Mistaken for a Fairy
ch16

[To Teach Properly (3)]

The small table was so crowded that there was barely any space for the three of them. So why were they all sitting there?

Seo-yeon believed it was impolite to stand alone while hosting guests, and Hwa-ryeon, noticing Seo-yeon sitting, followed suit out of deference.

"The food is excellent. Especially the seasoned vegetables, they are exceptionally crisp and delicious. Did you prepare this yourself, Benefactor?"

Seo-yeon replied, "I prepare the simple vegetable dishes myself."

"How do you usually eat? I'm asking if you abstain from meat."

"If fish comes into the market, I sometimes cook it. I even had meat yesterday."

"Thank you for your consideration."

The Abbot picked up a blanched pumpkin leaf and wrapped it around rice and vegetables. It could have appeared gluttonous to some, but the Abbot ate politely without a single grain of rice sticking to his face. Considering he was blind, it was a remarkable feat.

"It may sound like a platitude, but it's truly delicious."

"Would you like more?"

"I would be grateful if you did."

After glancing around for a moment, Hwa-ryeon quietly got up and disappeared into the kitchen, intending to bring more pumpkin leaves. Meanwhile, Seo-yeon scooped a generous half-moon of rice.

The Abbot, having received his bowl again, spoke, "Benefactor, you haven't been teaching your disciple for very long, have you?"

"It's been a little over seven days and nights."

"I feel ashamed, as if I'm showing off my meager skills before an expert, but the young Benefactor reminds me of my disciple when he was young, which is why I said it."

Seo-yeon welcomed it. "I would gladly listen to any advice."

The Abbot burst into hearty laughter for a moment. "This is the first time in my life I've felt so ashamed of myself. Hahaha."

After composing himself, the Abbot added earnestly, "Please don't take this as a joke, and listen carefully."

Seo-yeon replied calmly, "Of course."

Seo-yeon was sincere, and the Abbot smiled again. It seemed the Abbot had a habit of smiling whenever he felt embarrassed.

"Since the time of Bodhidharma, Shaolin's martial arts have continued for a thousand years. The Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin, the Eighteen Hands of the Innate Arhat, the Shaolin Five Fists... countless martial arts that have been passed down since then have not been forgotten, but have been passed down from disciple to disciple, maintaining their lineage. But could that have been possible through oral transmission alone?"

"It would be difficult, I imagine."

"That's right. I don't know what the Benefactor is teaching, but when teaching someone, a single line of text can be better than a hundred words spoken."

Seo-yeon nodded.

Indeed, a cultivating high priest was different. It was as if he could read the deep worries in her heart even with his unseen eyes, and she couldn't help but admire his insight.

Soon, the Abbot asked, "You attained enlightenment through self-study, didn't you?"

"Yes." Seo-yeon replied briefly. The thought that he could see through her inner thoughts made her enjoy the question and answer, and she eagerly wanted to hear the next answer.

"Then it would be good to write a book. Without the help of others, you yourself."

"Why is that?"

This time, the Abbot paused. It was just a question for Seo-yeon, but the Abbot pondered the answer for a long time, as if he were being evaluated by someone. Finally, the Abbot, who had been deep in thought, opened his mouth.

"Those who compile, improve, and advance existing martial arts to create new martial arts that can be learned in a sect are called Grand Masters. These people are undoubtedly worthy of being called geniuses, but it is difficult to see them as standing entirely alone, because they have not deviated from the main stream of martial arts. However, the founders of a sect are different. These are people who have created something new from complete nothingness, without any sect, power, or anything else. Bodhidharma of Shaolin and Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang are examples. Their enlightenment comes from a completely different world from the existing ones, so unless you are the person involved, you cannot fully understand the meaning contained within."

The Abbot, catching his breath, said, "I think the Benefactor's teachings are no different. Because you created it yourself from beginning to end, if you borrow the hands of others, its meaning will surely be diminished."

Seo-yeon was speechless, because no matter how many times she pondered the answer, there was nothing wrong with it.

"This is my answer. How was it?"

"I think it's the correct answer."

"I'm glad to hear that. I'm relieved."

The Abbot nodded as if he was truly relieved, then turned his gaze to Hwa-ryeon, who had returned with the pumpkin leaves.

Seo-yeon and the Abbot laughed simultaneously, seeing that she had been watching the conversation and only came out when it was over.

"Young Benefactor, sit here too." The Abbot patted the spot next to him. From the start, the small table barely had any space, so there was no such thing as a next seat. No matter where she sat, she would be squeezed between Seo-yeon and the Abbot.

Hwa-ryeon hesitated, then knelt down and sat neatly.

The Abbot said to Hwa-ryeon, "The path the young Benefactor is about to take will be very difficult and arduous. You may not even be able to cross the first threshold even if you try your whole life."

Hwa-ryeon replied with a determined expression, "I am aware of that."

"There are many who simply teach what they know, but there are not many teachers who truly contemplate and strive to impart something better than themselves. In that sense, the young Benefactor can be said to have met a truly good teacher."

"Yes."

This time, the Abbot gazed at Seo-yeon. "You are also fortunate. You have a disciple who not only respects her teacher, but also has outstanding intelligence, and is not content with simply learning, but also tries to understand her teacher's intentions."

The Abbot said that and quietly stared at Seo-yeon. His glassy eyes seemed to be asking if his words were without a single flaw.

Seo-yeon nodded as if in answer to that question.

Hwa-ryeon...

"..."

She was just silently listening to the conversation between the two. Having lived as the Great Maiden of the Mount Mao Sect, she had met quite a few people in high positions, but this was the first time she had ever been in such an uncomfortable and suffocating situation.

She felt as if she was swallowing sharp thorns down her throat every time she swallowed.

