A wide stone chamber shrouded in silence.

A dozen or so people were seated in the room, all with stern expressions, seemingly deep in thought.

They were the officials of the Martial Alliance’s Cheonmun-gwan, who collected information and dealt with the fortunes and misfortunes of the Jianghu by reading the heavenly ki.

Among them, the person seated in the central, grand chair was none other than the current military strategist of the Martial Alliance, the head of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Hyuk.

He furrowed his brow and his lips twitched.

“You’ve all received the report. The new religious sect, the White Lotus Cult, has taken over the Western Regions’ martial world.”

At that, the people in the room nodded.

“It’s been a long time since we learned of the rise of the White Lotus Cult. Of course, we’ve been standing by and watching because we haven’t had a justification for subjugation…”

“…”

“But now that they have openly invaded the martial world. We can no longer just stand by and watch.”

“Military Strategist!”

“Military Strategist!”

Agitated voices flowed from here and there.

The Martial Alliance had numerous talented people.

Although they hadn’t taken any significant action so far, they had been closely investigating and observing the affairs of the Jianghu.

Since the appearance of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi a few years ago, they had been preparing for a bloody battle and had been secretly mobilizing their organization, so they had not missed the matters related to the White Lotus Cult.

“Martial artists do not engage in politics. This is an implicit promise with the imperial court. Therefore, even while the followers of the White Lotus Cult were deceiving the people and causing strange things, we could not act rashly.”

“That’s right, Military Strategist.”

“Also, even when we knew that they were trying to unite the Unorthodox Path, we watched and waited because we didn’t know their identity and true intentions.”

“…”

“But now it’s different. Now that they have invaded the martial world outside the pass, they will surely try to swallow up the Orthodox Path as well. I intend to designate the White Lotus Cult as a ‘first-class public enemy’ of the Martial Alliance.”

At Zhuge Hyuk’s words, one of the people in the room asked with wide eyes.

“A… a first-class public enemy?!”

“That’s right.”

In that moment.

Gu-yang Seon, who had entered as a member of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi investigation team a few years ago and had now become a respectable official of the Cheonmun-gwan, opened his mouth.

“Military Strategist. Is that possible? The Martial Alliance is in a state of disarray due to the election of the new leader, and officially, the leader’s seat is vacant… doesn’t the ‘first-class public enemy regulation’ require the consent of the leader and the council of elders?”

“Of course, it’s impossible right now. When the new leader is elected at the Hero Tournament, I plan to handle it as a top priority. Everyone, maintain secrecy. This is a matter that only the officials of the Cheonmun-gwan should know for now.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Understood, Military Strategist.”

The ‘first-class public enemy’ regulation.

Since the founding of the Martial Alliance, there had only been a few times in history where a specific force was designated as a first-class public enemy.

The most recent was the extermination and subjugation of the ‘Asura Blood Cult’ decades ago.

‘…I wonder what will happen? If my master were here, would he have been able to see the future?’

In the face of the unpredictable situation of the Jianghu, Gu-yang Seon briefly thought of his old master.

***

“Gasp… gasp…!”

“This is… ugh… how long… do we have to… keep… doing this?”

The applicants of the Moyong Family groaned with contorted faces.

And for good reason, because they had never imagined such an ignorant selection process.

“My, my, how much have you run to be making such a fuss? If you become a disciple of our family, you’ll have to endure a much harder training process than this.”

“Yes?!”

“That… that’s?”

At first, they thought So-ah was bluffing.

After running to the top of the mountain at full speed, they had been repeating the basic movements of the Six Harmonies Fist, which even the third-rate ruffians of the marketplace were reluctant to learn, as fast as possible and then as slow as possible for a full three shichen…

But if they became disciples, they would have to endure a much harder training process than this?

No matter how they thought about it, it was absurd.

But.

“Why did you all decide to become disciples of the Moyong Family?”

At So-ah’s sharp voice, the applicants’ eyes wavered anxiously.

