Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 15. What’s the Problem?
Byeongmachong was a place of cloistered living, and gossip spread fast.
―Baek Yuhwa was teaching the Cheonji Dobeop to Dan Yeop.
The next day.
Breakfast time.
Hong Choyeon, a third-generation student, sat down across from Baek Yuhwa.
As Hong Choyeon picked at her vegetables with her chopsticks, she asked abruptly.
“What’s your relationship with Dan Yeop?”
“I’m sorry?”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Baek Yuhwa looked at Hong Choyeon with startled eyes.
Her relationship with Dan Yeop?
Since entering Byeongmachong, she’d never heard anything so absurd.
“People are saying you two look good together lately.”
“Me?”
“They say you were together late last night—isn’t that true?”
“Oh, Instructor Go asked me to teach Dan Yeop the Cheonji Dobeop.”
“Ah, I see. I was about to worry over nothing for a moment there.”
“Worry over what?”
“That you were meeting with Dan Yeop, apparently.”
“Come on! That’s not it at all. Why would I meet with him?”
“Dan Yeop’s face isn’t bad, though. Even Ha Yongwol, sly as she is, wagged her tail for him—which is why Ma Eunrok took a real dislike to him.”
From Hong Choyeon’s mouth came the names of Ha Yongwol and Ma Eunrok, both now graduated.
Only then did Baek Yuhwa see through Hong Choyeon’s true intent, and she denied it flatly.
“Absolutely not. If Instructor Go hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t have spent time with him at all.”
“So you’re saying you won’t meet with him from now on?”
……
In that instant, Baek Yuhwa’s words caught in her throat.
She remembered her promise to teach Dan Yeop the Cheonji Dobeop.
“Hm? Why do you look so shocked? Did I just put you in an awkward spot?”
Not just the third-generation students but even fourth-generation students at a distance turned their attention to Hong Choyeon.
Hong Choyeon, who was called one of the three beauties of Byeongmachong, carried that kind of weight in her words.
Gauging the reactions around her, Hong Choyeon pressed further.
“If you’re interested in Dan Yeop, just say the word anytime. I’ll have a word with Instructor Dan and send him to Jeommun. Even if he’s frail, he’d do fine work as a merchant.”
In that moment, Baek Yuhwa’s eyes turned cold.
First-generation students brought from various places were assigned to Yukmun after graduation. So that remark was nothing but mockery aimed at her and Jeommun.
‘What in the world.’
Within Yukmun there existed an inherent hierarchy.
Amun, closest to the heterodox schools, stood at the top, followed by Jeommun, which was staffed by shop clerks.
Hong Choyeon, daughter of the Amun leader, could mock Baek Yuhwa—who was stronger than her—precisely because of this order.
Soon, suppressing her anger, Baek Yuhwa replied with a deliberately composed face.
“I didn’t know you had such influence. In that case, I’ll take you up on it. Please send Dan Yeop to Jeommun.”
“What! Really? You want to take that dull-witted Dan Yeop to Jeommun?”
Hong Choyeon’s words came without hesitation.
This whole affair had sprung from idle speculation about the relationship between Instructor Dan Bulwi and Dan Yeop.
“Yes, as you said, there’s no problem with him working as a merchant.”
As Baek Yuhwa accepted the proposal as if she meant it, Hong Choyeon faltered slightly.
Dan Yeop’s future path was a matter for the Yukmun leaders to decide.
Finding it difficult to recover, she quickly changed the subject.
“Right! You’ve heard that the graduated seniors were deployed to Hadongdo? Maybe it’s better for Dan Yeop to stay at Byeongmachong. Three of the first-generation students have already died.”
“Three first-generation students died?”
“Wow, the fighting must have been fierce.”
“At this rate, wouldn’t it take thirty deaths to unify Sipdo?”
“Thirty? The longer it goes, the stronger the resistance will be. We’ll probably lose more than that.”
“Ah, you’re right.”
“Don’t be frightened. Heroes emerge in turbulent times, after all. But those who survive will climb right up the ranks.”
“True. If things go well, we might even get a faction leader in their twenties.”
At the words “a faction leader in their twenties,” the atmosphere that had been sinking suddenly came alive.
Baek Yuhwa mentally clicked her tongue at Hong Choyeon’s cunning.
