Chapter 280

Chapter 280
## Chapter 280. Night of the Greedy Ones (1)

—

Beginning the very next day, Sa-ryeon-Hong was also dragged into the brutal trek. Bound with heavy iron bands on both her wrists and ankles, she had additionally slipped thick iron sheets into the lowest hem of her leather vest. With every single step she took, perspiration streamed down so heavily that one would never guess it was midwinter, and her belly began rumbling the instant she finished a meal and turned around. Having endured that grueling combination of a march and training throughout the bright hours of the day, they then had to take turns squaring off in duels against So-un-Jin while setting up their camp under the open sky.

“Geum-pyo, you blockhead! Watch your waist! Your flank is completely exposed! If you intend to utilize a shield, your core must anchor it like a pillar. You, go back to the beginning and start over with lower body stances!”

“Twin Heavens Sword Secrets? Since when did a rascal like Eun-ho start pretending to be a master? Do you honestly believe that throwing out a massive number of strikes is everything?”

“Dong-ryong! You absolute fool! No matter the circumstances, shouldn’t you at least maintain a proper guard? Better yet, just eliminate the opening for an assault entirely!”

“Sajeo! What on earth were you doing after entering the Academy half a year ahead of schedule? Can you not even grip your blade correctly?”

By the time they had cycled through a full round of these sparring sessions, their hunger would completely vanish, rendering their growling bellies a distant afterthought. Yet, totally unlike them…

“Why aren’t you guys digging in? This is incredibly savory because I tossed in a generous amount of beef jerky.”

Observing their Dae-sa-hyeong casually blowing on his piping hot porridge and savoring it, a collective groan naturally slipped from their lips.

‘Just what kind of miraculous food did he consume on his own to possess such terrifying strength?’

‘Without a doubt, a few years back, the disparity in our abilities wasn’t nearly this vast.’

‘On top of that, he didn’t even possess the luxury of time to train properly, given how he was constantly sprinting from one place to another.’

‘This is just too exhausting…’

Even when she forced herself to swallow a few spoonfuls, telling herself she needed sustenance to survive, her convulsing stomach instantly rejected the food, sending it right back up. After retching like that, she felt as though she would never be able to keep anything down again.

“Even so, it’s far better to eat. If you want to survive what’s coming tomorrow, you’d best force it down even if it tastes like ash.”

There sat their Dae-sa-hyeong, devouring his meat porridge and chuckling merrily as if he hadn’t a care in the world. And precisely as he predicted, the consequences of failing to nourish their bellies the previous evening manifested fully the very next morning.

“Pant, pant… j-just end my misery!”

“Do you truly wish for me to slay you?”

“—You son of a—!”

Whenever they collapsed to the dirt, protesting that they couldn’t take another step, a brutal thrashing accompanied by a spine-chilling aura of pure malice would rain down upon them. When their hearts, jolted by that terrifying intent, began pounding frantically, their limbs were forced to move of their own accord, no matter how much they loathed it. As this relentless cycle ground on, the disciples of the Tae-eul-mun genuinely felt they would be better off fleeing to live as hermits in some remote mountain valley.

“I would honestly rather swallow the deadly venom of the Sichuan Tang Family than spend another moment with Dae-sa-hyeong…”

“Sajeo… you must hold onto your sanity… Ugh.”

“Oh? You’ve still got the breath to chatter? It appears you have plenty of energy to spare. Let’s begin cranking up the weights!”

“…….”

Conditioning was all well and good, and gaining strength was an excellent goal, but shouldn’t they remain among the living first? To make matters worse, the severity of the regime escalated with each passing day. Pushed past his absolute limit, Eun-ho-Lee finally burst out in frustration.

“Dae-sa-hyeong, why do you insist on constantly dragging us through these rugged mountain paths?”

His mind was already on the verge of fracturing from trying to memorize the three hundred and sixty-five precise steps of the “Thousand-League Solo Walk,” yet their insufferable Dae-sa-hyeong kept steering the pack through the roughest wilderness tracks.

