“Master Cheongun, I’m more than willing to help, but can someone like a mere writer truly understand the troubles of a hero?”
Start with a step back. With a faint smile, I met the troubled gaze of Master Cheongun head-on.
“Listening to your concerns is my job as an outsider. I’m confident I can be a good listener, but I might not meet your expectations. Still, if you want to talk, I’ll listen.”
“It’s about the hero’s struggles. Who but you, Writer Ho Pil, will help me with my troubles?”
Was that the kind of worry you had? I thought I was going to hear about some relationship fiasco from the love master Kang Yoon-ho!
“If that’s the case, I will gladly listen.”
Master Cheongun stared at me for a while before speaking.
“How did Master Kang come to like heroes?”
A question right from the start? It looks serious, so I should give a sincere answer.
“I’ve always admired the stories of heroes from the Central Plains since I was young. With no one to rely on, living as a barbarian in the Central Plains, I yearned for someone to reach out and help me. Maybe that’s why I looked up to heroes more.”
Why is there nobody to reach out for someone like this black-haired barbarian? Where’s the martial world I imagined? I scooped a teaspoon of the regret I felt and spoke.
“I’m just like you. I almost got killed by bandits and lost my parents but was saved by my master.”
“Your master must have been a hero too.”
“Yes! An amazing person. The day I was saved, I begged my master to take me with him, but though capable, he refused to take me to Mount Wu.”
“I can’t imagine Master Cheongun throwing a tantrum.”
I chuckled lightly.
“I’m embarrassed. But in the end, through some clever means, my master agreed, and I became a disciple of Mount Wu. Thanks to that, I trained while dreaming of being a hero and came out into the world.”
“You dreamed of that since childhood.”
You really would make a perfect core hero.
“But when I stepped out into the world, the reality was different.”
“What do you mean?”
“There were those who used kindness for their own gain.”
Master Cheongun spoke bitterly about a few incidents he faced while traveling.
He stopped in a small village, where people were initially grateful but soon started to demand things from him, trying to entice him into doing things for their own benefit.
“Some think kindness grants them a right.”
When that happens, I’m supposed to shout, ‘Ho-it!’ and educate them, but it’s not so easy.
Master Cheongun nodded and shared about events and worries he’d experienced since beginning his journey as a hero.
“What’s the right thing to do? Is it okay to do this? I promised to become a hero, but I feel ashamed of my own fears.”
He gazed into the bonfire, a troubled expression on his face.
‘This is a tough dilemma.’
There are social workers who fall into misanthropy while trying to help the vulnerable. Let alone, Master Cheongun is a hero wielding a sword!
I might understand if it were family or friends, but how much self-sacrifice does it take to help a stranger, risking one’s life?
I want to tell you to look at the people you saved, but if experiences like pickpocketing keep piling up, you’d naturally have doubts about being a hero.
What should I say? Is there anything I can say?
‘As a fan of martial arts stories, I might have something to say.’
As a martial arts enthusiast, there are things I can share.
“Master Cheongun, may I say something as someone who admires heroes?”
“Weren’t you the one who wrote about heroes? I’ll listen.”
But I really hope Master Cheongun delays reading ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ as long as possible.
“I think the journey of heroism is a process of honing the sword of one’s heart.”
“Honing the sword?”
“Martial Arts. The reason you call the skills you’ve learned ‘martial arts’ instead of ‘martial skills’ is that it’s not just about swinging a sword in hand, it’s a process of learning to hold a sword in your heart.”
In martial stories, the term for martial arts is ‘mugong’ (武功). This isn’t something just sword wielders learn; even Taoist masters and monks study it because ‘mugong’ is a scholarly pursuit (武学).
Since it’s a scholarly pursuit, the sword in the heart becomes something that is not just a technique but combines with the way (道).
“A sword in the heart…”
“Depending on the will it contains, righteousness and evil will differentiate. The sword in Master Cheongun’s heart must have grown rightly, filled with admiration for heroes and the teachings of Mount Wu. But is that sword in your heart complete?”
“It is incomplete.”
“Right. That sword is righteous but not complete. Just as a sword becomes stronger with numerous hammerings, the sword in your heart also completes itself through countless tremors.”
Just like I’ve seen countless times in kung fu novels. A hero is incomplete as a hero and their martial arts are also incomplete. Hence, each hero grows inwardly through their journey.
Countless hardships may bend them, but as long as they don’t break, their sword becomes sturdy.
“Did Master Kang experience the same turmoil when writing about heroes?”
Master Cheongun asked, looking at me earnestly as if searching for answers.
“Until I wrote ‘The Rise of the Tang Family,’ my brush shook countless times against the world, but my dream of a hero in my heart never wavered.”
I may have compromised with the world, but my desire to write martial arts stories never died. And that undying dream spread its wings in the world.
“Whether I shake or not.”
Master Cheongun muttered my words as if savoring them.
“If you don’t break the sword in your heart, it will become stronger and sharper. I received a request from Master Cheongun, so if you’re troubled, keep moving forward…”
“One sword to rule them all and soon change, yet fails to transform into ten thousand changes.”
Before I even finished, Master Cheongun uttered something resembling a martial arts mantra.
