Volume 1, Chapter 25
Lately, Lee Hoo had been pondering how to take a single step faster.
“Just one step...”
It was a thought that had occupied him for several days now.
A personal koan for Lee Hoo.
‘If I could just take one step faster.’
He had lived one life already.
Though he had never once been a Master, he had still lived a life with one foot in the Murim. And he had taken quite a few solid beatings.
It was because he had been Lee Hoo that he had such a thought.
‘What do I have to do to avoid getting hit?’
The answer he arrived at after much deliberation was ‘to act faster, even by just one step.’
If he could take one step faster, he could strike first.
He could also block first, since he would be able to close the distance before his opponent could fully commit their strength.
All of that could be achieved with the difference of a single step.
And if he could take that one step faster, he wondered if he could link those single steps together.
Then he would be able to advance far and fast.
The reverse was also possible.
To retreat one step faster.
That alone would allow him to escape an opponent's attack range. And if he could string those single steps of retreat together...
...he would be able to escape well.
Striking first, blocking first, and escaping first.
It was an appealing thought.
It seemed quite useful.
So these days, he was pondering that method.
As Lee Hoo's contemplation deepened,
“Master! Eldest Brother is acting strange. He's scary. He keeps staring at the wall.”
His Junior Brothers and Sisters were confused by Lee Hoo's incomprehensible behavior.
Hohyeon, who was still young, seemed to even be frightened of him.
The child who always stuck close to Lee Hoo's side during meals had taken to furtively nestling into Master Yu Hyeonjun's arms.
“Ah! My apologies.”
Only then did Lee Hoo snap out of his thoughts.
He had been lost in his own world during a meal. A meal he was sharing with his Master, no less.
“Hahaha. No, it's quite all right.”
Yu Hyeonjun simply laughed at the apology from Lee Hoo, who had belatedly realized his mistake.
Yu Hyeonjun's hand was gently patting the back of Hohyeon, who was nestled in his arms.
Then, he spoke as if tossing out a casual remark.
“There will be a Meeting in seven days.”
At those words, Lee Hoo looked up sharply.
“A Meeting? But the time isn't...?”
The Meeting is held once every season.
Spring had not yet arrived. Not much time had passed since the last Meeting was held at the Sincerity Gate.
So why a sudden Meeting?
“They suggested holding a Meeting, albeit an early one, in the spirit of promoting harmony once again.”
“Ah...!”
Hearing Yu Hyeonjun's explanation, Lee Hoo was able to grasp the general situation.
“I see.”
He nodded.
“Well, the Chagon Gang did...”
The Chagon Gang had vanished overnight.
And the fact that Yu Hyeonjun was involved had already become known throughout Ansang Prefecture.
Yu Hyeonjun himself announced it through Songru.
An assassin hired by the Chagon Gang had targeted Lee Hoo, and in response, Yu Hyeonjun had brought about the Annihilation of the Chagon Gang.
Moreover, it was the first time Yu Hyeonjun had revealed his power since settling in Ansang Prefecture.
The power to annihilate the Chagon Gang single-handedly in one night.
From the perspective of the other three Sects, it was an unsettling situation.
That must be why they proposed an early Meeting, which was normally held once a season.
They needed to confirm they were on the same side. And they also needed to reassure him that they were on his side.
The situation was perfectly understandable.
He had been so focused on his training that he was unaware of the atmosphere outside the Sincerity Gate, but now he had a rough idea.
‘He doesn't like Meetings...’
His Master wouldn't refuse a Meeting, but he disliked gatherings where he had to make formal conversation with the leaders of other Sects.
Lee Hoo was concerned for his Master, but he soon nodded.
There was nothing he could do about it.
Besides, apart from the first few times after he joined the Sincerity Gate, Lee Hoo had never attended a Meeting held by another Sect.
“Yes. I understand.”
So he replied.
While his Master, Yu Hyeonjun, attended the Meeting, Lee Hoo would just have to stay at the Sincerity Gate and look after his Junior Brothers and Sisters.
