After Hyeon-mu stormed away, grinding his teeth, Hyeon-jin turned to look at Hyeon-mi.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"In the future, if that bastard tries something strange again, shout for help. People like him only back off when met with strength."
"…Thank you."
"Thank me? If I had my way, I'd snap that man's wrist in two. Shame I couldn't."
Hyeon-mi smiled faintly at his exaggerated tone.
Until now, she had endured her struggles in silence, with no place to cry out or lean on. Sometimes the burden had been so heavy that she had thought of ending it all and joining her parents in death.
But now, knowing that someone stood to protect her, strength welled up inside.
Still, worry clouded her eyes as she looked at Hyeon-jin.
"But… will you be alright? Senior brother Hyeon-mu won't just sit still after this."
"Don't worry. If he dares to touch me again, that'll be the day of wailing cries."
Hyeon-mi, seeing the bright smile on Hyeon-jin's face, found herself breathing easier without realizing it.
Rumors soon spread: Hyeon-mu's palm bone had been broken by Hyeon-jin.
Yet Hyeon-mu himself said nothing. He only insisted that he had landed wrong and hurt himself. Since the man at the center of the storm downplayed it, the incident sank beneath the surface.
But a few days later, the matter resurfaced.
Not from Hyeon-mu's mouth, but because Hyeon-mang, who had been with Hyeon-o, let his tongue slip.
"What? Hyeon-mu was beaten by Hyeon-jin?"
"Yes, senior brother."
"And what was the reason?"
"You know that ugly girl, Hyeon-mi? Senior brother Hyeon-mu teased her a little, but senior brother Hyeon-jin suddenly rammed into his back…"
"Tsk, tsk. Foolish boy. To be humiliated over such a girl?"
Hyeon-u found Hyeon-mu's behavior disgraceful, yet he had no thought of casting aside his own disciple. Especially since Hyeon-mu's family hailed from a powerful clan — the Dong family, one of the Ten Great Houses of Sichuan. For generations they had held key posts across the province, their influence reaching even the Imperial Court.
With such connections, Hyeon-u himself might one day ride those ties to office.
Perhaps that was why.
Even knowing Hyeon-mu was at fault, he turned the arrow toward Hyeon-jin.
"So, a junior dared strike his senior brother?"
"A most grievous offense. If such things are allowed, who will ever respect a senior brother's word?"
"You speak true."
"And… this is merely my own thought, but perhaps the disciples of Jasodang are secretly egging him on."
"Jasodang brats?"
Hyeon-u's brows furrowed at once.
Within Wudang, disciples were trained in three divisions. Hyeon-jin belonged to Jasodang, while Hyeon-mu was of Jamidang. The third, Jasondang, was for disciples of secular families.
Hyeon-mang leaned close, his eyes gleaming as he whispered.
"Otherwise, why would Hyeon-jin suddenly dare attack a senior brother?"
"…True enough. Hah! So that's their play?"
The coincidence was too neat.
'Those Jasodang pests have been irking me lately. And now this?'
This could not be overlooked. It was nothing less than a challenge against Jamidang — and against himself, its leader.
"Hyeon-chang, disciple."
"Yes, senior brother."
"See to it that you educate him thoroughly in the rules of Wudang."
Clang, clang, clang.
Morning training ended, and disciples were given a half-hour of free time.
Hyeon-jin spent even that time tagging along with junior disciples, showering them with advice and scolding. By now, they were used to it, following his words without protest.
But an unexpected figure appeared.
"Senior brother, senior brother Hyeon-chang asks to see you."
It was the young-faced disciple Hyeon-rang, who ranked just above the youngest, Hyeon-gil, and trained in another hall.
Hyeon-jin tilted his head, lowered his body slightly to meet Hyeon-rang's eyes, and asked:
"Ah, it's you, Hyeon-rang. And where did senior brother Hyeon-chang say to meet?"
"At the Small Training Hall below Sacheon Palace."
"Sacheon Palace? That one?"
"Yes, that's the place."
"I see. Go ahead and wait. I'll come soon."
Among Wudang's many small practice grounds, the Sacheon Palace hall was used by certain Jamidang second-generation disciples.
'Hmm. So senior brother Hyeon-chang calls for me?'
A thin smile curved Hyeon-jin's lips. After a moment of thought, he strolled in that direction.
When he arrived at Sacheon Palace, several second-generation disciples were gathered in the Small Training Hall.
Pressing his palms together, Hyeon-jin greeted them, then addressed Hyeon-chang.
"Senior brother, I heard you called for me."
"You've come. Wait a moment."
Ignoring him with a stern face, Hyeon-chang barked commands at the gathered disciples.
