Chapter 4
Silence settled over the estate.
The one to break it was Baek Mu-ryang, his booming laughter echoing through the grounds.
“Hahaha! Hahahaha! I took him in thinking I was simply performing charity, but it seems I’ve gained an outstanding pillar of our house! Don’t you agree, everyone?”
One of the chief stewards stepped forward on behalf of the retainers and replied respectfully.
“He resolved the situation using nothing but his tongue. He’s no ordinary child, that much is certain.”
Baek Mu-ryang turned to the steward.
“What do you think, Chief Steward Han? As head of the house, I feel this boy has shown a great favor to all of us.”
Chief Steward Han couldn’t bring himself to deny it. Being the eldest and most experienced among them, he fully understood the gravity of the crisis Baek had just averted.
‘He said he’d render the Baek family a service so great that even the most skeptical would have to acknowledge it… Don’t tell me that child predicted all this from the start?’
Baek Mu-ryang harbored the same doubt.
“Hwi, did you know that the Honggyo Sect was going to attack our main house?”
Yang-hwi bowed politely.
“The Naheuk Clan members weren’t exactly the kind of men to mind their words in front of a child, especially when they planned to sell me as a slave. I overheard them mention Honggyo Sect.”
To everyone else, it sounded as if Yang-hwi had pieced together the entire chain of events using only that information.
And he was only eight years old.
‘What a remarkably bright child… If it’s him…’
Initially, Baek Mu-ryang had chosen to adopt the boy out of pity, moved by a sense of compassion.
But now, that pity had evolved into something else—desire. Ambition.
He looked at Yang-hwi and felt something stir within him.
He was often away handling matters outside the house to maintain their standing, and his wife was too frail to leave her bed for most of the day.
Naturally, their children had always been a concern to him. But this boy—he might not only serve as a role model, but as a true older brother to his son and daughter.
Baek Mu-ryang turned to the household.
“A beggar and orphan he may have been, yet he protected the main house from calamity. Surely this is a blessing! Since our family owes him a great debt, I propose to repay it by giving him the roof he once lacked. Does anyone object to this decision?”
Lady Jeong In-Hwa smiled warmly and replied.
“The Patriarch’s will is firm. Cough… I simply follow where it leads.”
Chief Steward Han bowed his head as well.
“Your generosity has brought fortune to this house, my lord. I can only offer praise for your compassionate heart and marvel at your foresight.”
With the lady of the house and the chief steward offering their support, the rest of the household followed suit with nods of agreement.
Only Yang-hwi turned to observe the faces of his two younger siblings—Baek Heon-So and Baek Yeon-Yeon.
As expected, Baek Heon-So’s cheeks were puffed up in displeasure, sulking with all the pout of a boy upset at being overshadowed.
On the other hand, Baek Yeon-Yeon, the youngest, had a look of innocent curiosity—wide-eyed and beaming, the way only children seeing something new for the first time could be.
‘Heon-So is reacting just as I expected. But Yeon-yeon… she’s adorable as ever.’
She was three years younger than Yang-hwi, and two years younger than Baek Heon-So. Just five years old.
Even in his previous life, Baek Yeon-Yeon had been the beloved darling of the household, adored by everyone.
‘I won’t let her end up like before in this life.’
Memories of her sorrowful past flashed through Yang-hwi’s mind—the life of a girl who had never truly known happiness.
He thought of the mother who passed away too young, unable to overcome her chronic illness, and how they had enshrined her at a temple.
And the father—though not a master warrior, he had never been careless with his training and had seemed indomitable. Yet even he had left the world behind, far too soon.
‘There’s so much I need to change in this life.’
And that was a good thing.
Because Yang-hwi fully believed—he had the power to change it all.
* * *
That night.
Having bathed and changed into clean clothes, Yang-hwi lay down on the bed in the room he’d been given.
‘How long has it been since I last laid on a proper bed?’
If he were counting only this life, this might’ve been the very first time.
Because of that, while his mind remained sharp, his young body was reveling in sensations it had never experienced before.
Ah… this is comfortable.
He could’ve easily drifted off to sleep right then and there—but Yang-hwi sat up instead.
“I don’t have time to rest.”
He had returned, fresh and unripe, to a body thirty years younger than when he last walked this world.
He had come back to the beginning, with a second chance to cultivate martial arts from scratch.
Truthfully, Yang-hwi had been fighting the itch to train since the moment he arrived in this timeline.
“In my previous life, I left the clan in my twenties, spent eighteen years wandering the martial world, and only barely brushed the threshold of the transcendence realm.”
Even by his own judgment, Yang-hwi had been born with extraordinary talent.
His qi perception was unnervingly sharp and precise—so much so that the phrase “unprecedented and unrepeatable” wouldn’t have been an exaggeration.
