Book 7 Chapter 15

Yun Jun-ho's Mysterious Encounter

It was impossible for Mo Yong-hwi, who had completed his training to the end, to be unharmed.

He had started training in a state where his wounds had not yet healed.

Seeing the smile on his fallen face,

it seemed he had achieved results that he found satisfactory.

'You endured this grueling training with such a wounded body!'

Everyone looked at the sleeping Mo Yong-hwi with admiring eyes.

What was even more surprising was Yun Jun-ho. His achievement this time was almost miraculous. This was because, although he hadn't made it into the final four, he was the one who lasted the longest among the others.

It was astonishing. One had to acknowledge his perseverance and tenacity alone. Yun Jun-ho was surprisingly well-trained.

"How did you grow so much in such a short time?"

Even Yeomdo, who had watched from beginning to end with wide-open eyes, could not believe the leap in his development. Curious, Yeomdo asked Yun Jun-ho, who had just regained consciousness.

"Yes! As I followed what an old man taught me, I got better and better!"

"What old man?"

"Yes! He was a strange Taoist old man who liked meat and wore a tattered uniform. He reminded me of our Grand Master at Hwasan. Ah! Of course, I don't mean our Grand Master likes meat, a carnivorous diet. He enjoys raw food."

"Tell me more!"

Yeomdo urged.

"Well…"

It happened a few days ago.

Yun Jun-ho decided to practice the Plum Blossom Swordplay deep in the mountains, a decision he had made after a long time. He had been feeling an overflow of energy in his body due to the harsh training at Cheonmu Academy and the arduous training during the joint camp. He had a premonition that this time it would go well.

Yun Jun-ho seriously assumed the posture for the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Forms. Red sword energy shot out from his sword.

"Plum Blossom Blooms!"

"Plum Blossom Unfolds!"

"Plum Blossom Soars!"

"Plum Blossom Falls!"

As the red sword energy scattered light, plum blossom petals began to bloom one by one in the air. And as the sword dance intensified, the plum blossom fragrance grew stronger in proportion. His face contorted in a strange way. It was his limit.

"Aargh!"

Finally, Yun Jun-ho dropped the sword he was holding. His whole body was covered in hives.

Unfolding the four forms consecutively was already a significant improvement. Yun Jun-ho had to frown at the subtle plum blossom fragrance.

"Hehehe! That's something!"

It was at that moment that he heard laughter from behind him.

"Hehehe! What an amusing child! To reach the Sword Aroma Realm at your age. And hives…"

With his body still covered in hives, Yun Jun-ho turned around. Red spots remained on his face, making him look rather comical.

Behind him stood an old man, wearing what was clearly once a Taoist uniform, now tattered and worn.

"Who are you, sir?"

Yun Jun-ho asked respectfully. His question was not rude and impulsive like someone else's.

"Sir? What are you talking about! You are a truly peculiar child. It's already astonishing to have reached the Sword Aroma Realm, a unique sword technique of the Hwasan Sect, at your age, and such a strong aroma at such a young age… Your achievement is as outstanding as anyone I've seen!"

"Who do you mean?"

"Hehehe! Yoo Hwan-kwon, they call him the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal in the Hwasan Sect, don't they? A person as obsessed with the sword as I am! He is my sworn brother!"

Yun Jun-ho almost lost his eyes. His eyeballs were about to pop out.

"Are… are you talking about Grand Master?"

Yun Jun-ho's eyes widened. A person who called Yoo Hwan-kwon, the supreme elder of the Hwasan Sect and the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal, his 'sworn brother' had appeared before him. Moreover, the attire, though old and tattered, was clearly that of the Wudang Sect.

Then the story… He remembered a bit of gossip he had heard when he was receiving favors from his Grand Master.

'There's a very old, sword-crazy brother in the Wudang Sect… his name is…'

Yun Jun-ho asked cautiously.

"May… may I ask your honorable name, elder?"

"Hm? Haven't I told you yet? Others call me Hyeon-geomja. It's not a very famous name!"

Although he insisted it wasn't a famous name, Yun Jun-ho had heard it countless times.

