I tried to learn the technique of 발경 (Balgyeong) during the remaining time, but in the end, all these attempts resulted in failure.
Is the wall of a peak master really that high?
According to my master, Tang Hochang, without enlightenment, it seems difficult to grasp 발경.
However, from the perspective of a modern person like me, the abstract concept of enlightenment was hard to understand.
You need to have experienced something similar in life to know what it truly is.
So, I decided to settle for the fact that I learned a new martial art in a short span of two months.
Ultimately, to raise my proficiency in 초식 (Chosik), the only way to really do it is by practicing continuously; and with practice, I would naturally come to understand how to use 발경.
As I immersed myself in training under Tang Mun-kwon, the day of leaving the Sichun Tang family approached much quicker than I expected.
*
“Is this all the baggage I need to take?”
Before leaving the room for the last time, I packed emergency food, clothing, and drinking water into my backpack and glanced around the neatly organized guest room.
The clean room.
Maybe it was because I had spent two months in this room, but I had grown quite attached to it.
As I emerged to gather my belongings, I was greeted by Tang Sosu, who was standing in the hallway.
“Did you pack everything?”
“Yep. I barely brought anything when I first came here anyway.”
I replied while putting on my backpack and asked Tang Sosu,
“What about Miss Rin?”
“Dokgorin hasn’t come out of her room yet. She seems to be taking quite a while with whatever she’s doing in there.”
“Really? Should I go fetch her myself?”
“She’s not a little kid; why bother with that?”
“Is that so?”
Convinced by Tang Sosu’s words, I hesitated for a moment and decided to just wait quietly.
“By the way, where are you going? Your outfit looks different from usual.”
When I asked like that, Tang Sosu chuckled, placing her hand on her chest.
“Actually, I’ve decided to enroll in the Cheonmu Academy. So, I’ll be accompanying you all the way to the capital.”
That was news to me.
“Did you get permission from Miss Rin for that?”
“It’s on the same path anyway, so do I really need her permission to go together?”
“That’s not entirely wrong, but….”
“Anyway, I hope we can rely on each other going forward. Once we enroll in Cheonmu Academy, we’ll be in the same class.”
“Yeah, I’ll take care of you too.”
Since good company is better than none, having one more travel companion is nice.
Moreover, having someone like Tang Sosu, a direct descendant of the Sichun Tang family, would be a great asset.
After shaking hands with Tang Sosu, we made our way toward the main gate of the Sichun Tang.
*
“Welcome.”
As always, in his usual attire and expression, Master Tang Hochang was waiting for us at the gate.
“Where’s Rin?”
“She hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Hmm, it seems she is taking her time to prepare. More importantly, here’s my parting gift for you.”
Saying that, Tang Hochang tossed me a pair of handcuffs.
“What is this…?”
“There will likely be many times when you’ll have to fight armed opponents in the Jianghu. I won’t stop you from fighting barehanded, but it’s better to have at least some defensive means to protect yourself.”
“…Thank you, Master.”
As I spoke with a touched expression and bowed, Tang Hochang snorted and turned his gaze away.
He seemed to be quite embarrassed.
“By the way, inside the handcuffs, there’s a secret compartment to store coins. You know what to do if something happens, right?”
He mimed cutting his throat with his finger.
“That’s reassuring.”
I immediately put all the coins I had been carrying into the secret compartment of the handcuffs.
At that moment, Dokgorin finally made her appearance.
“I’m sorry for being late, Grandpa. I accidentally overslept because I was training late into the night.”
The Dokgorin who came out looked different, with her hair now a much brighter shade of green than before.
It was almost at the level of fluorescent green.
“Rin! What happened to you?!”
Tang Hochang asked with a surprised expression, and Dokgorin rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly as she replied.
“I made some progress with the 영옥심결 (Yeongok Simgyeol) martial art you taught me before. This is a side effect of that.”
“Wow, I knew you had talent, but I didn’t expect it to be to this extent.”
The two of them exchanged familiar words and then hugged each other as a form of greeting.
“I’ll miss you a lot.”
Tang Hochang hesitated, then asked Dokgorin.
“…Do you really need to take revenge with your own hands?”
