#1
6
2.
Kang Yu-seong covered his sisters with their blankets again and quietly left the room.
Darkness quietly descended upon the surroundings, and the sound of insects chirping in the distance signaled that it was deep night.
Kang Yu-seong walked slowly toward Soyeonmujang, unconcerned by the matter.
This is Kang Yu-seong’s fixed routine.
It was a habit he hadn’t missed a single day. ‘Senior Brother said he could already draw six swords of ten thousand.’ Compared to the level of mastery he had heard of in the scriptures, he was only at the stage of creating two.
Thinking about how little time has passed since I started studying the Taeeul Jingyeong, I naturally felt anxious. ‘Am I doing this right?’ Yet, when I thought of the days when I cared for my sisters all alone with nowhere to turn, I let out a deep sigh of relief.
What would have happened if I hadn’t met my senior brother that day?
What would have happened if the Senior Brother hadn’t told me to come to Taeeulmun?
Thanks to that, I was now eating three meals a day well with my sisters in a comfortable and cozy place.
Moreover, I also learned the martial arts I had dreamed of so much.
Indeed, Senior Brother Jin So-woon and the Taeeul Sect were like a parent’s embrace to Kang Yu-seong. ‘I must repay this kindness.’ Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Kang Yu-seong hurried toward the Soyeon Martial Arts Hall.
“Haa!”
Shhhhh.
A clattering sound rings out along with a clear cry.
A sharp piece of iron is stuck into the scarecrow set up in the training ground.
The figure standing in the center creates an illusion as its fluttering martial arts robes billow, and iron fragments are scattered once again from its hidden hand, inside which is an illusion
It contains the subtlety of and looks like dozens or hundreds.
Shhhhhh.
The scarecrow, having been baptized with iron pieces, finally could not hold out and fell over with a loud crack. ‘Ms. Wang?’ Only then did Kang Yu-seong realize who the guest was and tried to quietly slip out of the training ground.
I learned this after coming to Taeeulmun: among martial artists, it is considered a great offense to peek at each other’s training process.
When you turn around like that and try to find another place.
“Priest Kang?”
Wang So-so, catching her breath, called out to Kang Yu-seong.
Did you come here to train?
“Yes, Senior. I may use another place, so you may continue to use this one.”
“Really? Then since things have turned out this way, shall we train together?”
“yes?”
“Why? Am I just not on the right level?”
“No, what are you… saying?”
Then come here.
As Kang Yu-seong approached, Wang So-so stroked Kang Yu-seong’s head.
Kang Yu-seong was a dignified adult in front of his older sisters, but he turned into a younger brother in front of Wang So-so.
The priest is working hard.
“……
Ahem. And what brings you here at this late hour, Senior Sister?
“Yeah. When I go home, my father won’t let me practice. He tells me to go to bed early because it’s hard. But not training is even harder.”
“…….”
Kang Yu-seong looked at Wang So-so as if fascinated.
“My sister… may I ask you just one thing?”
“Huh? What is it?”
“You mentioned that Senior Sister Wang’s father supports the Taeeul Sect generously, and that you would become a merchant later on… Why are you working so hard?”
Wang So-so tilted her head.
“What does working hard have to do with sponsoring a lot and becoming a merchant?”
“Huh? Ah… um, that is….”
Kang Yu-seong started to stumble over his words, thinking that he had made a slip of the tongue.
Wang So-so’s eyes grew a little fierce.
“If I’m someone who sponsors a lot and is becoming a merchant, shouldn’t I work hard? Did I do something wrong?”
No! That’s not it… …!
As Kang Yu-seong was flustered and didn’t know what to do, Wang So-so burst into laughter.
You wield it like a black ghost, yet your personality is so weak; what use is that?
You are going too far, Senior Sister.
So, what are you really curious about?
Kang Yu-seong hesitated for a moment, then looked Wang So-so straight in the eye.
“So… I have received so much from the Taeeulmun, but there is no way for me to repay it. That is why I practice so diligently. However, I am curious how you, Senior Sister, manage to practice so earnestly when you are giving so much to the Taeeulmun.”
Wang So-so smiled gently at Kang Yu-seong’s sincere answer.
“Ah! So that was your concern? Hmm… I don’t know. Because you like Taeeulmun?”
You say you like Taeeulmun?
“Well, to be precise, it’s because I’ve received so much from Brother Jin, but anyway, I thought the day would come when I could repay him.”
