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Chapter 551: Wudang

A day has passed.

After suddenly meeting Gu Ryeonghwa and Yeongpung.

Since it was quite late, I spent the night simply around the area.

And now, early in the morning.

I had just finished my usual dawn training.

And there, beside me, was Yeongpung.

Bang-!

I threw a rock I was holding carelessly.

The rock fell among the gravel, and I wiped the slight sweat from my brow while looking at Yeongpung.

“Phew…!”

Yeongpung seemed busy regulating his breath, still immersed in his training.

In the meantime, I took a closer look at him.

‘He seems to have bulked up a lot.’

His height hadn’t changed since the first time I saw him.

He had already completed his physical growth by then, so that’s natural.

But…

‘…How did he get that big?’

Yeongpung, who once had a slender body, looked significantly different in his upper body after a few years.

Muscles packed in tightly.

It wasn’t an overwhelming proportion, but it was drastically different from his past self.

‘What on earth did he go through?’

It felt different from just regular training.

Could it be transformation of the body?

‘No, that seems strange too.’

There was a certain sense of alienness about him.

Even more so…

“Yeongpung, my disciple.”

“Yes?”

Yeongpung, swinging the rock here and there at my call, turned his gaze.

I pointed out and said, “Your energy is leaking out.”

“Ah!”

Upon hearing that, Yeongpung startled and started to gather his energy.

Since he began training, Yeongpung had been unable to control his energy, letting it out abundantly.

It wasn’t particularly uncomfortable since it had no aggression and was Taoist energy, but…

It was strange that it was erupting like that.

“Ah, I’m sorry. Hahaha….”

Embarrassed by my comment, Yeongpung began to gather his energy.

I had noticed it yesterday, but it was evident…

‘He must have gained an opportunity.’

A sudden surge in physical growth.

Along with an abrupt increase in the amount of energy, he was unable to control it.

For a martial artist, if a situation like this arises, I could only think of one thing.

‘Did he eat some elixir?’

If it’s one of the famous elixirs from Hwasan Sect, it would be the Jasodan.

The fact that he couldn’t even control such profound Taoist Qi probably indicated that was the cause.

“Hm.”

I decided not to pry any further.

If Yeongpung didn’t want to talk about it, I thought it wasn’t something I needed to forcefully uncover.

‘But…’

There was something that bothered me…

‘The energy feels familiar somehow.’

The energy Yeongpung was exuding felt strangely familiar to me.

What could it be?

I tried to recall where I had felt such energy before, but nothing came to mind at the moment.

‘Tsk.’

If that grumpy old devil from Hwasan were here, it would have been easier.

But I couldn’t call that gentleman right now.

Things were tangled up.

So for now, I decided to ask Yeongpung something else.

“So, my disciple.”

“Yes, Gu So-hyeob.”

“Do you know that friend over there?”

I gestured vaguely toward someone.

There was Seongyul, watching the carp swim in the valley water.

“Oh, you mean Seong?”

“Yes.”

Hearing my question, Yeongpung set down the rock and continued speaking.

“I’m not particularly close, but I remember meeting him when we were young.”

“When you were young?”

“Yes. I think… it was when the Kunlun Sect’s Sect Leader stepped foot in Hwasan.”

That’s when Cheonghae Ilgeom visited Hwasan.

“At that time, I briefly crossed paths with Sect Leader Seong.”

“Just briefly?”

“Yes, if that child is the one the Kunlun Sect’s Sect Leader brought along, then I remember clearly since he was around my age from another sect.”

Now in his mid-twenties, Yeongpung and Seongyul must be of similar age.

There was one doubt.

It seemed a bit magical that Yeongpung could recall such an event from so long ago.

I knew Yeongpung was a genius, but could he really have such an excellent memory?

Moreover…

‘That kid also seemed to recognize Yeongpung.’

When Yeongpung recognized Seongyul.

It also seemed that Seongyul recognized Yeongpung.

Given the discomfort on his face, there seemed to be some entanglement there.

‘But who cares?’

What’s important now is not their relationship, but the fact that Cheonghae Ilgeom had once visited Hwasan with a child named Seongyul.

That means it’s clear Seongyul is related to Cheonghae Ilgeom.

‘That’s all I needed.’

One puzzling part was cleared up.

For now, that was sufficient. After roughly organizing my thoughts, I looked at Yeongpung and continued talking.

“My disciple, may I ask one more thing?”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

Yeongpung, with his characteristic warm smile, replied.

“Then, what is the reason you and Ryeonghwa are going to Wudang?”

Upon hearing my question, his smile faded away.

At the same time, the surrounding atmosphere felt strangely unsettling.

“…So-hyeob.”

Yeongpung called me.

“Yes.”

“I don’t recall ever mentioning I’m heading to Wudang.”

“That’s true.”

“But, how did you know?”

It was the first time I had seen him with such a serious expression.

Although I wasn’t closely acquainted enough to be aware of such things, seeing Yeongpung, who always smiled, make such a face felt somewhat different.

I smiled back at him.

“It’s not that difficult, is it?”

“What…?”

“It’s simply how the situation presented itself.”

As I spoke, I pointed my finger to the void.

“Yesterday, you and Ryeonghwa were heading in that direction.”

My finger was pointing north.

“If you go that way, there’s Wudang Mountain right away, right?”

