“Ah…”
Moyong Cheon let out a low sigh.
Abbess Hong-ryeon’s demand was tantamount to openly declaring her ambition to overturn the landscape of the martial world and make the Emei Sect the real power.
“The Emei Sect has always maintained its status as one of the Nine Great Sects, but it has never once produced a leader for the Alliance.”
“Abbess…”
“Nine years from now, if you are victorious in your duel with the Heavenly Demon, the world will kneel before the God of War. Recommending a leader for the Martial Alliance should not be too much to ask.”
Confidence was evident in Abbess Hong-ryeon’s voice.
For some reason, it seemed she too believed that there was no way Moyong Cheon could be defeated by the Heavenly Demon.
“If I can defeat the Heavenly Demon, such a task would be a small matter. Furthermore, it is not as if I would be recommending someone without skill; if I am to recommend the one called the Sword Empress, Abbess Hong-ryeon, it would not trouble my conscience or conviction in the slightest.”
“Then…”
“However.”
Moyong Cheon cut Abbess Hong-ryeon off.
“I dare not claim certain victory in a duel against the Heavenly Demon.”
“How can you say…”
“The people of the Orthodox Martial Alliance, not knowing the Heavenly Demon’s true strength, predict my certain victory. But this is a misjudgment.”
“…”
“The Heavenly Demon is by no means beneath me. Rather, in terms of martial realm, I can state with certainty that he is the greatest under heaven in this era.”
Abbess Hong-ryeon’s face turned pale.
She couldn’t help but be bewildered, as the supreme master of the Orthodox Faction had just acknowledged the head of the Demonic Cult as the greatest of the age.
“However, I will do my best. As my moniker, the War Fiend, suggests, I will have a magnificent fight. And if I win that bloody battle, I will strive to ensure that the next leader of the Martial Alliance comes from the Emei Sect.”
War Fiend!
Only upon hearing those words did Abbess Hong-ryeon manage to shake off some of her bewilderment.
She knew well why Moyong Cheon’s moniker was not Martial God, but God of War—that is, a fiend for battle.
‘Moyong Cheon never loses a fight. He will surely win.’
She began to speak softly.
“I believe in the God of War.”
“I shall fight with my entire life on the line.”
***
“This place is called Bipa Pavilion, where the founder Gwak-yang cultivated her internal energy and rested. Of course, our current Abbess also always enjoys meditating here!”
So-ah and Im-yi’s eyes grew as wide as lanterns.
While touring the various parts of the Emei Sect, the children’s gazes had become fixed on a small octagonal pavilion. The magnificent view from Bipa Pavilion, which overlooked the mountain scenery of Mount Emei, was simply too enchanting.
Faced with the atmosphere of Bipa Pavilion, where sheer cliffs and hazy clouds unfolded like a landscape painting, the distinction between old and young was meaningless.
“Wow~ It’s so cool.”
“It looks just like a place where immortals would play!”
As So-ah and Im-yi burst out in admiration, the Emei disciple also smiled.
“Hoho. You two, for being so small, you have quite the eye, don’t you?”
“Hehe, it’s because we’ve never seen anything like this before.”
So-ah and Im-yi grinned broadly, still looking around at the scenery of Bipa Pavilion.
‘To think such pretty children are orphans…’
The young Emei disciple felt a pang in her heart for some reason.
“What are your names?”
“I’m So-ah. Jin So-ah!”
“I don’t have a family name. I’ve just been called Im-yi since I was little.”
‘The girl named Im-yi’s parents must have been slaves, seeing as she has no family name.’
Just then.
“What’s your name, big sis?!”
So-ah asked the young disciple, his eyes wide and curious.
In response, she broke into a full-blown smile, knelt down, and gently pinched So-ah’s cheek.
“Haha, you little rascal! Big sis? You, I like you.”
“Aah, I asked for your name!”
“Why? Did you fall for me or something?”
“Yuck!”
So-ah’s face scrunched up like a flounder as he turned his head away.
At his comical expression, the young disciple patted his head and laughed again.
“Hahaha, my name is Eun Min-min.”
“Eun Min-min?”
