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The Ascending Thunder Gate.
It was one of the orthodox sects located in Wuhan, Hubei.
I had heard it was a sect established by a peak master who was originally a lay disciple of the Wudang Sect.
Sagong Hyeon was the son of the sect leader who founded it.
"Seeing as you have a talent for commerce, are you perhaps the esteemed son of the Merchant King? I heard he entered as a Wudang lay disciple this time, but I haven't seen him around at all."
I remembered that, too.
The Great Merchant of the current generation was Yeo Bul-jin, the Merchant King and the head of the Heaven's Grace Merchant Guild.
And there was a widespread rumor that the son of that Merchant King had entered the Wudang Sect as a lay disciple in this term.
Of course, I didn't know the truth behind that rumor.
Because I was a guy who got kicked out after a month.
"Sorry, but that's not me."
"Is that so? Then what is your name?"
"Mok Hwi-young."
"Ah."
A sneer appeared on Sagong Hyeon's face.
Jeon Oh-soo had been disappointed, but he hadn't gone as far as to sneer.
Furthermore, Jeon Oh-soo had immediately hidden his disappointment, but this guy showed no sign of trying to hide it.
"I've heard that name."
"Where?"
"Where else? An Elder I know told me. He said there was a guy with absolutely no backing who barely managed to get in on the recommendation of a single Elder."
"Is that me?"
"Then who else would it be? Shouldn't you know best?"
"I suppose."
"That's why I am offering to be your friend."
Sagong Hyeon smiled brightly.
It was a smile that looked innocent.
Some of the kids behind him were looking at me with sympathetic eyes.
I could see things that I hadn't seen in my past life.
You see as much as you know.
In my past life, I became Sagong Hyeon's friend.
Of course, to be exact, I was a subordinate, not a friend.
"And if I refuse?"
Sagong Hyeon's smile immediately stiffened.
"Do you know who I am?"
"You just said it. Sagong Hyeon of the Ascending Thunder Gate."
"Not that. I mean, do you know what that signifies?"
"I get that you're trying to act like a king here because you've learned a bit of martial arts, unlike the other lay disciples. But the kids right behind you are no worse off than you, so I don't understand why the son of a small-to-medium-sized sect is acting so high and mighty."
At my words, not only did Sagong Hyeon's expression morph into that of an evil spirit, but the expressions of the kids behind him were also dyed in astonishment.
'It feels refreshing to say what needs to be said.'
This was why I hated Sagong Hyeon.
Even though it was only for a month, this guy remained quite prominently in my memory.
Because he was the very guy who gave the Wudang Sect a reason to kick me out after a month.
He had told me to procure some spring pictures from outside, and when he got caught, he blamed it on me.
Of course, if I had talent or backing, I wouldn't have been kicked out over something like that, but unfortunately, I had neither talent nor backing.
"I thought you spoke well to Cheonghwa Jinin, but it turns out you weren't well-spoken, you were just a crazy bastard who doesn't care about anything. A beating is the best medicine for a crazy bastard."
"You're going to hit me? Your father must have poured a ton of money to get you into the Wudang Sect."
"..."
Naturally, if peers committed violence against each other, they were bound to be kicked out.
No matter how much the Murim was a place where fists were closer than the law, this was the Wudang Sect, not some common marketplace.
"Hmph. You're fearless because you're a guy with nothing to lose."
Sagong Hyeon said that and left.
Some people glared at me as if they wanted to kill me, and some looked at me with envy.
The ones glaring at me were the guys with backing who Sagong Hyeon was taking care of, and the ones looking at me with envy were probably in the same situation as my past self.
"Oh. You've got guts."
When I turned around, Jeon Oh-soo had somehow come out again.
"And you run away from that. You cowardly bastard."
"We aren't close enough to share pain, are we?"
"That's true."
I easily agreed.
He was a hundred times better than Sagong Hyeon, who would rub his hands together in front of the strong and act tough in front of the weak.
At least this guy was the same on the inside as he was on the outside.
"But do you have something you're relying on? Why are you so confident?"
"Of course I have something I'm relying on."
"Oh. What is it? Were you actually the disciple of a hidden single-inheritance sect?"
"No. I don't know a single move of martial arts."
"Really?"
