4. Evaluation (1)
Seungroe Sect. It was one of the righteous sects located in Hubei’s Wuhans. Rumor had it that it had been founded by a peak expert who was a former Wudang lay disciple.
Sagong Hyeon was the son of that sect’s founder.
“Seeing that you’re a merchant, are you perhaps one of the Merchant King’s sons? I heard one of them joined this batch of Wudang lay disciples, but I haven’t seen you around.”
I remembered it too. The great merchant of this generation was Yeo Bul-jin, the head of the Cheonsu Merchant Group. And there were widespread rumors that his son had entered this batch of Wudang lay disciples.
Of course, I had no idea if the rumors were true. After all, I was the guy who’d been kicked out after just a month.
“Sorry, but no, I’m not.”
“Oh? Then what’s your name?”
“Muk Hwi-yeong.”
“Ah.”
A sneer crept across Sagong Hyeon’s face. Jeon O-su had been disappointed, but he hadn’t sneered like this.
Plus, Jeon O-su had at least hidden his disappointment right away, but this guy didn’t even try.
“You’ve heard that name before, right?”
“Where?”
“What else? An elder I know told me. Said there was this kid with zero backing who barely scraped by on one elder’s recommendation.”
“That me?”
“Who else? You’d know better than anyone.”
“Fair enough.”
“So I’ll be your friend.”
Sagong Hyeon flashed a grin. It looked pure and innocent.
A few of the kids behind him were looking at me with pity in their eyes.
Things I hadn’t noticed in my previous life were now clear as day. You see what you know.
In my past life, I had become Sagong Hyeon’s “friend.” To be precise, not a friend—a subordinate.
“And if I say no?”
Sagong Hyeon’s smile froze instantly.
“Do you know who I am?”
“You just said. Sagong Hyeon of Seungroe Sect.”
“Not that. Do you understand what that means?”
“I get it. Unlike the other lay disciples, you’ve learned a bit of martial arts, so you think you can play king here. I don’t get why a kid from some mid-tier sect has to strut around like this when not a single one behind you is any worse off.”
My words turned Sagong Hyeon’s face as fierce as a demon’s, and the kids behind him looked utterly shocked.
Speaking my mind feels damn refreshing.
That was why I hated Sagong Hyeon. It had only been a month, but this guy had stuck in my memory.
He was the one who’d gotten me expelled from Wudang after just a month.
He’d made me fetch spring paintings from outside, then blamed me when we got caught. Of course, if I’d had any talent or backing, I wouldn’t have been kicked out for something so minor. Unfortunately, I had neither.
“I thought you had some pull with True Person Cheonhwa, but turns out you’re just a crazy bastard who doesn’t even show his face. Crazy bastards need a good beating with a stick.”
“You gonna hit me? Your dad must’ve poured a fortune into getting you into Wudang.”
“……”
Obviously, violence between fellow initiates meant expulsion.
No matter how much the martial world favored fists over the law, this was Wudang, not some street market.
“Hmph. No fear when you’ve got nothing to lose.”
Sagong Hyeon spat that and left. Some glared at me like they wanted to kill me, while others looked envious.
The glarers were the ones with backing from Sagong Hyeon, and the envious ones were in the same boat as my past self.
“Whoa. You’ve got some guts.”
I turned to see Jeon O-su had appeared again at some point.
“And he runs off. Cowardly punk.”
“We’re not close enough to share the pain, are we?”
“True that.”
I nodded easily. He was a hundred times better than Sagong Hyeon, who groveled before the strong and bullied the weak. At least this guy was consistent front and back.
“But seriously, what’re you relying on? Why so cocky?”
“Of course I’ve got something.”
“Oho. What? Hidden heir to some one-man supreme sect or something?”
“Nah. I don’t know a single martial technique.”
“For real?”
Jeon O-su sounded surprised.
“Don’t most families have at least one ancestral art?”
“That’s for rich families like yours. Mine’s just ordinary farmers.”
“Gotcha. If you run into Sagong Hyeon tonight, you’re gonna get thrashed.”
He meant the lay disciple evaluation tonight. Sagong Hyeon was probably itching for it—a legal chance to beat someone up.
“So what’s your backup plan?”
“First, I won’t run into Sagong Hyeon tonight.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Because I knew the future. I hadn’t done anything to mess with it this time around.
“Just a hunch. I’ve got good instincts.”
“Alright, fine. What’s second?”
“I’ll just leave if I have to.”
“Gasp.”
Jeon O-su’s face lit up with surprise, like he hadn’t considered it.
But to me, it was obvious. I’d been expelled in my past life, after all. To make full use of the future I knew, I had to get out of Wudang the same way.
Take today—while I was making the fullpi flute in my past life, Jeon O-su, who I’d had no connection with, was cozying up to me now. I didn’t want to change my future too much.
I didn’t want to deny the life I’d built with my blood, sweat, and effort. Sure, there were things to block—like not taking that request from the Murim Alliance leader. That was enough to change.
“Isn’t that irresponsible, with your dad holding down the fort alone?”
That’s how it’d look. In my past life, after getting expelled, I’d lived with so much guilt.
But it was fine. If I left now, I was confident I could serve my father even better.
“We’re not close enough for life advice. If we’re not friends, it’s just nagging.”