Hearing this, Dokgorin gave a wry smile.
“I understand your feelings, Grandpa, but I want to take revenge for my family with my own hands. Otherwise, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to rest easy.”
After hearing Dokgorin’s determination, Tang Hochang opened his mouth with a resigned expression.
“Since your mind is this set, I won’t say anymore not to do it. Just promise me one thing. If you ever need help during your revenge, always come to this old man. The Sichun Tang never forgets kindness or grudges, you know that, right?”
“Of course.”
As Dokgorin nodded in agreement, Tang Hochang turned his back, showing he wouldn’t hold her back anymore.
“Chilbok, I’ve taught you all forms of Tang Mun Kwon. Although there wasn’t enough time to teach you all the hidden arts, I will teach you when fate brings us together again later.”
“Yes, Master.”
I sincerely bowed to Tang Hochang, who had taken care of me all this time.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way before it gets any later. Grandpa, take care.”
“Yeah, Rin, you take care too.”
After exchanging farewells, we left the Sichun Tang, which I had grown attached to, and set off on our journey to the capital, where the Cheonmu Academy was located.
*
The journey to the capital went smoother than I had expected.
This is because, unlike when I departed from Sangam, there was a relatively fast-water route I could take.
To be precise, we sailed upstream a large river by boat, and thanks to this water route, we arrived in the capital much faster than anticipated.
Thus, after almost two years, I returned to the bustling streets of the capital.
The lively market streets seemed to showcase the dignity of a large city just like when I had last seen them.
“Wow!”
In the meantime, Tang Sosu appeared to be priding herself on coming from the countryside as she looked around in wonder.
Well, to be precise, since the capital was quite a considerable city too, it wasn’t entirely rural, but according to her, this was her first time leaving the Sichun region since she was born.
So, everything she saw must indeed feel fascinating to her.
“By the way, what kind of vibe does the entrance ceremony for the Cheonmu Academy give off?”
As I mumbled while looking around the streets filled with young martial artists, Tang Sosu clicked her tongue and shook her finger.
“Chilbok, you really don’t seem to know anything, do you?”
“You know?”
“Of course. Don’t underestimate the information network of our Sichun Tang family.”
While saying this with a proud expression, Tang Sosu suddenly pulled out a whip from somewhere and said,
“The entrance ceremony for the Cheonmu Academy is held every year. However, fewer than 500 people actually pass the entrance exam. That’s because it includes a strict selection process, not just a formality.”
“An entrance exam?”
So, it’s not just a place you can enter by paying money?
“Of course not. If it were that easy, all sorts of riffraff would knock on the door of the Cheonmu Academy. So usually, the new students are selected through two ways. One is by recommendation.”
“Recommendation?”
“Talented individuals recommended by various sects are accepted directly into the Cheonmu Academy, regardless of the entrance exam. Of course, those entering through this recommendation face even stricter standards within the academy itself, as they have to uphold their sect’s reputation.”
“Oh….”
“And the other way is, as I just mentioned, through taking the entrance exam.”
“What exactly does the entrance exam consist of?”
“Various physical tests, character assessments, and also an investigation of their background. In the past, there were cases where people connected to demonic sects tried to sneak in, so they’ve become even more thorough with their checks.”
“It sounds like the entrance exam is more stringent than I expected.”
“Well, for the character assessment, if there’s nothing particularly wrong, you’ll likely pass without issues. After all, our family’s endorsement guarantees your identity.”
“That makes me feel a bit more at ease.”
This is why it’s important to have connections.
Even if it’s not on the level of the Gu Pae Il Bang, knowing that I have the backing of the Sichun Tang, one of the renowned families in the Jianghu, would make most martial artists treat me with respect.
“Anyway, the entrance exam is tomorrow, so let’s find a place to stay today.”
“Oh, I know a good place.”
“Where is that?”
“It’s a place I stayed at last time I was in the capital. A bodyguard uncle told me about it.”
With a confident expression, I said that, and Tang Sosu agreed we should go there.
“What about Miss Rin?”
“I’m fine with it too.”
“Then it’s settled.”
With unanimous agreement, we headed to the Golden Star Inn, where I had stayed with Dokgoseok last time in the capital.
