Chapter v11c7: Bi Ryu Yeon’s Old Story

– Proposal

Bi Ryu Yeon and the Cheonmu Academy delegation were walking along the only mountain path in Gungung Mountain. Anyone who wanted to cross Gungung Mountain had to take this path. There were no other routes.

As they walked along the mountain path, they were naturally ascending the mountain. Although they could descend, the fact that the clouds were getting closer indicated that they were climbing. The higher they climbed, the rougher the path became, and the greenery grew denser. Trees nearly ten meters tall surrounded the path on all sides.

In such isolated and rugged places, there were always those who took advantage of the geographical benefits to engage in what they called “business.” Leaving such a naturally advantageous location unused would be a crime to them. Bi Ryu Yeon was leisurely grooming his nails, looking very relaxed and carefree. Then, as if something had come to mind, he called out to Namgung Sang in a low voice.

“Namgung Sang!”

“Yes, senior brother!”

Namgung Sang answered in surprise, feeling uneasy for no apparent reason.

‘Did I make another mistake?’ he wondered, but he couldn’t find any fault in himself. He was innocent, yet an inexplicable sense of unease gripped his heart. This had become a chronic condition.

“Are you bored? How about I tell you an interesting story?”

“A story?”

Namgung Sang was taken aback by Bi Ryu Yeon’s unexpected words. Bi Ryu Yeon nodded with a kind smile.

“Yes, it’s not only interesting but also very educational. It will be helpful to you in the long run.”

Namgung Sang had no right to refuse. Bi Ryu Yeon continued grooming his nails as he began his story.

“Once upon a time, in the days when tigers smoked pipes, there were sixteen very disobedient students who came to a certain teacher. These students were either mischievous or immature, and they didn’t listen to their teacher. Moreover, they had nothing to show for themselves—if they had any skills, the teacher wouldn’t have found them so pitiful. They acted as if they were great people. It was truly pathetic, but despite that, the teacher found them endearing. He decided to sacrifice himself to make them into respectable people.”

“Yes…”

Namgung Sang, listening quietly, tilted his head. The story sounded familiar, and it didn’t seem like someone else’s story. Bi Ryu Yeon continued, ignoring Namgung Sang’s reaction, like a grandfather telling an old tale to his grandson.

“However, these sixteen students were very rebellious. They weren’t mature enough to accept the teacher’s teachings. They didn’t appreciate the teacher’s deep affection and eventually rebelled. They even attempted a very organized rebellion. Tsk, tsk, isn’t it natural that learning is difficult?”

“Of course.”

Namgung Sang answered with a strangely contorted expression. He was uncomfortable with the invisible pressure Bi Ryu Yeon was exerting.

“But the students lacked patience. They weren’t ready to become stronger through hardship and trials. In short, they weren’t fundamentally prepared. Still, the excellent teacher didn’t give up on them. He saw a tiny bit of potential in them. Isn’t he a wonderful person? The teacher wanted his students to become strong in the shortest time possible. He couldn’t tolerate the fact that his students were weak. So he taught them the quickest way to become strong and guided them with all his heart. But the students were still foolish. Despite the teacher’s tearful efforts, the students rebelled, thinking he was only giving them menial tasks and not teaching them anything valuable. They were truly wretched. Huh? Why do you look like that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Namgung Sang, sweating profusely, stammered in embarrassment.

“What do you think happened to the students?”

Tap, tap!

Bi Ryu Yeon continued grooming his nails as he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“The fate of the students!”

“I don’t know.”

Namgung Sang suddenly had a feeling that he might know the ending of the story very well. But he quickly stopped thinking about it. Delving deeper into it seemed like it would make him feel incredibly miserable.

“The teacher remembered the old saying, ‘The rod is the cure for all ills.’ He had no choice. So he had to show his authority. He believed that without fundamental human reform, there was no future. The teacher didn’t want to be a mentor who ruined his students’ futures.”

Namgung Sang, listening quietly, hurriedly spoke up.

