Looking at Baek Mu-ryang's utterly somber face, Baek Yang-hwi felt a twinge of puzzlement.
'Why is he acting like this?'
Not quite to the extent of this life, but even in his previous one, he had stood out from the very first day of training.
What more was there to say? At the truly tender age of eight, he had mastered the Heaven-Covering Sword Technique in a mere three years.
"Hwi-ya. Remember the breathing exercise I'm about to teach you well and try to follow along."
With those words, Baek Mu-ryang stomped firmly on the ground and began moving his body this way and that.
'Harmony of Principles and Six Unions Art.'
The breathing exercises of most families involved sitting cross-legged, gathering and circulating qi.
But the Baek family's method was solely this dynamic exercise—the Harmony of Principles and Six Unions Art—which combined physical conditioning with a touch of qi gathering.
There had once been a superior internal art in the past, but it had fallen into disuse.
"Have you memorized all the incantations and movements?"
"Yes, Father."
"Then show me once."
Baek Yang-hwi drew in a breath and slowly began to move his body.
His young, untrained frame made his motions crude and awkward, but the subtleties of the Harmony of Principles and Six Unions Art were perfectly embodied within him.
Baek Mu-ryang's expression darkened even further.
"Hwi-ya. You really are..."
an extraordinary genius.
'Even if the level is low, memorizing hundreds of characters of incantations, performing the movements precisely to stimulate the acupoints... How could he grasp it so easily...'
"So. Yeon-i."
"Yes!"
"Yes, Father."
"I have something to discuss with Hwi alone, so each of you go train on your own."
Having given the order to his two blood children, Baek Mu-ryang pulled Baek Yang-hwi to a corner of the training ground.
"Hwi-ya."
"Yes, Father."
"You probably haven't realized it until now, but it seems you've been born with the talent of a once-in-a-century martial prodigy."
"Yes. I already knew."
Baek Mu-ryang showed a surprised expression.
"Hm? You knew?"
"Yes. Fights break out more often than you'd think among beggar gangs. Watching them trade punches and kicks, I often wondered why they couldn't dodge something so slow."
"...I see."
After a brief silence, Baek Mu-ryang continued.
"Hwi-ya. I'm thinking of reconsidering my decision to make you my son."
"Pardon? Why?"
This was a completely unexpected turn. What on earth was his father thinking?
"You're a pearl buried in the mud. It's a shame for our Baek family to claim something so valuable. Instead of revoking the adoption, how about I send you to my sworn brother?"
"..."
Baek Mu-ryang's sworn brother was a master of a renowned great sect.
Only then did Baek Yang-hwi realize what his father was thinking.
'I've shown too much talent.'
Rather than greedily hoarding a discovered genius, he wanted to release him into greater waters.
'That's the kind of man Father is.'
Peerless Righteous Benefactor Baek Mu-ryang. A righteous man counted among the very best for his acts of chivalry.
In all his wanderings across the world, Baek Yang-hwi had never met a man of such character.
"Father."
"Speak."
Baek Yang-hwi looked at Baek Mu-ryang with straightforward, resolute eyes.
"You chose me, Father. You offered me the chance to become your son."
But.
"In that moment, it wasn't just you who made a choice."
I chose the Baek family too.
"My name is Baek Yang-hwi. I am the one who will uphold and shine the prestige of the Baek clan. The moment you extended your hand to me, I decided that."
"...Hwi-ya."
"I have no issue taking another master, but I have no intention of leaving the family. Nor do I plan to become someone who can't call you Father."
'The Baek family, into the world's supreme clan.'
Baek Yang-hwi smiled at his father, who was moved to emotion.
"I understand. Since you need to build a foundation anyway, let's think this over slowly."
Baek Mu-ryang called Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon back over.
Baek Heon-so approached with a sulky expression, while Baek Yeon-yeon came smiling brightly.
Baek Yang-hwi held back a laugh as he looked at Baek Heon-so's face.
'So puffed up, he looks just like a pufferfish.'
His mindset would need fixing, but... seeing the kid's childish side, he was undeniably cute.
Even if he hated him, family was family, and a little brother was a little brother.
Baek Yang-hwi had never once disliked Baek Heon-so.
He was simply a brother who needed a firmer hand.
"Father must be going now. Train in martial arts for about an hour, then rest, and after that, cultivate your scholarly pursuits."
After overseeing their training for roughly an hour, Baek Mu-ryang instructed his children to diligently practice and left the compound.
Thus, only the three Baek siblings remained on the training ground.
"..."
A brief silence. With the adult and mediator gone, awkwardness hung in the air.
Of course, Baek Yang-hwi was unfazed, and Baek Yeon-yeon was innocently carefree, so it was only Baek Heon-so who felt the tension.
'The kid's full of resentment.'
"So-ya."
"...I don't accept you as my brother. Don't call me that."
So was naturally prone to envy and jealousy.
Yet Baek Yang-hwi had perfectly demonstrated the breathing exercise, earning Baek Mu-ryang's admiration, and even shared a private talk with him.
