The Instructors' Challenge
Yu-hwa explained.
“The Hong Branch Leader and Ha Branch Leader are locked in a fierce struggle for control. This time, the issue of the Chief Instructor and instructors will make it even worse.”
“Ah……”
A sigh escaped Dan Yeop’s lips.
Ha Branch Leader had brought in wandering instructors, yet Hong Branch Leader and Baek Branch Leader had appointed a Chief Instructor and instructors without any consultation. It would have been stranger if the matter had passed quietly.
Chapter 61. Beat the Owner Until the Dog Runs Wild
People’s thoughts often run along similar lines.
Dan Bul-wi was also teaching the Jin-sam-dae-do-beop to the Amun experts.
The first technique he presented was the Amun’s secret art, the Jin-chil-sang-do-beop.
Yet something strange happened. Even those who had trained in the Chil-sang-do-beop their entire lives made no progress whatsoever.
Unable to watch any longer, Dan Bul-wi switched to teaching the relatively easier Jincheonji Dobeop.
Fortunately, the Amun experts followed the Jincheonji Dobeop without much difficulty.
Around the same time as Dan Yeop, Dan Bul-wi returned to teaching the Jin-chil-sang-do-beop.
Perhaps because their horizons had broadened while training in the Jincheonji Dobeop, their learning speed had improved compared to before.
Of course, it was only faster than before; the progress remained slow.
They were still stuck on the first form, Cho-sang-eum-heo, even after December had passed.
***
The first day of the first lunar month.
Da-an-bang in Jwa-seong (Dongsi region).
Hwawolru’s separate pavilion.
The hour of Yu (5 p.m.).
The six branch leaders and deputy leaders of Haomun gathered one by one at the separate pavilion of Hwawolru.
While the main building rang with the sounds of musical instruments and courtesans’ songs, the separate pavilion was as silent as a graveyard.
Six tables were arranged in a circle inside the pavilion, with each branch leader and deputy leader seated at one.
Additional figures could be seen at the tables for Gimun, Amun, and Jeommun.
They were Un Jung-gaek, Han Wol-geom, Go Geom-haeng, Dan Bul-wi, and Dan Yeop.
However, while Un Jung-gaek, Han Wol-geom, and Go Geom-haeng stood behind Ha So-ran, Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop were seated at the Amun and Jeommun tables respectively.
Ha So-ran glared at Baek Cho-gong, the Jeommun leader, as if she would devour him.
“Baek Branch Leader, I didn’t expect this from you. A true gentleman doesn’t go back on his word. You appointed an instructor in Jeommun as well?”
Baek Cho-gong smiled awkwardly and replied.
“Many things have happened since then. It isn’t that I went back on my word, but rather that times have changed.”
Hong So-gwang, the Amun leader, burst into hearty laughter and chimed in.
“Times have changed! Truly wise words. We can see this clearly if we look at the history of Haomun in Guannei. Previously, we had no intention of unifying the Ten Blades Haomun, but now that has become our supreme goal. To unify the Ten Blades Haomun, a Chief Instructor, instructors, and training masters are absolutely necessary.”
Ha So-ran, grinding her teeth as she listened, immediately retorted.
“Hmph! I also acknowledge the necessity of a Chief Instructor, instructors, and training masters. That’s why I recruited the instructors. But don’t you think appointing a Chief Instructor and instructors crossed the line? Did the other branch leaders ask Hong Branch Leader and Baek Branch Leader to appoint them? Whose decision was that?”
Hong So-gwang countered shamelessly.
“You independently recruited three instructors. Why can’t Amun and Jeommun do the same?”
“What! I recruited the instructors as the temporary Chief Branch Leader! And you two also agreed to bringing in external instructors!”
“Of course, we agreed in principle, but we had no involvement in recruiting Un Jung-gaek, Han Wol-geom, and Go Geom-haeng. Didn’t you also independently bring in three instructors?”
“That’s sophistry! If you agreed to recruiting instructors……”
“You asked whose decision it was to appoint the Chief Instructor and instructors? At that time, wasn’t there talk not only of instructors but also of the Chief Instructor and instructors? Just as you independently established instructors, we simply did the same.”
