Chapter 10

Sam-geom threw a booklet in front of the children.

“From today, you will learn this.”

On the cover of the booklet, four characters were written: Thunderclap Mind Method.

As the children stared with puzzled expressions, Sam-geom continued.

“I will give you three months. Within that time, you must learn this. If there is anyone who has not learned it when I check after three months, I will wring their neck with my own hands.”

“……”

The children did not answer.

This was because they had been ordered to remain silent under all circumstances.

Sam-geom looked around at the children with a cold gaze and said,

“The Thunderclap Mind Method is a Mind Method that our guild acquired with great difficulty. The characteristic of this Mind Method is that it is easy to learn. No matter how dull-witted, anyone who steadily practices it for a year can feel and accumulate Internal Energy. Therefore, it is perfect for novices like you. To those who show outstanding achievement in the Thunderclap Mind Method, an even more superior Mind Method will be given, so you would do well to work hard.”

The children’s eyes lit up.

Obtaining an even better Mind Method meant a greater possibility of becoming stronger. Knowing that becoming stronger increased their chances of survival, the children listened intently to Sam-geom’s words.

Sam-geom explained the method of operating the Thunderclap Mind Method to the children in an easy-to-understand way.

The greatest feature of the Thunderclap Mind Method was, as Sam-geom said, that it was easy to learn. Even without reading the booklet containing the Thunderclap Mind Method, one could apply it immediately just by knowing the key points.

The children listened attentively to Sam-geom’s explanation.

Sam-geom explained in detail so that the children could easily understand.

More than half of the children did not know how to read. Since they couldn’t read the booklet even if it was given to them, they didn’t even glance at it and focused only on Sam-geom’s voice.

The Thunderclap Mind Method was a Martial Arts Manual that had belonged to a Martial Artist assassinated by the Bloody Shadows Guild.

The Martial Artist assassinated by the Bloody Shadows Guild was merely a second-rate one, but the Thunderclap Mind Method he possessed had an exceptional aspect. That Martial Artist had also obtained the Thunderclap Mind Method by chance, so its origin was unknown.

The reason the Bloody Shadows Guild had neglected the Thunderclap Mind Method after acquiring it was because they judged it suitable as an Initiation Mind Method for those who knew no Internal Energy at all.

The Bloody Shadows Guild did not accept those who had not learned Internal Energy.

They only accepted those who were proven to some extent as members, so they did not feel the need to learn the Thunderclap Mind Method. That was why it had been neglected until now.

To make the children into useful tools within the next six years, a complex Mind Method could not be used.

The plan was to build a foundation with the simplest Mind Method possible, and then have them learn a Mind Method that could be accelerated.

An accelerable Mind Method could raise one’s achievements quickly, but in return, the path to the highest level was blocked.

Although countless Sects and Martial Artists existed in Jianghu, not many Sects possessed a Mind Method that contained the mysteries of the highest level. Just possessing a Mind Method with the mysteries of the highest level was enough to be called a prestigious Orthodox Faction of Jianghu.

Even within the Bloody Shadows Guild, only a few had learned a highest-level Mind Method.

Only the Unit Leader of the Bloody Shadows Guild and the Ghost Soul Seven Swords were the extent of it. Even that was only possible because the Bloody Shadows Guild had been active for a long time and had acquired quite a few rare books.

Il-geom, I-geom, and Sam-geom were all members of the Ghost Soul Seven Swords.

However, they were old and had retired from the front lines. The Unit Leader of the Bloody Shadows Guild had ordered them to train new Assassins.

While the children were fighting for their lives in the underground cavern, Il-geom and the others had studied the Thunderclap Mind Method. This was to teach the children as quickly as possible and smoothly move on to the next stage.

Sam-geom explained the Thunderclap Mind Method he had studied in as much detail as possible. The children were completely absorbed in his words.

“……That is all. If you have any questions, study the booklet.”

Sam-geom forced the children to sit cross-legged and had them breathe according to the Thunderclap Mind Method.

Masked Men surrounded the children, monitoring whether they were concentrating on the Oral Formula. The Masked Men were also Assassins, acting as both instructors and supervisors.

No matter how simple a Mind Method was, no one could operate it properly from the very beginning.

Moreover, among the children here, none had learned Martial Arts outside. No, a significant number of children were completely unaware that something like a Mind Method even existed.

