The Token of Gratitude. Literally, it is a token that contains a vow to repay a favor soday.
In fact, I have received sothing like this before, and I have received it a few tis in my previous life.
But the reason I am so surprised is not because of this object, but because of the person who gave it.
'Kunlun... gave a Token of Gratitude? These proud Taoists?'
The Token of Gratitude is not just about repaying a favor with words, but it has a substantial aning.
Any one request made while presenting this wooden token must be granted, and even if it is sothing that would tarnish the honor of the sect, one must faithfully comply.
Therefore, this Token of Gratitude has several anings at the sa ti.
First. It is an expression of the feeling of having received such a great favor through action.
Second. It is the belief that the recipient of the Token of Gratitude will not make a foolish request.
Third. It is the expression of the desire to beco an eternal ally.
"Heo..."
My master, who had co down the mountain following Geuman Jonja, also let out a deep breath, as if he had never expected to receive a Token of Gratitude.
'What. Could it be that my master didn't receive a Token of Gratitude, and only I did?'
Geuman Jonja, as if he had noticed what I was thinking from the expression I made while looking at my master, laughed and said to , "Are you curious why I gave the Token of Gratitude to you and not Hyeon Yang?"
"Yes. I am. To be honest, I thought my master played a bigger role than I did."
"No. That's a fallacy. I heard from Yu Cheong that you played a truly decisive role. I also heard that you ca up with a brilliant idea that others could not easily think of."
"That... is actually close to a fluke. Even if I had co up with such an idea, it was my master who ultimately carried it out."
The more I said this, the deeper his smile beca.
"In fact, apart from that reason... that fellow Hyeon Yang already has one."
"Yes?"
"It's been several years already. At that ti, our Kunlun was also in trouble because of the Demonic Cult, and at that ti, Hyeon Yang helped us greatly."
"Ah... I see."
"At that ti, I received help from the master. And this ti, thanks to the disciple, we got rid of the Demonic Cult guys who were like a nagging tooth. Hahaha! Your coming to Kunlun is our great fortune. For the first ti in Kunlun's history, a master and a disciple have both received our Token of Gratitude. It is truly a wonderful thing."
He said with a satisfied look, stroking his beard.
At this point, I have no reason to refuse either.
I accepted the Token of Gratitude and, while performing a fist-and-palm salute to Geuman Jonja, I said, "I have received Kunlun's Token of Gratitude well. Although it is a token of repaying a favor to , I also think it is a token that Kunlun and I are eternal allies. In the future, if there is anything I can help with, I will help in any way."
"Just the words are enough."
He smiled with a satisfied face, as if looking at his grandson, and then he turned to my master and continued, "Hyeon Yang. When are you planning to return to the Wudang Sect?"
"Now that soone has co down to take care of Taoist Man Cheong, we are planning to leave tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."
"Is there a reason you have to return in a hurry? Or is it because there is no reason to stay here any longer?"
"Since we have done all our work, isn't it ti to go back now?"
"So it ans there is no reason to stay any longer. But what if I give you a reason why you must stay longer?"
"A reason?"
He looked back and forth between and my master a few tis and then opened his mouth.
"I heard from Yu Cheong. That if you learn our lightness skill, you can grow faster?"
"...?!"
"...!!"
My master and I were surprised at the sa ti.
I turned my head to Yu Cheongja without my realizing it and looked at him, and he had a very triumphant expression.
He seed to be proud that we were able to learn Kunlun's lightness skill thanks to what he had said.
"I will teach you myself, so stay in Kunlun for a few more days and then go."
"Sect Leader...!"
"Ah, I will teach both of you. The disciple knows, but it would be a little strange if only the master doesn't know, wouldn't it?"
My master and I were so speechless that we were frozen.
"Then, as soon as everyone's body has recovered, co up to the mountain again. I have to go up now."
"Yes, yes, I understand. Please go safely!"
"Please go safely, Sect Leader!"
He, just before leaving, looked at Taoist Man Cheong with warm eyes and said, "Man Cheong-ah. For now, focus on recovering as much as possible. Your recovery is the most important. Understood?"
"Yes, Sect Leader. I will keep that in mind."
"Alright. See you at the top."
He left those words and then left the inn with quite a few martial artists again.
We could only stand there blankly for a long ti after that.
"Master. Did we hear that correctly just now?"
"Yes. We heard it correctly. In fact, I also... feel dazed."
"What is there to think so much about? If the sect leader has made such a decision, all you have to do is be grateful and learn."
"Yu Cheongja. It is not as simple as it sounds. You also know well what it ans to teach the martial arts of a sect, don't you?"
"I know."
"And yet you say that?"
Yu Cheongja shrugged his shoulders and said, "Take it as a sign that you have done a lot for our Kunlun. And for so reason... I have a feeling that this will not be the last ti we receive your help. Although he may seem like that, our sect leader is a person who is surprisingly shrewd. He might have thought that it would be more advantageous for Kunlun to put you in debt like this in advance."
He said with a smile.
And he turned his back on us and approached Taoist Man Cheong.
Taoist Man Cheong is the junior brother he cherishes the most. Although it has only been a few days since they parted, he is trying to share the reunion in the anti.
I t my master's eyes.
My master, as if he couldn't help it, let out a deep sigh and then uttered a single sentence that sumd up the situation.
"Well... it turned out well. You also did very well."
"Yes, master."
We looked at each other and smiled.
For so reason, the thought that nothing would be impossible in the future if I were with my master flashed through my mind.
***
About a month passed in a flash.
