Episode 10
Chapter 4: Team Thirty (1)
When O Bongdal opened his eyes, he saw the ridge beam of the ceiling above him.
He sat up to find two men nearby.
One was the man who had struck his head, and the other was a one-armed man.
"Eat. It may be cold, but it should still taste good."
At the man's words, O Bongdal turned his head to see two rice balls laid out side by side on a sheet of paper.
He picked one up and forced it into his mouth, bite after bite.
"You must be parched. Have some water at least."
Grateful to the man for bringing the kettle, O Bongdal bowed his head deeply.
Now he believed his father's words.
He was no genius. He was a fool.
How pathetic his father must have found such a son.
Thinking of his father, tears welled up unbidden.
"Do not torment yourself so. The one you faced is our teacher. He is an incredible master, so losing to him is only natural. Ah, I am Paeng Yugwang, and this is my cousin, Paeng Doyeong."
Grateful for their comfort and their kindness in introducing themselves, O Bongdal wiped his tears and introduced himself in turn.
"I am O Bongdal."
"Let us get along, Brother O."
At Yugwang's words, O Bongdal set down the rice ball he had been eating, stood up, and politely cupped his fists in salute.
"Please look after me. I am O Bongdal of the Baekdo Sect."
Yugwang and Doyeong rose to their feet as well and returned the greeting.
"Please look after us."
"Where is the teacher?"
"He will be resting in his room. Ah, pay your respects tomorrow morning. It is already very late. Aside from us, there is one more team member named Moyong Gyeong. However, it seems he does not intend to return tonight."
"Please make it quickly."
"Let us get some sleep, Young Hero."
Whether he heard the blacksmith's complaints or not, Moyong Gyeong was adamant.
"I must bring it back with me tomorrow morning."
"Ah, I am losing my mind."
"Just roughly forge the shape of a sword. There is no need to sharpen the edge."
After forty years as a blacksmith, he had never before had to keep hammering without sleep because of a youth pestering him at his side.
* * *
When morning came, Seonu finished circulating his internal energy and stepped outside to find the Paeng siblings already training, and one fool waiting for him.
"I am O Bongdal, paying my respects. I was rude yesterday."
Seonu merely nodded at O Bongdal, who was politely cupping his fists in salute.
Though the boy had been raised cooped up at home, his nature was not bad.
No, his innate character was truly excellent.
"Let's go eat."
Seonu had the team members stop their training and set off for the dining hall.
They had left the quarters a little early because if they arrived late, they would have to wait to be served.
But when they got there, it seemed others had thought the same; the dining hall was already packed with members of Muryeong Hall.
'People are the same wherever they live.'
As Seonu was looking around the dining hall with that thought, someone waved.
"Brother! I've saved us seats."
Seonu identified the caller and smiled faintly.
As expected, Moyong Gyeong had a strangely savvy head for odd schemes.
Because Moyong Gyeong's voice was so loud, every member in the dining hall turned to look at them.
Then they began to murmur among themselves.
They were ones who recognized Moyong Gyeong's face.
Team Thirty headed for the seats Moyong Gyeong had saved, paying no heed to what the others were muttering.
Yugwang and Mijin went to the kitchen to fetch food, while Doyeong and Bongdal sat down.
Seonu checked the greatsword leaning against the table and asked Moyong Gyeong.
"Are you coming from the blacksmith?"
"Yes, Brother. Is it not right to prepare thoroughly in order to receive your teachings? Hahaha…."
Seeing him burst into laughter gave Seonu a headache. Here was a man already drinking kimchi soup when no one had even thought of offering him a rice cake.
"By the way, who are you?"
Only now did Moyong Gyeong, sitting at Seonu's side, notice Bongdal and ask with wide eyes.
"I am O Bongdal of Team Thirty. Please look after me."
As Bongdal stood up and politely cupped his fists, Moyong Gyeong rose from his seat and returned the greeting.
"I am Moyong Gyeong. Please look after me. But Brother is my brother alone, so do not get close to him."
