Chapter 22
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, only three people were left standing in room number eight.
Me, Senior Brother Uncheol, and Senior Brother Unjihak.
The rest had recklessly rushed at me, and I had done my best to instill some manners into them.
They were so moved that they all rolled their eyes back and lost consciousness.
"Heo..."
Senior Brother Unjihak, who had been watching this, let out a deep breath with eyes filled with both surprise and bewilderment.
I turned my gaze to Senior Brother Unjihak.
The reason Unjihak was standing there perfectly fine was because he was the only one in room number eight who hadn't rushed at me.
Of course, even if Senior Brother Unjihak had fought alongside them, I could have easily subdued him.
"Why did you just stand there, Senior Brother?"
"Me?"
"Yes. Is it okay for you to just watch your room's junior brothers get beaten by me like that?"
"Hmm..."
He let out a groan as if he felt a little ashamed and then continued.
"I didn't think I could win against you, Unhwi, even if I joined in. And I don't know how you saw it, but I'm a person who knows manners. I also know how to keep a promise."
"What did you say?"
Even in this situation, Unjihak's words made me laugh.
Depending on the situation, I was planning to teach Unjihak manners with my fists too, but the thought completely disappeared.
'He seems smart, and his talent is outstanding. I like him. He's a talent who will become great. If he just has that last bit of desperation... oh-ho?'
Although Unjihak had answered a little playfully, his face soon became serious.
I had a feeling that he didn't rush at me simply because he was scared of me.
"I just want to ask one thing."
"You can ask several things."
"Did Uncheol really get stronger through that training?"
An endlessly serious gaze.
But, it wasn't just serious, there was a very small hint of joy in it.
I know what that gaze is.
'He's feeling joy at finding a way to become stronger than he is now.'
A smile unknowingly formed on my lips.
It was the same in the past, but I like people who are so interested in martial arts and try to work hard like this.
"Of course. What have you been hearing until now? I'm not doing this to bully you, I'm doing this because I really want to make you strong."
"Th-Then can I ask one more thing?"
"I said you can ask several things."
When I frowned slightly, Unjihak flinched a little, but he straightened his posture again and asked me.
"Why are you doing this? Your room number nine has achieved rapid growth in a short period of time, and at this rate, you will surely be able to beat room number one, where the Senior Brother is, someday. But in that situation, why are you even bothering with our room?"
"Are you asking that as a question right now?"
"What did you say?"
I was so dumbfounded that I laughed out loud.
This absurdity was not actually about Unjihak in front of me.
I was a little disappointed in the education system of Wudang itself, which made even a smart disciple like Unjihak think like that.
"The rooms are different, but in the end, you're my senior brother too, right?"
"Huh?"
"And we're the Wudang Sect. What more explanation do you need?"
"Ah...!"
He had an expression as if he had been hit in the head with something.
The idea of having the rooms of the Yuyeop Hall compete and have matches is good in itself.
But, it seems that there are few disciples who think that we are ultimately the same sect, as they are too engrossed in the competition.
I spoke to Senior Brother Unjihak, who still couldn't close his mouth.
"I think so. It's good that the members of our room number nine are getting stronger. And it's also good to compete with each other and win the martial arts competition. But, is that really the reason we learn martial arts?"
"No... it's not."
"That's right. There are two reasons why a disciple of our Wudang learns martial arts. The first is to cultivate the Tao by growing inwardly through martial arts. And the second is to use our strength without reservation for the common people of the martial world if something happens."
Unjihak finally closed his mouth and slowly nodded his head.
He must have been deeply impressed by my words.
I gave him enough time to think and then continued.
"So I want a stronger Wudang. And furthermore, a stronger orthodox sect. So that we won't have any regrets no matter what happens."
"Unhwi. Your words sound as if something is going to happen."
I was a little impressed by Unjihak's sharp question, but I didn't show it on the outside.
Because I can't tell them now that the Demonic Cult will invade the Central Plains in the future.
"I'm just saying it could happen. Haven't you heard the story of the Great War between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions that happened over a hundred years ago? They annihilated the Unorthodox Faction Alliance at that time, but half of the orthodox martial artists died, right? And countless common people who didn't know martial arts were also sacrificed. There's no law that says something like that won't happen again, right? It's no use regretting it then, saying we should have built up our strength in advance. But if we build up more than enough strength, there's nothing to lose later."
I deliberately spoke without a break and pushed Unjihak.
It was to prevent him from asking strange questions or having stray thoughts in the middle.
But... Unjihak's expression is a little strange.
"Hwi-ya..."
"Yes?"
"You're amazing...! I'm ashamed of myself for not having thought of that until now. To think I've gained such a great realization from the youngest!"
He approached me with a very emotional expression and open arms.
At the senior brother's unexpected action, I looked at Senior Brother Uncheol with the intention of telling him to stop Unjihak.
But it was no use.
'Why is Senior Brother Uncheol acting like that again?'
Because the senior brother was also looking at me with the same moved expression as Senior Brother Unjihak.
It's truly a Wudang Sect full of love and affection.
Whoosh—
I stepped on the Chilseongbo and quickly pulled my body back.
Unjihak, who was approaching to hug me, seemed to have come to his senses at my footwork, and his gaze returned.
"So even though I've made Senior Brother Un Chi into that state now, the fact that he's a precious disciple of Wudang doesn't change. Actually, it's just that he's no match for me. It's also true that he's quite talented."
