Dang Hoiyeong (3)
The next morning dawned bright.
Dang Hoiyeong bolted upright in bed, hastily folding the blankets. She rushed through her wash-up. Shoved breakfast into her mouth in a flash.
And just like that, she finished preparing to head to the library.
"You seem excited, miss."
"Not really?"
Yesterday's praise got me a bit hyped, sure, but I have zero intention of grinding martial arts hard.
Just enough to protect myself on the regular, that's the plan.
Still... the arts of a prestigious clan do pique my curiosity a tad.
Couldn't exactly get my hands on Baekdo manuals much in my past life, after all.
Heukdo scum would cough them up after a little intimidation or sweet-talking, but Baekdo folks treated their sect arts like their own lives.
Not like I never saw any, but opportunities were rare.
'Never got a peek at the signature arts of Baekdo's famed houses, even back then.'
Maybe a unique art from a place with Sacheon Dangga's kind of history could help perfect the unique techniques I couldn't finish in my past life? The thought crossed her mind, but Dang Hoiyeong shook her head.
Eh, didn't matter anymore anyway.
"Whoaaaa..."
Dang Hoiyeong gaped at the towering pavilion, mouth hanging wide open.
Did Shaolin's Janggyeong Pavilion look like this?
Nah, that didn't make sense. This was supposed to be a library?
Even the Heuksa Ryeon's library—built from hundreds of allied heukdo sects—wasn't this massive.
Of course, Heuksa Ryeon was less than a century old, and most sects hoarded their arts, keeping it modest.
But still—for a single clan to boast a manual repository like this after mere centuries? And it wasn't even Shaolin or Wudang, the pillars of the murim world?
"Nanny. This is really the manual library?"
It sat smack in the heart of Danggata, with Tang warriors coming and going constantly. She'd never even considered it might be the library.
And she'd lived her whole life (this one, anyway) in the clan, stuck in Danggata for three months straight now.
"Yes. This is Cheondok Bigak, where the essence of our Tang Clan is gathered in full."
Dang Yeonseol's voice was its usual chill, but unmistakable pride seeped through.
It didn't take long, though, for that pride to twist into quiet fury.
"But, miss."
"Yeah?"
"Does it make sense that a direct-line member of the clan doesn't know where Cheondok Bigak is?"
"...Oops."
Dang Hoiyeong turned away, dodging her nanny's icy glare.
If this were the annex, she'd no doubt get a loving "discipline" session from Dang Yeonseol.
The nanny sighed deeply and whispered in her ear.
"I did tell you before. We'll discuss it more back at the annex."
"Eek...!"
"Anyway, you can't enter with me, so be careful in there."
"W-Weren't you coming in too?"
"..."
Dang Yeonseol's gaze turned even colder.
"Forgot already? Non-direct lines need a pass to enter freely."
Nothing in the world was absolute, huh.
Spotting her nanny's hand creeping up slyly, Dang Hoiyeong freaked and bolted toward the library.
"I didn't forget! Just kidding! I'll take a while, so don't wait—head back to the annex!"
"Miss, don't run like that—it ruins your dignity! And no causing trouble inside; follow the librarian elder's guidance properly..."
Ignoring her fading nanny's nagging, Dang Hoiyeong stepped into Cheondok Bigak.
The scent of aged paper from centuries past mingled with the sharp tang of exotic herbs, greeting Dang Hoiyeong.
The interior of Cheondok Bigak was far more overwhelming than the outside suggested. Manuals crammed into shelves stood in solemn majesty.
Dang Hoiyeong wandered the aisles, entranced.
Tang warriors studying manuals turned at the sight of the child, their faces twisting in undisguised shock.
Not friendly looks, either.
More like 'The clan's troublemaker here?' or 'The family disgrace, tsk...'
Stung like hell.
Even half-exiled, she was still direct-line nobility.
Was this how Baekdo elites rolled?
No—this was why Baekdo elites stopped at this level.
Dang Hoiyeong shrugged it off and reached for a nearby manual.
That moment—
"Greetings to the Tang Clan's direct line. I am Dang Cheol, the librarian managing the pavilion."
A kindly old man approached, bowing deeply and politely.
'Librarian?'
Oh, right—they mentioned one.
"Hi."
"Never thought I'd see you here, miss. Finally taking an interest in martial arts?"
"Eh, something like that."
"Wonderful. I'll guide you. Follow me."
Dang Cheol smiled warmly and led the way.
Dang Hoiyeong could tell right away.
'Expert. A damn good one.'
Even without inner energy, you could gauge a foe's level from daily habits alone.
Take Dang Cheol: not a whisper of robes brushing, not even footsteps on the floor.
Basic for hidden weapon users.
But consciously controlling it versus it flowing naturally? Worlds apart.
Sacheon Dangga lived up to the hype.
"Miss, each floor of Cheondok Bigak serves a different purpose."
"Oh?"
"Yes. The first floor holds basic heart methods and poison/herb knowledge for those newly approved as disciples. The second has advanced arts. And..."
"Where do I go?"
"The third floor. It mixes our clan's signature arts with those from outside experts we've recruited over the years. One book from here leaking out could stir a blood wind in the murim."
"Ooh. Safe for me, who hasn't cultivated inner energy yet?"
"Of course, we could start with first-floor basics if you wish. But you're direct-line, miss. Raised on wasp nectar and elixirs for a martial-ready body since childhood—your entry art has to match that caliber."
