The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 17

Although one might think that a martial arts competition held once every six months is quite frequent, in this boring Wudang Sect, the martial arts competition is a rather large event.

The Wudang Sect rarely engages in group activities, except during the Yuyeop Hall period.

They just live a life of cultivating their swords and the Tao every day.

In the midst of that, one of the few group events is the martial arts competition.

"Martial Uncle. Did you call for me?"

"Yes, Hyeon Yang, you've come."

The day before such an event was held.

Hyeon Yang, at the call of Okgil, who was in charge of this martial arts competition, came to the pavilion where he resided.

Okgil was a tall, skinny old man in his early sixties.

But despite having no flesh, he didn't seem weak at all.

He was a person like a bamboo, thin and long but harder than any tree.

"What is it that you called me for? You must have a lot on your mind right now."

"I've finished all the work related to the martial arts competition. I called you because I have something I'm curious about."

"What are you curious about?"

Okgil asked, narrowing his eyes.

"The child you've claimed, the one you told everyone not to touch, is it Unhwi?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Is that child in room number nine by any chance?"

Hyeon Yang's eyes widened slightly.

Although Martial Uncle Okgil was in charge of the martial arts competition because it was his turn, he usually didn't pay much attention to the third-generation disciples.

The only third-generation disciple he was interested in was Unhwang, who had become his direct disciple and left the Yuyeop Hall.

"How do you know that, Martial Uncle?"

"Haha. So it was. A few days ago, right before I was about to draw the matchups, a child named Unjihak from room number eight and a child named Uncheol from room number nine came to me and asked if they could fight each other in the first round."

"Ah...! I heard that from Unhwi."

"But since this is an unusual occurrence, I became curious about what was going on."

He chuckled as if he was thinking about something and continued.

"So I separately had my disciple find out what was going on among the third-generation disciples."

"To Unhwang?"

"Yes. But do you know what Unhwang said? That all the 'Un' generation disciples already know the reason."

"What's the reason?"

"The kids from room number eight were badmouthing the kids from room number nine so much that they were trying to restore their honor."

"That's a plausible reason."

Okgil nodded his head greatly.

"That's right. But the important thing is not this reason."

"Then what is important?"

"The one who spread the rumor so that all the third-generation disciples would know this reason is that child named Unhwi."

"Unhwi?"

"He suddenly sat next to Unhwang, whom he barely knew, at the dining hall and complained about this and that while eating. So I asked a few more people, and it turns out he created such a coincidental opportunity to win over public opinion."

As Hyeon Yang listened to the story, the image of Unhwi spreading rumors among his senior and junior brothers was naturally drawn in his mind.

'That child would definitely do something like that.'

As he was swallowing the sigh that was about to escape him, Okgil asked again.

"So there's something I really want to ask you."

"What is it, Martial Uncle."

"That child. Is it okay to leave him like that?"

The laughing eyes from a moment ago were gone, and a sharp gaze seemed to pierce through him.

'This is the real question.'

Hyeon Yang recalled Okgil's usually thorough personality.

When he first came in, the question of whether Unhwi was in room number nine was just to test him.

Okgil would have already found out everything from Unhwi's room to his attitude during training, and how he usually gets along with the third-generation disciples.

'It must have been hard to make a judgment easily.'

For a moment, he barely held back the laughter that was about to escape him.

Because he felt the intention behind Martial Uncle Okgil calling him separately and asking him this.

'If he was a child who played politics with his senior and junior brothers and disturbed the atmosphere, he would just be kicked out. But, since Hwi is not that kind of child, it's natural that it's hard for you to grasp him.'

He also had a very hard time grasping Unhwi at first.

Sometimes he has the innocence of a child, and at other times, he acts like a cunning old fox who has lived a life once before.

When he is asked to do something other than training, he shows a lazy and evasive attitude, but when he trains, he concentrates like a madman.

He can be said to be a truly unpredictable person.

'But now I know.'

It has been quite some time since he started spending time with Unhwi.

He thought that as a Martial Uncle, as someone who would become his master in the future, and as a martial artist who trains in martial arts together, he had grasped Unhwi.

So he opened his mouth with conviction.

"Yes, Martial Uncle. Unhwi is a child who will become a great strength for Wudang in the future."

"Even though he acts in a way that is not befitting of a Taoist?"

"It's embarrassing for me to talk to you about the Tao, Martial Uncle, but what exactly is an action befitting of a Taoist?"

"......"

Okgil couldn't easily answer that question.

The reason he couldn't answer was not because he couldn't answer what an action befitting of a Taoist was.

It was just that.

'Hyeon Yang is defending Unhwi?'

The Hyeon Yang he knew was a person who was ruthless with the truth.

A person who would never go on an unrighteous path, even if it meant a loss to himself.

Although there are many good talents in the Hyeon generation, the reason he considers Hyeon Yang the best among them is because of his uprightness.

"Then are you saying it's okay to leave that child as he is?"

"If he tries to do something that crosses the line. Then I will stop him."

"Hmm..."

He let out a groan and looked at Hyeon Yang.

He thought for a moment that Hyeon Yang's judgment might have been clouded, but it didn't seem so at all.

On the contrary, his eyes seemed more confident than ever.

"I understand. I will do so. You must be busy, so you may go back."

"Yes, Martial Uncle. If you have any questions about Unhwi at any time, please ask."

"I understand."

Hyeon Yang stood up from his seat without any lingering attachment and left Okgil's residence.

He smiled brightly as he went down the stairs.

'I wonder what kind of expression the Martial Uncle will make when he sees Unhwi's martial arts skills.'

He deliberately didn't tell the Martial Uncle how outstanding Unhwi's martial arts skills were.

