novelraw Chapter 268 : Giving Enlightenment (2)
Chapter 268 : Giving Enlightenment (2)
Chapter 268: Giving Enlightenment (2)
Yong Hwarin was unconsciously reaching enlightenment in a martial epiphany as he watched Poong Imso’s Plum Blossom Sword Art.
His eyes, having reached the Boundary of the Upper World, had already surpassed those of ordinary men.
It was just that Yong Hwarin himself hadn’t realized it yet—but he had grown to such a level that even watching a sword technique from another sect allowed him to grasp its profound essence.
His admiration continued.
“They say Mount Hua’s era of prosperity began with the Plum Blossom Sword Art, and now I can see why. No matter how many supreme martial arts they possess, none could surpass the Plum Blossom Sword Art.”
Poong Imso heard Yong Hwarin mumble and fell into contemplation.
Poong Imso had been so immersed in his training that he hadn’t even noticed Yong Hwarin approach. He only snapped out of it when he heard Yong Hwarin’s muttering.
He had intended to stop training, but when he heard the awed tone in Yong Hwarin’s voice, he couldn’t bring himself to do so.
Strangely, every word he spoke felt like it was referring to the very wall Poong Imso had sensed in his own progress.
Then, at the mention of Mount Hua’s greatest sword art, Poong Imso finally lowered his sword.
He, too, believed that to be true, but many of the current disciples of Mount Hua did not.
Many among them saw the Plum Blossom Sword Art as merely an intermediate step on the path to becoming a first-rate martial artist.
Yong Hwarin sensed Poong Imso staring at him intently and offered an apology.
“Ah, my apologies. I didn’t realize I had become so engrossed in your training, Master Poong.”
When Yong Hwarin bowed politely, Poong Imso stepped closer and asked,
“Master Yong, may I ask you something?”
“Please do.”
“Why do you say that the Plum Blossom Sword Art is our sect’s greatest ultimate technique?”
Poong Imso wanted to know the reason behind Yong Hwarin’s claim—especially since he hadn’t seen the other techniques of Mount Hua.
Yong Hwarin realized the truth.
Indeed, when he had seen Poong Imso’s sword art, he had vaguely felt the wall of martial knowledge that Poong Imso himself struggled with.
Now, Poong Imso clearly sought advice regarding that very wall.
While Yong Hwarin pondered where to begin his explanation, a maidservant arrived with tea, releasing him from the awkward moment.
“I’ve brought the tea.”
Knowing that Poong Imso always enjoyed tea after his training, the maid had set everything up at the pavilion.
“Let’s head up to the pavilion.”
Poong Imso, not wanting Yong Hwarin to leave, directly invited him to join him for tea.
He felt that by listening to the words of a supreme master like Yong Hwarin, he might understand what his wall was.
Seeing that sincerity, Yong Hwarin followed him to the pavilion.
“This tea was picked from the tea trees of Mount Hua. It’s not a luxury brand, but I like it. The natural fragrance is exquisite. That’s why I prefer tea from Mount Hua.”
Poong Imso poured the tea into Yong Hwarin’s cup with utmost care.
Yong Hwarin took a sip, savoring its taste and aroma.
“Indeed, it’s delightful. It feels as if the spiritual essence of Mount Hua resides in this clarity.”
When Yong Hwarin praised the tea, Poong Imso smiled faintly.
After tasting a few sips himself, Poong Imso nodded.
“It tastes even better when shared with you, Master Yong.”
Yong Hwarin looked at him in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected such a formal man to say something so complimentary.
Then, suddenly, a memory from his past life surfaced in Yong Hwarin’s mind.
“Aha!”
Startled, Poong Imso looked at Yong Hwarin, who suddenly exclaimed in delight.
Then Yong Hwarin burst into laughter.
“Wahahahaha! So that’s how it was!”
As Yong Hwarin continued speaking nonsense, Poong Imso looked at him as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
At that moment, Yong Hwarin realized the truth: the man before him was destined to become one of the greatest martial artists of Murim in his past life.
He hadn’t realized from the name alone, but now he remembered—Poong Imso had once been a famed swordsman, known by the title Wind Plum Sword.
‘So it’s because of me that Poong Imso reaches enlightenment and becomes a supreme master? No doubt about it. Through his connection to me, he must have gained some insight. He was a Taoist who barely ever left Mount Hua. And yet one day, his level suddenly advanced, and two decades later, he rose to the ranks of Murim’s elite. He must have continued to rise even higher afterward.’
The thought that Poong Imso might owe his future greatness to him brought a smile to Yong Hwarin’s face.
And as he tasted the tea Poong Imso served, he could sense where that foreign energy within the Plum Blossom Sword Art had originated.
“I once heard that the Plum Blossom Sword Art was not actually inspired by plum blossoms.”
When Yong Hwarin had learned about martial arts from the soul of a Demonic Master, he had heard those words.
It was when they had been discussing the martial arts of Mount Hua while learning about the Jaha Divine Art.
Hearing this, Poong Imso was visibly startled.
