Book 1 Chapter 13

The Hellish Training Camp

Hell had already begun.

But no one noticed that fact.

And when time passed and they learned that the place was hell,

they despaired, knowing they were already in the middle of a deep quagmire from which there was no escape.

On a summer day when the sun blazed overhead and the heat scorched the earth, cicadas hidden in the forest chirped loudly, as if the whole forest would be torn apart. A group of men and women walked along a path hidden in the dense forest.

The two young men walking at the head of the group hurried their steps, chatting to relieve their boredom. One wore a white martial arts uniform with a blue dragon embroidered on it, and the young man next to him wore a calm and quiet blue martial arts uniform, also embroidered with a blue dragon on the sleeves. The man in the blue uniform, with a blue dragon wrapped around his sleeves, spoke to the man in the white martial arts uniform walking beside him. Judging by their tone, they seemed to be friends.

"Hey, Namgung. Are we still far?"

"We'll arrive soon. Haven't we been climbing the mountain for quite a while?"

"In any case, I hope we arrive at our destination quickly to escape this sweltering weather. Look at this sweat. I feel like I'm bathing in sweat right now."

"Hahaha, I agree."

The young man in the white martial arts uniform laughed brightly, wiping sweat from his brow. The young man's name was Namgung Sang. After this brief exchange, Namgung Sang, finding the silence pressing down on him monotonous, spoke to his close friend Yu Yu Jian, Hyeon Un, who was also one of the Nine Dragons and considered the best disciple of the current Wudang Sect.

"Hey Hyeon Un, what elective courses are you planning to take this semester? Have you finished registering for classes?"

"Ah, that? For the academic subjects, I plan to take 'Understanding Lao Tzu's Philosophy' and 'Understanding Thought and Humanity,' plus a second foreign language. For martial arts, I'm planning to take 'The Use of Fists' and 'Dual Sword Studies,' among others. What about you?"

"Wow, that's impressive. As expected of a Daoist aspirant. For academic subjects, I'm planning to take 'Understanding Confucian Thought,' 'Commentary on the Doctrine of the Mean and Understanding the Universe,' plus Sanskrit as a second foreign language. For martial arts, I'll be taking 'Flying Daggers' and 'Whip Techniques.' By the way, Hyeon Un, what second foreign language are you taking?"

"Ah, I'm taking Sanskrit, just like you. Isn't Sanskrit the most popular second foreign language? Many students enroll, and considering its future prospects, Sanskrit is the way to go."

"But Sanskrit is a difficult subject. It's hard to get good grades… Speaking of which, I heard you got quite high grades this semester? The rumors are all over the academic hall. Have you been practicing hard?"

"Haha, isn't it the same for both of us? Namgung, rumors are circulating throughout the hall that your GPA is also quite high. Are you trying to change the subject?"

"Perhaps. However, this time I didn't get a very good score in Senior Teacher Shim's 'Principles of Martial Arts Theory.' Isn't that teacher notorious for being stingy with grades?"

"Heh, I can't expect good grades from Senior Teacher Kang's 'Theory of Ancient Confucian Thought' either. Isn't that teacher also called a miser? Really stingy, truly. You should never take any of Kang's lectures. You'll regret it, you truly will."

"Heh, I will. I'll keep your advice in mind. And this time, I won't lose to you. I will win this victory."

"Who are you to say that? You be careful. I'll bring you down a notch again. Do you know how many sleepless nights I had because I ranked below you in the last evaluation? This time, I expect some comfortable sleep."

"My word! Such words coming from a disciple of the Wudang Sect, the foremost Daoist school in Shenzhou, which renounces worldly ties and pursues only truth. I can't even imagine it. Hahaha!"

"Is that so? Hahaha!"

Hyeon Un looked slightly embarrassed at Namgung Sang's playful remark. Namgung Sang, the second son of the Namgung family, one of the prominent martial arts families, and Hyeon Un, the second-generation disciple of the Wudang Sect, were rivals who always competed for the top positions among the Nine Dragons, the most outstanding disciples in their second year of the academy. It was quite a wonder that they were such good friends despite being such strong rivals. As they chatted about who the good teachers were, which lectures made people sleepy, and which subjects were worth taking, they heard the voices of cheerful women from behind them. Their voices were clear, somehow excited, and overflowing with vitality.

"Oh dear, Miss Jin still has so much energy! She seems truly happy."

