Chapter 13: Becoming One of Us
Later, because Im Beomhyeon had caused trouble along the way and gotten into a fight, he was chased by pursuers.
In his panic, he accidentally found the Hwayang Village, where they finally settled.
At first, Im Beomhyeon got along well enough with the villagers, but as he grew more familiar with them, fights became a regular occurrence.
Hwayang Village had plenty of farmland and was located near the mountains.
The edges of the Jade Blossom Mountain Range were dangerous, but the villagers were tough and unafraid.
They often ventured into the mountains to hunt, so there was always an abundance of food.
Having suffered from extreme hunger while fleeing, Im Beomhyeon had developed a habit of grabbing food like it was a competition.
The village boys his age didn't like this, and scuffles broke out frequently.
The older villagers simply let them fight, allowing Im Beomhyeon to grow stronger and more aggressive over time.
He came to rely on his fists to solve problems, and as a result, he became one of the most formidable fighters in the village.
Eventually, he built real bonds with the other villagers through these fights.
What had once been tales of him fighting for food became funny stories the villagers often laughed about.
Im Beomhyeon was eager to settle accounts with the mischievous kids and said in a hurry, "Kid, you're staying at my place!"
With that, he strode toward the children, scaring them into scattering.
He joined their game of chase, making the scene even more chaotic.
Bok Taejin looked at Im Beomhyeon, then at the elderly man whose face was illuminated by the firelight.
He spoke seriously, "Second Uncle, I'd like to stay in the village. Brother Im is right—I'll stay at his place."
Second Uncle nodded his head slightly. "That's fine as well. Sect Leader Bok…"
Bok Taejin quickly interjected, "From now on, I'm just another member of Hwayang Village. Everyone can just call me by my name."
Second Uncle accepted this easily. "Taejin, your body is still weak. Take some time to recover in the village first. And in the future, even if One Flower Sect can't be preserved, it doesn't matter. You are one of us now. As long as we have food and water, you will have your share too."
A warmth feeling spread through Bok Taejin's heart, and he nodded immediately.
He knew this wasn't an empty promise.
The villagers were used to living in the community.
Whether it was farming or hunting, they always ensured there was enough food for the entire village first before individuals kept what they personally gathered.
Second Uncle continued, "Tomorrow, I'll let the others know, and Beomhyeon will take you around the village so you can get familiar with the roads and slowly get to know the people here."
Aunt Seo, who had been listening from the side, added, "Before you go to bed tonight, make sure you recognize my house. If you ever need anything, you can always come to me. Beomhyeon is good for heavy labor—if he's willing, he'll get things done just fine. But for anything else? He doesn't have a clue!"