The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

The Divine Monk departed for Mount Tai.

He was going to attend a gathering of the Ten Grandmasters, which he had organized.

Naturally, given the prestige of the event and considering the Divine Monk’s arrangements, Shaolin intended to assign many attendants to him.

However, the Divine Monk refused to have numerous attendants.

Only the Four Great Vajras and Yi-gang accompanied him.

Because the total number of people was absolutely small, one might call it modest, but it wasn’t exactly a sparse group.

The Four Great Vajras were the pillars that upheld Shaolin.

Each one was a formidable martial monk on the verge of the Absolute realm, comparable to the sect leader of one of the Nine Sects.

Hence, Shaolin calmly accepted the Divine Monk’s decision and let him go.

Even after the Divine Monk left, the days continued to pass on Mount Song.

In the Guest Hall, there was a pond called the Paper Flower Abyss.

What happened there that day later became known as ‘the Brawl at Paper Flower Abyss.’

Although it was called a chaotic melee because the successors threw away all decorum and fought each other, in truth, when word spread, another story drew the most attention.

‘Baek Yi-gang defeated Mount Hua’s Divine Sword, Shaolin’s First Fist, and West Sky’s Five Spears all at once.’

A young swordsman barely in his early twenties—

It was an unbelievable feat for a successor whose fame had gradually faded after he failed to distinguish himself in the dispute with the Unorthodox Union.

Yet there were far too many witnesses for that story to be buried.

The Immortal Divine Dragon could no longer be described simply as a “successor.”

His skills had reached a level where he would be treated as a top-tier master anywhere in the vast Central Plains.

Since Mount Hua’s Divine Sword, Hwa Mu-cheon, was already at such a position, the Immortal Divine Dragon might well be at the level of an elder from a major sect.

Of course, he was still young and physically not fully recovered, so he wasn’t treated as such just yet.

The Guest Hall Head, Grand Master Hyun Gak, pressed his temples firmly as he contemplated.

This was likely another arrangement by the Divine Monk.

He had deliberately revealed Yi-gang’s true abilities in a gathering of successors.

Naturally, the Divine Monk had anticipated and planned for Yi-gang’s fame to spread across the martial world.

It was said that “a rumor travels a thousand li without feet.”

That event had occurred two months ago. If the Divine Monk and Yi-gang’s party were nearing Mount Tai, the other participants of the gathering might have already heard the rumors.

‘Will it help… Yes, it certainly will.’

Grand Master Hyun Gak understood why the Divine Monk had convened the gathering.

He also knew what the Divine Monk was aiming for at that place.

Although he considered the plan a bit extravagant and unrealistic…

‘We’ll have to see how it unfolds.’

Hyun Gak stared intently at the wooden tablet before him.

Then, he recalled the conversation the Divine Monk and Yi-gang had before departing.

---

Before setting out for Mount Tai together, the Divine Monk and Yi-gang spent time preparing together, alongside the Divine Monk, an Absolute master, and the Four Great Vajras, who were near the level of Absolute masters.

It wouldn’t be accurate to say the Divine Monk took Yi-gang as a disciple or passed down the robe and alms bowl of succession.

However, it was clear that he had provided guidance.

Yi-gang sat in the lotus position.

Perhaps because he still pretended to have non-functioning arms, his posture was slightly different from what martial artists usually assumed.

Instead of clasping his hands to focus his energy, he rested them comfortably on his legs.

As such, Yi-gang’s posture was both familiar and unfamiliar to Hyun Gak.

Hyun Gak was soon startled.

The posture reminded him of a Buddha statue.

The seated Buddha statues were often depicted in a similar pose.

Hyun Gak briefly chastised himself for having such a blasphemous thought—comparing a young swordsman of the secular world to a sacred image of the Buddha.

At that moment, Yi-gang opened his eyes.

“Hmm…”

As his expression soured, the Divine Monk made a remark, “How is it? The remaining energy from the Great Recovery Pill?”

“It’s coalesced deep within my lower dantian.”

“It was used to heal your body, but over seventy percent of its power should still remain.”

Yi-gang was greatly surprised.

Until now, he had consumed countless elixirs, but he had never experienced anything like this.

When he was brought to Shaolin, wasn’t he barely clinging to life?

And yet, if more than seventy percent of the Great Recovery Pill’s power remains, it must be the greatest elixir under heaven.

“That’s not entirely accurate. The Great Recovery Pill is unique…”

“Hmm, it’s rather fascinating. This is…”

“What is?”

“When one consumes an elixir, shouldn’t it typically dissolve entirely? How much one assimilates depends on the user. If there’s any unabsorbed energy, it should disperse throughout the body’s meridians… but this remains clumped together.”

