Chapter 51: The Third Flower (4)
The envious gazes directed at the purple flower weren’t exclusive to just Yu Su-rin or Jin Ri-yeon.
Many disciples who grew up in the Azure Forest since their youth probably once dreamt of becoming an honor flower disciple. However, as they grew older, they realized its impossibility and found their own paths.
It was the same for Jin Ri-yeon and Yu Su-rin. It’s just that their interest was deeper, and they had the talent worth challenging it, which made their surrender delayed.
There were several reasons why honor flower disciples were subjects of admiration.
Above all, its rarity. Only a very few individuals with martial arts, sorcery, academics, and another aptitude can wear the purple flower.
They were not affiliated with Blue Flower Palace or Snowflake Hermit Palace, so they had an independent position and freedom. They had fewer restrictions when it came to traveling throughout Jianghu compared to other disciples. A first-flower disciple of honor flower or above could freely move without seeking permission from superiors.
And what were their duties? They handled precious treasures that one needed permission from first-generation disciples to even touch. They were in charge of exchanges with the disciples of major sects, whether from the Wudang Sect or the Mount Hua Sect.
In the entire sect, from first-generation to third-generation disciples, the number of honor flower disciples barely exceeded ten, and their budget was enormous.
‘So, it’s like a divine position.’
After listening to the explanations, Yi-gang felt this way. They passionately explained how envied the honor flower disciples were.
‘It’s reserved for the top talents within the organization, they have budgetary freedom, and their authority is immense.’
It certainly was a prestigious position. If one becomes a martial flower disciple or Taoist flower disciple, they would be affiliated with either the Blue Flower Palace or the Snowflake Hermit Palace.
“Are you an idiot? Do you realize what a great opportunity this is? Normally, you’d have to show achievements in both martial arts and sorcery to even take this test. This is an unprecedented offer!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes!”
Yi-gang genuinely couldn’t understand why Yu Su-rin was passionately recommending it like that. Wasn’t she the one who wanted to become an honor flower disciple?
Surely, when Yu Jeong-shin suggested the honor flower disciple’s test to Yi-gang, Yu Su-rin seemed despondent. But when Yi-gang declined, she changed her attitude like that.
「She probably thinks that the descendant cannot discern what’s best. She seems so fervent, probably because she finds that regrettable.」
‘Is that so?’
「Yes, she’s not a child with a wicked disposition. She just doesn’t know.」
That’s right. Both Yu Su-rin and Yu Jeong-shin did not understand Yi-gang’s stance.
Even if the disciples of the Azure Forest desired the position of honor flower disciple, that’s their perspective.
Although he was born with the Great Yin Meridian Blockage and wished to leave his clan, Yi-gang was undeniably the cherished descendant of the Baek Noble Clan.
He didn’t come to the Azure Forest because he was short of money. He didn’t join the Azure Forest to mingle and get along with the disciples of other prestigious sects either.
If he had wished for that, he would have chosen to stay in the manor in Xi’an rather than come to the Azure Forest in the remote valley.
“I don’t really need what you’re offering.”
“What, really...?!”
The healthy father and daughter duo didn’t understand the desperation of a life that shortened day by day. Being born with a good physique, they didn’t know the warmth of true Qi flowing through the meridians.
In the same way, the advantages of being an honor flower disciple they mentioned couldn’t captivate Yi-gang’s heart.
No, to be precise, it’s just a bit lacking.
“Becoming an honor flower disciple and becoming a librarian here at Five Flower Grand Library grants you unrestricted access.”
“Unrestricted access?”
“Yes, under my supervision, you can access all books up to the first class. This includes martial arts secret books as well.”This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.
Just as Shaolin had its Sutra Palace, the Azure Forest’s Five Flower Grand Library contained countless secret martial arts books.
“Even martial arts that only first-generation disciples above can learn, you can study them. No, even techniques that require the approval of Blue Flower Palace Master. Have you heard of martial arts like Supreme Heaven-shaking Foot and Eight Trigrams Five Hermits Finger?”