It was impossible for such children to feel Internal Energy from the start. Still, the children tried to feel Internal Energy by breathing as Sam-geom had taught them.

Pyo Wol was one of them.

He furrowed his brow deeply and breathed as Sam-geom had instructed.

Internal Energy was not something that could be generated by practicing a Mind Method for just a day or two.

The time when the human body was at its purest was right after coming out of the mother’s womb into the world. If one could operate an Internal Energy Mind Method at that time, one could obtain tremendous Internal Energy.

Because that was impossible, prestigious and great Sects performed something called Shedding Hair and Cleansing Marrow to make children’s bodies into the optimal state for accumulating Internal Energy.

The achievements of children who had undergone Shedding Hair and Cleansing Marrow were far beyond the reach of those who had not.

That was the difference between a prestigious great Sect and a Sect that was not.

The difference in birth created a gap that was difficult to overcome.

The fortunate thing was that Shedding Hair and Cleansing Marrow was not something anyone could receive, and it was a blessing that only a select few in the entire Jianghu received.

If Pyo Wol and the children had received Shedding Hair and Cleansing Marrow, they would have felt and accumulated Internal Energy in an instant, but that was impossible from the start.

First, they had to create a body condition that could feel Internal Energy.

They had to cultivate a field where the seed of Qi could sprout by caressing the Dantian with their breath.

The breathing method they were practicing now, the Thunderclap Mind Method, was the very first step.

The process of cultivating the field was tedious and difficult because it was unknown when the seed of Qi would germinate.

Those with developed Qi Sense might feel it in a month or two, but those without talent could practice for years and still not feel the existence of Internal Energy at all.

Now was the process of cultivating the field to contain Qi.

Sam-geom watched with a sharp eye to see if the children were properly operating the Thunderclap Mind Method.

Fortunately, all the children were engrossed in the Thunderclap Mind Method.

Sam-geom said to the instructors.

“If there is anyone fooling around or having other thoughts, kill them immediately.”

“Yes!”

The instructors answered in unison.

Their eyes, as they looked at the children, were full of Killing intent.

Although they were playing the role of instructors, a role they never wanted, due to the Unit Leader’s command, their main profession was being Assassins.

Those who kill others for money.

There was no great cause or belief in it.

For them, money was their belief and their great cause.

Although they were promised a considerable reward, it was unlikely that they, who had been running rampant outside, would be happy about being stuck in such a dark place, unable to move, and training brats.

Because of that, their faces were full of Poison Qi.

The thought that they would not let even the smallest mistake slide was clearly visible on their faces.

Under their murderous surveillance, the children had no choice but to be completely engrossed in the Thunderclap Mind Method.

The instructors pushed the children harshly.

They divided the day in half, making them learn the Thunderclap Mind Method in the morning and train their physical strength in the afternoon, except for the short time they slept.

The instructors made the children run without rest.

“That last hall over there is your goal. The one who arrives first will be given a Shichen of rest. On the other hand, the one who arrives last will learn what hell is.”

At Sam-geom’s words, the children, without exception, all started running at once.

There was no time to think.

In the time it took to rack their brains, they had to run towards the target hall even one step faster than the other children.

“Uwaaah!”

“Damn it!”

Screams erupted from the children’s mouths.

They sprinted with all their might.

They knew the terrain of the Hall Complex like the back of their hands.

Some children jumped over walls, while others tried to shorten the distance by using dog holes they had identified beforehand.

However, the children’s attempts were in vain.

This was because the instructors attacked from completely unexpected places.

Thwack!

“Ack!”

A wooden sword struck a leg.

The child who was hit rolled on the floor with a scream. The child screamed as if he were dying, but the instructor’s expression was only cold.

“Who told you to scream as you please? If you don’t shut that mouth right now, I’ll wring your neck.”

“Heek!”

At the instructor’s threat, the child covered his mouth with both hands, got up, and started running again.

The same things were happening everywhere.

The instructors hid secretly and ambushed the children running past them.

The children’s senses were several times more sensitive than before they entered this place, but they could not detect the Assassins who had professionally trained in Killing Methods for a long time.

‘The goal isn’t just to arrive at the hall quickly. The goal is to detect the hidden instructors and secure a safe infiltration route.’

Pyo Wol noticed the true purpose of this Training.

He slowed his pace slightly.

