Chapter 39

Chapter 38. A School So Desolate Even Beggars Wouldn't Pick It Up! (3)

"…Are you alright?"

"Yes. Cough! I'm fine."

"Are you really alright?"

"Absolutely fine. Cough! Cough!"

"You don't look fine…"

Hyun-jong's face twisted in concern as he looked at Cheong-myeong. The state of the boy sitting in front of him was deplorable. He was emaciated, and his face was deathly pale.

'How bad must his health be?'

No matter how you looked at it, he seemed on the verge of starvation. If a stranger saw him, they might spit and curse, wondering if the disciples weren't even given enough to eat.

'He didn't look like this when he first came.'

Hyun-jong turned his head with a subtle expression and asked Un-am.

"What did the Medical Hall say?"

"They said his vital energy is depleted."

"Vital energy?"

"Yes. They said his vital energy is depleted due to excessive training and that he needs rest to recover."

"Wow!"

Hyun-jong looked at Cheong-myeong with a moved expression.

"You, to train until your vital energy is depleted. Why did you do such a foolish thing?"

'That's not it.'

Training is freezing to death.

Since coming to Huashan, Cheong-myeong hasn't been able to train properly. But what kind of training is this?

Of course, the Medical Hall had nothing else to say. It's true that his vital energy is depleted and his body is damaged. How could they imagine that a newly initiated disciple would use innate energy and deplete his vital energy? Even if Hua Tuo himself were there, he wouldn't have a different answer.

A strange misunderstanding arose, but in such times, it's best to be honest.

"I'm sorry, Chief. I wanted to learn Huashan's martial arts as quickly as possible, and I ended up…"

"Wow, prodigy. You are a prodigy."

The Chief nodded repeatedly, as if Cheong-myeong was the best thing he had ever seen.

Cheong-myeong wasn't lying. His heart was true!

"Haste makes waste. What can you do if your body is damaged?"

"I will be more cautious, Chief."

"Right, right."

Hyun-jong smiled contentedly.

The child before him was truly Huashan's blessing. He was a bundle of luck that had rolled in. How could he not be precious?

"By the way, do you enjoy tea?"

"Not really."

Cheong-myeong shrugged.

'If it were alcohol, maybe.'

Tea was too bland for Cheong-myeong's taste. Unlike alcohol, which stimulated his throat, tea was just water with a grassy flavor.

The Chief, who had said that Cheong-myeong was a mess and couldn't become a Taoist, but what could you do about taste?

'Is there a rule that Huashan's Chief must enjoy tea?'

The former Chief was also deeply versed in the art of tea. And from what Cheong-myeong could see, the current Chief was also skilled in making tea.

The Chief handed the tea he had prepared with care to Cheong-myeong, who took it with both hands.

"Even though you don't enjoy it, it's a gesture of our school. At least taste it."

"Yes."

Without the process of savoring the aroma, Cheong-myeong drank the tea in one go.

"…"

While tea is usually enjoyed more for its aroma than its taste, it seemed that tea held no more meaning for Cheong-myeong than hot water.

Hyun-jong, who watched with a pained expression, asked as soon as Cheong-myeong put down the cup.

"How was it?"

"It's tea."

"…"

A subtle disappointment clouded Hyun-jong's stern face, but Cheong-myeong was simply being honest, as befitting a Taoist.

"Ahem. I see."

Hyun-jong cleared his throat to dispel the awkwardness and softened his expression.

"I called you here to commend you for your recent actions. Thanks to you, Huashan was able to escape a crisis. You did a great job."

"I didn't do anything."

"How could you not have done anything? If it weren't for you, we would have been out on the streets by now."

"I just happened to be there and stumbled upon the box by chance."

"Hehe. By chance."

Hyun-jong shook his head.

"There is no such thing as chance in this world. Everything is the result of connections."

Cheong-myeong nodded quietly.

It was just a casual remark, but Hyun-jong's words hit the mark.

'Sometimes he can be so sharp.'

"Isn't that right, Un-am?"

"That's right, Chief. Even if all this happened by chance, the effort that caused the chance is not insignificant. Moreover, not being tempted by the treasure and informing the Chief, how can that effort be considered small?"

"Right, right."

Hyun-jong stroked his beard, looking pleased.

"Therefore."

Then he looked at Cheong-myeong with warm eyes.

"Rewarding those who have done well is only natural. Huashan will reward you. That's why I called you here."

"Reward?"

"Yes. Is there anything you want?"

Cheong-myeong fell into a slight contemplation.

What do I want?

"If you can let go of such a large sum of money without regret, it must be a lie. If you need money, I will give you an appropriate amount."

"I'm fine with money."

"Hmm?"

Hyun-jong's eyes widened slightly.

"You don't need money?"

"Yes. Since Huashan provides food and clothes, what use would money have for me? There's nothing to spend it on in these mountains."

"Hehehe. I see, I see."

Hyun-jong smiled.

'A vessel for the Dao.'

