Chokseong-1

A drop of water falls into the glass.

The glass is ample, so even if a few drops fall, it doesn’t overflow.

One drop at a time, like that.

A drop of water falls into the glass.

With a tok, tok sound, the water droplet falls to the bottom of the glass.

And soon, it gathers to form a very shallow puddle.

As time passes, water fills the glass, sloshing gently.

The water level gradually rises, soon reaching a precarious point, almost overflowing.

The glass maintains that state for a long time.

Then, another drop of water falls onto it.

Tok, one drop is the disciple’s appearance.

Tok, another drop is the bond with the disciple.

Tok, another drop was the Master’s death.

On the surface, filled to the limit and on the verge of overflowing, a drop of water falls, and soon the water overflows.

The name of the glass is restraint.

The name of the overflowing water is instinct.

After the incident at the market, Soyou didn’t even think about leaving Inho’s side.

She stuck to him so closely that Inho, wanting to go to the bathroom, glanced around warily.

Soyou found her disciple quite amusing.

‘Surely, I wouldn’t follow him to the bathroom, would I? He’s my disciple, but he’s being too fussy.’

Watching the bathroom from a safe distance, Soyou chuckled.

Inho and Soyou were walking across a barren field, leaving the village behind.

There was no real destination. Originally, Yeomjin or Soyou would have set the destination.

However, they had left the village as if fleeing, and Soyou showed interest in nothing but Inho, so the next destination was up in the air.

They walked along a path frequented by itinerant merchants and camped out in the open.

“So, you still don’t know where you’re going.”

“Yes. I can’t seem to think of anything. How about going somewhere with a nice view and resting?”

“You know we don’t have any money right now, right?”

“Hmm….”

“It’s been five days since we started walking without any destination. Just pick a place.”

“But, I really can’t think of anything.”

Soyou shrugged, seemingly surprised herself, and Inho let out a long sigh.

After suppressing his rising anger for a while, Inho looked up.

“Then, can I choose?”

“Well, I don’t mind. Is there somewhere you have in mind?”

Soyou seemed intrigued by Inho’s motivated reaction, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

“Well… since this is Hanam.”

He leaned back and looked around.

He put his hand above his eyebrows, pretending to look far away, and then clapped his hands together.

“Let’s go there.”

“There… you mean the mountain?”

At the end of Inho’s finger was a mountain that was clearly high.

Soyou frowned.

“Yes. The mountain.”

“Out of the blue? Did you hear there are bandits there?”

“Well… there might be. I just want to go there once.”

“That’s strange. You’re usually too lazy to even climb a hill, let alone a mountain.”

Soyou said, narrowing her eyes, and Inho avoided her gaze and walked ahead.

Inho didn’t say why he wanted to go there, but it didn’t seem like he had chosen the destination randomly.

Rather, he was enthusiastic.

After walking for two days, he arrived at the foot of the mountain and asked a passing herbalist about it.

Inho didn’t know the name of the mountain, but he seemed to know the general terrain and mountain range.

Soyou found that strange.

“We travel on paths that people can’t use, so we’re fine, but I’ve heard that bandits are stationed at key points. Don’t bother climbing it.”

Seeing their well-dressed appearance, the herbalist kindly replied.

“Ah, that’s okay. We have something to rely on too. Anyway, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

Inho finished talking to the herbalist and returned to Soyou.

“Shall we go up?”

Soyou looked at her disciple’s face, which was filled with a strange expectation, with a puzzled expression.

The mountain was very steep.

If they weren’t Martial Artists, they would have collapsed before reaching the halfway point.

Inho and Soyou used their lightness skill to climb the mountain lightly.

“You seem to know the way quite well?”

Soyou asked, addressing her disciple’s back as he led the way up the mountain.

She was getting a little bored of just following him silently.

“Yes. I’ve been here before.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“I think I told Master about it before, do you remember?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You asked me about the scenery I remembered the most.”

“Ah, that’s right. You said the sunset was beautiful, right?”

Soyou said, stepping over a sharply protruding rock.

“Yes. This is the place. It’s daytime now, so you won’t be able to see the sunset, but it’s still beautiful as it is.”

“When will that scenery appear?”

In response to Soyou’s question, Inho pointed to the right without answering.

A precipitous cliff, and below it, a green sea unfolded.

The movement of the trees swaying in the wind was like waves.

Soyou’s legs stopped.

“……”

In the grandeur of nature, Soyou felt as if all the negative things that had filled her heart were washed away in an instant.

“How is it? Beautiful, right?”

“Yes… it’s beautiful. It’s this beautiful even without the sunset, so it must be really beautiful with it.”

They admired the scenery for a while.

What disturbed their contemplation, which seemed like it would continue forever, was a suddenly flying arrow.

The arrow, making a sswaeek sound, flew towards Inho’s head, but it missed its mark, slightly grazing his ear and flying away.

“Who is it?”

Wearing animal skins and giggling, they were the typical appearance of third-rate bandits.

Inho had already guessed who they were, but he asked out of courtesy.

“How dare you climb the mountain without fear. This is our territory, pay the toll if you want to pass.”

“Is there a mountain fortress in the clearing a little further up from here?”

Inho asked back in response to the bandit’s words.

“What, what is it? How did you know that?”

The bandits, who had thought they were just passing travelers, drew their swords.

“Hmm…. so you didn’t build it in a barren field. I see….”

Inho chuckled.

He moved his body from side to side, stretching.

“Master, what number will you do this time?”

Inho asked, cracking his knuckles, and Soyou thought for a moment before saying.

“There are quite a few of them this time, so let’s go with 30.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“You bastards!! Attack, attack!!”

The bandits drew their weapons and rushed in.

“I’m sorry. I really want to go to your mountain fortress.”

Inho apologized to them as if he was truly sorry.