it embarrassing to say.
Or maybe she was ashamed for heading out without properly doing the homework Hongryeon had given her.
Either way, jackpot.
"Sayoon's been having a rough time lately, so I dragged her out. It happened to be a rest day. If I'd left her alone, she'd just keep agonizing by herself."
"Hmm. It's important to let loose now and then."
"Right? But this one's so stubborn."
"Ahahaha. Senior Sister. I'm dizzy~!"
Yuhee grabbed Sayoon's head and shook it hard. She kept going until Sayoon's eyes looked like they were spinning in circles, her dry laugh turning into full-on dizziness.
Dog's life!
I wanna do that too!
But the government office was close, and the officials were scary, so I didn't reach out. All I could do was keep my cool and watch with a fond smile.
Honestly, just this much had my chest swelling with pride.
"Perfect timing. It's almost dinner... Care to join me for a meal if you're up for it?"
"Eh? But."
"Not saying it's free, of course."
"We can't take commissions yet. If it's a request for Crimson Star Sect..."
"Nothing that big, don't worry. Just... well. Something from today, actually..."
I told the two about the Five Animals Frolic I'd learned today. Maybe because it touched on things they knew? Their eyes lit up as they nodded.
"Ahh, so you want some help practicing the Five Animals Frolic?"
"Exactly."
Sayoon thought for a moment, then broke into a beaming smile. My god! Sayoon smiling that brightly!
Screenshot! Gotta screenshot!!
Damn this world for no cameras.
"I know a little about the Five Animals Frolic myself."
Eh? For real?
"Senior Sister Ryuhyeon taught me. Senior Sister Yuhee..."
"Ah. I didn't learn it. I do my clan's recovery art instead."
"Then maybe I can help out a bit."
Still got some kid-like bravado left in her? Sayoon puffed out her small chest proudly as she said it.
Even better.
"Then, could you lend a hand whenever you're free? No need every day."
Truth be told, every day would be ideal, but that's just my greed. To fend off Crimson Star Sect's destruction and help her grow, Sayoon needed to cram as much as she could before Iron Blood Clan showed up.
"If it's just that much... Sure!"
"In return, dinner's on me. And a box of sweets. Or cash if you prefer..."
"Um... then, um. Dinner and sweets are fine, but..."
Sayoon sneaked a glance at me.
"Could you... discount Crimson Star Sect's supply costs a little?"
She fidgeted and twisted her body, clearly worried her words might offend me. Total pretzel.
Not a tough ask at all. Crimson Star Sect's purchases weren't much anyway.
Just a partial discount.
For one-on-one lessons from Sayoon?
Lol, how could I say no?
"If it's that, I'd be begging you."
Sayoon lit up with a huge smile at my answer.
Seriously, no cameras suck.
Anyway, it was getting late, and skipping dinner wasn't an option, so I took them back to the inn.
They refused a bunch of times, but after I insisted just as much, they finally nodded.
Still, ordering only cheap stuff like they wouldn't touch anything pricey even on their deathbeds. Those two had bull-headed stubbornness like nobody's business.
"I don't have anything to teach the innkeeper anyway."
"Haha. You never know."
"Whew... So full. Thanks for the great meal."
"My pleasure. Now, for some digestion..."
"Ah. Sure."
We headed to the inn's backyard. The sun had set, but the lanterns lit up the surroundings enough that seeing clearly wasn't hard.
"You said you learned the Five Animals Frolic today, right? Mind trying a basic form?"
"Of course."
I unfolded the Five Animals Frolic right in front of Sayoon. First form: Tiger. Power into the extended leg, round the right and left arms. Slowly turn the waist to assume the Tiger form.
"Lower your leg more."
Squeeze. Sayoon's small foot pressed into my thigh. She climbed up lightly and placed her hands on my shoulders, pushing down.
"Saw you throwing stones the other day. Picking up throwing arts might not be a bad idea... Not that Five Animals Frolic is bad, of course."
"Urgh. That's for later... Ack!"
"Come on, pull your arms back more."
Like a monkey flipping around, her small, light body clung to mine, moving me this way and that from above. She stepped on my thigh and sprang up, lightly hugging my neck before yanking my curved back straight with her knees.
Once the posture was set, Sayoon whispered softly into my ear from behind.
"This is the form for Tiger in Five Animals Frolic. The Tiger form embodies a tiger's ferocity. So be fiercer... show some intimidation."
⟨ Tiger Posture ⟩
The old Taoist hadn't gone this far.
