I had to face three challenges at the Taegum Gate, one after another. This was because three Taegum Gate disciples had challenged me, and each of them seemed to be a promising young talent with a significant position in the Taegum Gate.
The Taegum Gate's sparring ground was crowded with Taegum Gate disciples. They all looked at me with either unfriendly or hostile gazes. It wasn't just a matter of a secret leaking out; it had become a widespread rumor that everyone knew about.
'What is this...'
The first person to step forward was Seong-gyu, the chief disciple of the Taegum Gate. He was a tall and handsome man in his thirties who walked forward and said,
"Are you Baek-ung from the Cheongryong Martial Hall?"
"Yes."
"I am Seong-gyu, the chief disciple of the Taegum Gate. I request a match!"
Swoosh
At the same time, his sword naturally emitted a glow as it slid out of its scabbard.
Surprised, I said,
"A real sword? This isn't an actual competition, but just a sparring match, right?"
Then, the head of the Taegum Gate, who was standing nearby, said,
"Practice like it's real, and treat real battles like practice."
"......"
"You should prepare for the match. Of course, if you prefer, you can use a wooden sword instead of a real one."
The head of the Taegum Gate's expression didn't change. Only then did I roughly understand how this situation had unfolded.
It's true that the secret had leaked, but if the head of the Taegum Gate didn't want it, he could have ignored the sparring request. However, the reason he set up this sparring session was because he wanted to see my skills firsthand, which had been sent by the Cheongryong Martial Hall. If my skills were below expectations, it would tarnish his reputation.
'They're underestimating me.'
But I felt a sudden surge of determination. So, without hesitation, I went to the side of the sparring ground and took out a wooden spear from the weapons rack. The wooden spear was clearly made for practice, with no sharp edges that could harm an opponent.
"I'll use this."
Murmur...
The gathered disciples murmured. Seong-gyu's face was particularly distorted, and the veins on his temples were bulging. He was extremely angry and shouted at me,
"You!! Are you joking? You're going to face me with a practice wooden spear!!"
"Of course."
"Don't regret it!"
Swoosh
As soon as he finished speaking, Seong-gyu rushed forward. It seemed to be the unique martial technique of the Taegum Gate, the Cloud-Breaking Sword Technique, which I had heard about from Samjeol Lee Gwang before coming here. The grand strikes that danced in the air made him look like a raging wolf.
However, I could read Seong-gyu's movements, the tip of his sword, the direction of his changes, and even his psychology in an instant. I inwardly scoffed at the fact that he was the chief disciple. Compared to when I had fought Jin So-cheong, it felt like I was playing with children.
'So this is the level, huh? Just as I expected.'
During the five years I trained at the Cheongryong Martial Hall, I learned a lot. All of it was something that couldn't be mastered through self-study, truly the advanced techniques of a prestigious school. Especially, Jin So-cheong had personally taught me how to properly control my qi, making it easy for me to gauge my opponent's strength at a glance. Thanks to the immense inner strength I gained from taking the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng multiple times, my qi sensing ability had developed, and with the added techniques, I had developed a keen eye.
And the level of Seong-gyu that I read was not very impressive. I chose the wooden spear because it was just that level.
Clang
My body moved in an instant. My figure, which flowed through the air like a shadow, was already behind Seong-gyu. When the shocked Seong-gyu tried to turn his sword to react, I already had the wooden spear aimed at the back of his head.
It was a victory without a doubt.
"......"
Seong-gyu's face had turned pale. He probably didn't even see me use the Thunder Cloud Step to accelerate. Unlike before when I just used my inner strength to run, I now knew how to properly use the Thunder Cloud Step and channel the power of the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng into my feet. This allowed me to easily toy with a martial artist of Seong-gyu's level.
I calmly said,
"This is a sparring match, so I should use a wooden spear, right?"
"Ugh..."
The head of the Taegum Gate, who had been watching with his arms crossed, said coldly,
"That's enough. Baek-ung wins."
Seong-gyu and I bowed to each other, marking the end of the sparring match. The murmurs in the crowd grew even louder. From what I could hear with my enhanced hearing, it seemed that among the ordinary disciples of the Taegum Gate, there were almost none stronger than Seong-gyu.
Then, two more chief disciples came out. Normally, a school would call only one top disciple the chief disciple, but the Taegum Gate, with its large number of people and fierce competition, seemed to call several senior and outstanding disciples chief disciples.