“Do you plan on employing your movement techniques exclusively on smooth public highways? If that’s your grand plan, just rent a horse; why waste your time acquiring movement techniques?”

Confronted with that retort, Eun-ho was left so completely dumbfounded that speech eluded him. No, wasn’t that a dilemma to ponder only after one had actually mastered the fundamentals first? How was this any different from demanding a toddler who had barely learned to stand upright suddenly master advanced footwork? Just what kind of bizarre material was that man constructed from?

The subsequent words from their Dae-sa-hyeong were even more preposterous.

“Why bother practicing things separately? If you drill on treacherous mountain terrain from the very beginning, there won’t be any need to practice on smooth public roads later.”

“…….”

Do people say they are left utterly speechless when confronted with something so utterly ridiculous? Eun-ho, who had completely lost the energy to argue back against a Dae-sa-hyeong obsessed with such extreme efficiency, could only let out a hollow, dry chuckle when…

“Hmm?”

So-un-Jin abruptly snapped his head to the side. Eun-ho inquired with a look of dread.

“Wh-what is it?”

“A skirmish! It sounds like a violent clash has broken out!”

“Pardon me?”

Their Dae-sa-hyeong’s face suddenly lit up with a rosy glow, resembling a young child who had just spotted a brand-new toy.

“I can distinctly hear the clashing of steel!”

…Seriously, what kind of human being operates like this?

“Uh… right, is that so.”

Detecting the sound of clashing blades in the deep wilderness usually implied a high probability that government forces or local groups were attempting to wipe out a den of outlaws. Or perhaps it was a bloody turf war between rival sects. Whichever the case, it had absolutely nothing to do with their party…

“Up on your feet! Let’s move!”

“Wh-where are we going?”

“A battle in these remote mountains is highly likely to involve a band of bandits. We absolutely must go take a look.”

No, if they are engaging outlaws, why on earth do we need to interfere?

“Let’s move! Move, move!!”

Unfortunately, there was absolutely no holding back their Dae-sa-hyeong, who had already bolted forward like a wild colt with its tail ablaze.

“Sigh…”

“What a miserable destiny…”

“Should I just make a run for it right now?”

“I already told you, swallowing venom is a much softer option, you country bumpkin.”

The four companions began trudging after So-un-Jin, their shoulders drooping in utter defeat.

“Hurry your paces up!”

“…We’re coooming.”

The journey back toward their ancestral home was proving to be exceptionally and dreadfully chaotic.

—

Once the autumn reaping concludes and the countryside folk who have gathered their grains and savings settle down to survive the winter on the fruits of their yearly labor, lawless bandit syndicates emerge in droves to pillage their reserves. Within the ranks of the Unorthodox factions, a vast number of martial artists temporarily masqueraded as highwaymen exclusively during the frozen months, prompting the imperial government to deploy specialized military regiments solely to suppress them. Unlike the established outlaws of the Green Forest, these seasonal marauders were slated for absolute annihilation because their sole objective was violent plunder. Though the state military launched campaigns to eradicate them year after year, their resources were stretched thin; furthermore, because numerous bandit clans managed to survive by bribing corrupt local administrators, righteous martial sects frequently took it upon themselves to clear out the outlaws as well.

“Amitabha…”

This was precisely the situation for the five monks currently holding the line against nearly a hundred shouting bandits. Il-gak, clad in saffron robes and offering a serene palm salutation, gently swept his hand forward. A brilliant, golden aura erupted from his palm, blossoming like a dense cloud and instantly swallowing up nearly a score of the attackers.

“Uh-uh?”

“What kind of sorcery is this!”

“Gack! I’m trapped, I can’t move an inch…!”

The frames of the bandits, rendered totally immobile as if bound by thick, invisible cords, hovered into the air simultaneously before being hurled nearly two jang away.

Thud.

