Return of the Mount Hua

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“Is this Hwasan?”

A boy, his face still youthful, lifted his gaze to the signboard that read “Great Hwasan Sect [대화산파(大華山派)].”

It was certainly something out of the ordinary. Though the main gate of the sect, known as the Mountain Gate [산문(山門)], was not particularly large and gave off simplistic, unadorned air unique to Taoist style, the brushstrokes of the characters carved into the plaque, as vigorous as dragons and serpents soaring through the sky [용사비등(龍蛇飛騰)], seemed to carry the full weight of Hwasan Sect’s heroic spirit. The Mountain Gate was no different from the face of the sect. Just from this sight alone, it was enough to understand what kind of place this sect called Hwasan was.

“Indeed.”

The boy slowly nodded, as if satisfied. A faint smile bloomed at the corner of his lips. Because those lips were a touch on the thin side, that smile could seem a little arrogant, but no one would be able to deny that if they passed this youth on the street, they would at least turn back once to look, so handsome and bright did he appear.

“So this is where I’ll be living from now on.”

The boy’s face brimmed with expectation and confidence.

“Young Master.”

“Hm?”

At the voice that came from behind, the boy glanced back at the servant standing there. The man, who had been standing at attention, bowed his head, lowered his posture, and cautiously opened his mouth.

“His Lordship told me that once we reached the Mountain Gate of Hwasan, I was to ask you once more, Young Master. Are you truly sure about Hwasan? His Lordship said that if you so wished, not only Wudang, but even Shaolin…….”

“That’s enough.”

The boy cut him off with a brief wave of his hand before he could finish. In that gesture, in that youthful firmness, was written the fact that this boy was the cherished son of a noble house who had commanded many people from an early age.

“Of course, the sects currently regarded as the strongest in Gangho are Shaolin and Wudang.”

“Yes. That is so, Young Master.”

“But that is all it is. What meaning is there in going to the greatest sect only to take a place already laid out before me? It has meaning to go instead to a place that lags behind, and then make that sect into one stronger than Shaolin or Wudang.”

The boy straightened his shoulders proudly, as though he meant to lay bare the grand ambition within him.

“In that sense, Hwasan is the perfect place. It doesn’t fall all that far behind Shaolin or Wudang, yet it is far superior to the other sects. On top of that, even though Hwasan is a Taoist sect, they say its customs and atmosphere are much more free than those of other Taoist sects, so wouldn’t it be a little easier for me to live there?”

The servant nodded silently. But that response came less from understanding the boy’s words than from having already guessed that he would say exactly that.

“His Lordship said that if you spoke so, Young Master, we were to follow your will. But Her Ladyship said that even so, I was to try persuading you once more. There are many ways to establish one’s purpose, so there is no need to…”

“She must have told you to say I should enter government service at court instead of throwing myself into Gangho. Isn’t that so?”

“…Yes, Young Master.”

The boy shook his head as though there was no need to hear more. In his clear, shining eyes, not a single trace of doubt could be seen.

“Of course, if I took office, I might have gained greater honor than by living in Gangho.”

“That is so, Young Master.”

“I might have even become an excellent official whose name was recorded in history. Don’t you think so?”

“For you, Young Master, that would be all too easy.”

“But that is all it would amount to. If I take office, at best I would end up as a Minister of State, or live my life as a Grand Councillor of the Inner Court.”

“For you, Young Master, even the rank of one of the Three Excellencies or a Grand Councillor would not be a dream.”

“And even then, wouldn’t I just spend my whole life coaxing and placating obstinate nobles who refuse to listen?”

The boy waved his hand with a weary expression utterly unfitting for his age.

“What possible sense of fulfillment is there in living such a life? Being born as a person, one ought to give full expression to one’s aspirations. Struggling to manage and guide people who might dart off in any direction at any moment – that is the sort of thing only those of small caliber busy themselves with.”

“Even so, young master, Confucius said…”

“No matter what you say, it won’t make me bend my will. Enough.”

In the end, the servant let out a deep sigh.

‘What a pity indeed.’

If anyone were to overhear this conversation, they might point fingers and call the boy arrogant. The posts of Minister of State and Grand Councillor are not positions one can attain simply because one wishes to, and leading a single sect to the position of number one under heaven might be an even more difficult task than that.

However, the servant did not think there was the slightest arrogance in the boy’s words. The reason was far too simple. The boy standing before his eyes was none other than Yang Hoe [양회(陽徊)].

