Chapter 277

Chapter 277
## Chapter 277. Those Who Break Walls (3)

—

“White Tiger, deploy!”
At a single youngster’s shout, twenty youths performed the exact same movement.
“““Hat!”””
Subsequently, the youth commanding the sword formation shouted once more.
“White Tiger, Crushing Stone!”
“““Hat!!!”””
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-shhh!
Dozens of illusory swords poured out from the blades extended simultaneously. It was a spectacle of illusory swords that swept in all directions as if a gale of steel had arisen around the blade formation. Originally, looking at them individually, they were not at a stage where they could unleash illusory swords in that manner, but within the formation, they all unleashed illusory swords as if they had become master swordsmen. The Twin Heavens Sword Secrets (Ssang-cheon-geom-gyeol) unleashed by twenty people simultaneously was enough to make any onlooker feel threatened. It was to the point where one wondered if even Chae-seok-Gang, who was counted as the strongest in the Tae-eul-mun, would be able to defend himself if he were surrounded within that martial formation.
‘Urgh…’
Of course, from the position of having to guide the youths, he could not test it because he could not show himself failing before the formation for the sake of his authority. However, as a result of facing a formation formed by five first-generation disciples, he had reached the conclusion that breaking the formation was difficult, and after that, he had put away any thought of opposing the formation unleashed by the third-generation disciples even more.
‘Just what on earth did that fellow So-un-Jin leave behind before he departed!’
In the first place, the White Tiger Sword Formation was not even a martial art of the Tae-eul-mun. Therefore, he had never taught it to the youths, nor had he ever told them to master it. However, after the three brothers—Geum, Eun, and Dong—practiced the White Tiger Sword Formation relentlessly… after they went out and gained the moniker of the “Iron-Blooded Three Dragons,” and later the “Three Dragons of the Iron Wall,” the act of mastering the White Tiger Sword Formation spread among the youths like a game.
They weren’t just dabbling in it out of amusement. Just as the three brothers Geum, Eun, and Dong had done, they trained while blocking their ears and eyes.
‘It’s a great comfort that we went into closed-door cultivation…’
In the first place, the training method the three brothers Geum, Eun, and Dong used was beyond logic. However, beyond that, seeing the bizarre sight of all the disciples of the Tae-eul-mun devoted to such training, he had reached a point where he was anxious that this sight might become known to the wider world.
‘This is all because of that cursed So-un-Jin…’
However, after starting such intense training, the youths’ growth rate began to progress remarkably. Since the master and disciples were learning the Great Tae-eul Scripture (Tae-eul-jin-gyeong) simultaneously, the youths thirsted for learning, but the masters could not teach proper execution. It was a daily routine for the masters to ponder for two whole nights when a youth hit a wall and then barely manage to guide them. As the situation became like this, the thirst of the youths, who were full of wonder, did not disappear, and they naturally turned their eyes to the White Tiger Sword Style left behind by So-un-Jin and the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers.
While at the Murim Alliance, Chae-seok-Gang had also learned the White Tiger Sword Style, but there was nothing special about the White Tiger Sword Style itself. However, there was something uniquely special about the White Tiger Sword Style that the disciples of the Tae-eul-mun were learning now.
“White Tiger’s Tooth!”
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-shhh!
Illusory swords were unleashed, filling the entire training grounds. It was a power that was unbelievable for a formation unleashed by youths who had not even reached adulthood (yak-gwan).
‘Just what kind of formation is this?’
An illusory sword was a technique that consumed a lot of inner qi. Usually, it was difficult for youngsters to even produce an illusory sword, but as long as they entered the sword style, they produced illusory swords one after another. According to Jegal Cheon-gi, there was an effect of “Moving Exercise” (dong-gong) within the improved White Tiger Sword Style, so even a youth with insufficient inner qi could use illusory swords, or something like that. Anyway, it was the current daily routine of the Tae-eul-mun to train in the Great Tae-eul Scripture by studying alone based on the sensations felt within the White Tiger Sword Style.
Today, as always, the training grounds were filled with youths who had gathered on their own.
“Stop!!!”
Words followed from the mouth of the youth who formed the center of the formation.
“From now on, we begin physical conditioning.”
“““Yes!”””
