Farewell Party (3)
While the novice disciples were still deep in the revelry of the farewell banquet, the second-generation disciples had gathered elsewhere for a far more solemn purpose.
Disciple selection.
When the novices were elevated to formal disciples, the second-generation would also choose their personal students. That process had to be finished first.
"There are so many becoming formal disciples this time. It's making the decisions harder than usual."
"We've been training them for this day, true enough—but the numbers are still overwhelming."
"And then there's the problem of competing over the ones we actually want."
Each second-generation disciple could take no more than three personal students. Some preferred to focus everything on a single prodigy; others preferred the strength of numbers. The real trouble was that the most desirable candidates often overlapped—and when that happened, the only solution was a duel.
"This year's scramble was especially fierce."
"Even without using inner energy, I never expected the competition to turn that vicious."
"Which only means the top ranks among this batch of novices are an unusually rich harvest."
Naturally, every second-generation eye had fixed first on those who had finished among the top ten in the promotion examinations. Roughly half that list changed from test to test, yet a handful of names appeared without fail.
"Yeonhwa still stands out the most."
"Even in the promotion exams she looked half-asleep out of sheer laziness, yet she still lands in the top ten every time. It's almost uncanny."
"No wonder they call her a genius. Her martial attainments already lead the entire Hwa generation."
"She was born lazy, but even allowing for that, her talent is simply overwhelming."
Yeonhwa, hailed as the foremost genius of her generation, was only the beginning.
"Myeonghwa drew fierce competition as well."
"His aptitude is solid enough to stay in the top ten, and he has friends among the novices and the second generation alike."
"Even with people who barely know each other, drop Myeonghwa in the middle and conversation suddenly flows. That alone is worth a great deal."
"Which is why the seniors who planned to take multiple disciples swarmed him at once."
Myeonghwa, the Hwa generation's foremost information broker and social butterfly.
"Jeokhwa was popular for similar reasons."
"She stayed by Yeonhwa's side to the very end despite that girl's... unique temperament. That speaks volumes about her character."
"She's always stuck so close to Yeonhwa that people overlook her, but her own talent is quite excellent."
Often treated as a set with Yeonhwa, Jeokhwa had nevertheless earned independent recognition for her skill.
After a contest the novices never even saw, the second-generation disciples had nearly finished their selections. Nearly—except for one problem.
"The real issue is Cheonhwa."
"If you look purely at results, he is the most overwhelming of the entire novice class."
"But from the standpoint of someone who has to teach him, he's a nightmare in every direction."
Not a single second-generation disciple wanted to claim Cheonhwa as a personal student. Even Inwol, who had trained with him for years, and Senior Brother Muwol himself had ultimately stepped back after long deliberation.
The reason was simple.
"I honestly don't know if I could properly teach that monster."
No one among them believed they could handle him. And the root of that fear lay in Cheonhwa's complete mastery of the Gyunchon Chukgi-gong.
"How am I supposed to instruct a boy who perfected the Balanced Heaven Qi Accumulation Art by himself?"
Generations of novices had aimed for that same mastery; not one had ever passed the Four-Stage threshold before abandoning the foundational art. The second-generation disciples of the Wol generation were no exception. Yet Cheonhwa had completed it in four years—one year faster than the theoretical minimum of five. An achievement that would be remembered in the Zhongnan Sect's history forever.
That alone was intimidating enough. It was not the only issue.
"He also declared he would learn no other sword arts—only the Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven."
"And none of us have delved into that form as deeply as he has."
"If we judge purely by the early forms, we're the ones who should be learning from him."
As Zhongnan's foundational sword art, every second-generation disciple had studied the Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven. Yet here stood a boy not yet fifteen whose attainments in its opening sequences already surpassed their own. The saying went that even a passing beggar might teach you something—but accepting that a child outstripped you was another matter entirely.
"And he intends to master the entire Four Directions Heaven Arts as well?"
"Having perfected the Balanced Heaven Qi Accumulation Art, he can theoretically learn every martial art of Zhongnan. It's entirely possible."
"Looking at how steeply his Vast Heaven Qi Art is rising, it certainly seems within reach."
After completing the foundational art, Cheonhwa's rate of growth had become almost unnatural. Had he displayed prodigious talent from the start, they might have accepted it. Instead they could only guess at the reasons for his sudden acceleration, and that strangeness left them with no idea how to teach him.
"There's also the possibility that he has inherited the true orthodoxy of Zhongnan's martial lineage."
"Raising such a disciple would be an honor—but also a crushing burden."
Rumors already whispered that Cheonhwa had uncovered long-forgotten secrets of the sect's martial heritage and was, in effect, its legitimate successor. Okwon Jinin and Gakhyeon, along with the sect's other martial scholars, were still investigating. If the rumors proved true, taking him as a student would mean far more than ordinary instruction.
All these factors combined to place Cheonhwa at the very top of the list of disciples no second-generation master dared claim lightly.
"In five short years as a novice he has grown too large for any of us to contain."
