The Disciple’s Disciple – 2

My entry as the 38th disciple of Yomryun Skill was entirely Grand Master’s choice.

Because of that, I firmly believed I had a talent for Martial arts, but my achievements were far from satisfactory.

Physical training and grasping the forms of Martial arts were certainly quick to understand and easy to apply.

However, I failed miserably at handling Inner Force, the foundation of Martial arts.

I figured it might be because I came from a world where Inner Force didn’t exist, making it difficult to sense and control the energy.

Master said it took him three days to ignite, but even after a month of learning, I couldn’t even create a tiny spark.

Martial arts is truly mysterious; it feels like it should work, but it doesn’t.

It’s similar to playing a character-collecting game.

You press the button thinking you’ll get a good one this time, but only useless characters appear.

I confidently tried to use my strength, but with no significant results, I was going crazy.

That’s why people in Martial arts novels go to such lengths to become stronger.

Anyway, a month had passed since Master started teaching me Yomryun Skill.

Grand Master wanted to see my progress, and I had to show her that I couldn’t even create a small flame.

I thought Grand Master would say something after seeing my performance, but she simply nodded and left to check on the nearby houses.

I assumed Grand Master didn’t think much of it and was just checking my Martial arts progress, but Master saw it differently.

“She must be disappointed.”

Master was already slumped over, dragging his foot on the ground.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

He was already squatting on the ground, drawing with a twig.

“That I have no talent for teaching…”

“What’s with the self-blame? I thought you’d be the one to say I have no talent.”

I felt a little proud seeing him blame himself, surprisingly.

As a Master, realizing and blaming himself for his shortcomings… that’s the attitude of a great educator.

Indeed, my Master is…

“Even a talentless, good-for-nothing worm should be able to ignite at least…”

A shorty who can’t teach for shit.

“No, you should at least teach me properly before saying that.”

“Shut up. I’ve shown you everything.”

“Showing me is the problem. You need to tell me how to circulate the Inner Force, how to concentrate power at my fingertips. You need to explain the theory. What’s the point of showing me how to light a fire with your fingers a hundred times?”

“How dare you criticize my teaching?”

“I’m telling you the truth, with my hand on my heart. If Master opened a dojo in any village, it would go bankrupt.”

“Silence! How dare you!”

“How dare I or not, I have to say what needs to be said. Your teaching method is a mess!”

“You’re just incompetent!”

His shrill voice, looking up at me, made my ears ring.

“I was wondering when that would come out. But that doesn’t change anything. Master, you have no talent for teaching.”

He kept grumbling and getting on my nerves, so I said it a little harshly, and Master’s face turned red.

-Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Master suddenly got up and kicked me in the shin.

I fell to the ground, and Master, with tears in his eyes, ran off in the direction Grand Master had gone.

Ouch, damn it, that hurts.

Grand Master and Master returned around sunset.

Judging by the bundle they were carrying, they must have bought groceries at the market for dinner.

“You’re back.”

I stopped spacing out and greeted them.

More precisely, I politely greeted Grand Master.

“Hmph.”

Master, carrying the bundle, walked past me.

Master is on dinner duty tonight.

“Yes. Sit for a moment.”

Grand Master pointed to a rock about ten steps away.

I sat on the uneven rock, and Grand Master leaned against a nearby tree.

“Soyou has already heard, but I need to tell you as well.”

“What is it?”

“We’re leaving Sichuan now. We’ve helped quite a few people who were harmed by the Blood demon, and we’ve eliminated the bandits that were swarming around, so there’s no need to stay here any longer.”

“Then where are we going this time?”

To me, one place is as good as another. I don’t know anyone anyway.

“We’re going to Anhui. The Martial Arts Alliance is there.”

“The Martial Arts Alliance? What business do we have there?”

“Well, there’s the regular meeting where the heads of each sect and clan gather to talk… but there’s also a martial arts competition coming up.”

“Ah… so Master will be participating.”

The martial arts competition is a place where promising young Martial artists compete.

As the successor of Yomryun Skill, it would be right for Master to attend.

“And you’re going too.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes, you too. However, Soyou is the only one going as the ‘successor of Yomryun Skill.’ I’ll create a plausible identity for you.”

“Could it be…?”

Could it be that she’s not letting me use the name Yomryun Skill because I have no talent?

