EP.62 It’s not yours. (1)
It’s not yours (1)
One month.
It was the time that had passed since I left Sega to go to Shaanxi.
I stopped by the village in the middle to do some maintenance, and I encountered the Demonic Gate a few times and fought it.
Fortunately, we were able to maintain a relatively peaceful journey without any deaths or injuries.
It would have been more strange for an accident to occur in a group that included not only the guards of the old guard, but also several plum blossom inspectors from the volcano.
As time passed and we reached a somewhat safer point, I had more time to train or think about random things.
Even though dozens of days have passed, I’m still bored because there’s still a long way to go.
If there’s anything different from the beginning, my biggest worry lately hasn’t been the boredom of heading to the volcano.
It wasn’t a sudden trip with Namgungbia.
It wasn’t a sudden, unexpected rumor.
“Small and medium scale!”
I think I said this before.
Youngpoong is said to be a more talkative person than you might think.
I think it needs some revision.
“Would you like to do some lower body exercises together today?”
It’s not that he talks too much, but he’s definitely not normal.
******************
Let’s think a little bit about the volcano wave.
First of all, among the sword training sects, the Hwasan sect is the most representative.
There are many other schools that practice swordsmanship, such as Kunlun and Mudang, other than the Hwasan School.
It was most likely thanks to the Hwasan Sword and Maehwaseon, the local chief, that he was able to sit in the representative position.
[Ahem.]
Shin Noya coughed in embarrassment.
I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to see it, but that was the reality.
In the past, there was also a record of Muwi being seen with the Volcanic Sword in the Blood Demon War.
The same goes for Wuwei, who was in his prime during countless battles with Sapa in the present era.
Although Geomjon was the best swordsman in the world at the time, there is still much debate about whether Maehwaseon is really up to par with him.
I think I just stepped back a little bit because I was sitting in the long seat.
There was a bit of a subtlety in the discussion about whether he was truly a warrior who could not match the Three Lords.
[To think so clearly… How amazing.]
‘… .’
I really didn’t like the excited voice.
Anyway, the biggest factor was not only the representative figures, but also the symbolism of the Hwasan faction.
Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
Among the countless swordsmanship styles spread throughout the Central Plains, this is considered the most beautiful, along with Geomjon’s Wolseonmugeom (月鮮舞劍).
Even though it is known that the sword of the Sword Master is a single-handed martial art, it does not have multiple branches like other schools, even though the martial art has a long history.
In that sense, the Volcano’s Black Sword is a sword technique that contains countless hearts as countless people have grown and evolved together over the centuries.
Just looking at the fight between Sword Dragon and me, it’s obvious.
The plum blossoms in full bloom around Yeongpung flow not due to the blowing wind, but due to the air that Yeongpung emits.
This meant that the plum blossoms moved according to the caster’s intention.
The volcano’s swordsmanship displayed between the countless flower petals is elegant and beautiful.
Sharpness and seriousness are also present in the sword, which looks like a beautiful dance on one piece.
It wasn’t for nothing that it boasted such overwhelming difficulty and level among swordsmanship techniques. Because while handling so many plum trees, you had to be consistent with your swordsmanship.
So, as it is a martial art of the volcano that requires greater enlightenment, I expected that it would require arduous training.
“… I think my chest area has gotten a bit smaller lately, maybe because I haven’t done much physical training or because I’m tall.”
“Death penalty, but don’t show your chest… It’s ugly.”
“Priest, put on some clothes. The other ladies will turn their heads away because they feel embarrassed when they see you.”
“…I do that because I’m embarrassed.”
“Priest, when people see that, they say it’s bullshit.”
I’m scared to death every time I see it.
Although it is said that the body type of the Gu family is small, the arms of the Taoist disciples were as long as the thighs of an average man.
I remember it as having a very beautiful background.
Why are you all…?
[Everyone looks good, that’s what an unmanned vehicle should be like.]
When I look at it, it was clearly because of this person.
If the upper water is like this, how can the lower water be okay?
‘Shin Noya, honestly, did you forget that you were a Taoist?’
[I hear all kinds of crazy things in the world…. What kind of bullshit are you spitting out to a Taoist master?]
