The Farmer Who Ended Up Teaching the World’s Greatest Martial Artist - Chapter 3

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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 3

“Daessan….”

As Sa Un-sik said, there was indeed a sect on Daessan in Cheonghae. It was where one of the most famous and powerful sects in the Martial Arts World existed—Maegyo.

But that wasn’t what surprised Yoo Eun-hyun.

‘A martial artist….’

Yoo Eun-hyun’s mouth fell open at seeing a martial artist for the first time in his life. Although the person before him claimed to be from Maegyo, since he didn’t know how evil Maegyo was, he couldn’t help but react this way.

‘So that’s why the aura emanating from the Stranger, similar to nature’s energy, felt strangely unsettling—because he was a martial artist….’

With that thought, Yoo Eun-hyun once again looked over the Stranger’s appearance.

Looking again, he could see something like heat waves shimmering around the Stranger.

A few days ago, after Soo Hwa-seon had taken the elixir, he had seen similar shimmering heat waves around her, and this looked quite similar to that.

‘Both do resemble natural energy….’

However, while the feeling was similar, the aura from Soo Hwa-seon felt warm and comforting, completely different from Sa Un-sik’s aura which felt somehow eerie.

“I see that you’re completely ignorant when it comes to martial arts, young brother. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. My family has only farmed here our entire lives.”

“Are you alone in the house now?”

By this point, anyone could easily figure out that Yoo Eun-hyun was the only one left in the household. If someone else had been inside, they would have already come out to check the situation.

“Yes. My grandfather and father have already passed away.”

Since it wasn’t really something to hide, Yoo Eun-hyun honestly told Sa Un-sik the truth.

“Hmm… I see….”

It was a sigh that seemed to contain many implications, but Yoo Eun-hyun couldn’t pick up on that much.

After seeming to think about something for a moment, Sa Un-sik asked Yoo Eun-hyun again.

“Did you perhaps also contribute to creating this place?”

“For the past five years, I’ve been taking care of and creating everything myself.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Sa Un-sik’s expression changed slightly after hearing Yoo Eun-hyun’s story. His face showed a strange look of anticipation.

“Martial arts, simply put, is about taking natural forces into your body and using them. Since you’re a farmer, you must know better than anyone about the strength of nature, right?”

Yoo Eun-hyun couldn’t understand Sa Un-sik’s intention in suddenly explaining martial arts.

However, since the topic itself was quite interesting, Yoo Eun-hyun obediently nodded his head.

“That’s right. It’s terrifying.”

Of course, as a farmer, Yoo Eun-hyun knew more about nature’s fearsome aspects than its strength. He knew it thoroughly, almost to overflowing.

No matter how much farming was done by human hands, ultimately it was nature that determined whether the year would bring good or bad harvests. He worked this hard only to avoid the worst and turn the best into the greatest.

Everything was in nature’s hands.

“Of course, it’s not easy. How could a person directly take the fierce forces of nature into their body? You must convert it very gradually, slowly, into something called internal energy and accumulate it.”

Sa Un-sik’s explanation was easy enough for even Yoo Eun-hyun, who was completely ignorant about martial arts, to understand.

“I see. Since you have nature’s condensed power within your body, you can split the sky like a typhoon and cleave mountains and rivers like an earthquake.”

“Oh ho….”

Sa Un-sik showed a slightly surprised expression at Yoo Eun-hyun’s answer. But soon that expression changed back to a light smile.

“That’s right. Didn’t I mention earlier? I’ve rarely seen a place where natural forces harmonize as beautifully as here. To think that humans directly created such a place—in a way, doesn’t it share something in common with martial arts, where humans wield nature’s power? That’s why I wanted to have a conversation with those who created this place.”

“Ah….”

After hearing that much, Yoo Eun-hyun could understand Sa Un-sik’s reaction.

Even Yoo Eun-hyun, just a farmer, had become interested when told that farming and martial arts were similar—why would a martial artist be any different? Sa Un-sik, being a martial artist, must have found it quite fascinating as well.

“So. What do you think about this, young brother?”

“Pardon?”

At Sa Un-sik’s sudden question, Yoo Eun-hyun looked up in confusion.

He wondered why such a question was being asked so suddenly, but then he remembered what Sa Un-sik had said earlier.

When he spoke of having a conversation with those who created this place, wouldn’t that include Yoo Eun-hyun himself?

“I don’t know anything….”

But he couldn’t easily give an answer. At Sa Un-sik’s sudden question, Yoo Eun-hyun’s mind had long since gone blank.

Seeing Yoo Eun-hyun only moving his lips, Sa Un-sik spoke calmly as if he had expected this.

“I’ve been wandering the world hoping to gain even a small enlightenment by chance, but it’s not easy indeed… I understand, young brother. Still, thank you for showing me such beautiful scenery.”

Sa Un-sik muttered as if lamenting while looking up at the high sky. Yoo Eun-hyun could feel deep regret in that appearance.

Perhaps because of that, at that moment Yoo Eun-hyun’s mind became strangely calm and the words he wanted to say began to organize themselves.

Just as Sa Un-sik was about to turn away, Yoo Eun-hyun suddenly spoke up.