Those who abruptly crashed down onto the hard earth and dropped their weapons were left utterly paralyzed with shock. Beyond a doubt, a colossal and magnificent ocean of energy had enveloped them, yet not a single individual had sustained an actual injury from that immense power. They had merely dropped their blades because their physical movements were completely stripped of their own volition. This also served as a clear demonstration that their challenger had infused zero lethal intent into his strike.

Gulp.

To frame it differently, it meant that had he chosen to include a desire to kill, not a single soul among them would still be drawing breath.

“I possess no desire for pointless bloodshed. I implore you to cast down your weapons.”

At Il-gak’s gentle command, the bandits who had been struck by that single technique remained completely frozen, as if their vital pressure points had been accurately pierced from afar. However, if these were men capable of learning a wise lesson from the misfortune of their comrades, they would never have chosen the path of brigands in the first place. The remaining outlaws, completely failing to comprehend the immense mastery hidden within Il-gak’s solitary movement, charged at the Shaolin monks without a shred of caution.

“Die! You miserable bald monks!”

“I’ll send you directly to the Pure Land!”

“Fools, there are only five of them! What are you blanched about!”

The outlaws, placing absolute faith in their massive numerical advantage, surged forward all at once. Il-gak briefly shut and reopened his hooded eyes, softly instructing his companions.

“Do not employ excessive violence. These are souls who must be delivered to face the judgment of the realm’s laws.”

“Understood!”

The four monks positioned behind Il-gak leaped into action in perfect unison. Some unleashed swift fist and kick combinations, others deployed fluid palm strikes, one snatched up a fallen tree limb to execute precise staff forms, while the final monk systematically dismantled the outlaws using agile claw strikes. Flowing along with movements that resembled a cascading river, the brigands naturally stumbled and crashed to the dirt. The entire spectacle appeared as though the Shaolin disciples were merely conducting a peaceful martial arts demonstration while the bandits were obligingly throwing themselves to the ground like stage actors. Of course, the disciples of the Tae-eul-mun, who were observing the entire conflict from a high cliffside vantage point, understood perfectly well that this was no theatrical performance.

“…….”

“…Is this what people mean when they say some exist on an entirely different plane?”

This was, without question, the true might of Shaolin. It was a vivid demonstration that the martial arts they wielded in the chaos of real combat had achieved a level of perfection identical to the forms they practiced in absolute tranquility.

“How can this be…”

Every single martial artist understands the tremendous gulf that exists between practicing the theoretical motions of a style and executing those same principles during a life-or-die struggle. Because of this inherent difficulty, certain sects tailor their entire curriculum solely for brutal combat, while other organizations devise completely separate systems intended exclusively for warfare. From that perspective, Shaolin’s standard styles possessed an immense gap when transitioned directly into real battle; however, this display simultaneously proved that these specific disciples of Shaolin had ascended to a realm lofty enough to completely bridge that chasm through sheer mastery.

“Il-gak…”

The most mesmerizing figure among the group was undeniably Il-gak. He neutralized the surging outlaws using nothing but the most basic, unadorned motions. Every time he extended an arm or shifted a leg, an outlaw would drop to the earth, yet they suffered no crippling trauma, perfectly honoring his initial decree. Would any of them be capable of maintaining such restraint in the heat of battle? That identical question flashed simultaneously through the minds of the Tae-eul-mun group. The conclusion arrived all too swiftly.

‘It’s utterly impossible.’

Subduing an opponent without causing them bodily harm is several times more difficult than simply ending their life. Furthermore, their adversaries were lunging forward with genuine murderous intent. Achieving this was an absolute impossibility unless the disparity in skill was akin to an adult playing with a newborn infant. Yet Il-gak was executing it with absolute serenity. They had briefly overlooked his true capabilities because he was constantly being berated and mocked by So-un-Jin, but witnessing his transcendent power on display anew made their flesh prickle with awe.