Even if there's no use for it, giving up the desire for money is not easy. Even if you don't need it now, you might need it in the future.

He doesn't seem like a child who can't foresee such things, but his refusal of money shows that he practices non-desire. He is a vessel for the Dao.

However, Cheong-myeong's inner thoughts were far from Hyun-jong's warm interpretation.

'What's the point of that?'

The Chief's secret storage. Now, it's no longer the Chief's but Cheong-myeong's, and it's filled with so much treasure that it would make Hyun-jong faint if he saw it.

Cheong-myeong is already the richest person in Huayin County.

A poor Chief giving a small reward is not necessary.

"If not money, what do you want? I can let you learn a martial art that you can't learn at your current level."

"Martial arts are fine too."

"…Really? Even martial arts are fine?"

"Yes."

"Do you have no interest in martial arts?"

Cheong-myeong shook his head again.

"It's not that. As a disciple, I believe that the sages of Huashan have set the martial arts to be learned at each level for a reason."

Hyun-jong's eyes widened.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Didn't the Chief just say that hasty eating causes indigestion?"

"That's right."

"I think the same applies to martial arts. I will learn what is appropriate for my level and progress steadily, even if it's slow."

"Right. That's correct. Your words are truly correct."

Hyun-jong nodded repeatedly.

The more they talked, the more he liked Cheong-myeong. A young child who understands the Dao and the natural order.

'Where did such a genius come from?'

Hyun-jong, overwhelmed with joy, couldn't hide his smile, but of course, Cheong-myeong's thoughts were entirely different.

'I have to give you martial arts, damn it!'

Cheong-myeong, who was already struggling with how to pass on the other martial arts he had learned, was frustrated.

It would have been easier to pass everything at once. But human nature is peculiar; if you give a golden Buddha and a silver Buddha at the same time, the value of the silver Buddha is diminished.

If you give the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique and the Seven Plum Sword at the same time, who would bother to learn the Seven Plum Sword? As the Chief said, haste makes waste.

'I have to pay attention to these little things.'

Chief, I'm sorry.

I should have paid more attention when the Chief nagged. I should have realized how much hard work he was doing.

Seeing Huashan through the eyes of the Chief, I can imagine how difficult it was for the former Chief, Qing-wen. And much of that difficulty must have been due to me.

I should have listened.

It's hard to atone to the deceased Qing-wen, but I will do my best for the current Chief.

"Your lack of desire is a good thing, but it's a bit difficult for me now. So, is there anything you need?"

'What do I need?'

What can I do for Cheong-myeong in Huashan, where the only thing left is the name?

After some thought, Cheong-myeong spoke.

First, I need some freedom of movement. That will broaden my range of activities. It's more urgent than anything else.

"Chief. I don't slack off in my martial arts training."

"Your appearance says it all."

"…"

Cheong-myeong cleared his throat and continued.

"But I think there are limits to just learning martial arts within this pure temple. I want to see the wider world. Please allow me to go down to Huayin when I want to."

"Hmm."

Hyun-jong furrowed his brow slightly.

"I understand your intention, but it goes against Huashan's rules. Your contributions are sufficient, but if I allow this, it might cause dissatisfaction among others. Let me think about it."

"Yes, Chief."

"Is there anything else?"

Cheong-myeong, who had been thinking, opened his eyes wide.

"Chief!"

"Hmm?"

"Look at me. My health is not good."

"Yes, I can see that."

"The Medical Hall said my vital energy is depleted."

"Yes, I know that."

"So, could you give me a spirit pill?"

"…A spirit pill?"

"Yes. A Huashan spirit pill. Most schools have one, don't they?"

Hyun-jong burst into laughter.

"Hehehe. So you need a spirit pill. Yes, a spirit pill is good. What could be better for nourishing the body?"

"Yes! That's right!"

"Hehehe. Yes, a spirit pill. Your contributions are sufficient to receive a spirit pill. Yes. Hmm… Yes…"

Hyun-jong glanced at Cheong-myeong and then spoke in a soft voice.

"You said you want to go down to Huayin sometimes?"

"…Yes?"

"Of course, it goes against the rules, but considering your contributions, I can grant this request. Un-am, listen."

"Yes! Chief!"

"In the name of the Chief of Huashan, I hereby grant permission for the disciple Cheong-myeong to go down to Huayin without needing anyone's approval."

"Yes!"

"However, Cheong-myeong must not leave Huayin, and he must take full responsibility for any actions taken there. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand. But…"

Cheong-myeong tilted his head.

"What about the spirit pill?"

"Your training should not be affected by going down to Huayin."

"…"

"Hehehe. Yes, then you may leave now."

"Ah, no, Chief. The spirit pill…"

"I have high hopes for you. Strive without rest."

"…"

"Yes."

"Take care, Chief."

Cheong-myeong bowed and shuffled out, and Hyun-jong smiled.

'I don't have any spirit pills to eat and die, you brat!'

Better to die than to suffer.

Better to die than to suffer.