Several years ago…

Bonkuk Kumdo was one of the oldest traditional schools for swordsmanship in Korea. Although, it primarily imparted the teachings of using the sword, the basic martial arts were also taught here.

Several elementary students dressed in martial arts attire were exercising punches against the air. These small children were too weak to hold a weapon like a sword. Even if they had muscles to hold the sword, practicing using swords right now would negatively affect their growth. Further, it was more important to focus on the basics of martial arts – using weapons came later – when both mind and body were ready.

“Hana!” The teacher shouted out vigorously as he paced from one end of the room to the other.

At his word, the students pulled the first punch using their right fist. The teacher smiled, they were done perfectly.

“Dul!” He shouted out next.

The student’s pulled their second punch at the teachers command. Although they were punching the air, all the students put their complete strength in each punch.

As the students continued to practice, their concentration was disturbed by the knock on the door.

The teacher signalled them to rest as he went to see who it was.

“Master!” The young teacher exclaimed as he bowed with reverence.

Ahn Hyundo smiled seeing all the young children working so hard.

“Master! I thought you were gone for a year! You should have told me that you were coming, I would have personally come to pick you up!”

The young students looked at the elder who had walked in. They all bowed to him respectfully. Although, they had never been taught by Ahn Hyundo, they all knew he was their teacher’s teacher – which made him grand teacher.

“How was your journey? Was your flight comfortable?” The young disciple shot one question after another.

“Argh! Hoon! You worry too much! Your master is not that old yet! You don’t have to worry about me!” Ahn Hyundo’s voice rang throughout the room as he scolded his disciple fondly.

“It is good to see you return, Master.” Chung Il Hoon said with a smile.

“Now, I would like to introduce you to someone.” Ahn Hyundo turned to look behind.

Chung Il Hoon peered behind Ahn Hyundo – however there was no one there.

Ahn Hyundo’s face cramped up slightly.

Chung Il Hoon was confused. Who was his master trying to introduce?

“Master” He asked.

Ahn Hyundo’s eye brow was twitching. “Just where did that child go…”

“Master?” Chung Il Hoon asked again.

Ahn Hyundo’s face turned pale slightly. “There was a boy…”

Chung Il Hoon gave his master a confused look.

“Boy? What boy? I didn’t see any boy?”

“I brought back a student with me from Japan.” Ahn Hyundo muttered. “He must be very excited to see this dojang so he may have wandered off…”

Chung Il Hoon was shocked – what kind of student did his teacher bring back that dared to leave his master’s side? So irresponsible!

Ahyn Hyundo frowned and then grumbled. “Let me go look for him and bring him back. He is supposed to join your class…”

“Master! Let me and these children look for him!” Chung Il Hoon volunteered.

Ahn Hyundo shook his head in disagreement. “No, I have disturbed your class enough. You should get on with your classes.”

“But master!” Chung Il Hoon was angry. How could he have his master look for a child? This is Ahn Hyundo we are talking here! He is a four-time World Champion of Swordsmanship, the most successful Kumdo Master and the Grand Master of Bonkuk Kumdo. Surely, a man of such importance had more important things to do than search for a kid!

Ahn Hyundo could see concern in Chung Il Hoon’s eyes.

“Ah! I have free time. So I do not mind searching for him.” Ahn Hyundo addressed his disciples tacit concern. “The child also tends to be a bit a temperamental at times…in a new environment I am sure you would want to be found by a familiar face…” Ahn Hyundo chuckled as he spoke the last sentence.

Chung Il Hoon was shocked. Is this really his teacher? Since when did Ahn Hyundo care so much about one student? More correctly, Ahn Hyundo cared for each student but he rarely ever displayed such affection. And was that a smile and laughter? Ever since that incident a few years ago, Ahn Hyundo had stopped smiling! What happened to him in Japan? Chung Il Hoon wondered all these questions as he watched Ahn Hyundo leave in search of the ‘boy’ he brought back from Japan.

Chung Il Hoon was curious and wanted to follow his master but his master’s instructions came first.

“Alright! Even Grand Master is back! Everyone put more strength into those punches!”

Practice went on for several minutes, but Chung Il Hoon was distracted. Right now he could only ponder about the child which Ahn Hyundo went to look for. ‘It must be a genius. Or maybe one who works extremely diligently! Chung Il Hoon was over the moon thinking about how he would teach ‘this child whom his teacher had personally picked up. Though, there was some concern that the child may lack discipline – but Chung Il Hoon brushed it off thinking it was just a child after all; lack of discipline was given.

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Author's note:

1. This chapter has been dedicated to claws8367 for doing what he did!