Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Millennium Snow Ginseng
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The fat gatekeeper hurriedly went inside, looking flustered, while the guy standing next to him just stood there awkwardly. They seemed unsure how to handle this unexpected situation. The fortunate part was that they didn't charge at me, refusing to accept their defeat.
A moment later, the fat gatekeeper came back out and said,
"Follow me for a bit."
"Are we going to see the Hall Master?"
"No. Before meeting the Chief Instructor, we need to fix up that filthy appearance of yours."
At first, I thought he was taking me somewhere secluded to beat me up. But soon after, we left for the streets of Guanzhong and entered some inn, where I was given warm water for a bath. While I was baffled, the fat gatekeeper fetched some clothes from somewhere and tossed them to me.
"Wash up properly. If you don't, I'll get in trouble too."
The clothes fit me decently. They were baggy on my skinny frame, but they were wearable white garments. After drying off, I followed the fat gatekeeper back to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall, where I noticed disciples gathered here and there.
The disciples' eyes were filled with unmistakable curiosity. Some stole glances at me, while others snickered. The fat gatekeeper glanced at me and said,
"From now on, you'll have a meeting with the Chief Instructor. If you act disrespectfully, your arm will be flying off, so watch your words and behavior."
"Pardon? Aren't we meeting the Hall Master?"
"The Hall Master is busy. The Chief Instructor, who teaches the disciples, will decide if he'll accept you as one."
It made sense, so I accepted it. A massive hall like the Azure Dragon Martial Hall probably couldn't have the Hall Master personally evaluate every new disciple. They likely screened for talent through the Chief Instructor first, then the Hall Master would formally accept them later.
"Chief Instructor. He's here."
"Come in."
Creak—
I opened the door to the wooden building, fragrant with incense, and entered. Inside sat a bald-headed young man calmly drinking tea. He wasn't some green kid; he looked like a man in his mid-twenties. Even so, I was a bit surprised that someone called an instructor was this young.
The 'Chief Instructor' looked at me, chuckled, and said,
"You took down Bang Il in an arm-wrestling match? That's impressive."
"......"
"Come sit here. Let's talk comfortably."
Clunk.
The fat gatekeeper called Bang Il closed the door and left. Without hesitation, I went over and sat in front of the Chief Instructor. A faint glint passed through his eyes. Probably because I acted without any timidness.
Soon, the Chief Instructor spoke.
"I am Jin So-cheong, the Chief Instructor of the Azure Dragon Martial Hall. Child, what is your name?"
"......!!"
What?!
But as if my calm demeanor had been a lie, I froze stiff the moment I heard his name. I couldn't help but be flustered by this sudden, out-of-place name.
' Huh? What? Jin So-cheong? Why is that name here?'
With a mix of doubt, I stammered my response.
"I-I'm Baek Woong, from a village near the Plum Blossom Escort Agency... By any chance, Chief Instructor Jin So-cheong, is your specialty the spear?"
At my question, Jin So-cheong nodded as if surprised.
"That's right. My master is called Triple Excellence for mastering three weapons, but I lack the talent and only learned the spear."
"......"
I knew those words were excessive humility. That man was clearly at the level of a Peak Expert who wouldn't be ashamed even in the wider martial world.
The reason I was flustered wasn't anything else.
Jin So-cheong.
That name belonged to the absolute master of spear arts who would make a name for himself as one of the Ten Great Experts thirty years from now. Often called the Midplains' Greatest Spear, he was a righteous hero who hunted down over a hundred demonic heads. His fame was so renowned that he ranked in the top tier among the Ten Great Experts.
For a low-level escort like my future self, who scraped by, this man sitting before me was incomparable.
Jin So-cheong asked curiously,
"But Baek Woong, why did you think my main weapon is the spear? As you can see, this training hall has various weapons prepared, including spears."
What should I say?
I thought for a moment and gave a suitable excuse.
"It's because of the calluses on your hands."
"Oh?"
At my words, Jin So-cheong glanced at his own hands. Then he burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha... What a talent! Bang Il brought in a fine catch for once."
My improvised excuse had landed perfectly. It's true that you can roughly gauge someone's training from hand calluses, but I didn't have the eye to distinguish if they were from spear or sword. It was just common knowledge from years as an escort, and it worked.
As I inwardly sighed in relief, Jin So-cheong said,
"Then let's check your background. You seem to have considerable internal energy—how did you acquire it? And why do you want to join our Azure Dragon Martial Hall?"
Questions I'd expected. I took a deep breath and answered calmly.
"I lost my parents young and have been living off the Village Chief's household. By chance, I learned the Six Harmonies Swordsmanship and Three Talents Heart Method from a passing escort warrior, and I've trained diligently for a few years. But wanting to delve deeper into the path of martial arts, I came to the largest and most famous Azure Dragon Martial Hall in Guanzhong for guidance."
An answer I'd prepared throughout the journey. Nothing wrong or catchable. Jin So-cheong pondered my words, then said,
"Extend your arm."
"Yes."
As I extended my arm, Jin So-cheong placed his fingers on my forearm and fiddled. After concentrating for a while, he said,
"Impressive internal energy. How long have you been training?"
"About four years."
"Four years!! Hmm... Indeed, you've trained courageously day and night without rest. Commendable."
"......"
In that moment, I felt a bit hollow.
' He buys it...'