“…Just because of that reason?”

Yeah, that seemed a bit insufficient to claim I was predicting so.

So I decided to add more reasoning.

“It’s a quiet travel under the name of the Sect Leader of Hwasan. It wouldn’t be strange if it’s related to the area’s nearby Wudang, right?”

“That also seems a weak reason. So-hyeob. It’s more likely that it’s not related.”

“That’s true. But…”

I didn’t wipe the smile off my face when Yeongpung spoke.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“…!”

“It’s just a possibility.”

Hearing my suggestive tone, Yeongpung let out a deep sigh.

He seemed to have just realized I was probing him.

‘Being too much of a novice shows.’

This was something Yeongpung was only able to do because he had little experience in the Central Plains.

To get caught up so easily on such a casual question.

“Gu So-hyeob… You’re much scarier than I thought.”

“You’re still pure, my disciple.”

Or it could mean there’s something lacking.

When I was at Yeongpung’s level of experience, if someone asked me such a question, I would have adamantly denied it, even if it were ugly.

I might have snarled back asking if there was evidence.

Quite surprisingly, Yeongpung readily accepted it, which was curious for me.

‘Wudang, huh.’

Though it was just a casual question.

If it turned out to be true, it would be somewhat puzzling.

‘Why?’

Why were those two heading to Wudang?

Without even a top disciple among them.

Since they were visiting the same Gu Paibang, it felt like an important matter.

It seemed odd that only Late-Stage Talents were moving around.

‘Something must be going on.’

While it seemed unnecessary to show much interest in Yeongpung’s growth.

This matter was different.

‘Since Gu Ryeonghwa is involved.’

It was specifically that child’s issue.

I could only hope it wasn’t something dangerous.

“Ugh.”

Yeongpung let out a short groan.

He looked as if he didn’t expect to get caught.

Even he couldn’t lie very well.

Watching him, I asked.

“How are you heading to Wudang?”

“…”

Yeongpung’s expression crumpled slightly at my question.

Was it a difficult topic to discuss?

After a moment of contemplation, Yeongpung maintained silence for a few seconds.

Then he said, “…It’s probably at the behest of the Sect Leader.”

At his words, I nodded. It seemed like a no.

‘This is troublesome.’

Dealing with it like the others and trying to obtain it would raise several issues.

It was the very situation I was most uncomfortable with.

If Yeongpung couldn’t go…

‘Should I entice Gu Ryeonghwa?’

I was momentarily considering how to coax the same mother-daughter duo when he suddenly said.

“…So, I have a condition.”

“Hm?”

Yeongpung began to speak to me.

A condition?

“What kind of condition?”

Sending a curious glance, Yeongpung smiled as before and said.

“Would you mind sparring with me?”

“Sparring?”

I was a bit surprised by Yeongpung’s sudden suggestion.

Sparring, huh?

As a condition for providing information.

What was his intention behind that?

‘It doesn’t seem like a simple intention.’

Was it simply that he wanted to fight since we hadn’t seen each other for a while?

That thought crossed my mind, but it felt like there was something else mixed in.

‘Could it be…?’

I squinted, voicing my sudden thought.

“Is it because of the energy?”

“Haha….”

To my suggestion, Yeongpung laughed as if I was correct.

As expected.

‘Controlling the energy must be quite troublesome for him.’

The massive energy gained through the opportunity.

Yeongpung was unable to contain it and it often burst out of his body.

Usually, in such situations, a master would lead to help correct the energy.

‘Or they would simply expel it too much to suppress it.’

They would either discharge it forcibly or use sparring as a means to release it.

It seemed Yeongpung wanted to choose the latter.

‘Hmm.’

Just like before.

I discovered a question within Yeongpung’s words.

‘Why specifically sparring?’

Though he was a member of Hwasan Sect with many skilled martial artists, it was odd that he couldn’t control this energy.

They wouldn’t have purposely let Yeongpung’s energy run amok.

‘That means…’

It seems safe to assume that the Hwasan members wouldn’t know of his current situation.

Meaning…

‘It’s a matter he obtained outside the sect.’

It was still likely that the claim of heading to Wudang under Maehwa Seon’s orders wasn’t false.

But concerning the opportunity, I felt my intuition was accurate.

Having thought that far, I looked at Yeongpung and said, “Alright, let’s do it.”

“…!”

As I casually spoke, Yeongpung’s face lit up.

Sparring with Yeongpung would probably be a rare event after a few years.

I had seen him at Shinryong Temple, but it was a brief encounter and we hadn’t talked much either.

Thus, the last sparring must have been when I was heading to Hwasan.

Yeongpung was looking eagerly at me, obviously excited.

‘…What’s so exciting about a spar?’

I couldn’t understand what he found so thrilling about sparring against me.

A slight feeling of discomfort also crossed my mind.

Along with…

‘A bit of guilt too.’

That guilt passed by.

Because…

“Instead, it won’t be me who spars with you.”

I wouldn’t be the one to spar with Yeongpung.

“What?”

Surprised by my unexpected words, Yeongpung showed a bewildered expression.

I turned to the back and called out.

“Hey.”

“…”

Seongyul, who had been watching the carp, turned his gaze towards me.

With glinting golden eyes.

I looked straight into his eyes and said, “Come here and spar with him.”

“…?”

Curiosity filled Seongyul’s expression.

 

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