Vol 1 Chapter 4: Honamdan Part 2

“You really don’t need to go this far for me.”

“I can’t help it. Most people would’ve broken down and screamed by now, but you just stay quiet.”

They hadn’t been reunited for long, yet Woo already felt as though Kang Oh could see right through him. All he could do was fidget with his fingers.

“We’re here. This is Honamgak.”

A building came into view with a plaque that read Honamgak, written in one smooth, continuous stroke. There was a boldness to the brushwork that made it quietly striking.

“Can you read?”

“N-no. I just thought the calligraphy looked impressive, even to someone like me who can’t read.”

“Then thank you.”

Woo blinked.

“I wrote it myself.”

“O-oh, I see.”

“You seem to have a good eye. Ever thought about learning to read?”

Kang Oh’s bold self-praise might have been shameless, but it didn’t feel arrogant. It came across as unapologetically self-assured.

“N-no, I haven’t.”

Woo shook his head. What would be the point of relearning characters he already knew? It was enough not to let Kang Oh find out he could read.

“Even if you spend all your time indoors, flipping through books might help ease the feeling of confinement… That’s a shame.”

“I-I’d rather work in Heedowon instead.”

Kang Oh frowned. “Work?”

“Cleaning, or anything really. I-I can do it well.”

“I’ll consider it.”

Faced with such uncharacteristic eagerness, Kang Oh gave a reluctant nod. Aside from asking to be sent away, this was the first time Woo had ever insisted on anything.

“In return, you’re to start sleeping on the bed.”

“…”

Woo remained silent as Kang Oh pushed forward without missing a beat. He had assumed the rumors about the Third Disciple, who was said to throw duel slips around with little restraint, were exaggerated. But seeing how persistent he was, how he never let go once he latched onto something, Woo began to think those rumors might have actually underestimated him.

“If I’m going to be accused of making a guest work, then I should at least get something out of it, don’t you think?”

“…All right.”

Woo muttered under his breath. He had known that, once Kang Oh found out, he would end up using that bed eventually. He just hadn’t expected it to happen like this. Still, he was grateful that Kang Oh didn’t mock him for offering to work, or treat it like something pitiful.

If Kang Oh told him not to do anything, then all Woo could do was sit in that room, dazed, with nothing to fill the time. He could neither train nor read.

Even if his hands and feet were free, his will remained bound. If left like that, he would have collapsed once again under the weight of his past.

Compared to Heedowon, Honamgak was far simpler in appearance. There were no ornate painted beams, no rooftiles glazed in rich blue. Still, the entire layout suited martial artists well. The practice yard was spacious, and racks of wooden swords stood ready for training. Even at a glance, it was clear no piece of timber had been wasted, and the overall flow of the structure was efficient and clean.

It was, quite literally, a space built solely for training.

And that wasn’t all. The presence of those moving through Honamgak was so intense it pricked at his skin. Though Woo’s life as a martial artist had effectively ended after his fall from the cliffs of Mount Giryeon, he could still sense how powerful they were.

Kang Oh felt quietly pleased watching Woo take in his surroundings with more interest than expected.

“You seem more alert here than you ever were at Heedowon.”

“Ah…”

Woo flinched slightly, and Kang Oh wondered if he had said something unnecessary. He scrambled to explain.

“I only meant that most people would be tense with so many fighters walking around, but you don’t seem to mind it much.”

That remark unsettled Woo at once. Having been born in Baekragung and lived there his entire life, he was far more accustomed to martial artists than ordinary people. He had forgotten that those who had no ties to Jianghu were usually frightened of those who did.

“B-because I’m a servant of Heukcheon.”

After some hesitation, he offered what he thought was a reasonable answer.

Kang Oh hadn’t asked out of suspicion, so he didn’t press any further.

As Woo quietly exhaled in relief, one of the guards, having noticed the Third Disciple’s arrival, approached them.

“You’ve arrived, my lord.”

The man who bowed politely was Il Woon, captain of Honamdan and one of Kang Oh’s close aides.

“I’m showing our guest around Honamgak. Don’t mind me. Go take care of your business.”

“Yes. Then, should I take that to mean today’s sparring is canceled?”

“Hm… sparring…”

Kang Oh hesitated for a moment. Woo, sensing the pause, quickly spoke up.

“If… if it’s because of me, it’s fine. Please don’t change your plans on my account…”

“You’ll be bored.”

“I-I’ll be fine just watching you spar, Third Disciple.”

Woo was, in truth, curious about what Kang Oh had achieved. He couldn’t observe him properly anymore, nor could he guide him the way he once had. But he still wanted to know. He wanted to see how Kang Oh had grown during the time he had deliberately looked away.

“Then we’ll go ahead with the sparring as planned. How many am I facing today?” Kang Oh gave a simple nod at Woo’s suggestion and looked to Il Woon.

Il Woon had briefly shown his confusion at seeing his lord accommodate a stammering guest and adjust the schedule for him, but he quickly regained his composure and gave his answer.

“Today, Jinseo, Dogyeong, and Banwi are standing by.”

“Three of them, then.”

There was a faint note of disappointment in Kang Oh’s voice.