Right at that moment, while the disciples of the Tae-eul-mun stood frozen in astonishment…

“Curse it all…”

A low, furious growl vibrated through the air, sounding as though someone were grinding their teeth to dust. When Eun-ho snapped his gaze around, So-un-Jin was wearing an expression of intense outrage.

‘Could it be that Dae-sa-hyeong is actually capable of feeling envy?’

It was a rare glimpse of a vulnerable, human side to their Dae-sa-hyeong that he hadn’t witnessed in a long time. He had previously claimed a triumph during a direct clash with Il-gak. The ripples from that event had been massive, shattering all preconceptions and sending shockwaves through their entire generation. However, looking at their Dae-sa-hyeong now, appearing as if he had entirely thrown away that past victory and was instead grappling with the terrifying depth of the skill gap between himself and Il-gak, Eun-ho felt a sudden twinge of profound emotion rising in his chest…

“That bald bastard managed to beat me to the punch! No, why on earth is that fellow wandering around this region when he ought to be heading back to Henan?”

Huh? Did my ears just deceive me…

“Ah, blast it all, those insufferable monks are going to hand every last one of those bandits over to the local magistrates… which means all that hidden plunder… Aaargh! It’s such a massive waste I could literally weep, curse it.”

Ah, so he wasn’t feeling insulted by the sheer martial prowess of his rival? Eun-ho’s face instantly drained of all color. So-un-Jin, who had been venting a continuous stream of profanities for several moments, suddenly whipped his head around.

“Hmm? Why are you staring at me with those vacant eyes?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s a look that suggests your soul has completely departed your body?”

“Not at all…”

As if he couldn’t care less whether there was any spirit left behind those eyes or not, their Dae-sa-hyeong turned his focus back toward the valley.

“Aigoo, my belly aches from the sheer agony. If we had only managed to arrive a fraction earlier, all of that hidden treasure would have belonged to…”

Right… he was precisely this flavor of human being…

“But…”

“Hmm?”

Eun-ho, who was on the verge of giving voice to a query that had abruptly struck him, clamped his jaws shut tight.

“It’s nothing at all.”

“How incredibly boring. In any case, just imagine how vast a sum that loot must total…”

Eun-ho silently swallowed down the thought that had just crossed his mind.

‘If Dae-sa-hyeong goes around plundering a syndicate of outlaws, wouldn’t that technically constitute a severe breach of professional etiquette against members of the exact same trade?’

After all, he did technically hold the absolute title over a highly notorious wilderness stronghold known as the Black Dragon Fort. Come to think of it, the mantle of the Fort Lord of the Black Dragon Fort seemed to fit his true nature far better than acting as the Academy Representative…

“Aaargh! That bald monk, the very moment the new term commences, I am going to drill twelve additional dots right onto his skull, just you wait and see.”

“…….”

Of course, the individual in question fiercely resented that reality with every fiber of his being.

—

Il-gak and his fellow monks from the Shaolin Temple effectively bound the outlaws and exchanged brief pleasantries with the assembled Tae-eul-mun disciples. Naturally, during that encounter, So-un-Jin strongly argued that instead of delivering the recovered loot to the local government headquarters, they ought to disperse it among the impoverished commoners, but Il-gak smoothly brushed the suggestion aside. This sparked a brief, heated argument between the two, though it was managed and quieted down before long.

“In that case, I shall eagerly await our next meeting in the upcoming semester, Benefactor Jin. Namu Amitabha…”

“Good grief, they are just so relentlessly righteous it’s nauseating.”

“Dae-sa-hyeong…”

Following their farewells to the Shaolin Temple travelers, who explained they needed to press onward with their rigorous spiritual pilgrimage, not a single disciple from the Tae-eul-mun was able to find sleep until the night had grown incredibly deep.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

At their core, they were dedicated martial artists. The lingering memories of the incredible display by the Shaolin monks earlier that afternoon refused to fade from their minds. And during a quiet hour like this, when his martial juniors were drowning in profound contemplation, the individual who by all rights should have stepped forward to offer sagely guidance…

“Chomp, chomp! Why are you lot picking at your food so miserably?”

