The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

"I refuse."

"Why!?"

"I haven't even finished learning Master Kang's Flying Sword Technique, so when would I have the time to learn your movement technique, Elder? I refuse."

As Kang Cheon had predicted, Jin Sohyun refused without a moment's hesitation.

Contrary to his expectations, at Jin Sohyun's firm attitude, Bieunggaek spoke with a desperate face.

"With my movement technique, you can run a thousand li in a day!"

"Eh... I will never have a reason to run a thousand li."

"Th-Then! You can sneak into anywhere without anyone knowing!"

"Why would I sneak into my own house? I don't need it."

Feeling Jin Sohyun's expression growing more and more weary, Bieunggaek preached the importance of the Shadowless Divine Steps in a desperate voice.

"Y-You can never become a master with just the Flying Sword Technique! If you have an enemy faster than you, you'll be defeated without even being able to lift a finger!"

"Master, do I have to run away even after mastering the Flying Heaven Ten Swords?"

A sharp question disguised in innocence.

Kang Cheon, the creator of the Flying Heaven Ten Swords, shook his head and answered firmly.

"No! What do you mean, run away! The moment you master the Flying Heaven Ten Swords, your enemies won't even be able to touch your toes!"

"Th-This bastard!"

At Bieunggaek's sharp glare, Kang Cheon shrugged and smirked with one corner of his mouth.

'Didn't I say it wouldn't be easy?'

'You bastard who deserves to be fried in dung water!'

Bieunggaek, who was burning with hatred for Kang Cheon, let out a deep sigh at the sight of Jin Sohyun, who was melting away, unable to overcome his laziness.

"Give up, Bieunggaek."

At Kang Cheon's words that followed, Bieunggaek, who was about to give up, had his eyes suddenly sparkle.

'The laziest person under the heavens... who hates to move even a single step...'

Having finished his thought, Bieunggaek plopped down in front of Jin Sohyun.

"Jin Sohyun."

"Yes?"

"Watch carefully. The movement technique of this master, which has reached the realm of the heavens!"

At that moment, an amazing thing happened.

Bieunggaek floated up in a sitting position and began to move around at high speed.

Of course, he wasn't actually floating in the air.

He was moving by pushing off the ground with only the tips of his feet while in a lotus position.

"What is this bizarre..."

Kang Cheon clicked his tongue as he watched Bieunggaek's bizarre movement technique.

"Tsk tsk! Sohyun, there's nothing more to see. Now, let's just... huh?"

Jin Sohyun, who had shown no interest in Bieunggaek's movement technique just a moment ago, was trembling.

"Th-This is... this is..."

"S-Sohyun?"

Bieunggaek, who had finished his demonstration, stopped in place and looked at Jin Sohyun with a benevolent face.

"Did you see? This is the ultimate movement technique, the Supreme Does Not Walk!"

The supreme does not walk!

At the amazing movement technique of a new realm, Jin Sohyun was completely captivated.

"Do you think Sohyun will fall for such an absurd and bizarre movement technique!"

"Master Bi!"

"Hey!"

Jin Sohyun prostrated himself on the floor and faced Bieunggaek with a face full of emotion.

"Can I... also not walk!?"

Bieunggaek, who had stood up at some point, placed his hand on Jin Sohyun's head with a solemn face and said.

"Of course. Just trust and follow this master. Do you understand, my disciple?"

"Yes! Master!"

Watching Jin Sohyun and Bieunggaek, who had instantly formed a master-disciple relationship, Kang Cheon thought.

'This damn lazy disciple bastard!'

he thought.

***

"As your senior, I advise you... teach him slowly."

"Don't worry. Unlike your shoddy Flying Sword Technique, this master's Number One Divine Wind Shadowless Divine Steps under the heavens will not be easily learned."

"What is that... a martial art name as bizarre as your 'Supreme something' footwork?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? My movement technique has always been the Number One Divine Wind Shadowless Divine Steps from the beginning."

For a very brief moment, Kang Cheon worried that Bieunggaek might have dementia.

But the worry was short-lived.

Kang Cheon, who had noticed Bieunggaek's cunning scheme, narrowed his eyes.

"You, you! Don't tell me...!"

"Hehehe! You foolish Kang Cheon. Flying Heaven Ten Swords? How long do you think such a featureless martial art name will last. Jin Sohyun is a body that will become the number one under heaven. Of course, he must have a martial art that befits him! And I, Bieunggaek, the master of Jin Sohyun, will be remembered forever as the creator of the Number One Divine Wind Shadowless Divine Steps!"

"Y-You damn bastard!"

"Hahahaha! Mock me all you want!"

Bieunggaek, who ran off laughing, stood facing Jin Sohyun in an open space.

"Master."

"What is it, my disciple."

Bieunggaek emphasized the word 'disciple' as he spoke.

"When can I learn that amazing Supreme Does Not Walk?"

