“Wow wow wow!!”
“Teacher, you’re amazing!!”
The kids’ reactions were more explosive than I expected.
“Hmm…”
Was it because of the special effects using Qi? Or was it due to the fact that other teachers could hold a prayer meeting too? I can’t fully grasp the kids’ psychology after all.
Still, it was true that they were responding much more enthusiastically compared to yesterday.
“Today is way more amazing than Teacher Yeong-yul!”
“The magical techniques are so beautiful!”
…Teacher Un-gyeong was grinning widely, while the other teachers were grimacing, replaying their defeat in their minds. Even Teacher Yeong-yul, who had enjoyed immense popularity yesterday, couldn’t keep a straight face in this situation!
The kids were that thrilled by Teacher Un-gyeong’s performance. They cheered every time Qi splashed from the bowl! It even felt like the disappearing Tang Clan was a second thought in their minds.
“Ah! Cheonghae! Seeing the Tang Clan disappear, it seems you didn’t follow through with the points you promised to fix!”
“…Eeh… Teacher! I’m really really trying! I just forgot for a moment yesterday…”
“Ah, Cheonghae. Still, a mistake is a mistake. Apologize to the Holy One and say you’ll work hard again.”
“I’m sorry, Holy One! I really won’t forget starting tomorrow!”
The kids were being quite honest. Aren’t children people too? We’re all basically the same. If acting honestly doesn’t lead to harm, they won’t bother lying.
Right now, it does feel like too much Tang Geun is being distributed, but even as kids, they must have lived tightly as part of the Daoist Sect, so maybe it’s fine for them to loosen up a bit in return?
Watching the kids, I started to understand them little by little.
I think I understand why they reacted so explosively today. After all, today’s performance involved the application of Martial Arts. Magic might be interesting to the kids, but it only provokes momentary interest.
But what about Martial Arts? It’s the kids’ goal and dream. For a child who dreams of being a soccer player, watching soccer videos would be a much more engaging choice than magic videos.
As kids practicing Martial Arts, they were thrilled with the performances utilizing Qi. Simply put, splendid Martial Arts appeal to these kids more than magical tricks.
I thought about tomorrow’s theme.
Kids can be cruel. They never say boring things are fun. Even if the teachers were to learn my gambling techniques from now on, how long would it take them to master a show just with craftsmanship?
Since I have to put on a performance right away, it seemed like a good idea to mix the teachers’ Martial Arts… it might actually work better than I thought.
Upon further reflection, this isn’t a gambling den. In a gambling den, using internal energy and applying Martial Arts skills could get your hands chopped off, but this is just a performance after all.
To create an eye-catching spectacle, maybe mixing in Martial Arts is the right direction?
That idea might not be bad. All sorts of inspirations were rushing through my head.
What triggers people’s interest are glamor and surprise. What if surprise is created through sleight of hand and glamor is expressed through Martial Arts?
It would surely give rise to a spectacular performance.
Moving forward, the teachers’ themes should be more based on Martial Arts while incorporating craftsmanship to emphasize key points.
Honestly, I felt a bit guilty about teaching the teachers gambling techniques, but let’s take this opportunity to brainstorm some directing skills.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. It was amusing to think that I started a magic show just to encourage the kids to train hard in Martial Arts, and now I was having these thoughts. But hey, the kids are cute, what can I say?
I wondered if the enthusiastic teachers even realized that this situation stemmed from the children’s education.
“By the way, teachers, you do realize this is entirely part of the education, right? We’re not doing this for popularity!”
“Ahem, ahem! What do you mean? It’s education since the kids are that happy!”
“Of course! We strive to see the kids happy!”
Seeing the teachers looking startled, I felt like saying something more, but what does it matter? The kids look happy, and so do the teachers.
The only one not enjoying the moment was Hyeok Gi-rin, whose innocent joy was clearly shattered.
From tomorrow, it seems I’ll be judging along with the Black Cat.
*
Time flew by quickly.
It has been 11 days since I started teaching techniques at the teachers’ request. In that time, the teachers either despaired or rejoiced, competing to determine their order while each of them made progress.
Their competition tasks mainly involved mixing Martial Arts and craftsmanship.
For example, the third topic, juggling—no, throwing beanbags. Just while doing regular juggling, one of the beanbags turns into a Tang Clan candy, or during the act, the Tang Clan disappears—that’s the magic.
I also devoted myself to my Martial Arts while teaching the teachers.
