My heart is pounding.
The more I look at the items laid out in front of , the more my sense of reality disappears.
To think that I'm seeing all at once items that I've never been able to see in my entire life.
'As expected of Wudang... no matter how much they covet , can they really give away such precious things just on the condition of becoming a disciple?'
The Xuan Tie Sword is literally a treasured sword made of Xuan Tie.
Xuan Tie is a tal that is heavier and harder than ordinary iron, which has a black color.
Naturally, the strength and quality of the sword are bound to be good.
Putting its strength aside, it's an item that is priceless because it's hard to obtain and hard to refine.
'The Six Yang Divine Art... are they really offering this secret manual just to change my mind?'
And what about the Six Yang Divine Art?
It is said that in the distant past, one of the ancestors was recognized as the best in the world with this one martial art and road the martial world.
Of course, it was also thanks to the outstanding talent of that ancestor, but it would have been possible because the Six Yang Divine Art was no ordinary martial art.
These two are also amazing, but there is one thing that draws my interest even more.
'A Taiqing Pill... ugh. I'm drooling.'
I swallow my saliva without realizing it.
What I need most right now is internal energy.
I have already understood all the secrets of the forms, and I am diligently polishing my body with the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic.
Although I gained a considerable amount of internal energy from the Small Rebirth Pill and the fortuitous encounter I received from Shaolin, when it cos to internal energy, the more the better.
And isn't the Taiqing Pill a peerless elixir that is rumored to be better than the Small Rebirth Pill and a little less than the Great Rebirth Pill?
"M-Martial Granduncle!"
"And that's not all. This gift is a kind of congratulatory gift for coming to . If you study under , I will continue to give you full support in the future."
No matter how I look at it, his face is sincere.
In the first place, Martial Granduncle Okheo is not a person who would make empty promises or commit fraud due to his personality.
It ans that if I really beco the Martial Granduncle's disciple, I can receive full support.
"Martial Granduncle. Do all the disciples of the Martial Granduncles usually receive this much support?"
"No? Not really. Even that Hyeonjeong fellow has never received anything so great."
"Then how can you be so excessive with ..."
"Excessive? You're just saying that even though you don't really think so."
The Martial Granduncle chuckled and then continued.
"These items I'm giving you are not my items, but the items of Wudang. That ans that the Sect Leader is also keeping an eye on you."
"The Sect Leader?"
"Whether you heard it through Hyeon Yang or through another route, the Sect Leader is paying attention to you, so I was able to receive items of this level."
For a mont, another thought flashes through my mind.
If these items are not Martial Granduncle Okheo's items, doesn't that an I can receive these items even if I remain as Hyeon Yang's disciple?
"Haha! You sly fellow. It's as if I can hear the sound of your head turning all the way here."
"Pardon...?"
"Unfortunately, if you remain as Hyeon Yang's disciple, there's a high possibility that you won't even be able to see these items for a while. It's not for nothing that I'm a generation higher than that child. To request such items from the Sect Leader requires a long career and great achievents. I have accumulated achievents for Wudang for decades, and I intend to use the reward for those achievents for you."
I felt a pang of guilt because he spoke as if he could see right through , but I didn't show it on the outside.
Although it's Wudang's item, in the end, it ans it's an item obtained through Martial Granduncle Okheo's power.
"Although Hyeon Yang seems to be the most advanced in the Hyeon generation now, the passage of ti can never be ignored. No matter how fast Hyeon Yang is, it will take at least a dozen years to accumulate as many achievents as I have. But will you still need such items after those dozen years? All things have their ti. Don't miss that ti."
There is conviction in Martial Granduncle Okheo's eyes.
He seems to be convinced that I will say I will beco his disciple.
"Do I have to make a decision... right now?"
"Not necessarily. Think about it slowly and answer. But, the faster the answer, the better. For you, and for your senior brothers."
"My senior brothers, you say?"
"If you leave the Yuyeop Hall and live with , that spot will be empty, so we'll have to either receive a new disciple or pull soone from another room with a large number of people, won't we? If that's even a little faster, the ti to adapt to each other will be shortened."
Although the Martial Granduncle said it as if it were natural, I tilted my head without realizing it.
"Do I have to leave the Yuyeop Hall?"
"That's right. You will live here with ."
He said as if he were being generous.
I almost let out a small laugh inside without realizing it.
Generally, ordinary disciples want to get out of the Yuyeop Hall by any ans necessary.
Because they want to escape from the stuffy Yuyeop Hall life where everything from waking up ti, alti, training ti, to bedti is fixed.
Of course, it's not that it's not like that even if you leave the Yuyeop Hall and live with your master, but the pressure loosens a little.
Since humans are beings who always yearn for freedom, they try to find a master by any ans necessary for that slight loosening.
"Martial Granduncle. Then I think I can answer right now without thinking for long."
"Right. Yes. I should have talked about the Yuyeop Hall first."
"Yes. If you had, the story would have been much faster."
The Martial Granduncle smiled brightly at my answer.
He has a face that has no doubt that I will agree to be with him.
"I will be with my current master, Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang."
"What? You don't like ? I thought I had proposed the best conditions I could."
"It's by no ans that you are lacking, Martial Granduncle, or that I'm refusing because you don't et my standards."
"Then why on earth?"
"I spend a lot of ti with my senior brothers. But I want to continue to do so in the future."
"I know well that you have already surpassed those children. So if you invest the ti and effort you would spend leading all your senior brothers in yourself, you will beco much stronger much faster. I find that regrettable."
I slowly shook my head.
As I shook my head, the Taiqing Pill brushed past my vision.