“Yep. If we meet again in the future, call me Sister Min-min.”
“I’ll try calling you that now.”
“What?”
“Big sis Min-min! Hehe.”
“Me too, me too! Big sis Min-min! Big sis Min-min, you’re so pretty, hehe.”
This time, Im-yi also chimed in affably.
‘They’ve grown up without a single care. How can this be?’
No matter how she looked at them, Min-min found it hard to accept that So-ah and Im-yi were orphans who carried scars.
In the midst of this.
Moyong Cheon and Abbess Hong-ryeon, having finished their conversation, came outside and approached Bipa Pavilion.
“Oh? Grandpa!”
“Grandpaaa!”
Spotting Moyong Cheon, So-ah and Im-yi rushed forward and clung to his trouser legs.
“Ho ho, did you have a good look around?”
“Yes! The Emei Sect is huge! If it weren’t for big sis Min-min, we would have gotten lost.”
“Big sis Min-min showed us around and gave us sweet dumplings. The dumplings were delicious!”
At that, not only Moyong Cheon but also Abbess Hong-ryeon smiled.
Then, she approached Im-yi and gently began to speak.
“Child, your name is Im-yi, correct?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Hoho, ma’am? I am quite old. It would be right to call me grandmother.”
“Huh? You don’t look that old, though?”
“That is because I have learned martial arts.”
“Aha!”
“You will become like me, too.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Once you learn to control the Nine Yin Severed Meridians with our sect’s martial arts, your age will not easily show on the outside. While you may not be immortal, you will be ageless, in a sense.”
“Um… I don’t really understand what you mean.”
“Im-yi.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve been in a lot of pain until now, haven’t you?”
“Yes, Grandpa said that if I came to the Emei Sect, my illness could be cured.”
“That’s right. From now on, Im-yi, you won’t be in pain anymore. This grandmother will cure you.”
“Really?”
“Of course, because from now on, you will be this grandmother’s disciple.”
***
Moyong Cheon couldn’t help but be surprised anew.
And it wasn’t just Moyong Cheon who was surprised.
Abbess Hong-ryeon was as well, and the disciples of the Emei Sect were also quite taken aback.
It was because of Im-yi’s attitude.
A girl of only nine years.
They had thought it would be difficult for her to accept a sudden parting.
But their prediction was splendidly wrong.
When Abbess Hong-ryeon said she would take her in, didn’t she just accept it calmly and nod her head?
Considering she was still a child, it was an incredibly composed reaction.
The problem was So-ah.
Once the separation from Im-yi was decided, So-ah couldn’t hide his tears and began to wail loudly, eventually burying his face in Im-yi’s shoulder.
“Sob… sob… Im-yi. Does this mean we can’t see each other anymore?”
“So-ah…”
At this sight, Moyong Cheon and Abbess Hong-ryeon burst out laughing.
“Hoho, your name is So-ah, right?”
Abbess Hong-ryeon asked So-ah.
“Sniff… Yes.”
“Im-yi is staying here to treat her illness, so wouldn’t it be right for you to cheer her on, So-ah?”
Only after hearing Abbess Hong-ryeon’s words did So-ah wipe his tears with his sleeve and stop crying.
Just then, Moyong Cheon added.
“So-ah. When you miss Im-yi a lot, you can come visit her from time to time, so don’t be too heartbroken.”
“Okay…”
“And Im-yi.”
This time, Moyong Cheon spoke to Im-yi.
“Yes, Grandpa.”
“The Abbess of the Emei Sect is a wonderful person called the Sword Empress. You must listen well to her words, understand?”
“Yes, Grandpa. Thank you. Please stay healthy. And…”
“Go on, speak.”
“Don’t forget Im-yi.”
At Im-yi’s words, Moyong Cheon’s heart skipped a beat.
He held Im-yi’s hand tightly.
Just like when they first met.
“I will not forget.”
“…”
“Please, control the Nine Yin Severed Meridians and grow up healthy.”
It was then.
Tears began to well up in the eyes of the composed Im-yi.
“Grandpa!”
Im-yi cried out and threw herself into Moyong Cheon’s arms.
