Chapter: 551
A day passed.
Leaving behind the unexpected meeting with Gu Ryunghwa and Yeongpung.
Since it was quite late, I spent the night simply hanging out nearby.
And so, early in the morning came.
I had just finished my usual early morning training.
And there was Yeongpung beside me.
Thud-!
I quickly picked up the rock I was holding and tossed it away.
As the rock fell among the pebbles, I wiped the slight sweat trickling down and glanced at Yeongpung.
“Hoo…!”
Yeongpung looked busy regulating his breathing, as if he was still immersed in his training.
In the meantime, I scrutinized Yeongpung.
‘His muscles seem to have bulged a lot?’
His height hasn’t changed since I first saw him.
This was to be expected, as he had already finished growing physically back then.
However.
‘…How did he grow so much?’
Yeongpung, who once had a slender body, had undergone some significant transformation over the years, particularly in his upper body.
Tight and solid muscles.
It wasn’t to an overwhelming proportion, but it was incredibly different from his past appearance.
‘What on earth happened to him?’
It feels different than if it were solely a result of training.
So, is it a complete transformation?
‘No, that sounds too strange.’
There’s a strange sense of incongruity.
Even more so.
“Youngpung Dojo.”
“Yes?”
At my call, Yeongpung, who had been swinging the rock here and there, turned his gaze towards me.
I said as I looked at him.
“Your energy is leaking out.”
“Ah!”
Startled by my words, Yeongpung began to collect his energy.
From the start of his training, Yeongpung had been unable to control his energy, letting it out in large quantities.
It wasn’t too uncomfortable because it didn’t seem aggressive and had a Taoist flair.
However, with it pouring out like that, it was a bit strange.
“Oh, sorry. Hahaha….”
After hearing my remark, Yeongpung looked embarrassed and started gathering his energy back.
I had noticed this yesterday too, but it seemed…
‘I guess he must’ve obtained a boon or something.’
Rapid physical growth.
Plus, the sudden increase in energy that he couldn’t control.
In cases where someone like him finds themselves in a similar situation, I’ve only seen one possibility.
‘Did he take some kind of elixir?’
If there’s a famous elixir from the Hwasan faction, it would be Jasodan.
I suspect that’s the cause of him spewing out such potent and thick energy without being able to control it.
“Hm.”
I decided not to probe any further.
If Yeongpung didn’t want to tell me, I didn’t think it was something I could forcefully figure out.
‘Only…’
There’s something a bit bothersome…
‘This energy feels somehow familiar.’
The energy flowing out from Yeongpung right now feels oddly recognizable.
What could it be?
Where had I felt such energy before?
I tried to recall, but nothing came to mind at the moment.
‘Tsk.’
At times like this, it would’ve been easier if there was that foul-mouthed, evil grandpa from the Hwasan faction around.
But I couldn’t call him right now.
Because things have gotten a bit complicated.
So, I decided to skip that for now and wanted to ask Yeongpung something else.
“So, about the dojo.”
“Yes. Old Small Business.”
“Do you know that guy?”
I gestured broadly to a figure nearby.
There was Seongyul watching the carp swim in the stream.
“Oh, do you mean the Holy Dojo?”
“Yes.”
After hearing my question, Yeongpung also put the rock down and continued speaking to me.
“We aren’t particularly close, but I remember meeting him when I was younger.”
“When you were younger?”
“Yes. Probably… it was around the time when the Kunlun Sect leader first set foot on the mountain.”
This refers to the time when Cheonghae Ilgeom visited the volcano.
“At that time, I briefly caught a glimpse of the Holy Dojo.”
“Just a brief encounter.”
“Yes, if that young Taoist monk was indeed the one who accompanied the Kunlun Sect leader. I clearly remember him, as he was around my age and from another sect.”
Youngpung and Seongyul, now in their mid-twenties, are indeed of similar age.
If there’s anything puzzling, it’s that despite it being so long ago, Yeongpung was speaking so precisely about it.
I knew Yeongpung was a genius, but how could his memory be that sharp?
Moreover.
‘I felt like that guy recognized Yeongpung too.’
When Yeongpung recognized Seongyul, it seemed that Seongyul also remembered Yeongpung.
From the evident discomfort on his face, it appears there may be some history there.
‘Or maybe not.’
What’s crucial now isn’t the relationship between those two, but rather the fact that Cheonghae Ilgeom brought the young Seongyul to visit the Hwasan faction.
That means it’s obvious now that Seongyul is related to Cheonghae Ilgeom.
‘That’s enough for now.’
One confusing part has been resolved.
For now, that’s sufficient. After gathering my thoughts, I continued to speak to Yeongpung.
“Dojang, can I ask you one more thing?”
“Yes, feel free.”
Yeongpung responded with his characteristic warm smile.
“Well then, why are you and Yeonghwa heading to the shaman?”
Upon hearing my query, the smile he wore vanished instantly.
Simultaneously, I sensed a gentle tremor in the surrounding atmosphere.
“…Small Business.”
Yeongpung called out to me.
“Yes.”
“I don’t recall saying I was going to the shaman.”
“That’s true.”
“But how did you know?”
This was the first time I had seen him with such a serious expression.
I wasn’t close enough to know that, but considering Yeongpung was always cheerful, it felt rather unusual to see him like this.
I couldn’t help but smile back at his sudden seriousness.
“It’s not that complicated, is it?”
“What…?”
“It was just the circumstances.”
I replied while pointing a finger towards the sky.
“This is the direction that the Dojo and Yeonghwa were heading yesterday.”
My finger was pointing north.