“Yeah, true.”
“Nice talking to someone reasonable.”
Jeon O-su laughed heartily. I liked the guy, but today would probably be the last I’d see of him.
Night fell quickly. The mountain grew darker, but torches lit all around made swinging swords no problem.
“This isn’t a test to stress over. We know most of you haven’t learned martial arts. You’ve only picked up the Samjae Mind Method and Samjae Fist Method a few days ago. It’s just to spot talent. Talent’s like a needle in a pocket—it can’t stay hidden. If I see potential, I’ll even recommend you for core disciple status. Give it your all.”
True Person Cheonghyeon’s words made eyes sparkle. Some kids seemed to firmly believe untapped talent lay within them.
Sagong Hyeon’s eyes burned especially bright. If anyone here had talent worth recognizing, it’d be him—the strongest in raw power among us.
Of course, I knew it wouldn’t happen. No one from our batch made it to core disciple at Wudang headquarters. Logically, talent blooming at twenty-something couldn’t beat what flowered at five.
“Won’t any other elders from the sect come observe?”
Someone raised a hand. Cheonghyeon had mentioned other elders might drop by.
But this test was one no one expected much from. No one was coming.
“The elders wanted to, but they’re all tied up with duties. Besides, my eyes are enough to judge your talent.”
For reference, Cheonghyeon was the weakest in martial arts among the Blue Generation. I’d learned that later.
That’s why he’d been assigned the minor role of managing lay disciples.
Would someone like that properly spot real talent? I doubted it.
“Sparring will be random. I’ll call names now……”
I wasn’t interested. My opponent would be some fat merchant kid anyway—we’d just have a dogfight.
Cheonghyeon, his eyes sullied by the poor showing, would stop it, and I’d fall out of favor.
“Begin the spar. Even if you have ancestral arts, stick to the Samjae Fist Method we taught.”
The called pair stepped up and struck clumsy poses. I’d seen plenty of martial artists; their stances alone screamed no talent.
“Uwaaa!”
With utterly powerless shouts, they flailed punches at each other.
They started stiffly mimicking the Samjae Fist Method, but as time passed, ancestral arts slipped out.
Merchant family ancestral arts were just for self-defense anyway—no thrill to watch.
“That’s enough.”
Cheonghyeon cut it short, like he couldn’t stomach more. Even I thought it was pathetic.
“I can do more.”
“No need. I’ve seen enough.”
“I’ve got more to show.”
One looked deflated, like he had some hidden ultimate technique. But Cheonghyeon didn’t have time for that.
“You doubting my eyes?”
“……No, sir.”
“Go back.”
The merchant kid slunk off, shoulders slumped in regret. He didn’t seem skilled enough to complain. Probably grew up on family hype as a martial prodigy.
“Next……”
“Oh, already started.”
Before Cheonghyeon could call the next, someone emerged quietly from the darkness.
Everyone, kids and Cheonghyeon included, startled at the figure from the shadows.
“Senior Brother Cheonhwa. What brings you here?”
“Came to watch the lay disciples. Why? Didn’t you say spectators were welcome?”
It was Cheonhwa, the Infinite Divine Sword we’d seen that morning. The top Wudang expert’s sudden appearance lit up the kids’ eyes. They thought getting noticed here could make them core disciples.
“Well, yes, but…… there’s no one here worth your time, Senior Brother.”
Cheonghyeon blurted his true feelings in panic. He’d never planned to recommend any of us as core disciples.
The kids’ faces shifted to figures. No one thought Wudang core disciple spots came easy. Some hadn’t given up, though—kids like Sagong Hyeon who believed in their own talent.
“Just bored, came to watch. You don’t mind, do you, Junior Brother?”
“Of course not.”
He looked plenty bothered.
I was just as thrown. In my past life, I’d never even seen Cheonhwa. Had this morning’s events changed things?
Cheonhwa scanned the kids, stopping on me with a smile.
“Sparring’s totally random?”
“Yes.”
“Mind if I pick some matches? Judging raw talent’s better done by me than you, Junior Brother. Similar kids clashing shows it best.”
Cheonghyeon couldn’t respond. Same generation or not, Cheonhwa outclassed him like a lantern to a firefly. And as senior brother, defying him was impossible.
“As you wish.”
The mood shifted strangely. With Cheonhwa here, the spars suddenly carried weight.
Cheonhwa scanned again. Kids tensed and posed wherever his gaze landed—eager to impress, but mostly intimidated.
Finally, his mouth opened slowly.
“That kid’s got the sharpest eyes.”
“Ah, that’s Sagong Hyeon from Seungroe Sect……”
“Oh, Seungroe Sect. Home of Sagong Do, right?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Sagong Hyeon’s face brightened. Caught the eye of a Wudang elite, after all.
“Greetings to Infinite Divine Sword Senior. I’m Sagong Hyeon.”
“Good. Your eyes burned with the deepest longing. Impressive.”
“Thank you.”
Anticipation mixed into Sagong Hyeon’s eager gaze. Real possibility ignited his drive.
“Who’s his opponent?”
Cheonghyeon asked. I felt a sudden chill. Cheonhwa was smiling at me.
And that unease was spot on.
“That kid.”
Cheonhwa’s finger pointed straight at me.