He was thoroughly reveling in a feast far more decadent than usual, utilizing rich meats confiscated directly from the outlaws’ larder rather than the treasure they had lost. Ultimately, the person who plucked up the courage to speak first was Sa-ryeon.

“Sahaeng, were you not left completely awestruck?”

“By what precisely?”

“By the sheer, overwhelming power of Shaolin.”

So-un-Jin, who was busily licking the savory fat off his fingertips, flashed an amused grin.

“I was wondering what had you all so gloomy. Why on earth should that be shocking?”

“…It’s just, it truly brought home the reality that Shaolin is an entity in a class of its own…”

She couldn’t quite find the exact words to articulate her thoughts. Nevertheless, the profound majesty radiating from every single one of their stances demonstrated that the decades they had spent training were anything but superficial. It wasn’t merely a gap resulting from the intensity of their daily drills. Their style pulsed with living history. It was martial arts that had been inherited, refined, and reshaped through consecutive generations across hundreds of years to attain the absolute apex of perfection. Even though she was fully aware they weren’t adversaries, as a practitioner of the martial path, she had instinctively measured herself against them. If Shaolin ever became an enemy, would she possess any hope of achieving victory? Sa-ryeon desperately sought an answer to the dilemma plaguing her mind.

“Can we truly hope to overcome Shaolin utilizing the current techniques of the Tae-eul-mun?”

“Chomp, chomp. Did I not already personally demonstrate how to secure a victory against them?”

Please finish swallowing the food in your mouth before trying to converse…

“Eh? Did you miss it entirely? I recall being quite magnificent.”

“…….”

Naturally, he was referencing the occasion when he had triumphed over Il-gak during their recent practical examination.

“But that victory was achieved using something completely outside the traditional style of the Tae-eul-mun…”

“What sort of nonsense are you spouting now?”

“We are well aware of the truth. We know you received private instruction from the legendary Great Hero Won-pyeong-Buk of the Sam-cheong-mun…”

Gazing down at the thoroughly disheartened Sa-ryeon, So-un-Jin snapped a small twig to fashion a crude toothpick and began cleaning his teeth.

“I honestly don’t comprehend what you blockheads are rambling about. In the first place, I merely adopted the external Form (Hyeong) and tactical Style (Sik). The actual energy powering those moves belonged entirely to me, you foolish rascals.”

“What?!”

“What is the meaning of that!”

Faced with the explosive shock of his martial juniors, So-un-Jin merely scoffed.

“Don’t tell me you rascals have been starving yourselves solely because you’ve been stewing over this until now?”

“That is certainly a massive part of it, but…”

Sa-ryeon released a heavy, weary sigh.

“I have simply come face-to-face with our limitations once more. I’ve been told that Shaolin commands hundreds of distinct martial disciplines, including the legendary Seventy-Two Supreme Arts, is that not correct? Mount Hua and Wudang likewise boast at least a hundred unique styles within their arsenals. By sharp contrast, our Tae-eul-mun possesses…”

Alongside the foundational Great Tae-eul Scripture, they had the Dae-cheon Sword Art and the Ssang-cheon Sword Secrets, which synthesized the underlying elements of both the So-cheon and Dae-cheon arts. Supplementing those were the Man-hwa-mu-jeok-kwon and that high-tier legacy, the Man-hae-cheon-ji-geom-beop, which had finally been recovered; however, when it came to sheer diversity of options, they were drastically outmatched. For instance, Geum-pyo, who now wielded a heavy shield, could no longer seamlessly execute the intricate sequences of the Man-hae-cheon-ji-geom-beop, while Dong-ryong had heavily relied almost exclusively on the foundational So-cheon Sword Art whenever confronting foes. Granted, the sheer volume of available techniques does not automatically equate to the ultimate combat effectiveness of a martial clan, but a narrow selection of arts inevitably forces disciples to place mental boundaries on their own potential growth.

