Chapter 6: Find the Student (3)

The next day, Namgung Yun-ho noticed someone in his usual training ground.

‘Who could that be? No one ever comes here.’

It was one of the most secluded areas in Dongcheon Hall.

Although it was technically a training ground, it was dark, damp, and had been abandoned for years. He hadn’t seen another soul near the place in ages.

“Long time no see. Well, a day, to be exact.”

Hadn’t this guy given up yet?

Namgung Yun-ho frowned and turned his back on the intruder.

As if waiting for this exact moment, the voice continued.

“You can ignore me today. But I’ll be back tomorrow. And the day after that.”

“…”

“Let’s see who gives up first.”

Namgung Yun-ho’s eyes narrowed.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Who knows?”

The instructor’s nonchalant reply infuriated Namgung Yun-ho. He tightened his grip on his sword hilt.

“What? Are you going to hit me? I wonder how much a student would get for assaulting an instructor.”

“…I have no such intention.”

This guy was clearly insane.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t liked the instructor from the moment they met.

Not only was he much younger, yet acting all high and mighty as an instructor, but he also had that arrogant air about him.

And the rumors surrounding him weren’t exactly stellar.

Apparently, he was incompetent and relied on his connections to get by. There were even whispers about him demanding bribes.

‘And wasn’t there something about him being… interested in men?’

The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

The instructor, noticing his reaction, suddenly panicked.

“No! That’s not it! It’s not like that!”

“Everyone says that at first,” Namgung Yun-ho said, a flicker of amusement crossing his face.

“I’m telling you, it’s not true!”

The instructor’s flustered reaction made Namgung Yun-ho chuckle.

He could guess where those rumors originated. Similar incidents had driven several instructors out of the academy.

And it wasn’t entirely unbelievable.

He had seen the instructor with Yeo Mae-hong, a former classmate of his.

‘Miss Yeo…’

He remembered her well. She had been popular among their classmates, known for her friendly personality and elegant beauty.

‘None of my business, though.’

Namgung Yun-ho settled down in a corner of the training ground.

There was no point in arguing with the persistent instructor.

It was annoying to have an audience, but it was a small price to pay compared to the agony of not being able to train.

He drew his sword and raised it above his head.

Swish. Swish.

He began practicing his swordsmanship.

The Six Harmony Sword Technique.

A simple technique that involved six basic sword strikes.

It was barely worthy of being called a technique.

It was a cheap, common technique that could be learned from any street vendor for a few coins.

It was a far cry from the sophisticated techniques of the Namgung Clan, techniques that were worth a fortune and passed down through generations.

But Namgung Yun-ho practiced the Six Harmony Sword Technique with the same reverence and dedication he would have given to a legendary technique.

He lost himself in his training, oblivious to the instructor’s presence.

***

The next day, the new instructor was back, waiting for him in the training ground.

“…”

Namgung Yun-ho glared at the silent figure, who stood there like a statue.

When the instructor didn’t react, he resumed his training.

The Six Harmony Sword Technique, once again.

On the third day, Namgung Yun-ho had grown accustomed to the instructor’s presence.

He practiced his swordsmanship as if the other man wasn’t even there.

He switched to the Three Calamities Sword Technique, finding the Six Harmony Sword Technique too frustrating.

It was an even simpler technique, consisting of only three basic strikes: a vertical slash, a horizontal slash, and a thrust.

It was barely a technique at all, but he practiced it diligently.

On the fifth day, Namgung Yun-ho practiced both the Six Harmony Sword Technique and the Three Calamities Sword Technique.

He wasn’t making any progress. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse.

His hands trembled, and his footwork felt clumsy and unfamiliar.

He stumbled and fell, his body exhausted.

“…”

He felt a pang of shame, knowing that the instructor was watching him.

But the other man remained silent and motionless, leaning against a boulder as if he were part of the scenery.

He was like a stone Buddha, his gaze fixed on some distant horizon.

‘How can he stay so still?’

It didn’t matter.

Namgung Yun-ho picked himself up and resumed his training.

He fell three more times that day.

On the seventh day, even the Three Calamities Sword Technique felt beyond his reach.

That’s when the instructor finally spoke.

“Stop practicing the Three Calamities Sword Technique.”

The boulder had come to life.

“Mastery is key. If you can’t even perform the Three Calamities Sword Technique properly, how do you expect to learn more advanced techniques?”

“What about the Namgung Clan’s sword techniques?”

“You want me to reveal my clan’s secret techniques in front of an outsider?”

Martial artists rarely revealed their secret techniques to outsiders.

In fact, it was considered taboo to observe another martial artist’s training without their permission.

It was a violation of their privacy and could potentially reveal their weaknesses.

In that sense, the new instructor was being incredibly rude by watching him train without his consent.

‘Not that my current “techniques” are anything of a secret.’

He had chosen to practice the Six Harmony Sword Technique and the Three Calamities Sword Technique precisely because they were common and well-known.

The instructor thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers.

“You must know other techniques besides your clan’s secret techniques. The Clear Wind Sword Technique, for example. Many people in the Shinmu Academy are familiar with it.”