Dang Hoiyeong glanced up at the pavilion's floors.
The librarian mentioned up to three, but four clearly existed.
"And the fourth?"
"Haha. Nothing for you to worry about yet, miss."
"I heard direct lines can access anywhere."
"Of course. But I don't recommend it."
Dang Cheol's tone stayed polite, but rigid resolve underlay it.
"This way."
Dang Hoiyeong and Dang Cheol headed straight to the third floor.
Unlike the bustling first floor, only they were there. Fewer manuals too.
Dang Cheol moved to a shelf with practiced ease, like he'd already picked her art, pulling out a book and handing it over.
Sipdok Cheongwon Gong - 18
"Sipdok Cheongwon Gong is cultivated by four in five of our clan's experts. I dare say it's the fastest, safest way to reach the advanced realms among all arts in the world."
Pride dripped from Dang Cheol's voice and face.
"What's the number mean?"
"Our signature arts evolve constantly. But without genius aptitude, fully adapting them to oneself is impossible."
"Ah, so you keep all versions in case a wrong path is taken or an older one proves better?"
Dang Cheol's eyes widened in surprise.
"Indeed, most perceptive. That's why we have so many librarians—to preserve the clan's history and guide descendants to the optimal path."
Explained the excess manuals. Still, the clan's depth was impressive.
'Won't take as long as I thought to check everything here.'
She could reunite with her stubbornly waiting nanny outside soon enough.
Dang Hoiyeong opened Sipdok Cheongwon Gong and started reading right there.
Soon, she asked Dang Cheol,
"By the way. The manuals on the fourth floor must be rarer and tougher, right? How high do their edition numbers go? Lots of versions there too?"
Dang Cheol's proud smile froze for a split second. Dang Hoiyeong caught it.
Long story short, Dang Cheol said zilch about the fourth floor.
Just vague, placating answers like to a nosy kid.
Ridiculous, honestly.
But ignored by the clan and untaught in arts—what could she do?
No real choice.
'Won't take long anyway.' Dang Hoiyeong closed the Sipdok Cheongwon Gong in her hand.
About one gak (15 minutes) of perusing manuals had passed.
Like he'd been waiting, Dang Cheol spoke.
"Seems you like it. Shall I guide you to the training room?"
"Nah. Want to check something else."
Dang Cheol's warm expression stiffened—just a flicker, but Dang Hoiyeong caught it.
He recovered quickly, smiling again.
"Too difficult, miss?"
"..."
"For a first-timer, Sipdok Cheongwon Gong can be tricky. But other arts at this level aren't much easier."
"Especially since you started later than other clan heirs. This is the one surefire way to reach advanced realms quickly without harming your channels..."
Dang Hoiyeong cut him off.
"Ten isn't that late, though."
"You wouldn't know, miss. Those early one or two years as a child make decades of difference later..."
"Any reason I have to learn Sipdok Cheongwon Gong?"
Dang Cheol's face darkened heavily.
No more feigned kindness this time.
"Of course not. Just recommending the best path."
"Then I'll look at others."
"...If that's your will, miss."
Dang Cheol sighed deeply and nodded.
Dang Hoiyeong leisurely browsed, pulling manuals one by one. Each took barely a gak.
To him, it probably looked like an ignorant brat skimming words and pictures.
But that was plenty.
Enough to spot hidden effects or side effects, at least.
One or two sichin later, maybe.
Having skimmed every manual on the third floor, Dang Hoiyeong stretched lightly.
"Interesting stuff."
"Is it? Find anything you like?"
"Dunno. Really wanna see the fourth floor, though."
Dang Cheol's voice chilled.
"Miss, greed invites disaster. Even these basics were too much for you, weren't they? Third-floor arts are tough; fourth is impossible."
Dang Hoiyeong stared silently.
Dang Cheol thrust Sipdok Cheongwon Gong at her, face resolute.
"This is best."
"Some reason I can't go to the fourth?"
"Fourth-floor arts are too arcane for you."
"To refine poison essence for purity, reverse the energy flowing through your channels back into the dantian. Neat passage, huh?"
"...!"
Reciting a key verse from Sipdok Cheongwon Gong, Dang Cheol's face flashed shock, then twisted savagely.
"You knew already."
Dang Hoiyeong ignored the question, pressing on.
"Forcing energy reverse and condensing it in the dantian makes manifesting intent easier than for others. Peak realm in no time, without demonic arts' pitfalls."
"Watch your words. How dare you compare our clan's absolute art to foul demonic trash."
Dang Hoiyeong snorted at the sharp warning.
It was brilliant, truly.
An art that pierced blind spots she'd never considered while innovating countless techniques in her past life.
For the untalented, it rivaled divine arts.
'Fastest, safest to advanced realms in the world...'
Spot on.
"No worries about madness like demonic arts, or anything close."
But...
"That's it, right? Reverse the flow, build the wall—and no higher realms possible."
Yeah. Beyond that wall? Forget it.
For eight in ten murim folk who never even hit peak, it was a minor flaw.
No demonic madness, no devouring hearts to survive.
But...
Dang Hoiyeong was Tang direct-line.
Peak realm wouldn't cut it. She had to eye the walls beyond.
And they weren't even explaining the side effects properly?
A Baekdo elite like Sacheon Dangga wouldn't skip that when teaching.
Her face hardened coldly.
"Dang Cheol. You insane?"
"..."
"Who told you to push this art on me?"