Lee Jun’s mom pulled out her car from the garage and Lee Jun locked the house before accompanying. They decided to go immediately to the dojang after breakfast and sign up.

As they drove by Lee Jun’s mom had a lot of questions to ask, “You said it would help you with other stuff? Mind sharing what that is?”

‘Great! Not now mom!’ Lee Jun thought to himself as he turned to look away. He had never told her about the bullying and if he mentioned it now she would surely speak about it to the teachers. Not that anything would come of it. The bullies punishment would amount to nothing more than a slap on the wrist and his life thereafter would be complete hell. “It really isn’t that big of a deal. It is something I can overcome…”

“You need to be more open with me. One person alone can’t burden everything. Its why we are family.” His mom replied. She too wasn’t keen on forcing Lee Jun what it was but she had a rough idea already what it could be.

After reaching the dojang, Lee Jun’s mom went and met with the instructors.

Lee Jun stood outside the admin office as his mom sorted out the paper work. Yesterday appeared so surreal and distant to Lee Jun now. He couldn’t believe himself that he was able exceed his own limits the way he. ‘I can do this.’

Since his mom was taking longer than he decided to take a stroll and explore the dojang. The dojang wasn’t located in the same place during Ahn Hyundo’s time. They had to relocate owing to city’s expansion plan. None of the masters objected since they were being allocated a larger land and even being compensated for the cost of the new building. It did sadden them that they had to move, they had spent their youth with so many memories…but that was all in the past. In time they came to accept those memories for what they were and cherish them. What was important to them was continuing Ahn Hyundo’s legacy. Lee Hyun also felt the same way, he tried the hardest of them all to preserve the original dojang but in the end in his personal capacity he was unable to prevent Ahn Hyundo’s dojang from being demolished. After that they could do nothing but carry on his legacy in the newly built dojang at the outskirts of the city.

As he walked around, he found Ji Woo pouting while staring into the pond.

“What happened?” He asked from behind her.

“Nothing…” She replied not realizing whom she was talking to.

“Then why are you pouting?” Lee Jun asked out of curiosity.

“Because that kid from yesterday couldn’t join the dojang even though the masters finally agreed…why are you asking me…” Ji Woo turned around to see Lee Jun staring at her. “You! Why are you here!”

“ah..things happened, so now I am member of the dojang. I am in your care.” Lee Jun said with a slight bow of gratitude.

Ji Woo smiled, “That’s great. Please try your hardest, I am also very sorry about yesterday. The masters should not have pushed you so much…” Ji Woo saddened slightly as she recalled the events of yesterday. Even though it was her masters doing she felt somewhat responsible for it.

“No please don’t be guilty about it.” Lee Jun said completely reading her. “I am unusually stubborn, I don’t know why but I wanted to go all out when I was being tested.”

Ji Woo smiled slightly she did feel relieved that he was holding her responsible for it. “You were pretty awesome yesterday…” She whispered.

“Pardon me, I couldn’t hear that.” Lee Jun said as he sat down next to her.

“Nothing…” Ji Woo said, she went slight red with embarrassment. ‘I so did not just compliment him! Kyaa! Whats wrong with me!!’

Lee Jun quietly stared into the pond. He kept going through yesterday in his mind. He wanted to stretch himself like that more, past his limits…that’s when he really felt alive…

Ji Woo kept stealing glances. ‘Why is my heart beating so fast? Is this for real? Don’t tell me I like him? Why him? He isn’t even that cute, he is shorter than me and younger than me…’

“Thanks.” Lee Jun said after the brief moment of silence. “I don’t think I would have ever had the courage to pursue something like this on my own. I am not very good at making friends, so this feels good.”

Ji Woo smiled. ‘Yeah…that’s why…even I am not good at making friends…this is the first time I have had a normal conversation with another person…its always been masters who treat me like their daughters or the disciples who treat me like their sister…I guess this is what friendship feels like.’

“Thanks.” Ji Woo said as she got up.

Lee Jun was slightly confused, he didn’t know why she just said thank you. ‘Wouldn’t you say welcome?’

“I think your mom is looking for you?” Ji Woo said pointing in the direction of the admin office where his mom was panicking and looking around frantically for Lee Jun.

“Sigh…” Lee Jun slowly got up and tidied his clothes. “See you around.” He said as he waived back to her.

Ji Woo slowly waived back to him.

Behind a tree hidden, stod Ma Song and Roi Lee. They had come to cheer up Ji Woo and ended up witnessing the entire conversation. They were completely devastated.

“Ma Song…Ma Song…” Roi Lee wailed. “Ji Woo is growing up…Ma Song did you see her smile…she had been sulking since yesterday…”

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“Remember not to overly exert yourself.” Lee Jun’s mom said as she got into the car. “Let me know if you want me to come pick you up.”

“Don’t worry!” Roi Lee said as he put his both his hands on Lee Jun’s shoulders. “We will take good care of your son, Ma’am.”

Lee Jun shivered slightly, he could feel something sinister behind those words. He quietly waved to his mom as she drove… “So when do we begin trainin…”

Roi Lee dragged Lee Jun into the dojang. “Listen kid, even if Ji Woo likes you, I don’t approve of someone weaker than her. Remember, in the end you weren’t even able to touch Hwa Young. It is only because of Ji Woo we accepted.”

“Roi Lee stop lying.” Chung Il said as he pulled Roi Lee back.

“But Chung…” Roi Lee complained. However, Chung Il would not listen to him.

