TPM 23

chapter 23

Jang So-pal hurriedly wiped the scattered food around him and said,
“Keep your voice down. If Senior Wang finds out, both of us are doomed.”

“Who’s Senior Wang?”

“Fourth-generation Senior Wang Oh. You were with Senior Dan this morning, remember?”

“Oh? I kind of forgot. Who’s Senior Go?”

“Senior Go-wol. He’s the top master among the fourth generation. He’s an instructor at the Sunmun Training Hall. Yesterday, Senior Go-wol taught Senior Dan, remember?”

“Oh, really?”

“Senior Dan, you’re joking, right?”

“Nope.”

“You really don’t remember what happened yesterday and today? Wow, this is crazy.”

“People forget things sometimes. Why are you making such a big deal?”

“No, this isn’t just forgetting. What about Baekryudo Technique? Did you forget that too?”

“Baekryudo Technique? I’ve mastered that already.”

“….”

Jang So-pal looked at Dan-yeop in disbelief. He didn’t remember who had taught him the martial arts in the last two days, yet he claimed to have mastered the Baekryudo Technique.

‘Is this guy crazy?’

He had watched him struggle all morning with even the simplest moves. This was beyond mere bravado.

Jang So-pal decided he didn’t want to talk anymore and leaned back.

Just then, someone placed a hand on the top of Jang So-pal’s head and spoke:
“Oh my, the biggest idiots in the Martial Corps all gathered in one place. Wait… did you just say you’ve mastered the Baekryudo Technique?”

Jang So-pal stiffened at the voice of Senior Wang Oh from above.

Dan-yeop smiled innocently and met the eyes of the newly arrived trainee.
“Who are you?”

“Hah! Who am I? Unbelievable. I taught you the Baekryudo Technique all morning, and now you’re pretending you don’t know it?”

“Oh! Are you Wang Oh? Fourth generation?”

“Yes, I am Wang Oh. But did you really just say you mastered the Baekryudo Technique? I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?”

“Yes, that’s correct. But why are you so rude to your senior? Where are you from? Do you talk like that to everyone? Are we all just friends?”

At first-year Dan-yeop’s provocation, the dining hall suddenly went quiet.

The Hao Clan was a highly hierarchical organization. Respect between the six schools was as strong as the Five Sacred Sword Sects.

In the past, Danbulwi of the Amu Sect had even used Hao-style language toward a lower-ranked Ma-bu from the Cha-mun branch.

Even if it was just the two of them, it might have been acceptable—but Wang Oh speaking so casually in front of all the trainees was inappropriate.

The faces of Amu and Sunmun trainees twisted in displeasure.

To ease the tension, fourth-generation trainee Gu Kyo-eon lightly poked Wang Oh’s side.

Realizing he had lost his composure and disregarded the situation, Wang Oh calmed himself. He wanted to confront Dan-yeop but there were too many witnesses.

“Oh, that’s impossible. I slipped when teaching Senior Dan the martial arts. But mastering the infamous Baekryudo Technique in just two days? That’s impressive. I heard it took fourteen years to learn the Cheonjido Technique—seems the rumor was wrong.”

“Wang Oh.”

“Yes?”

“It’s true that it took me fourteen years to learn Cheonjido Technique.”

“Someone like you…”

“Wait, you haven’t finished. Have you heard of Manryu Gwijong?”

“Manryu Gwijong?”

“Yes. No matter how many rivers there are, they all eventually meet the sea. When you achieve greatness in one field, you’ll understand that everything is connected.”

“Wait, so you’re saying if someone masters Cheonjido Technique, they can master Baekryudo Technique in just two days?”

“Did you achieve mastery in Cheonjido Technique or not?”

“I’ve learned it, but I wouldn’t call it mastery.”

“I achieved mastery after fourteen years. If you’ve never mastered anything, don’t speak. That’s what Manryu Gwijong is about.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Suit yourself. Don’t make me talk. We haven’t finished eating yet.”

Dan-yeop scooped up some lamb soup and ate it, unfazed.

Wang Oh, standing dumbfounded, gritted his teeth.
“Don’t lie. Someone who took fourteen years to master Cheonjido Technique supposedly mastered Baekryudo in two days? That’s nonsense.”

“I said I achieved mastery in fourteen years. Are you disregarding Cheonjido Technique? Do you think Sunmun’s Baekryudo is the best in the world?”

The trainees from the Sunmun school tensed.

Cheonjido Technique had always been undervalued in the Martial Corps. Yet Dan-yeop claimed mastering it would make Baekryudo easy.

Theoretically, it could be true. But no one had mastered Cheonjido Technique to prove it. Disbelievers would essentially be insulting the technique.

At that moment, Wang Oh upgraded his assessment of Dan-yeop from foolish to insane.
‘What? Mastered Cheonjido in fourteen years?’

Dan-yeop’s confidence made it believable. But Wang Oh quickly forced himself to stay calm. The fatal flaw in Dan-yeop’s claim was that mastering Cheonjido Technique should also mean mastering Baekryudo.

“Dan Senior, you mastered Cheonjido Technique? I don’t believe it.”

