65. The Grand Cause
Training lasted just one hour a day.
It was an incredibly short time for practice, but what Jeong Gwang taught demanded utmost concentration from the trainees.
One hour might even be too much.
As proof, the seven young men lay sprawled on the ground, unable to move a muscle.
Jeong Gwang announced the end of the session.
"Good work, everyone."
The youths lacked even the energy to respond.
"Sajae, what are you doing over there? You think that'll fly with the master?"
Baek Seung-mu was down too, but he still had breath left to speak.
"...I feel like I'm dying. Can't we skip the master session?"
"Of course not. Get up. Wash off, and I'll check your junior practice."
Baek Seung-mu staggered to his feet, and Jeong Gwang clasped his hands toward the fallen youths.
"Rest well. See you tomorrow."
As Jeong Gwang and Baek Seung-mu departed, the young men finally pried their mouths open.
"Ugh... I'm really gonna die."
"Never thought it'd be this brutal."
They could barely twitch a finger, but they couldn't just lie there forever.
This was the Kunlun Sect's training ground.
They had to clear out quickly.
Jang I stood first, encouraging his comrades.
"Come on, let's go. We need to eat and circulate our qi. Otherwise, we won't make it through tomorrow's training."
"...Hoo. Yeah."
The young men rose unsteadily.
One with particularly hollow eyes let out a hollow chuckle.
"Man, who knew Baek the young hero had it in him? Didn't see that coming."
Jang I thought back to Baek Seung-mu.
Unlike them, trembling under Jeong Gwang's terrifying killing intent, he'd charged without blinking.
'Thought he was just some pampered rich kid...'
Jeong Gwang had unleashed his killing intent and told Baek Seung-mu and them to attack.
The only one who'd kept coming endlessly was Baek Seung-mu.
He'd ended up beaten senseless and collapsed, but his courage and tenacity had shocked the youths.
At that moment, Jeong Gwang had said:
'You have to execute it with the mindset of my sajaje. Otherwise, learning it is pointless.'
Only then had they snapped to their senses.
They'd gritted their teeth and repeated the few forms Jeong Gwang taught them.
Then charged at him.
Over and over, tumbling from the beatings.
'It's a miracle we didn't end up bedridden.'
Jeong Gwang had held back, but to them, it was astonishing.
'Will it be like this again tomorrow?'
Shivering, they shuffled out of the training ground.
Word had spread somehow, and quite a crowd watched them pass.
They tried ignoring the stares, but a taunting voice rang out.
"Tsk tsk. Why's the Jade Jade Dragon wasting time on those losers?"
Turning, they saw a familiar face.
No, one the ordinary warriors particularly despised.
Jang I sighed inwardly.
'Of all people, this scumbag.'
Right below the Nine Great Sects and One Gang and the Seven Great Clans.
Among the Six Clans Seven Groups Three Manors, one of the Three Manors.
Seok Yong-cheon, the youngest son of Shijiazhuang in Taishan.
"Oh? A familiar face. Hey, Warrior Jang. Pretending not to see me?"
"...Young Master Seok. Greetings."
"Greetings? As if. Shouldn't you be helping with family matters instead of messing around here?"
Jang I bit his lip.
His assignment was guarding near the Shijiazhuang lodgings and providing support, but Seok Yong-cheon spoke as if he were a servant.
"I'm off duty today."
"Oh dear. My apologies. A grave discourtesy."
Seok Yong-cheon muttered exaggeratedly to himself, then grinned slyly.
"So, how's learning from the famous Jade Jade Dragon? I get it, I suppose?"
"...I'm just following diligently."
"Hmm. Think it'll work? Must be tough."
Tilting his head, he beckoned with one hand.
"Let's see it, then. Come at me."
"...!"
"Why the shaky legs? Surely a warrior isn't scared."
It was from the grueling training, but the onlookers couldn't know that. Pity flickered in their eyes.
'Poor guy.'
'No easy escape now.'
Seok Yong-cheon was infamous for his rotten personality, but he was still a scion of a famed house.
