Starting with the first technique of the Jeobbi Bongchim, I learned a total of eight techniques under Tang Hochang.
The first technique: Jeobbi Bongchim (蝶飛蜂針)
The second technique: Dangrang Geocheol (螳螂拒轍)
The third technique: Mulbuchungsaeng (物腐蟲生)
The fourth technique: Jegwaeuihyeol (隄潰蟻穴)
The fifth technique: Hwagan Jeopmu (華間蝶舞)
The sixth technique: Wagak Jise (蝸角之勢)
The seventh technique: Baejung Saeung (盃中蛇影)
The eighth technique: Yongsabi Deung (龍蛇飛登)
The eight techniques of Tangmunhyeon were meticulously crafted to respond to each situation, with some techniques involving hidden memorization techniques tucked away in sleeves.
In that respect, it indeed felt practical, as one would expect from the Cheonsang Tang family martial arts.
You might encounter foes that cannot be handled with mere fists in the Jianghu, so this preparation seemed sensible.
Thus, two months flew by while I was learning Tangmunhyeon under Tang Hochang, and soon it was time for us to leave the Cheonsang Tang family.
*
I was practicing the techniques of Tangmunhyeon in the training hall when—
“Hey! Chilbok!”
As I turned at the sudden voice from behind me, an object the size of a fist flew right up to my face, and I reflexively caught it, confirming the identity of the item.
“…A potato?”
The one answering my muttering was Tang Sosu, holding a basket filled with boiled potatoes.
“They say spring potatoes are delicious these days. Try one.”
“Thanks, Sosu.”
“Tch, what’s the big deal about this?”
Feeling a bit hungry, I cleaned the surface of the potato well and took a big bite of the peeled potato.
“Ahh!”
It’s hot.
The outer part seemed cool enough to touch, but it seemed the insides hadn’t cooled down completely.
“Phew!”
As half of the potato flew in the air along with the air I expelled, Tang Sosu burst into laughter at my silly sight.
She must have known and was just messing with me.
When I shot a glare at her, Sosu stuck her tongue out and said,
“You silly, you shouldn’t stuff it all in your mouth like that.”
“If you eat it gradually like me, there’s no problem, right?”
Sosu showed me the potato she was eating, which definitely had just tiny bite marks like a mouse had nibbled at it.
Gulp—
Anyway, the potato, generously seasoned with salt, was tasty, so after swallowing the cooled-off part, I nibbled on the remaining half and asked,
“By the way, where did the Master go?”
I realized during my concentrated practice that Tang Hochang, who was previously next to me, had suddenly vanished.
“He said he had something to do at the market. He asked me to keep a close eye on you to see if you were slacking off.”
As she said that, Tang Sosu sat on a wooden bench next to the training hall, cradling the basket of boiled potatoes.
It seemed she planned to watch me practice my techniques.
While practicing the defensive technique, Wagak Jise, I asked,
“So, what about Lady Rin?”
In response, Tang Sosu frowned and said,
“Why do you call Dokgorin ‘Lady’ but speak informally to me, your relative?”
“Well, you don’t pay me a salary, do you?”
“Does Dokgorin pay you?”
“I received a whole lot in advance a while back.”
“…Anyway, why are you asking about her?”
“Well, you’re the only one I can ask. The only familiar people in this Cheonsang Tang family are you and the Master.”
There are countless people living in this enormous mansion, but among the direct lineage of the Tang family, I’ve only encountered Tang Hochang and Tang Sosu.
It seems they purposefully prevented outsiders like me from interacting with insiders, but I didn’t know the reason.
“If it’s Dokgorin, she’s probably training hard right now. She said she’d learn that Gucheon Hyunggeom or whatever it’s called.”
“Really? Then I can’t fall behind.”
In the past two months at the Cheonsang Tang family, I wasn’t the only one going through grueling training.
Originally, Dokgorin had said she wouldn’t learn Gucheon Hyunggeom since she’d learned Gu-gung Mujuk Geomgyeol; however, she re-evaluated her stance on Gucheon Hyunggeom, perhaps because the reason for her regression was tied to it.
It’s a technique filled with secrets, but I haven’t heard that Dokgorin has discovered anything yet.
It might take quite a bit of time to master it perfectly.
As I practiced the eight techniques of Tangmunhyeon under Sosu’s watchful eyes, I finished today’s training with the final technique, Yongsabi Deung.
“Ahh—”
I had just had lunch and started training, but the sun was already setting lazily.
If I hadn’t snacked on the potatoes, I would have been so hungry by now.
I turned around, planning to say it was time to go back, but then I noticed Tang Sosu, leaning back on a long bench, sound asleep.
Her peaceful sleeping face was in stark contrast to the cold look she usually wore, spewing sharp remarks; it looked angelic.
‘If only this kid would keep her mouth shut, she’d be quite cute.’
I chuckled to myself, then sat beside the sleeping Tang Sosu.
There was still time until dinner, so I thought I’d wait until she woke up.
*
“Umm…”
Tang Sosu, who had dozed off while watching Ichilbok practicing, woke up after the sun had fully set.
“…!”
As she suddenly startled awake and sat up, a gentle voice came from beside her.
“Are you awake now?”
It was Ichilbok, who had been sweating buckets while practicing until just moments ago, now sitting next to her.
Feeling a rush of embarrassment, she asked, “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I couldn’t wake you when you were sleeping so blissfully. Since I’ve been receiving various help from you, I stayed beside you to guard your rest for a moment.”
As he said that, Ichilbok got up from his spot.
Because he had just been training, he carried a strong odor of sweat that otherwise would be unpleasant, but somehow, it felt sweet.
‘What an idiot! An idiot! An idiot!’
Tang Sosu, chilled by her own recent thoughts, slapped her cheek to regain composure before looking at Ichilbok’s face once more.
His slightly grayish white hair and the eyes hidden beneath it were full of yearning.
His handsome features looked like something carved from jade, undoubtedly capable of capturing the hearts of women.
Coming from a common background, she thought it almost radiated with light.
‘This guy is Dokgorin’s beloved. I shouldn’t be thinking strange thoughts, Tang Sosu.’
She had disliked Dokgorin since she was young.
People always compared her to Dokgorin, who was the same age.
Even if she worked hard to improve herself, it only served to highlight Dokgorin.
Their attitudes felt like the world’s protagonist was not her but Dokgorin.
Now, even that competitive spirit had dwindled, yet she clung tightly to one pride.
That was precisely that she, Tang Sosu, was the true heir of the Cheonsang Tang family.
‘On the contrary, Dokgorin is now a puppet with severed strings.’
Although not as powerful as the Cheonsang Tang family, the Dokgo family had a considerable presence, but it seemed the Dokgo family had suffered destruction due to those aiming for vital martial arts.
So now, Dokgorin had become someone she could never gauge on the same level.
She could no longer receive the protection of the Dokgo family.
‘Thinking about it, they haven’t married yet, right?’
An unexpectedly good thought came to her mind.
What if she could steal Chilbok, Dokgorin’s beloved?
Imagining Chilbok leaving Dokgorin for her, she felt inexplicably delighted.
Though Dokgorin sometimes showed fearsome traits, did it really matter?
If she could steal the beloved Chilbok from Dokgorin, she’d become a more alluring woman than Dokgorin.
As that thought crossed her mind, Tang Sosu felt it wouldn’t be a bad idea to seriously try to entice Chilbok, sneakily glancing at Ichilbok’s face as he got up.
*
Tang Hochang, who had been absent all afternoon, only showed his face during dinner.
“Here.”
Sitting at the dining table, he abruptly said that and handed over a bundle containing something.
Inside was a peculiar weapon resembling a lengthily split bamboo.
“What is this?”
“It’s a marksman tool called the Pyeonjeon. You’ve been practicing with the sword up till now, but starting tomorrow, you’ll use this.”
“Pyeonjeon?”
I tilted my head at the name of a weapon I had never heard before, looking down at the item in my hand.
The Pyeonjeon was around 10cm long and resembled a huge needle or an awl. It looked as if it could easily pierce human skin, even if it couldn’t penetrate armor.
“Is this why you’ve been out all day?”
“That’s about right. You know we’re leaving soon to enroll in Tianmu Academy, right? So I prepared this in advance.”
“…I’ll use it well. Thank you for the gift.”
As I said that and tucked the Pyeonjeon pouch into my arms, Tang Hochang, watching me, said,
“More importantly, it’s about time you learned the martial arts techniques. Do you feel you’ve mastered the eight techniques?”
“Not perfectly yet, but now I can move my hands as soon as I think of them. Completing it will still take a considerable amount of time, though.”
“That’s good to hear. Then, I’ll teach you the martial arts techniques starting tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Why? Do you have plans for tomorrow?”
“No, it’s just… isn’t this a bit rushed?”
I still hadn’t properly mastered the eight techniques, and suddenly learning the martial arts techniques felt like I’d be out of my depth.
But Tang Hochang brushed off my worry with a chuckle, pointing out that the decision wasn’t mine but his, telling me to shut up and learn.
Influenced by those words, I declared that I would be starting to learn the martial arts techniques from tomorrow.