A look of bewilderment crossed Kang Yu-seong’s eyes.
To him, the Senior Brother appeared to be a being strong enough not to need anyone’s help.
Isn’t Senior Brother already incredibly strong? I wonder if we can really be of any help…
“Of course, he is amazing… To be honest, he is absurdly strong. I know this because I often meet martial artists while working as a merchant; it seems there aren’t many people in his age group who can compare to my brother Jin.”
For some reason, Wang So-so shrugged her shoulders as if she were boasting.
Still, there will be moments when you need help.
“When?”
“Well, who knows? Anyway, even if that isn’t the case, getting stronger will be a huge help to Brother Jin. At least we won’t be a hindrance to him, right?”
Interference? It was a point he had never considered before. Kang Yu-seong asked back.
Are you saying it’s a hindrance?
“Of course. Special people like Brother Jin are bound to make many enemies in the world. Some of them, unable to do anything to him, end up messing with the sect or his family.”
“Good heavens! How could you be so cowardly!”
“Right. Exactly. We must try not to hold Brother Jin back. That is the only way he will be able to achieve what he wants.”
Wang So-so, who had been stroking Yoo-seong’s head as if he were her youngest brother, soon patted his shoulder as if tapping on solid wood.
Furthermore, if the Taeeul Sect grows stronger, no one will be able to treat Brother Jin disrespectfully.
So, in the end, becoming stronger is of tremendous help to Senior Brother.
“yes!”
Kang Yu-seong wore a relieved expression, as if a long-held worry had been resolved.
I’ll work even harder.
“Hmm… I think it’s sufficient as it is. Well, as long as you work hard, that’s good.”
“Yes! But what kind of training were you doing just now, Senior Officer?”
Me? I’m currently practicing martial arts
I was practicing.
“Two drinks?”
Yusung tilts his head.
“Yeah, Kendo is good, but I think martial arts is a bit more fun.”
Then, may I help you?
“Would you like to?”
“Yes! I was actually practicing the Ten Thousand Swords right now, too. I’ll go get the hidden weapons.”
“Thanks. I’m going to catch my breath.”
While Wang So-so picked up the water bottle placed beside her and drank water.
Kang Yu-seong approached the scarecrow. ‘Huh?’ Kang Yu-seong, who was trying to pull out the hidden weapon embedded in the scarecrow, tilted his head because the shape of the weapon was strange, and then looked at Wang So-so.
“Senior Sister, have you been training with this all this time by any chance?”
“Huh? Oh! Well, I wanted to use a flying sword, but my father told me not to because it’s dangerous.”
“I was looking for something suitable… and that was the one we had the most of at home.”
Kang Yu-seong looked once again at the hidden weapon embedded in the scarecrow.
It was shaped like a round object with a square hole in the center, making it easy to thread a string through.
However, most people did not carry a string through this.
Because of the risk of theft, it is often placed in a small pouch and kept in the deepest part of one’s bosom.
So, what Wang So-so threw out haphazardly was…
You’re saying you use silver coins as secret weapons?
“Right. So stop asking and bring it over quickly!”
Kang Yu-seong became curious.
I wonder if this memorization becomes one’s own if it burrows deep into the flesh.
Then, the question is how many hits he can endure.#“Ugh.”
As I vomit up a handful of blood, the stifling feeling in my stomach is relieved.
“Haa, haa, haa.”
As I gasped for breath, I came back to my senses a little. ‘What on earth went wrong?’ I had clearly followed the movements of the Demon King Baek Haegwang exactly.
The tattered muscles transformed into a somewhat similar form, and thanks to enduring the pain of grinding the bones, the bones also changed to a state sufficient to unleash the Baekwoljecheonsamsik.
Even the secrets and key points were perfect.
However, whenever I unleash the Baekwoljecheonsamsik, the flow of my internal energy cuts off one by one, and I feel as though my internal organs are being turned upside down.
He followed everything perfectly, but in the end, he could not even execute a single move of the Baekwoljecheolsamsik.
“Good heavens…… Young Master Jin.”
As I turned my head in a daze, I saw Namgung Seon-hwa’s pale face.
“What on earth happened?”
Nothing happened.
Then what are all these bloods?
Only then did I look around, and the area was filled with the bruises I had coughed up.
Well, it looks like you just fought a life-or-death battle.
I was in the middle of my training, but I think something went wrong.
“You call this training?”