Jeon Oh-soo said as if he was surprised.
"Usually, families have at least one martial art passed down through generations, don't they?"
"That's only for wealthy families like yours. I'm telling you, I'm from an ordinary farming family."
"Is that so. You'll get beaten to a pulp if you meet Sagong Hyeon tonight."
He was talking about the lay disciple evaluation meeting happening tonight.
Come to think of it, Sagong Hyeon was probably sharpening his knife for that, too.
Because it was a chance to legally beat me up.
"So what is it you're relying on?"
"First of all, I have no reason to meet Sagong Hyeon today."
"How can you guarantee that?"
That was because I knew the future.
At the very least, I hadn't done anything that would interfere with this future.
"I just know. My intuition is pretty good."
"Right. Let's say that's true, what's the second?"
"I can just leave."
"Gasp."
Jeon Oh-soo made a surprised expression, as if he hadn't thought of that.
However, for me, it was completely natural.
Because I had been kicked out in my past life.
I had to leave the Wudang Sect exactly the same way to make delicious use of the future I knew.
Just look at today, because I was making grass flutes, wasn't Jeon Oh-soo, whom I had no connection with in my past life, pestering me?
I wanted to change my future as little as possible.
I didn't want to deny the life built upon my blood, sweat, and effort.
Of course, there were things I had to prevent.
Namely, not accepting the request from the Murim Alliance Leader.
That was the only future that needed changing.
"Your father went out of his way to do this for you despite his poor circumstances, isn't that thought a bit too irresponsible?"
I suppose it couldn't be helped but to look at it that way.
How apologetic had I felt after being kicked out as a Wudang Sect lay disciple in my past life?
But it was fine.
If I left now, I was confident I could take better care of my father.
"We aren't close enough to give and receive life advice, are we? If we aren't close, it's not advice, it's pointing fingers."
"That's true."
"It's nice that we can communicate well."
Jeon Oh-soo laughed refreshingly.
He was a guy I liked, but today would be the last time I saw him.
<><><>
Evening came quickly.
The darkness draped over the mountain more heavily.
Still, torches were lit all around, so there was no problem wielding a sword.
"This is a test you do not need to feel burdened by. Because I know that the majority of you have not learned martial arts. At most, learning the Three Powers Mental Method and the Three Powers Fist a few days ago is all you have. I am simply looking at your talent. Because talent is like a needle in a pocket, it is bound to reveal itself. If you seem to have talent, I will even recommend you as a main mountain disciple, so do your best."
At Cheonghyeon Jinin's words, the people's eyes sparkled.
There seemed to be kids who firmly believed they had an undiscovered talent within their bodies.
In particular, Sagong Hyeon's eyes weren't just sparkling, they were burning.
Then again, if there was someone whose talent would be recognized, it would be Sagong Hyeon, who was the strongest among us in martial prowess.
Of course, I knew it wouldn't happen.
Because none of us had entered the Wudang Sect as main mountain disciples.
Logically speaking, no matter how much talent one had, wouldn't a talent that blossomed at age five be far superior to one that blossomed at age twenty?
"Are there no other observers coming from the main sect?"
Someone raised their hand and asked.
It was because Cheonghyeon had mentioned when talking about the test that other Elders might come to watch.
But from the beginning, this was a test that no one expected anything from.
There was no way anyone would come.
"The Elders intended to come, but they are all busy with public and private matters, so they could not. And my single eye is sufficient to recognize your talents."
For reference, Cheonghyeon was the person with the weakest martial arts among the 'Cheong' generation.
I found that out later, too.
Because he was that weak, he must have been assigned the idle position of managing the lay disciples.
Would such a person be able to properly recognize someone with talent?
I thought not.
"The sparring will be randomized. I will call names from now on, so..."
I had no interest.
The guy I would face would just be the son of some fat merchant guild owner anyway, so it would just be a dogfight between us.
Soon, Cheonghyeon, his eyes tainted by the level of the fight, would stop it, and I would fall out of favor like that.
"Let the sparring begin. Even if you have family martial arts, use the Three Powers Fist you learned the day before yesterday as much as possible."
The people whose names were called came out and took clumsy stances.
I knew because I had seen many martial artists, but just looking at their stances, they didn't seem to have any talent.