From the moment she heard the news that the Abbot had come, all sorts of thoughts flashed through her mind. The incident of chasing away the Four Great Vajras kept coming to her mind, to the point where she felt dizzy.

Judging from the way the atmosphere was flowing, it didn't seem like she would be interrogated, but she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

It was the same right now. Every time the Abbot's gaze reached her, Hwa-ryeon's body flinched involuntarily.

"Young Benefactor."

Hwa-ryeon couldn't answer right away, because she bit her tongue without realizing it due to extreme tension.

"Yes."

"Don't take the past too much to heart. Life is inherently unpredictable. Your actions have led to this connection, so I would rather express my gratitude to the young Benefactor."

Hwa-ryeon barely managed to answer, "Yes."

After finishing his meal, the Abbot got up and bid farewell to Seo-yeon.

"I really enjoyed the meal. I don't think I'll ever forget the conversation we had today. I'll be sure to treat you to a great meal someday."

"Please come to eat often."

"I will."

The Abbot was smiling as he said that.

Seo-yeon naturally intended to escort the Abbot down the mountain, but Hwa-ryeon insisted that she would go, so in the end, the three of them decided to go together.

Seo-yeon held Hwa-ryeon's hand with her right hand, and let the Abbot hold onto the hem of her left sleeve.

Seo-yeon initially tried to walk side by side, but the three people's paces didn't match, so she ended up taking the lead. Somehow, she ended up leading the two of them.

Naturally, the Abbot and Hwa-ryeon walked while looking at Seo-yeon's back.

Hwa-ryeon looked up at Seo-yeon's back and followed her footsteps exactly, and the Abbot walked his own path with Seo-yeon as his horizon.

It was a truly beautiful sight.

The Abbot, having come down from the mountain, took a deep breath. Only silence lingered in the remaining distance.

After catching his breath, a monk with a sturdy physique was slowly approaching from the front.

The Abbot raised his head and gazed in the direction of the monk with his unseen eyes.

"Mu-yul."

"Yes."

"I clearly said I would go alone, so why are you out here waiting?"

Mu-yul lowered his head with a troubled expression. "I'm sorry. It seemed too late, so I unconsciously..."

"Disciple."

"Speak, Master."

"You disobeyed your master, so I must punish you accordingly. Carry me on your back."

"Understood."

Mu-yul approached without hesitation and carried the Abbot on his back. Mu-yul was a strong man who could easily lift rocks weighing over two hundred pounds. Therefore, Mu-yul knew that this was not a punishment, but his master's own expression of deep affection.

Of course, Mu-yul was a naturally taciturn man, so instead of showing it, he silently used his qinggong(lightness skill) for a long time.

After running like that for a while, the Abbot said in a subdued tone, "Mu-yul, have you been practicing diligently lately?"

"I'm feeling a wall and wandering around."

"How were you planning to overcome the wall? Did you find a way?"

"This is the first time this has happened, so I don't know. I was going to practice to the best of my ability, worry day and night, and if I still couldn't see an answer, then I would go to Master and ask for guidance."

Hearing those words, the Abbot said in a voice that seemed deep in thought, "Today, I met a girl about your age. I have no expertise in divination, but I knew that the girl's level was by no means low. And that girl was preparing to give up the path she had been walking and walk a completely new path. Even though she had no confidence that she would succeed. Would you be able to do that?"

It was the story of Hwa-ryeon.

Mu-yul was lost in thought for a moment. He had mastered all seventy-two arts of Shaolin, so he was not bound by the type of weapon. This meant that he could continue fighting without any problem even if he used a staff and then picked up a sword. So, a new path here would mean a path completely separate from martial arts.

"I don't know."

"I thought that I had never failed to put my heart and soul into teaching you, but after seeing the teacher of that girl I met today, I finally realized that I couldn't confidently answer the question of whether I had put my heart and soul into giving you that much confidence."

"Who did you meet on Daesil Mountain?"

"Look with your own eyes when you have time later. I've already gotten permission, so keep that in mind."

"Yes."

"Mu-yul, you are exceptionally talented. Your memory is also extraordinary, your analytical skills to see through things and your understanding to grasp the truth are also deep, and above all, your ability to handle your body can be said to be the best in the world. There are only a handful of martial artists in this era who have as much talent as you. But originally, when you practice martial arts, everyone is bound to face a huge wall. Then, naturally, anxiety begins to sprout. 'Is the path I've been walking so far correct? Will I never be able to overcome this wall?' That kind of anxiety."

"Yes."

"But that girl won't be like that, because she made an even greater decision from the start. How can someone who has once let go of everything despair when they encounter a wall? You may be stronger right now, but you never know what will happen in two or three years. In the end, the most important thing is your mindset."

Mu-yul had already reached the Abbot's room in Shaolin.

The Abbot got off Mu-yul's back.

"Mu-yul, you have a long way to go."

Those words were directed at Mu-yul, but they were also directed at the Abbot himself. Mu-yul knew the inner meaning of those words, so he nodded obediently and listened attentively.

"I am going into Seclusion for a few days. I would appreciate it if you could explain it to the heads of each hall yourself."

"Yes."

"If you have any questions during Seclusion, ask the heads of each hall, and if that doesn't solve it, go to Daesil Mountain. If you state my name and make a polite request, you will be allowed to enter."

"Yes, I will do that."

"Okay. This incompetent teacher will work hard, so the disciple should leave now."

Mu-yul bowed to the Abbot.

"This incompetent disciple will also leave now."

"Okay."

As soon as Mu-yul stood up, he immediately headed to the Mind Cultivation Hall to calm his disturbed mind by chanting Buddhist scriptures. The Abbot watched Mu-yul's back with a benevolent smile. Soon, he also quietly entered the room.