Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 5: Reading a Book a Hundred Times Reveals Its Meaning (4) The streets of Sinheung County were always overflowing with stories.
Who hit whom. Where a fire had broken out. Who was caught in an affair.
The gossip ranged from petty scandals to heated political debates:
What exactly is the County Magistrate doing? What is the imperial court even for? Isn't this situation just too unfair?
Recently, a new topic had been added to the chatter of Sinheung County. It was still a minor thing, but it was the kind of story worth mentioning at least once when there was nothing else to talk about.
"Hey, you know that Yeon So-wol guy?"
"Who?"
"Yeon So-wol. That woodcutter who came from Annam."
"Ah... you mean that idiot?"
"Hmm? Why do you call him an idiot?"
"He's a fool for handing over thirty gold taels to learn martial arts at his age."
"What are you talking about? If he can just reach a certain level of mastery, he'll make that back and then some. He'll have a skill that lets him live with respect for the rest of his life... and you think he should have saved those thirty gold taels?"
"Oh boy. Do you happen to have thirty gold taels? If you do, what are you doing sitting here? You should go find a master with that money right now."
"Ahem. Well, I'm poor, so I don't have the money. And I have no talent for martial arts."
"And you think that young man does?"
"He must, since he handed over thirty gold taels, right?"
"Good grief. Look here. Even if he did have talent, it makes no sense. Other students at the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall enter as disciples by paying three silver taels when they're ten or fifteen. But he goes in there alone paying thirty gold taels? Do you honestly think that makes sense?"
"They only pay three silver taels?"
"Only? Only three silver taels? Are you rich?"
"No... it's not that. It's just that martial arts are such a big deal."
"Is every martial art a big deal? It's only impressive if you learn enough to be like the Three Gentlemen of Pungryu, Lee Yu-baek's direct disciples. Most everyone else ends up not even learning three silver taels' worth of skill. If that's how it is for those who start young, what chance does a young man pushing twenty have? Use that head of yours and think for a second, will you?"
"..."
"Besides, that Yeon So-wol fellow is far too old. He'll have to train for at least another ten years just to maybe be called a third-rate martial artist. To be called second-rate, he might have to train for thirty more. He'll probably never hold three silver taels in his life, let alone thirty gold. So, isn't he the world's biggest fool?"
"...Still, you're being too harsh. He's a young man who came from far away with an ambition. I heard he's very well-mannered and seems well-educated."
"No matter how well-educated he is, he's just a stupid, stinking barbarian. I'm just stating facts. Facts! Besides, do you think he can even endure Lee Yu-baek's teaching? I heard his training is brutal."
"Hey, why are you talking like you know everything? You don't know this Yeon So-wol person either. He probably has his reasons for doing what he's doing."
"My foot. He's just stupid. Are stupid people rare in this world? Even in this marketplace, it's full of people where you wonder how they even manage to feed themselves. I guarantee it. That guy will run away before a month is up. He basically threw thirty gold taels into the dirt. He should've just given it to me instead."
"..."
"Honestly, that Lee Yu-baek is too much, too. I don't care how much he likes money, how could he just swallow that whole? This is why you can't trust Jianghu people. 'Great Hero' my ass."
Just as the criticism was pouring out, a man who had been eating fishcakes nearby chimed in.
"Are you talking about Yeon So-wol? The one from Annam?"
"That's right, why?"
"You've got it all wrong."
"What?!"
As the critic scowled, the man eating fishcakes spoke calmly.
"I heard from a friend who delivers firewood to the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall. That Yeon So-wol fellow killed three third-rate martial artists last night. By himself."
"What! Does that even make sense? I heard he didn't know any martial arts!"
"It's the truth. I heard Great Hero Lee Yu-baek went to see the County Magistrate this morning with a bottle of liquor to smooth things over. If you don't believe me, go check for yourself."
"Huh..."
The sharp-tongued man made a dull sound, his words cut short.