That wasn’t all.

Yi-gang felt a strange familiarity with the energy of the Great Recovery Pill.

It was as if he had taken this elixir before. However, since that was impossible, it must have been a trick of his mind.

“I see… Is that so…”

Yet the Divine Monk simply nodded, offering no further explanation.

It wasn’t until Hyun Gak cleared his throat a few times that the Divine Monk finally shifted his gaze toward him.

Hyun Gak, after pressing his palms together in a respectful gesture, began discussing the matter of the successors with the Divine Monk.

The Divine Monk had entrusted the responsibility of selecting the successors entirely to Hyun Gak.

“I see, still in progress… Hey, Yi-gang.”

With a casual tone more befitting a street thug, the Divine Monk called out to Yi-gang.

Yi-gang lifted his head and looked at the Divine Monk.

“Who do you think will make it into the top five? Excluding your younger brother, who’s already been selected.”

Even after the Paper Flower Abyss Skirmish, the selection of five successors had been dragging on.

This was because the selection wasn’t based solely on profound martial skills or outstanding talent.

“What does my opinion matter?”

When Yi-gang gave such a disinterested reply, the Divine Monk smiled faintly.

“So you think this matter has nothing to do with you?”

“Well, to be precise, I don’t believe it’s something I should meddle in.”

“It may not be unrelated to you. Just name a few, even if it’s half-hearted.”

“…Alright.”

With a reluctant expression, Yi-gang gave it only a moment’s thought.

“So Woon and the Seven-String Sword Edge of the Sword Pavilion, Mu-ah might be difficult. Perhaps Venerable Jeong Myung, and that beggar.”

Yi-gang’s response flowed like water.

It was clear to anyone that he had given a hasty and superficial answer without much thought.

“Ahem!”

Grand Master Hyun Gak cleared his throat with a tone of irritation.

Regardless of how uninterested Yi-gang might be, this was a question from none other than the Divine Monk. Shouldn’t he have answered with more sincerity?

“Oh, is that so.”

However, the Divine Monk nodded as if satisfied.

Hyun Gak was the one who seemed taken aback.

Then, with a faint smile, the Divine Monk prompted Yi-gang for an explanation.

Yi-gang provided the reasoning behind his choices.

“So Woon seems to have inherited the martial arts of the Lord of West Sky Castle well, and Venerable Jeong Myung has also demonstrated a martial prowess that lacks nothing.”

“That’s true. The benefactor’s younger brother was also qualified.”

“The female disciple of the Sword Pavilion—though I only observed her from a distance—seemed extraordinary. She appears to have reached the Supreme Peak.”

“…Surely not! That seems unlikely.”

“In terms of martial arts, she seemed the strongest.”

Hyun Gak hadn’t noticed it.

Had Yi-gang’s insight surpassed his own?

It was difficult to dismiss, especially since the Seven-String Sword Edge of the Sword Pavilion were disciples of the Ten Grandmasters.

Yet, there was still one more issue to consider.

“Still, the benefactor Noh Shik from the Beggars’ Gang…”

The pool of remarkable successors was vast.

What could possibly justify selecting Noh Shik among them?

Though he seemed quick-witted, his martial skills were hardly extraordinary.

Even within the Beggars’ Gang, he isn’t considered a promising talent. He’s not a successor of the Gang Leader or even an advanced disciple.

“They sent someone who isn’t a Gang Leader successor. I believe the Beggars’ Gang has qualified successors.”

The Gang Leader’s successors were also under 25 and well-regarded in both skill and reputation.

Yet, the Beggars’ Gang chose to send Noh Shik.

“It’s difficult to see that as the reason.”

“It seems he’s concealing his true abilities.”

“Even so!”

“Peng Mu-ah’s temperament remains immature. Although she tries to stay composed, she still exhibits the Peng Clan’s hot-headed nature. In chaotic battles, her exaggerated mannerisms caused her to underperform.”

“Even so, she should still be better than benefactor Noh Shik, shouldn’t he?”

“It seemed he knew the latter half of the Dog Beating Staff Technique.”

“…!”

Noh Shik had previously demonstrated the Dog Beating Staff Technique.

While some parts of the technique were taught to promising disciples or elders, learning the entire sequence was typically reserved for the Gang Leader or their successor

So did that mean Noh Shik, who wasn’t a Gang Leader successor, had mastered the entire Dog Beating Staff Technique?

“Well, I’m not entirely certain.”

Yi-gang also took a step back, unsure of his own conclusion.

“If martial arts is just about defeating opponents, then Young Lady Tang Eun-seol from the Tang Clan is undoubtedly the strongest.”

