Chapter 125 : Chapter 125

Chapter 125. Discussion on Chivalry (5)

Jin Yuseong and his group returned to Sama Hyeon’s thatched house again.

They cursed the corrupt officials and Underworld groups like the Azure Silver Gang, and also shared their own stories.

Dang Sopyeong spoke with an awkward tone, his face slightly blushing.

“Ahem. My maternal grandparents were physicians. But some vicious bastard harmed my maternal grandparents who had treated him. I set out into the jianghu to avenge that enemy.”

Nam Geon, who seemed to lack the confidence to explain in a complicated way, spoke only briefly.

“I-I have to avenge my mom. S-So I learn m-martial arts from brother.”

Following Jin Yuseong’s past advice, they did not specifically mention the Danmok Clan or the Sichuan Sword Clan.

The grudges of the jianghu were complicated, so there was a risk of getting them entangled in those grudges unnecessarily.

Following that, Baek Hyang also briefly told her story.

“Senior Brother and Brother Nam Geon saved me. Since then, I’ve been traveling with them and learning martial arts from Senior Brother.”

The latter-generation disciples of the Seomoon Clan and the Pyo Clan made complicated expressions.

They had heard about the various incidents Jin Yuseong had experienced, but this was the first time they had heard the stories of these three.

Furthermore, as those who had grown up comfortably in their clans, they didn't have any particular stories to tell.

At that moment, Sama Hyeon, who had been quietly listening to the three's stories, opened his mouth.

“Miss Baek, if it’s not too rude, may I know when you set your heart on martial arts?”

Baek Hyang answered with a puzzled expression.

“It seems it’s been just a little over a year, Young Master Sama.”

“Then, may I perhaps know your age this year?”

“I am fifteen.”

Right after her answer ended, the latter-generation disciples made dazed expressions.

Compared to the years she had trained in martial arts and her age, the girl’s level was absurdly high.

The word ‘genius’ was driven into the minds of the latter-generation disciples.

Sama Hyeon also made an impressed expression, but the meaning was a little different.

“Heo. Confucius was said to have set his heart on learning at fifteen. But the young miss set her heart on the jianghu at a mere fourteen. On the other hand, I have achieved nothing even at eighteen, so I am truly pathetic.”

The latter-generation disciples also found themselves reflecting on themselves at that story.

At that moment, Dang Sopyeong showed a pleased expression.

“Ahem. It seems Young Master Sama was also eighteen this year.”

“Was Young Hero Dang also eighteen?”

“That is correct. Hahaha. It is truly a pleasure to meet you once again.”

Was it because two men had revealed their ages after Baek Hyang? Nam Geon smiled brightly and shouted.

“I-I am twenty years old!”

Dang Sopyeong, who had been nodding, soon tilted his head.

“Th-Then why have you been calling me ‘Big brother’ all this time?”

At that question, Nam Geon tilted his head.

“P-Physician brother. H-brother’s friend.”

“I am not his friend.”

“Y-You said bad friend last time.”

“…Ah, I suppose bad friend is correct.”

“S-Since brother is my friend, P-Physician brother is also my brother.”

Dang Sopyeong turned his head with a puzzled expression and looked at Jin Yuseong.

He had been living without much thought because Nam Geon had called both him and Jin Yuseong ‘brother’.

He had thought that perhaps Nam Geon’s development was particularly fast, making him look older.

But now that he knew Nam Geon was older than him, he felt a strange feeling.

Just in case, Dang Sopyeong asked.

“How old are you this year?”

“I am seventeen this year.”

“…”

Silence fell again.

The latter-generation disciples were having such thoughts.

If Baek Hyang was a genius, then what should they call Jin Yuseong, who had reached such a level at a mere seventeen?

On the other hand, Dang Sopyeong was having a slightly different thought.

“N-Now I see, you’re nothing but a swindler!”

As Dang Sopyeong jumped to his feet and shouted, Jin Yuseong asked back with a listless expression.

“What do you mean?”

“You've been called ‘Big brother’ by Brother Nam, who is three years your senior, and yet you've kept your mouth shut all this time! You should call Brother Nam ‘Big brother’ from now on!”

Dang Sopyeong, who had shouted like a chivalrous hero severely scolding a villain, struggled to pull down the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise.

Nam Geon was one thing, but this was a very good opportunity.

“Also, you’ve been calling Young Master Sama ‘Big brother’ all this time. So you should call me, who is the same age as Young Master Sama, ‘Big brother’ too!”

At this, Jin Yuseong opened his mouth with an indifferent expression.

“A title is just something you can call as you please. Haven’t you also been calling me a madman as you pleased all this time?”

Dang Sopyeong had a hunch.

A hunch that if he pushed it any further here, he would have to pay the price for calling him a madman all this time.