“…….”

Whether they consciously shared Sa-ryeon’s sentiments or not, Geum-pyo, Eun-ho, and Dong-ryong all wore incredibly dark expressions. Compared to those grim days when their clan possessed absolutely nothing, this was arguably a complaint born of immense privilege, yet within the souls of these young warriors who yearned to ascend to the absolute summit, an undeniable craving remained unfulfilled. However…

“What on earth are you fools prattling on about?”

Their Dae-sa-hyeong reacted as though he had just heard the most ludicrous statement imaginable. They fully anticipated him to deliver some cliché, predictable lecture along the lines of:

‘You are incredibly fortunate and simply don’t know how to show gratitude.’

‘Reflect on how miserable our circumstances used to be.’

Instead…

“They say a fool goes searching for common silver coins while completely failing to recognize the priceless gold coin resting right in their own palm… you rascals are behaving exactly like that.”

“…Pardon?”

The four of them snapped their heads up in unison. Beyond a doubt, the gold coin he mentioned was meant to symbolize the unique arts of the Tae-eul-mun, while the silver coins represented the vast library of Shaolin… but even allowing for his fierce loyalty to their clan’s heritage, wasn’t drawing a direct parallel to Shaolin pushing things far too cynically? While his juniors sat frozen in sheer disbelief…

“Tsk, tsk, how blind, how could you possibly be this blind… Aigoo, legendary Great Tae-eul Sword Emperor! Your modern descendants are so utterly foolish… Ah, naturally, excluding myself from that assessment.”

While So-un-Jin was dramatically pounding his sternum as if he were mourning a tragedy or choking on his frustration, Eun-ho ventured a question with extreme care.

“Dae-sa-hyeong… if it isn’t too much trouble, could you perhaps enlighten us a bit further…”

Let us in on the secret. Seriously, seeing how genuinely exasperated he is, it truly feels as though there is some profound truth we are missing.

“Tsk, tsk. Let me ask you, why is the Great Tae-eul Scripture designated as the Great Tae-eul Scripture?”

“That’s… simply its official title…”

“Precisely. I am asking you why our revered Progenitor chose to title it a Scripture instead of labeling it the Tae-eul Divine Art.”

“…….”

“Aigoo, Great Tae-eul Sword Emperor.”

So-un-Jin’s gaze, which had been emitting lamentable sounds just a moment prior, transformed in a flash.

“Tae-eul signifies that primordial root from which every single element in the heavens and the earth is birthed and given structure. The Great Tae-eul Scripture, at its core, represents the study and understanding of all natural phenomena.”

As the four juniors failed to grasp his meaning and could only blink in confusion, So-un-Jin elaborated further.

“Does it not strike you as incredibly bizarre? When weighed against the world-shaking power of the Great Tae-eul Sword Emperor that has been passed down through legends, the actual destructive force of the Great Tae-eul Scripture seems ridiculously underwhelming.”

It was, in truth, an enduring mystery. It undeniably generated a exceptionally pure and perfectly balanced internal energy, but when compared against the elite internal methods of the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Families, the velocity at which one accumulated internal strength was markedly slower, and the elemental traits of that energy lacked a fierce, aggressive edge. Yet, to claim that the legends were simply exaggerated fabrications born of historical distortion felt like too massive a discrepancy. Right at that critical juncture, So-un-Jin offered them a vital clue.

“The Great Tae-eul Scripture is fundamentally not a rigid heart method to begin with. It is, pure and simple, a philosophical and energetic study concerning the nature of Tae-eul.”

“Then… the art we have been practicing all this time is…”

So-un-Jin’s grave demeanor instantly dissolved right back into an exaggerated wail.

“Aigoo, to think that such dimwitted fools who painstakingly lick nothing but the bitter green rind of a watermelon and complain they cannot discern the sweet flavor are my actual martial juniors.”

No, seriously, just explain it to us in plain language.