That's what he thought.
“...”
“...Yes?”
Until he met his Master's gaze.
“They said they want you to come along as well.”
He was now attending a Meeting he hadn't planned on.
* * *
Like his Master, Lee Hoo did not particularly enjoy Meetings.
Nor did he have much fondness for the other three Sects.
After all, it wasn't just the Chagon Gang that had cut ties with the Sincerity Gate after his Master's death.
So he wasn't pleased about it.
Even more so this time, since their intentions were so transparent.
They wanted to size him up.
The reason his Master, Yu Hyeonjun, had annihilated the Chagon Gang was because of him. Because the Chagon Gang had sent an Assassin after him.
So they wanted to size him up.
The Head Disciple his Master cherished enough to annihilate a clan for.
They wanted to gauge that Head Disciple's current state and his potential, to see for themselves once more, even though they had seen his face several times before.
He didn't want to go. But he had to.
His Master was attending. Besides, there was no reason to create a bad relationship with the three Sects.
This time, he was determined not to be looked down upon.
He had already learned the hard way—in his past life and through the Chagon Gang—what happens when you're underestimated.
Of course, he had no intention of looking exceptional, either. He didn't have the ability for that.
Just enough.
That would be perfect.
‘I just have to be adequate. Just enough not to be looked down on.’
While Lee Hoo was organizing his thoughts,
“Hm? What are you all doing over there?”
The other three Junior Brothers and Sisters were huddled together in a corner of the Sincerity Gate.
“There's probably lots of delicious food there.”
“And lots of fun things to see, too. Probably.”
“I want to go with Senior Brother, too.”
As if they hadn't heard Lee Hoo's question, they each muttered their thoughts while still huddled together.
Pfft.
A laugh escaped him.
“Do you want to go together?”
Unlike Lee Hoo, who had little desire to go, it seemed the three juniors wanted to attend this Meeting.
Listening to their conversation, he could roughly guess what they were feeling.
‘They could just ask.’
It wasn't a difficult thing to do.
Knowing their Master's personality, if they asked to go, he wouldn't say no. He would probably just say, ‘As you wish.’
And yet, there they were, huddled together, sulking without being able to say a word.
They really were still just kids.
It was something he had felt keenly since returning to the past.
“There is! A way!”
“Really? Senior Sister is so smart!”
“What way?”
After muttering amongst themselves for a while, Chaehwa suddenly raised her voice.
At Chaehwa's words, Hohyeon beamed. Dan Goyul showed interest.
“Wait a minute?”
Chaehwa whispered something in Dan Goyul's ear.
At her whispering, Dan Goyul's expression changed rapidly.
From surprised to flustered, his face finally turned dark.
He then looked at Chaehwa with startled eyes.
“M-Me?”
“Yep! You, Senior Brother!”
Chaehwa nodded decisively.
“That's right! Senior Brother!”
And Hohyeon, who sided with Chaehwa without even knowing the details.
“But...”
At their reactions, a cold sweat broke out on Dan Goyul's forehead.
He tried to resist in his own way, but,
“You're the second eldest, Senior Brother. If Eldest Brother can't do it, you have to!”
“That's right! Because you're the second eldest!”
He was powerless against Chaehwa and Hohyeon's combined assault.
“F-Fine.”
Dan Goyul nodded, his face carrying all the worries of the world.
Then he stood up.
He walked as if forcing his feet, which seemed glued to the ground, to move.
Hohyeon and Chaehwa followed behind, as if cheering him on. No, as if monitoring him.
‘...What are they trying to do?’
Lee Hoo tilted his head in confusion.
They talked amongst themselves, whispered amongst themselves, and then trooped off somewhere together.
He found their antics cute and watched them, but he was also worried about the look on Dan Goyul's face.
Feeling this, Lee Hoo cautiously followed his juniors.
They arrived in front of their Master, Yu Hyeonjun.
“Hoo...! What is it?”
In response to his Master's question, asked while wiping away sweat as if he had just finished training, Dan Goyul was pushed forward.
