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**

“…Damn fool.”

The introductory class instructor, Lim Won-pyeong, scoffed.

A warrior was swinging a wooden sword from a distance. The speed of the descending sword was painfully slow, as if to show everyone.

The students couldn’t help but admire. The sight was ridiculous. The assistant instructor beside him chuckled softly.

“Look at that idiot swinging the sword without any power… Doesn’t it look hilarious, Hyung?”

“Can’t argue with that.”

Muk Geom.

That nickname made me tense for a moment. I wanted to intimidate him to assert dominance, yet I felt a shiver inside.

But hadn’t I heard it directly from the leader yesterday?

An underperforming warrior with no internal energy.

“What a bunch of losers.”

Teaching what they don’t have… how absurd. Lim Won-pyeong felt embarrassed for his past self who had once been anxious.

The assistant instructor let out a small gasp.

“However… it seems he can swing a sword pretty well. The content is surprisingly easy to understand.”

“What?”

“…Ah, never mind. I apologize, Hyung.”

“He dares challenge authority. He belittles the heaven-sent teachings. Watch your tongue, Deungpyeong.”

Lim Won-pyeong lowered his voice.

“He’s the type we need to bring down. If he spouts any more nonsense, I’ll cut out his tongue.”

“…I’ll be careful.”

Lim Won-pyeong advised the scion he was teaching once more. If he focused on this concentrated training, he could receive an enormous payoff.

A fitting income for his capabilities. In contrast, the ones over there wouldn’t bring in a single cent even if taught.

That damn hero named Muk Geom would tire out in no time.

Virtue? Goodness? Mercy?

Such things bring nothing.

“Anyway…”

Lim Won-pyeong chuckled.

“Those who’ve grown up with nothing can’t grasp their own place.”

…

He taught the children. After the first session, a few timid kids approached me.

“Um… Instructor. Can I ask you a question…”

“Go ahead.”

“Thank you!”

Correcting the students’ stances wasn’t hard at all. With a simple nudge here and there, I could fix them in an instant.

I continuously reminded the students of the importance of physical conditioning and training. But some students, curious, asked me again.

“Isn’t inner strength more important than external strength?”

“I’ve heard that without proper internal energy, external power means nothing…”

“Other instructors keep emphasizing the importance of mental techniques…”

Ilma was right.

It seemed to be the age where I only preached the significance of internal power to the growing children.

I too had been no different in the past. I once dreamed of mastering the world’s greatest mental techniques. But I shook my head at them.

I recited Ilma’s teachings verbatim.

“External power must be perfected for inner strength to truly shine.”

“Does that mean what the other instructors say is wrong?”

“I can’t say they’re entirely wrong. Inner strength is also important. But if external strength isn’t established, you won’t even be able to tap into half the power you possess.”

Most of the students entering Cheonmu Academy were filled with a tremendous fervor for martial arts.

If not, all the tuition fees and time they’d spent would crumble away.

Because of this, even without instructors, the students gathered to ignite their passion for martial arts. And those people came to me for help even without hearing rumors about my lessons.

I taught them without reservation. In tandem, I investigated the techniques of Cheonmu Academy’s swordsmanship.

The Seven Ultimate Sword Technique.

The foundational sword style of Cheonmu Academy, the one taught in the introductory class, was straightforward. The foundational postures divided into seven were all easy to grasp.

Simply put, it’s a basic sword technique. But the essence of martial arts was incredibly solid. This was practically like making a mold…

Intermediate students, having only had a glimpse, swiftly moved on without properly mastering this basic sword technique. They went right for advanced techniques without crafting their foundational skills.

Weak lower bodies. Lack of conditioning. In my observation, only a handful of the intermediate students were decent. And those few were labeled geniuses or prodigies.

…The standards are low.

More than I expected.

Of course, they weren’t weak. That’s for sure. But when I looked back at the staircase of my martial arts built upon hardship, theirs seemed fragile enough to break at any moment.

I certainly didn’t want to raise Gwangyang and Narin into warriors like that.

They’d be easy targets for swords if they strutted around thinking they were strong.

So, I decided to increase the intensity of training.

Narin and Gwangyang were panting heavily.

“Ma-master… we’re going to die…”

“Is this even doable…?”

“Seeing the state of the academy, I realized. There’s no one here you can look up to as a model.”

Still, I set the benchmark so that if they gritted their teeth, they could just barely manage.

Suddenly, I understood Ilma’s heart. Why my master pushed me so hard.

At least, I wanted to create something eye-catching.

I grabbed the wooden sword I brought from the training ground and rested it on my shoulder.

“So before we part, I’ll set your paths straight.”

“Uwaaaah!”

“W-we’re gonna die!”

“You’re not dying. Probably.”

While I was pushing them hard, a few people started to come and watch us during dawn and twilight hours.

Now that the rumors were spreading that Narin and Gwangyang were my disciples, other students began to envy them.

I called out a girl peeking from the bushes, trying to follow Narin secretly.

“Hey there.”

“Hi, s-sorry!”

