Ten Paths of the Master - Chapter 50

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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 50. A Great Wind Sweeps Across Shipdo
Training that began at the Hour of the Snake—ten in the morning—continued without pause until the Hour of the Goat at five in the afternoon.
The eighteen Masters never left Ansik Hall except to take their midday meal.
How many years had they endured scorn, even while lending aid, for belonging to Haomun?
The martial sects of the Jianghu regarded Haomun members as worse than dogs.
Insults were the least of it; if they were fortunate, a beating would be all they suffered.
Sometimes, those who fell into the hands of cruel men lost limbs or their lives.
True, most Haomun disciples had invited such treatment by starting trouble first, yet there were those who had been attacked merely for speaking an honest word.
The reason was simple: they were weak.
So the Haomun disciples called themselves “a tree full of knots.”
The phrase held self-deprecation—”useless”—but also carried deeper meaning: “full of sorrow.”
And who could say the Sect Leader of Haomun harbored no resentment?
No—in fact, the longer one remained in Haomun, the more anger accumulated within.
And now, an opportunity had come to learn Swordsmanship rivaling the Owak Geompa?
It would be strange if their eyes did not turn wild.
Though none of them felt hungry, they ate their midday meal out of courtesy to Dan Yeop.
By early evening, the group had barely grasped the First Form.
The time was shortened only because these were people who had trained in Cheonji Swordsmanship their entire lives.
At last, when Baek Yuhwa, the youngest among them, could execute the First Form flawlessly, Dan Yeop addressed the assembled Masters.
“We shall conclude for today.”
Baek Chogong, the Sect Leader, spoke with evident reluctance.
“Dan, you have labored well. Come to Ansik Hall again tomorrow at the Hour of the Serpent—nine in the morning. I intend to keep Ansik Hall open as our training ground until we complete transmission of the Jinsamdae Swordsmanship.”
“I understand. But when my instruction here concludes, what shall I do then?”
He asked because the Village Leaders had been instructed to teach the Disciples in their respective villages.
“We plan to summon everyone here once each month to verify their progress. At such times, you need only provide instruction as needed. This task will continue for as long as our sect endures, so do not worry about your position.”
“Then I need only teach once a month?”
“Of course, the Village Leaders may privately request your presence as well. In such cases, you would go directly to guide them.”
“Ah, that is certainly possible. I understand.”
“I am curious—can we learn all of the Jinsamdae Swordsmanship before this year passes?”
“The Jincheonji Swordsmanship you are grasping quickly, but as for the Jinbaekryu and Jinchilsang—I cannot say for certain.”
The sect had learned the Jincheonji Swordsmanship rapidly because of their deep understanding of the Cheonji Swordsmanship foundation.
Yet the Jinbaekryu and Jinchilsang, despite some familiarity, would not be easy to master given their extreme variations.
“If progress slows, there is no harm in teaching at a measured pace. In the meantime, the Village Leaders can begin instructing your Disciples in the Jincheonji Swordsmanship.”
Once Baek Chogong had tasted the Jincheonji Swordsmanship, his appetite grew boundless.
He yearned to spread the Jincheonji Swordsmanship to his fellow Haomun members—those shamefully weak compared to other sects—as swiftly as possible.
“Understood.”
Dan Yeop nodded without hesitation.
From his perspective, the arrangement made no difference to him.
Once the matter was settled, the Branch Leaders and Village Leaders offered him their gratitude.
“Dan Yeop, we are grateful. We shall never forget today’s kindness.”
“Dan, thank you. Rest well.”
“We shall see you tomorrow.”
The Sect Leader, Vice Sect Leader, Branch Leaders, and Village Leaders departed, leaving only the two Sect Guardians.
Im Song, the Sect Guardian, placed his hands together in respect and bowed deeply.
“Dan Yeop, I am grateful for your instruction despite my shortcomings. It seems the blessing of my ancestors has allowed me to meet you.”
“Ah, well….”
Caught off guard by Im Song’s excessive praise, Dan Yeop scratched his head awkwardly.
“I, Im Song, would rush into hellfire itself at your call. Please, summon me whenever you wish.”
“Ah….”
As Dan Yeop floundered for words, Baek Yuhwa stepped forward.
