Growth (3)
Sacheon's Three Heroes wondered if it was too late to learn new inner arts and swordsmanship at this point, but they were captivated by their rapidly advancing inner energy and the devastating power of their blade techniques. Seeing themselves grow stronger so visibly, they couldn't give up.
Thwack!"Argh!"Thwack!"Gah!"
On one side, Ga-bok was putting his tough love into practice. He taught them evasion techniques as he'd learned them, fulfilling his duty as the senior.
"You're too fast!"
"Too fast? Am I your friend?"
"You damn slave!"
"So that's how you wanna play it."
"......No, Master!!"
It was Cheon-gi's merchant tactic: take one hit and earn four more in return. Even flat on the ground, that merchant bloodline couldn't be denied.
"Oppa, you're extra handsome today!"
"Ahem! You're the young lady, and I'm just the servant."
It was a ridiculous ploy, but Cheon-ye turned two hits into one. That's why people needed to be born cute. Only then could they grow up smoothly without rough edges.
If looks fell short, life became exhausting and full of twists. How many people with turbulent lives lacked sharp edges?
Ga-bok declared it boldly and without shame.
"I'll take responsibility and turn the third young master and youngest lady into proper people!"
"Your turn."
"As expected, you won't let it slide!!"
He tried to weasel out of it, but Ga-bok knew better. His master wasn't the type to fall for such nonsense. The best was to move quickly and take the hits as painlessly as possible.
Thwack!"Argh!"Thud-thwack!"Urk! Urk!"
No matter how he tried to dodge, fists flew from all directions, pummeling Ga-bok's entire body. For a one-sided beating, he was holding up well. He even slipped in counterattacks here and there, twisting the flow of fists.
It didn't change the fact that he got hit, but Ga-bok's movements had become markedly sharper than at the start.
"......Young master, I've gotten a lot stronger now too!!"
"I'll cheer for your dreams."
"......What dream is that?"
"Wine, women, song, and food, right?"
"......How did you know?!"
"The body is honest."
Ga-bok glanced downward for a split second and took a chin shot, blacking out.
Cheon-gi, Cheon-ye, and Sacheon's Three Heroes shook their heads. It was a master-servant bond that was hard to understand even after seeing it.
"To serve me, you need to reach Hwagyeong."
"......?"
Was that an order to serve or a dismissal? Hwagyeong wasn't some dog's name.
A Hwagyeong warrior was someone you might never encounter in a lifetime. Of course, the grandmother of this household was one. It made it hard for the family head to assert his authority.
Sacheon's Three Heroes prayed for Ga-bok's good fortune. He shouldn't have shown off. Staying quiet would at least get him middling results.
"For closest aides, Absolute Realm at minimum."
"......?"
This wasn't the time to worry about some slave. Sacheon's Three Heroes struck downward with desperate fury. They were growing day by day, but reaching Absolute Realm? The future looked bleak.
'Middling should be enough, right?'
'Why do you wanna be a closest aide?'
'I'll become my lord's sword!'
The grueling training continued for another two hours. Their bodies begged to quit, but loyalty knew no surrender. Even as body and mind pulled in opposite directions, the training progressed well.
After training, Cheon-woo spent time bonding with his siblings Cheon-gi and Cheon-ye, as his father had specially requested. He wasn't sure how to foster family ties, but for the sake of Susin Jegah, he spoke frankly.
"Cheon-ye."
"Yes, oppa."
"Is Cheon-gi still a retard?"
"Obviously."
He took it as meaning there was room for improvement. As Cheon-woo nodded in satisfaction and moved to the next topic, Cheon-gi bristled and interrupted.
"Is that something to say in front of the person involved?"
"If you deny it, go ahead and defend yourself."
"......What kinda bullshit is that?"
Prove I'm not a retard myself? He could've taken it as a joke. But with that unchanging expression and dead-serious tone, it felt like it might induce apoplexy.
"It's my conclusion, pieced together from everyone's family opinions."
"......What about second brother?"
"I didn't say Cheon-su."
"Everyone in the family! You really think I'm a retard?"
"Impressive."
It was unwelcome praise. Cheon-gi barely suppressed his rising fury. Complaining wouldn't solve it; he'd have to prove himself eventually.
'......Karma for me.'
He was paying dearly for treating his eldest brother like a retard. He couldn't complain to anyone, lest his past behavior come back to bite him. If only he'd treated his big brother like a person.
"So what'd you talk about with Father?"
"Come to the study from now on."
Cheon-gi sighed. Attending meetings would just reconfirm he was the family butcher.
"Skip the study. What'd Father say?"
"He asked if you have any intention to marry."
"That's my specialty."
"You? Hilarious!"
They called each other retards, yet they clicked at times like this. Blood was thicker than water—no compliments, but they could hurl insults with expert precision. Of course, they were true siblings who cursed each other privately but wouldn't tolerate it from outsiders.
"Lure her into a dead end, wait for the desperate moment, then swoop in at the crisis—bam! Save her, and all ten out of ten fall for it."
