The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 222

After a brief commotion, Unhwi went up to talk to the Shaolin monks, and Maeng Gwang-gae also left, saying he would check if the other martial artists had properly finished the missions he had assigned.

So, all that was left was Hwangbo Jung-hyeon, Zhuge Ling, and the Wave Palm King.

"Grandfather. What brings you here?"

"What do you mean, what brings me here? You and Ling'er are suffering here, so I can't just stand by and do nothing, can I?"

"The work here is proceeding smoothly. You don't have to worry about anything."

The Wave Palm King looked at Hwangbo Jung-hyeon with a satisfied expression.

Although he couldn't match Unhwi, Hwangbo Jung-hyeon also possessed great talent.

He had already learned about five levels of the Sumeru Heavenly King Divine Art and had also mastered the Hwangbo family's secret palm technique, the Thunderclap Divine Palm, to a high level.

"Yes. Thanks to that, a great worry of our family has disappeared. In fact, if things had gone wrong, I was about to smash the heads of those guys who are the leaders of the Yellow Sea Seven Tyrants, but now there's no need for that."

"But is it really true that Taoist Master Unhwi has been doing such things? To think he went around cutting down all the sect leaders by himself... To be honest, I can't believe it."

"You can't believe it, right? Actually, I was the same. When I first heard that plan from Maeng Gwang-gae, I even had the thought that we might be sacrificing an innocent young man. But just the day before yesterday, he is said to have even cut down the Heuk-su Sect leader who came to see him."

"Even the Heuk-su Sect leader? Then... does that mean that all the leaders of the Yellow Sea Seven Tyrants have died or run away because of just one Taoist Master Unhwi?"

"That's what I'm saying."

Hwangbo Jung-hyeon, even though Unhwi was not in sight, turned his head without realizing it and looked at the stairs he had gone up.

Although he had heard vaguely that he was the most outstanding talent in the Wudang Sect, he had never thought that he would be that strong.

When he glanced at Zhuge Ling's expression, Zhuge Ling was smiling warmly.

It is Zhuge Ling who always maintains a poker face.

Hwangbo Jung-hyeon had never seen Zhuge Ling with such an expression before.

'Could it be...'

Although something came to Hwangbo Jung-hyeon's mind, he thought it couldn't be and asked his grandfather another question that came to mind.

"But grandfather. Then don't people in the world know that Taoist Master Unhwi, not the martial artist named An Hwi of the Hwanho Sect, did this?"

"That's right."

"Then the achievements of Taoist Master Unhwi... will go to a dead person, so won't they just scatter into thin air?"

Although it was not his own achievement, for some reason, he felt that it was a great waste.

It's because it's something that is unimaginable in his common sense.

He thinks that the reason a martial artist moves in such a matter is for achievements.

"Yes. He probably did it because he thought it was the right thing to do, even if others don't recognize it. Jung-hyeon, you should also learn that kind of spirit. Originally, a true chivalrous hero is one who acts without people knowing."

"But... if others don't recognize it, isn't there nothing to gain?"

"Why would there be nothing?"

"Then what is there?"

"You gain the peaceful lives of the people. The Central Plains becomes more stable, and the evil people are punished. What more could you ask for than that?"

Hwangbo Jung-hyeon, in fact, did not agree with the Wave Palm King's words, but he barely managed not to show it.

'Because grandfather has such thoughts, our Hwangbo family was pushed out of the Five Great Families.'

Although he had such thoughts, he was not so foolish as to make the mistake of expressing it in words or expressions.

"Anyway, Jung-hyeon, since I can see you at home, let's talk more later."

"Are you going back to the family?"

"Since I have no more business here, I have to go back. Maeng Gwang-gae will take care of the finishing touches."

"I understand, grandfather."

He, after patting the shoulder of Hwangbo Jung-hyeon who was bowing his head politely, looked at Zhuge Ling.

"And Ling'er."

"Yes, grandfather."

"Shall we go somewhere quiet and talk for a bit? It's been a long time since we've seen each other like this, hasn't it?"

"Yes. I know that room over there is empty, so I'll go and ask once more."

"Do that."

Zhuge Ling went to the waiter and came back with the answer that she could use the room, and the two of them went into that room.

Hwangbo Jung-hyeon naturally said that he would also go to his room and rest for a bit, and to be sure to call him before leaving, and then he went up to his room.

"Ling'er."

"Yes, grandfather."

"I heard the general story from your mother and Maeng Gwang-gae."

"What story?"

"How you were able to learn martial arts, and what happened with that child named Unhwi."

"Ah... you heard, grandfather."

"Yes. So, what I'm saying is..."

The Wave Palm King, after a moment's pause, said to Zhuge Ling, "I approve."

"Yes? What?"

"I have seen many Taoists I know marry women from secular families. So that child's origin will not be a problem."

"Yes?!"

Zhuge Ling, who had been speaking in a quiet and gentle tone all along, shrieked without realizing it.

It was a statement that came at an unexpected time, and more than anything, it was because she felt as if her inner thoughts had been discovered.

"Why are you shouting like that? It's not like I said something that didn't happen."

"N-No, grandfather. Where did you hear such a thing..."

"Who else? I found out from the letter your mother sent. Since we've gotten along again recently, she sends a letter every few days. Although she was always a talkative child, it's as if she's trying to say all the things that have been piling up in letters, and my arm is about to fall off from replying."

The Wave Palm King made a gesture as if he were shaking his arm while feigning exaggeration.