“Senior Dan—or rather, Dan—you have worked so hard today. I never imagined your Martial Prowess was of this caliber. Now I understand why Yu-ja and Deng-ping were so thoroughly defeated. Such formidable Martial Arts—why did you keep them hidden so completely at Byeongma Chong?”
“I wasn’t hiding them. I only awakened to it late. Remember what you said—that with single-minded focus, anything becomes possible? Following your words, repeating the forms ten times, a hundred times, and then one day, it all clicked into place.”
“Ah! A late bloomer, then! Your Martial Prowess far exceeded what I imagined—it was quite a shock. Someone seeing you fight would surely think you were a disciple of Owak Geompa!”
“Come now, I’m nothing like those from Owak Geompa….”
At Baek Yuhwa’s praise, warmth crept up Dan Yeop’s face.
“Truth be told, I haven’t met an Owak Geompa disciple yet, but with your abilities, you could certainly stand shoulder to shoulder with them. Don’t you think so, Im Song?”
Baek Yuhwa was seventeen and Im Song thirty-two, a gap of fifteen years between them.
Yet because Baek Yuhwa held the rank of Sect Guardian equal to Im Song and studied the Jinsamdae Swordsmanship alongside him, she naturally addressed him as her Senior Brother.
Im Song nodded vigorously.
“Dan Yeop, what Baek Yuhwa says is correct. Though Owak Geompa may be spoken of as heaven itself, your Swordsmanship is no inferior to theirs, I believe.”
Dan Yeop felt a subtle discomfort when Baek Yuhwa and Im Song began addressing each other as Senior Brother and Senior Sister.
He was the senior—so why did Im Song get to be called Senior Brother?
Unaware of his irritation, Baek Yuhwa continued trading remarks with Im Song, showing no end of enthusiasm in praising Dan Yeop.
“Senior Brother, have you ever seen the disciples from Hyeonmu Hall? They can’t compare to Dan, can they?”
“True enough. I once watched the Hyeonmu Hall disciples spar from a distance, and they certainly fell short of Dan the Instructor. You’d need to be a Jongnam Sect disciple to truly measure up to him.”
Though the Jongnam Sect was not counted among the Five Peaks Alliance, it wielded a presence nearly as formidable.
The Five Peaks Alliance members were notoriously elusive, their movements unpredictable and their encounters rare; but the Jongnam Sect was frequently spotted in Chang’an City.
So Im Song had invoked them as a fitting standard of comparison.
Watching the easy intimacy between the two, Dan Yeop spoke through gritted teeth.
“I should be going now.”
He made no farewell to Baek Yuhwa—deliberately withheld it.
The sight of her speaking only to Im Song while he stood there grated on him.
The moment Dan Yeop turned on his heel and walked away, Im Song and Baek Yuhwa exchanged blank, bewildered looks.
Im Song ventured cautiously.
“Did I offend him with a slip of the tongue?”
“What did you say?”
“I compared you to the Five Peaks Alliance, then just now spoke of the Jongnam Sect as if you matched them. See? This mouth of mine is the problem. I’ve definitely put myself in his bad graces, haven’t I?”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up Hyeonmu Hall in the first place.”
Good-natured Baek Yuhwa bowed her head deeply.
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Senior Sister. Don’t worry. But what sort of man is Dan the Instructor? He’s not the type to hold grudges, is he?”
“I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Baek Yuhwa secretly hoped he harbored no resentment.
If he did, the future for the Byeongma Chong contingent would be nothing but bleak.
***
Im Song shuffled down the darkening main road after leaving Jipdan Hyang.
Learning the Jincheonji Swordsmanship had been gratifying enough—until he’d managed to offend Dan Yeop.
It was an undeniable truth that the greater a master’s skill, the fiercer their pride in their martial arts.
The thought that he’d bruised Dan Yeop the Instructor’s dignity drew a sigh from deep within his chest.
“Hah!”
Just then, someone burst from the Juru tavern and called out to him.
“Brother!”
It was Im Jeong.
Im Song regarded his younger brother with the dull stare of a dead fish.
He’d been furious with Im Jeong that morning, but now he was too drained even for anger.
“Why do you look like that? What’s wrong? Is it because of Dan Yeop? Did the Sect Leader say something after you showed your mettle?”
