Did I Meet the Chief Instructor?
The third-generation trainee Yu Ja-cho's sense of victimization was no mere delusion born of an inferiority complex.
In real life, his pockmarked face had brought him no small amount of actual harm.
All of it stemmed from the uniquely free atmosphere of Byeongmachong.
One should not think of Byeongmachong as some secret training ground for an assassin organization.
Haomun had deliberately kept its operation and management of the place relaxed.
Thanks to that, the trainees could live tolerably well aside from the ten years of forced communal living.
Why had they done it that way?
Because there was no need to drive the trainees to the brink of death.
Haomun's goal was laughably modest compared to the great orthodox sects.
What they wanted was simply the unification of Haomun across the Ten Provinces.
One must not confuse that with unifying the entire martial world.
Besides, Haomun possessed neither the high-level experts capable of raising future geniuses nor any advanced martial manuals.
The martial instructors from the six branches taught only what they themselves knew.
The rest they left to the trainees, who learned to read and studied on their own.
Once morning and afternoon lessons ended, the students enjoyed free personal time.
What happens when you lock boys and girls together in a closed space for ten years?
The term "Three Great Beauties of Byeongmachong" had not arisen for nothing.
And were there only three?
While butterflies may seek out flowers, flowers too have eyes.
The girls also cast glances at the handsome boys and ranked them accordingly.
First-generation trainee Dan Yeop was called a "stone monkey," yet his rather fine features earned him quiet popularity among the girls.
In contrast, third-generation trainee Yu Ja-cho—with his pockmarked face—was shunned by the girls despite his outstanding martial prowess.
Seven long years had passed for Yu Ja-cho amid such discrimination.
The resentment that had piled up during that time was now directed squarely at Dan Yeop.
But not everyone was like Yu Ja-cho.
Throughout history, east and west, the world has always been kinder to the beautiful.
Though they didn't show it openly, quite a few girls harbored feelings for Dan Yeop.
Third-generation trainee Geum Seo-jin was one of them.
Plain in both appearance and skill, she had fallen for the kind-hearted but utterly incompetent Dan Yeop.
So the moment she heard that "Yu Ja-cho is going to punish Dan Yeop," she set out to find him.
"Shh—quiet now. It'll be over soon. Die. Please, just die for me…"
"Gack!"
Dan Yeop desperately tried to escape the woman's grip, but her hand clung to his throat like glue and refused to let go.
"Ughhhh—"
As he let out a choked groan in the suffocating pain, a voice called from far away.
"Senior Dan, Senior Dan…"
At the persistent calling, Dan Yeop's eyes snapped open.
"Haa! Haa! Haa…"
As Dan Yeop broke into a cold sweat and breathed raggedly, Geum Seo-jin spoke.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
Only then did Dan Yeop regain his senses and turn his head toward the side of the bed.
When his eyes met the familiar girl, he quickly looked away.
"…Who are you?"
"I'm Geum Seo-jin. Third generation."
"Ah! Third gen… what is it?"
"I came to tell you that Yu Ja-cho is targeting you, Senior."
"Huh? Why would he?"
"Obviously because you beat Jeon-jung this morning. If word gets out that a third-gen got beaten by you, Senior, it would be humiliating for all of us third-gens…"
"I beat Jeon-jung?"
"Don't you remember? You fought him this morning."
Startled, Dan Yeop looked at Geum Seo-jin again.
Her expression didn't seem like she was teasing him, but he simply couldn't believe it.
"I didn't do anything like that."
"What? You didn't? That can't be. Then is Jeon-jung the one lying? But why?"
Geum Seo-jin quickly turned the matter over in her mind.
In the seven years she'd known him, Dan Yeop wasn't the type to lie about something like this.
That would mean Jeon-jung was lying, but she couldn't fathom the reason.
"I'm really not. I've never even met Jeon-jung separately until now."
"Sigh. But that's how the rumor is spreading among the third-gens. And it's true that Yu Ja-cho is after you."
Dan Yeop felt awkward continuing to lie in bed, so he slowly got up.
"Anyway, thanks for letting me know."
"You should avoid Yu Ja-cho for the time being."