I'd worried my internal energy was excessive for my age and might raise suspicion. Even now, I half-expected rejection when letting him measure it. But he readily accepted my four-year excuse, leaving a bitter taste.
The skills I'd built over forty years as an escort were truly nothing special. Jin So-cheong genuinely believed this level was achievable with four years of hard training.
Jin So-cheong said,
"Fortunately, the Three Talents Heart Method is a basic one, so no risk of qi deviation when learning another. From today, you're a First-Line Disciple and will learn the Azure Dragon Martial Hall's arts."
"What's a First-Line Disciple?"
"Under the Hall Master, I oversee all disciples, with two instructors below me. The most senior veterans are Third-Line Disciples, then Second-Line. Understand?"
"Yes, I do."
Jin So-cheong's explanation neatly outlined the Azure Dragon Martial Hall's hierarchy.
The Hall Master and Chief Instructor at the top, then two skilled instructors below. Further down, more 'lines' meant more senior and skilled disciples. With a scale rivaling major sects, I could sense the hall's prosperity anew.
"Then, finally, let's briefly check your Six Harmonies Swordsmanship proficiency and end the meeting."
"Yes."
"Take that wooden sword over there and face me."
Swish...
Soon after, I took a large wooden sword from the training hall wall, assumed a stance, and stood ready. Jin So-cheong looked at my stance and smiled intriguingly.
"Haha... Where did you learn that stance?"
"That escort warrior taught me."
"Interesting. That's a saber arts stance..."
"......"
I had no idea. Escorts learn overall arts from the agency head, then details from escort captains. My stance was taught by the agency head as practical, so I didn't know if it was for sword or saber.
"Now, attack with all you've got."
"Haaah!!"
I shouted a kiai and unleashed the Six Harmonies Swordsmanship at Jin So-cheong. The first form was the basic Mount Tai Pressing the Star, my forearm muscles surging. I followed with footwork, executing the sword forms I knew in sequence.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
After I'd gone through every form of the Six Harmonies Swordsmanship at least once, Jin So-cheong, who had been dodging leisurely, suddenly caught my wooden sword with his fingers. No matter what, these were strikes strong enough to fell a sturdy tree in three blows—and he grabbed it effortlessly!
Releasing the wooden sword, Jin So-cheong said,
"Remarkable. It feels highly proficient in real combat. Have you ever killed someone?"
My heart skipped. Even a master—could he see that just from the forms? Calming myself, I said,
"Yes. To protect myself from bandits and thieves."
Not a lie.
I'd fought countless bandits and thieves as an escort.
Jin So-cheong pondered with a troubled look, then said,
"Hmm... In that case..."
A moment later, he dropped a bombshell.
"I'll retract what I said about making you a First-Line Disciple. For the next month, I'll personally guide you."
"Pardon?!"
"But if... you don't improve properly, I'll kick you out then."
Improve? What did that mean?
But Jin So-cheong said no more on it.
"Bang Il! You there?"
The door slid open, and the fat gatekeeper, Bang Il, entered. Looking closely, his uniform had two horizontal stripes, marking him as a Second-Line Disciple.
"Yes."
"I'll personally guide this child for a month. You're responsible for keeping other disciples from bothering him—manage the atmosphere."
"......!!"
Bang Il looked shocked. A hint of injustice flickered in his eyes. But he composed himself and replied.
"Yes, understood."
"You're tired today, so rest in the dorms, and come to this training hall at dawn tomorrow."
"Yes."
Then, under Bang Il's guidance, I headed to my dorm. It was a clean, comfortable room incomparable to the stable I'd been crashing in. As I marveled at the neat space, Bang Il said,
"Personal guidance from the Chief Instructor... What bootlicking did you do?"
Turning, I saw undisguised jealousy and killing intent in Bang Il's eyes. With my fifty years of life experience, I caught it. He must resent that I'd get guidance from Chief Instructor Jin So-cheong.
But I was just as stunned. I'd planned to start as a First-Line Disciple, train steadily, and learn top-class arts—now this sudden acceleration. Plus, it'd make life hard with other disciples jealous, which I didn't want.
"I don't know either."
"Hmph... Whatever!"
Hack ptui.
Bang Il spat on the ground and warned,
"Listen well. There's order here. Don't act like some bumpkin fooling around, or we won't let it slide! Got it?!"
I was dumbfounded. People are the same everywhere—one jerk like this in every place. Normally, I'd bow and scrape past guys like him, but not now. Since I'd died and come back, I didn't want to live cowering.
Instead, I smirked mockingly.
"Haha. Of course I'd respect a senior acting like one!"
"......"
"Bang Il Senior must be tired too—why not head in and sleep?"
"Ptui!"
Bang Il spat on the ground again and left.
I grinned and lay on the bed. The proper bedding felt good on my back—warm and comfortable. I thought living in a place like this forever would be paradise.
' That said, I haven't seen the Hall Master himself, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang. Makes sense for the head of a hall rivaling major sects—he must be busy...'
Soon, a First-Line Disciple came to fetch me for dinner. We ate together in a large dining hall-like building. Bang Il must've spread the word already—stares from all sides stung, with murmurs everywhere.
' Oh boy, this'll be rough ahead.'
The food was good, but I worried. I knew well how cruel people could be when bullying others.
Still, I resolved inwardly.
My life at the Azure Dragon Martial Hall starts now.
Until I master first-class arts, I'll grit my teeth and endure!