Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 49

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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 49. What a Superb Choice to Become a Gyoodu
Ansikeon.
The interior of Ansikeon was spacious enough to accommodate several hundred people.
It carried the faint scent of spices, as if it had been used as a warehouse for incense and perfume in ordinary times.
The front wall bore murals of merchants trading in spices.
For seating, there were only eight empty chairs on the raised platform.
Two hundred or so Mundo sat on the wooden floor, facing forward.
Dan Yeop scanned the crowd quickly.
He was searching for Baek Yuhwa.
But finding her among so many heads was not easy.
Abandoning the effort, he crossed his legs and sat in an empty space near the back.
A moment later, the Munju Baek Chogong entered, leading the Bumunju and the Dangjoos.
The Mundo who had been sitting rose en masse to greet them.
There was no loud fanfare.
This was out of concern that word of Jeomun’s gathering might reach the outside.
The Munju and his party walked to the raised platform and settled into the prepared chairs.
With the Munju Baek Chogong and Bumunju Mok Unsaeng at the center, three Dangjoos took their places on either side.
Once eight figures were seated on the platform, the Mundo sat down on the floor.
The assembly began, with Bumunju Mok Unsaeng presiding.
It was the first full gathering since the war for the Iltong of Haomun had ended, and the atmosphere was grave.
Bumunju Mok Unsaeng first expressed his sorrow for those lost, then argued that the struggle of Gwannaeido Haomun had not been in vain.
“……Our Gwannaeido Haomun’s century-long ambition now truly begins. We will not squander the sacrifices our Mundo have made. If we yield to the obstruction of the Murim Bangpa, all those sacrifices become meaningless. We shall certainly unite Haomun across all ten regions of the realm and break free from discrimination and oppression. Our first challenge proved to be a matter of overwhelming odds. Yet it taught us that Gwannaeido Haomun alone lacks the strength to carry it through. We have also learned that to counter the sabotage of the Murim Bangpa, we must grow stronger. Therefore, we have taken a decisive step. We will cooperate with Haomun in the other regions that share our vision. And we will cultivate the ancient and profound martial arts of Haomun to strengthen ourselves.”
As Bumunju Mok Unsaeng surveyed the assembly, Han Sangok, a Hyangjoo among the Mundo, spoke up.
“Cooperation with Haomun in other regions is achievable through effort, but does Haomun possess ancient, profound martial arts capable of defeating other sects?”
“We do.”
“Do you truly mean that our Haomun possesses such martial arts?”
“Indeed.”
“If so, please tell us what it is!”
“The Munju will speak to that matter.”
Bumunju Mok Unsaeng bowed with joined hands to the Munju Baek Chogong and stepped back.
All of this had been scripted dialogue, arranged beforehand.
The Munju Baek Chogong rose from his seat and stepped forward before the Mundo.
“The bloodshed at Byeongmachong that occurred last summer brought our Haomun two insights. First, that the sects of the Gangho do not desire our unification. Second, that our Haomun is weak as an earthworm. The sects of the Gangho wish for our Haomun to remain forever beneath them, licking their boots from below. But even a mouse hole sees sunlight one day. And that sunlight has reached Haomun.”
Here the Munju Baek Chogong paused.
The Mundo gazed at him with burning eyes.
Their eyes asked: what is that martial art? What is that sunlight?
At last the Munju Baek Chogong’s lips opened.
Speaking like a seasoned storyteller, he pointed with his index finger into the empty air as he spoke.
“In Gwannaeido there lived a master of Haomun. Destiny led him to Byeongmachong, where he taught the martial arts of Haomun—for no less than fourteen years. There is a saying: ‘All rivers flow into one sea.’ After fourteen years of toil, he finally transcended the limits of Haomun martial arts. From this transcendence was born the Jinsamdaedobeop.”
“Ah!”
“Manryuiguijon!”
“Jinsamdaedobeop!”
The Munju Baek Chogong waited for the murmuring of the Mundo to subside before continuing.
“This master, who achieved great deeds, was appointed Chonggyoodu by the Amun. I, Bumunji Mok Unsaeng, and Dangjoo Wi Jicheon were all present at that historic moment. With our own eyes, we witnessed the power of the Jinsamdaedobeop. It was not inferior in any way to the techniques of the Owak Geompa.”
“Ah!”
“Inferior to the Owak Geompa, you say!”