Namgung Seon-hwa looked around as if she couldn’t believe it, then handed over the water bottle she was holding.
I drank nearly half of the water in the canteen without stopping.
“Haa… haa… haa…….”
What on earth went wrong?
As the time for the duel approaches, my desperate heart races.
“My lord, Young Master Jin!”
I turned my head in surprise to see Namgung Seon-hwa looking at me with a face full of worry.
“What exactly is blocking you?”
“Which part?”
“Yes. Isn’t all of what you spat out here blood?”
“you’re right.”
“The circulation of your energy isn’t working properly. If you keep pushing yourself like this, you might suffer from qi deviation.”
It is clear that the cycle of betting is not functioning properly.
No, to be precise, it is a state where the cycle of betting is running wild and I cannot control it.
“If I hadn’t strengthened my blood vessels and Danjeon with the power of the Nine Spirit Herbs, I would have suffered from Qi deviation at least ten more times over.” ‘Did this Sword Demon perhaps teach me the wrong incantation?’ I shook my head as I thought this.
He was the one who handed it to me in the first place. If his goal was to kill me, he could have easily done it with his own hands.
The pronunciation is perfect, the movements are perfect, and the proficiency is perfect.
But why can’t he properly execute the sword technique?
Miss Seonhwa.
“Did you learn the Imperial Sword Technique from Master Shin-geom?”
Right?
“Could you tell me how much you have achieved?”
Namgung Seon-hwa’s face hardened.
Asking about someone’s level of skill without permission is considered one of the rudenesses among warriors.
I continued speaking.
So, I would like to know what level you are at compared to Shin-geom.
Compared to your grandfather?
Namgung Seon-hwa, having relaxed her expression, rested her chin on her fingers and wore a pensive look.
“Just a drop in the ocean?”
Is it a metaphorical expression? Or is it a literal expression?
It’s both.
Is it because of the difference in inner strength?
That is not the case. As you know, to master the Emperor Sword Technique, you must first master the Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Technique, but once you reach a certain level, performing the Emperor Sword Technique is not a major issue.
It is just as I thought.
Even if the level of Sword Demon Baek Haegwang’s internal energy is formidable, with my current level, I have no trouble unleashing the Baekwol Jecheon Samsik.
“Then where does the difference in achievement between Lord Shin-geom and the Young Lady come from?”
It’s probably because of the time.
Are you talking about proficiency?
“That’s one thing, but…”
“Then, if Miss Seonhwa could perform with the exact same movements and postures as Master Singeom, would she achieve the same level of accomplishment?”
In my case, I matched everything, from the secret formulas and internal energy to the time required for mastery.
Rather, it is stranger that the inspection is not manifested.
Namgung Seon-hwa, who had been tilting her head, began to stiffen her face.
“What on earth are you up to?”
I made up a flimsy excuse, thinking that I might cause some worry.
“I was just curious. Our sect doesn’t have a supreme master like you, Master Shin-geom, does it? If so, I was simply wondering why there is a difference in achievement even if one learns exactly the same way from someone like you.”
Even though I said that, Namgung Seon-hwa didn’t seem to believe me at all.
“You mean you suddenly had such a question in this critical situation?”
Namgung Seon-hwa was dumbfounded as she looked at the blood soaking the floor.
I answered without a shred of shame.
Should a martial artist’s training be restricted to specific times and places?
Namgung Seon-hwa, who had been glaring at me, let out a small sigh.
It’s hard to believe, but let me tell you anyway. Something somewhat similar happened within the family. One of my uncles followed my grandfather around every day, trying to imitate not only his swordsmanship but also his behavior and habits.
Oh, to think there was someone in the Namgung family who shared my thoughts—I feel a sense of kinship somehow.
“How were his achievements? Were they similar to Shin-geom’s?”
Not at all.
Huh?
It didn’t improve at all. In fact, my performance was lower than that of those who started in the same age group.
Why?
“Later, my grandfather told me that merely imitating others without one’s own realization would only make you feel awkward, like wearing clothes that don’t fit.”
Emptiness
“One must build it oneself through one’s own strength. He said that if a hundred people practice one martial art, it becomes a hundred different martial arts.”
“……!”
Images in my mind come to mind vividly.
The Three White Moon Heaven-Slaying Techniques unleashed by the Demon Sword.
And the Baekwoljecheonsamsik that I unfold.
Even when wielding the same sword, the subtlety contained within it is quite different.
