Adventure After Recruitment Ends (2)
The next day, ten warriors were summoned from Bi-gak.
Some were original Bi-gak members, while others had been brought in from outside by the Murim Alliance Lord and On Byeok-hwa.
Baek So-cheon gathered them in the training grounds along with the Iron Sword Unit warriors who had come the day before.
Baek So-cheon asked the Bi-gak warriors,
"Any of you volunteer to join?"
Three out of the ten raised their hands. They were all warriors who had faithfully followed him during his time as Bi-gak Lord. Even though this was technically a draft, volunteering for Hyun-cheon-dae in this situation wasn't an easy decision.
"Thanks."
The remaining seven had been drafted on orders from Bi-gak Lord.
"I'll send you back once the mission's done. No need to worry."
One of them stepped forward.
"Wang-ho here."
He was one of the external recruits. Muscular and rugged-faced, he looked every bit the tiger his name suggested.
"I don't serve under anyone weaker than me. That's my lifelong principle!"
"Is that so?"
"Mind if I test the captain's skills?"
"Sure."
Baek So-cheon agreed readily, then added,
"But first, let me say this upfront."
He addressed everyone standing behind him.
"You've all eaten your share of sword rice, so you know. A leader has to seize the momentum early on. Laying out the stage like this actually works in my favor."
Of course, this was a bit of an exception. Most had come out of respect for Baek So-cheon, so he didn't really need to assert dominance. The momentum he aimed to seize was aimed at the few holdouts.
"Wang-ho, I respect your principle, but I'm planning to make an example out of you."
At "example," Wang-ho's expression hardened.
"After our bout, you'll be laid up for about a month. During that time, will you serve as Hyun-cheon-dae's training instructor?"
"What?"
Wang-ho looked utterly baffled.
In other words, he'd get beaten so badly he couldn't move properly, so could he manage the training in the meantime? It was a proposal no one saw coming.
"Still in? You can back out now. Everyone here would understand, yours and mine alike."
"No, I'll do it. Since the captain put it that way, I have a word too."
"What's that?"
"I won't hold back either. I'll fight full-force from the first move."
"Naturally. A man's word is his bond?"
"Heavy as a mountain."
"Good."
The onlookers formed a circle, and the two stepped into the center.
Everyone watched with keen interest.
The Bi-gak warriors knew Wang-ho's strength well. A peak realm master with no hesitation in his strikes. Rumors swirled that Baek So-cheon had cleared the extreme-difficulty mechanisms without inner power.
Clang.
Wang-ho drew his sword.
Baek So-cheon stood a dozen paces away, hands at his sides, eyes fixed on Wang-ho. He looked relaxed, but his focus was absolute. Just the draw showed the man's skill.
Baek So-cheon saw this as a rite of passage everyone had to endure.
Like with Chung Yang, this challenge was the same.
The price for his three years of wandering. He had to fill that void. Bury it without properly addressing it, and it'd become a pitfall someday.
The moment Wang-ho flashed forward, closing the gap in a rush.
Incredibly fast.
Baek So-cheon dodged with lightness skill. The second form of Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists defense: Sea Not Raising Waves. His body spun aside, and Wang-ho's sword whistled past his chest.
Experienced Wang-ho twisted his blade upon realizing the miss—a seamless shift only a peak master could pull off.
Shiiik!
As fast and threatening as the sound. No mere physical dodge would suffice; this was matured peak realm prowess.
Baek So-cheon didn't just take it. He unleashed the second form Wind Submits Below, tilting back swiftly to evade.
The sword sliced empty air.
Another miss, and Wang-ho grew urgent. Doubting how a man without inner power evaded his sure-kill, his focus wavered for a split second.
'He's fooling everyone about having no inner power!'
Shiiiiiik!
Wang-ho's sword lunged for Baek So-cheon's chest again.
But he quickly retracted, sensing Baek So-cheon diving in to grab his wrist.
That grab, however, was bait.
In guarding his sword, a gap opened. Baek So-cheon's knee slammed his side—the third form Long Wind Breaking Waves. Originally for creating openings to strike shoulders or elbows, he'd adapted it mid-fight with his knee.
Thud—a heavy impact, and Wang-ho staggered back.
He swung wildly to keep Baek So-cheon at bay, but it was unnecessary.
Baek So-cheon stood rooted.
Wang-ho realized why no follow-up came.
"Ngh."
A short groan escaped him. That strike had cracked his ribs. Clutching below his chest, he let out a pained moan.
He steeled himself to charge despite the pain, but their eyes met. In Baek So-cheon's calm gaze, Wang-ho understood: no mercy in that strike, and several ribs would've shattered. It was precisely a one-month injury.
"I yield."
Everyone gasped. In fewer than six exchanges, he'd subdued Bi-gak's rising star Wang-ho.
Truth be told, Baek So-cheon ended it quick not from overwhelming superiority, but knowing a prolonged fight favored him less. He went for swift victory.
Objectively, pre-Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists, bare-handed against him would've been no easy feat—likely a desperate life-or-death struggle with no guaranteed win.
