Chapter 110: Wieon Mountain Villa (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 110: Wieon Mountain Villa (1)
Namgung Jun immediately took the letter to Lee Se-ha.
After unfolding the letter and reading its contents, Lee Se-ha let out a soft sigh.
"Now even Hubei Province is in turmoil. I thought it would be relatively quiet there, what with the Wudang Sect."
"What happened?"
"A faction of the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult has crossed into Hubei Province and is clashing with the Wudang Sect. The Wudang Lay Sect is also mobilizing to assist the main sect."
Namgung Jun’s eyes narrowed as he took the letter from Lee Se-ha. Written on it was the name of the very sect Yun Gyeong-jong had mentioned.
"This means Wieon Mountain Villa will have free rein to run rampant."
"Exactly. That's why we're stepping in. It would be disastrous if Wieon Mountain Villa decided to strike the Wudang Sect from behind."
"When do you plan to depart?"
Lee Se-ha glanced out the window, gauging the time by the sun’s position. "Let's leave at dawn tomorrow."
"I will pass the word to the Heavenly Sword Hall members."
Namgung Jun turned to leave the office, but Lee Se-ha stopped him.
"Have a cup of tea with your master before you go."
"Do you have something to say to me?"
"Hmph. Must I have a reason? I just wanted to see my disciple's face a little longer, Jun."
Lee Se-ha crossed her arms, her delicate brows furrowing. Seeing the irritable swish of her black sleeves, Namgung Jun gave a wry smile and sat back down.
Only then did Lee Se-ha giggle softly and begin pulling out her tea set.
"I managed to get some excellent tea leaves during my recent trip to Shandong Province. Ah, do you know anything about the Tea Ceremony, Jun? I suppose I, your master, should teach you that as well."
Excitement colored Lee Se-ha's voice as she arranged the tea set. Then, as if realizing she sounded a bit too eager, her tone turned slightly coy at the end.
Seeing right through his master's shifting demeanor, Namgung Jun suppressed a chuckle.
The Tea Ceremony. It's been a long time.
Namgung Jun was, in fact, intimately familiar with the Tea Ceremony.
In his past life, besides the sword and righteousness, there was one other thing he had taught his disciples: the Tea Ceremony.
The entire process—preparing the right tea leaves and water, measuring the temperature and quantity, controlling the fire's intensity, and brewing the perfect cup—he had considered it all another form of cultivation.
To brew a delicious cup of tea, various elements had to align in harmony under a set of rules. Otherwise, it would become nothing more than common, uninspiring bitter water. While some of his disciples failed to grasp this subtle difference, the Sword Emperor had always been able to distinguish it clearly.
The act of keeping countless variables in mind while pouring one's effort into the task was, in itself, a way to clear and rectify the mind. It was a form of cultivation that refined the inner self through means other than martial arts.
It was quite enjoyable. It was a natural way to converse with my disciples.
They would taste the tea each other brewed while discussing martial theories, or fall into meditation with the aroma lingering in their noses and mouths. For the Sword Emperor, the Tea Ceremony was another medium that connected him with his disciples. Those brief moments of enjoying tea had felt incredibly precious.
Come to think of it, I've never shared a leisurely cup of tea with Master like this.
While Lee Se-ha often sought him out, the reverse was rare. Most of his visits to her office were to report on missions or discuss official business.
Gently touching the tea utensils his master had set out, the disciple wore a complex smile. Watching her search for the tea leaves with a lively expression, he spoke in a slightly lowered voice.
"I have a passing knowledge, but I would like to receive proper instruction from you, Master."
"My family has quite a long history, you know. I was thoroughly trained in things like the Tea Ceremony from a young age."
Lee Se-ha handled the tea utensils with practiced movements. She boiled the water, tossed in the tea leaves rather casually, and began to chatter about what had happened while Namgung Jun was away on his mission.
She did not put much meticulous effort into brewing the tea. She didn't warm the teacups with hot water, nor did she check the water's temperature. She simply ignored the bubbles rising as the water boiled and covered the pot with the lid.
Though she was brewing tea, her method strayed from the strict rules of the Tea Ceremony. The master was focusing on her disciple, not the brewing itself.
"The methods, techniques, and etiquette of brewing and drinking tea... When I was young, I thought of them as strict rules that must never be broken. But looking back now, that wasn't the case."
"Then what is it that you pour your heart into now, Master?"
"I think moving freely as your heart dictates is also important. If my mind is at peace and unburdened, that is enough."
Lee Se-ha lifted the kettle and poured tea into Namgung Jun's cup.
Namgung Jun lifted the cup with three fingers, examined the color of the tea, and brought it close to his nose. Inhaling the aroma, he drank the tea in three separate sips before slowly setting the cup down.
"At first, a strong, savory flavor sweeps over the palate, but afterward, a smooth, refreshing taste lingers deeply."
"It's Rizhao Green Tea, which I happened to obtain in a coastal village. It's a rare leaf, so I was saving it. You certainly recognize its value, Jun."
Looking down at the remaining tea in his cup, Namgung Jun wore a surprised expression.
"To be honest, I expected the tea to taste terrible. Your brewing method deviated from the standard rules in many ways. Yet, this flavor and aroma cannot be achieved simply by using good tea leaves."
"What's this? You sound like someone who's drunk a lot of tea, Jun."
At Lee Se-ha's casual retort, Namgung Jun fell silent and smiled faintly.
