Episode 16. Crane’s Song2013.10.26.
‘hmm.’
Sonbin was worried. In this situation, would it be okay to bring the sword to the old master?
‘Maybe suddenly… … .’
I thought that Nodosa might take him hostage.
Of course, it didn’t seem like that impression at all. In any case, there was only one person who could come to a conclusion on this matter, so Son Bin looked at Sajahyeok.
However, Sajahyuk instead just turns his head.
‘what?’
Sonbin frowned.
‘What are you asking me to do?’
The attitude is as if he has nothing to do with it. Nodosa urges Sonbin again as he frowns at her.
“What are you doing? “Hurry up and don’t bring it.”
‘Hey, I don’t know either.’
With his antipathy toward Sajahyeok, who pretended not to notice, Sonbin walked with long strides to where the sword was. And he stretched out his hand for the sword.
sparkle
The moment Sonbin raises his sword, the blade shines in the moonlight.
‘wow.’
Sonbin was impressed.
‘I thought it wasn’t an ordinary sword, but… … .’
It was a simple sword with no decorations. However, the anticipation of that blade was amazing. It got to the point where I thought I might be cut off just by putting my hand on it.
Sonbin carefully held the sword handle with both hands.
“How is it?”
Suddenly I heard the old master’s voice.
“I don’t know much about swords, but… … .”
Sonbin answered while looking down at the sword in his hand.
“It’s very beautiful.”
That sentiment was sincere. Although it was a sword without any decorations or patterns, it was so beautiful that the mere sight of its body was enough to make you admire it.
“yes?”
Master Noh smiled as if he was satisfied with Sonbin’s answer.
“Even though I traveled all over the world, I have never seen such a wonderful sword. It’s really beautiful and fascinating. And once this sword is given its heart, it will never betray its master no matter what happens. “Isn’t it every man’s dream to have a world-class beauty who only has eyes for me?”
It seemed as if the conversation had somehow diverged somewhere in the middle, but it was clear that the old master cherished this sword very much.
“Oh, and be careful.”
The moment Sonbin was about to take a step, Master Noh spoke again.
“The white heron is very proud. If he doesn’t like it, he might cut you down in an instant. Well, usually it’s about an arm.”
‘It’s about an arm.’
Sonbin smiled bitterly at Noh Dosa’s words, which he spoke as if they were nothing. Anyway, it is a sharp sword so you have to be careful.
“The scabbard is here.”
Swish.
Along with the old master’s voice, something flew in front of Sonbin. Sonbin was startled and grabbed it with one hand.
‘Ugh.’
widely.
I managed to catch the flying knife sheath. However, thanks to this, the sharp sword moved significantly. I had heard that it was easy to cut off an arm, so my heart pounded as I wondered if I might get cut. But fortunately, there were no injuries anywhere.
Son Bin glared at the old master with a feeling of resentment. But Master Noh was smiling.
‘I was surprised.’
Grumbling inwardly, Sonbin carefully sheathed his sword.
Sreung.
widely.
“hmm. “You are really just a civil servant.”
Master Noh said as he watched Sonbin sheathing his sword. She was still smiling.
“Didn’t you say so?”
Sonbin, who felt a little upset, answered like that and walked to Nodosa.
And he held out his sword. Of course, I did not forget to show respect to the elderly, so I did it with both hands and as politely as possible. But Nodosa did not accept it.
“It’s yours now.”
“yes?”
Sonbin looked surprised.
“I entrusted you with a poor student, so shouldn’t I have to pay tuition? “Think of it as the Minister of Honor and accept it.”
In other words, it means tuition for teaching that young man who is losing his mind.
Sonbin was embarrassed.
“No, that’s… … .”
“Or did you make that promise without even intending to teach it in the first place?”
Master Lao asked rebukingly. Those eyes somehow looked so sad that Sonbin was speechless.
“Well, it’s not like that, but… … .”
“Then take it.”
The old master speaks as if urging him to do so. However, after thinking for a moment, Sonbin slowly shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept it.”
A strange look appears in Noh Dosa’s eyes.
“why?”
Sonbin answered.
“I don’t know much about swords or martial arts, but I can guess what meaning a warrior’s sword has to a warrior. This sword must be a precious friend who has spent a lot of time with the old master. But how dare I receive this sword?”
Those words certainly seemed to come as a surprise to Master Noh. A smile slowly spreads across the old master’s lips.
“is it?”
“yes.”
Sonbin answered.
“I understand.”
Master Lao nodded his head. But he did not receive the sword.
