Chapter 646
646
Chapter 646. The Ghost’s Identity (2)
Miss Tang Subin and Tang Jo-ung went to meet the Sect Leader, and I headed to my quarters.
After entering my quarters, I wrote a letter to Father and asked Geumryeong to deliver it.
I would have to give her one silver coin, but it was worth that much.
The sun set, and we gathered in front of the campfire by the tent.
Everyone was busy because of the restoration work, but perhaps thanks to the fact that no one had died inside the grounds, the atmosphere was not all that bad.
At the news that the damage caused by this earthquake was less than expected, I somehow felt proud.
Of course, it was impossible for there to be no damage at all, but the situation was far better than in my previous life.
After eating dinner, I walked around the Qingcheng Sect grounds.
It was to take a stroll and also examine the state of the grounds.
Only then would I be able to figure out what our Eunha Trading Company could do to put Qingcheng Sect in our debt…… no, to help them.
As I always say, I am not a philanthropist but a merchant.
The reason I was moving around so busily was because it benefited both me and the Eunha Trading Company.
In fact, the evaluation of the Eunha Trading Company in Sichuan Province had risen very high, and my uncle and older brothers were extremely pleased.
Just then, I saw someone sitting alone far away.
Why is Taoist Inbong alone in a place like that?
I tilted my head and approached him.
“What are you doing alone?” (MC)
“Ah! Master!” (Taoist Inbong)
“Everyone else seems to be enjoying themselves, even if only modestly, while eating dinner. Why are you here instead of joining them?” (MC)
“I just…… had something to think about.” (Taoist Inbong)
“I see.” (MC)
If that was the case, I had no intention of disturbing him, so I was about to go on my way.
“Um…… Master.” (Taoist Inbong)
That is, if Taoist Inbong had not called me from behind.
“Did you call me?” (MC)
“Yes.” (Taoist Inbong)
He nodded and said.
“I…… have something I would like to ask your advice about.” (Taoist Inbong)
Advice, huh…….
I would have liked to avoid setting foot in a troublesome matter, but how could I coldly leave when I saw those eyes?
Sigh, this is why I am so softhearted.
—Kkui? (Geumryeong)
Geumryeong, be quiet…….
—Huh? When did you get here? (MC)
—Kkui. Kku! (Geumryeong)
You just got here?
It had not been long since I sent the letter to Father, so I was surprised she had already returned and slipped into my sleeve.
Could it be because of all the money she had eaten until now?
I sat down on the rock beside him and asked.
“So, what is it? The thing you want to ask advice about.” (MC)
“It is about my father.” (Taoist Inbong)
What?
My mind snapped awake in an instant.
“I heard that I was entrusted to this Qingcheng Sect when I was two years old. So they say Master practically raised me.” (Taoist Inbong)
From what I had heard, Taoist Inbong’s master was True Person Hancheong.
A disciple of the Cheong generation, directly below the current Sect Leader.
“Until recently, I thought I was an abandoned child. So I tried not to be very curious about my parents.” (Taoist Inbong)
The words that he had tried not to be curious felt pitiful.
Who in the world would not be curious about their own birth?
“Then one day, someone who introduced himself as the ghost wandering this Qingcheng Sect came to see me.” (Taoist Inbong)
---
Inbong was training alone in the Repentance Pavilion.
It was a place where disciples who had caused problems were usually sent, and there was only one small thatched hut there.
Since it was the Repentance Pavilion, not Fengryeon Pavilion, he could not carry a weapon, so the only training he could do was martial arts that could be used without a weapon.
Shashashak!
His body moved gracefully.
Qingcheng Sect’s pride, the Seiryu Step.
It had to show free movement like willow leaves blown by the wind, but…….
Thud!
“Aaagh!” (Inbong)
His feet tangled, and he tripped over himself and fell forward.
“Ugh…… that hurts.” (Inbong)
He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, then realized that he was bleeding from the nose.
“Why am I so stupid? I can’t even execute the Seiryu Step properly…… At this rate, they’re exactly right when they call me a deficient idiot.” (Inbong)
Without realizing it, sorrow suddenly welled up in him and tears fell drop by drop.
It was then.
—Who are you calling a deficient idiot? (Ghost)
“……!” (Inbong)
A sudden telepathic message.
At that, he turned around, but no one was visible.
“Huh? Wh-who are you?” (Inbong)
—Me? (Ghost)
He clearly heard the telepathic message in his mind, but since no one was visible, fear suddenly rose in him.
“Gasp! A gh-ghost! An incantation! I have to recite an incantation…….” (Inbong)
—Stop that. Even if you recite some petty incantation, it will be useless against me. (Ghost)
“Wh-why?” (Inbong)
—Because I am…… hem hem, an incredibly strong ghost. (Ghost)
“…….” (Inbong)
—You do not seem to believe me. (Ghost)
“Isn’t that sort of thing only accurate when someone else says it, not the person himself? I was told that when someone says that about themselves, it means they’re a braggart.” (Inbong)
—Who said that? (Ghost)
“Master Hancheong.” (Inbong)
—That brat Hancheong…… (Ghost)
“Do not insult my master! He is like a father to me! If you insult my master, I will not let it slide!” (Inbong)
—……Understood. (Ghost)
Inbong sensed sadness in the other’s telepathic message.
