Chapter 63

Chapter 63

They say people can’t remember their childhood, but when you actually try to recall memories, there’s usually at least one childhood memory remaining.

Actually, that’s not strange. Childhood experiences are important enough that people say one’s personality is formed by childhood memories. Even if they’re forgotten and sink into the unconscious, where would all those experiences go?

Just because they’re buried in the unconscious doesn’t mean they won’t rise to consciousness. Especially memories that left a deep impression tend to do so frequently.

—Miss. The Young Master is now…….

Unfortunately, for Baek Risan, such memories didn’t remain as good memories.

Morning.

Baek Risan, who had been staring at the ceiling after waking up, briefly swept her gaze over the sword placed beside her, then quietly closed her eyes again. Disorganized thoughts floating aimlessly through her mind.

This was common in the mornings. It’s not easy for anyone to catch hold of thoughts floating around right after waking from sleep. So if there’s one thing different from usual mornings, there’s only one thing.

Baek Riyun.

“……Why, now of all times.”

In the past, for Baek Risan, Baek Riyun was an existence like a parent.

Perhaps that was natural. Her mother who disappeared when Baek Risan was four years old, Baek Rigang who was busy with the Family Head’s duties, and Baek Riseon who had wandering tendencies so rarely stayed at the family estate—unlike them, Baek Riyun was the only blood relative she could trust and follow.

When she first held a sword, when she first learned letters, it was Baek Riyun who stood by Baek Risan’s side. That’s why Baek Risan also trusted and followed Baek Riyun.

Until Baek Riyun abandoned her and left the family.

“……Haah.”

Baek Risan, who exhaled a deeply held breath, drank the water she’d left out the night before and tidied herself up. She had to take action no matter what.

‘The plan was moved up, but it doesn’t matter.’

At first, she thought about going to find him, but it didn’t seem like he’d answer even if she went directly. The brother she remembered wasn’t the type to directly hand over answers. He was closer to persistently asking questions until one found the answer themselves.

Then she’d trace the footsteps Baek Riyun had left behind. If he won’t give answers, she’d deduce those answers herself. Though it wouldn’t be as much as Changcheondae, which he’d devoted ten years to, the Muryeongwando could also be one of those footsteps.

She’d utterly crush the Muryeongwando, stand before Baek Riyun, and ask. Is this really it? Is this the kind of thing you wanted to do so badly that you abandoned the family?

“I’ve grown lax.”

Having finished her contemplation and glanced out the window, Baek Risan clicked her tongue and reproached herself. The sun already revealing itself beyond the horizon.

It’s early, but not for Baek Risan. By this time, Baek Risan would always be swinging her sword. She must have wanted to rest, reproaching her lax self, as Baek Risan lightly washed her face and fastened her sword to her side.

‘I need to focus.’

Though the level difference with the Muryeongwando is extreme, the opponent is Baek Riyun. The man acknowledged by everyone in the family, who first taught her the sword.

Such a person wouldn’t have stepped into a fight without a chance of winning. She must approach with renewed determination.

Having organized her mind, Baek Risan slowly moved toward the training ground. Thinking that by now her peers would be at the training ground, she’d spar with them to raise her tension. And.

The moment she arrived at the training ground.

“Welcome, Mujeongwando juniors.”

At the scene before her eyes, Baek Risan’s face contorted. Because.

“I am Baek Riyun, who will be in charge of your training for today.”

The opponent she thought she’d meet much later was there.

For one day, Cheongryoo will spy on Muryeongwan, and I’ll spy on Mujeongwan.

It sounds easy, but convincing each academy’s disciples isn’t simple. Not only why this process is necessary, but such a process has never existed in the competition before.

The competition is about testing the capabilities of the Mujeongwando and Muryeongwando, not the instructors’ capabilities. Understanding that, the instructors spying on each other shouldn’t be allowed.

That’s why I decided to slightly change the form of the deal I made with Cheongryoo.

To switch each other’s roles for one day.

“……So, you’re saying Instructor Baek Riyun will be in charge of our training today.”

Confirming the sharp-featured young man in front asking, I briefly recalled from memory. Namgung Hyeon. Was he the greatest talent from the Namgung Family?

“That’s how it will be.”

“Why must it be that way?”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you don’t necessarily have to receive my training. This isn’t mandatory.”

I called the Mujeongwando my juniors from the start. Despite being from Muryeongwan. Why did I do that?

It’s a simple story. Whether Mujeongwan or Muryeongwan, after graduating from the academy, they’re assigned to military corps and perform missions. Though divided now, they’ll eventually eat from the same pot.

Different roots but eventually converging to the same trunk. That’s why I feel affinity for the Muryeongwando but don’t feel hostility toward the Mujeongwando. And Cheongryoo is the same.

“If you think I, as Muryeongwan’s instructor, will give you wrong teachings, you don’t have to receive my training. Just do self-training as usual. However, I have no intention of discriminating between the Muryeongwando and you. Because Cheongryoo won’t do that either.”

Watching the silent Namgung Hyeon, I chuckled and continued.

“Whether Mujeongwan or Muryeongwan doesn’t matter. Either way, you’re all talents who must become pillars of the orthodox Murim. What you need to decide is just one thing. Whether to receive teachings from me, or ignore and pass by. If you won’t receive training, step aside. If you’ll receive training, stay still.”

Hearing my story, the Mujeongwando murmured for a moment, then soon became quiet. A moment of silence.

“No one’s leaving.”

And a bit later, confirming no one left, I nodded.

