The World's Greatest Countryside Martial Arts Academy - chapter 4

In the human body, Gi (energy) flows, and there exist meridians, the pathways through which that energy travels. If Gi is water, meridians are the water channels. If the water channels are blocked, the water pools. In the early stages of Jeolmaek-jeung (the syndrome of severed meridians), the pooled energy might make the mind exceptionally sharp or the senses sensitive, but in the end, pooled water will always rot. Jeong So-ryong’s pooled Jingi (true energy) was also turning into poison within his own body.

“It’s Jeolmaek-jeung.” “H-how did you…” “No wonder your atmosphere felt so peculiar compared to your age. I’ll just calm the seizure down for now.” “P-please, I beg of you!”

Vwoom! Jin Cheong-un pushed energy inward and scraped away the wall of turbid energy.

Swoosh.

A small hole opened in the meridian, and the pooled energy began to flow as if a tiny stream were leaking out.

“Phew.”

Jin Cheong-un pulled his hand away and smacked his lips. A taste of blood rose in his throat.

My body isn’t what it used to be, yet without thinking, my hands moved before my brain.

Just then, Jeong So-so, who had been restless beside them, couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke up.

“Is he okay now?” “For now.” “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Jeong So-so’s eyes reddened as she bowed her waist repeatedly.

“It’s just a temporary measure, so don’t be so thankful.” “Yes?” “The progression is too far gone. At this rate, probably…”

Her heart felt as if it had dropped into an abyss.

That can’t be!

She wanted to deny it so badly, but her lips wouldn’t part. A disease with no sign of improvement, increasingly frequent seizures. How could she not know? She knew. She knew, yet she had turned a blind eye.

“How bad is it?”

Jeong So-so’s voice trembled.

“Do I need to… prepare my heart?” “No, it’s not to that extent.” “I secretly knew. So tell me honestly… wait, what?”

Jin Cheong-un said nonchalantly:

“It’s a very rare disease, but there is a cure, so what’s this about preparing your heart?”

Her expression was washed over with confusion. So, right now…

You’re saying our So-ryong’s illness can be cured?

She shouted in a rush.

“Please! I beg you! Please cure So-ryong’s illness!” “Hm? Me?” “I will repay this grace no matter what. Please!” “Ah, but I only know the method. This requires time in many ways and there are many things to prepare…” “Are you saying you can’t do it?” “No, that’s not it.”

Jin Cheong-un avoided her gaze with a troubled expression.

Must I, really?

Honestly, his body wasn’t even intact and he had a mountain of work to do, so going through immense trouble for a kid he just met was…

Right, I should introduce them to someone I know.

Let’s just close my eyes once and ignore it. It’s a pity, but I have my own worries to deal with. However…

“Haa. Haa.”

The sight of Jeong So-ryong, constantly gasping for breath, weighed on his mind. Jin Cheong-un let out a sigh.

…Still, the kid is sick.

Right, the kid is sick. Even if it’s troublesome, if he takes it slowly, it shouldn’t be a problem. But just then. Jeong So-so, misinterpreting the sound of Jin Cheong-un’s sigh, shouted urgently.

“I beg you like this. Anything, really, if it’s something I can do, I will do anything!”

Jin Cheong-un hesitated.

“Anything?” “Anything!”

Jeong So-so’s eyes welled up with tears. A halo seemed to be radiating from Jin Cheong-un. Indeed, one should never judge a person solely by their first impression. Perhaps he was a noble benefactor sent by the heavens to pity the two siblings…

“Ah, then, how about selling me the land deed?”

…Maybe not?

“Wh-why is the conversation going in that direction…” “No, well. You said you’d do anything.”

Jeong So-so asked with suspicious eyes.

“You are saying you can cure him, right?” “Of course.” “……Fine. If I can cure my brother’s illness… is there anything I wouldn’t do?” “Trust only me.”

Jin Cheong-un changed his attitude in an instant and said with eyes more serious than ever.

“I swear. I will do my best to cure your brother’s illness.” “Ah, yes…”

Jeong So-so, who answered bitterly at the sudden change in attitude, felt a belated jolt of fear.

Is this a scam?

Can this person really cure the illness? Did he just throw it out there? It’s someone I saw for the first time today, can I really trust him?