They had postponed the decision until tonight. Tonight was the final limit. And once more, deep sighs escaped the lips of the second-generation disciples who still had no idea what to do with him.
The day after the farewell banquet, the secular disciples departed the main mountain one by one. Cheonhwa stood with his remaining brothers and sisters at the mountain gate to see them off.
There was little time to grieve the parting. The formal disciple ceremony awaited them.
The rite itself was not especially elaborate. They offered proper rites to the Primordial Heavenly Lord and the other Taoist deities, then to the founding patriarch and successive masters of the mountain, declaring that the Hwa-generation novices were now full disciples of the Zhongnan Sect.
From that moment Cheonhwa and his peers became registered disciples whose names stood upon the sect rolls.
Then came the next step.
The ceremony in which the second-generation disciples of the Wol generation chose personal students from among the third-generation Hwa disciples.
On a broad open ground the two generations faced each other in ordered ranks. The Sect Leader, the elders, and the first-generation disciples looked on. Okwon Jinin raised his voice.
"The selection of personal disciples begins now. Second-generation disciple Muwol, step forward and name your students."
Senior Brother Muwol advanced and called the courtesy names of those he would take. Each named disciple left the third-generation line and took his place behind Muwol. One by one the rest of the second generation followed in their appointed order, summoning their chosen students.
"Yeonhwa."
"Myeonghwa."
"Jeokhwa."
Some of the names were ones Cheonhwa knew well. Gradually the third-generation ranks thinned while the lines behind the second-generation masters lengthened.
I can feel how nervous my senior brothers and sisters are.
He did not even need the Six Harmony Sensory Path to sense it. Some closed their eyes and prayed. Others clenched their fists until cold sweat ran down their wrists. Still others tried to calm racing hearts with careful breaths.
The reason was simple.
None of them are certain they will be chosen.
Those who, like Yeonhwa and Myeonghwa, had always ranked at the top had nothing to fear. Even those who had never failed a promotion exam stood on solid ground; they had already proven their worth. The ones who suffered were those who had failed even once.
Retakes offer no precious medicines like the ones given to the top ten. Only pass or fail.
Even outstanding performance brought no special recognition, so few ever managed to stand out. And the number of personal disciples that could be taken was strictly limited.
There are simply more third-generation disciples than second-generation masters. Even if each master takes the maximum of three, the choice still rests entirely with them.
At last every second-generation disciple had finished choosing. A considerable number of third-generation disciples remained unchosen—Cheonhwa among them.
The unselected disciples cast sidelong glances at him, unable to understand why the foremost of their novice years had been passed over.
So it has come to this after all.
Cheonhwa himself had expected nothing else. Since the death of the founding patriarch, no one had walked the path he now walked. To become his master required more than guidance; it required the ability to pioneer that road together.
Uncle-Master Gakhyeon said that only he and the Sect Leader on this mountain are capable of it.
Not being chosen as a personal disciple left him with no particular regret. Gakhyeon still instructed him from time to time, and as a registered disciple he could train with complete freedom.
With the personal selections complete, only one matter remained.
"I shall now appoint the Head Disciple of the Hwa generation."
At Okwon Jinin's declaration every gaze converged on a single boy.
An orphan of the ends of the earth who had entered Zhongnan with nothing. Through venomous, unrelenting effort he had faced every trial and hardship. The quiet back he presented as he simply walked forward had changed his brothers and sisters. Even when catastrophe pushed them to the brink of life and death, he had refused to retreat and had led them through.
"Third-generation disciple Cheonhwa—step forward."
The boy answered the summons and advanced.
"From this day you are Head Disciple of the Hwa generation."
Okwon Jinin's voice rang out toward the solemn youth.
"The Head Disciple holds authority to punish and to command the Hwa generation. Yet these are never rights."
Beneath the Sect Leader's solemn tone the entire assembly waited in silence for what would follow.
"They are responsibilities, and they are the trust of Zhongnan. You will treat your brothers and sisters with fairness and justice."
"I will keep it firmly in mind."
"Moreover, once each year the position may be contested by challenge. Bear this in mind and never grow lax in your training."
Then Okwon Jinin turned to the third-generation disciples as a whole.
"If any among you object to Cheonhwa becoming Head Disciple of the Hwa generation, speak now!"
The third-generation disciples exchanged glances, then answered with one heart and one voice.
"None!"
Hundreds of voices became a single roar that filled the open ground. The sound struck Cheonhwa's back like countless congratulatory hands. He turned and looked at the faces of his generation.
I have been chosen Head Disciple—yet I still cannot be certain I am worthy.
But as Daehwa had said at the farewell banquet, he could no longer look away.
Since I have accepted the seat, I will simply give everything I have—as I always have.
Cheonhwa steeled himself and spoke.
"Third-generation disciple Cheonhwa hereby vows before Heaven that he will fulfill the duties of Head Disciple with all his strength!"
As though they had been waiting for those very words, cheers erupted from every side. And so, amid the fervent support of his Hwa-generation brothers and sisters, Cheonhwa became their Head Disciple.