Chapter 173: Chapter 38. Wudang’s Third-Generation Disciples
Jinseong stared at me quietly before speaking.
“It suits you.”
“What?”
“The white robes suit you as well.”
The embarrassing compliment was delivered in the same tone one might use to remark that the sky was clear today.
For a moment, my brain failed to process it.
Now that I thought about it, this Daoist really did hand out compliments without hesitation...
I would have to be careful. Someone could easily misunderstand him.
I flinched and answered as casually as I could.
“Madam Ma took my green robe to wash it. She lent me this one for the time being. But more importantly, why were you waiting here? I thought you would not return until dinner.”
“My sable followed me here and refused to leave, so I brought it back. However...”
Jinseong carefully lifted Cane as he spoke.
The creature hung limply from his hand and let out a tiny burp.
It had a pouch full of jerky pieces hanging around its neck.
Good grief.
I wondered where it had disappeared to. It really was talented.
Suppressing a laugh, I took Cane back.
“I hope this little guy did not poke around somewhere he shouldn’t have. Thank you for taking care of him, Daoist.”
“I did keep an eye on him, but there is a chance my grand-disciples fed him something strange. You should check.”
“He may look like this, but he is a spiritual creature. He’ll be fine. Anyway, would you like some tea? Daoist Songhwa left behind a mountain of tea refreshments earlier. It’s too much for me to eat alone.”
At my invitation, Jinseong answered without hesitation.
“Yes.”
As soon as he did, Madam Ma flung open the door as if she had been waiting.
“The tea’s ready!”
“Thank you, Madam.”
“Tsk. I told you not to call me that. You shouldn’t leave a young lady standing outside in this weather for so long. Come inside, warm yourself with a hot cup of tea.”
After scolding Jinseong, Madam Ma waved me over as if telling me to hurry inside.
When I hesitated, she even raised her voice.
“Come on in!”
“Y-Yes!”
For a moment, I could have sworn I saw a tiger standing behind Madam Ma.
I hurried into the guest quarters, and she sat me down in front of the table before moving the tea refreshments onto a small plate and placing them before me.
Jinseong followed inside, sat across from me, and arranged the tea utensils in front of himself.
As he reached for the tea container, he seriously examined the tray piled high with refreshments before asking,
“Miss Tang. Who did you say brought these tea refreshments?”
“Daoist Songhwa.”
“...I see.”
After answering, he suppressed a sigh and placed tea leaves into the Yixing teapot.
At that moment, Cane, which had been quietly sitting in my arms, tapped me with its front paw.
“Ki.”
“What? You want some too?”
“Qiu.”
Cane looked up at me and held out its paw.
“You ate your fill somewhere else and you still want more? Keep this up and you’ll become a pig.”
I handed the little creature a piece of rice cake, then put one into my own mouth while watching Jinseong prepare the tea.
His movements were far more delicate than his appearance suggested.
His fingers were so thick, yet he did not crush even a single tea leaf.
He skillfully adjusted the water temperature before pouring it into the Yixing teapot.
Droplets formed on the closed lid, and a faint fragrance rose into the air.
After pouring the beautifully colored tea into a cup, Jinseong placed it before me.
“Here you are, Miss Tang.”
“Thank you, Daoist. Ah, Madam Ma, would you like some too...? When did she leave?”
Madam Ma had vanished without me noticing.
The realization that I had failed to sense her presence twice sent a chill down my spine.
After looking around carefully, I lowered my voice and asked,
“Daoist, what kind of person is Madam Ma? She does not seem ordinary.”
“Madam Ma is...”
Jinseong paused.
“Ah, among ourselves, we call her Madam Ma. She is the mother of Elder Hyeon’s disciple.”
“She is the mother of a second-generation disciple?”
“That is correct. Officially, she manages matters in the outer compound, but most of the time she takes care of the third-generation disciples. She is especially good at comforting disciples who have just entered the mountain and are struggling to adapt.”
As he calmly explained, a gentle smile appeared at the corner of Jinseong’s lips.
It seemed he too had once been cared for by Madam Ma.
I sipped my tea and stared at Jinseong.
That is the first time I’ve seen him smile like that.
He would look much less stiff if he smiled more often.
“She is like a mother to you.”
“Yes. We are deeply indebted to her.”
After agreeing, Jinseong held his teacup and asked,
“Is there anything that makes your stay uncomfortable?”
“Come on, Daoist. I have not even been here for a full day yet. How could anything be uncomfortable?”
“If someone has been rude to you or...”
“Nothing like that. Everyone has treated me very well.”
Almost too well.
I glanced at the mountain of refreshments piled to one side and slowly lowered my teacup.
I was grateful for Songhwa’s kindness in bringing every kind of snack because he did not know what I liked.
I was grateful for Elder Jinhyeon’s efforts in lingering nearby just to give me a single candied hawthorn skewer.
I was grateful for Madam Ma’s trouble in preparing bathwater infused with orchid.
And yet, even while appreciating those kindnesses, I felt uneasy.
I hated that I kept calculating what they wanted from me in return.
Realizing that I had become someone who could no longer easily let new people into my circle left me feeling strange.
Perhaps living alone had made me unconsciously keep my guard raised all the time...
