Chapter 47
"Umm..."
How much time had passed? My eyes slowly opened.
But it was too dark in front of me.
I had definitely started to open my Governing and Conception Vessels when the sun was high in the sky, but I had woken up in the middle of the night when even the moonlight was dim.
'Fortunately... I'm alive.'
A smile spread across my face without me realizing it.
The fact that I was alive meant that I had succeeded in opening my Governing and Conception Vessels.
When I looked inside my body, my qi and blood were much wider than before, and a full energy was flowing calmly like a river in that qi and blood.
In this state, it's as if I'm always arousing my energy, so the circulation of my energy would have become incomparably faster than before.
'I want to test it out quickly.'
I had been in qi circulation for more than six hours and had fallen asleep, so my body condition was at its best right now.
When I slowly got up, as expected, my precious muscles were full of true qi and their elasticity and strength had become enormous.
Although it can't be compared to a body that has undergone a complete transformation, it seems my body has been polished to a comparable level.
'This isn't just because I opened my Governing and Conception Vessels.'
My enlightenment and the opening of the meridians with pure energy played a part, but it seems to be the result of the synergy created by the energy of the Small Rebirth Pill and the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic that I had learned in part.
I gained a lot from Shaolin this time.
I'll have to repay this debt someday.
"Martial Uncle... hasn't he come back yet?"
Although the surroundings were dark, my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, so I could see everything clearly.
But for my Martial Uncle not to have returned this late at night.
Wondering if something had happened, I immediately left the room.
And as soon as I opened the door and went out, I was able to find my Martial Uncle right away.
"Martial Uncle...?"
My Martial Uncle had brought a chair right in front of the door and was sitting there blankly.
He hadn't even lit a small oil lamp, so I couldn't see his face properly, but judging from his build and the clothes he was wearing, it was definitely my Martial Uncle.
"What are you doing here? Not coming in."
"......"
Although I approached him, speaking in a friendly manner, my Martial Uncle didn't answer.
Wondering if he was sleeping, I approached my Martial Uncle, and when I got close enough to see his expression, I had to stop in my tracks.
Because my Martial Uncle had his eyes wide open, and he had a somewhat pained expression on his face.
"Martial Uncle! Why are you like this..."
"Hwi-ya."
My Martial Uncle's voice was low and subdued.
I somehow felt an unusual atmosphere.
Although my Martial Uncle was usually an unnecessarily serious person, he seemed particularly serious today.
"Yes, Martial Uncle."
"First... I should say congratulations, right?"
"Thank you. I've gained a lot from coming to Shaolin."
"Yes. You've opened your Governing and Conception Vessels."
"Yes. I was lucky."
Although I humbly said I was lucky, both I and my Martial Uncle knew well that that wasn't all.
"Yes. I was wrong until now."
"About what?"
"To be honest, I was thinking of taking you as my disciple when I was a little more prepared. I thought that if I sincerely conveyed the studies I had contemplated and thought about to you, and if you accepted them well, a martial artist who would be counted among the best in the long history of our Wudang would be born."
Was? My Martial Uncle's tone is a little strange.
Does that mean he's not thinking that way now?
"But my thoughts were wrong. Even if I don't bother to teach you, you will become a martial artist who will remain in the history of Wudang. The thought that I should teach you was, in a way, a very arrogant thought."
"No, Martial Uncle. I still have so much to learn. Although it's clear that I'm faster than others in enlightenment and operating my internal energy, you're the one who knows more about the 'Sword of Wudang' than I do."
"Yes. That's also true."
He showed a slight smile.
As he smiled, it seemed as if the serious expression he had been wearing until just now was all a lie.
"So I was thinking, when we return to Wudang, how about I recommend you as a Sect Disciple? What do you think?"
"A Sect Disciple...?"
For a moment, I thought I had misheard. A Sect Disciple.
A Sect Disciple literally means becoming the disciple of the Sect Leader.
