Chapter 363

Chapter 363
## Chapter 363. Invisible Torrent (3)

—

Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, kept its vibrant glow alive even deep into the night.

The sprawling entertainment quarters and countless taverns were packed with patrons indulging in merrymaking and drink.

The pathways were so tightly packed that taking a clear step was difficult, swarming with elegantly dressed ladies out to enjoy the spectacles and vigorous gentlemen pursuing them.

This evening was no exception; as the hours grew late, the bustling crowds showed no signs of retiring.

Yet near the base of Mount Hwa-un, a different group of individuals remained awake for entirely separate reasons.

“Pant, pant, pant, pant, pant.”

Gasping heavily for air, Gang-chae-seok could only harbor one thought.

‘This is going to kill me.’

He shifted his gaze slightly.

Illuminated by the flickering torchlight, the senior Hall Masters of the Tae-eul-mun alongside their younger students were all pressed flat against the ground, grinding out push-ups.

“Hmph!”

“Arghhh!!”

Having crossed the threshold of *Bul-hok* (40) and nearing *Ji-cheon-myeong* (50), an age where men are meant to comprehend the grand design of destiny.

Instead, they were here producing pathetic grunts while enduring basic physical conditioning meant for raw novices; it was a ridiculous sight to behold…

“Gang-chae-seok! You’re supposed to be the foremost martial artist of Tae-eul-mun? Is this truly the limit of your capability?”

Accompanied by a shout as biting as a winter freeze, a crushing pressure bore down upon him.

It felt as though the remaining energy in his violently shaking arms would vanish entirely.

Even so, he clenched his jaw and held on.

Collapsing meant a heavy stone slab would be stacked onto his back, forcing him to restart the entire set from zero.

Seeing another individual right beside him successfully executing this absurdly brutal regimen, Gang-chae-seok simply refused to give up.

“……*Mun-ju-nim*. Are you holding up?”

With his face flushed crimson and looking ready to burst at any second, he checked on his leader with immense effort, receiving a strained reply in return.

“Hall Master Gang.”

“Yes.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“…….”

With those words, his elbows buckled once more.

The sight of his frame shivering uncontrollably was utterly pitiful.

‘Good grief, how did we get dragged into this mess?’

It all began with Gang-yu-seong.

Ever since the young man traveled to the Moyong Family as an exchange disciple, receiving direct mentorship from Moyong-gang and rapidly elevating his martial comprehension through the recovered secret texts of the Tae-eul-mun, there was simply no teacher left within the sect who could guide Yu-seong further.

The sole alternative was that young man So-un, but…

Summoning a fellow who was constantly occupied running errands for the Murim Academy thousands of *li* away just to tutor a single student?

It was an entirely impractical notion.

Fortunately, Jin-so-un utilized his academic recess to request that Baek-hae-gwang take charge of Gang-yu-seong’s development, and with Hong-mun-gi giving his assent, the boy’s progression proceeded without a hitch for a time.

Regrettably, an entirely different complication arose from this arrangement.

Under Jin-so-un’s foundational guidance, Gang-yu-seong’s personal martial prowess had effectively eclipsed that of the remaining Hall Masters, saving Gang-chae-seok.

‘Seriously, what kind of monster has that boy turned into?’

Their own modest capabilities simply could not stand against Gang-yu-seong’s genius.

Yet, given the decades they had dedicated to the martial path, if their lifelong achievements were surpassed by a youth who hadn’t even celebrated his twentieth year, what would remain of their standing as senior authorities of the sect?

‘They would be too embarrassed to even look anyone in the eye.’

Worse yet, Yu-seong possessed an innate knack for instruction as well.

The communal practice sessions they held turned into collaborative studies, and those studies triggered further leaps in ability.

Consequently, the rapid evolution of the Tae-eul-mun youngsters was progressing at an alarming rate.

‘Good grief, our lineage is almost too fortunate with its new generation!’

While delighted smiles lingered on the Hall Masters’ expressions, a heavy anxiety weighed firmly on their spirits.

If they slacked off even for a moment, the remaining children would undoubtedly surpass the senior martial artists before they knew it.

Around that exact period, the Sect Leader himself, Hong-mun-gi, was experiencing a profound sense of foreboding.

“The current climate within the Jianghu is highly volatile.”

With the formation of the Sa-heuk-ryeon, an alliance of the heterodox factions, the domain of the Black Way sects was steadily compounding.

The orthodox White Way groups, alarmed by this rising dark influence, were initiating aggressive, reckless expansions to project their own strength.

In this volatile climate, skirmishes and conflicts of varying scales broke out across the land almost daily.

