A late evening bathed in pale moonlight.
Rustle— Rustle—
In the pitch-black darkness where it was hard to see ahead, Jeokgeom was pushing his way through the forest spreading out around the volcano.
"Hah, hah."
Panting heavily from running around continuously, he pricked up his ears.
Perhaps because it was night, the surroundings were quiet.
However, a rustling sound could be heard intermittently along with the chirping of insects.
"Huu—"
Leaning both hands on his knees to catch his breath, Jeokgeom quickly scanned the surroundings.
The outstretched branches and leaves completely obscured the landscape already shrouded in darkness.
Jeokgeom hurriedly drew up the inner qi of the Maehwa Gigong and infused internal force into both his eyes.
His field of vision gradually brightened.
'It's a bit better now.'
As if a faint light had descended into the pitch-black darkness, he nodded at his slightly brightened vision and strained his eyes.
"But I heard they would be around here..."
Scanning the area, Jeokgeom scratched the bridge of his nose.
What he came here to find was a recent increasing nuisance.
Wolves.
But there were none to be seen.
Sweeping his surroundings with a troubled expression, Jeokgeom recalled the conversation he had with Cheonhwi after Hyeondo had left.
—Then, for now, go catch a wolf.
—...A wolf?
He asked with wide eyes at the sudden remark to catch a wolf.
For what he desired was training to learn martial arts, not hunting.
But the reply was firm.
—Why? Did you think I'd teach you martial arts right away?
—Ah, you won't?
—Martial arts training in that state? What's the use of a guy who can't even properly execute martial arts due to tension in a spar doing martial arts training?
—Th-That's true, but what does that have to do with hunting wolves...
—What you need most right now is real combat experience.
He couldn't understand what real combat experience had to do with hunting a wolf, but he couldn't ask about it.
—'What are you doing? I said go quickly.'
It was because Cheonhwi, who had been glaring at him, immediately issued an order close to kicking him out.
It was then.
Rustle—
The bushes ahead shook violently, and soon a wolf revealed itself.
"It's about time you showe—"
Jeokgeom's face, which had brightened at finally encountering a wolf, stiffened.
The wolf's appearance illuminated by the pale moonlight was utterly terrifying.
Grrr—
Through its sharp teeth stained with dark red blood flowed the sound of a fierce beast, and a raw, undisciplined killing intent oozed from the wolf.
'I shouldn't have underestimated it.'
Cold sweat ran down Jeokgeom's back.
Facing the wolf exuding such a terrifying killing intent, different from thinking of it as a mere beast, made him unconsciously tense up.
'It's just a beast.'
The moment he somehow regained his senses and swallowed a dry gulp.
Dash!
The wolf rushed in like a bolt of lightning.
"Haah!"
Tap—!
Jeokgeom hastily stepped back and drew the sword at his waist, swinging it.
Clang!
Sparks flew in an instant as the wolf and Jeokgeom crossed paths. The wolf then spun around and landed gracefully on all fours.
That moment.
"Ugh!"
Jeokgeom let out a groan and lowered his head.
Looking at his right shoulder, red blood flowed from the torn uniform slashed by the charging wolf's claws and dripped onto the ground.
'I let my guard down.'
His eyes deepened as he observed the wound, which was deeper than he had thought.
It was a mistake.
If only he hadn't been merely tense, let alone avoiding injury, he could have slashed the wolf.
That moment.
"...!"
A thunderbolt struck his mind.
The mistake he just made was the same one he experienced when he lost at the Oakjihoe.
Yet he repeated the mistake.
And in a real battle where a single slip could cost him his life.
"You idiot."
Jeokgeom let out a self-deprecating laugh.
He realized why he was told to hunt a wolf.
A spirit that could withstand tension and pressure.
It was to make him experience a life-or-death real battle to forge his mind.
"I'm glad I asked for guidance from Senior Uncle."
Having grasped Cheonhwi's hidden intention, Jeokgeom's eyebrows curved largely like a half-moon hanging in the sky.
Afterward, Jeokgeom roughly tore his flapping sleeve and tightly bound his blood-soaked hand and the sword he was gripping together.
And this time, he charged first.
Clang!
Under the moonlight, bright sparks flew.
Meanwhile, as Jeokgeom fought a desperate struggle with the wolf.
Tadak—
Seolran, chasing after a swiftly fleeing pure white rabbit, scrunched her brow.
"...Since when were rabbits that fast?"
Muttering to herself, she bit her lip.
Having played tag with the rabbit for nearly half a shichen, she shook her head vigorously and recalled the order Cheonhwi had given her.
—You go catch a rabbit.
—Why a rabbit and not a wolf for me?
At the time, she had felt a surge of frustration.
She thought he had judged that a fierce beast like a wolf would be too much for her and thus told her to catch a rabbit.
—Why? When I saw you spar last time, your footwork was quite lacking compared to your swordsmanship.
