episode_0013

“…Master-nim?”

Cheongun alternated glances between Namgung Yul and Red Night Sword Sovereign.

What? Master-nim?

Did I mishear?

Cheongun frantically dug into his ear.

Since he could still hear things like, ‘Master-nim, what brings you here?’, it seemed his ears weren’t the problem.

Hmm, that’s a relief.

The problem was indeed with those two.

It was rare for prestigious families like the Namgung clan to learn martial arts from outsiders, simply due to their pride.

Those from the Five Great Clans had an immense sense of pride in their own sects.

Furthermore, as a direct descendant, Namgung Yul was no exception.

But then again.

What if the opponent was Red Night Sword Sovereign?

If he was an absolute master whose martial arts were said to reach the heavens, a wanderer with no affiliation, and thus no conflict of interest with any power, wouldn’t even the proud Namgung family think differently?

Moreover, as he recalled, Red Night Sword Sovereign had a rather close relationship with Namgung Cheonhu, the Grand Patriarch of the Namgung clan.

Childhood friends? Close companions? It seemed to be something like that.

Indeed, pride should be asserted with consideration for the opponent.

If one could learn martial arts from a super, super, super absolute master like Red Night Sword Sovereign, then pride or anything else shouldn’t matter.

Even the Grand Patriarch of the Namgung clan had to concede a move in front of that old man, purely in terms of martial arts.

Cheongun’s eyes flashed.

At the same time, an epiphany struck his mind like lightning.

Red Night Sword Sovereign had only one disciple.

Because that one disciple died, Red Night Sword Sovereign became a demon of slaughter, staining his sword with blood as he walked the path of heavenly killing.

Damn it, Namgung Yul was that disciple!

It wasn’t impossible.

In fact, when Cheongun first met Namgung Yul, she was in a life-threatening situation, and it was none other than Cheongun who saved her.

What if Cheongun hadn’t stepped in?

Namgung Yul would have died then and there.

Whether Cheongun was flabbergasted or not, Jin Mooseong exchanged words with Namgung Yul with a benevolent expression.

“Master-nim, since when have you known Sir Cheong?”

“We met by chance today.”

“Really?”

“Indeed.”

“You weren’t chasing him around trying to make him your disciple again, were you?”

“Nonsense! What are you talking about! We simply happened to be going the same way.”

Jin Mooseong flared up, but his voice trembled slightly as if flustered.

“Haha, the world is truly small. To think that Yul, you would form a connection with this young man. Connections sometimes appear without warning like this. It is truly a peculiar thing.”

Jin Mooseong spoke with a dignified face, then subtly turned his head.

He was curious how Cheongun would react to his words.

Hoping that by now, Cheongun would accept that becoming his disciple was part of fate.

However, Cheongun was nowhere to be found.

Jin Mooseong, in the middle of speaking, lost his words upon seeing Cheongun stride ahead as if annoyed.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Stop for a moment.”

“What now?”

“You rascal! You should answer before you leave!”

Cheongun pondered.

What benefits and losses would this situation bring him?

Red Night Sword Sovereign was a wandering figure, like a cloud, drifting alone through the Jianghu, so becoming his disciple wouldn’t entail the troublesome issues of joining a sect, having his name recorded in their annals, or complicating his seniority.

Of course, it would mean adding one more person he’d have to revere as a master for life, but thinking about it now, it was obvious that old man would just impart the necessary martial arts and then immediately go on his way. He was that kind of old man from the start.

Moreover, with Namgung Yul alive and well, there would be no reason for that old man to turn into a demon of slaughter.

However, there was a reason why Cheongun was being so difficult.

Relationships between people naturally tend to tilt.

The one who desires something will try to do favors, and the one who receives will often mistake that goodwill for an inherent right.

Therefore, the most important thing was to establish control.

That way, even if he acted as he pleased later, the other party wouldn’t be in a position to complain.

Look! At that restless appearance!

Go wander the Jianghu for a hundred days or a thousand.

See if you can find a young and fresh genius like me.

Who else could dump 20,000 points into their stats like him!

Cheongun continued walking as he spoke.

“I’ll go ahead.”

“Hey! Stop right there!”

“I’ll postpone my answer until after I receive the gold coins.”

“What? Gold coins?”

With that last remark, Cheongun returned to his room.

Left behind, Jin Mooseong blinked foolishly.

“Disciple.”

“Yes, Master-nim.”

“I wish to know how you formed a connection with this young man.”

“Ah! How it happened is…”

Namgung Yul explained the entire situation to her master.

Jin Mooseong listened silently.

From being pursued by the Black Forest Gate, to the moment she stood at the crossroads of life and death, and then Cheongun saving her.

“Hah!”

A strange sigh escaped Jin Mooseong’s lips after hearing the entire story.

A mere youth not even twenty years old shouldn’t be capable of reaching such a realm.

Even if one practiced martial arts from inside their mother’s womb, wouldn’t it be impossible?

“Amazing, simply amazing.”

To see such talent again.

It might just be a fleeting connection, but a genuine desire for him grew steadily.

He wanted to see the Red Night Heaven-Slaying Sword completed by the young man’s hand.

Jin Mooseong stroked his beard and parted his lips.