‘The problem is teaching Dan Yeop.’
If the two of them spent time together, she had no idea what Hong Choyeon would say next.
Breaking her promise to Dan Yeop would be simple enough, yet something in her recoiled from it.
It wasn’t just that she refused to be drawn into Hong Choyeon’s games—more than that, she burned to uncover who Dan Yeop really was.
‘Better to ignore her, I suppose.’
Until the Graduation Examination, she could treat Hong Choyeon’s words as nothing more than a dog’s bark. After graduation anyway, there’d be no reason for their paths to cross again.
***
That morning.
The martial instructors of Yukmun announced to the trainees that the Graduation Examination for the third generation would be held five days hence.
The light in the third generation’s eyes sharpened at the announcement.
They were intoxicated with dreams of survival and advancement in these turbulent times.
The Training Hall of Yukmun churned with third generation students preparing for graduation.
The Hour of Contentment—five o’clock in the afternoon.
Jeommun Training Hall.
Dan Yeop had spent the entire day there.
At seventeen, he stood resolute among children barely ten years old, his sword tracing its arc again and again.
The young ones scattered the moment their afternoon practice ended, flowing out like an ebbing tide.
The emptiness was soon filled by five third generation students who had come for a final check of their forms.
They stole glances at Dan Yeop while they trained.
This morning, Hong Choyeon and Baek Yuhwa had locked horns over him.
Hong Choyeon was Byeongmachong’s most beautiful woman; Baek Yuhwa was its finest martial artist.
In a place as barren of entertainment as Byeongmachong, how could they not be curious?
When Baek Yuhwa appeared moments later, the third generation students exchanged knowing glances.
‘She’s here.’
‘Didn’t she say she wouldn’t see him?’
‘They must have something going on, right?’
Baek Yuhwa cast a quick glance at the students, then approached Dan Yeop.
“How far can you get through it now?”
“Three more moves in this form.”
“Wow! You’ve made real progress! You must have been working hard. I told you—where there’s will, there’s a way.”
Baek Yuhwa, who knew his true state, gushed with genuine excitement.
The man who’d been stuck after just one form had now advanced by three moves!
She could imagine how he’d spent this entire day to reach it.
“Heh…”
As Dan Yeop laughed awkwardly, a voice cut through from behind—sharp with mockery.
“Oh, the atmosphere’s lovely, isn’t it?”
It was Hong Choyeon.
Baek Yuhwa’s face twisted slightly at the sight of her.
Ignoring this, Hong Choyeon spoke to Geum Seojin, who’d come with her.
“Seojin, didn’t Baek say this morning she’d absolutely never meet with Dan Yeop? Did I mishear?”
“Well, I’m not really sure…”
Geum Seojin feigned ignorance, eager to stay clear of the tension between them.
Undeterred, Hong Choyeon fixed Baek Yuhwa with a steady gaze.
“So you’re spending nice time with Dan Yeop and still going to deny it?”
“You’re misunderstanding. I’m only helping him pass his Graduation Examination. That’s why I’m teaching him the Cheonji Dobeop.”
Baek Yuhwa drew a clear line, but Hong Choyeon wasn’t about to let it rest.
“Is that so? That’s actually surprising—you, a third generation student, are going to get Dan Yeop to graduate when even the first generation gave up on him? Why would you do that? Are you and Dan Yeop that close?”
Her words twisted like a knot, and Baek Yuhwa felt as though something were stuck in her chest.
“It’s because Go Muk told me to teach him the Cheonji Dobeop, and—sigh—I think I explained this to you this morning.”
“So Go Muk ordered you to help with Dan Yeop’s graduation?”
“That’s not what he said.”
“Then why are you using Go Muk as an excuse? Anyone listening would think he put you up to it. Seojin, I’m right, aren’t I?”
Hong Choyeon pulled Geum Seojin in again, and this time, she didn’t hold back from taking a side.
“That’s what I thought too.”
“See? You didn’t explain yourself well. You weren’t being honest.”
Under Hong Choyeon’s relentless assault, Baek Yuhwa finally cracked.
“I’m sorry. I suppose I did explain it poorly.”
Her eyes turned toward Dan Yeop.
