Chapter 29 – Accepting Reality

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read more at Nineheavens.org

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Chapter 29 – Accepting Reality

Once about half of the Rooster Hour (酉時: 5-7 PM) had passed, the sky and land turned dusky.

Right on time, the White Peak Sword Sect grounds were brightly lit with lanterns.

The disciples, having finished their dinner, were each sprawled in the courtyard in front of the dining hall, taking a short break.

"After reaching the peak of the White Peak Intermediate Method's mastery, my body definitely feels lighter."

"That's right. Unlike before, I'd say the fatigue is less."

"Exactly. We all did the body tempering method right up until mealtime, yet we still have energy left. Normally, our hands and feet would be trembling by now."

"Through today's events, I've come to realize anew the importance of internal power that supplements stamina."

"It really feels like a dream. I never thought I'd gain twenty years' worth of internal energy."

"It's all thanks to meeting the Sect Master, isn't it?"

"Of course, and the previous Sect Master is no exception either…"

"Right, Sect Master Sagong always emphasized the mastery and completion of basic martial arts. If we hadn't faithfully laid that foundation, we would have found it difficult to achieve this fortuitous success now."

"I agree. The time of enlightenment would probably have been delayed even more. Even considering Sect Master Cheol's amazing ability."

"Anyway, it's a great blessing for our sect. The existence of Sect Master Cheol, who inherited the will of the previous Sect Master…"

"I will devote myself more to training from now on and become a capable swordsman recognized by all. That's surely the way to repay the current Sect Master's grace."

"The revival of the Mountain Martial Association… My heart swells."

Suddenly, Hyeop Mu-geuk walked out of the dining hall and assembled the disciples before issuing an order.

"Attention. Actually, the Sect Master left instructions for new training this time. The executives will also participate, so after two hours, assemble in the training grounds."

At that, all the disciples spoke in unison with eyes full of anticipation.

"Yes!"

After Hyeop Mu-geuk nodded and disappeared into the distance.

"I wonder what the new training will be?"

"At least it seems the torturous body tempering process is finally over for real."

"I think so too. Our internal energy levels have risen steeply, so this time it's probably learning intermediate and advanced sword forms to match."

"Definitely, ten to one odds."

At that moment, the three Head Instructors – Guyang Cheon, Guyang Ji, and Guyang In – walked out of the dining hall.

Deep sighs followed.

"Hoo."

"Huuu."

"Haah…"

The three were already rough-looking like unorthodox villains, but with their expressions so dark, they seemed even more intimidating.

The disciples saw them and wondered.

'Hm? Why are they like that?'

The three Head Instructor brothers paid no mind and passed through the courtyard with dark expressions, not caring who saw.

One disciple furrowed his brow and muttered.

"Seems ominous…?"

The other disciples' heads nodded in agreement.

Indeed.

Somehow, it felt ominous.

As if something tremendous was waiting for them at the training grounds…

Soon, the disciples shook their heads left and right as if to shake off bad thoughts.

'Eh, it'll be fine! Whatever the new training is, as long as it's not something like the whole-body twist!'

* * *

"Whole-body twist, ready."

At the brief command of Hyeop Mu-geuk, who had stepped onto the training ground platform, the disciples' faces went pale.

'Gaaah!'

'No, why again!'

However, Hyeop Mu-geuk completely ignored their reaction and gestured with his chin.

"Don't harbor complaints in your hearts. This is an essential process for further expanding and strengthening the energy channels in your bodies, so everyone without exception must complete it with all their might. Of course, the executives including myself will also participate."

Only then did the disciples realize.

Why the three Head Instructors had sighed with dark faces earlier…

Hyeop Mu-geuk delivered another unexpected statement.

"Additionally, this training will continue until the Sect Master returns tomorrow."

Simultaneously, the disciples' eyes widened as if they would tear.

'Gasp! What the…!'

The whole-body twist alone was terrible, and they had to stay up all night? And on top of that, it wouldn't end until the Sect Master returned?

