The Second-Rate Warrior Seeking Legends
I calmly settled my mind and began drawing up qi from my dantian. Suddenly, the distant chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves in the wind, sounds I never noticed before, rang out as clearly as if they were right beside me. And the moment I snapped my eyes open.
The towering cliff, so high I had to crane my neck stiffly just to glimpse its peak, now looked as fragile as a sandcastle. Rumbling... All three hundred and sixty acupoints resonated in unison, and a heavy surge of qi exploded from my arms like a thunderbolt.
BOOM!!
The Radiant Heaven Divine Palm shot from my hand, blasting a house-sized hole into the massive cliff face.
"Hoo."
Feeling my dantian utterly drained, I slumped to the ground.
"Without a high level of mastery, it's useless in real combat."
I'd mastered a legendary palm technique, but the sheer amount of inner energy it consumed was staggering—one full gapja's worth. Its destructive power matched the cost, but in a fight, any opponent who dodged it would slice my throat before I could recover.
Unlike techniques that grew stronger with higher mastery, the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm hit harder at lower levels. To use it with controlled energy, I'd need to raise its mastery—and to do that, I'd have to keep using it... My thoughts spiraled into complication, and I pitied my own plight.
"Sword arts as weak as an ant's piss, palm strikes as vast as the Yangtze River. What kind of warrior am I? Might as well introduce myself as a gambler."
With a self-deprecating grumble, I pulled a wooden box from my robes. That was the reason I'd come all the way to this remote Stone Pillar Mountain instead of my usual Hwun Mountain for testing the technique.
"If they knew the second-place prize in the special exam was a pill from the Heavenly Wonder Divine Physician, everyone's minds would go blank."
The second-place prize in the special exam was a pill called Jeongsimdan, crafted by the Murim Alliance's Medical Pavilion. Some might question why it outranked the third-place Jeongdo Sword from the Armory. But that was because people didn't grasp its true value yet.
The Jeongsimdan was something the Heavenly Wonder Divine Physician later refined with his own formula, boasting the mystical effect of solidifying the dantian. The catch? Neither its creator nor its users knew this—its hidden benefit only prevented dantian rupture on the first dose.
It only became apparent later, like with Gye Cheolyeong's qi deviation or internal injuries. Few knew now. Even the physician who compounded it was clueless. Plus, its production cost was so exorbitant that this was a one-time batch—no more after this.
"In the end, only the second-place guy in this special exam hits the jackpot."
I popped the Jeongsimdan into my mouth and began circulating my energy. It was especially effective for someone like me, whose dantian had ballooned from spirit medicines. It wrapped and hardened the softened dantian.
As I circulated, a tiny wisp of qi gathered in my empty dantian. That handful roamed every corner of my body, collecting more bit by bit. The amassed qi pulsed through my arm meridians like a living creature, vital and strong.
All three hundred and sixty acupoints resonated, surging through the twelve principal meridians and the eight extraordinary ones. Completing a full circuit, it returned to my dantian, filling it to about thirty percent. A few more rounds would refill it, but I halted at a sensed presence nearby.
"If you're here, just say so."
Hong Saryeon stood before me, sword at her side, glaring sharply.
"Heh, that rebellious glint in your eyes toward your senior brother means you need a good caning to straighten up."
"Then why'd you run all the way here instead of just beating me?"
"Ahem. Who said anything about running?"
"Why come to Stone Pillar Mountain instead of Hwun Mountain, where you drill us to death every day?"
"Cough. You brat. Watch your words. I'm still your senior brother..."
"Whatever! Why'd you forfeit?"
"What forfeit? I was clearly defeated."
"Defeated? You dropped your sword after a few moves without even grazing his blade?"
"Didn't you see? I poured everything into that final bout with Gye Cheolyeong and exhausted my qi."
"You call that an excuse?"
"Matchups are part of skill. In the end, you..."
"Aaaah! Stop! Just stop! Fine, I'll tell the academy I'm not going. Do whatever you want!"
Considering my past life, my role was just to block Gye Cheolyeong. I'd only returned what was hers to Hong Saryeon in the first place—nothing more, nothing less.
Besides, per my plan, to protect Tae-eul Gate disciples in the Upright-Demonic Great War, we needed at least three to five in the Murim Academy. But realistically, even top 108 Peaks sects strained to send five. Unless Hong Saryeon took the regular entrance, sending even one now was crucial.
"Hong Saryeon. Stop right there."
My low voice made her shoulders twitch.
"The exam results are set. Even the sect leader can't change them at whim. If you don't go, no one from Tae-eul Gate does."
"But..."
