Chapter 91

* * *

The new year had passed, and the cold had set in. Amidst the withering of the autumn flowers, the children gathered in the middle of the training ground, warming themselves by running lightly.

Today was the day of the selection test for those who would go to the naval training.

The children who had been chosen were elated, while those who had not were dejected.

“Has everyone finished their warm-up?”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

The children answered in unison.

“Then are you all ready for the test?”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

“Who will be the first to challenge it?”

“Um, if I fail… will that be the end of it?”

Danmugwan asked. Danmukyun smiled and shook his head.

“You can try again if you want to.”

At that moment, one of the children in the middle raised his hand hesitantly.

“Well… if I go first and the next person follows, what will happen…?”

“You are all one family; do you hesitate to learn from each other?”

The boy, Danmuban, who had asked the question, closed his lips. Although he knew Danmukyun was right, he seemed to feel a bit aggrieved.

“However, this is also a test, so each of you will show your best efforts with your own ideas. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes!”

With that, Danmuban finally relaxed and smiled confidently, raising his hand with the other children.

“We will challenge it together, five of us!”

“What?”

Danmukyun was momentarily taken aback but then nodded, remembering he hadn’t said not to.

Danmuban, Danmufeng, Danmugwon, Gongsook, and Danmuhae stepped forward together. Danmufeng took two quick steps, bent his knee, and showed his back.

Next, Danmugwon took a step, leaped, and jumped over Danmufeng, then bent his knee like Danmufeng.

“Oh!”

While everyone marveled at the unexpected method, the five children repeated the process of stepping or jumping over the back of the one in front, managing to cover the long distance.

Of course, more than three footprints were left, but the children didn’t mind.

After all, no one could leave only three footprints, and they believed that if they did their best, they could go to the naval training.

“How did you come up with this method?”

“Since you said we are all family, we thought of a way to move forward by cooperating with each other! Isn’t the hand you can hold the hand of your family?”

“Haha… it wasn’t the correct answer, but it wasn’t wrong either. Good job. Who’s next?”

Next were Danmukyu and Yeseonhoon. Yeseonhoon brought a long pole. Everyone’s eyes were on him.

However, despite the impressive start, he didn’t jump very high and stumbled at the landing point, failing to cross halfway.

Yeseonhoon tried about five more times but finally gave up when the pole broke.

Then Danmukyu, standing on his hands—thinking that handprints were okay instead of footprints—tried to go forward but fell and laughed after only halfway.

Next, Danmugwan stood in front. He took a deep breath and scattered what he was holding.

“Gravel?”

Small stones, about the size of an adult’s finger, were scattered on the ground. Danmugwan, having memorized the positions of the stones, lightly jumped, stepping only on the stones.

Thud, thud, thud!

Although the stones were deeply embedded, no footprints were left. However, there was a limit to the amount of gravel he could hold, and he ended up leaving exactly three footprints at the end.

“Danmugwan, excellent!”

Everyone had to admit it. Danmugwan, with a flushed face, stepped back shyly.

Next were Seogyeolim and Maesinyu.

Maesinyu appeared with a water bag in his hand. He stepped forward, using the water from the bag to erase his footprints as he moved, finally crossing the finish line.

“I never thought of that; it’s amazing!”

While everyone sighed in admiration, Seogyeolim stood last. The ground was slightly damp, so he drew a new line and took a deep breath, drawing his wooden sword.

“Eh?”

Everyone was puzzled, but only Danmukyun and Lian smiled at each other.

“I will go.”

Seogyeolim took a deep breath and took a step. At the same time, the wooden sword in his hand began to move.

The Twelve Falling Stars Sword Technique unfolded from the tip of his wooden sword, creating a sword wind that erased the footprints. With each step, the Twelve Falling Stars Sword Technique harmonized.

However, the sword wind was still weak, and the sword technique and footwork were not fully synchronized, so not all footprints were erased. About three footprints were left halfway.

The children, who had belatedly realized the purpose of the test, sighed.

Danmukyun patted Seogyeolim’s shoulder with a pleased smile.

“Good job.”

“It was insufficient….”

Seogyeolim bowed deeply. Danmukyun shook his head and smiled, speaking.

“Everything we learn leads us to the principles of martial arts. This test was no different. Do you understand?”

“Yes!”

Danmukyun glanced at the children and drew his sword.

He then advanced, using the Twelve Falling Stars Sword Technique and the Infinite Step, just as Seogyeolim had done.

It looked like a sword dance. The wind rose with the trajectory of the sword, sweeping the ground.

When Danmukyun reached the finish line, all the marks he had initially drawn were erased, leaving no trace.

“Wow!”

The children looked at Danmukyun with admiring eyes, and he smiled.

“Even without any internal energy, a sword path performed with the correct posture can have power. I did it without using internal energy. You can all do it.”

“But we are still small and lack strength….”

Danmukyu said dejectedly. Danmukyun shook his head and gestured to Lian.

“Even if you are small and lack strength, if you master it accurately and bring it out, it will have power.”

Danmukyun stepped aside, gesturing for Lian to demonstrate.

Everyone’s attention turned to Lian.

It was natural to see Danmukyun, an adult, do it, but it was a different story to see Lian, a peer, do it.

“Ahem.”

Lian gripped the wooden sword gracefully and, like Danmukyun, advanced using the Infinite Step and the Twelve Falling Stars Sword Technique.

The Infinite Step and the Twelve Falling Stars Sword Technique, which seemed to be separate martial arts, perfectly synchronized as if they were one from the beginning.

Each step became a foundation for the sword path, and the sword cut through the non-existent enemy in the air, clearing the way for Lian.

When Lian finally stopped, like Danmukyun, all the marks indicating the position were erased.

“Wow!”

“Really… it works….”

“My goodness.”

“Wow….”

Danmukyu’s eyes widened in amazement, and the children marveled in various ways. Lian sheathed the wooden sword and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

* Maesinyu’s Learning 1 *

Danmukyu’s Learning 1

Danmugwan’s Learning 1

Seogyeolim’s Learning 1

Current Luck Value: 44 / 120 (4▲)

The luck value increased with a pleasant sound. Lian looked at the children with loving eyes.

‘Oh, you clever, beautiful, and kind children!’

“Now, I said this is the correct answer for this test, but thinking of other methods was also excellent. Even if it’s a different path, it’s not wrong, and as long as your thoughts and awareness are directed towards learning martial arts, that is the correct answer.”

“Yes!”

“However, a promise is a promise! This time, Danmugwan, Maesinyu, and Seogyeolim will go to the naval training.”

The children nodded and congratulated Danmugwan, Maesinyu, and Seogyeolim.

They were disappointed but acknowledged the gap they felt.

Since the test was over, Danmukyun stepped back to give the children free time, and they hesitantly approached Lian.

“I was really surprised just now… how did you do it?”

“Can we really do it too?”

“I still don’t know the mind technique well… so.”

The last one to speak was Danmukyu. Lian held back the urge to say, “I can’t even cultivate internal energy!”

“The Infinite Step is a really good footwork technique. It can support all the martial arts of our family. Anytime, anywhere.”

‘The ancients were really amazing.’

The Infinite Step was almost like a universal support.

No matter which martial art of the family was brought, it fit as if it had been one from the beginning. It was possible only when one understood all aspects from the basics.