The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#180 Scholar Juyul (3) - Know Your Enemy and Know Yourself "First, one must know the enemy and know oneself." *** In the martial world, strength is power. The weak are endlessly robbed by the strong, and cannot even voice complaints about what was taken from them. Any vice, hypocrisy, or villainy is justified if one has power. Because that was exactly the world Zhang Hualing had lived in. When she was weak, she had to wander back alleys clutching her hungry stomach, had her desperately earned money stolen, and was beaten simply for having an unusual appearance. If she had not strongly inherited her ancestor's blood, and thus had not been born with a strong body and excellent qualities, the martial world's female master known as 'Lady of Trampling Fire' would have died as roadside weeds before ever blooming. Strength was both a weapon for Zhang Hualing to survive in the world and her source of pride. But that had been broken. Not by famous righteous heroes of orthodox sects, not by sect leaders of prestigious families, not by vicious heretics of evil paths, but by a mere scholar. If this matter spread, her reputation would fall to the ground, and countless people would surely mock and ridicule her. No, even before that, Zhang Hualing herself could never accept the reality that she had been defeated by a mere scholar. Naturally, she went to find the scholar again to challenge him. "You bastard!! Today I'll repay the humiliation from last time—" "Be quiet. Don't you see others are studying?" "Ahh!" Thwack! Zhang Hualing's vision flashed and stars danced before her eyes for a moment. A bamboo flute. It was the result of the bamboo wind instrument precisely striking the center of her head. Thanks to her unique venom and malice, she was someone who wouldn't let out even a groan when a blade entered her body and would make opponents sick of fighting, but the dizzying pain she felt in her head now was something even she couldn't endure. "As I said before, this is not a place for showing off strength but for gaining knowledge. Don't interfere with those who harbor lofty ambitions and get lost." "You bastard! Are you treating me like some petty merchant?!" "Merchants are like the lifeblood that carries salt from the sea to the mountains, precious herbs from the mountains to the fields, and rice from the fields to spread throughout the world. It seems they are not people that a warrior who can only deal with the world through violence should carelessly call lowly." "This is still— Ahh! Ugh! Ahh!!" Zhang Hualing was someone whose beauty could rival the highest-class courtesans of pleasure houses who could drain men's bones with just a smile, and whose martial prowess made her one of the seven masters representing the heretical path. Being beaten like a child was something she could never have dreamed of, but the scholar moved his hands without hesitation as if such things were none of his concern. After being hit on the head with the flute every time she picked a fight, now just seeing him slightly raise the flute made her body instinctively shrink back. After repeating the process of charging in only to get thoroughly beaten dozens of times, even the hot-tempered Zhang Hualing had no choice but to admit that nothing would be accomplished with this current approach. "...It's somewhat humiliating, but there's no choice." Zhang Hualing was not someone who had grown up precious like a flower under the protection of those around her like the arrogant brats of orthodox sects. She was someone who had risen to her current position step by step from the very bottom of the martial world. In that process, there were several times she had to face opponents stronger than herself, and during those times she would keep her eyes wide open, trying to somehow find the opponent's weaknesses. "Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win every battle. I will definitely identify your weakness and achieve victory...!!" If the scholar had heard this, he would have corrected her saying 'It's not "know your enemy and know yourself and win every battle," but rather "know your enemy and know yourself and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles." It means not being in danger, not winning,' but unfortunately this was something she couldn't know in her current state. Zhang Hualing immediately began to take action. *** "You're saying you want to gain knowledge here?" The scholar looked at Zhang Hualing with suspicious eyes. After all, Zhang Hualing who had been charging at him fiercely as if she would somehow bring him down had suddenly changed her tune, so feeling suspicious was only natural. However, Zhang Hualing put on a brazen face as if there was no problem at all. With a mentality that would be flustered with embarrassment here, one could not survive in the harsh world of the evil path. "That's right, I heard you teach not only children but adults as well, so is there any reason I couldn't attend?" "Well, that's true, but..." "If tuition is needed, I'll pay as much as necessary. No, if you want, I could even build you a proper new academy to replace this shabby one." Not all wealthy people in the martial world are masters, but any master cannot be poor unless they belong to the Beggar Sect. This is because it's the nature of the martial world that those with power naturally gain wealth and fame as well. She extorted money from those who tried to make advances on her because of her looks, collected compensation from bandits who tried to rob her on mountain paths, and sometimes just raided famous sects in a region to extort money. There was the minor problem that all her income came from robbery, but in any case, Zhang Hualing, being a master on the level of the Heretical Seven Hegemons, had plenty of money. 