Episode 10: Walking the Road Together (1)
Light Novel: Volume 1 Episode 10
Manhwa: Chapter 8
Chapter 4 Episode 10. Walking the Road Together (1)
The expression in Sage Hyun-so’s eyes as he looked down at Dam-ho was incredibly complicated. Dam-ho’s entire body was covered with unidentified crushed herbs, and fine silver needles were inserted into his acupoints.
In order to save Dam-ho’s life, Sage Hyun-so employed every bit of medical knowledge he possessed. The same medical techniques he had learned five years ago to save Dam-ho were once again being used to bring him back from the brink.
Sage Hyun-so extended his hand and gently stroked Dam-ho’s forehead.
“Ho, you must never give up. Just as you’ve always done.”
Dam-ho was in such a terrible state that if he hadn’t been training his body over the years, it would have been impossible for him to walk again.
Sage Hyun-geom’s intent had become undeniably clear.
“Is he trying to make it so he has no choice but to give up on martial arts? How cruel and ruthless of you, Senior Brother Hyun-geom.”
It would take at least three years for these injuries to fully heal. This was Dam-ho’s prime time to learn martial arts. If he wasted those three years, his muscles and bones would stiffen, making it nearly impossible to achieve the best possible results, even if he continued his training.
In essence, Hyun-geom had cleverly eliminated Dam-ho’s ability to train in martial arts.
“However, things will not go as you want it, Senior Brother!”
Sage Hyun-so reached out and took Dam-ho’s pulse. He could feel a faint energy.
Although Dam-ho’s body was mangled, his inner workings had avoided fatal damage.
“The Heavy Sky Heart Technique has protected Dam-ho’s heart meridian, otherwise, he would have been a dead man walking. This, too, must be the will of the Primordial Heaven Sovereign. I will no longer defy the will of heaven.”
The energy formed by the Heavy Sky Heart Technique was heavy and sluggish, but it was also resilient and persistent. These qualities had protected Dam-ho’s inner body.
For now, the energy was dormant, unable to circulate properly, but once fully mastered, it would allow Dam-ho to encompass and embrace all the martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect.
“Just wait a little longer, Ho. This master will help you rise again.”
After watching over Dam-ho for a long while, Sage Hyun-so finally stood up. His face was filled with a resolute determination.
Sage Hyun-so stepped outside and gazed up at the sky.
“Only when the boat capsizes do we see who can truly swim.”
Just as a boat must capsize to reveal who can truly swim, humans only become aware of their abilities when faced with adversity.
Sage Hyun-so was certain that Dam-ho would be the same way.
“I’ll be right back.”
With those words, Sage Hyun-so began his descent down Mount Hua, which was still shrouded in darkness.
After walking for half a day, Sage Hyun-so arrived at Three Elders’ Mountain, a rugged peak facing Mount Hua across a steep ravine.
The name “Three Elders’ Mountain” came from its resemblance to three elderly figures facing Mount Hua’s main peaks, with sharp and pointed terrain that looked as if swords were planted upside down.
There was barely any flat ground for a person to step on, but Sage Hyun-so climbed it nonetheless.
Soon, his entire body was drenched in sweat. Having spent his whole life as a scholar, Sage Hyun-so’s physical abilities were below average than most people.
Soon after climbing, his legs stiffened, and he found himself short of breath.
“Phew!”
Sage Hyun-so took a moment to catch his breath.
This was a treacherous place, close to Mount Hua, yet avoided by everyone. Even for Sage Hyun-so, it had been thirty years since he last came to this place.
He had deliberately avoided coming here because it was a dangerous place where the slightest misstep could send him plunging down a thousand-foot cliff with no end in sight.
Had it not been for his disciple, Dam-ho, he wouldn’t have come here at all.
As he stood at the edge of the cliff, his legs trembled instinctively, and a surge of fear rushed through him.
Sage Hyun-so suddenly let out a sigh.
“I’ve spent decades learning to control and calm my mind, but standing at the edge of this cliff like this, it all feels useless. How foolish of you, Hyun-so.”
Then he realized something.
“The courage to take that one step towards the edge of a cliff can never be found in books.”
Sage Hyun-so closed his eyes. When he opened them again a moment later, Sage Hyun-so’s eyes were much calmer than they had been just a moment ago.
He began to walk toward the dizzying ridge. Suppressing the fear rising from deep within his heart, Sage Hyun-so forced his shaky legs to move.
Whistling!
A gust of wind blew across the ridge, causing Sage Hyun-so’s body to sway for a moment. But he managed to regain his balance.
“Huff, huff!”
Though fear continued to rush through him, Sage Hyun-so did not stop walking.
Not for himself, but for his disciple.
* * *
“Ugh!”
Dam-ho groaned as he opened his eyes. The first thing he heard was a familiar voice.
“You’re finally awake. Thank goodness!”
“Master…?”
“Yes, it’s me your master, Ho.”
Turning his head, Dam-ho saw Sage Hyun-so staring back at him. At the sight of his master, who looked at least ten years older than the last time he had seen him, Dam-ho felt tears welled up in his eyes.
“Master…”
“Yes!”
“I… I’m sorry.”
“Why are you saying sorry? What have you done wrong? You haven’t done anything wrong, so there’s no need to apologize.”
Dam-ho tried to sit up, but his limbs lacked strength. Only then did he realize the extent of the severe injuries he had sustained during his duel with Soo-kyung.
“Keugh!”
