"White Tiger Mobilization!"

At one child's shout, nearly twenty children executed the exact same movement.

"""Hah!"""

Following that, the child directing the sword array shouted once more.

"White Tiger Shatters Stone!"

"""Hah!!!"""

SHING-SHING-SHING!

From the simultaneously thrusting swords, dozens of phantom swords poured out.

Centered around the sword array, a feast of phantom swords swept in all directions as if a storm of sword blades had risen.

Originally, looking at them individually, they were not at a level where they could unleash phantom swords like that, but within the sword array, they wielded phantom swords as if they had all become first-rate experts.

The Twin Heaven Sword Art executed simultaneously by nearly twenty people was enough to make anyone watching feel sufficiently threatened.

It was to the point of wondering if even Kang Chaeseok, considered the strongest in the Taiyi Sect, would be able to respond if he were surrounded within that sword array.

'Hngh...'

Of course, from the position of having to teach the children, he could not show himself losing to the sword array to save face, so he hadn't been able to test it.

However, after clashing against the sword array formed by five first-generation disciples, he arrived at the judgment that breaking the sword array was difficult, and after that, he completely shelved any thoughts of confronting the sword array deployed by the third-generation disciples.

'Just what the hell did that punk Jin Sowoon leave behind!'

In the first place, the White Tiger Sword Array was not even a martial art of the Taiyi Sect.

Therefore, he had never taught it to the children, nor had he ever told them to learn it.

However, after the Geum-eun-dong Brothers practiced the White Tiger Sword Array like their lives depended on it.

When they went out and earned the title Iron Blood Three Dragons, and later the Iron Wall Three Dragons, practicing the White Tiger Sword Array spread like a game among the children.

They weren't just dabbling in it out of mere curiosity.

Just as the three Geum-eun-dong Brothers had done, they practiced by sealing their ears and sealing their eyes.

'Thank goodness we sealed the sect...'

From the beginning, the training method the three Geum-eun-dong Brothers used was beyond common sense.

But watching the bizarre sight of all the Taiyi Sect's disciples obsessively devoting themselves to such training beyond that, it reached the point where he was deeply anxious that this spectacle might become known to the public.

'This is all because of that damn Jin Sowoon...'

However, after undergoing such rigorous training, the children's growth rate began to show remarkable development.

Since the masters and disciples were in a situation where they were learning the Taiyi True Scripture at the same time, the children were thirsty for learning, but the masters could not properly teach them the cultivation.

If a child hit a wall, it was an everyday occurrence for the masters to stay up for two whole nights pondering before barely managing to teach them.

With the situation being like this, the thirst of the curiosity-filled children did not disappear, and naturally, their eyes turned to the White Tiger Sword Form left behind by Jin Sowoon and the Geum-eun-dong Brothers.

When he was in the Murim Alliance, Kang Chaeseok had also learned the White Tiger Sword Form, but there was nothing special about the White Tiger Sword Form itself.

However, there was a different sort of specialness in the White Tiger Sword Form that the disciples of the Taiyi Sect were currently practicing.

"White Tiger Pierces the Fang!"

SWISH!

Phantom swords unfolded, completely filling the entire training ground.

It was a level of power hard to believe came from a sword array deployed by children who hadn't even reached adulthood.

'Just what kind of messed-up sword array is this?'

Phantom swords were a martial art that consumed a lot of internal energy.

Normal children would find it hard to even draw out a phantom sword, but the moment they stepped into the sword form, they churned out phantom swords one after another.

According to Zhuge Cheongi, the improved White Tiger Sword Form contained the effects of a moving cultivation art, allowing even children lacking internal energy to use phantom swords or something like that.

Anyway, studying alone based on the sensations felt within the White Tiger Sword Form to cultivate the Taiyi True Scripture was currently everyday life in the Taiyi Sect.

Unfailingly, the training ground was full of children who had gathered on their own accord today as well.

"Stop!!!"

Words continued from the mouth of the child who formed the center of the sword array.

"From this moment on, we will begin physical training."

"""Yes!"""

Not a single person questioned that command.

"Begin a full-speed sprint to Mount Hwaun! The last three guys to arrive will run again!"