Not a single person expressed doubt at that command.
“Start sprinting to Mount Hwa-un! The last three fellows to arrive will run again!”
“““Yes!”””
With a thunderous response, the youths left the training grounds in a swarm.
“Whew…”
Only Chae-seok-Gang, left alone in the empty training grounds, let out a small sigh. Since it was an individual training session that the youths did voluntarily after all the designated training of the Hall of Joyful Flowers was finished, Chae-seok-Gang could not say anything. No, rather, he should have found them admirable and cared for them, but…
‘It is lamentable that, as a teacher, I have no other way to assist the youths…’
At that time.
“Hmm?”
He saw a youth training alone in a corner of the training grounds. A youngster who initially practiced the White Tiger Sword Style with the other youths, but from a certain point, stopped participating in that training and spent more time training alone. Chae-seok-Gang walked over that way.
“Yu-seong-a, what is obstructing you?”
Yu-seong-Gang, who was staring blankly into the air, suddenly snapped to his senses.
“Ah! Hall Master (Dang-ju-nim). I am sorry.”
“No, there’s no need to feel sorry…”
Yu-seong-Gang hurriedly put his hands together and explained calmly.
“I was thinking a bit about ‘Speed’ (Kwae). In the So-cheon Sword Art, doesn’t ‘Speed’ not aim for speed for the sake of ‘Illusion’ (Hwan)? So, conversely, I was wondering what it would be like if there were another technique that could manifest extreme swiftness.”
“Hmm?”
However, as if he had already fallen into a state of deep focus, Yu-seong-Gang continued his explanation with a preoccupied expression.
“For example, it’s like this. According to the Great Tae-eul Scripture, the So-cheon Sword Art does not just aim for a style with fast speed, but rather the Middle Way. That is to say, doesn’t it require the possibility of developing in either the direction of Change (Byeon) or Illusion (Hwan)?”
What on earth is this kid talking about? Did he learn a different Great Tae-eul Scripture than me?
“Umm, that…”
“If so, the So-cheon Sword Art can be seen as a style with defensive elements as well as the center of change, and I was pondering if there was a way to utilize this speed dramatically.”
“Uh… uh…? I-is that so?”
“As the Hall Master knows, I am lacking, so my training in the Twin Heavens Sword Secrets and the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art is insufficient, isn’t it?”
As he looked at Yu-seong, who nodded his head as if guilty, Chae-seok-Gang tilted his head. In the first place, the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art or the Twin Heavens Sword Secrets were techniques that consumed a considerable amount of inner qi, so even he, as the Hall Master, could not easily unleash them. However, it would be more strange if Yu-seong, who had not even reached adulthood, could unleash the sword styles freely. Chae-seok-Gang patted Yu-seong’s shoulder to comfort the youth as the Hall Master.
“That… you don’t need to fret about that. Once you get a bit older and your inner qi accumulates more…”
“So I thought about it. How about ‘Extreme Speed’ (Geuk-kwae) with extreme efficiency?”
“…Hmm?”
What kind of talk was this again?
“I mean, it’s like this.”
Yu-seong-Gang sheathed his blade and took a draw-sword posture.
“This is the original So-cheon Sword Art.”
Swish—
As soon as he finished speaking, the blade that shot out rapidly thrust at the opponent’s heart and returned. It was a swiftness that could not be seen in youths of Yu-seong’s age. Before Chae-seok-Gang could even admire it, Yu-seong, who had sheathed the blade he had extended, took the draw-sword posture once more.
“This is how you unleash it.”
K-ching—!
It was difficult to even grasp what had occurred. Clearly, a sound had echoed and wind had followed… but he had not even seen the trajectory of the blade moving. Thinking that this could have been an enemy’s blade made his spine turn cold.
“Y-you made this by yourself?”
“Pardon? I didn’t make it, it’s something I learned from the Great Tae-eul Scripture…”
No, I’m telling you, I didn’t see anything like that in the Great Tae-eul Scripture. Chae-seok-Gang, who barely managed to close his gaping jaw, asked.
“What is its name?”
“Pardon?”
“The name of the martial technique.”
Yu-seong gave an awkward smile and replied. He looked like an unmistakable young boy.
