The news of Elder Lee Cheongmyeong’s punishment spread quickly.
The result was a fifteen-day house arrest. But the details of the punishment weren’t what mattered. The fact that the direct descendant of the Hwanggeum Family, the youngest brat no less, had driven an Elder to his knees was bound to become the talk of the entire Main Family.
“What do you think the situation inside Geumseonwon is right now?”
“Probably nothing serious.”
“Isn’t that too modest a result, considering they made me run all over the place?”
“No. It must have shifted into a strangely awkward situation. The balance of peace will be broken. Now, the people inside Geumseonwon won’t just stay cooped up—they’ll have to come out.”
I gazed toward Geumseonwon from the rooftop window of Okmyogak. Since Geumseonwon sat on such high ground, it appeared faintly in the distance like a pale shadow.
“But when exactly did you start thinking like this? It’s not something someone your age would normally consider.”
“I’d appreciate it if you could see it that way.”
At my answer, Gwak Jindo’s expression twisted further in disbelief.
Truth be told, my ability to move like a wild card wasn’t just because of the tensions within Geumseonwon’s faction—it was also because I was a cripple who gave up on challenging myself in my previous life. That sudden surge of activity made people even more wary and cautious.
“So you’re just waiting for Geumseonwon to collapse? Wouldn’t that be even more problematic?”
“There’s time before it collapses. Geumseonwon is a knot that won’t be easily untied.”
I stopped myself from adding more. Although it was a knot that couldn’t be easily untied, I had my own tough challenges to unravel as well.
Even now, the Wonju-class people from the Hwanggeum Family’s Main Family weren’t coming to see me—they were coming to see Gwak Jindo.
They had heard I had changed, but unlike the others from the Main Family, they didn’t seem overly interested. After all, they had rarely laid eyes on me to begin with.
So I had to prepare quickly. Starting with what I could. Starting small. You can’t build a fortress without first crossing a small ditch.
I rose from the chair, feeling a slight stiffness creeping up my calf from lack of sleep.
“You look tired. Aren’t you going to rest?”
“I rested while sitting down.”
I rolled my waist and looked at Gwak Jindo, who was sitting nearby, his head lowered as he met my gaze.
“Why?”
Well, Gwak Jindo had barely slept either after running around to convince many people yesterday. Still, it was understandable.
“We have to go together.”
“What?”
Gwak Jindo asked, utterly baffled. I responded with even greater disbelief.
“You have to teach me martial arts, right?”
To be honest, Gwak Jindo had never outright promised to teach me martial arts. But with everything that had happened, I felt I could just throw it out there and see if it stuck.
Gwak Jindo pinched his face, rolling his eyes upward as if recalling something.
“Did I say I would take you as my disciple?”
“Yes.”
“…Why don’t I remember that?”
He muttered something under his breath and stood up. If he was going to teach me, he was a rather shy and awkward man about it.
***
I summoned Gi Cheoli after a long time.
“Yes. Where shall we go, Gongja-nim?”
Gi Cheoli trembled when he saw the Outsider Officer. Even without the title, the man looked fierce enough to be intimidating.
But Gi Cheoli trembled even more when our eyes met. He must have known that Elder Lee Cheongmyeong was punished, and by extension, confirmed that I was no pushover. His posture naturally folded at the knees and shoulders.
“Let’s go to Yeongongbu.”
“Huh?”
Gi Cheoli’s eyes popped wide open.
Usually, our family’s internal organizations only had institutions with titles like Won, Jeon, Gak, Dae, and Dang.
Geumseonwon was such a place, and the largest part of the Hwanggeum Family, the Hoesandan, was managed by Geumseonwon. The internal family affairs were handled by Sangmudang, which is why it’s called a dang.
But as Sangmudang and other dang became busier and manpower increased, the organization grew stronger.
So there were ambiguous units that didn’t quite fit the “dang” title, and these were collectively called bu.
“I’m really sorry, Gongja-nim, but I don’t know where Yeongongbu is.”
Gi Cheoli bowed his head. I figured there was about a 50-50 chance he’d know, but he clearly didn’t.
Well, it was fair to say that no one in the Hwanggeum Family would ever have reason to look for Yeongongbu.
Yeongongbu was a secluded training ground meant for Elders or the family’s martial artists.
There was no reason for the Elders, who were halfway retired from the martial world, to train there, and the family’s martial artists were only gathered as political puppets, making it a forgotten space.
Gwak Jindo smirked and momentarily detached himself from Gi Cheoli.
“Was it really necessary to even bring a servant? I could have taken you myself. I haven’t been to Yeongongbu in ages. It’s pretty depressing.”
“Since the Outsider Officer and I are moving, not having an attendant isn’t fitting for our dignity.”
“The martial world talks, huh? I know you’re smart, but why are you already full of empty boasting?”
Gwak Jindo’s words held a slight reproach. I shook my head. My intentions clearly weren’t conveyed properly.
“Right now, I’m under close observation by the family. I can’t show a side different from usual. The enemies will dig into that viciously.”
“I see.”
Boasting or not, it didn’t matter as long as I was sincere inside.
“Fine. Then I’ll act as your attendant. You just need to pretend to guide us.”
“That’s right.”
“You’ve really grown into a guy with no childlike charm.”
Gwak Jindo’s eyes had changed a lot since he first saw me.
Soon we set off toward Yeongongdae. Gwak Jindo explained that Yeongongbu was built at the farthest corner from the main living areas, anticipating it wouldn’t be used often. That meant it would take a long walk.
We neither took shortcuts nor ran. Everything was about maintaining dignity.