Then, the man who had been subtly defending Yeon So-wol muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Goodness. Acting like he knew everything. What was it? Ten years to maybe become third-rate? But the man already killed three third-rate ones. Hah. Truly, the people in this marketplace are terrifying. Spreading false rumors as if they're facts. Good grief."
"..."
The sharp-tongued man hung his head and hurried away.
The man eating fishcakes watched his retreating back with a smirk.
"Even guys like that manage to feed themselves, eh?"
*
After eating breakfast, Yeon So-wol went to pay his morning respects to Lee Yu-baek.
When Lee Yu-baek told him to ask if he had any questions, he spoke cautiously.
"I killed people yesterday. Won't the authorities come looking for me?"
By 21st-century common sense, it was only natural. If you killed three people in the middle of a functional city, you were supposed to be investigated. In South Korea, he would have faced prison time for mutual assault resulting in death, or murder.
However, Lee Yu-baek replied casually.
"In the Central Plains, there is a saying: Non-interference between Government and Murim."
"...The government and the Murim do not infringe upon each other. The power of the Murim must be incredible."
Yeon So-wol was genuinely shocked. The image that vaguely came to his mind was the American Wild West. He'd heard that back then, people would have duels and shoot each other, and businessmen would shoot each other over stocks.
But still.
Even so, is it really okay to just commit murder in a city like this? Just because you're a martial artist?
It was great that he didn't have to take responsibility, but a part of him felt uneasy. If what he said was true, didn't it mean this was a world where thugs with swords could do whatever they wanted without being subject to the law?
Is that allowed? Is this world really okay like this?
Seeing Yeon So-wol's complicated expression, Lee Yu-baek smiled gently.
"Yes. That's why I'm going to visit the Magistrate today, treat him to some good liquor, and offer him about one of the gold taels I received from you. Then everything will be fine."
"..."
Yeon So-wol asked himself inwardly.
Excuse me?
Solving it by treating him to drinks and offering gold?
Then isn't that 'Collusion between Government and Murim' rather than 'Non-interference'?
Lee Yu-baek continued.
"If you want to live as a man of the Jianghu, remember this: conduct is more important than anything else. Do you want to roam the Jianghu freely? Then you must always be observant. You have to distinguish between when to push back and when to rub elbows. Listen well. The movement technique you want to learn is, in the end, a skill built upon that same context."
The teachings of the greatest man in Sinheung, Great Hero Lee Yu-baek, were tinged with a certain worldly wisdom. Yeon So-wol was deeply impressed.
So, a Jianghu person is just a thug who has connections in politics.
Yeon So-wol asked impulsively.
"Hall Master. Then what is the Jianghu? Who is a Jianghu person?"
Lee Yu-baek replied.
"Those who live according to their station in a country established by law are called the common people. Those who live according to the whims of their hearts along the rivers and lakes are called Jianghu people."
Yeon So-wol nodded.
I knew it. They're thugs.
And he realized one more thing.
Now, even if I fail the test, it'll be hard to get a refund on that gold ingot...
It might be a cheap price to pay for avoiding prison, but it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
*
Yeon So-wol renewed his resolve once again.
This place is primitive and filthy. There's even a caste system. I can't live as an ordinary person in a place like this. Not only would living itself be miserable, but there are too many dangerous things.
Then what should he do?
I have to live the life of a thug who can halfway ignore the caste system. In other words, a Jianghu person. Even if they're thugs, the public perception isn't that bad. In Hall Master Lee Yu-baek's case, he seems to be respected in the region. Right. I have to live like that too. Having my own manor, safely. Being recognized by those around me. Cleanly. Burning fragrant incense.
To do that.
Elder Jo Man-seok said it would take at least three to five years for me to become a third-rate martial artist if I have talent. Then let's aim for exactly three years. I'll work as hard as if I were dead and definitely become a third-rate martial artist within three years. After that, I'll take the Great Restoration Pill and head to a bigger city. I'll seek out more proper teachings there. I'll need to be called at least first-rate to live like Hall Master Lee Yu-baek.
He had clarified his goal. He prepared his heart.
