An Overextended Lecture
"Interesting. A truly clever idea."
With one hand, I pulled the cover to check the authors. Bong Jong-in and Yu Jeong. One name was unfamiliar; the other I already knew. It seemed to be the same person who had written on the Oknyeo Sim-gyeong based on Dongjagong's optimization theory of mind, energy, and body. There were so many names to remember. Bong Jong-in, Yu Jeong, Eom Jaeng, Gyeon Yo, Woo Sang-myeong, Chae Su, Yu Deok-cheong…
"Um, Sister."
"What is it, Cho Yak?"
I set the bundle of papers aside and naturally reached out with my right hand to pick up the next treatise. A Study on the Effects of Awakening Through Spells and Drugs on Mental Cultivation—Through the Martial Arts of the Mongols, the Tatars, and the Jurchens. The title looked rather intriguing.
"Do you remember how long you've been here?"
"Hm?"
Three days later there was to be a lecture. After lunch, I had come to the archives with Cho Yak to learn a bit about what these people called muhak. At first I had searched for foundational texts to understand their concepts and terminology. Then I found several treatises that looked interesting, brought them over, read them all, and started hunting down the works they cited… Before I knew it, I had lost all sense of time again. This was the downside of a body that never grew tired. Still, Cho Yak came at every mealtime to drag me off to eat. One could go a day or two without sleep, after all. If I counted by meals, I had skipped lunch once, then eaten two, three… six meals? Dinner, breakfast, dinner, breakfast, dinner, breakfast.
"Three days?"
"Yes. The lecture begins in half a sijin."
I pressed a hand to my forehead. This was just the sort of thing I did. What? Next time I'll definitely sleep on time? Not a chance. A sigh escaped me. I had known this about myself all along. If I were truly wise enough to speak only the right answers and strong enough to keep every promise I made, would I even need to worry about responsibility or rules? Like Master Ju, if I simply acted on my convictions, everything would naturally fall into place—from the heart's desire without transgressing the rules.
After a brief moment of self-reflection, I looked up at Cho Yak.
"Half a sijin, you say. Would it be all right if I went in after half a sijin?"
"The lecture starts in half a sijin. You should arrive early."
"Hmm…"
I had a rough grasp now of how the scholars at Jipmudang spoke. I just needed to choose a topic and prepare the materials. But how much could I write in half a sijin, minus travel time? I made the best decision available under the circumstances. Since things had come to this, I might as well read two more papers before it got truly desperate.
"Sister…"
There were endless topics I wanted to discuss. Even if I only wrote down what I already knew without inventing anything new, expressed in Jipmudang's own language, the sheer volume was dizzying. Of course, they had already organized some of it into treatises, but far more remained untouched. I had felt it a little even at Wugeuk Castle—the level of the Central Plains martial world seemed lower than I had thought. Or perhaps they were simply too secretive and unwilling to assist Jipmudang's work. In any case, I set aside topics that were too narrow or that would require too many supplementary materials. Even after filtering, more than five remained. While I was still choosing, I belatedly realized these people only knew me as the author of the Yu Baek Chronicles.
Only one of the remaining topics was directly related to a scene from the first volume. Naturally, that became my lecture subject.
Topic: The Principle of Initiating After in the Crossing State, Revealed Through Stillness-in-Motion.
"…Therefore, the principle of initiating after in the crossing state must ultimately be rooted not in the mode of sensation and movement, but in the structural phase that makes stillness-in-motion possible."
I swept my gaze over the audience. Including the Head of Jipmudang and Cho Yak, every single person was listening with shining eyes, diligently taking notes or raising a hand. There were no students here merely to pass the time; these were people who had abandoned stable fields to devote themselves to this new discipline the Head had begun alone only a few decades ago. Their passion and conviction were no less than those of the Hanlin scholars at the Hanlin Academy.
With satisfaction, I pointed to one of the raised hands.
"You there. Speak."
"Your point about movement is reasonable, but isn't sensation still an important factor when utilizing structural phases?"
"A good question. To elaborate a little on this point…"
The explanation that followed, expanding on the construction of structures that utilize reflection, was nearing its end when Cho Yak raised her hand. I spoke at once.
"Speak."
"Sister, the lecture time has ended."
I turned to the hourglass I had set up to measure the time. The upper half had long since emptied. I clicked my tongue. I had been so busy answering questions that I had not even finished the main topic. If I stopped now, I would feel unsettled even when I lay down to sleep tonight.