“Weren’t there other ways? Isn’t there more to showing authority than just using the rod? There must have been peaceful and non-violent methods.”

Bi Ryu Yeon looked at Namgung Sang disapprovingly for a moment before continuing.

“There wasn’t enough time. Moreover, the students had the audacity to organize a rebellion. The teacher had no choice. They didn’t realize they were learning while they were learning. They didn’t notice they were becoming incredibly strong. That’s why they made such a mistake. Understand?”

“Yes…”

Namgung Sang’s face was pale, and sweat was beading on his forehead.

‘This story…’

Suddenly, the hellish life at Mount Emei vividly came to Namgung Sang’s mind. The scorching summer, the hellish heat, the thick dust, the pouring sweat, and…

Bi Ryu Yeon continued his story, breaking Namgung Sang’s thoughts.

“The teacher had to think of a way. He knew that if the fire of discontent continued to spread, it would be difficult to extinguish later. The teacher’s tender heart couldn’t bear to see his students go astray any longer…”

Namgung Sang’s expression changed dramatically as he listened, but Bi Ryu Yeon continued.

“So the teacher needed an example. An example! Fortunately, there was a student who had committed many sins. This student thought that if he stopped talking, he was committing a great sin. Of course, the student’s mouth was constantly spewing complaints about the teacher. Encouraged by the support of his peers, the student finally voiced his complaints in front of the teacher. He got caught! The student became a sacrificial lamb. The teacher beat the student until all the complaints and rebelliousness turned to white ash. The teacher’s heart ached, but he had no choice. His chicks had never known true fear. The teacher needed to fill that gap. The student, through his sacrifice, enlightened the remaining fifteen friends. After that, the sixteen students became very good students. The benevolent teacher found it much easier to teach. The students studied hard, and the teacher taught diligently, creating a beautiful learning environment. How was my story? Was it interesting?”

“Of course.”

But despite his answer, Namgung Sang’s back was drenched in cold sweat. His face was as pale as a sheet of paper. He felt like he would never forget the story he heard today. How could he erase such a terrifying tale from his memory?

“Oh, there’s a short sequel to this story! It’s like an epilogue.”

Bi Ryu Yeon clapped his hands as if he had just remembered.

“What is it?”

Why did he feel so uneasy? Namgung Sang’s heart felt like it was being crushed.

“The teacher had a disciple he took in before those sixteen students. This disciple was like the senior brother to the sixteen students and was said to be a very remarkable person.”

Namgung Sang’s face turned pale again, but Bi Ryu Yeon paid no attention.

“One day, the senior brother decided he wanted to meet his junior disciples. So, he decided to set out on a journey.”

‘He didn’t have to decide that…’

Namgung Sang kept his thoughts to himself, having learned from his training with Bi Ryu Yeon not to voice such foolish remarks.

“The teacher earnestly advised the senior brother before he left. He told him that if the junior disciples were disobedient and rebellious, he should handle them the same way the teacher had handled things in the past.”

Namgung Sang felt a chill run through his entire body, as if gripped by a cold fear.

“R-Really.”

“What’s wrong? Are you catching a cold? Why are you shivering?”

“Oh, no. I’m fine. Please continue!”

Namgung Sang’s teeth chattered as he answered.

“Alright. Unfortunately, the teacher’s prediction came true. When the senior brother met his junior disciples, they didn’t know how to show him respect. They acted arrogantly, not realizing that in this world, the senior brother is like the heavens. The senior brother must have felt deeply pained by the lack of respect and reverence.”

Namgung Sang, feeling a surge of pity, spoke up.

“How could that be? I’m sure the junior disciples respected the senior brother immensely. There’s no way they would disrespect someone as revered as the senior brother. It must have been a misunderstanding. Perhaps there was a slight mistake.”

“Is that so?”

Bi Ryu Yeon’s tone suggested that Namgung Sang should answer on his behalf.