Dam-ho’s eyes became filled with frustration and redness.
Though he had been unconscious for a long time, he could tell how utterly broken his body was. With injuries this severe, it would take him years just to recover, let alone resume his martial training.
At that moment, Sage Hyun-so reached out and gently stroked Dam-ho’s head.
“Don’t worry, Ho.”
“Master…”
“Recovering your body will not take as long as you think.”
Sage Hyun-so lifted Dam-ho’s upper body to help him sit up. It was then that Dam-ho noticed that his body was covered in various medicinal herbs. He didn’t have to ask as he knew it was the work of his master, Sage Hyun-so.
After propping Dam-ho against the wall, Sage Hyun-so fetched a large wooden box from the corner of the room. When he opened it, dozens of dark red pills were revealed.
“What are these?”
“They’re good for your body.”
Sage Hyun-so took out one of the pills.
At that moment, Dam-ho’s eyes shook. His master’s hands were covered in scars.
“Master, your hands…!”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
What could have caused such scars on the hands of a master who spent his life reading scriptures? It must have been from searching the mountains of Hua to find the herbs now covering Dam-ho’s body.
The tattered state of his master’s silk robe was evidence of the effort. Surely, there were even worse injuries hidden beneath his clothes.
“Hurry and take it.”
“Master…”
“What’s the matter? Do you not trust your master’s skill?”
Sage Hyun-so smiled kindly.
“It’s not that…”
“Then take it quickly.”
“Yes!”
Dam-ho didn’t ask any more questions and swallowed the pill.
“Now, use the Heavy Sky Heart Technique to circulate the effects of the pill throughout your body.”
As Dam-ho nodded and began to circulate his qi, Sage Hyun-so plopped onto the floor with a thud.
“Hoo!”
A deep sigh escaped him.
The elixir that Dam-ho had consumed was the Surging Yang Elixir. It was a rare medicinal pill with a secret recipe passed down among the scholars. By now, hardly anyone knew of its name, let alone its existence.
Unlike the Plum Blossom Spiritual Elixir, which explosively boosts internal energy in one go, the Surging Yang Elixir gradually increases internal energy when taken over time and strengthens the body’s muscles and bones.
Sage Hyun-so had spent three whole days combing through the Three Elders’ Mountain to gather the herbs that were the ingredients for the Surging Yang Elixir. While the ingredients themselves were mostly common, their natural habitats were located on steep cliffs or in isolated areas, making the collection process incredibly dangerous.
Despite several instances of almost falling down and being swept into ravines, Sage Hyun-so still managed to gather all the necessary herbs.
Even after collecting the herbs, Sage Hyun-so had no time to rest, because refining the herbs into the Surging Yang Elixir was no easy task.
Even a single moment of carelessness in controlling the fire could render days of effort wasted. That’s how painstaking the process of crafting the Surging Yang Elixir was.
After countless sleepless nights, Sage Hyun-so had barely managed to produce a few dozen elixirs.
“If the Heavy Sky Heart Technique is like an iron furnace, then the Surging Yang Elixir is like dry firewood. When dry firewood is added, the furnace will burn hotter.”
Though Sage Hyun-so couldn’t physically practice martial arts, his knowledge of martial arts was vast. He had memorized countless manuals during his time as a scholar. While he couldn’t perform the techniques himself, his understanding of martial arts far surpassed and exceeded that of most martial artists.
Sage Hyun-so sat with his arms crossed and watched Dam-ho as he meditated and circulated his internal energy. Soon, color began to slowly return to Dam-ho’s pale face, and while it wasn’t an instant recovery, it seemed like the worst was over.
Even so, Sage Hyun-so didn’t let his guard down and continued to monitor Dam-ho closely. One moment, then two moments, time passed slowly.
It was near dawn the next day when Dam-ho finally finished his internal energy circulation.
“Hoo!”
Dam-ho regulated his breathing and opened his eyes.
The first person he saw was, of course, Sage Hyun-so, who had watched over him throughout the night.
“Master?”
“Are you alright?”
“I feel much better.”
It wasn’t just a comforting remark. Before circulating his energy, he found even breathing difficult, but now it was significantly easier.
“That’s a relief.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Master.”
“Keep taking the Surging Yang Elixir and continue practicing the Heavy Sky Heart Technique for the time being. You’ll find it difficult to move around for a while anyway.”
“I will do as you say.”
Dam-ho nodded in agreement.
Sage Hyun-so looked at Dam-ho in silence, and Dam-ho returned his gaze.
“I heard about it. You had a spar with Soo-kyung?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Hoo… Don’t hold any grudges against Soo-kyung. It probably wasn’t his intention.”
“I know.”
“Senior Brother Hyun-geom has always been quite extreme. He won’t hesitate to make any sacrifice to achieve his goals.”
“I can see that.”
“I apologize on his behalf.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong, Master.”
“No, all of this is your master’s fault. If I had made a decision sooner, you wouldn’t be in this state.”
After that, Sage Hyun-so fell silent and just gazed out the window. Through the open window, the Lotus Flower Peak was visible in the distance. Dam-ho followed his master’s gaze and turned his eyes to the view outside the window as well.
The expressions in the eyes of the two, as they gazed at Lotus Flower Peak, were strikingly similar.
After a few moments passed, Sage Hyun-so finally opened his mouth.
“Ho!”
“Yes, Master?”
“I will help you. Let’s create a martial art that suits you, together.”
Dam-ho’s gaze wavered.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
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