I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Martial Arts World’s Mastermind
Chapter 41
Chapter 41
I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Murim’s Hidden Mastermind
Episode 41
“…Ah.”
Was I staring too intently?
I cautiously approached the bedside.
“How are you? Are you feeling any better? I’m sorry I couldn’t come to see you sooner.”
“…….”
However, Ryang didn’t answer for a long time, simply gazing fixedly at my face.
…Is he getting revenge because I was staring earlier?
“Is, is there something on my face?”
Just as I began to rub my cheeks with my small hands, unable to overcome the awkwardness—
“No.”
“Eh?”
Ryang replied in a low voice.
“I did not expect to encounter a physician worthy of being called a Divine Physician through such a stroke of fate and receive treatment. I was reflecting on that gratitude, which is why my response was delayed. Elder Hyeonhak said the treatment was completed successfully. Thank you.”
“Eh…….”
What’s with the formal speech?
Unable to hide my flustered state, I waved my hands dismissively.
“I’m glad. But… just, just speak comfortably! What is this? Did Master tell you to speak formally?”
“No. I simply thought it right to show proper courtesy to the savior who spared my life, even if it is late.”
“You, you helped me before too! Let’s call it even!”
But Ryang shook his head with a serious look in his eyes.
“Strictly speaking, you helped me then as well by not fleeing alone, so I have incurred a debt twice over.”
“Uuuu…….”
Is that so? Hearing Ryang put it that way, it did seem to be the case.
How is a kid so well-spoken?
“Still……”
Just as I was about to insist he drop the formalities—
“Your spirit channels have opened.”
“……!”
A familiar voice drifted from behind me.
“Master!”
Turning around, I saw Master walking in through the curtain with a gentle smile.
“Hyeonhak treated him very well. The Gu poison has been completely removed, and the traces left by the demonic arts in his pressure points will vanish once they are pushed out through the Remote Energy Transfer.”
“Thank you.”
Ryang immediately bowed his head deeply toward Master.
Master unfurled his fan and let out a small groan.
“Tsk, I told you there is no need to thank me…….”
How heartwarming. I felt a lump in my throat again.
I had been worried Master might resent Ryang because I got hurt, but there was no sign of that.
As expected, Master truly loves children…….
“It is all thanks to Soso, after all.”
…Wait, what?
“I am aware. I intend to keep that in mind and engrave it into my heart.”
“Huh?”
I looked back and forth between the two, caught in the strange atmosphere that had already formed between Master and Ryang.
What is going on?
Before I could even clear my head, a more powerful finishing blow came in quick succession.
“Soso. I heard today was the last day of your punishment. Have you reflected sufficiently now?”
“Gasp, yes.”
I heard Ryang’s voice murmuring, ‘Punishment?’
Aw, man. I wanted to keep that a secret because it’s embarrassing…….
Regardless of whether I hung my head in shame or not, Master spoke in a stern voice.
“Then I shall give you your final task. I came here to tell you this.”
“What kind of……”
“You must learn to take responsibility for your actions as well, shouldn’t you?”
“…Yes, I’ll take responsibility for anything.”
At Master’s serious tone, I nodded just as solemnly.
Master gave the instruction with a satisfied voice.
“Then, take this child as your disciple.”
“Yes, I will tea—”
I was answering vigorously when my jaw dropped.
“…Pardon?”
Take him as my disciple?
He looks way stronger than me.
“Me, me?”
“Yes.”
‘Anyway. Try teaching him well.’
“……!”
Gwang-eum’s words flashed through my mind.
So that’s what it was!
While I was spiraling in confusion, Master picked me up with one arm and said:
“A-Ryang (an affectionate nickname for a child) has learned martial arts for the purpose of killing people in the Demonic Cult until now. Now, he must learn martial arts that save lives. The inner energy you possess, Soso, will be of help.”
“Yeees……?”
“First, he must learn the difference between the Sword of Death and the Sword of Life. A-Ryang. Did you originally use a sword?”
“Yes.”
Ryang nodded at the question that seemed to see right through him.
To think he already learned sword techniques at an age similar to mine.
Right, he must have undergone harsh training while living as a slave of the Demonic Cult.
“…….”
But how am I supposed to teach a kid like that……?
I’m only eight years old…!
