Chapter 47: The Recruitment Ended, and the Adventure Began (2)
The next day, ten martial artists were assigned from the Secret Pavilion.
Some had originally belonged to the Secret Pavilion, while others had been recruited from outside by the Martial Alliance Leader and On Byeokhwa.
Baek Socheon gathered them at the Training Grounds together with the Iron Sword Corps martial artists who had come the previous day.
He looked at the Secret Pavilion martial artists and asked,
“Did any of you volunteer to come?”
Three of the ten raised their hands. All three had been martial artists who had faithfully followed him back when he had been the Pavilion Master of the Dark Shadow Pavilion. Although they had officially been assigned, volunteering to join the Hyuncheon Squad under the current circumstances could not have been an easy decision.
“Thank you.”
The remaining seven had come under the orders of the Pavilion Master of the Dark Shadow Pavilion.
“When this mission is over, I’ll send you back. So don’t worry.”
One of them stepped forward.
“My name is Wang Ho.”
He had been recruited from outside. With his muscular build and rugged features, he truly looked like a tiger, just as his name suggested.
“I don’t serve anyone weaker than me as my leader. It’s been my principle all my life!”
“Is that so?”
“May I test the Squad Leader’s strength?”
“Certainly.”
Baek Socheon accepted without hesitation before adding,
“But first, let me make one thing clear.”
He addressed everyone standing behind him.
“You’ve all spent enough years living by the sword to know this. When someone becomes the leader, they have to establish authority from the start. If someone kindly sets the stage like this, it’s actually to my advantage.”
Of course, this was a somewhat exceptional case. Most of them had come because they respected Baek Socheon, so he didn’t really need to establish authority. The people he intended to make an example for were the remaining few.
“Wang Ho. I respect your principle, but I’ve decided to make an example of you.”
Wang Ho’s expression hardened at those words.
“After we’re done fighting, you won’t be able to move properly for about a month. During that time, would you take charge as the Hyuncheon Squad’s training instructor?”
“What?”
Wang Ho stared at him in disbelief.
In other words, Baek Socheon was saying that Wang Ho would be beaten so badly that he wouldn’t be able to carry out active duties, so he could oversee training instead. It was a proposal he had never imagined.
“Well? Will you still do it? You can withdraw your challenge even now. Everyone here will understand both your position and mine.”
“No, I’ll do it. Since the Squad Leader has spoken like that, I have something to say as well.”
“What is it?”
“I won’t hold back either. From the very first move, I’ll fight as if it were a real battle.”
“That’s exactly how it should be. A true man keeps his word?”
“Worth a thousand pieces of gold.”
“Good.”
The spectators formed a circle around them as the two men stepped into the centre.
Everyone watched with eager anticipation.
The Secret Pavilion martial artists all knew just how powerful Wang Ho was. He was a peak master who had reached the pinnacle, and he never hesitated when striking. Rumours were also spreading that Baek Socheon had cleared the highest-difficulty mechanism training without using Internal Energy.
Shing.
Wang Ho drew his sword.
Standing over ten paces away, Baek Socheon looked at him with both arms hanging loosely at his sides. He appeared relaxed, but in reality every bit of his concentration was focused. Just from watching Wang Ho draw his sword, he could tell how formidable his opponent was.
Baek Socheon considered all of this to be a trial he had to endure sooner or later.
It had been the same with Chung Yang, and it was the same with this challenge.
It was only natural that he should pay the price for the three years he had spent wandering.
He had to fill that void. If he simply covered it over without properly filling it, one day it would collapse beneath him like a hidden pitfall.
The instant Wang Ho moved, he exploded forward, rapidly closing the distance.
He was incredibly fast.
Baek Socheon executed his movement technique and evaded the attack. The Sea Without Rising Waves technique from the Second Fist’s Defensive Form of the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists unfolded. As his body smoothly rotated aside, Wang Ho’s sword flashed past his chest.
The experienced Wang Ho immediately realised his attack had missed and twisted his sword. It was an exquisite transition in attack that only a peak master could accomplish.
Swoosh!
The attack was every bit as swift and threatening as the sound it made. It was the kind of strike that turned relying solely on physical reflexes into a deadly gamble.
This was the skill of a fully matured peak master.
But Baek Socheon wasn’t merely defending himself.
This time, he executed the Wind Dwells Below technique from the Second Fist. His body leaned back as he swiftly retreated out of the sword’s range.
The blade sliced through empty air.
As his second attack also failed, Wang Ho grew impatient. The thought that someone supposedly lacking Internal Energy had avoided such a decisive strike caused his concentration to waver for just an instant.
‘He’s deceiving everyone by pretending he has no Internal Energy!’
Swooooosh!
Once again, Wang Ho’s sword shot toward Baek Socheon’s chest.