Though the Tae-eul-mun remained isolated in seclusion, their safety could not be guaranteed indefinitely.

“It is a reality that our current progress lags behind the youngsters, but should a crisis emerge, we cannot suffer the disgrace of senior teachers cowering behind their own pupils, can we?”

Hearing Hong-mun-gi’s declaration, the Hall Masters felt a profound weight settle upon their shoulders.

“For that reason, I intend to seek assistance from *Dae-hyeop* Baek.”

“T-that… what are you suggesting…! That is completely unfeasible, *Mun-ju-nim*!”

The Hall Masters were utterly appalled by the notion of a formal sect leader requesting instruction from a prominent figure of the unorthodox Murim.

Observing their reaction, a fierce anger kindled within Hong-mun-gi’s eyes.

“Do you fools intend to abandon your vital duties to protect our home simply for the sake of your fragile egos!!”

“…….”

The normally mild-mannered leader roared out, reprimanding his subordinates.

“Why do you think So-un places himself in mortal peril time and time again! Do you think the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers secured their places at the academy purely on raw talent!”

“…….”

“Cast your eyes upon yourselves this instant! The robes on your backs, the meals provided to you daily—the lifeblood and effort of those children paid for every bit of it. Do those garments truly feel light on your skin? Can you swallow that sustenance without guilt, I ask you!”

Not a single person present in the assembly hall could maintain eye contact.

“As the reach of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group expands, Jin-tae-san faces mounting hardships. If adversaries endanger the Dae-cheon Merchant Group, will you hide behind our youths then!”

“…….”

“If you lack the resolve to act, I shall pursue this alone!”

There was no room left for debate.

Indeed, no one possessed the courage to offer further objections.

Fail to grow powerful, and perish.

The moment had arrived to confront the unyielding reality of the Jianghu that they had recognized since days of old.

The true obstacle was whether Baek-hae-gwang would actually agree to train them.

“……I shall give it some consideration.”

Precisely as anticipated, Baek-hae-gwang manifested noticeable hesitation.

Even though he resided within the Tae-eul-mun as an honored guest, he could not carelessly impart his knowledge to individuals who were, for all intents and purposes, outsiders to him.

Yet Hong-mun-gi refused to yield so easily.

Despite the man’s history as a prominent figure of the Black Way, his demeanor throughout his stay at the Tae-eul-mun defied the darker rumors, mirroring that of a proper gentleman.

Furthermore, the Sect Leader knew well that beneath that rough exterior lay a soft heart; the man sympathized with Yu-seong and frequently granted the boy private guidance.

Recognizing this trait, Hong-mun-gi pressed his plea with utmost sincerity once more.

He risked being insulted for his sheer audacity, but Hong-mun-gi’s desperation left him no alternative.

“If we persist on this trajectory… the survival of our lineage may be fundamentally threatened. Thus… I implore you, *Dae-hyeop* Baek.”

To see the grand master of a sect lower his head so humbly.

Baek-hae-gwang let out a quiet sigh.

Following a prolonged pause.

Did the raw earnestness move him? Ultimately, Baek-hae-gwang gave his consent.

“I had previously received a request regarding this from that Jin-so-un br—cough, that young fellow. If it brings you no dishonor, then despite my own limitations, I shall assist to the best of my capabilities.”

“You have my deepest gratitude, *Dae-hyeop* Baek!”

And so, Baek-hae-gwang assumed the role of martial instructor for the Tae-eul-mun seniors.

“I pondered this deeply. To what degree I ought to involve myself with the specific techniques of the Tae-eul-mun…”

This was the paramount anxiety the Tae-eul-mun had harbor since initiating their request to Baek-hae-gwang.

As an instructor, what Baek-hae-gwang ultimately needed to refine was the fundamental style of the Tae-eul-mun. Yet, a sect could not carelessly expose its heritage to a non-member.

Conversely, to display wariness toward the instructor while simultaneously begging for his wisdom?

From the master’s viewpoint, such behavior would naturally feel insulting.

However.

“Well… I believe that is an issue you need not worry over for the time being.”

To their surprise, Baek-hae-gwang remained completely unbothered.

“Excuse me? What do you mean by…”

“As I am not an initiate of the Tae-eul-mun, I have no right to pry into the secret techniques of your sect. Consequently, it is far more appropriate for me to resolve your specific hurdles while you independently review the Tae-eul-jin-gyeong. Progress may be gradual, but you will successfully attain greater heights.”

“…….”

“Even so, set your mind at ease. I shall pass along the insights I have gathered, modest as they may be, over my lifetime.”

