Chapter 221

Chapter 221: Hoae and Seok Gyeong (2)

The potential was merely hidden, waiting to surface.

“Beginning tomorrow, the instruction for the twenty fresh recruits kicks off.”

“Eh? So soon?”

“Did you not begin your own training practically the moment you stepped foot here?”

“True, that’s fair… but those guys seemed incredibly fragile.”

Had she already assessed every single one of them?

Truly, when it came to intuition, this young girl possessed potential every bit as bright as Jeon Rahwa.

Actually, in this specific area, she was rather distinct from myself.

Time alone would reveal if that trait was a blessing or a curse.

“I intend to assign a specific responsibility to you as well.”

“What? To me?!”

“Correct. To you.”

Fixing his gaze directly on Hoae’s wavering eyes, Dong Bongsu questioned her with absolute confidence.

“Are you up for the task?”

An equal mixture of anxiety and excitement flickered within the girl’s eyes.

“What sort of position is it?”

“An instructor.”

“An instructor? What does that mean?”

“A person who disciplines anyone who steps out of line to help them grow more powerful.”

“Huh? I’m supposed to discipline them? Those grown men? Me?”

“Precisely. You must discipline them.”

“…For what reason?”

“Because every one of those individuals is now considered part of our Hero’s Sect family.”

“Part of the… family.”

“There is no reason to fear. Simply replicate what you have been doing with the young ones. The sole variation is that your group will be somewhat larger.”

Kinfolk.

Individuals who share their meals.

Muttering the concept under her breath repeatedly, Hoae compressed her lips into a tight line of resolve and gave a firm nod.

“…Understood! I am capable of it. I will undertake it.”

“Excellent. Report to the Training Ground prior to daybreak tomorrow.”

Offering a profound bow, Hoae turned and departed with hurried strides.

Though her frame remained petite, her posture was remarkably erect.

At that moment, Jeon Rahwa, who had kept her distance to observe the actions of Kim Rae-won, walked over.

Her eyes remained fixed on the departing figure of Hoae as she whispered.

“Honestly… do you have any idea how young she is?”

“Years are irrelevant when measuring capability.”

“Granted, however…”

“You have conceded the point.”

“Pardon?”

“You uttered ‘Granted, however,’ did you not?”

“…”

“Observe closely. Her current level of strength will catch you off guard.”

He was, after all, the individual who had instructed the girl in martial arts.

Even though his teachings had been neither comprehensive nor continuous, Dong Bongsu possessed an innate sense of her progress.

Supposing his instincts were accurate, her current state was already…

With a silent prompt, he brought up Hoae’s personal Status Window.

The statistical values far surpassed his recollections.

His previous inspection had occurred a mere matter of days prior.

Fascinating.

‘A meticulous evaluation over the coming seven days will give me a definitive answer.’

“Regardless, this happens to be an area where her natural talents lie.”

A slight grin touched his face.

“I merely attached an impressive title to it.”

“Fine, I get it. Even so, the moment she appears overwhelmed, I will put an end to this right away.”

“See to it that you don’t inadvertently drive her to overexert herself instead.”

“Hmph. As if I would.”

Tracking Jeon Rahwa’s departure until she faded from view, Dong Bongsu once more summoned the Quest Window.

Completion rate: 12%.

A span of seven days.

The phrase ‘ensuring their survival’ felt perfectly aligned with the persona of Kim Rae-won.

It had successfully persuaded Jeon Rahwa and Hoae, and it was a sentiment Dong Bongsu fundamentally agreed with.

‘The most effective method for instilling survival instincts is…’

Dong Bongsu turned to leave as well.

“To repeatedly push them to the very brink of the abyss.”

After all, adaptation and growth are invariably driven by the instinct to stay alive.

● ● ●

The following morning, moments prior to daybreak.

A gathering of roughly thirty individuals occupied the Training Ground.

Hoae had already organized the youngsters into a pair of distinct squads.