A warrior with respectable skills befitting his lineage.
For an ordinary warrior like Jang I, begging forgiveness outright was the smart move, let alone fighting back...
But Jang I wasn't the same man as yesterday.
'No avoiding this.'
Seok Yong-cheon was Shijiazhuang's youngest son, one of the Six Clans Seven Groups Three Manors leaning heavily toward Namgung Segah amid tensions between them and Hebei Pang Clan.
Naturally, Shijiazhuang chafed at Kunlun's support for Hebei Pang Clan. But they lacked the guts to challenge Kunlun directly.
So they vented on harmless ordinary warriors like Jang I.
Probably Seok Yong-cheon's solo initiative.
'Think I'll bow?'
It was open provocation on a busy path, with many watching.
'Backing down here ends it all.'
The resolve he'd barely mustered thanks to Jeong Gwang. Folding it after half a day meant he couldn't face anything ahead.
Jeong Gwang's teachings surfaced naturally.
'Courage. And tenacity!'
Jang I's mouth opened, a low voice emerging.
"Understood."
"...!"
"Though my skills are meager, I'll humbly receive Young Master Seok's instruction."
After that, Jang I barely registered what happened.
Seok Yong-cheon yelled something and unleashed sharp killing intent, followed by a powerful fist strike.
By then, Jang I's body moved on its own.
No—his desperate will drove it.
Just as Jeong Gwang taught.
'One form! Pour everything—strength, inner power—into it!'
Having endured Jeong Gwang's killing intent, Seok Yong-cheon's felt trivial.
Jang I's feet shot straight at Seok Yong-cheon,
his waist twisting sideways as if to snap.
As the fist grazed his chest, Jang I whipped his waist back with the recoil, thrusting his elbow.
Simple yet profound, over before you grasped its mystery—one perfect form!
The one Jeong Gwang had praised with "A speck similar"—the instant he'd nailed it once!
Reverse Current Upstream!
Kwak!
"Kwaaak!"
Caught off-guard, Seok Yong-cheon screamed and flew back.
Jang I dropped to one knee, cursing himself.
'Damn! Legs gave out—couldn't land it clean!'
He'd aimed for the Conception Vessel acupoint, but shattered a rib below instead.
Good that he hadn't killed, but regret filled his mind for the imperfect strike.
'...Wait. Did I really win?'
Seok Yong-cheon twitched faintly, out cold.
The crowd erupted.
"Woooaaah!"
"An ordinary warrior beat Shijiazhuang's youngest son!"
The roar was immense, but Jang I, having poured everything out, heard nothing.
When he came to, he lay on the training ground floor.
Opening his eyes, he saw Jeong Gwang munching rice balls against a backdrop of blue sky and white clouds.
With a trembling voice, Jang I managed:
"...I... I won."
"Yeah."
"...I beat Shijiazhuang's youngest son."
"Good job."
Praised, but Jang I's face stayed dark.
Opponent was careless, and luck favored him.
Lips twitching, he mustered courage:
"...Can I get stronger?"
"To a degree."
"...How far?"
"Up to you. Lucky streak helps, though."
Lucky?
Jang I truly thought so.
Meeting and learning from Jeong Gwang.
He wanted it to continue.
"Off you go. We have training."
Jang I wanted to, but having emptied himself, he couldn't...
'Huh?!'
Testing, he found his body shockingly fine!
'Ah! This sensation!'
Like the lingering ache from Jeong Gwang's sword-flat strikes.
Traces of Jeong Gwang-style pressure point pursuit.
'Body aside, why's my qi...?'
Meager as it was, he'd spent it all.
Yet most had refilled.
Jeong Gwang's doing, no doubt.
'Not just a master. A true sage from the tales?'
Lost in thought, Jang I headed home.
The modest noodle shop—his home.
His mother, resting, rushed over in alarm.
"Aigoo! Son! What happened? You okay?"
She scanned his body worriedly.
"Mercy! Not a spot unscathed! Lie down quick. I'll fetch the physician..."
"Mom. Sorry."