“I, I don’t know swordsmanship? Only lightfoot techniques and mechanisms and formations……”
Whether I shook my head fast enough to get dizzy or not, Master countered as if he had anticipated everything.
“As for the necessary martial arts training, you can ask your Sahyeong-nim to help as Ryang’s martial uncles. You have something else to teach.”
“In, in the first place, why don’t you take him, Master…?”
With talent like Ryang’s, he surely would have caught the eye of the Murim’s hidden mastermind.
“I cannot take one who belonged to the Demonic Cult as my disciple.”
However, Master shook his head firmly.
“…….”
It wasn’t a matter of preference; his tone was so peculiar, as if he were bound by a restriction, that I couldn’t press further.
“But if someone else takes that child as a disciple, I can allow him to stay here at Cheongsanbong.”
Master pivoted the conversation like a sly old fox and smirked.
“How about it? Will you accept A-Ryang?”
“…….”
From the sound of it, he was creating an excuse for Ryang to stay at Cheongsanbong.
But still, this is a bit…….
As I hesitated to answer, Ryang asked cautiously.
“…Do you, dislike me?”
“…….”
“Was I a nuisance after all?”
“N-No, that’s not it……”
Argh, that look in his eyes like he’s wounded!
Master added calmly.
“If you do not accept him, he will have to leave Cheongsanbong in a few days. Though the demonic energy accumulated in his body has not been fully erased yet.”
“…….”
“The Demonic Cult will surely be tracking him.”
Then all my efforts to save Ryang would go to waste.
In the end, I forced a bright smile and answered Master.
“Wow…! I’d love that……”
The future Heavenly Demon who would one day rule the world—the very man who was the greatest threat to my life—had become my disciple.
It was a good thing. Though there is a current Leader of the Demonic Cult referred to as the Heavenly Demon, he isn’t as strong as Ryang will be in his prime.
If I can keep Ryang by my side like this, it will be as reassuring as having two Blue Robed Hermits.
‘You must make the seed of the Heavenly Demon protect you.’
In a way, things were playing out smoothly just as Sa Mok-seon had instructed.
‘But I never thought I’d be taking him in as a disciple like this…….’
I let out a deep sigh.
Although this was currently the only way for Ryang to stay at Cheongsanbong and receive treatment for the Gu poison, the truth was that he had a different place to return to.
It meant he didn’t truly belong here at Cheongsanbong.
It was sad that I was beginning to vaguely understand why Gwang-eum had initially thrown a fit, saying I didn’t belong at Cheongsanbong.
But I couldn’t exactly kick him off the mountain when the toxins hadn’t even fully left his body yet…….
“Whew…….”
It was while I was sighing, staring at the pond.
“…….”
A familiar white shape appeared on a smooth stone near the water.
It was the lizard. The fellow tilted its head as it looked at me, flicking its tongue a few times.
“…Are you hungry?”
The lizard seemed to nod. It crept a little closer to me.
“Let’s see. Right now, an elixir is…. Ah.”
I suddenly remembered I had the sweets Sahyeong Danhwi gave me in my robe. It wasn’t as good as the medicinal pill I gave it last time, but it would fill its belly.
I pulled a pouch from my chest and offered a sweet candy to the lizard.
“Here, eat this.”
The lizard snatched the candy in an instant, but this time, instead of disappearing into the water immediately, it watched me for a long while.
“…….”
So, I stared back at the lizard.
Is this really an Imugi like Danhwi said? I was a bit curious.
“I haven’t seen you for a while……”
Looking at it as a small form of an Imugi, it really did seem that way, but then again, it also just seemed like a slightly clever spirit-beast lizard.
“You have to eat well and grow big so you can help me later, okay?”
Well, there’s no harm in being kind to it.
When I gave the lizard’s nose a light tap, it scurried away and vanished into the water.
“Ah.”
Did I startle it by touching it? Just as I was about to withdraw my hand awkwardly—
“What are you doing?”
“……!”
A familiar voice sounded from behind.
“Waaaah!”
I was so startled I nearly tumbled forward.
Ryang immediately grabbed my arm firmly and pulled me upright.
“Phew, phew. I thought I was going to fall into the pond……”
“…….”
I clung to Ryang and caught my breath.
I don’t even know how deep that pond is.
