"Are you alright?"
"Yes. Cough! I'm fine."
"Are you really fine?"
"I'm really fine. Cough! Cough!"
"You don't look fine..."
Hyun Jong's face twisted slightly as he looked at Cheong Myung.
The state of Cheong Myung sitting in front of him was pitiful.
His skin was pale and his face was gaunt.
'How poor is his health?'
No matter how one looked at it, he seemed on the verge of starvation.
Anyone who saw him would surely spit and curse, asking if the disciples were not even feeding him porridge.
'He didn't look like this when he first arrived.'
Hyun Jong turned his head with a subtle expression and asked Unam, "What did the Medical Hall say?"
"They said his vital energy is damaged."
"Vital energy?"
"Yes. They said excessive training has damaged his vital energy and that he needs to restore it."
"Ah!"
Hyun Jong looked at Cheong Myung with eyes full of emotion.
"You fool. How could you train to the point of damaging your vital energy? Why would you do something so foolish?"
'That's not it.'
Cheong Myung hadn't been able to train properly since climbing the volcano.
What kind of training was he talking about? Of course, the Medical Hall could only say that.
It was true that his vital energy was damaged, and it was also true that his body was in poor condition.
How could anyone imagine that a newly initiated disciple would exhaust his vital energy by drawing on innate energy? Even if the legendary Hua Tuo were sitting in the Medical Hall, that wouldn't be the answer.
A strange misunderstanding had arisen, but at times like this, one should answer honestly.
"I'm sorry, Sect Leader. In my eagerness to learn the martial arts of the volcano as quickly as possible..."
"Ah, you are indeed eager. Truly eager."
The Sect Leader nodded repeatedly, seeming to be very pleased with Cheong Myung.
Cheong Myung was not lying.
His heart was sincere!
"Rushing to eat can cause indigestion. If your body is damaged, what can you do?"
"I will be more careful."
"That's right, that's right."
Hyun Jong smiled contentedly.
The child before him was truly a blessing for the volcano.
He was like a fortune that had rolled in.
How could he not be lovely?
"By the way, do you enjoy tea?"
"I don't particularly enjoy it."
Cheong Myung shrugged.
'If it were alcohol, that would be different.'
Tea was too bland for Cheong Myung's taste.
Unlike alcohol, which stimulated the throat, tea was merely water that tasted like grass.
The Sect Leader had said that someone like Cheong Myung was not fit to become a Taoist, but what could he do about his taste?
'Is there a rule that the Sect Leader of the volcano must enjoy tea?'
The previous Sect Leader had been deeply knowledgeable about tea ceremonies.
And in Cheong Myung's eyes, the current Sect Leader's tea-making skills were not ordinary.
The Sect Leader presented the carefully brewed tea to Cheong Myung.
Cheong Myung accepted the tea with both hands.
"Though it's a pity you don't enjoy it, this is tea brewed with sincerity, so do taste it."
"Yes."
Without savoring the aroma or anything, Cheong Myung gulped down the tea in one go.
"..."
Originally, tea was meant to be enjoyed for its fragrance, but to Cheong Myung, it seemed to hold no more meaning than hot water.
Hyun Jong, watching with a regretful expression, asked as soon as Cheong Myung set down the cup.
"How is it?"
"It's tea."
"..."
A subtle disappointment flickered across Hyun Jong's stern face, but Cheong Myung was simply being honest, as befits a Taoist.
"Ahem. Yes."
Clearing his throat to dispel the awkwardness, Hyun Jong softened his expression again.
"The reason I called you back is to commend you for this matter. Thanks to you, the volcano has escaped from crisis. You did well."
"I didn't do anything."
"How could you say you did nothing? If it weren't for you, we would be sitting on the streets by now."
"I just happened to pass by and accidentally got my foot caught in the box."
"Haha, just a coincidence."
Hyun Jong shook his head quietly.
"There is no such thing as coincidence in this world. Everything is merely the result of connections."
Cheong Myung nodded quietly.
Though it was just a casual remark, Hyun Jong's words struck a chord.
'He can be sharp like that sometimes.'
"Isn't that right, Unam?"
"Yes, Sect Leader. And even if all of this was created by coincidence, the merit that caused that coincidence is not small. Moreover, since you reported it to the Sect Leader without being greedy for wealth, how can that merit be considered small?"
"That's right, that's right."
Hyun Jong stroked his beard repeatedly, looking pleased.
"Now then."
He looked at Cheong Myung with warm eyes.
"It is only natural to reward those who have made contributions. The volcano wishes to reward you. That is why I called you."
"You said reward?"
"Yes. Is there something you desire?"
Cheong Myung fell into slight contemplation.
Something he desires?
It would be a lie to say he felt no regret in passing up such wealth.
If he needed wealth, he would give him an appropriate amount.
"I don't need wealth."
"Mm?"
Hyun Jong widened his eyes slightly.
"You said you don't need wealth?"
"Yes. Since the volcano provides food and clothing, what would I do with wealth? I have no use for it in this mountain."
"Hahaha. Yes, that's true."
Hyun Jong smiled.
'He truly is a Taoist.'
No matter how much one claims to have no use for wealth, it is not easy to let go of greed.
Though he may not need money now, it doesn't mean he won't need it in the future.
He didn't seem like a child who couldn't foresee such matters, yet seeing him refuse wealth, he was a child practicing non-greed.