Pressing firmly into my waist from behind, Sayoon said seriously.
"This pose is called Tiger Posture. Now, thrust your arms out from here, and you'll have Ferocious Tiger Posture..."
It took about half a shichen before I finally broke free from Sayoon.
Good or bad? Honestly, good.
It was basically getting tutored by my favorite, after all.
On top of that, since daily practice promised health and longevity, my body—which had ached just earlier—now brimmed with vitality.
"There! Good work. Practice every day from now on. They say a drop of water wears away the stone, right?"
Consistency was the most important thing in mastering martial arts.
I burst out laughing at her words.
"Huh? Did I... say something weird?"
"No. It's a great saying. Consistency. Yeah, consistency is key."
"Of course! Even Master said it!"
I nodded.
One of the koans Sayoon grappled with when she gained her first insight was exactly that.
Drop by drop wears the stone.
If she grasped the last one, mastering Meteor Fist wouldn't be hard at all.
"Anyway, good work. It's getting late... Head back."
"Hehe. Okay. Senior Sister Yuhee, sorry to keep you waiting."
"Hm? Nah. Nah. I was meditating too. Let's go. Innkeeper Yuwol. We'll be off then."
The two girls cupped their hands and left the inn. I watched them go, then pulled out a cigarette and lit up.
"Playing house or something?"
A sharp voice came from above. I looked up to see a woman leaning on the railing with a bored expression.
"From Full Moon Pavilion's view, sure looks like child's play. Guest."
"...Tch."
The sharp-featured beauty with black hair wore not Full Moon Pavilion's signature full-body suit, but sleek black clothes. She hopped lightly over the railing.
Her long, straight legs ended in heeled boots that hit the stone floor without a sound.
A true master's movement, light as a feather.
Full Moon Pavilion's senior disciple Chaejin swept back her hair, dragged over a backyard chair, plopped down casually, and spoke leisurely.
"Five Animals Frolic this morning, now getting corrections from Crimson Star Sect..."
"Problem?"
"Nah. Just... if you're gonna learn, why not learn it right?"
Chaejin grinned and crooked a finger. In that instant, a golden gleam sliced through the darkness.
High-level experts could freely manipulate their inner energy, generating qi at will.
Not borrowing from forms, but total personal control.
I watched her, then smiled.
"So Full Moon Pavilion's gonna teach me, huh? That's the pitch?"
"Full Moon Pavilion's different from Crimson Star Sect. Pay the entry fee, and we take anyone as an outer disciple."
"And only a select few become inner disciples, right?"
"Oh? You know your Full Moon Pavilion."
She winked with a smirk, then slowly rose and padded over lightly.
"Power shouldn't be given to those who can't awaken it themselves. Full Moon Pavilion just sorts inner and outer based on that."
"So I make the cut for inner?"
"Wanna try? Even outers get proper martial arts—just not Moonlight Divine Art."
Like a dancer, her light touch landed on my shoulder. She stroked softly, guiding my arm to move.
Her low voice accompanied the rotating hand.
Standing beside me, Chaejin's hand danced like a butterfly's wings, descending softly.
The descended hand surged upward. No ferocity. Only softness.
Like a willow leaf fluttering, Chaejin moved my arm while arching her waist back slightly, then sat and extended her left foot.
In an instant, her body spun.
I moved along with her. It wasn't particularly fast.
But every swing of hands and feet carried enough power to whip up gusts of wind.
The wind-wrapped leaves formed a circle, then split into two within it.
Yin and yang.
As I controlled the winds drawing a taiji, Chaejin spoke calmly from beside me.
The spinning body halted. The wind-trapping hand stopped.
And what formed was...
A taiji pattern stacked around me.
"Taiji is complete."
And larger than mine, the extreme taiji pattern Chaejin had formed.
"This is Full Moon Pavilion's introductory art: Subtle Taiji Fist."
Subtle Taiji Fist.
One of the arts Chaejin passed on when I cleared the first stage of her affinity event.
Introductory art or not, it was no slouch.
Master it to the extreme, and you could trigger the 'Insight of Softness' event. Plus, like Five Animals Frolic, just practicing built up your qi—slowly, but steadily.
And being Daoist lineage, it synergized perfectly with Five Animals.
But I hadn't built any real bond with Chaejin yet?
I looked at her. Chaejin averted her gaze, mumbling shyly in a tiny voice.
"I-I'll teach you this, but... I didn't bring much travel money, so... could you discount my lodging too...?"
Ah. Discounts it is. Can't say no.