When I turned back, my eyes met the Head's. He spoke.
"The content is quite fascinating. If you don't mind, Yu Jeje, why not simply continue a little longer? Lectures running over is quite common. Besides, this is the last presentation—those who are busy can leave whenever they wish."
Looking around, the others seemed generally agreeable. I cleared my throat.
"Well, then I shall continue. So, I trust you all now understand that the concept of structure construction can be expanded far more broadly. In that case, regarding the method of achieving stillness-in-motion through this structure…"
More time passed. Several scholars had left due to prior commitments, and the Head did not look pleased that my lecture had been interrupted because of it.
"Thus, through these structures, every movement in the crossing state can be explained."
The Head, eyes still bright, raised his hand. I pointed to him immediately.
"It doesn't seem as though the structures in your examples can explain everything. Of course, they may still be sufficient for practical use, but isn't it premature to call them completely general?"
"Ah…"
I pondered briefly. To explain this properly, the concepts used at Jipmudang alone would not suffice. It would be better to draw a diagram. Not a flat one—a three-dimensional one. After a moment's thought, I extended both index fingers.
"For example, like this. The structures emerging from this domain can all be reduced to this single one without exception."
"Wait, what is that?"
"I'll show you again. It's difficult to explain in words. Like this."
"…"
Yet more time passed. Feeling that demonstration alone was insufficient, I added some explanation, only to realize I had strayed from the main topic again. Since a proper understanding of the generalization of structures would allow for deeper discussion, I decided to cover that as well while I was at it. I was in the middle of an important point when the Head raised his hand once more.
"Speak."
"It is truly fascinating, but unfortunately my stamina is failing and I fear I can listen no longer."
"Is that so?"
The Head's eyes were unfocused; he looked visibly drowsy and exhausted. No matter how passionate one was, age was age. Still, if I stopped now, the truly crucial part would be missed entirely. Anxious, I asked in a slightly hurried tone.
"Then I shall continue at the next lecture. When is the next one?"
"Hmm. I believe you've already covered the foundational concepts, have you not? There aren't many Jeje with presentation rights, so it's not good to dwell on one topic for too long. How about writing it up as a treatise instead, or gathering only those interested in the related field for a separate discussion?"
"Hmm…"
He was not wrong. But this was the direct continuation of the current content, and it would be perfect if those who had already heard the explanation could learn the rest as well…
"Very well. Then anyone interested, come to my room in half a sijin."
"Half a sijin? …Understood. Then let us end here."
The Head rose, pressing his fingers firmly against his eyelids. The other scholars followed. At the sound of chairs scraping, Cho Yak—who had been dozing with her head bowed in a corner—jolted awake.
Once the lecture ended, I returned to my room and began preparing to receive the guests who would soon arrive. I found candles and lamps, lit them, then looked around for anything else I might need. Though it was supposedly my room, this was my first time actually using it, so I had no idea where anything was. The room was not large, so it did not take long. I placed a teapot filled with water and tea leaves on the oil lamp and sat down. My heart fluttered with anticipation. A spacious lecture hall was not bad, but I preferred sitting comfortably like this, surrounded by others, for conversation.
How many would come? Three or four would be just right. Enough for good discussion, and afterward we could share a meal, get to know one another, and talk about our interests. Too many would be troublesome.
Looking down at the table, I noticed an inkstone. I always carried a few fine brushes or iron pens, but ink was impossible to transport. It would be good to grind some ink in advance so they could take notes while listening. As I listened to the sound of the tea boiling and scraped ink with my fingernail into the water-filled inkstone, the room suddenly grew brighter. I turned to the window. The sun was rising.
I rubbed my eyes lightly. The lecture was supposed to have begun at the sincho hour and ended at the hae hour—yet judging by the rising sun, it was already past the myocho hour. Where had the jachukins gone, and why was the sun already up? Startled, I stared blankly for a moment at the birds chirping outside. Only then did I realize that I had once again made the same mistake barely a day after reflecting on my behavior. Shame washed over me, and I covered my face with both hands.
"Haa…"
I had dragged a lecture that began in the evening through the night until dawn, then told anyone who wanted to hear the rest to come at sunrise. Who in their right mind would show up?
Just as I stood to take the tea off the heat, a soft knock sounded at the door.
"Is anyone there?"
…So there was someone, after all.