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Chapter: 11
Several days had passed since the Black Tiger Gang incident.
Even today, Jeong Soso couldn’t fall asleep easily.
She had never been a deep sleeper to begin with. Nightmares visited her often, and the moment she lay down, thoughts of Soyong’s illness and their family’s financial situation would drift endlessly through her mind.
This time was no different.
The Black Tiger Gang.
Just thinking about them made it hard to breathe.
Will things really be okay like this?
Even after everything that had happened, Jin Cheong-un calmly continued preparing for the martial hall’s opening.
Whenever she cautiously brought up the Black Tiger Gang, he simply replied that it wasn’t too late to wait and see how they reacted before making any decisions.
I should stop worrying and get some sleep.
But she knew it was impossible.
In the past, once her worries started sinking deeper and deeper like quicksand, they would never let her go.
At least… they used to.
—It’s alright. Somehow, it’ll work out.
It was strange.
Whenever her master’s voice suddenly echoed through her mind, she’d think it was such a reckless thing to say…
Yet somehow, her breathing would instantly become easier.
“Yeah… It’ll be alright…”
Before she realized it, Jeong Soso had drifted off to sleep.
“I’ve got work tomorrow too… Mmm…”
Soon, she was even talking in her sleep, completely unconscious.
How much time had passed?
“Right. There was something you had to do.”
That’s right.
She had to prepare breakfast, head to work at the inn, and there was also some promise she had made at dawn…
…Huh?
Who just spoke?
“W-Who’s there?!”
Throwing off her blanket, Jeong Soso shot upright.
Whoosh!
In the darkness…
A black silhouette with icy blue eyes slowly walked toward her.
“Get up. Quietly follow me.”
“Kyaaaaaah!”
A short while later…
The front yard of the Jeong residence.
Jin Cheong-un slapped both of his ears with his palms before shuddering.
“What a set of lungs. Thought my eardrums were going to burst.”
“I thought you were a burglar! Who wakes people up like that?!”
“Well, whose fault is it for not waking up on time?”
Just then, Jeong Soyong stumbled outside, still half-asleep.
“Noona. I think you’re the one who’s wrong.”
Jeong Soso felt something explode inside her.
There was so much she wanted to say, but the first thing that came out was—
“S-Soyong! You didn’t wake up either!”
“I’m ten years old. And isn’t it a little embarrassing to compare yourself to someone who’s sick?”
Y-You little schemer! I didn’t raise you to be like this!
Her face turned bright red as she awkwardly fidgeted.
“I-I normally don’t do this. I’m sorry, M-Mas… Mas… Master.”
She still wasn’t used to calling him that and stuttered several times.
Smirking as though he had won, Jin Cheong-un said,
“Now that everyone’s awake, pay attention.”
“Yes.”
The two little lambs answered in perfect unison.
Good. Nice look in their eyes.
A smile naturally appeared on his face.
There was only one reason he had summoned them before sunrise.
“As I told you, starting today, I’ll teach you martial arts.”
Jeong Soso hesitated before speaking.
Jin Cheong-un gestured with his chin.
“If you’ve got something to say, don’t hesitate.”
“Is… is this really the right time?”
“Why?”
“The Black Tiger Gang problem isn’t over yet.”
Jin Cheong-un nodded.
“There is no wrong time to learn.”
“…?”
I don’t think that’s how that saying is supposed to be used.
“Anyway, back to the point. You’re probably wondering why I woke you up before dawn.”
Both siblings nodded.
The sky was slowly turning blue, but the world was still wrapped in darkness.
“Dawn is the moment when the yin energy of night and the yang energy of day intersect, making it the ideal time to cultivate internal energy.”
With his hands behind his back, he continued.
“The energy of nature is especially pure and abundant at this hour… Hmm… It calms the mind and body and makes it easier to regulate one’s qi and blood… Well, just know that’s how it is.”
Halfway through his explanation, Jin Cheong-un suddenly looked bored and casually brushed the rest aside.
Can he really just skip over it like that?
Soso glanced sideways at her younger brother.
But Soyong simply nodded enthusiastically.
So that’s just how it is!
“You’ll understand naturally as you practice. What’s important is that unless something extraordinary happens, you’ll be getting up at this time every single morning to train.”
“W-What? Every day?!”
“…Every day?”
The siblings’ eyes widened together.
“Once you’ve learned breathing regulation, you’ll practice your circulation on your own. Until then, follow my instructions carefully.”
Jin Cheong-un grinned.
“What? You’re already scared, and we haven’t even started?”
“I-It’s not that…”
“If you don’t want to do it, then don’t.”
“Huh?”
He shrugged.
“Don’t do it. It’s fine. You don’t have to learn martial arts. Just live an easy life.”
The siblings immediately fell silent.
Grinning, Jin Cheong-un explained,
“People in the martial world often say that when learning martial arts, one must cultivate Essence, Qi, and Spirit (精氣神)—or Mind, Qi, and Body (心氣體)—without neglecting any one of them.”
In simple terms…
Training the body and internal energy was just as important as tempering one’s mind and willpower.
“Soyong, you need martial arts to cure your illness. And since you already have the goal of becoming stronger, your determination is there.”
His gaze shifted to Jeong Soso.
“But what about you, Soso?”
“M-Me?”
“Yes. Not because I happened to become your master. Do you have a reason for wanting to learn martial arts?”
A reason.
She wasn’t sure.
She had been very young, and her memories were blurry.
But the days she had spent at the martial hall had been warm.
And to inherit the martial hall, she would have needed to learn martial arts.
There was also the debt she owed Jin Cheong-un…
And…
No… I don’t think that’s really it.
At that moment, Jin Cheong-un spoke.
“My master once told me something.”
His voice had become unusually serious.
“‘Martial’ (武) originally referred to someone carrying a spear (戈) into battle. But later, it came to mean stopping (止) warfare (戈).”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“What do you think would have happened if you had known martial arts that day?”
Jeong Soso froze.
“This world is already hard enough as it is. If you want to stop conflict—or protect what’s precious—you need strength.”
“…”
“Of course, strength brings its own problems. That’s why you also need resolve.”
As those words sank in, determination gradually filled Jeong Soso’s eyes.
If only I’d had strength…
She wouldn’t have had to helplessly depend on Master.
She wouldn’t have been able to do nothing more than shout at the Black Tiger Gang while pretending to be brave.
“I… I think I’ve finally found my reason for wanting to learn martial arts.”
Jin Cheong-un smiled broadly before putting on a deliberately solemn expression.
“So then… have both of you now devoted your hearts to this path?”
“Yes.”
“And have you gathered enough determination?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
Following Soso, Soyong also shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Excellent. Since my disciples possess such unwavering resolve, this master is deeply satisfied.”
“Then it’s only fair that I declare my own resolve.”
The warm atmosphere lasted only a moment.
Suddenly, Jin Cheong-un’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
“I absolutely refuse to see any disciple from my martial hall getting beaten up anywhere. Understood?”
“…?”
“From now on, whether it rains or snows, whether the heavens collapse or the earth splits apart, training will never be skipped. If your willpower is strong enough, you’ll overcome it all!”
What kind of nonsense is that? If the heavens collapse, how are we supposed to overcome that with willpower?
“I’ll teach you until my own spirit is exhausted. So I expect my disciples to learn until their willpower is exhausted as well. That’s all.”
Something…
Something was going terribly wrong.
“Soyong first!”
“Y-Yes, Master!”
“You remember the cultivation formula I taught you yesterday, right? Today I’ll teach you Tonap (吐納)—proper breathing techniques. Sit in the lotus position.”
“Yes!”
Why is only Soyong getting special treatment?
A bad feeling suddenly crept over Jeong Soso.
“W-What about me?”
“You’ll start with the basics.”
Ah! The basics!
Whew… I got worried for nothing.
“So… what do we start with?”
“What do you think the basics are?”
“Internal energy? Ah! Or martial techniques?”
“No.”
He smiled.
“Physical fitness.”
“…Huh?”
“And nothing builds stamina better than running.”
“…?”
“What are you standing there for, Soso? Start running.”
“…!!”
A little while later—
“Aaaah! Aaaaah!”
“Huff… Cough! Hoo… Ha…”
Jeong Soso ran around the courtyard while screaming.
Meanwhile, Jeong Soyong occasionally lost his breathing rhythm, sweat dripping down his face as he concentrated.
Watching the two of them, Jin Cheong-un smiled contentedly.
When the body is exhausted, useless thoughts disappear.
Needless anxiety.
Worry.
Pointless overthinking.
All of it would naturally vanish.
And as a bonus, they were training as well.
The Black Tiger Gang should make their move soon, one way or another.
Before that… it’s time to take care of something I’ve been putting off.
I should also go see what Master left behind.
Jin Cheong-un gazed toward the direction of the Cheongun Martial Hall.
There is a story in the Liezi, in the chapter Tang Wen, about a foolish old man.
The old man’s home stood deep in the mountains, but two enormous peaks blocked the road. Whenever he wanted to travel to another village, he had to make a long detour.
Despite being ninety years old, he decided to dig the mountains away with his family.
Perhaps he was afraid that one day, while going to visit a friend in the neighboring village, he’d end up making a one-way trip to the afterlife instead.
Naturally, all the wise people around him told him to stop being foolish.
But human beings are strange.
The more people tell you something can’t be done, the more determined you become to prove them wrong.
The old man declared that if he couldn’t finish the job, then his children would continue it.
If they couldn’t, then his grandchildren would.
Generation after generation, until the mountains were gone.
His sincerity moved Heaven itself.
Fearing that his own territory might disappear if the family truly kept digging forever, the Mountain God hurriedly appealed to the Heavenly Emperor.
The Heavenly Emperor, touched by the old man’s perseverance, ordered the mountains moved elsewhere.
What an inspiring story.
As far as Jin Cheong-un was concerned, the lesson was simple.
If something stands in the way of your goal, face it with the determination to bulldoze it out of existence.
The reason his retirement plans had fallen apart…
Was because he had been too peaceful.
Not anymore.
Swindlers.
Debt collectors.
Corrupt officials.
Whoever tried to interfere—
He would remove them.
No matter what gets in my way, I won’t let anything delay the opening of my martial hall.
Thanks to Jeong Soso’s introduction, Jin Cheong-un met the elderly carpenter again at the martial hall.
Then—
“I’m afraid I’ll have to charge you more than I originally quoted.”
Jin Cheong-un froze on the spot.
“When you gave me the estimate before, you never mentioned anything like that. I’ve already paid the deposit.”
“If that’s a problem, then we’ll just do less work. It won’t be comfortable, but you’ll still be able to use the place.”
The indifferent reply made Jin Cheong-un stare silently at the carpenter.
Don’t tell me this old man is a swindler too?
Suppressing the thought, he asked as politely as possible,
“May I ask why?”
If he really is a swindler…
Yes. Think like the Foolish Old Man.
If he dug away mountains… I’ll smash apart the heads of swindlers.
Fortunately…
The carpenter, Jang Chungwang, wasn’t a swindler.
“Take a look at this pillar. See the mold?”
Thunk! Thunk!
He struck it with his hammer.
The pillar gave off a dull sound.
“Judging by that sound, the inside has completely rotted away. Moisture built up because it wasn’t maintained. And that wall over there bears weight, but it’s warped and needs reinforcement…”
“So… roughly how much more?”
“I won’t know exactly until we begin, but to be safe… another twenty nyang.”
Even without knowing much about construction, the explanation and amount sounded reasonable.
Only then did Jin Cheong-un finally relax.
“Whew… I almost cracked someone’s skull.”
Jang Chungwang blinked.
“What did you just say?”
“Nothing.”
“No… I’m sure I heard something.”
“To be honest, I misunderstood you for a moment.”
Jin Cheong-un smiled apologetically.
“But it turns out I was worrying for nothing. My apologies.”
After tilting his head in confusion for a moment, Jang Chungwang burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha! So you thought I was trying to rip you off?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Forget it. You’re spending a lot of money, so it’s only natural to be cautious. A sharp young man like you won’t get scammed easily.”
Jin Cheong-un’s expression immediately twisted.
“…Hm? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
As they walked outside, Jang Chungwang continued,
“We’ll start construction in four days. It’s been hard to get timber because of those fellows from… what was it… Milgyo or whatever they’re called.”
“I’ll leave it in your hands.”
“By the way, are you really not planning to renovate that building in the backyard? Since I’m already working on the exterior, I could do it cheaply.”
“…”
Jin Cheong-un glanced toward the backyard.
The structure Jang Chungwang pointed at was too small to be called a detached house…
Yet too large to be called a storage shed.
“That’s not a storage building.”
“It’s a training chamber.”
“A training chamber?”
“A place where martial artists can meditate and practice in peace. I’d prefer to leave it exactly as it is.”
“So that’s why it was built so solidly. I wondered why I put more effort into that than the house itself. Very well.”
“I appreciate it.”
After seeing Jang Chungwang off, Jin Cheong-un slowly walked toward the training chamber.
Creeeak.
As the door opened, a cloud of dust billowed into the air.
The room was dim and empty.
Yet just as Jang Chungwang had said, despite the shabby exterior, the inside remained perfectly intact.
“Alright then.”
Rolling up his sleeves, Jin Cheong-un let out a long breath.
“Time to search for Master’s legacy.”
Somewhere beneath this place…
The secret his master had left behind—one he had failed to discover before—was waiting to be found.