Walking without kicking up dust, straightening shoulders, and holding your head high naturally exuded presence.
Even Gwak Jindo noticed and asked quietly,
“Have you practiced walking?”
“Are there people who practice walking?”
“It’s not easy to repeat the posture exactly without being a martial artist. Taesan Apjeong isn’t just pressing down from above—you need to be precise.”
I had a general idea of what he meant. But I just moved naturally. My body was definitely more fluid.
The qi flowing from Sangdanjeon spread evenly to every pulse point, smoothing the whole body.
Though I couldn’t produce the fierce torrents of Qi yet, I could perform the small rotational movements of Donggong. I was gradually getting better at receiving qi.
That’s why Gwak Jindo looked at me strangely.
“Anyway, you must have done something great. They’re all watching you as you pass by.”
“I still don’t like it.”
“What do you mean?”
I turned my head sharply toward the people watching me. Those who met my eyes quickly averted them, pretending to be going about their business.
“Their gaze unsettles me.”
Gwak Jindo smiled at that, while Gi Cheoli twitched nervously.
Surrounded by endless stares, we finally arrived at Yeongongbu.
The place had no fences, and dust clung heavily to the ground. If it weren’t for the tiger carvings on the gate and the refined architectural style, it would have been treated like an abandoned house.
“So badly managed,” Gwak Jindo said with a regretful tone. Gi Cheoli seemed amazed, probably seeing it for the first time.
I was also seeing it for the first time—only hearing about it.
“Well then, Gi Cheoli, we’ll enter Yeongongbu. You wait here at the gate.”
“…Yes? Ah, yes, yes, understood.”
Gi Cheoli’s eyes widened and he stiffened.
I turned my back on Gi Cheoli and entered the Yeongongbu building.
The door stuck somewhere and didn’t open well, but I pushed with my weight and it finally gave way. I almost lost my balance, but Gwak Jindo caught me from behind.
“The Bujoo here must also be vacant. If there was a Bujoo, the building wouldn’t be neglected like this.”
Gwak Jindo frowned as he flicked the cobwebs from the ceiling with his fingers. I nodded in agreement.
“Correct. The Bujoo has been vacant for three years now.”
“A lot must have happened while I was away.”
Gwak Jindo sighed.
As far as I knew, Gwak Jindo had been abroad for about five years. Much had changed in that time.
“Don’t blame yourself. The Outsider Officer went away for his own duties, didn’t he?”
For now, I let that be. Gwak Jindo looked at me curiously, then began inspecting the interior of Yeongongbu.
He was probably suspicious, knowing I knew about his external activities, but since there was no real way to know, he let it slide.
Because the group trying to prevent the extinction of the Hwanggeum Family was still barely formed.
But I knew what Gwak Jindo had done. What he had sacrificed for the family. That was why I could firmly bring him to my side.
“Stop wandering around and start teaching me already.”
I called out to Gwak Jindo as he circled the walls.
“You’ve gotten smarter but lost all manners.”
“I’ve always been like this.”
“That’s what makes it creepy.”
Gwak Jindo said that while drawing his sword and swinging it through the air.
“Now this is truly the essence of swordsmanship.”
“Is there really an essence of the sword?”
“Yes. The sword’s guard must be stable to support the blade, and the balance between left and right must be perfect. That leaves no room for excuses when performing techniques.”
Our family sure spent money on unnecessary things like that. Thanks to that, I was able to practice martial arts here with a fine sword.
“Right. Martial arts. First, we need to confirm that again. Show me the martial arts you displayed before.”
Gwak Jindo said as he threw me the sword. He aimed for the blade, but I lightly caught it by the guard.
“I knew you’d do that.”
I smiled faintly. He must have been surprised by my interpretation of the Igungcheonroe Sword Technique.
I now roughly understood why. Because what I demonstrated was probably the original form of the Igungcheonroe Sword Technique.
“Hmm.”
I held my breath briefly, then exhaled. Matching the rhythm of my soul’s pulse and breath’s wave.
My soft internal energy clustered briefly before flowing through all the pulses like a child that kills a thousand insects.
The swordsmanship I performed now was clearly more refined. I had obtained tremendous hints.
“Outsider Officer.”
“Yes?”
“You said this was the Namhae Sibigeom, right? Then the martial arts I’m about to show are from the Hae Nam Pa.”
“So?”
I nodded. Knowing the name and wielding it made a difference.
Igungcheonroe Sword Technique was a lightning-like striking style, but what I was about to display was soft.
I already knew it was soft before, but I didn’t know if it was the softness of fire or the softness of flesh. Now I understood.
What I had to show was the softness of the sea.
Soft but never yielding. Sometimes serene, yet overwhelmingly powerful when needed.
Before, I thought about using throwing techniques, but not anymore.
“I’ll try.”
I swung the sword. My movements resembled a great wave.
My qi seemed to know exactly where to go, spinning fiercely. The tips looked like dark waves flowing gracefully. The blade wasn’t rigid but stood straight, displaying changes I couldn’t explain. Most amazing of all was that I could perform it.
Move, move.
It felt as if qi and sword spoke to me in one voice.
That gentle flow of my movement abruptly stopped. That was because I had only seen four techniques of the Igungcheonroe Sword Technique.
“Ugh.”
Suddenly, breath that I’d been holding flooded in, and the land that hadn’t flowed until now poured down like rain.
I gasped and looked around. The soil near me had curved lines drawn like waves of water.
“You are…”
Gwak Jindo’s dazed eyes tried to say something, but I felt a dizzying fall into a deep void and lost consciousness.