Slightly flustered by Moyong Gyeong's words, Bongdal looked at Seonu.
"Don't mind him. He's mad."
As Seonu waved his hand, O Bongdal sat down with a sour expression.
"Brother, I have even brought your meal."
Moyong Gyeong placed a tray in front of Seonu.
There was rice and soup, along with about two side dishes.
Once Yugwang and Mijin brought back food for Doyeong and Bongdal as well, the meal began.
But partway through, the dining hall grew noisy.
Turning his head, Seonu saw several young nobles and noble ladies entering with full smiles.
"Hwang Suho, Baekri Jong, Baekri Yuha, Jongri Gongmyeong, Jegal Su, Jegal Sobing, Hoyeon Jeong, and U Bangsu. They are bastards not worth noting, Brother."
At Moyong Gyeong's explanation, Seonu nodded and resumed his meal.
He thought them unworthy of note, but it seemed the other side disagreed.
Looking around the hall, they soon spotted Moyong Gyeong and flocked over to where Seonu sat.
"Why, if it isn't Brother Moyong. I could hardly believe the rumors that you had joined Team Thirty, but seeing the Paeng family's people here, it seems the rumors are true."
His remark was one that looked down on the Paeng family to no small degree, so Yugwang, Mijin, and Doyeong bristled and tried to rise, but Seonu stopped them.
"Enough. It's not wrong."
Seonu restrained the Paeng siblings and looked at Baekri Yuha.
But Baekri Yuha did not even spare him a glance and was looking at Moyong Gyeong.
'She can't even remember me. That is a good thing.'
"Go back to your seats and eat. Pay no mind to us."
Moyong Gyeong replied indifferently as he moved his spoon.
"Brother Moyong is not someone who belongs in a place like this. Join us instead."
Among the nobles, one with thin lips and slit eyes spoke in a honeyed voice, and Moyong Gyeong laughed coldly.
How could these fools possibly know the greatness of the person seated before them, who endured and ate with perfect composure?
"Hey! Jongri Gongmyeong. Stop your nonsense and eat. If you have a problem, cross blades with me."
At Moyong Gyeong's sneer, Jongri Gongmyeong stepped back with an awkward face.
Because he had fought him once, he knew.
That Moyong Gyeong was stronger than himself.
"Young Hero Moyong. I am Hwang Suho. You will have heard my name. If you change your mind, come this way at any time."
Even at the words of the handsome man who introduced himself as Hwang Suho, Moyong Gyeong did not turn his head.
He knew.
Rumors abounded that he was a match for Moyong Gyeong; how could he not know?
Even so, he was not someone in Moyong Gyeong's sights right now.
With Moyong Gyeong showing no reaction, they found their own seats and headed elsewhere.
"Those are the leaders of Teams One, Two, and Three?"
At Seonu's question, Moyong Gyeong nodded.
"Yes, Brother. That is why it is unfair. Those bastards' quarters are in an incredibly fine spot."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
Since it was the first time hearing this, Seonu asked with a face full of curiosity.
"They each have separate quarters for every team. Among them, Team One's quarters are especially fine. A stream flows beside the building; they can fish there and gather seaweed. Where we stay is like a place of exile."
"Really?"
Upon hearing Moyong Gyeong's explanation, a glint of mischief began to form in Seonu's eyes.
"Then we'll have to take it."
"How?"
"There's always a way."
When the meal ended, the members of Muryeong Hall gathered in the grand training arena.
It was their first day at Muryeong Hall, so they had to confirm the martial arts instructors in charge of each team and listen to the precautions.
Once the team members lined up in the training arena, the Hall Master appeared alongside several martial artists.
He was a gaunt man, but his gait was no ordinary one; he appeared to be in his mid-fifties.
Following the Hall Master, about thirty middle-aged men and women entered and took their positions.
