Clap, clap, clap, clap!
After Teacher Myung-jin finished the last performance, an overwhelming applause erupted. The children, having heard the news that the prayer meeting was coming to an end, wore somber faces, and Hyeok Gi-rin rushed over to comfort those kids.
I, too, approached the Masters.
“Thank you for your hard work, Masters.”
“Hahaha… no, it’s you who has worked hard, enduring all those long days and nights!”
The Masters had proud smiles on their faces. There was a sense of achievement, as if they had overcome a significant hurdle.
From the Masters’ perspective, this seemed entirely reasonable.
“Something… I feel like I haven’t burned with passion in a very long time.”
“Right. It really has been a long time.”
Masters nodded in agreement to one of their own’s remarks. There must be a certain sentiment felt only by the members of the Jeomchang Faction and those of their advanced age. The Masters looked fondly at the backs of their disciples as they returned to their lodgings.
Watching that scene, I felt something was off.
The Masters gently stroking their serene smiles and beards, the invigorated and joyful disciples, and even the slyly sneaking Black Cat in between them.
If this scene were a movie, it would surely flash the subtitle [–Fin-] at that moment.
But why does it already feel like it’s ending? Only half a month has passed!
The atmosphere needed a bit of refreshing.
“How was it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, the time spent with the children.”
“Hm…”
The Masters seemed to be lost in various thoughts. I hadn’t exactly expected an answer, so I smoothly continued speaking.
“Children are immediate, aren’t they?”
The Masters nodded.
“They see you all as friendly and approachable because you have changed.”
“That’s true.”
Through the prayer meeting, the Masters and the children had rapidly become closer. However, even without the prayer meeting, if the Masters had treated the children as they did now, they would have naturally gotten closer over time.
“We have only just begun to fasten the first button. The gap between you and the children has just shortened. Remember, the Masters said at the beginning that the children were simply to be left to play freely. That’s because you were looking from a distance.”
The Masters must have desperately wanted to care for the children. But various curtains blocked their way. The stance that the Masters must strictly discipline the children, the children’s fear of the powerful elders, and the awkwardness stemming from a lack of common ground were all realistic issues.
“When I first started staying with the Jeomchang Faction, the Masters were looking at the children from an even farther distance than I, an outsider. So I actually understood the children better than the Masters did.”
“Hm…”
“That might be a valid point.”
Seriousness filled the Masters’ eyes. I nodded inwardly, noticing their gaze. It seemed the Masters had noticed various things as they grew closer to the children.
“Now the Masters are closer to the children than I am. So now you must observe for yourselves.”
What I could teach them was technique, not education.
In fact, even without my interference, the children of the Jeomchang Faction would have grown well. The Masters had been sincere with their disciples, and sincerity always resonates.
Hyeok Gi-rin has grown like this, and even the resentful Miss Yeo Il-ye has embodied the teachings of Jeomchang. What’s there to say?
However, only an adult can understand the ways of adults.
What else could be done? Since a child cannot become an adult, adults must understand the hearts of children. I could only provide a means to approach the children; understanding their hearts was up to the Masters.
“Hmm.”
Magic was not a solution. It was merely a vehicle to enable an approach to the problems. Now, the Masters had approached the children and would soon face real issues.
Thus, I spoke to reinforce that point.
But did I speak too strongly? Dark clouds loomed over the Masters’ faces.
“Huh. This is tough. Just learning techniques is exhausting for my old bones, and now this is just the beginning.”
“Hey, why speak weakly! Wasn’t this all part of the deal!”
“Indeed. You weren’t thinking that everything would be solved just with the help of the Helpers!”
“Phew, I hope we can achieve something before embarking on the path of transformation.”
Cold sweat started forming behind my back. This was not the atmosphere I had wanted… Over the last two weeks, it seemed the Masters had been pushed to their limits, even if they hadn’t shown it.
Only now did I realize that the emotional toll on the Masters had been significant over the past eleven days.
In the competition program, many participants could be seen exhibiting unusual behavior or bursting into tears due to the stress of not being able to handle the tension.
Repeating the learning from the previous evening for eleven days straight. While I just casually assigned tasks and practiced my martial arts, the Masters must have had their own routines. They had been practicing on the side and receiving evaluations every day for nearly two weeks.
…This was my mistake. I had pushed the Masters, who were nearly burnt out, with my whip. It felt as though I had dealt the final blow that would make the Masters crumble.
The Masters’ shoulders sagged by at least two or three inches, and their beards looked a bit wilted!
“Ah, no! Masters! Haven’t you all worked hard to bring joy to the children up to now? The smiles of the children! Isn’t that the most precious thing?”
“Haha… that’s true, but…”
“Yes, it’s fortunate that the children enjoyed it, but…”
Suddenly, the atmosphere crashed down!