After Senior Uncle Hyeon Cheong and Taoist Man Cheong had recuperated at the inn for about a week more, we were finally able to climb Mount Kunlun.
As for my senior uncle, it wasn't that he had a serious injury, but that his energy was depleted, so he regained his energy in a week.
The problem was Taoist Man Cheong, but whether it was because the physician's dicine was good or because he ate at well, fortunately, Taoist Man Cheong's body also improved to the point where he could climb the mountain, so it was possible.
After entering the Kunlun Sect, we imdiately began to learn the Kunlun lightness skill from Taoist Man Cheong.
Although the principle of the lightness skill itself was not much different, there was one thing that was very different.
'Use the wind?'
To put it simply, the lightness skill of Kunlun was said to be riding the wind.
When you see the Cloud Dragon Great Nine Forms being perford, it looks as if you are kicking off the air.
But it was said that rather than really stepping on the air, it was about feeling the flow of the wind and entrusting your body to it.
The reason why the number of tis you can flip in the air increases as your level rises is because you can capture even finer flows of the wind and utilize them.
But, unfortunately, neither my master nor I could learn the principle of the Cloud Dragon Great Nine Forms even after a month.
This is a matter of enlightennt rather than a matter of skill, and it was said that it is possible because the Taoists of Kunlun have been training to feel the wind since they were very young.
'In fact, I didn't think I would be able to master it in a month. I have learned all the basic principles, so if I pay attention every ti I train, there will be a day when enlightennt will co.'
And so, with a little bit of uneasiness left, the day we were to leave Kunlun approached.
I had said goodbye yesterday to the various martial artists I had made connections with in Kunlun, and the people who were seeing us off today were Geuman Jonja, Yu Cheongja, Taoist Man Cheong, and Yu Seon.
"We have been in your care for a long ti. We will be going back now."
"It was we who were in your care. Although we are of the sa Taoist sect, since our Kunlun is in such a remote place, there must have been many inconveniences, and I am sorry that we could not treat you more lavishly."
"No. There was not a single inconvenience."
While my master, Yu Cheongja, and Geuman Jonja were exchanging pleasantries, Senior Uncle Hyeon Cheong was sharing a farewell with Taoist Man Cheong, and in front of , Yu Seon ca and stood.
"Unhwi. When we et next ti, we'll have another match then."
"Good. Train like crazy, and beco strong desperately. If it's your qualities, it will be possible enough."
"You talk like an old man who has been active in the martial world for twenty years."
"Because I just told the truth."
Although I was startled inside, I didn't show it.
Yu Seon, as if he had been convinced by my words, let out a small laugh and said to , "When we et next ti, I'll make it so you can't even imagine the of now."
"Alright. I'll be looking forward to it."
We substituted a handshake for a farewell.
Just in ti, as if my master and Senior Uncle Hyeon Cheong had also finished their farewells, they stood next to .
"Then we will be returning to the Wudang Sect now."
My master perford a fist-and-palm salute to show his respect, and Senior Uncle Hyeon Cheong and I also took the sa action.
And we, without any regrets, turned around and began to go down Mount Kunlun.
Now it's ti to go ho.
***
anwhile, sowhere in the Central Plains.
A slender and small man was smiling brightly in front of an old man who looked to be of a considerable age, and was talking with him.
To be precise, it was more like the man was talking and the old man was listening, and the man's face was full of joy.
"I'm telling you, it's true. He has more talent and courage than any child I've ever seen. To think that he would hide the flexible sword in his belt until the very last mont, and then use it only once at the final mont to hurt . Among the children I have confird, he was the child who best suited the qualities of a minor cult leader."
The one who was talking excitedly was none other than the Demon Flower Hall Master, Yi Gwak-sa.
He had joined the main force of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult at so point and was telling the strategist of the Demonic Cult, who was no different from his direct superior, about what had happened with Unhwi.
Their relationship did not seem to be simply a relationship of superior and subordinate.
Because the Demon Flower Hall Master was speaking to him in a very natural informal tone, as if he were just a subordinate of the strategist of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
But, the strategist, as if he were used to it, did not say anything about it.
"That's enough. If I hear any more about how outstanding that child is, a scab will form on my ear. But, because of the promise you made, you can't go to get him for a while, can you?"
"Well... I can't. But our strategist didn't make such a bet with that child, did he?"
"Hmph. Are you asking to raid the Wudang Sect and kidnap that child?"
The Demon Flower Hall Master shook his head.
"No. That would be no fun. I want to face that guy again after six months, as I promised him."
"Then all you have to do is wait for ti to pass. Do you have to bother like this?"
Since the strategist's words were correct, the Demon Flower Hall Master let out a small laugh and said, "Unless there is a big change or he learns a series of fortuitous encounters, there will be no way for him to defeat before six months."
"Then all you have to do is win then and bring him, wouldn't it?"
Then the Demon Flower Hall Master, as if he were complaining, shook his head and said, "Then it's no fun. And if I bring him then and raise him from then on, what a waste of ti would that be? So those guys, right? Those guys who are locked up in our thunder prison and can die without any problem."
"The apostates? Why them?"
"If they're guys who can die anyway, give them to . I have a use for them."
The strategist narrowed his eyes and looked at the Demon Flower Hall Master.
"What are you going to do with them?"
"A fortuitous encounter. I'm going to create a fortuitous encounter for that child."
"A fortuitous encounter...?"
Although the strategist asked back, the Demon Flower Hall Master smiled brightly.
It was a face that reminded one of a child who was looking forward to what would happen.
(End of Chapter)
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