Hearing the chatter from behind, Hyeon Un said to Namgung Sang with a smile. Jin Ling, a disciple of the Emei Sect known for her spirited nature, was as lively as a girl skipping in her dreams, ever since she heard that their training location that day was Mount Emei.

"How many years has it been since she returned to Mount Emei? It's natural for her to be happy. Wouldn't you be happy if your training camp was Mount Wudang? It's the same."

"Heh, I see. It must feel like returning home for me too…"

For a moment, Hyeon Un trailed off. His expression darkened, as if he was somewhat upset that the training camp was decided to be on Mount Emei instead of Mount Wudang. The one who was enjoying happiness at the expense of his misfortune was Jin Ling, a secular disciple of the Emei Sect, who had been smiling and moving energetically ever since she learned their destination was Mount Emei.

However, neither Jin Ling, who was savoring the joy of returning home, nor Hyeon Un, who was slightly disappointed that the training camp was set on Mount Emei, could have guessed the reality that lay ahead. The time that would come to be known as hell…

After walking for about another incense stick's worth of time, perhaps? In fact, if ordinary people saw their walking speed, they would say that these people were recklessly climbing a treacherous mountain path. As if the heavens were moved by their sincerity, a faint silhouette of buildings emerged from between the dense trees at the top of the mountain. Finally, the group had reached their destination. Everyone, filled with excitement, walked quickly towards the building before them. It was then.

"Rustle…"

Suddenly, a tall, straight tree by the roadside swayed violently, and a black figure dropped from above. The sudden appearance startled the Zhuque Squad, and they instinctively put their hands on their sword hilts, on guard.

The figure was an old man, seemingly in his 50s, with white hair and a face lined with fine wrinkles, though he had no beard. However, his back and legs were remarkably straight for an old man, and his entire body exuded vitality and strength. At first glance, he did not seem like a man in his 50s. Yet, overall, his face was unremarkable, contrary to his sudden appearance.

"Who are you?"

Namgung Sang, who was at the front, asked in a very polite tone. The fact that he didn't rudely shout "Who are you?" showed that he had achieved considerable mental discipline. Namgung Sang would never have known that if he had shouted "Who are you?", something very terrible would have happened to him.

"Welcome. We welcome you."

The old man greeted them with a raspy, hoarse voice, a smile on his lips that he thought was kind but appeared quite grotesque to others. Although no one naively believed that smile to be harmless, no one yet knew that the voice they had just heard belonged to the one who would lead the sixteen-member group to hell. Suddenly, a strong wind blew past them. But no one could perceive the ill omen within it.

Namgung Sang and the other 16 members of the Zhuque Squad followed the old man's gesture into the building. The building had three floors and was quite large and spacious. Above the entrance was a solemn, antique plaque that read, "Tianwu Emei Training Institute." It appeared to be well-maintained, as there were no signs of decay or damage.

The person who should have been in charge of the Tianwu Emei Training Institute was originally Jin Zhao Yun of the Iron Mantis Fist, but that arrow of fate had missed its mark long ago. Now, the one in charge here was Bi Liu Yeon, the successor of the Bi Lei Sect, who had transformed into the old man just seen, and who also served as the sect's breadwinner and manager. His plan was proceeding smoothly without any major issues thus far. Bi Liu Yeon was now scheduled to have an introductory meeting with the adorable disciples he would be living with for the next three months. A faint smile lingered on his lips. However, this ominous smile, directed at specific individuals, was hidden by a skin mask, making it unrecognizable.

"I have no name. Or rather, consider that I don't."

This was the first thing Bi Liu Yeon said to the 16 members of the Zhuque Squad.

"……?"

The seated disciples stared blankly at Bi Liu Yeon. They could only express their confusion at his sudden and rambling statement. As they stood bewildered, unable to actively express their doubts, Bi Liu Yeon made another bombshell announcement. This announcement was easier to understand than the previous one, but it had the power to surprise people even more.

"This face I wear now is not my real face. Because I am currently wearing a mask called a skin mask."

Some of the seated Zhuque Squad members even shifted in their seats, their expressions of surprise evident. It was natural for them to be surprised that the teacher who would instruct them was wearing a fake face.

"Surprised? Hmph, it's natural to be surprised. I will now tell you why I am wearing this skin mask and calling myself a nameless person."