At the following words, she fell silent.
It was exactly the same advice she had heard from Cheonhyang Sago in the past.
And that wasn't all.
Cheonhwi's subsequent explanation pierced her chest precisely like an arrow.
—What's important for a martial artist is vision and footwork. It's also evening now. To hunt a fast rabbit at this time of night, you need sharp eyes and good footwork. You understand this much, right?
Hearing words that were like a devastating critique, she blushed and hung her head low.
Even if she didn't know any better, she was the one who had asked for guidance.
Yet not only had she deprecated the efficient method Senior Uncle Cheonhwi presented, but she had also tried to refuse it.
She didn't know what to do with herself from the shame.
However, at Cheonhwi's next words, her shame vanished as if washed away, and instead, her pride was deeply crumpled.
—Catch it before dawn.
His tone, which implied she absolutely wouldn't be able to catch the rabbit before dawn, spiked her stubbornness, and she immediately set off.
And now.
Flash!
After infusing internal force into the soles of her feet, she flung her entire body toward the fleeing rabbit.
Dust spread in all directions.
Seolran, who had buried her face in the ground, felt no sensation in either palm and frowned as she lifted her head.
Hop— Hop—
From afar, the rabbit hopped in place, looked at her, and smirked.
Then, as their eyes met, it ran away.
This alone was already the fourth time.
Her face turned coldly rigid as she watched the rabbit's retreating bounds.
The fleeing rabbit suddenly stopped hopping and, instead of running far away, kept its distance and watched her.
As if mocking her.
"..."
Seolran glared at the rabbit tilting its head while looking at her. A chilling voice flowed from her lips.
"...I absolutely won't let you get away."
* * *
While the two were struggling, Cheonhwi was lying back on a rock, humming a tune.
"Hmm, hmm. Today I'm finally going to have some meat."
The sole purpose of the hunt he had ordered his two subordinates was entirely one thing.
He wanted to eat meat.
But fearing they might rebel if he just ordered them to hunt, he made up a plausible excuse, and it worked.
"Well, it's not like I lied."
Cheonhwi murmured low.
Because it was also the truth.
Recalling the meat juices he would taste after such a long time, drool slipped from the corner of his mouth.
"Tsk, when are they going to come back."
Just then, he sensed approaching presences, and Cheonhwi sat up.
Jeokgeom and Seolran, looking quite exhausted, were struggling up the mountain path.
"Hah, hah. Senior Uncle!"
"Senior Uncle."
Their voices rang out simultaneously.
Opening his eyes and looking closely, Jeokgeom was covered in blood, and Seolran was covered in dirt.
"I caught it."
"...I caught it."
Evidently having gone through quite an ordeal, the two walked up to Cheonhwi looking bedraggled and carefully laid the hunted wolf and rabbit on the ground.
Kneeling, Jeokgeom's eyes shone as he snapped his head up.
"I have grasped your intention, Senior Uncle."
He was looking up at Cheonhwi with gleaming eyes of admiration.
'...He's a spitting image of Gwima.'
Meeting Jeokgeom's burdensome gaze, Cheonhwi involuntarily overlapped him with Gwima.
'No. Gwima is gone now.'
Recalling him, who had joined the Cheonma Shinkyo out of admiration for him, he shook his head faintly and erased the thought.
Now he was merely a figure of the past, someone who had absolutely no relation to his current self.
"You did? As long as you realized it, that's fine."
Cheonhwi answered casually.
"As expected of Senior Uncle Cheonhwi."
But Jeokgeom even looked at that with admiring eyes and smiled broadly.
'I'm glad I asked Senior Uncle.'
Around the time Jeokgeom was feeling satisfied.
"...This disciple was lacking."
Seolran also apologized.
She too had wondered what kind of order it was at first, but now she was not just admiring Cheonhwi's insight but marveling at it.
'Thanks to that, it helped a lot.'
Chasing after the annoying rabbit that had been running away for over a shichen, she was able to awaken to her own shortcomings.
'I didn't know footwork was this important.'
She had thought that in martial arts, mind techniques and swordsmanship were the most important above all else.
But now it was completely different.
The importance and efficiency of footwork.
If a swung sword couldn't reach the opponent, what use was it no matter how profound the inner qi or how excellent the swordsmanship?
Cheonhwi looked at her sparkling eyes, then stared at the wolf and rabbit lying coldly dead in front of the two.
'Tsk, what? Only one each?'
Cheonhwi's expression soured.
He had thought they wouldn't be able to hunt, but just one each?
But then he quickly corrected his expression.
'Still, it's better than nothing.'
He thought positively.
It was still meat, wasn't it?
Compared to the Byeokgokdan he had eaten for nearly ten years while researching the Yeongsaengbulmyeolgunrimdaebeop and the weeds he had eaten since coming into this body, it was a lavish feast.
Recalling those things that were only bitter and completely tasteless, an astringent and bitter taste lingered in his mouth.
