Chapter 3: The Disciple Looks Up to the Master, The Master Comforts the Disciple

The victor of the first duel was Seomkyeong.

Seomkyeong had neutralized Unkyeong's Chilseong Sword Method using the initial form of the Maehwakwon. Even after the duel ended, Hyungeom Jinin, the master, said nothing and proceeded with the next demonstration.

Winners and losers were decided, and emotions ran high. The winners rejoiced at the possibility of inheriting Master Hyungeom's teachings, while the losers were disheartened. An unusual fervor filled Jinmugung.

The desire for victory, the yearning to become stronger, was eroding people's rationality. Even in the eyes of Mookyeong, who was not participating in the demonstration, the fervor was palpable.

Damho furrowed his brow.

In his five years with the Hwasan Sect, he had never experienced such an intense atmosphere. Although the Hwasan Sect was fundamentally a martial sect, it was also a Taoist sect. Therefore, it was usually dominated by a serene atmosphere, but now it was heated and fervent.

'Did he intend this? This kind of atmosphere?'

Damho looked at Hyungeom Jinin, who was standing on one side of the arena.

Despite the madness-inducing atmosphere, Hyungeom Jinin remained as calm as he had been at the beginning.

Feeling Damho's gaze, Hyungeom Jinin looked back at him. The moment their eyes met, Damho felt a shock as if his eyes were being gouged out with an awl, and he staggered. However, he did not avoid Hyungeom Jinin's gaze.

At Damho's reaction, a glint of interest flashed in Hyungeom Jinin's eyes. But it was only for a moment, and soon Hyungeom Jinin shifted his gaze back to the arena.

In the arena, Hansoyu was fighting another primary disciple.

She was unfolding the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword from her hand. Every time she moved her snow-white hand, plum blossoms bloomed in the air. On the other hand, her opponent was continuously retreating in fear.

Even to Damho, who was unfamiliar with the Plum Blossom Sword, it was a beautiful and efficient use of the initial form.

"Wow!"

Exclamations erupted here and there. However, Hyungeom Jinin seemed dissatisfied with something and slightly furrowed his brow. But most people were too engrossed in Hansoyu's duel to notice.

Swish!

Finally, Hansoyu's sword cut off a piece of her opponent's robe, and the duel ended. The defeated primary disciple looked at the long cut on his robe.

If it had been cut two inches deeper, he would have been no longer of this world.

"Thank you, Sister, for sparing me."

"You fought well too, Brother."

After exchanging formalities, the two returned to their places.

Damho watched Hansoyu, who was standing next to Mookyeong with a flushed face.

'Sister's Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword is amazing. To be able to execute the initial form so brilliantly.'

Among those who could unfold the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword like that, Hansoyu was almost the only one. Because she was a woman and lacked physical strength, it was a choice to compensate for that.

Even the same martial arts could produce a variety of powers depending on what insights one gained and how one unfolded them.

Although it wasn't perfect yet, Hansoyu was finding her own Plum Blossom Sword.

Damho was quite surprised by Hansoyu's skill, which was much better than he had vaguely guessed. But he didn't feel envious. Although he was slow, he thought he would eventually get there too.

Then Hyungeom Jinin's voice was heard.

"Next, it's Sookyung and Cheonkyung's turn."

At the sound of his name being called, Damho raised his head.

Sookyung was one of the primary disciples with strong martial arts skills. His personality was very firm and straightforward, so many of the primary disciples were afraid of him.

Damho went to the arena. Hyungeom Jinin frowned slightly as he watched Damho go.

"Cheonkyung."

"Yes!"

"You're the disciple that Hyunso brought in, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Hmm!"

Hyungeom Jinin's gaze became even colder.

Damho's gaze also hardened. There were no more words, but he could feel that Hyungeom Jinin didn't like him.

"You can step back."

"..."

"Didn't you hear me? Step back."

"May I ask why?"

"Do you really not know?"

"Yes, I don't."

At Damho's defiant answer, Hyungeom Jinin furrowed his brow.

Any ordinary person would have been intimidated just by his gaze, but Damho stood his ground. He liked Damho's iron will, but choosing a disciple to pass on his teachings required a different level of cold judgment.

"So you won't step back?"

"I would at least like the same opportunity as the others."

"Fine. If that's your will..."

Hyungeom Jinin's anger flared at Damho's stubbornness.

He stepped back and spoke to Sookyung.