“Who is this person?”
“Can we too learn the Jinsamdaedobeop?”
The Jeomun Mundo shifted in their seats.
For Haomun martial arts had long been recognized as third-rate by all parties.
Certainly, great masters had emerged from among the Mundo of Haomun, but this was due to individual talent, not to any subtlety of the martial arts themselves.
The Munju Baek Chogong raised one finger again.
The assembly fell silent at once, as still as death.
“The name of that master is Dan Bulwi, Chonggyoodu of the Amun.”
“Dan Bulwi the Hyangjoo?”
“Was his martial talent truly that extraordinary?”
“Inconceivable…….”
The Mundo did not readily accept this.
But the Munju Baek Chogong paid their reaction no mind.
Once they learned the Jinsamdaedobeop from Dan Bulwi, such skepticism would swiftly disappear.
“Of course we can learn the Jinsamdaedobeop as well. After all, Jeomun has someone who has mastered Dan Bulwi’s Jinsamdaedobeop. Mok and I have decided to appoint him as Jeomun’s Gyoodu.”
“Splendid!”
“Jeomun’s Gyoodu!”
“Who is it?”
The disciples glanced around, curious to know who the Gyoodu was.
Baek Chogong, the Munju, seized the moment to announce it.
“He is… Dan Yeop, your new Gyoodu. From today forward, Dan Yeop will teach you the Jinsamdaedobeop. To ensure his instruction proceeds without hindrance, Mok and I have decided to present him with a Chulpae. Dan Yeop, please step forward.”
To establish the young Gyoodu’s authority, Baek Chogong did not pause in his speech.
Dan Yeop rose from his seat and came forward.
Whispers erupted among the disciples.
“Dan Yeop? That trainee from Byeongmachong?”
“Stone-Headed Dan Yeop?”
“He couldn’t master a single Cheonjidobeop in thirteen years—how is this possible?”
“Is Dan Yeop really that foolish?”
“Yes, hopeless and thick-headed.”
“I suppose the Chonggyoodu Dan Bulwi taught him as his foster son.”
“Teaching him is one thing—his head isn’t capable of understanding it.”
“Then the Jinsamdaedobeop isn’t worth much, is it?”
The disciples stirred, but Baek Chogong paid them no mind.
Once Dan Yeop demonstrated his martial prowess, all their doubts would dissolve.
Unable to bear the murmuring any longer, Mok Unsaeng raised his voice.
“Silence!”
The disciples closed their mouths, though their faces still bore unmistakable bewilderment.
Once the whispers died, Baek Chogong handed the Chulpae to Dan Yeop.
“Dan Yeop, please teach our disciples well.”
“Yes.”
As Dan Yeop accepted and secured the Chulpae, Baek Chogong turned back to address the assembly.
“One Gyoodu cannot teach everyone. Those permitted to learn directly from Dan Yeop will be limited to the Dangjoo and Hyangjoo. Afterward, the Hyangjoo will teach the Jinsamdaedobeop to the rest of you. When the opportunity comes, study diligently and bring no shame upon Haomun’s name.”
“…Yes.”
The disciples’ reply rang hollow, but Baek Chogong did not reproach them.
Once they witnessed the power of the Jinsamdaedobeop, the matter would resolve itself.
Dan Yeop gazed at Baek Chogong with a look of disappointment.
If instruction was limited to the Hyangjoo, he would have no chance to meet Baek Yuhwa—he would need another approach.
“Begging your pardon, Munju.”
“What is it?”
“If any of the Munwi wish to learn, I would be honored to teach them as well.”
Baek Yuhwa, the third-generation disciple from Byeongmachong, had ranked first in the graduation examination and now served as a squad leader—a position of Munwi rank.
“Are you certain you wouldn’t mind?”
“In any case, few will volunteer.”
“If the Gyoodu is willing, I have no objection.”
As a rule, martial arts were best learned as close to the source as possible.
Fearing Dan Yeop might retract his offer, Baek Chogong hastily addressed the assembly.
“The Gyoodu has graciously offered to instruct any Munwi who wish to learn. Those interested should remain.”
“…”
The response from the lowest-ranking administrators was lukewarm.
After hearing what the Byeongmachong graduates said about Dan Yeop, no one felt inclined to stay.
As the gathering ended, the disciples filed out of Ansikeon one by one.