"Ptui."
Frowning, he spat on the ground and uncrossed his arms.
'If it weren't for the martial arts manuals in the Mangyeonggak, I would have tasted it long ago.'
In truth, he could have gone hunting anytime, but his greed for martial arts, which was more important than his appetite, had led him to the Mangyeonggak.
His desire for achievement took precedence over his appetite.
Cheonhwi opened his mouth again.
"Then this is your second order."
Startled by his sudden spitting on the ground, the two snapped their heads up and locked eyes with him at his following words.
"Yes."
"Yes."
Hearing their answers, Cheonhwi leaped lightly down from the rock.
Just as Jeokgeom and Seolran were about to exclaim in admiration at his astonishing footwork skill, landing on the ground as lightly as a falling feather.
Grin—
Cheonhwi's pure white teeth were revealed.
"Start a fire!"
"What?"
"What?"
The two let out dumbfounded voices.
Cheonhwi looked at them, raised one eyebrow, and spoke again.
"Are you deaf? I said start a fire."
"A f-fire?"
"Understood!"
Snapping out of their daze at his urging, the two moved in perfect unison, quickly gathered firewood, and started a fire.
One gak later.
Crackle— Crackle—
Over the campfire billowing pungent smoke, the wolf and rabbit skewered on large branches were being roasted nicely.
"Hmm, hmm."
Cheonhwi hummed a tune as he stared at the roasting wolf and rabbit.
'This is the smell I've been waiting for!'
While Cheonhwi couldn't hide his joy, Jeokgeom and Seolran sitting across from him were restless.
The two roasting the wolf and rabbit were holding their breath, quickly and meticulously scanning the surroundings for fear of being caught in this act.
Whoo—
Startled even by the soft sound of the wind blowing, the two cautiously met each other's eyes.
'Senior Brother.'
'Senior Sister.'
'Senior Brother should be the one to speak...'
Pressured by Seolran's gaze, Jeokgeom, unable to say anything, yielded.
"S-Senior Uncle."
"What?"
Perhaps because he was having meat for the first time in a while, Cheonhwi's voice was generous.
"Even if our faction's rules are freer compared to other Taoist sects, still roasting meat and eating it here at the main sect is a bit much..."
"So."
Flinch!
At Cheonhwi's cold voice cutting him off, Jeokgeom shrunk his neck.
But Cheonhwi's words weren't finished yet.
"Are you telling me not to eat it?"
Sweat flowed from Jeokgeom's forehead as he stared at Cheonhwi.
Cheonhwi's coldly stiffened eyes were sinking deeply like an abyss, reflecting him.
"Gulp. N-No, sir."
"Stop spouting nonsense and just move your hands."
"Understood."
Jeokgeom quickly roasted the meat.
A moment later, the meat seemed fully cooked as a delicious aroma spread.
Gulp—
Seolran and Jeokgeom swallowed the saliva pooling in their mouths.
They too, having been sick of eating only weeds for years, found the sudden smell of meat too intense.
Just as the two were growing dizzy from the scent, Cheonhwi immediately grabbed the meat. The moment he bit into the nicely browned meat.
'This is it!'
The meat juices began to dance in his mouth.
Cheonhwi, who was beaming with a smile, chewed the meat in his mouth and gradually moved his hands faster.
Eating half of the meat in one breath, he patted his stomach and laughed.
"Smack, it's been a while since I've feasted like this."
Cheonhwi, picking out the meat stuck between his teeth, smirked as he looked at Jeokgeom and Seolran.
"What are you doing? If you want to eat, hurry up and eat."
"But Senior Uncle, eating meat at the main sect, no matter what... Gulp."
"Eating meat at the main sect is..."
"Don't eat it if you don't want to."
As Cheonhwi was saying that provocatively and picked up the remaining meat to throw it into the forest.
Snatch.
Watching this, Jeokgeom and Seolran urgently grabbed Cheonhwi's hand holding the meat.
"E-Even so, you shouldn't just throw it away!"
"Senior Brother is right."
"But you said you wouldn't eat it? Then I should throw it away. Why leave it?"
The two's eyes shook uncontrollably, and soon they reached out for the meat.
And carefully put it in their mouths.
"...!"
"...!"
The eyes of the two, who chewed and swallowed the meat, widened in round circles.
They soon began to frantically swallow the remaining meat.
Chomp chomp— Gulp!
A moment later, Cheonhwi approached the two who were full with satisfied expressions next to the wreckage of only bones and charcoal.
"It was delicious, right?"
Jeokgeom and Seolran flinched.
Blinded by appetite, they had forgotten, but what they ate was indeed meat.
Just as their complexions turned pale from the guilt of not overcoming their appetite.
"Then..."
As the two shivered and raised their heads, Cheonhwi's pure white teeth revealed under the pale moonlight swallowed their field of vision.
"Now you're both accomplices, right?"