Chapter 204 — Yeongu's Sword Practice on the Mountain Summit
After eating, Yeongu went out into the yard and asked Oryang to watch his sword practice.
But Oryang refused, saying that since Master was already watching over him, he would not offer advice.
The flat ground near the mountain summit opened wide, and above it, the vast sky stretched endlessly.
The wind brushed past first, and after it, the red light slowly settled.
The sun had tilted below the ridge, and the remaining sunset stained the air with warm color.
Yeongu lifted his sword.
When the weight transmitted through his fingertips settled firmly, the center of his body stood straight and joined with the energy of the mountain.
The moment he stepped forward, blades of grass pressed down and made a sound like dry silk being rubbed.
That sound spread from beneath his feet, carrying the texture of the ground all the way to his ears.
The first posture formed.
Tension running through his shoulders, waist, and toes pulled into a single line, and a cool energy spread over his skin.
The sword tip lifted, and the remaining light rested thinly upon it.
The red sunset seeped into the metal and took on a warm glow, and that light entered his eyes, lingering on the tip of his tongue like the taste of metal.
The movements continued.
Each time the sword moved, the air was pushed long and made a low resonance, and that resonance lightly struck the inside of his chest.
At the moment of cutting, the gathered force loosened and spread, rising through his palm and reaching his shoulder.
Between each turn of the waist and step of the foot, the wind brushed his skin and left behind a cold, soft grain.
His breathing led the flow.
The breath he drew in filled his lungs coolly, and the breath he released brushed warmly past his lips and flowed out toward the sword tip.
That breath mingled with the air and made an invisible path.
The light gradually faded.
The red energy of the sunset spread across the blade one last time, filling the air as though an old fragrance had been released.
That lingering trace passed through the eyes, reached the ears and skin, and stretched the flow of the moment long.
In the final movement, the sword tip sank low.
When his feet found their place, the firm sensation of the earth spread through the soles and into his whole body.
At that moment, the wind crossed the mountain summit.
The sound of grass blades swaying continued softly, like thin paper being turned.
Oryang's gaze remained there.
Even after the light disappeared, the flow of the sword that had just passed lingered in the air like an afterscent.
Yet he said nothing.
As he had said at first, it was because Master was already watching over him.
He said it was a matter of courtesy toward Master.
Right now, the flow of that consciousness was important, and if another language entered, it could ruin the study.
If Yeongu had successfully opened the middle dantian, then it was right for him to continue as he was.
And since he was already doing well enough, there was also nothing more to point out.
In one way or another, he heard nothing.
This was not allowed.
That was not allowed either.
Yeongu changed the subject.
It concerned his younger sister Sohee.
"My younger sister."
"Your younger sister?"
"Yes. The child is clever."
Oryang smiled faintly.
"There are many clever children. No, there are very many. But the chance does not come to them."
"She is my younger sister."
"Oh dear… then she will have even fewer chances."
"That is why I intend to bring in a teacher and have her taught."
Oryang thought of parents who believed their children's cleverness was a great miracle.
Though they were no different from others, being a little faster made people believe they possessed extraordinary ability.
Some flowers bloom early, and some bloom late.
What matters is how large the flower will be.
In these times, when children should be learning how to get along well with others, people instead teach them how to become clever faster.
"How clever is she?"
"She does calculations, mm, mental arithmetic, in a rush. No one taught her methods of calculation, but she simply adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides."
Oryang smiled gently.
"That is something even the lowest errand boy in a shop in Gaegyeong's market can do."
At Oryang's simple evaluation, Yeongu lost his words.
This was something he himself was still not used to, and a young girl could do it, yet Oryang pointed it out calmly.
"I see. She reads fluently."
"That is the same. If you go to the school in the village below, young children read very well while muttering to themselves."
"She does at a young age what others can only do when they grow older."
"She may be a little faster, or a little slower. Each person is born with a different foundation."
"She is clever, so I want to create an opportunity for her."
"Then, hm, shall I introduce a teacher?"
Yeongu's face lit up.
"I was already looking for one."
"About a day's journey from Gaegyeong, there is Suan Mountain. It is in Hwanghae Province. The mountain is not high, but its ridges stretch long, and water gathers in each valley. Seen from outside, it is an ordinary mountain, but deep valleys are hidden throughout it. Paths break off, and the forest piles up in many layers. The woodland is dense, so there are many places where light does not enter well. Mist also lingers for a long time. Though human footsteps do not cease there, once one goes deep, no trace is revealed. Below it is a town where markets are held, and there is also a school. Among the people who live above it and come and go, there is a learner named Han Sun-uk. He teaches very well. It is not far from here, so stop by on your way. If you mention me, he will likely agree easily."
After hearing this, Yeongu let out a deep breath.
As he listened to the earlier explanation, he had wondered what words would follow, but in the end it was a story about a scholar living in that fine land.
What should one call it? Sincerity, perhaps.
Oryang had probably meant to say that the man was halfway to being an immortal.
He lived in the mountains, studied, and taught well, yet he was a learner.
There must be a reason he had not yet been called an immortal.
Yeongu asked Dorogan, "Can you find him?"
Dorogan gauged the matter, then nodded.
"I believe I can."
"Bring him here."
"Loyalty."
Oryang tilted his head.
"He is not someone who will come just because he is told to."
"What should I do?"
"You will likely have to go yourself."
"Oh, I am busy. It seems I must go north quickly."
"You said you resigned."
"You told me to return to the battlefield."
"Then perhaps you should hold out by saying you resigned, and raise your value."
Yeongu shook his head.
"I do not play such games. I simply do my utmost to complete the mission given to me. That is the duty of a soldier."
Oryang smiled bashfully.
"That is so. When one thinks of state affairs, household affairs do not enter the eyes. I understand. Now you wish to go to Jin."
"Even so, this is the matter of finding a teacher. I advise you to go yourself. There is no urgent matter, but your heart is running ahead."
"If I do not go, will he not come? Such a person—someone who only wishes to speak with the master of a house, an elder, or the highest-ranking officer—does not sit well with me."
Oryang accepted his innocence.
"Do not look at it from a social perspective. A true person does not move when treated in that way. Go yourself and ask him sincerely."
"Understood."