Chapter 047
"Gack!"
"Again."
"Urgh…"
Every time his posture faltered, Namgung Somin mercilessly swung her wooden sword to correct it. Under this brutal training, Yi Jonhwi gritted his teeth so hard they felt like they might shatter. These days, he was truly experiencing what it meant to endure through sheer stubbornness.
Entertainment? He couldn't even dream of it. The new teachers Baek Sugyeong had assigned were even more vicious, merciless, and terrifying than Baek himself.
"The foundation of all martial arts is the lower body. If you don't properly train your lower body—the axis for footwork, body techniques, and lightness skills—you naturally can't put proper power into your sword thrusts. That should be common sense."
"But, Teacher! I'm not interested in martial arts…!"
"Interested or not, you will learn. You have no other options."
Namgung Somin was truly as cold as a sculpture carved from ice. "Northern wind, winter snow" perfectly described this icy beauty. Yet whenever she looked at Baek Sugyeong, that ice melted away like sugar, leaving only warmth.
Witnessing this dramatic difference in attitude, Yi Jonhwi seriously questioned what kind of person his former teacher really was.
'Damn it, forget women and everything else—at this rate, I might die with broken limbs!'
Though he'd only learned the basics of the Dragon Dignity Sword Technique—the Li Clan's hereditary sword art—from the instructors, Namgung Somin would bark orders like lightning whenever Yi Jonhwi performed it sloppily.
He'd heard she came from the Namgung Clan, a sword family rivaling the Wudang Sect. But why would someone like her follow someone like Baek Sugyeong?
Moreover, his third teacher, Gal Yerung, was from the Ming Wang Society, considered neutral between orthodox and unorthodox factions. She was even the daughter of their chairman.
"Unfair…"
"Instead of complaining, focus more. If your posture falters again, I'll increase your horse stance time to two hours."
"T-Teacher! I'll die! I'm really going to die!"
At Yi Jonhwi's terrified cry, Namgung Somin smiled and lightly tapped his hand with her wooden sword.
"People don't die that easily. They're incredibly resilient. I'm only pushing you to the point where you won't die, so don't worry."
"H-hieek…"
"Besides, the teacher wouldn't want that either."
Namgung Somin's eyes curved.
Like they held the cold moonlight within them.
Yi Jonhwi trembled with fear.
'Mother…'
As Yi Jonhwi instinctively called for his mother, snow began to fall gently on his head.
...
"Master Baek. Isn't this too harsh?"
"What do you mean, Madam?"
Seeing Baek Sugyeong respond so nonchalantly, Wi Seoyeon, the mistress of the Dragon Gate Li Clan, wore an exasperated expression.
"I've been watching Jonhwi return to his room completely beaten every day."
"Madam, would you prefer Young Master Ahwi to remain a rice worm, consuming the clan's food without contributing?"
A scathing remark.
Wi Seoyeon frowned at Baek Sugyeong's sharp assessment.
"Master Baek! Isn't that too harsh?"
"The master has already entrusted this matter to me. Compared to the first young master and third young lady, the second young master's martial abilities don't even reach a quarter of theirs. Even someone as ignorant as myself can see that clearly."
"That's…"
"Of course, it would be stranger if a parent didn't worry about their child."
Baek Sugyeong set down his teacup. It had been a long time since he'd seen the mistress. He had anticipated she would seek him out again, as they had previously clashed over educational methods.
Looking at Wi Seoyeon, Baek Sugyeong said:
"I can only repeat what I said before, Madam. If you continue to shield him simply because he's your son, Young Master Ahwi will remain forever in the same place."
"Surely there are other methods besides this one…"
"I heard that all the teachers hired after my departure couldn't endure and left."
"T-that's…"
Wi Seoyeon had no response to that. Besides Baek Sugyeong, not a single person had been able to tolerate Yi Jonhwi's temperament.
"Even if he tried to learn martial arts, his talent falls far behind the first young master and third young lady, making it challenging for him to learn even the clan's hereditary arts. As for business talent, I've heard he's only depleted the trading company's finances without ever increasing profits. These are all accounts from the instructors and trading company managers."
"That's…"
"Young Master Ahwi's position within the Dragon Gate Li Clan is extremely precarious. The thread supporting this relationship that could break at any moment is so thin that even the slightest mistake would snap it. Do you know what that thread is called?"
Baek Sugyeong looked at Wi Seoyeon and said:
"It's 'blood ties'—the one thing that supposedly cannot be severed. If Young Master Ahwi weren't the second young master of the Dragon Gate Li Clan, this connection would have already been broken."
"M-Master Baek."
"He has no intention of accomplishing anything properly, no enthusiasm, and no will—he only consumes food at the clan's expense. Is there anything wrong with calling him a rice worm?"
Such mercilessly harsh criticism.
