Disciple's Elopement Letter
A white goddess descended from the heavens,
her swirling crystals blanketing the land below
in pristine ivory like a quilt of snow.
It was a biting cold day in early winter when the first snow fell on Mount Emei, but the mountain stream in the valley still retained its strong, lively movement, continuing to flow without pause. The rough waterfall was also pouring down relentlessly, disregarding the might of General Winter. But the rocks surrounding the valley seemed to have stilled their breath, as if to begin hibernating, already covered by white snow crystals.
The winter valley filled to the brim with cold air was as chilling as the deep blue of its abyss, always ready to exhale frigid air on any person approaching. Even on summer days one can feel the sting of cold deep in one's body, so in winter it must be even more extreme…
The still surface of the streams were disrupted by a small ripple. At first merely the size formed between an arched thumb and finger. Then around that tiny undulation, slightly bigger ones emerged, overlaying it in concentric ripples. This pattern repeated dozens of times, each new pulsation enveloping the last. Eventually, a disturbance spanning about half a meter spawned. With the largest final wave as its epicenter, a spiraling vortex sank inward, depressurizing at the core like a flush.
It was the moment when a violent whirlpool was about to appear in the quiet winter valley stream. According to the principle of nature, a whirlpool should not exist in this stream. The fact that something exists where it should not means that this whirlpool was not a natural phenomenon but an artificially created one.
The spiral of the whirlpool became increasingly fierce and more powerful. However, the vortex that seemed about to suck in and pulverize everything suddenly froze. With that, the spinning top created by the rotational force of water lost its movement. As the rotational force and speed decreased, the whirlpool gradually lost its power. At that moment, a silhouette burst out from the center of the diminishing and disappearing spiral, piercing through the ripple rings. It was a young man.
"Cough! Cough! Ugh, huh uh!"
The young man who fell into the water coughed violently as he knelt on the ground, propping himself up with both hands. His breathing seemed painful and coarse, irregular. His complexion was also pale, making him look even more exhausted. As if he had been holding his breath for a long time, he gasped for air relentlessly. His face was white like someone who had depleted all his strength, and his limbs were limp and slack like soaked cotton.
The young man who had been spewing ragged breaths lay sprawled on the ground in the shape of a large "大" on the white crystals covering the earth like a blanket. His breathing was still rapid. The young man who had burst out from the whirlpool in the middle of the winter valley stream was none other than the sole successor of the Lightning Sect, the one and only disciple of the current Lightning Sect's sect leader. He was also the attendant, nanny, and handyman of the Lightning Sect as well as its sole source of labor.
The labor mentioned here refers to the ability to earn income. Without him, his aged master would not be able to drink alcohol by now, would have to cook meals himself, prepare side dishes himself, and earn money himself to manage the household. It was only because that young man, Bi Ryu-yeon, existed that his carefree master could play around and eat for free without hunting, gathering, or managing the household. In that sense, Bi Ryu-yeon could be considered someone his master was very grateful towards.
As he calmed his ragged breathing, Bi Ryu-yeon blankly watched the snowflakes falling from the sky landing on his body and the silver sky with falling white dots, with a lingering gaze.
"Cough! Cough! Tsk… Tsk!"
As if dissatisfied about something, Bi Ryu-yeon let out sounds like a child's sulky tantrum behind his coarse breaths. With an extremely displeased expression, as if something was very unsatisfactory, he continued to stare only at the sky with a disappointed look in his eyes.
'Not enough power yet to obtain the Lightning God's might… Cough, cough.'
Muttering incomprehensible words, Bi Ryu-yeon stared at the sky as if in protest. The sky surrounded by silver looked beautiful. Lying on the cold ground without care, Bi Ryu-yeon closed his eyes fearlessly.
Lightning God! The divinity that reigns over lightning! It was the ultimate and final power of the Lightning Path's martial art. But his body was still far from being able to invoke it, let alone obtain that power. Bi Ryu-yeon thought that there would be no more advancement at this rate. He understood it in his mind but could not execute it with his body. He understood the logic and method but could not apply it.
