“Master….”
Moyong Baek opens his eyes wide as soon as he sees me appear.
“Sect Leader, welcome.”
I nod my head, and I look around.
“Did anything happen?”
“Nothing happened.”
Moyong says imitating my voice and I glare at him. The women aides also offer their greetings.
“Sect Leader, you’ve returned?”
I nod.
“You have been well?”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Unlike before, it is getting difficult to tell these people apart. After exchanging shifting my gaze from Moyong Baek to the office, he extends his hand out and says,
“Please come in.”
I enter his office and look at his new study. After being exposed to a study covered in paintings and murals depicting pictures of death, this was much more peaceful.
The feeling of peace washes over me.
This study is a peaceful place.
While I take the time to look around his office, Moyong Baek takes a seat at his desk and waits for me in silence.
I feel a sense of relief, as if I had returned from the dead with newfound knowledge.
I finally realize that the study was designed with the intention of bringing peace to one’s mind. When I began my way back from Master Baek Wei’s place, I ran non-stop. It was a journey that exhausted both my mind and body, so looking at this place feels like a refreshing break.
“Phew…”
After looking around the peaceful study, I sit across from him, and he holds his hand out.
“Sect Leader, show me your pulse.”
I wave my hand.
“I am fine. Totally fine. My body is untouched.”
Moyong Baek replies in a suspicious tone.
“Is that so? Then I will take a look.”
Moyong Baek reaches out and examines my eyes first by moving my eyelids.
“Are my eyes weird?”
“Your eyes look redder than usual, but it is fine. You say you’re fine, but I feel like you have returned from war.”
I nod.
“What’s wrong?”
“It is about my burnout.”
“It is a matter regarding my heart. My feelings go back and forth on many things so I can’t bring myself to say that I’m healed. My mood changes uncontrollably depending on who I’m dealing with. Just hearing the word “Demonic Cult” makes me lose my temper. This cannot be classified as burnout, right?”
“Right.”
Only then did I take out the book from my sleeve and push it towards Moyong Baek.
“… this is a martial arts book for you but keep this in mind.”
“Yes.”
“You remember who Master Baek Wei is? The one who gave me the martial arts the other day?”
“How could I forget?”
“It is a gift he is giving to you. So, be wary. Ask yourself if there are any parts that could bring you more harm than good. If you run into issues while learning the art, stop immediately. As if dissecting each sentence, look clearly and then learn it. As you know that guy is quite sneaky…”
“I will keep that in mind. But why is he giving me such a thing?”
“There is such a thing because he is insane. I have been told that he has an amazing brain. He is no ordinary man, so he’s probably giving you a martial arts which best suits your nature. I looked around his study and he had many.”
“Hmm.”
I tap my finger on the book.
“I didn’t see it.”
“What?”
“I was busy running around. There are some martial arts I didn’t look into because they didn’t match with my nature.”
“Still, it isn’t a level you shouldn’t see, so what? You also need to get stronger to help Low-Down Sect.”
“Is that so? Then let me look.”
My eyes go wide as I take the technique book from Moyong Baek.
“Uh?”
“What is it?”
“There is a picture.”
Moyong Baek looks at the picture and then looks at me.
“Right?”
I laugh out loud.
“Seriously.”
There wasn’t a picture on every page, but there were ones in the middle. In other words, the reason why the man was cherishing these books so much is because he put his paintings into the book when he transferred the techniques from the original bamboo sheets.
In other words, the reason he couldn’t replicate his books is because it is difficult to draw the same picture.
‘Truly like his essence was written in.’
I take a look at the book that I handed to Moyong Baek. While I begin to read the contents of it, Moyong Baek reads along with me.
The two of us exchange glances and Moyong speaks first.
“Is this martial arts difficult? Well, I think I know why.”
“Right. Basically, you need to know all the cultivation techniques. Prepare a form for self-defense, an iron will would be a better one.”
“Yes.”
“And it is a great feat to accomplish, but there are parts that are difficult to understand.”
“What parts are you having trouble with?”
“It is a matter of overcoming, but it doesn’t come easy to my mind when it comes to the concept of countering back. So, this is followed by blood flow points, total counterattacks, and how to use the power of an opponent against them. It is like a martial arts that is incorporated after learning palm technique, claw technique, and body defensive techniques.”
“Will that be a problem?”
“If the opponent gets hit on purpose for you to proceed with the counterattack then you will die for sure. This martial art is dangerous. First, you need to learn it perfectly and second, you need to use it while understanding the skillset of the other person. Third, make sure to always use it when you are in an adverse situation.”
Moyong Baek smiles.
“You seem to understand everything, but you still think it’s difficult?”
“Master.”
“Yes.”
“A technique like this is useless in the face of someone stronger. How can you deflect an attack like the raging waves with just some counter move? It is nothing more than just a supplementary art that is added after mastering a core martial arts.”
After staring at me for a moment, Moyong Baek takes out a small box from a drawer and looks at it. As he catches my glance he says,
“The overall essence of this art is to counter skillfully to return the opponent’s strength or internal qi.”
“However?”
“I don’t have such deep internal qi yet. If I use it, I might be able to survive. In particular, if you have one such strong trick, you can calculate and hit back even the opponent. If you apply the right poison on the assassin needle, then the game ends.”
“Right.”
I extend my hand out to Moyong Baek.
“If I concentrate my qi here, how would you stop it?”
Moyong Baek slowly reaches out and pushes my wrist to alter the flow of direction and I slowly grab my wrist with my left hand to change the direction back.
