The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 107

I spoke forcefully and waited for his answer.

Zhuge Yun looked me straight in the eye.

At the banquet, he couldn't seem to make eye contact with people properly, but now his face and expression showed a glimpse of the intelligent and lively person he was said to have been in the past.

"I'll... think about it."

"Huh? I've said this much, and you're still thinking?"

"That's... I'm sorry. I'm this kind of person."

He said, bowing his head to me.

Since he was coming out like this, I wasn't heartless enough to rush him for an answer, so I replied that I understood for now.

But there was something I really wanted to tell him.

"Young Master Zhuge."

"Yes, Taoist Master."

"There is no such thing as a worthless endeavor in this world."

"Pardon...?"

"Even if the world doesn't recognize it right away, I believe that what you are trying to do now is something that could greatly benefit the world someday."

"......"

Tears began to well up in Zhuge Yun's eyes.

But I am absolutely not saying this to comfort him.

If Zhuge Yun, who has started drawing maps in earnest from now on, continues to draw maps for the next ten, twenty years... and not just cooped up in a small room, but by actually traveling the Central Plains and creating the best map he has seen and experienced with his own eyes.

In the future, when the Demonic Cult invades the Central Plains, it would be possible to devise much more flexible strategies, and there are countless things that can be done with a single well-made map, such as deciding on better advance and retreat routes.

'And... Zhuge Yun's map won't be stolen by the Demonic Cult.'

So, coaxing Zhuge Yun to come out into the world now is ultimately the same as weakening the Demonic Cult's power.

"Still, when you're not sure about what you're doing, and when you think the people around you don't believe in you, well... come to the Wudang Sect."

"To Wudang?"

"I'll try to persuade my Master or the Sect Leader somehow so that you can enter our sect. If you think about it... isn't making maps so artistically ultimately not much different from cultivating the Tao? In fact, in our Wudang Sect's Taoist Gate (道門), there is someone who wants to attain enlightenment through painting. He wakes up every morning and draws the scenery of Wudang until he goes to bed. Our Wudang doesn't have that much money, so he draws on the ground instead of on paper."

I wasn't joking, I told him because there really is such a person, but perhaps thinking that I was making up a story to comfort him, Zhuge Yun let out a small laugh.

It's the first time I've seen him laugh since I met him.

"So... why don't you go to the head of the Zhuge family first and tell him what you really want to do? Say that you'll go to the Nangong family, and that you'll start the martial arts training you've stopped until now."

"......"

He didn't answer. It seemed he had many thoughts.

I gave Zhuge Ling a look.

It meant that I had said all I had to say, so it was okay to leave.

Zhuge Ling, understanding my look, said to Zhuge Yun, "Brother. Taoist Master Unhwi and I will be leaving now. Think about it slowly. I... I want you to go back to how you used to be."

I could feel the moisture in her voice.

But, she doesn't burst into tears.

"I haven't told you yet, brother, but I can learn martial arts now too."

"Is that... really true?"

"Yes. And it was all possible because Taoist Master Unhwi, who is here, helped me. We said we would train in martial arts together when we grew up, didn't we? Now we can."

"Ling'er..."

Looking at the two siblings looking at each other with newly affectionate eyes, I said to Zhuge Yun, "Ah, if I may add one last thing, if you decide to train in martial arts, I can help you. Since I'll be training without rest with my senior brothers on the way to the Nangong family anyway. I'll let you join in. Well."

"Taoist Master Unhwi... thank you for everything. I'm truly grateful..."

I shrugged my shoulders and answered as I slowly walked towards the door.

"It's still too early for thanks. It seems you two still have more to talk about, so I'll give you some space. I hope to see you... tomorrow."

I just opened the door and left the room without listening to their answers.

Then, lest anyone see, I quieted my sounds and silently left the building.

'Good. It was perfect.'

After leaving the building, I recall the words and actions I had just now, and Zhuge Yun's reaction.

Fortunately, Zhuge Yun's heart was not completely consumed by darkness, and he sincerely accepted the meaning of my words and responded sincerely.

Perhaps... if my prediction is correct, he will be able to come out into the world again.

'How many things have I gained? I've gained the trust of the Zhuge family, they said they would make a huge donation to the Wudang Sect... they'll give me a little something too, right? No way... and Zhuge Yun's map. Even if it's insignificant now, his map will have a value that can't be exchanged for a thousand pieces of gold in the future.'

The thought of transforming him into a new person while traveling to and from the Nangong family together already makes my fists feel itchy.

Since we have to spend at least a month together, there is more than enough time to make Zhuge Yun the manliest of men.

And, that training will not make an exception for Zhuge Ling.

'The greater the talent, the greater the effort needed to make it bloom.'

From what I've heard about her training, it seems she's training at a moderate level because it hasn't been long since she started.

A moderate level... about the level of the original Wudang Sect's Yuyeop Hall?

Of course, I have no intention of making her train as ignorantly as I make my senior brothers, but it's a matter of course that it will be a much, much harder training than now.

"Heh heh."

I couldn't help but let out a laugh.

Why am I so kind? Why is it so enjoyable to make someone grow and be reborn as a true martial artist?

I really should retire from the martial world and open a martial arts school after I finish everything.

Teaching children and enjoying the small happiness...

"What's so enjoyable?"

At the moment I was having happy thoughts about the future, a cold voice came from my ear.

Shwa-a-aek!

And something came flying.

I sensed the danger and lay down on my back, barely avoiding the flying object.

I thought it was a blade flashing in the moonlight, but now I see it's an iron fan, a tie shan.

The only place that uses such iron objects as weapons is the Zhuge family here.

'Why is a martial artist from the Zhuge family suddenly attacking me?'

The attack just now was full of killing intent.