“That… that’s. Of course, to become a master…”

“Because they said the Moyong Family doesn’t discriminate against external disciples…”

“It’s the same for martial families made up of blood relatives, as well as the Nine Great Sects and their subordinate sects. Unless you have a special connection or a huge donation, it’s difficult to even enter, and even if you do, you can’t learn the true martial arts.”

The reasons were different for each of them.

But it was not difficult to boil all those reasons down to one.

‘A place where those who have aspirations but no connections or money can train in martial arts without discrimination.’

That was the original intention of the Moyong Family’s disciple selection, and So-ah also intended to select disciples with that goal.

“That’s right. You must have knocked on the door of our family for those reasons. Our family also, as you wish, will guide you with all our heart and without discrimination, with the ultimate goal of raising you as a proud hero of the Moyong Family, and on a larger scale, as a hero of the Jianghu martial world.”

At So-ah’s words, the applicants, for a moment, put aside their tired expressions and had determined eyes.

A hero of the Jianghu martial world.

For them, who were newcomers, it was a statement that could not help but make them tremble.

But it didn’t take long for that strange feeling to shatter.

“But. Becoming a master is not free. Of course, I won’t take money from you, but instead, it requires excruciating pain. Blood and sweat. Bone-crushing effort. If you can’t even endure the basic stamina training, you can’t become a disciple of our family. If there’s anyone who thinks they can’t endure it even now, just give up.”

It was a very direct statement.

Generally, if one wanted to raise a large number of disciples and expand the scale of the family, such an attitude should be avoided.

But So-ah’s thoughts were different.

Living as a martial artist was a matter of a person’s life.

Treating the applicants loosely and planting futile hope might yield immediate results, but in the end, it was an act of pursuing profit at the expense of a person’s life.

So-ah believed that even if he couldn’t save a single person, he shouldn’t spare his harsh words for the sake of their opportunity cost.

So-ah’s thoughts were not wrong.

Soon, a succession of people gave up their admission.

“Um… I’m sorry, but I’ll give up. If this kind of radical training continues every day, my body will break. I’m sorry.”

“I can’t go on any longer either…”

“I’m sorry.”

Watching that, Jang Beon-pal smiled as if he had expected it.

‘Keke. How can these chicks, who haven’t even accumulated as much internal energy as a worm in their dantians, endure such a forced march? By the way, my younger brother is also quite harsh. Kekeke. Who can endure such crazy training?’

That was indeed the case.

Jin So-ah’s style of infinite stamina and body remodeling training was something that even a considerable tough guy couldn’t endure for half a day and would inevitably fall out.

So-ah, as if he had expected it, nodded readily without any particular expression and said.

“You don’t have to be sorry. If you can’t do it, you should give up early. Also, you can learn martial arts anywhere, not just at the Moyong Family, right? If we see each other in the Jianghu later, let’s just say hello.”

“Then.”

“Take care, Young Master Jin.”

“Then, I’ll be going.”

The dozen or so people who had declared their withdrawal went down the mountain with red faces.

But there were still a dozen or so people left in the room.

So-ah’s gaze turned to them.

“What about you? Are you all going to try and endure more?”

At that.

“Of course!”

“If I was going to give up like this, I wouldn’t have applied in the first place.”

“That’s right! It’s still enough!”

Their spirited answers burst out.

‘Hmm… I’ll have to push them harder.’

The corners of So-ah’s mouth curled up slyly.

***

Late at night.

Jang Beon-pal had never thought that So-ah would continue the training until this hour.

‘My younger brother wasn’t just harsh. He’s scary… but thanks to that scary obsession, he can possess such heaven-shaking martial arts.’

It was a moment when he came to think differently about his sworn brother.

Just then.

“You’ve all worked hard. Considering that it was the first day and I went easy on you, the perseverance you’ve shown is commendable. Therefore, I plan to admit all of you. Gather at the main training hall by the hour of the Dragon tomorrow. After assigning your residences and greeting the family members, you will go through the formal admission process. From then on, you will be members of the Moyong Family.”

So-ah said with a smile.

But for some reason, the applicants’ answers were not so enthusiastic.

“…Yes.”

“I… will do so.”

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow…”

Of course.

‘What? He went easy on us because it was the first day? After tormenting us like this?’