"I am Wang Lu, chief disciple of the Taegum Gate. I request a match."
"I am Bal Ji, chief disciple of the Taegum Gate. I request a match."
However, I couldn't engage in a prolonged match with them.
"Huh."
"I win."
Swoosh
"No...!!"
"I win."
This was because, just like with Seong-gyu, using the Thunder Cloud Step to exploit their weaknesses was enough. Wang Lu and Bal Ji's skills were a bit better than Seong-gyu's, and they lasted about five seconds longer in front of me, but that was all. I was so bored with the easy victories that I almost lost interest.
After the head of the Taegum Gate confirmed all the sparring results, he nodded and shouted to the crowd,
"Baek-ung's victory is confirmed. Is there anyone who objects to his recommendation to the Jinyiwei now?"
"Yes!"
"Now all disciples should return to their training routines."
Rustle...
The over a hundred Taegum Gate disciples soon dispersed under the guidance of their instructors. In the now empty sparring ground, only the head of the Taegum Gate and I remained. He stood still for a moment after the sparring ended and then spoke to me.
"How was it? Disappointing?"
"No. Everyone had good skills."
The head of the Taegum Gate frowned.
"Are you flattering me? That's not like a disciple of Samjeol Lee Gwang. If it's trash, say it's trash."
"... I'm sorry."
I felt a bit embarrassed and turned my head. No matter what, it didn't seem right to criticize a disciple in front of the head of the school, but the head of the Taegum Gate seemed to be the type who didn't care about such things.
The head of the Taegum Gate said,
"Even though it's a favor for a friend, I gave the Jinyiwei recommendation to an outsider like you because of this. It's really a troublesome matter."
"......"
"I, the head of the Iron Blood School, and the heads of the Luoyang Twin Martial Families, each have one recommendation slot per year to recommend a disciple to the Jinyiwei. But all the capable disciples have already joined the Jinyiwei or have set up their own schools in other regions. The remaining ones are not good enough to recommend with my name on the line."
"That's how it is."
I understood another reason why the head of the Taegum Gate had set up this sparring session. It was probably to make me feel the overwhelming skill gap so that there would be no further complaints. Curious, I asked,
"Head of the Taegum Gate, you are a master who commands the world, yet you speak of a lack of disciples. I don't understand."
"Haha, you're being more honest now. That's good."
The head of the Taegum Gate chuckled and said,
"To be honest, the skills of Seong-gyu, Wang Lu, and Bal Ji, whom you faced, are considered first-rate in the world. You feel they are weak because you have been taught by a great master. Being used to fighting great masters, you find it disappointing to face those of lower caliber."
"Hmm..."
"Talent is something you can't force. No matter how hard I try to teach, if the potential isn't there, it's useless. Finding a genius in the world is really a difficult task..."
The head of the Taegum Gate's lament was profound. Despite accepting hundreds of talented individuals from Luoyang, it was difficult to cultivate a true master among them. After a moment, the head of the Taegum Gate asked with a hint of doubt,
"But, did you really come here because of a lack of talent? At your age and level, you're already a genius."
It seemed that Samjeol Lee Gwang had bluntly mentioned my lack of talent in his letter. I chuckled and said,
"There is a true genius whom I can't even match. Please bear with me despite my mediocrity."
"Hahaha, indeed, Samjeol. Your luck with disciples is much better than mine."
The head of the Taegum Gate laughed bitterly. Of course, even if it was a temporary shortage of disciples, seeing his friend and rival's disciples surpass his own must have been unpleasant. I said to the head of the Taegum Gate,
"Is there any chance that Jinyiwei members who came from the Taegum Gate will return?"
"The Jinyiwei is not just a martial force but a secret organization that carries out the imperial court's confidential missions. While former disciples sometimes visit for a drink, we can't inquire about each other's affairs. Returning is absolutely impossible."
"That must be lonely."
"Haha... It can't be helped. Want to have a drink?"
"I won't refuse."
After that, I sat with the head of the Taegum Gate, enjoying a simple meal and light alcohol while talking. Of course, since dealing with the head of the Taegum Gate was a formal matter, I had to make a great effort to maintain proper etiquette. I had realized from our first meeting that someone like the head of the Taegum Gate, who appeared to be open and frank, actually required a certain level of pretense and manners.
Perhaps my actions won his favor, as he said after drinking quite a bit,
"I don't understand why you received such a harsh evaluation from Samjeol. You've already reached the peak level and possess terrifying inner strength!"
