My Plan Is Like This (2)
As I passed by the chattering trainees, I spotted others walking silently beside them. They were probably the long-term trainees—second-, third-, or even fourth-year holdovers. The final destination for those who chased their dreams only to be weeded out. Every day must be hell for them.
I knew it all too well, having been through it myself.
'Truly hellish days.'
The year-end evaluation was a chance for them, but also a stage for despair. It was one of the few major events in the Namgung Clan.
The evaluation took place with all the clan's heavyweights in attendance: the captains and vice-captains of each unit, the eight elders who actually ran the clan, and all the branch and direct family members who held real power.
Some would catch their eyes and paint a brilliant future. Others would fade into oblivion, repeating the cycle of evaluations until they couldn't endure training hall life anymore and left the clan. Training was voluntary, after all, so leaving was too.
Sure, if you endured long enough, dawn might break someday—but that was a tale for the lucky few.
New faces would arrive, latecomers would get promoted first and charge ahead. You'd watch them thrive. After two or three rounds of that, it hit you: the Namgung wall was beyond you. Not a lack of effort, but talent. That's what the world's greatest clan was.
'Still, those guys'll figure it out.'
Even if they failed here, they were strong enough to crush disciples from most major sects. Among the silent trainers, I spotted a few I'd trained with before regressing.
Who was worrying about whom? My own nose was barely above water.
After my secret recon, I returned to the annex. The head maid and her sisters were nowhere in sight. I flopped onto the wooden floor.
"Year-end evaluation, huh..."
My first plan had failed spectacularly. It was basically a cheat to fool everyone anyway. Sure, an unexpected giant variable called Shinui had blocked it, but that was my mistake.
Should've just manned up and severed a few meridians!
Now, only the straight path remained.
"I waited ten years—can't I wait one more?"
I sat up from the floor. Right on cue, the door opened, and in came the head maid and her sisters, arms loaded with food.
For now, I'd enjoy the remaining seven days freely, then start laying the groundwork.
'Before that, maybe swing the Samjae Geombeop a bit?'
My body felt a little sluggish; practicing till dinner wouldn't hurt. It was just the Samjae Sword Method, after all.
* * *
The seven days flew by. The chaos of my first day after regressing felt like a dream, replaced by peaceful routine.
I swung the Samjae Geombeop whenever I had time, ate the meals the maid sisters prepared at mealtimes. Thankfully, no insane all-nighters like last time.
I kept getting this weird feeling of being watched, but aside from that, no issues.
And now I knew exactly what changed in my body each time I practiced the Samjae Geombeop.
'My internal energy's building up, little by little.'
I'd heard of transmission arts called donggong in the martial world. I'd never realized it before, but the Samjae Geombeop seemed to be one.
It felt refreshingly invigorating—maybe a bit too much...
Did others know? Even if they did, the gains were so tiny it probably stayed under the radar. At this rate, it'd take a hundred years of three-hour daily sessions to hit thirty years' worth of energy.
No wonder the Samjae Geombeop was dismissed as third-rate trash.
But the problem? I'd gotten addicted.
That crisp, clear sensation hitting my whole body after finishing—it was too good to quit. I agonized over it for days, but the conclusion was simple.
It was just the Samjae Geombeop.
If someone caught me practicing, so what? Third-rate junk. No big deal. Plus, it just left me feeling good afterward—nothing more.
'About time for someone to show up...'
Pre-regression, I hadn't had these seven leisurely days; I'd been dragged straight to the training hall upon returning. Back then, it was just a regular warrior. Who'd come this time? I was a little curious.
Kiiik.
The front gate creaked open right then. Not the head maid or her sisters—they'd gone foraging for wild herbs at dawn and wouldn't be back till sunset. They'd gotten hooked on it lately.
Who knew, maybe they'd dig up some spirit herbs. Tsk, that'd be nice.
Someone approached me quietly.
"Have you been well? First time since the welcome ceremony, right?"
No way he'd come.
An unexpected figure had arrived to escort me.
"Pleased to meet you. Vice Strategist."
Vice Strategist Namgung Je-cheon. A branch family genius who'd risen to vice strategist. Mastered the university texts—Analects, Mencius, Doctrine of the Mean—at five. Memorized the Five Classics by seven. Passed the provincial exam at eight, becoming the youngest giant, everyone expecting him to ace the metropolitan at ten. But he vanished from the world.
A peerless prodigy, standing before me now.
I'd only seen him from afar before. First time up close, talking.
Why was this guy here personally?
"Sinui said you'd be recovered by now. Feeling alright?"
"Yeah. All good."
"Oh, no need for formal speech. I'm just vice strategist, and you're not in a key post yet—but you're direct line, I'm branch. I don't warrant that."
Was that an order to drop formalities or not...?
