The Farmer Who Ended Up Teaching the World’s Greatest Martial Artist - Chapter 1

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

| Chapter 1

In the edict from the Records of Emperor Wen in the Book of Han, it states: ‘Agriculture is the great foundation of all under heaven, that upon which the people depend for their livelihood.’

This means that farming is the foundation of the world, and people live by relying on that foundation.

This applies to all principles that make up the world, and martial arts is no exception.

Martial arts is like farming—only by understanding the foundation of all under heaven can one master the techniques that branch out from it.

Only those who can finally feel that flow with their body can continue the lineage of internal energy.

Originally, changes in principles arise from shifts in perspective. The world simply flows according to its principles, and farming and martial arts are merely branches born by borrowing that flow.

*

Mount Taishan, located in Shandong Province.

Since ancient times, it has been called one of the Five Sacred Mountains of the Central Plains, a place where the mountain scenery is beautiful and magnificent.

However, because the mountain terrain was just as treacherous, there weren’t many people living there compared to its size and fame.

“Heup!”

Deep in the mountains of Mount Taishan, the vigorous battle cry of a man swinging an axe could be heard.

Thunk!

With his final strike, a large oak tree that seemed to have stood guard in that spot for a long time began to tilt.

Then, unable to bear its own weight, it fell over shortly after.

At this, the young man who had just turned exactly 20 years old this year, Yoo Eun-hyun, stretched his body and grabbed his lower back.

“Uggggh! Oh, my back… What am I going to do if I’m already like this at this age?”

Holding an axe, one might think he was a woodcutter at first glance, but Yoo Eun-hyun’s body was quite frail for that. Moreover, his clothes were excessively stained with dirt. Anyone could see that Yoo Eun-hyun’s main occupation was not that of a woodcutter.

In reality, he was a farmer who had lived in this hidden realm and remote area of Mount Taishan for three generations, and had only come out temporarily to cut wood.

“Now the wind flows well, so nature’s energy will harmonize nicely. Good. This is how it should be.”

Yoo Eun-hyun muttered to himself and smiled contentedly as he looked at the fallen tree.

At the same time, a cool breeze blew through the area where not even a breath of wind had passed before, as if to cool his sweat.

The wind that had been blocked by the tree until now passed through Yoo Eun-hyun and spread evenly across the wide field.

Making the wind flow well through the field so that crops would grow better—this was also the reason why he, a farmer, had picked up an axe.

“Even when grandfather was alive, this tree wasn’t this big… I can’t believe so much time has already passed.”

The Yoo family first settled in this place during the time of his grandfather, Yoo Pyo-gyeong.

Yoo Pyo-gyeong had settled at the foot of Mount Taishan at the age of 20, which was Yoo Eun-hyun’s current age, bringing only his wife and Yoo Dong-gi, who was Yoo Eun-hyun’s father.

Of course, there was a reason why Yoo Pyo-gyeong had settled in such a barren mountain area instead of perfectly good farmland.

Sixty years ago, a great battle called the Blood Incident of Breaking Calamity had occurred in the martial arts world, and combined with a great famine, the Central Plains were experiencing unspeakable devastation.

At that time, martial artists were dying in battles, and ordinary people were starving to death.

They had come into the mountains to avoid getting caught up in the pointless fights of martial artists and to survive without suffering hardships.

“Now that I’ve created new wind paths and adjusted the shade, this year’s ginseng should have good quality. No, ginseng is ginseng. Sigh… This tiresome farming. How long do I have to live buried in these mountains like this?”

Yoo Eun-hyun lamented his situation while looking at the considerably grown ginseng leaves. As the heat subsided and his body cooled from the blowing wind, his good mood seemed to rapidly sink.

Clearing treacherous mountain terrain for farming naturally requires considerable time and effort.

Fortunately, the place they had settled was overflowing with natural energy, so clearing it wasn’t too difficult, but there were many things that required attention.

“Sighing won’t make the crops grow. I should stop grumbling and go check on the peaches.”

But he didn’t have anything else he particularly wanted to do either. Soon, Yoo Eun-hyun cleared his idle thoughts and got up from his spot.

