The Guest at Last
"So the deterioration has stopped."
Jin Cheong-un withdrew his hand from Jeong So-ryong's mingmen blood point, eyes narrowing slightly. "How have you been sleeping lately?"
"Very well."
"Hm."
"……Actually, it hurts a little. But I'm fine."
Jin Cheong-un knew that Jeong So-ryong's "a little" had to be heard as everyone else's "a lot." The boy was improving slowly through tonification and absorption exercises, but it was only ever "slowly."
Unless he seriously begins studying the internal method, nothing major will change.
He would have liked to keep the boy focused solely on tonification for another six months or so, but… Jin Cheong-un reluctantly nodded.
"Fine. You've awakened your qi sense anyway, so let's have you begin studying the internal method—even if only for the sake of your treatment."
"Really, Master?"
"It works out well. Your sister is due to start combining her physical training with something else, too. But—"
Jin Cheong-un raised his index finger and spoke sternly. "If anything feels wrong or hurts, you must tell me. If you endure it in silence or lie about it, you'll be punished. Understood?"
"Yes, Master! If anything goes wrong, I'll report to you immediately."
"……"
Jin Cheong-un opened his mouth to add another warning, then simply shut it. Any other child would have milking the drama for all it was worth—but this boy hid things further, afraid that speaking up would needlessly worry people.
"By the way, where on earth has So-so gone? She's been gone this whole time."
"Wasn't she running an errand for you, Master?"
"When did she leave? She said she was going to buy food, not make it from scratch."
Just then—
Creeeeeak!
The academy's gate swung open, very, very slowly.
Thud!
And a figure collapsed limply through the gap in the door.
Tangled hair. Clothes covered head to toe in dust. Hands trembling uncontrollably. The person slowly raising her head was—
"Ugh… uuuugh… M-Master…"
None other than Jeong So-so.
Anyone could see she looked like she'd been caught up in some terrible incident. But the reactions of Jin Cheong-un and Jeong So-ryong could not have been more placid.
"Speak of the devil. What are you doing? If you bought food, hurry up and come inside so we can eat."
"You're back, Sis? A bit late today, isn't it?"
"……"
Jeong So-so, looking utterly wounded, staggered to her feet, picked up the woven basket she'd carried back on her head, and trudged inside.
Clack.
Having set the basket on the table, Jeong So-so slumped into a chair with a haggard face. "I'm… back."
"Good work. Nothing bad happened, right?"
At that, Jeong So-so turned to face Jin Cheong-un with her chair creaking. "……Master. Right now, your unfilial disciple looks, to anyone's eyes, like someone who's been through quite a lot…… doesn't she?"
"You trained, then climbed up and down the mountain to buy food. Of course you look like that. So-ryong, set the table."
"Yes."
Indeed. Immediately after the hellish pre-dawn conditioning drills had ended, Jeong So-so had gone straight back down to the village to buy their meal as well.
And because of her monstrous appetite, that meant ten servings.
Ten whole servings!
"There's… there's just one thing I'm really curious about. May I ask?"
"What is it?"
"This is all martial arts training, right? Buying food counts as training too, right? It's absolutely not just because you find it tiresome to go down and eat yourselves, is it?!"
"Hm? Of course not. How would buying food be martial training?"
"……!"
I knew it! This demon! This devil! This swindler! This Black Tiger Swindler!
She was grumbling inwardly when a shocking remark came.
"This doesn't even count as training. If it were basic conditioning, maybe."
"…What?"
Jeong So-so's expression went blank for a moment. "This is exhausting… and you're saying it's just basic training?"
"So-so, let me tell you something."
Suddenly, Jin Cheong-un's voice dropped low. "The truth is, you're not actually tired."
"……?"
"You keep saying you're tired, so you've just convinced yourself you're tired."
"No, it's not an illusion, I'm genuinely—"
"No. Your willpower is simply lacking, and that's why you're imagining it. Didn't I tell you? Utmost sincerity! You must hold the utmost sincerity in your heart."
Jin Cheong-un clicked his tongue. "No matter how exhausted you are, you have to motivate yourself—'more training, this fatigue is exactly what I need!'—or you'll never improve. Back in my day, I had to haul boulders and climb cliffs all night before I'd think, 'Ah, I got a bit of exercise in today.' Tsk tsk tsk."
"……"
My ears are going to bleed.
She knew complaining would get her nowhere—not even a scrap of sympathy—but she truly felt like she was about to die, and she couldn't help bringing it up.