But until now, no one else had diagnosed the disease after just a brief look, nor had anyone quelled the seizure in one go. In fact, her brother’s current state looked the best it had in a long time. Right, frankly speaking, if he’s a liar, I can just not sell the deed. Since there’s the house issue, she could just watch him from the side and be suspicious. She wasn’t trusting him. She just wanted to believe. Because until now, it had been… so hard.

“I am sorry for my rudeness in many ways today. I never imagined you were a physician…”

Jeong So-so bowed her head. However.

“A physician?” “……?” “I never said I was a physician.”

Jeong So-so blinked.

“You’re not?” “I’ve seen a lot of patients, but I’m not a physician.” “If you’re not a physician, how did you examine the patient?” “I was on the side that created patients rather than curing them… They say extremes meet, so you could say it’s roughly similar. Hm.”

What kind of crazy talk is that? Jeong So-so, who was about to snap, barely calmed down.

L-let’s just listen first.

Wasn’t it a rare disease that even physicians couldn’t cure? Come to think of it, a long time ago, some physicians had told her to try inviting an expert from the Jianghu.

“U-um, could I ask you one thing?” “Ask away.” “How will the treatment…” Jin Cheong-un answered nonchalantly:

“There are many methods, but there is one that is the best and most certain.”

Then, he said with a confident face.

“You just need to train in martial arts.” “Martial arts… you say?” “Actually, the reason I came to Cherry Blossom Village is to open a martial arts academy. If you learn the martial arts I teach, waste products are discharged, your skin improves, and your mind becomes bright.”

I’ve seen this somewhere before. The tone of people who go around from village to village selling strange medicine was exactly like that.

“And, it’s a bit embarrassing to say with my own mouth, but actually, I was once a truly great expert that only those in the know knew about.” “……” “I wonder if you know of the Murim Alliance. I had sparring matches with the Alliance Leader there, ate meals together, I did it all. It means a person with that much ability is saying this, so you can trust me.” “……”

Silence flowed. Jeong So-so kept her mouth shut and sighed. Then.

“Now, since it’s better to be certain about everything, shall we write up a contract?” “Y-You…” “Thinking about it, will you become the number one trainee? Then I will specially offer tuition… why are you like that?” “Y-You! You swindler!!”

Her face turned as red as if it were about to burst from Jin Cheong-un’s continuous words.

“You!! Swindler!!”

It finally exploded.

The next day. Jin Cheong-un, who had headed out to the street early in the morning, glanced behind him.

“Why do you keep following me?”

Jeong So-so, who shuddered, laughed awkwardly.

“I, I thought you might need a guide…” “……”

Last night. Jeong So-so was able to resolve the misunderstanding after a calm conversation. Of course, it took about an hour and there was a bit of a commotion, but anyway, it seemed it had been a calm conversation. Honestly, she felt a bit aggrieved. Anyone would have thought he was a swindler. Still, seeing that he didn’t say anything after she apologized, he might be a person with a surprisingly broad heart…

“A swindler?” “……” “I don’t know why you’re following me when I’m such a swindler. What will you do if you get stabbed in the back?”

I guess not. He is petty.

“I said I was sorry…” “I got it, so go do your work. Do you think I’d get lost in my own hometown?” “You said you returned after a long time. What if you get lost? I’ll guide you because I feel sorry! No, please let me do it!!”

Jin Cheong-un turned his head quickly without replying.

He’s saying that, but it seems he’s calmed down…?

Jeong So-so felt secretly relieved. Even if there had been a minor misunderstanding, no matter how she looked at it, he didn’t seem like a bad person. Just this morning, he had woken up at the crack of dawn to check on her brother’s condition. Perhaps he was truly a person she could trust.

“Ask me anything! There isn’t anything in Cherry Blossom Village I don’t know!” “Really?” “Of course!” “Then, is there a place that sells alcohol around here?”

Jeong So-so hesitated.

“……That tavern probably opens even at this hour, but why would you want alcohol…”

Before she could finish her words, Jin Cheong-un went ahead and bought two bottles of alcohol.

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp.

“Ah, the taste of this alcohol is gooood.” “……” “So this is what daytime drinking tastes like. I didn’t know about something this good…”

Let’s wait a bit longer to see if he’s worthy of trust. The two walked for a while in silence. Jeong So-so, observing Jin Cheong-un’s expression, spoke carefully.

