"The two big brothers and this grandfather are your family. There's no reason to be self-conscious."
"I..."
At Old Man Ban's words, Cho Myung was flustered, not knowing what to do.
"Does your continued self-consciousness mean you don't accept us as family?"
"N-no. That's not it..."
"Then eat."
Cho Myung, who had been hesitating, finally reached out his hand.
He picked up a piece of chicken, brought it to his mouth, and chewed. Then he began to eat greedily, as if possessed.
It was a mystery where all that large amount of food went, but Cho Myung ate it all clean.
Seokcheong watched the scene with surprised eyes.
Hua Yunhui was also greatly surprised.
However, having a guess, he looked back at Old Man Ban.
Old Man Ban did not explain.
"From now on, bring four servings for Myung."
"What?"
Seokcheong was surprised at Old Man Ban's words.
"I'll tell the kitchen."
Hua Yunhui said.
"Ah, yes."
Seokcheong barely answered, unable to hide his bewilderment.
In the meantime, Cho Myung, who had finished eating all the food that Seokcheong had brought in addition, said in a barely audible voice.
"I can eat just a little... but I'm so hungry here. Am I sick somewhere?"
Cho Myung's gaze stealthily turned to Hua Yunhui.
However, it was Old Man Ban who answered.
"You're not sick. It's because your body is growing. You have to eat a lot to grow all at once what you couldn't grow because you didn't eat. So don't be self-conscious and eat your fill. The big brothers here and this grandfather like it when you eat your fill without being self-conscious. Do you understand?"
"Really... is it okay?"
"It's okay. We're all family here. Who would say anything to you?"
"Yes, eat a lot. You're at a growing age, so you have to eat your fill."
Hua Yunhui received Old Man Ban's words and gestured to Seokcheong with his eyes.
At that, Seokcheong also said a word.
"Y-yes. Who's to stop my little brother from eating? Don't worry and eat your fill. If it's not enough, this big brother will search the kitchen and bring it to you."
"Thank you."
"What's there to thank me for, as Old Man Ban said, we're one family in Longevity Hall."
"Yes."
Only then did Cho Myung's face brighten as he answered.
At that sight, Old Man Ban also smiled with satisfaction, and Hua Yunhui also chuckled.
Clap!
A moment later, Hua Yunhui clapped his hands as if to change the atmosphere.
"From tomorrow, I'm going to the mountains to dig for herbs once every three or four days. Do you want to come along?"
"Yes, I'd love to!"
At Hua Yunhui's question, Cho Myung answered immediately as if there was nothing to think about. But somehow, he seemed excited.
"What, were you that stuffy?"
Hua Yunhui, who was briefly bewildered, asked.
However, Cho Myung smiled brightly and said something else.
"Big brother, I'm good at digging for herbs."
"What are you talking about?"
"I learned how to dig for herbs from my grandfather."
When Cho Myung said this, staring at Jeok Yorap on the sickbed, Hua Yunhui, Seokcheong, and even Old Man Ban looked back for a moment.
"Your grandfather was an herbalist?"
"Yeah. He hunted and dug for herbs."
"So that's why he had so much money."
Hua Yunhui nodded as if he understood.
Then Seokcheong showed interest.
"What money?"
"There was a purse in Myung's grandfather's bosom. It had ten silver taels in it, so I took out three and gave seven to my sister. Myung, it costs a lot of money to treat your grandfather. So I used the seven silver taels for that. I'll give the remaining three taels to your grandfather later."
"Okay."
In fact, even seven taels was a small amount if you think about it.
If he had been a rich man, he might have offered tens of taels of gold for saving a dying person.
While Cho Myung was smiling and answering, Seokcheong nodded as if he understood something.
"So that's why you didn't say anything about giving medicine to Myung's grandfather."
Since it was true, it was a sore point for Hua Yunhui.
"Shut up and if you're done eating, clean this up quickly."
"Yes. Young master."
When Seokcheong got up and started to clean the table, Cho Myung quickly got up and helped.
"Myung, you talk to Old Man Ban and if you decide, come to the pharmacy with Stonehead."
"Okay."
When Cho Myung answered, Hua Yunhui got up from his seat.
"Old man, I'll be leaving first. I think I need to go and prepare first to teach Stonehead. I think I also need to ask the head of the pharmacy for a favor."
"Go ahead."
Hua Yunhui left first.
Then Seokcheong asked Old Man Ban.
"Do you know what's going on?"
"He's going to dig for the herbs himself."
"So why is he digging for herbs?"
You can't just dig up herbs just because you know how to distinguish their appearance.
It requires considerable knowledge because each herb grows in a different soil.
The appearance of the herb and the environment where it grows well.
