Chapter 5
Looking at the unusually grave expression on Baek Mu-ryang’s face, Yang-hwi couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
‘Why is he acting like this?’
Though not as dramatically as in this life, he had shown remarkable talent during his first training even in his past life.
After all, he had completely mastered the Gaecheon Sword Art in just three years, even though he’d only been eight years old. That alone said enough.
“Hwi. From now on, I’ll teach you Inner Self Cultivation—remember it well and try to follow along.”
Finishing his words, Baek Mu-ryang firmly planted his foot into the ground and began moving his body in a flowing rhythm.
‘Sixfold Harmony Art.’
Inner Self Cultivation was typically a meditative technique practiced in a lotus position to store and circulate internal energy.
However, the Baek family’s method differed. Their version, Sixfold Harmony Art, was a dynamic form of physical training that combined light energy cultivation with bodily conditioning.
There was once a more advanced internal technique passed down in the family, but it had long been lost.
“Have you memorized both the chant and the movements?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Then show me.”
Yang-hwi took a deep breath and slowly began moving his body.
He was still a child, and his body had never undergone real training, so his movements were undoubtedly clumsy—but even so, the essence of Sixfold Harmony Art flowed through him flawlessly.
Baek Mu-ryang’s expression darkened even further.
“Hwi-ya. You really are…”
A genius beyond measure.
‘Even if the level is low, memorizing a chant that spans hundreds of characters and executing the correct movements to stimulate the meridian points… how is he doing it so effortlessly?’
“So. And Yeon-a.”
“Yes!”
“Yes, Father.”
“I have something to speak with Hwi alone about. Go continue your training by yourselves.”
Giving instructions to his own two children, Baek Mu-ryang pulled Yang-hwi toward a corner of the training ground.
“Hwi.”
“Yes, Father.”
“You may not have realized it, but… I think you were born with an unparalleled talent for martial arts.”
“Yes. I was aware.”
A flicker of surprise passed across Baek Mu-ryang’s face.
“Hmm? You said you were aware?”
“Yes. Among the street urchins, fights broke out fairly often. Watching them throw punches and kicks, I often wondered—‘Why don’t they dodge? They’re so slow.’”
“…I see.”
After a moment of silence, Baek Mu-ryang continued.
“Hwi. I’m thinking of reversing the decision to adopt you as my son.”
“What? Why?”
It was a completely unexpected statement. Why would Father say something like this?
“You’re a pearl buried in the mud. Honestly, you’re too valuable for the Baek family to keep. Instead of adopting you, I’m considering sending you to be trained under my martial brother.”
“……”
Baek Mu-ryang’s martial brother was a renowned master of a major sect.
Only then did Yang-hwi realize what his father was thinking.
‘I showed too much talent.’
Instead of trying to hoard his gifted son, Baek Mu-ryang wanted to release him into a bigger world—to let him thrive in greater waters.
‘That’s the kind of man he is. That’s my father.’
Baek Mu-ryang—the “One-of-a-Kind Chivalrous Man,” known for his unshakable sense of justice.
In all his travels across the world, Yang-hwi had never met anyone with a character like his father.
“Father.”
“Speak.”
Yang-hwi looked at Baek Mu-ryang with steady, resolute eyes.
“You made the choice to adopt me. You offered to take me in as your son.”
But—
“In that moment, you weren’t the only one who made a choice.”
He, too, had chosen the Baek family.
“My name is Baek Yang-hwi. I’m the one who will make the Baek family shine and restore its name to greatness. The moment you extended your hand to me, I made up my mind.”
“……Hwi.”
“I don’t mind learning from another teacher, but I have no intention of leaving this family. Nor will I accept a life where I can’t call you my father.”
‘I will make the Baek family the strongest in the land.’
Looking at his father, now moved to tears, Yang-hwi smiled gently.
“Understood. We’ll take our time with that decision anyway. You need to focus on mastering the basics first.”
Baek Mu-ryang called back Baek Heon-So and Baek Yeon-Yeon.
Baek Heon-So approached with a sulky look, while Baek Yeon-Yeon skipped over cheerfully.
Looking at Baek Heon-So’s puffed-up cheeks, Yang-hwi held back a chuckle.