"Begin the demonstration."

"But..."

"Make him realize the reality. That's the best thing for him too."

"I... understand."

At the firm voice of Hyungeom Jinin, Sookyeong reluctantly nodded.

Sookyeong aimed his fist at Damho.

"Master, do not resent me."

It was the starting stance of the Five Elements Fist, one of the secret techniques of the Hwasan Sect.

The Five Elements Fist was not easy to master as it required manipulating energy according to the principles of the Five Elements. However, once mastered, it possessed tremendous power, capable of pulverizing a massive rock with a single punch.

Damho took a deep breath and assumed the starting stance of Jukyeopsu, the martial art he had practiced the longest. Although its power couldn't compare to the Five Elements Fist, Damho had faith in his Jukyeopsu.

Hansoyu's face turned pale at the sight of the two.

"Will it be okay? Shouldn't we stop them? Jukyeopsu can't possibly withstand the Five Elements Fist."

"It's the decision of Hyungeom Sasuk, no one can overturn it."

Mukyeong's face was also grave, but realistically, there was nothing he could do.

Hyungeom Jinin was a heavyweight figure, someone even Jangmunin Hyuncheon Jinin couldn't casually challenge. It was unthinkable for Mukyeong to overturn such a heavyweight's decision.

Unkyeong intervened.

"Hyungeom Sasuk's decision is correct. It's time to make Cheongyeong face reality, for his own sake."

"Execution?"

"How long will we let him dream? Think again about what is truly best for Cheongyeong."

At Unkyeong's cold words, Hansoyu bit her lip lightly.

At that moment, Sookyeong and Damho clashed.

Thud!

Sookyeong and Damho's hands collided.

The disciples watching widened their eyes in surprise. Contrary to their expectation that Damho would be knocked out in a single move, he was holding up quite well against the Five Elements Fist.

"Was Cheongyeong at that level?"

"Jukyeopsu standing up to the Five Elements Fist?"

They murmured in surprise.

The most surprised was Sookyeong, who was directly confronting Damho. The counterforce from Damho's hand was far from ordinary.

The fact that Damho could counter his Five Elements Fist with Jukyeopsu, the most basic martial art of the Hwasan Sect, was not only surprising but also a blow to his pride.

'How dare he!'

Sookyeong's eyebrows shot up.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

His hands moved even faster. It seemed as if the air was filled with his fists. It was the starting stance of Wood Overcomes Earth, one of the ultimate techniques of the Five Elements Fist.

Just as the principle of wood overcoming earth, it was a stance filled with the energy of wood.

"Ugh!"

Damho let out a low groan at the shock transmitted through his hands. But he didn't back down.

Sookyeong's technique was dazzling. In contrast, Damho's Jukyeopsu was very simple. But it was solid. As solid as his unwavering will.

'I was never wrong.'

Damho gritted his teeth.

He wanted to prove that even with his impaired leg, there was no problem in executing martial arts.

Thud!

At that moment, Sookyeong's fist struck his side. Damho's face contorted at the breath-taking shock. But even in that situation, he executed Jukyeopsu and pushed Sookyeong's chest.

Thud!

Sookyeong's face changed. Although the blow was almost without inner energy and thus lacked impact, he hadn't expected to allow Damho to land a hit.

Boom!

Suddenly, Damho's momentum changed. He abandoned his previous lightness and became heavy. He had switched from Jukyeopsu to Bokhogwon.

Damho firmly planted his left foot and powerfully stepped forward with his right, delivering a powerful punch.

Thud!

Damho's blow exploded on Sookyeong's arm. Sookyeong's arm quickly swelled up. He had taken damage from an unexpected blow.

Sookyeong's face changed. He glanced sideways. He saw Hyungeom Jinin's displeased face. If he fell out of favor now, becoming a disciple would be forever out of reach.

'Damn it! I didn't want to do this...'

Sookyeong's movements changed.

His steps were unpredictable, like plum blossoms scattering in the wind. It was the Plum Blossom Step.

Sookyeong circled around Damho. Damho planted his left foot firmly on the ground and focused on defense. But he was no match for Sookyeong's Plum Blossom Step.

He kept retreating and advancing. Damho was greatly shaken by Sookyeong's unpredictable movements. Sookyeong didn't miss a moment's gap and dove in.

The starting stance of Fire Overcomes Metal, one of the ultimate techniques of the Five Elements Fist, exploded on Damho's chest.