He was a vessel to hold the Tao.
However, Cheong Myung's inner thoughts were entirely different from Hyun Jong's warm interpretation.
'How much would that even be worth?'
The secret vault of the Sect Leader.
Now, it was not the vault of the volcano's Sect Leader, but rather a vault filled with an amount of wealth that would make Hyun Jong faint if he saw it.
Cheong Myung was already the richest person in the highest realm of harmony.
He didn't need to accept the small change offered as a reward by the poor Sect Leader.
"Then what is it that you desire? I could allow you to learn the martial arts of the volcano ahead of time, which you are not yet qualified to learn."
"The martial arts are fine too."
"…Huh? You are fine with that too?"
"Yes."
"Do you have no intention of learning the martial arts?"
Cheong Myung shook his head again.
"That's not it. I believe there is a reason why the sages of the volcano have designated the martial arts to be learned according to one's generation."
Hyun Jong's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Yes. Earlier, you mentioned that rushing to eat can cause indigestion."
"Indeed."
"I think the same applies to martial arts. I will learn what is suitable for my level and progress steadily, even if slowly."
"Yes. That's right. What you say is truly correct."
Hyun Jong nodded repeatedly.
The more they talked, the more he liked him.
This young child seemed to understand what the Tao was and what the natural order was.
'Where did such talent come from?'
Hyun Jong, unable to hide his delight, was smiling broadly, but of course, Cheong Myung's thoughts were entirely different.
'I should be the one giving you martial arts, you fool!'
Cheong Myung had been troubled about how to pass on the other martial arts aside from the ones he had just transmitted.
It would have been easier if he could just give them all at once.
But the human heart is strange; if you give a golden statue and a silver statue at the same time, the value of the silver statue diminishes.
If he were to give the Twenty-Four Water and Flower Sword Technique and the Seven-Mai Sword at the same time, who would want to learn the Seven-Mai Sword? As Hyun Jong said, rushing to eat can cause indigestion.
'To think I have to worry about such details.'
Sect Leader, I was wrong.
I apologize for listening to your nagging with one ear and letting it flow out the other.
I should have realized how much you were struggling back then.
Seeing things from the perspective of the Sect Leader, I can understand how difficult it must have been for Cheong Mun, who was the previous Sect Leader.
And much of that hardship must have fallen on Cheong Myung.
I should have listened better.
Though it is difficult to atone for Cheong Mun, who has already passed, I must do well by the current Sect Leader.
"Your lack of greed is truly commendable, but it is somewhat troublesome for me right now. So, is there nothing you particularly need?"
'What is needed?'
What could the volcano, which only has a name left, offer Cheong Myung?
After pondering, Cheong Myung spoke up.
"First, if I could secure a certain degree of freedom in my personal affairs, it would broaden my range of movement. That is more urgent than anything else."
"Sect Leader, I will not be lazy in learning the martial arts."
"I can tell just by looking at you."
"..."
Clearing his throat softly, Cheong Myung continued.
"However, I believe that simply learning martial arts within this pure Taoist temple has its limits. I would like to see the wider world from time to time. Please allow me to go down to the realm of harmony whenever I wish."
"Hmm."
Hyun Jong slightly narrowed his brows.
"I understand your intention, but that goes against the rules of the volcano. Your contributions are sufficient, but I worry that it may cause dissatisfaction among others due to issues of fairness. Let's think about that."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"Is there nothing else?"
Cheong Myung, who had been contemplating, suddenly brightened his eyes.
"Sect Leader!"
"Hmm?"
"As you can see, my body is not well."
"Yes, I can see that."
"According to the Medical Hall, my vital energy is damaged."
"Yes, I know."
"So, I was wondering if you could grant me a spirit pill?"
"... A spirit pill?"
"Yes. The spirit pill of the volcano. Usually, sects have one of those, right?"
Hyun Jong burst into laughter.
"Hahaha. So you need a spirit pill. Yes, a spirit pill is good. What could be better than that for replenishing your body?"
"Yes! That's right!"
"Hahaha. Yes, a spirit pill. Since you have made contributions, you are indeed worthy of receiving a spirit pill. Now then... Hmm..."
Hyun Jong glanced at Cheong Myung.
Then, in a deliberately gentle voice, he said,
"Did you not say you wanted to go down to the realm of harmony from time to time?"
"... Yes?"
"Of course, it goes against the rules, but considering your contributions, I can grant you that request. Unam, listen."
"Yes, Sect Leader!"
"By the name of the Volcano Sect Leader, I hereby allow Cheong Myung to go down to the realm of harmony without needing anyone else's permission."
"Yes!"
"However, Cheong Myung must not leave the realm of harmony and must bear full responsibility for everything that occurs in the realm of harmony. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I understand. But..."
Cheong Myung tilted his head.
"What about the spirit pill?"
"Also, when going down to the realm of harmony, it must not interfere with your training."
"..."
"Hahaha. Well then, you may go now."
"Ah, no, Sect Leader. The spirit pill..."
"I have high hopes for you. So keep striving diligently."
"... Yes."
"Take care, Sect Leader."
As Cheong Myung bowed his head and trudged out, Hyun Jong smiled broadly.
'I don't even have a spirit pill to eat, you rascal!'
Better to suffer than to die.