And a little further, the next Sect Leader.
In other words, he's saying he'll recommend me as the successor of the Wudang Sect.
"If you become a Sect Disciple, you will be able to access the secret teachings of Wudang that even I cannot easily access, and you will have the opportunity to learn the profound martial arts that are passed down only to the Sect Leader. I don't know if you've heard the names, but they are divine arts that can be called the best in the world, like the Two Forms Divine Art, the Pure Yang Infinite Art, and the Red Yang Divine Art."
"But, wasn't the Sect Disciple you, Martial Uncle? I definitely heard that you were the direct disciple of the Sect Leader..."
He shook his head.
"No, it's true that I am my master's disciple, but it's a slightly different concept from a Sect Disciple. I became my master's disciple before he became the Sect Leader of our Wudang. Becoming a Sect Disciple means that you will begin to receive training to become the Sect Leader of Wudang in the future. In other words, it means becoming the successor."
"Even so, there's no case where a third-generation disciple becomes a Sect Disciple right away, is there? Usually, after becoming a second-generation disciple..."
"That's the usual case. But you're not a usual third-generation disciple, are you?"
I almost nodded my head without realizing it.
I'm not usual.
"Even without that, my master is about to choose a Sect Disciple soon. People around probably think it will be either Hyeon Cheong or me, but what's wrong with skipping a generation? If you learn advanced martial arts from a younger age, won't you be that much stronger when you're older?"
I can imagine it.
If I become a Sect Disciple from now on and learn all the profound martial arts...
If I can make my talent bloom like that and literally become the best in the world, maybe I can change the future?
By blocking the invasion of the Demonic Cult...
'Ah, that's not it...'
But, something I had almost forgotten for a moment came to mind.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Those bastards were more numerous and stronger than I thought.
If I become a Sect Disciple, it's clear that I'll have to be confined to Wudang and train for at least ten, twenty years.
No matter how strong I become...
'You can't cover the sky with one palm.'
I can't do anything by becoming strong alone.
Even if I were to take the Demonic Cult Leader's head and stop their invasion, there would be too much blood shed in the meantime.
I quietly looked at my Martial Uncle and shook my head.
"No. I don't want to be a Sect Disciple."
"Why? Are you afraid you'll be rejected by the Sect Leader? If I explain your achievements and qualities well now, he will surely consent. It's not like this has never happened in history. It has definitely happened a few times."
"Apart from that, I want to live a little more freely. First of all, if I become a Sect Disciple, I won't be able to be with my senior brothers and will have to go up to the Shangqing Palace, right? I want to continue to live and share joys and sorrows with them in the Yuyeop Hall like now."
"Heh heh..."
"Besides, if I become a Sect Disciple, the opportunities to go out like this and interact with other sects will also decrease, right? Just like I gained a lot from coming to Shaolin this time, I think there's a lot to be gained from traveling around the martial world."
"What can be gained from the martial world..."
My Martial Uncle was lost in thought after hearing my words.
Then, he said with a determined expression, "Good. In that case, you become my disciple."
"Pardon...? All of a sudden?"
"Yes. Instead, I will become the Sect Disciple."
"......!"
"Actually, until now, I also didn't want to become a Sect Disciple for the same reason as you. As you know, I hate being restrained, and I don't travel outside of Wudang much."
"But why..."
"What I learn, you will also learn."
"Is that possible? Originally, according to the rules, that's not allowed, right?"
My Martial Uncle chuckled at the word 'rules' coming out of my mouth and said, "Rules? Who was it that said that old rules should be broken?"
"Me... it was me."
"I will become the Sect Disciple on the condition that I can do that. Actually, my master really wants me to become the Sect Disciple."
He shrugged his shoulders.
It's just that he doesn't shine because he's next to me, but in fact, my Martial Uncle also has a tremendous talent that can be counted among the best in Wudang.
That's why he can be so confident.
