Surviving as a Cripple in Murim

60 – Regret, Exhaustion, and Awakening (8)

“Sima Gongja is my precious benefactor. If you want to learn, of course you have to let me know. But….”

As the words blur, Soso’s calm eyes darken.

“It’s not important… Can you tell us who ‘Yeomhwa’ is and what their relationship is like?”

“Yes? Chloride?”

“Yes. Chloride.”

I blinked at the completely unexpected question, but Soso’s expression was quite serious.

Emotions were visible beneath his normally calm face. I guess I was really curious.

… By the way, what is my relationship with Hwa-hwa?

Let’s look up at the sky with emotions that are complicated to explain because it’s an ordinary brother and sister relationship.

Through the floating clouds, I could see Yeom-hwa’s face. Precious memories come to mind.

After the Demonic Bridge attack incident, Mr. So, if you were training your muscles in the yard, when the training was over, Hwa-hwa would appear and bring you rice or snacks.

“Brother, you are marketable. Here is Khoresh Fesenjân, which is good for recovery.”

“… To? Ho, hohesh? What?”

“Exhibition against Horesh Fessen. It’s a stew made by boiling pomegranate concentrate, walnut powder, chicken, and other spices for about an hour (two hours).”

Could it be that authentic Persia has never been eaten in a previous life? Iran? I never expected to be able to eat traditional food at a Jungwon family home.

“Since it is a time-consuming dish, in my hometown it is prepared for special occasions or when valuable guests come.”

Certainly, it was not an easy dish to prepare as the ingredients were expensive, starting with pomegranates and spices.

“However, today is not a special day, nor is it a valuable guest. I’m sorry to eat something thinking that I must have worked hard in the kitchen to feed one person… ?!”

The warm stew, which is sweet and sour yet plain, is absolutely delicious and fills my mouth.

“Whoops~ You don’t have to think like that.”

Hwa-hwa, who covered the mouths of Mancheon by spoon-feeding him a stew full of love, confidently refuted his useless worries with a bright smile.

“Yes, to me, my brother is the most precious and precious person (husband) in the world.”

These are not empty words. To Hwa-hwa, Man-cheon was the most precious person who came to her bleak life.

In addition, isn’t it a married couple who pledged their love to each other under the peach tree?

For her beloved husband and older brother, this was not even a hardship.

“So, brother, all you have to do is enjoy it.”

Passing the warm stew down my throat, I look at the red eyes that only look at me. Smiles spontaneously

I gently stroked the hair of Yeo-hwa, who must have suffered from an answer to an absurdly cute logic that can only be said to be valid.

“Thank you, I will eat well.”

No more words were needed. After this, it was time to show it in action.

With a happy face, I ate and savored the dishes that Hwa-hwa had prepared for me.

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… And the stomach was full of traditional Persian full course dishes, including stew and dessert, and eventually raised the white flag.

“Whoa… Whoa… Chlorideya, too much food… It’s not Sima Mancheon, but Sima Manbok….”

Let’s show off our bloated belly as evidence.

Hwahwa covered her mouth with an elegant hand gesture and laughed. She placed her thin, white, pretty fingers on her chubby belly and gently stroked her.

“Whoa~ It’s okay. Even if you gain weight, you are still the most wonderful brother in the world. And… “

Suddenly, a dark shadow falls on Hwa-hwa’s face. Bewitching flames fluttered in her red eyes. She whispers her innermost thoughts quietly, almost inaudible.

“I don’t think it would be a bad idea to become a little round and cute to prevent the stray cats from getting entangled.”

I don’t know what it has to do with me being round and cute and being entangled by stray cats, but anyway, even after that, Hwa-hwa took care of my health and always cooked me delicious meals.

From preparing ingredients to cleaning. Cooking is not an easy job. He is truly a sweet and affectionate child.

… That’s why I stopped reminiscing about the past and introduced my lovely sister to Soso with a grateful heart.

“Yeomhwa is my precious little sister. And she always cooked for me.”

“… Yes? Rice?”

“Yes. He always cooked delicious dishes. Maybe that’s why these days, when I’m hungry, I think of Hwa-hwa’s face, not my mother.”

Soso’s head nodded quietly at Mancheon’s answer.

“I see… so… When I’m on an empty stomach after drinking alcohol in the morning… She was looking for chlorine… She’s not compared to Mamma….”

Contrary to her worries, the fact that Yeo-hwa wasn’t Man-cheon’s best friend, but her younger sister, So-so put her hand on her chest and let out a sigh of relief.

Soso, freed from the anxiety that started disturbing her mind in the morning, returned to her calm yet gentle face.

Despite being greedy, reminiscent of a beast, she smiled kindly, looking at her pure tan eyes.

“Sima Gongja, thank you for answering my question. Then, from now on, I will teach you how to apply your inner energy.”

In the first place, Sosoda borrowed even a hot spring to help Mancheon train. Regardless of what Hwa-hwa and Man-cheon were related to, she intended to teach him how to apply internal energy from the beginning.

… But that’s why she didn’t even realize why she dared to ask her question about ‘chlorine’ that could disturb her mind before she started her full-scale training.

Only 10,000,000 words are reflected in calm gray eyes that emanate cold.

In the heart of a girl who doesn’t know love, a feeling of exclusivity begins to sprout little by little.

