The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

The third-generation disciples, who were not yet formal disciples, were finally awarded a single flower.

Becoming a first-flower disciple meant becoming a proud martial artist of the Azure Forest.

It simply meant that they could now embroider a full blossom on their clothes and weapons. Beyond the basic techniques like Blue Mountain Five Swords, they could now learn the secret techniques of the Azure Forest.

However, it’s not just rights that were granted to them. With rights, naturally came responsibilities.

Upon becoming a first-flower disciple and officially registered, they must adhere to the rules of an Azure Forest martial artist:

‘Do no evil.’

‘Do not forget the Tao.’

‘One must cultivate strength to oppose the great evils that may appear at any time.’

These were the top three principles among the rules. Azure Forest martial artists must engrave these principles deeply in their hearts.

While the responsibility was heavy and might feel burdensome, in reality, the children who had just finished their tests felt more anticipation than responsibility.

They wanted to immediately wrap the hero’s headband around their foreheads and roam Jianghu with a fine sword at their side.

This tingling and overwhelming atmosphere reached its peak on the day of the first-flower awarding ceremony, especially since the Forest Lord’s sermon had just ended a little while ago.

“Quiet!”

“Disciplinary Hall Head will arrive soon.”

The second-generation disciples scolded the chattering third-generation disciples.

The third-generation disciples were each embroidering blue or red flowers on their robes. Having passed the martial flower and Taoist flower disciple tests, their brotherly relationships were now firmly established.

The order in which the hundred or so third-generation disciples were lined up represented the hierarchy among the martial brothers. The younger children with lower scores were at the back; they were the youngest martial brothers.

As one moved forward, the disciples’ stature grew larger. These were the older and higher-scoring children, and from now on, they were the elder martial brothers.

And in the very front row stood three disciples.

Among all the third-generation disciples, these were the ones with the most outstanding martial arts and knowledge. Therefore, they had earned the positions of the eldest brothers leading the third-generation disciples.

The third one was…

“I think this robe is a bit small…”

It was Jun Myung. He was clearly wearing clothes that were too short for his arms and legs.

“It looks like you’ve grown since then.”

“Do I need to get a new robe?”

“It’s newly embroidered with flowers. The embroidery room is busy, so you might have to wait a month?”

It was Yu Su-rin who scolded Jun Myung as he grumbled. She had a new soft sword at her waist, awarded for placing second in the first-flower promotion exam.

“A month? That’s too long!”

She frowned deeply as she looked at Jun Myung.

“But why does this keep feeling too short?”

“…I was just talking to myself.”

Now, the relationship between the martial brothers was certain. Yu Su-rin was a little younger than Jun Myung, but she became Jun Myung’s senior sister.

“Do it properly.”

“Yes…”

“Call me senior sister.”

Jun Myung was upset to find himself at the bottom among his friends. However, Yu Su-rin gave him strict instructions.

Jun Myung bowed his head and spoke.

“Senior Sister.”

“That’s right.”

“Senior Sister… Hehe.”

Initially, Jun Myung hesitated to call Yu Su-rin his senior sister. But now, things were different.

“Hehe.”

“Don’t, don’t laugh.”

Seeing Jun Myung happily calling her senior sister, she felt a bit disgusted by it.

Then, the boy at the very front intervened.

“Stop fighting and stay quiet, junior brother, junior sister.”

Hearing that confident voice, Yu Su-rin’s expression soured.

“Look in front. The Disciplinary Hall Head is coming out.”

“Yes, senior brother.”

“Call me great senior brother.”

The one putting extra emphasis in his voice, trying to sound cool, was Son Hee-il.

After a dramatic turnaround in the last internal power test, he had become the great disciple.

“…Great Senior Brother.”

“Pahaha!”

Son Hee-il laughed as if he couldn’t be happier.

From his perspective, this was a completely natural outcome.

Whether it was age, martial prowess, or his charisma and ability to attract people, he was the fitting choice for the great disciple.

Yu Su-rin and Jun Myung both had exceptional talents. However, they lacked certain aspects to lead all third-generation disciples as the great disciple. They themselves recognized this. The fact that they accepted Son Hee-il as the great senior brother was evidence of that.

What he always wanted became a reality. He stood at the front in the first-flower awarding ceremony. Around his forehead was a hero’s headband embroidered with a blue flower, personally awarded by the Forest Lord as a symbol of the great disciple.

He tied the hero’s headband tightly, feeling proud once again.

But suddenly, his heart felt cold.

If Yi-gang had not received the lowest score in the internal power test… It would have been Yi-gang standing in this place.

He recalled what he heard when he asked Jin Mu about the rankings.

“…And Hee-il, you will probably become the great disciple. It’s almost certain.”

“Then…”

Everyone’s gaze had turned to Yi-gang, who had received the lowest score in the last internal power test.

“Since he received the lowest score in one test, Yi-gang’s… I’m not sure.”

Yi-gang’s ranking had sharply declined.

A wave of relief had come over him. He didn’t laugh, out of what little consideration he had.

