The Farmer Who Ended Up Teaching the World’s Greatest Martial Artist - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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| Chapter 11

“Harm, you say?”

Certainly, Sa Un-sik didn’t seem like a good person when you looked at his selfish personality and behavior.

But when asked if he was truly evil, that made him tilt his head in confusion.

The Sa Un-sik that Yoo Eun-hyun had observed seemed more like someone who was a bit rough and lived as his heart desired, rather than a true villain.

And honestly, what kind of villain would teach internal energy cultivation methods and even offer to arrange a marriage?

Of course, Sa Un-sik might have some ulterior motives… But in any case, So Bi-won’s words didn’t really resonate with him.

“It’s natural that the young master wouldn’t know. However… I hope you will think deeply about his invitation to you.”

“I’ve already refused once, so you don’t need to worry about that part.”

“But… no, never mind.”

So Bi-won slightly furrowed his brow as if he was worried about something else. But in the end, he didn’t speak about it.

Yoo Eun-hyun had indeed lied, so he didn’t bring up the topic further and changed the subject.

“Isn’t your sleeping arrangement uncomfortable? Please try some of this.”

Yoo Eun-hyun took out three potatoes he had prepared and offered them to So Bi-won.

“Haha. I’ll gratefully eat them. However, I don’t need this many, so just one will suffice.”

But So Bi-won, while expressing his gratitude, only took the smallest of the three potatoes. Watching So Bi-won blow out tobacco smoke even while receiving the potato, something suddenly occurred to Yoo Eun-hyun and he got up from his seat.

“Wait a moment.”

A short while later, Yoo Eun-hyun returned and offered dried leaves to So Bi-won.

“This is… could it be tobacco?”

“You recognized it right away. Please try smoking it. You seem to enjoy tobacco.”

“Oh ho. My tobacco was just running out… Thank you for this.”

Unlike before, So Bi-won showed a genuinely pleased expression as he received the tobacco.

He lightly sniffed it, then unable to wait, immediately packed it into his pipe and lit it.

“This is a flavor I’ve never tried before… Did the young master make this himself?”

“Yes. I made it myself by combining several medicinal herbs with the tobacco we grow. Is it worth smoking?”

Instead of answering Yoo Eun-hyun’s question, So Bi-won took a deep drag of smoke, exhaled it, and showed a satisfied expression.

“Has the young master tried smoking it?”

“Occasionally? I don’t really enjoy it, but it would be troublesome not to know the quality of what we make.”

“Hmm… Excellent. I thought I had experienced all the tobacco under heaven. How could I not know of such a thing?”

“We only started selling it recently. It’s probably only being distributed little by little in this area for now.”

“Is that so? What might its name be?”

“Shakyak-yeon (Peony Smoke).”

“Shakyak-yeon… I’ll remember it.”

As So Bi-won seemed very satisfied, Yoo Eun-hyun also appeared to be in a good mood and joked around.

So Bi-won took another deep breath, savoring the Shakyak-yeon as he inhaled the smoke.

“Haha. If you’re giving it to me, I’ll gladly take it.”

“Please rest well today.”

“From tomorrow, may I watch the young master work again?”

“Please do.”

Since Sa Un-sik had already done the same thing, Yoo Eun-hyun nodded as if it didn’t matter at all.

*

The next day. So Bi-won woke up early in the morning and was moving somewhere.

Usually, a farmer’s morning starts earlier than most people’s. But So Bi-won woke up even earlier than Yoo Eun-hyun and was descending the mountain.

In fact, So Bi-won had only slept for about one hour.

So Bi-won’s steps down the mountain were never hurried. He simply descended slowly as if taking a stroll, examining the fields along the way.

“I felt it yesterday too, but this is truly a magnificent place. The majestic energy of Mount Taishan and the natural products cultivated following that energy… It’s comparable to the spiritual power of Sungsan.”

Like Sa Un-sik, So Bi-won also acknowledged that the fields cultivated by the Yoo Family were excellent.

“Especially this Shakyak-yeon. What an unexpected encounter.”

Blowing out tobacco smoke, So Bi-won slowly moved his steps again.

When he reached the lower part of the mountain after passing through the fields, So Bi-won looked up at the sky and saw a hawk. As if it had been waiting, the dark blue hawk circled once above his head.

After the hawk that had circled the sky once disappeared into a nearby tree, So Bi-won lowered his head and spoke.

“Have you caught your breath sufficiently?”