"Don't be hasty. You will naturally master the Supreme Does Not Walk when you have mastered all of the Number One Divine Wind Shadowless Divine Steps."

"In that case, how long will it take for me to master all of the Number One Divine Wind Shadowless Divine Steps?"

"Hmm..."

Bieunggaek, who was calculating the period in his head, said in a monotonous voice.

"With your talent, about... ten years?"

"T-T-Ten..."

As Jin Sohyun's body trembled, the startled Bieunggaek ran to him.

"Wh-What's wrong!?"

"It's... too... l-long..."

'This brat!'

For a moment, Bieunggaek felt a surge of anger, but he couldn't get angry because of Kang Cheon's blatant gaze from behind him.

'I can't be a worse master than that Kang Cheon!'

Bieunggaek, who had calmed his mind and body, said gently.

"Keke! I misspoke. With your talent, you'll learn it all in three years!"

"Th-Three years? Really?"

As Jin Sohyun's eyes sparkled as if nothing had happened, Bieunggaek smiled brightly.

"Of course!"

"Haha! Let's start right away, Master!"

The word 'master' from Jin Sohyun's mouth poured water on Bieunggaek's barren heart.

'Me, a master...'

Bieunggaek, who had said he had no intention of taking a disciple, saying 'what kind of disciple would a thieving ghost have.'

But did he too have a desire to leave behind a successor deep in his heart?

Bieunggaek couldn't help but be moved by the word 'master.'

"Just trust this master!"

Bieunggaek did not know.

That the purer the eyes, the more they hide true madness.

"Then let's start right away! Master Bi!"

***

Three years.

It was the period Jin Sohyun had spent away from his family, learning martial arts under two masters.

During that time, the seasons had passed twelve times, the hair of the two masters had turned whiter, and their fine wrinkles had deepened.

"Hoo..."

As Bieunggaek sighed, Kang Cheon followed suit as if he had been waiting.

"Haa...!"

The two looked at each other at the same time.

"You too?"

"Me too."

"Dammit..."

The two masters comforted each other with faces that looked as if they had aged ten years in the past three years.

"How much is left now?"

"Almost none."

"As expected..."

"That kid is a monster... it's as if he's learned the Star Sucking Great Art... he's sucking up my movement technique!"

Bieunggaek let out a short groan with a face full of fear.

"What should we do?"

"...I don't know."

Kang Cheon didn't know the answer either.

He too had all of the Lightning Flash realm sucked away and was left with only the Thousand Hands realm.

At this rate, the martial arts of Kang Cheon and Bieunggaek would surely be completely absorbed by the evil spirit named Jin Sohyun before long.

"Masters?"

At that moment, Jin Sohyun's voice was heard from a distance.

The startled Bieunggaek stepped back.

"He's here!"

"Dammit! It's your turn today, so you teach him!"

"Damn it all!"

Jin Sohyun appeared in front of the two masters who were trembling in fear.

He was riding the leader wolf, which had grown as large as a tiger, like a horse.

"Good work, Nurongi number 1."

Jin Sohyun, who was playfully stroking the leader wolf's head, smiled brightly.

"I was worried because I couldn't see you, Masters. Now... shall we begin?"

The two masters suppressed their fear and put on a relaxed smile.

"Haha... of course."

While Kang Cheon was nodding, Bieunggaek, who had suddenly thought of a way, sent a telepathic message.

—Kang Cheon! I have a way!

—A way? What is it, spit it out!

—A new master.

—A new master?

—We'll bring a master from a completely different field! A master that that evil... no, Jin Sohyun will like!

—Who is it?

—I have to look for one now. It's better for me, who is faster on my feet than you, to go.

—Hey! You, are you trying to run away!?

—Trust me and wait!

After finishing the telepathic message, Bieunggaek approached Jin Sohyun and said.

"This master has something to do today, so I'll have to go down for a bit. You can be with Master Kang today."

"Ah, really? I understand."

"Hey, hey, Bieunggaek!"

Before Kang Cheon could stop him, Bieunggaek ran down the mountain with all his might.

His speed was so fast that he was worthy of being called the number one thieving ghost in the Central Plains.

"Then, Master."

Kang Cheon faced Jin Sohyun with a vacant face.

Jin Sohyun, who was looking at him, got off the leader wolf's back and grinned.

"Let's begin."

***

"Heok— Heok—!!"

When was the last time he had run so tirelessly?

The place Bieunggaek arrived at, panting for breath, was none other than the Jin Family.

Due to lack of time, Bieunggaek, who had jumped over the wall and entered the Jin Family's estate, listened to the clear and beautiful sound of a daegeum [large bamboo flute] coming from somewhere.

"Is it that way?"

Bieunggaek, who was drawn to the sound of the daegeum as if possessed, found a woman playing the daegeum and the Jin couple there.

"Elder?"

Jin Seomok, who spotted Bieunggaek, clasped his fists and smiled brightly.