'It's such a waste... no. What if I eat the Taiqing Pill and just digest it?'
I steeled my heart and looked at the Martial Granduncle and opened my mouth.
"I am dreaming of not just myself, but the entire Wudang becoming strong."
"The entire Wudang?"
"You can't cover the sky with one palm. No matter how strong I beco alone, there will be a limit to what I can achieve."
The Martial Granduncle's gaze, looking at , changed again from a mont ago.
"Then what if I say I'll let you stay in the Yuyeop Hall?"
"Can I still refuse?"
"Huh. Why?"
"Even before I am a Taoist, I am a martial artist, so I must have loyalty. Although I was briefly swayed by those items and your reputation, Martial Granduncle, if I were to change my affiliation like this, wouldn't Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang be too disappointed?"
I deliberately referred to my master as Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang, not as master.
Because I wanted to remind him that in the end, my master is also Martial Granduncle Okheo's junior.
"And, I think this way. Of course, I won't beco your disciple, Martial Granduncle, but in the end, we are one family within the frawork of Wudang. If I grow up properly and make a na for myself in the martial world, I think it's not entirely thanks to my master, but thanks to all the Martial Granduncles and Martial Uncles."
"Heh heh..."
At my glib tongue, Martial Granduncle Okheo's face loosens.
It seems he's almost convinced.
"So, even if we don't form a master-disciple relationship, if you need anything from in the future, please call anyti, and if I have a favor to ask in the future, I'll let you know... I want to have a closer relationship like this, Martial Granduncle."
I deliberately opened my eyes wider and looked at the Martial Granduncle.
The Martial Uncle, who couldn't answer my words for a mont.
But soon, a smile ford on the Martial Uncle's eyes.
"Yes. Your words are like a flowing river. Haha... in the end, we are in one frawork..."
The Martial Granduncle repeated my words once.
I think I know what the Martial Granduncle is thinking now.
This is because of a common problem that not only Wudang but most old sects have.
That is, the internal competition is too severe.
I, who had lived as an outsider without belonging to one place for my whole life, have also seen this problem from a third-person perspective for my whole life.
Most martial artists from large sects or huge families were engrossed in getting more recognition and rising to a higher position within the group.
It was by no ans that they had bad intentions.
Should I say that they were all too imrsed in their respective roles?
At least the Wudang Sect was less like that, but I can't say that they all didn't have such thoughts unconsciously.
"Good. I've wasted your training ti for no reason today. I'm sorry."
"Ah, no. You called because you thought well of , so I'm just sorry that I couldn't give a positive answer."
"Hahaha! That's why I covet you even more. But, you gave a more positive answer than any other answer today. Thank you."
As soon as the Martial Granduncle's words ended, he bowed his head slightly to , who was still a young child, to show his respect.
I was honestly surprised. It wouldn't have been an easy thing to show such respect to , who was two generations younger.
"Yes. You may go. You have to go and train again. To make the entire Wudang strong."
"Yes. I will not show a disappointing appearance."
"Good. I'll look forward to it."
With those words, I bowed to the Martial Granduncle and left his room.
Even until the mont I left the room and headed back to the training ground, the items that the Martial Granduncle had put out earlier lingered in front of my eyes.
'Ah. Should I have just acted crazy and asked for the items?'
I blad myself for not being more proactive, but there's no changing the past.
I shook my head to shake off the distracting thoughts and regrets and entered the training ground.
If I sweat it out and move my body, I'll probably forget about that damn Taiqing Pill... no way.
It seems it will be hard to fall asleep easily for a while.
***
The night Unhwi visited.
Okheojin-in called his junior brother and Unhwi's master, Hyeon Yang, to his room.
"Martial Uncle. You called?"
"Yes. Hyeon Yang, you're here."
A flash of light appeared in Hyeon Yang's eyes as he greeted him.
Because there were several wine bottles rolling around in front of Okheojin-in.
"Martial Uncle. Have you been drinking?"
"Yes. I had a drink after a long ti."
"...Is it because of that fellow Hwi?"
"You know well. It's because of that child that I'm a little upset."
"That child must have more loyalty than he looks. To the point of refusing the Martial Uncle's offer."
Okheojin-in let out a small laugh.
Because Hyeon Yang's voice was subtly tinged with affection and pride.
"No, I'm not upset because that child chose you."
"Then is there sothing else...?"
"Hehe. Should I say it's the frustration of realizing that while I thought I had lived for Wudang my whole life, I actually hadn't done anything for Wudang?"
"What do you an by that?"
"I didn't live for Wudang. I lived for myself."
After that, Okheojin-in didn't speak for a long ti.
Hyeon Yang also just kept silent next to him, matching the atmosphere.
After a very short ti passed.
"So. Now I'm thinking of really doing sothing for Wudang."
"Aren't you already dedicating yourself to Wudang, Martial Uncle?"
"Enough with the flattery."
Thud—
He placed a book in front of Hyeon Yang.
"What is this?"
"It's the Six Yang Divine Art."
"Six Yang...?!"
"I begged the Sect Leader and got it. Give this martial art to Hwi. That child's developnt will be for the sake of our Wudang."
"Martial Uncle!"
"You're going to the rchant guild with that child soon, right? There will be enough ti to teach him away from the eyes of the other disciples. Tell him that the secret manual is a copy, so he can return it slowly."
Hyeon Yang picked up the old secret manual with the words 'Six Yang Divine Art' written on it.
'Unhwi. Your greatest ability is probably the ability to make anyone your ally.'
He beca newly curious about the true extent of his disciple, Unhwi's, abilities.
(End of Chapter)
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