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The Sect Leader found himself looking at a small ancient painting that had survived through the years to the present.
The rice sheet had a ragged, fire-corroded edge inside a book that was in a similar state, if not a little worse. Although the disjointed words gave no clue to its content, Hyun Jong became interested in this book because it was signed by former Sect Leader Chung Mun.
The painting showed a man relaxing on a cushion, his face in profile looking elsewhere looking for something. Behind him, through the open window loomed a branch with plum blossoms in full bloom of vibrant shades of red. The clothing of the person in the painting was the uniform of his Sect, a high-ranking elder, and although the features were mature, they didn't give a clue as to what kind of important person he must be to be found in the former Sect Leader's personal diary.
Hyun Jong did not dare to make assumptions about the origin of the mysterious person in the portrait, but his trusted classmates were more than willing to thoroughly examine said person. Hyun Young turned the painting several times, checking the angle of the light, the color of the painting, the position of the stones at the bottom of the window, the shape of the shadows of other objects that could not be seen in the background of the the paper and other small details, until determining that the portrait was painted in the personal room of the Sect Leader.
Hyun Sang, who had been taking a curious look at the portrait over his companion's shoulder, noticed instead the outline of the muscles through the clothes, the balanced posture, and the calluses on the hands, which unlike what usually might be, they lay relaxed on his lap. His face looked like a puppy begging for a pat, he thought secretly.
Hyun Young cleared his throat, looking up to look at the Sect Leader in deep contemplation. “I guess, this must be one of the former Sect Leader's close advisers. Older than it appears, so he must have been very strong."
Hyun Sang tilted his head towards the portrait, staring into the man's eyes. “I think he might be a close friend. Perhaps a son, although there is no record of a marriage or descent."
Or a lover, he thought to himself, but quickly quashed the idea because elucidating the possible scandals in the love lives of his ancestors would be disrespectful.
Un Am was much more reserved in his opinion. "Maybe he was a close disciple of the same generation."
Un Gum nodded next to him, seeming to agree with several of the assessments before adding. “Whoever he was, He must be a very talented warrior just from his posture."
"Anyway, Sect Leader," Hyun Young sighed. "Most of the diary was burned, so assuming is pointless."
Hyun Jong nodded, acknowledging his point sadly. Even though most of the words were irretrievable, learning a little bit about the life of his ancestors, even if it was mundane data, made him feel closer to those brave warriors who proudly fought for his Sect. As if he was a little better suited for the position, even.
Hyun Sang had reviewed the diary earlier. Actually, he was the one who took him to his Sect Leader, knowing how much he cared about these details. However, it was Un Gum who noticed the lines between two pages glued together from the melted edges, gently parting them to get a low voice to read their contents—: "...I'm afraid, at this rate Chung Myung will walk alone while... Without waiting for no one, carrying more than... end up regretting..." The ominous words were erased on the next page—: "That bastard hit again a... He ate all the cookies after... Like a child."
Un Gum let out a soft sigh, thinking that the person in the portrait was not that simple. After turning a few more pages, he noticed that the tone of the person writing them changed from formal to informal, as if by talking about him, the waves in his heart were reflected in the writing.
"He talks about him a lot," Un Gum concluded, letting Hyun Jong take the book again with twinkling eyes.
"Ho... So this person must be Chung Myung," the Sect Leader pointed out, going over the words on the thin yellowed pages with reverence.
Suddenly, the man's rough features spoke of an impatient character with a hint of immaturity, he envisioned Sect Leader Chung Mun personally taking care of the man lying in the same room, thinking of how to gently invite him to interact with his fellow disciples and worrying for his future.
Hyun Jong felt a little closer to that acclaimed Sect Leader.
"If his name is Chung Myung, could it be the Plum Blossom Sword Saint?" Hyun Sang mused with narrowed eyes, thinking of that man wielding a sword that gave off plum blossoms. The best swordsman in the world, could it be him?
That same night, Hyun Jong traced the folds of the delicate sheet of paper with his rough fingertips, feeling the irregular texture like a balm for his heart.
"So this could be the Saint..." he murmured, refolding the sheet into quarters under the watchful eye of the crescent moon.
Once Hyun Jong closed his eyes, the paper sheet fluttered gently on the little table, untouched by the wind. A hint of red and pink began to slowly seep through the portrait, reaching the bed to the unsuspecting Sect Leader.
Afternoon light filtered through the older man's dreamscape, illuminating the room he stood in as he cast faint shadows that gradually darkened.
Hyun Jong looked around his own room, confused. Maybe he slept in late.
"Sahyung," muttered the plaintive voice. "I don't see the point in painting a portrait of mine, wouldn't one of Sahyung's be better, since Sahyung will live less?"
Hyun Jong slowly turned his head towards the man sitting in front of the window, the same as the one in the image they rescued from the Sect Leader's diary. Opposite Chung Myung, a young man around the same age switched brushes to add small details. And following Chung Myung's line of sight, was an old man with a firm and gentle appearance. That should be Sect Leader Chung Mun.
"This brat, you should know better than to say words of bad omen. Haven't I taught you manners?"
"Hah, never mind, wasn't it Sahyung who said that we are all destined to die?", replied. "Why when I say it is a bad omen?"
The portrait artist chimed in, "Chung Myung Sahyung, please stay still or we'll have to start over. Again."
Chung Myung froze in place under Chung Mun's gaze.
"I want a portrait of you so that future generations will remember you," Chung Mun confessed.
"I don't need or want to be reminded," Chung Myung replied. "As long as Mount Hua is safe, then it doesn't matter."