The orchard currently occupied the largest portion of Yoo Eun-hyun’s farming.

Since they had come here to survive, naturally what they first grew were things that could quickly and easily become food—potatoes, corn, and other fast-growing crops.

But after they could make a living, they mainly grew fruit trees like peaches, so by now, they occupied the largest area of the farmland.

After spending the entire day touring the fields and orchards spread widely across the foothills of Mount Taishan, Yoo Eun-hyun returned to his house located exactly at the center.

“I’m back.”

When Yoo Eun-hyun opened the wooden door and went inside, a woman who had been sitting in a chair folding clothes looked at him and smiled.

“Hyun is back.”

“I told you to lie down, but you’re working again!”

Yoo Eun-hyun immediately frowned at the sight. He took the clothes from the woman’s hands and pulled her toward a nearby bed.

“Really now, even when I tell you not to. Seeing you do this, you must be feeling well?”

“I’m moving around because I can manage it, aren’t I? This child worries too much.”

Yoo Eun-hyun’s mother, Soo Hwa-seon, answered with a smile.

Soo Hwa-seon was a beauty with such a slender and refined appearance that she couldn’t be seen as a farmer’s wife.

She resembled Yoo Eun-hyun so much that it was easy to guess where his looks came from.

“How are the peaches? It’s the season when there are many pests.”

“Well, same as usual. But maybe I can look forward to this year… The temperature seems to be rising, so I did pest control a little early to kill those damn bugs, and it seems to have hit the right timing.”

“That’s fortunate. Is the ginseng growing well?”

“Yes. Oh, and I cut down a tree on the east side. I thought it would be better to cut it down.”

“You mean that big oak tree? Wasn’t that left there on purpose to block sunlight?”

Soo Hwa-seon asked in surprise. Yoo Eun-hyun quietly shook his head and answered.

“The willow tree nearby grew and blocked the sunlight, and that oak tree grew bigger and blocked the wind path. If we left it as is, the water flow would change when it rains, so it’s better to cut it down for the future.”

“Is that so? It’s not that I don’t understand, but… I still can’t tell even when I look.”

“Natural energy isn’t something you see, it’s something you feel.”

Yoo Eun-hyun spoke casually, but Soo Hwa-seon made a fed-up expression.

“That’s exactly what I don’t understand. Clearly this mother also learned from your father and grandfather just like you, but I just can’t get that feeling…”

That made sense, because Soo Hwa-seon wasn’t originally from this place.

One day, a martial artist came looking for a place with good mountain energy to treat his sick daughter’s illness, and that place was right here.

And Soo Hwa-seon, who was staying for recuperation, and Yoo Dong-gi, who was of similar age, fell for each other, eventually got married, and Yoo Eun-hyun was born. Now she had completely settled down and was living here.

“If anyone could do it just by learning, would it be a skill?”

“You’re so proud of yourself, you rascal. But now you seem to be at your father’s level.”

“I’m not bragging, but I’d say there’s nothing I can’t grow.”

Yoo Eun-hyun shrugged his shoulders. Soo Hwa-seon smiled slightly at the sight, then made a sad expression.

“Still, I feel sorry for leaving everything to you alone. This mother has been farming for more than a year or two, so I know how hard it must be…”

“Well, I haven’t been doing it for just a year or two either. It’s work I’ve been doing for over 10 years, so even if it’s burdensome, I’m used to it all. So stop worrying about useless things. I’m twenty years old now.”

In truth, farming alone on this vast mountain was no easy task. Yoo Eun-hyun grumbled while trying hard to reassure Soo Hwa-seon.

Soo Hwa-seon, who was drinking herbal tea that was good for her health, said to Yoo Eun-hyun.

“Today marks exactly one year since your father passed away.”

“Has it already been that long? Time flies.”

Yoo Eun-hyun spoke casually, but of course he couldn’t not know. He just didn’t want to worry his mother unnecessarily, but he remembered one year ago vividly.

And as if knowing such feelings, Soo Hwa-seon smiled and took a sip of tea, then made a mischievous expression.

“Oh my. I need to see you get married soon.”

“That talk again. I’m only twenty years old now. When the time comes, won’t I naturally get married?”