The sons of the Yang Clan [정주(郑州)], the greatest power in Zhengzhou, were all renowned as prodigies who would one day bring glory to the nation. And among those exceptional figures, the child with a reputation so brilliant that he was called one of the Three Treasures of Zhengzhou – famed as a genius – was Yang Hoe.  There was only one reason such a precious talent had been able to forgo entering imperial court and come here instead: Yang Hoe’s stubbornness was so extreme that it made even his own parents throw up their hands.

“Since you have truly made up your mind, Young Master, this humble one can no longer stand in your way. However, His Lordship said that he cannot accept that a Taoist master should come from a family of Confucian scholars, so if you enter Hwasan like this, you must understand that the ties between the Clan and yourself will be severed forever.”

“I have already prepared myself for that.”

The servant shook his head from side to side. Just who could possibly break that iron-tough stubbornness?

“In that case, I must take my leave here.”

“Give my regards to Father and Mother. I will make it so that one day I can go to pay my respects to them with my head held high. When that time comes, even they will not be able to reproach me for having chosen wrongly.”

“……I can only hope it turns out that way. Then, farewell.”

After the servant departed, the boy, now left alone, looked at the Mountain Gate of Hwasan and puffed out his chest.

“From now on, this is my home.”

The boy stepped proudly towards the Mountain Gate over which hung the plaque of the Great Hwasan Sect, his chest filled to the brim with boundlessly grand ambition.

❀ ❀ ❀

“Then from this moment on, you are my disciple.”

“Yes, Master!”

The boy, Yang Hoe, beamed with satisfaction.

‘Good!’

There were few things as gratifying as seeing everything proceed exactly according to plan. From the moment he arrived at the Mountain Gate, he had gone through several procedures to be admitted, and in the end, he had succeeded in becoming the disciple of the very man standing before him, just as he had wished.

‘One Sword, Plum Fragrance [일검매향(一劍梅香)]’ Baek Oh [백오(白悟)] – there could be no one more fitting to be my master!’

One Sword Plum Fragrance Baek Oh was the leading candidate for the position of the next Sect Leader of Hwasan. Moreover, his own skill was so great that people said the title of Hwasan’s Finest Sword was essentially reserved for him alone, and rumors abounded that even Wudang and Jongnam felt uneasy at the mere six characters [chinese characters] of One Sword Plum Fragrance Baek Oh. What more needed to be said?

Genius though he might be, there would be limits to how far he could grow on his own if he failed to meet a master who could properly guide him. Yet he had succeeded in becoming the disciple of, in many respects, the best master Hwasan had to offer. How could he feel anything but joy?

‘Thank you, Father.’

Several years ago Baek Oh had already declared, that he would not take on any more disciples. So if it had been by his own strength alone, becoming the disciple of One Sword Plum Fragrance Baek Oh would not have been easy. If the power of the Yang Clan and his own talent together had not satisfied Hwasan, it would have been impossible. This was likely the last bit of help his family would ever grant Yang Hoe.

‘From here on, it all depends on me alone.’

Yang Hoe clenched his fist tight. Since he had become the disciple of the man who would be the next Sect Leader, it was only natural to say that the likelihood of him succeeding Baek Oh as Sect Leader of Hwasan had greatly increased.

‘Among the disciples of distinguished clans, there are those who, they say, enter the mountain and begin training in martial arts as soon as they can walk. By that measure, I am already a little late. But a gap of that size is something I ought to overcome through ability.’

Even if his seniority ended up somewhat behind, if he displayed his full capabilities, the elders of Hwasan would have no choice but to appoint him as Sect Leader. Wouldn’t that be the moment when his grand dream was truly fulfilled?

At that moment, Baek Oh quietly opened his mouth.

“Very well. Now that you have become a disciple of Hwasan, there is one thing I wish to ask.”

“Please ask, Master.”

“What is it that you wish to accomplish, now that you are a disciple of Hwasan?”

Of course, it was to become Sect Leader of Hwasan. But Yang Hoe was not so foolish as to speak his innermost thoughts out loud just as they were.

“As a disciple of Hwasan, I wish to lead Hwasan to become the number one sect under heaven.”

“Mmm!”

Baek Oh nodded with a deeply satisfied expression.

“Good. The Sect Leader is also greatly pleased with your talent, so if you steadily devote yourself, you will be able to realize that dream.”

“Thank you, Master!”