Before So Bi-won, someone was already kneeling. Wrapped entirely in black clothes and prostrated, his back was still lightly heaving.

“I greet the Alliance Leader.”

But as if he didn’t want to be caught being out of breath, the man took one last deep breath to steady himself and spoke to So Bi-won.

“Stand up. You’ve worked hard following me.”

Among So Bi-won’s direct guards, Ju Nak, who was always following him as a shadow guard, bowed his head even deeper as if such words were undeserved.

“Not at all. I only regret my insufficient ability in not being able to keep up with the Alliance Leader.”

“Since Sa Un-sik the Thousand-Year Dark Demon’s abilities are outstanding, it’s unavoidable to track his movements. Never blame your own abilities.”

“Compared to the Alliance Leader, someone like the Thousand-Year Dark Demon is nothing.”

“Haha. If that were actually the case, there would be no need for such troublesome work.”

Though So Bi-won said this, Ju Nak truly believed his own words. If So Bi-won were weaker than Sa Un-sik, the Martial Arts World would have ended long ago.

“Have you discovered the Thousand-Year Dark Demon’s movements?”

“Yes. After joining with Cheonwi Guard Leader Go Pae-ryang, he appears to have returned directly to Maegyo.”

“So his long journey through the Martial Arts World ends with this.”

“His purpose is unclear. Why did he suddenly tour the Martial Arts World?”

“Haha. As for his purpose, I have a few guesses… But I’m concerned that he returned so obediently.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It depends on whether he’s returning after achieving his purpose, or returning without achieving it.”

At So Bi-won’s words, Ju Nak also seemed tense as he trembled slightly.

“That’s also why I’m staying here. I needed to find out what he was trying to obtain, and whether he obtained it.”

Ju Nak bowed his head deeply again, as if to say he would trust and follow So Bi-won.

“Also, there’s one unusual matter. Movement of the Cheonhwangpaeundae has been detected from Maegyo.”

“The Cheonhwangpaeundae? How many?”

“The information came in too urgently, so it’s unclear. I apologize.”

At Ju Nak’s brief response, So Bi-won let out a small sigh.

“Sigh. Are my concerns becoming reality…”

“Do you know where the Cheonhwangpaeundae is heading, Alliance Leader?”

With current information, they only knew that the Cheonhwangpaeundae had left Maegyo. Their destination was completely unknown.

“If my prediction is correct… it would be here.”

“Surely they’re not targeting the Alliance Leader?!”

Ju Nak exclaimed in surprise, but So Bi-won shook his head.

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“No. Even if the entire Cheonhwangpaeundae came, they couldn’t do anything to the Alliance Leader.”

Just as So Bi-won had personally come out to track Sa Un-sik’s movements, Sa Un-sik would have to come personally to target So Bi-won.

No matter how elite the Cheonhwangpaeundae was, targeting So Bi-won alone would only result in massive losses.

“If not that, then what could be here?”

“Are there others positioned nearby?”

So Bi-won actually had a suspicion. From listening to Yoo Eun-hyun’s story the previous day, it seemed Sa Un-sik wanted to take Yoo Eun-hyun to Maegyo.

He seemed to have given up on taking him by force, but So Bi-won knew Sa Un-sik better than anyone. He wouldn’t give up so easily.

“The Jeogeum Division of Jeongeumtae is preparing.”

“The Jeogeum Division… How many?”

“A small number.”

If it was just to take Yoo Eun-hyun, they wouldn’t call too many, but still, the opponent was the Cheonhwangpaeundae. It would be better to be certain.

“Not enough. Have half of the Jeogeum Division head here. Give instructions to prepare in advance as there may be a clash with the Cheonhwangpaeundae.”

Jeongeumtae consisted of three divisions: Jeogeum, Hwangeum, and Cheongeum. Half of the 100-member Jeogeum Division would be 50 people.

“To this place right now?”

Ju Nak asked back as if puzzled.

He found it strange since it seemed like an empty mountain area, but thinking about it again, it wasn’t like that at all. Wasn’t So Bi-won, the Alliance Leader of the Cheonmu Alliance, here?

Just as every move of Sa Un-sik the Thousand-Year Dark Demon was top-secret information for the Cheonmu Alliance, information about So Bi-won the Twin Sword Saint would also be top-secret information for Maegyo.

No matter how much the Cheonhwangpaeundae might be too much for So Bi-won to handle, he couldn’t help but think there might be some hidden purpose behind it all.