"""Yes!"""

Along with their resounding replies, the children swarmed out and left the training ground.

"Huu..."

Left alone in the empty training ground, Kang Chaeseok let out a small sigh.

He couldn't say anything, as this was independent training the children did voluntarily among themselves after the originally scheduled training of the Kwaehwa Hall was completely finished.

No, rather, he should be proud of them and dote on them, but...

'It is deeply lamentable that, as their master, I have no way to help the children otherwise...'

At that moment.

"Hmm?"

He spotted a child practicing alone in a corner of the training ground.

A child who initially practiced the White Tiger Sword Form together with the other children, but from a certain point onward, stopped participating in that training and spent more time practicing alone.

Kang Chaeseok walked over to him.

"Yuseong, are you stuck on something?"

Kang Yuseong, who had been blankly staring into the empty air, suddenly snapped out of it.

"Ah! Hall Leader. I apologize."

"No, there's nothing to be sorry for..."

Kang Yuseong hurriedly brought his hands together in greeting and calmly explained.

"I was pondering a bit about speed. In the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique, speed is not aimed towards speed for the sake of phantom swords, is it? So I thought, conversely, what if there was another martial art to manifest extreme speed."

"Huh?"

However, as if already falling into a state of selflessness, Kang Yuseong continued his explanation with a deep, contemplative expression.

"For example, it's like this. According to the Taiyi True Scripture, the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique does not simply aim to be a fast sword technique, but rather a middle path. Meaning, it requires the possibility of developing in either the direction of transformation or illusion, doesn't it?"

What is this kid talking about?

Did he learn a different Taiyi True Scripture than me?

"Hmm, that's..."

"If so, the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique can be seen as a sword technique equipped with defensive elements as well as the core of transformation, so I was agonizing over whether there was a way to utilize this speed dramatically."

"Uh... huh...? Is, is that so?"

"As you know, Hall Leader, I am lacking, so my training in the Twin Heaven Sword Art and the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art is insufficient, isn't it?"

Watching Yuseong nod his head as if feeling guilty, Kang Chaeseok tilted his head in confusion.

From the beginning, because the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art and the Twin Heaven Sword Art consumed a formidable amount of internal energy, they were martial arts that even he, a Hall Leader, could not easily unleash.

And if Yuseong, who hadn't even reached adulthood, could freely wield those sword techniques, that would be even more bizarre.

As a Hall Leader, Kang Chaeseok patted Yuseong's shoulder to comfort the child.

"That... is nothing you need to worry about. Once you get a little older and accumulate more internal energy..."

"So I thought about it. How about an extreme speed that possesses extreme efficiency?"

"... Huh?"

What is he saying now?

"I mean, it's like this."

Kang Yuseong sheathed his sword and took a drawing stance.

"This is the original Lesser Heaven Sword Technique."

SWISH—

As soon as he finished speaking, the rapidly extending sword thrust as if piercing an opponent's heart and returned.

A speed that could not be seen in children of Yuseong's age.

Before Kang Chaeseok even had a moment to marvel, Yuseong, having sheathed his extended sword, took a drawing stance once again.

"I unleash it like this."

SHIIIING—

It was hard to even grasp what had happened.

A sound had definitely rung out and a gust of wind had followed it, but.

... He couldn't even see the trajectory of the moving sword.

A chill ran down his spine at the thought that this could have been an enemy's sword.

"Y-You created this alone?"

"Pardon? I didn't create it, I learned it from the Taiyi True Scripture..."

No, I'm telling you I never saw anything like that in the Taiyi True Scripture.

Barely closing his dropping jaw, Kang Chaeseok asked.

"What is its name?"

"Pardon?"

"The name of the martial art."

Yuseong replied with an awkward smile. It was the undeniable image of a young boy.

"I was just thinking how Dancheon Sword Technique might sound... Hehe. I'm embarrassed."

From the very first time he taught him, he knew the child possessed extraordinary talent.

He was a child whose obsession with martial arts, whose affection for martial arts was especially boundless.