Son Hee-il sneakily looked back. Nearly a hundred third-generation disciples were standing behind him and his friends.

But Yi-gang was nowhere to be seen.

‘Has his ranking dropped that much?’

He thought Yi-gang would at least be in the upper middle because of the other tests. Since he couldn’t see him, it seemed like Yi-gang was standing in the back. The gap between him and Son Hee-il in the hierarchy of martial brothers was incomparable.

A pleased smile crept across his face.

“Ahem.”

At that moment, the Disciplinary Hall Head ascended the podium. Son Hee-il turned his attention back to the stage.

He was about to speak after the Forest Lord.

“I believe everyone has taken the words of the Forest Lord just now to heart as if they were golden rules.”

The appearance of the Disciplinary Hall Head Do Beop was reminiscent of a yaksha. His iron-strong beard and hair spread out in all directions.

He was fit to be the head of the Disciplinary Hall, judging those who broke the sect rules and punishing the wrongdoers.

“Now, you all are formal disciples of the Forest. This means you must abide by the sect rules and not forget the greater good.”

The booming voice of the Disciplinary Hall Head resonated. He scanned the children with his piercing eyes.

“Those who violate the sect rules, commit evil acts, and deceive their masters or destroy their ancestors’ legacy will not be forgiven.”

The faces of the children, previously filled with anticipation, grew stern.

The words of the Disciplinary Hall Head weighed heavily on them.

“…Also, you are now first-flower disciples as well as martial brothers. I know there were times when you acted like friends and brothers. But now…”

His words were accurate. Many of the young disciples were still not used to addressing each other as senior or junior brothers.

Among the young disciples, there were those who still casually spoke to each other as they used to.

The Disciplinary Hall Head slammed his unique weapon, a giant iron mace, onto the ground.

Boom!

“Address each other properly and maintain the decorum of martial brothers. That is the foundation of our sect.”

The atmosphere turned chilly.

“If I see you behaving like street thugs in front of me, I will personally administer corporal punishment.”

The Disciplinary Hall Head’s forearms looked like they were about to burst. A hit from that iron mace would literally shatter one’s rear.

“Not answering?”

““Yes!!””

The children responded as if screaming.

All of them had anxious expressions. There was talk of severe punishment for mistakenly addressing a fellow disciple as they used to when they were merely friends.

“Then, everyone, you are dismissed.”

““Dismissed!!””

However, not everyone looked troubled.

There was just one person, laughing cheerfully.

The great disciple, Son Hee-il, who didn’t need to worry about the proprieties between martial brothers.

“Puahaha!”

He laughed heartily among the departing children.

“Ahem.”

The Disciplinary Hall Head glared at him, and Son Hee-il quickly shrank his neck. The Hall Head strode towards him and said, “The great disciple and the two beside him should come to the Disciplinary Hall at the hour of the Monkey.”

“Excuse me?”

“Did you not hear me?”

“Ah, yes, understood, Hall Head!”

The reason why the Disciplinary Hall Head was summoning Son Hee-il and his group was unclear.

But until the Hall Head left, they dared not ask the reason.

“Is it because I laughed…”

“It’s the great brother’s fault.”

“It’s all because of great brother.”

They could only speculate and feel anxious.

The reason for being summoned to the Disciplinary Hall was unknown.

However, Son Hee-il came up with a positive guess.

“I am the great disciple, and you two are essentially leading the children. Maybe that’s why he called us?”

“What do you mean, no, what are you saying, senior brother?”

Savoring the term “senior brother,” Son Hee-il smiled slyly.

“I think he’s just going to tell us to straighten out the order among the third-generation disciples.”

“Could be…”

For Yu Su-rin and Jun Myung, it was a plausible guess.

“Let’s go in then.”

It was almost the appointed time, the hour of the Monkey. There was no time to waste.

“Great brother, please lead the way. The junior brothers will follow.”

“…Cough.”

They had hesitated in front of the Disciplinary Hall for a while, but they couldn’t do so any longer.

As befitting the great senior brother, Son Hee-il opened the gate of the Disciplinary Hall and entered.

“Disciple Son Hee-il has come at the Hall Head’s summons.”

The walls of the Disciplinary Hall were intimidating, topped with sharp spikes to prevent escape.

Son Hee-il felt a constricting sensation in his chest and made his presence known once again.

Strangely, there seemed to be no one inside the Disciplinary Hall.

“Is no one here?”

Just then, the main hall’s doors burst open.

“Come in.”

The Disciplinary Hall Head gestured from inside. Son Hee-il and his companions hurriedly attempted to bow with clasped fists, but the Disciplinary Hall Head didn’t wait to receive their greetings and went in.

They scurried after the Disciplinary Hall Head through the door he had opened.

Inside, there were more people than expected.

The appearance of the Disciplinary Hall Head Do Beop, Jin Mu, the great disciple among the second-generation disciples, Jin Ri-yeon, the disciples of Sage Do Beop, and…

Son Hee-il’s eyes widened in surprise.

There, in an unexpected turn, sat Baek Yi-gang, occupying a seat.