“If you go that way, isn’t Wudang Mountain right there?”
“…Just for that reason?”
Yeah, it felt a bit lacking to predict it based solely on that.
So, I added another explanation.
“The movements of the Hwasan faction’s martial artists are relatively quiet under the orders of an esteemed sect leader. Since there happens to be a shaman nearby, I just thought it might be connected.”
“That reasoning seems awkward too, Small Business. Isn’t it more likely to be incorrect?”
“That may be so. But…”
I continued to smile at Yeongpung as I rebutted his words.
“Otherwise, what does it matter?”
“…!”
“It’s either this or that.”
It’s either that or forget it.
Hearing that, Yeongpung let out a deep sigh.
It seemed he realized at that moment that I was merely speculating.
‘You’re really obvious for a newbie.’
This was possible because Yeongpung had little experience in the Central Plains.
He fell for such a plain guess after just one try.
“Old Sohyeop… You seem much scarier than I thought.”
“The seal is still pure.”
To put it bluntly, he might be a bit naïve.
If I had experienced as much as Yeongpung does now, had someone asked me such questions, I would have vehemently denied it, no matter how ugly it might be.
I might have even growled, demanding to see proof.
It was rather surprising that Yeongpung actually acknowledged it.
‘The shaman, huh.’
Though it was just a casual guess.
If that turns out to be true, it’s rather puzzling.
‘Why?’
Why are those two heading to the shaman?
And without any fellow disciples of substantial standing.
Since they are visiting the same old sect, it seems important.
It’s strange that just two of them are moving on this.
‘Something must be going on.’
There’s no real need to fuss over Yeongpung’s growth, though.
This situation is a bit different.
‘Because Gu Ryunghwa is involved in it.’
It was that very kid who got wrapped up in this.
I really hope it’s not something dangerous.
“Ugh.”
Yeongpung let out a short groan.
He looked caught off guard, as if he had underestimated being exposed.
He’s not very skilled at lying either.
I regarded him and asked.
“How are you heading to the shaman?”
“…”
Yeongpung’s expression crumpled a bit at my question.
Is it a section that’s difficult to discuss?
Youngpung fell into thought for a moment, maintaining silence for a few seconds.
Afterward.
“…I believe this is an order from the sect leader.”
I nodded at his words, sensing a hint of refusal.
‘This is troublesome.’
There are multiple issues with just forcibly getting answers like the others.
This was the most awkward scenario for me.
If Yeongpung doesn’t agree.
‘Should I coax Gu Ryunghwa?’
While I was briefly contemplating whether to coax the daughter of our shared master…
“…there’s a condition.”
“Hm?”
Yeongpung spoke up.
A condition?
“What kind of condition?”
I asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. Yeongpung smiled, the same smile he always wears, and said:
“Would you mind having a spar with me?”
“A spar?”
My eyes widened slightly at Yeongpung’s unexpected statement.
It was rather random and surprising.
A spar, you say?
The condition for divulging information is to fight.
What on earth could be the intention behind that?
‘I don’t think it’s a simple desire.’
Could it be that he just wants to fight because it’s been a while since we last met?
That might be the case, but it feels like there’s something deeper mixed in.
‘Or maybe…’
The thought flashed through my mind, and I squinted.
“Is it because of your energy?”
“Haha…”
Yeongpung laughed as if agreeing with my guess.
As expected.
‘It looks like it’s quite tough for him to manage his energy.’
A vast amount of energy gained from chance.
Yeongpung is unable to control it, often letting it spill out through his body.
In such situations, typically, the master would step in and regulate the energy.
‘Or they would suppress it by over-expressing it.’
It’s common to forcibly release the energy or expel it through sparring.
Here, it seems Yeongpung wants to opt for the latter.
‘Hm.’
Just as before.
I found something odd in Yeongpung’s statement.
‘Why would he want a spar?’
Even though he belongs to the Hwasan faction, which is well populated with experts, he’s not just some stranger to them.
It’s odd that he’s struggling to gain control of his energy.
There’s no way they would intentionally allow Yeongpung’s energy to go unchecked.
‘That implies.’
It would be accurate to conclude that the people in Hwasan do not know about the changes that have happened to Yeongpung.
This means.
‘It’s a boon he received from outside the sect.’
Perhaps it’s not completely false when he claims to be going to the shaman under Maehwaseon’s command.
But regarding the boon, I think I’m correct.
After thinking this far, I looked at Yeongpung and said.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
“…!”
As I spoke nonchalantly, a gleeful expression appeared on Yeongpung’s face.
If we’re talking about a spar with Yeongpung, it would likely be the first time in years.
I had seen him at Shinryongwan, but it was only a brief encounter, and we hadn’t spoken much.
So, it’s probable that was the last spar I had when heading to the volcano.
Yeongpung’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
‘…What is it about sparring that he finds so enjoyable?’
I don’t quite understand what could excite him so much about this spar with me.
An uneasy feeling skated through my mind.
Plus.
‘I’m a little sorry too.’
A tinge of regret swept through me.
Because.
“However, I won’t be the one sparring with you.”
I wasn’t the one who would fight Yeongpung in this circumstance.
“Yes?”
It seemed my unexpected words caught Yeongpung off-guard, as a look of confusion crossed his face.
Seeing that, I called out behind me.
“Hey.”
“…”
Seongyul, who had been engrossed in watching the carp, finally turned his gaze towards me.
Light glinted off his yellow eyes.
I looked into his eyes and said.
“Come over here and have a spar with him.”
“…?”
A puzzled expression appeared on Seongyul’s face.
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