Bi Ryu-yeon's current state was akin to someone who knows which path to take but finds the path too rugged and treacherous to traverse. Only when he overcomes the dangers and tempers his body and mind to gain the strength to climb that perilous path would he finally be able to attain the power of the Lightning God that he desired. The power at the very end…
However, he could not walk that path now. Was he disappointed for being unable to attain the ultimate thing he should obtain? Though for a young person, there might be nothing one wouldn't do to turn his back on this world, during winter there may be few better methods than being drenched and buried in snow. Because in that unconscious state between life and death, there are many ways to die without even realizing it. That's why people lost in the winter mountains encourage and slap each other's cheeks, so as not to lose consciousness and fall asleep. In the winter mountains without any countermeasures, sleep is tantamount to death.
From this, it was unclear whether Bi Ryu-yeon was currently executing a very clever and useful method for a comfortable suicide. Lying sprawled with his limbs stretched out wide on a snow white blanket, he drank in the chill air and endlessly gazed at the silver sky. He was directly putting into practice the perfect way to bid this world farewell and greet the gates of the netherworld. Perhaps he had lost all fear? No chance. Since there was no fear to begin with, there was no way for non-existent fear to suddenly appear then disappear again. It could not disappear when it did not exist in the first place.
One by one, snowflakes drifted down and covered his body. As layers and layers of snow piled up, rather than feeling cold and chilly, Bi Ryu-yeon felt refreshed and snug.
Bi Ryu-yeon's body was quietly shrouded under the silver-glowing blanket of snow. Bi Ryu-yeon's incomprehensible act, like someone who was frantically desperate to die, was so shocking that even the sky was taken aback. Fortunately, his mind still seemed sound, as Bi Ryu-yeon had not yet ceased his 'thought' processes and mental activities. The New Year was about to start soon. This signified the ending and a new beginning.
As he embraced the snow sprinkled by heavenly maidens to herald winter, Bi Ryu-yeon sank into deep contemplation.
'New Year's Day is approaching… it is almost time, time I should leave…'
Muttering incomprehensible words only he could understand, Bi Ryu-yeon buried his body in the snow, thinking it felt cozy. He requested for a refreshingly snug, sweet slumber… The snow kept falling, and eventually Bi Ryu-yeon's body disappeared from the ground. Submerged into the snow. Like a young child sleeping under a snowy white cotton blanket, Bi Ryu-yeon's figure was completely obscured under the pure white crystals that formed the blanket. The snow kept falling. It was the first snow.
***
"Ack! The Thunder-sealed Case… The Thunder-sealed Case is gone!"
It was an extremely chaotic and appalling incident. However, rather than getting angry over such an absurdly outrageous and flabbergasting occurrence, the wicked master could only dumbfoundedly stare intensely at a single letter.
Black smudges that appeared to be words stood out against the white background.
It was the only thing his disciple left behind before disappearing. However, though there was only one item left behind, there was more than one or two that had been taken away. And that pained the master's heart even more. The Thunder-sealed Case was gone. So was the Lightning Zither and the Black Lightning. Things that could not and must not happen had occurred. For a disciple who had only recently completed the succession ritual, someone who had not even finished the legacy ceremonies, to take away the sect's secret treasures and precious treasures, the Hall's treasures among treasures—the Thunder-sealed Case containing the supreme treasures. In the long history of the Biroe-moon, this kind of reckless and outrageous behavior was unheard of to his knowledge.
Thunder-sealed Case referred to a box that had sealed lightnings, Thunders. However, rather than the box itself, what it contained was even more critical and significant. That was because the Thunder-sealed Case was precisely for storing and keeping the Lightning Knives.
Embroidered with silver threads on a jewel-like crimson background, the Thunder-sealed Case contained a total of 10 Lightning Knives, 5 on the right and 5 on the left placed alternately. Due to its special attributes, storing Lightning Knives in this Thunder-sealed Case prevented the sharpness of the lightning edge from declining while also preventing the power of the Lightning Spirit Threads from weakening. So it was a priceless treasure.
To put it simply, the Lightning Knives Bi Ryu-yeon had been using all this while were subpar, charitably called practice blades, or disparagingly called counterfeits. However, that did not mean their might was inferior compared to other weapons. If anything, they were even more powerful. There would be no issue admitting they were clearly stronger. However, they would still be a tier below the genuine article. Otherwise, why would it be called the genuine article?
