Training Days
"Impressive... You have quite the young clan heir."
"Thank you for the praise."
Baekri Hyeong and Jegal Yujin exchanged greetings atop the martial stage. Jegal Yujin showed no outward sign of frustration at her defeat. Though her arms trembled slightly, betraying the sting of loss, she maintained a smile—perhaps because it was a formal occasion—and descended from the stage alongside Baekri Hyeong.
Jegal Jincheon, watching the scene, could not help but feel impressed. As far as he knew, Jegal Yujin and Baekri Hyeong were the same age. Yet such a gap existed in their martial prowess. The saying that no tiger cub is born under a tiger's den seemed to apply perfectly here.
Meanwhile, Baekri Hyeok harbored different thoughts as he observed his son. 'So you intend to keep that sword art you've been secretly practicing hidden.'
He had long noticed that Baekri Hyeong was training in a different sword technique. Whenever the boy was alone, he would first scan his surroundings before practicing an unfamiliar art. From Baekri Hyeok's perspective, this was a situation that could easily warrant anger. His son was disregarding the sword he had spent countless years perfecting in favor of an unknown martial art. This alone could strip him of his position as young clan heir and brand him a traitor to the clan.
But what father would do such a thing to his son? Moreover, upon closer inspection of the sword art, even Baekri Hyeok found himself impressed by its path. Though incomplete, if perfected, it would reveal a swordsmanship surpassing even his own creation.
As long as his son did not reveal it first, he had no intention of using it against him. After all, the boy possessed the Heavenly Martial Body. He would watch as his son trained as he wished, so long as he did not stray onto a dark path. It was better to grant some freedom than to be an overbearing father who interfered in everything.
"Jegal Clan Head. I'd like to discuss further what we talked about at the banquet."
"Really?"
"I won't go back on my word. My mood has improved somewhat, so I'll hear your proposal."
"I'm grateful for even that much."
Perhaps because his son had overwhelmed the Jegal Clan's daughter, Baekri Hyeok felt his emotions toward the Jegal Clan somewhat eased. He too had noticed the turbulent state of the Hubei martial world. However, he had been displeased that the Jegal Clan was the one extending a hand first. Even without allying with them, he could resolve matters once he reappeared in the martial world. The power held by the title Sword Sovereign was that immense.
"This is the children's place, so the adults should step aside. Follow me."
"Understood."
Baekri Hyeok used his movement technique to leave first, and Jegal Jincheon followed. Their destination was the mountain behind the Baekri Clan Residence—a perfect spot for a private conversation.
With the clan heads gone, only the Baekri siblings and Jegal siblings remained.
"Impressive, Young Clan Heir. At such a young age, your martial prowess shows no mercy. As expected of the Sword Phoenix's brother?"
"You flatter me, Young Master Jiryong. Rather, I wish to praise Lady Yujin. That persistence in charging at me without giving up—I hope you never forget it."
"Through this duel, I've come to understand my shortcomings. Thank you for sparring with me, Young Clan Heir."
"Come now. The duel ended well, and the adults have left. Shall we call it a day?"
The atmosphere suggested endless pleasantries could continue. Baekri Hyang quickly sensed this and steered the conversation toward wrapping up. Baekri Hyeong agreed, and the siblings from both clans soon dispersed.
**********
"Thanks to Clan Head Baekri, we've had an enjoyable day. We'll take our leave, looking forward to our next meeting."
"No. I'll carefully review the proposal Clan Head Jegal made and make a decision. It would be good if there's positive news."
"...Understood. Then we'll be on our way."
Contrary to his words about hoping for good news, Baekri Hyeok's eyes were unreadable. As expected, the Sword Sovereign was no toothless tiger. Rather, he was preparing to hunt prey with even sharper fangs than a few years ago. The day he left the cave that was the Baekri Clan, the Murim Alliance would naturally undergo change. It was more beneficial to bow and build a good relationship with him now.
Jegal Jincheon maintained his friendly smile as he returned to his clan.
"They're gone."
"Yes, they're gone. I really don't want to see them again."
"Do you dislike Young Master Jiryong that much?"
"I can't stand people who talk big. A real man should settle things with strength. What kind of man is weaker than a woman?"
If Big Sister's skill is the standard, then about half the men in the world would be women, Baekri Hyeong thought to himself. If he said it out loud, he'd get a lump on his head bigger than his eyeballs, so he kept quiet.
"What will you do now? Continue training?"
"Of course. My body hasn't even lived ten years yet, so I can't freely roam the martial world, can I?"
"True enough. I only started my external activities in earnest at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering."
The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. The grandest event hosted by the Murim Alliance, also known as the Number One Martial Tournament Under Heaven. Promising young talents from the martial world gathered there. Men received the title of Dragon, women the title of Phoenix.
As the Sword Phoenix of her generation, Baekri Hyang had defeated formidable young talents at the age of twelve to claim her position. Of course, that didn't mean the Dragon-Phoenix titles lasted forever. The titles disappeared naturally once the bearer reached adulthood. And once all the Dragons and Phoenixes from one gathering surpassed that age, the Murim Alliance would hold another gathering to select new promising youths.
Usually held every five years, but because the Sword Phoenix had taken the Phoenix title at such a young age, the next gathering kept being postponed.
"The next Dragon-Phoenix Gathering will be in four years. Maybe you can make your debut in the martial world then?"
"Then I'll have to train like mad until then."
"You know it."
In his past life, Baekri Hyeong had participated in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. But because he had trained lazily despite possessing the Heavenly Martial Body, he had to yield the title of Divine Dragon—praised as the strongest among the Dragons—to someone else and settle for Sword Dragon.
Of course, he hadn't been consumed by inferiority. Back then, he hadn't been particularly interested in martial arts to the point of obsessing over titles. But this time, he had no such intention. He planned to definitely obtain the Divine Dragon title at the gathering and unite the young talents to lay the foundation against the Heavenly Demon Cult.
To do that, he had no choice but to continue training for the gathering in four years.
"I'll head off to train now."
"Right. Train hard."
"Yes."
But before that, there was something he had to do: rooting out the traitors within the clan. Strengthening internal unity was just as important as increasing his power. Baekri Hyeong spent his spare time poking around various parts of the clan. Of course, he only went as far as the loosely guarded outskirts. Now that he had officially obtained the position of young clan heir, he planned to move more openly—under the pretext of inspection.
'The places I'm most suspicious of right now are three.'
One was the Finance Hall where the Baekri Clan's funds flowed. Next was the office of the Chief Steward who handled all the clan's affairs. Lastly, the office of the First Elder, who belonged to a branch family.
Personally, he hoped the traitor wasn't in the Finance Hall. No matter how much the orthodox martial world touted chivalry and righteousness, without money, it was over. If the traitor in the Baekri Clan held a high position in the Finance Hall, they could lead the clan not to destruction but to bankruptcy. So he had to approach carefully. He needed to gather all evidence, leave no escape route, and strike all at once.
But was this an easy task? Even as the young clan heir, to mobilize soldiers in the Baekri Clan required the Clan Head's permission. To obtain that permission, he would have to explain this and that, and in the process, he might end up saying things he shouldn't.
Baekri Hyeong found himself facing quite a headache. If he investigated with the intention of being discovered by his father... well, just training the Four Guardian Deities Sword already felt like driving a nail into his father's heart. He didn't want to burden him with this too.
"Let's do it the usual way. If it doesn't work, there's nothing I can do."
His preparations were a black wind robe and quiet movements that left no traces. Since the Jegal Clan had returned to their own home today, things would surely be chaotic. He planned to begin his activities once the sun set. Until then... well, he had no choice but to train relentlessly.