“Living Buddha Grandpa… goodbye.”
Moyong Cheon simply held Im-yi without a word.
Sometimes, silence is better than a hundred words.
Especially if it is a moment of parting.
***
The shorter the lingering feeling of a farewell, the better.
Knowing this well, Moyong Cheon began teaching So-ah martial arts as soon as they returned to Samryun Peak.
The first thing he chose was the Six Harmonies Fist, a representative third-rate martial art of the martial world.
The training method for his own martial foundation, the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, was so brutally dangerous that he did not even pass it down to the descendants of his own family.
Therefore, he intended to teach So-ah the hereditary martial arts of the Moyong Family, and he chose the Six Harmonies Fist as a starting point to gauge So-ah’s talent.
“Pant… pant… Grandpa, this isn’t working well.”
So-ah, who had been stepping through the eight trigrams while throwing punches, soon hit a wall and asked.
Moyong Cheon explained again to So-ah with a gentle smile.
“It is because when you step on the directions, you are too conscious of it, causing the trajectory and form of your fist to fall apart. Of course, the moment one reaches the pinnacle of martial arts, the more formless, odorless, and colorless it is, the higher the realm one achieves, but the first step must be on the right path. Today is the first day, so do not overdo it. Engrave this in your heart and practice again tomorrow.”
“I understand, Grandpa.”
“I have prepared dinner in the kitchen. When the sun sets, wash up and eat.”
“What about you, Grandpa?”
“I too must train my martial arts today. My martial arts training is quite rough and might mess up the estate, so I think I need to go to the bamboo forest, which is quite a distance away. You’ll be alright by yourself, won’t you?”
“Yes! Have a good trip, Grandpa.”
“If I am late, do not wait up and go to sleep first.”
Moyong Cheon left these words and departed from the estate.
The sole purpose of his decision to live in seclusion was the refinement of his martial arts.
Having wasted several days recently due to Im-yi’s matter, he intended to actually practice the Ten-Second Invincible Arts and loosen up his body today, rather than engaging in a virtual duel with the Heavenly Demon through meditation.
‘So-ah is more of a dullard than I thought…’
Moyong Cheon thought as he walked.
It would be a lie to say he hadn’t secretly held expectations for So-ah’s intelligence.
Of course, he had no intention of raising So-ah to be a supreme master, but he had harbored an inner thought that he might become a decent talent.
But when he actually laid the cards on the table, So-ah was closer to a dullard than a prodigy.
‘It would be better to teach him writing rather than martial arts.’
Moyong Cheon had such a thought.
What did it matter if it was martial arts or writing?
Moyong Cheon simply wished for So-ah to grow up healthy and strong.
But that was a miscalculation.
For nearly a decade, Moyong Cheon had prided himself on never having misjudged anything regarding martial arts.
But that pride was shattered to pieces.
It was the next morning.
Moyong Cheon, having finished his training in the bamboo forest and returned to the estate, stared at one spot with terrified eyes.
The place his gaze was directed at was,
“Pant… pant… Hyaaaah!”
A boy, his entire body drenched in sweat as if he had been caught in the rain.
A boy whose face was tinged with a deathly pallor from how much he had pushed his body, who seemed to be struggling even to breathe.
But a boy whose eyes, shining with righteous light, burned as brightly as a lantern.
It was the nine-year-old boy, So-ah.
‘Good heavens… surely, he hasn’t been training without rest until now? A child who is training for the first time in his life?’
So-ah’s body looked precarious at a single glance.
Moyong Cheon recognized at once the signs that appear when the body reaches its absolute limit.
However.
“Thwack!”
Whoosh!
“Wow! I did it!”
So-ah was clearly happy.
Even in a state where it was a wonder he could even support his own body, So-ah was definitely smiling.
‘Perhaps…’
“Oh? Grandpa, when did you get here?!”
‘Perhaps So-ah might be able to learn the Ten-Second Invincible Arts!’
An indescribable emotion surged in Moyong Cheon’s shining eyes.
‘Oh, heavens. Did you send So-ah to me for this purpose!’
(End of Chapter)