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chapter 49
Ansikheon.
The interior of Ansikheon was spacious enough to accommodate several hundred people.
It faintly smelled of incense and spices, suggesting it was usually used as a spice storage.
Even the front wall was adorned with paintings of merchants trading spices.
The only seating available were eight empty chairs at the main table.
Around two hundred disciples sat on the wooden floor, facing forward.
Danyeop quickly scanned the crowd, looking for Baek Yuhwa.
But spotting her from behind proved difficult.
In the end, he gave up and sat cross-legged on an empty spot in the back row.
A moment later, Master Baekchogong entered, accompanied by the sub-sect leader and several sect heads.
The seated disciples immediately stood to welcome them.
There were no loud greetings; they feared that any noise could reveal the sect’s activities to outsiders.
Master Baekchogong and his entourage walked to the main table and sat on the prepared chairs.
The seating arrangement placed three sect heads on either side of Master Baekchogong and Sub-sect Leader Mok Un-saeng.
Once the eight at the main table were seated, the disciples settled back onto the floor.
The meeting began with Sub-sect Leader Mok Un-saeng presiding.
It was the first full gathering since the war to unify the Hao Sect under the Haomun Alliance, so the atmosphere was heavy.
Sub-sect Leader Mok Un-saeng expressed sorrow for the casualties, then emphasized that the efforts of the Hao Sect were not in vain.
“…The century-long plan of the Hao Sect begins now, even within our jurisdiction. The sacrifices of our disciples will not be meaningless. If we give up due to the interference of other martial sects, all prior sacrifices will have been in vain. We will unify the Hao Sect across the Ten Provinces and free ourselves from discrimination and oppression. Our first attempt failed because it was beyond our means. But that taught us that the Hao Sect alone cannot achieve this. To resist the schemes of other martial sects, we must grow stronger. Therefore, we have taken special measures: we will cooperate with kindred Hao Sect disciples who share our vision, and we will cultivate the advanced martial techniques of the Hao Sect to become stronger.”
As Sub-sect Leader Mok Un-saeng glanced around, Han Sang-ok, a senior disciple, asked:
“Cooperating with kindred Hao Sect disciples is one thing, but does the Hao Sect possess advanced martial techniques capable of defeating other sects?”
“There is.”
“Are you really saying our Hao Sect has such martial arts?”
“Yes.”
“Then please tell us what they are!”
“That, Master Baekchogong will explain.”
Sub-sect Leader Mok Un-saeng clasped his hands in respect and stepped aside, as had been prearranged.
Master Baekchogong stood and stepped forward to face the disciples.
“The slaughter at Byungmachong this summer gave our Hao Sect two lessons. First, the martial world does not want the Hao Sect unified. Second, our Hao Sect is as weak as a worm. Other sects wish for the Hao Sect to remain lowly beneath them forever. But even in the smallest hole, sunlight reaches—and that sunlight has reached the Hao Sect.”
He paused.
The disciples stared, eyes blazing, silently demanding to know what martial art and sunlight he was speaking of.
Finally, Master Baekchogong spoke again, pointing with his index finger like a skilled storyteller.
“There was a Hao Sect master in our jurisdiction who was guided by fate to Byungmachong, where he practiced Hao Sect martial arts for fourteen years. There is a saying: ‘Ten thousand difficulties overcome.’ After fourteen years of trials, he finally overcame the limits of Hao Sect martial arts. The martial art he created is the True Three Great Sword Method.”
“Wow!”
“Ten thousand difficulties overcome!”
“True Three Great Sword Method!”
After waiting for the murmurs to die down, Master Baekchogong continued.
“The master who accomplished this was appointed Grand Sect Head by our Arum. I, Sub-sect Leader Mok Un-saeng, and Sect Head Wi Ji-cheon were present at the historic moment. We witnessed the power of the True Three Great Sword Method firsthand. It is not inferior to the Five Mountains Sword Sect’s techniques.”
“Wow!”
“Not inferior to the Five Mountains Sword Sect?!”
“Who is he?”
“Can we learn the True Three Great Sword Method too?”
The disciples squirmed in excitement. Hao Sect martial arts had long been considered third-rate, even though individual prodigies occasionally appeared.
Master Baekchogong raised a finger, and the room fell silent.
“The master is… Danyeop, the Grand Sect Head of Arum. From today, Grand Sect Head Danyeop will teach the True Three Great Sword Method. To ensure no difficulties in instruction, I and Sub-sect Leader Mok will provide him with the Iron Token. Grand Sect Head Danyeop, please step forward.”
To establish the young sect head’s authority, Master Baekchogong spoke firmly.
Danyeop stood and stepped forward, causing a stir among the disciples.
“Danyeop? The trainee from Byungmachong?”
“The rock-monkey Danyeop?”
“He couldn’t master even one Heavenly-Earth Technique in thirteen years, how can he…?”
“Danyeop really was that foolish?”
“Yes, hopelessly foolish.”
“They taught Danyeop that he’s the Grand Sect Head?”
“Even with instruction, he didn’t have the talent to master it.”