"Harmonized Heaven-God, One Step, Thousand Hands!"
Ch'cheojeojeok!
At his cry, the disciples moved as one.
"Heaven-Slaying, Soul-Shattering, Rolling Formation!"
Their synchronized movements looked fierce enough — but to Hyeon-jin, they were unimpressive.
To a second-generation disciple, the Seven Star Formation (Chilseongjin) was formidable, but to one who had once been Sect Leader of Wudang, it was mere child's play.
Bored, he watched a while, then stepped aside.
Soon, Hyeon-chang approached with sudden accusation.
"I hear you neglect training and spend your time with secular girls instead."
"…What?"
Hyeon-jin blinked, unable to believe his ears.
"I've watched you myself for days. Will you deny it? I saw you trail after that secular girl, Hyeon-mi, rather than train."
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
"Senior brother, you're mistaken. I train day and night."
He denied it flatly, but Hyeon-chang pressed on.
"You wretch! Dare you still lie? Rumors spread through Wudang that you secretly meet Hyeon-mi. And you dare deny it?"
"Ah, come now."
Hyeon-jin waved dismissively, exasperated. Yet when Hyeon-mi's name surfaced, suspicion stirred within him.
'So they've schemed this. If I deny outright, Hyeon-mi will bear the brunt…'
As if confirming his thought, Hyeon-chang smirked.
"Shall I summon Hyeon-mi here for questioning, then?"
"Immeasurable Buddha. That's far too much. To call our junior sister a wench?"
His cold rebuke made Hyeon-chang flinch. Though he realized his slip, he had no mind to admit it.
"Then you say it's not true?"
"It is not. And senior brother, enough with the roundabout talk. Why have you really called me here?"
"I've told you. Because you neglect training."
"And I've told you — I do not."
Neither yielded. At last, Hyeon-chang sneered.
"Oh? Then show us your strength. If you have any."
"My strength?"
"Yes. Display it against the Seven Star Formation."
Following his hand and gaze, Hyeon-jin saw the gathered disciples — the same ones who had just practiced the formation.
"Immeasurable Buddha."
So, they meant to pit him against many, relying on a formation.
'Tch. Such a petty method. This is beneath Wudang disciples, who should prize righteousness above all.'
Suppressing a sigh, Hyeon-jin nodded.
"Will the Seven Star Formation suffice?"
"What?"
"Immeasurable Buddha. Very well, let's see who has been neglecting training."
A serene smile, like that of the Primordial Celestial Worthy, spread across his lips.
He stepped into the training ground, casually seizing a wooden sword from the rack.
At once, seven disciples took their stances.
"Seven Stars, form up!" shouted Hyeon-geol at the lead. The others shifted in sequence.
Hyeon-geol held the corner of the formation — the position of the Breaking Army Star, with the others stretched behind.
Sssshhhk.
The formation closed around Hyeon-jin.
'Let's see… the Breaking Army is a decoy. The true axis is the Greedy Wolf at the rear. Which makes Literary Curves the starting point.'
The Seven Star Formation shifted constantly, its gates of life and death changing with each variation. In the hands of master disciples, it was boundless — but in those of second-generation juniors, it was child's play.
Even as he finished his thought, Hyeon-jin twisted his waist and lifted his sword diagonally.
Thud!
He blocked an ambush from behind, as if foreseeing it.
Without pause, he lunged forward, lowering his body, then leapt lightly and spun midair.
Sshhhek!
A blade slashed through the space where his waist had just been.
Landing, Hyeon-jin twisted sharply, stabbing in every direction.
Thup-thup-thup!
The assailants retreated in shock, only for others to surge in.
Pivoting again, Hyeon-jin spun into the Literary Curves position.
"Haa!"
The disciple stationed there gaped wide-eyed as his defense crumbled.
Before the others could cover, Hyeon-jin feinted left, then slid diagonally with the spring of his ankles.
Whoosh!
Their blades cut air, while his thrust pierced the Greedy Wolf position — the formation's life gate.
"Urgh!"
Thud!
The disciple there doubled over, flung back.
Attacks came from behind, but Hyeon-jin spun, deflecting one, slipping aside from another, countering with swift wooden strikes.
Whack!
Another fell.
Again he twisted, carving a path, never where their blades struck. In seven steps, he had torn the formation apart.
At last, the Breaking Army position lay open — with Hyeon-geol standing there.
"H-how…?"
Disbelief widened his eyes.
Expressionless, Hyeon-jin said:
"Senior brother, it seems you have neglected training."
And with those words, his wooden sword-wielding fist smashed into Hyeon-geol's face.
Thud!
---
End of Chapter 5
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