Psycho in Ancient World
Copyright© 2026 by K.W
Chapter 22. Shedding
The day of departure for the Namgung Family.
Dong Bong-su, with simple traveling gear, left the family grounds early, leading Yeoro with him.
Perhaps because it was so early, not a soul was in sight yet.
A quiet morning.
As always, a good time to think.
Holding Yeoro’s reins, he calmly continued the contemplation he had been immersed in since yesterday.
How does one learn martial arts?
For now, there was no choice but to watch with the naked eye and imitate what he had learned.
Last night, relying on his memories—such as the movements of the Black Five Group leaders and the warriors he had seen within the family—he tried to recreate various martial arts. He could imitate the forms, but it didn’t work well. It was imitation in the truest sense. Nothing more, nothing less.
In the end, it meant that to learn martial arts, one had no choice but to be taught.
Then how should he do it?
One could read books, or one could take a master and learn directly. Of the two, the former was the inferior option, and the latter the superior one. Whatever the matter, learning alone by breaking and tearing oneself apart was slower than learning from someone who had already been broken and torn. That way, one could move on to the next stage without repeating the same mistakes.
Dong Bong-su reflected on himself.
In his current state, he would not be welcomed anywhere. In terms of not standing out, the half-mute Horse Stable Hireling Sosam possessed an appearance with optimal camouflage, but it was a form ill-suited for learning anything.
Running out of the Danri Family as he was and becoming someone’s disciple would not be easy. Because he had already reached eighteen by the standards of this place, and he had heard that once one reached this age, learning new martial arts became difficult. Even if someone did accept him, it would rarely be a great master.
‘Let’s set this issue aside for now.’
He hadn’t even properly experienced the martial world yet.
When it came to learning martial arts, it wouldn’t be too late to decide after experiencing the martial world a bit more.
This trip to the Namgung Family would surely broaden his horizons greatly.
There, the chances of finding a solution to this problem would be high. And if all else failed, he could always learn from books.
Clearing his mind again, he stood still and waited for others to come out. Yet only on the surface did he appear idle—he was absolutely not standing still.
All over Dong Bong-su’s body, hidden beneath his clothes, grains of sand continuously appeared and disappeared. It was the training of the Inventory Divine Art. Though it wasn’t a technique with things like proficiency or levels, looking back on his survival thus far, it was the most useful skill he had. It was even superior to the skills granted upon leveling up. That was the Inventory Divine Art.
And more than that.
Recently, he had realized that this skill could be further advanced. That was by taking out or storing two items simultaneously. He hadn’t mastered it perfectly yet, but it had become possible to a certain extent. Given more time, he would likely be able to take out or put away three or even four items at once.
Like a duck paddling furiously beneath the water to glide smoothly across the surface, he stood there and steadily trained the Inventory Divine Art.
How much more time passed like that?
As the sunlight gradually began to warm the earth, those who would depart for the Namgung Family started to show their faces one by one.
The Black Five Group members came out first and quietly lined up in front of the family’s main gate. They were likely waiting for Gi Dae-hyo and Gi Man-ji.
Dong Bong-su, watching their reactions, quietly moved to a secluded corner and stood there. It was to faithfully fulfill the role of Sosam. A Sosam would surely have done just that.
A short while later, Gi Man-ji appeared, neatly dressed in the Black Five Group uniform, and began checking the departing members.
“All members of the Black Five Group are assembled.”
After counting their numbers, his gaze briefly turned toward Dong Bong-su as well.
“Yeoro is out too.”
To him, Dong Bong-su, a mere Sosam, was little more than an accessory to Yeoro. Gi Man-ji then checked the congratulatory gifts to be taken to the Namgung Family and the number of personnel to transport them. As expected, there were no issues.
“Hm. No problems. Anyone not out yet?”
“Everyone is assembled except for the young master and the young lady.”
At Gi Man-ji’s question, one of the Black Five Group members answered. The young master he referred to was Danri Ganghae, the eldest son of Danri Cheon-u, and the young lady was the second daughter, Danri Hee. Gi Dae-hyo had not yet appeared, but since he was the one Gi Man-ji would report to after everyone had gathered, he was not mentioned at all.
Danri Ganghae and Danri Hee were nowhere to be seen, but Gi Man-ji didn’t think much of it. Their tardiness was an everyday occurrence, so it was already expected.
“Then everyone is out.”
After swiftly checking the headcount once more with both eyes, Gi Man-ji went back inside the family grounds. Not long after, he came back out again. The difference was that, unlike before, Gi Dae-hyo now stood at the forefront.