“I only thought that ‘Heaven-Severing Sword Art’ (Dan-cheon-geom-beop) might be good… Hehe. It’s embarrassing.”
He had known from the first time he taught him that the boy was a youth with extraordinary talent. Especially his obsession with martial techniques and his love for martial arts were infinite. Furthermore, after returning from being an exchange disciple at the Moyong Family, he already had nothing left to teach, but to think he had reached the point of creating a non-existent technique to supplement his own weakness. A genius had rolled into the sect, but it was a situation where he was standing and blocking that genius’s path.
As Chae-seok-Gang remained silent with a stiff face, Yu-seong-Gang began to read his expression.
“Um… could it be that I did something wrong?”
“…Yes.”
“Pardon?”
Subsequently, a expression mixed with embarrassment and determination appeared on Chae-seok-Gang’s face.
“Ah, I am not talking to you. If something is wrong, it is we who are wrong.”
“What does that mean…”
“Devote yourself more.”
Chae-seok-Gang, thinking he could no longer just watch, left the spot and immediately headed for the Sect Leader’s Hall. In the first place, they should not have thought about raising the youths after they themselves had grown first. In the first place, wasn’t it impossible for their growth rate to be faster than that of the young disciples? Anyway, the ones who needed to be raised right now were the younger generation, rather than themselves who were already late. Right now, those youths were in the midst of wanting to fly through the sky to their heart’s content, but it was a situation no different from his own older generation having tied those youths’ wings tightly. He felt a sense of alarm that he should not be holding onto their wings, even if he couldn’t teach them the methods to fly far.
Bang!
“Sect Leader (Mun-ju-nim)!”
“Hmm? Hall Master Gang.”
Mun-gi-Hong, who was continuously sweating in his private training ground, looked at Chae-seok-Gang with questioning eyes.
“Elixir pills! We need elixir pills!”
It was a sudden request for elixir pills, like a bolt from the blue. The words that followed were even more of a mystery.
“The youths cannot fly. We must give them elixir pills so they can fly.”
“No… Hall Master Gang. Speak so I can comprehend…”
“Elixir pills, elixir pills are the best we can do.”
“No, I mean… step by step…”
自由 Give me elixir pills! Elixir pills!!! I’m telling you to give me elixir pills!!!”
“……”
At the sight of Chae-seok-Gang eventually rolling on the floor and causing a ruckus, Mun-gi-Hong thought, ‘Is this an opportunity to test the martial arts I’ve been honing?’

“…So. You need elixir pills?”
Tae-san-Jin felt as if his throat were tightly blocked before he could even finish his first cup. No, it wasn’t as if elixir pills were just common trash in the neighborhood.
“Hmm, where can we obtain them? Since the Great Restoration Pills of the Shaolin Temple have the best effect, shall I put in a purchase inquiry there?”
Despite Tae-san-Jin’s sarcasm, Chae-seok-Gang did not soften his rigid expression.
“I am not joking.”
“…Just why do your eyes look like that?”
For some reason, Chae-seok-Gang, whose eyes had become like black eyes, glanced at Mun-gi-Hong, but Mun-gi-Hong only drained his wine cup without meeting his gaze.
“…I tripped while walking.”
“The bruise looks exactly like the Great Solar Fist… Do stones use the Great Solar Fist? Or do shovels use the Great Solar Fist?”
“I told you I’m not in the mood for jokes!”
“…I wasn’t throwing a joke.”
Otherwise, how could the words that elixir pills were needed come out so easily? However, Chae-seok-Gang recited in a voice that was more serious than ever.
“Right now, the youths’ growth has reached its limit. Their skill is already sufficient, but their inner qi cannot keep up. We need elixir pills.”
Tae-san-Jin pressed his temples firmly.
“How about something like spirit medicines? If we go through the Wang Manor…”
Bang.
“Are you going to feed every youth a root of Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Ginseng? Or are you going to distribute Stalactite Fluid to them as a group! I’m telling you we need elixir pills, elixir pills!”
“No, I mean, where on earth are we supposed to get those elixir pills!”
“That is something you, as the Outer Hall Master, must solve.”
