Chapter 24
So Moogyeol lay sprawled on the floor, breathing heavily.
"Oh my god, I'm going to die."
The number of guard dogs, which had started with one at a time, had already reached six. When there were one or two, he could at least take a short break when the guard dogs got tired. But now, they took turns resting and attacking, so he had to run without a break all morning.
Of course, that much was not a big problem.
After running for a few months, he had gotten used to this, so it was not difficult to control his strength.
If he put his mind to it, he could run all day.
But the real problem was that the guard dogs didn't always take turns attacking.
The real problem was when the six guard dogs attacked all at once.
With six large guard dogs released in the already small training room, there was hardly any place to escape. He had to not just run, but run while desperately using his head.
After doing this for about two shichen, he would be exhausted.
The situation was the same for Myung Jin.
Although he didn't lie down like So Moogyeol, he was breathing heavily as if he was exhausted.
Looking at his slightly trembling legs, it was amazing that he was even standing.
However, Moyong Gi didn't even pay attention. Instead, he was lost in thought with a serious face. Zhuge Yeon cautiously spoke to him.
"What are you thinking about so hard?"
"Ah... it's nothing else, I was just thinking of changing the training method a little..."
As soon as the words fell, So Moogyeol's face lit up.
He shot up his upper body as if strength had surged from somewhere.
"Right? Even you can see that this doesn't make sense, right? Good thinking."
But Moyong Gi looked at So Moogyeol with a sullen face.
"Who said it doesn't make sense? You're growing so fast."
"How is this growing so fast? Every day is a war."
"So? Hasn't your skill improved?"
At Moyong Gi's question, So Moogyeol had nothing to say.
It was true that his skill had improved. And it had improved so much that it was unrecognizable.
So much so that Hong Sochen, who was surprised by So Moogyeol's rapid improvement in his lightness technique, was imitating So Moogyeol's training method by releasing a mad dog.
Even though he had desperately tried to stop him, saying it was embarrassing, the effect was so certain that he didn't even pretend to listen.
However, it was not what So Moogyeol had wanted.
So Moogyeol, with a dejected face, flopped his upper body down.
"Aish. Just getting my hopes up... then what? What training method are you changing?"
"What do you mean, what? I'm talking about Yeon. I think we need to make some changes..."
Zhuge Yeon, who had been listening quietly, looked at Moyong Gi.
"Me?"
"Yeah. I think your progress is a little slow."
At Moyong Gi's words, Zhuge Yeon's face darkened.
Even she thought that her own talent was lacking.
She didn't know when she was learning from Moyong Gi alone, but when Myung Jin and So Moogyeol joined, she could clearly feel the difference.
It was a stark contrast, especially with Myung Jin, who was growing day by day.
Zhuge Yeon, without realizing it, had a gloomy face. Moyong Gi sighed and then flicked her forehead.
Thwack!
"Ouch!"
Zhuge Yeon teared up and rubbed her forehead.
"There, there you go with that face again. How many times do I have to tell you? It's not that your talent is lacking. You're doing well enough."
"B-but..."
Zhuge Yeon glanced at Myung Jin. Moyong Gi chuckled.
"You can't compare yourself to him. In terms of talent alone, even I'm no match for him. Who can be compared to him? Just erase him from your mind. You have to compare yourself to something comparable. Give up on something like that. It's easier if you give up."
There is a saying, 'teach one and know ten.' It means that if you teach one thing, you understand ten, and there are actually kids like that.
Myung Jin was just such a case. What is commonly called a genius.
They are in a position that is too high for ordinary people to look up to. You shouldn't try to follow them.
It's because a sparrow will tear its crotch trying to follow a stork.
But most people don't know that they shouldn't even consider these kids as competitors in the first place.
They don't know that the correct answer is to leave their places empty in advance and fight for the remaining places.
At least Zhuge Yeon vaguely knew that principle.
Zhuge Yeon looked at Moyong Gi.
"Then?"
"This is really difficult. It's a matter of innate personality..."
This was the problem.