The fresh recruits shifted uncomfortably.

The fervor surrounding the previous evening’s consultations had dissipated, replaced by a biting morning chill that hung heavily over them.

They traded nervous looks or kept their eyes fixed on the ground.

Positioned at the center of the Training Ground, Dong Bongsu scrutinized every single person present.

‘A single week.’

Strictly looking at the numbers, the goal was attainable.

In truth, elevating an individual’s capability from a score of ten to fifty takes far less time than pushing an expert from ninety to ninety-one.

Be that as it may, this environment was unsuited for the task.

“Focus.”

Though completely involuntary, the pressure of ‘Faith Weight’ subtly infused his spoken word.

The reaction, nonetheless, was immediate.

Every spine among the thirty attendees snapped straight in unison.

They had undoubtedly perceived an inexplicable heaviness settling over the surrounding space.

“You are all new recruits. We are a new sect. And as such, we are weak. But!”

Dong Bongsu maintained his discourse, steadily locking eyes with every individual sequentially.

“The Jianghu has existed for ages, and consequently, it has decayed.”

He extended his forefinger, gesturing toward the horizon beyond the borders of the Hero’s Sect.

“Beyond these walls lies the Murim! Despite its ancient legacy and the corrupt, stagnant odor it exudes, the wider Jianghu possesses greater might than we do.”

Following his declaration, an absolute hush descended upon the Hero’s Sect.

“It is no secret to any of you that our Hero’s Sect intends to make its mark upon the Jianghu. Furthermore, that day approaches rapidly.”

“…”

“…”

“Given that reality, what is the single most vital asset required of you at this moment?”

The boundaries of the Training Ground offered no reply, wrapped in profound stillness.

Even so, a subtle wave of determination commenced radiating from the crowd.

This shift in morale was precisely the underlying mood Dong Bongsu intended to cultivate.

Stepping forward deliberately, he walked past the youngsters and navigated through the ranks of the newcomers while maintaining his speech.

“Gather enough provisions and gear to sustain yourselves for a full week outdoors without delay.”

The quiet deepened.

Thirty sets of eyes expanded in unison.

The recent enlistees turned to look at their neighbors in confusion, while the youngsters cast their gazes toward Hoae.

The implication of preparing for travel was unmistakable.

“Power and competence are your absolute necessities.”

Naturally, this directive caught Hoae entirely off guard as well.

“Under my guidance, as Kim Rae-won, you shall obtain power. Enough power to ensure you are not easily trampled upon regardless of where your path leads.”

● ● ●

Jeon Rahwa arrived in a hurried rush, catching her breath.

Clutched firmly against her chest was a roster, indicating she had spent her time figuring out appropriate duties for the recent inductees.

“Are you truly leading the entire group outside the gates?”

“Correct. Every last soul.”

“But with the entire membership leaving the premises of the Hero’s Sect, who remains to secure our headquarters?”

“To what end should we secure it?”

“…Pardon?”

“In the absence of occupants, protection becomes redundant.”

“…”

“The collective of individuals constitutes the Hero’s Sect, rather than a collection of structures and real estate.”

Jeon Rahwa found herself at a loss for words.

The conversation paused briefly.

In that very instant.

“…And what role do you envision for the two of us?”

An incisive question drifted over.

The speaker was Yan Bilyeong, who stood with her arms folded beneath the overhang bordering the Training Ground.

Beside her stood Myo Jinheo, lightly gripping a folded fan.

Dong Bongsu pivoted his head toward them with an air of complete indifference.

Feigning as though their presence had only just registered.

“Oh? You were still here?”

“…”

A muscle near Yan Bilyeong’s brow tightened.

Peering over at his companion, Myo Jinheo obscured his lower face with his fan and murmured.

“Has Trigram Master Dongmun not made his way back yet?”

“Oh, is that the case? Is that the reason for your extended stay?”

“As it stands, yes.”

“In that case, your presence is requested on our journey.”