“Yes, I’ve heard of them. They’re renowned foot and finger techniques.”
“That’s right, and not just those. Even the Blue Flower Palace Master’s signature technique, the Red Mountain Blue Glory Sword. If you want, you can learn it. I’ll personally instruct you.”
Yi-gang was also surprised by this statement. No martial arts sect granted access to all its techniques to just any disciple.
In Mount Hua, only the elite martial artists called Plum Blossom Twenty-Four Masters are taught the Violet Mist Sword Dance. In Shaolin, only the Eighteen Arhats are taught the Mighty Vajra.
And the Red Mountain Blue Glory Sword was also an unparalleled sword technique in the Azure Forest. The mere fact that one could learn such a technique just by becoming an honor flower disciple...
It’s certainly worthy of admiration.
「Hehe.」
However, the Immortal Divine Sword laughed.
Yi-gang could only respond with a bitter smile.
While these tales would tempt 99% of martial artists in Jianghu, they meant nothing to Yi-gang.
「The sword that blooms blue flowers on the red mountain.」
Yi-gang wasn’t a fool who would try to pick up silver coins from the ground while holding gold nuggets in both hands.
「In the left hand, you wield the Heaven’s Shadow Sword, and in the right, the Immortal Divine Art. And behind, there’s me, the Immortal Divine Sword.」
‘I am aware.’
「Even if you focus on the Heaven’s Shadow Sword, there won’t be ample time.」
Yi-gang was already learning both the Immortal Divine Art and the Heaven’s Shadow Sword techniques. These techniques were as profound as the divine arts of the Azure Forest.
Moreover, didn’t he have the Immortal Divine Sword, once hailed as the best in the world, by his side? Even just learning swordsmanship from it was overwhelming.
However, since he couldn’t explain everything about the Immortal Divine Sword, Yi-gang posed a different question.
“Do you manage this vast library all by yourself?”
“Eh? Oh, yes, I do.”
“There aren’t others to help you?”
“Well, there are a few honor flower disciples among the first-generation disciples. But they are currently preoccupied with other matters.”
“So, if I were to become an honor flower disciple, it seems I’d be quite busy.”
“At least for the time being...”
Yu Jeong-shin managed this enormous archive by himself.
If Yi-gang became his sole subordinate, it’s clear he would be swamped with work. It might be more comfortable for his training if he were to become a martial flower disciple, given their greater numbers.
As Yi-gang explained in that manner, Yu Jeong-shin tightly closed his eyes.
“I understand... but...
“It’s a pity then...”
It seemed like he was about to give up, but Yu Jeong-shin appeared even more desperate than Yi-gang had anticipated.
“I promise you this. If you become an honor flower disciple, you only need to help me for 4 hours a day. Work for 5 days, and I’ll give you 2 days off. You can spend the rest of the time freely.”
“Excuse me?”
“The second test measures sensitivity to spiritual energy. Do you see these bookshelves?”
Yu Jeong-shin gestured around.
Centered around a spot where sunlight shone from the ceiling, bookshelves encircled in a circular formation.
“It’s where we store books related to academic studies. The collection consists of just under 10,000 volumes.”
10,000 volumes was an astonishing amount, especially considering it pertained only to academic subjects.
The bookshelves surrounding Yi-gang towered high and were layered in multiple rows.
“In this place, there used to be a yokai called Brush Eater. It dwells in old manuscripts and consumes the characters within them, quite a troublesome creature. Not too long ago, one was captured and its teeth were extracted.”
It was an unexpected talk of monsters and ghosts.
“That creature has been released into one of the 10,000 books here. It’s probably lurking around, trying to feed on the characters.”
“So, it’s inside a book? Like some sort of insect?”
“It literally just consumes the characters. You might have heard of tiger ghosts. Think of it as a similar spiritual entity.”
Yu Jeong-shin looked dead serious.
“Your task is to find it. You have a limit of just one day. Starting now.”