"What brings you here without any notice?"

At Jin Seomok's greeting, the woman who had put down her daegeum faced Bieunggaek.

Bieunggaek said in admiration.

"Judging by the white daegeum and your outstanding performance skills, you must be the famous Heavenly Sound Hundred Flowers."

"Yes, I am embarrassingly called Heavenly Sound Hundred Flowers, O Yoran."

"I am Bieunggaek."

"Hoho... to meet the Shadowless Thieving Ghost here."

Heavenly Sound Hundred Flowers, O Yoran.

She was a master of sound art who was said to make even happy people shed tears, make sad people laugh, and make withered flowers bloom.

He had heard that she was now close to seventy, but she maintained an amazing youthfulness, looking to be around fifty.

Her glossy hair and firm skin further enhanced this, and her beautiful features, which could not be hidden by time, proved O Yoran's brilliant past.

"I wanted to hear your daegeum performance at least once."

As Bieunggaek spoke in an uncharacteristically polite tone, O Yoran smiled broadly.

"Then, in commemoration of meeting a new acquaintance, I will perform a piece for you."

"It's an honor."

Bieunggaek, who had completely forgotten about Kang Cheon and Jin Sohyun, enjoyed O Yoran's daegeum performance with the Jin couple.

Along with the beautiful daegeum performance, her energy, imbued in the sound art, made the listeners feel relaxed and comfortable all over.

If he had his way, he would have wanted to appreciate O Yoran's performance forever.

When O Yoran's performance, which seemed as if it would never end, finally ended, the Jin couple lightly clapped their hands and conveyed the emotion they had received.

"They say that the performance of the Heavenly Sound Hundred Flowers cannot be priced even with a thousand gold... it's true!"

Jin Seomok gave a merchant-like review.

"It was a truly beautiful performance. It gave me a comfort as if I were resting in a garden full of beautiful flowers."

Yu Seoheung gave a review befitting her, who loved flowers.

At the Jin couple's generous praise, O Yoran smiled lightly and bowed.

But unlike them, Bieunggaek, who was listening to O Yoran's performance, had a different thought.

"Performance... sound art..."

Having finished his thought, Bieunggaek moved closer to O Yoran.

Startled by his aggressive appearance, O Yoran unknowingly shrank back.

"What is it?"

"I know it's a rude question, but may I ask you one thing?"

"Please speak."

"How long would it take to learn sound art from Elder O?"

It was a rather rude and strange question, but O Yoran answered sincerely.

"It depends on one's talent for sound, but on average, it takes several decades. Sound art is a martial art that is easy to enter but difficult to master."

The process of imbuing internal energy into sound was very tricky.

This was the reason why there were many who entered sound art, but few who mastered it.

"What if the talent is very outstanding?"

"Hmm... no matter how outstanding the talent, it is not easy to master sound art in a short period of time."

Perhaps because she was a master of sound art, which was a non-mainstream martial art, unlike mainstream martial arts such as swordsmanship or saber techniques.

O Yoran's tone became somewhat sharp.

As the Jin couple were fidgeting, Bieunggaek nodded.

"Would you come with me somewhere?"

"You have to tell me what it's about first."

O Yoran's voice, unable to tolerate any more rudeness, became as cold as the frost of the North Sea.

Bieunggaek, who couldn't bring himself to say that it was difficult to handle Jin Sohyun in front of the Jin couple, sent a desperate gaze.

"...Can't you just follow me?"

"You are truly rude. I didn't know the Shadowless Thieving Ghost was such an ill-mannered person."

After finishing her words, O Yoran put her daegeum in her bosom and stood up.

"I will be leaving now. If fate allows, we will meet again."

"Yes, please take care."

O Yoran, who nodded, glared at Bieunggaek and then turned away.

Then, Bieunggaek clasped his fists towards the Jin couple.

"I'm sorry for my rudeness."

"Not at all."

Jin Seomok waved his hands.

"Elder O is a person with a gentle personality, so if you talk to her well next time..."

"No, I'm apologizing in advance for the discourtesy I'm about to commit."

"...Yes? The discourtesy you're about to commit? What do you mean by that?"

"I'm sorry."

Bieunggaek, who apologized once more and turned away, ran towards O Yoran, who was leaving the Jin Family.

O Yoran, who noticed him approaching, had her eyes flash sharply.

"Do you still have business with me?"

"Please forgive me! I'll explain later!"

"What is th..."

Before O Yoran could say anything at the appearance of a large cloth that filled her vision, Bieunggaek wrapped her in the large cloth and slung her over his shoulder.

"You perverted bastard! I'll kill you!!"

O Yoran's sharp screams and terrifying threats to kill him were heard from inside, but Bieunggaek tried to ignore them and jumped over the Jin Family's wall.

"Just bear with it for a little while! We'll be there soon!"

(End of Chapter)