Kwaang!

Damho's body flew backwards.

Damho lay sprawled on the ground, motionless for a while. Everyone thought he wouldn't be able to get up. Some even looked at Sookyeong with expressions suggesting he had gone too far.

Sookyeong didn't look comfortable either. He had failed to suppress Damho with pure Five Elements Fist and had to use the Plum Blossom Step to exploit Damho's weakness.

Sookyeong let out a sigh.

"It's over now. No more..."

At that moment, Damho, who had been motionless, slowly got up. Blood was flowing from his nose and mouth. But the determination in his eyes as he looked at Sookyeong was unbroken.

Sookyeong spoke.

"Master, it's time to stop..."

"Continue."

At that moment, Hyungeom Jinin's voice echoed.

Sookyeong looked at Hyungeom Jinin.

"But..."

"Cheongyeong's determination is not yet broken. You think you can end it while your opponent hasn't surrendered? I don't want to pass on martial arts to someone so lax."

Sookyeong gritted his teeth.

Hyungeom Jinin's intention was clear.

To break Damho's will, to erase his obsession with martial arts. He believed that was the best for Damho.

'Don't resent me, Master.'

Sookyeong picked up a wooden sword nearby and charged at Damho.

Sookyeong's dazzling footwork, like scattered plum blossoms, confused Damho's eyes. Damho stepped back for now. He intended to create distance and figure out his opponent's intentions.

Shiik!

Sookyeong's foot brushed past Damho's nose.

Sweeping Leaf Kick.

Sookyeong's footwork, cutting through the air as if sweeping away fallen leaves on the ground. His foot, which seemed to just brush past Damho, twisted at a strange angle and aimed straight for his forehead.

Thud!

Damho crossed his arms to block Sookyeong's Sweeping Leaf Kick.

The intense

shock spread throughout his body from his arms. Damho's face involuntarily contorted at the severe pain.

Sookyeong attacked with a mix of Sweeping Leaf Kick and Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword. Damho couldn't properly respond to the sharp sword strokes and dazzling footwork and seemed to be helplessly retreating.

"Tha, that?"

The disciples watching had a look of pity on their faces. Many of them didn't particularly like Damho, but they couldn't help but feel sympathy seeing him being so one-sidedly pushed back.

Unkyeong spoke to Mukyeong.

"That's reality. No matter how strong his will, he can't overcome the fundamental difference. The path of a martial artist doesn't suit Cheongyeong."

"But still..."

"Executioner, you are to lead the future of Hwasan."

With those words, Unkyeong firmly closed his mouth. But his intention was clearly conveyed to Mukyeong.

"Tsk!"

Mukyeong bit his innocent tongue.

Meanwhile, Sookyeong was relentlessly pushing Damho. Unable to find a place to retreat from the continuous onslaught of sword and leg attacks, Damho was hunched over.

"It's over."

Sookyeong's sword lunged towards Damho.

It was the starting stance of the Plum Blossom in Full Bloom. A dazzling stance that gave the illusion of countless plum blossoms of the Hwasan Sect blooming all at once.

Damho, exposed to the plum blossoms, saw no escape.

Sookyeong was confident of his victory.

'Now is the time.'

At that moment, Damho's eyes shone.

Perhaps due to excitement, Sookyeong's movements became larger. That's when the breakdown occurred.

Thud!

Damho stomped on the ground with his right foot.

A single step forward, and a single punch.

Thud!

Damho's fist clearly exploded on Sookyeong's chest. Fortunately, his inner energy protected him from severe damage.

For the first time, a look of bewilderment appeared on Sookyeong's face. If Damho's fist had been filled with normal inner energy, his chest would have been shattered by that blow. It was such a piercing blow, a fierce counterattack.

Sookyeong felt a chill in his chest.

He had underestimated Damho because of his limp, but there was an unexpected move. And that move was powerful enough to send a chill down Sookyeong's spine.

'If his fist had been filled with inner energy, I would have died from that blow.'

Sookyeong unknowingly looked at Hyungeom Jinin. He saw Hyungeom Jinin's displeased face. But he didn't seem to want to end the duel.

'So?'

There was still a chance left.

Sookyeong swept Damho's waist with the Sweeping Leaf Kick.

Thud!

Damho's face contorted. An enormous shock was transmitted, enough to break his waist.