"Words of wisdom, of course. Naturally, Master is right. But!"
"But what?"
"Was it really necessary to buy food from the inn every single time? What about packing a lunch box in the morning? You know—it saves both time and money. Killing two birds with one stone, no?"
"Hmm."
Rather unexpectedly, Jin Cheong-un nodded readily. "That worn out, is it?"
"It's… a little much?"
"Then you should've just said so."
Life flickered back into Jeong So-so's wilted face. "Really?"
"If you're tired, you rest. Obviously, if you're exhausted, you should do things the easy way."
"……?"
"So-so, let's live comfortably. Comfortably. Doing just enough is the best way. Why bother learning martial arts at all? Let's just do what everyone else does and coast along."
Jeong So-so smiled brightly. Now we're talking.
It had been months of this basic training. She understood it was meant to build flexibility, stamina, and strength—but being run into the ground every single day was genuinely killing her.
Then Jin Cheong-un smirked. "Why? Not what you expected?"
"What do you mean, not what I expected?"
"I wondered if you felt slighted—getting tormented for months on end, unlike So-ryong there."
Jeong So-so tilted her head. Then, without a moment's deliberation, she answered. "No? I'm sure you have your reasons for making me do it."
"Hm?"
"I was just whining a little because I'm tired. If you ordered it, then I should do it, that's all."
Jeong So-so shrugged. Exhausting was exhausting, but she had no intention of second-guessing the tasks her master set. She trusted him. Ask her who the most trustworthy person in the world was, and she would say Jin Cheong-un's name without a moment's hesitation.
"……"
As Jin Cheong-un's eyes went wide with what looked like emotion, Jeong So-so flashed a playful grin. "You're touched right now, aren't you? Admit it!"
"Am I?"
"……What?"
"If you trust me so much, why are you whining? Clearly your mental discipline is slipping—"
"AAAAH!"
Jeong So-so shrieked with a look of profound disgust, and Jeong So-ryong patted his sister's back soothingly.
Jin Cheong-un smirked and studied Jeong So-so quietly. She hasn't noticed, has she?
The truth was, her exhaustion was only natural. He had been secretly ratcheting up the training intensity and the weight of the sandbags, little by little.
She could easily have snuck in a few breaks while she was out, but judging by her state, she didn't cut a single corner.
Wasn't that admirable? If it had been him, he would have rested the moment no one was watching.
Jeong So-so probably didn't realize it. That her attitude was worth more than any rare, special talent.
Hmm. She says she's fine, so maybe I'll push her a little harder…
Jeong So-so shuddered, seized by a chill she couldn't explain.
By the time the meal was winding down, Jeong So-so asked with a gloomy face, "By the way, Master."
"Hm?"
"Nobody came while I was out, right? Not a single person?"
"……That's right."
"It'd be nice if the teachers from the old academy came back."
"You mean the ones who worked under my master?"
"Yes. It's been years now, hasn't it? We haven't heard a word from any of them. Everyone was so sorry to see them go."
"I see."
Jin Cheong-un replied indifferently and took a sip of his tea.
This was the difference between a sect and a martial academy. In the Jianghu, no matter how dire a sect's circumstances became, its members never abandoned it. Walking away from your sect to join another was viewed as a child abandoning their parents—even the most degenerate criminals wouldn't acknowledge such a person as human. A martial academy, by contrast, was lax on every front.
"Hmm."
Jin Cheong-un sank into thought for a moment. We've waited this long with nothing happening—safe to assume there won't be any trouble.
It wasn't as if he'd spent all this time idly twiddling his thumbs. Before the Black Tiger Swindler died, he had mentioned the Iron Blood Fortress, so Jin Cheong-un had refrained from stirring up trouble and simply watched the situation. Fortunately, months had passed without incident. With this much quiet, he could reasonably conclude there would be no retaliation.
"What about throwing a feast or handing out rice cakes? Lately the other academies come out to the market and do exactly that."
"You think feasts are free? It all costs money. Money."
"Still, couldn't you at least…"
"I have something in mind, so just wait."
"What are you planning to do?"
Jin Cheong-un's eyes glinted. "I was thinking of paying a visit to that Martial Arts Academy Association, or whatever it's called."
"Oh! That place!"
The Black Tiger Swindlers had once mentioned that such an organization existed. He had no particular desire to join anything, but his retirement had gone sideways from the very first day—there was no need to keep being standoffish with the locals and playing alone.
Besides, this whole business is foreign territory to me anyway.
If it turned out to be something like a local merchant guild or fishing cooperative, he might pick up some useful information—
Hm?
