After training with Sunwoo Baek and Jang Woon for several days, Hyeok Ryeonho and Jang Soncheonki realized just how complacent they had beco. They thanked the two and declared they would return to their roots, then left with genuine gratitude.
Upon returning to Jungcheon, Hyeok Ryeonho and Jang Soncheonki were imdiately summoned to the director’s office.
They assud they were being called in for skipping classes without permission, but—
“For the ti being, do not set foot in Jungcheon again.”
“...Sir? What do you an by that?”
“The current atmosphere in Jungcheon is not favorable. You already know the reason, so I won’t explain.”
“You think the mood will improve just because we disappear?”
“That’s not what I an. Right now, all criticism is aid squarely at the two of you. There are many who are simply waiting for you to show your faces.”
The director wasn’t expelling them out of disgrace but rather protecting them.
“I know full well this isn’t your fault. Mushincheon is a land where only the strong survive. Baekyeong was strong, and that’s why they won. But others—those who looked up to Jungcheon—don’t see it that way. So, for now, you should remain elsewhere.”
Ryeonho and Soncheonki realized that the director wasn’t sending them away out of malice.
“And with you two here... the mood in Jungcheon will only grow heavier.”
To this, the two replied,
“We don’t mind, but... will our families even allow this?”
“They already have.”
“...What?”
“They said they don’t care where I send you.”
The two turned to the director in shock.
Then, slowly, they gave a faint, sorrowful smile, nodding as if they now understood how everything had unfolded.
“So that’s how it is. Our families approved too.”
“Now that I think about it, they probably just want the incident to be forgotten as quickly as possible.”
Their families had abandoned them.
The director was at a loss for how to comfort them.
After all, defeat was not a cri.
There was no rule saying that soone more powerful or more gifted couldn’t erge from a lower-ranked High Division.
Nor was there any rule barring a dragon from rising out of a humble sect.
But the problem was... their families belonged to the Five Great Martial Houses.
Families that placed greater weight on pride than anything else.
And now, during this sensitive period with Minor Celestial Lord candidates in play, their families were on high alert.
They feared this loss might even slightly affect those outcos.
So the director tried his best to soothe them while explaining the situation.
And of course, the two understood.
“We’re fine.”
“To be honest, we felt awkward walking the halls of Jungcheon anyway. This might be for the best.”
“Thank you for understanding. Then—is there anywhere in particular you’d like to go? I’ll arrange for you to continue your classes there.”
The two looked at each other briefly and answered in unison.
“Please send us to Baekyeong.”
The director looked visibly shocked.
“Baekyeong? You an the sa Baekyeong that defeated you?”
“Yes.”
Most would avoid the place of their own humiliation.
“You sure about this?”
“Yes. This is perfect, actually. I was hoping to finish out my High Division life there.”
“He’s right. So please don’t worry—just send us there.”
What in the world?
Were they just saying this to reassure him?
“You’re not being transferred permanently. This is just temporary.”
“Doesn’t matter. You can make it permanent.”
“Exactly. Really, don’t trouble yourself over us.”
They had actually been hoping to stay in Baekyeong longer—and now, it was happening of its own accord. The two rejoiced inwardly.
But the director didn’t know their true feelings, and believed they were simply trying to ease his burden.
“Thank you. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you can return here one day.”
They almost told him not to bother, but stopped themselves.
Because they could feel the sincerity in his words.
He was probably blaming himself for how things had turned out.
If he hadn’t suggested lifting Jungcheon’s restrictions, the school’s reputation might have remained intact.
He must have been blaming himself for causing unnecessary trouble.
And in that situation, continuing to say "it’s fine" would only place more weight on him.
In truth, even if restrictions hadn’t been lifted, sothing like this still would’ve happened.
And so, the two left for Baekyeong.
****
The day before their departure to Baekyeong.
Soone ca looking for Hyeok Ryeonho.
A ssenger from his father.
