Hyun Jong: "...Are you alright?"
Chung Myung: "Yes. Cough! I'm fine."
Hyun Jong: "Are you really fine?"
Chung Myung: "I'm really fine. Cough! Cough!"
Hyun Jong: "You don't look fine..."
Hyun Jong's face twisted slightly as he looked at Chung Myung. The state of Chung Myung sitting in front of him was beyond words. His body was emaciated, and his face was deathly pale.
'How bad must his health be?'
No matter how you looked at it, he seemed on the verge of starvation. If a stranger saw him, they'd probably spit and curse, accusing the sect of not even feeding their disciples properly.
'He wasn't like this when he first arrived.'
Hyun Jong turned his head with a subtle expression and asked Un Am, "What did the medical hall say?"
Un Am: "They said his vital energy is damaged."
Hyun Jong: "Vital energy?"
Un Am: "Yes. They said excessive training has damaged his vital energy, and he needs to recuperate."
Hyun Jong: "Hoh!"
Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung with admiration.
Hyun Jong: "You fool. You trained until your vital energy was damaged? Why would you do something so reckless?"
'That's not it.'
Training? He'd freeze to death.
Since coming to Mount Hua, Chung Myung hadn't been able to do proper training. So, what kind of training was this?
Of course, the medical hall could only say that. It was true that his vital energy was damaged, and his body was in bad shape. Who could imagine that a newly initiated disciple would use his innate energy to the point of destroying his vital energy? Even if Hua Tuo himself were sitting in the medical hall, he wouldn't have been able to come up with that answer.
A strange misunderstanding had arisen, but in times like these, it was best to answer honestly.
Chung Myung: "I'm sorry, Sect Leader. I just wanted to learn Mount Hua's martial arts as quickly as possible, so I..."
Hyun Jong: "Hoh, a prodigy. A true prodigy."
The Sect Leader nodded repeatedly, clearly pleased with Chung Myung.
Chung Myung wasn't lying. His intentions were genuine!
Hyun Jong: "Eating too quickly will upset your stomach. What can you do if your body is ruined?"
Chung Myung: "I'll be more careful from now on, Sect Leader."
Hyun Jong: "Good, good."
Hyun Jong smiled warmly.
The boy in front of him was truly Mount Hua's blessing. He was like a stroke of luck that had fallen from the sky. How could he not be pleased?
Hyun Jong: "So, do you enjoy tea?"
Chung Myung: "Not particularly."
Chung Myung shrugged.
'If it were alcohol, maybe.'
Tea was too bland for Chung Myung's taste. Unlike alcohol, which burned the throat, tea was just water with a grassy flavor.
The senior disciples had once said that Chung Myung was a lost cause when it came to becoming a Taoist, but what could he do about his taste buds?
'Is there some rule that the Mount Hua Sect Leader must enjoy tea?'
Even the previous Sect Leader had been deeply skilled in the art of tea. And from what Chung Myung could see, the current Sect Leader was no less skilled.
The Sect Leader handed Chung Myung a cup of tea he had carefully prepared. Chung Myung took it with both hands.
Hyun Jong: "It's a pity you don't enjoy it, but since I've prepared it with sincerity, at least taste it."
Chung Myung: "Yes."
Without even bothering to savor the aroma, Chung Myung downed the tea in one gulp.
"..."
While tea is usually enjoyed more for its aroma than its taste, to Chung Myung, tea was nothing more than hot water.
Hyun Jong watched with a disappointed expression and asked as soon as Chung Myung put the cup down.
Hyun Jong: "How is it?"
Chung Myung: "It's tea."
"..."
A subtle disappointment flickered across Hyun Jong's stern face, but Chung Myung was simply being honest, as befitting a Taoist.
Hyun Jong: "Ahem. Right."
Hyun Jong cleared his throat to dispel the awkwardness and softened his expression again.
Hyun Jong: "I called you here to commend you for your recent actions. Thanks to you, Mount Hua was able to escape a crisis. You did well."
Chung Myung: "I didn't do much."