But he abruptly changed direction and withdrew the blade. He had noticed Baek Socheon closing in, intending to seize his wrist.
However, that move had been Baek Socheon’s true objective all along.
The instant Wang Ho moved to protect his sword, an opening appeared.
Baek Socheon’s knee slammed into his side.
The Long Wind Splits the Waves technique from the Third Fist had been unleashed.
Originally, the technique was meant to create an opening before following up with a shoulder or elbow strike, but Baek Socheon had adapted it for real combat by replacing it with a knee strike.
Thud!
A heavy impact rang out as Wang Ho staggered backwards.
He swung his sword to keep Baek Socheon from approaching.
But in the end, there had been no need.
Baek Socheon simply remained where he stood.
Wang Ho immediately understood why his opponent hadn’t pursued him with a continuous assault.
“Urgh.”
A short cry escaped his lips.
The blow from moments ago had cracked one of his ribs. Clutching beneath his chest, he let out a pained groan.
He was about to grit his teeth through the pain and charge again when his eyes met Baek Socheon’s.
Seeing the calm look in his opponent’s eyes, Wang Ho understood.
If Baek Socheon hadn’t held back, several of his ribs would have been broken.
He had deliberately inflicted an injury that would heal completely after about a month of treatment.
“I lost.”
Everyone was stunned.
In no more than five or six exchanges, Baek Socheon had subdued one of the Secret Pavilion’s finest martial artists.
In truth, Baek Socheon had ended the fight as quickly as possible not because the difference in strength was overwhelming.
Rather, he knew that the longer the battle continued, the more disadvantageous it would become for him, so he had chosen to finish it swiftly.
Objectively speaking, if he had not mastered the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists, defeating Wang Ho bare-handed would never have been easy.
He would have been forced into a desperate life-and-death struggle, and victory would have been far from certain.
“Do you admit your defeat?”
“I do. And I’ll keep my promise.”
Changing to a respectful tone, Wang Ho lowered his head.
“Until I return to the Secret Pavilion, I shall serve you with absolute loyalty.”
The technique Baek Socheon had displayed moments ago had truly been astonishing.
Even knowing what was coming, it had been almost impossible to stop.
He had also realised something the instant he was struck.
The attack hadn’t contained any Internal Energy.
It had been pure physical force.
That only made him admire Baek Socheon even more.
A man who had trained hard enough to defeat him without Internal Energy deserved respect as a martial artist, regardless of rank.
“Go get yourself treated first.”
“Yes.”
Wang Ho bowed respectfully.
Serving only those stronger than himself had never been an excuse to pick fights.
It was truly the principle by which he lived.
Baek Socheon turned to the others.
“For the time being, you’ll all train under Wang Ho’s command. From now on, there will be many occasions where you’ll have to risk your lives. When the day comes that you’re facing death, don’t regret not training harder while you had the chance. Understood?”
“Yes!”
Everyone answered in unison.
Little by little, they were beginning to see the Baek Socheon of old once again.
Thus, through two demonstrations and two sparring matches, the Hyuncheon Squad was officially formed from members of the Iron Sword Corps and the Secret Pavilion.
Its total strength numbered twenty-five.
Early that morning, Baek Socheon had shut himself inside the Ten Thousand Books Repository.
The Ten Thousand Books Repository.
It was said that every book in the world could be found there.
It was even said that if a book did not exist there, then it did not exist anywhere in the world.
For that reason, the Ten Thousand Books Repository proudly bore the title of the greatest library in the Central Plains.
The first library was open to every martial artist of the Martial Alliance.
Its immense halls contained hundreds of bookshelves filled with every imaginable volume.
Naturally, martial arts manuals were included as well.
Of course, not every manual was available.
The manuals housed in the first library ranged from beginner to intermediate level.
Martial artists were not permitted to borrow them.
If they needed something, they had to memorise it on the spot before leaving.
Many martial artists sat reading manuals as though preparing for examinations.
The next library was accessible up to the Group Leaders.
It contained martial arts manuals of a considerably higher standard than the previous collection, all of upper-level quality.
The library after that was reserved for Commanders.
The final library was accessible only to Pavilion Masters.
Though it contained fewer books, every volume stored there was exceptionally rare and of the highest quality.
Baek Socheon was reading one of those manuals.
Ever since recovering his body, the manual he had studied most consistently had been the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method, the greatest mental cultivation method of all time.
However, because he could not circulate his Internal Energy, no matter how many times he read it, there was a limit to what he could achieve.
The next manual he had memorised was the Overturning Heaven Nine Fists.
He had firmly mastered the first three forms out of the total nine.
The manual he was currently reading was one he had never paid much attention to before.
He had seen it sitting on the shelf several times but had never once taken it down.
Just then, someone interrupted his complete immersion in reading.
“So, we meet here.”
