Just as Gangchan was about to go to bed, he received word that a guest had come to visit from outside. Without delay, he made his way to the main gate.
“Sir! Is there something wrong?”
Seeing Pang Gipyeong standing in front of the main gate, Gangchan asked in surprise.
“It’s late at night, and I still haven’t found a place to stay. It doesn’t feel right for an old man like me to wander the streets in this state. I know it’s a bother, but could I impose on you for just one night?”
“Please, come inside first.”
Gangchan glanced at Bangdo, who was standing beside him.
“Please prepare a vacant room.”
“Yes, understood.”
As Gangchan led Pang Gipyeong to his own room, he smiled inwardly.
“Thank you, truly. I was actually in quite a difficult spot.”
“It’s nothing. Now that you’re here, please rest comfortably.”
The process of selecting the Bangdo, which had seemed simple at first, took a full five days before it was finally completed.
An even bigger outcome than completing the selection was that Pang Gipyeong, who had said he would only stay for a day, ended up staying at Heavenly Mandate Hall under odd excuses.
When Gangchan chided him not to idle away and instead watch over the children’s martial arts, Pang Gipyeong grumbled about young people being cold-hearted, but nevertheless, he earnestly began instructing the children in martial arts.
In truth, this was exactly what Gangchan had wanted from the day Pang Gipyeong arrived.
Pang Gipyeong was a man who had become a martial artist by carefully following the procedures in a renowned clan. Moreover, his name carried considerable weight.
Therefore, regardless of his motives, the fact that he was staying at Heavenly Mandate Hall at a time like this was as good as a windfall for Gangchan.
The name of the Pang family was not a light one, after all.
Gangchan decided to manage Heavenly Mandate Hall’s armed forces by dividing them into Cheongeomdae and Myeonggeomdae.
Cheongeomdae would serve as the actual armed force of Heavenly Mandate Hall, as originally intended, while Myeonggeomdae was organized as a training unit composed of those under 15.
The greatest difference between Cheongeomdae and Myeonggeomdae was that Cheongeomdae’s main martial arts were those passed down from Nanseol—Muyeong Singun Hwang Gok’s martial techniques—while Myeonggeomdae would be taught Palseonbirok.
Gangchan planned to eventually affiliate Cheongeomdae with Haomun, and Myeonggeomdae with Cheongangmun.
Considering the situation of the Heukdo in Hangzhou and Suzhou, Cheongeomdae was expanded to 200 members, including the original 50, and Myeonggeomdae was completed with 50, finalizing all selection processes.
Heukdo members were loyal and straightforward, but often lacked martial prowess.
Most of all, their older age meant limited growth in martial arts. Gangchan had wondered if there was some way to make up for their lack of martial arts ability.
While pondering this, he made an unexpected discovery during the martial artist selection process.
Among the Heukdo, many were adept at quick thinking and handiwork for survival.
Gangchan decided to select those with skillful hands, regardless of age, and organize them into a separate group called ManSudae.
Having largely completed the organizational structure, Gangchan sent word to Nanseol requesting a meeting.
After dinner, during the first hour of the evening, Gangchan was sitting across from Nanseol in his office.
“Has something happened?”
“Hahaha, it’s not a problem. It’s just that now that the formation of Heavenly Mandate Hall is complete, I thought I should report to you. For now, Heavenly Mandate Hall is divided into two martial units and one special unit.”
As Gangchan explained, Nanseol listened quietly, focused on his words.
“In truth, there was no choice with Myeonggeomdae. I had to teach the Bangdo my martial arts, but due to its nature, it’s very difficult to learn Jinche once past the age of fifteen. Besides, I am, before being the Bangju of Heavenly Mandate Hall, the Munju of Cheongangmun. So this was my decision, but if the Haomun Master opposes, I’ll reconsider everything from the start.”
“There’s no need for that. Please do as you wish, Bangju. I’m already extremely grateful.”
“Also, among the selected members, there are some who are skilled with their hands but unrelated to martial arts. I plan to have them make various things, but I’ll need someone to assist them.”