Seokcheong's head was already starting to hurt just thinking about memorizing all of that.
But his expression quickly changed at Old Man Ban's next answer.
"He's going to make the elixir I'm going to take himself."
"Ah, then of course he has to dig them. Don't worry. I'll dig up all the necessary herbs."
Just a moment ago, he had been so annoyed, but now he was smiling broadly and speaking energetically as if nothing had happened.
Old Man Ban could only laugh.
Since Hua Yunhui was so upright, even Seokcheong, who followed him, was becoming like him.
"Big brother will take these, so you go and wash your hands. The young master told you to talk to the old man, so after you wash your hands, stay here. Then big brother will come and get you."
"Okay."
"Old man, I'll see you later."
"Okay, learn everything hard."
"Aigoo, even if you don't nag me, old man, I'm always working hard. It's just that I'm a blockhead, so there's no progress."
"Even if you crawl, if you don't stop, you'll get there someday."
"Oh? That's encouraging."
"I'll be cheering for you, so just work hard."
"Yes. I'm going."
Seokcheong grinned and went out with the small table with the empty bowls on it.
"If I had known there were kids like that, I would have taught a disciple long ago..."
Old Man Ban, who had muttered as if lamenting for a moment, looked at Cho Myung.
Cho Myung was just staring at Old Man Ban.
"Myung."
"Yes, grandfather."
"I won't ask where you came from or what your situation is. So you don't have to worry about whether you should say something about yourself. This grandfather is happy enough with just the Myung in front of me."
Cho Myung's face, which was about to harden, relaxed in relief at Old Man Ban's last words.
Old Man Ban watched him and continued to speak.
"I know that you're sometimes afraid of something. It's probably because someone is trying to harm you."
Old Man Ban, who had been watching Cho Myung carefully, said as if he knew everything.
Cho Myung's face hardened noticeably.
Old Man Ban held Cho Myung's small hand.
"And I also know that there is a great power in Myung's body."
Cho Myung's expression hardened even more.
Old Man Ban stared at his face up close and closed his mouth for a moment.
He was giving Cho Myung, who was looking at him warily, time to think.
A person who wants to hide something does not easily open their mouth.
To make them open their mouth, you have to create a situation where they have no choice.
After giving him a moment, Old Man Ban said in a calm tone.
"Myung, if you don't know the way, you have to ask someone. Your grandfather lying over there is an herbalist, so he can teach you how to dig for herbs, but he won't know what to do with the power in your body. But this grandfather doesn't know how to dig for herbs, but I know what to do with the power in your body."
Cho Myung's expression changed.
It changed from wariness to pleasure.
It was clear that he had been suffering quite a bit, knowingly or unknowingly.
What on earth had happened to Cho Myung?
And where did that power come from?
He was curious. He wanted to ask.
But from what he had observed so far, it was clear that Cho Myung was reluctant to be asked about it.
If so, it would be right to slightly avoid the part that Cho Myung was reluctant about.
"Grandfather wants Myung to not be afraid anymore."
"...!"
"You can't live in hiding forever. If you want to continue to be happy, you have to have the power to protect that happiness."
"The power to protect happiness?"
Cho Myung showed more interest.
Old Man Ban nodded.
"You like big brother Yunhui, right?"
"Yes."
"And big brother Cheong too?"
"Yes."
"Those two are doctors. They are people who take care of the sick, not people who protect someone by fighting. What would you do if the people who want to harm you came all the way here?"
"...!"
Cho Myung's face hardened to the point of looking pale.
"What if you have the power to fight back and protect not only your grandfather but also your two big brothers? What if you can continue to live happily with your grandfather and your two big brothers?"
"Can I do that?"
"If Myung just grits his teeth and works hard, he can definitely do that."
"I work hard at everything."
"Then will you learn how to fight bad guys from this grandfather? So you can protect your grandfather and your two big brothers and live happily?"
"Yes!"
Cho Myung answered energetically.
Old Man Ban nodded at such a Cho Myung and smiled with satisfaction.
"Good boy. Since Myung is being so admirable, this grandfather has no choice but to teach you how to fight bad guys."
"Yes! Grandfather. I'll learn hard. So I can live happily with my two big brothers and grandfather."
"Okay, you'll be able to protect everyone."
An unconcealable expectation filled Old Man Ban's face as he nodded.
"What should I do now?"
Cho Myung asked, his eyes sparkling.
Old Man Ban, looking at such a Cho Myung, asked a question instead of answering.
"Myung, what should you do if a bad guy tries to bother your big brothers?"
"I have to protect them."
"But what if Myung is slow?"
"Then... what should I do?"
"You have to practice from now on so you're not slow. So you're faster than anyone else."
"Ah!"
