Murim Grand Banquet (4)
A short while later, they emerged with their belongings in tow.
Their luggage amounted to just a single bundle each, so they left the inn far quicker than expected.
The Great Green Warrior's face was still flushed beet red.
No doubt he couldn't shake off his anger, no matter how hard he tried.
Forgetting the broken limbs for a moment, he'd nearly been forced to end his warrior's life right then and there.
"Uwaaaagh!"
He swung his fist at a nearby tree.
Bam!
If that could vent his rage, it would be a relief... Eh?
Crack! Crash! Thud!
That single punch felled five or six trees.
Huh? That's not something a first-rate warrior could do.
I turned to the Great Green Warrior.
"Great Green Warrior. If you don't mind, may I check your pulse for a moment?"
"Pardon?"
"There's something I need to confirm."
He hesitated at my words but soon nodded. After all I'd done to help him up to this point, he trusted me.
He extended his wrist, and I grasped it to take his pulse.
What the... This is ridiculous.
Just moments ago, he'd been at first-rate level. Now, he was at the entry to peak realm.
Could this be...
Holding his pulse steady, I instructed him.
"Take a deep breath and calm your mind."
"Hoo..."
"What's your favorite food?"
"I... I love sweet and sour pork the most."
"Then imagine eating sweet and sour pork right now."
He closed his eyes at my suggestion, and his racing pulse began to steady.
At the same time, something remarkable happened.
As his anger subsided, he dropped back to first-rate level.
Alright, let's test it once more.
"But now imagine Nangong-ho snatching that sweet and sour pork and trampling it."
"Grit!"
I heard his teeth grind, and his realm surged back to peak entry level.
Confirmed.
I nodded firmly and released his wrist.
Was this a personal trait? Or a characteristic of their martial arts?
I turned to the Water Rock Warrior.
"May I check your pulse as well?"
He readily offered his wrist, and I examined his inner energy.
I ran the same test as with the Great Green Warrior.
The results were identical. Releasing his wrist, I asked,
"Does the Connection Gate's martial arts have a trait where its power surges dramatically when angry?"
They shook their heads at my question.
"I'm not sure myself."
"Our master never mentioned anything about it."
Their master—the Connection Gate Sect Leader—truly ignorant of this, or just never told them?
Their martial arts granted explosive strength in anger.
But nothing came without a price.
There had to be a drawback...
Gurgle.
Gloop.
There it is.
Their power boost came at the cost of rapidly depleting stamina.
We'd stopped at a relay station for a meal on the way, so I wasn't hungry at all—yet their stomachs were rumbling this much already.
Did getting angry and burning through stamina waste food supplies, so they deliberately kept it quiet?
The Connection Gate wasn't exactly well-off.
No way...
I shook off the thought.
"From what I can tell, the martial arts you've cultivated both surge in power far more when you're angry."
"When angry?"
"Yes. Master it well, and you'll achieve great results even in the preliminaries."
"Then... can we get revenge too?"
I asked him directly.
"Is this revenge about Young Master Nangong-on?"
He didn't answer, but that silence spoke volumes.
I offered him advice.
"Hitting back as hard as you were hit is amateurish. A true master's revenge ensures the enemy never dares touch you again."
"I don't understand."
"Even if you get revenge, if they later target your loved ones, it's no better than not avenging at all."
"Ah..."
They nodded as if grasping it.
The Great Green Warrior clenched his fist tightly and asked,
"Then, weaklings like us just have to endure and live quietly?"
"No."
I shook my head.
"Everyone harbors anxiety deep in their hearts. When it's at its peak, that's when people suffer the most."
I continued.
"If the one you struck holds a position to get revenge but doesn't—out of fear or whatever—you'll drive them to constant dread, blood running cold every day, wondering why you're holding back."
"You're saying we should train harder and rise higher... But our Connection Gate is a small sect few know. No matter how hard we try, we can't match the Nangong family..."
"Is there anything impossible in this world?"
I cut him off with conviction.
"Nothing's impossible. People just don't know the way—or hesitate to act even if they do."
I grinned.
"Of course, that's for later. Right now, you probably just want to punch him once."
"Exactly."
"What if we settle for revenge on par with that? If that's enough, I'll help you."
"Why? Why go this far for us?"
"Favor? I don't give help for free."
"So you want something from us?"
"In return for my aid, lend your strength to the Eunhae Merchant Group someday."
"That's it?"
"More than enough. So, what'll it be? The choice is yours. But be prepared."
The two exchanged glances, then cupped their fists toward me politely.
Snap!
"We beseech you."
Their eyes burned with fierce determination.
Good eyes.
"Deputy Palgap. Let's draw up a contract."
......
We returned to the Lienwind Inn.
I told the Great Green and Water Rock Warriors to eat, then met my parents and explained everything.
"Heavens! Such a thing happened?"
They were, naturally, outraged.
"Good thing Jin-ho isn't here."
"Yes. That's why I'm telling you now, while he's away."
Father chuckled.
"Alright. Seems you have a plan, so handle it well."
"Thank you."
I bowed and changed the subject.
"By the way, I'm competing in the Murim Grand Banquet's friendly sparring matches. Why haven't you said anything about it?"
This time, Mother smiled as she replied.
"You'd handle it just fine on your own. What would I accomplish by nagging?"
"I'll cheer for you."
"Hahaha."
They know me too well.
"That aside, I'm worried about Jin-ho."