Moreover, ever since returning from the Moyong Noble Clan as an exchange disciple, there was already nothing left to teach him, but to think he had now reached the point of creating a nonexistent martial art to supplement his own weaknesses.

A genius that was too much for the sect to handle had rolled in, yet they were in a state where they were blocking that genius's path forward.

As Kang Chaeseok remained silent with a stiff face, Kang Yuseong began to cautiously read his expression.

"Umm... By any chance, did I do something wrong?"

"... Yeah."

"Pardon?"

Before long, a light mixed with shame and determination arose on Kang Chaeseok's face.

"Ah, I'm not saying that to you. If there is any wrong, it is us who did wrong."

"What do you..."

"Keep devoting yourself to it."

Thinking that he could no longer just sit and watch, Kang Chaeseok left his spot and immediately headed for the Sect Leader's pavilion.

From the beginning, they shouldn't have thought about raising the children only after they themselves had grown first.

There was no way their growth speed could be faster than the young disciples' in the first place, was there?

Rather than themselves, who were already late anyway, the ones who needed to be raised right now were the younger generation.

Those children were currently in the midst of wanting to fly freely in the sky, but the situation was no different from his older generation tightly binding their wings.

A sense of alarm struck him that, even if they couldn't teach the children the skills to soar freely, they absolutely shouldn't be the ones holding their wings back.

BANG!

"Sect Leader!"

"Hmm? Hall Leader Kang."

Hong Mungi, who had been constantly sweating in his private training ground, looked at Kang Chaeseok with puzzled eyes.

"Spiritual pills! We need spiritual pills!"

Talk about a bolt from the blue; asking for spiritual pills all of a sudden.

The words that followed were even more baffling.

"The children are unable to fly. We have to give them spiritual pills so they can fly."

"No... Hall Leader Kang. Speak so I can understand..."

"Spiritual pills, spiritual pills are the only best thing we can do."

"No, I mean... Take it step by step..."

"Give me spiritual pills! Spiritual pills!!! I said give me spiritual pills!!!"

"..."

Seeing Kang Chaeseok eventually rolling around on the floor and throwing a fit, Hong Mungi thought to himself, 'Is this a chance to test out the martial arts I've been polishing?'

* * *

"... So. You need spiritual pills?"

Jin Taesan felt his throat completely clog up before he could even swallow his first glass.

What the hell, it wasn't like spiritual pills were dog shit you could find next door.

"Hmm, where could we even get them? Since the Shaolin Sect's Great Restoration Pill is the most effective, should we send an inquiry there to buy some?"

Despite Jin Taesan's sarcasm, Kang Chaeseok did not relax his hardened expression.

"I'm not joking."

"... Why exactly is your eye like that?"

Looking somewhat like he had a massive black eye, Kang Chaeseok glanced at Hong Mungi, but Hong Mungi merely downed his glass without meeting his gaze.

"... I tripped while walking."

"That bruise mark looks exactly like the Great Ocean Fist... Do pebbles use the Great Ocean Fist? Or does a wooden rake use the Great Ocean Fist?"

"I told you I'm not in the mood for jokes right now!"

"... Weren't you the one making a joke?"

Otherwise, how could the words that they needed spiritual pills come out so easily.

However, Kang Chaeseok spoke in an incredibly serious voice.

"Right now, the children's growth has reached its limit. Their skills are already sufficient, but the reality is that their internal energy cannot keep up. We need spiritual pills."

Jin Taesan pressed hard against his temples.

"How about spiritual elixirs instead? If we go through Wangga Manor..."

SLAM.

"Are you going to feed each of the kids a root of Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Ginseng? Or are you going to distribute Hollow Azure Stalactite Milk to them as a group! I'm telling you we need spiritual pills, spiritual pills!"

"No, what I mean is where the hell are we going to get those spiritual pills!"

"That's something you, the External Hall Leader, have to resolve."

"..."

Is this bastard crazy?

Does he think he can just say he needs something without a plan and that's it?

Then if I tell him we need an expert of Sword Force, will he just conveniently raise one for me?

Jin Taesan was about to scold him but gave up.

Because doing the same crazy things against a madman who had lost his reason was an idiotic thing to do.