“…”

“But what use is passing down the Small Recovery Pill or the Buddhist internal energy to someone striving to be a poison master?”

That analysis was also correct.

“…I see.”

Hyun Gak unknowingly nodded his head.

It wasn’t because he was impressed by Yi-gang’s analysis.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. Hyun Gak believed that more than half of Yi-gang’s guesses would turn out to be wrong.

The gathered successors were that outstanding.

However, as time passed.

Even after Yi-gang and the Divine Monk had departed, when the five successors were finally selected.

Hyun Gak couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“Heh heh…”

Written on the wooden tablet before him were the names of the five chosen successors.

The five who had been meticulously selected through a fair and effective process, despite Hyun Gak’s strenuous efforts.

The Iron-Blood Sword Dragon, Baek Ha-jun.

West Sky’s Five Spears, So So-woon.

Shaolin’s First Fist, Jeong Myung.

The Seven-String Sword Edge, Na Hee-yeon.

The Wise Spring Beggar, Noh Shik.

Hyun Gak could only murmur to himself.

“How remarkable.”

---

The strongest masters in the world gathered at Mount Tai.

Although the true masters were well aware, the title Ten Grandmasters wasn’t a concept born from comparing martial arts through direct combat.

Naturally, no one had fought each other to establish superiority or inferiority.

Rather, it was a ranking agreed upon by martial enthusiasts of the world, comparing the reputations of various masters.

While this ranking was surprisingly accurate, it wasn’t entirely precise.

Most notably, there was not a single independent warrior among the Ten Grandmasters.

Every one of them either led a faction or was affiliated with one.

This included figures like the Demon Cult Leader, the Forest Lord of Azure Forest, the Divine Monk, and the Nine Spear King—all were sect leaders.

The only exception might have been the Guardian of the Emperor, who was rumored to serve the emperor alone. However, since their identity remained unknown, they were still counted among the Ten Grandmasters.

This wasn’t unusual.

The sects of the martial world were inherently based on martial strength. It was generally true that the leaders were powerful.

Some argued that Gal Sa-hyeok, the Green Forest Overlord and leader of the Thirty-Six Forts Of Green Forest, was only included in the Ten Grandmasters because of his faction.

His martial skill was slightly inferior to other masters, and his position as the leader of the Green Forest Alliance, commanding countless subordinates, earned him the last spot on the list.

This wasn’t a universally accepted view, but a common opinion.

If anyone dared to voice such a claim to Gal Sa-hyeok’s face, they would likely meet a swift death.

“What did you just say, you bastard—!”

The old man’s shout was so thunderous it was hard to believe it came from an elder.

He was an extraordinarily peculiar-looking man.

His massive frame made the carriage he sat in seem cramped, yet his wrinkled face left no doubt he was an old man.

What was odd, however, was that his hair and beard were as jet-black as those of a young man.

Standing at the open carriage door was a bandit with a scraggly beard, trembling violently.

“There’s a muddy patch ahead, and the carriage can’t pass through. We might have to turn back…”

“Why don’t you lie down and let the carriage roll over you!”

“Agh… A-Alliance Leader!”

At that moment, the military advisor seated beside him interjected at just the right time, “It’s autumn now, so the leaves must be dry. Scatter fallen leaves and twigs over the mud, then dismantle one of the wooden planks from the carriage to create a path. Otherwise, we’ll waste too much time turning back.”

Gal Sa-hyeok didn’t say a word and merely snorted through his nose.

It was a sign of approval. The bandit quickly bowed his head and ran off to carry out the orders.

After the carriage door was shut, Gal Sa-hyeok grumbled, “If we arrive early, I could at least share a drink with the Unorthodox Union Leader. That way, I could show off my rejuvenated self. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, of course.”

“The Union Leader will be utterly astonished. Ha ha ha.”

The Green Forest Alliance’s chief military advisor, Mountain Scholar Hak Gi-ryong, nodded quickly.

Though he wore a smiling expression, he subtly turned his head toward the window.

Though his lips still held a smile, his eyes brimmed with disdain.

‘Rejuvenation? What a joke…’

Hak Gi-ryong was the person who knew Gal Sa-hyeok, the Green Forest Overlord, better than anyone else.

‘He just oiled his skin and dyed his beard and hair.’

Gal Sa-hyeok, who had once whined incessantly about not wanting to attend the grand gathering—

One day, he suddenly appeared, claiming he had started the process of rejuvenation after a moment of enlightenment.

However, he couldn’t hide the faint mulberry scent from his hair or the greasy smell emanating from his shiny skin.

The Mountain Scholar felt deeply uneasy about the upcoming gathering at Mount Tai.