Translator: Nox
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: How to Crush the Ambition of the Son Sect
The steward, the Clan Head, and Hyeon-do sat around a table, sipping deeply brewed tea while the sun began to set.
Spread before them was a large map — a map of the entire continent.
“Here, and here. These are the routes the merchant group takes. It’s a considerable distance.”
“They’ll definitely get ambushed.”
“Even though the Zhegall Sect has a formidable reputation, if the Green Forest Bandits hide in the mountains with intent, it’ll be nearly impossible to track them down — they might even get killed.”
“The Zhegalls are practical. I wouldn’t put it past them to burn the entire mountain down just to eliminate the threat.”
They could.
But in none of the routes so far had that actually happened.
There were villages nearby, and divine beasts or spirit creatures that lived deep in the mountains — burning it down would provoke them.
In any case, the Peng Sect was located in [Hyeongju], while the Zhegall Sect was in [Yungjung Mountain].
The path in between was long, and the Green Forest Mountains were right in the middle.
They were bound to be ambushed.
Zhegall Sect excelled at pre-arranged formations and tactical planning — but they had a weakness in sudden ambushes and close-quarters combat.
Naturally, they would look to address that weakness.
And the best group to make up for it was the Peng Sect.
This escort mission likely involved the Son Sect or Sado-Ryeon too.
“The Son Sect has probably interfered already. It’ll be hard for the Meng merchant group to hire reliable guards.”
“But if our warriors stationed at Yellow Crane Tower were to go instead…”
“We’d strengthen our position — and Zhegall Sect would owe us a favor.”
“But will they agree?”
The Clan Head’s question was met with a firm nod from Hyeon-do.
The Zhegalls were a sect that prioritized efficiency.
If they could borrow Peng Sect warriors and name at a bargain, they’d jump at the opportunity.
“Of course. Even if our prestige has waned, we still have many first-rate warriors. It’s not that we’re losing to merchant bands or bandits — we’re simply being outmaneuvered by the Son Sect.”
“…”
“Y-yes, Clan Head. H-how could he…”
Both the Clan Head and steward stared at Hyeon-do in amazement.
After all, he was only at the age of barely finishing his first brushstroke calligraphy lessons.
Yet here he was — offering insight like a seasoned strategist.
His eyes saw through the state of the world.
His head was filled with precise, objective knowledge.
‘He might be better suited to a central government post… no, wait.’
Peng Jin-mu recalled the Hyeon-do he saw training that afternoon.
That flawless execution of the Five Tiger Severing Saber.
And now — piercing insights into the flow of politics and strategy.
“A genius.”
“A true genius.”
“Me? Nah. Anyway, send an Outer Hall Lord, one direct-line member, and a full squad of warriors. That should be enough force.”
“You mean your older brother?”
My older brother?
No thanks.
Hyeon-do grinned.
“Let me go.”
There were items to collect.
In *Martial World: Supreme Heaven*, the Zhegall Sect’s area — Yungjung Mountain — was also known as:
**‘Land of Rewards: Yungjung.’**
A treasure trove of items.
Of course, the steward and the Clan Head looked unconvinced, but Hyeon-do’s will was firm.
---
“So then, the Outer Hall Lord and the Yellow Tiger Squad will take this mission.”
“Leave it to me. Escorting merchants… takes me back to my youth.”
“And the youngest will accompany you. Take good care of him.”
“The Young Master…?”
Outer Hall Lord Peng Ga-wi trailed off.
He, too, hadn’t yet fully registered the youngest’s change.
“Don’t worry. He’s not the type to cause trouble.”
“…Understood.”
“The steward will first make discreet contact with the Mengs. Once we receive the official request, depart immediately.”
“Yes. But… will the Son Sect really stay silent?”
“They lack a proper excuse. It’ll be fine.”
The martial world ran on justification.
The Son Sect had made an offer, and the Peng Sect had simply declined.
They couldn’t launch a full attack over that.
Still, it was best to be prepared.
The Clan Head and steward knew their roles.
“Then let’s move. Steward, carry this out without a single misstep.”
“Understood. I’ll accompany the Young Master myself.”
“Good. Pay special attention to his safety.”
“Of course, Clan Head.”
And so the wheel began turning.
The slumbering tiger of Hubei began to move.
The Outer Hall Lord, after the meeting, immediately went looking for Hyeon-do.
First stop — the Young Master’s quarters.
But no matter how hard he looked, there was no sign of him.
No one nearby to ask either.
“Hm. Where could he be?”
Could he have gone to the market?
No. In such turbulent times, that was dangerous — especially with the Son Sect involved.
Even Hyeon-do would know that.
“…Don’t tell me he’s at the training hall?”