From infancy, even after living rough outdoors, he’d never once fallen ill. His body was tough, his bones and muscles refined.
He had a mind that could grasp complex martial concepts in a single glance—and a memory that never forgot.
“If I’d learned the martial arts of a major sect, I could’ve become the strongest in the world.”
Grinning shamelessly at his own arrogance, Yang-hwi crossed his legs and sat in meditation.
He was about to initiate the internal energy technique he had developed by tearing apart and reinventing the family’s traditional cultivation method, Sixfold Harmony Art.
His creation: Heavenly Harmony Art—a method that harmonizes with the natural order of heaven and benefits the practitioner’s inner essence.
“God, I suffered so much creating this damn thing.”
Anyone could invent a sword technique based on swinging or stabbing. Even third-rate martial artists could manage that.
Once a martial artist reached the peak realm, they could even create their own footwork without ever being taught.
But.
Creating a cultivation method was an entirely different matter. Only someone at the level of a Grandmaster could dare to attempt it.
Why? Because every misstep in inner cultivation came with the risk of death.
“Looking back, it was a stupid thing to do. I was only at the peak realm when I tried rewriting my internal energy method.”
And the price he paid? Qi deviation.
Though he didn’t die or suffer permanent injuries, the aftereffects stayed with him for the rest of his life.
His meridians were damaged, and his energy flow never fully recovered.
“And even with that, I was still known as the best sword in the land. I really was a genius, huh?”
This time would be different.
He wouldn’t settle for the label of “the best among the average.”
He had confidence.
At just eight years old, he now had the chance to imprint within his body a martial path that could rightfully be called divine.
“How far can I go this time?”
The question floated into his mind—and naturally, it turned into resolve.
“I’ll become the greatest sword in the world. No—
The greatest martial artist in the world.”
He thought of the current strongest martial clan under heaven: the Namgung Clan.
And he recalled the face of Namgung Cheon-yeong, who had launched a cowardly ambush near the end of his previous life under the pretense of eliminating a threat.
“Like hell I’ll let a clan like that be called the best. I’ll make the Baek Family the World’s Strongest.”
-Exhale.
He let out a long breath.
-Inhale.
He took one in.
With each breath in and out, the natural qi of heaven and earth began to gather around him.
Heavenly Harmony Art—a method that harmonizes with nature to enrich the root of one’s being.
The gathered energy flowed through his meridians, transforming into a refined force of harmony capable of merging with anything.
“Maybe it’s because I haven’t yet suffered qi deviation… or maybe because this body is still so young… but why does this feel so damn refreshing?”
Something about the energy… it felt different now. Cleaner. Purer.
So much so, in fact, that Yang-hwi felt as if his very constitution had changed.
So this is what it feels like to be free of qi deviation... I never realized how much of an effect it truly had.
“Sss… haaah. Sss… haaah.”
Who knows how much time had passed like that?
While he was still deep in meditation, Yang-hwi’s focus was gently pulled back by the sound of a knock at the door.
“Young master, are you awake?”
He opened the door to find a young maid, barely fifteen, standing outside with a shy demeanor.
“What is it?”
“The head of the house has requested your presence at dawn training.”
Baek Mu-ryang, ever diligent in maintaining the family’s livelihood, always left the house early in the morning.
Even with his packed schedule, he made it a priority to personally train his children—and so, dawn practices were a regular affair.
“I’ll be right there.”
Though he’d stayed up all night, Yang-hwi didn’t feel tired at all. Thanks to circulating his qi through Heavenly Harmony Art, his once-average body now held the budding essence of true energy.
He quickly dressed and made his way to the small training yard at the center of the estate.
“Hwi, did you sleep well? The bed must’ve felt unfamiliar.”
“It was the best sleep of my life. Thank you for your concern.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Standing beside Baek Mu-ryang were Baek Heon-So, looking sulky, and his younger sister Baek Yeon-Yeon, her face lit up with pure curiosity.
“I didn’t let you greet each other yesterday on purpose. I figured you all needed some time to think and adjust. Now, go ahead and greet one another.”
Yang-hwi turned to his new siblings and spoke first.
“As of yesterday, I’ve become your eldest brother, Baek Yang Hwi. I look forward to getting along with both of you.”
“Waaah! I have another Hyung-nim now! Hyung-nim, I’m Baek Yeon-Yeon!”
She bounced forward, sparkling eyes filled with excitement, and Yang-hwi couldn’t help but smile warmly at the sight.
“Can I call you Yeon-a from now on?”
“Of course, Hyung-nim!”
She was just too adorable.
Instinctively, he reached out and patted her on the head.
It was a habit from his previous life—but fortunately, Baek Yeon-Yeon didn’t shy away from his touch.
‘As expected, our Yeon-a is just as sweet and kind as ever.’
Unlike a certain someone currently glaring at him from the side.
