Whoooom—!
A faint shimmer of haze rippled across Jin Cheong-un's body as he sat cross-legged.
'Move.'
The instant he willed it, the energy dormant in his qi center pulsed.
Compared to his days in the Murim Alliance, the amount of energy was absurdly small.
Yet in depth and purity, it was beyond compare.
Even the inner power of ascetics who spent their entire lives observing every manner of discipline in pursuit of self-cultivation would likely fall short before this Sovereign Heaven Primal Energy.
Pop—!
His right shoulder twitched.
Pop! Pop!
Next, his elbow.
Crack, crack, crack—!
Then his wrist and fingers began to stir.
WHOOOOSH—!
Soon, Jin Cheong-un felt a surging warmth flood through his entire right arm.
The meridians of his right side, tangled from his injuries, had reconnected once more.
"Phew."
Jin Cheong-un opened his eyes with a satisfied smile.
"It's already recovered this much."
He clenched and unclenched his fist a few times, then nodded.
A fair amount of time had passed since he had begun training the Eight Desolations in earnest.
His battered body was recovering rapidly as the Sovereign Heaven energy took root.
No—more than recovering. His very constitution was changing.
Sovereign Heaven Primal Energy was seeping into the qi vessels, bones, muscles, tendons, and countless other parts of his body, making the vessel sturdier and broader.
Of course, this could not be considered growth in martial arts itself. His aptitude for learning martial arts had merely improved.
"So from here on, I'll have to get to work."
Dusting off his trousers as he stood, Jin Cheong-un picked up the wooden staff propped to one side.
Whoosh—! Whish—!
The ease with which he spun it was remarkably practiced.
Only when the weapon felt natural in his hands did he lower his body and assume a stance.
"......"
In an instant, his gaze transformed.
Gone was the man who was perpetually nonchalant and carefree—in his place was a lethality like that of an assassin on the eve of a kill.
As he had told the Jeong siblings, Essence, Qi, and Spirit were three yet must be held as one.
The old Jin Cheong-un had always trained this way. If he was to reclaim his former self, his mindset had to match.
So, in other words.......
'No, that's not it.'
Reclaim his former self? He could not, and he had no intention to.
The martial arts he needed to learn had changed, and the circumstances surrounding him had changed as well.
Naturally, his mindset had to change too.
He was no longer Jin Cheong-un, the Alliance Leader's secret guard of the Murim Alliance. He was Jin Cheong-un, School Master of the Blue Cloud Martial Arts School.
'It's not about rebuilding. I have to change everything from the ground up.'
Jin Cheong-un quietly extended the wooden staff and took the starting stance.
WHOOSH—!
The tip of the staff, thrust into the void, split the air with a sharp crack.
Whip—!
Pivoting with crisp precision, he flowed into the next movement.
Whoosh—! Thwack—!
The wooden staff let loose another fierce crack, but Jin Cheong-un furrowed his brow slightly.
'Off by about an inch? Focus. More precisely.'
THUD—!
With a heavy stomp, Jin Cheong-un's movements quickened.
From stillness to motion.
Fast and powerful.
And at the same time, probing the depths of the martial art, savoring the meaning woven into each technique with care.
Jin Cheong-un's eyes flashed.
WHOOSH—!
From the tip of the staff he had thrust forward, a hazy wisp of smoke curled upward.
"Haah......"
Steadying his quickened breath, Jin Cheong-un slowly lowered the staff.
A new shoot had broken through its foundation.
Losing the martial arts he had built his life on and choosing a new path did not mean that the experience and knowledge within him had vanished.
His experience and instincts were serving as nourishment for the new growth taking root.
It was then.
"Master! Are you done training? Come eat!"
Jeong So-ryong came scampering over with a bright smile.
"Sure. Let's go."
Jin Cheong-un swiped the sweat from his brow and nodded.
***
Flick, flick, flick—!
Chopsticks darted in every direction.
White rice, seasoned greens, grilled fish, stir-fried meat. In the blink of an eye, the chopsticks that had swept through every dish on the table headed for—
Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp.