"At first, it was a mess, just as you guessed," she admitted. "The aroma wouldn't brew properly, and it often tasted bitter and muddy. But as I kept brewing it my own way, I suppose I developed a knack for it."
"So you found a new path by following where your heart led."
"It's hardly a method. I just enjoy it the way I want to enjoy it."
Nodding, Lee Se-ha took a very long time to finish her cup, unlike Namgung Jun. She held it, savoring the aroma, and drank the tea in tiny sips, as if the taste when hot and the taste when cooled were entirely different experiences.
"And my Tea Ceremony is completed by enjoying this tea with my disciple."
Lee Se-ha's simple words were filled with warmth for her disciple. It was enough to make Namgung Jun smile softly without realizing it.
As the heart dictates...
Looking at his master, the disciple recalled someone: the Dancer who, unburdened by anything, simply performed her own sword dance. Though she merely swung her sword as her heart pleased, the Dancer was incredibly powerful. It was something that defied Namgung Jun's common sense, making him feel the vastness of the Martial Path all over again.
"Jun, would you like to try brewing the tea this time?"
"Very well. I shall serve you the finest cup of tea, Master."
Namgung Jun confidently took the tea leaves and utensils. First, he thoroughly rinsed the utensils with clean water. His way of brewing tea was the complete opposite of Lee Se-ha's. It was strictly by the book. Regardless of his skill, his method was so flawless that no one could ever find fault with it.
"You are so serious even when brewing tea, Jun. You put effort into every step and never cut corners."
"It seems this approach suits my temperament better."
Lee Se-ha's smile deepened. "Everyone has their own way. There's no need to blindly follow your master in everything."
Lee Se-ha slowly reached for the cup Namgung Jun had filled. Though she had previously enjoyed her tea freely, unbound by the Tea Ceremony, this time she savored it in strict accordance with its etiquette.
"It's a wonderful tea. I can feel your sincerity in it, Jun."
"I put in extra effort because it was for you, Master. I hope it suits your taste."
Namgung Jun also took a careful sip of the tea. Though brewed with the exact same leaves, the taste was different. Yet, Namgung Jun could not confidently say his tea was better. Both cups possessed their own unique charm and merits.
"Your tea is multifaceted, Master, while your disciple's is deep."
"Both cups were delicious. And even if they weren't, what does it matter? What's important is that I got to spend time like this with my disciple."
The curve of Namgung Jun's lips deepened slightly. The tea was indeed delicious, but it was the conversation with his master while brewing and drinking it that truly mattered. For the first time in a very long while, his mind and body relaxed, completely free of worries. It was a moment that went beyond mere rest; it was a source of true comfort.
"You are right, Master. I find this time incredibly precious."
"Hearing you say that makes me a bit embarrassed."
"I mean it. So much so that I regret all the time we've let slip by until now."
"That's actually quite touching, but now I'm even more embarrassed."
Contrary to her words, Lee Se-ha smiled brightly, her sparkling eyes showing no sign of turning away from Namgung Jun.
"It's truly fascinating how the taste of tea can change so much depending on each person's way of the Tea Ceremony."
"Is it not the same for martial arts?"
"Indeed. For instance, although we both learned the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance, there have been several times when I felt our styles had slightly different textures."
"Oh? In what aspects did you feel that way?"
The conversation between master and disciple naturally shifted from tea to martial arts. As it stretched on, they took turns brewing tea for each other. The master tried brewing tea strictly by the book in her disciple's style, while the disciple mimicked his master, presenting tea brewed freely as his heart pleased.
Through their conversation, master and disciple were able to comfortably lay down the heavy burdens weighing on their minds and bodies, if only for a brief moment, as if to purely enjoy the present and cherish it deeply.
* * *
Tuanfeng, Hubei Province.
Located in the western part of the province, a short journey southwest from Tuanfeng would lead to Wuhan and Donghu.
"If we continue to expand our territory like this, we will eventually be able to exert our influence over Wuhan and Donghu as well."
Hyeok Woo-seon, leader of the Wieon Mountain Villa disciples, gazed at the walls visible in the distance. It was the Sea Cloud Sect, a lay sect of the Wudang Sect.
Wieon Mountain Villa was currently oppressing every sect that refused to submit to them. The Sea Cloud Sect, a Wudang lay sect, was one of them. Furthermore, with a portion of the Sea Cloud Sect's forces having already departed for Mount Wudang, this was a golden opportunity.
"Push forward all at once! We burn the Sea Cloud Sect to the ground today!"
Just as the disciples of Wieon Mountain Villa quickened their pace at Hyeok Woo-seon's command, the main gate of the Sea Cloud Sect slowly swung open.
Revealed through the opening were the disciples of the Sea Cloud Sect, their formidable aura showing they were already prepared for battle. However, Hyeok Woo-seon's eyes were not on them. Mingled throughout their ranks were martial artists in unfamiliar attire.
Embroidered on all of their sleeves were clouds.
"The Azure Heaven Association?"
As Hyeok Woo-seon's expression gradually stiffened, a low voice echoed from behind him.
"Wieon Mountain Villa."
Hyeok Woo-seon spun around to find a single boy standing alone at his rear. Embroidered on the boy's blue martial uniform were likewise three clouds.
"I will not permit your entry into the Sea Cloud Sect."
"Who are you?"
Hyeok Woo-seon's chin, covered in a thick, bristly beard, trembled slightly.
"The Azure Star Sword!"
Having secretly entered Hubei Province, the Heavenly Sword Hall had finally begun to make its move.