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chapter 50
The training that began at 10 a.m. continued relentlessly until 5 p.m.
The eighteen masters didn’t leave Ansikheon at all, except for lunch.
How many years had they endured being despised as Hao-men, even when offering help?
People from the martial factions truly regarded Hao-men as dogs.
Insults were standard; getting beaten was considered a minor misfortune.
If they crossed someone cruel, they could even lose limbs or die.
Of course, in most cases, the Hao-men themselves provoked trouble first—but sometimes, someone suffered simply for speaking honestly.
The reason was simple: they were weak.
That was why the Hao-men called themselves “knotty trees.”
It wasn’t just self-deprecation—“useless”—but also carried the meaning of having deep resentment.
Did the Hao-men’s sect leader feel no injustice?
On the contrary, the longer someone had spent in Hao-men, the more anger they had accumulated.
Then came an opportunity to learn martial techniques as formidable as those of the Five Peaks Sword Sect.
Anyone who didn’t get excited would be strange.
Though no one was thinking about lunch, they had to eat out of courtesy to Danyeop.
By early evening, the people had barely mastered the first form.
This was largely because they had spent their lives practicing the Heaven-and-Earth martial techniques, which shortened the learning process.
Finally, when the youngest, Baek Yuhwa, was able to perform the first form smoothly, Danyeop announced:
“Let’s end here for today.”
The sect leader, Baek Chogong, looked regretful but spoke:
“Master Dan, thank you for your efforts. Please come to Ansikheon tomorrow by 9 a.m. I intend to keep Ansikheon as the training ground until the full transmission of the True Three Great Martial Arts is complete.”
“Understood. But after teaching here, what will I be doing?”
He asked because the local masters were expected to teach the disciples.
“I plan to call everyone here once a month to check if they’ve learned properly. You can then provide guidance. This will repeat until our sect disappears, so don’t worry about your position.”
“So I only need to teach once a month?”
“Of course, the local masters may also discreetly call you. When that happens, you can go and teach directly.”
“Oh, I see. Understood.”
“I’m curious—do you think we’ll master the True Three Great Martial Arts before the year ends?”
“You’re learning True Heaven Guidance quickly, but I’m not sure about True White Flow and True Seven Forms.”
The sect had learned True Heaven Guidance quickly because they already had a deep understanding of Heaven-and-Earth martial techniques.
However, even knowing the basics of True White Flow and True Seven Forms, the techniques were so complex that mastery wouldn’t come easily.
“If it takes longer, you may teach at a slower pace. Meanwhile, the local masters can teach True Heaven Guidance to the disciples.”
Baek Chogong, eager to spread True Heaven Guidance to the relatively weak Hao-men, felt a strong urge to teach it as quickly as possible.
“Understood.”
Danyeop nodded cheerfully. It didn’t matter to him.
Once the discussion ended, the sect leader and local masters expressed their gratitude.
“Master Dan, thank you. We will never forget today’s favor.”
“Thank you, Master Dan. Rest well.”
“See you tomorrow.”
The sect leader, deputy sect leader, faction heads, and local masters left first, leaving only two senior disciples.
Im Song, bowing respectfully, said:
“Master Dan, thank you for teaching me despite my shortcomings. I feel it is by ancestral grace that I met you.”
“Oh….”
Danyeop scratched his head, embarrassed by the excessive praise.
“Master Im Song, if you call, I would run even into a pit of fire. Just summon me anytime.”
“Ah….”
Seeing Danyeop flustered, Baek Yuhwa stepped in:
“Senior Dan… Master Dan, I didn’t expect your martial skill to be this high. No wonder Yujacho and Deungpyeong got scolded. Why have you kept such powerful techniques hidden in Byungmachong?”
“It wasn’t hidden; I only realized it later. As Sema said, if you focus your mind, you can do anything. By repeating it ten or a hundred times, it eventually worked.”
“Ah! You are a late bloomer. Senior, your martial skill is far beyond what I imagined. Anyone watching might think you’re a disciple of the Five Peaks Sword Sect.”
“Me? A Five Peaks Sword Sect disciple… no way…”
Danyeop’s face reddened at Baek Yuhwa’s praise.
“Even I haven’t met anyone from the Five Peaks Sword Sect, but someone of your caliber could easily match them. Right, Master Im Song?”
Baek Yuhwa was seventeen, Im Song thirty-two—fifteen years apart. But because they were both senior disciples learning the True Three Great Martial Arts, Baek Yuhwa naturally called him “Master.”
Im Song nodded vigorously.
“Master Dan, what Master Baek said is correct. Although the Five Peaks Sword Sect is exceptional, your techniques are equally formidable.”
Danyeop felt slightly uncomfortable as they called each other senior and master. He was their senior, yet they referred to him as “Master.”
Unaware of this, Baek Yuhwa continued praising him enthusiastically.
“Master Im, have you seen the disciples of the Black Tortoise Hall? They can’t compare to Master Dan.”
“That’s true. I’ve watched them from afar; they clearly can’t match Master Dan. Only disciples from the Zhongnan Sect could compete with him.”