—the bottomless pit that was Jin Cheong-un's mouth.
Even today's slightly overcooked stir-fried meat didn't survive a moment. Jin Cheong-un's teeth shredded and pulverized everything.
"Mm, nothing like having a meat dish on the table. Eat up, So-ryong."
"Gulp! Yes, Master!"
"So-so, why are you just picking at your food?"
"It's just...... meat first thing in the morning is a bit......"
"Tsk, tsk. You need to eat meat to have strength. Go on, eat up."
Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp—!
Jin Cheong-un resumed his furious assault on the table at breakneck speed.
Could you really just call that "eating"?
"Devouring" or "annihilating" seemed more apt.
With a pace like that, one might expect it to look slovenly, but the fact that he didn't get a single speck of sauce on his lips was nothing short of marvelous.
Jeong So-so, inwardly flustered, slowly shifted her gaze.
'Setting Master aside......'
Her expression soured.
'Why are you doing it too?'
Beside Jin Cheong-un.
Her one and only baby brother, Jeong So-ryong, was attacking his meal with equal ferocity.
"Hap. Hap hap. Gulp!"
Cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, Jeong So-ryong chewed and swallowed with gusto.
When he picked up the pickled vegetables he usually hated, he froze for a moment.
"Ugh...... hap!"
But with a look of grim determination, as though facing a mortal enemy, he shoved them in his mouth and chewed them down.
Her baby brother.
The precious late-born child she had cradled and carried on her back—what on earth had happened to him.......
"A-are people of the jianghu usually big eaters?"
"Hm?"
Jin Cheong-un swallowed what was in his mouth, then said:
"We do physical work, so we eat a lot. Why?"
"I was just wondering if all jianghu folk eat as much as you do, Master. Ah, here you go."
"Oh, thanks."
Without being asked, Jeong So-so naturally refilled Jin Cheong-un's rice bowl. Taking it just as naturally, Jin Cheong-un tilted his head.
'Have I really been eating more?'
He had always been a good eater, but not to this extent.
Perhaps his body needed extra nourishment during the process of transformation.
"My disciple's cooking is so good, the food just keeps going down."
"Oh, come on! I'm not that good!"
Even as she waved her hands in denial, the corners of Jeong So-so's lips crept upward.
"No, really—this is good enough for a high-end inn. Isn't that right, So-ryong?"
"Yes, everything Noona makes is delicious."
"R-really? Oh! Would you like more side dishes?"
"No, no. If I eat any more, I'll put on weight."
"Don't worry about that! There's plenty left! Have more! Don't be modest—more! More!!"
"A-alright."
Some time later, the meal came to an end.
As she cleared the table, Jeong So-so found herself thinking.
'A lot of time has passed since the Black Tiger Gang incident.'
Several months had gone by.
The repairs on Jeong Manor—no, now Jin Manor—had progressed considerably.
The outer wall and the main gate had been finished a few days ago, and the annex that had burned to the ground was starting to take shape as well.
It was so peaceful.
'Yes, peaceful. Peaceful, but......'
Having finished washing up, Jeong So-so stared at Jin Cheong-un, who was half-sprawled in a lazy recline.
"Um, Master."
"Hm?"
"How is the preparation for the school's opening coming along?"
Jin Cheong-un faltered.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because for the past few months, aside from going out drinking at night or occasionally buying strange books from the bookshop, you've barely left the house......"
"Strange books?"
Jin Cheong-un bristled.
"Those aren't strange books—they're the collected works of Master Hundred Faces, the true literary giant of our age, a man who has attained mastery over the principles of the world! I can tolerate insults to me, but I will not stand for insults to Master Hundred Faces!"
"......"
Jeong So-so's eyes dimmed.
She had noticed her master sometimes staying up reading through the night and wondered what kind of books they were—only to find they were storybooks sold for five coins at the market.
Books about monsters, or martial heroes fighting, or lurid tales of men and women...... that sort of thing.
