Another Misunderstanding
"Teacher!!"
"Teacher Su-gyeong, are you all right?"
It took Baek Su-gyeong, who had been half out of his mind, about an hourglass—fifteen minutes—to pull himself together. Finally regaining his senses, he pressed hard against his forehead. At least he hadn't passed out in front of Jang Hyo-un like a total fool; maybe he could call that a small mercy. Humans really were creatures of adaptation, it seemed.
"I apologize for the disgraceful display. The shock was just too much."
"Shock, you say..."
"I'm sure you've already investigated my internal energy," Baek Su-gyeong said.
At his words, Jegal Yu's eyes flicked sideways—a silent affirmation. The glance he shot Baek Su-gyeong was sharp, like an appraiser dissecting a priceless artifact.
The Alliance Leader's martial arts have reached new heights lately, so I figured there must have been a catalyst. But to think it stemmed from Wudang Sword Hero... Could Teacher Su-gyeong be some hidden eccentric, concealing his true power?
The jianghu was full of such eccentrics and hermits. Countless renowned masters had emerged from seclusion during times of crisis, fighting and dying for the martial world—a legacy that proved it. The enduring history of murim, often called a millennium, was built on that balance, peace, and tradition.
So it wasn't impossible to imagine Baek Su-gyeong as one such recluse buried in the countryside. Jegal Yu decided he needed to completely revise his assessment.
He wants to live as an utterly ordinary man.
In that case, he should play along. Jegal Yu transmitted his thoughts to Jang Hyo-un via internal voice projection.
> Do you truly believe Teacher Su-gyeong is an eccentric hiding his martial prowess, Strategist?
> Affirmative. We should play along.
> Hm. If that's your view, Strategist...
The exchange between Jang Hyo-un and Jegal Yu took only a fleeting moment. Naturally, Baek Su-gyeong had no idea what they were saying or even thinking.
He lifted his teacup. His heart was pounding like mad; trying to stay composed before these masters of profound arts drained his mental energy like incense burning to ash in seconds. Taking a deep breath inwardly, he spoke.
"I'm just an ordinary bookstore owner."
"If you say so, Teacher, I have nothing more to add..."
Even so, it was suspicious. The unflinching boldness of a man who could have his neck snapped at any moment. How many could stand before the Thousand Hands Sword Venerable without a hint of tremor or tension?
It was a misunderstanding born from Jang Hyo-un's failure to suspect Baek Su-gyeong was merely acting brave, combined with the man's steady demeanor.
He's undoubtedly an eccentric.
A renowned elder of the jianghu, surely concealing immense martial arts. That's what Jang Hyo-un concluded.
"But... you still haven't answered my question, Teacher."
Come to think of it, Jang Hyo-un had asked when the next volume would come out. Baek Su-gyeong gave a wry smile as the reminder snapped him back.
"Lately, one shocking event after another has thrown me off. Plus, I announced I'd be taking a month off."
"Alliance Leader."
Jegal Yu tugged at Jang Hyo-un's sleeve in mild rebuke. Realizing his blunder, Jang Hyo-un flashed an awkward grin and apologized.
"Ahem. My apologies, Teacher. I was so eager for the next volume that I overstepped."
"It's fine."
Baek Su-gyeong wryly recalled readers clamoring for the next installment whenever his works gained traction.
Jegal Yu spoke up. "That said, Wudang Sword Hero portrays my clan as highly intellectual. Was there a reason?"
"Pardon?"
Baek Su-gyeong was the one countering with surprise. As Jegal Yu smiled sheepishly and began to explain, Jang Hyo-un cut in.
"They say the Jegal Clan is in an uproar over Wudang Sword Hero too. More and more are studying military tactics because of it, causing a stir..."
"Alliance Leader. Must you air our family's dirty laundry like that?"
"Haha, it was going to come up anyway, right?"
"Well, true..."
Baek Su-gyeong's mind reeled at their banter. Descendants of Zhuge Liang studying tactics and causing chaos? His face showed utter shock.
"Truth be told, the Strategist here is the Jegal Clan's mutant."
"Not exactly something to brag about."
Seeing Jang Hyo-un grin smugly and Jegal Yu accept it calmly, Baek Su-gyeong's thoughts tangled. If even Jegal Yu was called a mutant among Zhuge descendants, did that mean the rest of the clan were all blockheads? No, that couldn't be right. He barely swallowed a shout of This isn't the murim I know! and forced a smile.
I'm losing it.
The Jegal Clan served as strategists for the Murim Alliance. If even they were like this—with Jegal Yu as the outlier—their state was all too clear.
Baek Su-gyeong covered his face with his hands. "Hero Jegal."
"Speak, Teacher."
"Has the number of people practicing fan techniques in your clan increased by any chance?"
"You know well."
"...Hah."
This was driving him mad. Why did problems only snowball instead of resolving?