Blood flowed from the corners of Damho's mouth. It was evidence of a deep internal injury, not a simple external wound.

Hyungeom Jinin's voice echoed in Damho's ears, who was staggering.

"You certainly have amazing talent. The move just now is proof of that. But without the support of physical strength and inner energy, such amazing talent is useless. That's reality. So realize it and give up."

"I... can't..."

Damho shook his head.

He had bitten his lips so hard that they had burst and blood was flowing.

His whole body hurt. It felt as if he had been continuously hit with a sledgehammer. Especially his left knee hurt. He desperately wanted to lie down. It seemed like it would be easier that way.

But Damho endured and stood.

It was not difficult for him to acknowledge reality as Hyungeom Jinin said. But if he did, he would be denying his own identity.

His single-minded determination to become a strong martial artist, all his efforts up to now would go down the drain.

Damho's unchanging stubborn gaze made Hyungeom Jinin's eyes even colder.

"What are you doing? Sookyeong. The duel isn't over yet. How long do you plan to stand there like that?"

At Hyungeom Jinin's voice, sharp as a blade, Sookyeong flinched.

'Damn it!'

Sookyeong clenched his teeth and attacked Damho. After a single Sweeping Leaf Kick, Damho was already in a state where he had lost his ability to protect himself.

To continue to unfold martial arts against such a person? It was no different from saying to exercise ruthless violence against a person who couldn't protect himself.

Thud!

Sookyeong's Sweeping Leaf Kick repeatedly hit Damho's body. Each time, Damho's body shook helplessly like a leather bag.

Bones were breaking, and his whole body was covered in dark red bruises, but Damho stood firm until the end.

"Please give up, Master."

Even Sookyeong had to yell out in frustration.

How cruel must his appearance have been that a significant number of the disciples turned their heads away in denial? Among them was Unkyeong, who had opposed Damho learning martial arts.

"Just fall down."

How desperate must Unkyeong have been to say that?

Damho's appearance was that pitiful.

Blood vessels in both eyes burst, and the world looked entirely red. In the blurry world, he no longer felt pain. The pain had numbed his nerves.

"Cough!"

Damho coughed up blood. The black blood smeared on his chest showed that his internal injuries were not ordinary.

Damho knew he couldn't hold on any longer. His will was still firm, but his body had reached the point where it could no longer endure.

Damho looked at Hyungeom Jinin for the last time. For a moment, Hyungeom Jinin flinched.

It was because of Damho's eyes looking at him.

The desperation and fierce killing intent in those eyes, and the unyielding spirit, disturbed Hyungeom Jinin's mind.

The instinctive rejection that rose from the depths of his heart. His heart was rejecting the existence of Damho.

He knew it was the moment to stop.

If he crossed the line any further, Damho would not only be unable to walk the path of a martial artist, but he would also be unable to lead a normal life.

'But...'

The rejection in his heart was silencing him. In the meantime, Damho allowed Sookyeong to hit him a few more times with the Sweeping Leaf Kick.

Damho barely licked his lips.

"I... will never... give up..."

Thud!

At that moment, Sookyeong's final blow exploded on his temple.

The string holding Damho's consciousness snapped. Like a fallen kite, Damho staggered and then collapsed.

"Master!"

Only then did Mukyeong and Hansoyu rush towards Damho.

Sookyeong closed his eyes and raised his head. Sweat or tears, an unknown liquid was flowing down his forehead.

Then Hyungeom Jinin's voice echoed in the hall.

"What are you doing? Losers, get out of the martial arts hall."

The defeated disciples carried Damho out of the martial arts hall.

Hyungeom Jinin spoke without looking back.

"Continue the duel."

"Caught in the midst of training..."

"Training? Does this look like the aftermath of a mere training session? Doesn't it look more like a life-or-death duel? What on earth happened... No, lay him down quickly."

The senior disciples hurriedly placed Damho on the platform.

Damho was in a terrible state. No, it was the worst.

His breathing was heavy, and blood continued to flow from his nose and mouth. It was a wonder he was still alive.

"Ho...ya! Can you hear my voice?"

Master Hyunso Jinin's voice trembled. His usually unshakeable composure was shaken to the core in the face of his only disciple's critical condition.

Damho did not respond. No, he couldn't. He was currently on the brink of death.

"Who did this to you?"

"Master, stabilize him."

"Stabilize? Yes, I must stabilize him."