“Understood. I’ll find someone by any means necessary.”
“Lastly, as you and Ruju know well, evading the surveillance of the demonic cult is our highest priority. Until Heavenly Mandate Hall’s fighting force is fully developed, we must stay alert.”
“I understand well.”
At the beginning of the myosi, when the sun had not yet risen and darkness filled the surroundings.
All the martial artists of Cheongeomdae and Myeonggeomdae at Heavenly Mandate Hall were running along the walls without using inner force.
At first, some Cheongeomdae members who were dissatisfied met with harsh discipline from Gangchan, after which they became more cautious. But once it became known that the martial arts they would learn were those of Muyeong Singun Hwang Gok, the atmosphere changed completely.
Now, when others complained, they would flare up in anger and startle those around them.
After finishing the morning run and breakfast, all Bangdo of Heavenly Mandate Hall stood in orderly formation at the central grand martial training ground.
“Many of you must be wondering why you have to run around the manor every morning and evening. There is only one reason. It’s because you are weak. If anyone thinks they are not weak, step forward.”
After a moment’s hesitation, one person stepped out.
“I am Hong Hyeon.”
A smile spread across Gangchan’s lips.
“Very well. Just block one of my attacks. If you do, I’ll exempt you from running from now on.”
Gangchan descended from the podium and stood before Hong Hyeon.
“If you’re ready, here I come.”
Hardly had the words left his lips before Gangchan’s figure, which had been approaching slowly, vanished, and in an instant, he appeared right in front of Hong Hyeon.
Gangchan’s fist flew at Hong Hyeon’s abdomen.
Hong Hyeon thought he’d lowered his arm to defend, but Gangchan’s right fist was already buried deep in his stomach.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Hong Hyeon crumpled over, curling like a shrimp.
“Is there anyone here who thinks they are stronger than Hong Hyeon?”
Gangchan’s voice rang out across the training ground, and a hush fell over the group. Returning to the podium, Gangchan looked down at the Bangdo and spoke.
“Why are you weak? Is it because the martial arts you’re learning are inherently weak? Because you started learning martial arts too late? Because you never got to take rare elixirs?”
As Gangchan asked each question, he looked at the Bangdo one by one. The Bangdo bowed their heads, swallowing their grievances.
“Yes. You never had those lucky breaks. Is that unfair? Is that why you’re weak? Is it really so?”
After pausing to look at the Bangdo, Gangchan continued.
“Martial arts are simple. If you’re faster than your opponent, you win. If you’re stronger than your opponent, you win. To win, those two things are enough. Martial arts are done with your body. If you’re faster than your opponent, you win. If you’re slower, you lose. If you’re stronger, you win. If you’re weaker, you lose. In the end, you must become faster and stronger than your opponent. So how can your bodies become faster and stronger? If your body isn’t properly built, inner force is meaningless. Even if the advanced martial arts you yearn for are right in front of you, if your body isn’t prepared, those arts will be poison to you. Only by fiercely training your bodies every day can you master such martial arts.”
Gangchan pointed with his finger to one side.
“Over there are tools for you. From now on, wear one on each hand and foot at all times. Each ring weighs ten geun. At first, wear one on each arm and leg, and when you get used to it, add more.”
In the direction Gangchan indicated, heavy rings meant to be worn on wrists and ankles were piled high.
Gangchan continued.
“Right now, you are weak. If a fight breaks out, your first thought should be survival. If your opponent is stronger, find a way to win no matter what. There is no such thing as cowardice if it helps you win. If there is no way to win, then run. In our Heavenly Mandate Hall, there is no such thing as ‘sacrifice.'”
Gangchan appointed Hong Hyeon as the leader of Cheongeomdae, assigned the elite members selected for special operations to Team 1, and set Du Ilchung as their captain.
He gave Hong Hyeon full authority over life and death in Cheongeomdae and instructed him to train the members with utmost strictness.
All members were made to memorize Muyeong Simbeop, Muyeong Dobeop, and Muyeong Seomjeonbo thoroughly, and any questions were to be discussed and resolved together.