Myung Jin, who was naturally challenging, was not intimidated by Moyong Gi's sword.
Even in the midst of Moyong Gi's offensive, where all sorts of killing moves were rampant, he was thinking of how to thrust his own sword.
So Moogyeol was not as challenging a personality as Myung Jin.
However, he was not a quiet personality who was satisfied with just blocking Moyong Gi's attacks.
Although he wasn't just thinking of launching an attack like Myung Jin, he didn't leave the exposed gaps alone because he was scared of Moyong Gi's counterattack.
If he saw a gap, he would thrust his staff without delay. Even if it didn't seem like it, he had a temper.
But Zhuge Yeon was different.
She was too cautious. Even if Moyong Gi swung his sword without thinking and was startled, she had no intention of extending her sword at all.
She was only focused on blocking Moyong Gi's sword. Sometimes, even if Moyong Gi intentionally used excessive force, she wouldn't even get angry and would just think of how to block it.
Reason was far ahead of emotion.
'I think it's because I'm the opponent...'
If she had dueled with a rising generation martial artist of a similar level, Zhuge Yeon's sword would not have been so docile.
From Zhuge Yeon's current perspective, Moyong Gi was a wall that was so high that it was difficult to even look up to.
It was a natural phenomenon. In fact, the Moyong Gi in the Demon Sealing Valley was no different.
Having organized his thoughts, Moyong Gi nudged So Moogyeol with the tip of his foot.
"Why?"
"Go and call Woonhyun and Cheon Youngyoung."
"Why them?"
"If I tell you to call them, just call them, what's with all the talk. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Aish! Then ask Myung Jin. Don't you see I'm about to die?"
"If I ask him? Will he call them nicely? It'll be a relief if a sword fight doesn't break out."
So Moogyeol's face contorted. But he soon got up with a groan.
"Aish. I must have been crazy to learn the lightness technique, what is this."
So Moogyeol grumbled and left the training room.
***
Woonhyun, who was entering the training room, looked at Moyong Gi.
"What's with you? You're calling me first."
Cheon Youngyoung, who had come first, also looked at Moyong Gi with curious eyes. Moyong Gi grinned.
"You guys, don't you want to duel with me?"
Woonhyun's face lit up.
"Really? Have you changed your mind now?"
"What's with you? You said you'd rather die than do it..."
So Moogyeol looked at Moyong Gi with a new look.
Moyong Gi ignored So Moogyeol's gaze and showed three fingers.
"Three times a day."
"Hey. If you're going to use it, use it generously. What's with three times a day? So petty..."
Woonhyun's face contorted.
"I'm originally petty. So are you not going to do it?"
Of course, he had no intention of doing that.
From Woonhyun's perspective, who had seen with his own eyes how Myung Jin had changed, even that much was a blessing.
So he was about to accept it as if he couldn't win, but Cheon Youngyoung stepped forward first.
"Of course, there will be a price, right?"
"Of course. Do you think I'm crazy to teach you guys for free?"
Woonhyun, who had heard from So Moogyeol that the price was high, took a step back as if he was implicitly uncomfortable.
Cheon Youngyoung glared at Woonhyun and then asked again.
"What's the price? I can't afford something too expensive."
"It's three times a day, do you think I'd ask for something expensive? Think a little."
At Moyong Gi's chiding words, Cheon Youngyoung's brow furrowed, but she did not stop her question.
"So what's the price?"
Moyong Gi grabbed Zhuge Yeon's wrist.
Zhuge Yeon was pulled along, saying "uh, uh."
"It's nothing else. Just take turns dueling with her for one shichen a day. That's it."
Zhuge Yeon's eyes widened.
"With me?"
"Then? What do I have to gain from dueling with them? It's just annoying."
Woonhyun and Cheon Youngyoung's faces contorted. So Moogyeol, who had been just watching, stepped forward for them.
"Then does Yeon have something to gain?"
"If not, why would I be doing this, using my own time?"
"Then it means Yeon has something to gain."
So Moogyeol looked at Woonhyun and Cheon Youngyoung with a strange expression. But Myung Jin was faster in putting it into practice.