Il Woon muttered his complaint. “You knock down Honamdan members every single day, my lord. We’ve had no choice but to limit how many can spar with you. If you were off traveling like you used to, it wouldn’t matter. But lately, you’ve stayed in Heukcheon without stepping out. Who knows what brought that on.”

Woo, who was clearly the reason for that comment, felt a twinge of guilt.

“Not to exaggerate, but half the unit is bedridden.”

“It’s not a bad thing to spar with someone stronger now and then.”

“It’s one thing for you to be tireless, my lord. But expecting the rest of us to keep up is another matter.”

Kang Oh gave Il Woon a long, steady look. Faced with the weight in his lord’s gaze, Il Woon flinched and returned to his usual polite demeanor.

“Shall we head straight to the training yard, my lord?”

Kang Oh glanced briefly at Woo. When he saw him nod, he gave a simple answer.

“Let’s go.”

—

News of their lord’s arrival quickly drew Honamdan members to the training yard.

Even if they weren’t today’s sparring partners, watching a master’s duel was often useful for improving their martial skills. Observing what techniques were used in which situations, how one escaped danger, and how to respond to the unexpected, all of it offered valuable insight.

Kang Oh, in particular, had sparred often with martial artists outside the sect and was a seasoned expert. For that reason, the members of Honamdan often looked forward to dueling with him. They left the match exhausted, but always walked away having gained something.

As Kang Oh took his place in the training yard, one of the men stepped forward.

“Jinseo. I’m studying the Winged Sword Technique.”

“A speed-based style, is it? Step in.”

Jinseo clasped his fists in salute, then raised his wooden sword and took his stance.

Kang Oh stood with both arms relaxed at his sides. It might have looked like carelessness to an outsider, but Woo was quietly impressed. Even without a defensive posture, there wasn’t a single opening in him. It was an accomplishment few at his age could hope to reach.

Jinseo carefully launched into his opening move. As Kang Oh had remarked, the technique was indeed swift. Once fully mastered, it would likely be difficult for an opponent to even follow the tip of the blade.

But he wasn’t there yet.

Even as the strike came close enough to graze his chin, Kang Oh remained still. To any observer, it looked as though the wooden sword might strike him at any moment. Woo clenched his fist tightly.

He’ll be fine… right?

At that moment, Kang Oh’s sword gently redirected Jinseo’s strike. He had only tapped him lightly to the side, yet the force behind it was strong. Jinseo was pushed back three full steps before recovering his balance, then returned to his stance without delay. His first attempt had failed, but the way he immediately searched for the next opportunity showed how deeply that habit was ingrained in him. The refusal to give up mattered not only in sparring, but even more so in actual combat.

“The Winged Sword becomes dangerous when it can steal time from the opponent. But you haven’t yet made time your ally.”

Kang Oh had waited until the last possible moment to deliver that lesson.

“A speed-based sword that fails to overwhelm with speed is no different from a heavy sword that’s lost its weight.”

Kang Oh lightly pushed off the ground and charged at Jinseo. It all happened in an instant, so quickly that it almost seemed as though he had vanished. Jinseo, unable to follow Kang Oh’s movement, swung his sword into empty air. That gap was all it took. The next moment, Kang Oh’s wooden sword was pressed against Jinseo’s neck.

Even though it was only wood, the part where it touched felt as if it radiated a chilling pressure.

“You must never take your eyes off your opponent’s blade. The moment you panic becomes your opponent’s opening. Don’t swing into empty air either. Against someone with unusual footwork, it only exposes your weakness.”

“I will engrave your teaching in my heart, my lord.”

As Kang Oh stepped back, Jinseo bowed his head and saluted with clasped fists. Though there had been no violent clash, it was obvious he had spent a great deal of energy.

“Next.”

At Kang Oh’s call, the next Honamdan member entered the yard without delay.

“Dogyeong. I’ve primarily trained in the Three Forces Sword Technique.”

The woman who saluted with clasped fists looked as solid as steel.

“You haven’t looked into any other manuals? I gave permission for Honamdan members to borrow the martial texts in my collection.”

“The Three Forces Sword suited me best.”

“I see. It’s common, but it’s also a classic of the jianghu. If you can put your strength into it properly, it can overpower even high-level techniques that are poorly trained.”

Kang Oh motioned with a flick of his hand.

“I’ll see your sword.”

As the duel was about to begin, Woo tensed again. Beside him, Il Woon suddenly spoke.

“Strange.”

“W-were you speaking to me?”

“Yes. You’re the guest who came with my lord, aren’t you?” Il Woon replied.

Woo paused briefly before asking, “What… what do you find strange?”

“It’s just that this is the first time I’ve seen my lord act as though he’s trying to show off.”

“S-show off?”

Woo, genuinely puzzled, asked again.

“Back when he was sparring with Jinseo, he stood still the whole time, just to show the essence of the Quick Sword. That felt unusual. Normally, my lord would have struck first and overwhelmed his opponent. That’s how he teaches.”

It wasn’t wrong. But to Woo, it seemed that because Kang Oh had waited until the end, the first opponent had been able to grasp the lesson more clearly.