Because he had decided to leave that as a pleasure for tomorrow's martial arts competition.

***

"Senior Brother. Are you ready?"

"Yes. Hoo... I'm ready."

Senior Brother Uncheol said, letting out a deep breath.

But in my opinion, that guy isn't ready at all and is just answering well.

Right now, his body is completely stiff due to nervousness, and even his voice has become rigid.

And yet he says he's ready? What kind of...

Anyway, today is finally the day of the martial arts competition.

The time has come to show everyone our efforts.

From today, the position of room number nine will change.

"Why are you so nervous? You said this isn't your first martial arts competition, Senior Brother."

"Nervous, what."

He keeps saying no with his mouth, but his body is honest.

The way he walks is like a wooden block walking.

Looking back, on the contrary, Senior Brothers Unjeong, Unshik, and Unmi don't seem to be nervous at all.

"You seem to be fine, Senior Brothers?"

"Yes. We were last place last time anyway, so what. We have nothing to lose here."

"Oh-ho."

"And we have the time we've been training until now. There's probably no one in the Wudang Sect who has trained harder than us recently."

"That's right. We believe in that time."

A satisfied smile unknowingly forms on my lips.

I feel the reward of making them train hard.

It's clear that the senior brothers have now moved on to the next stage.

"Did you hear that? Senior Brother Uncheol... no, are you crying, Senior Brother?!"

I was about to say, 'Aren't you ashamed to be seen by your junior brothers?', but when I looked at him, his eyes were moist.

"Who's crying? I think I got some dust in my eye."

"There's no wind, so what dust? Are you moved right now, Senior Brother?"

"Didn't I say it was dust? Stop teasing me."

Although Uncheol spoke firmly, we barely swallowed our laughter and patted Uncheol's shoulder.

"Senior Brother. We haven't even done anything yet, what are you going to do if you're already crying?"

"That's right. This is just the beginning. What are you going to do if we really win?"

"You brats... can't you stop?"

Although he spoke fiercely, Senior Brother Uncheol also ended up laughing.

'Not bad.'

Thanks to the other senior brothers, I can feel Senior Brother Uncheol's tension instantly relax.

When you go through hard training together, a sense of camaraderie naturally develops.

In my past life, I had spent most of my time alone, so I wasn't used to this kind of camaraderie.

But now, I think I have a faint idea of what the joy of being together is.

It's not a bad feeling. No, it's a good feeling.

"Let's really go. We can't be late."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

The place where the martial arts competition is held is the central training ground in the very center of the Wudang Sect.

As the name 'central training ground' suggests, its size is enormous, large enough to accommodate hundreds of people with room to spare.

I heard that it's usually used for practicing group sword formations, but you can basically think of it as a training ground exclusively for martial arts competitions.

"They've even prepared spectator seats around it. I didn't know there was a place like this in Wudang."

"I also thought it didn't fit at first. I heard that those spectator seats were made decades ago when Wudang held the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly."

"So Wudang has held the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly before."

"Yes."

The Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, which literally means the meeting of the dragon and the phoenix, is a meeting place where young talents from all over the martial world gather to compete in their skills and build friendships.

Of course, in my past life, I had never even set foot in the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.

Because the term 'young talent' only included the disciples of prestigious sects or the children of prestigious families.

No matter how outstanding my abilities were, I couldn't overcome that wall.

'When I asked them to let me participate, saying I could beat them all, they said it would be a bigger problem if I really won. Damn bastards...'

At that time, I only thought it was dirty and cheap, even though they had the name of a prestigious orthodox sect.

But now, I am that prestigious orthodox sect.

'Then I'll be able to go to the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly someday, right?'

I'm not thinking of going to the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly to show off and pick up pretty women.

Of course, it would be a lie to say I have no such thoughts at all, but more than that, I need comrades to fight the Demonic Cult in the future.

Therefore, the wider the network, the better.

"Unhwi, stop thinking about other things and come stand here."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

From room number one to room number twenty.

The sight of a hundred 'Un' generation disciples standing in line is a magnificent sight.

I became a member of that group and stood in line.

Thump- Thump—

As I waited, feeling my heart pound, I saw someone go up on a platform-like thing in front of the training ground.

When I focused my vision and looked closely, it was Martial Granduncle Okgil, who was in charge of this competition.

"Not a single one is missing. You all know well the purpose of holding a martial arts competition in our Wudang, but. I will explain it once more. By confirming the skills of our senior and junior brothers, we can train more efficiently..."

The Martial Granduncle's speech was damn long.

Even I, who was confident in my mental strength, almost lost my mind and yawned.

"Alright, so. The conclusion is, don't get hurt. However, the prize for this competition is the Micheongdan. The winning room will be given one for each member, so work harder."

With those words, Martial Granduncle Okgil came down from the platform.

I, who had been about to doze off, had my eyes wide open after hearing the last words.

'Micheongdan...! A spiritual medicine!'

Micheongdan.

I heard it's on the less effective side among spiritual pills, but it was a spiritual medicine that I didn't even have a chance to eat in my past life.

'I heard it melts in your mouth as soon as you put it in.'

I licked my lips without realizing it.

In fact, that Micheongdan is a sure thing.

Not only is there no one at my level right now, but the gap between me and them is too large.

Shall we say it's a fight between an adult and a child?

So what's more important to me than that is...

'How to trample that guy down even more thoroughly.'

Just then, that Un Chi guy looks back at me.

Our eyes met, and I,

Grin—

sent him a smile filled with sincerity.

The emotion contained in this smile was clear.

'Condolences.'

Whether he knew it or not, Un Chi frowned.

'I'll make you regret it soon.'

A moment later, the martial arts competition officially began.

It won't be long now until room number eight is taken over.

(End of Chapter)