“Jeong.”
“Yes?”
Before replying, Im Song glanced around them.
Though it was early evening, the winter cold had cleared the streets of passersby.
“First, fix how you talk. What is ‘Dan Yeop’ to an Instructor?”
“What? Brother! Instructor? Didn’t you hear what the Byeongma Chong boys said? That blockhead only picked up a few basic forms from some guardian. How far could his roots possibly run?”
“Stop it. I don’t have the strength to argue with you.”
“Why? Did the Sect Leader beat you badly?”
Im Jeong assumed his brother had been disciplined by the Sect Leader.
But the reply defied his expectation.
“Dan Yeop the Instructor is a Master. Not just any master, but one strong enough to rival disciples of the Five Peaks Alliance itself. Do you understand?”
“Come on, don’t joke.”
“Do I look like I joke?”
When Im Song’s eyes went wide and fierce, Im Jeong looked down.
If Im Jeong was a dog, Im Song was a wolf.
Indeed, Im Song’s actual name was Blood Wolf.
“Don’t listen to those fools and run your mouth. You haven’t already done something stupid enough for Dan Yeop the Instructor to take notice, have you?”
“Me? Not at all. I’ve never even met Dan Yeop.”
Im Jeong played innocent.
Catching a glimpse of his younger brother’s evasion, Im Song pressed the warning home.
“Even Baek the Sect Leader watches her step around Dan the Instructor. Don’t even think of casting a shadow across his path. Not that you could anyway. Drink your fill and go to bed.”
“Brother, won’t you have a drink?”
“Are you insane? Opportunity is staring me in the face, and you want me to drink? You go ahead and get drunk. Once the Village Leaders begin teaching you all martial arts, the good days will be over.”
“Really? It’s been so long since you put down the blade.”
“By next summer, a tempest will sweep across Shipdo. Then I leave.”
Im Song waved his hand toward his brother before dissolving into the darkness.
***
Son Taek Annex.
Dan Yeop was staring blankly at the oil lamp when Son Jiheon’s voice called from the courtyard.
“Friend! Are you inside?”
Dan Yeop pushed open the window with the effort of a man bedridden with fever and poked his head out.
“Yes…?”
“What? You were sharp as a blade this morning. What’s wrong? Are you ill?”
“A little.”
Dan Yeop couldn’t bring himself to admit that his heart was the thing aching—shame held his tongue.
“What is it? Where does it hurt? Shall I call a physician?”
“No, nothing that serious. But why are you still outside? Come in.”
“Come in? We need to head to dinner soon. Come out for a bit—let’s get some air.”
“All right.”
Dan Yeop climbed out, knowing that sitting alone would only breed self-pity.
The two walked through the courtyard, matching each other’s pace.
Son Jiheon glanced at Dan Yeop’s face as they went, speaking casually.
“Something troubling you?”
“Troubling me?”
“If there is, tell me. They say even a sheet of paper becomes easier to carry if two people hold it.”
“There’s nothing.”
Dan Yeop denied it.
No matter how close he’d grown to Son Jiheon, he said nothing about Baek Yuhwa.
There was always the risk he might mention it to Sim Ma.
“Well, that’s a relief then. But when will you teach me martial arts?”
“Me? Teach you?”
“What? You haven’t forgotten the promise you made while drunk, have you? You said you’d teach me martial arts.”
“I did?”
“Come on, you really did forget! You promised to teach me the Jinsamdae Swordsmanship, and now you’re acting like this. I feel betrayed.”
Dan Yeop’s mouth fell open.
The fact that Son Jiheon even knew the name of the technique meant the promise was genuine.
“Well, I…”
Flustered, Dan Yeop couldn’t find the words to continue.
Even if he’d been drunk, it was no simple matter to break a promise already made.
“Is there some restriction on teaching martial arts?”
“Well, it’s a technique from a martial sect, and I can’t decide something like that on my own…”
“I don’t need to take your sect’s name. I’m fine being an unnamed disciple—just teach me.”
Son Jiheon looked at Dan Yeop with eyes full of longing.
With his talent, joining a renowned sect would be no easy feat.
If he could learn even a fragment of martial arts, he would be satisfied.

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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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