“Of course.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

Namgung Sang nodded with such conviction that it seemed like his life depended on it.

“Hmm…”

Despite Namgung Sang’s firm response, Bi Ryu Yeon’s face still showed traces of doubt.

“I’m sure the junior disciples held the senior brother in the highest regard.”

Namgung Sang reiterated his stance.

“Is that so? Well, let’s assume that’s the case for now.”

Bi Ryu Yeon seemed willing to let it go for the moment. Namgung Sang sighed in relief.

“Perhaps the junior disciples were just overwhelmed with emotion. It’s fine to assume that.”

“Alright, let’s say it was a misunderstanding on the senior brother’s part.”

Namgung Sang felt like he could finally sleep peacefully that night.

“Anyway, the senior brother followed the teacher’s advice. Interestingly, the teacher’s methods worked perfectly. The senior brother felt at ease, just like the teacher had before. After that, the senior brother was happy because the junior disciples became very obedient.”

Namgung Sang, feeling like a prisoner who had just been pardoned, continued to speak earnestly.

“That’s fortunate. The junior disciples no longer troubled the respected senior brother.”

“Indeed. It was a great fortune for the junior disciples.”

Tap, tap!

Bi Ryu Yeon continued grooming his nails, not even looking at Namgung Sang. To him, the most important task in the world was grooming his nails.

“……”

Namgung Sang was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Do you know why?”

Bi Ryu Yeon asked nonchalantly.

“I don’t know. Please enlighten me.”

Namgung Sang’s back was covered in goosebumps, even though he wasn’t sick. It was a strange phenomenon.

“Haha… It’s because if the junior disciples had continued to act up, the senior brother couldn’t guarantee what terrible things might have happened. That’s why it was fortunate for them.”

Drip!

Sweat formed on Namgung Sang’s forehead and dripped down his face.

Drip, drip, drip!

Soon, the sweat on his forehead turned into a rain of droplets hitting the ground. His back was drenched in sweat.

“So, do you understand the lesson from this story?”

“Of course. It means we should respect our teacher and senior brother as if they were the heavens…”

Smack!

At that moment, Bi Ryu Yeon’s knuckle rapped Namgung Sang’s head. Bi Ryu Yeon looked at him with pity.

“When did you become so dense?”

“What?”

Namgung Sang felt wronged.

“Of course, your answer is correct, but there’s another lesson. Don’t miss it, especially in times like these! Don’t think a story has only one lesson. Can’t you see the lesson from this situation?”

Bi Ryu Yeon pointed around them with his well-groomed finger. Surrounding them were burly men forming a double-layered human wall. Namgung Sang turned to look at Bi Ryu Yeon, who nodded.

“Do you understand now?”

Namgung Sang nodded.

‘How could I not notice such movement… I was too careless.’

It was clear they had been lying in ambush. However, unless one had learned professional stealth techniques, they would inevitably make some noise. Yet, Namgung Sang hadn’t noticed them until they were within ten meters. He felt ashamed of his lack of awareness.

From the double-layered human wall, a middle-aged man stepped forward. Unlike the rough-looking men around him, he had a very ordinary face. However, his ordinary appearance seemed extraordinary among the rough men, and his status didn’t seem low.

“What do you want?”

Goyakhan, one of the delegation leaders, stepped forward and asked gruffly. The middle-aged man politely cupped his hands in greeting. It seemed as if their roles were reversed.

“Hahaha, greetings. I am Lee Song, a minor deputy leader of one of the seventy-two strongholds of the Green Forest. It’s a pleasure to meet you on such a fine day.”

“Oh, really?”

Goyakhan, caught off guard, returned the greeting. The man’s polite tone was so unlike a bandit’s that it made Goyakhan question his profession. However, he couldn’t very well say, ‘Oh, in that case, what can we give you to avoid any trouble?’

The mention of the “seventy-two strongholds of the Green Forest” made Im Sung Jin’s expression twist, but no one noticed.

“What do you want?”