"Haha..."
"Does Samjeol have a disciple who is even better than you? The world is truly unfair..."
"......"
I lay down in my room after the drinking session, feeling no significant effects from the alcohol despite drinking nearly four bottles. My mind was clear, and I felt no dizziness. I had a moment to think.
I couldn't fall asleep.
I had come to realize how strong I had become after stepping out into the world.
The real problem was that despite knowing how strong I had become, I didn't feel particularly satisfied. This was probably because both my master and senior brother were geniuses. Their presence was too overwhelming to alleviate any feelings of inferiority by looking at ordinary people.
'Forget it. I'll just take a nap.'
I decided not to think too deeply. The most important thing right now was to join the Jinyiwei, so I planned to think about it after completing the necessary tasks. This was the attitude I had developed after experiencing death multiple times.
Two days later, I followed the head of the Taegum Gate through the outer gate of the imperial palace. After a brief inspection, the sound of horses trotting was heard. I was sitting across from the head of the Taegum Gate in the carriage, so I felt the vibration in my buttocks.
The head of the Taegum Gate, who was in the carriage with me, said,
"We will soon arrive at the Jin Si Hall. I can only accompany you up to there, so you will have to enter the building and meet the Jinyiwei chief. If you pass his interview, you will start working at the Jinyiwei the next day."
"Is there anything I should be careful about?"
The head of the Taegum Gate smiled bitterly.
"Not really. The Jinyiwei recommendation given to the Twin Martial Families is based on the imperial court's trust in our reputation. No one who has been recommended has ever failed the interview, so just act as you normally do."
"I see."
I realized the power of this recommendation. The right to be guaranteed a position in the Jinyiwei, a dream job for martial artists, with a 100% success rate! It symbolized the prosperity of the Twin Martial Families and explained why the head of the Taegum Gate had chosen to pass it to another school. The recommendation was a right to be guaranteed a perfect pass, but if the recommended person was mediocre, it would lower the school's reputation.
The carriage stopped. I got off with the head of the Taegum Gate and bowed to him.
"I will never forget this favor."
"I hope for a good result."
After the carriage carrying the head of the Taegum Gate left, I walked into the Jin Si Hall. Two Jinyiwei members were standing at the inner gate, and their skills seemed quite impressive. They were at least two or three levels above the chief disciples of the Taegum Gate, and their movements had the marks of those who lived by the sword.
The Jinyiwei member on the left said,
"Are you the recommended candidate who was supposed to come today?"
"Yes. I am Baek-ung, recommended by the Taegum Gate."
"From the Cheongryong Martial Hall?"
"Yes."
He tilted his head in confusion.
"Normally, the recommendation must be used within the school, so this is unusual. Anyway, if you want to meet the chief, follow me."
I followed him into the Jin Si Hall. The hall, as part of the imperial palace, was built in a luxurious and splendid style, with fine silk laid out everywhere. When I finally met the chief, I was instantly tense.
'Hmm?'
Something felt strange.
I was meeting the Jinyiwei chief for the first time today. I had never felt his aura or presence before. However, the auras of the two people standing next to him felt strangely familiar. I must have met them somewhere before.
'What is it? These two people seem familiar.'
It was a feeling I had definitely experienced before.
Where had I seen these two people?
I tried to recall, but I couldn't think of it.
The Jinyiwei chief, unusually, was wearing a white mask that covered his face, revealing only his right eye. He sat at a table and said with a black eye flashing,
"Baek-ung. Welcome to the Jin Si Hall of the Jinyiwei."
"Thank you."
He briefly shuffled a white paper. It was probably a document about my background.
"Your background has been thoroughly investigated. You came to the capital from a rural village and entered the Cheongryong Martial Hall five years ago. Since then, you've quietly served as an instructor. Your past is very clean, and I am very pleased."
"Thank you."
The chief seemed to smile.
"However, I am disappointed with the Taegum Gate. To have to replace their own disciples with someone from another school..."
"......"
"Anyway, follow Guo Tian-hao to receive your uniform and weapons. He will teach you the Jinyiwei's regulations and activities today."
I followed Guo Tian-hao, who was waiting at the door. Guo Tian-hao, whose surname was Guo, was a Jinyiwei Tian-hao, one rank above a regular Jinyiwei member, similar to a team leader in the security industry. His martial skills seemed to be one level higher than those standing at the entrance.