Myung Jin asked Moyong Gi.
"Can I duel too?"
"Why are you asking me? If you want to, do it. But it has nothing to do with me."
So Moogyeol glared.
"You're so damn petty."
Moyong Gi chuckled and looked at Zhuge Yeon.
"It's a good opportunity, so make the most of it. As you do it, you'll see what you have to do."
However, he did not give a detailed explanation.
Originally, things like this lasted longer when you realized them yourself.
And then, with a face that said he was done with his business, he was about to leave the training room, but Cheon Youngyoung stopped him.
"Just a moment."
"Why?"
As Moyong Gi looked back, Cheon Youngyoung had a hesitant expression.
"Um... Unseol too..."
"Huh? Why Unseol?"
When Moyong Gi couldn't understand, Cheon Youngyoung bit her lip.
She thought he was not only petty but also clueless.
However, taking a small deep breath, she finished her words this time.
"Can Unseol join too?"
"Hmm..."
Moyong Gi scratched his head for a moment, but he soon made a decision.
He judged that it was not good to treat his childhood friend too heartlessly.
But the main reason was that the more she experienced, the more it would help Zhuge Yeon.
"Do that. It's not like it takes a long time."
Moyong Gi readily agreed.
Cheon Youngyoung let out a quiet sigh as if she had solved a difficult problem.
Zhuge Yeon, with a cautious face, glanced at Moyong Gi.
***
"Let's go together. Huh?"
"I said no. What's wrong with her?"
At Cheon Youngyoung's persistent attitude, Baek Unseol finally got annoyed.
However, Cheon Youngyoung did not care. It was a hard-won opportunity. She was reluctant to let it go like this.
"Don't be like that, let's go. Huh? You wanted to learn from him too, right?"
"Ah, really! That's an old story. I don't want to now."
"Aren't you disappointed? How did we get this opportunity..."
Baek Unseol snorted.
"Hmph! What's there to be disappointed about! Our elder is better than him. I'm going to learn from our elder."
"But before..."
"That's because we're friends, I was trying to be friendly, do you think I really wanted to learn from him? What am I lacking?"
Baek Unseol was adamant. In this way, Cheon Youngyoung herself could not move.
Learning from Moyong Gi was very attractive, but she could not exchange Baek Unseol for it. Baek Unseol was her only friend.
Cheon Youngyoung's face darkened.
"Th-then me too..."
"Forget it. You girl. You're making me look like a bad person. Forget it, you go and learn."
At Baek Unseol's words, Cheon Youngyoung was shaken. Cheon Youngyoung's face was full of hesitation. But she soon shook her head.
"How can I do that, leaving you behind."
Baek Unseol glared.
"And you're going to see that guy every morning?"
"Th-that's..."
Cheon Youngyoung was flustered.
Baek Unseol chuckled.
"I'm joking. I'm not so narrow-minded as to say something about that."
And then, with a softened tone, she opened her mouth again.
"So go and learn. I'm really fine."
Cheon Youngyoung finally squeezed her eyes shut.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
"I said it's fine. And why are you sorry? That guy is the bad one."
Baek Unseol, with a face full of resentment, kept huffing.
As Cheon Youngyoung was cautiously watching, Baek Unseol shot up from her seat.
"Ah, right. I have to go to the elder now. I'm already late."
"Huh? Do that. Then next time..."
"I get it, so I'm leaving now. Go and learn well."
Cheon Youngyoung, who had been watching Baek Unseol's back as she walked away, let out a sigh and then turned her steps.
At that moment, Baek Unseol stopped walking and glanced back.
"If he wanted to come, he should have come himself. Why is he putting Youngyoung forward? So unmanly. I'm not even sure if I'll forgive him if he comes himself..."
Baek Unseol pouted her lips.
She pondered for a moment whether to accept it as if she couldn't win if Moyong Gi came to see her, but she soon walked away quickly.
However, Moyong Gi never came to see Baek Unseol in the end.
(End of Chapter)