That lazy Young Master? Training early in the morning?
It sounded absurd — but it was the only lead.
The Outer Hall Lord hurried off.
And what he saw astonished him.
“Haaaap!”
“Uuurgh!”
“Swing it properly! You call yourselves warriors of the Peng Sect!?”
A thundering voice echoed through the Grand Training Hall.
And at the very front — Hyeon-do.
With more weights strapped to him than anyone else, he swung a training saber without pause.
“Young Master?”
“Break time!”
“Breeeeaaak!”
Two weights on each arm.
Five on the legs.
One each on the front and back of his torso.
Each step he took was with crushing weight — and still he advanced.
Wiping sweat from his brow, he approached Peng Ga-wi.
“Is something the matter, Lord Ga-wi?”
“I came to brief you on the results of this morning’s meeting but… what is *this*?”
“Training, of course. The junior disciples wanted to join, so I let them.”
“Liar! That’s—mmpgh!”
Someone tried to cry out the truth, but the overwhelming authority silenced them.
Peng Ga-wi stared, unable to hide his astonishment, and reported briefly.
“Tomorrow morning, the Clan Head will leave for Juru where the Son Sect is staying.”
“I’ll be heading with the steward to the merchant group, then.”
“Correct.”
“Got it. We’ll finish training here.”
“...Very well.”
He glanced at the children behind Hyeon-do.
They’d be suffering from muscle soreness for at least a week.
But thanks to internal energy training, they’d recover fast.
For the first time in a long while — things were moving.
‘We’ve been stagnant for too long.’
Disciples training half-heartedly.
Fewer missions, declining income and territory.
Losing their core techniques, the sect had begun collapsing.
But with Hyeon-do in motion, everything had started to shift.
Could the Peng Sect truly rise again?
“Hmph, that’s still a long way off.”
“Sorry?”
“No, nothing. You’ll need to depart early tomorrow.”
“Understood. Thanks for the update.”
“Then I’ll take my leave…”
Once Peng Ga-wi left, Hyeon-do turned back to the group of collapsed disciples.
That morning—
After finishing his internal energy meditation, he had entered the Grand Training Hall.
And there they were — the youngest generation of disciples.
The first generation was already active as warriors.
The second was on the cusp of adulthood.
The third had just started learning martial arts.
These were kids around Hyeon-do’s own age.
They hadn’t forgotten yesterday.
<“Young Master! Please train with us!”>
<“We want to swing the Five Tiger Severing Saber like you!”>
<“Teach us that explosive power!”>
Oh?
Really now?
Even in *Martial World: Supreme Heaven*, training warriors was a key part of clan development.
Their strength determined the clan’s influence and power in Murim.
It was peak gameplay to take random kids and train them into the strongest martial artists.
The Peng Sect’s disciples were all orphans, or the children of allies.
“Break time’s over! Get up!”
“Ughhh, Young Master… you’re killing us…”
“You asked for it! Get up and SWING!”
His lion’s roar shook the hall.
One by one, the kids stumbled to their feet.
But strangely, there was a fire in their eyes now.
Most of them had been abandoned or rejected even by the Beggar’s Union.
Or were children who had fled from faraway places.
The Peng Sect couldn’t sustain its forces with only direct bloodlines.
So they searched for pearls in the mud.
The younger disciples were seen as beggars, freeloaders — wastes of grain.
<“He says we can be strong too!”>
<“If we don’t train, we’ll be abandoned again. Never again.”>
<“The Young Master believes in us. Maybe we can change…”>
Had they ever trained this hard before?
Had anyone ever truly taught them?
The Peng Sect had fallen so far they couldn’t even train their juniors properly.
Hyeon-do remembered the Peng Sect warriors who had become villains in the original game.
Twisted by trauma — or committing atrocities of their own.
Now that this was real life, he saw it as his duty to change that fate.
To save them — he had to train them hard.
The first-generation disciples were on external missions or had abandoned their name.
The second generation wasn’t yet ready to teach.
The upper ranks were too busy with clan work.
So the children had been left neglected.
Jin-mu might’ve helped, but even he was swamped with paperwork.
Hyeon-do looked at the kids slowly getting back up and laid out his plans.
“I’ll never let my people be looked down on.”
Even in the game, he had hated it when his clan was treated like trash.
Whenever that happened — he declared war first and asked questions later.
‘Can we reach true martial levels in a few years?’
Himself — and these kids.
They needed to reach basic combat proficiency within three years.
At the front of the formation, Hyeon-do raised his heavy saber again.
Weights clinking with every motion.
“ONE—!”
“UAAAAH—!”
The cries of children echoed like a Marine Corps boot camp.
【To be continued in Chapter 6】