"I apologize for not recognizing you, elder."

Yun Jun-ho quickly performed a fist-and-palm salute. If he was of the same generation as Grand Master Yoo Hwan-kwon, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal, then he was of an immeasurably higher generation.

"Child! Don't you know that excessive courtesy is actually impolite? Receiving such greetings makes my whole body tingle and itch. More importantly, I am curious about your story."

"Yes? What do you mean?"

"What else would I mean! About the path of your seemingly clumsy Plum Blossom Swordplay, which does not befit the Sword Aroma Realm."

The old Taoist's eyes were filled with fascination.

"Hmm… so that's why you've been bullied?"

"Yes!"

Yun Jun-ho replied with a dejected look. He felt disheartened as he recalled the past. Of course, it wasn't as if he wasn't being bullied now.

"Bullied… A familiar echo."

It seemed Hyeon-geomja had also experienced bullying.

"You mean, elder also had such an experience?"

Yun Jun-ho was startled. The direct confession from Hyeon-geomja, the head of the Wudang Eight Swords and one of the Five Sword Masters of the world, that he had been bullied in his youth was a fresh shock to him.

Hyeon-geomja nodded and said,

"There was a time! People who stand out are always subjected to scrutiny!"

Hyeon-geomja's talent and ability were exceptional compared to his peers at the time. The only one with superior talent was his eldest disciple brother, Gongson Il-chwi.

And in any society, there were only two paths for those who stood out. To become an object of admiration and respect from others, or to be ostracized and subjected to scrutiny and collective bullying.

Gongson Il-chwi fell into the former category, receiving respect and admiration from others, while Hyeon-geomja fell into the latter, suffering collective ostracization. The person who treated him best was Gongson Il-chwi, his eldest disciple brother, who possessed superior talent. Since Gongson Il-chwi had no need to be jealous of him, he could treat him comfortably without ulterior motives.

"When you are among idiots who cannot accept the fact that there can be beings superior to themselves, talented and brilliant individuals are naturally isolated! The weak cannot tolerate the threat directed at them. Because they have always looked down on and trampled on those weaker than themselves. They fear retribution! They set the world according to their own standards and frameworks and think that those stronger than them will trample them. So they flinch in fear. That is what manifests as the social phenomenon of bullying."

"Then I…"

Yun Jun-ho's words were cut short by Hyeon-geomja before he could finish.

"Then what about those who torment and ostracize those weaker than themselves? Child! Why do you ask such an obvious question?"

Yun Jun-ho showed a bewildered expression, indicating that he did not understand at all.

"They are, of course, mentally immature individuals who have not yet come of age. They are bundles of selfishness who only care about themselves, who know nothing about empathy! They are fools and imbeciles not worth associating with, and furthermore, they are immature. In a word, they lack common sense! They are foolish and immature minds who cannot even consider how their actions affect those around them.

When you see such people, just laugh at them quietly! If you don't like them even more, it's also good to spank them until their bottoms are red. But child! Remember this one thing! Even if others collectively commit immature foolishness, you do not need to join that group of immature fools!"

"Yes…"

Yun Jun-ho remained silent, nodding obediently at Hyeon-geomja's long speech.

"Originally, the fewer fools, simpletons, imbeciles, and idiots there are, the more beneficial it is for the world."

"Yes! Elder!"

"Elder what! Call me Taoist! It sounds better, doesn't it?"

"Yes! Elder!"

"Tao, ist, sir!"

Hyeon-geomja emphasized each word as he spoke.

"Yes… Yes! Tao… Taoist!"

Although he had some reservations, Yun Jun-ho could not defy him.

"The laws of the world are cold, stern, and fair, so those who look down on others will eventually receive all the retribution. If not in this life, then in the next."

Jun-ho thought he was a rather aggressive grandfather for a Taoist. However, his words were undeniably true and struck Yun Jun-ho's heart like a searing pain.

"Originally, those kinds of people will all fall away once you become so strong that you reach a level they can no longer chase. I will teach you a few methods."

Hyeon-geomja said, his eyes gleaming. He looked like a child who had found an interesting toy.