Yu Su-rin poked Son Hee-il in the ribs and whispered in his ear.

“Greet them.”

Only then did Son Hee-il regain his composure.

He looked at the Disciplinary Hall Head, the most senior person here, and performed a clasped fist bow.

“Disciple Son Hee-il has come upon the Disciplinary Hall Head’s summons!”

He clasped his hands in a disciplined posture and bowed at the waist. Representing Yu Su-rin and Jun Myung, he performed the sect greeting as the great senior brother.

Though he was more diligent due to being in front of the Disciplinary Hall Head, his manners were impeccable.

“Good. You have learned the sect greeting.”

“Thank you.”

The Disciplinary Hall Head also looked at him differently. The second-generation disciples smiled gently, watching the juniors.

“Ha, how cute. At this age, they really put their spirit into it.”

“Hehe.”

Jin Mu muttered so, and Jin Ri-yeon also smiled softly.

Son Hee-il let out a sigh of relief internally.

Then he turned towards Jin Mu. He greeted him with a lighter form of etiquette than before.

“Senior, it’s good to see you.”

“Yes, yes. Haha.”

It was a flawless form of etiquette. The standard way of greeting when meeting both first and second-generation disciples at the same time.

Son Hee-il gazed at Yi-gang, who was just standing there blankly.

‘This guy…’

With the great senior brother present, it was Yi-gang’s turn to greet Son Hee-il.

The best approach here was to simply bow with clasped fists without saying anything. That was all that was needed.

However, Yi-gang just stood there, looking directly into Son Hee-il’s eyes.

Son Hee-il was taken aback.

‘Doesn’t he know any manners?’

It was astonishing to see such behavior in front of the Disciplinary Hall Head.

Flabbergasted, Son Hee-il desperately gestured with his eyes.

Then, Yi-gang said, “Ah,” and casually patted Son Hee-il on the shoulder.

“Nice to see you.”

“…”

Son Hee-il froze. For a moment, he couldn’t comprehend the situation.

In front of the Disciplinary Hall Head and the second-generation disciples, patting the shoulder of the eldest brother and speaking informally?

As Son Hee-il stood frozen, Yi-gang added, seemingly puzzled, “Please treat me well? …Is that not right?”

“Crazy fool…!”

Son Hee-il, overwhelmed with panic and anger, grabbed Yi-gang’s wrist tightly.

“Get a grip, do you still not understand your position?”

Now that he had become the great disciple, Son Hee-il felt compelled to admonish Yi-gang.

“You’re not a guest here anymore, so stop acting like a hooligan.”

The atmosphere turned icy. The expressions of the second-generation disciples hardened, and most notably, the Disciplinary Hall Head’s expression was far from ordinary.

Creak—

It was the sound of the armrest of the chair he was holding being twisted.

“Such arrogance.”

It was a voice filled with anger, as if flames were about to burst from his mouth.

“Behaving like this in front of me, is that an insult to me…?”

As the Disciplinary Hall Head stood up, shadows seemed to fall across the room.

“…Or is it that you take the rules of our sect lightly? Either way, it’s deserving of corporal punishment.”

The enraged Disciplinary Hall Head was ready to pass immediate judgment on Yi-gang.

Even Son Hee-il felt a pang of pity for Yi-gang at that moment.

“Hey, snap out of it and do it properly!”

He lightly tapped Yi-gang on the back of the head.

Despite this, Yi-gang continued to stare blankly at Son Hee-il.

However, something peculiar happened; Yi-gang’s face seemed to be lowering. Or was it that Hee-il’s height had increased?

That wasn’t it.

The Disciplinary Hall Head had grabbed Son Hee-il by the collar and lifted him up.

“Do you think I’m a joke?”

“Y-yes? No!”

Hee-il couldn’t understand why he, instead of Yi-gang, was being lifted.

Not until the Disciplinary Hall Head spoke, “Then, why are you showing such disrespect to your senior, who should be revered like the heavens?”

“Se-senior? I didn’t do such a thing…”

“I clearly saw you grabbing the wrist of your senior and cursing!”

The Disciplinary Hall Head pointed his finger at Yi-gang, addressing him as Son Hee-il’s senior.

“He’s our senior…? That can’t be.”1

“The Forest Lord has already decided, and the Elders’ Council has approved it. Are you defying that and committing an act of deceiving the master and destroying the ancestor’s legacy!”

“Great Master, how could I possibly…!”

Son Hee-il felt like he was losing his mind.

He had always thought of Yi-gang as a fellow third-generation disciple. But then the Disciplinary Hall Head said something he had never heard before.

“He definitely took the first-flower promotion exam with us…”

“This guy still hasn’t come to his senses!”

Son Hee-il, with a trembling face, turned to look at Yi-gang.

Yi-gang slightly shrugged his shoulders, as if to say, “Somehow, it turned out this way.” His expression seemed to convey that message.

Hee-il’s mind felt hazy.

1. Just to clarify, I'll be using senior for sasuk or literally martial uncle, a term to address a senior above one's generation, and senior brother for sahyung or martial older brother, a term to address a senior in the same generation ️