Seeing my expression darken, Jinseong carefully asked,
“Are you truly all right?”
“Of course. Everyone has been very kind to me. It’s just that...”
I hesitated.
“It feels unfamiliar.”
Jinseong silently refilled my teacup.
Steam rose from the yellow tea.
Feeling awkward for making the atmosphere strange, I quickly changed the subject.
“Daoist, when can I see my brother?”
“As soon as I receive word from my master, I will tell you. I cannot guarantee it, but you should expect at least three months. Correcting a reversed flow of inner force is not an easy task.”
“Three months...”
I nodded.
“I understand.”
I won’t be able to see him at all during that time?
I was worried.
Still, it was better than wandering around and accidentally drawing attention to ourselves. But I had never been separated from Yeon Ryang for this long before, and my heart felt unsettled.
Seeing my expression, Jinseong offered an awkward reassurance.
“He will be fine.”
“Of course. After all, whose master took him?”
I smiled faintly and put a piece of tea refreshment into my mouth.
Jinseong reached for his cup as well.
I tapped the plate of refreshments.
“Daoist, you should eat some too. There is far too much for me alone.”
“Yes.”
“What do you like? You don’t eat meat, but you do eat fruit, right? Would you like some dried plums?”
I pushed a piece of sugar-preserved plum toward him.
After hesitating, Jinseong placed it into his mouth.
He chewed thoughtfully, as though savoring the sweetness, then swallowed it with tea.
Afterward, he looked at me seriously.
“Miss Tang, if it would not be too presumptuous, may I ask you for a favor?”
“A favor?”
“Yes. If you are willing, I would like you to become a sparring partner for our third-generation disciples.”
“...Me?”
I pointed at myself, wondering whether I had misheard, but Jinseong only nodded calmly.
Why me?
When I widened my eyes at the unexpected request, Jinseong explained.
“The third-generation disciples asked first. They rarely have the chance to leave the mountain without the sect leader’s permission, so meeting martial artists their own age from outside is difficult. If it would inconvenience you, please refuse. I will explain it to them.”
“Uh...”
I thought about it.
“I don’t mind. But is it really all right to let an outsider spar with them for so long? Wouldn’t Wudang’s secret techniques be exposed?”
“The third-generation disciples do not possess any secret techniques worth mentioning.”
His decisive answer made me burst out laughing.
“All right. But I have one condition.”
“Please tell me.”
“Daoist Jinseong, you have to spar with me every day as well. At least one quarter-hour.”
I folded my arms and tilted my head.
Jinseong blinked, then slowly answered,
“...If that is what you wish.”
“You cannot change your mind later. You promised to spar with me every day, right?”
“Of course.”
After getting his firm agreement, my eyes naturally curved with delight.
Heh heh. Just wait. I will figure out that countermeasure eventually.
Chapter 38. Wudang’s Third-Generation Disciples
The next dawn, the third-generation disciples Jinseong brought numbered five in total.
There was Songhwa, whom I had met on my first day, Songmyeong, the youngest one, the Daoist who was apparently their senior brother, and two other young Daoists whose names I did not know.
Unlike Songhwa, whose eyes were filled with anticipation, the other four looked as though they had been dragged there against their will.
They even looked frightened.
...Were they really the ones who asked for this?
Seeing the lack of enthusiasm on their faces, I asked worriedly,
“Um, Daoists... Aren’t you still stiff from sleeping? It’s cold, too. If we fight right now, I feel like someone might get hurt.”
“You are right, Elder Jinseong. My back still aches from being hit, and—”
“Senior Brother must still be half asleep. Please ignore him, Elder Jinseong.”
Songhwa covered the mouth of the Daoist who had been agreeing with me and laughed awkwardly.
Jinseong, who had been silently thinking, seemed to find my concern reasonable and nodded.
“Then would you wait half an hour? I will personally help them warm up and return.”
“No, Elder Jinseong! We can do it!”
“We are already warmed up!”
The third-generation disciples shouted that they could do it with the discipline of soldiers.
Confused, I looked back and forth between Jinseong and the disciples, then swallowed.
What was going on?
Was Daoist Jinseong actually strict with his juniors?
Songhwa quickly stepped in after noticing my complicated expression.
“Come now, we cannot keep our honored guest standing for too long. Miss Tang, may I go first?”
“Of course.”
“Using weapons would probably result in injuries, so how about close combat?”
“I’m fine with real swords too.”
“No. I’m worried I would be the one getting hurt, not you.”
Songhwa climbed onto the training ground with a serious expression and respectfully clasped his hands.
“Songhwa of Wudang’s third generation requests instruction from Poison Butterfly.”
The unfamiliar title sent a shiver down my entire body.
“Ugh. I think just my name is fine, Daoist.”
Despite my disgust, Songhwa did not lose his smile.
“Then please guide me, Miss Tang.”
I lightly jumped onto the training ground, returned his salute, and took my stance.
The moment I exchanged the first move with Songhwa, he was sent flying from a single punch.
He crashed down beyond the edge of the training ground.
“Senior Brother!”
“Are you all right, Senior Brother?”
I stared with my mouth hanging open.
What?
Why was he this weak?