“Come here.”

The girl, trembling and about to burst into tears, stood in front of me.

Her reaction was somewhat typical. Martial arts were the assets of a person. Sneaking a peek at someone else’s martial arts was practically stealing.

I brushed the leaves off the girl’s head. Then I grabbed the basic sword technique of Cheonmu Academy, the Seven Ultimate Sword Technique, which I had learned in a day.

It wasn’t challenging. Since it’s basic, it was easy, and for me now, it was incredibly simple martial arts.

“How far have you learned the Seven Ultimate Sword?”

“U-uh…? Up to the third stage…”

“Fast.”

She learned it too quickly. She was on the same path as those before her.

If I left her be, another mediocre warrior would soon be born. I patted the girl on the head.

She blinked and turned red.

“In front of you lie two paths. The easy one and the hard one. And what you gain will vary in proportion to the difficulty.”

“……”

“There’s no set path in martial arts. The places you wish to walk become the path. But a lacking body restricts your options. To broaden those options, training is necessary. The effort you put in will determine how much you can gain.”

The girl blinked. I casually asked.

“Which path do you want to walk? The easy one or the hard one?”

“I-I want to walk the hard path…!”

“Really?”

I pointed toward Narin and Gwangyang rolling around.

“Come here at the time of Myo and Sul. Dawn and dusk. You have to sacrifice those two hours to be called a warrior.”

“Y-yes?”

“Join them over there.”

I gave her a gentle push on the back.

“You said you’d choose the hard path, so I’ll help.”

Gasping for air, Narin smiled wide.

“Welcome to hell…”

Gwangyang, unable to maintain his stance, was shaking his shoulders.

“Truly… comrades… must increase… for the fun…!”

The girl flinched.

“J-just a moment to think…”

“Move your body while you think.”

I pushed her back firmly.

“That’s the foundation of a warrior.”

“Kyyaaah!”

…

Rumors spread throughout Cheonmu Academy.

Muk Geom held secret lessons for those lagging behind at dawn and dusk.

The leader chose to remain silent on the matter, merely pretending he hadn’t heard anything.

As a result, students began gathering quietly in the back hills of the Third Hall, eager to witness the truth of the rumors.

Hell on earth.

Students, bearing smooth logs, moved about. Some were seen groaning while holding makeshift tools.

“The lower body is important. It’s the hardest place to condition. Push to the extreme. Only when you can’t walk should you call it proper training.”

The man known as Muk Geom moved tirelessly, pointing out the students’ stances one by one. Even with the number of students exceeding a hundred, he continued to instruct without a single complaint.

The students, entranced by his words, soon felt their own powers growing stronger. The Seven Ultimate Sword was becoming second nature, and their strikes began to carry weight.

Those who had wandered aimlessly learned how to properly grip a sword. Those eager to grow learned how to condition their bodies following his teachings.

A proper master. And the talents starting to bloom late, following his guidance.

Some students grew rapidly. And those experiencing this swift growth curve were approached separately by Jeok-un.

“You’re enough to teach others.”

“If that’s the case…”

“The number of students has increased, making it too much for me to handle alone. But I can’t give up teaching. Watch over those I can’t keep an eye on. If something’s unclear, bring it straight to me.”

“…Can we handle that?”

“At this point, we should gather everyone and discuss.”

Jeok-un gathered the students. Once they were seated, he cleared his throat.

“I believe opportunities should be fair for everyone. Even those living without should be given a chance to learn. But since this hasn’t been properly established here, we need to create it ourselves.”

“……”

“……”

“You will teach the new students. Ensure the teachings flow down and reach everyone. Maintain special lectures for the Third and Fourth Halls, and create a tradition so that virtue continues without interruption.”

The students gazed blankly at the instructor standing before them.

Jeok-un softly spoke.

“If they don’t teach, you must help one another to teach. Remember to give, and consider it a given.”

“……”

“……”

“Constantly think about the reason for wielding a sword. Though each of your goals may differ…”

He smiled.

With a barely visible smile.

“Extend a hand to the weak. That will come back around to you in the end.”

Yi-in.

The students, looking out for one another, felt something boiling within their hearts. Nodding, they opened their mouths in unison.

“Understood! Instructor!”

“We won’t ever forget!”

“We shall create it with our hands! A unified tradition! A spirit that must never be forgotten!”

Morning and evening training.

That training, composed of students from the Third and Fourth Halls, became a regular routine within less than two weeks.

The rumor spread quickly, turning into a secret lesson that every student at Cheonmu Academy couldn’t help but know.

“Ah, hello…!”

“Welcome.”

An original student helped the newly arrived student.

The original students reflected on themselves while teaching the newcomers.

In this virtuous cycle, Jeok-un’s title changed.

From Instructor to a more familiar title, Teacher.

“…Anyone.”

He said.

“If you want, you can pick up a sword. So don’t hesitate, just grab it.”

His words were spoken calmly, imbued with strength.

For students without backgrounds and in poverty…

“I will teach you.”

There was a power that naturally commanded respect.

 

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