The teachers were putting in effort, I was teaching, the kids were happy, and even Hyeok Gi-rin was enjoying it as a bonus.
But of course, all fun must come to an end. From today, the prayer meetings would come to a close.
Well, it was only natural. The whole setting of communicating with the Holy One through extraordinary powers was merely a facade I had to use to impart lessons to the kids.
The prayer meeting itself wouldn’t be abolished.
The parts to be cut from the prayer meetings would be trimmed, allowing only the suitable parts to be absorbed from the Jeomchang.
They would have taken in elements like praising good behavior, pointing out wrongs, and confirming if the child truly regretted and improved those wrongs.
Since the teachers could now frequently present things that could entertain the kids, there was no reason to keep the kids tied up at this late hour with the prayer meeting format.
The reality also included the point that the teachers couldn’t be solely devoted to performances while constantly robbing the kids of their free time.
The final performance to wrap things up would be performed by Teacher Myung-jin, who had the last turn.
“Wow..!”
“Amazing!”
Today’s performance was like a culmination of the previous ten shows. Even so, it didn’t lack in fun, thanks to the teachers’ efforts shining over the past 11 days.
The teachers had constantly evolved their performances, and since today was the day of that effort’s grand reveal, even if the same content was presented, the quality was different.
For instance, the movements for the formations became more intricate, and the special effects that came when they overturned the bowls, along with the teachers’ acting, were distinctly different from previous performances. The patterns for throwing beanbags had become unimaginably diverse. The added flair of additional movements such as cross-throws, left-right throws, and kick throws made it markedly different from the old shows.
The kids enjoyed the performance developed by the teachers’ hard work and sweat, happily munching on Tang Clan candies.
Hyeok Gi-rin watched the scene, smiling contentedly.
“Ha ha, the Jeomchang Faction has become quite lively.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. As an outsider, Senior Ho wouldn’t know, but the distance between the teachers and the kids has also become closer, leading to many positive effects. The teachers’ feelings towards the kids were not lacking, but they had been living as Taoists for their entire lives. They couldn’t help but come off a bit stiff.”
Well, that makes sense. Kids would find it hard to see stern Taoist teachers as friendly figures.
“Today is the last prayer meeting.”
Hyeok Gi-rin was one of the few who openly enjoyed the prayer meetings. It seemed he felt a hint of sadness at the end of this performance.
But still, everything has its end.
“A festival can’t last forever now, can it?”
“…A festival, yes, I see. This could have been a festival just for the Jeomchang Faction.”
Hyeok Gi-rin lingered, observing not only the kids and teachers, but also other disciples. Every day, as the teachers flocked to the guest hall and the kids cheered, other disciples began to show interest too… recently, quite a number of them had gathered.
Familiar disciples like Chang-min and others who were training their stamina, as well as quite a few adult disciples were watching this performance.
“I might need to propose a festival in the name of the Grand Disciples. I’ve never felt the Jeomchang Faction was lacking, but today is genuinely enjoyable.”
With a motherly smile, I glanced at Hyeok Gi-rin as he watched the scene of teachers, kids, and disciples mingling together. Sometimes he appeared as a child, other times he exuded a chilling authority, looking after others and rejoicing when they found happiness.
“The belief that a festival must be splendid might have been my fixed idea. Even without countless lanterns, dazzling fireworks, or alcohol and meat, it’s still possible to have such fun.”
“Perhaps so.”
I momentarily eyed the Black Cat, who was nestled among the kids. The Black Cat was immensely popular with the kids. Well… thinking back, the so-called pretty sister, the Black Cat, was being tugged along by the hands of the little girls, giggling together while watching the performance.
“Thank you, Senior Ho.”
“Not at all. It’s just that what I enjoyed has grown this big.”
Hyeok Gi-rin smiled broadly.
“Ha ha, I came to the Jeomchang to repay my kindness, but it seems I’ve been the one receiving kindness instead. I might end up having to keep you at Jeomchang for a lifetime.”
“Hahaha. You’re making it sound like a farewell, which feels awkward.”
Hyeok Gi-rin looked flustered.
“Right. We’ll see each other again tomorrow, but I guess I got too sentimental.”
“Well, it’s just the end of a chapter.”
There are things that change but some that remain the same. I will continue to impart skills to the teachers, and I will also learn Martial Arts. I’ll likely meet Hyeok Gi-rin and the Black Cat for various conversations every lunch and dinner at the Chaesun Hall.
Life will go on.