"Stop acting like a child!"
I understood her feelings, but knowing the future, this was the only way to make her see.
Startled by my shout, she flinched, then bowed her head, fidgeting with her fingers.
"What happens to Busengdang graduates after finishing Kwaehwa Dang?"
"...?"
"Don't they all go mandatory service in the Murim Alliance?"
"...Yes."
She suddenly switched to polite speech, which she rarely used.
"What do you think those juniors will do there?"
"..."
She couldn't know the future she hadn't lived. Division heads shared snippets of hardship, but they hated talking about their poor Alliance memories.
"I know the juniors look forward to Alliance life. But dreams and reality are worlds apart."
"What do you...?"
"Tae-eul Gate will be slavedriven in the Murim Alliance."
"What?"
"The Nine Great Sects and Five Families—no, even the top 108 Peaks treat lower sects worse than dogs. What can we do against them?"
The sect leader and division heads all knew this. That's why, in my past life, they appointed Gye Cheolyeong senior brother, armed with money and academy prospects. But I'd erased that future.
"No one will help us. We help ourselves."
"..."
"For that, we need Murim Academy diplomas. And entering as officers lets you command ten-man units. Can you endure being sneered at as a low-rank warrior?"
The Alliance ran on strict hierarchy. Without patrons above, we'd be the weakest.
"Then you should've gone even more!"
She clenched her fists, enduring fear to speak.
"I'll go too."
"What?"
"Through the regular exam. To the academy."
"Senior brother..."
"So go first and wait for me."
"...Are you sane?"
She stared like I'd claimed to see a dragon.
#
"No, come on, let's just go talk to them. Maybe they'll switch it."
"Yeah, if the first-place guy admits it, they'll understand."
Hong Saryeon was persistent. She'd persuade.
"Huh? Keep this up, and I really won't go! I'm serious—not going!"
Threaten.
"Senior brother, truth is, I have an incurable disease..."
"So as a dying junior sister's final wish..."
Beg.
"No! Won't switch. Go home! Not changing it!"
I refused firmly.
As we bickered entering Tae-eul Gate, Gye Yeonseok emerged. Bloodshot, hollow eyes. Matted hair like days without washing. Reeking of booze, his fine silk robes wrinkled and stained.
Spotting me, his eyes widened like saucers, then burned with venom.
"It's your fault. All of it."
I burst into incredulous laughter.
"Blaming others after using forbidden drugs? Did I force you?"
"...Kuhk."
"And you said you wouldn't let this slide?"
I'd heard from Ijagun: he'd checked on Gye Cheolyeong's condition en route. Gye-ryong Merchant Group desperately covered up the forbidden Pogeukdan, but couldn't fool the Alliance inspectors and enforcers. Confirmed, they faced massive property loss and infamy.
"Think I'll just take this lying down?"
"Why keep blaming others for your mistakes? Want a real judgment?"
Then Hong Saryeon tugged my sleeve.
"Let's go in, senior brother."
She'd heard Gye Cheolyeong's dantian was irreparably shattered—his only child's. She knew Gye Yeonseok's desperation.
"Should've raised him right from the start. Then this wouldn't have happened."
I left those words and entered. Gye Yeonseok stood frozen like a stone statue, glaring with hatred.
The sect grounds buzzed. Busengdang graduates who'd passed the inspector exams frolicked in groups like they'd gained freedom.
"Still, this is too much. Where's even one division head?"
Oddly, no elders in sight.
Then Dongryong approached.
"Senior brother. You're summoned to Daehyeonjeon."
"What's it about?"
"Dunno. Seems like an emergency division heads' meeting."
Division heads' meetings were solemn, with leaders, sect leader, and select elders. An unscheduled emergency—and summoning me? I shelved questions and headed to Daehyeonjeon.
"Disciple Jin Sowoon. Entered."
I bowed in poomsae; Hong Moon-gi waved it off. I quietly took the empty seat at the long table's end and scanned the room.
Silence hung heavy; no one spoke easily. Odd papers piled before Hong Moon-gi.
"This is absurd. Demanding back our donations?"
"Exactly. What sect ever returns sponsorship?"
"They think Tae-eul Gate's an easy mark. Wasn't Gye Cheolyeong's deviation their own fault?"
From the spittle-flying complaints, Gye Yeonseok was demanding refunded donations, using his son's state as pretext.
Man, what a guy.
Internally cursing, I realized this might not be easy. Temples got donations; Taoist sects took fees for rites. Tae-eul Gate, more philosophical than religious, skipped those. So those "donations" could be framed as loans depending on view.