"So the first thing Myung has to do now is to follow his two big brothers and dig for herbs. But you can't just go digging, you have to run hard in the mountains. Have you ever seen a monkey?"
"No."
"A squirrel?"
"I've seen one."
"If Myung can run as fast as a squirrel, he'll be able to protect his big brothers faster than anyone else. Isn't that right?"
"Um, I think so."
Cho Myung answered with a relieved face.
He looked relieved that the way to practice seemed easy.
Of course, it wouldn't be as easy as he thought, and it was just the beginning.
Old Man Ban deliberately made a face as if he were admirable.
"I'm glad Myung understands well."
"Yes."
"Then when big brother Cheong comes, go to the pharmacy with him and tell big brother Yunhui that you'll follow him to dig for herbs."
"Okay."
Cho Myung shot up from his chair.
Then he stared at the entrance of Longevity Hall and waited for Seokcheong to return.
Old Man Ban called out to such a Cho Myung.
"Myung."
"Yes?"
"Grandfather will only trust Myung."
"Yes. Grandfather!"
Cho Myung answered energetically and ran outside. It was because Seokcheong was just returning.
"Are you done talking?"
"Yeah, big brother. Let's go to the pharmacy quickly."
"Can I take him?"
"Go ahead."
When Seokcheong asked, Old Man Ban nodded and answered.
"Then I'll be back."
"Grandfather, I'll be back."
"Okay."
Old Man Ban stared at Cho Myung leaving Longevity Hall with Seokcheong. In his eyes, an unconcealable expectation was swirling powerfully.
'Myung, if the power in your body and the Hundred Strikes Art are combined, you won't lose to anyone. Even if you have to fight the whole world.'
Hundred Strikes Art!
The art of a hundred strikes!
There is only one martial art in the world with the name Hundred Strikes.
A peerless monster who fought on equal terms with a master who had reached the ultimate realm with only muscle strength and fighting skills, without a single bit of internal energy.
Fighting Demon, Ban Nahan!
His signature ultimate art was the Hundred Strikes Art.
To Ban Nahan, a fight was ultimately about knocking down the opponent.
It didn't matter if he had no internal energy.
He would strike first and knock them down, faster and stronger than anyone else.
The Hundred Strikes Art is a martial art that encompasses a hundred striking techniques that are faster and stronger than anyone else.
The Hundred Strikes Art, which had been passed down through four generations as a single-person inheritance, was completed by Ban Nahan.
Ban Nahan, who had wandered the world in search of an opponent, proved that the Hundred Strikes Art was great enough to fight on equal terms with a master who had reached the ultimate realm.
But he was defeated in a single blow by a master at the beginning of the absolute realm.
- Without internal energy, you can't even dream of the absolute realm, so that's a half-baked martial art.
A half-baked martial art!
Ban Nahan died that day.
He was brutally crushed as a martial artist.
The Hundred Strikes Art, which had been passed down through four generations to Ban Nahan, was also shattered.
But now.
The situation had changed.
Ban Nahan, who had met Cho Myung, had something to say to the opponent who had brutally defeated him.
"Yes, I admit it. It may be impossible to reach the absolute realm with just the Hundred Strikes Art. But it's not half-baked. The Hundred Strikes Art is a martial art for people like me who can't learn great internal energy techniques, unlike you."
Ban Nahan muttered, recalling the person who had brutally crushed him.
A swordsman who had reached the absolute realm in his early fifties and proudly held the title of Divine Sword.
Huashan Divine Sword, Lee Yeoncheong!
The arrogant expression of Lee Yeoncheong, who had defeated him with a single sword strike that day, was still branded in his mind like a stigma.
Ban Nahan got up from his chair as if Lee Yeoncheong were in front of him and put strength in his eyes.
And he said passionately.
"If the Hundred Strikes Art is half-baked, what about your martial art? Do you think your swordsmanship without internal energy is stronger than the Hundred Strikes Art?"
Ban Nahan was excited.
It was because he was confident that he could match the Huashan Divine Sword if they fought without internal energy.
Ban Nahan, who had clenched his fist until it was crushed.
But the excessive excitement brought ruin to his body.
"Hmph!"
Ban Nahan, who had coughed up a mouthful of blood, slumped down in his chair.
He curled up his body, gasped for breath, and squeezed out.
"Myung, Myung will prove it for me. The Hundred Strikes Art may be half-baked... but it's not a martial art to be ignored by you! Among the martial arts that are performed without internal energy... the Hundred Strikes Art, the Hundred Strikes Art is the strongest! If it's supported by internal energy, the sword of Huashan is nothing!"
Fighting Demon, Ban Nahan.
Thanks to Cho Myung, whom he had met at the end of his life, his last wick was burning fiercely.
(End of Chapter)