Guo Tian-hao said as we walked,
"You are now a member of the Jinyiwei. Remember that all your actions are for His Majesty, and your life and death belong to the imperial court. This is the mission of a Jinyiwei member."
"Understood."
"He won't say anything about your martial skills, which are already very strong. After you learn the regulations and activities today, you will be immediately deployed to the Sixth Team. Keep that in mind."
Guo Tian-hao seemed to be a formidable expert. Even though I was hiding my aura, he could gauge my level just by my movements, indicating that he was a master far beyond the level of a first-rate expert. I was inwardly surprised.
'Is Guo Tian-hao at the level of a team leader in the Jinyiwei? And yet, he's only this level?'
He must be a peak master.
The average skill level of the Jinyiwei seemed to be much higher than I had thought. To avoid showing my surprise, I said,
"The Sixth Team?"
"The Jinyiwei is divided into ten teams, from the First Team to the Tenth Team, with a total of 100 members. Those with better skills become Tian-hao or deputy chief, while others are placed in separate higher teams. The Sixth Team, to which you will be assigned, is currently on a secret mission, so you will have to give it your all."
After that, I spent two hours in a sealed room, where Guo Tian-hao taught me the Jinyiwei's regulations, activities, and the overall organizational structure, as well as the power dynamics of the imperial palace. I also had to memorize the names of all the imperial family members and relatives, and explain whether I knew various skills like disguise techniques.
It seemed that there was no separate mental training. The Jinyiwei had too much content and a vast amount of information to cover, and there was a sense of pride that they would not betray the imperial court.
Guo Tian-hao drank water after finishing the two-hour training. He then said in amazement,
"You are quite intelligent. I've never seen anyone understand things so quickly."
"Is that so?"
"Usually, the Jinyiwei is filled with people who have only focused on martial arts their whole lives. Teaching new members is actually more difficult than teaching martial skills."
I had the knowledge and reading experience of a scholar. With my strong memory and understanding, I was probably much smarter than the average Jinyiwei member. I muttered and memorized what I had heard so far, then asked,
"Which team does Guo Tian-hao belong to?"
"I belong to the Fifth Team. The leader of the Sixth Team will come soon to take you."
At that moment,
The door creaked open, and a man in black walked in. Guo Tian-hao waved at him happily.
"Hey, Liu! You came just in time. I just finished the weapon distribution and training."
"Good work. Is this the new member?"
I stood up and answered,
"Yes. My name is Baek-ung!"
"Hmm, you seem spirited... I am Liu Tian-hao, the leader of the Sixth Team. I look forward to working with you."
"Yes, sir."
After Guo Tian-hao finished the handover, I followed Liu Tian-hao to an unknown destination.
"I will give you a one-hour break starting now. After resting in your private room, you will be immediately deployed to a mission."
"What kind of mission?"
"I'll tell you later. Is there anything else you want to ask?"
I was already in front of my room. I would rest for an hour and then be deployed to my first mission as a Jinyiwei member. I played with the newly issued iron sword.
I thought for a moment. But there was only one thing I needed to ask.
"Who are the two people standing next to the chief? Are they also Tian-hao?"
"They are deputy chiefs. There are three deputy chiefs, one of whom commands the ten teams. The other two are always guarding the chief or handling special missions."
"......"
It was really confusing. I was sure I had seen those two people before. How could they be deputy chiefs of the Jinyiwei? I had lived for quite a long time, but where had I met them? It felt like a puzzle that could be solved with some thought, which made me even more frustrated.
I spent the hour examining the spear, sword, and dagger I had been given. They were made of high-quality steel, and the craftsmanship was evident. With these weapons, I wouldn't have to worry about them breaking or dulling for a while.
After that, with nothing else to do, I lay down.
I was lost in thought for almost the entire hour.
'I definitely saw them somewhere... But where?'
Just then,
I recalled Wang Liang and the words he had said. The terms "imperial court" and "Wuming Temple" floated in my mind, and I suddenly remembered something I had never thought of before. I was so surprised by the realization that I jumped up from my seat.
"......!!"
That's right.
The two deputy chiefs— they were the ones who had blocked the sudden attack of Xuantian Daoist in the tragic village! The rare skill of combined attack techniques in the martial world was not common, and the aura I felt then was the same as today.
'That means... Could it be...'
As I swallowed, a voice came from outside the door.
"It's time for your mission. Come out, Baek Wei-shi (Guardian)."
Liu Tian-hao, the leader of the Sixth Team, was calling me. I quickly replied,