At an age thirsting for his father's love, it was only natural for So to feel hostility.
'...That doesn't mean he can act so impudent, though.'
Watching Baek Heon-so, a pleased smile naturally formed on Baek Yang-hwi's face.
Of course, it was a different kind of pleasure from the warmth he felt toward Baek Yeon-yeon.
'I was just about to start reforming him, and he's handing me the perfect excuse.'
Baek Yang-hwi heightened his senses as much as possible to check for anyone nearby.
Confirming that the only witness to what was about to happen was the ever-smiling Baek Yeon-yeon, he immediately crossed his legs, stood cockily, and glared.
"Hey, you little punk."
"?!"
Baek Heon-so was utterly shocked.
Even for a third-rate martial clan, they were local nobility compared to commoners.
In other words, Baek Heon-so had never in his life been called something as crude as 'little punk'.
"Y-You, calling me that?"
"Who else is the little punk here besides you?"
Baek Yeon-yeon shot her hand up.
"Me too, big brother!"
The complete opposite of Baek Heon-so's reaction. Baek Yeon-yeon was still beaming.
More precisely, her entire being radiated eagerness to chat with Baek Yang-hwi and ask him all sorts of questions.
'Reminds me of my past life.'
Baek Yeon-yeon. Yeon-i was always a kind, gentle little sister who took after their mother, Jeong In-hwa.
Pure as a blank page and warm as spring sunlight—she was a child who always needed protecting.
Baek Yang-hwi gave her a warm, affectionate smile.
"Our Yeon-i isn't a little punk; she's a pretty, good girl, isn't she?"
"Really?!"
"Of course."
"How did you know when you only met me yesterday, big brother?"
"I know everything. I can tell at a glance. For example..."
Baek Yang-hwi glanced at Baek Heon-so.
"Like how I could tell right away that So doesn't like me."
As Baek Yeon-yeon pondered that it would be weirder if she hadn't noticed...
Baek Yang-hwi continued.
"You impudent brat. Adopted by Father or not, I'm still older than you. Don't you know the virtue of respecting elders?"
For the delicately raised Baek Heon-so, this was a barrage of shocks.
Words he'd never heard before in his life. And the sudden shift to a harsh demeanor, completely opposite from when Baek Mu-ryang was present.
Baek Heon-so couldn't collect his thoughts.
"What the hell are you so dissatisfied about, you brat?"
"I'm the eldest son of the Baek family. Why should I accept you as my brother?!"
"First, because Father decided it. Second, because Mother accepts it. And third, because you'll still be playing the eldest son role from now on."
The seven-year-old Baek Heon-so couldn't grasp the deeper meaning beneath those three reasons.
He was simply frustrated at being outtalked.
"Urgh..."
Watching the seven-year-old fume and huff was cute, but...
'This won't do. He can't turn out weak like in my past life.'
In his previous life, Baek Heon-so had to become clan head at just nineteen.
Indulged and spoiled, his immature, twisted personality went uncorrected.
As a result, the family fortunes declined day by day, and Baek Yang-hwi had watched his hard-earned money melt away.
"Little brother, let me ask you something. Why can't a beggar be your brother?"
"You're not even blood-related to us!"
"You've heard the story of Peach Blossom Paradise Oath, haven't you? Even Father has sworn brothers."
"Th-That's..."
Hesitating, Baek Heon-so suddenly burst out.
"Anyway, no! You were a beggar!"
At that moment, Baek Yang-hwi decided just how harshly to discipline him.
'I can't raise the future clan head as a wastrel. Time to wield the rod with a mother's stern love.'
He flicked a knuckle on the forehead of the yelling brat.
Pop!
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"Baek Heon-so. You're right; I was a beggar. It means I've survived on my own strength since birth. I wonder if you've ever even earned a single meal by yourself."
"What's there to brag about?!"
"It's a brag. I could be kicked out right now and survive just fine on my own. Could you?"
Baek Yang-hwi raised his hand for another flick.
Perhaps sensing he couldn't take two as a martial clan heir, Baek Heon-so dodged nimbly, but...
Pop!
Baek Yang-hwi's knuckle struck dead center on his forehead.
"Ow!"
"So-ya, you know this, but among the Nine Great Sects, the Beggar Clan is the beggars' sect. Think you could insult beggars in front of them?"
Baek Heon-so was struck dumb like a clam with honey.
"No one under heaven is without value. As Father's son, you're probably usually kind-hearted and don't look down on beggars."
It wasn't a guess, but a certainty. In his past life, Baek Heon-so had been a good kid before he went astray.
Ultimately, he just saw Baek Yang-hwi as an uninvited stone rolling in, not a brother.
Baek Yang-hwi raised his wooden sword.
"Looks like you need some proper instruction. Pick up your sword."
"Hmph! Who'd back down?!"
Baek Heon-so snatched up his wooden sword.