‘All puffed up—he looks like a blowfish.’
His temperament definitely needed some work… but seeing his younger brother like this was undeniably endearing.
Even if the boy resented him, family was still family. A younger sibling was still a younger sibling.
Yang-hwi had never once hated Baek Heon-So.
He was simply a younger brother who needed a little more guidance.
“I’ll be heading out now. For the next two hours, focus on your martial training, then take a short rest. After that, continue studying your academic lessons.”
Having supervised their martial practice for nearly two hours, Baek Mu-ryang instructed them to continue their training before leaving the training grounds.
Only the three siblings of the Baek family remained.
“……”
A moment of silence followed. With their father—their elder and mediator—gone, the air grew awkward.
Of course, Yang-hwi remained completely calm, and Baek Yeon-Yeon was still as innocent and carefree as ever. It was only Baek Heon-So who felt uncomfortable.
‘He’s brimming with pettiness.’
“So-ya.”
“…I don’t recognize you as my older brother. Don’t call me that.”
So—as expected—was someone prone to jealousy and envy.
But not only had Yang-hwi flawlessly demonstrated his martial arts, impressing Baek Mu-ryang, he’d even had a private conversation with him afterward.
At So’s age—a time when children deeply crave their father’s affection—it was only natural for him to feel hostility.
‘…Not that it gives him the right to act so damn bratty, though.’
Watching Baek Heon-So, Yang-hwi couldn’t help but smile in amusement.
Of course, it was a different kind of fondness than what he felt toward Baek Yeon-Yeon.
‘I was planning to start reforming the kid anyway, and now he’s handed me the perfect excuse.’
Yang-hwi sharpened his qi sense, making sure no one else was around.
Confirming that the only witness to what was about to happen was the cheerful and smiling Baek Yeon-Yeon, he casually leaned to one side and cocked a leg out.
“Hey, you little shit.”
“?!”
Baek Heon-So was utterly stunned.
Even if the Baek family was considered a third-rate martial clan, they were still a prestigious house on par with regional nobility by civilian standards.
Which meant—Baek Heon-So had never once in his life been addressed with such a crude insult like “little shit.”
“Y-You… You just call me that?!”
“Is there another little shit around here besides you?”
Baek Yeon-Yeon shot her hand up with a big smile.
“I’m here too, Hyung!”
A response the complete opposite of Baek Heon-So’s. Baek Yeon-Yeon was still smiling ear to ear.
In fact, her entire posture radiated excitement—like she wanted to start a conversation with Yang-hwi right this second and ask him a million things.
‘Brings back memories of my past life.’
Baek Yeon-Yeon—Yeon-ah—had always been a kind and gentle soul, just like their mother Jeong In-Hwa.
As pure as fresh white paper, as warm as spring sunlight. A child who needed to be protected, always.
Yang-hwi gave her a warm, affectionate smile filled with tenderness.
“Our Yeon-ah isn’t some brat—she’s a sweet and lovely young lady.”
“Really?!”
“Really-really.”
“But we only met yesterday. How do you know that, Hyung?”
“I just know. You can tell these things right away. For example…”
Yang-hwi turned to look at Baek Heon-So.
“Like how I could instantly tell So doesn’t like me one bit.”
As Baek Yeon-Yeon wondered if it would even be possible not to notice something so obvious—
Yang-hwi continued.
“You arrogant little punk. Whether I’m Father’s adopted son or not, I’m still your elder. Have you no concept of respect for your seniors?”
For the sheltered Baek Heon-So, this was a barrage of shocks.
He had never heard such rough, unforgiving language in his life—much less directed at him. And now, Yang-hwi’s demeanor had flipped entirely from when Baek Mu-ryang was around.
Baek Heon-So couldn’t think straight.
“What exactly is your problem, you little brat?”
“I’m the rightful heir of the Baek family! Why should I accept you as my older brother?!”
“First—because Father said so. Second—because Mother accepted it. And finally, third—because you’ll still have to carry out the duties of the firstborn.”
The three reasons Yang-hwi gave weren’t just superficial—they carried weight and depth. But young Baek Heon-So couldn’t grasp that.
All he felt was the frustration of being outwitted.
“Ughhh…”
Watching a seven-year-old puff up in indignation was honestly kind of adorable.