“Disciple.”

“Yes, Master-nim.”

“Is Hwi here right now?”

Namgung Yul nodded.

Jin Mooseong, with his hands clasped behind his back, gestured with his chin.

“Lead the way.”

****

The next day.

Jin Mooseong sought out Cheongun’s room.

“…”

“…”

A strange silence hung between Red Night Sword Sovereign Jin Mooseong and his guest, Cheongun.

Jin Mooseong had already surpassed the realm of ‘Returning to Simplicity’, appearing at first glance like an ordinary old man, yet the intangible aura emanating from his entire body was more than enough to press down on the entire space.

Jin Mooseong possessed a presence so overwhelming that simply facing him silently was enough to overpower an opponent.

Such a Jin Mooseong was now concentrating all his attention on Cheongun.

From the moment he first saw Cheongun until now, his interest had been solely directed towards Cheongun.

As Jin Mooseong’s aura gradually dominated the space, internal energy spontaneously began to circulate within Cheongun’s body.

The two men’s energies clashed in the air, causing the atmosphere to freeze with a sharp snap.

This was an unspoken battle of wills among martial artists.

The friction between their energies intensified to the point of ringing in the ears, yet both men’s expressions remained astonishingly calm.

And finally.

“Haha.”

Jin Mooseong, with a nonchalant expression, retracted his internal cultivation.

The eyes looking at Cheongun held a somewhat playful glint.

For a mere youth not yet twenty to contend with his true energy was both preposterous and admirable.

“I’ve heard the story. You saved Yul, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. If not for your help, I would have lost my only disciple.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Cheongun, about to say, ‘With empty words?’, barely managed to hide his true thoughts.

“That child, Yul, promised you one gold coin as compensation, didn’t she?”

“That’s right.”

“Indeed. However, I heard that since this is not the main family residence, the compensation payment is taking some time. Is that correct?”

“Precisely.”

“As the saying goes, ‘Man proposes, Heaven disposes.’ [A proverb meaning that while people can plan, the outcome depends on fate or a higher power.]”

Cheongun narrowed his eyes as if annoyed.

However, Cheongun’s eyes soon widened into circles.

Because Jin Mooseong took a pouch from his robe and placed it on the table.

“And I am that Heaven.”

Had he gone senile in his old age?

But Cheongun’s gaze was already fixed on the pouch on the table.

A palm-sized pouch.

Dragons and phoenixes were exquisitely embroidered on it with gold thread.

Above all, Cheongun heard it.

The jingling sound of gold coins clinking against each other as he took the pouch from his robe.

“Open it.”

Cheongun untied the pouch with trembling hands.

Fifty thumb-sized circular gold coins were exquisitely strung together with red silk thread.

Each coin had a square hole in its center, and the words ‘Cheonha Tongbo’ were delicately engraved on its surface, along with a dragon pattern.

Gold coins!

My lifeline!

“This is the compensation you should have received long ago. No matter the circumstances, favors and grievances must be clearly settled. This old man has personally spoken to the Young Patriarch, so you no longer need to worry.”

He had been whining about it taking so long.

With one word from Jin Mooseong, a gold coin instantly appeared.

A halo seemed to shine behind him.

“Now, let’s hear your answer.”

“My answer?”

“Yes. Do you intend to become my disciple?”

Cheongun inwardly clicked his tongue.

That question again?

He was grateful for the pre-payment of the gold coins, but this was a different matter.

Of course, becoming a disciple would be good for learning martial arts.

His abilities were like those of a bully in charge of the Demonic Cult.

The Jianghu was vast and full of trash, and naturally, ‘trash’ wasn’t limited to just demonic cultivators.

Were demonic cultivators the only trashy martial artists?

If he built his foundation and raised his cultivation beforehand, he wouldn’t die a lonely death anywhere.

However, Cheongun delayed his answer.

Because he wanted to test the waters a bit more.

“Your answer?”

“I need a little more time to think.”

“Why!”

“When I first decided to learn martial arts, I vowed to directly confront my own limits.”

It was a ridiculous excuse.

But what could they do if he said so?

It was an invincible logic that could never be refuted.

Upon hearing that, Jin Mooseong curled one corner of his mouth upwards, then as if expecting it, smoothly pushed something else forward.

Cheongun slowly opened the case.

Inside was a plum blossom branch made of gold.

Five flowers bloomed on the branch, each petal engraved with delicate patterns, and a red gem embedded in its center.

The brilliant golden light and the harmony of the red gems were dazzling.

“This is a Golden Plum that Yang Jihwa, a craftsman from the Western Regions, offered to congratulate the late emperor on his sixtieth birthday. Only ten of them exist.”

Cheongun could be sure.

It was undoubtedly genuine. And all pure gold.

The craftsmanship, the material, everything was top-notch.

His jaw dropped.

Cheongun was already drooling, completely engrossed in the golden plum.

“It’s a pity. If you became my disciple, I was going to give you this golden plum.”

At those words, Cheongun opened his mouth as if by spinal reflex.

“This unworthy disciple greets Master-nim.”

“Oh? Didn’t you say you wanted to confront your own limits?”

“I just did.”

“…”

And so, for the first time in Cheongun’s life, a master entered it.