Despite being a minor, not even twenty years old (Bi Liu Yeon is currently nineteen!), Bi Liu Yeon was liberally using the term "this old man." Because of this, his vocabulary was often used haphazardly, such as being left unfinished, or used when it shouldn't be, or not used when it should be. This was also evidence that Bi Liu Yeon was not yet a complete con artist. Although he claimed to have dedicated himself to one field of study (con artistry), two months was indeed a short time to fully comprehend, understand, master, and apply the deep and vast world of a thousand changes. However, since no one had noticed this fact yet, Bi Liu Yeon's fraudulent activities could continue without any hindrance.

"This is all due to my superior pedagogical consideration. Given my current status and position, I have very close relationships with various families and sects. Some of you may know me very well. However, I do not wish to give personal favors to any specific individual among you due to such connections. Learning is fair. Therefore, I have concealed my face and name to ensure fairness in this instruction. Although I have hidden my face and name, if any of you happen to recognize my identity through my unique weapons or martial arts, which you may consider as my personal belongings, please pretend not to know. The past relationships between you and me are dissolved from this moment on, and all that remains between us is the bond of master and disciple. Remember this. I have no relationship with you, and I am someone you are meeting for the first time. Everything that happens from now on depends on your abilities. You will henceforth address me only as 'Master.' Do you understand? I am your Master, and nothing else."

"Yes, Master!"

They all replied in loud voices. Bi Liu Yeon found the sound of "Master" echoing in his ears so pleasant. He felt as if he was floating. Bi Liu Yeon particularly emphasized the word "Master." This word was one of the main reasons Bi Liu Yeon undertook this plan, so it was natural.

From the fake teacher Bi Liu Yeon's lips poured forth passionate rhetoric, and the resounding reply echoed back. Anyone who knew him would have been surprised and asked what he had put on his tongue to make it so flexible. Some of the naive disciples among the sixteen seated Zhuque Squad members were already completely captivated by Bi Liu Yeon's fiery, volcano-like speech, their eyes sparkling, showing deep admiration.

Bi Liu Yeon revealing that he was wearing a skin mask as soon as he met them was a highly advanced(?) con artistry technique. By informing people that he was wearing a skin mask, Bi Liu Yeon preemptively prevented future dangers. This was a high-level deception that exposed his weaknesses in advance to avoid them.

Suppose Bi Liu Yeon taught them while hiding the fact that he was wearing a skin mask. If, by any chance, he made a mistake, or if someone observant discovered the fact that he was wearing a skin mask, they would question why he had deceived them by wearing a skin mask, and it would be impossible to give a frivolous answer like, "Just because I was bored…" Currently, Bi Liu Yeon teaching them while wearing a skin mask and hiding his identity meant he fundamentally possessed a great weakness. However, if he could convince them with logical reasons from the start why he hid his name and wore a skin mask to teach them, then later they would have no grounds to object to Bi Liu Yeon wearing the skin mask. If a third party were to ask, "Why are you teaching people while hiding your identity by wearing a skin mask?" he could simply dismiss them with a curt remark like, "What's it to you? I've already told everyone the reason!"

What was already revealed was no longer Bi Liu Yeon's weakness. Moreover, by using that fact to deliver a magnificent speech, he had already succeeded in instilling a sense of reverence in some of the disciples. Looking at the disciples gazing at him with eyes sparkling with reverence – a situation that could easily be mistaken for an optical illusion – Bi Liu Yeon felt the reward for studying diligently for two months. In his excitement, Bi Liu Yeon thought that "Con Artistry for Monkeys" was an excellent book and clenched his fist.

Taking a breath, Bi Liu Yeon continued his speech with an even calmer expression and voice.

"Then, let's begin the introductions. You first, introduce yourself."

Bi Liu Yeon's index finger pointed to Namgung Sang, who was sitting at the very front. Summoned, Namgung Sang stood up and began his self-introduction in a clear voice. He was a model student.

"I am Namgung Sang, the second son of the Namgung family and the current leader of the Zhuque Squad. I look forward to your guidance."

Namgung Sang concluded his introduction with a polite bow. It was an introduction that served as a model for how greetings should be done. Of course, Bi Liu Yeon felt incredibly pleased to receive such a courteous and polite greeting. This meant he was in a good mood.