Instead, carving the character for patience into his heart, he turned his head toward Hong Mungi.

"What do you think, Sect Leader?"

At his question, Hong Mungi also kept his mouth firmly shut.

Because saying anything else wouldn't solve the issue either.

"Compounding spiritual pills isn't something that's possible just because you have the ingredients. It is because each sect's spiritual pills must contain that sect's unique specialness. Wouldn't there be a reason why sects that have endured for a long time stop at making merely two or three types of spiritual pills?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. That's obvious, yet that crazy bastard lost his reason and is spouting nonsen..."

"Spiritual pills! Spiritual pills! Spiritual pills!"

Watching Kang Chaeseok continuously chant the same word, Jin Taesan and Hong Mungi let out sighs.

"We could try requesting a physician house or somewhere similar, but the cost will be formidable."

Sects or physician houses that specialize in pharmacology occasionally make spiritual pills, but there are almost no cases where they perfectly match the constitution or mental cultivation method of the person actually placing the order.

Furthermore, it was commonplace for the prices to be unspeakably expensive, so there were frequent cases where one could make a mistake and uselessly blow their money, causing their family's fortunes to decline.

In addition, even though the Taiyi Sect's financial situation had improved, it was not to the extent of being able to immediately commission the manufacturing of spiritual pills.

Jin Taesan consoled the madman... no, his close friend.

"How about we first supply spiritual elixirs that help enhance internal energy?"

Kang Chaeseok stopped his shouts of 'Spiritual pills! Spiritual pills!' and bluntly fired back a question.

"Do you know what the most important thing to be careful of when consuming spiritual elixirs is?"

"... Qi deviation."

He nodded his head vigorously.

"Spiritual elixirs are fine. Better than nothing. But if the children make a mistake while circulating their qi right now... You know very well there is no one in the Taiyi Sect who can support them."

"..."

Kang Chaeseok completely erased the playfulness from his face.

"Do you know what the kids' condition is like right now?"

"..."

"They have understood the martial arts with their heads and bodies, but they can't utilize them because their internal energy can't support them."

It hadn't been long since the Taiyi True Scripture returned to the Taiyi Sect.

Furthermore, it was also a problem that their achievements in the Taiyi True Scripture couldn't take a step forward because of the Great Quake Divine Art they had primarily practiced until now.

"We're in a situation where the kids who should be drawing phantom swords are devoting themselves to the sword array, and the kids who should be drawing Sword Qi are devoting themselves to phantom swords. Furthermore, that kid Yuseong is..."

Recalling the image of Yuseong remaining alone in the training ground, Kang Chaeseok distorted his brow and let out a groan.

"He was creating a different martial art all by himself because of his lack of internal energy. Does this even make any sense!"

Studying by the light of fireflies and snow.

It was a very good saying about achieving success by studying in difficult circumstances, but when their own child is in such a situation, it tears a parent's heart.

"I know it too. I know that just because I scream for spiritual pills doesn't mean they'll magically appear out of thin air. But even if I know it in my head..."

Kang Chaeseok thumped his chest and lowered his head.

"It's a situation my heart cannot understand."

"..."

At Kang Chaeseok's words as he pounded his chest like it would break, Hong Mungi and Jin Taesan could not easily open their mouths.

Because the two of them felt the same way as Kang Chaeseok.

"..."

"..."

A long silence lingered.

With none of the three lifting their glasses.

Ultimately, the one who broke the silence was Hong Mungi.

"For now, let's settle on first feeding them spiritual elixirs that help enhance internal energy."

"Sect Leader!"

"You have to understand us on that point. Have you already forgotten that it hasn't been long since we were even able to eat meat for all three meals a day?"

"But depending on their constitution, spiritual elixirs can also become poison."

Hong Mungi, who had been fingering his glass, gripped it tightly.

"We'll... be careful with that. Furthermore, if our family's fortunes decline once again while overreaching, isn't that also a problem?"

"..."

"Do not place too much burden solely on our friend Taesan."

Realizing from Hong Mungi's words that he had been thinking too much of himself, Kang Chaeseok muttered.

"I'm sorry. Taesan."