Was it a ssage of forgiveness, perhaps asking him to return ho?
Ryeonho welcod the man with faint hope.
“My father has sothing to say to ?”
“Yes, young master.”
“Alright. Let’s hear it.”
At his words, the martial artist hesitated briefly before pulling sothing out and offering it.
“What’s this?”
“A high-grade Human-Skin Mask.”
“...Huh? Why would you bring that?”
“He instructed you to wear it once you transfer to another High Division.”
“What is that supposed to an?”
“I am simply relaying the clan head’s orders.”
The martial artist’s cold gaze told him it wasn’t good news.
Still—a Human-Skin Mask?
The aning was obvious.
He was being told to hide his identity.
“So... he wants to conceal who I am.”
“Correct. He has ordered you to discard the na Hyeok Ryeon and use another.”
Ryeonho gave a bitter smile at the reply.
He sighed and nodded slowly.
“...Understood. Please tell my father I will do as he wishes.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
The man turned away coldly the mont his task was complete.
It was enough to show Ryeonho just how far his status had fallen within the family.
Telling him to hide his very identity?
It was no different from denying his existence as a mber of ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) the Hyeok Ryeon Clan.
He had been cast out.
Even if he returned after graduation, he would not be welcod.
“...So this is how it ends.”
With a sorrowful smile, he went to find Jang Soncheonki.
“You too? I got one of those Human-Skin Masks. They want to hide my identity.”
“You too?”
“Yeah. Creepy how the Five Great Martial Houses think so alike.”
Knowing Soncheonki had been through the sa thing gave Ryeonho a strange sense of relief.
If it had been just him, he would’ve felt far more wretched.
“Why the long face? We’ve gotta work hard and crush the pride of the families that threw us away.”
At that, Ryeonho let out a dry chuckle.
“And how exactly do we do that?”
“Simple. Get stronger. Make a na for ourselves. Force them to bow their heads and co crawling back.”
Big dreams, that one.
“You do realize our families aren’t ordinary, right?”
“I do! So what if they’re one of the Five Great Martial Houses? Even those started small. Why not us? Just watch—soday they’ll kneel before , begging to co back.”
He acted like it didn’t bother him, but no one had been hurt more deeply than Jang Soncheonki.
Ryeonho, too, let go of any lingering attachnt to his family.
Maybe this was for the best.
No more need to tread lightly.
He gave a wry smile and said—
“Yeah! You’re right! Let’s beco people so great it’s not that our families abandoned us—but that we abandoned them!”
“Exactly! That’s it! I swear I’ll beco stronger than any of those Minor Celestial Lord candidates!”
Jang Soncheonki clenched his teeth as he made his vow.
Then, turning to Hyeok Ryeonho, he said,
“From now on, my surna isn’t Jang Son. It’s Bu (不). From today, call Bu Cheonki.”
Bu—as in “Not.”
A declaration that he no longer considered himself of the Jang Son Clan.
Then—
“I’ll take the surna Gi (弃)—aning ‘to abandon’—to show I’ve cast off the Hyeok Ryeon Clan.”
“So your na is Gi Ho now?”
“That’s right.”
“Well then, Gi Ho, I look forward to our journey together.”
“And I to yours, Bu Cheonki.”
“A day like this, when we’ve claid new nas, calls for a drink! Let’s go—I’m buying!”
“I’m buying too! Let’s drink until we drop tonight!”
Their mouths were smiling, but their eyes, as they walked toward the tavern, were full of sorrow.
****
Sunwoo Baek and Jang Woon stared at the two returning figures with baffled expressions.
“What’s with the faces?”
“Those Human-Skin Masks?”
At the question, the two nodded.
“Yeah. Human-Skin Masks.”
“...Why?”
“The clan said they didn’t even want to see our faces. Told us to change our nas and live as soone else.”
“...You’re serious?”
“Dead serious. From now on, I’m Gi Ho.”