“By the way, I was surprised to hear you came here to open a martial arts academy.” “Why?” “Actually… I used to attend a martial arts academy too. Later, my family even ran one.”

Jeong So-so wore a wistful expression. It was an event from her childhood so vague in her memory, but she still only had happy memories when she thought of that time.

“In the past?” “When I was very young, all the trainees left. My father, who was a trainee at the time, remained and guarded the academy…”

Jeong So-so’s expression clouded over at that point, but soon she returned to a bright expression and continued:

“Anyway, it’s closed for a while now. I just do the cleaning occasionally.” “……” “Still, someday, after paying off all the debts and So-ryong’s health improves… I will revive the academy again.”

Jeong So-so clenched her fist.

“Actually, it’s not officially closed even now. It’s just that there are no trainees.” “Hmm.” “Why are you like that?” “If there are no trainees, isn’t it just a closed academy?” “No…”

Jeong So-so was speechless and just opened and closed her mouth. Meanwhile, Jin Cheong-un’s eyes narrowed before he knew it.

Were they partners?

He thought it was strange that there were only two kids at home, but it seemed they had their own circumstances.

“Is that why you learned external martial arts?” “You knew, after all.”

Jeong So-so chuckled bitterly.

“I barely remember it, though… Three years old? Four years old, maybe. It’s what I learned from the people who were trainees before the academy went under. They all cherished me so much.” “Hmm.”

When Jin Cheong-un made a nonchalant expression, Jeong So-so asked tentatively:

“Why are you like that?” “I was wondering if there was another reason you’re trying to guard the academy at that young age despite the family’s poor circumstances.”

Jeong So-so answered immediately.

“It’s my master’s lineage (Samun).” “……” “Is another reason necessary?”

Jin Cheong-un was speechless for a moment. Because it’s his master’s lineage. Right, that’s enough of a reason.

“I believe. That those who left will eventually return someday. Even if that’s not the case, I will raise it back up with my own hands.”

It was a voice upright for her age. However, Jeong So-so soon wore a bitter expression.

“It’s a bit funny, isn’t it? Our family is falling to ruin and I don’t even know martial arts well, yet I’m going to revive the academy.”

As she said that and looked back at Jin Cheong-un, she hesitated. In her eyes, she saw Jin Cheong-un with a serious expression she hadn’t seen before.

“It’s funny to you, even though I’m in a similar situation.” “Yes?” “Because I also came here trying to revive a ruined academy. You are better than me. I lived my life throwing all those things away.”

At the words carrying an unknowable remorse, Jeong So-so closed her mouth.

Does he have a story?

Anyway, opening the academy meant reviving it, not opening a new one? Is this what they call ‘sympathy of the same disease’? Suddenly, he felt like someone she knew well, familiar, and all that. Jeong So-so smiled brightly.

“Now that I see, it’s fascinating how we have many similar parts.” “That is indeed the case.”

Starting from losing the house and land, down to the academy—how could they be so similar? Jin Cheong-un and Jeong So-so chuckled.

“……” “……”

And almost simultaneously, they clamped their mouths shut. At that moment, the two were having the same thought.

Wait… isn’t this too similar?

A little later. The two stopped in front of a fork in the road.

“In the past, this used to be a single path…?” “See? I told you that you would need a guide, right? Tell me what you remember roughly, and I’ll tell you.” “It feels like it was at the edge of an uphill slope, and there was a path leading to the cliff behind the mountain… Ah, I think there was also a tavern a little further out.”

Jeong So-so hesitated.

“……The cliff behind the mountain?” “Why?” “Ah, it’s nothing. If it’s that direction, this will be the path.”

Following Jeong So-so’s guidance, Jin Cheong-un was able to get a feel for it very quickly.

“Ah. I know from here on.”

From that point on, Jin Cheong-un began to stride ahead confidently. However, Jeong So-so was greatly taken aback by his appearance.

“W-wait a minute. Why are you going that way?”

Jin Cheong-un tilted his head.

“Why am I going that way? What do you mean?” “Ah, no, that is…”

Jeong So-so said, looking greatly flustered.

“This path is… the direction where our academy is?”

“……?”