Haah, this was adding insult to injury.

Suddenly, one disciple in the front row spoke while watching their reactions.

"Chief Supervisor. Earlier you definitely said it was new training…"

"That's right. New training."

"Pardon?"

"Staying up all night is a first, so it can be called new training in a practical sense. Was I wrong?"

"…"

The disciples stared blankly with expressions of disbelief.

Oh my, so that's what you meant.

That's the meaning you intended from the start.

Our mistake for getting excited and misunderstanding.

Hyeop Mu-geuk paid no mind and continued speaking.

"Now, everyone spread out and take your positions. The Elder will take charge of command and supervision, so we just need to focus on the training."

Then he descended from the platform with the three Head Instructors and stood in a row at the very front of where the disciples had assembled.

Elder Yeop Hwon's voice, holding a whistle, struck everyone's ears.

"Everyone, ready!"

Right after, Hyeop Mu-geuk and everyone else let out a mighty shout and sprawled flat on the training ground floor.

Arms extended left and right, legs raised vertically, heads lifted so they wouldn't touch the ground.

Just looking at it was agonizing beyond measure – a basic position.

Yeop Hwon immediately commanded.

"First twenty repetitions, begin."

Then the whistle began to pierce shrilly.

Tweeet- Tweet-tweet- Tweeet-!

"One!"

Tweeet- Tweet-tweet- Tweeet-!

"Two!"

When they reached thirty repetitions, everyone stopped calling out the count and waited while maintaining the basic position.

A successful completion.

After that, they proceeded through a total of sixty repetitions in divided sets, but no one uttered the final number.

Standing on the platform, Yeop Hwon smiled silently.

'Heheh, now everyone is so used to it they don't make the mistake of miscounting. In that case…'

It was time to introduce a high-intensity change.

"This time, it's a short and intense ten repetitions. If no one makes a mistake, I'll give you a bit of time to catch your breath in a comfortable position. From now on, you must move exactly in time with the rhythm of the whistle, like isolated movements. Understood?"

"Yes!"

The moment everyone answered in unison, the whistle struck their ears again.

Tweeet-!

In time with it, everyone's legs tilted to the left, and their heads turned in the opposite direction.

But then.

'Hm?'

That was it.

No more whistle sounds – everyone wore confused expressions.

'Gah! What's going on?'

'Why did he stop?'

'Don't tell me he wants us to hold this…'

At that moment, Yeop Hwon removed the whistle from his mouth and said.

"Oh ho, oh ho, maintain your positions well. Don't waver. Tense your whole body, that's right."

Then he took his time before blowing the whistle.

Tweeet- Tweeet-!

As their legs tilted to the right and their heads turned in the opposite direction.

Stop.

The whistle sound cut off again.

At the same time, everyone holding their position struggled to support their legs, which were almost touching the ground.

'Guk!'

'This is tough!'

Still, everyone showed no noticeable wavering, proof of their achievement.

It was the effect of improved muscle strength, stamina, and internal power through their previous efforts combined with the elixir stew's effects.

The disciples glanced toward the platform, screaming internally.

'Please blow the whistle…!'

'Urgh! Please hurry…'

'This is too much from the start!'

Yeop Hwon deliberately delayed before finally blowing the whistle, and everyone who had been holding the difficult position returned to the first counting motion.

"One!"

Just one repetition now.

Worry was already creeping in.

If it continued like this, forget staying up all night – even one hour would be no ordinary task.

But what could they do?

Since training had started under the Sect Master's orders, they had no choice but to do their best until the end…

Thus, the training continued in the same manner, and as time passed, groaning sounds began leaking out one by one across the grounds.

Meanwhile, the workers who had finished cleaning up the dining hall stopped in their tracks as they passed by the training grounds.

"G-Good heavens… What is all that?"

"Ugh, is that torture disguised as training?"

"Just watching makes me uncomfortable."

"I heard earlier it's all-night training…"

"Crazy, that's crazy."