“And I’m Bu Cheonki.”
Sunwoo Baek and Jang Woon looked at them in disbelief.
“They really told you to change your nas and live like that?”
“They did. What else could that an but ‘you’re no longer one of us’?”
Jang Woon frowned and muttered,
“All that... just because you lost?”
“That’s how it is with the Five Great Martial Houses. They’ll do anything for pride.”
“And you actually went along with it? Changed your nas?”
“Yeah. I’m going to make the na Bu the most famous in all of Mushincheon.”
“And I’ll make them regret ever throwing away soone like .”
Their eyes burned with determination, so much so that Jang Woon and Sunwoo Baek both looked slightly uncomfortable.
Wasn’t it because of them that these two’s lives had changed so drastically?
“Don’t look at us like that. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Right. We lost because you were strong. That’s all there is to it.”
“So stand tall when you look at us. If you keep looking so guilty, it’ll just drain our strength.”
“...Got it. We’re glad you’re here. Let’s get along from now on.”
“Yeah! Gi Ho, Bu Cheonki—those nas roll off the tongue pretty well!”
Sunwoo Baek and Jang Woon said with bright smiles, and the newly nad Gi Ho and Bu Cheonki smiled back.
“We’re the ones in your debt. Sorry to burden you again.”
“What are you talking about? Ever since you ca here, you’ve been family.”
“Yeah! We’ll support you in every way—so don’t worry.”
“Thanks.”
****
“Gi Ho? Bu Cheonki?”
Yeon Woo Jin tilted his head at the nas of the new arrivals—sothing about them felt familiar.
“Why do those nas sound familiar?”
Jang Woon replied,
“They’re Hyeok Ryeonho and Jang Soncheonki.”
“Ah! I know them. But why are they using those nas?”
“Their clans told them they were a disgrace and forbade them from using their family nas.”
“...Seriously?”
“Yeah. They even sent them Human-Skin Masks so their faces wouldn’t be seen.”
“They really went that far? Wow. That’s intense.”
Even Yeon Woo Jin clicked his tongue.
“They’re boiling with drive now. They’re dead set on getting strong and building up a na to shove in their clans’ faces.”
“...Ho.”
Yeon Woo Jin stroked his chin.
Those two were talents worth coveting.
If they hadn’t been from Jungcheon or the Five Great Martial Houses, he might’ve brought them in already.
But now... not only had they co to Baekyeong of their own will, they’d also been disowned?
It felt like the heavens had handed him a gift.
Yeon Woo Jin grinned.
“In that case, I’ll make them mine—completely.”
“Yeah. I was thinking the sa. Want to go see them now?”
“No. Let them settle into Baekyeong first. Once they start sensing sothing... then I’ll et them.”
“Got it.”
****
After class each day, Jang Woon and Sunwoo Baek would always head off sowhere.
Eventually, Gi Ho and Bu Cheonki grew curious.
“Where the hell do you go every day?”
“Yeah, it’s not like you’re headed to a training hall.”
At their questions, Jang Woon gave a sly smile.
“Why? Curious?”
“Of course we’re curious. You run off like clockwork every single day.”
Sunwoo Baek looked at Jang Woon.
“Think it’s ti to let them in?”
“Maybe.”
Let them in... to what?
Jang Woon said,
“If you want to know where we’re going, follow us.”
With that, he started walking.
Sunwoo Baek let out a chuckle and gestured with a flick of his hand, then followed.
Gi Ho and Bu Cheonki exchanged a glance, then quickly trailed behind them.
“Baekyak Temple?”
“There’s a temple around here?”
“I don’t see any buildings. Just an old marker stone.”
No matter how they looked around, there wasn’t a single structure in sight.
Then Jang Woon, walking ahead, called out:
“You have to follow exactly where we go. Take one wrong step and you’ll get caught in the formation.”
“...Formation? Wait, there’s a formation here?”
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