"I've heard that crap, you spouting old-woman bullshit. You think that outdated trick still works? Girls won't even pretend to fall for it anymore!"
"It's a time-tested method. No way it fails!"
"You haven't even tried it!"
"You bitch! Nothing you won't say to oppa!"
It was an embarrassing conversation for eavesdroppers. Love blooming in crisis worked only if hearts aligned. Man or woman, if you liked someone, you'd fall for it knowingly.
"Oppa, men go straight. Just say you like her honestly—unless you wreck her face, two out of ten will go for it."
"That's too low!"
"A solid twenty percent. Perfect. You're more overconfident than you seem."
"Overconfident? Where else is there a groom like me?"
"Under your feet."
"Wanna get stepped on, you bitch!"
In the end, they were both virgins who'd never dated. Odd for his age to claim experience, but like this, there was no hope ahead.
"So what do you wanna do, oppa?"
"I said I'd follow if they pick someone beneficial to the clan."
"Brother, what about romance?"
"Marriage is the union of clans. Sticking only to emotions makes us no better than beasts."
......
Ah! His bullshit artistry had reached divine levels. Marry who his parents pick, while we chase romance like animals. It sounded off, but denying it meant filial impiety. Especially to her—impossible to handle the fallout.
She was Hwagyeong! Who knew Mom was Hwagyeong? Peak Expert was understandable, but beyond the heavens? At least Cheon-woo could surpass Hwagyeong, but escaping training hell felt impossible. Free love might require Hwagyeong as a baseline.
Mom, please don't hit Absolute Realm by then.
"Young master, young lady! No need to worry at all."
Ga-bok, who'd been quietly listening, finally spoke. As a servant, he'd waited patiently for his masters to finish. But now was the time to speak.
Strictly speaking, they were fretting needlessly.
"The master discusses great human affairs, and you butt in arrogantly, slave!"
"As you said, I'm a noble young lady now, so answer straight!"
"Isn't circling Gu Manor enough?"
"......!"
Ga-bok's words left Cheon-gi and Cheon-ye speechless. They circled Gu Manor daily with leap-yeonsae cheers. Everyone saw it. Rumors were inevitable.
After that, free love? Forget dreaming. Cheon-gi and Cheon-ye swallowed their rage without rebuttal.
"Rumors fade with realm advancement."
"When's that?!"
......
Cheon-woo didn't answer. With the set discussion time over, he wrapped it up.
"Hey, answer before you go!"
"Now you won't even talk!"
Thinking about it, it was Cheon-woo's consideration. Cheon-gi and Cheon-ye's talents were below average. He'd mentioned Hwagyeong, but whether achievable remained to be seen. Cheon-woo valued innate talent. Fortunately, even mediocrity could be forged into near-excellence.
He savored the Wall Valley Art over long years in this cave. He'd forgotten even to count the time spent here. That too was a step for the next phase. He endlessly repeated the incantation from start to finish, over and over.
When he thought it perfect, a new stage emerged.
"Yielding, balance, harmony."
He forgot even that and advanced, only to return to the beginning upon reflection. In the end, he realized the world cycled back to pure primordial oneness.
Finally, the last stage neared. So close, yet elusive—how much agony? Beyond that frustration lay the fairyland of the immortal realm.
Just grasp it. Go.
Assimilate with the flow of all things to achieve the pure way, Ruyi Ultimate Singularity.
Waves of light seeped toward him, his form turning pure white. Immerse body and mind in this light, reach the pinnacle of Ruyi Immortal Art—ascension to immortality.
That moment.
How could such deviant thoughts arise? The elder cried out, unleashing his dao power. But the engraving burrowed inward, instantly suppressing and crushing the elder's dao force.
A lifetime of Ruyi Immortal Qi lost direction and crumbled. An unbelievable reality confronted him.
A wisp of smoke. Decades of cultivation collapsed before the deemed-evil Path of Dominance.
Such futility! Was all my effort for naught? No, impossible.
......Was I wrong? Was the path of dominance right, not pure harmony?
He should deny it, yet it blocked his path plainly. No. The elder hastily recited Ruyi Immortal Art from the start.
Huh? Why? He couldn't recall Ruyi Immortal Art. Other memories engraved, forming a new incantation.
Must block it. If completed, he'd crumble. Yet the emerging new Ruyi Art held power utterly different from before. It exuded immense allure on its own.
With that power, nothing impossible. Ascension, immortal realm—easy.
......Such bewitchment! Like a demon. Begone!
His cries echoed in silence. Before long, the elder was dyed in Ruyi Dominance Art, crossing the river of no return.
Wooong!Shaaa!
A colossal dominance crushing all directions. Myeong-sang Ruyi Paewang Qi.
Dominance transcending walls. Its ripples manifested ultimate dominance never seen before. The elder's appearance reverted to middle age, his body surpassing youthful vigor.
"Who dares block this seat's path!"
Anyway, he'd grown.