Among 10,000 volumes, he had to locate which book, and on which page, this tiny creature was hiding in. One day was a very limited time.
Many disciples who passed the first test often found this challenge daunting.
Despite the commencement of the test, Yi-gang stood still.
Yu Jeong-shin quietly observed him.
‘It won’t be easy. But it’s not a problem that can be solved by just thinking.’
At first glance, one could tell that Yi-gang was exceptionally intelligent for his age. Perhaps it was due to his unique constitution known as the Great Yin Meridian Blockage.
‘If Su-rin hadn’t learned the sorcery, she probably wouldn’t have passed either.’
Yu Su-rin used the Insight Eye to find the book.
However, this was essentially a shortcut. Normally, one should rely on their own senses to find it.
Hearing the unheard and seeing the unseen. Only those with an open upper dantian could pass this test. That’s why even Yu Su-rin couldn’t pass the third test.
‘All senses must be engaged. Perhaps, I can sense the energy of the Brush Eater.’
It’s a test that went beyond intuition and required heightened senses. Even Yu Jeong-shin struggled periodically due to the need to exterminate the Brush Eater.
In places where the spiritual energy of Mount Heng concentrates, creatures like Brush Eater naturally manifested. This was one of the factors that increased the workload for Yu Jeong-shin.
‘I hope I can find it well.’
Young Yi-gang would probably have to search the bookshelves with full concentration to discern anything.
Finally, Yi-gang began to move.
He stopped firmly in front of one of the bookshelves.
Then, he looked back at Yu Jeong-shin.
“...Is this the right one?”
“Hmm? Do you have a question?”
“No, I’m asking if this is the right book.”
Saying so, Yi-gang pulled out a book from the shelf and waved it.
“What?!”
Yu Jeong-shin looked shocked. Was Yi-gang implying that he’d already found the book infested by the Brush Eater?
Moreover, he had inquired without even opening the book.
“No, that’s not it. You can’t just randomly pick and try.”
That book wasn’t the one hiding the toothless Brush Eater. But as Yu Jeong-shin approached Yi-gang in bewilderment, his expression suddenly turned stern.
The moment Yu Jeong-shin grabbed the book presented by Yi-gang, he felt it. The faint energy of the Brush Eater.
Aghast, Yu Jeong-shin opened the book to find several characters conspicuously missing.
“When did they multiply again!”
Brush Eaters were no less than a disaster for the scripture repository. Just the day before, he had eradicated one, and now new ones had multiplied.
A surprised Yu Jeong-shin murmured something with his hand over the book, and a thin smoke arose from his hand, incinerating the Brush Eater.
He looked at Yi-gang in disbelief.
“How, how did you know immediately?”
Yi-gang widened his eyes before responding.
“I heard a sound? Like something munching on the characters.”
“What? You heard a sound?”
Yu Jeong-shin opened his mouth and listened intently. Of course, he couldn’t hear such a sound.
He sighed deeply and muttered. The test was no longer the pressing matter at the moment.
“Let’s postpone the test for now. I’m not sure how much Brush Eaters have proliferated, so we should first find and eliminate all of them.”
“Hold on a moment.”
Yi-gang stopped Yu Jeong-shin and began to swiftly pull out various books from the shelves, stacking them.
“These, and up to this one. They’re all here.”
All the books Yi-gang had selected showed signs of characters disappearing.
“What? How? All of these are infested with Brush Eaters!”
He had precisely identified the books where Brush Eaters had multiplied. Yu Jeong-shin felt as if he had been bewitched.
“Y-you really did hear the Brush Eaters munching on the characters.”
“No, I thought the strange noise was due to a condition I have,” Yi-gang explained, rubbing his ears.
“I often experience tinnitus. I thought it was just that.”
“Oh...”
Yi-gang had been hearing the sound of the creature munching on the characters from the start.
Yu Jeong-shin was left speechless.
“You’ve passed!”
A treasure-like talent had appeared.
That was all he could think of.