“……”
Is this bastard out of his mind? Is it enough just to say he needs it without any plan? Then if I say I need an expert in Sword Qi, will he just raise one up for me? Tae-san-Jin was about to give him a piece of his mind but stopped. Because it was a foolish thing to do the same frantic thing against a madman who had lost his reason. Instead, engraving the character for “Patience” (In), he turned his head toward Mun-gi-Hong.
“What do you think, Sect Leader?”
At his question, Mun-gi-Hong also shut his mouth tightly. Because it wasn’t a matter that could be solved just by talking about it differently.
“Compounding elixir pills is not something that is possible just because one has the ingredients. Each sect’s elixir pills must contain that sect’s unique specialty. Isn’t there a reason why sects that have continued for a long time only manage to create two or three types of elixir pills?”
“That is exactly why I am saying this. That is only natural, but this madman has lost his reason and is talking nonsense…”
“Elixir pills! Elixir pills! Elixir pills!”
As they watched Chae-seok-Gang continuously chant the same word, Tae-san-Jin and Mun-gi-Hong let out a sigh.
“We could try commissioning a place like a medical house, but the cost will not be easy to handle.”
Sects that professionally handle pharmacology or medical houses occasionally make elixir pills, but there are almost no cases where they perfectly fit the constitution or internal method of the person actually ordering them. Furthermore, the price was often incredibly expensive, so there were frequent cases where one would waste money for nothing and the family’s fortunes would decline. Moreover, although the Tae-eul-mun’s livelihood had improved, it was not yet at a level where they could immediately commission the manufacture of elixir pills.
Tae-san-Jin comforted the madman… no, his friend.
“How about first supplying spirit medicines that help in increasing inner qi?”
Chae-seok-Gang stopped his shouting of “Elixir pills! Elixir pills!” and suddenly asked back.
“Do you know what the most important thing to be careful of when consuming spirit medicines is?”
“…Qi Deviation (Ju-hwa-ip-ma).”
He nodded his head greatly.
“Spirit medicines are good. Better than having nothing. But if the youths make even a single mistake while circulating their energy one day… you know well that there is no one in the Tae-eul-mun to support them.”
“……”
Chae-seok-Gang wiped all the playfulness from his face.
“Do you know what the youths’ state is right now?”
“……”
“They have understood martial techniques with their heads and bodies, but they cannot utilize them because their inner qi cannot support them.”
It hadn’t been long since the Great Tae-eul Scripture returned to the Tae-eul-mun. Furthermore, it was also a problem that their achievement in the Great Tae-eul Scripture was not progressing a step further because of the Great Advance Divine Art they had primarily learned in the past.
“The youths who can produce illusory swords are devoted to sword formations, and the youths who can produce sword qi are devoted to illusory swords. Furthermore, that fellow Yu-seong…”
Chae-seok-Gang, who recalled the sight of Yu-seong remaining alone in the training grounds, furrowed his brow and let out a groan.
“He was making another technique by himself because of his lack of inner qi. Does this even make sense!”
Hyeong-seol-ji-gong (The merit of fireflies and snow). It was a very good phrase meaning to achieve success by studying in a difficult environment, but when one’s own child was in such a situation, a parent’s heart would be torn.
“I know too. That elixir pills won’t just pop out because I shout for them. But even if I know it with my head…”
Chae-seok-Gang bowed his head while thumping his chest.
“It is a situation that cannot be understood with my heart.”
“……”
At the words of Chae-seok-Gang, who was thumping his chest as if it would break, Mun-gi-Hong and Tae-san-Jin could not easily open their mouths. Because the two of them felt the same way as Chae-seok-Gang.
“……”
“……”
A long silence hung in the air. With none of the three people holding their wine cups. Ultimately, the one who broke the silence was Mun-gi-Hong.
“For now, let’s conclude by feeding them spirit medicines that help in increasing inner qi first.”
“Sect Leader!”
“Please understand that point as well. Have you already forgotten that it hasn’t been long since we were able to eat meat for all three meals?”
“But spirit medicines can become poison depending on one’s constitution.”
Mun-gi-Hong, who was fingering his wine cup, gripped it tightly.
“We shall… be careful about that. Furthermore, if the family’s fortunes decline again because we overdid it, isn’t that also a problem?”
dishonesty “……”
“Do not place too much of a burden only on this friend Tae-san.”