“May I tell you what I thought after hearing your words, sir?”

Before he knew it, Sa Un-sik was looking at Yoo Eun-hyun with a strange expression. His face seemed to contain various emotions mixed together that couldn’t be explained by simple curiosity alone. However, Yoo Eun-hyun was too busy organizing his thoughts to notice Sa Un-sik’s expression.

And soon he began to speak slowly, somewhat uncertainly.

“I’m just a farmer, so I can only speak about farming….”

“That’s enough. It’s fine, so go ahead and speak.”

Yoo Eun-hyun, who had been hesitating slightly, gained strength again from Sa Un-sik’s words.

“Those who don’t know farming often think you must fight and defeat nature to grow crops well. We do face countless natural obstacles when growing crops.”

“Obstacles?”

“Yes. Not just the weather, but various pests and animals, and even diseases all conspire to ruin our crops.”

“Quite a lot of enemies indeed.”

Sa Un-sik also seemed to relate to Yoo Eun-hyun’s words as he chuckled.

“Of course, that’s not wrong. But on the other hand, you can’t succeed just by fighting either. As you said yourself, sir, nature isn’t so easy that you can win by fighting it.”

“Of course. In cultivating martial arts too, you must tame and control internal energy, not fight it. Martial arts carries the danger of running wild as much as its strength… Even though it dwells in my body, I must not forget that its origin is not mine.”

“I see. But farming is neither fighting nature nor taming it.”

At those words from Yoo Eun-hyun, Sa Un-sik’s eyes twitched slightly. He seemed not to have expected opposition to his words.

But Sa Un-sik soon relaxed his eyes. He quietly nodded as if telling him to continue.

“Farming is about following nature’s flow. The crops are nature, and the sunlight, water, and soil that nurture them are all nature too. And I, who farm, am merely part of that as well. I’m nothing more than someone who watches to ensure that flow doesn’t become rough and helps it flow as naturally as possible. That is the farming I know.”

Sa Un-sik was quietly listening to Yoo Eun-hyun’s words, but his expression had somehow become strangely subdued. Seeing this, Yoo Eun-hyun carefully read the mood.

‘He doesn’t seem angry….’

No matter that Sa Un-sik had asked first, he was still a martial artist. Yoo Eun-hyun had heard that martial artists were prideful, and in his excitement, he might not have distinguished between what he should and shouldn’t say.

After the silence continued for some time, Sa Un-sik finally raised his head.

“Agriculture is the great foundation of all under heaven….”

Sa Un-sik’s muttering was something Yoo Eun-hyun knew well. No, it was something any farmer couldn’t help but know.

At Sa Un-sik’s muttering, Yoo Eun-hyun unconsciously looked down at the book still in his hands. Sa Un-sik also noticed Yoo Eun-hyun’s gaze and asked while looking at the book.

“What book are you holding, young brother?”

“It’s nothing special. Just a book where our family has recorded farming methods for generations. Those words are written on the cover of this book.”

As he said this, Yoo Eun-hyun held up the book, and on its cover was written ‘Agriculture is the great foundation of all under heaven, that upon which the people depend for their livelihood.’

“Could you show it to me?”

Yoo Eun-hyun handed over the book without much thought at Sa Un-sik’s request. In his opinion, there wasn’t really any special content inside, so there was no reason he couldn’t show it.

Sa Un-sik, who received the book from Yoo Eun-hyun, began to look through it, and it didn’t take very long to read.

It simply contained information about what to do when during the year and precautions to take when doing those things.

“Have you mastered this entire book, young brother?”

When Sa Un-sik closed the book and handed it back to Yoo Eun-hyun, Yoo Eun-hyun obediently nodded.

He could read the contents fluently, understand the meaning contained within, and apply it directly to reality—if this wasn’t mastery, then what was?

“Yes, well… I’ve been reading it since I was five.”

“I see.”

When Yoo Eun-hyun nodded, Sa Un-sik, who seemed to think about something for a moment, turned his body again.

“If it’s alright with you, young brother, could I stay here for a few days?”

“Pardon?”

Yoo Eun-hyun made a surprised sound at Sa Un-sik’s unexpected proposal.

And honestly speaking, Sa Un-sik was quite… no, very uncomfortable for Yoo Eun-hyun.

It was because of the particularly unsettling aura he felt from Sa Un-sik.

“Of course, I won’t stay for free. I’ll pay for lodging.”

Perhaps noticing Yoo Eun-hyun’s hesitation, Sa Un-sik took out a small pouch from his chest and produced a fairly large amber stone.

Yoo Eun-hyun’s eyes widened as he looked at the amber stone. Even though he was a farmer, he knew that gems were expensive.

While he couldn’t properly estimate the gem’s value, from a rough look, it seemed like it would provide enough money to take a year or two off from farming.

“What will you do?”

At Sa Un-sik’s urging, Yoo Eun-hyun swallowed dryly.

Since he had never made such a decision before, he couldn’t help but hesitate.

Yoo Eun-hyun looked at Ho An-seok and Sa Un-sik, then stepped aside and said.

“It won’t be for long.”

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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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