Cold sweat began to race down my back.
“Masters, you have done quite well so far. There’s no need to be disappointed. Your actions have surely become a lesson for your disciples!”
The Masters stared at me with indifferent gazes. Right, let’s start a parade of compliments to restore their spirits even just a little.
“What do you think the disciples will think upon seeing the Masters working so hard for the children? They will undoubtedly feel moved by your passion for the children, thus wanting to follow you even more!”
“Ahem. I suppose we have worked a bit hard?”
“Yes, considering your aged bodies have come this far, you’ve done well.”
Thinking about it, I had praised the children for their efforts but hadn’t praised the Masters for theirs. I had emphasized that children are also people but now realized that I hadn’t viewed the Masters as people myself.
With an average age estimated to be around 60-70 years, it felt dizzying to think about soothing these upset elders, but it was something I had to do.
Just then, Black Cat and Hyeok Gi-rin came back, bringing the children. The two, having seen me gesturing anxiously, approached with quick steps.
“Hyeok Gi-rin, Great Hero! What’s the reputation of the Masters among the disciples lately!?”
“Yes?”
Hyeok Gi-rin had a perplexed expression, unsure if he understood my signature blink.
“Of course, there are only positive things being said about the Masters. Some disciples were surprised by the sudden changes, but…”
“Ahem.”
“Cough, cough…”
These coughs were rather satisfying.
“Well then, Black Cat, what do you think?”
“Hm.”
Black Cat took a quick look at me and the Masters, then let out a snort as if to gauge the situation.
“I found it really nice to see the Masters actively trying to reach out to the children. As a judge, I have always admired that effort internally.”
“Ah!”
“Wow, this young lady is insightful!”
Regardless of age, compliments from a beauty can make even a whale dance. Seeing the Masters struggling to suppress their rising smiles, I let out a sigh of relief.
Now, all I had to do was say something that sounded profound, gather my strength, and from tomorrow onwards, instead of assignments, I’d start classes on theories and applications.
“The actions and efforts of the Masters held value in themselves. A gentleman draws the bow without releasing it. Even merely pulling the string demonstrates an appropriate attitude and behavior, making it so that capable individuals will learn to shoot arrows.”
I shifted my gaze from the Masters to point where the disciples had vanished.
“The leaders of the Nine Great Sects. The disciples of the Jeomchang Faction can undoubtedly be considered capable individuals. Just as your efforts and passion are akin to pulling the string, the disciples of Jeomchang must have understood your intentions and purpose, and learned to shoot arrows on their own.”
Ah, nailed it!
I only wrapped it up prettily, but none of it was a lie. With the Masters displaying such parental love, the disciples would surely learn for themselves, even if they hadn’t intended to! Even if a disciple had no significant interest in brotherly love, they couldn’t help but be affected by the Masters’ attitudes.
“So, if you show the disciples your determination to learn, they will mirror that intention of theirs to learn, leading to positive effects on the sect.”
“From tomorrow onwards, instead of assignments, I will discuss why such techniques can deceive people and the principles behind employing those movements. It will be more about understanding and cultivating applications rather than mere following.”
“It could be a lot more challenging for the Masters than it is now. Applying new knowledge and theories will surely not be easy.”
Having said that, I checked the mood behind me for a moment. Why was there no response? Was my bit of praise insufficient to lift them up? That couldn’t be…
Before turning my body, I subtly glanced at Black Cat and Hyeok Gi-rin. Both seemed fixated solely on the Masters.
“Masters?”
Sensing something was going awry, I swallowed hard and spun around.
The Masters were all holding their breath, staring fixedly at one person.
Master Un-jong.
Master Un-jong had his eyes barely open, constantly trembling. His slightly parted lips and bizarrely stiff expression.
This was like…. No, it wasn’t like anything.
Master Un-jong had entered a state of realization.
“Oh…!”
The words that had just flashed through my mind like lightning. Right, that was it.
As I said earlier, I was an ordinary person. A person who worked at an ordinary company, an ordinary veteran who has played a single game for ten years, and on my off days, I would watch ordinary YouTube videos.
How could someone like me deliver such eloquent phrases about the gentleman and the bow?
Where did I hear that?
Oh right… from the realization database.
“Junjae-in-ibul-bal (君子引而不發) Yagyeoreya (躍如也) Jungdo-ilip (中道而立) Neungja-jongji (能子從之).”
“Senior Ho…?”
Hyeok Gi-rin murmured as if bewitched. He, being well aware that I had provided enlightenment to Miss Yeo Il-ye, had now witnessed me provide the same to Master Un-jong.
As the reality dawned on the Masters that one of their fellow Masters had achieved realization, their gazes turned one by one towards me.
And here I was, sweating profusely under the weight of their collective gaze.
Only silence lingered in front of the Guest Hall.