‘Heon-So, huh. Always full of complaints—just like before. At least he’s consistent.’
His younger brother by blood—now the second son because of Yang-hwi’s adoption into the family.
In his previous life, Baek Heon-So had always treated him with hostility, as if something precious had been taken from him. Jealousy, resentment… Yang-hwi remembered it all.
Back then, he’d been too happy just to have a family to care. He had let Heon-So win, always stepping back, always giving in.
‘Father was too good-natured to discipline Heon-So, and in the end, that boy grew up twisted.’
One of the reasons Yang-hwi had left the family in his early twenties was precisely because Baek Heon-So had taken over as head of the house and made it unbearable.
‘This time, I’ll fix you too, So.’
“Baek Heon-So. I’m your brother now—Baek Yang Hwi. From now on, I’ll just call you So.”
“…Hmph!”
“So! Is that any way to speak to your elder brother?”
“…But, Father…”
Baek Heon-So showed no signs of repentance, and Baek Mu-ryang looked like he was about to gently scold him, but Yang-hwi stepped in.
“Father. I believe sibling bonds are more meaningful when built with time and effort. I don’t mind. Perhaps it’s better to let So decide when he’s ready to call me his brother.”
“…If that’s how you feel, then so be it.”
Smiling proudly at his mature response, Baek Mu-ryang continued.
“Hwi, since you’re now part of a martial family, your martial arts training will begin today.”
“Understood.”
“Our house has two core martial arts techniques. The internal method Sixfold Harmony Ar, and the sword technique Gaecheon Sword.”
He already knew. In fact, he knew it so well, he’d completely overhauled it after mastering all twelve forms to perfection.
“Let’s begin with the sword,” said Baek Mu-ryang. “The Gaecheon Sword Technique passed down in our family consists of three basic forms.”
After demonstrating those forms with precision, Baek Mu-ryang turned to Yang-hwi.
“Try copying what I just showed you.”
Without a word, Yang-hwi quietly picked up a wooden sword.
‘How much should I show?’
He paused for a moment, considering how far ahead he should reveal himself in this life. But his mind quickly settled.
Then, he swung the sword.
In that instant—
Baek Mu-ryang’s eyes went wide with shock.
“Wh-what…?!”
Of course he was shocked.
What Yang-hwi had just demonstrated was Gaecheon Sword Technique executed more perfectly than Baek Mu-ryang himself had shown.
The Gaecheon Sword Technique, despite its grand name—“The Sword That Covers the Heavens”—was a flawed and incomplete martial art. Most of its forms had been lost to time, leaving behind only three.
Even so, it far surpassed the typical swordplay that floated around the martial world. Each surviving move still held depth and power.
It wasn’t a style that could be mimicked after watching it just once.
Yet the way Yang-hwi performed it… was flawless.
Baek Mu-ryang was stunned.
‘Could he have learned this before? No… impossible.’
For a moment, he suspected the technique had been leaked—but quickly realized that was a groundless suspicion.
He had already confirmed that Yang-hwi had no traces of martial training in his body.
In fact, even now, the boy’s entire body was trembling.
His muscles had gone into shock from attempting a technique his body couldn’t handle.
They said in Shaolin, young disciples were made to train their horse stance for an entire year before learning actual combat techniques.
Martial arts, swordplay included, always began with physical conditioning.
Yang Hwi’s physical reaction—tense limbs, quivering joints—was unmistakably that of an untrained, ordinary child.
Then how had he executed the sword technique so perfectly?
“Hwi… could you show it again? This time, without the sword.”
Though still shaking, Yang-hwi gave a silent nod and obeyed.
His hands were empty now, but his stance reflected the memory of a sword in his grip. He steadied his breath and, despite the awkwardness of his young body, pulled from his soul the three forms he had once trained to the point of obsession.
The shock on Baek Mu-ryang’s face only deepened.
‘Perfect again.’
He had demonstrated all three forms—once more, flawlessly—using a body that had never once trained in martial arts.
There was only one conclusion to be drawn from this.
“Hwi….”
From the first time he saw the boy, he’d felt something was different.
Those hollow, lightless eyes had stirred something in him—a silent pull. That’s why he had proposed taking him in as an adopted son.
But at the time, he thought he was following the path of righteousness. That it was the proper thing to do.
But now—Baek Mu-ryang realized the truth.
The boy who had been covered in soot, mud caked on his clothes, lying in filth like a beggar… was actually a peerless gem. A prodigy that could surpass all under heaven.
“All I wanted to do was save a child in need… but instead, a once-in-a-generation genius has landed in our lap.”
Yet despite this revelation, Baek Mu-ryang’s expression grew darker instead of lighter.
Seeing his father’s face change like that, Yang-hwi tilted his head slightly in confusion.
‘Why does he look like that?’
-- The End OF The Chapter --
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