“Believe it or not, it’s your business. What are you, a senior? Are you the head of the Sunmun school? Why are you picking a fight during a meal?”

Dan-yeop’s shameless words pushed Wang Oh over the edge. He slammed his hands on the table.
“Damn it! Stop lying! I don’t believe you mastered Cheonjido Technique! I don’t believe you mastered Baekryudo! You want respect as a senior? No! I graduated ten years before you—why should I respect you? If you truly mastered Cheonjido and Baekryudo, fine. But if you’re lying, you’re just a fool!”

“Oh my, why so angry? You don’t believe me? Fine, I’ll show you Cheonjido Technique.”

Dan-yeop twirled the wooden spoon he was holding. On the table, the moves of Cheonjido Technique looked like a child’s game.

“Cheonrae Nakcham, Hoengsosan…”

“Are you kidding me?!”

Wang Oh swung at the spoon, but his hand passed through air. Dan-yeop lightly flicked it back, chanting:
“Pungun Sanghwa!”

Fweeeng!

The wooden spoon spun rapidly, circling Wang Oh once. Shocked, he tried to swat it away like a fly.

Paht!

“Ugh!”

The back of his hand burned as if scalded. He immediately withdrew his hand.

Bwoooong!

The spoon brushed past his head and returned to Dan-yeop.

Click. Dan-yeop grabbed it casually.
“See? When you master Cheonjido Technique, you can perform Pungun Sanghwa like this.”

Wang Oh’s face froze. His hand looked sliced as if cut by a blade.

‘What the hell…’

He was too shocked to speak, unable to believe he was defeated by a wooden spoon.

Dan-yeop asked, blinking slowly,
“Still don’t believe I mastered Cheonjido Technique? Want me to show it again?”

“I-I believe you.”

“Wang Oh.”

“Yes?”

“Talking so much has made my mouth dry. Bring me some water.”

“Yes, yes.”

Pressured by Dan-yeop’s presence, Wang Oh quietly fetched water. Dan-yeop drank it without a care.

“Ah, that’s nice, Wang Oh. You understand the power of Cheonjido Technique now?”

“Yes…”

“You’re polite, that’s good. Charming too.”

Wang Oh’s face burned with embarrassment but he couldn’t protest. Dan-yeop’s final move had completely overwhelmed him.

“Go.”

Wang Oh bowed slightly and hurried away.

Jang So-pal, watching, cautiously asked,
“Senior Dan, did you really master Cheonjido Technique?”

“I don’t lie.”

“Can someone really perform Pungun Sanghwa like you did if they mastered it?”

“Of course. Not being able to is the weird part.”

Dan-yeop flicked the spoon again.

Fweeeng! Bwoooong!

The wooden spoon circled the table like a wasp and returned.
“See? If you understand the three-step Pungun Sanghwa, it’s not difficult.”

“Wow! Cheonjido Technique is incredible!”

“Truth is always simple.”

“Senior, I respect you.”

Jang So-pal’s eyes glimmered with admiration.

Cheonjido Technique was a low-level Hao Clan martial art. Yet it could be made so powerful!
‘Even Hao Clan’s low-level martial arts can be great if mastered!’

News of Dan-yeop’s feat spread quickly among the trainees.

• Dan-yeop mastered Cheonjido in fourteen years.

• Mastery allows three-step sword techniques.

• Wang Oh was terrified by Dan-yeop’s skill.

• The scared Wang Oh ran errands for Dan-yeop.

The rumor that “Wang Oh wet himself” was exaggerated, but it stuck because many disliked him.

Not everyone believed Dan-yeop’s mastery, but they accepted that Wang Oh was intimidated.

Afternoon Training, Amu Training Hall

Danbulwi looked at Dan-yeop expectantly.

As expected, Dan-yeop addressed him with the title he longed to hear:
“Father, how long has it been since I came back?”

“You met Dunjae Dan-yeop yesterday morning, so it’s been a day and a half.”

“They said Senior Dan suffered at Wang Oh’s hands all morning. I guess he passed it on to me this afternoon.”

“I see. By the way, about the wound on your neck…”

“Yes, what did he say?”

“He avoided answering. I sensed the pain was deep. Most likely, it’s from someone close.”

“It might not be parents. Maybe grandparents or relatives took care of him.”

Dan-yeop, educated by books, couldn’t easily accept that it was his parents’ doing.

Danbulwi didn’t argue, as it was beyond his knowledge.
“I don’t think there’s anything more I can do about that.”

“Yes, thank you for your efforts.”

Dan-yeop didn’t push further, feeling he would eventually understand as his bond with Dunjae Dan-yeop deepened.

“By the way, the winter graduation exam might be held soon.”

“That’s fast. Is the outside situation that bad?”

“It’s getting worse. They even suggested hiring ronin.”

“Even among Martial Corps trainees, there aren’t enough to rely on immediately.”

“But the Martial Corps trainees are stronger than ordinary Hao Clan disciples. They’ve trained for eight or nine years.”

“Even using children, they struggle… can they truly unify the Ten Hao Clan factions?”

Dan-yeop looked at Danbulwi curiously, realizing Hao Clan didn’t have as overwhelming power as he had thought.