This was why I avoided chatting with scholars.
"Then mind if I go casual?"
Namgung Je-cheon smiled brightly.
"Of course."
'Haha!' I chuckled inwardly.
Why'd he come himself? What was he after?
'Whatever.'
Figuring out Namgung Je-cheon's motives was beyond my pea brain anyway.
"Who sent you, Vice Strategist?"
I just asked straight.
"The Strategist, naturally."
"Strategist Namgung Ilro, the Fourth Elder?"
"Yes."
Namgung Ilro Fourth Elder was a generation above the current leaders of the martial world. He should've retired long ago, but no replacement had emerged, so he stayed active.
No hidden agenda then. He didn't belong to any faction in the clan, as far as I knew.
Sigh. Better get out of here quick.
Overthinking every word wasn't letting me relax.
"Here for the entry ceremony, right?"
Vice Strategist Namgung Je-cheon smiled again.
"You knew. As expected of direct line smarts—worlds apart from the dimwits."
Huh? Did I hear that right?
Did he just grin and call them dimwits...?
"That's why I can't leave and stick around the Namgung."
"Uh, yeah?"
"Yep! These moronX idiots need everything spelled out. Should get it at a glance, right? Don't you think, Youngest Young Master?"
"Y-yeah."
Honestly, without my past life memories, I wouldn't have known about the entry ceremony either...
"Sigh... Mountain of work today, but my most respected Strategist ordered it personally, so how could I refuse? Came feeling like a beggar, but seeing you beats staring at muscle-headed morons. My eyes are feasting."
This guy's nuts, for sure.
"If it's not rude, one question?"
"Gotta?"
"Yes."
My back went cold. Legs numb.
Couldn't guess what he'd ask. Should I shut it down?
But his eyes gleamed with some massive delusion. He was way off.
I'm not my brothers, you fool!!!
"Shoot."
Couldn't say no now. And refusing probably meant something worse.
Right. That was his nickname. Why'd I remember now? I hated myself.
"Wanna conquer the martial world with me?"
Madman.
The clan just called him the lunatic. Was he for real?
"Honestly, I've been studying how to topple the Namgung Clan while here."
Saying that to direct line me?
I stared into his eyes. They shone insanely. Yup, madman.
"Asked my brothers the same?"
"Obviously."
My brothers, enduring that question alive. Confidence through the roof.
Wonder what they said.
"What'd they say?"
"Lame answers."
Lame?
"Like what?"
"Sigh..."
Like spring turning to sudden frost, his vibrancy wilted.
"Eldest Young Master said he could do it solo, no need for trash like me."
Classic big bro. My dream was paving his path.
"Second Young Master called me a sickX shut-in who only reads."
Felt like a weight lifted.
"Third said I'm just a lunatic."
Hm...
Everyone nailed it.
"What about you, Youngest Young Master? Real men dream this big, right?"
I asked back.
"Found a way?"
"Nope. No gaps. Hate to admit it, but Namgung's perfect."
Figures. World's greatest clan earned the name.
"Vice Strategist, we'll be late for the ceremony. Cut the bullshit and let's go."
"Gotta answer first."
Persistent.
Fine, whatever. I didn't care.
"You take it. This shitty Namgung? Not interested."
"Uh..."
I brushed past. No presence behind, so I glanced back—he stood dazed, mumbling "uh..."
"What? We're late."
"...Yes."
'Why's he like that?'
No more energy; suddenly meek.
"Not that way. This way."
"Y-yes."
Couldn't even find the path, stammering. Muttering to himself the whole way.
"This shitty Namgung..."
"This trashy Namgung..."
"This worthless trashy Namgung..."
"This worthless trashy Namgung full of morons..."
It escalated, but I walked a step away, making my stance clear.
'No need to tangle with a madman.'
* * *
We arrived at the training hall. Trainees were diligently practicing as always.
Our arrival drew all eyes.
Thud.
"Hey! What're you doing?"
I smacked the still-zoned Namgung Je-cheon. He finally looked around and spoke.
"Pleased to meet you, future Namgung family. I'm Vice Strategist Namgung Je-cheon of the Namgung Clan."
Scorching gazes poured in. To them, this madman was the pinnacle of the vast Namgung world.
A chat would reveal the crazy fast, but they hadn't yet.
"Unscheduled today, but a new trainee enters: the Namgung Clan's Youngest Young Master."
Now those eyes turned to me. In days, they'd fill with disappointment.
"And."
Thought it was over, but Namgung Je-cheon continued.
"Soon, the great one who'll devour this moron-filled Namgung!"
What? Devour what?
"Introducing the future master of the Namgung Clan!"
This madman!!!
Wham!
Namgung Je-cheon frothed and collapsed. My fist had flown on instinct.