By this point, Wi Seoyeon was left speechless. Every word Baek Sugyeong said was undeniably true. Even as a mother who loved her son, she couldn't refute these brutal facts.
Baek Sugyeong continued:
"Madam, you told me before that if you embraced him with love, he would eventually come to his senses… but you were wrong. There's a saying from my homeland."
After taking a sip from his teacup, Baek Sugyeong said coldly:
"People cannot be repaired and reused. Nevertheless, I agreed to take Young Master Ahwi under my wing again because I owe the master a great debt, and because I selfishly want to see Young Master Ahwi become a person who fulfills his responsibilities."
"Master Baek…"
"Madam, if you truly care for Young Master Ahwi, you shouldn't try to reduce the pain he's experiencing now."
"Then what should I…"
Baek Sugyeong spoke firmly:
"Look at him dispassionately. Set aside your emotional attachment as his blood relative and see him clearly. Face the reality of who Young Master Ahwi is. It may be difficult, but you must do it."
"How can I…"
"If you cannot do that, then you must promise not to interfere with my teaching methods at all."
Baek Sugyeong looked at Wi Seoyeon with cold eyes.
"Will you promise me that?"
...
"I'm dying, I'm really dying…"
Yi Jonhwi, who had barely managed to wash himself before collapsing onto his bed, turned with effort to look at the ceiling. Groans of pain continuously escaped his lips.
This was because Baek Sugyeong and the three women were putting him through truly brutal training.
Going outside was beyond even dreaming about, and he couldn't skip training either. If he missed a session, even more severe training awaited him the next day.
Though he was learning sword techniques, energy cultivation, and business skills from the three women, Yi Jonhwi's thoughts remained unchanged.
"Why do I have to do this crap…"
From childhood, he had been sandwiched between his sister and brother.
His brother, whose martial talent was so exceptional that even Mount Hua coveted him, left for Mount Hua as soon as he was old enough.
His sister? Her talent with the sword was so outstanding that the Sword Pavilion took her away as soon as she came of age—she treated Yi Jonhwi as if he were nothing.
He couldn't even remember how many years it had been since he'd seen her face.
A life overshadowed by his brother above and his sister below.
Naturally, his interest in martial arts faded, and his motivation to learn anything disappeared.
"Damn it…"
Someone like Yi Jonhwi was dispensable—his presence or absence made no difference.
No matter how hard he tried, he could never surpass his sister.
His brother?
He had no memory of ever beating him in martial arts since childhood.
That must have been why.
He gave up trying because he was tired of being constantly compared to others despite his efforts, never managing to win against anyone.
Though Yi Jonhyo and Wi Seoyeon tried not to compare their children, what difference did it make?
Others constantly placed him on scales, weighing and measuring him against his siblings.
"Damn it!"
He didn't want to do it.
Why bother making an effort when the outcome was already determined?
That thought strongly resonated with him.
"Damn it. If only I hadn't messed with Master Baek…"
Who would have thought that of all people, the person standing there would be Baek Sugyeong?
Yi Jonhwi buried his face in his pillow.
"Hah…"
His sigh was deep.
Lamenting like this wouldn't change anything.
Yi Jonhwi knew this better than anyone.
But the reality that he could never beat his brother and sister no matter how hard he tried remained unchanged.
So he had no heart or mind to make the effort.
He wasn't unaware that he was a burden to the clan, but what talent did he have left?
His martial talent couldn't match his brother and sister.
His business acumen had already been harshly criticized within the clan's trading company.
What path remained for Yi Jonhwi?
'…Damn it.'
As he lay on his back staring at the ceiling, he heard a knock at his door.
"Who could it be at this hour…"
"It's me, Young Master Ahwi."
"Master Baek?!"
At that familiar voice, Yi Jonhwi sat up in surprise.
Baek Sugyeong coming to see him at this hour?
Fear preceded any joy.
As Yi Jonhwi froze, Baek Sugyeong's voice reached his ears again.
"If you have the strength to move, come out. I have something to discuss."
"W-what? I don't have anything to discuss with Master Baek…"
"Come to the Drunken Moon Pavilion."
After saying this, Baek Sugyeong disappeared from outside Yi Jonhwi's room.
Dumbfounded and wondering what was happening, Yi Jonhwi pinched his cheek.
"It's not a dream."
He couldn't fathom why Baek Sugyeong would ask him to come to the Drunken Moon Pavilion.
Was he planning to buy him a drink?
At that thought, he could feel his mouth watering for alcohol he hadn't tasted in days.
"Well, I might as well go and see…"
Surely Baek Sugyeong wouldn't try to deceive Yi Jonhwi.
Having made up his mind, Yi Jonhwi put on his clothes and left his room.
The cold winter wind brushed against his collar as he stepped outside.