Mother sighed.
"What if he pushes too hard and gets seriously hurt?"
"Ah..."
I smiled awkwardly and glanced at the ceiling.
Jin-ho hyung. See?
They already know.
This is on you. I know nothing.
......
I sprang into action immediately.
At the friendly sparring's pace, the remaining preliminaries would wrap in about five days.
Meaning I had to boost the Great Green Warrior's skills in that time.
I brought him to the back courtyard of the Lienwind Inn.
This was why the Eunhae Merchant Group often rented out the entire inn—the spacious yard was perfect for training.
"Alright, special training starts now."
"Yes!"
"We'll give it our all."
The Great Green and Water Rock Warriors cupped their fists in response.
"First, let's check your basic stamina."
I pointed to the iron framework nearby.
A bar connecting pillars, with a 冂-shaped structure at chest height.
I'd commissioned the Baekyeom Merchant Group for my "training," and our escorts had worked hard hauling it here.
Everyone knew I'd been recommended by the Alliance Leader for the sparring.
"I'll demonstrate. Hook your legs over the bar connecting the pillars, clasp your hands at your chest, then bend and straighten your body."
"Simple enough."
"We did this plenty in training."
"Good, you've done it before. Keep going until you can't."
"Understood."
They hooked their legs and started sit-ups.
"Oh, I forgot something important. No inner energy."
"Pardon?"
"It's to test basic stamina. Using inner energy skews the results."
"Right. Got it."
The Yeo Eung-am and Yi-pil Warriors counted from the side.
Hmm, how many can they do?
Even without inner energy, if they've trained, a hundred should be easy... Yeah right.
"Sixty-two."
"Hah, huff, huff... No... more..."
"Push! One more!"
"Kwaaaah!"
"Sixty-three."
I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
"Exhausted after just sixty-three? How will you manage?"
"......"
Too winded to speak.
The Seo-u Warrior training beside them looked troubled.
"This... it's farther than I thought."
"Hoo, it's fine. We'll make it work."
Then Myeong-jong and Cheong-un Warriors approached.
"Young master, if it's not too much trouble, we have a request."
"What is it?"
"We want special training too."
"You two as well?"
"Yes. We realized at this rate, we'll be left behind. We must push harder or face elimination."
Their eyes brimmed with desperation.
But I refused firmly.
"No."
"But..."
"Joining this training now gains you nothing. Waste of time."
I sent them a sound transmission.
To me, your basic stamina is already sufficient. You're training diligently as is—adding this would be overkill.
"......"
As I said before, what you need is enlightenment and a trigger.
Still, they looked unconvinced.
I turned to Yi-pil Warrior.
He was sincere about cultivating martial arts and advancing his realm.
At first, he seemed like someone drifting day to day, but he'd changed at some point.
"Yi-pil Warrior."
"Yes."
"Why haven't you asked to join this special training like them?"
His answer was concise.
"Because... I trust you, young master."
I smiled.
"You prioritize your own safety above all. So to keep yourself out of danger, you worry about strengthening your escorts."
...Not an insult, right?
"If such a person doesn't invite us to join, the answer's clear. We don't need it. You value efficiency more than anyone."
"Exactly."
I looked at Myeong-jong and Cheong-un Warriors.
"Do you two distrust me?"
"N-no!"
"Absolutely not."
"I know. Just kidding."
I laughed lightly to ease the mood and continued.
"Impatience is the greatest obstacle to success. Let it lead to qi deviation, and all your efforts go to waste."
"......"
"What you need—again—is enlightenment and a trigger. So trust me just this once, alright?"
At my gentle tone, they dropped to their knees in apology.
"Forgive us. We were too hasty."
"Rebuke our impatience."
"Get up. No need for that. You'll ruin your knees."
They wouldn't budge.
Typical of major sect folk—stubbornly formal.
"Then should I kneel too...?"
"N-no! We'll stand!"
They shot up. About time.
"If you can't trust me, trust me as a merchant. Like Yi-pil said, I don't do losing deals."
I turned away and said,
"Great Green Warrior. Water Rock Warrior."
The two were still sprawled, gasping on the ground.
"The next five days will be unforgettable memories for you."
I ordered them to practice basic sword forms ten thousand times each, then asked Palgap to fetch herbs.
"Here are the herbs... but what for, young master?"
"Making medicine for those two warriors, of course. Something I learned by chance."
From my previous life, that is.
"It's called Tiger-Bear Vitality Tonic. Forces a stamina boost."
"So drinking it builds stamina?"
"Yep."
"But... you never drank it yourself. Must be a reason."
Palgap was sharp as ever.
"Right."
There were a few reasons I avoided it.
"First, it brings excruciating muscle pain."
"Rest it off, then... no."
I nodded.
"You have to keep moving. Doubles the effect and eases the pain."
"What else?"
"Oh, and... it tastes awful. Like chewing raw bile."
"That bad?"
"Yep. Plus, three meals a day for three days—nothing else. Gives the effect of three months' training."
"Painful and nasty-tasting. Both things you hate, young master."
Exactly why I skipped it.
Better to train daily.
But time was short, so this was a desperate measure.
Some might call it unfair, but sect heirs grew up on spirit elixirs.
This leveled the field, right?
"I warned them."
Be prepared.
"They could run."
"Run? Think they can?"
"Kwi!"
You'll catch them if they do?
Good. I expect great things.