"Yeah. I will."
Of course Dan Yeop had no desire to run into Yu Ja-cho.
The idea of meeting him to clear up the misunderstanding had never even crossed his mind.
He believed the whole Jeon-jung business was nothing but an excuse to pick a fight.
Dan Yeop might lack concentration and memory, but he was no fool.
"Well, I'll be going now."
Geum Seo-jin, who had been stealing glances at Dan Yeop's face, offered her farewell and left.
Dan Yeop, who had been about to lie down again, suddenly bolted upright in shock.
"What? When did I return to the dormitory?"
He had clearly been practicing in the stone chamber at the northern edge.
He remembered the flash before his eyes while performing the reverse flow of light technique.
But that was all.
It seemed he had slept until Geum Seo-jin woke him, yet he had no memory of returning to the dormitory.
"Why can't I remember?"
Then he suddenly recalled Chief Instructor Dan Bul-wi's words, and his face hardened.
—It means a martial art that's perfect for causing qi deviation if practiced sloppily.
After seeing the flash during Split Mind Technique training, his memories had vanished.
Could this be qi deviation?
Trembling with anxiety, he decided to seek out Chief Instructor Dan Bul-wi and ask.
***
Amun training hall.
Once the last trainee had left, Dan Bul-wi walked to the center of the hall.
It had already been twelve years since the One Hundred Year Plan began.
Ninety-three trainees had graduated so far. It was about time to make a move.
No—he had to set the stage without fail.
The graduated trainees might start fights out of youthful hot-bloodedness.
If that drew unwanted attention, it would interfere with the One Hundred Year Plan.
The clever Leader Ha So-ran would surely know that.
'She'll probably suggest we move to take over Hadong Island soon.'
Muttering to himself, Dan Bul-wi slowly began practicing the Seven Forms Blade Technique.
Swish—! Swish!
His movements were clean and economical, yet his expression remained unimpressed.
He felt it lacked the sharpness of Dan Yeop's Seven Forms Blade Technique.
Dissatisfied with his own skill, he swung his straight blade without pause.
Once the One Hundred Year Plan was in full swing, the instructors would also be mobilized.
His goal was to distinguish himself during that time and become a branch leader.
Just as his breath was growing ragged, someone entered the training hall.
It was Dan Yeop.
After confirming who it was, Dan Bul-wi quietly sheathed his blade.
He couldn't bring himself to continue in front of someone of lower realm.
After setting the straight blade on the rack, Dan Bul-wi turned with an awkward smile.
"What brings you here?"
Dan Yeop hesitated before carefully speaking.
"Um, Chief Instructor… I think something's wrong with me."
"…"
Dan Bul-wi looked at Dan Yeop with a dumbfounded expression.
This morning he had called him "Father," and now in the afternoon it was "Chief Instructor"?
"Yesterday afternoon I was practicing the Split Mind Technique in the stone chamber on the northern outskirts. When I opened my eyes, I was lying on my bed in the dormitory. I can't remember when or how I returned and fell asleep. Could this be the qi deviation you mentioned, Chief Instructor?"
"From the way you're talking, it seems you don't even remember meeting me this morning?"
"Did I meet you, Chief Instructor?"
Dan Yeop blinked with a blank face.
The sight of that foolish expression irritated Dan Bul-wi, but he swallowed his anger.
Only now did he clearly understand what had happened to Dan Yeop.
The side effect of the Split Mind Technique had undoubtedly caused a split in his personality.
'Holy hell. I've heard of people going crazy from practicing the Split Mind Technique…'
But a split personality was a first.
One personality possessed genius talent, while the other was a dunce.
To the former, he was "Father." To the latter, he was "Chief Instructor."
Could he simply make the dunce call him Father as well?
No matter how thick his face was, even he couldn't do that.
Between himself and this dunce Dan Yeop existed only the relationship of martial instructor and trainee.
Besides, while the dunce Dan Yeop lacked talent, he was no fool.
If he spoke carelessly, the boy might realize that he had "deceived the genius Dan Yeop into becoming his adoptive father."
'Let's put the title issue aside for now. It's not urgent.'
