Pay It Back Double
Baek Gun-ak walked at a slow, unhurried pace, surveying the grounds of White Horse Academy. Beneath his feet, gold-brick flagstones gleamed like mirrors under a coat of oil; overhead, costly celadon roof tiles shimmered with a jade-green luster where the sunlight touched them. The faint fragrance of agarwood drifted through every corner of the compound, leaving no stale odor anywhere, and every student and laborer passing by was immaculately turned out and carried himself with poise.
The White Horse Academy of just a few years ago — so utterly ordinary — was gone. Feeling his chest swell with satisfaction, Baek Gun-ak nodded. Truly a fine sight.
But the moment he came to a stop before a certain door, his expression hardened. He drew one long, deep breath and spoke.
"You called for me."
From within the firmly shut room came a frail voice.
"Ahem, ahem! Yes... do come in."
The instant he opened the door, the bitter bite of medicinal herbs stung his nose. On a bed furnished with luxurious silk lay a haggard old man.
The most revered grandmaster in all the Yichang Jianghu. President of the Martial Arts Academy Association. Master of White Horse Academy. And his own father — Baek Un-seo.
"Welcome, my boy. Cough! Cough!"
"How fares your health?"
"Only a lingering cough — the rest of me is perfectly fine. Now, don't just stand there; come and sit."
Baek Un-seo beckoned warmly. Baek Gun-ak stared blankly at the gesture for a moment before slowly lowering himself into the seat.
"So. How go things these days?"
"Nothing of consequence."
"Yes, yes, I'm sure you manage splendidly. Unlike this old father of yours, you were a clever one from the cradle."
"......"
Baek Gun-ak offered no argument, only a slow nod.
"And how is Ji-cheon? My one and only grandson — no visits, no greetings of late. I'll forget the boy's face at this rate."
"He's a good-for-nothing. Coddle him any more and his habits will only worsen."
"Still, a father shouldn't speak so of his own son. Reason with him gently, and one day the boy will come to his senses and understand his father's heart."
Soft wrinkles folded across the old man's face. His father, who had worn a smile all his life, looked gentle rather than fearsome despite every crease.
But Baek Gun-ak found that wrinkled smile unsettling. As though it could see straight through him.
"Why did you summon me today?"
"Is it such a strange thing, a father wanting to look upon his son's face?"
"If that is all you wished to discuss, I will return another time. The Association's officers are waiting; I must be going."
At the barb, Baek Un-seo let out a brief sigh and asked, "Gun-ak, my boy — there's no need to live as though you're being chased, is there?"
"......"
"How many times must I say it? In the end, all that remains to a man is his bearing and his dignity. Even if the coffers run thin, even if one's martial arts fall a step behind......"
"Father, it is precisely because you chased such impractical ideals that White Horse Academy never grew beyond what it is. Chivalry, virtue — weigh them as you like, and what remains at the end of the day?"
Though his son had cut him off mid-sentence without hearing him out, Baek Un-seo merely held his tongue. After a stretch of silence, he spoke again, his voice heavy.
"I hear the Cheongun Martial Arts Academy has opened its doors once more."
"And where did you hear that this time?"
"Did I not tell you? That those academy folk would return one day. That is why I said to leave Yinghua Village be."
Baek Gun-ak's brow furrowed at that.
"Are you going to bring up that promise again? What is it about that tiny academy that occupies you so?"
"Would a father wish his own child ill? Everything I say is for your sake. For your sake...... If they are truly disciples of that place, then they are people who live in a different world from ours."
"A different world? They are nothing more than retired warriors gone home to the countryside."
"Gun-ak."
"Their director was the first to wound the Association's dignity. I cannot let it pass unanswered."
Baek Un-seo released a long, deep sigh.
"Authority heaped upon profit is a pavilion built on sand. Embrace the director with virtue instead, and the people will raise your name higher still."
"Not that speech again!"
Baek Gun-ak finally raised his voice. At the sight of his coughing father he wavered — but only for a moment before hardening his heart and rising from his seat.
"The Jianghu does not work that way anymore. I will raise White Horse Academy high in the Jianghu by my own methods. When that day comes, Father, you too will acknowledge this unfilial son."
"My son. When have I ever refused to acknowledge you......"