“Then, shamelessly, could you please do me one more favor?”
Sonbin saw Nodosa. The honest eyes of Noh Do-sa, without any pretense, look at Son Bin.
“If I can… … .”
Nodosa said:
“I’m embarrassed about this topic, but I have some followers.”
Sonbin nodded. I had already guessed from Sa-hyeok’s words that this old monk in front of me had quite a lot of power.
“When I get back, I’m going to take off all my baggage and get some rest. “I would like to give my sword to that child, but it may be difficult to do so.”
The old master’s gaze as he looked at the fallen young man was warm.
“Those foolish bastards will use all kinds of excuses to eventually take the sword away from that child. so… … .”
Master Noh said, looking back at Sonbin.
“Can you take care of it?”
“I am… … .”
Sonbin tried to refuse.
However, the moment I saw the eyes of the old master, I knew that this was his will. So I can’t bear to continue talking.
“If you hold out this sword, that child will not listen to you lightly. So just for the time being, please.”
In front of the old master’s earnest eyes, Sonbin realized that there was only one answer he could give.
“Okay… … “Yes.”
That was the only way I could answer. I saw him for the first time today, and I didn’t even know his name, but how could I refuse the request of someone who was about to die?
“Um, by any chance… … .”
“Don’t you know me?”
As if he was truly surprised, Master Noh asked with a puzzled look in his eyes.
“Oh, I… … sorry. I don’t know much about this… … .”
Sonbin lowered his head in regret. However, a smile instead appears on Noh Do-sa’s face.
“Did you say Sonbin?”
“yes.”
“That child is Seorin.”
“Ah yes.”
Sonbin saw a young man lying unconscious. I already knew her name from our conversation earlier. Her face looks younger than I thought, seeing as she is losing her mind.
“And this black one is called a white heron. It means dew. As the name suggests, he is a very noble, proud, and arrogant child. “At first, it was quite cold.”
When fall is in full swing, the first dew that forms at dawn is called a white heron.
I already knew that that was the name of the sword. Sonbin was a little puzzled as to why Master Noh suddenly spoke again.
“Please take care of me.”
The old man’s bony, blood-soaked hands held Son Bin’s hand. Son Bin, who was holding the sword with both hands, had no choice but to remain still and do what the old master did.
The reason my heart was touched was probably because the old man’s hands felt so bare.
Jeez.
Sajahyeok turned around while Sonbin was being held by Nohdosa’s hand. Without saying anything, Lion Hyuk took his steps.
“Oh, I… … .”
Since Sajahyeok left, Sonbin had to go too. Master Noh let go of Son Bin’s hand that he had been holding.
“Goodbye.”
The old master said that with a smiling face. Sonbin didn’t know what to say, so she just bowed deeply and politely expressed her respect.
Holding the sword tightly with both hands.
Jump and jump.
Meanwhile, Sajahyeok was heading towards the entrance of the forest path they came from. Sonbin also hurriedly followed Sajahyuk. Suddenly, I heard Noh Dosa’s voice from behind.
“I mean I want to save her.”
widely.
Sajahyuk stopped. Nodosa said:
“I meant it.”
Shoot!
The wind blew. Without saying a word, Sajahyeok started walking again. As if he hadn’t heard anything.
Jump and jump.
Sajahyeok’s back soon disappeared between the forest paths. Sonbin also followed suit.
Suddenly, Sonbin looked back, but Noh Dosa was still smiling and silently seeing off Sonbin and Sajahyeok.
Feeling that the steps were somehow heavy, Sonbin left there following Sajahyeok.
Only the wind was lonesomely shaking Sonbin’s collar.
∴
When the two leave, the only people left in the vacant lot are Seo-rin, a young man who has lost his mind, and No Do-sa, who looks like he might collapse at any moment.
Nodosa did not take his eyes off their backs until Sajahyeok and Sonbin disappeared through the darkness of the forest.
“It’s like organizing a meeting, so when there is a meeting, there is also a parting. It’s just the truth of this world that I feel quite sad after sending you away from my arms like this.”
The old master smiled a lonely smile and muttered.
“I had no choice, but this must have been fate. Still, I’m glad it went to a good person. “Go and be happy.”
After staring at the other side of the forest path for a while, Nodosa turned his head. And he slowly approached the young man who was still lying down.
Sarah.
Right in front of the young man, the old monk bent his knees. Nodosa bent down and stretched out his hand to gently stroke the fallen young man’s head.
“thanks.”
Looking at the indifferent expression of the young man who had lost his mind, Master Noh smiled warmly.