"Maybe Gye-ryong Merchant Group planned for this."
Father pierced the issue like a true Outer Hall head. But no solution.
"How to pay this sum?"
"Sect leader!"
"No!"
"Unprecedented. No sect returns sponsorship."
Nine Greats or Five Families? No one dared demand refunds. It insulted them, worsening ties. Plus, rumors would sour.
Gye-ryong's cornered.
Merchants like them would suffer hugely. Yet pushing on meant deep grudge.
"He threatened to report to authorities. Any countermeasures?"
Dragging in officials meant public scandal—Gye-ryong's credibility tanked too. A mutual destruction only a warrior might pull.
"Whew."
"Ahem."
"Tch."
"Authorities" silenced them. Unlike connected Gye-ryong, unaffiliated Tae-eul Gate would suffer just from investigation. Refunding? Catastrophic.
"Outer Hall head. Our assets?"
"...Selling everything barely covers it."
Meaning the few inns and shops.
Father paused, then continued.
"Bit awkward, but how about Wang Merchant Group's help?"
"Wang?"
"Yes. Wang Geumsan anticipated this—said come anytime if trouble, even no repayment needed."
"He said that?"
"Heh."
Division heads brightened, but Hong Moon-gi tilted his head.
"Even fond of us, giving that sum freely? Especially a merchant? Doesn't add up."
"Well... that's..."
Father hesitated, glanced at me. Why me?
"He asked for great disciple Jin Sowoon."
"What?"
Gazes turned; I sighed in shock.
"What nonsense?"
"Said if the young master's interested, he'd teach merchant ways..."
Suddenly, I was sold off for the sect's debt.
"Absurd. Can't do. Tae-eul Gate's great disciple as a merchant?"
Hong Moon-gi refused flatly. Heads knew better but sighed regretfully—especially Gang Chaeseok of Kwaehwa Dang, eyeing me openly.
That jerk!
"Better sell all assets than that."
"...Yes."
Father eyed me oddly, then looked away.
"Still, borrowing from Wang's worth considering. We can't pay at once—spread over years."
"Hmm."
Just a stopgap. All sipped cold tea.
"Ahem, how about our great disciple's opinion?"
Gang Chaeseok suddenly named me. No speaking rights in such meetings without grant.
"Sowoon?"
"Yes. He's the great disciple. Might have clever ideas we missed. And... maybe he's always been into commerce."
This guy! Trying to sell me for donations? I glared; he coughed, averted eyes.
"And if Sowoon inherits Wang, it's good for all, right?"
Gang Chaeseok's syrupy words left us all dumbfounded. Inherits?
"Why? If Soso and Sowoon wed, Wang and Tae-eul become family."
Wang Geumsan marrying his precious only daughter to a second-rate from a third-rate sect? What was Gang Chaeseok thinking? Yet some heads nodded.
"Enough. No more. I won't have Sowoon learn commerce."
Hong Moon-gi shut it down.
"If you have something to say, speak."
He eyed me expectantly.
"What would this disciple know?"
Disappointment rippled, even from him.
"But if any idea's fine, I'll try."
"Go on."
"I've wandered far and wide. Once met a miner on a mountain."
"Miner?"
"Yes. He wondered why no mine there."
Blank looks all around.
"He said Stone Pillar Mountain behind Hwun has rich iron ore deposits."
"Iron ore?"
Iron's most-used mineral, vital for weapons. Big sects always owned mines.
Father asked.
"Isn't Stone Pillar just barren rock? No trees."
Ownerless, soil-poor, weed-choked—worthless. Dirt cheap, but useless, so unsold.
"Miner said dig shallow, hit iron fast. Buy Stone Pillar cheap, borrow from Wang to develop. Repay Gye-ryong gradually."
They looked skeptical. Makes sense—if real, it'd be claimed; officials might intervene if known.
But I wouldn't miss this. Two years on, massive rains trigger Stone Pillar landslide, exposing huge iron mine. Officials who owned it got rich; Father regretted not buying for a year straight.
"Your miner wouldn't lie. But investing on words alone's too risky now."
Hong Moon-gi saw the fancifulness but didn't dismiss.
I nodded.
"Figured you'd think so. So I dug around Stone Pillar these past weeks."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Say that again?"
I stood, placed a melon-sized black rock with faint silver sheen—iron ore—from this morning's pit while practicing Radiant Heaven Divine Palm.
"Found it a bit ago, but needed smith confirmation. Forgive the delay."
Anticipating, mouths and eyes gaped.
"Smith said top-quality iron ore."
Even composed Hong Moon-gi gawked, mouth and eyes pumpkin-wide.