Earlier that afternoon, Chey had been brave enough to confront his master and ask him a question.
It was something that had been puzzling him for the longest time.
"Master Jeong Jeong, I d-don't mean to sound too forward…." Chey said nervously "but I'm curious, What was it exactly that made you personally want to leave the Firenation army…"
"That is not of your concern for now." Jeong Jeong interrupts Chey, his back turned to him.
Though Chey could already sense something cold and low growing in the old man's voice, the light from the circle of candles already wafting with uneasiness, but he could not help but question further.
"…was it the cruelty of some of your fellow soldiers?"
Still no answer.
"…does it have something to do with the Firelord's ideology? Do you disagree with it?
Silence.
" Or perhaps... the violence you've seen in battle—"
"ARE YOU DEAF, MAN?" Jeong Jeong finally turned and boomed in anger, sending the flames of the candles flickering violently. "Get out! And if you wish to be helpful to me, go and keep a lookout along with the others!"
"Eheh, I'm sorry Master, I meant no offense…I…I'm.."
The old man narrowed his eyes.
"Yes-yes. I'm going now." Chey stammered, as he awkwardly ran out of the hut.
"Jeong-jeong is a living legend..." He says to himself later '"I may never be able to be as great as he is, but being able to serve him and his comrades should be honor for me enough…I should've had more humility and respect. Geez…that was a dumb thing to ask, why did I even bother?"
Meanwhile, back inside lonely darkness of his hut, Jeong-Jeong whispers almost inaudibly to himself in sadness.
"The answer is simple, it is because…after all those years, it all became too much too bear."