It means that if I hadn't avoided it, my head could have burst and I could have died.

Shwii-ik!

The iron fan plunged towards me, who was lying on the floor.

I instantly bounced my body up with my abdominal strength and stood on my two feet again, and then, using the Taiji Palm, I wrapped around the opponent's arm and used his strength against him to fling him away.

Pa-a-ang!

Although the assailant was flung far away from me, it didn't seem like he had taken much damage.

But, it doesn't matter. Because my intention was to create distance to see who had attacked me rather than to harm the opponent.

"You're pretty good."

"Huh...?"

I confirmed the assailant's face and let out a stupid sound.

Unexpected things keep happening in this Zhuge family.

Because the assailant... no, the woman who had just tried to kill me was none other than Zhuge Ling's handmaiden, Yu Seon.

"Yu Seon... nim? What are you doing all of a sudden? If I hadn't been able to avoid it and got hit, I would have been a goner."

"A man who can't even avoid such a simple attack is not qualified to be our young lady's lover. It's better to just die here."

"Ah, no. What are you talking about?"

"How dare you... sneak into the young lady's room in the middle of the night?! And you, a Taoist from the Wudang Sect?"

Pa-a-at!

Yu Seon approached me, stepping on a graceful footwork.

That footwork. I've seen Zhuge Ling perform it before.

It seems to be the unique footwork of the Zhuge family, but its level was different from what Zhuge Ling had performed.

'Wait, Yu Seon's real role is...'

Now I remember what Zhuge Ling had said to me earlier.

Zhuge Ling said that Yu Seon was not an ordinary handmaiden. I didn't hear the end of what she meant, but it seems it was that she also served as her bodyguard.

Well, the direct line of a great family like the Zhuge family. And a precious daughter at that, there's no way they would send her from the Zhuge family to Mount Wudang without any escort.

It seems they let the two of them travel alone, trusting in Yu Seon's martial arts.

Hwii-ik!

A powerful shockwave began to rise from Yu Seon's fan.

That martial art was probably something like the Heavenly Wind Fan Art, and the wind blowing around seems to contain a not-so-ordinary powerful energy.

'No, is she really trying to kill me? And she was fine earlier...!'

Thinking that she might have a split personality, I properly performed the starting stance of the Taiji Fist.

Because I didn't have a sword right now, and I didn't want to die from that fan.

Woong—

A warm energy spread throughout my body from my dantian.

It's the true qi of the Six Yang Divine Art. The Taiji Fist is originally a fist art that places the greatest importance on the harmony of yin and yang.

But the Six Yang Divine Art has the true qi of extreme yang.

The Taiji Fist performed with only yang energy shows a different appearance from the existing Taiji Fist.

It's not about controlling strength and weakness, but only strength, strength, strength.

If I had to give it a name, should I call it the Two Extremes Fist?

Shwii-ik!

The fan began to be shot at me once again.

It looked like a single swallow plunging down, ignoring the resistance of the wind.

I swung my left hand to block the fan, and at the same time, I extended my right hand towards Yu Seon's abdomen.

But, Yu Seon didn't directly clash her iron fan with me, but swung it right in front of me, shooting out a powerful shockwave and scattering the energy gathered in my fist.

While I was flustered by the unfamiliar technique and was gathering energy in my fist again.

The fan, which had moved in a natural curve, was already close to my head, with only a fist's distance between them.

At the moment I thought I would be hit in the forehead by that lump of iron.

"Hoo-eup— Ha-ap!"

I stomped my foot with all my might and exploded most of the internal energy I had, and thanks to that, the iron fan barely missed my head.

Thanks to that, Yu Seon lost her balance for a very short moment.

I don't miss that opportunity.

Whether the opponent is a woman, Zhuge Ling's handmaiden and bodyguard, or whether this is inside the Zhuge family, I don't have the luxury to think about such things.

All that's in my head right now is the thought that if I don't subdue the opponent in front of me, I will die.

That's how powerful and sincere Yu Seon's attack was.

My fists moved gracefully and first struck Yu Seon's arm and shoulder, which she had not yet recovered after swinging the fan.

When my fist accurately hit Yu Seon's Quchi acupoint, she dropped the fan she was holding.

But, I have no intention of stopping here.

Even without a fan, I know that the Zhuge family is also skilled in palm arts.

My fists struck her neck, chest, and stomach in succession, and since I was also using all my strength, her body flinched with each punch.

I don't think she'll die.

The sensation of hitting her is not like hitting a woman, but like hitting a heavy sandbag.

I can fully feel how well-trained she is through my fists.

I continued to strike her body with my senses and instincts, not with techniques.

Although she flinched and tried to respond to my fists, I didn't even allow that.

When I had landed dozens of blows on her body in a short time.

"Keuk..."

Yu Seon's eyes rolled back and she fell forward.

I didn't even think of catching her body and moved far away, and after confirming that she had fallen with a thud, I kicked the iron fan that had fallen nearby far away.

"Ugh!"

Since it was an iron fan, my toes hurt a lot, but I feel relieved just by the fact that that terrifying fan is far away.

I quickly went to Yu Seon and pressed a few of her acupoints.

"Umm..."

"No, how strong is her body?"

Even though my sincere fists had landed on her body dozens of times, she had already come to her senses.

Perhaps realizing that her vital points had been seized, she glared at me and said, "Now you're trying to disgrace me after the young lady!"

"Ah, no. Wait. I think there's a big misunderstanding. I went to the young lady's room because of Young Master Zhuge Yun..."

I opened my mouth to calm her down.

I thought that if she heard the whole story, she would be able to understand it enough... but the words she said, cutting me off, were far beyond my expectations.

"What? The young master? You bastard. No matter how delicate and pretty our young master is, you're now going after the young master too?"

My goodness.

(End of Chapter)