Starting with Namgung Sang, the members of the Zhuque Squad began to introduce themselves one by one. Truly, the Zhuque Squad was a collection of members from various backgrounds and sects. The male disciples included Hyeon Un, a disciple of the Wudang Sect; Tang Cheol Yeong, the third son of the Sichuan Tang Clan; Qing Wen, a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect; Jo Cheon Woo, a disciple of the Huashan Sect; Yi Ja Ryong, a disciple of the Kunlun Sect; Il Gong, a bald disciple of the Shaolin Temple; Geum Yeong Ho, the only son of the Geumho Trading Company, the largest merchant guild in the martial arts world; and Algeoji Noh Hak, a disciple of the Beggars' Sect, and Namgung Sang, making a total of nine men. The female disciples were Tang Wen Hye, the second daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan and Tang Cheol Yeong's younger sister; Jin Ling, a disciple of the Emei Sect; Namgung San San, the eldest daughter of the Namgung family and Namgung Sang's twin sister; Dan Mok Su Su, the eldest daughter of the Dan Mok family; Mo Yong Chui, the only daughter of the Mo Yong family; Hwa Seol Ok, a disciple of the Huashan Sect; and Hwangbo Ok Yeon, the eldest daughter of the Hwangbo family, making a total of seven women.

'This is!'

Looking at the male-female composition ratio of the Zhuque Squad, Bi Liu Yeon could only frown. Was the person who formed this Zhuque Squad at the Tianwu Academy an idiot? Nine men and seven women, two more men than women. This composition was ripe for an incident (?) during the training camp. To prevent such an uncomfortable and unpleasant situation, the number of female members should have been greater than or at least equal to the number of male members. Of course, even equal numbers posed a risk due to pairings, but it was still better than the current situation. Having two more men than women was the worst possible composition.

"Tsk tsk tsk…"

Bi Liu Yeon could only click his tongue with regretful (?) feelings. Controlling the wolf's instincts that surged at night, even without the moon, was now Bi Liu Yeon's responsibility. Therefore, there was a need to shackle the energetic and dangerous wolves. And very heavy shackles at that…

"Ahem, it is nice to meet you. From now on, we will form a temporary master-disciple bond. Although temporary, a master is always a master in learning. From now on, I will be your eternal master, and you will be my eternal disciples. If you have received instruction from someone, it means an unbreakable master-disciple bond has been formed. So, remember this, do you understand?"

"Yes, Master!"

"Hohoho, yes, yes. To commemorate this, I will give you each a gift and a souvenir. Please accept them gratefully."

Bi Liu Yeon suppressed his desire to say that this was an extremely expensive item with superhuman patience and swallowed it down. At the mention of a gift, all the disciples' faces lit up with joy. After all, no one dislikes free things. Bi Liu Yeon opened the lid of the large box placed beside him. It was a plain box made of dark wood, with no patterns or decorations. At first glance, and in fact, it was a plain box, but the contents inside were by no means ordinary or common.

Inside the black box were dozens of dark black bracelets, identical to the Mukryonghwan Bi Liu Yeon was wearing on his wrist, called Mukhwans. The only difference was that the Mukhwans in the box did not have carved dragons. It was too much to add dragon carvings to mass-produced items.

Bi Liu Yeon distributed four of these Mukhwans to each member of the Zhuque Squad. Since there were 16 members in the Zhuque Squad, there were a total of 64 Mukhwans in the box. To make these 64 Mukhwans, Bi Liu Yeon had to invest two months of time and a large sum of 5 liang of gold. After making them, Bi Liu Yeon realized that his Mukryonghwan was not cheap and smiled with satisfaction. As a bonus, he also made two iron axes and three steel laundry bats made of cast iron. Half of his precious budget was spent. Furthermore, it was doubtful if he could ever recover them.

Upon receiving four Mukhwans each, the Zhuque Squad members were horrified. Screams of "Ah," "Ugh," and "Gasp!" erupted from various places. The weight of the four Mukhwans they had unthinkingly received was beyond their imagination, and they felt as if their shoulders were about to dislocate. While these Mukhwans were not as heavy as Bi Liu Yeon's Mukryonghwan, each one weighed 50 jin, making a total of 200 jin, an immense weight. It was only natural for everyone to be horrified with pale faces.

Watching the disciples react with horror, just as he had when he first received the Mukhwans, Bi Liu Yeon smiled with satisfaction. This was just the beginning.