“…What exactly are you implying?”

“Should a pair of Trigram Masters representing the Formation Tower be left unsupervised in a vacant compound, wouldn’t this location effectively transform into a River Capital outpost for the Formation Tower rather than remaining the Hero’s Sect?”

Remaining perfectly aligned with his Kim Rae-won identity, Dong Bongsu let a sly smile grace his face.

“Seeing as you have enjoyed our hospitality without charge for a while now, it stands to reason you should fulfill the obligations of proper lodgers. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Following a momentary pause.

Yan Bilyeong let out a sharp laugh, while Myo Jinheo snapped his fan shut.

This gesture served as their reluctant consent.

Jeon Rahwa, who had watched it all, approached, shaking her head.

“But.”

“Yeah. What?”

“Have you decided where we’ll be training?”

“Of course…”

“Ah, so you did have a plan?”

“I haven’t decided.”

“…You’re joking, right?”

“Of course…”

Dong Bongsu smiled.

“I’m not.”

He spoke the absolute truth.

Extending past the perimeter of the River Capital lay an immense, barren grassland.

Such wilderness is precisely where apex predators are meant to grow.

A beast gains its true nature by racing through the elements, enduring hardships and testing its limits across boundless expanses.

Confined within an enclosure, it degenerates into nothing more than an oversized feline.

“Our initial task will be a forced march.”

“No, I mean, if we’re going to run, there needs to be a destination, right?”

“Ah, that?”

“Yes, that.”

“There is one, that.”

“…Ah, I’m seriously considering not packing your lunch.”

Adopting the guise of Kim Rae-won undoubtedly offered its share of amusement for these sorts of interactions.

Nonetheless, it was time to get serious.

Dong Bongsu cast his gaze toward a particular point on the horizon.

“The location marking our initial encounter.”

“…?”

“The Colorful Lake.”

“The Colorful Lake?”

“Indeed. That very spot.”

In contrast to their prior visit, the region had been stripped of its chaos.

“Granted that the local outlaws have been eradicated… the distance from our current position remains immense.”

“That is precisely what makes it ideal.”

“…?”

“An exercise only truly builds character if the journey is grueling enough to push a multitude to their absolute physical limits.”

“…”

● ● ●

Roughly the duration of a single meal later.

The assembled company gathered outside the primary threshold of the Hero’s Sect, bearing their gear.

Their packs contained little beyond basic food stores, fluid containers, and spare tunics.

Even so, a majority lacked the knowledge to organize their items efficiently, requiring Jeon Rahwa to personally distribute the necessary supplies among them.

An expression blending apprehension and sheer confusion marked the countenances of the fresh enlistees.

The youngsters exhibited a starkly different demeanor.

Hoae had proactively organized them into separate forward and rear units.

She did this without receiving any explicit command.

“The adults will experience less distress if they find recognizable figures anchoring both ends of our line.”

Such was the reasoning Hoae had communicated to Jeon Rahwa.

Nearby, Yan Bilyeong emerged with a blade secured to her spine.

Myo Jinheo quietly opened his fan, taking his position alongside her at the absolute back of the marching column.

The duo maintained a posture implying that a simple trek required no effort whatsoever on their part.

As soon as the involvement of the pair of Trigram Masters became evident, low whispers circulated through the ranks of the newcomers.

Accounts regarding their presence had spread extensively enough that their names startled no one within the River Capital anymore.

The shock lay entirely in the fact that such legendary figures of the Jianghu were choosing to accompany them.

Dong Bongsu paid little heed to the hushed conversations.

The development worked to his advantage.

It served as an additional factor bolstering the perceived command of the Sect Leader.

Naturally, his focus was directed elsewhere at present.

Situated somewhere near the center of the column.

An individual named Seok Gyeong maintained his position.

He was the two hundred and fifteenth, and final, candidate evaluated during the previous night’s assessments.

— Concepts like virtue are foreign to me.

