Chapter 6

0006 ———————————————-

Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng

The portly gatekeeper seemed flustered as he hurried inside, and the one standing beside him stood awkwardly. They also seemed at a loss as to what to do in the unexpected situation. Fortunately, they did not attack me in a fit of not acknowledging their defeat.

After a while, the portly gatekeeper came out and said,

"Follow me for a moment."

"Are we going to see the Master of the Pavilion?"

"No. Before meeting the Master, we need to clean up that dirty face of yours."

At first, I thought he was going to take me to a secluded place to beat me up. However, after a while, he led me out to the city of Guanzhong and into a certain inn, where I was given a warm bath. As I was bewildered, the portly gatekeeper threw me some clothes from somewhere.

"Clean yourself up. If you don’t, I might get in trouble too."

The clothes fit me well. Although my body was thin, making them a bit loose, they were white and wearable. After drying myself, I followed the portly gatekeeper back to the Qinglong Martial Hall, where I noticed that many disciples were out and about.

The disciples' eyes were filled with unmistakable curiosity. They not only glanced at me but some even chuckled. The portly gatekeeper glanced at me and said,

"From now on, you will meet the Master. If you do anything disrespectful, your hands will be cut off, so be careful with your words and actions."

"Wait, are we not seeing the Master of the Pavilion?"

"The Master of the Pavilion is busy. The Chief Instructor, who teaches the disciples, will decide whether to accept you as a disciple."

It made sense, so I accepted it. After all, a huge martial hall like the Qinglong Martial Hall would find it difficult for the Chief Master to personally examine and judge each new disciple. It was probably a system where the Chief Instructor would screen for talent, and then the Master of the Qinglong Martial Hall would decide whether to accept them as formal disciples later.

"Master, I have arrived."

"Come in."

Creak –

I opened the door of the wooden building, which exuded a pleasant fragrance, and went inside. Inside, a neatly dressed young man with a shaved head was sitting and drinking tea. He didn't look like a complete novice but rather a man in his mid-twenties. Still, I was a bit surprised that the Master could be so young.

The 'Master' looked at me and chuckled,

"You defeated Fangyi in arm wrestling? That's quite impressive."

"..."

"Come and sit down. Let's have a chat."

Thud

After the portly gatekeeper, Fangyi, closed the door and left, I approached and sat down in front of the Master without hesitation. The Master's eyes showed a hint of interest, probably because I didn't show any signs of nervousness.

The Master then said,

"I am Jin So-cheong, the Master of the Qinglong Martial Hall. What is your name, boy?"

"......!!"

What?!

But despite my calm demeanor, I froze the moment I heard his name. I was taken aback by the unexpected name.

'What? Jin So-cheong? Why is that name here?'

I stammered, hoping for the best,

"I, I am Baek Woong, from a village near the Mei Hua Escort Agency... By any chance, is your specialty the spear, Master Jin So-cheong?"

Jin So-cheong nodded, seemingly surprised by my question.

"Yes. My teacher mastered three weapons, known as the 'Three Excellences,' but I lack talent and can only wield the spear."

"..."

I knew his words were overly modest. He was undoubtedly a peak expert who could stand proudly in the martial world.

The reason I was flustered was not just that.

Jin So-cheong.

That name was the absolute master of spear techniques, one of the 'Ten Great Experts of the World,' who would become famous 30 years from now. He was often called the 'First Spear of Central Plains' and was a righteous hero who had eliminated over a hundred bandits. His reputation was so great that he was considered one of the top experts among the 'Ten Great Experts of the World.'

Compared to such a legendary figure, I, who barely made a living as a low-level escort, was nothing.

Jin So-cheong, curious, asked,

"Baek Woong, why did you think my specialty was the spear? As you can see, this training hall is equipped with various weapons, including spears."

What should I say?

After a moment's thought, I came up with a plausible answer.

"Because of the calluses on your hands."

"Hmm?"

At my words, Jin So-cheong glanced at his hands and then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha... You're a talented one! Fangyi has finally caught a good catch."

It seemed my excuse worked. While it's true that calluses can reveal a person's level of training, I lacked the discernment to tell if they were from spear or sword practice. I just used common sense from my years as an escort, and it worked.

As I sighed in relief, Jin So-cheong said,

"Let's check your internal strength. You seem to have considerable internal power. How did you acquire it, and why do you want to join our Qinglong Martial Hall?"

It was a question I had anticipated. After taking a deep breath, I answered calmly,

"I lost my parents at a young age and lived with the village chief. By chance, I learned the Six Harmony Sword Technique and the Three Treasures Heart Method from a passing escort and practiced diligently for several years. However, I wanted to delve deeper into the art of martial skills, so I came to the Qinglong Martial Hall, the largest and most famous in Guanzhong, to receive instruction."

It was a response I had been thinking about during my journey. There was nothing wrong or suspicious about it. After hearing my story, Jin So-cheong pondered for a moment and then said,

"Extend your arm."

"Yes."

As I extended my arm, Jin So-cheong placed his fingers on my forearm and felt it. After a long moment of concentration, he said,

"You have considerable internal strength. How long have you been practicing?"

"About four years."

"Four years!! Hmm... Indeed, you must have trained diligently day and night. I'm impressed."

"..."

At that moment, I felt a bit deflated.

'He just accepted it...'

I had been worried that my internal strength, which was disproportionately high for my age, would raise suspicion. I had even half-expected him to test my strength to see if it was genuine. But when I gave the excuse of four years of practice, he readily accepted it, which left me feeling a bit bitter.