“I know what you’re worried about. The Cheonhwangpaeundae itself might be a deception to keep me tied to this place. Or perhaps they’re deliberately throwing the Cheonhwangpaeundae at me, prepared to lose them just to create a pretext.”

Realizing from So Bi-won’s words that the situation was quite serious, Ju Nak spoke with a stern expression.

“Will you be alright?”

“Don’t worry about that. I won’t have any direct encounters with the Cheonhwangpaeundae.”

So Bi-won said this while glancing toward the mountain slope where Yoo Eun-hyun was staying.

Hearing the story, Yoo Eun-hyun was certainly a desirable talent.

Though he was a farmer, his insight into nature and his eye for seeing things were admirable even from just hearing about them indirectly.

But what exactly had Sa Un-sik gained afterward to go this far?

As long as So Bi-won couldn’t confirm that, he couldn’t easily leave his post.

“I will follow the Alliance Leader’s command.”

When So Bi-won said he would handle it himself, Ju Nak dared not question him further.

He simply sensed that things were more serious than expected and bowed his head.

According to So Bi-won’s words, there was no time to spare. Ju Nak immediately bowed to So Bi-won and launched his body into flight.

The Cheonhwangpaeundae had already departed, but they were starting from distant Daessan.

In contrast, the Cheonmu Alliance was at the border between Hannam and Seomse. Even departing now wouldn’t be too late.

Thus Ju Nak departed, and So Bi-won also lightly launched himself and disappeared into the trees.

*

Returning to the mountain, So Bi-won now began following Yoo Eun-hyun’s farming work in earnest.

‘Since they found out I have internal energy anyway, I might as well continue as I was, right?’

Having no way of knowing what had transpired between So Bi-won and Ju Nak, Yoo Eun-hyun had such idle thoughts while immersing himself in work again.

In fact, it hadn’t been long since he learned internal energy, and Yoo Eun-hyun couldn’t make fine adjustments yet. And more than anything, there was too much work to do for such idle thoughts.

Recently, frequent rains had caused signs of disease to appear again throughout the fields.

If handled poorly, ruining a year’s farming could happen in an instant.

Originally this was work that required both him and Soo Hwa-seon to do properly, but perhaps because he had learned internal energy, his movements were faster and he tired less, so he could manage alone.

‘It’s quiet again today.’

Sa Un-sik had practically followed Yoo Eun-hyun around like a puppy, asking various questions.

But So Bi-won just quietly watched Yoo Eun-hyun’s work from a slight distance.

Still, since he didn’t bother him while working, he could certainly concentrate well.

Unlike Sa Un-sik whose presence was so distinct it overflowed, So Bi-won’s presence, though clear, strangely blended well with the surroundings and didn’t bother him much when ignored.

Meanwhile, as Yoo Eun-hyun was cutting off useless peach leaves, a high-pitched sound reached his ears.

Whiiiiiiing.

A high-pitched sound ringing in his ears. It was a common sound when insects flew near one’s ear. Only the volume was a bit different.

“Ugh. It’s a hornet?”

For a farmer, insects were familiar enough to be merely bothersome, but hornets were a different story.

If he carelessly provoked a hornet, it might bring its companions swarming in droves, so Yoo Eun-hyun temporarily moved to nearby shade to avoid the hornet.

Taking the opportunity to rest, Yoo Eun-hyun wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath.

Though it was less tiring because he had learned internal energy, moving a lot still seemed to make him hot all the same.

‘I heard that martial artists reach a state called immunity to cold and heat where they don’t feel hot or cold, but I guess that’s not universal.’

Of course, it was because Yoo Eun-hyun’s internal energy level wasn’t very high yet, but he couldn’t know that much.

So Bi-won, who had been nearby, approached such a Yoo Eun-hyun.

“Quite kind of you. Aren’t insects harmful creatures when it comes to farming?”

Apparently, Yoo Eun-hyun not killing the hornet but simply avoiding it felt quite refreshing to So Bi-won.

“There’s no need to kill it unnecessarily. And if I’m thinking of dealing with it, I should find the nest first. Killing one or two is meaningless.”

“If it’s the nest, there’s one over there. I could show you the location.”

“No, that’s fine. Maybe after the harvest is over, but there’s no need to do that now.”

“Hmm, may I ask the reason?”

A strange light flickered in So Bi-won’s eyes as he asked this question. It seemed like a gaze that was both expecting something and confirming something.

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