No matter how painful it is, I will endure until the end. I will never break. As long as I'm not dead, I'll keep moving. I will become a third-rate martial artist here at the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall and even take the Great Restoration Pill.
And so, the second day of training began.
The one who gave him a beating today was not Lee Yu-baek. It was the youngest of the three who received special treatment among his disciples, known as the Three Gentlemen of Pungryu.
His name was Mo Cheong.
He was the same age as Yeon So-wol, but he was a full head and a half shorter. Since Mo Cheong was considered somewhat short even by the standards of this era, Yeon So-wol, who had been tall even in South Korea, was exceptionally tall by comparison.
However, even he beat Yeon So-wol as easily as Lee Yu-baek had. He moved so smoothly that Yeon So-wol couldn't even react in time.
"Ugh!"
Whoosh!
When he dodged once, his hair fluttered.
Thwack!
With his posture broken, he couldn't block the next attack, and his head rang.
Crash!
Watching Yeon So-wol fall hard, Mo Cheong tilted his head in confusion.
"What? Why are you so good at dodging?"
Hearing that, Yeon So-wol was dumbfounded.
Good at dodging? My bones are aching and my muscles feel like they're tearing!
As Yeon So-wol struggled to stand up, Mo Cheong looked at him with worried eyes.
"It hurts a lot, doesn't it? Do you want to rest for a bit? Usually, when we train among ourselves, we take it easy. My seniors and I were all like that. Besides, the Master was determined to make it even harder for you this afternoon than yesterday. So for now, just rest."
Mo Cheong was being sincere. From what he saw, Yeon So-wol had been hit far too much yesterday. Yeon So-wol was strangely good at dodging attacks, and the Master, seemingly excited by that, had hit him more than usual. On top of that, he had even fought a life-and-death battle with sword-wielding thieves during the night.
Mo Cheong couldn't even begin to imagine Yeon So-wol's pain and fatigue. Yet, the Master was delighted, saying Yeon So-wol had a hidden trick up his sleeve. He had even publicly declared that he would give even harsher instruction today.
From the perspective of Mo Cheong, who knew that pain, it was a pitiful situation. That's why he had sincerely suggested it. After all, one needs a bit of slacking off to endure harsh training.
However, Yeon So-wol was startled when he heard those words.
This... might be a trap.
He recalled a video he had seen on Wetube. In videos of people experiencing special forces training, the instructors would always say:
Ring the bell. If you go and ring the bell, it'll be easier, right? You can just ring the bell and rest. Are you an idiot? Why are you doing this?
In special forces training, ringing the bell meant giving up. Although the situation was a bit different, Yeon So-wol thought it was ultimately something similar.
He might be trying to coax me into slacking off and then use that as an excuse to fail me later.
Then they could just pocket the gold ingot after barely teaching him anything. He wondered if they would really do something so scummy, but this was the lawless world of the Jianghu. Yeon So-wol never let his guard down.
He would not do anything that could become a weakness. He would train hard and diligently, enough for everyone in the world to know. If this was like China, they would value face, and if they valued face, they wouldn't be able to fail someone who worked truly hard for an absurd reason.
Yeon So-wol forced his broken body up. He forcibly straightened his expression, which was distorted in pain.
"No. I will continue. Please let me continue."
He straightened his clothes and took his stance. He was a mess, covered in bruises, dust, and stains. Nevertheless, as he calmly extended his long arms and legs and took his stance, an aura that could only be called noble flowed from him.
He's going to continue? In that state?
To Mo Cheong, who was the same age, that sight was incredibly impressive.
A spirit that did not compromise with the world.
A spirit that did not deceive itself.
A truly lofty spirit.
A pure mettle, different from ordinary people living in the dust.
'No Shame Before Heaven or Men.' Was that what it meant?
To have nothing to be ashamed of when looking up at the sky, and nothing to hide when looking down at people. It was a saying Lee Yu-baek, who loved Confucius and Mencius, always repeated. Today, those words felt exceptionally cool.
"...Fine. Then I'll be more serious, too."
Mo Cheong's eyes sparkled.
...More serious?
Yeon So-wol's eyes wavered.
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