“Pardon?”
“So, you must go out into the world to achieve completion. To reach those ten thousand changes…”
“Master Cheongun?”
Why does Master Cheongun suddenly look dazed?
“A single unwavering sword.”
Suddenly, Master Cheongun began to sit cross-legged.
Huh? Could it be… enlightenment?
———————-
Enlightenment.
In martial arts, it’s like leveling up—understanding flows after memorizing a subject you thought was just rote learning or realizing why you use a specific combo in a game, allowing for more fluid damage output.
This enlightenment is essential at certain levels; just hitting a scarecrow for four weeks won’t cause a level-up.
“Congratulations on your achievement.”
As morning sun rose, I spoke to Master Cheongun, who had finally opened his eyes. Other martial artists said they’d stand guard in his place, but I could not resist the urge to be the first to speak in such a scene.
“It’s not a great achievement, just a minor success.”
Master Cheongun smiled, clearly feeling he’d accomplished something.
“Oh really?”
Did my words not have that kind of effect? What a pity.
“However, I have gained a significant clue for future accomplishments.”
“That’s wonderful.”
At least a clue is something.
“So… I’d like to express my gratitude to you, my benefactor.”
Master Cheongun stood up, swaying slightly after having sat for so long; he looked at me.
“Pardon?”
“The Cheongun of Mount Wu bows to you, my benefactor.”
Master Cheongun offered a deep bow to me.
“Please rise.”
Why do this? It’s so burdensome!
“If you allow me, I will rise.”
Allowing is easy, but a better idea struck me.
“Master Cheongun. Now that we’ve both benefitted from one another, why don’t we refer to each other differently?”
“Differently?”
Master Cheongun raised his gaze slightly to look at me.
I bent my knees to bow, speaking in kind.
“The writer of ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’, Kang Yoon-ho, requests a pact of friendship with you, oh savior who granted me favor.”
A chance to become friends with a hero; I couldn’t let this slip away.
“Uh… Haha.”
Master Cheongun gazed at me in disbelief.
“Will you accept?”
I rose slightly, making eye contact as I asked again.
“How could I refuse?”
Master Cheongun broke into a full smile as he replied.
——————-
Master Cheongun’s expression lightened, and after a half-day of walking, we arrived at the Zhu Family branch I had aimed for.
“I must take my leave now.”
Looking at the bustling members of the Guard Unit, Master Cheongun addressed me.
“Master Cheongun, they say favors are returned at the Sichuan Tang Family, so why not go together?”
“I’ve received a favor already. Now, it’s time to resolve matters concerning my sect.”
“Ah, you mentioned you were headed to Mount Zhangbai, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I plan to follow the Yangtze River towards the Yellow Sea, then head north along the coast.”
“Since it’s matters of your sect, it can’t be helped.”
Regrettably, it seems our journey together ends here.
“I’ll visit Dasugeok once everything’s wrapped up.”
“Haha, do come over! I’ll let you read any book for free.”
“I’ll read ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ then. By that time, the third volume should be out, right?”
Maybe I can avoid reading it.
“Of course.”
“I’ve learned so much from Master Kang. I hope Lady Hwa-rin recovers soon. I must take my leave.”
“I wish you all the best in achieving your goals, Master Cheongun.”
Master Cheongun bid farewell to everyone and started back the way we came.
I hope he doesn’t abandon his feelings about being a hero and keeps moving forward. Then, I could boast to the Dasugeok members that I’m friends with him.
As I anticipated the day we would meet again and watched until he disappeared from sight, I couldn’t help but smile.
—————–
Arriving in Sichuan, I passed through the branch of the Sichuan Tang Family until I finally reached the provincial capital where the Tang Family was located.
The journey was long, but I finally arrived. However, getting inside the Sichuan Tang Family was no easy feat.
“Wait outside until told otherwise.”
So this is the Sichuan Tang Family? I didn’t have time to admire it as a martial artist who looked like a master blocked the Guard Unit members from entering.
What on earth is going on?
“External House Leader! What do you mean by this? I informed you that time is of the essence!”
I had already relayed the situation about Hwa-rin beforehand. The external house leader is someone who oversees the Sichuan Tang Family’s warriors, but how could someone of that rank be obstructing us?
“I cannot disclose the reasons.”
“We can’t wait indefinitely.”
“Wait indefinitely.”
“I need to enter immediately!”
“I cannot let you in.”
Despite the Guard Unit members’ earnest pleas, the external house leader remained unmoved. Frustrating!
“Master Kang?”
There’s no time to waste here. I gently pushed aside the Guard Unit members and turned to the external house leader.
“You are the external house leader?”
“Indeed, who are you?”
I hadn’t really written my story until now, and even as we set off, I truly didn’t want to go. Yet here I was, open to charge into a tiger’s den. Still, time was of the essence. To save Hwa-rin, I needed to enter quickly.
In times like this, it’s time to pull off the killer move.
I steeled myself, and with a confident expression, I addressed the external house leader.
“Tell the family head! More than 20 years ago, the woman you loved, Hyang-a, is the mother of the son standing before you, who has come to the Sichuan Tang Family!”
