61 - Martial Might, Foundation (4) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

Members of the Yongbong Clan were up at the crack of dawn, their cultivation beginning to fill the halls with energy. Every face was alight with indescribable brightness. Except for one, Danghwa Seo. "Let's spar. Come out, Mukryong." "No! As soon as you open your eyes, you should be cultivating your Qi! Don't use me for Geomryong's training! If you really want to, then in the afternoon…." "I have to meditate then." "Ugh! Then what do you suggest?" "Ah, just cultivate on your own. Namgung Hyung and Mok Awoo, it’s not like sparring is urgent, right?" "Isn't Jegal Hyung practicing?" "Mok Awoo was up and done before you even woke." "Trust Jegal Hyung to be ahead!" "Tsk…." Danghwa Seo's face went blank at the chaos unfolding before her. She couldn’t understand: both Mokriwon and Namgung Jinchun insisting on arguing here early in the morning instead of using one of the three available training yards, Jegalsan laying around laughing, and not to mention Hyewun leaving the house at dawn and Ilwoon not stopping any of it. Danghwa Seo's gaze fell on Ilwoon. He merely smiled helplessly as if there was nothing he could do. '...So, it's a deliberate choice.' With her eyes closed, Danghwa Seo steadied her mind. Then, boldly opening them, she shouted. "Just split up and use the training yards!" If Jegalsan wasn’t practicing, each could simply go into one of the available yards. When Danghwa Seo spoke sternly, the noise immediately subsided. "...Do you not need one, Miss?" Even amidst this, Mokriwon expressed concern for Danghwa Seo's own training. With a defeated laugh, she replied, "Baekbong, I'm going to catch that damned Hyewun." For Danghwa Seo, capturing the escapee Hyewun, who had slipped away while everyone was asleep, was more pressing than training. Discipline had to be maintained for the sake of their future life together. Precisely at two, Danghwa Seo found Hyewun strolling in front of an inn near the Murim Alliance, arm in arm with a warrior, and dragged her back to the Yongbong Clan’s quarters by the ear. That morning, no one dared to open their mouth in front of Danghwa Seo's formidable presence. * "Maintain your dignity." In the Master’s chamber of the Yongbong Clan, Danghwa Seo, seated at the head, spoke with veins popping in her eyes. "Always pay attention to our dignity. Let's not forget that we are always under the watchful eye of the alliance. Do you understand?" Today's offender, Baekbong, fumbled with his red ears, his head bowed. It was the same for everyone else. Apart from her martial prowess, Danghwa Seo possessed a commanding aura. Even the formidable Namgung Jinchun felt an inexplicable pressure whenever she was angry. Danghwa Seo sighed deeply. The following reprimand was inevitable. "It's the same for everyone else. I'll overlook the chaos within our quarters as long as it's controlled, but not outside. Please, don’t forget that our funding comes from external sponsors." The martial artists of the Yongbong Clan, except for Danghwa Seo, intended to return to their families someday, thus the help directly from the alliance was minimal. The luxurious quarters they lived in, the comforts they enjoyed, all were courtesy of outside sponsors seeking to curry favor, and they needed to meet these expectations. Danghwa Seo, who had firsthand business experience, understood this importance like no other. “This being our first day living together, I will not prolong the lecture. Let’s go have our meal.” As Danghwa Seo softened her stance, Mokriwon and Jegalsan particularly brightened up. The lecture ending in less than half an hour was unprecedented. "Great! Let's go!" "Mok Awoo, did you hear? The Yongbong Clan’s quarters have a designated chef!" "Oh…! Then I can finally have my noodles with bamboo shoots here!" "Why even ask!" Mokriwon and Jegalsan dashed out, followed leisurely by Namgung Jinchun and then by Ilwoon. "May I also go to eat?" It was Hyewun who asked. Danghwa Seo couldn't quite place her expression but soon nodded. "...Well, it's all for surviving, isn't it." It was something she had to tolerate. * Ilwoon was caught in a moment of crisis unparalleled in his life. '...So much meat.' Upon entering the dining hall, the sight that fogged Ilwoon’s senses was the meat. The designated chef of the Yongbong Clan was famous for his meat dishes. Knowing this, Ilwoon, who was already aware, struggled to swallow his saliva. '...I should abstain from meat.' Traditionally, spiritual cultivation through vegetarianism was meant to purify the body and the soul. Thus, as a monk, he must not lust after meat. But that was easier said than done. 'The aroma...' The fragrance was too inviting. The bursting aroma was tantamount to torture for Ilwoon. He yearned to taste just one piece, to just have a nibble. This desire tangled with guilt towards the head of his sect, who had entrusted him with this mission. At that moment. "Aren’t you eating, Monk Ilwoon?" Hyewun munched on her meal and asked. At this, Ilwoon’s eyes widened. "Hy, Hyewun! That is...!" Her plate was heaped with meat, not just tasting portions but enough to burst at the seams. Ilwoon was shocked. "How, how could she...!" Was this enviable behavior? No, was it outrageous? Surely, Hyewun too was a disciple of the Buddhist path, yet how could she partake in such fiery foods, especially meat! While Ilwoon trembled, Hyewun merely tilted her head in confusion. "What?" She had no idea what she was doing wrong. Or perhaps, had she been someone who felt guilt over such matters, she wouldn’t have indulged in the first place. Ilwoon envied her brazenness. 