The next morning.
Hummmmm.
Chung Myung quietly observed his body.
Dantian.
The once tiny and weak dantian had now stabilized to a considerable degree. The energy accumulated within it had also grown to a size that was clearly perceptible.
Hummmmm.
Even as he inhaled, the gathered energy resonated, purifying his body.
Pure, pristine energy.
Even after decades of living with internal energy, Chung Myung had never seen such transparent and pure energy gathered in his dantian. While the amount of energy wasn't yet large enough to unleash significant power, if this pure energy continued to accumulate, it would eventually surpass any other internal energy in the world.
"...When?"
Chung Myung grimaced as he finished his energy circulation.
'When will I be able to unleash great power? Hwasan is on the verge of collapse right now. How can I wait for this?'
Suppressing the rising frustration, Chung Myung began to analyze the situation.
'Let's organize this.'
Hwasan's problems were countless. If he were to list them one by one, he wouldn't have enough paper in all of Hwasan to write them all down. However, the most critical issues could be boiled down to three.
"No money, no martial arts, and no talent."
In other words, it's doomed.
It was horrifying to think about vaguely, but organizing it like this made his stomach churn even more violently.
So, what's the biggest problem among these?
'Talent.'
Chung Myung's thoughts were straightforward.
Money could be earned, and he could share the martial arts he knew. Of course,
'Where did you learn this martial art?'
It wouldn't be easy to explain without raising questions, but that was just a matter of process.
However, talent was something even Chung Myung couldn't do much about.
He couldn't just go out into the streets and kidnap children with potential to bring back to Hwasan. Moreover, talent wasn't something that could be judged just by looking at someone.
If it were that easy, prestigious sects would be scouring the streets for children with potential.
'So, we have to make do with what we have.'
Chung Myung clenched his fists.
Complaining about what they lacked wouldn't change anything. The priority was to make the best use of what they had.
It was clear that the third-generation disciples' talents weren't particularly outstanding, but if they were lacking, they could be filled in, and if they were broken, they could be fixed.
"Of course, I never had any disciples."
A memory surfaced.
When he reached the age where he was supposed to take on disciples, his senior brother, the sect leader, had asked him:
Chung Myung.
Yes, Senior Brother.
It's about time for you to take on disciples. How do you think disciples should be taught?
What's so hard about it?
How so?
Just beat them. If you beat a dog enough, it'll learn to walk on its hind legs. Surely a human can do better than a dog, right?
...Let's talk about this later.
After that, his senior brother never brought up the topic of disciples again.
"I never thought I'd end up taking on so many disciples at once."
Chung Myung's lips curled into a smile. If anyone had seen that smile, they would've called it downright sinister.
❀ ❀ ❀
"...I'm so sleepy I could die."
"Why do we have to gather at the crack of dawn?"
"Head Senior Brother. Isn't this a bit too much?"
Yun Jong quietly closed his eyes.
'Just shut up, you brats.'
Hwasan's discipline was strict, but these kids hadn't fully shed their secular habits. Even if they weren't from noble families, they were still the children of well-off households who weren't used to enduring discomfort or hardship.
That's why, just half a day after being beaten, they were already complaining.
Yun Jong glanced at Jo Geol. At least Jo Geol seemed to understand the situation and kept his mouth shut.
Well.
The others weren't completely oblivious either. That's why, despite their complaints, they had all gathered at this ungodly hour without fail.
Yun Jong stared at Baekmaegwan with a complicated expression.
'Where did that monster even come from?'
The image of Chung Myung, like a demon, swinging a chair leg and knocking out over thirty kids in an instant was still vivid in his mind.
Shudder.
Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.
"...But who is he, really?"
That question summed up everyone's thoughts.
"He didn't even break a sweat."
"I didn't even get a single hit in."
"There were over thirty of us. Could even the senior instructors do that?"
They didn't know.
But one thing was certain: not even the best among the third-generation disciples could come close to replicating that.
"If he just joined yesterday, he must've learned martial arts somewhere else, right?"
"Hey, even if that's the case, it doesn't make sense. It's not like we've been slacking off all this time."
Everyone was confused and struggling to make sense of the situation.
Even Yun Jong, who was the oldest and had lived in Hwasan the longest, couldn't grasp what was happening. How could the others possibly understand?
"What if we try to ambush him again?"
"..."
No one knew who said it, but the suggestion stirred the atmosphere.
"Is it possible?"
"Last night, we were just caught off guard..."
"What if we fail?"
"..."
It was a chilling assumption. Everyone turned their heads. Jo Geol, standing stiffly, finally spoke.
"If you don't want to get beaten to death, just shut up and do as you're told."
"...Senior Brother Jo Geol."
Jo Geol, who was considered the strongest among the third-generation disciples, was trembling.