"Baek Heon-so. If you win, I'll grant you anything you want. But if I win, you'll call me 'big brother' properly from now on."
"For real? A man's word is gold!"
Baek Heon-so brimmed with confidence. At just seven, he hadn't fully grasped how extraordinary Baek Yang-hwi's earlier display had been.
He simply believed that with over two years of sword training under his belt—and only a year older—no way could he lose to someone picking up a wooden sword for the first time today.
"I'll even yield three moves!"
A snort escaped Baek Yang-hwi.
Yield three moves? Without even gauging the opponent's skill?
"This brat really only learns the bad stuff."
Baek Yang-hwi slowly strode forward and brought his wooden sword down from above.
The slow speed allowed Baek Heon-so to easily raise his sword into a guard stance, but...
Crack!
Baek Yang-hwi's wooden sword bent as if to curve around Baek Heon-so's blade and struck his crown.
"Gaaah!"
Not three moves—Baek Heon-so crumpled clutching his head after just one.
Baek Yang-hwi sighed at the sight.
"Get up, brat."
"Hic, uwaaang..."
A martial clan heir or not, he was a pampered seven-year-old.
Too young and soft to endure the pain of a solid wooden strike.
But Baek Yang-hwi grew sterner seeing the tears streaming down.
"Get up. Or you'll get another."
Thud!
Stabbing the training ground stone with his wooden sword made Baek Heon-so yelp and scramble up, body trembling finely in fear.
"Baek Heon-so. A martial clan heir doesn't yield to pain. Never drop your sword no matter what. Got it?"
"Y-Yeah... Hic..."
"Not 'yeah'—'Yes.' Where's your respect for this big brother, talking all casual?"
"Hic, sob, y-yes..."
Seeing that, Baek Yang-hwi smiled contentedly.
'Gotta raise him tough. That's the only way he'll become strong.'
"This time, I'll yield ten moves—no, twenty. Come at me, So."
"..."
Though he must have heard, Baek Heon-so hesitated, unable to move.
Completely overwhelmed.
"Not coming? Then I'm going."
"Eek, urgh!"
Baek Heon-so charged in desperation.
"Dieee!"
Ah, this insolent little punk.
'Die? Isn't that a bit much, little brother?'
He met the incoming wooden sword tip with his own.
With a bit of force, he easily redirected it and poked Baek Heon-so's waist with his finger.
"You're right that waist strength matters for downward strikes, but tensing up and applying power are different."
Then he hooked his foot to trip him, grabbing his collar before he hit the ground and setting him upright.
"Don't focus only on your upper body when swinging. In martial arts, the lower body is always key."
Move by move, Baek Yang-hwi pointed out Baek Heon-so's flaws.
"There, the final—tenth move. Done."
Baek Yang-hwi lightly pressed the tip of his wooden sword to Baek Heon-so's solar plexus.
Baek Heon-so let his wooden sword drop limply.
'Two years of training... and I lost to a guy learning sword for the first time today...'
"Sob, hic..."
Baek Yang-hwi watched him sob for a moment.
Now it was time to offer the carrot instead of the stick.
"So. Look at this."
Baek Yang-hwi pulled a silver coin from his bosom and held it out.
Baek Heon-so's eyes went wide like the coin itself.
His tears stopped dead from the shock.
"A silver coin...? How do you have that much money...?"
One silver was a laborer's daily wage.
Negligible for an adult, but a fortune to a child like Baek Heon-so.
"You saw the Black Path gang drop the money pouch yesterday, right? I was closest. Snatched one."
"Wh-Why would you do that...?"
Baek Yang-hwi grinned.
"Why? To buy something tasty for my cute little siblings on our first greeting day. So, how about we skip training today and all go get some sweets?"
A true eldest brother shares the joys of slacking off too!
"Yeon-i, what do you say? Wanna go out with this big brother?"
"Yes! Super duper yes!"
Watching Baek Yeon-yeon bounce in excitement, Baek Heon-so whispered faintly.
"Me too..."
"What? Can't hear you, little brother."
"Me too... together..."
No matter the earlier fight, the temptation was too strong for a seven-year-old to resist.
Baek Yang-hwi chuckled and pulled Baek Heon-so to his feet.
"You're covered in dirt. Both of you, wash up and change, then come back!"
"Yes!"
"Yes..."
Yeon-i skipped off cheerfully, while So went to wash, stealing glances.
Indeed, from time immemorial, carrot and stick made the finest tools for discipline.
'By the way, today... well, tomorrow in this timeline, right?'
Baek Yang-hwi recalled an event from his past life today and planned his next move.
'If I play it right, I can gain an ally in the main family and make a fortune. To do that... first, I need to find Gu-ak.'
For reference, calling the thug Gu-ak "brother Gu" so casually was all for this moment.
To deal with him in this tiny child's body, he needed to leave an impression so profound it bordered on bizarre.
"Let's see if I can get Gu-ak to call me 'brother' as promised."
Baek Yang-hwi smirked slyly.