‘No. I can’t go soft. I can’t let him grow weak like in my past life.’
In his past life, Baek Heon-So had become head of the family at the tender age of nineteen.
Because he’d been pampered his whole life, his immaturity and crooked personality had never been corrected.
As a result, the family’s fortunes declined rapidly—and Yang-hwi had to watch all the wealth he had worked so hard to earn disappear like melting snow.
“Little brother, let me ask you something. Why can’t a beggar become your sibling?”
“Because you’re not even of our blood!”
“You’ve heard of the Oath of the Peach Garden, haven’t you? Even Father has sworn brotherhood with someone.”
“T-That’s different…!”
Flustered, Baek Heon-So suddenly exploded.
“Whatever! It’s not okay! You were still a beggar!”
At that moment, Yang-hwi decided just how harsh the discipline would need to be.
‘I can’t let the head of the main house turn into some lawless brat. Guess it’s time for some strict education—like Mencius’ mother moving houses three times.’
Without warning, Yang-hwi flicked Baek Heon-So hard on the forehead.
Thunk!
“Agh! What the heck?!”
“Baek Heon-So. You’re right—I was a beggar. Which means I’ve lived my whole life feeding myself with my own hands. But have you ever earned even a single meal on your own?”
“That’s nothing to be proud of!”
“It is. Because even if I got kicked out of here today, I’d survive just fine. Could you do the same?”
Yang-hwi raised his hand again for another flick.
Maybe it was because he was a martial family’s child, but Baek Heon-So flinched and quickly tried to dodge.
Thunk!
But Yang-hwi’s flick landed perfectly in the center of Baek Heon-So’s forehead again.
“Agh!”
“So-ya, you probably already know this—but among the Nine Great Martial Clans, the Beggar’s Sect is literally a sect made up of beggars. Would you insult them to their faces too?”
Baek Heon-So fell completely silent, like a cat with its tongue caught.
“There’s no such thing as a person who’s not worthy under the heavens. You’re our father’s son—so I’m sure you don’t usually look down on people for being beggars. You’re a good kid at heart.”
It wasn’t just a guess. It was certainty. In his past life, before things went sideways, Baek Heon-So had been a kind boy.
In the end, the problem wasn’t anything more complicated than Baek Heon-So refusing to accept someone who “rolled in from nowhere” as his elder brother.
Yang-hwi raised his wooden sword.
“Seems like some discipline is in order. Draw your sword.”
“Hmph! You think I’m afraid?!”
Baek Heon-So raised his wooden sword high.
“Baek Heon-So. If you win, I’ll grant you anything you want. But if I win, you’ll call me ‘Hyung-nim’—properly and respectfully—from now on.”
“You mean it?! A man’s word is as good as gold!”
Baek Heon-So was full of confidence. He was only seven years old, so he didn’t fully grasp just how extraordinary Yang-hwi’s earlier demonstration had been.
All he knew was that he had trained in swordsmanship for over two years, and Yang-hwi had only just picked up a sword today—there was no way he could lose to someone like that.
“I’ll even give you three seconds for free!”
Yang-hwi snorted.
‘Three seconds? And he doesn’t even know how to gauge someone’s skill?’
“Tch. You really did only pick up the worst habits.”
Yang-hwi slowly walked forward and brought his wooden sword down from above in a calm, measured arc.
The movement was so slow that Baek Heon-So had no trouble raising his sword to block it.
But—
Thwack!
Yang-hwi’s wooden blade curved around the block like it had a mind of its own and smacked Baek Heon-So right on the crown of his head.
“Aaaagh!”
Not three seconds, not even one. Baek Heon-So was clutching his head and collapsing to the ground in less than a second.
Yang-hwi let out a sigh.
“Get up, you little punk.”
“Hic… uhhuhhh…!”
Even if he was a martial family’s child, Baek Heon-So was still a seven-year-old raised in comfort.
The pain of being hit on the head with a sturdy wooden sword was just too much for someone that young and fragile.
But Yang-hwi looked at the tearful Baek Heon-So and spoke even more sternly.
“Get up. Or I’ll hit you again.”
Thump!
He slammed his sword into the stone floor of the training ground, making Baek Heon-So jump and scramble to his feet with a squeak.