When the two figures were superimposed into one, they did not fit together perfectly even though they were performing the same action.
Ultimately, even if one were to perfectly replicate the Demon Sword’s sword, one could not generate power on the same level as the Demon Sword.
“Still, my grandfather said it wasn’t a bad method. He said it was the fastest way to internalize the achievements that a high-level individual had built up over a long period. Though, he himself disliked others clinging to him.”
What was that uncle actually like?
He is currently working as a deputy director at the execution hall.
Are you saying that the Great Hero of the Azure Dragon Jade Sword did such a thing in the past?
Changryongokgeom Namgung Seon-myeong was someone who enforced the law according to laws and rules rather than people’s backgrounds, even in his previous life.
As the influence of his clan was so strong, and he himself ranked among the top 100 masters of the Jianghu due to his formidable martial prowess, no one dared to exert external pressure on the Azure Dragon Jade Sword.
“yes.”
In that case, it is not wrong to follow it exactly.
However, until now, I have only pursued the Demon Sword’s enlightenment, not my own.
The important thing is that beyond simply copying, there must be one’s own realization within it.
“ah!”
I quickly sat cross-legged before the brilliant thought flashed through my mind.
“Miss Seonhwa, please do not wake me, no matter what happens to me.”
No, seriously… … .”
I closed my eyes before I could even hear Namgung Seon-hwa’s answer.
I began to visualize the Demon King holding a tree branch in my mind.
One person… eight people… fourteen people… thirty people… … .
At the same time, I also realized myself holding the Black Dragon Sword.
And so, thirty demon swordsmen and my thirty illusions began to unleash the White Moon Heaven-Slaying Three Techniques simultaneously.
Even though I was focusing on emptiness, I could feel heat rising in my head.
To cool down my head, which had become hot enough to rise steam at any moment, I quickly send my energy to the upper dantian to seek stability.
Whenever thirty people each unleashed their techniques, heat began to rise not only in the head but throughout the entire body.
Soon, a strong smell of metal permeated both nostrils, and I felt liquid flowing out.
The Sword Demon’s sword style is the same for all thirty people.
Even if they start at different times, the actions are identical and end at the same time.
However, my appearances are all different.
They start at the same time and end differently.
I take out one illusion each of the Demon King and myself and begin a duel.
Three techniques.
My illusion disappears in just three moves.
*Cough*.
Before I knew it, congestion burst out inside my mouth.
Young Master Jin… … !!
Although I heard Namgung Seon-hwa’s voice, I ignored it and continued the duel.
The second duel… … .
defeat.
The fourth duel… … .
The seventh duel… … .
The thirteenth duel… … .
If my preceding illusion is defeated, the subsequent illusion receives that memory and responds differently.
The Demon Lord’s illusion is exactly as it was when they met at the Manseogong.
The things he said over the past month come vividly to mind.
The secret of the first technique is extreme speed. To be the fastest, one must carry nothing.
The eighteenth duel… … .
The twenty-first duel… … .
The twenty-ninth duel… … .
The thirtieth duel… … .
As I snap back to reality, something huge pops out from inside the inverted container.
“Ugh!”
The black ceremonial robe was stained with blood.
“Young Master Jin! Stop it! You’ll die at this rate!”
I reached out my hand to Namgung Seon-hwa.
“I entrust the protection of the Dharma to you…”
And once again, thirty demon swordsmen and thirty of us began to clash.
The thirty-fourth duel… … .
The thirty-ninth duel… … .
The forty-sixth duel… … .
You must be in the lightest state to be the fastest. Speed that nothing can catch up to cannot be stopped by anything.
The fifty-first duel… … .
draw.
The fifty-fourth duel… … .
An unfinished sword is nothing but a sandcastle that can be shattered at any moment. Destroy it before it is completed as the lightest and fastest sword.
The fifty-sixth duel… … .… …
The fifty-ninth duel… … .
The sixtieth duel… … .
My whole body trembles, and my eyes snap open.
In the game that dominates the entire body, muscles and bones become paralyzed and begin to twist uncontrollably.
Crack, crack. Snap. Snap.
The discomfort built up deep inside my body refluxes and rapidly travels up the esophagus.
“Ugh!”
He spits out blood and foam, just like when he has drunk too much alcohol.
“Young Master Jin!”
From afar, the faint voice of Namgung Seon-hwa is heard.
I eventually let go of the consciousness that was drifting away like that.
