82 Chapter 81 (1/2)
Su Seon-tae's suspicion was in fact, correct.
All five students were in internal celebration as they discovered that the rotting parts of their body had fully healed.
This was because of Kang-hyuk's assistance.
His repeated beatings had stimulated their blood flow in a way that the accumulated poison within their systems burned off, and as a result, the students had been cured.
Of course, the rapid rate of healing was only possible because Kang-hyuk had infused the energy of nature into every beating.
It was a law that the fastest healing always occurs from the energy of nature.
”Ah! There they are!”
The students turned around at Baek-gap's exclamation.
Kang-hyuk, Byeok Ae-rin, and Shim-gu seemed to have returned from somewhere, walking through the entrance way of the inn.
”Are all of you here?”
The students collectively nodded their heads at Shim-gu's question.
After Byeok Ae-rin requested the attendant to serve the meal, all three joined the students at the dinner table.
”....”
Shim-gu abruptly stood up, after having received Kang-hyuk's glance.
As Shim-gu was officially an elder of the Clan, he was seen as the most superior figure present.
”Ahem, ahem ahem. Attention everyone.”
The students straightened their postures and faced Shim-gu.
”You've all worked hard in your training thus far. An important task is awaiting everyone tomorrow.”
”What is the task? Could you tell us right now?”
Shim-gu coughed at the second-year student Go-yun's question.
”Ahem. Ahem ahem. About that. It's something to do with performing a public service.”
”Sorry? Did you say public service?”
The students tilted their heads, looking slightly confused, while the third-year student So-gyeong spoke up. ”Public service? Doesn't that mean serving the common people?”
”That's correct.”
The students' expressions immediately changed at Shim-gu's response. Kang-hyuk spoke up, responding to their reaction.
”Are all of you disappointed? Is it because it's not some great task?”
”Well, that…”
”Tsk tsk. Why do you think that you have to beat someone to do great work?”
”What do you mean?”
Kang-hyuk continued to speak.
”Even if you display your martial skills and engage in a lot of activity using these skills, if you aren't doing something that is necessary for someone, and are instead engaging in action that causes harm, it isn't great work.”
The students fell into thought at Kang-hyuk's words.
As Kang-hyuk had said, no matter how skilled a person is in martial arts, if they engaged in actions that caused harm, this was seen as 'merciless merit'.
He continued on further.
”On the other hand, a person that engages in actions that benefit others, even if they have weak martial abilities, their deeds can truly be considered meritorious. For example, a bowl of millet porridge is a simple meal, but to a starving person, it would be akin to a sumptuous feast.”
Kang-hyuk looked at the students. Judging by their expressions, they seemed to be in a state of realization.
”I hope you will all put your best efforts into this task, as Shim Jangro-nim has brought you here for this task so that you can become great men that are of help not just to Moorim, but to the entire earth. Does everyone understand?”
”Yes! We understand!”
”Another important reason for this task is to give the general public a good impression of the Hwacheon Clan and Hwacheon Academy, so you must all do your best.”
”You will begin the public service after you finish your morning Qigong practice tomorrow. Right, let's start eating.”
”Thank you for the meal!”
The students began to excitedly eat, salivating at the steaming dishes placed in front of them.
***
The chief of Hwagyeong Village was a man named Pyeongsan, who was in his sixties.
The village he headed was rather large, and so, there were many potential candidates for the role of village chief, but for whatever reason, they shied away from the bothersome job, and as a result, Pyeongsan became the village chief.
As the chief of the village, he didn't have that much authority per se, but he did have a lot of work to do as a result. Nevertheless, he was satisfied with his role.
”Hahaha….”
Having woken up early in the morning, Pyeongsan, who was preparing to start his tasks of the day, smirked in thought.
He was recalling the visitor who sought him out the evening before.
He had been fixing a broken straw mat when the man had visited him, and immediately prostrated at the man's appearance.
It was because he realized the identity of the young man that wore a blue uniform.
He knew that only the staff of the Hwacheon Academy wore a blue uniform with the character for learning embroidered on the back of their robe.
No one would dare to pose as a Hwacheon Academy teacher for fear of being arrested by the Clan.
Pyeongsan prostrated flat on his stomach in greeting. It was something he had heard of doing in such circumstances.
”This country fellow greets you, Dae-hyeop!”
”There's no need to be so formal. Also, there's someone you should give more respect to than me.”
”Sorry?”
”It's the elder of the Clan, Shim Jangro-nim.”
”Huh!?”
Pyeongsan's eyes bulged out in response. Stories of the elders of the clan circulated through the land by word of mouth, so they had almost gained a legendary status in many people's minds.
”M-my greetings to you, Jangro-nim!”
”It's nice to meet you as well. I'll get straight to the point.”
Shim-gu cleared his throat, then spoke.
”I've come with students of the Hwacheon Academy for the purpose of doing some public service.”
”Sorry? Di-did you just say public service?”
”I've looked around the area, and I thought that you might like some help with your crops?”
Pyeongsan promptly replied.
”Well if you're offering to help, how could I refuse?”
Pyeongsan would have agreed even if the help was a type of help that would cause damage.
There was a saying that a sword closer to you is scarier than a sword far away.
”Anyways, be aware that I'll be coming tomorrow morning with the students to catch bugs.”
”Sorry? Di-did you say…catch bugs?”
Pyeongsan blinked. He thought that he had misheard Shim-gu.
”Yes. The bugs are nibbling away at your crops, so I thought that it would be of some help to you if we removed them.”
”O-of course!”
”Then, I'll see you tomorrow morning.”
Pyeongsan was in deep thought.
'Well, it's not a bad thing to catch the bugs, but never in my life have I heard of people of Moorim catching bugs. Hahaha.'
***
”Sorry?”
The students were standing in front of the inn after their morning Qigong, their mouths agape from Kang-hyuk's words.
”Ar-are you telling us to catch bugs?”
”Yes.”