“Tsk tsk. Hearing you say that, you might really never get married.”

“What unlucky words… Do you want to end the Yoo family line?”

“If you know that, get married quickly, you fool. I won’t get better because of you.”

“You’re talking nonsense again. If getting married would cure you, I would have done it long ago.”

Yoo Eun-hyun looked at Soo Hwa-seon as if he found it absurd. Soo Hwa-seon smiled gently again and continued her half-joking, half-serious talk.

“But you do intend to get married, right?”

“I have to. I’m only like this because I’m in a place where I can’t even catch a glimpse of women.”

“Hoho. If that’s the case, don’t worry. Would this mother fail to arrange her child’s marriage?”

“Just get better quickly. Don’t block your son’s marriage prospects by making him tend to a sick mother-in-law.”

Grumbling, Yoo Eun-hyun drank the remaining tea in one gulp. Soo Hwa-seon, who seemed to enjoy this conversation with her son, smiled and spoke again.

“Or at least make some friends. How can a young man be like this?”

“What’s there to make friends with? Should I befriend bears or tigers living in the mountains?”

As Yoo Eun-hyun began to speak sarcastically, Soo Hwa-seon finally burst into loud laughter.

But that was only for a moment—while laughing, Soo Hwa-seon had a small episode and began coughing. At that sight, Yoo Eun-hyun hurriedly supported her.

“Are you okay? It wasn’t this bad until father passed away. Isn’t it getting worse?”

Soo Hwa-seon was healthy when she was healthy, but sometimes her episodes would worsen and she would become rapidly weak.

Recently, these episodes were becoming more frequent, making Yoo Eun-hyun uncomfortable.

“…It’s hard to even play with my son.”

Seeing Soo Hwa-seon forcing a smile, Yoo Eun-hyun let out a deep sigh. His face was full of worry.

“Eun-hyun, come here.”

When the seizures subsided, Soo Hwa-seon gestured toward Yoo Eun-hyun. Seeing his mother’s rather serious expression, Yoo Eun-hyun sat down quietly in front of her.

“Yes. I can’t keep worrying you like this… I can’t delay telling you any longer.”

Yoo Eun-hyun could only tilt his head at Soo Hwa-seon’s sudden words. Even seeing Yoo Eun-hyun’s reaction, Soo Hwa-seon continued speaking calmly.

“It seems I’ll need to visit the Family Home soon.”

“The Maternal Grandparents’ House? Why all of a sudden… No, what does that have to do with your illness?”

“This is the first time I’m telling you this, but this illness requires taking a specially prepared medicine once a month to improve. Without it, I have seizures and my body gradually weakens.”

“What do you mean…”

Hearing this for the first time, Yoo Eun-hyun’s eyes widened as he asked back.

“Your father used to go to my family home periodically about once a year to get that medicine, but now there’s no one to do that. So I’ll have to go get it myself, won’t I?”

“No. Why did you hide this until now?”

“I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily. I never thought your father would leave so suddenly…”

At Soo Hwa-seon’s shameless response, Yoo Eun-hyun pressed between his eyes as if he had a headache.

Indeed, Soo Hwa-seon’s seizures had noticeably increased in frequency recently. Yoo Eun-hyun had never even guessed this could be the reason.

“Anyway, you’re saying you’ll keep having seizures without that medicine. But where exactly are you planning to go?”

“I kept one pill in reserve just in case. I’ve been living unable to control the seizure cycles while rationing the little medicine I had left… But if I take this, I can move around without problems.”

“But can you really become healthy enough to travel around suddenly? What if you have another seizure?”

“At minimum, I can live exactly like a healthy person for over a month, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

Saying this, Soo Hwa-seon took out a pill wrapped in paper as if to demonstrate.

Then she swallowed it with tea and closed her eyes, beginning to breathe deeply.

Then, a haze began rising from Soo Hwa-seon’s body. The haze that enveloped her body was absorbed back into her body.

Yoo Eun-hyun’s pupils trembled slightly as he watched this.

‘Natural energy…’

The haze rising from Soo Hwa-seon’s body was a very familiar energy to Yoo Eun-hyun.

It was none other than the natural energy he had felt countless times while farming.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————