***

Just as there are different names for martial arts, such as third-rate, first-rate, and peak, it is said that there are different words for light craftsmanship depending on the level of proficiency or performance.

The most basic stage is the first stage.

It literally means the level of running as if you are flying while stepping on blades of grass. Contrary to its grandiose name, it is a level where you just jump-jump-jump around using your inner energy.

It was also the stage I belonged to when I was currently practicing Jeonjin-gyo’s Gukbap Gyeonggong Geumangong (金雁功).

And the second step is no trace of the answer.

As the name implies, it means a level where no footprints are left in the snow even if you step on the snow and run.

In other words, in order for me to master the ideal ice-breaking field, which requires detailed control of the inner air, I naturally needed to get to the level of no trace of snow.

… And in order to reach the state of no trace of snow, you had to know how to use the cheongeunchu (千斤錘).

A wry smile naturally flows from inside.

What happened to this guy’s world of martial arts is waves-waves-there is no end.

… But what can I do?

Originally, those who are thirsty dig wells, and those who want to learn practice. And since there is no end, isn’t it always something new and fun?

From noble mtl dot com

Truly, martial arts is a long-term content that does not give you a chance to get bored.

“Young master Sima has a solid foundation and a well-built body. As long as he learns how to deal with internal energy, he will soon be able to reach the state of being unmarked.”

Looking at Soso, standing with one foot on a wooden board floating in the middle of a hot spring by reducing the weight of the body by applying internal energy.

The water in the hot spring was so calm that one couldn’t imagine standing on a board with one foot.

It was the result of applying the Cheongeunchu (千斤錘), which increases the weight of the body, in reverse.

Anyway, it is important to think about martial arts training with your head, but you have to experience it with your body to get a feel for it.

As Soso taught me, I applied my inner strength and stood tall on the wooden board.

… I slipped and looked up at the clear sky and soaked myself in the warm hot spring.

It was a monumental first acquisition to publicize the theory class of the ideal digging field with Soso during the day and Wang Miyang at night.

***

It’s the third day since I started training in earnest.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been steadily training the basic skills that my teacher taught me when I was young. As Suso expected, it was a little clumsy, but it quickly reached the stage of being without a trace.

The problem is that I haven’t been able to successfully dig out the ice rink even once.

When it comes to mountain climbing, it feels like you lost your stamina on the steep uphill right before the summit and got stuck.

I think I just need to work harder. It doesn’t work out. Frustrated.

In particular, I feel impatient as I have to finish recuperation soon and start again as Murimmaeng.

Let’s wait on the first floor of the inn for my little master, Wang Mi-yang, who went out with this thought in mind.

Suddenly, Soso came up to me and started talking to me.

“Gongja Sima, actually, I’m going to meet my relative and brother here, so I’ll come and pick you up for a while.”

“Yes, please be careful. But if he’s a relative, is he also Namgung?”

I asked because I was concerned because I knew that some of the leaders of the Namgung family were targeting Soso because of the last assassination case.

Soso shook her head with a wry smile as if she understood my intentions.

“No. This is my mother, the child of my mother’s side. Then we’ll be gone for a while.”

Actually, Soso wanted to have a more private conversation with Mancheon, but her cousin, the princess of the North Sea Ice Palace, did not know what kind of accident would happen, so she quickly went out to meet her.

… And unfortunately, the moment Soso left the inn and headed towards the village gate.

Snow-white hair and skin. A beautiful girl with sparkling gold eyes and a strange resemblance to Soso entered the inn, accompanied by an attendant and escort.

***

“I, Bingryong’s younger brother, Seolbong, Seowolhwa, came to see me specially! Hurry up and show yourself, Sword Dragon!!”

All eyes were focused on Wolha at the bold voice that resonated in the inn, but her cousin, Geomryong Namgung Soso, was nowhere to be seen.

“Where are you really supposed to meet here!”

“It seems that the roads have crossed paths. I’ll send an attendant to find it. Please sit down and wait.”

Excited at the thought of meeting Soso, Wol-hwa grumbled and annoyed, but since there was no other way, she sat down at a suitable seat and ordered refreshments.

In this situation, the attendants changed the topic of conversation by throwing a bait to prevent sparks from setting on them.

“My lady, let’s listen. It is said that Jegal and that monster also arrived at the Murim League to participate in this Yongbong Branch.”

“Hey! Feel free to participate! If you get caught by my older brother, you will only become such a monster frozen lizard!!”

I wish it had ended here.

The attendants even brought up the story of Gwahae’s birth story with a very light heart of killing time and made it a gossip.

Maybe it was because he talked too loudly as a result.

A man with tawny eyes reminiscent of a beast pulled out of his chair and stood up slowly.

The man went straight to the table where Wol-Hwa and his party were gathered while limping his right leg.

He revealed his name and purpose very calmly.

“My name is Sima Manchuan. And you insulted my woman Choose to apologize or-

Whatever the reason, starting a fight is reckless. It’s stupid.

… But in the first place, I am not a wise person.

A cute disciple who won’t hurt even if you put it in your eyes is openly insulted, but he’s not good at calculating back and forth.

That’s why I resolve to fight first.

“Should we stop talking and fight?”

His left arm, which had been bitten by Gwahae, is aching and he pushes away the emptiness of his right hand.

It was time to return to the genius who deceived even the heavens, Moorim’s Shanks, Sima Mancheon.