Hyun Jong: "How can you say that? If it weren't for you, we'd be out on the streets by now."
Chung Myung: "I just happened to pass by and stumbled upon the box."
Hyun Jong: "Hoho. 'Happened,' you say."
Hyun Jong shook his head slowly.
Hyun Jong: "There's no such thing as coincidence in this world. Everything is the result of connections."
Chung Myung nodded quietly.
Though it was just a casual remark, Hyun Jong's words struck a chord.
'He can be sharp like that sometimes.'
Hyun Jong: "Isn't that right, Un Am?"
Un Am: "Yes, Sect Leader. And even if all of this was a coincidence, the merit of causing that coincidence is not small. Moreover, since you didn't covet the wealth and reported it to the Sect Leader, how can we say your contribution is small?"
Hyun Jong: "Right, right."
Hyun Jong stroked his beard, clearly pleased.
Hyun Jong: "So."
He then looked at Chung Myung with warm eyes.
Hyun Jong: "It's only natural to reward those who have contributed. Mount Hua wishes to reward you. That's why I called you here."
Chung Myung: "A reward, you say?"
Hyun Jong: "Yes. Is there anything you desire?"
Chung Myung fell into thought for a moment.
Anything he desired?
Hyun Jong: "If you can give away such wealth without regret, it must be a lie. If you need wealth, I can give you a suitable amount."
Chung Myung: "I don't need wealth."
Hyun Jong: "Hm?"
Hyun Jong's eyes widened slightly.
Hyun Jong: "You don't need wealth?"
Chung Myung: "Yes. Mount Hua already provides food and clothing. What use would I have for wealth? It's not like I can use it in these mountains."
Hyun Jong: "Hohoho. Right, right."
Hyun Jong smiled.
'A true vessel of the Tao.'
Even if there's no immediate use for it, giving up the desire for wealth is no easy task. While there's no need for money now, who's to say there won't be in the future?
He doesn't seem like a child who wouldn't understand that, yet he refuses wealth. He's a child who practices non-attachment. A true vessel for the Tao.
However, Chung Myung's inner thoughts were completely different from Hyun Jong's warm interpretation.
'How much could that even be worth?'
The Sect Leader's secret vault. No, the secret vault that Chung Myung now used, which would make Hyun Jong faint if he saw the amount of wealth piled up inside.
Chung Myung was already the richest man in Hwaryun County.
The paltry sum the poor Sect Leader offered as a reward was nothing to him.
Hyun Jong: "Then what do you desire? For your rank, I could allow you to learn martial arts that you normally wouldn't be able to yet."
Chung Myung: "Martial arts are fine."
Hyun Jong: "...Hoh? You're fine with that too?"
Chung Myung: "Yes."
Hyun Jong: "Do you not have an interest in martial arts?"
Chung Myung shook his head again.
Chung Myung: "That's not it. I may not know everything, but I believe the seniors of Mount Hua have set the order of learning martial arts for a reason."
Hyun Jong's eyes widened.
Hyun Jong: "Oh?"
Chung Myung: "Yes. Didn't you just say, Sect Leader, that eating too quickly will upset your stomach?"
Hyun Jong: "I did."
Chung Myung: "I think the same applies to martial arts. I'll learn what's appropriate for my level and progress steadily, even if it's slow."
Hyun Jong: "Good. You're absolutely right."
Hyun Jong nodded repeatedly.
The more they talked, the more he liked Chung Myung. For such a young child, didn't he understand what the Tao was, what natural order was?
'Where did such a talent come from?'
Hyun Jong couldn't hide his joy, but of course, Chung Myung's thoughts were completely different.
'I should be the one teaching you martial arts, man!'
Chung Myung had been racking his brain over how to pass on the martial arts he had learned, aside from what he had already taught.
It would have been easier to hand everything over at once. But human nature is strange—if you give someone a golden Buddha statue and a silver one at the same time, they'll undervalue the silver one.