“B-but isn’t it because he waited until the very last moment to strike that it left such a strong impression?”

“Oh? You noticed that?”

Woo instinctively averted his gaze. Without meaning to, he had revealed some familiarity with martial arts. Fortunately, Il Woon didn’t press him on it.

“My lord usually values efficiency, so his lessons tend to be quick and to the point. You’re expected to pick things up on your own. But today… he’s oddly considerate.”

Kang Oh’s always been kind though, hasn’t he?

Woo tilted his head slightly. He had always thought that, despite being a bit curt, Kang Oh was kind at heart. He didn’t quite understand Ilun’s impression.

Il Woon, still looking puzzled, added, “It’s not like he’s trying to impress anyone… I just don’t get it.”

Smack.

Something flew through the air and struck Il Woon square on the forehead. He flinched and clutched his head.

Standing at the center of the training yard, Kang Oh was frowning as he stared in Ilun’s direction. “You’re too noisy.”

“My apologies.”

Il Woon offered a quick salute, and Kang Oh turned away again. Dogyeong adjusted her grip on the sword and began her form.

It was a straightforward technique, grounded in solid fundamentals. It wasn’t fast like a flying blade, nor dazzling to the eye, but once her sword met the opponent’s, it would be hard to disengage. Depending on the force behind it, it could even leave the defender’s hand tingling on impact.

But Dogyeong’s sword wasn’t all that heavy. Kang Oh parried each strike and responded with the very same Three Forces Sword Technique. A downward cut was met with a downward cut, a slash with a slash. His face remained completely serious throughout.

It was the very definition of textbook sparring. At first, Dogyeong held her ground, but as time went on, the strain began to show. Her hand started to tremble slightly, and the tip of her sword wavered with it.

“Focus. By choosing the Three Forces Sword Technique, you’ve committed to a style that often turns into a test of endurance when facing opponents of similar skill. It doesn’t offer overwhelming strikes that end things quickly. That’s why you must never show fatigue. The moment your hand starts to shake, your opponent will notice it faster than you think.”

Dogyeong bit her lip. Eyes wide with focus, she gripped her sword and launched a faster, more precise attack than before.

“Good. Making your opponent misjudge your ability, then turning up the pressure, that’s one method. Or..”

“Ugh!”

“You can simply overpower them.”

Kang Oh brought his sword down, and the force behind it made Dogyeong stumble back. She gritted her teeth and held tightly to the hilt, her hand turning briefly white from the strain.

Her movements stiffened, and she was no longer in a condition to continue the spar.

“You have a solid, straightforward sword technique. If you keep training as you are, your efforts will be rewarded.”

“Thank you.”

Dogyeong bowed with a salute and stepped out of the training yard.

Even after facing two opponents, Kang Oh showed little sign of fatigue. The most one could say was that a bit of dust had settled on the hem of his robe.

Woo looked impressed. After all, any martial artist could work hard to improve their own skills. But offering advice suited to the person in front of you was another matter entirely.

First, you had to possess the skill.
Second, you needed discernment.
And third, a broad knowledge of various martial arts was essential.

Kang Oh seemed to have all of those.

While waiting for his next opponent, Kang Oh turned his head and noticed Woo watching him. He was slightly surprised. He couldn’t claim it was entirely unintentional, but Woo’s reaction was stronger than expected. Though Woo hadn’t trained in martial arts, it seemed that after spending so long in Heukcheon, he had developed an interest in them.

The final person to step onto the training yard was a man somewhat older than the others. Unlike the previous two Honamdan members, his weapon was not a sword, though he too began with a formal salute.

“Banwi. I use the whip.”

“A whip, huh. That’s a difficult weapon to handle.”

The man grinned at Kang Oh’s remark.

“I came across a decent secret manual when I was younger. I’ve been training with it ever since. Only recently have I gotten comfortable enough to bring it out. I’d be honored if you would teach me something, my lord.”

“I don’t know much about it, but I’ll do my best.” Kang Oh replied bluntly and gave a gesture.

Banwi immediately raised his whip and launched his attack.

He had said he trained after obtaining a secret manual, and sure enough, the movements of his whip were springy and controlled, as if it were alive.

“Weapons like the whip, with their long reach, are useful in many ways. They’re good for keeping opponents at a distance.”

Kang Oh spoke as he parried each strike. At a glance, it looked as though he couldn’t close the gap to strike Banwi with his sword.

But Woo wasn’t too concerned. He knew the whip had a critical weakness.

“But the problem is…”

Kang Oh stepped directly into the range of Ban Wi’s descending whip. Caught off guard, Banwi tried to pull it back, but he was already mid-technique and couldn’t stop partway through. The whip lashed out toward Kang Oh like a living snake.

Some of the onlookers instinctively turned their heads away, but Woo kept his eyes open and watched him closely. For someone who wasn’t trained in martial arts, his lack of flinching showed unusual nerve.

Il Woon was quietly taken aback. Unlike the other Honamdan members, he knew the guest beside their lord was a servant. That was why his steady composure seemed so strange. He even wondered if it was that calm, quiet courage that made Kang Oh keep him nearby.