Yang Hoe’s heart pounded wildly. He knew it was still a long road ahead. He also knew it was an enormous dream for a boy who had spent his life only within his family’s estate and had only just set foot into Gangho. But he was confident he could do it. There had never once been something he wished to accomplish that he had failed to achieve.

‘Even if I might lag behind a little when it comes to the use of my body, my mind will not fall behind anyone under heaven. If I can make use of my strengths, then taking the seat of the greatest expert under heaven is not just a dream.’

Yang Hoe knew very well that the way people looked at a famed Grand Scholar and the way they looked at the Greatest Martial Expert under heaven were different. People looked upon a renowned scholar with eyes of respect, but they looked upon the greatest martial arts expert under heaven with eyes of admiration. What he wished to receive was not respect, but that very admiration.

“Then do you know what is most important in order to achieve your aim?”

“Yes, Master! I do.”

“What is it?”

Yang Hoe lightly cleared his throat, then recited proudly.

“Continuous diligence and effort.”

“Mmm.”

“Just as the path of learning has no end, I understand that the path of martial arts also has no end. And rather than running a little faster for a moment, it is only by devoting one’s whole life to constant cultivation, over and over again, that one can achieve one’s goal.”

These were not words he was spouting merely to please Baek Oh. This was truly Yang Hoe’s mindset. Without such resolve, he would never have been able to cast aside a life that was all but guaranteed for him and enter Hwasan.

“Therefore, no matter what trials and hardships may come, this disciple will cultivate himself, and cultivate himself again, and without fail make Hwasan the number one sect under heaven.”

Having slightly changed the words ‘I will lead it’ to ‘I will make it,’ Yang Hoe looked at Baek Oh with a triumphant smile.

He had spoken his true intentions, but even when he turned the answer over again in his mind, there was not a single flaw to be found. Naturally, Baek Oh would be pleased as well.

However, the expression on Baek Oh’s face as he looked at him was somehow odd.

“Well…… mmm, yes,”

Baek Oh slowly nodded. Strangely, that gesture looked as though he were agreeing only with some reluctance. Even though that shouldn’t have been the case.

“Yes. Continuous diligence – that truly is important. Nothing in this world is ever achieved without effort.”

“Yes, Master.”

“But…… there is something even more important than that.”

“If you would tell me, this disciple will listen with utmost reverence.”

Yang Hoe bowed his head in a humble posture. Looking at him once more with a satisfied gaze, Baek Oh quietly opened his mouth.

“You’ve only just entered the mountain, so you don’t know much about Hwasan yet…… but in Hwasan, a master is like a father, and a disciple is like a son.”

“Yes.”

“And your senior and junior brothers are no different from your own blood brothers.”

“Of course, I will regard them as such.”

“That part is especially important.”

“……Yes?”

At the sudden remark, Yang Hoe reflexively lifted his head and asked back, then, realizing his mistake, he hurriedly lowered his head again.

“In Hwasan, the most important thing is not outstanding ability, nor endless effort in cultivation, nor skillful adaptability. More than anything else, the brotherhood between senior and junior brothers is what matters most. Do you understand what I am saying?”

“Ah, I understand. This disciple will strive to live in harmony and affection with my senior and junior brothers.”

“That much is not enough!”

Baek Oh’s voice rose. And the higher it rose, the greater was the bewilderment Yang Hoe felt.

“Do not take this as some customary formality. The brotherhood between disciples is more important than anything! More than anything! Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, Master… this disciple will engrave it into his very bones.”

“Good. It is fortunate if you’ve understood.”

Baek Oh finally let out a long sigh, as if he could at last set his mind at ease. But Yang Hoe could not make any sense at all of the conversation they had just shared.

‘It may be important to get along with my senior and junior brothers and treat them with affection… But that’s more important than ability or effort? I heard Taoism had less of that kind of emphasis. Is Hwasan like this because it’s a sect where the Taoist character is weak?’

Unlike Confucianism, which emphasizes brotherly affection and proper conduct, Taoism was said not to place great weight on personal bonds. Yet Hwasan seemed to be different somehow. In any case, if that was what his master said, then so it must be.

Setting aside such trivial matters, everything else could be said to be proceeding just as he wished.

However, there had been one thing that had been strangely bothering Yang Hoe for a little while now.

‘Was One Sword Plum Fragrance… no, was Master older than I thought?’

Yang Hoe stole sidelong glances at Baek Oh. The age he could see on Baek Oh’s face seemed slightly greater than the age he had heard about.

‘They say people of Gangho look young because of their profound martial arts, but was that all just nonsense?’