“Then we’ll start training now.”

“Immeasurable Buddha . Instructor. I have a question.”

“Your name?”

“It’s Cheonggyeong.”

“Cheonggyeong. From Wudang? Ask your question.”

“What training will we receive? I don’t think there’s training that can show dramatic effects in one day.”

“Hmm.”

I nodded at Cheonggyeong’s voice. It’s not wrong.

“I don’t intend to show dramatic effects in one day. Either way, I’m currently Muryeongwan’s instructor. I can’t give you special lectures right away.”

“……Didn’t you say earlier you had no intention of discriminating?”

“Having no intention of discriminating and showing favoritism are different things. I can’t spill all of the Muryeongwando’s strategies to you either. If it’s not that kind of thing, there’s no way to immediately raise your skills. So.”

“So……?”

“Today I’m throwing out a topic . Whether you catch it or not is up to you. Cheonggyeong, step forward!”

“Yes. What?”

When I grinned and suddenly called out Cheonggyeong, the startled Cheonggyeong popped forward.

“From now on, you’ll each spar with me one by one. I’ll match the level as much as possible. Try to endure. Understood?”

“……Understood.”

“Then let’s begin.”

Seureurеuk.

Seeing Cheonggyeong finish preparing, I drew my sword with its sheath and took a starting position. Cheonggyeong also abandoned his previous bewilderment and took a starting position with a serious attitude. Not wearing a sword at his waist, it seems he mainly practices fist and foot techniques.

“Come.”

“I’m coming.”

Seeing Cheonggyeong draw up his internal energy at my words, I smiled faintly. A considerably extraordinary presence felt from the internal energy he gathered fully.

Then.

Shall we test his skills?

Generally, when people witness something they can’t understand, they tend to deny that phenomenon.

That’s natural if you think about it. A person’s understanding and life revolve around that person as the standard, and no one wants something beyond their understanding to interfere with their life. It’s not a difference of whether they can accept it, but whether they want to accept it or not.

What can’t be understood is what they don’t want to accept. They can only deny it. If it could be understood through thought, it wouldn’t be incomprehensible in the first place. And.

‘Just what…….’

In that sense, Cheonggyeong couldn’t deny his current situation even if he wanted to.

Kung!

His extended hand drove into the sword sheath. Simultaneously, the arm coiled like a snake around the sword sheath swelled its muscles to push away the sheath. However, Baek Riyun’s sword sheath lightly severed the flow of that power.

Like a dam blocking a reservoir, Baek Riyun, who completely blocked Cheonggyeong’s technique, lightly stepped back. A moment of lull.

In that silence, Cheonggyeong looked at his own hand dejectedly.

‘The level isn’t high.’

Did he say at first that he’d match the level?

Those words were definitely not wrong. Not a single martial principle  that Cheonggyeong couldn’t understand came from Baek Riyun’s hands.

Every hand gesture, every trajectory drawn was all familiar forms to Cheonggyeong. Even if something unfamiliar occasionally appeared, it wasn’t difficult to understand. It’s not even like high-level masters where basic movements gather to create high-dimensional results. Literally movements matching his own level.

Nevertheless, Cheonggyeong couldn’t even touch the hair of Baek Riyun. Why?

The reason was simple.

‘It’s completely…… my weakness.’

They say all martial arts reach the same path at the end , but that doesn’t mean there are no martial arts each person finds difficult to handle. Not many martial artists can smoothly handle heavy swords, swift swords, and illusion swords alike.

Cheonggyeong also had such things. More precisely, he only knew they existed. Cheonggyeong was capable enough to pinpoint his own weaknesses accurately. He could respond to any of flowing , strong , illusion , or swift . 

Just because something can’t be clearly defined doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. In fact, right now Cheonggyeong was feeling that existence more clearly than ever.

Huung!

At the sight of the sword sheath subtly penetrating a gap, Cheonggyeong, who gritted his teeth, desperately moved his hand to deflect the sword sheath. However, this time, like what Cheonggyeong had done, Baek Riyun’s sword sheath coiled inward and penetrated.

It pierced the gap in his consciousness. As if asking how he’d block this, the sword sheath thrust its head toward Cheonggyeong’s armpit. Presenting continuous questions.

Originally, he would have responded. It’s not difficult. It was an attack of exactly a similar level to himself. It was the kind of attack other martial artists with different tendencies could extend.

However, subtle hesitation created a gap.

Kuk!

Simultaneously, the sword sheath lightly struck his armpit.

“It’s over.”

At Baek Riyun slowly lowering the sword sheath, Cheonggyeong blankly stared directly into Baek Riyun’s eyes. Baek Riyun looking  at him with a faint smile as if it wasn’t surprising.

‘Was it a coincidence?’

Yes. Maybe it’s a coincidence. Isn’t it an impossible story otherwise?

No matter how well one knows the martial principles that counter an opponent’s martial arts, it’s not easy to fit them together like one’s own limbs. Moreover, analyzing the opponent’s tendencies without even exchanging many blows, deriving attacks corresponding to those weaknesses and applying them—is that possible with a human mind?

“Next. Namgung Hyeon.”

Coincidence, it must be a coincidence. There can’t be such a person. Even knowing the probability that Baek Riyun’s martial arts would ‘coincidentally’ counter his own was extremely low, Cheonggyeong, who lowered his hands blankly, repeated that in his mind. 

When it came to the next turn, Namgung Hyeon’s.

Kaaang!

Cheonggyeong could no longer say it was  a coincidence.