‘No… this is really not right… the training I wanted wasn’t like this!’

‘I might die. This isn’t heaven, it’s hell!’

That was their true feeling.

Their thoughts were not wrong.

It wasn’t that they lacked perseverance, nor was their resolve shallow.

But.

The training process of So-ah was so painful that it was unbearable.

Even the members who had trained in martial arts since they were young and had entered the White Martial Academy had ground their teeth at So-ah’s training, so how could those who were not even official martial artists endure it?

A little later…

After everyone had returned, So-ah and Jang Beon-pal also returned to the family residence.

Even though it was a dark night, the workers were making clanging sounds with their hammers and continuing the construction of the annex.

So-ah, after giving the workers food and a table of drinks, finally finished his work and, taking his sworn brother with him, found a small street stall at the pier that he frequented, ordered a bottle of white liquor, and turned his gaze to the pier.

The faint moonlight and the sparkling starlight were shining brilliantly on the waves of the lake.

It was as if the lake was embracing the night sky.

“Brother. How is it here? I brought you here on purpose.”

“Hoho. I like it. I actually prefer quiet and simple places like this.”

“Our tastes are the same.”

“By the way, you pushed the applicants so hard today… is that okay? I don’t think a single person will show up tomorrow.”

“It can’t be helped. Other martial families and the subordinate sects of the Nine Great Sects may accept anyone as a disciple to fill their quotas, but our family has no intention of doing so. If we recruit disciples on a regular basis, won’t a decent talent come in someday?”

“Keke. That’s a great idea. As expected of my younger brother.”

At Jang Beon-pal’s hearty laughter, another night passed quietly.

***

The next day.

It was as expected.

Although it was the hour of the Dragon, not a single person appeared in the training hall.

‘That’s right. I knew it. Hahat.’

As if he had guessed it, So-ah just chuckled, but it was also true that he was a little disappointed.

In that moment.

“Ugh… ugh…”

A boy with a lanky, tall build and a particularly sickly appearance let out a groan and opened the door.

“You are…”

So-ah stared at him with surprised eyes.

“Um… I’m supposed to become a disciple of the Moyong Family from today… right?”

He hadn’t expected it.

Yesterday, that young man had struggled more than anyone else, and had even shown the unsightly appearance of fainting in the middle.

To think that the only applicant who appeared was that young man.

Of course, regardless of that, So-ah asked with a pleased and bright expression.

“Anyway, welcome. Your name is?”

“It’s Yi Baek.”

“Wait a minute.”

Then he searched the list of first-round selected candidates and confirmed his information.

“Yi Baek… the second son of the Yi family of Henan? Is that right?”

“Yes? I’m not from the Yi family of Henan.”

“Huh? It’s written like that on the list.”

“I’m not from the Yi family of Henan, but the second son of the Yi family of Shandong.”

“The Yi family of Shandong?”

“Yes.”

“The Yi family of Shandong that I know? Haha. It can’t be that, right?”

“Yes?”

“By any chance… is your family the Yi family of Shandong that runs a blacksmith’s shop?”

“Yes.”

“The Yi family of Shandong that runs a blacksmith’s shop and a workshop together and specializes in producing precious metals and accessories?”

“That’s right…”

For a moment, goosebumps rose on So-ah’s body.

It was because Yuk Jeong-ran’s words had flashed through his mind.

—Currently, there are only a few places in the Central Plains that have the facilities, technology, and manpower to process snow ice stones in large quantities. Because snow ice stones are a very difficult ore to process. Among them, the Yi family of Shandong, of the great hero Yi Geon-hui, who is known as one of the three great chaebols of the world. I’m trying to negotiate with that place. If we succeed, we will have the best financial backer. Well, of course, it’s like plucking a star from the sky.

The Yi family of Shandong.

That place was one of the three great chaebol families of the world, the strongest financial power.

“Did you say your name is Yi Baek?”

So-ah’s tone of voice changed abruptly.

The young man’s eyes held a look of bewilderment.

“…Yes. It’s Yi Baek.”

“Congratulations on becoming my first top disciple.”

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep