Chapter v11c4: The Trainer and the Trainees

“Gasp, gasp, gasp!”

“Pant, pant, pant!”

“Gasp, gasp, gasp!”

Sweat poured down like monsoon rain, soaking the ground. It felt as if all the moisture in their bodies was being expelled as sweat. Although the scorching summer had passed, the blazing sun still retained its strength, proving its relentless heat. The air felt thick like porridge.

Under the blazing sun, the sixteen members of the Jujakdan were pushing their bodies to the limit. No matter how strong their internal energy was, it was almost useless against Yeomdo’s rigorous training. Despite it being early autumn, the sun blazed fiercely, and the heated air made it difficult to breathe.

But Yeomdo was merciless.

His argument was that if they couldn’t overcome this kind of weather, they had no face to show. At the very least, they should reach a level where they could withstand both heat and cold, even if they couldn’t reach the level of being impervious to swords and fire. This was the basic standard for a martial artist in Yeomdo’s view.

Pitter-patter!

The sound of numerous water droplets hitting the ground. But it wasn’t rain. However, the ants walking in a line, carrying prey five or six times their size, must have felt like it was raining. To these diligent creatures, it was a significant disaster.

“Pant, pant, pant, is it raining? Damn it…”

Nohak gritted his teeth and muttered. Rain? Not a chance!

But he suddenly felt the urge to check the weather. His entire body was soaked as if he had walked in the rain all day. The reason they were sweating so much that it seemed like they had been running in a downpour was simple and straightforward.

They had been undergoing so-called training for the past two hours. The one overseeing this was Yeomdo. He was carrying out this noble task under the pretext of mental and physical training.

These two hours were a hellish ordeal even for them, who were highly skilled. Yeomdo had no intention of stopping anytime soon. Binggeom, who seemed to have been forewarned, didn’t intervene.

Yeomdo’s game was far from over.

“Stand up! Sit down! Stand up! Sit down!”

“Forward roll! Backward roll!”

At Yeomdo’s command, the Jujakdan members had to flip their bodies quickly. Any sluggishness was not tolerated here.

“Push-up position!”

This was no ordinary push-up. They were supporting their entire body weight with just one index finger. Pitiful glances were cast their way. This was a type of brutal training that other representatives had rarely experienced.

“Now! Focus on one! Unity on two!”

Yeomdo resumed his commands.

“One!”

“Focus!”

Their bodies lowered until they were almost touching the ground.

“Two!”

“Unity!”

Their bodies rose again.

“Didn’t you have breakfast? Don’t you want lunch?”

Yeomdo seemed displeased with their responses.

“One for the master, two for the heavens, one!”

“Master!”

Their bodies lowered again.

“Two!”

“Heavens!”

Their bodies rose again.

“One!”

“Master!”

Their bodies lowered again, leaving only a fingernail’s width between their stomachs and the ground. The fingers of the Jujakdan members trembled under the immense strain.

“Hold that position!”

Yeomdo’s merciless command rang out. The Jujakdan members momentarily forgot to respond.

“Are you joking? Have you lost your minds? Where’s your focus? Hold!”

“Hold…”

Their response was almost a whimper. They maintained their positions, barely touching the ground. Sweat poured from their foreheads, soaking the earth. Without the use of internal energy, they were struggling immensely.

“The only truth I’ve learned in 40 years of wandering the martial world is that regretting after death is useless. Understand? You chicks! Don’t get cocky when you haven’t even broken out of your shells. You’re just novices with almost no real combat experience! Sparring and real combat are entirely different! So listen well to my deep and vast intentions for your survival!”

Though it was an excuse, it wasn’t a lie.

“The martial world is a battlefield! Mount Hua is one of those battlefields. The Mount Hua Sect’s Hundred-Year Agreement Conference is a battle. You must win the battle. How do you win? Good question. It’s simple. If you get stronger, you can win. So I’ll make you stronger. Everyone, get up! Form ranks! Now!”

At Yeomdo’s vigorous command, the Jujakdan members, who had been supporting themselves with just one index finger, sprang up like lightning, aligning their rows and columns perfectly. Any deviation could be an excuse for criticism. Yeomdo, who had been barking orders with a fierce expression, briefly showed a satisfied smile when the Jujakdan members aligned perfectly.

“Hey, guys!”

Yeomdo called out in a gentle voice.

“Yes, master!”

Despite being exhausted to the point of death, the sixteen Jujakdan members responded loudly and clearly. They didn’t want to repeat the previous exercises.

“Are you tired?”

Though they wanted to shout, ‘Of course, we’re exhausted! Can’t you see?’ they refrained from expressing their true feelings, fearing the consequences. The truth always comes with a hefty price.

“No, sir.”

The Jujakdan members answered in unison.

“Really?”

“Yes, we’re fine!”

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes, we’re fine!”

They answered loudly again.

“Good. Then you’re still wearing those, right?”

They knew exactly what Yeomdo was referring to.

“Yes, of course!”

He was talking about the weights on their wrists and ankles. Yeomdo knew from Bi Ryu Yeon what they were wearing.

“Are they heavy?”

“No, sir!”

“Yes!”

Was it a trick of fate? Despite needing to vehemently deny it, one of the Jujakdan members accidentally answered affirmatively. Realizing the mistake, it was already too late. That was an answer they should never have given, even if their lives depended on it.

“Really? Still heavy? Let’s lighten you up a bit. We have plenty of time.”

Yeomdo smiled. The Jujakdan members felt uneasy about his smile. They were now feeling fear.

“Do you see that mountain over there?”

Yeomdo pointed to a distant mountain. The Jujakdan members nodded in unison, but their expressions were grim. They were gripped by intense anxiety and fear.

“No response! Are you all mute? Do you see that mountain?”

Yeomdo asked loudly again.

“Yes, we see it!”

A resounding answer erupted. The voices were sharp and disciplined. The Jujakdan members looked at the mountain that Yeomdo’s index finger pointed to.

The mountain appeared quite tall.

“Now that you’ve confirmed it, let’s proceed with the lightness skill and physical strength training.”

Yeomdo then took something out from his belongings.

“I will now light the incense.”

Yeomdo placed five sticks of incense in a portable incense burner. The sight of the incense sticks made the Jujakdan members’ faces turn pale like wax figures.

“Some of you might be thinking, ‘Do we really need to climb that high mountain? We can just pretend to climb and come back.'”

Yeomdo’s tone reverted to his usual rough manner. The sudden change in tone made it even more intimidating. Several members, including Nohak, flinched.

“But unfortunately, I can’t meet your expectations. Each of you has a signaling mirror, right?”

Of course, they all had one attached to their belts. It was a mandatory item.

“Do you know why you have it? When you reach the top of the mountain, signal with the mirror!”

Yeomdo’s thoroughness was undeniable. If anyone was caught slacking off and returning early, they would earn the privilege of climbing many mountains the next day.

“Those who descend halfway will have another climb waiting for them tomorrow. If you enjoy mountain scenery, I won’t stop you.”

His words were gentle, but the underlying threat was terrifying. Yeomdo’s tone and behavior were different from usual, almost as if he were a different person.

None of them wanted to climb up and down the mountain for reasons other than training. They knew well that Yeomdo meant what he said.

“Last one back has to go again. Go!”

“Go!”

Without hesitation, the Jujakdan members kicked off the ground and sprinted. A cloud of dust rose in their wake.

Rumble!

They returned after running at full speed before three of the five incense sticks had burned out. The Jujakdan had returned before all five incense sticks had burned. Their bodies were drenched in sweat from the intense exertion. However, they were relieved to see that two incense sticks were still burning.

They expected praise from Yeomdo for their remarkable performance, but it didn’t take long for them to realize how futile that hope was.

“What? Why are you back already?”

Yeomdo asked, looking puzzled.

“Back already? We definitely went to the designated mountain and sent the signal.”

Namgung Sang replied on behalf of the group. Yeomdo’s expression quickly turned incredulous.

“Huh? What are you talking about? When did I say that mountain?”

“What? But you clearly pointed to…”

Namgung Sang trailed off, intimidated by Yeomdo’s fierce glare. He felt a sense of impending doom if he continued speaking.

“When did I? Are your eyes defective? When did I point there? Look again! This is your only chance! There won’t be a second!”

Yeomdo extended his index finger again, pointing to a mountain in the 1-2 o’clock direction. The Jujakdan members followed the invisible straight line from his finger to the distant space. The invisible line connected to the peak of the mountain they had just climbed.

“…?”

There’s nothing wrong with it. So why the fuss?

These blatant thoughts remained deep in the hearts of the Jujakdan members, never to be expressed. But Yeomdo seemed to sense their thoughts. He looked exasperated.

“Hey! Where are you looking? Why did you stop there?”

Yeomdo’s harsh voice rang out.

“Isn’t your gaze too low? Is that even a mountain? Are you going on a picnic to a hill? Not that mountain, the one behind it.”

Yeomdo clearly stated the target, sounding annoyed.

“…?”

He was right. The peak they had climbed was just a midway point. The invisible line continued further into the distance. Their gaze followed the invisible line, skimming past the mountain peak. Their heads tilted further back. And then they saw it.

At that moment, they wanted to gouge out their eyes. Behind the mountain they had painstakingly climbed was another mountain, at least twice as high and three times as rugged.

“S-Surely not…”

Namgung Sang’s lips trembled.

“You must be joking, right?”

“Please tell us you’re joking.”

“Please say it’s a joke.”

Namgung Sang and the other Jujakdan members were in despair.

“Do you think I’d joke about something like this with you?”

The faces of the Jujakdan members contorted into expressions of metaphysical anguish. But Yeomdo wasn’t joking. He was dead serious. They pointed with trembling fingers at the mountain they dreaded to look at.

“Really…?”

Namgung Sang’s tongue trembled. Yeomdo silently nodded. All the Jujakdan members looked like they were at a funeral. The other representatives watched with a mix of anxiety, fear, and sympathy. But no one stepped forward to stop Yeomdo. There was no clear reason to intervene. After all, a master training his disciples was beyond reproach.

Those who narrowly escaped this ordeal were deeply grateful to the heavens. They looked at the Jujakdan members with pity. They could afford to feel sympathy because they were safe.

“Come on, standing there won’t make the mountain come to you. Move it!”

Yeomdo’s shout rang out again. He cruelly added one more thing.

“It’s a race.”

A race!

The last one back might have to climb that mountain again. The word “race” meant they had to run with all their might again. In an instant, the sixteen figures turned into tiny dots on the horizon.

To the other representatives watching the Jujakdan’s misfortune, Yeomdo looked like a demon or a ghost. They were terrified, fearing they might end up in the same situation. Fortunately, they had no ties to Yeomdo, so they didn’t have to run. They sighed in relief and silently offered their condolences to the Jujakdan.

After a long time, lights began to flicker from the mountain peak one by one. Seeing this, Yeomdo turned to the delegation and instructed them to start moving.

“Shouldn’t we wait for the seniors?”

Hyo Ryong bravely asked. It would take some time for them to return.

“We can’t stay here forever. Do you want to camp here tonight?”

“N-No.”

Hyo Ryong quickly shook his head. Yeomdo glanced at the mountain and then turned away without hesitation.

“They’ll catch up. Move out!”

Yeomdo’s command was cold and unyielding.