“…Ahem. Come to think of it, it seems it’s best for a title to be comfortable.”

Dang Sopyeong, who let out a dry cough, sat down again as if nothing had happened.

The latter-generation disciples either smiled awkwardly or deliberately turned their heads.

At that moment, Jin Yuseong let out a smirk and opened his mouth.

“The reason I call Brother Sama ‘brother’ is because I thought there would be much to learn from him. The reason Nam Geon calls me ‘Big brother’ is the same. But someone who gets caught up in such trivial things is a petty person, so there is nothing to learn and no reason to call him ‘Big brother’.”

Dang Sopyeong’s face, which had become a prime example of a petty person in an instant, turned bright red.

The latter-generation disciples’ faces also turned red.

They couldn't burst into laughter in front of Dang Sopyeong, so they all gritted their teeth and held back their laughter.

Perhaps to be considerate of Dang Sopyeong, Sama Hyeon smiled gently and opened his mouth.

“Come to think of it, Young Master Seomun, may I ask your age this year?”

Since the topic of age had come up, Sama Hyeon turned the subject back to it.

“Ahem. I am twenty-five this year.”

Starting with Seomun Ak's answer, the latter-generation disciples also revealed their ages.

Seomun Yeong and Pyo Daecheol were both twenty-two, and Seomun Ho was twenty. Lastly, the youngest, Pyo Hayeon, was eighteen.

After they had all revealed their ages to each other, Seomun Ak slyly asked Jin Yuseong.

“You said that those who get caught up in trivial things are petty people, then what kind of person do you think is a great person?”

“Someone who rises up for what they believe is right. Someone who thinks of others before themselves. Someone who can endure decades of humiliation and pain for a great cause. I think such people are great people. But I am not patient, so I am not a great person.”

Saying so, Jin Yuseong looked at Sama Hyeon.

“What kind of person do you think is a great person, Brother Sama?”

Sama Hyeon smiled awkwardly and answered.

“I also have things I have learned from books, but I do not think I am the gentleman that Confucius and Mencius spoke of.”

“Then please tell us about the gentleman you have learned about from those books.”

Naturally, the conversation moved on to their respective thoughts on gentlemen and great people.

“I don't know about gentlemen and great people, but I have also given a lot of thought to chivalrous heroes!”

Led by Seomun Ho, the latter-generation disciples also brought up the topic of chivalrous heroes.

What is right? What is truly chivalry?

The conversation of the young people, full of vigor, continued endlessly.

It was a conversation that some might curse as childish or ignorant of the world.

Jin Yuseong had closed his mouth at some point and was just watching them talk.

It wasn't that he found their appearance pathetic.

It was just that he was reminded of old times.

Because in his past life, whenever he met Brother Sama, he would lose track of the deepening night with such stories.

***

Around noon the next day.

They left the inn with the group and headed for Brother Sama's thatched house.

He had wanted to talk all night last night, but he had something to do, so he had returned to the inn first.

As they got closer to the thatched house, Brother Sama greeted them with a faint smile.

“Did you all sleep well?”

After a brief greeting, he handed three booklets to Brother Sama.

They were the booklets he had prepared after leaving the thatched house first last night.

The reason he had only come out at noon today was to finish writing them.

Brother Sama asked with a puzzled expression.

“...What is this?”

“They are things necessary for Brother Sama’s ambition.”

Two were martial arts manuals.

The Jade Cloud Divine Art, the Revolving Cloud Divine Art, and on top of that, the Great Swallow Nest Building Divine Art.

It was a kind of basic divine art that incorporated the three divine arts I had learned and the things I had realized as my level had risen.

A divine art that was more efficient and stable than the Jade Cloud Divine Art.

But it wasn't to the point of being called a high-level martial art.

It was just a divine art suitable for honing the basics.

The other one was the same. It was a summary of a sword art suitable for honing the basics, incorporating the insights of the sword arts and movement techniques I had learned.

“Brother Sama, as you know, there are many strange people in the world. There are more than one or two madmen who can't stand to see others do the right thing. Brother Sama's will is grand, but you may not be able to realize your dream because of such people.”

“So you’re saying I should learn these martial arts?”

“That’s right. Those martial arts are all for building a foundation, so after you learn them first, please pass them on to the children you will teach.”

Brother Sama answered with a troubled expression.

“Although I have not set my heart on the jianghu, I know how precious martial arts are. How about Young Hero Jin opens a sect and teaches the children instead?”

I shook my head.

“My path and Brother Sama's path are different. I cannot do as Brother Sama does.”

“Why do you say so?”

“Because my temper is foul. The entire jianghu is overflowing with trash right now. Perhaps in the very next village, Underworld bastards are harassing the commoners. When I have such thoughts, I can't help but think of rushing out and killing them.”

I added, looking at the complicated expression on Brother Sama’s face.