At that moment, Tae Sa-ja muttered with a meaningful look.

"Heheh, how beautiful."

The workers standing around tilted their heads.

"Pardon?"

What kind of random statement was that…?

"I mean their passionate attitudes. What could be more beautiful than people burning with such passion?"

Tae Sa-ja clenched both fists as he said this.

"Alright, we can't lose either!"

"We can't lose, you say?"

"How dull! I mean let's show that our passion is greater than anyone's!"

"H-How…?"

"It's simple! All-night work! Shall we start with the overdue outhouse cleaning? Come on, everyone go get the tools! Let's scoop out all the excrement before dawn!"

When Tae Sa-ja dashed off spiritedly to the other side, all the workers scowled in unison.

Gah! Cut the crap, you crazy bastard! Stop flaunting that pointless passion!

* * *

A forest path where morning sunlight spread through.

The swordsman, who had been sprawled face-down on Divine Wind's back alongside Cheol Ryu-heun, let out a quiet sound.

"Mmm."

Right after, startled by the wind sound brushing his ears and the vibration shaking his body, he snapped his eyes open.

Only then did he grasp the situation.

'Oh! I'm on a horse's back…?'

The galloping speed was so tremendous that everything in his field of vision was passing by in a blur.

Suddenly.

"Whoa."

Cheol Ryu-heun pulled the reins to stop Divine Wind, then turned his head back.

"Did you sleep well?"

The swordsman, meeting his gaze, tried to move his limbs, but to no avail – except for his head, he couldn't budge at all.

"Don't bother straining. You've already had your acupoints sealed."

"Guk…"

The moment the swordsman showed a dismayed look, Cheol Ryu-heun took out and showed a small object.

Swish.

It was precisely the sacred object of Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon.

A sharp cry burst from the swordsman's mouth.

"Th-The Vermillion Dragon Medallion!"

Cheol Ryu-heun nodded and said.

"You have sharp eyes. This must be your first time seeing the real thing."

The swordsman quietly rolled his eyes and muttered inwardly.

'The founding Sect Master's command token, made from the rare Vermillion Jade… That cannot be imitated! There's no room for doubt!'

"So, do you now realize who's the senior?"

At Cheol Ryu-heun's meaningful question, the swordsman answered quietly with an embarrassed look.

"It is… you."

The Vermillion Dragon Medallion was the one and only sacred object of the first Sect Master, and as such, it was only proper to show respect as if facing the founder himself.

Moreover, since Cheol Ryu-heun also possessed the martial arts teachings, regardless of age difference, he was naturally the senior.

In other words, he was practically the founder's direct disciple – a higher generation than the swordsman himself.

There was nothing he could do anyway.

The only immediate solution was to take it by force, but considering his opponent's formidable martial power, that was a distant prospect.

For now, following him until he got what he wanted was the best strategy.

"It'll all become yours later, so stop with the distracting thoughts and accept reality."

"Mmm… Yes, I understand."

The swordsman finally acknowledged that he had no choice but to accept the Guest Retainer Number One proposal.

Cheol Ryu-heun put away the Vermillion Dragon Medallion and spoke again.

"What's your name?"

"Ah, I am called Ye Woon-rang."

Cheol Ryu-heun quietly stared at him.

What was this? That name that gave off such a refined pretty-boy vibe despite his rough appearance…

"Is that your real name?"

"Pardon? Yes, of course it's my real name…"

"Is that so? Alright. Setting aside your name."

Ye Woon-rang inwardly bristled.

Gah! Setting aside, you say? Making it sound so distasteful! It's even more infuriating when you say it with a straight face!

"How old are you?"

"Thirty-three this year."

Cheol Ryu-heun stared at Ye Woon-rang's face again.

His facial features plus the gray mixed into his hair and beard… No matter how he looked, he seemed to be in his late forties at least.

Cheol Ryu-heun opened his mouth with a bored expression.

"What kind of life have you lived for your face to end up like that?"

Gah! Shut up! Don't just say whatever you want about someone's face!