Shortly after, only the Munju, Bumunju, Dangjoo, Hyangjoo, and two Munwi remained in Ansikeon.
Joy flooded Dan Yeop’s face when he saw the Munwi.
One of them was Baek Yuhwa.
Believing no one else would come, Mok Unsaeng introduced the remaining attendees to Dan Yeop.
“So Wolhwa, the patrol Dangjoo; Wi Jicheon, the Dangjoo; Han Sangok, the Hyangjoo; and these two are Im Song and Baek Yuhwa, both Munwi.”
Having finished the introductions, Mok Unsaeng stepped back and withdrew into the group.
It was time for Dan Yeop to take over.
Dan Yeop cast a light gaze around the interior of Ansikeon.
With eighteen people to teach, the space was more than sufficient.
In the past, he would never have dared stand before such an audience.
But now, though slightly nervous, it was bearable.
The taciturn young man drew his blade first.
“I will now demonstrate the first three forms of the Jincheonjidobeop. Then I will teach you each movement separately.”
Dan Yeop moved slowly, deliberately, so she could see clearly as he wielded the blade.
Knowing that Baek Yuhwa was watching, his heart kindled of its own accord.
Singular focus.
He’d pulled back his strength, yet the blade carried a film of Dogi as thin and sharp as ice.
Shrill! Shrill!
In the blink of an eye, the demonstration of three moves was complete.
Dan Yeop exhaled the breath he’d been holding and withdrew his sword.
He then turned to face Baek Chogong and his party.
Baek Chogong, Munju, Mok Unsaeng, Bumunju, and So Wolhwa, Patrol Dangjoo, had their faces flushed bright red despite having witnessed a display just days before.
They’d marveled then too, but what they saw now had advanced far beyond that.
The expressions of five Dangjoos and eight Hyangjoos, along with two Munwis, were even more worthwhile to see.
They all looked as though they’d glimpsed a spirit.
The Jincheonjidobeop that Dan Yeop had displayed resembled the Cheonjidobeop, true enough—yet in power and subtlety, they were as heaven and earth apart.
Moreover, every last one of them had seen the Dogi gathered upon his blade with perfect clarity.
Wasn’t that something only the masters of Owak Geompa could achieve?
To reach such heights with only the Haomun’s blade methods!
Excitement had dried their mouths to paper, and a dizzying vertigo swept through them.
Im Song, Munwi, flickered his nostrils repeatedly as the surge of emotion rose in him.
‘The madman shows his true form? Who’s he trying to impress?’
His decision to seek instruction had, in truth, been born of his brother Im Jeong’s relentless pressure.
‘That Dan Bulwi fellow—he’s only barely taught the man a few moves. Jeomun’s Chulpae going to someone like that? No matter Amun’s backing, that’s outrageous. You should show him what you’re made of, elder brother.’
Finding merit in his younger brother’s words, he’d remained under the pretext of learning.
But now that he saw the truth, his brother had been a fool.
Dan Yeop’s Mugong stood higher than that of any martial artist he’d encountered.
Of course, he’d never seen the masters of Owak Geompa, so comparison was difficult—yet there could be few in Janganseong of such caliber.
‘I did well not to rush forward. I was nearly humiliated.’
He let out a breath of quiet relief.
As silence fell upon the gathering, Dan Yeop, looking somewhat awkward, began teaching one move at a time.
Eighteen masters of Jeomun threw themselves into their practice with renewed earnestness, swinging their blades.
Dan Yeop naturally drew closer to Baek Yuhwa’s side.
Watching her sweat profusely, old memories stirred in him.
‘This move, the Hoengsoransjeol—you know it?’
‘I know it, but I can’t quite remember… do we start left? Or right?’
‘Master Go-muk sings it every day, doesn’t he? Turn left while sweeping heaven once, earth once, then face forward and cut side to side—whoosh! Whoosh!’
As Dan Yeop stood beside her, watching intently, Baek Yuhwa asked hesitantly.
“Why… why are you looking like that? What’s wrong?”
“No, you’re doing well.”
“Really?”
Baek Yuhwa’s withdrawn face bloomed suddenly open.
Dazzled in that moment, Dan Yeop dared not look directly and quickly turned his gaze away.
‘It was truly the right choice to become a Gyoodu.’
He circled around Baek Yuhwa under the pretense of instruction, orbiting her again and again.

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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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