— What I do recognize is that remaining passive while my sibling was abducted was a complete absence of virtue.

He was a person whose inner turmoil was directed entirely inward, rather than targeting external factors.

Individuals of this caliber develop at an accelerated pace once they commit to a path.

The entity they feel compelled to validate their worth to is none other than their own soul.

The remark ‘Your words are noted’ had not entered Dong Bongsu’s original deliberations; rather, it was an spontaneous utterance belonging to Kim Rae-won.

It had emerged effortlessly as he fully immersed himself within the assigned character.

Even so, the statement carried significant weight.

The light within Seok Gyeong’s gaze had shifted markedly from that instance onward.

In the present moment, Seok Gyeong kept his features entirely neutral.

His gear was firmly secured to his shoulder blades.

The bundle appeared relatively sparse when measured against the rest of the group.

Evidently, he was an individual accustomed to journeying with minimal encumbrance.

His look possessed a profound depth.

An incredibly clear vision.

Despite possessing expansive shoulders and heavily calloused hands, his posture bore absolutely no traces of formal combat styles.

‘Incapable of matching even a bottom-tier martial artist. A physical form entirely uninitiated in the cultivation of foundational inner power.’

Be that as it may, one specific attribute demanded attention.

His frame represented a highly functional anatomy shaped by rigorous real-world hardships.

The definition of his musculature owed nothing to formal conditioning, arising instead from hard labor and the demands of ordinary survival.

An individual who had passed his twentieth year.

According to the conventional wisdom of this realm, training someone of his age in combat disciplines would be deemed a fruitless endeavor—yet Dong Bongsu held a different view entirely.

His perspective was diametrically opposed to common belief.

‘Though he lacks technique, his core physical preparation is exceptional.’

An unblemished, vacant container unpolluted by flawed methods.

‘My sole task is to pour knowledge into him until he overflows.’

The challenge lay in condensing that developmental timeline into a fraction of the usual duration.

Dong Bongsu shifted his attention away from Seok Gyeong.

Regardless, the upcoming week would afford ample opportunities to verify his assumptions.

At this moment, commencing the march took precedence.

“Let’s go.”

Kim Rae-won barked the brief command and set a forward pace.

Prompted by his initial strides, the collective gathering began its advance.

Clearing the portals of the River Capital, a sweeping expanse of level terrain stretched out before them.

The dawn sun hovered near the horizon, casting its rays through a delicate mist clinging to the remote highland peaks.

One could only wonder about the nature of her upbringing and nourishment that allowed such leadership to appear effortless.

Hoae had systematically compressed the ranks, establishing perfect cohesion throughout the line.

The pair of youthful contingents assumed positions that effectively bracketed the mature recruits from both the vanguard and the rear guard.

The journey got underway, and Kim Rae-won steadily accelerated his strides.

As the column commenced elongating before a fraction of an hour had passed, Seok Gyeong took action.

Without uttering a word, he retrieved the pack of an elderly participant who was faltering toward the rear.

He did this entirely of his own volition.

Consequently, he bore the burden meant for two individuals.

Despite the added weight, his momentum remained unyielding.

His natural physical stamina was truly exceptional.

Hoae took note of the occurrence.

Their gazes connected across the distance.

Seok Gyeong offered a brief nod, which Hoae promptly returned.

Neither possessed knowledge of the other’s identity.

Not a single word had passed between them.

Even so, a mutual understanding appeared to form silently in that brief moment.

‘Humanity invariably divides into two distinct categories.’

Dong Bongsu reflected during his steady stride.

The powerful and the helpless.

The affluent and the destitute.

The master and the subordinate.

In this fashion, the universe could essentially be broken down into binary opposites.

And within that structure, predictably.

There exist individuals who merely execute explicit orders, and those who take initiative independently.

Hoae had established this truth among the youth.

Now, Seok Gyeong was validating it through his personal conduct.

‘Interesting.’

The procession forged ahead.

A great distance still separated them from the Colorful Lake.