“So I will clean up the trash that is staining the world black. Brother Sama, please give your teachings all over the world so that trash does not grow again in the places I have cleaned.”

And then I pushed the three booklets forward again.

“This is not a gift, but a request. I am passing on to Brother Sama the things I cannot do.”

“…If that is Young Hero Jin’s will, I will accept it.”

Only then did Brother Sama take the three booklets.

He glanced through the three books and then made a puzzled face at the last one.

“Two seem to be martial arts manuals, but what is the last one?”

“That is a kind of journal. It is a collection of things I have seen, heard, and experienced while traveling the jianghu. Please tell the children Brother Sama will teach in the future the contents of the journal.”

I wasn't saying this to boast of my achievements.

“When I first traveled the jianghu, I had such thoughts. Has the world truly rotted away? Are there no others who share the same will as me? But it wasn't so. There were so many who had great ambitions when they were young, but died or were corrupted without ever letting their flowers bloom.”

The latter-generation disciples here were like that, and Yeongcheon was like that.

“So, I have described all the atrocious methods of the trashy bastards. It is because I hope that those with great ambitions will not be defeated in vain by such petty people.”

In fact, if I could, I wanted to leave with Brother Sama.

But I couldn't.

It wasn't just because our paths were different.

I was already a body with many enemies. It was too dangerous for Brother Sama, who was just starting to learn martial arts, to travel with me.

The same went for those latter-generation disciples over there.

“You all should also return to your clans now.”

“W-What are you talking about?”

I answered Seomun Ho’s startled words.

“Because now you all have also made an enemy of the Black Heaven Sect. They may not be able to attack the Seomoon Clan or the Pyo Clan right now because the situation is not favorable, but if you continue to travel the jianghu, they will surely attack you at some point.”

I left one last piece of advice for the latter-generation disciples who were making complicated expressions.

“So, return by using the roads with as many people as possible. And build up your strength at your clans. Raise the martial artists of your clans as chivalrous heroes as well. It is not too late to set out on a chivalrous journey after you have sufficiently built up the strength of your clans.”

***

After Jin Yuseong's group was no longer in sight, Sama Hyeon turned his body and looked at the latter-generation disciples.

“Wouldn't it be better for you all to leave before the sun sets as well?”

Seomun Ak turned his head and looked at his companions.

Expressions like a puppy that needs to poop.

Seomun Ak, who had made a decision, let out a dry cough and opened his mouth.

“Ahem. If we leave now anyway, it seems we will only arrive at a large village after the sun has set. So I think it would be safer to just stay here today.”

“Is that so?”

As Sama Hyeon said so with a gentle smile, Seomun Ak tried to change the subject.

“Ahem. Since we're staying here anyway, how about we continue the conversation we couldn't finish yesterday? Or, what do you think about what Great Hero Jin said a while ago?”

No, it wasn't changing the subject, but bringing up the topic he wanted to talk about.

Because the last night, when they had discussed chivalry, had been so enjoyable.

If Jin Yuseong was admirable for his abundant experience and outstanding martial arts skills despite his age, Sama Hyeon was an amazing young man in a different sense.

As soon as Seomun Ak opened the floodgates, Seomun Ho shouted in a bold tone.

“Great Hero Jin must have said that because he was worried about us! Because if we travel together, we will be in danger!”

“I also agree with my younger brother. It seems our skills and experience are still lacking to be with Great Hero Jin.”

As Seomun Yeong also agreed, Sama Hyeon smiled faintly and defended them.

“I also think so. But haste brings disaster. As Great Hero Jin said, shouldn't we work on building our skills and cultivating the next generation?”

“That is also true. Then, what do you think is the most important thing to focus on when raising the next generation, Brother Sama?”

At Seomun Ak’s question, Sama Hyeon made a bewildered expression.

“Brother? That is not appropriate, Young Master Seomun.”

“Hahaha. Didn't Great Hero Jin say so last night? That he would call you brother because there seems to be much to learn from you, Brother Sama. I also think so, which is why I called you brother.”

Suddenly, Sama Hyeon was reminded of Confucius' story.

Was it said that if three people walk together, there is something to learn from one of them?

“Then I also think there will be much to learn from Brother Seomun. I have not yet learned martial arts, nor have I ever set out into the jianghu, have I?”

“Hahaha. Good. Then we can just teach each other what we are lacking, can't we?”

“I look forward to working with you, Brother Seomun.”

“I am the one who should be saying that, Brother Sama.”

They naturally called each other ‘brother’ and continued their conversation.

What is a chivalrous hero?

What must be done to raise a chivalrous hero?

As they talked about such things, a certain person’s name would naturally come up.

“If it were Great Hero Jin, he would surely have acted this way!”

Before they knew it, the name Jin Yuseong had taken a large place in their minds.