Witnessing his immediate consideration for their potential discomfort, alongside his willingness to impart his hard-won realizations.

The members of the Tae-eul-mun, who had previously viewed him with suspicion due to his unorthodox background, shed silent tears of genuine regret.

“Nevertheless, there is a singular condition I must request of you.”

Given that the request came from a man showing such nobility, they were prepared to grant anything short of surrendering the entire Tae-eul-mun itself.

“Please, speak your mind.”

A scene emerged where everyone, led by the Sect Leader himself, eagerly nodded along.

Baek-hae-gwang paused momentarily before addressing them with courtesy.

“Well… from the standpoint of imparting martial knowledge, will it not prove awkward if we maintain rigid formal speech with one another? Furthermore, if an initiate merely repeats what they find comfortable without pushing past their boundaries, it cannot truly be deemed martial cultivation.”

The assembled crowd instantly grasped the underlying meaning of Baek-hae-gwang’s words.

Hong-mun-gi nodded his assent with even greater fervor.

“Judging by raw capability or seniority within the Jianghu, such an arrangement is only proper. Please address us with whatever familiarity you deem fit. No, break us down as ruthlessly as required.”

“I appreciate your cooperativeness.”

“I place myself in your capable hands. Ahahaha!”

“I likewise look forward to our endeavors, hahahaha.”

Consequently, as twilight blanketed Hefei, the grueling training commenced upon Mount Hwa-un.

“You miserable fools, focus your minds!!!”

…Something felt terribly amiss.

“Oh? What sort of feeble response is that? Did you come up this mountain for a leisurely stroll?”

“…….”

“What? Internal cultivation? A fool who hasn’t even laid the foundation stones is already trying to assemble the roof? You there, sprint to the peak of Mount Hwa-un this instant and return!!!”

The courteous gentleman they knew had utterly vanished, replaced by a merciless tyrant of an instructor who began driving the Hall Masters to the brink of collapse.

“Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals! Your core is entirely lacking! Whether aspiring to the Peak or the Transcendental realm, to make strides forward, your roots must run incredibly deep!”

“Comprehension? What use is spiritual insight if your physique refuses to cooperate, resembling a decaying ancient tree?”

“Wh-what?? The league of the Five Dragons and Phoenix Stars? Ha! I often wondered why Jin-so-un was such an eccentric madman, but it appears an unhinged perspective is a foundational trait of your entire lineage?!”

Savage physical drills and relentless repetition of stances persisted until their energy reserves were thoroughly depleted.

And the moment they were entirely spent, combat sparring with Baek-hae-gwang commenced.

The intensity of the training was so extreme that even Gang-chae-seok, who considered himself well-seasoned by hardships within the Murim Alliance, found himself struggling desperately to cope.

“Only when the roots sink deep can the branches touch the heavens. The reason you have stagnated until now is because you failed to anchor yourselves deep enough!”

“Absolute rubbish. Harmonizing internal and external energy, my foot. Confound it, that exact mindset is why neither your spiritual nor physical power amounts to anything!”

“Then what is the solution? You simply grind until you expire! No, just drop dead! Cast aside your worries and simply die!”

Baek-hae-gwang forced them to the absolute boundaries of human tolerance, embodying his harsh philosophy through action.

It reached a stage where several individuals began losing consciousness from the sheer severity of the training load.

“Fret not. I have already negotiated terms with King Yama.”

Yet the moment Baek-hae-gwang manipulated their joints and targeted their vital pressure points, their eyes would instantly snap wide open.

“Arrghhh…”

“Urghhh…”

As a result, even if their bodies failed them and they desperately wished for unconsciousness, they were denied even that escape.

As the routine persisted—instructing the youth by day and enduring this torment throughout the night—before two weeks had even passed, every man began fearing for his actual survival.

“Sect… Leader, cough! This… this simply cannot be per… mitted.”

“Hall Master, I beg you to intervene… Senior Brother Geum was, urk… completely inactive during the day, yet his nose bled without… ceasing.”

“……This is madness. Who!! Who under heaven subjects men to this variety of training…”

Hong-mun-gi, who was on the verge of scolding those who complained, went entirely quiet upon witnessing the state of his Hall Masters, who had withered away to mere skeletal frames in a matter of days.

Truthfully, he had held his tongue because he was the initiator of this arrangement, but he could not deny that the methods felt alarmingly severe.

Still, a warrior’s pledge carries the weight of a thousand gold pieces, and a Sect Leader’s honor stands firm like a mountain peak. He could not retreat now.