‘You’re not a long-winded person anymore.’
[… .]
Shin Noya was heard saying in a frustrated voice, “… That’s right.”
I felt a little sorry because I think I hit you too hard.
Let’s go back to the story and think back on the ten days I spent with Yeongpung.
He was also crazy in many ways.
“Since you are a martial artist, your physical training must be different from mine. I am very interested in it. If it is not too much trouble, could you please…?”
“No, it’s true.”
I think it was probably the day after the rain.
All of a sudden, a crazy guy appears on your back, holding a rock the size of a carriage on his back. How could anyone not be surprised?
“…Why are you holding that Yeongpung Dojo?”
“Oh, I didn’t have any tools to use for physical training, so I picked some up nearby.”
Don’t you usually say that you pick up things like that?
“Oh, yes… .”
“Oh, are you interested in the old Sohyeop too? I think there’s another one over there, so I’ll go get it….”
“No! I’m not interested.”
Are you really practicing with that?
Is that how you originally train?
I thought I had made some progress and was working hard, but seeing that made me feel a little impatient.
Of course, I had no intention of following that.
“Youngpung Dojo, do you use it to train?
“Huh? Why do you use bets when practicing external skills…?”
“Oh, I see… I asked such a strange question.”
So you’re saying that you don’t even have to bet on training with that?
It’s amazing that he can endure such extreme exercise.
As with the other disciples, it was amazing that such beautiful swordsmanship could come from such bulging muscles.
Maybe it’s because Youngpoong is relatively young, but his shortcomings don’t seem to be that noticeable yet.
Large muscles are a disadvantage when it comes to flexible movements.
In particular, shortcomings in this sense tend to be evident in dark techniques, swordsmanship, and boxing.
This was a case where excessive training became poisonous.
[Everything must return.]
‘What do you mean?’
[Do you know that the body of an unmanned being changes according to the mind and emotions it contains?]
Of course, I knew that.
Depending on what martial arts you learn and what mind method you use, your body changes.
A typical example is the appearance of the Habuk Pengga warriors, who are physically strong and gigantic, and this is a change in their appearance to use their martial arts skills.
So, among them, Peng Woo-jin, who had a thin and noble body, was a unique person.
[The first training you receive as a disciple of the volcano, and the training you must do until the end, is that you yourself will become the land and fertilizer.]
‘Speaking for yourself?’
[Yes, so that a stronger tree can grow, and more beautiful plum blossoms can be produced.]
‘Are you saying it has something to do with that ugly body?’
[That’s just a process. You can tell just by looking at the disciples and elders of the volcano right now.]
Sure, I have a vague memory of seeing a plum blossom in the past, but at least it wasn’t an old man with such a bizarre body.
Rather, it felt like I was small, like a swordsman.
So does that mean that the body changes again and again?
The starting point is an unmanned vehicle that reaches the stoppage before it is expected and crosses the wall.
It seems like changes start to appear as the climax approaches.
Then, in a way, could this also be called a complete transformation? Because it means that the body changes as it goes beyond a certain level.
When I asked a question, Shin Noya said:
[It’s not that grand. It’s just following the righteousness of the mind.]
‘Is it really okay to tell a secret like this to a stranger?’
[You wouldn’t know it even if you did, so what kind of secret is this?]
‘That’s true.’
It is said that when the body that has built the foundation gains enlightenment, its own framework changes.
I was curious about how and in what way the mind was transformed to bring about such a change.
Since the one I have right now is also one-sided, I couldn’t look at the other one.
“Then let’s definitely train together later.”
“… Yes, I understand.”
I said it, but I won’t do it together.
How do you follow that?
After Youngpung leaves and I do some beginner training, I head back to the carriage.
Someone was peeking out from behind the tree.
Her small, pouty face and big eyes are turned towards me.
Wi Seol-ah was stealing glances at me in a subtle manner.
“…huh?”
When our eyes met, he was startled and hid behind the tree again, but the back of his head, which he had not been able to hide properly, was slightly sticking out.
What is that? Could it be something hidden?
[The girl’s behavior is cute.]