With trembling hands, Master Hyunso Jinin reached into his robe and pulled out a small wooden box.

Upon opening the box, a black pill was revealed. Master Hyunso Jinin quickly soaked the pill in water and trickled it into Damho's mouth.

"Ho-ya! You must survive. Ho-ya! Where are you trying to go, leaving your master behind?"

After administering the entire pill, Master Hyunso Jinin began to massage Damho's body urgently.

"Ho-ya, Damho-ya! You rascal..."

Master Hyunso Jinin's cry echoed into the night sky.

***

Cuiyun Palace.

It was the name of the Taoist temple located at the peak of Mount Hwasan's Lotus Peak. The temple, which was predominantly red, was special because it was the residence of the leader of the Hwasan Sect, Master Jangmunin.

From Cuiyun Palace, one could see all of the Hwasan Sect. Not only the high peaks but also the distant Hwaum County. The spectacle of countless stars at night and the sunrise in the morning were particularly breathtaking.

The current leader of the Hwasan Sect was Master Hyuncheon Jinin. He was relatively young for a leader of one of the nine great sects, in his early fifties.

Master Hyuncheon Jinin had taken over as the leader of the Hwasan Sect in his thirties without any preparation, and already twenty years had passed. He was recognized for leading the Hwasan Sect better than anyone else during that time.

Sitting across a small table from Master Hyuncheon Jinin was a middle-aged Taoist who radiated an energy as sharp as a blade. It was Master Hyungeom Jinin.

As Master Hyuncheon Jinin set down the teacup he was holding, he opened his mouth.

"Your achievements are remarkable. Finally, the Hwasan Sect has a master who is not inferior to the southern sects. I can rest easy."

"We still have a long way to go. To restore the former glory of the Hwasan Sect, we must continue to work hard."

"Reliable as always."

Master Hyuncheon Jinin smiled at the stoic Master Hyungeom Jinin.

'His achievements are truly remarkable. The glory of Hwasan is not far off.'

Martial prowess often dictated the prosperity of a sect.

For a sect to flourish, it needed one absolute master rather than a hundred mediocre ones. What the Hwasan Sect needed now was also one absolute master.

"You've worked hard. The path you walk will be the path Hwasan walks. Don't forget that I'm always cheering for you."

"Thanks to your sacrifices, Master. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been able to rebuild the Hwasan Sect, which had become a ruin, in such a short time."

"We've both worked hard."

A shadow crossed Master Hyuncheon Jinin's eyes.

Twenty years ago, when he became the leader of the Hwasan Sect, everything was bleak. The senior disciples who were supposed to lead the next generation were all dead, and the sect was on the brink of extinction.

He didn't know what to do or how to recover. His heart was heavy, and he couldn't stop the tears.

He had to do something. Master Hyuncheon Jinin poured everything he had into the revival of the Hwasan Sect. As a result, he didn't even have time to practice martial arts himself.

Master Hyuncheon Jinin had to make a choice. So, he gave up martial arts. Instead, he pushed everything onto Master Hyungeom Jinin, the most talented among his fellow disciples. He even gave him the Hwasan Sect's secret techniques and the few remaining spirit pills.

Although he couldn't pass on the Jaha Shin Gong due to the restriction that only the sect leader could learn it, Master Hyungeom Jinin gained a comparable level of skill.

While Master Hyungeom Jinin was learning martial arts, Master Hyuncheon Jinin ran around for the revival of the Hwasan Sect. He met with the inner disciples to ask for support and sought cooperation from other sects.

He lived like a madman for twenty years, and finally, he was able to create the current Hwasan Sect. Master Hyungeom Jinin knew this too. That's why he respected Master Hyuncheon Jinin more than anyone else.

"Now that you've broken your seclusion, you must have some energy to do something."

"Now, I will help you, Master."

"Just hearing that makes me feel reassured. All we need now is to raise a disciple who can inherit your achievements. Once the Hwasan's First Sword comes out, I can run the Hwasan Sect with peace of mind. Is the selection of the disciple going well?"

"It's going well."

"That's a relief. I will give a special Plum Blossom Divine Pill to your disciple."

"Thank you, Sect Leader."

The Plum Blossom Divine Pill was the highest spirit pill of the Hwasan Sect, given only to those who were to become the sect leader.

Even the method of making it had been lost, and there were only two left. The fact that he was willing to give such a precious item to the disciple of Master Hyungeom Jinin meant that he had high expectations.