"Then only your choice remains. Will you become my disciple?"
"I... Martial Uncle. Then may I ask for one thing?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
"Even if I become your disciple, can I not move my residence to the East Palace and continue to live with my senior brothers in the Yuyeop Hall like now?"
"Of course. Of course. Actually, I don't want to live in the same house with you either."
My Martial Uncle, as if he knew I would make this request, answered coolly right away.
In this case, I don't need to worry anymore.
In a way, it's as if my Martial Uncle is saying he will sacrifice himself for me.
"Thank you. Martial Uncle. No, Master!"
"Yes. Since it's just us, let's skip the formal ceremony of becoming a disciple. It's a useless formality."
"No... is that really okay?"
"Of course. Am I not your master now? A good disciple should follow their master's words well."
"Then have I not been listening to you well until now? I think I've been listening quite well."
"Until now, you were a good junior."
My Martial Uncle said this and then slipped into the room.
It seems he can't stand the atmosphere becoming even a little bit soft.
"Let's go in together, Martial Uncle!"
I immediately followed him back into the room.
I gained a lot from coming to the Shaolin Temple with my Martial Uncle.
Among them, the biggest thing is, of course... that I have a master.
***
"Heok, heok, heok...!"
"Uwaaaah!"
"Keuk, please save me. Please save me...!"
Several strong men were gathered in one place, each expressing their pain in a different way.
Some were breathing heavily, and some were screaming.
This place, which was no different from a scene from hell, was none other than... the Wudang Sect.
"Senior Brother...! Please stop... we should stop for today!"
"Stop? If you have the strength to move your mouth, use that strength to move."
"Aigoo! I'm dying, I'm dying."
The open space where Unhwi always trained with his senior brothers.
The person leading the place now is Uncheol.
Uncheol, true to his upright character, never neglected his training even while Unhwi was away.
And not only did he work hard alone, but as the person who had received Unhwi's teachings right next to him, and most properly at that, he diligently pushed his junior brothers.
"Now. A little more strength. Unhwi will be back in a few days. Didn't he say he would give us a rest if we trained hard until then?"
"A rest!"
"Heheuk, just hearing the word is sweet. A rest!"
"So, everyone get up. When Unhwi returns, let's show him our changed selves. This changed muscle, this internal energy!"
"Uwoooooh!"
At Uncheol's shout, they all got up and let out a roar.
That appearance was believable enough to be called a mountain bandit of a mountain stronghold, not a Taoist of Wudang.
"Master. Is it okay to leave those children as they are?"
Hyeonjeong, a martial artist of the Hyeon generation who was watching the scene from afar, said worriedly to his master, Okheo, a martial artist of the Ok generation.
However, Okheojin-in, far from agreeing with his words, just smiled brightly.
"What's wrong with it. They look energetic and good."
"Still, training so ignorantly is not the true nature of our Wudang, is it? That... looks no different from an Unorthodox Faction group that focuses on external arts."
"The true nature of Wudang... what do you think is the true nature of Wudang?"
"We are Taoists before we are martial artists, aren't we? We should keep our bodies and minds clean and not lose our noble dignity... ugh!"
Okheojin-in gave him a flick on the forehead with a speed he couldn't even notice while he was talking, and Hyeonjeong had to stop talking and cover his head.
"I have taught you completely wrong. The true spirit of Wudang is not like that."
He clicked his tongue and scolded Hyeonjeong, then thought.
'Yes. It's time for a wind of change to come to our Wudang. The child named Unhwi, that child has brought the change. When will he return from Shaolin?'
He, who had been angry, had a bright smile on his face again as he thought of Unhwi, who was somewhere in the Central Plains.
'If Hyeon Yang says he won't take that child as his disciple, should I bring him?'
He, who didn't know that Unhwi and Hyeon Yang had decided to become master and disciple, began to eagerly wait for Unhwi's return.
(End of Chapter)