If he taught the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique and the Seven Plum Blossom Sword Technique at the same time, who would bother learning the latter? As Hyun Jong said, eating too quickly will upset your stomach.
'To think I'd have to worry about even these details.'
Senior Disciple. I was wrong.
I'm sorry for only half-listening when you nagged. I should have realized how much you were struggling back then.
Seeing Mount Hua from the Sect Leader's perspective made Chung Myung realize how hard it must have been for the previous Sect Leader, Chung Mun. And much of that hardship was likely caused by Chung Myung himself.
I should have listened.
It's too late to atone to the deceased Chung Mun, but at least I can do my best for the current Sect Leader.
Hyun Jong: "It's good that you have no greed, but it's a bit of a problem for me now. So, is there really nothing you need?"
'Something I need...'
What could Mount Hua, which has nothing but its name, offer Chung Myung?
After some thought, Chung Myung spoke.
First, if he could secure some personal freedom, his range of movement would expand. That was more urgent than anything else.
Chung Myung: "Sect Leader. I don't slack off in my martial training."
Hyun Jong: "I can see that just by looking at you."
"..."
Chung Myung coughed lightly and continued.
Chung Myung: "But I think there's a limit to just training within this sacred ground. I'd like to see the wider world from time to time. Please allow me to go down to Hwaryun whenever I wish."
Hyun Jong: "Hmm."
Hyun Jong furrowed his brow slightly.
Hyun Jong: "I understand your intention, but that goes against Mount Hua's rules. Your contributions are significant, but if I allow that, it could cause issues of fairness and discontent among others. Let me think about it."
Chung Myung: "Yes, Sect Leader."
Hyun Jong: "Is there anything else?"
After some thought, Chung Myung's eyes lit up.
Chung Myung: "Sect Leader!"
Hyun Jong: "Hm?"
Chung Myung: "As you can see, my health isn't good."
Hyun Jong: "Yes. Anyone with eyes can see that."
Chung Myung: "The medical hall said my vital energy is damaged."
Hyun Jong: "Yes. I've heard."
Chung Myung: "So, I was wondering... could you give me a spirit pill?"
Hyun Jong: "...A spirit pill?"
Chung Myung: "Yes. The spirit pill of Mount Hua. Don't most sects have something like that?"
Hyun Jong burst into laughter.
Hyun Jong: "Hohohoho. Right. You need a spirit pill. Yes, a spirit pill is good. There's nothing better for restoring the body."
Chung Myung: "Yes! That's right!"
Hyun Jong: "Hohoho. Right, a spirit pill. Yes. Your contributions are enough to deserve a spirit pill. Yes... Hmm... Yes..."
Hyun Jong glanced at Chung Myung's expression. Then, in a deliberately soft voice, he said, "You said you wanted to go down to Hwaryun from time to time?"
Chung Myung: "...Yes?"
Hyun Jong: "Of course, it's against the rules, but considering your contributions, I can grant that request. Un Am, listen."
Un Am: "Yes, Sect Leader!"
Hyun Jong: "By the authority of the Mount Hua Sect Leader, I hereby grant Chung Myung, disciple of Mount Hua, permission to go down to Hwaryun without seeking others' approval."
Un Am: "Yes!"
Hyun Jong: "However, Chung Myung must not leave Hwaryun, and he must take full responsibility for anything that happens there. Do you understand?"
Chung Myung: "Yes, I understand. But..."
Chung Myung tilted his head.
Chung Myung: "What about the spirit pill?"
Hyun Jong: "Also, going down to Hwaryun must not interfere with your training."
"..."
Hyun Jong: "Hohohoho. Right. Then you may go."
Chung Myung: "Ah, no, Sect Leader. The spirit pill..."
Hyun Jong: "I have high expectations for you. Continue to train diligently."
Chung Myung: "...Yes."
Hyun Jong: "Good."
Chung Myung: "Take care, Sect Leader."
As Chung Myung bowed and shuffled out, Hyun Jong smiled broadly.
'You fool, I don't even have enough spirit pills to eat myself!'
Better to die than suffer.
Better to die.