“Within the true study of the Great Tae-eul Scripture, there exists absolutely no predefined Form (Hyeong) or fixed Style (Sik). The specific combat techniques preserved by the Great Tae-eul Sword Emperor are merely the forms he devised that resonated most harmoniously with his personal understanding of the Great Tae-eul Scripture.”

“…Where on earth could a martial art completely devoid of Form or Style possibly exist?”

The martial arts of every recognized clan are built upon an intrinsic internal energy heart method. And when those two halves are flawlessly synchronized, an unstoppable power is unleashed.

“Therefore, think about how truly magnificent it is. To be capable of hoarding this profound a depth of the Grand Way (Do) without being bound to any rigid Form or Style. From the very beginning, the absolute absence of Form and Style is the ultimate blessing for you all.”

So-un-Jin delivered his speech with fiery passion, yet the four juniors stared back at him as though they couldn’t buy into a single word of it.

“Observe closely. This represents the unique path of study I have recently cultivated.”

Having declared that, So-un-Jin gently drifted his eyelids shut. Just as they were preparing to prod him awake, wondering why on earth he was suddenly drifting off to sleep right in the middle of an intense discussion…

“……!”

Jolted by an incredibly sharp, piercing aura that caused the hair on their necks to stand on end, they instantly whipped their attention forward.

“Gasp!”

“Hup!”

“What in the world is happening!”

Hovering directly before the four startled companions, a manifestation of the Black Dragon Sword—looking identical in every detail to So-un-Jin’s personal weapon—was suspended in midair, aimed squarely at their most critical lethal points. Without question, their Dae-sa-hyeong hadn’t made the slightest motion to grasp his weapon… so when in the world had he unsheathed it, and how was this blade floating entirely unsupported by a human hand? Just as that bewildering thought crystallized…

“Eh?”

The floating image of the Black Dragon Sword dissolved into fine particles of light with a soft hissing sound. Immediately following that, a strained grunt slipped from So-un-Jin’s lips.

“Urgh… as I suspected, I still have a tremendously long road ahead of me.”

The four juniors, snapping their heads back around with lightning speed, immediately inspected the physical Black Dragon Sword resting securely beside their leader. Beyond any shadow of a doubt, the actual weapon remained completely undisturbed within its scabbard. A thoroughly terrified Eun-ho hurriedly pressed for answers.

“What exactly did we just witness?”

This was a miraculous mastery completely unheard of and never before witnessed within the martial world. It wasn’t as though So-un-Jin had achieved the mythical heights of the Mind Sword or mastered the legendary Sword-Controlling Art, so what manner of mystical balance could possibly explain this?

“That is my personal application derived from the study of the Great Tae-eul Scripture.”

“Your own personal application?”

So-un-Jin nodded his head with measured deliberation.

“Correct. This is the manifestation of the ‘Self’ that I envision.”

“…….”

“The precise reason why I, a practitioner raised in a dedicated sword lineage, personally forced a heavy shield into Geum-pyo’s grasp and raised no objections even though Dong-ryong chooses to walk the Middle Way…”

He then paused, meeting the gaze of each of his martial juniors in turn.

“Is because the core image that every individual holds of themselves is entirely unique.”

The four companions strained with all their might to ensure they didn’t misinterpret a single syllable of their Dae-sa-hyeong’s declaration. Finding that rapt attention highly satisfying, a gentle, subtle grin graced So-un-Jin’s features.

“What is the foundational truth underlying the Tae-eul-mun? It is the principle of infinite Change (Byeon-hwa). And the Great Tae-eul Scripture is the vehicle intended to facilitate the evolution of ‘you.’ Consequently, every single one of you must contemplate and analyze deeply exactly what kind of entity you wish to transform into.”