“How could you possibly know that, Master Yong? Even disciples of our sect who haven’t trained in the art don’t know that.”
“I happened to hear it from a martial prodigy by chance.”
Poong Imso no longer pressed the matter—what mattered wasn’t where Yong Hwarin had learned it, but the truth itself.
Raising his teacup, Yong Hwarin continued.
“The Plum Blossom Sword Art was likely not inspired by plum blossoms at all. It must have been inspired by tea trees.”
Poong Imso’s eyes widened.
He never imagined Yong Hwarin would know something so deeply hidden.
“That’s correct. One of our sect’s ancestors once gained enlightenment while observing a plum tree and revised the sword art. That’s when it was renamed the Plum Blossom Sword Art. Before that, it had been known as the Tea Blossom Sword Art.”
Yong Hwarin nodded.
It was exactly the story he had heard from the Demonic Master.
Yong Hwarin began to share what he had felt from observing the Plum Blossom Sword Art, and the insights he had gained from it.
“Transforming the Tea Blossom Sword Art into the Plum Blossom Sword Art must have been an attempt to fill in what was lacking. Rather than explain in detail, I would like to ask just one question.”
Poong Imso had returned to the demeanor of a disciple humbly seeking wisdom from his master.
‘A man like this deserves to become a true righteous hero.’
Knowing full well the nature of Poong Imso, Yong Hwarin wanted to present him not with an explanation, but a single question.
Because such a question could lead to ten insights.
“If you consider why the plum blossom has five petals, you may find the answer.”
“Pardon?”
Hearing something so unexpected, Poong Imso wore a puzzled expression.
But realizing that Yong Hwarin’s words carried depth, he fell into contemplation.
Yong Hwarin spoke again.
“Master Poong.”
At that, Poong Imso raised his head. His expression was filled with earnestness.
“Please, go on.”
“The tea flower also has five petals. Most plants bear fruit where the flower has fallen. There are no plants in which the flower and fruit coexist. But the tea tree bears both flower and fruit at once, which is why it’s called the Tree Where Flower and Fruit Meet.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Perhaps one of your sect’s ancestors realized something from that and created the sword art. As I watched your Plum Blossom Sword Art, I was reminded of the five meanings in the tea leaves. Do you know what they are?”
Poong Imso murmured like a man possessed.
“Bitterness (苦), sweetness (甘), sourness (酸), saltiness (鹹), and astringency (澁).”
A tea enthusiast like Poong Imso could not possibly be unaware of those five.
“Did you know that these five tastes also represent the flavors of life?”
“I did not.”
“In my opinion, those five flavors were contained within the Plum Blossom Sword Art. Likely because it was a sword art inspired by the tea tree.”
“I ask humbly for your insight. What are those five flavors?”
When Poong Imso spoke, Yong Hwarin tasted the aroma of tea before replying.
“The sages likened these five flavors to life. They said: Do not live too bitterly (苦), too sweetly (甘), too conspicuously (酸), too stingily (鹹), or too complicatedly (澁). Perhaps your sect’s ancestor created the sword art with this in mind. The Plum Blossom Sword Art carried the flavor of tea. Any martial art that resembles the nature of the world is considered among the most perfect. That is why I regarded the Plum Blossom Sword Art as the greatest ultimate technique of Mount Hua Sect.”
Poong Imso smiled brightly as he replied.
“I once asked the Masters of the Five Swords of Mount Hua whether the Plum Blossom Sword Art, when performed to its peak, truly gave off the scent of plum blossoms. They said it did at first, but then it turned into the scent of tea. I didn’t understand what they meant back then, but now I do. It is because the Plum Blossom Sword Art was inspired by both the tea flower and the plum blossom.”
Seeing Poong Imso attain a great realization, the heaviness that had weighed on Yong Hwarin’s chest finally lightened.
Nothing pleased him more than knowing someone had reached insight through him.
“Master Yong, I truly thank you. I don’t know how I could ever repay this favor. If you ever need this Poong’s life, just say the word. Even if it's a thousand li away, even if it’s into a pit of fire, I will go without hesitation.”
Moved beyond words, Poong Imso spoke as if making a solemn vow.
Yong Hwarin knew well that such words, coming from someone as upright as Poong Imso, weighed more than any treasure.
“I haven’t done anything worthy of such treatment from you, Master Poong.”
“What do you mean? You’ve saved me and my fellow disciples more than once, and now you’ve even granted me enlightenment. There are now three beings who may take my life. First is my sect, second is my master, and third is Young Master Yong. If ever you need me, do not hesitate to say so.”
Yong Hwarin grasped Poong Imso’s hand and spoke sincerely.
“I accept your heart with gratitude.”
Poong Imso took Yong Hwarin’s hand in return and beamed with joy.
Then he descended to the pavilion and began performing the Plum Blossom Sword Art like a man possessed.
Yong Hwarin smiled as he watched, then turned to leave.
He could feel the faint scent of plum blossoms drifting through the air.
“How lovely, this scent of plum blossoms.”
The subtle and delicate fragrance lifted one’s spirits.