Unlike the other children, he had perfectly adapted to the darkness. To him, who could see the night as if it were day, like an owl, the Assassins’ Stealth was useless.

If he wanted to, he could have reached the destination in the shortest time by using the only infiltration route where the Assassins were not hiding, but Pyo Wol did not do so.

He deliberately passed near a place where an Assassin was hiding.

As if waiting, the instructor attacked him.

Thwack!

“Keuk!”

Hit in the waist by the instructor’s Ambush Attack, Pyo Wol bent his body like a shrimp.

The cold voice of the ambushing instructor poured down on the back of his head.

“If you move as carelessly as you do, you won’t survive until the end. Hurry up and run.”

“Keuk! Yes!”

Pyo Wol endured the pain and started running again.

The instructor watched Pyo Wol’s retreating back with a contemptuous gaze before hiding again.

Il-geom and I-geom watched the children’s Training from the highest point of the hall.

Most of the children were hit by the instructors’ ambushes, but there were also children who were not.

They did not run recklessly like the other children but ran while avoiding places where the instructors might be hiding.

Il-geom opened his mouth.

“As expected, So Yeowol is the most outstanding.”

“Her mind is brilliant. Her judgment, courage, and execution are all Upper-Grade.”

Il-geom nodded at I-geom’s supplementary explanation.

The one who had shown the most prominence so far was undoubtedly So Yeowol. She overcame the physical disadvantage of being female and arrived at the destination hall at the fastest speed.

So Yeowol was not attacked by the instructors even once.

Following her, Song Cheonwoo and a few other children arrived.

They also received high praise.

“What about Pyo Wol?”

“His performance is about average. As of now, he is not showing any particular prominence.”

“Hmm! Was I mistaken?”

A hint of disappointment flashed in Il-geom’s eyes.

He had high hopes because Pyo Wol was the sole survivor from Sector One, but he was disappointed when he didn’t show prominence in the first Training.

But he couldn’t completely let go of his lingering hope.

“Still, we don’t know, so let’s keep watching.”

“Yes!”

＊＊＊

The children were all exhausted from the continuous forced march.

As soon as the day’s routine ended, the children fell dead asleep.

It was the same for So Yeowol, who was showing outstanding prominence.

Although her aptitude was superior to anyone else’s, her stamina was clearly inferior to the boys’, so she was always bound to struggle. But even while being so exhausted, she showed that she definitely took care of the children who followed her.

Because of that, the children’s trust in her could only grow deeper.

On the other hand, Pyo Wol always maintained an average performance.

A performance that was neither too conspicuous nor too lacking—just average.

Because of that, the attention that had been focused on him at the beginning had long since disappeared. Many people began to think that he had survived in Sector One simply by luck.

This was what Pyo Wol wanted.

In his hand was the Thunderclap Mind Method.

At first, there were children who read the booklet because they didn’t understand the Thunderclap Mind Method. But once the Thunderclap Mind Method was somewhat ingrained in their bodies, no one looked for the booklet anymore.

The instructors also did not force the children to read the Thunderclap Mind Method booklet. The Thunderclap Mind Method was, after all, nothing more than an Initiation Mind Method book for moving on to the next stage.

Thanks to that, Pyo Wol was able to monopolize the original copy of the Thunderclap Mind Method.

Everyone thought of the Thunderclap Mind Method as just a passing stepping stone, but Pyo Wol’s thoughts were different.

For some time now, something had been sprouting in his Dantian. That ticklish something grew a little bigger each time Pyo Wol operated the Thunderclap Mind Method.

Pyo Wol thought it was Qi.

The other children didn’t seem to feel Qi yet.

Even So Yeowol, who received the highest evaluation from the instructors, showed signs of confusion, unable to feel Qi.

On the other hand, Pyo Wol clearly felt Qi.

That was the reason Pyo Wol had brought the original copy of the Thunderclap Mind Method.

Pyo Wol thought that he might have a constitution more sensitive to Qi than the other children, or that his compatibility with the Thunderclap Mind Method was exceptionally good.

There was only one way to confirm his guess.

To check the original copy of the Thunderclap Mind Method himself. That was why he had gone to the trouble of bringing the original.

Pyo Wol sat cross-legged and began to read the Thunderclap Mind Method.

That he had learned to read was perhaps the only legacy from his dead father.

Flip! Flip!

In the darkness, only the sound of pages turning echoed.