She had sneaked a peek at the last category and found it rather entertaining, but that was beside the point.
"Our finances are still in good shape, right? You spent a tremendous amount on the manor and school repairs."
"......Of course they're fine."
Jin Cheong-un's eyes slid away.
The truth was, they were not fine at all.
'It really is strange.'
Had it not been just a few months ago that the Black Tiger Gang Master had generously left behind an inheritance, fattening his purse?
Yet when he had visited the money house a few days prior, the remaining funds had dwindled to an unbelievable degree.
'I truly don't understand.'
There had been no waste.
Since he was already doing repairs, he had fixed this too and added that, and with the money already spent, it made sense to spend a little more and do it properly—that was all.
Those were perfectly rational expenditures.
As for any other spending, it was hardly worth mentioning.
A few bottles of expensive liquor he'd never been able to afford before—a treat to himself—and a handful of rounds of cards with the neighborhood men he had recently befriended?
'......Was that the reason?'
Jin Cheong-un gave a loud ahem and said:
"Everything is proceeding according to plan, so don't worry. Surely you're not doubting your master?"
"Of course I trust you. Why would I?"
Jeong So-so replied as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I only brought it up because I felt like we were being too much of a burden. I wanted to help with something......"
Jin Cheong-un was secretly moved.
Was there any other disciple in the world who thought this much of their master?
"Even if others don't see it, I know. I know that even though you act nonchalant about everything, Master, you're always thinking deeply beneath the surface."
"......?"
"I'm sure you have a grand plan for the school. I may be too young to fully grasp your far-reaching wisdom yet, but...... someday, I want to become a disciple who can support you, Master."
"Uh, mm."
A grand plan? Far-reaching wisdom?
Did he have any such thing?
"Master, I believe in you too."
Even Jeong So-ryong chimed in, eyes shining.
Gazing into the siblings' eyes, brimming with trust, Jin Cheong-un felt cold sweat run down his spine.
This was......
This was a misunderstanding.
His disciples' impression of him had gone awry—spectacularly awry.
But Jin Cheong-un couldn't bring himself to shatter their illusion.
"R-right! I'm glad you understand. Since you mentioned it, shall we go together?"
"Where?"
"Today's the day I'm paying the final bill."
That was right.
At long last, the school's renovation was complete.
***
Blue Cloud Martial Arts School.
The desolate ruin had been reborn—the word came naturally to mind—looking immaculate and freshly renovated.
But as with all things in this world, there was always a price to pay.
"The remaining balance is a hundred and fifty nyang. A promissory note from a Central Plains money house would do."
Contrary to the bold front he had put up for Jeong So-so, Jin Cheong-un's fingertips trembled slightly as he held out the note.
"Has bluesteel stone...... always been this expensive?"
"I gave you a discount since it was a large quantity. Well then, I'll be on my way. Ha ha."
"......"
Martial artists trained with intensity.
Even fairly sturdy stonework would crack after a few stomps, so most major sects finished their floors with bluesteel stone, a specialized material.
Naturally, the Blue Cloud Martial Arts School's floor had also been laid entirely with gleaming bluesteel stone.
And yet...... all together, it had cost nearly as much as a whole manor.
'When I was at the Alliance, they had bluesteel stone plastered everywhere, so I assumed it was cheap.'
And that wasn't all.
A new well had been dug, martial arts uniforms and training weapons ordered, wooden dummies and sandbags commissioned.......
How was it that every last thing required money?
"So-ryong, look at that!"
"Wow!"
Just then, seeing his disciples' eyes sparkle as they looked around the school, a grin escaped him.
"So, do you like it?"
"Of course!"
"Then that's all that matters."
Money could always be earned.
If there was any justice in the heavens, it was high time fortune smiled his way.
In any case, the house situation was resolved, the school's renovation was done—only one thing remained.
"So all that's left now is recruiting students."
"That's right. This is where it begins."
"What's your plan?"
"Want to hear it?"
Jin Cheong-un grinned.