The Zhongnan Sect, though not part of the Five Peaks Sword Sect, had a presence equal to it. The Five Peaks disciples were rare and difficult to encounter, while Zhongnan disciples were sometimes seen in Chang’an.
Seeing their friendly interaction, Danyeop forced himself to speak:
“I’ll be going now.”
He deliberately didn’t say goodbye to Baek Yuhwa, annoyed by her focusing on Im Song.
Turning abruptly, he left, leaving Im Song and Baek Yuhwa staring blankly at each other.
“Did I say something to upset him?” Im Song asked cautiously.
“What did you say?”
“You compared him to the Five Peaks Sword Sect, then just now to the Zhongnan Sect… Ugh, I knew my mouth would get me in trouble. He really is upset, isn’t he?”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned the Black Tortoise Hall.”
Baek Yuhwa bowed deeply, feeling guilty.
“You don’t need to apologize, Sema. It’s fine. But Master Dan… he doesn’t hold grudges, right?”
“I haven’t seen that.”
She silently hoped he didn’t. If he did, the future for Byungmachong disciples would be bleak.
Im Song walked down the dim road from the local faction hall.
Learning True Heaven Guidance was fine, but he had caught Master Dan’s attention.
Skilled martial artists naturally had strong pride. Knowing he had provoked Danyeop’s pride, he sighed.
“Haah!”
At that moment, someone jumped out from the tavern.
“Brother!”
It was Im Jeong.
Im Song gave his brother a deadpan look. Earlier, he was angry, but now he had no energy to scold.
“Why the face? Is something wrong? Because of Danyeop? Did the sect leader say anything when you showed him?”
“Jeong-ah.”
“Yes?”
Im Song looked around first. It was early evening, but because it was midwinter, no one was around.
“Fix your words first. Who do you call ‘Danyeop’ in front of Master Dan?”
“Whoa! Brother! Master Dan? Didn’t you hear about Byungmachong? That guy’s a rockhead. Learning some forms from Danbulwi doesn’t mean he’s that important.”
“Stop it, kid. I don’t even have the energy to argue with you.”
“Why? Did the sect leader scold you a lot?”
Im Jeong assumed his brother was beaten by the sect leader. But the reply surprised him.
“Master Dan is a martial artist. Not just ordinary, but strong enough to rival disciples from the Five Peaks Sword Sect… got it?”
“Come on, don’t joke.”
“Are you kidding? Do I look like someone who jokes?”
Im Song glared sharply. Im Jeong lowered his eyes.
If Im Jeong was a dog, Im Song was a wolf. His nickname was Blood Wolf.
“Don’t just follow the fools blindly; act properly. I hope you haven’t done anything to get Danyeop angry.”
“Me? No, I haven’t met him at all.”
Im Jeong pretended innocence. Im Song warned him:
“Even the sect leader watches Master Dan’s moods. Don’t even think of stepping into his shadow. Though you probably couldn’t anyway. Drink moderately and go inside.”
“Aren’t you drinking?”
“Crazy. With an opportunity right in front of you, I’m supposed to drink? You drink all you want. When the local masters start teaching you, good times will end.”
“Really? How long has it been since putting down the sword?”
“By next summer, a fierce wind will blow in Shido. Then I will go.”
Im Song waved to his brother and disappeared into the darkness.
Son Taek’s Annex
Danyeop stared blankly at the lanterns when Son Jiheon called from the yard.
“Friend! Are you inside?”
Danyeop struggled to open the window, like a seriously ill patient.
“Uh…”
“Huh? You were fine this morning. Are you sick?”
“Just a little.”
He didn’t say his heart hurt, out of embarrassment.
“Why? Where does it hurt? Should I call a doctor?”
“No, not that bad. But why not come inside?”
“What for? Soon it’ll be dinner. Come out, let’s get some fresh air.”
“Maybe.”
Danyeop figured being alone wouldn’t help, so he went out.
They walked in step across the yard.
Son Jiheon glanced at Danyeop and casually asked:
“Any worries?”
“No worries.”
“Then speak up if you have any. Two heads are better than one.”
“I said no.”
No matter how close they had become, Danyeop didn’t mention Baek Yuhwa—he feared Jiheon might tell Shimma.
“That’s good. By the way, when will you teach me martial arts?”
“Me? Martial arts?”
“Hey, didn’t you promise while drunk? You said you’d teach me martial arts.”
“Really?”
“Whoa! He really forgot. You promised to teach the True Three Great Martial Arts… How could you forget?”
Danyeop’s mouth dropped. Knowing the name of the technique meant the promise was real.
“Uh… well…”
Embarrassed, Danyeop couldn’t continue. Even drunk, it wasn’t easy to break a promise.
“Are there any restrictions on teaching?”
“Well, it’s the martial art of my faction… I can’t decide alone.”
“I don’t care if I can’t join your faction. Even if I’m an unregistered disciple, just teach me.”
Son Jiheon looked at Danyeop with eyes full of determination.
Entering a prestigious faction would be difficult, but even learning a fragment of martial arts was enough.