“That’s……”
Ha So-ran looked at Hong So-gwang with a dumbfounded expression.
When they had resolved to recruit instructors that day, they had each made passing remarks.
— We’ll start with instructors and gradually expand.
— Exactly. After instructors come the heads, and after heads comes the Chief Instructor.
— Right. Why should only the Five Peaks Sword Sect have instructors?
Clearly, the talk of instructors and a Chief Instructor at the time had been a distant, almost dreamlike vision of the future.
Yet Hong So-gwang was treating it as if it had been an agreement.
“……You truly have no shame. How can you put that on the same level as recruiting instructors?”
Hong So-gwang drove the point home with a sly smile.
“If you had consulted me when recruiting your three instructors, I would have consulted you before appointing a Chief Instructor. Isn’t that right, Baek Branch Leader?”
When Hong So-gwang suddenly dragged him in, Baek Cho-gong reluctantly nodded.
Having mounted the tiger, he had no choice but to ride it to the end.
“Hong Branch Leader is correct.”
When Baek Cho-gong took Hong So-gwang’s side, Ha So-ran let out a cold laugh.
Cha Mun, Gak Mun, and Seon Mun leaders merely watched the three argue.
Within Haomun’s six branches, superiority varied by region.
In Guannei Circuit, Amun was the strongest, followed by Jeommun, Gimun, Gakmun, Chamun, and Seonmun.
Since the top three branches were fighting for dominance, the lower branches could only watch.
Even so, they could not simply treat it as someone else’s fire across the river.
Ma Yeong-dal, the Chamun leader, broke the silence.
“Recruiting instructors was a matter entrusted to Ha Branch Leader by us six branch leaders, wasn’t it?”
He was currently pursuing a marriage alliance with Gimun and thus sided with Ha So-ran.
The atmosphere, which had seemed to be settling, flared up once more.
Cornered, Hong So-gwang resorted to stubbornness.
“Even if it was entrusted, you still should have informed us. There might have been personal motives at play during the recruitment process.”
At that moment, the instructors who had remained silent until now each spoke up.
“Hong Branch Leader, did you just say ‘personal motives’? That’s an insult to us instructors. Can you take responsibility for that?”
“Hong So-gwang! To paint us as puppets dancing to Ha Branch Leader’s personal motives! Do you truly wish to die?”
“Baek Ya-gwi (Hong So-gwang’s epithet)! Don’t say whatever comes to mind just because your mouth is open. You might end up shitting blood from both ends.”
The atmosphere plummeted instantly.
Of course, Hong So-gwang had made a verbal slip, but the instructors’ reactions were excessive.
Such words were not appropriate for instructors to direct at a branch leader during a gathering of the six branch leaders.
***
The previous day.
Jangnak-bang in U-seong (Seosi region).
Sosangru, the main hall of Gimun.
The hour of Hae (9 p.m.), deep within the inner chambers, four people sat facing each other.
They were Ha So-ran, the Gimun leader, and the instructors Un Jung-gaek, Han Wol-geom, and Go Geom-haeng.
After one round of drinks, Ha So-ran spoke with a frustrated expression.
“Following Amun, Jeommun has also independently appointed an instructor. It seems Hong So-gwang and Baek Cho-gong have joined hands.”
Un Jung-gaek asked.
“Who is Jeommun’s instructor?”
“A young fellow named Dan Yeop from Byeongmachong. He’s Dan Bul-wi’s adopted son.”
“Heh! It looks like Haomun will be played by father and son. Why go that far? I can’t figure out Baek Cho-gong’s intentions.”
Han Wol-geom added.
“It must be to show he’s siding with Hong So-gwang. If Dan Yeop is from Byeongmachong, they wouldn’t have appointed him based on martial prowess.”
Since the Black Pavilion incident had not yet become public, everyone nodded.
Ha So-ran spoke in a resolute tone.
“At tomorrow’s gathering, they’ll try to make the appointment of the Chief Instructor and instructors a fait accompli. We need to overturn the board they’ve set tomorrow.”
The martial instructors listened in silence.
Since none of them were originally from Haomun, they were being cautious.