The Clear Wind Sword Technique.

A basic technique taught to children in the Namgung Clan.

“Well, the Clear Wind Sword Technique is…”

It was a simple technique, nothing special. It wouldn’t hurt to demonstrate it.

Namgung Yun-ho spent the rest of the day practicing the Clear Wind Sword Technique.

Strangely, he didn’t fall a single time.

“Do you know any other techniques besides the Clear Wind Sword Technique?”

“Not really.”

“It doesn’t have to be a sword technique.”

Any technique would do?

A memory surfaced.

“Actually, there is one.”

“Show me tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

On the tenth day, Namgung Yun-ho demonstrated the Clear Wind Sword Technique, followed by another basic technique. It was more of a dance than a martial art.

Snap!

The boulder snapped its fingers.

“I got it!”

Startled by the sudden outburst, Namgung Yun-ho stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Got what?”

“I figured out why you can’t perform your sword techniques properly,” the instructor said, grinning.

He pointed at Namgung Yun-ho’s chest.

“It’s all in your heart.”

Not this again.

Namgung Yun-ho ignored him.

“I’m serious! I figured it out!”

“I can see that you’re different from the other instructors who tried to take advantage of me. You’re not after my money or my connections. You’re the first person who’s actually taken the time to observe me. But I have no money. And nothing to offer you in return.”

“Why would I need your money?”

“Are you after fame, then? Or perhaps you’re hoping to gain favor with another clan by helping me? It’s pointless. My family has forgotten about me.”

“What are you talking about? You’re making no sense.”

Cho Un-hwi snapped a nearby branch and stripped off the leaves, fashioning it into a makeshift whip.

“A martial artist’s payment is settled with the sword.”

Namgung Yun-ho frowned as the whip pointed at him.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?”

“You want to spar? I’m not interested.”

So he was resorting to force?

Disappointed, Namgung Yun-ho turned to leave.

“You weren’t always like this, were you?” Cho Un-hwi asked.

“What do you mean?”

“There was a time when you could perform your techniques flawlessly. And then, something happened. You hit a wall, and you haven’t been able to recover since.”

“!”

Namgung Yun-ho was stunned.

‘How did he know?’

He turned back to face the instructor, his face etched with confusion.

Cho Un-hwi was smiling.

“I thought something was off. Your movements are… wrong.”

“What do you mean, wrong?”

“Your training methods are all wrong. That’s the problem. It’s not your body it’s your mind.”

“What? You’re saying I’m not sick? Or cursed?”

“Cursed? No, not cursed. Well, maybe cursed in a way. But it’s not a physical curse it’s a mental one.”

“What does that mean? Explain yourself.”

Cho Un-hwi grinned.

“Let’s start with a little test.”

He lunged at Namgung Yun-ho, his movements so swift and fluid that he seemed to teleport.

Namgung Yun-ho barely had time to react as the instructor’s figure loomed over him.

“One Strike Return!”

Thankfully, the instructor announced the name of the technique he was using.

It was a technique Namgung Yun-ho was familiar with.

A basic technique taught in the Shinmu Academy.

The same technique he had been practicing.

‘One Strike Return is…’

A simple, straightforward technique, a vertical slash from above.

He instinctively raised his sword to block.

Clang!

He managed to deflect the blow, but the instructor’s whip still managed to graze his chest.

He had been hit.

The instructor chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Wind Splitting Cross.”

A technique that involved sweeping the sword horizontally, creating both real and feint attacks.

Namgung Yun-ho instinctively retreated, swinging his sword up and down to block the incoming attacks.

The whip struck him in the side.

‘Again?’

He had been hit twice in two exchanges.

He felt so weak and helpless.

Shame washed over him, threatening to drown him in despair.

But before he could succumb to his emotions, the instructor attacked again.

“Clear Wind Moon Slash.”

Another technique from the Clear Wind Sword Technique.

A technique that involved dragging the sword tip along the ground to gather power before unleashing a diagonal slash.

“Haaa!”

Namgung Yun-ho roared, desperately trying to block the attack.

He swung his sword horizontally.

Thwack!

The whip struck him between the eyes.

‘I lost again.’

He wasn’t surprised.

It had happened countless times before.

He had become so accustomed to losing that he had given up on sparring altogether.

His eyes burned with unshed tears.

He was so frustrated.

‘I lost again. Again.’

He had trained so hard, but it was all for nothing.

The years of pent-up frustration and resentment threatened to overwhelm him.

That’s when the instructor did something completely unexpected.

He threw his arms around Namgung Yun-ho, pulling him into a tight embrace.

“What are you doing?!” Namgung Yun-ho exclaimed, struggling to break free.

“I’m so proud of you, you crazy bastard!” the instructor said, his voice thick with emotion.

“Let go of me!”

“Don’t worry, I’m here for you now. We’re going to make you the best swordsman in the world!”

“I’m not interested in… that kind of relationship!”

“That’s not what I meant!”

Cho Un-hwi’s face fell.