"Huuuuk!"
The eyes of Ungeom, who was looking at Chung Myung, were dazed.
'At first glance, he looks like an ordinary child.'
But this child is definitely not ordinary.
'Is this really okay?'
His thick training clothes were completely soaked with sweat. Even though he was just standing still, beads of sweat dripped down his sleeves.
His face was flushed red, as if it might burst at any moment, and his legs trembled from exhaustion. Even his lips were quivering.
"Ah, would you like to sit down?"
Ungeom, who valued etiquette and rules as much as his life, unconsciously offered Chung Myung a seat.
This was unavoidable.
It's the same principle as when anyone would want to reach out to a puppy drenched in rain. Without a doubt, Chung Myung's current appearance looked even more pitiful than a rain-soaked puppy.
"Ah, it's alright. But could I have some water…?"
"Someone go fetch water! Immediately!"
"Yes!"
One of the children, who had been cautiously observing the situation, quickly ran off to fetch water.
"Well, that…"
But Ungeom closed his mouth again.
'What should I ask?'
He had called him over, but he didn't know where to start. This kind of absurd situation was a first for him.
"What on earth is going on here?"
So, he could only ask the obvious.
Chung Myung, who had been asked by Ungeom, glanced around and calmly opened his mouth.
"It's nothing serious."
"…What?"
"We decided to do morning training together starting today, but I didn't realize it was the first day and might have overdone it a bit. Everyone was just too enthusiastic, that's all."
Too enthusiastic?
Ungeom glanced at the children behind Chung Myung. The children were desperately shaking their heads with their mouths tightly shut.
But when Chung Myung slightly turned his head, the children's hands quickly dropped.
'What's this?'
It was utterly absurd. He didn't know what was going on, but one thing was certain. The entire third-generation disciples were completely intimidated by this one child.
Ungeom wasn't oblivious. He had been dealing with children for nearly ten years. By now, he could mostly understand the situation just by looking at the children's expressions.
No, even without reaching that level, it would be stranger not to notice what was happening after seeing this scene.
'The disciples of Mount Hua…'
Intimidated by a new recruit?
Ungeom's head tilted slightly to the side.
'No, no.'
Come to think of it, these children's skills were by no means low. Most children from other martial arts schools of the same age wouldn't even be able to lift their heads in front of them.
Even a rotten fish is still a fish, and this is Mount Hua after all.
So, it wasn't that these children were pathetic, but rather that this kid was unusual.
"You said morning training?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"You rascal."
Ungeom spoke firmly.
"Baekmaegwan has its own rules. Who said you could reduce sleep time and train as you please?"
Even though Ungeom's voice carried a hint of anger, Chung Myung's expression remained unchanged. He still maintained a calm demeanor and spoke as if it were no big deal.
"Then I won't do it."
"…Huh?"
"I thought training would be helpful. But if you say it's not allowed, then I won't do it."
"…"
Uh, this isn't what I wanted.
Ungeom was slightly taken aback. This wasn't the reaction he had hoped for.
"Y-you thought training would be helpful?"
"Yes."
"Why did you think that?"
Chung Myung's eyes showed a hint of bewilderment.
"Then, is it not helpful?"
"…"
"…"
A slightly awkward atmosphere passed between the two.
'Ugh.'
Ungeom inwardly groaned and pursed his lips. As if understanding Ungeom's feelings, Chung Myung spoke first.
"The martial arts teachings from Master are sufficient, but I thought there must be ways for the disciples to improve on their own. All martial arts originate from the body, so if we can train our bodies, it will help with our swordsmanship."
That's true.
It was an irrefutable argument.
"You're right."
Ungeom readily acknowledged the fact.
"But one thing. Can you say that training under coercion is right?"
"Coercion?"
Chung Myung glanced back and chuckled.
"Ah, Master. How could I coerce my seniors? I just suggested training, and my seniors wanted to join me."
Nonsense.
It was an obvious lie.
But to challenge this lie, he would have to say, 'Didn't you coerce your seniors into coming out?'
But…
'I can't say that.'
That would be like asking everyone to die together.
The third-generation disciples would become fools who couldn't handle a new recruit and were dragged out after being beaten, and Ungeom would become the bigger fool for teaching such fools.
And Chung Myung would become the villain who beat and coerced his seniors despite being the youngest.
If he said that, everyone would be ruined.
"Well…"
Just as Ungeom was about to speak, Chung Myung quickly opened his mouth.
"If it doesn't interfere with other training, it could be a good training method. At least within a month, results will show."
'Oh?'
Although he was talking about training, the hidden meaning was slightly different.
A month.
He was asking to be left alone for a month. Then he would definitely show results.
'Look at this kid.'
He doesn't sound like a child. Isn't he using the rhetoric of a seasoned martial artist, hiding meaning within his words?
Ungeom, who had caught on, subtly prodded.