“Your opponent was a senior and he was a strong one. You made a poor judgment in picking him. However, what is important is not whether you could or could not have landed the blow but your resolve.” Chung Il said. He did not say it to make Lee Jun feel better but he simply stated the truth.

“Yes, that’s true.” Choi Jong added. “Resolve is important. If you had given up and walked away half heartedly then even if we trained you, you wouldn’t become stronger. The yoggu (desire) to become stronger is what is truly important. So let me officially welcome you to Kumdo Dojang.”

“But Chung!!” Roi Lee was still wailing and complaining, he was not going to accept Lee Jun anytime soon.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The other three chose to ignore him. Chung Il and Choi Jong were slightly surprised that Ma Song who was the most attached to Ji Woo was not even saying a word. ‘Something suspicious indeed.’

“Lee Jun, we don’t normally handle the training of disciples. However, we are unsure which group to put you in right now.” Chung Il spoke as he walked along with Lee Jun. “For now I want you to explore the dojang and find something that interests you. I would have suggested with a strength training regime but you are much too young for that now.”

“I lack stamina…” Lee Jun spoke softly.

“Yes, we noticed. Building your stamina is important but if it isn’t balanced with proper nutritional intake it won’t help. So we need to look into your diet as well. But that is not so important. Other people might think otherwise. However, I think you will simply tire yourself out of training and find it boring if I asked you to only run and do stretches. What I want you to have is goal to strive towards. It helps to have a goal.” Chung Il was slow and careful with his words. He would have normally ordered a student like Lee Jun with weak stamina to build stamina through running up and down a hill and plenty of stretching exercise. However, Lee Jun was not a normal student. He was born with an innate battle sense and he also did imitate the half step.

Chung Il was more interested in the latter half, was it a fluke? Or something more? He and the others were curious to know if Lee Jun could imitate moves just by seeing them once. Even if one seems something once, it is usually impossible to copy it to the same degree of likeness. Lee Jun was the exception to this rule, though he could not bring out the same speed and power in his movement like Hwa Young, it was definitely the half step that he had replicated that day.

“I don’t understand. I thought become stronger is a goal?” Lee Jun asked.

“No it isn’t. I don’t think you might understand right away what I mean. So for now please do as I say.” Chung Il had grown quite cunning with his words.

“…ok..” Lee Jun said with uncertainty. ‘He basically just wants me to do nothing?’

“Let’s begin here.” Chung Il said. They stood in front of a room and Lee Jun could hear Roi Lee talking inside.

“Please excuse us.” Chung Il said as he guided Lee Jun inside. “I leave him in your care. Be nice to him.” Chung Il wore a stern look on his face as he spoke to Roi Lee.

Lee Jun took his seat in front with other new disciples who had joined earlier last month. There were 14 of them in all.

Roi Lee began seriously with his lectures. When he taught, all humor, jokes, fun and games went out the window. “Remember even though you are using strength; don’t forget that in real life situations are not that simple. You need to read your opponents moves, and respond precisely like how a willow tree sways with the wind but does not fly away with it.”

Lee Jun raised his hand. He did not really comprehend what Roi Lee just said.

“Lee Jun this is not a class room. If you have questions please reserve them for later. Learning martial arts is experiencing. So it is unlikely, if my explanation to your question would answer your question.” Roi Lee replied coldly. ‘This one is a complete geek…what does Ji Woo see in him anyways…’

“There are four basic forms in the martial arts I teach and guide. Those under this branch, will learn the way of the calmness. It is the first and last steps of your training where you must build mental fortitude. I am assigning you all to your groups. Please visit your respective instructors for the training.”

Roi Lee handed paper slips to the thirteen except Lee Jun. “I was not informed that you would be coming to this branch. I do not have an instructor specifically to assign to you. Is this where you wish to begin your study?”

“I would like to know about the other three branches as well. I don’t really know what the other three are.” Lee Jun replied cautiously to Roi Lee’s sudden politeness.

“I see you haven’t been told anything.” Roi Lee rubbed his forehead, ‘What is that Chung Il thinking of. Why did he bring him to me without explaining anything.’

The four instructors took over the dojang once Ahn Hyundo passed on. Remembering his last word which were “Remember my beloved pupils there must be balance to everything. Each of you has honed a different skill, so unique to you that you must leave behind your own legacy. In doing so you will leave me proud.”

After Ahn Hyundo’s death, Lee Hyun bluntly turned down the post of being successor no matter how many times the others read out the will and offered it. Lee Hyun kept respectfully turned it down. Lee Hyun was still regarded as the true successor to the dojang by the other four even if Lee Hyun turned it down. With Lee Hyun no longer wanting to lead the helm, each of the four instructors was crowned as masters by him before he vacated his position as a successor.

Lee Hyun however did ensure that Ahn Hyundo’s last wishes were carried out to the end. Before leaving, he split the Ahn Hyundo’s teachings into four branches. Each instructor was a master of a branch. Disciples would now alternate between branches to grow quickly on their never ending quest to master the way of the sword and martial arts.

The next few days Lee Jun went to the dojang everyday spending most of his time attending lectures or watching others practice. He wasn’t assigned sparring partners or given any instructors. It was almost as if he was being punished. Lee Jun would often reflect back on Roi Lee’s words, “Ji Woo begged us to accept you.” Lee Jun sighed as he went from one lecture to another.

Doubt clouded his heart… “Maybe I should quit…everything....there is no hope for me...not here or in virtual reality.”

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Authors Note:

1. Happy reading!

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