“A true man does not break his word! I shall remain faithful to the commitment I uttered.”

The shoulders of the pleading Hall Masters dropped in utter despair.

Even so, deep respect for the unyielding resolve of their leader, who stood firm before them like a grand fortress, was almost enough to move them to tears…

“However!”

“??”

“……I shall not forbid you from approaching him to converse! I will! Abso!lutely! not stop any of you!!!”

“……!!!”

“Ahem…!”

The Hall Masters could not help but notice that their Sect Leader’s silhouette suddenly appeared incredibly small.

Nonetheless, now that they possessed official authorization from their master, they needed to secure a lifeline.

The senior members huddled together to devise a strategy for survival.

“To begin with, trying to reason with him during the evening hours is out of the question.”

“A profoundly wise assessment. He is a demon… no, an instructor who will forcibly revive a collapsed man just to make him run farther.”

“But… if the Sect Leader refuses to accompany us, will a simple conversation yield any results…”

Is it not said that when desperation peaks, a path reveals itself?

“What if we approach him during the daylight hours?”

“During the day?”

“Indeed. That… it appears Master Baek’s temperament softens considerably whenever he is accompanied by his lady and child—which is to say, his family.”

“Even if that is true, would the Sword Demon…… no, would Master Baek truly be swayed by that?”

“Do we possess any alternative strategy?”

It felt like a reckless gamble, but with their very lives on the line, the group pinned their expectations on even the slimmest glimmer of hope.

Once the course of action was determined, execution followed immediately.

Led by Gang-chae-seok, the ranking Hall Masters set out to locate Baek-hae-gwang.

The man, who was quietly enjoying tea alongside his spouse, greeted the incoming seniors with perfect composure.

“Welcome.”

Seeing Baek-hae-gwang offer a polite, respectful nod, Gang-chae-seok and his companions stood frozen in sheer disbelief.

Having endured a barrage of creative vitriol the previous night—the likes of which they had never encountered in their entire lives—the contrast left them entirely stunned.

“Greetings. May I offer you some tea?”

Seated beside him, Seop-so-jeong arose while flashing a smile as delicate as a rare night blossom.

How could a lady of such refinement and grace be wed to that absolute mad… no, to that esteemed Master.

“A-ah, no. We appreciate the offer. We merely require a brief moment of your time before we depart.”

“Oh, what a pity.”

While Seop-so-jeong’s striking grace was remarkable, the truly baffling element was Baek-hae-gwang’s current disposition.

“What brings you to my quarters?”

“…….”

Had he completely altered his mind… or rather, was he an entirely different entity?

The tyrannical expression illuminated by the campfires the night before was utterly absent; he smiled with a gentle benevolence, looking like an innocent soul who had never committed a single misdeed in his life.

Gang-chae-seok, battling severe mental dissonance, forced himself to introduce their primary grievance.

“……Ahem, M-Master, to speak plainly, we find the current training regimen to be somewhat excessive.”

“My goodness!”

Seop-so-jeong expressed gentle shock and lightly chided her husband.

“My dear, are you perhaps driving the members of the Tae-eul-mun past their limits?”

The visiting martial artists held their breath in mounting anxiety, terrified that a volley of insults would rain down upon them despite the lady’s timely intervention.

Yet contrary to their tense expectations, Baek-hae-gwang conceded the point without a fight.

“I see… It appears I may have overextended the training parameters.”

They had fully expected him to mock them, demanding if they lacked the grit to endure basic conditioning, or asking if they hid behind a lady’s skirts because they lacked true masculine resolve…

Because Baek-hae-gwang displayed such a reasonable attitude, the expressions of the group brightened, sensing a genuine breakthrough.

“Indeed, *Dae-hyeop*. At this current intensity, we fear someone may suffer a catastrophic injury.”

Seop-so-jeong reinforced the sentiment, gently resting her hand upon her spouse’s forearm.

“Dear! Should you cause harm to the fine people of the Tae-eul-mun, I shall be deeply displeased!”

“Hmph…”

A scenario where Baek-hae-gwang was firmly cornered by his family.

Furthermore, the master himself displayed a conflicted countenance.

The Tae-eul-mun members celebrated internally, convinced their ordeal had successfully concluded.

However.

“Sigh… My apologies. Because young Jin-so-un consistently endured conditioning three times more severe than the routine assigned to you all, I simply assumed that as the senior leadership of his sect, you would possess the fortitude to match it.”

As those words drifted from Baek-hae-gwang’s lips, the bodies of the assembled Hall Masters turned entirely rigid.