“I won’t be able to help you anymore. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m grateful.”
Dan Yeop lowered his head, feeling the quarrel had erupted because of him.
Without another glance behind her, Baek Yuhwa left.
Hong Choyeon approached Dan Yeop, whose shoulders sagged with exhaustion, and whispered to him.
“Dan Yeop, don’t even look at trees you can’t climb.”
In an instant, Dan Yeop’s face flushed crimson, and he waved his hands in denial.
“What—what are you talking about…….”
“You’re not even worthy of Jeommun. So stop lingering around Jeommun and go to Gimun to stand like a doorpost.”
“That’s not what I…….”
Dan Yeop swelled with indignation and tried to protest, but Hong Choyeon had already vanished without a backward glance.
Geum Seojin spoke to Dan Yeop, who stood there looking bewildered.
“Don’t take it the wrong way. I don’t think Hong really meant it.”
“Then what did she mean?”
“Well, I’m not entirely sure……. Anyway, even if you do go to Gimun later, absolutely don’t do anything like standing around like a doorpost.”
“I won’t, no matter what.”
“Um, senior?”
“Yes?”
“I could help you practice the Cheonji Dobeop, if you’d like…….”
“No, if you do that, Hong Choyeon will give you trouble too.”
“Unlike Baek, I don’t stand out, so it should be fine. Hong won’t say anything about me helping you.”
“I think she will say something…….”
“No, really. If Hong says anything, I’ll stop then.”
When Geum Seojin pressed the matter firmly, Dan Yeop reluctantly accepted her kindness.
Under Geum Seojin’s guidance, Dan Yeop practiced the Cheonji Dobeop.
The two continued their training even after finishing dinner.
Contrary to Dan Yeop’s concern, Hong Choyeon did not return to the Jeommun Training Hall.
The next afternoon, Geum Seojin came back to the Jeommun Training Hall.
But Dan Yeop’s progress was the problem.
Though Geum Seojin had instructed him hoarsely from the side, Dan Yeop could not move past the third movement of this form.
“No, step to the right with that movement and do a left strike! One more step and a right strike! Bring the sword back to your chest!”
Geum Seojin’s neck flushed with frustration.
Shame caused Dan Yeop’s face to burn scarlet.
The more Geum Seojin pressed him, the more Dan Yeop’s mind went blank, until finally he could do nothing at all.
As he stood frozen in place, unable to move, Geum Seojin exhaled a long sigh.
“Hah! Senior, what are you doing?”
“Ah, well, what was I doing just now? The first form? This form?”
“……You already completed the sixth movement of this form.”
“I did?”
“Is there someone else here? Hah! What’s the problem?”
Her words struck like arrows, and Dan Yeop’s shoulders slumped.
The tip of the Straight Sword touched the stone floor with a dull thud, but he was too weary in body and spirit to lift it.
Geum Seojin, watching Dan Yeop with tired eyes, shook her head.
‘At this rate, he won’t graduate…….’
Dan Yeop had spent the entire day practicing this form and couldn’t even memorize three movements.
Mastering this form within the four days remaining would be a miracle.
“It’s getting late, so I’ll head out. You should rest too, senior.”
“Thank you, and don’t come tomorrow. You have to prepare for your Graduation Examination.”
“……Yes.”
Geum Seojin accepted reality, though she was reluctant.
One could only help others if there was at least a glimmer of possibility.
She could not waste her time on something that was clearly doomed.
Unless she were Baek Yuhwa, the supreme master.
She herself had much to prepare for the Graduation Examination taking place in three days.
Geum Seojin left first, leaving Dan Yeop alone in the Training Hall.
He set the Straight Sword on its stand and looked around the hall.
He had trained here from morning until late at night, and this was all he had—three movements of a form.
When he was with Baek Yuhwa, there was hope, but now he didn’t understand what had gone wrong.
“Hah! I need to graduate…….”
If ‘him’—that other self who had crushed Deung Pyeong and Yu Jacho—were to awaken, the Graduation Examination would be no difficulty.
He knew how to make him surface.
But that meant driving his own body into the Demonic Cultivation State.
Was it right to graduate at the cost of harming his own body?
As Dan Yeop left the Jeommun Training Hall, his footsteps were heavier than they had ever been.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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