The Heaven-Blessed Talent (1)
I gave the fox that had come to see me that morning half of my arm.
It was an act of cutting off any hesitation ahead of me.
The fox devoured my arm, then granted me permission to reside there before returning home.
I paid no mind to the others and headed straight to a secluded spot in the forest, swinging my sword.
To recapture that realization!
Yet a day passed, then two days, and three days went by until the sahuas came to kidnap my companions.
Even without eating, sleeping, or resting, I kept swinging my sword.
But the realization never came back.
I finally stopped swinging my sword on the fourth day.
Right after the assistant who had been kidnapped by Seo Hyul, the Sea Dragon King.
I sat blankly in place, preparing a mushroom stew with herbs to serve as seasoning for Kim Joo-jeon and Kim Young-hoon Bu-jang.
The three of us dined together over our final conversation.
And not long after, Kim Joo-jeon’s ability awakened.
From afar, an old man with a hunchback appeared riding a gigantic puppet.
After a brief clash with Kim Joo-jeon, the old man hurled us both through a spatial rift.
I closed my eyes for the last time, remembering the sight of Kim Joo-jeon reaching out to us as I had in my past life.
* * *
“This place….”
When I opened my eyes, I was once again in a tree.
“Hmph….”
I unfolded my light-body technique and descended from the tree.
Looking around, I found Kim Young-hoon Bu-jang caught on another tree.
I climbed up to help him down, then scanned the surroundings.
“This is the southwestern part of the Yeon Kingdom.”
In my past life—
While maneuvering the Demon God Sword, the Ghost Demon Pavilion, and more—
I had wandered across every corner of the nation.
By now, if I fell anywhere and the landing place was within the Yeon Kingdom, I could roughly pinpoint my location.
‘With over a hundred years of roaming the Yeon Kingdom across my past and this life….’
Of course, the kingdom’s size wasn’t small, so there were still places I didn’t know.
But I could at least estimate my position.
“Bu-jang-nim, please wake up.”
I woke the unconscious Kim Young-hoon Bu-jang and explained the situation.
He looked startled but, given all the chaos, he accepted it reasonably well.
We headed toward the nearest city together, and I taught him characters and language.
A few days later, we reached Hopyeok City, the closest city.
We sold the medicinal herbs from Deungsunhyang and purchased a manor.
I taught him characters, language, and the Danmaekdo method I had created by refining the Danak Sword Art from my past life.
He quickly mastered the Danmaekdo method following my instructions.
In just three months, he reached Peak Martial Artist.
‘That’s a bit disappointing.’
Some people spend their entire lives and only reach the edge of first-rate.
Others, after just three months of learning first-rate martial arts, reach Peak—
‘Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown!’
I took a Huangzhusan pill and looked at the man floating three flowers above his head.
“Hoo….”
After finishing his qi circulation and breathing exercise, he stood up with a light expression.
“Heh heh, if it were now, I might even be able to beat Sa-nim.”
“…”
I watched his lively figure and smiled bitterly inside.
As expected, this man wasn’t the ‘Hyung-nim Young-hoon’ I had brought from my past life.
Now, mentally, he was far younger than me.
‘Just by the time he’s lived, he’s still my grandson in terms of age.’
Suddenly, watching him so excited, I decided not to walk with him this time.
“Bu-jang-nim. I received a martial arts manual from an old man I bought rice for this morning, but I can’t understand it at all.”
“Eh? That’s definitely Giyeon! Let me see!”
I handed him the martial arts I had received from Hyung-nim Young-hoon in my past life—the one carrying his realization.
The Gyeongsu Wolmu Rok.
As he read it, his eyes widened and his voice trembled.
“Se, Seo-nim… What is this? This is… truly… the greatest martial art under heaven.”
“Bu-jang-nim, I have something to say.”
“What? Oh, fine. Don’t worry. Once I master this martial art, Se-nim will also be…”
“From today onward, I will walk separately from Bu-jang-nim.”
“…What?”
He widened his eyes in surprise and looked at me.
“W-what are you saying, Se-nim. I mean, Seo Eun-hyun.”
“It is as I say. I plan to walk separately from Bu-jang-nim.”
“B-but why?”
“The reason…”
I recalled in my mind the scene of Hyung-nim Young-hoon from my past life.
The Kim Young-hoon who had risen to the head of the Wulin Alliance through conquest, only to learn of the sahuas, chase after them, then despair at the true sahua and sit down in despair.
The Kim Young-hoon who had founded the greatest sect under heaven, rebelled against the sahuas, slaughtered them, only to be trapped by terrifying sahuas and sit down in despair, then choosing to become a sahua instead of pursuing the path of martial arts.
Probably the same would happen this time.
Just like this life, he would master the Gyeongsu Wolmu Rok, rise through conquest, meet the sahuas again, despair before them, then abandon the path of martial arts and become a sahua.