At Mun-gi-Hong’s words, Chae-seok-Gang, who realized he had only thought of himself, muttered.
“I am sorry. Tae-san.”
Although he had received a bucketful of insults, Tae-san-Jin, knowing that it was because the man also had no way to vent his frustrated heart, nodded his head slowly.
“It’s fine.”
The drinking session continued once again, but there was no one who wore a refreshed expression.

“Spirit medicines?”
Eun-ho’s face crumpled like a sheet of paper.
“Yes. Spirit medicines. We need to obtain some spirit medicines on the way.”
“……”
Although it was a carriage ticket he had worked hard to reserve, he could understand tearing it up if it were for spirit medicines. However, wasn’t the talk a bit strange? Spirit medicines weren’t things that grew naturally in a sown field. Just how on earth was that Great Senior Brother’s (Dae-sa-hyeong) head constructed… no, I mean, how could he speak of spirit medicines so casually as if they were stones one could pick up while passing by?
“Do you have spirit medicines deposited somewhere?”
Suddenly, So-un-Jin scowled.
“Are you ill? Who would deposit spirit medicines?”
“……”
No, you talked as if that were the case! If you weren’t the Great Senior Brother, I would really…! Whether Eun-ho’s insides were bursting or not, So-un-Jin stretched and commanded.
“Anyway, there are many things to prepare, so move quickly. Is this not the return in glory (geum-ui-hwan-hyang) you all have been waiting for?”
“…I understand. But why are you telling us to prepare these?”
What So-un-Jin ordered were palm-sized iron graters and a leather vest (bae-ja) with pockets. Besides those, they were things like circular rings made of iron. Looking down at them, So-un-Jin grinned as if satisfied.
“How about it? These are things I devised this time. You can put the iron plates into that leather vest to adjust the weight.”
At So-un’s detailed explanation, Eun-ho’s head tilted even further.
“Isn’t a vest something worn over a jacket when it’s cold? Why are you adjusting the weight by putting iron plates in there?”
“Because if the body is heavy, the results of the training will be multiplied.”
“……”
Eun-ho tapped his ears with his palm to see if he had heard something wrong.
“Training while traveling is bound to be less efficient. However, if you wear this vest and the iron rings, the effect will be multiplied.”
…He had not heard wrong. Eun-ho momentarily agonized seriously. He thought that if it were going to be like this, it might be better not to return to his hometown. He wondered if it wasn’t the kind of ambition a man should naturally possess—that once he left his hometown to succeed, he would not return until he had succeeded.
“Now, now. Move quickly. Does it not seem as if you can see the junior brothers (saje) who will be waiting anxiously at the sect?”
However, he soon resigned himself and moved his body. Because although he hated the hardship to death, he also missed his junior brothers and his parents.
‘Furthermore, this person who is worse than Yama isn’t the type of human who would just allow someone to remain at the Academy. Sigh…’
Eun-ho felt pity for himself, as he had already become much faster at giving up.

This winter break is busier than ever. Because the spirit medicines appearing this winter are not just one or two. I would have to spend half of the break just sweeping them all up. Of course, they are not items comparable to the spirit medicines I have consumed so far. However, the reason these spirit medicines are necessary is that they are important ingredients for making the elixir pills for the Tae-eul-mun disciples.
‘It’s about time they were needed.’
Looking at the growth rate of the brothers Geum, Eun, and Dong, and Sa-ryeon, I can roughly estimate. Right now, the Tae-eul-mun is probably blocked by a large wall. And what can solve this is not just financial power or authority. It is, precisely, the absolute time that is fair to everyone.
The Tae-eul-mun is not yet a sect with the financial power, history, or scale to make elixir pills. Even in the case of prestigious great sects, disciples with outstanding medical talent throughout their long history receive the sect’s support and spend their entire lives to leave behind a single elixir pill recipe before they die. If even prestigious great sects are like that, could such a thing be possible in a small and cute sect like the Tae-eul-mun?
“But there’s no need to necessarily go by the orthodox way.”
If you have no teeth, you live by your gums. I left the office to find strong gums that were as good as teeth. Coincidentally, I didn’t even need to go far. Because the raw stone that those foolish fellows had thrown away without knowing it was a gold nugget was right before my eyes.