"I see. Then the reason you're being so firm with Un Chi now must be a process to properly show your strength and ability. Because there's no better way to make someone realize the opponent's strength than to experience it with their own body."
"Th-That's right. That's exactly it."
To be honest, I hit him because I didn't like him, but if the interpretation comes out better than the dream like that, I'm just grateful.
"Anyway, you're going to train with our room from tomorrow, right, Senior Brother?"
"Of course. When our room's junior brothers wake up, I'll talk to them well and bring them out."
"Good. If anyone has any complaints, tell them to come find me anytime. I'll make them feel the results of the training properly with their bodies."
"Y-Yes."
"Let's meet at that open space tomorrow after dinner, during the free training time at the end of the hour of the rooster. Senior Brother Uncheol, let's go."
With those last words, I took Uncheol and left room number eight.
On the way to our room, I was lost in thought.
It seems it will be harder than I thought to spread my training method to all the rooms.
'To think it took so much effort and trouble to conquer just one room number eight. How long will it take for the remaining eighteen rooms?'
At this rate, I had a fleeting thought that it could really take a few more years.
Of course, even after a few years, our third-generation disciples will still be young, and it won't be too late to start proper training then, but it's a matter of course that the faster the training, the better.
"Senior Brother Uncheol! Are you okay?"
When we had almost reached our room, I heard someone call Senior Brother Uncheol, and when I turned my head, I saw quite a few senior brothers gathered in front of our room.
At a glance, there seemed to be more than ten.
The senior brother who had just called us seemed to be their representative, as he stepped forward and opened his mouth.
This senior brother's Taoist name is Unjak.
He was a senior brother who was deeply engraved in my memory because he had shown a pretty good performance in the martial arts competition.
However, he did show a lack of skill compared to his innate sense of qi.
"I came to tell you something, Senior Brother. But there was no one in the room, so I was waiting here."
"You were waiting for me? What is it?"
Uncheol asked back with a slightly flustered face.
As someone with a usually stubborn personality and not very active in his relationships with his senior and junior brothers, this experience seemed unfamiliar to Uncheol.
"I'm curious about the secret of how the entire room number nine became so strong. I asked Unjeong a moment ago, and he told me to ask you, Senior Brother. That's why I came."
"The secret?"
Senior Brother Uncheol couldn't answer right away and looked at me with a troubled expression.
I gave him a bright smile and then stepped forward and said, "Alright, alright, Senior Brothers. As you all know, Senior Brother Uncheol is currently injured. Why don't you let the senior brother go in and rest first, and if you have any questions, ask me? I'll explain in as much detail as I know. Is that okay, Senior Brother?"
I said that and winked so that only Uncheol could see, and fortunately, my intention seemed to have been conveyed to the clueless Uncheol.
Uncheol suddenly clutched his ribs and said to the gathered senior brothers, "Keuk... as Unhwi said, I think I need to rest a little. As you saw when Unhwi was having his match earlier, perhaps Unhwi knows the way to get stronger better than I do. I'll go in, so have a good talk with Unhwi."
"With Unhwi?"
Senior Brother Unjak looked at me with a slightly questioning eye.
This body named Unhwi was originally the weakest of the weak among our senior and junior brothers.
It's understandable that he's looking at me with those eyes.
But, as Senior Brother Uncheol said, perhaps remembering my appearance during the match earlier, he finally nodded his head.
"I understand. Then I'll just ask you one thing, Senior Brother."
"Yes. Go ahead."
"By any chance, is the reason the senior and junior brothers of room number nine became strong because of that strange... no, special training method?"
As soon as Unjak's question fell, the senior brothers who had come with him waited for Senior Brother Uncheol's answer with sparkling eyes.
Senior Brother Uncheol, perhaps feeling a little moved by their appearance, looked around at them once and then answered.
"That's right. If it didn't have this much effect, we wouldn't be continuing with such a training method."
"So it was."
At that answer, the senior brothers all nodded their heads as if to say, 'of course'.
And Senior Brother Unjak, as if he had made a decision, said to Uncheol, "May I ask you for a favor?"
"What favor?"
"Can we... also train with room number nine? We also want to become strong."
Senior Brother Uncheol's eyes widened.
Even I hadn't expected them to come out like this.
It's not like a pumpkin is rolling in with the vine, but if the senior brothers come out like this first, it couldn't be better.
Senior Brother Uncheol, seeing my happy face, answered right away.
"Of course. It's fine to join us from tomorrow. Right, Hwi-ya?"
"Of course! Of course you can join us. Senior Brother Uncheol, go in and rest quickly, and for the details, let's go to that open space over there and talk with me. Follow me."
Senior Brother Uncheol quietly returned to the room, and the senior brothers who had gathered in front of the room began to follow me.
Although there are only ten of them now, there will be many more senior brothers who have similar thoughts.
And not only us, but if these senior brothers also become strong through my training method, the number of senior brothers who want to learn together will also increase.
'I was worrying for nothing.'
I had overlooked the fact that this place was Wudang.
Even if they are flowers in a greenhouse, even if they have a weak mental state due to Wudang's education, in the end, they are also martial artists.
There's no way a martial artist wouldn't be interested in becoming strong.
'If they want to become strong... I just have to make them that way.'
The plan to make a strong Wudang.
I had a fleeting thought that the plan might be faster than I thought.
(End of Chapter)