“Then the True Three Great Sword Method isn’t that impressive, is it?”
The disciples whispered anxiously, but Master Baekchogong ignored them. Once Danyeop began teaching, their doubts would vanish.
Sub-sect Leader Mok Un-saeng raised his voice to the whispering disciples:
“Quiet!”
The disciples complied, still showing confusion on their faces.
Master Baekchogong handed Danyeop the Iron Token.
“Grand Sect Head Danyeop, teach our disciples well.”
“Yes.”
After receiving the Iron Token, Danyeop faced the disciples.
“One person cannot teach everyone. Only sect heads and senior disciples will learn directly from me. Later, they will teach the True Three Great Sword Method to the other disciples. When the opportunity comes, train diligently, and do not tarnish the Hao Sect’s name.”
“…Yes.”
Though the disciples’ response was lukewarm, Master Baekchogong did not scold them; once they witnessed the power of the True Three Great Sword Method, all doubts would disappear.
Danyeop looked at Master Baekchogong regretfully. Limiting instruction to the senior disciples meant he might not see Baek Yuhwa, so he had to think of a plan.
“Master, if there are any disciples among the junior ranks who wish to learn, may I teach them as well?”
“That’s fine. There probably won’t be many volunteers.”
“That would be good for me, then.”
Martial arts are best learned close to the source.
He quickly told the disciples:
“Grand Sect Head Danyeop will teach any junior disciple who wishes to learn. Those who wish to learn may stay.”
The lowest-ranked disciples were indifferent; most didn’t care to learn from the Byungmachong trainees.
After the meeting, disciples gradually left Ansikheon.
Soon, only the master, sub-sect leader, sect heads, senior disciples, and two junior disciples remained.
Danyeop’s face brightened when he saw the two junior disciples; one of them was Baek Yuhwa.
Sub-sect Leader Mok Un-saeng introduced the remaining attendees to Danyeop:
“Patrol Sect Head So Wol-hwa, Sect Head Wi Ji-cheon… Senior Disciple Han Sang-ok… Finally, these two are Junior Disciples Im Song and Baek Yuhwa.”
He stepped back into the crowd, signaling Danyeop to handle things from here.
Danyeop briefly scanned Ansikheon. There were eighteen people to train, so the space was more than enough.
Previously, he would have been unable to step forward, but now, though a little nervous, he could handle it.
Unable to speak fluently, he drew his sword instead.
“First, I will demonstrate the Three Moves of the True Heavenly-Earth Sword Method. Then, I will teach each move step by step.”
He swung the sword slowly and deliberately, ensuring everyone could see. Thinking of Baek Yuhwa watching, his heart naturally grew warmer.
Single-mindedness.
Though he relaxed his power, the sword’s energy clung like thin ice.
Swoooosh—swoosh!
In the blink of an eye, the Three Moves demonstration ended.
Danyeop exhaled, retracting the sword.
He then turned toward Master Baekchogong and his entourage.
Even though they had seen him a few days prior, Master Baekchogong, Sub-sect Leader Mok Un-saeng, and Patrol Sect Head So Wol-hwa’s faces were flushed with astonishment.
The five sect heads, eight senior disciples, and two junior disciples were equally stunned, looking as if they had seen a ghost.
Though Danyeop’s technique resembled the Heavenly-Earth Sword Method, the difference in power and subtlety was like heaven and earth.
They had all clearly seen the sword energy forming on his blade—a feat even the masters of the Five Mountains Sword Sect couldn’t achieve.
To reach such a level using only Hao Sect techniques!
Excitement dried their mouths and caused a dizzying thrill.
Junior Disciple Im Song’s nostrils flared with excitement.
‘Crazy guy… he just wanted to show off? There’s no one to attack.’
He had agreed to learn only under the pressure of his younger brother, Im Jeong.
—That guy must have barely learned the moves from Danyeop. And yet he wields the Iron Token in our sect. Even with Arum backing him, that’s excessive. Show him his place, brother.
Though he agreed with his brother, he stayed under the pretext of learning. But in reality, his younger brother was the fool.
Grand Sect Head Danyeop’s martial ability surpassed anyone he had ever met.
Of course, he had never seen the masters of the Five Mountains Sword Sect, but there were few in Chang’an City who matched him.
‘Good thing I waited and observed first. I almost made a fool of myself.’
He secretly sighed in relief.
Seeing the crowd quiet, Danyeop awkwardly began to teach each move.
The eighteen disciples swung their swords with beginner’s diligence.
Danyeop naturally moved closer to Baek Yuhwa.
Seeing her sweating reminded him of the past.
—You don’t know how to do the Horizontal Solo Mountain Slash?
—I do, but my memory… was it left first or right?
—Master Go-muk always sings the steps every day. Turn left, one sky, one ground, then facing forward, left-right slice, chop! chop!
Baek Yuhwa timidly asked as he stared:
“Why… why? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, you’re doing well.”
“Really?”
Her previously tense face brightened.
Momentarily dazzled, Danyeop quickly looked away.
I’m really glad I became the sect head.
He used teaching as an excuse to circle around Baek Yuhwa.