He had his doubts, but he could hardly bring himself to voice them. What was even stranger was that, from time to time, he glimpsed on the face of One Sword Plum Fragrance – clearly a mighty swordsman – expressions he had only ever seen on people suffering from nervous exhaustion.

‘Something is a bit off here……’

It didn’t feel as though something had gone terribly wrong, and yet there was a constant, subtle sense of misalignment. That he kept emphasizing things different from what Yang Hoe expected, that faint air of nervous exhaustion that occasionally drifted from One Sword Plum Fragrance, famed as a supreme expert under heaven…

‘I’m probably overthinking it.’

Yang Hoe soon shook his head vigorously, scattering his idle thoughts. He had only just entered Hwasan today. It was only natural for everything to feel strange and awkward. Once he adjusted, things would be fine.

“I’ll say it once more: you must get along with your senior and junior brothers.”

“Yes, Master.”

“…If that’s up to you.”

“Yes?”

Yang Hoe asked back, his face going slightly blank. At that moment, a deep voice sounded from beyond the door.

“Master, it is Chung Mun. I heard you called for me.”

“Yes, Chung Mun-ah. Come in.”

With a creaking sound, the old door opened, and a young man stepped into the room. Reflexively turning his head, Yang Hoe flinched without realizing it as he watched the young man walk in.

‘So this is Chung Mun…….’

Among Hwasan’s disciples of the ‘Chung’ generation, the only one Yang Hoe knew of was Chung Mun. He had learned of him while looking into various matters in the course of preparing to enter the sect. Chung Mun was said to be One Sword Plum Fragrance Baek Oh’s first disciple, and the one who would become the next Great Disciple of Hwasan. In other words, the man standing before his eyes would from now on be Yang Hoe’s Sahyeong, and the strongest rival with whom he would have to compete for the position of the Sect Leader.

However, in this moment at least, not the slightest trace of such competitive spirit stirred in him.

‘He’s big.’

For someone as young as Yang Hoe, men just on the verge of adulthood often looked even larger than fully grown adults. But what he felt now, looking at this man named Chung Mun, was not something that could be explained so simply.

It wasn’t that his frame was large. It was the person themselves who was large. The instant he came face to face with this Chung Mun, Yang Hoe was struck with sudden sense of being overwhelmed, and before he knew it, his mouth had fallen slightly open.

It was truly strange. Born the son of the powerful Yang Clan, he had grown up seeing countless mighty figures who ruled the world with his own eyes. But never once had Yang Hoe felt, upon seeing someone, that they possessed a ‘great bearing.’ Because he was a martial artist? But had he not already met One Sword Plum Fragrance Baek Oh alone? To feel something from the disciple that he had not felt from the master…

Whether he knew of Yang Hoe’s flustered state or not, Chung Mun simply walked calmly into the room. When he came to stand beside Yang Hoe, Baek Oh spoke with a warm smile.

“Greet him. He is the disciple I’ve just taken. To you, he will be your new Saje.”

“Huh?”

Chung Mun looked at Yang Hoe with a bewildered expression. The moment their eyes met, Yang Hoe unconsciously shrank back a little.

“Did you just say a ‘disciple’?”

“…It turned out that way.”

“But…… Master, did you not say that you would take no more disciples?”

“So I did.”

Baek Oh cast a brief glance at Yang Hoe, then shook his head as if there was nothing to be done.

“But… the Sect Leader pressed so adamantly that I could not refuse.”

“N-No, Master. This isn’t the matter that can be decided so lightly.”

“……Won’t it be fine? His aptitude doesn’t look bad.”

“That’s not the issue here. Just what in the world are you thinking of doing……”

Listening to the two of them talk, Yang Hoe unconsciously furrowed his brow. Leaving aside the fact that he couldn’t even understand what this conversation was about, the situation itself was bizarre.

‘Is the disciple really the one scolding the master right now?’

Chung Mun was clearly Baek Oh’s disciple, so how could such a thing as a disciple driving his master into a corner even happen? What was stranger still was that, even though this ridiculous situation was unfolding, Baek Oh did not reprimand him in the slightest. On the contrary, he kept sneaking nervous glances at Chung Mun and clearing his throat from time to time like someone feeling guilty and uneasy.

‘Is the etiquette for treating one’s master in Gangho different from that in the secular households? That can’t be right, can it?’