Baek Su-gyeong sighed, hands still over his face. Jegal Yu asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Just dizzy."
A bit calmer now, Baek Su-gyeong looked up. "Before that, I have a question."
"Ask away, Teacher."
"Why the hell are you holding a bodyguard selection tournament?"
After a long journey, he'd finally arrived at the gates of the Murim Alliance—and now he voiced the doubt that had plagued him.
"Pardon...?"
Jegal Hyo-un's expression turned peculiar. He'd expected something profound, not this. No matter how he racked his brains, he couldn't fathom it.
Baek Su-gyeong quenched his thirst with the cold tea and set down the cup. "I was holed up in a temple writing the next volume when I heard. I nearly keeled over! I just want to live ordinarily! Ordinarily!! Without tangling with murim if possible!"
He meant every word.
"My neck's on the line too, but why push ahead without even asking me? First that innkeeper Jang Noban at Jeongnyeong Inn, now the Murim Alliance! Do you want me jumping into the Yangtze?!"
"T-Teacher Su-gyeong."
"Wudang's more than enough! If I make Shaolin the protagonist next, they'll hound me too!"
Not prophecy, but a gut feeling: Shaolin would cling to him then. Yet he couldn't skip famous sects; he'd run out of material.
Having shot to his feet in rage, Baek Su-gyeong sighed and slumped back into his chair.
"Knowing the jianghu watches my pen makes my heart race, Alliance Leader. Please, if you don't want me collapsing from exhaustion, send word before starting anything."
"A-alright, Teacher. Calm down."
Not expecting such fury, Jang Hyo-un floundered. It was rare to see a murim man quake before a powerless commoner.
Having vented, Baek Su-gyeong soothed his burning gut with tea. "My apologies, Alliance Leader. Hero Jegal."
"No, I understand."
"With so much weighing on you, it's natural to snap."
Both men showed empathy. Calmer, Baek Su-gyeong pulled a book and brush from his bosom, placing them on the desk.
"Truth be told, I accepted the Alliance's invitation for another reason."
"Another reason?"
"My jianghu experience is limited, so I'd like to make a request. Will you hear it?"
Their eyes turned to the book and brush. Jang Hyo-un spoke. "Name it, Teacher. If it's within my power, I'll grant it."
"I'd be endlessly grateful for a chance to observe the tournament, Alliance Leader."
Jang Hyo-un laughed heartily. "Hosting you would be the highest honor! I'll arrange it!"
Two swords poked up from the shoulders of a boy walking behind an old Daoist, clinking metallically as they bobbed jauntily.
On the road from Wudang Mountain to Xuchang. The stern-faced elder Daoist Mujin strode ahead, followed by the young boy at a steady pace.
Four nights since descending the mountain—not yet used to the sect gates—they traveled on. Mujin's gaze back at the silently obedient boy bloomed with faint joy, like ink orchids on rice paper.
Heaven's own talent... Heaven hasn't abandoned Wudang entirely.
Teach one, grasp ten. Discuss one sword principle, and he'd intuit not two, but five on his own.
The child to carry Wudang's sword lineage—elders praised his genius as heaven-touching. Yet none expected he'd already reached the stage of self-realization, creating his own arts.
Heh... Our sect's great fortune.
Joy radiated from Mujin's smile.
"Cheongmyeong."
"Yes, Elder."
"Not too tiring?"
"I'm fine. This is training too."
A mature reply, voice steady without quiver. Still just a child, barely approaching twenty. Sending him down was partly to place him under Baek Su-gyeong's protection, but also Hyeonseongja and Mujin's hope that Wudang Sword Hero would spur further growth.
"Are you reading the Sword Hero's Training Journal?"
"Yes."
At Wudang, Wudang Sword Hero was no mere novel anymore. Many gained insights following its hero Jin-un's path. The understated tale of the sword hero's journey honed not just him, but all of Wudang—like whetstones sharpening blades.
In homage, the Sword Polishing Pool was built, the First Sword Stone erected. To guard against threats, rules mandated sheathing swords at the base before entry, and the Unsheathe Sword Pool created.
The ripple of one book. Or was "ripple" even the word?
"Three Pure Infinite Sword. To inherit Jin-un the Hero's art through your own insight—truly astonishing."
"It's all thanks to Teacher Su-gyeong's generous guidance."
A faint smile touched Cheongmyeong's face. Mujin chuckled.
"Don't forget your master is Mujin."
"Yes, Elder. I know."
"Yet that doesn't mean you should forget gratitude to Teacher Su-gyeong, who shared freely like Musang. Muryangsubul."
"Yes."
Cheongmyeong gazed skyward as he followed. The man said to reshape the Central Plains with one book—what sort of person was this second teacher to him?
Mujin quickened his pace. "Let's hurry!"
"Yes, Elder!"
The old and young glided forth on Ladder Cloud Step, swift as treading clouds.
Another misunderstanding ripened thus.