"A month, huh? That might be possible. But the training itself doesn't seem simple. Can the children handle a month of training?"
"My seniors' determination is so high that I can't help but admire it. Despite the tough training, none of them have complained."
He had tested them, and no one had spoken up. He had made sure they couldn't speak out, so there was no need to worry.
'Where did this kid come from?'
Ungeom couldn't hide his bewilderment as Chung Myung turned around and smiled at the third-generation disciples.
"Isn't that right, seniors?"
"…Y-yeah."
"We can work hard. We'll work hard."
"…We worked hard today too."
Chung Myung turned around again.
"With such high determination from my seniors, how could the results of the training not be good?"
The faces of the children behind him were grim.
It was so absurd that words failed him. But even in the midst of this, Ungeom's mind began to race.
So, Chung Myung's words meant that even though only a day had passed, he had already completely taken control of the third-generation disciples and would use that control for training, not for anything else.
And if he had any ulterior motives, it would become clear within a month.
'Well.'
The more he listened, the more absurd it became. Where did this monster come from, suddenly rolling in and subduing the children?
But…
'From my perspective, it's not a bad story.'
As the head of Baekmaegwan, his biggest problem was securing training time.
Mount Hua was always short on manpower.
Originally, Baekmaegwan wasn't a place he could manage alone. At least ten instructors were needed. But now, only three people were helping him focus on Baekmaegwan.
As a result, his days were spent taking care of the children, and his growth as a martial artist had stagnated. If this kid could take control of the children, it would obviously be a great help to him.
"One more question."
"Yes."
"This can't be easy for you either. Why are you training from dawn?"
Chung Myung tilted his head.
"Disciple, I don't understand what you mean, Master."
"Huh?"
There's no way this kid suddenly can't understand.
"Entering Mount Hua means learning the sword, and learning the sword means becoming stronger, right? To become stronger, training is necessary. Pioneering the realm of the sword and, furthermore, spreading the name of Mount Hua far and wide is the natural duty of a disciple who has received Mount Hua's grace."
"T-that's right."
"Of course, the teachings from Master are sufficient to become strong, but if we put in more effort, we can speed up the process. To put in enough effort, it's natural to save even sleeping time, right?"
"…That's right."
There was no need for any further reason for the training process.
'The sect leader, who said he wouldn't accept any more disciples, must have had some reason to accept a new one.'
If it's this kid, wouldn't he be worth nurturing?
He hadn't confirmed his talent yet, but with this much enthusiasm, even without talent, he could definitely achieve results. And even if he didn't become a top martial artist, just having a good influence on the other children would be a good thing.
"…The training seems very tough."
"It's just the first day."
"But it still looks tough."
"People become stronger the more they are pushed."
Ungeom's lips twitched.
'This is something.'
It perfectly aligns with Ungeom's philosophy! A kid with such a philosophy could be supported for a while. After all, there had always been a hierarchy among the children unrelated to their assignments.
"What's important when dealing with seniors?"
"Etiquette. I will follow the words of the head senior as if they were the heavens."
He meant he wouldn't disrespect his seniors and would respect the hierarchy by honoring the head senior. Every answer was satisfying.
Ungeom nodded greatly and looked around. The children, who hadn't grasped the situation, looked at Ungeom with trembling eyes.
"Ahem."
Ungeom cleared his throat to dispel the awkwardness and slightly averted his gaze as he spoke.
"You all 'voluntarily' started training from dawn. This master is very moved."
"M-master!"
"Head of Baekmaegwan!"
Shouts of panic and shock mixed together, but Ungeom deliberately ignored them.
"If you continue to train diligently, you will definitely achieve good results. It seems this child knows the training method well, so do your best."
'We're doomed.'
'Wow, he's abandoning us like this.'
'Look at him avoiding eye contact.'
Despair was evident on the disciples' faces as they understood Ungeom's thoughts.
"Then, don't be late for breakfast and come to the morning training. I'll take my leave now."
Ungeom turned to leave but stopped.
"Oh, right!"
Of course!
Even though it's Baekmaegwan, surely he wouldn't abandon people…?
"Since it might interfere with training, you don't need to come for morning greetings anymore. Training comes first. Ahem, of course."
Ungeom laughed heartily and quickly turned to leave.
The disciples reached out in desperation, but Ungeom disappeared like an unreachable mirage.
"…"
Thud.
At that moment, a chilling sound of necks cracking echoed.
It was Chung Myung. He slowly turned around. And smiled.
It was a gentle smile, but the veins bulging on his forehead made the meaning of that smile unclear.
"Master, please save us?"
"…"
"Come on, seniors, it's not like I'm going to kill you. Let's go inside before meals. I have something important to discuss in Baekmaegwan."
"…"
"Let's go."
"…Yes."
It was the moment when dreams and hope disappeared from Mount Hua.