The assessment of Hyeongsan and its Three Great Disciples’ martial arts was complete. Naturally, since they were just the Three Great Disciples, their martial arts were mostly basic, and the level of mastery was poor.
Still, it was enough to understand the extent of Hyeongsan’s martial prowess.
“…That’s all.”
Inside the Yeongongbu, the Three Great Disciples of Hyeongsan were gasping for breath. A hint of disdain flickered in Gwak Jindo’s eyes. Then he whispered beside me.
“Lately, since I’ve been watching only you, the guys your age look so pitiful.”
“I thought they were fine.”
“Is that your honest opinion? Neither your form nor your insight is properly developed.”
“No, I’m just talking about Hyeongsan’s martial art itself.”
I was satisfied with just that. What they had demonstrated were fundamental techniques of the Guhyang Geombeop and Wonseong Sword Technique.
That alone was sufficient. After all, martial arts are about principles. Once you understand the basics, deciphering the martial path of that sect’s style isn’t difficult.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I approached the Three Great Disciples of Hyeongsan. They still flinched when I came near. I smiled quietly at their consistent reaction.
Didn’t I say? We have no reason to kill you.”
“Thank you, Gongja. You are our benefactor. Yet, our bodies can’t help but react.”
“That’s fine.”
In truth, I had seen all I needed from them. There was nothing more to unearth. I didn’t think they were hiding any martial arts. On the contrary, they were regretful about not having much to offer and were wary.
“We could send three of you away, but I’m sure it’s uncomfortable for you to leave right now. People who were supposed to be killed but survived always feel that way.”
“That’s true.”
“Then stay with us for a while.”
“Is that really allowed?”
“You can work as Naewon Musas.”
That’s what I said. The Three Great Disciples immediately stood and bowed deeply. Surely, they were already pondering how to live outside and what their futures would hold.
In that regard, I needed as many people as possible. Money for managing people would soon overflow. The only problem was that people who watched the eyes of other prestigious Samga refused to join.
That too would have to be resolved soon.
Anyway, I lacked people, and they had no future. It was a fair trade.
“Thank you, thank you!”
They repeatedly expressed their gratitude. I roughly wrote them recommendation letters and sent them out from the Yeongongbu.
“Gathering all sorts of people, huh.”
“It’s quite an important task.”
“That’s right. Having a few useless guys like those won’t change the sect’s status.”
Gwak Jindo’s words were valid. Still, among people my age that I had seen, they were the cleanest.
After all, they were disciples of the prestigious Hyeongsan sect. Their skills and posture, sharpened from a young age, were impressive. They were too good to waste as mere subordinate Musas.
“We have to build our forces, and they are our first steps.”
“It’s more important to focus on the immediate future than power. By the way, what can we get from their martial arts?”
Gwak Jindo asked, though he didn’t seem to expect much. Before I could answer, I asked him instead.
“Is Hyeongsan’s martial art based on the Dao?”
“You didn’t know that?”
“I wasn’t sure. I realized it while watching.”
“Realizing that while watching is impressive. Not knowing in the first place is even more so.”
Since their martial art flowed like Dao-style martial arts, I asked tentatively, and it turned out to be correct. I stepped into the training ground made of sand. It seemed better to observe first.
Silently, I began drawing. The paper was the sandboard, the brush was a sword.
The movements of the Hyeongsan Musas in my mind replayed perfectly. From every corner, people and swords in the sand moved as if alive.
Gwak Jindo, who had entered with me at first, scoffed and swiftly flew out of the training ground.
“…What a lunatic.”
I seemed to hear Gwak Jindo’s remark, but I didn’t stop drawing. I was in the middle of mastering Hyeongsan’s martial art by depicting it in the form of a painting.
Of course, it wasn’t the sword technique they showed me, but the deeper mysteries I was learning.
Soon, I finished the sketch of the preliminary forms of the Wolseong Sword Technique. By now, the sandboard looked like a mystical cave mural depicting a continuous flow of sword warriors.
From the initial stance to the first second form, Guhyang’s sword movement showed how the sword moved. Even though it was a still drawing, the next drawing gave a sense of how it would move.
“This is truly magnificent.”
“Somehow it turned out that way.”
I sheathed my sword at my waist. This was where it began.
I was about to create a martial art that would disrupt Hyeongsan’s style. If the Namak Geomgun heard this, they would rush to behead me immediately.
“Even if someone learns the martial art I create, how could they defeat a master? I’ll just expose its weak points.”
The martial art I would create would completely overturn the core of Hyeongsan’s mysteries. But as I said, a third-rate Musa learning this wouldn’t be able to defeat a first-rate Hyeongsan warrior.
“For example, the swift sword called Jagae Jungcheon that Ong Mungyu wrote for me. It draws curves in the leisurely phase and must transform instantly into the swift phase. Masters flow through this change like water, but many will break during the transition from leisurely to swift because more people memorize the form before realizing its insight.”
“That’s true. Your eyes for martial arts are truly unique.”
“That’s why I’ll create a form that exploits the gap during the transition from leisurely to swift.”