“You think I saved you, but in fact it was you who saved me. If it weren’t for you, I would still be going through hellish days filled with regret and anguish. They say that you cannot attain the Way if you are caught up in emotion, but for me, the emotion you gave me was the Way of Heaven. But even more so… … .”
The old master’s face was distorted with regret.
“I realized how terrible I had done to that friend.”
Sarah.
The old monk’s bony fingers stroked young Seorin’s hair. Once again, a soft smile spreads across the old master’s face.
“The child named Sonbin is a warm child. Since that friend was the one who allowed me to accompany him, I assumed that he must at least be an honest person. That child will be able to let you know the warmth of people. The only thing I’m worried about is… … .”
The old monk let out a low sigh and said.
“Now that I have a connection with that friend, there is no way to avoid that child’s life going through a major upheaval. Now that I’ve been handed my white heron, it’s probably hard to live the life of a good, normal person. “When I think about the rough things that Kangho Moorim will face that child in the future, I feel sorry for entrusting him with a task that he cannot bear to do.”
Contrary to saying he was sorry, Master Noh was smiling. At that time, the young man who had collapsed let out a low moan.
“Hmm. Master… … .”
“okay. “I’m here, you bastard.”
The old master rubbed the young man’s frowning brow with a playful expression. It seemed as if the words had just been spilled inadvertently, and the young man was still unable to come to his senses.
“I won’t leave until you wake up, so don’t worry and just rest in peace.”
As if he had heard those words, the expression on the face of the unconscious young man became calm. He looked like he was sleeping comfortably.
The old master looked at this with a happy smile, then suddenly raised his head and looked at the night sky.
The sky was filled with countless stars twinkling brightly.
“It’s so bright.”
Master Noh was impressed.
“Who knew the night sky would be so beautiful and brilliant? The way of heaven is always shining so gloriously, but man’s foolishness has obscured its eyes. Does this not mean that even if you see, you cannot see?”
Master Noh spoke as if elastically. The sky was full of starlight. It was always there, looking so proud and majestic. Even when he forgot it even existed.
All the things that were weighing on his mind did not come to mind at this moment.
He couldn’t even remember that he was going to die soon. Both the law and martial arts that he had practiced his entire life disappeared. He laid down his sword and also his affection.
No regrets, no fear. Only the Tao of Heaven shining before his eyes filled heaven and earth.
“iced coffee.”
The realization came so clearly that I wondered why I had not seen this clear thing before. There was no need to explain, nothing to add or take away.
It was always there. It’s just that his own eyes were finally able to see it.
It was literally an eye opening.
“Heaven and earth are full of Tao.”
The old master spoke in an excited voice full of joy. At the last moment of his life, what he wanted and hoped for so much came. Like welcome rain on a spring night.
Sararak, Sararak.
As if answering his exclamation, the dry leaves made a sound. A subtle scent that was not in this world slowly spread and filled the room.
A quiet, small peace settled right there, quietly but solemnly.
Only the leaves were watching the amazing scene, rustling quietly as if they were wary of making any noise.
∴
On this day, Hwang Hak-jinin, the ancestral chief priest of the Shaman sect, who was known to be living in seclusion, passed away.
Hwang Hak-jin, who was said to be like a crane who left this world with his noble personality and simple appearance, really flew away from this world.
His death surprised many people, but the shaman faction did not say anything about how he passed away so suddenly.
However, as his name suggests, it is only known that he died quietly in a place unknown to anyone.
Many people mourned his death, and the Shaman faction declared that all dojos in the entire Wudang Mountain would observe a hundred-day mourning period for him.
Although some of the other Taoist sects in Wudang Mountain protested, their opposition soon lost its force as numerous notables from all over the world came to pay their respects.
Wudang Mountain and the surrounding areas suffered for a while due to the crowds of mourners, and even the imperial palace sent an envoy to Wudang Mountain to express condolences.
Thus, the funeral of Hwang Hak-jin, which was held on a scale unprecedented in the history of the Shaman faction, despite some criticism that it was unsuitable for a Taoist sect, not only showed the power of the Shaman faction throughout the world, but also showed how much love Hwang Hak-jin was. It also made it clear that I was aware of it.
The only person who guarded the last days of the world-renowned Hwang Hak-jin was a disciple whose name was not even properly known, but this fact was never made known to the world.
Also, the fact that the whereabouts of Seongeom (仙劍) White Egret, a symbol of Hwanghakjinin, had become unknown was also unknown to anyone except some shaman elders.
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martial arts,