Having organized his thoughts, Dan Bul-wi spoke.
"We did meet. You don't remember?"
"No…"
"I see. I understand the situation now. There's no doubt your personality has split due to the side effects of the Split Mind Technique. Didn't I tell you? I said not to practice it because it's a problematic art."
"…"
Dan Yeop hung his head deeply.
He knew that, but he had overdone it because he wanted to graduate like the others.
The desire to "at least comprehend the Heaven and Earth Blade Technique" had ruined his body. Tears welled up in his eyes.
At that moment, curiosity struck Dan Bul-wi and he asked casually.
"You said you don't remember meeting me? Can you perform the Seven Forms Blade Technique?"
"I can manage about one form."
"Show me."
Dan Yeop picked up the straight blade from the rack and demonstrated the technique.
There was so little power behind it that it didn't even make a sound as it cut the air.
Watching the choppy, awkward movements, Dan Bul-wi finally stopped him.
"Sigh. That's enough. You can stop."
Returning the blade to the rack, Dan Yeop spoke as if making an excuse.
"The Heaven and Earth Blade Technique is a bit better. I'll work hard and make sure I graduate."
"You want to graduate?"
"I have to."
Dan Yeop felt too embarrassed to face his juniors; he was determined to graduate somehow.
Dan Bul-wi stared at the dunce Dan Yeop with an incredulous look.
'There are two personalities—one genius who wants to stay in Byeongmachong, and a dunce who's desperate to graduate…'
He had no idea such a case could even exist.
"Tsk. Right now, two personalities live inside your body. They each live different lives and don't remember what the other has done."
"Chief Instructor! What should I do?"
"Consider yourself lucky. Many people go completely insane from practicing the Split Mind Technique. At least you're not that bad, right?"
"…"
Dan Yeop couldn't say anything and simply hung his head.
Even without this, whenever he tried to do anything his heart would race and his head would go blank, making everything difficult. And now his personality had split in two…
'Was I really someone who shouldn't have been born?'
Seeing how twisted his life had become, it certainly seemed that way.
Looking at the dejected Dan Yeop, Dan Bul-wi spoke.
"Why is a young fellow so down? I told you, it's better than going crazy."
"Isn't having two personalities in one body the definition of crazy?"
"It's different. I've seen my share of madmen and madwomen, and their speech is completely incoherent. But you're perfectly lucid."
"I'm the original personality, so of course I'm fine, but the other personality…"
"The Dan Yeop I met this morning was just as lucid as you are."
Dan Bul-wi had many things he wanted to say about the genius Dan Yeop, but he held back.
"Oh, really?"
A faint spark of life returned to Dan Yeop's previously dead-looking face.
He had been worried that his other personality—whom he couldn't even remember—might be doing crazy things, but it seemed that wasn't the case. It felt like a narrow escape from death.
Watching him, Dan Bul-wi asked carefully.
"When you were practicing the Split Mind Technique, did anything feel strange or unusual?"
"Yes. The moment I guided my inner energy to the Heavenly Eye between my brows according to the reverse flow of light formula, a light flashed before my eyes. Without realizing it, I squeezed my eyes shut. When I opened them again, I was in the dormitory."
"Hmm. Then it's certain that your personality switched in that instant. If you stop practicing the Split Mind Technique, it might resolve itself."
"Really?"
"Since the problem was caused by the Split Mind Technique, wouldn't avoiding it solve things?"
Though reluctant, Dan Bul-wi offered a solution.
While seeing the genius Dan Yeop was enjoyable, he couldn't help but feel pity for this despairing version.
"Ah! Now that you mention it, it really does seem that way. Thank you. I won't practice the Split Mind Technique ever again."
"If your worries are resolved, you may leave now. I need to rest too."
"Yes, please rest, Chief Instructor."
As Dan Yeop walked away, Dan Bul-wi muttered with a sour expression.
"Did the Split Mind Technique have the ability to create a genius? Maybe I should learn it too? No, what use is being a genius if you can't remember anything…"
The genius Dan Yeop and the dunce Dan Yeop knew nothing of what the other did. If they did, their lives would only become exhausting, tangled in a chaotic web of karma and grudges.