Already, the sword movements and energy flow of the Guhyang Geombeop and Wolseong Sword Technique were all stored in my mind. I smiled at Gwak Jindo, whose expression still showed dissatisfaction.
“I’ll name the martial art Pa Hyeong Sword Technique.”
“So you’ll be the grandmaster of that martial art.”
“That’s right.”
I nodded at Gwak Jindo’s mockery and quickly drew my sword. From now on, I had to move—figuring out how to effectively reverse-engineer Hyeongsan’s sword techniques.
***
As always, my schedule was incredibly simple. I went to the Yeongongbu to develop the Pa Hyeong Sword Technique, then came to Okmyogak to report to Myung Jaehee.
The war had effectively already begun. The speed of information flowing under the surface was rapidly increasing.
Myung Jaehee handed me a piece of paper. The results of assigning people to the Elderly Council of the Hwanggeum Family and the Hyeongsan faction were better than expected.
“A joint operation with Jusampa.”
“Wow, dealing with just Hyeongsan faction is hard enough.”
Myung Jaehee said this, but I didn’t think it would be so difficult. I was certain this fight would end overwhelmingly. Still, I kept such personal predictions to myself.
This time, there was quite a bit of interesting information. The Murim Alliance Musas had entered Namchang.
Hyeongsan had officially provoked them and prepared for a siege in advance. Of course, to avoid drawing the attention of the central plains, they weren’t brought in as Hwanggeum Family elders but stationed in Namchang.
“When did these people set out, and how did they arrive so fast?”
“That, I don’t know.”
The Murim Alliance was in Wuhan of Hubei, which was close to Namchang. Ordinary people would take a full day, but Musas could do it in half a day.
I continued unfolding the paper. It detailed the number of Murim Alliance Musas, how many had reached their peak, how many were first-rate, and included detailed records.
“Four hundred total, with thirty at the peak, seventy first-rate.”
Not a bad force. But it was utterly insufficient to face Hyeongsan and Jusampa.
Even Myung Jaehee, who wasn’t well-versed in group battles, frowned.
“That’s not enough, is it?”
“Not enough.”
That was the best the Murim Alliance could offer. Filling the gap was my task.
Still, there was one notable name—one I felt I had heard somewhere. A familiar name implied a master.
“Cheongmu Captain Cheon Jiak. How strong is this person?”
“Among the Murim Alliance, he’s one of the top ten masters.”
“Really? What’s his personality like?”
“Like most masters, a complete bastard.”
I snorted. The leader of the Musas had to be confident. That meant I had to persuade this person to take command of the forces.
“Where are these people now?”
“They rented an empty Jangwon and are staying there.”
“Take me there.”
I stood immediately. Myung Jaehee pursed her lips and hesitated a bit.
“I didn’t say for you to go find them.”
“I’m just going.”
“…Hmm. I recommend you don’t go.”
Myung Jaehee avoided my gaze and said,
“We are just intelligence gatherers, so we have no special concerns. But there are natural Musas there. Their awareness of the alliance isn’t that deep. They are just people who have come to obey the Murim Alliance leader’s orders.”
“That’s fine.”
If there were disdainful eyes toward the alliance, I had to go even more. Soon, I’d have to face prejudice from the central plains. If I didn’t win over our own side first, we couldn’t win over the enemy.
***
“The Youngest Master of the Hwanggeum Family will be visiting here soon.”
“The industrious little rogue we heard about.”
In a modest Jangwon room, one person stood, and another sat. The standing person was middle-aged with rough skin, while the one sitting appeared barely past eighteen, with skin as white as jade.
“Since Biyun Gakju praised him so highly, I was curious what kind of person he is.”
“Was it really necessary for him to come in person?”
The standing person was the commander of Jeongmudae, Cheon Jiak.
Cheon Jiak was bewildered. It was always easier to go to the commander than have someone come to him. Once you had someone to serve, the fatigue began.
But the most troublesome person had come, so his bewilderment doubled. It was even a secret visit; even the Cheongmu Unit didn’t know.
Currently, Murim Alliance leader Jong Ri Moon was in Wuhan.
“He’s barely more than a child of the alliance. How great could he be?”
“Are you not even curious? If Biyun Gakju, who’s so discerning in judging people, calls him a talent, then he must be something.”
Jong Ri Un spread out the reports sent by Yeo Sangwoo Elder. They were the latest reports from the Hwanggeum Family, covering all recent trends.
“Suddenly, ever since the Youngest Master’s return, things have been changing rapidly. We didn’t expect to be so deeply involved.”
Jong Ri Un read the reports like an entertaining poem.
Everything Gold-necked Hwan had done was recorded without exaggeration.
Summoning Gwak Jindo, beheading Elder Lee Cheongmyeong, slaying Hyeongsan’s two sons—all were ruthless but calculated actions.
I wondered what actions he would show before the spirited Murim Alliance Musas.
Then, the door knocked sharply.
“The Youngest Master has arrived.”
“That was fast.”
Jong Ri Un smiled brightly. Seeing his reaction, Cheon Jiak was also curious. Few people piqued the Murim Alliance leader’s curiosity like this. What exactly drew him to Namchang?
If all he had were leftover tricks and deceptive words, he was bound to be sorely disappointed.
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