"......Leave the outside world to me, and please look after your health first. I will take my leave now."
Scrape! Thud! Once outside, Baek Gun-ak bit down lightly on his lip.
Virtue, righteousness — all of it was talk as insubstantial as clouds. Since when did the world turn on such simple things?
Prove myself in the end, and he will have no choice but to acknowledge me.
Baek Gun-ak exhaled sharply and strode out of the hall with long, purposeful steps. He made straight for the reception hall, where an attendant hurried up to him.
"They're waiting for you, sir."
"Good. No one enters until I call for them."
"Yes, sir."
Baek Gun-ak stepped inside, his face carved with killing intent. In the hushed reception hall, the Association's officers were waiting.
"My apologies. The Director summoned me unexpectedly, so I'm a little late."
"Not at all, Vice President."
"How is the Director keeping?"
"He is well."
Baek Gun-ak answered perfunctorily and drove straight to the point.
"I'm sure you've all anticipated as much, but I called this meeting over the matter of the Cheongun Martial Arts Academy. I hear the Association's mood has been poor since the last incident. Is that true?"
The officers traded furtive glances before venturing carefully, "Yes... it seems Director Jin's words shook a few of the directors."
"Still, it's nothing serious. Rest assured......"
"No."
He cut the words off like a blade, eyes flashing.
"This time, we will root the problem out properly."
Every officer in the room flinched.
"I will not stand idle while a young outsider muddies the waters of Yichang at such a critical juncture. For the sake of the Association's discipline, no less. Do I have your agreement?"
"O-of course."
"Quite right — how could we simply let be a man who flouts the rules on the strength of his martial arts alone?"
As the room stirred with murmurs, one man at the far end of the table simply kept his mouth firmly shut.
How on earth did it come to this......
Rolling his eyes this way and that, reading the room with mounting dread — none other than Hwang Jong-baek.
So the Vice President really means business this time.
There had been no shortage of people who defied the Association's rules over the years. But it had always ended one of two ways: worn down by the old guard until they fell in line, or shoved out the door entirely.
Will he be all right......?
Hwang Jong-baek heaved a deep, worried sigh.
Jeong So-so prided herself on having tasted every flavor life had to offer — bitter, sweet, salty, even spicy. Mostly bitter, if she was being honest... but anyway. Thanks to that, the girl who had once known nothing beyond embroidery and flowerpots in a lady's chambers had been reforged into someone who could put on a poker face without so much as blinking.
Just like this:
"Mr. Jang! I heard your youngest wants to be a general when he grows up! Have you considered our academy?"
"Oh my, ma'am! The little one's only seven, isn't he? We'll be bringing in a letters teacher for the academy soon, too!"
"Cheongun Martial Arts Academy! Cheongun! You know the name, don't you? Our master trained with the Martial Arts Alliance itself!"
"Ah, just come and see for yourselves! The facilities are something else!"
Ever since the enrollment drive had collapsed, Jeong So-so had rolled up her sleeves and taken to the streets herself.
"Master, next stop. This way."
"......We're going again?"
"We've still got a long way to go."
Jin Cheong-un allowed himself to be dragged along by his disciple, wearing the expression of a man whose soul had quietly left his body.
If truth be told, Jeong So-so was burning bright right now.
Our academy will succeed — no matter what!
She refused to stand by and watch an academy fail a second time! And seeing her master sneered at by the likes of the Association made her blood boil even more! So she would make this academy thrive, loud and unmistakable, and repay her master's kindness in full!
In a cramped little village like this, half a day of trawling the streets spreads word of just about anything. Simply being seen at Master's side does half the work!
Why did it work? Frankly speaking — Master paid so little heed to his appearance and wore such an indifferent expression that people forgot, but objectively speaking, the man had a face. Man or woman, young or old, the beautiful drew every eye.
Put Master's good looks to use! From here on, no holds barred!
"Master, let's head for the market. The ladies will be out shopping any minute now!"
"......"
Jin Cheong-un exhaled a long sigh as he watched his disciple burn with zeal. Is this really my life now.
