Teachings Are Not Passed To The Unworthy.

“Right, just a little. A little.”

Jong Dae-woon forced himself to calm down.

They’re deciding senior and junior order with a duel?

He had never even heard of such a thing.

And this was a place spouting nonsense about yokai and the Upper Realm.

Of course, it wasn’t that he knew nothing. He too had learned martial arts in a Taoist sect.

But that didn’t mean he could believe everything Yun Heo said.

He’d play along a bit, then leave.

“…Fine. If I’m doing this, being the senior is better than being a junior.”

Serving as a junior under those two didn’t look easy.

His aim was to be the sahyung¹.

Jong Dae-woon’s eyes changed.

“Time to show what I can do, for once.”

It is said that one should hide three parts of their skill when stepping into the martial world.

But what he’d hidden was far more than three parts.

His expression turned serious, unlike before.

A faint fragrance began to drift from his body.

Before long, his steps had brought him to a secluded forest.

Noise carried from afar.

Each time the woods seemed to shake, the confident Jong Dae-woon slowed at the ominous sound.

“…The worse the fighter, the louder the fuss.”

He pictured the two when they had fought Yun Heo.

‘Blockheads.’

Still, he didn’t think he’d lose.

He adjusted his iron fan.

Just then.

Crack, trees split, and Gyo-ha and Moon Ryang came into view.

Each time the blade flashed, the blade screamed.

It was no figure of speech.

Kiiiiiiiiii!

A chilling wail burst out.

And what was with those eyes?

The whites showed plain, as if possessed by something.

He had seen it when he fought Yun Heo, but not to this extent.

Stranger still was Gyo-ha.

Sharp blade-qi scored his skin, yet it wasn’t fatal.

Gyo-ha, blood-smeared and grinning bright.

The feeling he gave off was even more chilling than Moon Ryang.

But Gyo-ha’s look wasn’t the point.

‘…Was that guy always this good?’

He hadn’t been like this against the Justice Gate or Yun Heo.

He had been ‘manageable.’

But now, he seemed a bit pressed.

In that instant, Moon Ryang’s movement changed. His form shot out explosively.

Seeing it, Gyo-ha took advancing steps.

Gyo-ha twisted his body.

Tuddeudeuk.

He could hear the muscles screaming even from where he stood.

With it, Gyo-ha drove out a punch.

Was it because the internal energy within that fist was judged abnormal?

Moon Ryang pulled back.

Watching in surprise, Jong Dae-woon clicked his tongue.

‘Not with a punch that slow.’

Sure enough, Gyo-ha’s fist struck only air.

But.

Kwagagang!

The air burst. Swept by the shockwave, Moon Ryang’s body snapped away.

“…What.”

The shock ruffled even Jong Dae-woon’s distant collar. He blinked at the unbelievable sight.

Distance Piercing Palm?

A superior art that strikes across empty space.

But could that just now be called Distance Piercing Palm?

He had seen Distance Piercing Palms before. None of the Distance Piercing Palms Jong Dae-woon had ever seen were ever this violent.

On top of that…

Drip, blood fell from Gyo-ha’s fist.

His hand was a wreck.

His fist hadn’t escaped the recoil.

His ankle, too, was bent at an odd angle.

‘…What even is that?’

Could you even call that martial art?

Gyo-ha cocked his head at his ruined fist. But it wasn’t from pain.

“Strange. I thought it would work this time.”

He clicked his tongue, disappointed.

Did he not see his flesh torn to the bone?

From Gyo-ha’s words, Jong Dae-woon understood.

What he’d seen wasn’t Gyo-ha’s aim. It was a failed attempt at something else.

Realizing that sent chills up his spine.

Just then, Gyo-ha noticed him, too.

“Hm? You joining in too?”

He started toward him, bright-faced, then stopped. Noticing his twisted ankle, he rolled it.

Ttuduk.

Then he limped closer.

“Hm.”

Jong Dae-woon looked to the fallen Moon Ryang.

The fight was already over.

Gyo-ha smiled cleanly through a wrecked body.

If he nodded, the man looked ready to pounce at once.

‘…Right, being the sahyung only means more work.’

Sahyung wasn’t just a title for the one who joined first.

It carried heavy responsibility.

And he was leaving anyway.

‘In anything, the middle’s best.’

Jong Dae-woon’s gaze went back to the fallen Moon Ryang.

Moon Ryang came to and rose, spitting a mouthful of blood.

Jong Dae-woon recalled Moon Ryang’s last strike.

Fast, yet not beyond pursuit.

‘Fast Sword… If it’s Fast Fan, I have that.’

All the more if he wasn’t at full health.

His grip tightened on the iron fan.

The three returned after night had fallen.

Gyo-ha limped in, shirt gone, body covered in wounds.

Then Moon Ryang entered, his chest torn open, clothes blood-stained, yet better than Gyo-ha, who was caked in blood and dirt.

Last came Jong Dae-woon, clothes intact unlike the other two.

He had fewer wounds too, though his eyes stood out.

One eye was black and blue, and a vivid red welt rose on his brow.

Those outside stared at the three up and down.

They were inwardly curious about the outcome.

At a glance, Jong Dae-woon looked the victor.

But when their gazes hit him, his face crumpled.

He flinched when Yun Heo’s eyes turned his way.

Someone stepped out first.

“I pay my respects again to Master and Sahyung. I am Moon Ryang.”

Moon Ryang cupped his fist handsomely.

Belatedly, Jong Dae-woon cupped his fist.

“…My respects to Master and the sahyungs. I am Seo Jong-dae.”

“Seo Jong-dae?”

At the unfamiliar name, heads tilted.