His body was trembling all over, clearly frightened.
“Baek Heon-So. If you’re from a martial family, don’t ever let pain defeat you. And never let go of your sword—no matter what. Got it?”
“Y-Yeah… hic…”
“‘Yeah’? Don’t talk back to your hyung like that. Where are your manners?”
“Hick… y-yes, Hyung-nim…”
Yang-hwi grinned in satisfaction.
‘Gotta raise him tough. Only then will he grow up strong.’
“This time, I’ll give you not three—but ten seconds. Come at me, So.”
“……”
There was no way Baek Heon-So hadn’t heard that, but he couldn’t move. He was completely overwhelmed.
“If you don’t charge, I’m coming to you.”
“Eek—I’m coming!”
Baek Heon-So charged forward with a shout.
“Dieeeee!”
Oh, this impudent brat.
‘Bit extreme, don’t you think, little bro?’
As the wooden sword came swinging at him, Yang-hwi raised his own to meet it.
With a bit of pressure, he easily redirected the swing and poked Baek Heon-So in the side with his finger.
“It’s true that your core strength matters in downward strikes, but there’s a difference between using strength and stiffening up.”
He then hooked Baek Heon-So’s foot and swept him off balance—only to grab the back of his collar before he hit the ground and lift him back up.
“And don’t just focus on your upper body when swinging. In martial arts, your lower body is always the most important.”
With every passing second, Yang-hwi pointed out one of Baek Heon-So’s flaws.
“Alright, last ten seconds—done.”
Yang-hwi gently tapped Baek Heon-So in the solar plexus with the tip of his wooden sword.
At that, Baek Heon-So dropped his own sword helplessly.
‘I’ve been training for two years… and I lost to someone who picked up a sword for the first time today…’
“Hic… sniffle…”
Yang-hwi quietly watched Baek Heon-So sobbing.
From here on out, it was time to offer the carrot, not the stick.
“So. Take a look at this.”
Yang-hwi pulled a silver coin from his robe and held it out.
Baek Heon-So’s eyes went wide—round and shiny, just like the coin.
He was so surprised, his crying stopped immediately.
“A silver coin…? How did you get that much money…?”
A single silver coin was enough to pay a laborer for a full day’s work.
To an adult, it might not be a fortune—but to a child like Baek Heon-So, it was an enormous sum.
“You saw the Honggyo sect drop their coin pouch yesterday, right? I was the closest one. So I… snagged one.”
“W-Why would you do something like that…?”
Yang-hwi grinned slyly.
“Why else? I wanted to buy something tasty to celebrate meeting my adorable younger siblings. So what do you say—how about we ditch training today and all go out for some sweets?”
After all, a true Hyung should teach his siblings the joys of skipping duties too!
“Yeon-ah, what do you think? Would you like to come out with this Hyung of yours?”
“I love it! I love it sooo much!”
Baek Yeon-Yeon bounced up and down with excitement. Watching her, Baek Heon-So whispered softly,
“Me too…”
“Hmm? Can’t hear you, little bro.”
“I… I want to go too…”
Even if they’d just fought, the temptation was just too much for a seven-year-old to resist.
Yang-hwi chuckled and helped Baek Heon-So to his feet.
“You’re all dusty. Both of you—go wash up and change your clothes!”
“Okay!”
“Okay…”
Baek Yeon-Yeon skipped off cheerfully, and Baek Heon-So trailed behind, still watching for Yang-hwi’s reaction.
As always, the carrot and stick were age-old tools of effective discipline.
‘Anyway… if I remember right, it was today—or technically, tomorrow.’
Yang-hwi thought back to what had happened on this date in his past life and began planning his next moves.
‘If I play this right, I can gain an ally for the main house and even make some serious money. But first… I need to find Gu-Ak.’
For reference, the reason Yang-hwi had casually called Gu-Ak “Hyung” and acted so familiar with him was all part of today’s plan.
To strike a deal with someone like Gu-Ak while still in a small, childlike body, Yang-hwi had to leave an impression so strong it would border on eerie.
“Alright then. Let’s go see if I can get Gu-Ak to call me hyung for once.”
Yang-hwi smirked with a mischievous gleam in his eye.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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