'I, I want...!' Just as the thought surfaced, Ilwoon felt someone's gaze. Startled, he turned his head to find Jegalsan smirking at him. Ilwoon's heart turned cold. With a feeling akin to shedding tears of blood, he turned his eyes away from the meat. '...I am a disciple of the Buddhist path.' He reassured himself while thinking, 'If only Jegalsan wasn't here….' * Danghwa Seo was busy. To an extent starkly contrasting with the rest of the members, who were combining personal errands with rest, enjoying their leisure. Naturally, as the leader, she had her share of responsibilities. From the most basic tasks like managing the members to writing letters to the sponsors. Getting acquainted with other sect leaders or heads, and educating on administrative procedures and report writing. Not to mention preparing for upcoming schedules. Trying to fit all these within a specified timeframe felt like an insurmountable task, even with ten bodies. Yet, Danghwa Seo methodically tackled each task. More than ever, she wanted to prove herself, now in a situation where she could no longer hide or flee. After a week, Danghwa Seo put out urgent fires and sat in her office for a brief rest. 'The inauguration is one week away.' It was going to be a sizable event. This event wasn’t just announcing the creation of the Yongbong Clan but also served as a declaration of war against Cheonma Shingyo, who had invaded the central plains. Her real mission would commence afterward; Danghwa Seo had to prepare for it. 'I’ll probably have to travel to different provinces.' Why not? After all, regardless of the Yongbong Clan members' quirky personalities, their martial prowess was undeniable. With six elite members at the peak of their abilities, two of whom stood out even among other martial artists, it was likely they would be tasked with espionage missions. 'To hide our identities, we'll need….' Fake masks, counterfeit identity plates, and training for the members. As Danghwa Seo pondered, she sighed. '...How should I train these people.' Were they itching without causing trouble even for a day? It seemed like not a day went by without them stirring up some drama. Today, even the usually calm Ilwoon was part of the chaos. To think, during a spar, he had landed a punch directly on Jegalsan’s solar plexus, sending him carried off on a stretcher. The betrayal felt by Danghwa Seo was even more profound because it came from someone she trusted. '...There’s no excuse for a mistake.' It was a strike using only external force, so the injury wasn’t serious. Jegalsan would be fine for the inauguration. Danghwa Seo grasped her throbbing head. It was in such a moment that a warrior from the alliance entered her office. "Leader." "Ah, you’ve arrived." The man, who Danghwa Seo had come to know well recently, was Gojeol, the aide to military strategist Jegalmuyeon. Danghwa Seo greeted him with a smile and gestured for him to take a seat. "You must’ve had a tough journey." "It's part of the job." Gojeol also smiled back at her. He took out a few papers from his robe and handed them to Danghwa Seo, saying, "These are from various factions. You asked for them, right?" "Oh! Yes, those." Danghwa Seo's face brightened. The documents Gojeol brought were something she had eagerly awaited. It was nothing significant. Just a schedule of sparring and joint training sessions from various factions that Danghwa Seo had obtained for her members. Seeing Danghwa Seo’s bright face, Gojeol commented, "It's nice to see you look after your members' training schedules so meticulously." "Well, it's because they lack sociability. They’ve all been pampered individuals, so I wanted to make sure they get accustomed to interacting with the alliance’s people." "I think that’s an excellent quality for a leader. You’re using your private time for the sake of duty." Danghwa Seo felt a touch of embarrassment at those words. After all, this task wasn’t entirely for the sake of duty. Why wouldn’t it be? Danghwa Seo initiated this venture because of Mokriwon’s constant plea before joining the Murim Alliance, “I want to spar with the great masters of the Murim Alliance!” In other words, a significant part of her motivation was her desire to impress him. "…I owe a great deal to Senior Go. Would you like to have some tea before leaving?" "No need. The strategist gets worried if I am away for even a short while." Gojeol joked as he stood from his seat. "Then, take care." "Safe travels." After Gojeol left, Danghwa Seo, now alone, began to meticulously review the documents and adjust the training schedules. 'I can arrange a sparring session with Baekgeomdae in about two weeks.' The thought brought joy to Danghwa Seo. Difficult as the process was, the anticipation of seeing Mokriwon’s reaction to the news swept away her fatigue. Danghwa Seo, not wanting to delay any further, rose from her seat and headed toward the training yard. It was the time when Mokriwon would be engrossed in his swordsmanship training. Upon arriving at the training yard, "Jegal Hyung! I just saw someone at the alliance wielding a sword made of gold! It was impressive!" "Ah... You must have met the Golden Sword (金劍) Grandmaster. It's not the sword that's made of gold, but the scabbard. He's the leader of Baekgeomdae." "Ugh...! If only I had such a stylish sword!" Mokriwon was making a fuss. Jegalsan was dealing with him, leaning on a cane and grumbling. Danghwa Seo blinked at the scene and then burst into sudden laughter. 'Really...' Such entertaining individuals. That thought had crossed her mind.