As I slowly approached, Wisul-ah turned her back and was hiding, wriggling around.
“what are you doing?”
“…!”
My back jerks.
Although the expression was not visible, it seemed to express surprise as if someone was wondering how he knew.
“What are you doing here?”
When I called twice, Wi Seol-ah slowly turned her back.
He was holding a water jug and a dry cloth beneath his pouting lips, avoiding eye contact.
I chuckled at that sight.
I was wondering if something was bothering you since we hadn’t talked properly for a few days.
Even so, it was cute that he brought this and came looking for me.
[Even someone with a brain like yours can use the word cute.]
‘Do you think I’m not even human?’
[I thought about it a little bit…]
‘… .’
This old man… .
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
“…no.”
Although he still hasn’t said properly what’s wrong.
Wi Seol-ah carefully handed me what she was holding.
I just got up and got some cold water and drank it right away.
It wasn’t a problem because the sweat on my body was the mind method, but I pretended to wipe it off.
I stroked Wi Seol-ah’s head as she secretly glanced at me.
He tries hard to keep his expression straight, but he starts to loosen up little by little.
Every time I see something like this, something stirs in my heart.
[That’s what I like to see.]
Good? How dare I?
Suddenly, I took back the hand I was stroking.
Wi Seol-ah, who was letting her head rest on his hand, looked at him with regret, but he tried to ignore it.
“Have you eaten?”
I asked him lightly about his daily life.
The atmosphere has been strange these past few days, so I haven’t been able to talk to you.
“yes.”
It’s still a short answer.
But I didn’t give up and asked a little more.
“What did you eat?”
“Fish… meat… vegetables… and potatoes that Hong-wa unnie steamed…”
“Yeah… You must have been eating well.”
I guess mood and taste are separate things.
After a few more conversations, her pouting lips disappeared and her gaze, which had been looking at the trees and grass, turned back to me.
The corners of his lips, slightly smiling, were similar to usual.
Of course, I still felt a bit uneasy, but I guess this is okay?
“Let’s go, we have to leave again now.”
“yes!”
He handed the water jug and cloth back to Wi Seol-ah and turned towards the carriage.
Wi Seol-ah stopped for a moment and watched as Goo Yang-cheon crossed the forest toward the carriage.
Wi Seol-ah, who was left alone, stroked my head.
It still feels like the touch of Guyangcheon’s caressing hand remains.
“Oh, my lady?”
Wi Seol-ah turned her head at the voice heard from behind her.
Yeongpung was standing there, drenched in sweat, as if he had just finished training.
Yeongpung smiles brightly at the object that Wisul-ah was holding.
“Oh, I’m really thirsty. Can I have a drink?”
Wi Seol-ah looked at Yeong-pung for a moment and then answered.
“No, this is yours, young master.”
Yeong-pung hesitated slightly at the firm answer.
“… Ah! It’s the old Sohyeop. So you must have been waiting for the old Sohyeop to finish his training. It’s been hard.”
As he said that, Yeongpung tried to pat Wisul-ah’s head.
Wi Seol-ah avoided the attack by tilting her head and taking a step back.
Because of that, Youngpoong’s hand was just hanging in the air.
“I’ll go first.”
After saying that, Wi Seol-ah nodded and quickly followed the path that Guyangcheon had taken.
Yeong-pung, left alone, scratched his cheek with his hand.
“… Was that what it originally felt like?”
When I was with the old boss, he always seemed to be smiling.
The gaze he had just seen was so cold that it was disconcerting.
Moreover, for some reason, I felt a creepy feeling pass over my back.
I must be mistaken.
Yeongpung simply thought so.
******************
As time passed, summer entered its hottest season.
The carriage, which had been moving slowly, finally stopped.
Namgungbia got out of the carriage wearing a mask amidst the bustling crowd.
It was because people stared at me wherever I went, so I tried to frame them for something.
When I looked up, a tall mountain was facing us.
[The volcano is always the same. It feels noble and upright.]
I nodded in response to Shin Noya’s emotional words.
“… Yes, it’s really damn high.”
Volcanic wave.
I have finally arrived at a place that holds many meanings for me.