Covering his mouth, Baek Oh let out a loud cough, then stealthily picked up the teacup in front of him. The tea had already cooled halfway. Even as he held the cup and took small sips, his eyes kept sneaking over to gauge Chung Mun’s expression. Gently setting the cup back down, he forced a smile so awkward that even Yang Hoe could see it, and spoke to Chung Mun in a roundabout way.

“I know you’ve got that, khm…… a lot on your mind, but I’m asking you just this once. The Sect Leader is being so firm about it that I really can’t…….”

“No, Master. I’m not the problem here. That kid…….”

At Chung Mun’s brief sidelong glance, Yang Hoe widened his eyes, utterly confused. Was he the problem here?

“…Won’t he manage somehow? He is quite clever, and I hear he was a famed prodigy in Zhengzhou.”

“That’s not something you can tough out just because you have talent!”

“The Sect Leader says the boy’s aptitude is extraordinary and insists that I personally guide him no matter what, so what am I supposed to do? You know my position too, don’t you? Ehhh?”

“The Sect Leader may be able to say such things. But you, Master, should not be doing this! You should have considered the boy’s situation as well!”

“Didn’t his family specifically name me as the one they wanted to entrust him to? And in return, they made an enormous monetary donation to Hwasan. If he himself says he wants this, what am I supposed to do……”

“Excuse me? He, himself?”

“That’s what I’m telling you.”

“Why?”

At Chung Mun’s question, Baek Oh seemed momentarily at a loss for words and just stared blankly at him. Then, with eyes like those of a sad deer, he lifted his gaze to the ceiling. Chung Mun waved his hand.

“N-No, Master. My words came out wrong. I didn’t mean, ‘Why would he even pay money to learn from you,’ I meant, ‘Why would he pay money just to go through all that suffering’, I mean that……’”

“…”

But since Baek Oh still stared silently up at the ceiling as though wounded gravely, in the end it was Chung Mun who surrendered first.

“Phew………………. This boy will be the last, Master.”

“Y-Yes! Of course!”

As soon as Chung Mun stepped back slightly, Baek Oh immediately lowered his head and brightened up.

“I truly can’t take any more in. From the start, all of this was……”

“I know! I know! All of that is work I ought to be doing, how could I not know that you’re the one taking it on? I am always only grateful to you.”

A groan escaped from Chung Mun’s mouth.

“Still…… I will try my best, but I can’t make any promises. As you know, Master……”

“I know. Of course I know. From that point on, it’ll be something that boy has to bear, won’t it? I will never resent you for it. I’m a man with at least a shred of shame – would I really say something so brazen and shameless?”

“……I leave it in your hands.”

“Yes, yes. Chung Mun-ah! I am always grateful to you.”

Yang Hoe looked back and forth between the two of them, utterly dumbfounded.

‘What on earth is going on here?’

He prided himself on not falling behind anyone under heaven in wits, and yet from beginning to end, there was not a single part of this situation he could understand. For one thing, it didn’t sound like a conversation between master and disciple at all, and on top of that, he had no idea what they were so worried about. From the look of it, it didn’t seem as though they were saying these things because his talent failed to meet their expectations…

“What did you say your name was again?”

“Y-Yang Hoe. My name is Yang Hoe.”

Before he could even sort out his thoughts, Chung Mun spoke to him, startling Yang Hoe into answering immediately. Chung Mun looked at him with a subtly complicated expression, then let out a sigh and nodded.

“My name is Chung Mun. From now on, I am your Sahyeong, so if there is anything you need to ask about life in Hwasan, or if anything is difficult, come to me.”

“Yes, Sahyeong! I look forward to your guidance.”

When Yang Hoe bowed deeply, Chung Mun let out another heavy sigh.

“Master. Then I will take this boy to his quarters.”

“All right. He will need three or four days to adjust, so I won’t deliberately call for him during that time.”

With his eyes narrowing slightly, Chung Mun glanced at Baek Oh, then rose from his seat.

“Come along.”

“Yes.”

Chung Mun left the room first. Yang Hoe bowed deeply to Baek Oh, then followed Chung Mun out. From behind them, he could clearly hear the sound of Baek Oh letting out a sigh of relief.

“This way.”

“Yes, Sahyeong!”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Chung Mun walked beside Yang Hoe. After a short while of walking in silence, he spoke first.

“You said your name was Yang Hoe?”

“Yes, Sahyeong. That is what they called me in my family home.”

“When you say that’s what they called you in your family home, it sounds like that will change now. Are you intending to become a true disciple of Hwasan?”