"What? What happened?"
"...I think I need to keep going."
Words of walking the warrior's path further.
Fretting at first, she hugged him in relief.
"That's all? Keep at it till you can't anymore."
"...Really okay?"
"Of course. Mom likes that."
"...Sob."
That day, Jang I buried his face in her embrace and wept.
For quite a while.
* * *
The next morning, early.
Jeong Gwang thrashed Jang I thoroughly, then smiled in satisfaction.
'Rumors spread perfectly.'
Yesterday just seven, but today every ordinary warrior he'd wined and dined showed up.
After properly doing the basic training he'd taught.
Naturally, they all sprawled with Jang I, and junior brother Baek Seung-mu too.
'Shijiazhuang's fool must've pissed off the Namgung side.'
A key ally's scion humiliatingly beaten by an ordinary warrior.
What disgrace.
Even funnier, the fool started it, so no comeback.
'Knew teaching common warriors would draw challengers...'
But this fast?
And he won.
Many must be itching to learn from Jeong Gwang now.
And another itching for different reasons.
'About time. If he misses this, he's too dumb for alliance leader.'
Fortunately, Paeng Su-gwan wasn't that obtuse.
He sought Jeong Gwang privately.
"Hahaha! You pulled off a stunt."
"Jang the young hero did."
"Heh, true. Makes it better."
Paeng Su-gwan grinned slyly and probed.
"Those ordinary warriors you're teaching. Training hard, eh?"
"Still far off."
"Sure, not up to your standards. But here's the thing—word spread, and others are itching too. Planning to teach them all?"
"No. The Ten Supremes elders came earlier, gave 'em a round. No time to teach others."
"As expected. Hmm..."
Stroking his bristly mustache, he smiled.
"Truth is, food's been sticking lately. Namgung's throwing fancy banquets, so what flashy move for us? Then..."
Trailing off, he winked.
"Your doing sparked a great idea."
Jeong Gwang smiled inwardly.
Fish bit.
"Feed 'em martial arts instead of rice?"
"Kahaha! Feed? Love that phrasing."
Muttering it repeatedly, he got serious.
"Listen, Jade Jade Dragon. Mind if I add a spoon to your table?"
"Speak."
"Under my clan's name, teach whoever wants the basics."
"Won't gather votes."
Voting rights for alliance leader: Nine Great Sects and One Gang, Seven Great Clans, Six Clans Seven Groups Three Manors.
They had skills to boast; no falling for scraps.
Paeng Su-gwan shrugged with a smirk.
"Hahaha. 'Alliance is one, foe is Sima Lian and Demonic Cult, to avoid needless blood in fight, boost all martial prowess.' Grand cause like that. Why play dumb?"
Jeong Gwang smirked too.
'Righteous factions are fun like this.'
Unlike Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, where power ruled or you schemed, worlds apart from this mindset.
"To the point. Join, and they'll flock proper. What do you need?"
To Paeng Su-gwan's earnest question, Jeong Gwang lightly countered.
"You become leader, send masters to Qinghai Province, right?"
"Yes. Thinking two corps: one mid-tier experts, one young talents like you and ordinary warriors."
Paeng Su-gwan paused, beaming.
"Names ready: Cheonryongdan and Jiryongdan! Good?"
"..."
"Hm? Not to your taste?"
"Name's fine. Give me corps leader."
Paeng Su-gwan eyed him anew.
"...Unexpected. Thought you'd skip such posts..."
Scratching his head, he heartily agreed.
"Fine! Back you for Jiryongdan leader! Satisfied?"
"No."
"...What?"
"Give Cheonryongdan leader too."
Paeng Su-gwan scowled.
"Can't. You're ace, but age— who'd accept?"
"Not me."
"...Then?"
"My master should."
"...!"
"Hm. Actually, might not suit. Then any of my granduncle-masters."
Paeng Su-gwan's eyes sharpened.
"Kunlun must have both posts?"
Jeong Gwang's stayed steady.
"Obviously. Only then can we truly aid Kunlun, Qinghai Province."