'Originally, scholars pretend to be detached from material things on the surface, but behind the scenes they're greedier than anyone. Come on, reveal your true nature.' While Zhang Hualing was hiding her true intentions and her eyes were gleaming, the scholar seemed to ponder for a moment then soon nodded his head. "Indeed, it doesn't seem right to deprive someone of the opportunity to learn just because they committed wrongdoing." "So you'll accept me?" "However, there is a condition." "Tell me. As I said earlier, I could even build you a grand new estate..." "No, forget about that. Rather, take this." "Huh?" Zhang Hualing blinked as she looked at what the scholar held out. They were a small hoe and rake. "Due to your recent rampage nearby, the field has become a mess. As they say, 'those who tie the knot should untie it.' If you personally tend to the field you ruined, it would be sufficient proof of reflection and resolve. What are you doing? Hurry up and take them." Zhang Hualing's cheeks twitched and convulsed. Somehow suppressing her contorting face, Zhang Hualing carefully asked back. "So you're telling me to tend a vegetable garden right now? To me, Zhang Hualing, the Lady of Trampling Fire?" "I don't know whether you're the Lady of Trampling Fire or Lady of Whatever, but yes, I'm telling you to tend the vegetable garden." "This is absurd!! I am one of the Heretical Seven Hegemons! One of the most renowned masters even in the evil path! This kind of work that only country folk do—" Smack!! With a flute strike that seemed to carry twice the usual emotion, Zhang Hualing's mouth, which was about to spout complaints, was forcibly shut. This time it was truly so painful that not even a scream could escape. "Did you eat breakfast this morning, miss?" "Y-you bastard... How dare you, how dare you...!" "Answer me. Did you eat?" "I ate! What does that matter?!" "The rice you ate was made by some farmer's blood and sweat, the fish was caught by a fisherman on rough waters, and the vegetables were gathered by some housewife or herb gatherer. Without their efforts, would you be able to run your mouth here right now? 'Mere country folk' indeed. Before learning anything else, you first need to correct that twisted perception." Zhang Hualing trembled with humiliation. She wanted to give up everything, but then it would be impossible to discover the scholar's secret, and furthermore, to get revenge on the scholar. 'It's for later. Yes, for revenge, I'm just enduring this humiliation for now...!!' Watching Zhang Hualing take the hoe and rake with an obviously reluctant expression, the scholar nodded his head. "Then begin. I'll teach you the proper way from the side." Zhang Hualing had no choice but to squat down in front of the vegetable garden. Considering her splendid attire, it was an unseemly sight in many ways, but there was no other choice since she couldn't use a hoe while standing. "You can't do it with just brute force like that. What are you going to do if you damage the seeds?" "Tsk tsk, I can see you're trying your best to touch the soil as little as possible, but if you work with such a half-hearted posture, you'll hurt your back." "It's fortunate the vegetable garden is small. It's good that this is just light work for a quiet scholar, but if you did this where real farmers work, there wouldn't be enough time." The scholar continued to offer various commentary from the side, and regardless of the content, it was the ultimate encouragement at least in terms of motivation. Because a thorough determination to somehow destroy this man was growing abundantly deep in Zhang Hualing's heart. How much time had passed like that? The scholar, who had been looking with satisfaction at the reorganized vegetable garden, declared to Zhang Hualing. "Good. It seems you've met the basic qualifications." "Then now, can I receive your teachings?" "That's right. Originally, the proper way between master and disciple is to announce acceptance through the formal bow ceremony, but since I'm not such a great person, it would be better to substitute it with a light bow." For Zhang Hualing, this was at least something that could be called good news. Contrary to some common people's misconceptions, disciples rarely bowed their heads nine times when entering the martial world (though since sects were so diverse and their admission procedures varied, it couldn't be definitively said there were none), but in any case, the bowing procedure itself was common. Fearing that the scholar might change his mind even at this late stage, she hastily brought her legs together, clasped her hands, and bowed at the waist. "This... girl, Zhang Hualing. I... greet my master." The scholar also clasped his hands and returned the bow greeting. "I am Scholar Juyul. Please treat me well from now on. And you don't need to force yourself to change your way of speaking." "...Are you serious?" "Courtesy without sincere intention is merely empty ritual. When you don't respect me in your heart, what meaning would there be in forcing it through words alone?" "Don't change your words later. You clearly gave permission." "Haha, you must have been deceived a lot. Come, let's go inside. It's nothing special, but I'll at least provide you with a meal." With light movements, Juyul turned his steps and headed toward the building. Seeing that defenseless back, Zhang Hualing hesitated for just a moment. She had an intuition that a surprise attack right now would work properly. Red Blazing Yang Energy briefly gathered at her fingertips. 'No, if he were someone who would fall for this much, I wouldn't have been humiliated so frequently in the first place.' A surprise attack must be carried out at a decisive and certain moment. Making a clumsy attack when not properly prepared would only heighten his vigilance for nothing. After letting the boiling energy subside again, Zhang Hualing walked in following behind Juyul. 'Just wait. I will definitely repay all this humiliation!!'