Unexpectedly, it was On Byeokhwa, the Pavilion Master of the Dark Shadow Pavilion.
“Squad Leader Baek and a library don’t seem to go together.”
“Are you saying I look stupid?”
“Haha, not at all. I simply meant that a sword suits Squad Leader Baek better than books.”
“Thank you for sending your subordinates.”
“Think nothing of it. After all, it’s all for the sake of the Martial World. I heard a rumour that you earned Wang Ho’s loyalty on your very first day.”
“Martial Artist Wang simply went easy on me.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t Squad Leader Baek who went easy on him?”
Baek Socheon didn’t know much about her.
Naturally, he had heard of her accomplishments through rumours, but he knew little about what kind of person she truly was.
If the Alliance Leader had personally brought her in, then they must have shared a very close relationship.
Had the Alliance Leader told her about him?
Breaking the silence, On Byeokhwa changed the subject.
“May I ask what book you’re reading?”
“Of course.”
Baek Socheon readily showed her the manual.
The Great Bone-Reforging Body Transformation Technique.
The moment she read the title, On Byeokhwa was startled.
She had never imagined Baek Socheon would be reading a book about Body Reformation.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“I never expected you to be reading such an absurd book. Ah, calling it absurd is rather rude of me.”
“Not at all.”
Throughout the history of the Martial World, there had only been a handful of recorded cases of Body Reformation.
Even those cases had rarely been confirmed as genuine.
As a result, many people regarded such stories as nothing more than fantasy.
“This is the situation I’m in now. I have to grasp at even the faintest hope.”
Smiling gently, On Byeokhwa asked,
“So, has it been of any help?”
“No. This book alone hasn’t helped at all.”
Her eyes shifted to another volume lying beside him.
Compendium of the Martial World’s Ten Great Soul Reaping Arts.
“I didn’t know you were interested in Soul Reaping Arts.”
“There’s something I wanted to look into. But what brings you here, Pavilion Master?”
“I happened to have something to research as well. Well then, until next time.”
She walked deeper into the library.
Baek Socheon returned to his reading.
Later, when On Byeokhwa left, she quietly passed by without disturbing him.
He was completely absorbed in his book.
Several shijin later, Baek Socheon closed the final page.
Beneath the title The Great Bone-Reforging Body Transformation Technique was the author’s name.
Ban Yunsaeng.
The very man Goe Yeo had mentioned back in the Thunder Prison.
Baek Socheon assigned separate duties to Lim Chung and Beon Saeng.
“From now on, Lim Chung, you’ll manage all the intelligence coming from the Hyuncheon Pavilion, organise it, and report it to me. In addition, I’d like you to handle all of the Hyuncheon Squad’s administrative affairs.”
“So, in other words, I’ll be the Hyuncheon Squad’s administrator.”
“Someone has to do it, and I think you’re the right person.”
“Yes, understood.”
In truth, this responsibility was, in some respects, the most important of all.
That was why it had to be entrusted to someone he trusted the most.
Fortunately, Lim Chung’s previous role as Branch Leader had also involved administrative work.
Managing the Hyuncheon Squad’s administration suited him perfectly.
“Beon Saeng, you’ll assist Lim Chung while continuing to train hard. Join the Hyuncheon Squad as soon as you’re strong enough.”
“Yes, understood.”
Gifted with exceptional martial talent, Beon Saeng would likely be ready to join field operations before long.
“There are countless people skilled in martial arts throughout the Martial World and this Martial Alliance. What I need isn’t someone who’s merely strong. I need people I can trust. People who will never lie to me, no matter the circumstances. People who will believe in me no matter what happens. I hope the two of you become those kinds of people.”
Both men could tell he wasn’t merely saying those words to make them feel good.
He truly wanted people he could trust.
Even surrounded by countless masters, he was still searching for trustworthy companions.
Beon Saeng spoke with emotion filling his voice.
“Big Brother. Looking back, it was an outrageous thing for us to do, but we became your sworn brothers. Even if I die, I’ll never betray you.”
“I feel the same.”
Baek Socheon had saved the lives of his wife and son.
He already considered his own life to belong to Baek Socheon.
“Good. Thank you.”
Baek Socheon patted each of them on the shoulder once.
“And take this training plan to Wang Ho.”
It was a training schedule Baek Socheon had prepared himself.
It detailed exactly what training should be carried out each day and how it was to be conducted.
“I’ll be away for a while. Take good care of the Hyuncheon Squad while I’m gone.”
“Where are you going?”
Lim Chung asked, but Baek Socheon gave no reply.
That night, carrying in his heart the answer he had been unable to give earlier, Baek Socheon quietly left the Martial Alliance.
‘I’m going to test my luck.’
His destination was the Qilian Mountains, where Ban Yunsaeng was said to have lived in seclusion.
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