If he simply trained his juniors to become exact carbon copies of himself, they would undoubtedly join the ranks of high-level martial artists eventually. Through meticulous coaching, he could ensure they possessed the skills to survive the impending onslaught of the Demonic Cult. However, that path would ultimately fail to truly preserve the legacy of the Great Tae-eul Sword Emperor. It would accomplish nothing more than temporarily extending the survival of the Tae-eul-mun name. For that reason, he needed to guide each of them to forge their own distinct ‘Tae-eul.’ That was the hidden purpose behind this brutal winter excursion.

The martial juniors, plunged into deep reflection for a long moment, finally inquired with immense reverence.

“…You mean the choice rests entirely with us?”

“Yes. My dragging you through these mountains and forcing you through these drills is merely laying down the bedrock. But if you truly desire to leap forward, you must initiate your own evolution. And the Great Tae-eul Scripture is a discipline that will effortlessly expand to match whatever transformation you choose. This is an arena where I can neither provide a cheat nor directly dictate your path.”

That was the reason he pushed forward in strict accordance with the Progenitor’s grand design. Even if the progress was significantly more time-consuming, even if the results appeared far more gradual, because it was the sole authentic path. Because he trusted it to be the righteous course.

“…So what you’re saying is, provided we march resolutely toward the destination we desire, the framework of that style will naturally manifest?”

“Precisely.”

“Sigh…”

Eun-ho felt an overwhelming sense of awe toward the true depth of the Great Tae-eul Scripture, and simultaneously, a burning curiosity took hold of him.

“…Just how long has Dae-sa-hyeong been traveling along that exact path?”

So-un-Jin merely offered a beaming smile, leaving the question unanswered. Now that he reflected on it, that was exactly how things had always been. Outside of the mandatory period during the formal evaluations, their Dae-sa-hyeong had never once ordered the disciples to ‘execute this specific action.’ He was invariably marching far ahead, occasionally pausing to look back over his shoulder and wait for them to close the distance. Even during those dark stretches when they did nothing but wallow in self-pity because chasing his shadow felt too daunting, preferring to stagnate in one spot, their Dae-sa-hyeong had locked away his own immense frustration and patiently waited for them to find their footing. Until they could finally comprehend the truth on their own. He had borne that heavy burden with infinite patience, conquering his own irritation.

“Sahaeng…”

“Dae-sa-hyeong…”

A thick layer of moisture welled up within the eyes of the four companions.

“We are deeply sorry. We were completely blind to the profound depth of your intentions.”

“I give you my word I will never utter another complaint regarding the severity of our drills.”

“I won’t even entertain the thought of deserting the group.”

“I will personally add an extra layer of iron sheets to my gear tomorrow. Please, push me to my absolute limits.”

So-un-Jin let out a soft chuckle and extended the platter of roasted meat toward them.

“I hear you loud and clear, so just hurry up and fill your bellies. You need to gather your strength if you’re going to survive tomorrow’s regime.”

“Yes!”

“Understood, sir!”

“I will force it down even if my stomach protests!”

The four martial juniors could not have guessed in their wildest fantasies that this profoundly moving, inspiring sermon was a tactic their leader had meticulously picked up from the clever bastards of the So-jeong-dae during his previous incarnation.

‘Hehe… just as I thought, youngsters are incredibly simple to manipulate.’

Right as the four companions, entirely oblivious to their Dae-sa-hyeong’s manipulative machinations, began wolfing down the meat with renewed vigor, So-un-Jin spoke in a dangerously soft, casual tone.

“…By the way, did I happen to hear someone mention they had entertained thoughts of deserting?”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

The chewing motions of all four individuals ground to an immediate, dead halt. Their mouths were stuffed to the brim with food, yet the simple act of trying to swallow their saliva felt like a monumental chore. They had momentarily suffered a lapse in memory, entirely forgetting just how incredibly terrifying their Dae-sa-hyeong truly was.

“To think you lot were actively conspiring to abandon your duties instead of overflowing with gratitude while I, your devoted Dae-sa-hyeong, am enduring such immense hardships for your sakes…”

And just how incredibly petty and vengeful of a human being he could be.