"Welcome to Muryeong Hall. I am the Hall Master of Muryeong, Gu Hakbong. Our Muryeong Hall does not have a long history, but it is the foundation of the Bukjeong Alliance, which holds up half the martial world. Therefore, I ask that you approach all matters with pride. Now, I shall explain the precautions."
Though the Hall Master did not speak long and explained matters briefly, Seonu listened with his mouth gaping wide as if he were yawning.
"I'd rather be training. This is too dull."
Whether because his martial prowess was profound or not, Hall Master Gu Hakbong glared at Seonu even as he delivered the precautions.
"Sparring is permitted, but killing is forbidden. Furthermore, entering and leaving the Bukjeong Alliance is forbidden. And…"
"Hey, Moyong Gyeong. Is it truly a place worth fishing?"
"Of course, Brother. I have only heard rumors, but the members of Teams One through Three have enjoyed considerable fishing there."
"Is that so? Good to know."
The Hall Master's irritation flared and his face reddened at their voices constantly reaching his ears.
Taking a deep breath, he barely finished his words and introduced the instructors who would take charge of and teach the team members.
"These are the instructors who will be responsible for and manage Teams One through Twenty-nine, so please follow their guidance well going forward."
As the Hall Master introduced the instructors starting from Team One, Seonu asked in surprise.
"Hey! Why don't we have an instructor?"
"Team Thirty originally has no instructor. It means you have been abandoned, so do as you please—whether you leave or stay is up to you."
"I didn't take that Lord Muk for such a person; he's quite spiteful."
Seonu's voice had been a little loud, so everyone gathered in the training arena turned to look at him.
"Hey! Let's just go. We stood here for nothing."
When Seonu left the training arena, the rest of Team Thirty followed and all departed their positions.
"Th-th-that…."
Hall Master Gu Hakbong pointed with a trembling finger, but the team members did not look back.
"Brother. Please watch my swordsmanship."
As soon as they returned to the quarters, Moyong Gyeong drew his greatsword and began to unfold the opening stance of Xuanmen Jiujian.
Having performed through to the ninth sword, Moyong Gyeong turned his head to find Seonu gone.
"Huh? Where did Brother go?"
Moyong Gyeong entered the lodging searching for Seonu, while the Paeng siblings grasped heavy blades and began their training.
O Bongdal sat on a rock, staring blankly at their training.
Entering the room, Moyong Gyeong found Seonu writing talismans in cinnabar ink and pouted.
"Brother. Is this not too much? I asked you to watch my martial arts."
"You already know the way—must I explain it? And do not speak. I need to concentrate to write these talismans."
At Seonu's answer, a smile crept to Moyong Gyeong's lips.
It was the answer that confirmed his assessment had not been wrong.
"But Brother, why are you writing talismans? And are those the correct talismans?"
"I told you to be quiet."
When Seonu grew annoyed, Moyong Gyeong quickly shut his mouth.
After writing eight talismans, a drop of sweat trickled down Seonu's forehead.
"What kind of talisman is that?"
"A ghost-trapping talisman. There should be plenty of the wandering sort around."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
"We have to take over the building Team One uses, don't we? So I'm trying to borrow some ghostly strength."
Unable to believe Seonu's answer, Moyong Gyeong raised a finger and laughed.
"Come on… you're lying, right?"
"If we acquire Team One's building in a few days, you can just keep living here."
"Brother. I was wrong."
The moment Moyong Gyeong apologized, Seonu stood up.
"You know where Team One is, right? This place is so vast that I can't tell where anything is."
"I shall guide you, Brother."
When Seonu and Moyong Gyeong stepped outside, O Bongdal, who had been sitting blankly, rose to his feet.
"Why are you sitting there like that?"
Seonu's question left O Bongdal unable to answer.
He did not know what to do, nor how to do it.
"If you wish to become a genius, keep running. And stop by the blacksmith to have some throwing darts made smaller and thinner than the ones you use now, and train with those."
At Seonu's instruction, O Bongdal's face brightened.
"Thank you, Teacher."