I could no longer bear to watch that sight.
“…”
But I couldn’t say it.
“I plan to roam the martial world, raise my own realm.”
“T-that’s something I could teach you… but…”
“I want to do it alone.”
“Oh no. What will I do without you?”
“With Bu-jang-nim’s martial arts skill, you will be able to live well enough. I have already taught you the language, characters, and martial arts, and Bu-jang-nim has already reached Peak Martial Artist through your own power.”
“But….”
He said it with a gloomy expression.
“Does that mean I have to leave another old friend behind?”
Probably because the shock of being dropped into this world and losing all his close colleagues in such a short time still hadn’t faded.
“In that case, let’s meet here once every two years.”
“…”
I persuaded the lonely Kim Young-hoon Bu-jang, then parted ways with him and left the city.
If I stayed with him, I could reach Peak Martial Artist faster while following the map of the greatest under heaven.
But I no longer wanted to see him despairing.
After leaving the city, I surveyed the mountains and rivers.
“First, I should head to Seogyeong-seong.”
I thought about visiting the Four Stars and Three Demons of Seogyeong-seong, the capital of the Yeon Kingdom.
The Seven Sects of Seogyeong-seong included the Four Stars and Three Demons, which had many outstanding Peak Martial Artists.
I might receive guidance from them.
‘I should visit them to test my skills first.’
Of course, I had no intention of provoking the great sects like the Four Stars and Three Demons.
Provoking them would bring severe repercussions.
Until I reached Peak Martial Artist, it would be best not to touch them.
I went to the Eight Respect Pavilion, a sect located on the outskirts of Seogyeong-seong.
The Eight Respect Pavilion was a mid-sized sect of Seogyeong-seong.
The sect leader was a first-rate expert at the peak of first-rate.
When I arrived at the Eight Respect Pavilion, two gatekeepers blocked me.
“What business do you have at the Eight Respect Pavilion?”
Since I was wearing somewhat luxurious martial clothes from the money earned selling herbs, the gatekeepers asked politely.
I returned the bow respectfully and stated my purpose.
“I came to challenge for a sparring match at the Eight Respect Pavilion.”
At my words, the eyebrows of the two gatekeepers twitched.
“This pavilion doesn’t let just anyone in….”
Shuk!
I quickly stepped forward and sliced off the front of one gatekeeper’s robe with my blade.
I hadn’t touched him with my sword, but Sword Qi had cut the front of his robe.
Both realized I had used Sword Qi.
They paled.
“S-Sword Qi…!”
“A first-rate expert!”
“Does that make me seem like an ‘anyone’?”
The two gatekeepers asked me to wait a moment, then entered the Eight Respect Pavilion.
Not long after, one gatekeeper came out sweating profusely.
“Please enter the inner courtyard. The sect leader is waiting for you.”
I followed the gatekeeper into the Eight Respect Pavilion and then to the sparring arena in the inner courtyard.
On the arena stood a middle-aged man with a long beard, waiting while holding a folding fan.
“Heh, I was worried about who would come. A young hero has arrived.”
“Seo Eun-hyun of the Eight Respect Pavilion. I greet the pavilion master.”
“Heh heh, the young hero’s qi isn’t ordinary.”
“The pavilion master’s qi is also not ordinary.”
Kindly grant guidance to this nameless fool.”
We exchanged brief pleasantries, then immediately entered the sparring match.
Cha-lang!
The first move of the Eight Respect Pavilion master began.
The folding fan came at me like a snake.
It had perfect movement. The martial arts themselves felt perfectly fused with him.
I used the opening of the Danak Sword Art to deflect his folding fan.
At the same time, the Eight Respect Pavilion master swung a low kick toward me.
Bu-wung!
I lowered my head to dodge his foot, then swung my sword in a low arc and thrust into his chest.
Cha-lang!
His folding fan came down at me.
I quickly retreated and regained my posture.
“…Sword form and momentum are completely one. Sword Body Union… late stage of first-rate!”
“The pavilion master has also completely integrated his martial arts. Thanks to that, I blocked one move.”
“Heh heh….”
He sighed while looking at my face.
“Reaching that realm at such a young age. You are truly a genius.”
“A genius…”
I let out a bitter smile.
Indeed, to the eyes, I looked like an enormous genius.
Reaching late stage of first-rate in my late twenties—that was nothing short of an extraordinary talent.
Even reaching the realm of first-rate, which normal people take decades to attain, made me look like a heaven-sent talent.
‘Heaven-sent talent….’
But I knew.
I never possessed heaven-sent talent.
I was not a genius.
“I thank you for praising my insufficient talent.”
Therefore, calling me a genius was not praise.
Yet I accepted the praise with a faint smile.
Those who train their entire lives and still cannot reach first-rate are not alone.
While there are few geniuses in the world,
Dullards fill the world to overflowing.