Hyun Jong walked to stand between these three people, still standing, his bright eyes absorbing every word. Though he knew this was more than likely the figment of his imagination, it could also be his ancestors' guidance through a dream.
"That is admirable, it seems you have finally listened to some of my lessons," Chung Mun replied. "But you're not getting out of this."
Chung Myung snorted, looking very tempted to drop to the ground and roll on it. "I always listen to Sahyung."
Chung Jin stopped, "Well, even if you listen to Sahyung, it doesn't mean you'll heed to him."
"My ancestors,” Hyung Jong murmured. “The Mount Hua we love so much… It's not very good, what should I do…?”
Chung Myung's eyes locked on Hyun Jong's suddenly, as if he had heard him. However, it was not like that, he was only looking towards Chung Mun.
"Okay. Until Chung Jin finishes, I'll pay attention to everything Sahyung has to say carefully, but in return! Sahyung definitely can't scold me for eating at elders gatherings."
"...You get away with it anyway, you punk," Chung Mun muttered in a very low voice. "In that case, how about I finally teach you some Taoism?"
Chung Myung's smile faltered, as if he was beginning to regret it. It's okay, you don't even have to listen carefully. Oh, no, that wasn't the deal, was it?
Chung Mun did not notice the conflicting feelings in Chung Myung.
Hyun Jong was a much better apprentice, sitting anxiously looking up at the Sect Leader like a child listening intently to his grandfather. With Hyun Jong's age and position, it was something he could rarely afford.
"Currently, you know that we are waging a battle against the Magyo that will soon escalate, right?" Chung Mun paused. "We, the elders, will be the ones leading the battlefield. Even more so, being the ones leading the other Sects."
Chung Myung blinked at Chung Mun, not waiting for the topic of conversation. He seemed more serious than he had initially thought he would be, even though Chung Mun's lessons were all for his own good considering his situation.
"The Demon Cult is strong. Many will not return, however, those who remain will be the ones to shape the Mount Hua Sect in the future..."
Chung Jin painted Chung Myung's bright eyes looking at his Sahyung with full attention, like an obedient puppy.
"You yourself have learned from our ancestors, and our descendants have learned from us. What kind of place do you think it will be?"
Sect Leader Hyun Jong reverently listened to the words, pondering their meaning very carefully.
Chung Myung immediately replied, "Mount Hua is Mount Hua, I remember Sahyung saying that." He seemed very proud for having recited the words perfectly. "Although I don't think it will be much different. "
"Whether or not it is different will depend on our legacy. Do you understand what I mean?"
Chung Myung nodded several times, like a chick pecking at rice. "Of course, I must cut off the heads of those Demon cult bastards in order for our Sect to live well."
Chung Jin sighed. "Chung Myung Sahyung, the Sect Leader wants you to teach the children something so they can learn from you. So Sahyung will leave something behind in the world."
Chung Myung let out an "Ah," full of incomprehension. "But I still think that ending the demon cult will benefit them the most."
"... Anyway, the painting is finished, now it just needs to dry."
"Good job, Chung Jin-ah."
"Ehem," a fake cough came from Chung Myung, who looked at Chung Mun expectantly.
"Yes, of course, you don't have to listen anymore, just think about it, will you?"
Chung Myung looked disappointed at his Sahyung like a bullied puppy. After he stood still and listened carefully to his Sahyung with a lot of effort, he won't get any praise, but Chung Jin will?
Anyway, Chung Myung pulled back, pouting the whole way. Behind him, Chung Jin came out with his scholar's tools, looking a bit tired.
Chung Mun placed the paper on his desk with a weight on the sheet so it wouldn't get ruined. It had taken him enough effort to keep Chung Myung still!
"Anyway," Chung Mun said to himself. "Depending on how the war goes, Chung Myung may become the next Sect Leader, or someone else may. I should leave a few words for my successor, then."
During the time of an incense stick, Hyun Jong watched Chung Mun write delicate characters on the scroll, signing it at the end and letting it dry. Hyun Jong simply enjoyed the peace in the room, which had a different aura from his own office. Perhaps it was because Hyun Jong was looking up at this Sect Leader or—
Wait, Chung Mun was entering into the safe!?
Hyun Jong scrambled to his feet, hot on the heels of the former Sect Leader as he watched his broad back walk confidently down the lighted hallway. Even the structure itself looked different, just like the current Mount Hua, going through a stage of darkness where not even the stars illuminated its path.
When Chung Mun reached the door of the safe with sword marks traced on it, he slowly drew his sword from the scabbard, as if performing a sacred ritual. He greeted towards the door, in the starting combat stance before beginning to trace the cracks in the door with the point of his sword.
Hyun Jong recognized the simpler forms of the sword, however as the petals began to sprout from the tip of the metal blade, wonder washed over him. Hyun Jong shouldn't blink, he couldn't afford to miss a single move. This was the guide of his ancestors, a last ray of light in the darkness.
With a heavy sound, the doors slowly opened in front of his eyes as the sword was sheathed.
... A long time later, Chung Myung came to a Mount Hua Sect that was not in such a bad condition, even if the talent was just under mediocrity and the total strength of the Sect was not much.
Looking at the face of this young disciple, the elders couldn't help but notice the similarity to a certain portrait.
Even more so, Hyun Jong, who had witnessed the Plum Blossom Sword Saint's mannerisms and whiny way of speaking.
Even if he didn't say it out loud, Hyun Jong believes that this boy must be the reincarnation of Chung Myung.
He just has that feeling.