“Granted, expecting such performance routinely is perhaps impractical…”

Baek-hae-gwang murmured softly, idly spinning his porcelain cup.

“Out of sheer curiosity, I once questioned him. I asked why he subjected himself to such extreme torment.”

“…….”

“Are you aware of his response?”

A side of Jin-so-un they had never truly been privy to.

Those raw, unvarnished motivations—the leadership of the Tae-eul-mun only came to discover them through the words of Baek-hae-gwang.

“The young man stated he desired sufficient personal strength to safeguard his family and sect, regardless of the foes he might face.”

“…….”

“I reminded him that ascending to the absolute peak of the world is a treacherous path.”

The Hall Masters slowly dropped their gazes to the floor.

Baek-hae-gwang let out a quiet, mirthless chuckle, staring down into the swirling tea.

“As I spoke those words, a thought struck me. What an incredibly young fellow… he had been breaking his own bones simply because he felt there was no one older or stronger protecting him.”

Just how deeply had Jin-so-un been wounded while witnessing the decline and humiliation of the Tae-eul-mun over the years?

The collective philosophy that defeat was unavoidable, that individuals must simply accept the lowly station they were assigned.

That enduring mockery and disrespect were merely conditions one had to tolerate.

How intensely must he have resented his seniors for demonstrating the existence of a defeated dog?

The sole reason Jin-so-un pushed his body into the flames as though burning himself out.

It was because they, the mature authorities, had failed to shoulder the burden.

“…….”

“……”

Had a single one of them ever contemplated their students or agonized over the longevity of the Tae-eul-mun with the same intensity as Jin-so-un?

An overwhelming wave of shame washed over them for voicing complaints about mere physical fatigue while receiving invaluable instruction.

Baek-hae-gwang continued his soft narrative.

“Truthfully, I confess I allowed my own anxieties to dictate the pace. Observing the current shifting currents of the Jianghu, I cannot foresee how long this fragile peace will endure. Moreover, the fact that the various factions began intensifying their movements following the Silent Forest incident undoubtedly hastened my actions.”

The quiet explanation cut through their spirits far more effectively than the savage insults of the previous evening, leaving an unsettling question in its wake.

Did they truly possess the right to complain of exhaustion?

Did they hold any right to call this painful?

Baek-hae-gwang dipped his head slightly.

“Being profoundly moved by that young man’s dedication toward the Tae-eul-mun… I must have grown excessively eager without realizing it. You have my apologies.”

Upon discovering that Baek-hae-gwang harbored such protective intentions beneath his brutal methods, the Hall Masters could no longer remain standing.

To do so would strip them of their basic humanity.

*Thud.*

“We have erred deeply, *Dae-hyeop* Baek! We beg you to look past our profound ignorance!”

“””We beg your forgiveness!”””

Dropping to their knees in unison and raising their hands in a respectful martial salute, the leadership of the Tae-eul-mun recognized their own shortcomings and wept openly.

“Sob… we shall never again complain of the hardship. We beg you to push us harder!”

“We shall endure your training until our final breaths. No, even past death itself, please continue to forge us!”

That very evening.

*Clang! Clang-clang-clang!*

Dozens of heavy iron weights were dumped unceremoniously before the ranks of the Tae-eul-mun.

Hong-mun-gi, who had allowed himself a small glimmer of hope regarding the Hall Masters’ daytime negotiation, inquired with a bewildered look.

“Wh-what is the meaning of this?”

“What does it look like? These are iron rings (*cheol-hwan*). Secure one to each of your limbs immediately.”

“Are you implying we must cultivate while anchored by th-these?”

“Did you not aggressively demand to be driven harder? Until your final breaths, no, even beyond the grave, did you not beg to be forged?”

“…….”

Hong-mun-gi swiftly redirected his gaze.

He was seeking answers from the specific Hall Masters who had gone to confront Baek-hae-gwang.

What under heaven had transpired during that meeting!

If you possess tongues, explain yourselves…

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

Yet every single man deliberately avoided the Sect Leader’s eyes.

“Moving forward, any individual who utters an objection will receive an additional iron ring.”

Staring at the mocking smirk playing on Baek-hae-gwang’s face, Hong-mun-gi came to a grim realization.

“Ha, you whimpered about fatigue after such a minor workout? And you deliberately engineered a confrontation while I was enjoying the company of my wife?? Do you possess any concept of how much effort it required to smooth things over with her?!!”

They had provoked the absolute wrong individual, disastrously so.

And.

“Prepare yourselves for hell starting tonight! You miserable wretches who amount to less than insects!!!”

He truly should have restrained those blundering Hall Masters.