He then squeezed his eyes shut.
“We want to go! Us too! To the Meeting!”
At Dan Goyul's shout, which sounded like he was squeezing out every last drop of courage he didn't have, his Master's face filled with confusion.
“...Hm?”
It was understandable.
They had shown up out of nowhere and were speaking without any context.
What's more, Chaehwa and Hohyeon were lined up right behind Dan Goyul.
But that wasn't the end of it.
“Hurry!”
Chaehwa poked Dan Goyul in the back.
“That's right! Hurry!”
Hohyeon followed Chaehwa's lead and poked Dan Goyul's back again.
“Haaah!”
Urged on by his two juniors, Dan Goyul sighed as if the world were ending.
And then.
His two arms went up.
His raised hands were clenched into fists, with only the index fingers extended. He then poked both his cheeks with those fingers.
“We want to go too. Please let us go with you. *Aing!*”
A cloyingly sweet voice. A writhing body. And to top it off, that *aing*.
‘*Aing*...!’
Of all people, the always composed and mature Dan Goyul was saying *aing*!
He couldn't believe what he was seeing with his own two eyes.
Something unimaginable in his past life was unfolding before him.
“Again! Again!”
“Yeah! Again! Again!”
While Lee Hoo was reeling in shock, Chaehwa and Hohyeon urged Dan Goyul on once more.
And the cutesy act continued.
“*Aing!* Let us go. Please? *Aiiing!*”
Unsurprisingly, the three juniors were granted permission to attend the Meeting.
* * *
On the day of the Meeting, the day began earlier than usual.
He woke up early, finished cleaning the sect grounds, and helped his juniors get dressed.
“Are you ready? Is everyone prepared?”
“Please wait just a moment.”
Lee Hoo hurriedly replied to his Master's question.
“Hohyeon, you can't leave your clothes undone like that.”
“But it’s so stuffy.”
“Even so, just bear with it for a little while.”
He once again straightened the clothes of Hohyeon, who was trying to take off his outer coat.
Then, with a sharp gaze, he inspected the attire of his other junior brothers and sisters.
He had prepared a great deal before the Meeting.
He was determined not to be looked down upon.
It wouldn't do for their attire to be sloppy from the get-go. That was why he paid even more attention to their immediately visible appearance.
Besides, weren't they all going together?
He didn't care about himself, but his junior brothers and sisters must not become the subject of ridicule.
So he took extra care.
He had deliberately gone to the market, chosen the most expensive fabric, and commissioned the most skilled artisan to tailor their martial arts uniforms. He had even fully prepared outer coats made of high-quality leather to be worn over them.
It had cost a considerable sum of money.
Nevertheless, Lee Hoo did not spare any expense.
Being in charge of the Sincerity Gate's finances was a good thing at times like this.
It allowed him to purchase such expensive clothes all at once.
And since morning, he had been washing and dressing his juniors.
“Hmm… good!”
Only after inspecting his juniors did Lee Hoo nod in satisfaction.
The chubby cheeks and bright, clear eyes of his young juniors.
Added to that were the stylish martial arts uniforms and the leather outer coats to block the cold.
Their clothes were neat and tidy, not a single fold out of place.
At the very least, they wouldn't be pointed at for their appearance.
“Yes. We are all ready now.”
This should be enough.
“Hoho. Alright, let’s go.”
At Lee Hoo’s reply, his Master nodded.
His Master took the lead.
Lee Hoo and his juniors followed behind him.
‘Come to think of it, this is the first time.’
It was the first time they had all left the Sincerity Gate together like this.
In his past life, there had never been a single occasion where all the members of the Sincerity Gate went on an outing with their Master.
Since returning to the past, many things were happening for the first time.
“Let’s go! Aing-ah!”
For no particular reason, his spirits lifted.
“Ahhh! Senior Brotherrr! Don’t do that!”
At Lee Hoo’s mischievous shout, Dan Goyul let out a whine.
Still, it was the start of a joyful day.
An outing for the Sincerity Gate, all together.
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