Master Hyuncheon Jinin smiled.

It was about finding someone to inherit the achievements of Hwasan's First Sword. It was an important matter that should not be taken lightly.

"Is there a promising child among the first-generation disciples?"

For a moment, a slight wrinkle formed on Master Hyungeom Jinin's forehead. He remembered what had happened earlier in the day.

The intense gaze that had been fixed on him was not easily forgotten.

Master Hyuncheon Jinin shook his head.

"The first-generation disciples are already somewhat complete. It won't be easy for them to inherit my martial arts."

"So, are you planning to look at the second-generation disciples and the inner disciples?"

"There's no need to distinguish between the talented and the mediocre. To become the sword that represents the prestigious Hwasan Sect, one needs perfect talent and hard work."

"I suppose so."

Master Hyuncheon Jinin nodded.

Just as the two were about to smile...

Crash!

The door of Cuiyun Palace opened as if it was about to break. The person who appeared was none other than Master Hyunso Jinin, his face flushed red.

"Master Hyungeom."

He glared at Master Hyungeom Jinin.

Master Hyungeom Jinin was surprisingly calm. However, Master Hyuncheon Jinin's reaction was different.

"What's the matter, Master Hyunso? You do know where you are, don't you? You shouldn't be raising your voice like that."

"I heard Master Hyungeom was here, so I came. Sect Leader."

At Master Hyunso Jinin's intense reaction, Master Hyuncheon Jinin looked at Master Hyungeom Jinin. He was asking with his eyes what was going on.

Master Hyungeom Jinin opened his mouth.

"Did you come because of the disciple?"

"That's right! Why did you ruin that child? Did he pose any threat to you, Master?"

"No, there was nothing like that."

"Then why did you do it?"

Master Hyunso Jinin glared at Master Hyungeom Jinin as if he wanted to eat him.

Master Hyunso Jinin, who had never shown any emotional turmoil in the Hwasan Sect until now, was showing such intense emotion for the first time.

He had lost his reason due to the wounds of his beloved disciple. He had come to this place to find the culprit who had hurt his disciple.

Despite Master Hyunso Jinin's anger, Master Hyungeom Jinin did not flinch.

"Because that's the path for him."

"Are you saying that breaking him down is the path for him?"

"No, I'm saying that giving up martial arts is the path for him."

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

Master Hyunso Jinin slammed his fist on the table. The teacups on the table fell to the floor from the impact.

"Master Hyunso, calm yourself."

Master Hyuncheon Jinin furrowed his brow and raised his voice. However, Master Hyunso Jinin ignored him and stared at Master Hyungeom Jinin.

"Why is giving up martial arts the path for him?"

"Are you asking because you don't know?"

"I truly don't understand. I really don't."

"Isn't he crippled? How can a boy with a crippled leg master the martial arts of the Hwasan Sect? I too regret his wasted talent, but I had no choice."

"Are you saying that a person with a crippled leg cannot learn martial arts?"

"Maybe in other sects, but certainly not the martial arts of the Hwasan Sect. It's not so easy that a cripple can master it."

"Master! I am truly disappointed in you. How can the First Sword of Hwasan utter such words?"

"Why can't the First Sword of Hwasan utter such words?"

For the first time, anger rose on the face of Master Hyungeom Jinin, who had been expressionless until now.

He approached Master Hyunso Jinin.

"I'm telling you, I can do anything for the revival of the Hwasan Sect."

"What does that have to do with ruining my disciple?"

"I told you, it's for him. It's better for him not to dream useless dreams."

"That's sophistry."

"Why is it sophistry? Don't you know how hard and painful it is to learn martial arts? If it weren't so, wouldn't the 400th generation of Heavenly Bow have made you walk the path of a scholar instead of passing on martial arts to you?"

For a moment, Master Hyunso Jinin's face contorted.

"Master!"

"I still don't understand the choice of the 400th generation of Heavenly Bow. Why he chose you, who lacked martial talent, as his disciple, and why he didn't give the opportunity to other talented disciples. I really don't understand."

"That's..."

Master Hyungeom Jinin's face was flushed red. Seeing his face, Master Hyunso Jinin closed his eyes.

'Did Master still hold onto that incident from back then?'

It was an event from more than forty years ago.

At that time, the selection of a disciple by Heavenly Bow, the greatest master of the Hwasan Sect and a renowned swordsman in the world, was the focus of the Hwasan Sect. All the disciples naturally wanted to become the disciples of Heavenly Bow.