'You idiots.'
What?
Ambush him again?
You'd only stop talking like that after getting punched and embedded in the ceiling. Jo Geol had confidence in his skills. Even though Hwasan had declined, Jo Geol was considered a genius who could rival disciples from any other sect.
After all, martial arts were something people learned. Even without proper guidance or advanced techniques, he was confident he could hold his own against disciples from prestigious sects.
That confidence had been shattered by a single punch to the jaw, sending it flying over Hwasan and into the vast ocean.
'That guy isn't someone you can judge by normal standards.'
"But why did he tell us to prepare this?"
The third-generation disciples were puzzled by the strange tools laid out in front of them.
"Yeah. What are these for?"
Long wooden poles, large and sturdy sacks big enough to fit a person's head, and...
"Why did he tell us to prepare sand and gravel? And what's with the sewing kit?"
"Who knows?"
As everyone muttered among themselves, the door suddenly swung open.
"..."
Silence fell.
The chattering mouths snapped shut, and all eyes turned to the door. Chung Myung walked out, his face clearly showing annoyance and irritation.
'Why are you the one annoyed?!'
'If you're annoyed, don't make us gather!'
Chung Myung lazily walked forward and stopped, scanning everyone with a glance.
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes!"
"Keep it down. You'll wake the senior instructors."
"..."
Crack. Crack.
Chung Myung tilted his head left and right, then spoke indifferently.
"Anyway, we're going to be living together from now on. I don't know how things will turn out, but we might end up spending our whole lives as fellow disciples."
'I'm going home even if it kills me.'
'I'm leaving this sect. No matter what it takes, I'm leaving!'
Even those who had resolved to receive their titles and dedicate their lives to Hwasan were now reconsidering.
"But from what I see, you guys..."
Chung Myung grinned.
"...are too weak."
"..."
"..."
For those who practiced martial arts, there was no more insulting and humiliating word than "weak." Even those who planned to learn just enough martial arts and return to their merchant lives couldn't bear to hear it.
"Ugh."
But the problem was that there was no room for negotiation.
This was coming from someone who had single-handedly taken down over thirty people without even getting scratched. Even if the sky turned red, they couldn't deny it.
"Well, I think so too. Martial arts aren't everything in life. But you guys decided to come to Hwasan to learn martial arts, right? So you might as well get stronger. Right?"
"..."
"So starting today, you'll train with me every morning. Sounds good, right?"
'Good? Are you kidding me?!'
As Chung Myung shamelessly spoke, someone raised their hand.
"Speak."
"Do we really have to do this?"
Chung Myung stared at the questioner with a blank expression, then turned to Yun Jong.
Yun Jong, frozen stiff, hesitated before speaking.
"Not everyone was there last time..."
"Ah, right."
There were some who hadn't been beaten.
Some hadn't participated in the initiation. They might've heard about it, but hearing about it and experiencing it were two different things.
"Can I leave if I don't want to do this?"
"But you're a newbie. Why do you keep speaking informally? You should still show some respect."
Chung Myung nodded as if he agreed.
"That's right. People should have manners. In that spirit, I have no intention of getting stronger or training. Raise your hand!"
When a hundred people gather, there's always one or two who are clueless. As those one or two raised their hands, a few others, sensing the mood, also raised their hands.
About a dozen or so.
"Good, good. Martial arts aren't everything in life. Alright, you guys can go inside."
"We can leave?"
"Sure."
Yun Jong and Jo Geol's faces turned pale.
'You idiots. He didn't say "go inside." He said "let's go inside"!'
'You're walking straight into hell. Great Lord Laozi, please watch over these fools.'
The clueless kids happily walked into Baekmaegwan, and Chung Myung followed with a bright smile.
Thud.
The door closed neatly behind them.
"..."
No one dared to speak as they stared at Baekmaegwan.
Contrary to expectations, no screams or shouts were heard.
But.
'That...'
Yun Jong saw it clearly. The large Baekmaegwan building was trembling slightly. It was obvious what was happening inside.
After a brief moment.
Creak.
The door slowly opened again.
And from inside, the kids ran out as if they'd seen a ghost, sprinting back to their original positions and standing stiffly.
"Tsk."
Chung Myung walked out, tilting his head.
"Anyone who doesn't want to train?"
"No, sir!"
"I said keep it down. You'll wake the senior instructors."
"No, sir."
"Hmm."
Chung Myung clapped as if moved.
"I'm deeply touched by your desire to get stronger. Hwasan's future is bright. So I'll do whatever it takes to make you all stronger."
"..."
"Let's begin."
As the sun rose in the distance, Yun Jong tightly closed his eyes.
Hwasan's future might be bright, but their own futures were as dark as could be.