He did not know why.
—But what were you doing here? This is the Repentance Pavilion, is it not? (Ghost)
“What would I be doing in the Repentance Pavilion? I’m being punished.” (Inbong)
—Punished? What did you do wrong? (Ghost)
“I fought with Geumbong.” (Inbong)
—Then did that fellow named Geumbong also come to the Repentance Pavilion with you? (Ghost)
“No. Only I came.” (Inbong)
—Why? (Ghost)
“Because Geumbong’s father is the Sect Leader. And the Sect Leader cherishes Geumbong very much.” (Inbong)
—Eh? That ba…… no, the Sect Leader favors his son? (Ghost)
“Yes. Why do you not know something everyone knows? If you are an incredibly strong ghost, shouldn’t you know that much?” (Inbong)
—Hem, hem hem, that is because it has not been long since I came here. But did you perhaps pick the fight first? (Ghost)
At that question, Inbong hurriedly shook his head.
“No! There is no way! Those bastards were the ones who harassed me first, if anything…… I…….” (Inbong)
—…… (Ghost)
“It is just because I am lacking. I am already fifteen, and I still cannot execute the Seiryu Step properly.” (Inbong)
—I will watch you. Your nosebleed seems to have stopped too, so try executing it once more. (Ghost)
“Chi…… Would you even know anything if I did?” (Inbong)
—Hem hem, I was not going to go so far as to say this, but in truth, before I became a ghost, I was a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect. (Ghost)
“What? Then why did you become a ghost instead of ascending to immortality?” (Inbong)
—That must be…… because lingering thoughts remained. (Ghost)
The voice sounded even sadder than before.
Inbong quickly apologized.
“I am sorry for asking such a difficult question.” (Inbong)
—It is fine. Then execute the Seiryu Step. (Ghost)
At that, Inbong executed the Seiryu Step, and once again rolled across the ground.
Crash!
“Aigogo…….” (Inbong)
—Good grief! Are you all right? (Ghost)
“Ah. Yes. I am all right.” (Inbong)
—Mm, I think I know what the problem is. (Ghost)
“Really?” (Inbong)
—Yes, the distribution of genuine qi is the problem. Try doing it as I say. (Ghost)
To be honest, Inbong was suspicious of the other’s existence, but for now, he decided to listen to him.
He was frightened, but the other did not seem to have any intention of harming him.
Because he had been harassed by Geumbong’s group for a long time, he could read people’s hostility quite well.
—First, as you take one step forward, strongly push the genuine qi from the upper qi center to the lower qi center…… (Ghost)
Inbong tried moving according to his words.
“Huh?” (Inbong)
And he could not help but be astonished.
Because the part that had kept blocking him until now was solved as if it had been a lie.
“I-it worked!” (Inbong)
—How is it? (Ghost)
“It’s amazing!” (Inbong)
—Hahahaha. Is it not? (Ghost)
From that day on, every evening, the ghost came to find Inbong.
“Um, Ghost-nim.” (Inbong)
—About that title. Even if I am a ghost, can you not call me by something else? (Ghost)
“What? You do not like it?” (Inbong)
—Would I like it? (Ghost)
“Mm. That is true too.” (Inbong)
After thinking for a moment, Inbong said.
“Then I will call you Mister.” (Inbong)
—……Well, that is much better. But what are you eating? (Ghost)
“Dried persimmons.” (Inbong)
—You are eating something quite precious. (Ghost)
“There is someone named Eombong, one of my peers. He brought them for me. There are people who harass me, but still, there are good kids like Eombong too.” (Inbong)
—I see. He is a good friend. Then today, I will teach you about the Heart-Smashing Palm. (Ghost)
“Yes.” (Inbong)
The Heart-Smashing Palm was the most representative of Qingcheng Sect’s palm techniques, a martial art only true mountain disciples could learn.
That was how powerful and high-level a palm technique it was.
As the name suggested, if it struck the heart, it would stop the heart and kill the opponent.
—In my younger days, I killed quite a few black path bastards with this. (Ghost)
“I think I know why you were unable to ascend to immortality. You must not do that. No matter how evil someone is, you have to give them a chance to repent.” (Inbong)
—……Tsk! You speak like some stuffy Taoist. (Ghost)
“I am a Taoist, though?” (Inbong)
—Hem hem, in any case, do not use this unless you are serious. People really do die. To be honest, I do not want to see you kill someone with this. (Ghost)
“Yes.” (Inbong)
For some reason, he could feel the worry contained in those words.
In that way, the three months of punishment at the Repentance Pavilion ended, and Inbong returned to his original place.