“How could someone who has become a disciple of Hwasan’s future Sect Leader go back to the secular world? I intend to bury my bones at Hwasan.”

“……Is that so?”

Yang Hoe felt flustered once more. Was it his imagination, or did Chung Mun’s response somehow sound rather reluctant…?

“In that case, you’ll soon receive a Taoist name. Even if you’ve entered the sect, until you receive your Taoist name, it’s fine to change your mind, so think it over carefully.”

“That will not happen! My resolve is firm.”

“…I’m telling you this because resolve alone is not enough.”

“Yes?”

“Nothing. You’ll understand once you’ve experienced it.”

At this point, even Yang Hoe was starting to feel his insides twist a little.

‘No, but from a little while ago, everyone has been…’

What kind of person was Yang Hoe? Even among the Yang Clan, where talent overflowed, he was acknowledged as a peerless genius. Had not the doorstep of the Yang household worn thin from all the famed Grand Scholars under heaven coming to seek him as their disciple?

Nor was he known only within the Confucian world. Even Wudang and Shaolin themselves had come in person to recruit him as a disciple.

So why was it that Hwasan alone kept showing such obvious displeasure at his entry as a disciple? Someone of Yang Hoe’s caliber entering their sect should have been cause for them to welcome him with open arms.

‘No… that’s not quite right either.’

In truth, the Sect Leader of Hwasan had greeted his entry with a beaming smile. What had he said again? Laughing heartily, he had declared, ‘A talent who will lead Hwasan’s next hundred years has come.’ So then why were these two the only ones looking at Yang Hoe so begrudgingly? What, exactly, did he lack?

‘And why am I putting up with this?’

By nature, Yang Hoe was not someone who bottled up his dissatisfaction. Because his convictions were firm, he had never hesitated to call out what was wrong. Yet the reason he was now holding his tongue was not because this was his first day in Hwasan. It was because this young man named Chung Mun before his eyes radiated such an immense presence that even Yang Hoe found it hard to speak casually to him.

Realizing he had been subdued by the man’s aura, Yang Hoe looked at Chung Mun with renewed gaze. If he wanted to become Sect Leader of Hwasan, the one he had to surpass was none other than this man.

‘It won’t be easy.’

He could not claim to have seen much of the world yet, but his instincts were telling him: This person is truly extraordinary. Perhaps he was now looking at someone who would one day become such a great Taoist master that his name would be recorded in history.

‘But that makes it all the better! Only someone of this level is worth striving to surpass.’

If the other members of Hwasan had not been impressive, he would have only been disappointed.

If this was the place he would dedicate his life to – and the people he would have to compete with – then naturally, they needed to be at least this extraordinary.

Perhaps sensing the fiercely burning gaze boring into him, Chung Mun glanced back at Yang Hoe.

“I heard you were the one who wished to become Master’s disciple?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you do that?”

“Because I heard that Baek Oh Jinin is an exceptional Taoist master and swordsman.”

“…Did you not hear anything else beyond that?”

Sensing what kind of answer Chung Mun was fishing for, Yang Hoe smiled faintly.

“I heard that Chung Mun Sahyeong, disciple of Baek Oh Jinin, is the outstanding talent who will become the next Sect Leader. They say that in Gangho, they already call you ‘Wise Dragon [현룡(賢龍)]’…”

“Nothing besides that?”

“Yes? Other than that, not particularly…”

Chung Mun lifted his head and gazed into the distant sky.

“That the thing one most needs to know does not easily reveal itself is, at times, truly a pity… In any case, I understand your feelings, so let’s do well together from here on.”

“Yes, Sahyeong.”

“There is a great deal I could say… but it’s not something you can understand just because someone tells you. You’ll come to learn it as you experience Hwasan for yourself.”

“I will do so.”

“If I were to add one more thing: if you ever feel something is happening that you cannot handle, do not think of dealing with it alone. You must come to me. Not to our Master – come to me! I’ll say it again: come to me. Do you understand?”

“…Yes.”

“Make sure you remember that. Truly. I have a great many things I must see to as well, so I can’t always stay by your side. That’s why, make sure!”

With a dumbfounded look on his face, one he had never worn once in his life, Yang Hoe thought:

‘…Does Hwasan have tigers wandering around?’

Why was he acting like someone sending a child alone into a forest full of wild beasts?