The most promising candidate at that time was Master Hyungeom Jinin. He was confident that he would become the disciple of Heavenly Bow.

However, the one chosen by Heavenly Bow was Master Hyunso Jinin, and instead of passing on martial arts to the eagerly chosen Master Hyunso Jinin, he made him walk the path of a scholar.

It was an event that left an indelible scar on the promising disciples who longed to become the disciples of Heavenly Bow, and the one who was most disappointed was Master Hyungeom Jinin.

'If I had received the teachings from the 400th generation of Heavenly Bow, the Hwasan Sect wouldn't be going through such a difficult time now.'

Master Hyungeom Jinin clenched his fist.

He had to take a long detour to achieve what he has now. Even though there was a faster path right in front of him.

"I didn't want your disciple to have to take a long detour to realize reality. The world of martial arts is not so easy for a cripple to survive. I wanted to show him that sooner, so I used a somewhat aggressive method. I'm sorry for that. But even now, I don't regret my decision."

Master Hyungeom Jinin's firm gaze and tone inflicted a deep wound on Master Hyunso Jinin. Master Hyunso Jinin's bloodshot eyes proved that fact.

Master Hyunso Jinin looked at Master Hyuncheon Jinin.

"What do you think, Sect Leader? Do you think Master Hyungeom is right?"

At Master Hyunso Jinin's question, Master Hyuncheon Jinin slightly closed his eyes. He could tell how much of a headache this situation was just by hearing both sides of the story.

The leader of the Hwasan Sect could not make a decision that favored one side. It was such a difficult situation.

Master Hyuncheon Jinin asked Master Hyunso Jinin.

"Are you talking about the boy you took in five years ago?"

"Yes. Didn't you also approve of taking him in, Sect Leader? Then isn't he a proud member of the Hwasan Sect? Is it so wrong for such a boy to learn martial arts? Please tell me."

"..."

Master Hyuncheon Jinin fell silent.

He realized that the moment of decision had come.

Depending on which side he takes now, the future of the Hwasan Sect will be determined.

'The Hwasan I want is a perfect Hwasan. A sect that is not swayed by any external influence.'

At that moment, Master Hyuncheon Jinin made his decision.

"Accepting that boy five years ago was my mistake. If you hadn't insisted, I would never have accepted him as a disciple of the Hwasan Sect."

"Master?"

Master Hyunso Jinin cried out in surprise. But Master Hyuncheon Jinin ignored him and continued.

"I saw the vengeance and will to live in the boy's eyes when he woke up from the coma. It was something that a child could never have."

Master Hyuncheon Jinin shuddered slightly as if the memory of that day was vividly alive.

The gaze of someone who has killed a person.

The gaze that could kill a person if necessary was in a twelve-year-old boy.

"If that boy learns proper martial arts, he will surely bring disaster to the Hwasan Sect."

"That's nonsense..."

"I support Master Hyungeom's decision. So don't bring this up again, Master Hyunso."

"Sect Leader!"

"I've already made my decision. Keep that in mind."

"How could you?"

"I don't mind if you take care of your disciple, but I forbid you from passing on the martial arts of Hwasan any further."

The words that struck like a bolt from the blue echoed in Master Hyunso Jinin's ears.

"Sect Leader!"

"I've made my decision as the leader of the Hwasan Sect. There will be no changes."

Master Hyunso Jinin collapsed on the spot. His shoulders were trembling.

Master Hyungeom Jinin's gaze was cold, and there was a pitiful light in Master Hyuncheon Jinin's eyes. But there was no thought of changing the decision.

After a while, Master Hyunso Jinin staggered to his feet.

"Yes! I understand the will of the Sect Leader."

Master Hyunso Jinin's face had become pale in that short time.

He looked at the two of them alternately.

"Wait and see. Cheongyeong will not give up like this. He will show you how wrong your prejudices are."

"I hope so."

"Guide him well to become a great scholar. That would be better for him too."

Master Hyunso Jinin responded with a bitter smile.

He moved his steps outside the Cuiyun Palace. Master Hyuncheon Jinin and Master Hyungeom Jinin watched his retreating figure.

Master Hyunso Jinin's figure looked as if it would collapse at any moment. But he held on.

He had a reason he couldn't fall.

'Hoya, I will never give up on you.'