Chapter 5: The Road Home
Having been nearly expelled from the Wudang Sect, it was only natural that the mood was far from pleasant.
However, dwelling solely on resentment was not an option.
Blaming something and getting caught up in it, living only looking back, achieves nothing.
There was not even a moment to waste lamenting the Wudang Sect.
Now was the time to move forward.
Grow to the point where they would regret expelling you from the Wudang Sect.
Set a clear goal right in front of you.
“It might actually be a blessing in disguise.”
If you had remained a mere outer disciple of the Wudang Sect, there would have been numerous restrictions and limitations. Even the martial arts learned would have had many constraints due to your position as an outer disciple, and advancing to a higher level would have required even more caution regarding others’ opinions.
What if someone noticed that you had learned advanced martial arts?
“Where did you learn this?”
“Master Zhang Sanfeng taught me!”
“That’s insane!”
It would cause an uproar.
But now, having been expelled from the Wudang Sect, there was no need to worry about others’ opinions regarding learning martial arts.
“Now I just need to absorb it well.”
The martial arts would be taught well by Master Zhang Sanfeng, so all you needed to do was to absorb it properly and you would grow rapidly.
The problem was that many people struggled to absorb and improve despite the teachings.
Whether you had the talent to absorb Master Zhang Sanfeng’s teachings remained to be seen.
You might have learned well in recent times, but the lingering doubt from your struggles as an outer disciple of the Wudang Sect held you back. The fear of disappointing Master Zhang Sanfeng by failing to follow his teachings disturbed your mind.
“Eh?”
Suddenly, a stream of refreshing energy rose from the lower abdomen and swirled around the heart and mind.
The breath of the Clear Mind Technique soothed the mind.
It was a wondrous ability.
Though you didn’t fully understand what Master Zhang Sanfeng meant by “the power of the heavens,” just this ability alone indicated it was far from ordinary.
Perhaps it was a martial art taught by someone who had reached the level of an immortal.
You were filled with anticipation about how extraordinary the next martial art to be taught would be.
In the meantime.
[The Clear Mind Technique, huh? And looking at your muscles and bones, it seems you’ve mixed the Daoist Secret Techniques with the Yi Jin Jing and added the Tanjuku Softening Technique… How absurdly you’ve crammed it all in. What kind of material are you to lay such an extensive foundation?]
A voice suddenly echoed in the mind.
‘… Crammed?’
The voice in your head was different from usual.
It felt more solemn?
“Are you planning to teach me properly once I return home? Or are you now speaking in a more solemn manner? Also, you said you had something to take care of while I was returning home, but you arrived quickly?”
“Your tone has changed a lot. Please, be at ease.”
[Can you hear my words?]
“… If I can hear you, then I suppose I’m having a conversation with you?”
[Oh?]
What was this sense of déjà vu?
It seemed like there was a similar reaction before?
Listening to the responses made it feel like we were back to when we first discovered each other’s presence.
“Are you teasing me?”
“Considering you know well that I was expelled from the Wudang Sect, continuing like this…”
[Oh!]
Do immortals suffer from dementia?
What’s with that reaction?
“You’re definitely teasing me.”
Although it’s not my fault, being expelled from the Wudang Sect is indeed a fact. And having to tell my family about such an unfavorable outcome weighs heavily on my mind. It’s not pleasant to be teased by someone who has promised to be my master.
[Then shall I teach you a martial art?]
“I must have failed to recognize your great intentions.”
Feel free to tease me. It’s fine.
If you’re going to teach me a martial art like the Clear Mind Technique, that’s fine by me.
In comparison, the teasing from Yoon Si-Hoo during my time as an outer disciple of the Wudang Sect was nothing.
And compared to that Hyeondo Hall Master, it’s even less significant.
[It’s nice to be called master.]
Although the response and voice were somewhat odd.
Harboring such feelings towards a master might be disrespectful.
After all, they are the master.
[Even if you don’t memorize it all at once, I will repeat it several times, so take your time to listen.]
You were currently on your way home after being expelled from the Wudang Sect. Naturally, you were on the road home. Although surprised by the unexpected martial art lesson, it didn’t matter where the teaching took place.
First, you found a suitably large rock outside the road and climbed up.
Settling down and assuming a cross-legged position, a low voice of incantations continued.
Listening to the incantations and adjusting your breath accordingly, I felt the changes in my body just like when i learned the Clear Mind Technique.
Throb!
“Ugh!”
For some reason, i experienced a brief headache at the top of my head, near the crown.
But the headache quickly disappeared.
I focused on the changes that followed the brief headache.
I sensed a change radiating from the center of my body.
“Strange.”