Zhuge Ling, at his reaction, said with wide eyes, "H-Have you reconciled with mother?"

"Well. It's not completely like that. We haven't even seen each other's faces yet and are just exchanging letters..."

However, a warm warmth was circulating on his face.

Although he says that, he is feeling joy at the recovery of his relationship with his daughter.

"So I'm thinking of visiting the Zhuge family once soon. I'll see Yun too while I'm at it."

"Come anytime! Everyone will welcome you, grandfather!"

Zhuge Ling, in her joy, grabbed the Wave Palm King's hand and shouted once more.

She was able to be even happier because she knew how upset her mother usually was because of her relationship with the Wave Palm King.

"Yes. I'll go soon. So you should not get hurt and finish this matter well and go back home. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I was being careful even now, but I'll be even more careful from now on."

"Yes. You pretty thing."

The Wave Palm King, with the face of a doting father, stroked Zhuge Ling's head.

Although she was now approaching the age of twenty, in the Wave Palm King's eyes, she still looked like a little child.

"And in fact, the reason I called you here separately is for another reason."

"Another reason?"

"If we were just going to have such a casual conversation, there would be no reason to come all the way here, would there?"

When Zhuge Ling tilted her head, the Wave Palm King, as if that were cute, chuckled and continued, "I heard that you are a great martial talent. It's been less than three years since you started learning martial arts, but you're already much stronger than most of the martial artists of the Zhuge family?"

"That's... I was lucky."

"Hehe. If you can say that being born a genius is also luck, then you are lucky."

"A genius. I'm still lacking."

Zhuge Ling, not just being humble, seemed to be sincerely thinking that way.

And that's understandable. Because her standard for a 'genius' is set only on Unhwi.

No matter how much people around her say she is a genius, it was true that the way to become stronger than Unhwi felt distant.

"In my eyes, you are a genius. And an outstanding one at that."

"You're exaggerating, grandfather."

"If I say so, you should answer 'yes, I understand'. Would I say something that isn't true?"

"... Yes. I understand."

When Zhuge Ling answered reluctantly, the Wave Palm King, as if he were finally satisfied, smiled and, looking straight into her eyes, said, "Until now, I feel like I haven't done anything for you as a grandfather, so I'm going to give you a gift."

"A gift?"

"I'll teach you a martial art. The martial art of our Hwangbo family."

"How can I learn the martial art of the Hwangbo family..."

"Since the family head is giving it to you, there won't be any problem, will there?"

When he glanced at Zhuge Ling, she seemed to be interested.

'To show such interest in martial arts, as expected, she inherited my blood as a born martial artist rather than her dandy father's.'

Although the Wave Palm King thought this and was pleased inside, in fact, Zhuge Ling's situation was different.

'If I learn a good martial art and become even a little stronger... won't I be more helpful to Taoist Master Unhwi in what he does?'

However, you can know what's ten fathoms deep in the water, but you can't know what's in a person's heart.

Without knowing each other's circumstances, in the end, Zhuge Ling said she wanted to learn the martial art of the Hwangbo family.

"But what kind of martial art are you going to teach me?"

"I'm going to teach you the Sumeru Heavenly King Divine Art."

"Yes? If it's the Sumeru Heavenly King Divine Art, the secret of the Hwangbo family..."

"That's right. So you can't go around telling anyone that you learned the Sumeru Heavenly King Divine Art from me. Not even to your father or mother. Can you keep it?"

Zhuge Ling nodded her head without hesitation.

Although the prestige of the Hwangbo family is not what it used to be, the Sumeru Heavenly King Divine Art is a divine art that is recognized throughout the martial world.

In addition, she was well aware of the fact that the Sumeru Heavenly King Divine Art could be learned along with other martial arts.

Because she remembered what her mother had said in passing before.

She was not so indecisive as to not seize the opportunity to become stronger, an opportunity that could be called a fortuitous encounter.

"I'll definitely keep it."

"Yes. Then from now on, I will recite the oral formula. Let's see if you can memorize it all at once."

"Yes...? The oral formula all at once?"

"If it's your ability that Jeong-hwa boasts of, you can surely do it. If you can also learn the Sumeru Heavenly King Divine Art in one day, it will surely be proof that you have a talent that is comparable to that child."

"That child, what are you talking about..."

"It's a monologue, so you don't need to think deeply about it. For now, let's just start."

"Yes, grandfather."

The Wave Palm King immediately began to recite the oral formula, and Zhuge Ling quickly began to concentrate on his words.

In fact, he had only said what he had said a little while ago because he was curious if Zhuge Ling had a talent similar to Unhwi's, but she, for some reason, fell into the anxiety that he would not teach her if she could not memorize it all at once, and she tried even more desperately to memorize the oral formula.

Fortunately, time passed, and when the Wave Palm King, after reciting the oral formula once, looked at Zhuge Ling.

Her expression looked calm and bright.

"Do you remember everything?"

"Yes. Fortunately, I think so."

"Then say it once."

Zhuge Ling began to recite the oral formula of the Sumeru Heavenly King Divine Art without hesitation.

When she had said the oral formula to the end without a single mistake, a look of joy appeared on the Wave Palm King's face.

'This child also has a talent as much as Unhwi's. Wait. Is this something I should be happy about? In the end, Ling'er is a daughter of the Zhuge family...?'

Although he had such a thought for a moment, he shook his head and brushed off the idle thoughts.

Because no matter what the surname was, it was true that his granddaughter was his granddaughter, and that would not change.

(End of Chapter)