My 40 years of experience as an escort had not made me a particularly skilled martial artist. Jin So-cheong genuinely believed that four years of diligent practice could result in such internal strength.

Jin So-cheong said,

"Fortunately, the Three Treasures Heart Method is a basic technique, so there's no risk of you going into a state of madness if you learn other techniques. From today, you will be a first-line disciple and will learn the martial arts of the Qinglong Martial Hall."

"What is a first-line disciple?"

"Under the Chief Master, I supervise all the disciples, and there are two other Masters below me. The most senior disciples are third-line, and the next are second-line. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Jin So-cheong's explanation briefly outlined the hierarchy of the Qinglong Martial Hall.

At the top were the Chief Master and the Chief Instructor, followed by two highly skilled Masters. Below them, the more senior and skilled disciples were in higher lines. This structure was comparable to that of a major martial sect, giving me a new appreciation for the prosperity of the Qinglong Martial Hall.

"Finally, let's briefly assess your Six Harmony Sword Technique and conclude the interview."

"Yes."

"Take the wooden sword over there and stand facing me."

Swish...

After a moment, I took a large wooden sword from the wall of the training hall and assumed a stance. Jin So-cheong looked at my stance and smiled with interest.

"Haha... Where did you learn that stance?"

"From the escort."

"Interesting. That's a saber stance, not a sword stance..."

"..."

I had no idea. In the escort world, one learns overall martial skills from the head of the agency and more specific techniques from the middle-level leaders. I had been taught a practical stance by the head of the agency, so I didn't know it was a saber stance.

"Alright, attack with all your might."

"Haah!!"

I shouted and attacked Jin So-cheong with the Six Harmony Sword Technique. The first move was the most basic, 'Mount Tai Pressing Down,' and I could feel my arm muscles tense. I then stepped forward and attacked with the sword techniques I knew, one after another.

Swish, swish, swish...

After I had performed all the moves of the Six Harmony Sword Technique, Jin So-cheong, who had been dodging leisurely, suddenly grabbed my wooden sword with his fingers. Despite the powerful strikes, which could fell a large tree with three blows, he caught it effortlessly!

Jin So-cheong released the wooden sword and said,

"Remarkable. Your skills show considerable practical experience. Have you ever cut someone before?"

My heart skipped a beat. Could he really tell everything just by watching my moves? I calmed myself and replied,

"Yes, to defend myself from bandits and robbers."

It wasn't a lie.

I had indeed fought countless bandits and robbers during my time as an escort.

Jin So-cheong pondered for a moment and then said,

"Hmm... In that case..."

After a moment, he made a startling announcement,

"I will cancel my decision to make you a first-line disciple. For the next month, I will personally instruct you."

"Wait?!"

"But if you don't improve properly, I will expel you."

What did he mean by 'improve'?

But Jin So-cheong didn't elaborate and said,

"Fangyi! Are you there?"

The door creaked open, and the portly gatekeeper, Fangyi, entered. I noticed that his robe had two horizontal stripes, indicating he was a second-line disciple.

"Yes."

"I will personally instruct this boy for a month. Make sure the other disciples don't cause trouble."

"......!!"

Fangyi looked shocked, and there was a hint of resentment in his eyes. However, he composed himself and replied,

"Yes, I understand."

"You must be tired today, so rest well in your quarters. Come to this training hall at midnight tomorrow."

"Yes."

I followed Fangyi to my quarters. The room was much cleaner and more comfortable than the stable I had been in before. As I looked around the tidy room in amazement, Fangyi said,

"Personal instruction from the Chief Instructor... What did you do to get this?"

I turned to see jealousy and hostility in Fangyi's eyes. With my 50 years of experience, I could tell he was deeply resentful of the fact that I would receive personal instruction from Jin So-cheong.

But I was just as bewildered. I had planned to train calmly as a first-line disciple and learn top-notch martial arts, but this sudden turn of events was unexpected. Moreover, if I became the target of jealousy from other disciples, life in the Qinglong Martial Hall would be difficult, which I did not want.

"I don't know either."

"Hmph... Fine!"

Kahak

Fangyi spat on the ground and warned,

"Listen up. There are rules here. If you act recklessly like you did before, I won't let you off! Got it?!"

I was speechless. It seemed that such people existed everywhere, regardless of the place. Normally, I would have bowed and played along, but things were different now. Since I had come back to life, I didn't want to live in fear and anxiety.

So I smirked,

"Haha. If you're a proper senior, I will naturally show you respect!"

"..."

"Senior Fangyi must be tired too. Why don't you go to bed?"

"Kahak!"

Fangyi spat on the ground and left.

I smiled and lay down on the bed. The proper bed and blankets made me feel warm and comfortable, and I even thought that living here forever would be a good life.

'By the way, I haven't even seen the Chief Master, Li Guang, the 'Three Excellences.' He must be very busy as the head of a martial hall comparable to a major sect...'

After a while, I followed a first-line disciple who came to inform me that it was time for dinner. We ate together in a large dining hall. Fangyi had already spread the news, and I could feel the intense gazes of the other disciples.

'Oh, I'm going to have a hard time from now on.'

The food was delicious, but I was worried. I knew how cruel people could be when they wanted to make someone's life miserable.

But I was determined.

My life in the Qinglong Martial Hall starts now.

I will grit my teeth and endure until I master top-notch martial arts!

============================ Author's Note ============================

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