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Chapter 15
Since life in the Tomb of Soldiers and Horses was so closed off, rumors spread quickly.
— Baek Yuhwa is teaching Dan-yeop the Heaven-and-Earth Sword Technique.
The next day, during breakfast, 3rd-generation disciple Hong Choyeon sat across from Baek Yuhwa.
While poking at her vegetables with chopsticks, Hong suddenly asked,
“Baek junior, what’s your relationship with Dan-yeop?”
“What?”
Startled by the sudden question, Baek Yuhwa widened her eyes.
Relationship with Dan-yeop?
Since she had entered the Tomb, she had never heard something so absurd.
“I heard you’ve been spending time with him lately.”
“Me?”
“They say the two of you were together until late last night. Isn’t it true?”
“Oh, Instructor Gomok asked me to teach Senior Dan-yeop the Heaven-and-Earth Sword Technique.”
“Ah, so that’s it. I almost misunderstood because of some strange rumors.”
“Strange rumors?”
“That you’ve been seeing Dan-yeop.”
“Goodness! That’s not true. Why would I meet with Senior Dan-yeop like that?”
“Well, he is rather handsome. Even sly Ha Yongwol tried to flirt with him. Though, because of that, Dan-yeop ended up on Ma Eun-rok’s bad side.”
Hearing the names of Ha Yongwol and Ma Eun-rok—who had already graduated—made Baek Yuhwa realize Hong Choyeon’s true intention. She quickly denied it firmly.
“Absolutely not. If Instructor Gomok hadn’t asked me, I wouldn’t even be around him.”
“So you’re saying you won’t meet him anymore, right?”
“……”
For a moment, Baek Yuhwa was speechless. She suddenly remembered her promise to teach Dan-yeop.
“What’s wrong? Did I make things difficult for you?”
Not only the other 3rd-generation disciples, but even the 4th-generation sitting farther away began focusing on them. That was the kind of influence Hong Choyeon had as one of the Tomb’s so-called Three Great Beauties.
Seeing the reactions around her, Hong pressed further.
“Baek junior, if you’re interested in Dan-yeop, just say so. I’ll ask Instructor Dan to send him to the Storehouse Division for you. Even if he’s weak, he’d do fine as a shop boy.”
In that instant, Baek Yuhwa’s eyes turned cold.
Those recruited in the 1st generation were distributed among the Six Branches after graduation. What Hong said wasn’t a genuine offer—it was mockery aimed at both her and the Storehouse Division.
Haah, what nonsense.
There was a hierarchy within the Six Branches.
The Martial Branch, closest to the unorthodox path, stood at the top.
The Storehouse Division, made up of shop assistants, ranked next.
Because Hong Choyeon was the daughter of the Martial Branch Lord, she could mock even someone stronger than herself like Baek Yuhwa.
Suppressing her anger, Baek answered with a calm face.
“I didn’t know Senior Hong had that kind of authority. In that case, please do send Senior Dan-yeop to the Storehouse Division.”
“Oh my, are you serious? You really want that fool to join the Storehouse?”
Her words were merciless.
All of this stemmed from the mistaken belief that Instructor Dan and Dan-yeop had a special connection.
“Yes. As you said, he’d have no problem working as a shop boy.”
Pretending to accept Hong’s suggestion, Baek countered. The reply left Hong slightly flustered. Dan-yeop’s assignment was a matter for the Branch Lords, not her.
Not wanting to dig herself into a hole, Hong quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, you’ve heard the news, right? The graduates have already been sent to Hadong Province. Maybe it’s better that Dan-yeop is still here—three of the 1st-generation disciples are already dead.”
“Three died?”
“Wow, the fighting must’ve been brutal.”
“At this rate, maybe thirty will die before they unify the Ten Provinces.”
“Thirty? Resistance will only get stronger over time. The number could be even higher.”
“Ah, true.”
“No need to be afraid. It’s during troubled times that heroes are born. Those who survive will rise quickly.”
“Right, maybe we’ll even see a Branch Lord in his twenties.”
The gloomy mood instantly lifted at the mention of a “twenty-something Branch Lord.”
Baek Yuhwa inwardly clicked her tongue at Hong’s slyness.
Still, teaching Senior Dan-yeop is going to be a problem.
If they were seen together, who knew what Hong might say next. She could just break her promise to Dan-yeop—but strangely, she didn’t want to.
It wasn’t just that she didn’t want to be swayed by Hong Choyeon. More than that, she wanted to uncover Dan-yeop’s true nature.
Better to ignore it, right?
She told herself it was like a dog barking—just endure it until graduation day. After all, once she graduated, she’d never be tied to Hong again.
That morning, the Martial Instructors of the Six Branches announced to the disciples:
“In five days, the graduation exams for the 3rd-generation will be held.”
From then on, the eyes of the 3rd-generation sharpened with determination. In these chaotic times, they dreamed of surviving and rising high.
The training halls of the Six Branches bustled with disciples preparing for their exams.
5 PM — Storehouse Training Hall.
Dan-yeop spent the entire day there. Among the ten-year-old children, his seventeen-year-old self stubbornly swung his blade.
When training ended, the children trickled out like receding tide. Their places were taken by five 3rd-generation disciples who came to check on things.
They cast sidelong glances at Dan-yeop. After all, that morning, Hong Choyeon and Baek Yuhwa had quarreled over him.
Hong Choyeon was the acknowledged beauty of the Tomb, and Baek Yuhwa its top talent. With so little entertainment here, how could they not be curious?
A short while later, Baek Yuhwa appeared. The 3rd-generation disciples exchanged knowing glances.
She came.
Didn’t she say she wouldn’t meet him anymore?
Are they really involved?
Ignoring them, Baek approached Dan-yeop.
“Senior Dan, how far have you gotten?”
“These three movements of the second form?”
“Wow! You’ve improved so much! You must’ve worked hard. See? I told you it was possible.”
Baek, who knew his struggles, spoke in genuine amazement. For someone who could barely manage one move of the form before, to now be performing three! She could imagine how much effort he had put in today.
“Hehe…”
As Dan-yeop scratched his head, an intrusive voice came from behind.
“Well, isn’t this cozy?”
It was Hong Choyeon.
Baek’s face stiffened, but Hong ignored it and turned to her companion, Geum Seojin.
“Seojin, didn’t Baek junior say this morning that she would never meet Dan-yeop again? Did I mishear?”
“Well, I… I’m not sure…”
Trying to stay out of the conflict, Geum pretended ignorance.
Hong then fixed her eyes on Baek.
“So, Baek junior, are you really going to keep denying while spending such lovely time together with him?”
“Please don’t misunderstand. I’m only helping Senior Dan prepare for graduation. That’s why I’m teaching him the Heaven-and-Earth Sword.”
Though Baek firmly drew the line, Hong wasn’t about to let it drop.
“Oh, really? That’s quite something. The 1st-generation gave up on him, but you, a 3rd-generation, will get him through? Why? Are you really that close with him?”
Her twisted words left Baek feeling suffocated.
“That’s because Instructor Gomok told me to teach him—ugh! I already explained this morning.”
“So, you’re saying Instructor Gomok asked you to help Dan-yeop graduate?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then why use his name as an excuse? People will think he ordered it. Seojin, don’t you agree?”
This time Geum didn’t stay neutral.
“That’s what I thought too.”
“See? I told you Baek junior was being dishonest.”
Finally, Baek snapped.
“Sorry, I spoke poorly and caused misunderstanding.”
Then she turned to Dan-yeop.
“Senior, I don’t think I can help you anymore. Sorry for breaking our promise.”
“Oh… it’s fine. Thank you anyway.”
Lowering his head, Dan-yeop blamed himself for the quarrel.
Without another word, Baek left.
As he stood there, shoulders slumped, Hong came up to whisper in his ear.
“Dan-yeop, don’t even look at a tree you can’t climb.”
His face flushed bright red.
“W-what are you talking about…”
“Even being a shop boy is too good for you. So stay away from the Storehouse and go to the Servants’ Branch instead—be someone’s kept man.”
“Who’d ever—”
Furious, Dan-yeop tried to retort, but she left without listening.
Geum Seojin approached the dazed boy.
“Don’t take it too hard. Senior Hong probably didn’t mean it.”
“Then what did she mean?”
“I’m not sure… Anyway, even if you end up in the Servants’ Branch, don’t ever let yourself be someone’s kept man.”
“As if I would.”
“Um, senior?”
“Yeah?”
“I could help you with the Heaven-and-Earth Sword, if you’d like…”
“No, if you do that, Hong will just pick on you too.”
“I’m not as noticeable as Baek junior. She won’t bother me. Even if she does, we can stop then.”
Pressed by her persistence, Dan-yeop reluctantly accepted.
That evening, under Geum’s guidance, he resumed training.
To his relief, Hong didn’t return to the Storehouse.
The next afternoon, Geum came again. But Dan-yeop’s progress was the real problem.
Despite her hoarse instructions, he couldn’t get past the third movement of the second form.
“No, no—step right and slash left! Another step and slash right! Then bring the blade back to your chest!”
Her voice grew sharp.
Dan-yeop’s face burned with embarrassment. The more she pressed, the more his mind went blank—until he couldn’t move at all.
Seeing him frozen, Geum sighed heavily.
“Haah! Senior, what are you doing?”
“Uh… what was I doing again? The first form? Or the second?”
“…You were on the sixth move of the second form.”
“I was?”
“Of course. Who else would it be? Ugh! What’s the problem here?”
Her words pierced like arrows, and his shoulders slumped. The tip of his blade dropped to the stone floor, but too drained, he couldn’t even lift it.
Watching him, Geum shook her head.
At this rate, he’ll never graduate.
He had spent the whole day on the second form, yet couldn’t even memorize three moves. Learning the whole form in just three days would take a miracle.
“It’s late. I’ll go now. Senior, please rest.”
“Thanks. And from tomorrow, don’t bother coming. You should prepare for your own graduation.”
“…Alright.”
Though reluctant, she had to accept reality. Helping others was only possible if there was at least some chance of success. She couldn’t waste her time otherwise—especially with her own exam in just three days.
Only someone like Baek Yuhwa, a true expert, might’ve made a difference.
After she left, Dan-yeop was alone in the hall.
He set his blade on its stand and looked around.
From morning until late night, he had trained here—yet he could only manage three moves of the second form.
When training with Baek, things had felt hopeful. Why was it like this now?
“Haah… I have to graduate…”
If he could awaken the “Eul”—the other self that had destroyed Deungpyeong and Yu Jacho—then graduation wouldn’t be hard.
And he knew how to awaken it.
But that meant driving himself into a state of qi deviation, harming his own body.
Is it really right to risk destroying myself just to graduate?
Dan-yeop’s steps leaving the Storehouse Hall that night were heavier than ever.