When a Biroe-moon disciple reaches a certain level of attainment, as part of the succession ritual the master would pass the true Lightning Knives to the disciple and the master would use the false Lightning Knives instead. They would swap the authentic ones for the fakes. This was because the master was already familiar with the authentic ones but the disciple was not, hence requiring sufficient training with the genuines. Due to differences like the spiritual thread strengths, disciples would receive the true Lightning Knives to accumulate training once they reached a certain stage. These were the traditions that had been passed down in the Biroe-moon. But…
'This b… This b*star… Hahaha, t-this scoun… Hah.'
Perhaps lacking even the energy to get angry, or having spent all his vigor in shock, the master's voice only sounded listless and jaded. His laughter contained only bitter and empty reverberations. Plus, even if permission had been granted for the Thunder-sealed Case, permission was never given for the Thunder Zither and Black Lightning. Yet the sole disciple, the successor for the next generation, had stealthily sneaked in like a cat burglar in the night to freely take away the sect's treasures before running away… If one's sanity remained intact after such an experience, wouldn't that be stranger instead? Currently, the master was too flabbergasted to even have the strength to be furious. There was nothing he could do now except blankly stare at the object called a letter or writ that had tangled black scribbles on the white background.
***
Letter to Master
____
At 20 years of age, this disciple has come of age.
It would be a shame for a 20 year old man to not have seen the world!
This disciple, will now venture out into the world, broaden my horizons,
And return with better self-understanding.
Now, as I make my mark, I'll bring honor to master's name and shine glory on our sect,
Then shall return after proving my worth.
From Disciple Bi Ryu-yeon
P.S.: Below is an irrevocable pension fund set up under Master's name at Azure Dragon Bank's Emei branch for post-retirement financial deposit. Retirement should be worry-free. I've ensured solid arrangements so please don't bother chasing me. The deed and deposit certificate can be found placed beside this letter.
Account number is 241052-52-021455. Passcode written behind the letter. Also, please drink a little less alcohol! It's your largest expenses.
____
The disciple's brief statement of his runaway plans. The body text was decent enough, but the postscript was rather thoughtless, the master felt. Still, the words "irrevocable pension fund" somewhat assuaged his anger. At least the brat was not entirely witless, the master pondered, caring somewhat for his teacher or perhaps to prevent being tracked down and dragged back. He had set up an "irrevocable pension fund" before disappearing.
The "irrevocable pension fund" was Azure Dragon Bank's specialized silver product requiring considerable sums deposited regularly over lengthy durations. Rumored to be started by current president Yu Jae Ryong emptying out his entire fortune as seed money for his new bank, everyone had dissuaded him against such a mad act while he wandered with luggage in hand, yet Azure Dragon Bank now stood head and shoulders above other established banks in the region.
Besides lending and safekeeping money, Azure Dragon Bank also offered pension plans where regular monthly silver deposits accumulated to a total predetermined amount would then entitle perpetual monthly interest payouts for life. Naturally the principal savings would become Azure Dragon Bank's assets upon the death of the client. Among these plans, the "irrevocable pension fund" targeted retirement planning for those in their 50s and above, guaranteed financial security in old age, thus an immensely popular product well-known among the middle class and above. Hence Bi Ryu-yeon subscribing to this pension meant preparations for his getaway had been in the works for rather long. And undoubtedly substantial sums were involved.
The master was absolutely dying of curiosity regarding where, how, or by what means this disciple managed to amass such astronomical amounts. No matter how hard he racked his brains, it remained an unsolvable mystery. He had sensed something off about Bi Ryu-yeon after he spent one night in the valley several days ago before returning. Signs had appeared then but never even in his dreams did the master imagine things would unravel in this manner.
His one and only disciple, his sole successor, had blankly spent days gazing at nothing but the sky before finally committing this outrageous act. All this while the master assumed money was all the brat cared about, turns out living in the mountain had felt constricting. Still the master believed Bi Ryu-yeon was clueless about anything beyond money-grubbing, yet that sly devil even prepared post-retirement arrangements for his teacher before vanishing… As if thinking that would stop his master from chasing and catching him…
'So you wanna leave, fine then, go. If it is fated then I shall accept it as such. Wretched brat, rotten bastard, barefaced shameless scoundrel, to sneak away without even bidding your master goodbye… Going just like that…'
The master's curses and laments at his runaway disciple were muffled by the winter winds, unable to echo through the mountains, fading silently away. It was a day during the early Lunar New Year, marking the start of a new year.