The incantation seemed not to be words. The sound that reached the body melted into the blood and flesh like salt in water.
The sound as a written character melted into the flesh and settled in the bones.
The energy of the breath, establishing its position, spread through the bones of my entire body.
In the flow of blood vessels extending from the bones, the incantation existed.
The incantation established a pillar and laid a foundation.
Like a solid foundation that keeps the world from shaking!
[It’s called the Earth Essence Technique.]
Earth Essence. The essence of the earth.
If the Clear Mind Technique cleansed the mind as refreshing as water, the Earth Essence Technique provided a solid and steadfast center within the body.
Like the earth that endures any amount of play without complaint.
“It’s a fitting martial art.”
[Is that so?]
“Yes. It feels like a solid center is being established inside the body.”
[Oh?]
Earlier, there was an “Oh?” and “Oh!” in the teasing, and now it’s “Oh?”
It seems the master has developed a peculiar manner of speaking in a short time.
[You grasped the essence at once? Truly, you’re a material with an open mind. I understand why you’re laying such a vast foundation.]
“Yes?”
You questioned the meaning of this.
But no reply came.
“What’s going on?”
This is getting odd; now they’re leaving behind cryptic words.
An open mind?
You unconsciously touched your head.
“I’m definitely not bald.”
Even though you’re young, it’s a sensitive topic.
Touching your thick hair here and there, you stood up, and your legs felt somewhat strong.
It was time to keep moving.
Home was still far away.
Samyang-Town, my hometown, is not a large place by city standards.
It’s too big to be called a village, yet slightly lacking to be called a city.
Even in such a place, Yeon Cheong-un’s family was not the leading family of the county.
Although the grandfather’s achievements elevated the family’s status, his greedy nature meant the family didn’t possess much wealth.
They managed to be self-sufficient without depleting their modest assets. Aside from the various connections that grandfather had made, the family was just an average one seen anywhere.
That was the status of the family.
Naturally.
“I’m back.”
“Oh my! You rascal!”
In Samyang-Town, the only people who fussed over my return was my family.
My return was noisy within the family but ended quietly and unremarkably in Samyang-Town.
The family was not poor. It was a family with a history of serving in official positions and owned considerable land, so living without touching the soil was not an issue.
Of course, there were around ten family members tied to the family.
Excluding those family members, within the family, there were four people.
“Well, you’ve returned with all your limbs intact after declaring you would become a warrior. That’s good enough.”
My father, Yeon Kyung-eung. He appeared slightly blunt and stern. He had the gravitas typically seen in those leading families.
…Or at least, he pretended to.
Whenever I left, he would nonchalantly acknowledge it and slip some pocket money to me.
In the future, he would appear indifferent while holding onto both his visible and invisible weight, but his eyes would diligently scan my entire body. His eye health was a serious concern.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
“That’s enough. If what you said is true, it’s just that the Wudang Sect is lacking.”
He spoke calmly, but his clenched fists trembled. Considering his nature, he might soon be found alone indulging in some alcohol.
“You rascal! Oh my! You rascal!”
And ever since meeting her, this person has continually slapped my back in a periodic manner—my mother.
my mother, Han Suk-hee.
As seen, she was a typical mother.
Worrying more about her child than herself.
Even at mealtimes, she would insist on you eating more vegetables but would offer the meat dishes to me before herself.
Even now, she continued to pat my back, distressed.
“Haha.”
I offered a clumsy smile towards my mother.
And then.
“Big brother!”
As my mother’s hand that had been patting my on the back finally retreated, a small person clung to my legs.
“Sister, stop. He’s returned, so let’s leave him alone.”
I met with my younger sister’s lively and energetic appearance.
Though she appeared to be around twelve years old, she was actually just a year younger than me.
“Are you going to eat the candy you brought me? Is it sweet? Is it really good?”
my younger sister, Yeon Seol-ah, clung to me with bright eyes.
Looking at her, i felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me.
“Why did you leave me behind, big brother?”
She asked softly.
“Didn’t you want to become a warrior?”
“…”
I said softly, and Seol-ah hesitated.
“Well.”
She did indeed wish for me to become a warrior.
But my abrupt return to the family meant she was startled and caught off guard.
“Everyone was worried about you. I worried about you too.”
“Did you?”
I patted Seol-ah’s head, and she looked up with sparkling eyes.
“Yes.”
“Hmph! You rascal!”
She puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away.
Then, as if attempting to hide her face, she ran off.
I smiled warmly, and with a gentle pat on the shoulder and went inside the house.
“Yes.”
I Was welcomed home and treated kindly, but once the initial commotion subsided, the warm atmosphere became still and quiet.
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