He wasn’t that young. There was definitely something strange about this man. Feeling a strong sense of discomfort, Yang Hoe found himself simply wanting to hurry up and get somewhere, anywhere, just so he wouldn’t be alone with him like this. Fortunately, around that time, figures of other disciples, who were training, began to come into view.

“Ah! Sahyeong! Greetings!”

Those who spotted Chung Mun bent sharply at the waist to greet him. From the expressions that lit up their faces alone, one could tell how welcome a presence Chung Mun was within Hwasan.

“You’re all working hard.”

“Not at all, Sahyeong! Of course we should train diligently. But… who is the boy beside you?”

“He’s your newly arrived Saje.”

“Huh? Our Saje?”

At those words, a few of the disciples nearby shouted loudly.

“Sahyeongs! The new kid who just entered the sect is here!”

“Hey, youngest! You’re finally free from being the youngest! A junior has arrived!”

“Really? Wow!”

In an instant, the disciples who had been training swarmed over to gather around Chung Mun and Yang Hoe. Their reaction was so intense it was almost like they were jumping at him. Startled by a response far more heated than he expected, Yang Hoe flinched and glanced around.

‘Is this the norm here?’

Of course, even in the Confucian academies, fellow students were thick as thieves. But here, everyone really felt excessively close.

“The kid looks sharp. But his build seems a bit on the slender side, doesn’t it? Will he be all right?”

“Judging by his expression, he looks like he’s got backbone.”

“I-I heard about this! They said someone really famous was entering the sect today. What was it again? Zheng…… Zhengzhou something? Was it one of the Three Treasures of Zhengzhou?”

“What? The Three Treasures of Zhengzhou?”

“Sahyeong, do you know something about that?”

One of them, eyes locked on Yang Hoe, spoke in astonishment.

“They’re talking about the youngest son of the Yang Clan. Back in Henan, where I used to live, that kid was famous everywhere as a genius. Are you that Yang Hoe of the Yang Clan?”

At the words of recognition, Yang Hoe nodded.

“Yes, Sahyeong! I am Yang Hoe.”

“Well, to think… To think you would come to Hwasan!”

“What is he? Is he famous?”

“Please, try living with your ears open for once, Sahyeong! He’s the boy whose fame as a genius has spread throughout the whole Central Plains. I honestly thought he’d definitely enter government service, but he came to Hwasan instead. I bet the Elders have smiles up to their ears.”

“Wow, so he’s really something, then. I’d better not treat him carelessly.”

Everyone stared at Yang Hoe with fascinated eyes. The more they did, the more his shoulders naturally rose. He wasn’t someone who particularly,enjoyed being fawned over, but having them acknowledge his reputation seemed to soothe a bit of the irritation he’d felt because of Baek Oh and Chung Mun.

‘Yes, this is how it should be!’

Would the world that martial artists live in really be any different from anywhere else? This was the kind of reaction that ought to be normal. Yang Hoe tried his best to hide the creeping gloom that threatened to rise in him. At that moment, one of the disciples observing him grinned.

“Looks like we’d better stay on our toes here. If we’re not careful, we might end up getting beaten by the new kid, no?”

“Come on, no matter how much of a prodigy he is, martial arts are a different story.”

“Shows what you know. Someone outstanding in one field has a high chance of being good in others too. You really think a kid people call a genius wouldn’t be able to handle a sword? With that brain of his, he could swing a sword blindly and still beat the likes of you.”

“Ah, Sahyeong! How does that make any sense?”

Watching them carry on noisily the whole time, Chung Mun let out a brief chuckle.

“So if you don’t want to have your backsides handed to you by the youngest, make sure you don’t slack off in your training.”

“Yes, Sahyeong!”

In that moment, Yang Hoe clearly felt that Chung Mun was different from the other disciples. Among those gathered around them, there were some who didn’t look that far apart in age from Chung Mun, and yet the way they treated him was distinctly different from how they treated other senior brothers. Rather than simply treating him as an older disciple, they treated him like a firmly established superior.

Well, even from Yang Hoe’s point of view, there was no one here who seemed fit to be compared to Chung Mun. There were a few who caught the eye now and then, but they couldn’t possibly be measured against him.

It wasn’t that the others seemed lacking. It was that this man called Chung Mun was a crane among chickens, shining even among Hwasan’s many gifted disciples. Even if you dropped him into Shaolin instead of Hwasan, he would unmistakably stand out.

‘I’ll have to lead Hwasan with these people under me someday. If Chung Mun Sahyeong stands with me then, we might really be able to make Hwasan the greatest sect under heaven.’