“You don’t have to step forward from the beginning. Hong Branch Leader is loose-lipped, so he’ll definitely make a mistake tomorrow. When that happens, please step in. Then no one will be able to criticize you.”
Go Geom-haeng, who had been listening the whole time, spoke up.
“You mean to first establish a justification before fighting.”
“That’s right. I know it’s an unreasonable request, but if you three want to secure your positions in Haomun, it’s something you’ll have to go through anyway. We can’t have a Chief Instructor and instructors above your heads, can we?”
Go Geom-haeng’s gaze turned to Un Jung-gaek and Han Wol-geom.
Un Jung-gaek and Han Wol-geom nodded.
It made no sense for the three of them to stand below Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop.
“Understood. Since we’ve decided to join Haomun, we’ll fight for it.”
Among the three, Go Geom-haeng possessed the highest martial prowess.
When he accepted, Ha So-ran’s face brightened.
“Hong Branch Leader has a thick face, so he’ll try to smooth things over somehow. If he shows an opening, don’t give him a chance to take it back—press him hard.”
Han Wol-geom smiled coldly.
“Heh heh, so it’s ‘beat the owner until the dog runs wild.’”
Of course, the dog was Dan Bul-wi and the owner was Hong So-gwang.
“Yes, don’t forget. The target isn’t Hong Branch Leader, but Chief Instructor Dan Bul-wi. Until Dan Bul-wi steps forward, tear into Hong Branch Leader.”
“Good. But we have our own condition. If we crush Dan Bul-wi as you wish, promote us to instructors.”
“If you suppress the Chief Instructor, you naturally deserve to become instructors. At that point, even the six branch leaders won’t be able to object.”
The four, united in purpose, raised their cups in a toast.
***
Present.
Hwawolru’s separate pavilion.
Faced with the instructors’ sharp threats, Hong So-gwang was left speechless.
Of course, he had made the verbal slip first.
But even so, the instructors shouldn’t be saying such things, should they?
No matter how low Haomun’s standards were, he was still one of the six branch leaders.
In contrast, the instructors’ status was far below.
In Haomun’s internal hierarchy, instructors were merely at the level of hall masters.
Hong So-gwang was deeply displeased but did not show it.
After all, Un Jung-gaek, Han Wol-geom, and Go Geom-haeng were all stronger than him.
Though the difference was only half a level to one level, he would surely lose if they fought.
Knowing this, he could not point out their faults.
“Ah, that’s not what I meant……”
However, Un Jung-gaek and Han Wol-geom, who had come prepared, had no intention of listening.
“Shut up!”
“Baek Ya-gwi! I don’t even want to hear your excuses!”
“……”
Only then did Hong So-gwang realize the instructors’ behavior was unusual and turned his head toward Ha So-ran.
‘Damn it!’
Seeing Ha So-ran’s composed expression, it was clear she had prepared for this.
To suffer such humiliation in front of the six branch leaders and deputy leaders!
Cornered, Hong So-gwang unconsciously looked at Chief Instructor Dan Bul-wi.
Finally, Chief Instructor Dan Bul-wi opened his mouth.
“For martial instructors to insult one of the six branch leaders—what kind of upbringing is that? Even if you’re wandering martial artists, you’re too ignorant of the sect’s rules.”
……
For a moment, silence fell over the room.
A deep smile appeared on Ha So-ran’s face.
Un Jung-gaek did not miss the opportunity that had finally arrived.
“Dan Bul-wi! You persuaded Hong So-gwang with your silver tongue to become Chief Instructor, didn’t you? We may not know Haomun’s rules, but we know the rules of the martial world well. Do you think you’re qualified to be called Chief Instructor?”
Han Wol-geom pressed harder to ensure Dan Bul-wi could not avoid the fight.
“Dan Bul-wi! We cannot acknowledge an unknown person as Chief Instructor. If you want to be called Chief Instructor, prove it with your skill, not your mouth!”
The fight between ‘the instructors and Hong So-gwang’ had naturally shifted to one between ‘the instructors and Chief Instructor Dan Bul-wi.’
At the instructors’ words, Dan Bul-wi let out a small laugh.
He had expected a clash with the instructors at today’s gathering anyway.
Ha So-ran and