“It’s not what you’re thinking.”

Grand Master cut me off after seeing my face.

“According to the rules, the Three Great Inherited Martial Arts can only have two people: the one who passes it on and the one who receives it.”

“Oh? Then what am I?”

“I used a little trick for Soyou’s sake.”

“Grand Master, you must have caused quite a bit of trouble when you were younger.”

I chuckled, and Grand Master smiled back at me.

“Yes, I gave my Master a lot of headaches too.”

“Ah… but I’ve never done a martial arts competition before. I’m worried. How much time do I have to prepare for the competition?”

“Considering the time it takes to get to Anhui and everything else, about a month and a half.”

“A month and a half…”

“Inho, don’t feel too pressured. I don’t expect great things from you right away.”

Grand Master, who had been smiling, looked at me with a serious expression.

“I believe you’ll do great things in the distant future.”

“Oh… don’t put so much expectation on me already…”

“Haha, anyway, I believe in you.”

Grand Master came closer and patted me on the shoulder.

It hurts like hell.

“Master, dinner… is ready.”

While I was talking to Grand Master, Master came over and announced that dinner was ready.

After dinner, I kept spitting while doing the dishes.

The thick saliva wouldn’t come out cleanly and stuck to my mouth.

“Ugh…”

Why?

Because the food Master made was extremely spicy.

Grand Master, after finishing dinner, suddenly left the campsite, saying she was going for a walk, and I was still trying to soothe my numb tongue while doing the dishes.

“Aish.”

I put water in my mouth and gargled.

Keeping water in my mouth made it a little less spicy.

“Um… are you alright?”

And next to me, Master was fidgeting and standing anxiously.

-Grrr, spit!

I spat out the water I was holding and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

“I’m fine.”

“…I didn’t know you couldn’t handle spicy food that well. Or maybe I didn’t adjust the spiciness well.”

Master muttered in a voice as small as a mosquito.

“It’s because I’m weak to spicy food. It’s not Master’s fault.”

“Weak to spicy food? What does that mean?”

“Ah, it means I can’t handle spicy food well. It’s a saying we use in my hometown.”

“That’s a curious saying.”

-Clatter, clatter

I put the dishes in and out of the basin of water, washing them.

Master kept hovering beside me, looking uneasy, which made me feel sorry for him.

“Hey, Master.”

“What is it?”

“Um… what I said earlier, I just said it, so don’t take it to heart.”

“What did you say? I don’t take it to heart. It’s nothing that you called me a ‘useless Master.'”

“You’re taking it to heart. And I never said that. I just said you’re terrible at teaching.”

“Ugh… isn’t that the same thing?”

“Anyway, it’s because I have no talent. Don’t blame yourself. I’ll try harder.”

“……”

Master closed his mouth like he had swallowed a bee.

I put the rinsed dishes in a suitable place. They’ll dry on their own overnight.

I straightened my back and looked at the sky.

The stars were densely packed in the night sky, which was quite beautiful to see.

“What are you looking at?”

Master suddenly asked.

“Hehe, can’t you tell? I’m looking at the sky. Ugh!”

I answered like an old man with the voice of a Taoist.

Master’s fist landed directly on my head.

It reminded me of the picture I once saw on the internet, “Be quiet!”

“I asked because you looked like you were thinking about something. What are you thinking about? Your hometown? Friends?”

“Nah, it’s nothing like that. I’m just looking at the night sky because it’s pretty.”

I rubbed my throbbing head and answered.

“Hoo… you like looking at scenery, which is unlike you.”

I chuckled and retorted, and Master asked another question.

“Then, what’s the most memorable scenery you’ve ever seen?”

Scenery… scenery, huh.

“Um… was it Henan?”

“Henan?”

“There was a mountain in Henan… the sunset I saw on the way to the top was really beautiful.”

I slowly opened my mouth, recalling old memories.

“Sheer cliffs, a forest stretching out below, and the sunset shining on it…”

“Just listening to it makes it sound like a really beautiful scenery.”

Master closed his eyes, as if picturing the scenery I was describing.

“I want to see that scenery someday. If it’s a scenery that even a rude and dry guy like you praises so highly.”

Master, who had opened his eyes, smiled and looked at me.

I smiled back at Master and said,

“You’ll definitely see it. I guarantee it.”

Our conversation continued under the starry night sky.