As Yang Hoe harbored a grand ambition that was unseemly for someone his age… or perhaps, in a way, perfectly suited to someone his age, one of the nearby disciples laughed and spoke to him.

“Meeting someone famous like you has me straightening my shoulders for no reason. I’m Chung Hwa. Let’s get along.”

“Yes! I look forward to your guidance, Sahyeong!”

Yang Hoe replied in a loud, spirited voice. These people were certainly easier to deal with than Baek Oh or Chung Mun. The thought passed through his mind, that if he lived together with them, life at Hwasan might become a little more comfortable.

“But, Sahyeong, whose disciple is he? I never heard that any of our Sasuks had taken on a new disciple.”

Chung Mun scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed look and answered.

“Well…… he’s my direct junior. Master just took him in.”

“……Whose junior?”

“Mine.”

“…You mean he entered under Baek Oh Sasuk…?”

“Mm, that’s how it turned out……”

It was in that moment.

“Eek!”

Chung Hwa, who had been speaking to Yang Hoe with a warm smile, suddenly let out a shriek and sprang backward. At the same time, the others all went pale and took several big steps back.

“…That’s how it is.”

“N-No, what are you planning to do……”

Yang Hoe blinked. The ones who had been welcoming him with bright smiles a moment ago now all fidgeted like puppies about to wet themselves, not knowing what to do.

‘There it is again – that look.’

That indescribable expression, a mix of pity and fear. The very same look Baek Oh and Chung Mun had worn earlier. At this point, even Yang Hoe could not help but realize it. Something had gone wrong.

“I-is this really all right?”

“Urgh. I did try to stop it, but……”

“They say he’s a famous prodigy – what are you planning to do with a kid like that…”

Letting out a deep sigh, Chung Mun said.

“That’s why I want you all to help him a bit.”

“H-How are we supposed to help? It’d be quicker for an ant to bring down an ox.”

The disciples, glancing back and forth between Chung Mun and Yang Hoe, now started to quietly edge away altogether.

“Uh… I’ve got training to get back to.”

“Oh dear, Master called for me earlier and I totally forgot!”

“Yang Hoe, was it? Well… take care, okay? Really… take care.”

Exchanging looks among themselves and babbling various excuses, they scattered in an instant, vanishing as if they were fleeing. Left standing alone in the suddenly empty, wide training ground, Yang Hoe just blinked like a bewildered cow.

“Um…… Sahyeong, did I perhaps do something wrong just now…”

“No, it’s nothing. They were just making a fuss over nothing.”

If that was all, then why was he making such a pitying expression? Huh?

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

As the two of them started walking again and moved off into the distance, a few disciples hiding behind the nearby pavilion poked their heads out.

“…What’s going to happen to that kid?”

“S–Say, Sahyeong, if Baek Oh Sasuk took him as a disciple, that means he’ll be living in the same quarters, right?”

“I–I guess so, probably?”

“What are we going to do about him?”

“It’s not too late yet. If it were me, I’d run away without looking back.”

“Isn’t Baek Oh Sasuk really going too far? What was he thinking, taking a disciple?”

“What fault could Sasuk have… It’s all…”

The one who had been speaking with a sigh suddenly turned around as if something had occurred to him.

“By the way, where is Sahyeong right now?”

“Where else? In the Repentance Chamber [참회동], of course.”

“Why the Repentance Chamber? Did he cause some trouble again?”

“Does Sahyeong need any special reason to be in the Repentance Chamber? He spends more days there than in his own quarters. I heard he’s practically moved in permanently now. Even Sasuk don’t bother clearing out the room he uses – they say it’s pointless since he’ll just be back.”

“…How long is he staying there this time?”

“Let’s see… he went in five days ago, so if I remember right… I think… it’s…”

As he counted the days off on his fingers, his face suddenly went pale.

“It’s tomorrow.”

Everyone squeezed their eyes shut in unison.

“Primeval Lord of Heaven.”

“Buddha of Infinite Life [무량수불(無量壽佛)].”

“Ahh, that poor kid… I hope we won’t be hauling away a corpse tomorrow.”

The sighs of Hwasan’s disciples grew even heavier. Their gazes, heavy with deep pity, followed Yang Hoe’s back as he walked away after Chung Mun – completely unaware of his fate.

Second part of the side story >>>

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A birthday present for myself and everyone! While Biga is on hiatus I will be posting the side story from the printed version of the novel (volume 2). The side story is long, so I will gradually post it in several parts!

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