Wait a moment.
"So-so. Say that again."
"Throw a feast and hand out rice cakes?"
"After that."
"Ah—all the other academies come out and do it."
"……!"
"The academies from the other villages. They've been coming to Yinghua Village for a while now, gathering up the kids and advertising…"
Jin Cheong-un's eyes went wide.
So what you're telling me is—someone has been running a business in my territory without a shred of professional decency?
"Why, you little—!"
Just then, Jin Cheong-un shot to his feet as if to bolt out the door at that very instant—then sharply turned his head.
"What is it?"
"Shh."
He could hear it. Through his hearing, sharpened to its limit by his awakened qi sense, an unfamiliar noise drifted in.
Thud. Thud.
Footsteps. Someone was climbing up toward the academy.
This time it's certain! Not a cat, not a crow!
Finally!
A guest!
"Good grief. What kind of academy sits all the way out here… hoooh. Ahem!"
Hwang Jong-baek, Director of the Blue Dragon Martial Arts Academy, disguised a hacking cough as a clearing of the throat and forced down the breath welling up in his chest.
Hnngh. I suppose skipping training lately has put more weight on me. But honestly, what is wrong with these stairs…
The place was remote even from the market district—and they expected him to climb a mountain on top of that? It had been ages since he'd last scaled stairs like these, and his knees were aching from sole to hip. But with a director's dignity at stake, he couldn't let his exhaustion show, and it was truly killing him.
"Director, are you all right?"
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Would you like to… rest a moment?"
"Rest? Nonsense. I'm perfectly fine. Ahem!"
Hwang Jong-baek waved his fan with one hand and clasped the other behind his back, the very picture of composure.
None of it could hide his bulging cheeks or the sweat streaming down his face, but at the very least, he looked reasonably dignified.
"It's not some hermit's retreat—who builds an academy in the mountains these days? Our director certainly has a taste for the dramatic," one of the instructors muttered.
"Still, they seem to have plenty of money. Isn't that blue-steel flagstone we're standing on?"
The instructors trailing behind him were gawking openly, secretly awed. The gate was made of what looked like rosewood, that famous timber used only for ornamentation—and the flooring was the legendary blue-steel flagstone they'd only ever heard about?
"Ahem. We're here on business, not sightseeing. Kindly stop gawking."
"F-forgive us, Director."
"Anyway, gate's wide open and not a soul in sight. I'd like to wrap this errand up quickly and get back…"
The gate stood open, yet there wasn't a sign of anyone. Though he had entered the grounds, Hwang Jong-baek paced uneasily near the gate, his face uneasy.
If the Association hadn't ordered it, I never would have come.
The truth was, he hadn't wanted to come at all. No grand reason—just a bad feeling.
I slept fitfully last night, and when I arrived there was some black cat prowling about, and a flock of crows circling… something's off. The omens are bad, I tell you.
He'd always had good instincts, ever since he was young. The fact that a man with mediocre martial arts had risen to gatekeeper of the Martial Arts Alliance in his youth was thanks entirely to his sharp eye for reading a room.
"Ahem! The master is clearly away, so let's head back."
"What? We came all this way—is that really your order?"
"Th-the master isn't home. One shouldn't barge into another's house, surely?"
"Then allow me to call for him. If no one answers, we'll go search the village."
"There's really no need to—"
"HELLOOOO—! IS ANYONE HOME?!"
"N-no, wait!"
His instructor's excessive loyalty turned Hwang Jong-baek's face pale.
Just then—
Click!
A door opened on the side of the main house, and a man walked out. "May I help you?"
Everyone froze for an instant. His gaze, his posture—there was an unshakable calm to them, the air of a genuine Jianghu veteran, the kind one rarely encountered.
Gulp.
Just as Hwang Jong-baek quietly swallowed, the young man suddenly began approaching them with measured, courteous steps.
"Wh-what is—"
Clack!
The young man stopped directly in front of him, and Hwang Jong-baek stumbled back a step. And then—
"Welcome."
"……?"
"A place that always puts its students first. A place where a master from the Martial Arts Alliance himself teaches each and every student with devotion."
"……??"
"Nothing like this has ever existed before. A true teaching that breathes—a cradle of learning where students grow alongside their masters. Welcome to the Cheongun Martial Arts Academy, soon to be known as the finest academy under heaven."
Jin Cheong-un bowed slightly, wearing a silky, honeyed smile.
Hwang Jong-baek's eyebrows twitched violently.
Is this man insane?