"You accept defeat?"
"I do. And I'll honor the promise."
He bowed, tone now respectful.
"Until I return to Bi-gak, I'll serve with utmost loyalty."
Baek So-cheon's technique was astonishing—clean, hard to block even knowing it.
And upon impact, he knew: pure physical force, no inner power. All the more impressive. A man who'd overcome that handicap deserved respect beyond rank.
"Go get treated."
"Yes, sir."
Wang-ho bowed deeply. His principle of serving only the strong wasn't empty bravado—it was genuine.
Baek So-cheon turned to the rest.
"Train under Wang-ho for now. Plenty of life-risking ahead. Don't leave regrets like 'should've trained harder' for your deathbed. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
They roared in unison. They were seeing the old Baek So-cheon resurface.
Thus, with two demonstrations and two spars, Hyun-cheon-dae formed from Iron Sword Unit and Bi-gak warriors. Total: twenty-five members.
Baek So-cheon had holed up in Man-seo-go since early morning.
Man-seo-go.
Said to house every book in the world. If it's not here, it doesn't exist. Hence its proud title: Central Plains' foremost library.
The first archive was open to all Murim Alliance warriors. Vast scale, hundreds of shelves crammed with tomes.
Naturally, martial manuals too. Not all, though—these were beginner to intermediate levels. No borrowing; memorize what you need on-site. Many sat studying like exam prep.
The next was for captains and up: advanced manuals.
Then squad leaders, and finally pavilion lords only for the innermost: few books, but priceless high-level treasures.
Baek So-cheon was reading there.
Since recovering his body, he'd pored over the supreme heart method Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method. But without inner power control, progress stalled no matter how much he reread.
Next memorized: Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists. Solid on the first three of nine.
This manual was one he'd overlooked before. Spotted it on the shelf many times, never pulled it.
Someone interrupted his immersion.
"Fancy meeting you here."
Surprisingly, it was Bi-gak Lord On Byeok-hwa, greeting him familiarly.
"Doesn't suit you, Captain Baek—the library."
"Saying I seem dumb?"
"Haha, hardly. Swords suit you more than books."
"Thanks for sending your men."
"No trouble—all for the murim. Heard you won Wang-ho's loyalty day one?"
"He went easy on me."
"Not the other way around?"
Baek So-cheon didn't know her well. Knew her reputation, but not the woman herself. If the Lord brought her personally, deep ties. Had he told her about him?
On Byeok-hwa broke the silence, changing subjects.
"Mind showing what you're reading?"
"Of course."
Baek So-cheon showed her readily.
Hwan-gol Tal-tae Dae-beop.
On Byeok-hwa startled at the title. No idea Baek So-cheon would read on bone transformation.
"Why so surprised?"
"Didn't expect something so absurd. Ah, 'absurd' was rude."
"No offense."
Bone transformation records were rare in jianghu history, mostly unverified legends. Many dismissed it as fantasy.
"In my shoes, even grasping at clouds."
On Byeok-hwa smiled.
"Any help?"
"No. Useless alone."
Her gaze shifted to another book beside it.
Mu-rim Ship-dae Seop-hon-sul Chong-ram.
"Didn't peg you for soul subjugation arts."
"Had to look something up. And you, Pavilion Lord?"
"Same. See you later."
She headed deeper in.
Baek So-cheon resumed. When On Byeok-hwa returned later, she passed quietly—he was lost in the book.
Hours later, he closed the final page.
Under the title Hwan-gol Tal-tae Dae-beop: author Ban Yun-saeng.
The man he'd heard of from the prison demon's mouth.
Baek So-cheon assigned separate tasks to Im Choong and Beon Saeng.
"Im Choong, manage and report Hyun-cheon Pavilion intel to me, organize it. Handle all Hyun-cheon-dae admin too."
"Basically Hyun-cheon-dae administrator."
"Someone's gotta, and you're perfect."
"Understood."
Arguably the most crucial role—thus for the most trusted.
Luckily, his branch chief work was administrative. Perfect fit.
"Beon Saeng, assist him, hone your skills, join Hyun-cheon-dae ASAP."
With his talent, soon field-ready.
"Jianghu and Murim Alliance crawl with experts. I need reliable people, not just strong ones. Those who never lie to me, always trust me, no matter what. Be that."
They knew he meant it—no empty praise.
He craved true reliability amid all these masters.
Beon Saeng, voice thick with emotion,
"Brother. Sounds crazy now, but we're sworn brothers. Won't betray you, even in death."
"Same here."
Baek So-cheon had saved his wife and son—his life was already pledged.
"Good. Thanks."
Baek So-cheon clapped their shoulders.
"Deliver this training plan to Wang-ho."
His detailed schedule: daily drills outlined.
"I'll be away awhile. Mind Hyun-cheon-dae."
"Where to?"
Im Choong's question went unanswered.
That night, Baek So-cheon slipped from the alliance, heart set on the unspoken reply.
'Testing my luck.'
Destination: Gireon Mountain, Ban Yun-saeng's seclusion spot.