Myeonggeomdae began training without a leader; instead, Pang Gipyeong looked after the children and gave explanations on martial arts fundamentals as needed.
Gangchan began teaching Palseonbirok, starting from Inuigiseong, and those who couldn’t read were given literacy lessons separately.
The hope that they could become true martial artists drove everyone to work hard day and night. Thus, Heavenly Mandate Hall was steadily growing stronger overall.
A year later, on the surface, the world seemed quiet, but the atmosphere in the Kangho was growing taut in subtle ways.
In the major cities of Awakening, the activities of informants increased rapidly. After the war among the Heukdo, the Heukdo sects that had unified the great cities of Awakening began growing their power in secret and could no longer be ignored.
Small and medium orthodox sects could not easily challenge them, and incidents of Heukdo tyranny or harm to merchants became almost nonexistent.
As a result, merchants’ views of the Heukdo greatly improved.
Heavenly Mandate Hall remained strictly isolated from the outside, but as rumors spread that it had unified the Heukdo of Hangzhou and Suzhou, information networks from various factions trying to surveil or gather intel on them increased day by day.
Near Heavenly Mandate Hall, in a clearing in the foothills.
Gangchan and Pang Gipyeong stood facing each other.
Since Pang Gipyeong had settled at Heavenly Mandate Hall, Gangchan had continued engaging in near-real combat sparring with his help.
“Thank you for your hard work, sir.”
As Gangchan bowed with courtesy, Pang Gipyeong, sweating, let out a sigh.
“I’m too old for this now. Isn’t the younger one supposed to hold back just once?”
Panting, Pang Gipyeong plopped down on a rock at the edge of the clearing.
“Should I have held back? My apologies.”
Seeing Gangchan scratch his head and laugh, Pang Gipyeong clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk, bowing just to be bowed to, eh?”
Gangchan, his body drenched in sweat, approached and sat beside Pang Gipyeong.
After a moment, Pang Gipyeong quietly spoke.
“It’s time to decide now, isn’t it?”
“Does it matter?”
“That’s what you think, but the world doesn’t see it that way. That’s the problem.”
Gangchan nodded calmly.
“Do you think that, in a world ruled by the Jeongdo, if we live the way they want, they’ll see us as equals? In the end, they’ll dump all their dirty work on us, and when something goes wrong, they’ll abandon us with the excuse, ‘They were Heukdo anyway.’ If it’s about the world’s judgment, then Heavenly Mandate Hall will live as Heukdo. We were Heukdo to begin with anyway.”
Pang Gipyeong fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“Heh, how hard is it to say, ‘We are Jeongdo’… Not like you’re going to do anything bad anyway, are you?”
“And who defines ‘bad things’? From my perspective, the Jeongdo sects do plenty of bad themselves. That’s just the way of the world.”
At Gangchan’s resolute words, Pang Gipyeong seemed about to reply, but in the end, kept his mouth shut.
After a while, he shook his head in resignation and said,
“Yeah, there are plenty of bad ones among the so-called righteous sects. But what can you do, that’s just the way the world is.”
His words sounded like scolding, but Gangchan knew Pang Gipyeong’s heart was warm.
“If that’s the world, then I’m not ready to compromise just yet.”
“Suit yourself, brat. But don’t you dare die before me.”
Pang Gipyeong admired Gangchan’s upright heart and steadfast will. That was why he chose to stay here, teaching the children and supporting Gangchan.
Though the history of the Kangho was long, it wasn’t as if heroes had never arisen from the Heukdo. However, they all disappeared quietly at the hands of the Jeongdo.
Sometimes they vanished fighting for righteousness, other times their lives ended due to the Jeongdo’s schemes.
Gangchan’s stance made him an easy target for everyone.
To the Jeongdo sects, he was Heukdo and could be killed at any time. To the Heukdo, he was a bothersome presence for acting like the Jeongdo.
In the end, there was nowhere for Heavenly Mandate Hall to reach out for help.
Pang Gipyeong admired Gangchan for choosing to walk that path despite knowing it all, but it also pained his heart.