Noh-sam grasped it first.

“Jong Dae-woon isn’t your real name?!”

At his cry, the others’ eyes went round.

Yun Heo narrowed his eyes; Jong Dae-woon scratched his head.

“This one is my real name.”

“You said that last time, too.”

When Gyo-ha slid in that remark, Seo Jong-dae bristled.

“This time it really is! Sahyung.”

He tacked on the honorifics late, and the people shook their heads.

Just then.

Koong.

Yun Heo stepped forward. It was unknown when he had drawn it, but he had his sword in his hand.

The Azure Cloud Sword.

“Yun Heo. I am Kunlun’s current Sect Leader.”

A suffocating aura lanced toward the two.

“I haven’t formally taken you in yet. That being said, I won’t use you only as that brat’s sparring partners. I will teach you proper martial arts, so don’t worry.”

At that, Seo Jong-dae’s eyes went wide.

He hadn’t thought he would truly teach them martial arts.

Was this actually okay?

Before the doubt could settle, Yun Heo continued:

“If you please me, you’ll receive a formal Taoist name. Even if you don’t, prove your use and you can be entered as a Named Disciple of the sect.”

“Ah.”

Exclamations slipped out all around.

A Named Disciple.

It meant a disciple recorded by name. Some are only registered, others receive portions of martial arts by connection.

Although they’re not official disciples, they are recognized as members of the same school.

Rarely, some were acknowledged as secular disciples by merit.

Even so, Yun Heo’s terms were extraordinary.

But Seo Jong-dae fixated on a different part.

“…If—if I fail to prove my use, what then?”

At his question, Yun Heo looked as if to say, why ask the obvious.

“Teachings Are Not Passed to the Unworthy. What Kunlun gives, Kunlun will reclaim.”

Unknowingly, the people swallowed dryly.

“Don’t worry. I won’t handle it as clumsily as your former sect did.”

Don’t worry about what?

Seo Jong-dae spoke carefully.

“…Could I be a disciple without learning the arts…”

At times, named disciples didn’t study arts.

To that, Yun Heo only smiled.

That was answer enough.

And one watched them with anxious eyes.

It was Noh-sam.

“Ah.”

When Yun Heo looked to Noh-sam, Gyo-ha explained his situation.

Noh-sam wasn’t just a companion.

His mother had personally entrusted Noh-sam’s safety to Gyo-ha.

When he finished, they looked at Noh-sam anew.

Yun Heo looked him up and down.

“You lack talent. Taking you as a Kunlun disciple would be difficult.”

A cold voice.

Moon Ryang and Seo Jong-dae also nodded.

To their eyes, his frame was purely ordinary.

Noh-sam, as if expecting it, nodded.

So this was as far as it went.

His face resigned.

This situation had come from Noh-sam losing the baggage again.

He was prepared.

But Yun Heo wasn’t finished.

“Yet a sect need not be only warriors.”

“Huh?”

“Someone must manage a sect’s household. Even if it’s a sect that is in ruins.”

Noh-sam’s eyes widened.

“Even so, a sect inevitably stands exposed to the cutting winds. Death could come at any moment. Are you prepared for that?”

“Y-yes! Please entrust it to me!”

Noh-sam blurted out.

Yun Heo nodded.

“Then from now, you are the Kunlun Sect’s Chief Steward.”

“Chief Steward?!”

At the unexpected post his eyes shook, then steadied as he firmed his resolve and nodded.

“Thank you! I will serve with devotion!”

Yun Heo nodded at Noh-sam prostrating.

At that, Gyo-ha cocked his head.

His chest felt strangely empty, as if something had been taken.

“Are you returning to Mount Kunlun now?”

Yu So-ha asked, a little bittersweet.

Yun Heo shook his head.

“No.”

The party looked to him.

Meeting their eyes, he spoke again.

“Mount Kunlun now is hardly a human realm. At their level, they’d die before reaching it.”

At his firm tone, they swallowed.

“Then?”

“Some have already crossed onto this land. For now, you’ll hone yourselves by facing them.”

Gyo-ha’s eyes sparkled. Seo Jong-dae’s face, in contrast, darkened.

What he imagined was becoming real.

“Chief Steward Noh should remain here for the time being.”

He said it to Yu So-ha, not Noh-sam.

“Yes. Don’t worry!”

She sounded pleased. If Noh-sam stayed here, that would mean that Gyo-ha would be coming back.

Due to Noh-sam’s surname being Jang, the title Chief Steward Jang sounded fitting, so no one questioned it.

Even Noh-sam let it pass as natural.

“Then, let’s be off.”

As Yun Heo rose, the other three stood with him.

“It’s late, perhaps you should leave tomorrow…”

“Otherworldly things move by night more than day. They’ll have to grow used to it.”

Yun Heo leapt away, and the three followed.

This time, even Yu So-ha couldn’t stop them.

‘At least it isn’t the end.’

If they’d returned to Mount Kunlun, who knew when they’d meet again.

Sighing, she looked to Noh-sam.

“Then, Uncle Noh-sam, please rest as well.”

“No.”

Shaking his head firmly, Noh-sam bowed to her.

“Please put me to work here until I depart.”

At the sudden request, Yu So-ha’s eyes widened.

But behind her, Geum Ho-pyeong nodded without thinking.

He’d realized Noh-sam’s intent.

And the quick-witted Yu So-ha soon understood as well.

“…Work in this manor won’t be easy.”

This wasn’t an estate with one or two small businesses.

They ran a full merchant guild.

There was no better place to learn a Chief Steward’s duties.

“I’ll be in your care.”

Noh-sam nodded, eyes earnest.