This was a man who had feared nothing under heaven. Even the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance itself hadn't dared handle him as he pleased — and now he was being hauled around by a girl, his own niece and disciple at that? Left to his own preferences, he would have bolted on the spot to some quiet corner and devoured the Nameless Teacher's latest release — but he couldn't very well stand by and watch his disciple toil alone.
"So-so."
"Yes?"
"I appreciate you going to all this trouble, but there's no need to run yourself into the ground."
"Run myself into the ground? This is nothing."
No — I'm the one being pushed past my limits! I'm the one who's exhausted!
Jin Cheong-un let out a short huff. "Sweet-talking the very neighbors who used to gossip about your family behind their backs — you think that's easy?"
Jeong So-so's eyes widened a touch, startled. She faltered for a moment — then her face clouded over with worry again as she slowly turned to look at something in the distance.
"It's just... I don't think we can let things stay like this."
At the far end of the road, a crowd had gathered in a tight huddle.
Bang! Pa-pa-pa-bang! Firecrackers erupted with a deafening clamor. Dazzling sparks and colored confetti swirled through the air, and beneath them, men in martial garb were shouting themselves hoarse.
"The Taepyeong Academy is recruiting new trainees!"
"Those who wish to learn their letters, come to the Woljeong Study Hall!"
"We're waiving the enrollment fee for the first month! Come, come — there's a season for learning in every life! Our doors are always open, so drop by anytime!"
They were martial artists belonging to the Martial Arts Academy Association, come to tout for students in the village these past several days.
"Hold on, they're handing out tanghulu — candied fruit skewers? Is their money rotting?"
"Tell me about it."
"So-so. Go get one. No — make it three; So-ryong gets one too."
"......You do realize they're handing those out to bury us, right?"
"Food is innocent."
"But......"
Jeong So-so pulled a bewildered face, then heaved a great sigh. The Association's tyranny had only just begun.
A few days later, on the road leading up to the Cheongun Martial Arts Academy.
"What did you say? Says who!"
"This road has belonged to our Hwayeong Academy from the start. Cheongun people may not set foot on it."
It began with a pack of academy students crowding the main road, blocking passage and refusing to budge.
"Who said you could use this well? Cheongun folk are barred — go draw your water somewhere else."
Quiet little inconveniences, one after another.
"And did you hear? Their academy director was supposedly a butcher back in the day — some terrifying figure out of the Jianghu?"
Ugly rumors, scattered on the wind.
"Master! S-someone's barricaded the manor gates with carts!"
Petty tricks, played without shame. And so the Cheongun Martial Arts Academy drifted further and further into isolation — until they were, quite literally, stuck, unable to advance and unable to retreat.
"I'm truly sorry about all this. My hands are tied as well... Here — it isn't much, but take it. The officials will be coming to collect taxes soon, won't they?"
It had gotten to the point where Hwang Jong-baek would steal over in secret, press a pitiful few coins into Jin Cheong-un's hand, and hurry away. This went on for days.
At last the Jeong siblings' patience snapped, and they turned to Jin Cheong-un where he lay lounging about.
"Master, you do have a way to stop this tyranny... right?"
"A real way to fix this... right?"
Jin Cheong-un, half-reclined as ever with the White-Faced Teacher's newest release in hand, gave his reply.
"Stop it? Stop what, and how? When someone hits you, you start thinking about how to hit them back."
"...I'm sorry — what?"
"Children, you mustn't go about meeting every hardship with such a soft, yielding heart."
Jin Cheong-un bit a rice cracker clean in two with a crisp snap.
"As the old adage goes: struck once, repay it twice."
"Uh, r-right. So what you mean is......"
The siblings' faces went perfectly blank. Jin Cheong-un shut the book with a clap.
"The quarrel was already picked for us — resolution? It can freeze to death for all I care. A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. And what does that tell you? That even gentlemen take revenge."
I'm fairly certain that's not what that saying means!
"Kindness can wait; a grudge gets repaid. If they strike your left cheek, answer with your jaw. As students of the Cheongun Martial Arts Academy, what bearing you ought to carry — this master will show you soon enough."
It was some time after that a visitor came calling at the Cheongun Martial Arts Academy.
Creeeeak!
"H-hello...? Is anyone home......?"
One look at the visitor's face, and the Jeong siblings doubted their own eyes.
"No way — what is that person doing here?!"