And during the group training at dawn, he was praised for the first time.
“That is a very clean Seiryu Step! Well done.” (Instructor)
“Thank you.” (Inbong)
But perhaps that incident rubbed Geumbong’s group the wrong way, because they secretly surrounded Inbong, harassed him, and beat him.
Inbong did not resist and obediently let himself be hit.
Because he remembered how, the last time he had defied them, his master had apologized in his place.
His master had raised him since he was a baby.
He did not want to make him bow his head because of him.
It was then.
—I will help you. These bastards! (Ghost)
“No!” (Inbong)
Inbong quickly shouted.
“I-I am fine.” (Inbong)
At that, Geumbong’s group blinked. Because Inbong had suddenly said something strange.
“What is this bastard?” (Disciple)
“Has he finally gone mad?” (Disciple)
“Hey! Let’s go. Madness is contagious.” (Disciple)
“Keke.” (Disciple)
Like that, Geumbong’s group left after leaving behind their ridicule, and Inbong stood up and brushed the dirt off his clothes.
—Are you all right? (Ghost)
“I am all right.” (Inbong)
—Then why are you crying? (Ghost)
“…….” (Inbong)
At that question, Inbong gave no answer. He merely clenched his fists tight.
A long while later, Inbong spoke.
“Was…… the fact that I was born itself a mistake?” (Inbong)
—Do not say such things. (Ghost)
“Then why is living so hard?” (Inbong)
—I am sorry. (Ghost)
“Why are you sorry, Mister? To be honest, the ones who should be sorry are the parents who abandoned me in this Qingcheng Sect.” (Inbong)
—……There must have been some circumstance. And you, too, must have been born from your parents’ love. (Ghost)
Sensing from that voice a feeling of great sorrow and anguish, Inbong asked in puzzlement.
“Why do you think so?” (Inbong)
—Because you are truly overflowing with talent and so remarkable. (Ghost)
“Do not joke.” (Inbong)
—I will show you that it is not a joke. (Ghost)
“How?” (Inbong)
—Five years from now. Within that time, I will make you a peak martial artist. (Ghost)
“I am still third-rate, though?” (Inbong)
—Just trust me. (Ghost)
---
I silently listened to Taoist Inbong’s story.
“In that way, thanks to Mister’s help, I was able to become a peak martial artist.” (Taoist Inbong)
“I see.” (MC)
I recalled what Noona Hyangok had told me about Taoist Inbong.
That he had become a peak expert in a single year.
So all of that had been thanks to his father’s help.
Of course, his own talent must have been exceptional as well.
“And not long ago, I heard from my master who my parents were.” (Taoist Inbong)
“Not long ago?” (MC)
“Yes.” (Taoist Inbong)
He nodded.
“He said the reason he did not tell me until I turned twenty was because he was worried that, before then, I might cause trouble with immature feelings.” (Taoist Inbong)
“I see.” (MC)
“He said my father was a disciple of our sect. While traveling through the martial world, he met a woman and married her. But the Green Forest Bandit who had suffered at Father’s hands kidnapped Mother, and Mother escaped and hid in a cave, where she gave birth to me.” (Taoist Inbong)
“…….” (MC)
“Then, when Father learned of it and found Mother, they said Mother already had no hope.” (Taoist Inbong)
“Did you also hear about your father?” (MC)
At my question, he nodded.
“I heard that he entrusted me to the sect and left to take revenge for Mother.” (Taoist Inbong)
“I see.” (MC)
Then he took something out from his breast pocket.
“This mirror is the item Father left behind, which Master gave me this time. The knot on this mirror is unusual, isn’t it?” (Taoist Inbong)
“Now that you mention it…… it is.” (MC)
That knot was also one I had never seen before.
“They said Father’s specialty was knots, and that was a knot Father made, but it was so difficult that others could not imitate it.” (Taoist Inbong)
Then he took out something else from his breast pocket.
An ordinary pouch made from plain cotton cloth.
“When I was isolated this time, the food Mister delivered to me was inside this.” (Taoist Inbong)
Come to think of it, Taoist Inbong’s father had said that.
That he had climbed the cliff and delivered food to his son.
I pretended not to know and asked.
“Is that so? But why that……” (MC)
“Isn’t the knot on this pouch the same as the knot on the mirror?” (Taoist Inbong)
“…….” (MC)
Taoist Inbong spoke with a complicated expression.
“It was Father.” (Taoist Inbong)
“Pardon?” (MC)
“The one who comforted me, the one who taught me martial arts, the one who crawled up that cliff and brought me food so I would not starve to death…… was my father.” (Taoist Inbong)
At those words, I let out a sigh inwardly.
You said Taoist Inbong did not know you were his father, didn’t you?
If you leave evidence this clear…….
Taoist Inbong continued speaking.
“Master Seonhyeop Mirang. I want to see my father. So…… please persuade him to stop hiding and show himself before me openly.” (Taoist Inbong)