Yet it is the most unbelievable miracle that, through regression, I was able to temper my martial arts to a level comparable to a genius.
Even if genius is not praise to me,
Calling myself not a genius in front of those who cannot obtain even this miracle is merely a deception.
Therefore,
I decided to become a genius.
“From now on, I will use Sword Qi.”
“Very well. I will fight properly too.”
As soon as he said that, we charged at each other.
Danak Sword Art.
First move. Wolak.
I swung my sword in a low arc from left to right.
The crescent-moon-shaped Sword Qi passed through and cut down the body of the Eight Respect Pavilion master.
The Eight Respect Pavilion master bent his waist to dodge my attack and unfolded his folding fan in a low arc.
Danak Sword Art.
Second move. Ipsan.
Shuk!
I immediately changed to a low arc and swung my sword at the same height again.
My sword and his folding fan clashed, and our first moves collided.
Pa-at!
The Eight Respect Pavilion master jumped into the air and used his move to strike down with his folding fan.
Danak Sword Art.
Third move. Deungmaek.
I gripped my sword in a low arc again, raised it, and repelled his folding fan.
After repelling the attack, I regained my posture and attempted a counter.
Fourth move. Yureung.
Gripping my sword in a low arc, I stabbed smoothly.
The Eight Respect Pavilion master tried to block with his folding fan, but my sword twisted even more and pierced toward the master.
He pulled back to avoid the stab, but the twisted Sword Qi grazed his collar.
I didn’t miss the chance and continued my move.
Fifth move, Gweam. Sixth move, Giseok.
Gripping my sword and spinning like a sword dance, I created a perfect offense and defense between the chunks of Sword Qi,
and gradually increased my sword speed while creating variations within that spin.
Bong, bong, bong, bong!
Seventh move, Simsan.
I used the spinning force to push off and charge forward.
The Eight Respect Pavilion master tried to strike me down with his folding fan, but I slipped into his chest because of the strange variation made with the sixth move.
“Hmph…!”
After slipping inside his distance, I twisted my body from right lower to left upper and sliced.
Pi-sit!
The Eight Respect Pavilion master turned a full circle and barely dodged the Sword Qi,
but my Sword Qi cut the front of his robe.
At the same time, he used the spinning force from the full turn to swing his folding fan at me.
Eighth move, Yugok.
I swung my sword again, deflected the Eight Respect Pavilion master’s folding fan, and neutralized the force inside it.
Bu-wung, bu-wung, bu-wung!
The Eight Respect Pavilion master stepped back and swung his folding fan three times.
I countered by raising my sword to left upper,
Ninth move, Sansuhwa.
Striking down from right lower, I used my internal energy three times to strike from right upper to left lower.
A total of six precise strikes blocked the folding fan.
I gripped my sword in an upper arc and raised my internal energy.
Tenth move, Yongmaek.
The internal energy of the Yongmaek Qi Gong surged like an explosion.
Enormous force gathered in my sword, and with a tyrannical momentum, it cut down the Eight Respect Pavilion master.
“Eu-eut!”
Kwa-ang!
The Eight Respect Pavilion master countered with his folding fan.
My sword and the folding fan clashed, producing a sound like a cannon exploding.
“Kueuk!”
The Eight Respect Pavilion master furrowed his brows at the shock transmitted through his fingertips and spun while swinging his folding fan.
‘Four times!’
This time, the number of folding fan attacks was four.
Eleventh move, Danae.
Kwak!
I applied the technique of Thousand-Jin Thrust to my internally charged sword.
My sword became enormously heavy.
At the same time, the Sword Qi on my sword pierced straight through the unarmed floor and embedded itself.
I cut the floor of the sparring arena while my sword remained embedded and lifted the Eight Respect Pavilion master to chop him.
“Kueut!”
Shuk!
Even with the sword embedded, I moved quickly.
From the moment I pulled it out, my speed became incomparably faster.
The Eight Respect Pavilion master was bewildered by the speed difference and felt my Sword Qi cut his robe again.
‘If I finish this, it will be over.’
Twelfth move, Chilgwang Ilchulbong.
As the sun rises over the mountains, shining its rays across the entire world,
Seven branches of Sword Qi poured out beyond the first move of the eleventh move.
Chae-ong!
In the end, the Eight Respect Pavilion master’s folding fan was sliced by the Sword Qi and fell outside the sparring arena.
“Heh, my defeat.”
“That was a good opportunity.”
I bowed respectfully to him, then left the Eight Respect Pavilion.
‘The Eight Respect Pavilion is also a righteous sect like in my past life. It’s a famous sect that doesn’t do underhanded things.’
Going forward, I planned to visit the righteous sects rumored to be upright even in my past life for sparring, gain some fame, and then take on the somewhat shady sects one by one.
While doing this, one day I would definitely…
‘Reach the Peak Martial Artist realm!’
In this life, I would definitely do it!