“What if I anticipate that and grab your wrist and crush it? Fighting is nothing but psychological warfare.”
Moyong Baek smiles.
“Sect Leader can easily do it. But will most Kangho people fight like you? I will have to use this only after understanding their capabilities.”
The two of us look at each other and then at the book, Moyong Baek reaches out his hand first, as if he feels something.
“Take a look first.”
It was only then that I moved onto the second half of the arts and looked at the pictures and explanations. A sentence that I initially overlooked catches my eye and I read it to Moyong Baek.
“Ultimately, the goal is to copy and return the technique of the other person in a similar manner. Copying technique involves closely imitating one’s technique, so it is right to observe all martial arts in the world as much as possible. It is only then that the technique’s true potential will shine.”
I clench my chin as I continue to talk.
“A martial arts which would require you to study martial arts. It doesn’t suit my nature at all. Will you do it?”
Moyong Baek nods his head.
“Yes, I am a bit taken in by this.”
“Nice. As master Baek Wei said, it is confirmed through martial arts that you and I have different personalities. Is there a section that can be a major start?”
“I will be careful when studying.”
“If there is something you are stuck with, do not struggle alone and discuss it.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Moyong Baek asks me as I get up.
“Leaving already?”
“I haven’t been here in a while, so I need to look around. Carefully observe everything.”
As I am about to leave, Moyong Baek speaks in a tone different than usual.
“Sect Leader.”
“What?”
“Stop walking around and get some sleep.”
“Ah…”
I look at Moyong Baek and nod.
“Right. I forgot.”
As I head for Ilyang County, I realize why my eyes are sore. I don’t think I’ve slept in a while. I am curious about the progress of the Zaha Guesthouse, and the thought of pork bones at the nearby restaurant.
I am about to head towards there, but a young beggar I hadn’t seen on the side of the road before leans against the wall and looks at me while slightly lowering his head.
I can’t help but nod my head and say,
“You did well.”
The beggar holds out a brass bowl and hits it with chopsticks. After ignoring the beggar’s request, I quicken my steps.
Why did a Beggars Union member appear here?
I am curious for a moment, so I sprint towards the restaurant. After a while, I stop in front and look around. I see beggars whom I hadn’t seen till then playing with a ball. But the ball wasn’t a usual one for kids to play with, it was made of iron.
‘Beggars are in Ilyang County.’
I can’t help but be surprised as I walk in. There is Hong Shin, who was mopping the floor, looking startled at the sight of me.
“Great sahyung.”
“Yes, Hong samae.”
This time Deuk-soo hyung comes from the kitchen and looks surprised at the sight of me.
“Uh, you are here?”
We are all in a state of shock because everyone looks surprised at the sight of me. So, I sit in my usual spot,
“Why are there so many beggars? Why is samae here? Get me some food.”
“Right. I will bring it right now. Wait.”
Jang Duek-soo goes into the kitchen and Hong Shin continues to wipe tables with a dry smile.
“Sahyung, is everything all good?”
“Yes.”
Hong Shin takes a kettle, water glass, and chopsticks and sets them down on the table in front of me. She was unnaturally skilled at setting the table.
“Hong samae, you got a job here or something?”
“Yes. They said it would take a lot of work to move to Zaha guesthouse.”
“Since when did the beggars come?”
“Ah, around yesterday morning.”
“Ah, you mean before I came.”
“Yes.”
“You know they are from Beggars’ Union?”
“I expected that much since everyone seemed to have mastered martial arts.”
I nod.
“Since there are more beggars moving to the county, Hong samae stood here.”
I stood her on the other side and observed her expression. She can’t keep her eyes on me and continues to look around the guesthouse as if something was moving.
From the inside, Deuk-soo hyung comes out with pork bone soup and looks shocked at the sight of me.
“Ah, start with this. I will make the noodles and bring it right up.”
I rub my hands and say,
“Yahh the pork bone soup came out right away. Almost as if we had prepared it in advance. Did you know I would come? It can’t be, right? Lucky for me. Let us eat together. Hyung and samae should also come eat.”
After putting mine down, Deuk-soo answers as he runs to the kitchen.
“Okay.”
I point to the chair opposite of me to Hong Shin.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
Watching Jang Deuk-soo come out with pork bone soup to give Hong Shin, I gesture to him.
“Sit.”
When I point to the place next to her, he smiles shyly.
“Ah, should I?”
I inhale the smell of the pork bone soup and look at their expressions. I want to mess with them, but I’ll end up laughing. For the time being, I even forgot about the beggars of the Beggars Union waiting outside and then I tell them,
“You two people.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, great sahyung.”
I can’t hold my laugher back and say,
“… look good together.”
In an instant Hong Shin’s face turns red and Deuk-soo scratches the back of his head. I didn’t realize that I would feel such satisfaction by coming here. It is because Deuk-soo, who lived his life all alone without meeting a single woman, was…
Wow… is this why life is mysterious?
I laugh to myself and ask them,
“Say something. Or should I take a guess?”
The two of them look at each other and then say,
“Yes.”
“How did you guess?”
“Hong samae is a bit of glutton so she must often come here for the pork bone soup.”
When I say what I thought, Deuk-soo tilts his head and laughs out loud.
“Hahahaha…”
I ask Hong Shin,
“No?”
To which she shyly says,
“You are right.”
And the three of us burst into laughter again.
What is happening in this world…
A pork bone saved a man’s life.
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