"Uwaaah!"
With shouts entirely devoid of any feeling of power, they threw punches at each other.
At first, they fought stiffly as they tried to copy the Three Powers Fist, but as time passed, the family martial arts they had learned came out.
Since family martial arts of merchant guilds were just for self-defense anyway, it wasn't exactly a sight to behold.
"That is enough."
Perhaps unable to watch any longer, Cheonghyeon stopped the fight.
Even to my eyes, it was terribly pathetic.
"I can still do more."
"That is enough. I have already seen everything."
"There is much I have not shown you."
One of them spoke dejectedly, as if he had some hidden secret technique despite his level.
However, Cheonghyeon wasn't a person with that much time on his hands.
"Are you saying you cannot trust my eyes right now?"
"...No."
"Go back."
The child from the merchant guild returned with his shoulders slumped, seemingly full of regret.
It didn't seem like his skills were anything to be frustrated about.
He must have grown up hearing empty praises from his family that he was a martial arts genius.
"Next is..."
"Oh. It has already begun."
Before Cheonghyeon could call the next person, someone quietly emerged from the darkness.
Not just the children, but even Cheonghyeon was startled upon seeing the person emerge from the darkness.
"Cheonghwa Sahyung. What brings you here?"
"I came to watch the lay disciples. Why. Did you not say it was alright to come and watch?"
The person who emerged was Wuji Divine Sword Cheonghwa, whom I had seen this morning.
When a master considered one of the best in the Wudang Sect suddenly appeared, the children's eyes lit up.
They seemed to think that if they truly caught his eye here, they would become main mountain disciples.
"That is true, but... there are no friends here that you, Sahyung, would necessarily find worth watching."
Flustered, Cheonghyeon's true feelings slipped out.
Cheonghyeon already had no intention of promoting us to main mountain disciples.
The children's expressions turned to a 'figures' kind of look.
There was no way becoming a Wudang Sect main mountain disciple would be that easy.
Of course, there were some who hadn't given up yet.
They were the kids who firmly believed they had talent.
Sagong Hyeon was the prime example.
"I just came to watch because I was bored. I am not making you uncomfortable, am I, Saje?"
"Of course not."
He looked uncomfortable just from a glance.
I was flustered as well.
Because I hadn't even seen Cheonghwa in my past life.
Could it have changed like this because of what happened this morning?
Cheonghwa looked around the children, and only stopped and smiled when his gaze reached me.
"Is the sparring just random?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Then may I decide it a little? After all, I am better at recognizing martial bones than you, Saje. Wouldn't talent be easier to see if friends of similar levels clashed?"
At Cheonghwa's words, Cheonghyeon couldn't say anything.
Even if they were of the same generation, when it came to martial arts, Cheonghwa and Cheonghyeon were like the difference between a lantern and a firefly.
Furthermore, since he was his Sahyung, he couldn't go against his words.
"Please do so."
The situation had taken a strange turn.
Now that Cheonghwa had personally come, the weight of this sparring itself had changed.
Cheonghwa looked around the children again.
Every child his gaze touched stood at attention.
It might have been to look better, but they were also tense under that gaze.
Soon, Cheonghwa's mouth slowly opened.
"That friend there, his eyes are the best."
"Ah, he is a friend named Sagong Hyeon. From the Ascending Thunder Gate..."
"Oh, the Ascending Thunder Gate. Is that not where Sagong Do is?"
"Yes. That is correct."
At Cheonghwa's words, Sagong Hyeon's expression brightened.
Regardless of anything else, he had caught the eye of Cheonghwa, a master of the Wudang Sect.
"I offer my greetings to Senior Wuji Divine Sword. I am Sagong Hyeon."
"Yes. The longing in your eyes was the deepest. It was impressive."
"Thank you."
Anticipation began to mix into Sagong Hyeon's longing-filled eyes.
Thinking that a possibility had opened up for him, his motivation naturally soared.
"Then who will you choose as his opponent?"
Cheonghyeon asked.
I felt a momentary wave of anxiety.
Because Cheonghwa had looked at me and smiled.
And that anxiety wasn't wrong at all.
"Let's go with that friend."
Cheonghwa's finger was pointing at me.