Although he had taken a bucketful of curses, Jin Taesan slowly nodded his head, knowing it was because Kang Chaeseok also had no other way to vent his frustrated feelings.

"It's fine."

The drinking session resumed, but no one wore a refreshed expression.

* * *

"Spiritual elixirs?"

Eunho's face crumpled like a sheet of paper.

"Yeah. Spiritual elixirs. We have to procure some spiritual elixirs on our way back."

"..."

Though they were carriage tickets he had painstakingly booked, if it was for spiritual elixirs, he could understand why he had torn them up.

However, didn't his wording sound a bit strange?

It wasn't like spiritual elixirs just grew naturally in a seeded field.

Just what exactly was going on in their Eldest Senior Brother's head... No, I mean, how could he speak so nonchalantly about spiritual elixirs as if they were rocks you could just pick up while passing by?

"Did you leave some spiritual elixirs somewhere for safekeeping?"

Suddenly, Jin Sowoon frowned.

"Are you sick in the head? Who would leave spiritual elixirs for safekeeping."

"..."

No, you're the one who talked like that was the case!

If you weren't the Eldest Senior Brother, seriously...!

Whether Eunho's insides burst from frustration or not, Jin Sowoon stretched and gave an order.

"Anyway, there are many things to prepare, so move quickly. Isn't this the glorious return home you've been waiting for so much?"

"... Understood. But why did you tell me to prepare these?"

What Jin Sowoon had requested were palm-sized steel plates and leather vests equipped with pockets.

Aside from those, there were round, ring-like objects made of iron.

Looking down at them, Jin Sowoon grinned as if satisfied.

"How are they? I designed them this time around. You can insert the steel plates into the leather vests to adjust the weight."

At Sowoon's detailed explanation, Eunho tilted his head even further.

"Aren't vests something you wear over a jacket when it's cold? Why would you insert steel plates into them to adjust the weight?"

"Because if your body is heavy, the results of your training will be doubled."

"..."

Wondering if he had misheard something, Eunho lightly tapped his ears with his palms.

"Training while on the move is inevitably bound to be less efficient. However, if you wear these vests and iron rings, the effects will be doubled."

... He hadn't misheard.

For a moment, Eunho seriously pondered it.

If it's going to be like this, it might just be better not to return home.

Once a man leaves his hometown to achieve success, isn't not returning until he succeeds the proper kind of ambition he should possess?

"Come on, come on. Move quickly. Can't you just see our junior disciples eagerly waiting for us back at the sect?"

However, he soon gave up and moved his body.

Although he hated suffering to death, he still missed his junior disciples and his parents.

'Furthermore, a person worse than King Yama like him isn't someone who would just allow me to stay behind at the academy either. Huu...'

Eunho felt pity for himself, having somehow become much faster at resigning himself to his fate.

* * *

This winter break is busier than ever.

Because the spiritual elixirs appearing this winter aren't just one or two.

It was to the point where I would have to spend half of the break just sweeping them all up.

Of course, they aren't items comparable to the spiritual elixirs I've consumed up until now.

However, the reason I need these spiritual elixirs is specifically because they are important ingredients for making spiritual pills for the Taiyi Sect disciples.

'It's about time they needed them.'

Looking at the development speed of the Geum-eun-dong Brothers and Saryeon, I can roughly estimate it.

The Taiyi Sect must probably be blocked by a massive wall right now.

And what can solve this isn't simply wealth or power.

Namely, time, which is absolute and fair to everyone.

The Taiyi Sect is not yet a sect possessing the wealth, history, or scale to make spiritual pills.

Even looking at the cases of prestigious major sects, disciples with outstanding medical talent in their long history receive the sect's support, pour their entire lives into it, and leave behind a single spiritual pill manufacturing method before they die.

If even prestigious major sects are like that, how could a small and cute sect like the Taiyi Sect even dare to dream of such a thing being possible?

"But there's no need to strictly go by the standard method."

If you have no teeth, you live with your gums.

I left the office to find sturdy gums that were just as good as teeth.

As it happened, there was no need to go far.

Because right in front of my eyes was a rough gemstone that those stupid fools had thrown away without even realizing it was a lump of gold.