This was about twenty days ago.

After hearing the story, Yeomdo said,

"Hoho! So that old man taught you this and that. And told you not to tell anyone about his identity or what he taught you?"

"Yes!"

"In short, it's a mysterious encounter!"

Yeomdo exclaimed. This idiot had somehow obtained a mysterious encounter without even realizing it. The fact that he wasn't even aware he had obtained a mysterious encounter was typical of Yun Jun-ho.

"Is that a mysterious encounter?"

He still had no awareness.

"Did you think a mysterious encounter was something else?"

"I thought a mysterious encounter was when you ate a spirit pill from a ten-thousand-year-old spirit, or fell off a cliff and obtained the lost martial arts of a past master…"

"Slap!"

Yeomdo's fist immediately flew towards Yun Jun-ho's head.

"You idiot! Do you think a mysterious encounter is something else? When you meet a strange destiny and it benefits you, that is a mysterious encounter."

Holding the lump that had appeared on his head, Yun Jun-ho stared blankly, lost in thought. To an observer, he looked quite foolish.

'Did I get a mysterious encounter?'

However, there was no one to answer for him. Yun Jun-ho, who didn't even know if he had become stronger or weaker.

While his colleagues were pushing their physical and mental limits and forging new paths through infinite patience, what was Bi Ryu-yeon doing? When others gained a sense of accomplishment through their sweat, what was he doing? When others reveled in the overwhelming wave of emotion and ecstatic joy, what was Bi Ryu-yeon doing?

"Munch munch!"

At that moment, Bi Ryu-yeon was still asleep, having not yet woken up. Even though he slept in nature without a blanket, the cold dew of dawn was no big deal to Bi Ryu-yeon. He was a seasoned veteran who had slept in a snow pile for three days. Worrying about dawn dew and the chill of the earth would have been an insult to his tenacious vitality and adaptability.

"Hahahaha!"

As the stinging morning sun began to tickle his face, Bi Ryu-yeon finally opened his eyes. Every one of his movements was filled with leisure.

"Gurgle"

As soon as he woke up, his stomach clock fiercely announced that it was time for a meal. The only problem with this clock was that it was too accurate.

"Zap!"

As Bi Ryu-yeon gestured with his eyes, a fruit fell from a tree. It was a delicious-looking apple. It fell for no reason, even though no crow flew by, so it was indeed an impudent apple. It still had a green hue, but not being red did not impede its edibility.

"Hmm! Shall I have fish for breakfast?"

Fruit was merely a preliminary warm-up before the meal.

About fifteen paces from the shade of the tree where Bi Ryu-yeon was sitting, there was a pond formed by a branch of a nearby stream.

To eat fish, one needed fish first. To catch fish, one needed a series of labors called fishing. However, there was no fishing rod anywhere on his body as he went to fish. Furthermore, he was still lying leisurely with his back against the tree trunk.

All Bi Ryu-yeon did was gaze at the deep blue pond. The pond was also a reason he had settled here.

What was he thinking now?

For a long time, Bi Ryu-yeon only spent time looking at the pond. He seemed determined to dissect the pond.

"Woong!"

Then, surprisingly, the pond changed. Something might be wrong. If the world wasn't going mad, how could this happen? It was unbelievable.

Ripples began to appear in the center of the pond, and the stagnant water began to swirl, forming a giant whirlpool. Then, a fish shot out from the center of the rapidly spinning whirlpool. It was as if the pond had thrown it out.

As the fish emerged half a span above the water's surface, Bi Ryu-yeon casually flicked his left index finger. The spirit of his mind moved smoothly, bringing the freshly caught fish before his eyes. With the small knife in his right hand, which he had taken out at some point, he skillfully cut the fish, quickly preparing a plate of instant raw fish.

"Then! I will eat well."

Since all the children had collapsed, he decided to end his breakfast with a simple plate of raw fish. Bi Ryu-yeon thought that he was indeed a thoughtful and wonderful eldest disciple brother.

Bi Ryu-yeon's hands began to skillfully move chopsticks.

The raw fish was incredibly fresh.