Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 10: Namcheon Iron Sword (3)

—I have never seen anything like this.

The Namcheon Iron Sword repeated the same words, unable to comprehend what it was sensing.

It had mentioned that the standard amount of Innate True Qi a normal person possessed was barely the size of a fingernail. To find several times that amount in me was naturally shocking.

—My previous master’s Innate True Qi was excellent, but even it wasn't this vast.

—Hey! Then you should be happy that your new master, Un-hwi, has even greater talent. Instead of throwing a festival, why are you brooding over it? It’s a good thing, isn't it?

—Hmm. I suppose you are right.

The Namcheon Iron Sword reluctantly agreed with the Lesser Conversation Sword.

It was quite strange. I felt like the legendary Namcheon Iron Sword was being bossed around by this tiny Lesser Conversation Sword. A hierarchy was naturally forming between them.

—Starting off strong is certainly something to celebrate. To possess this much Innate True Qi, one would normally have to circulate an Innate Heart Method tirelessly for at least ten years.

Ten years?

If that were true, I was incredibly lucky. Having the amount of Innate True Qi that would normally take a decade of cultivation to acquire meant I had saved that much time.

—You are fortunate.

Fortunate, huh...

Back at the Yikyang So Family, I was always told I was the least talented. On top of that, my Dantian had been damaged by Qi Deviation. I had thought my life was cursed with misfortune. It was ironic that my Innate True Qi far surpassed that of ordinary people.

—Since things have turned out this way, it would be wise to begin practicing a Divine Art alongside the Heart Method.

A Divine Art?

—A Heart Method, quite literally, serves to gather Innate True Qi and prevent one's vitality from scattering. A Divine Art, however, allows you to utilize that Innate True Qi effectively.

My heart pounded at the Namcheon Iron Sword’s words. When I was young, I had desperately wanted to learn the Lesser Yang Divine Art, my family’s secret martial art. Of course, that opportunity was long gone, but life truly is unpredictable. Now, I had the chance to learn the Divine Art of the Namcheon Sword Guest, the former hegemon of Yunnan Province.

Filled with anticipation, I asked, What is the name of the Divine Art?

—It is the Life Bright Divine Art.

Even the name sounded extraordinary. The thought of finally learning martial arts stirred deep emotions within me. The Namcheon Iron Sword spoke to me in a voice full of confidence.

—I can state with certainty that if you master the Life Bright Divine Art to at least the eighth stage, your internal power will be among the top in the martial world.

That was immense confidence. Since Innate True Qi possessed power far greater than ordinary internal energy, it was perhaps natural for the Namcheon Iron Sword to take such pride. Still, being among the best in the entire martial world was hard to imagine.

Suddenly curious, I asked: How many stages did the Namcheon Sword Guest, Ho Jong-won—the man who became a regional hegemon—reach?

—The sixth stage.

...He achieved all that with only the sixth stage?

It was startling. I couldn't believe he had earned such fame with only the sixth stage, without even fully mastering the art. As I stood there in awe, the Namcheon Iron Sword continued.

—Since you’ve already saved ten years with your current level of Innate True Qi, if you practice diligently for another ten to fifteen years, you should be able to reach the sixth stage.

Ah...

It was further away than I thought. Still, looking at it another way, even with a late start, I could reach the level of Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon or the Namcheon Sword Guest in terms of raw power within ten years if I worked hard.

Let’s give it everything I’ve got!

Motivation surged through me.

*

Fired up, I spent over six hours in the cave. I didn't even realize I was hungry; that was how starved I had been for martial arts. It wasn't until the setting sun dyed the inside of the cave crimson that I realized how late it had become.

I should head back.

—Right. Who knows what that madman might do if you're late.

The Lesser Conversation Sword agreed. It would take quite a while to climb back up to the peak and then descend. As I prepared to leave, I hesitated for a moment. Then, I bowed toward the skeleton.

—What are you doing?

I’m about to learn the deceased’s martial arts. It’s only right to pay my respects.

Though it was the Namcheon Iron Sword teaching me, I was technically inheriting the Namcheon Sword Guest’s legacy. Showing etiquette was the proper thing to do.

—...My previous master would have accepted you as his successor.

The Namcheon Iron Sword’s voice sounded choked with emotion, as if moved by my gesture. After bowing, I quickly strapped the Namcheon Iron Sword to my back and stepped out of the cave.

Looking up at the cliff, I let out a sigh. Even after climbing up and down this cliff for two months, the sight of it still drained my spirit. The Lesser Conversation Sword spoke to me.

—Why don't you take this chance to learn a Body Lightening Method?

A Body Lightening Method?

—Yeah. It’s exhausting climbing the cliff like that. If you master a Body Lightening Method, you’ll be able to scale mountains easily with Lightness Skills.

The sword was right. Watching Hae Ak-cheon walk up the cliff as if it were flat ground had made me realize the necessity of learning such a skill. In martial arts, footwork was of paramount importance. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that everything started from the feet.

Hmm.

The Lesser Conversation Sword offered to teach me, but I thought it might be better to learn the Namcheon Sword Guest’s Body Lightening Method. It would likely be more compatible with the Life Bright Divine Art.

However, the Namcheon Iron Sword remained silent.

—Haaaah...

The sound of nostrils flaring echoed in my head.

—...Your back must be very comfortable.

This was driving me crazy. I had warned it so many times not to make that sound. It gave me goosebumps just hearing it. Realizing this, the Namcheon Iron Sword spoke as if nothing had happened.

—Ahem. Did you say a Body Lightening Method?

I considered snapping at it but held back. Thanks to this sword, I was learning a peerless Divine Art; I could endure this much. Though I couldn't do anything about the goosebumps on my arms.

—I will teach you the Body Lightening Method as well. However, you must first master the basic forms of footwork. You cannot think of running before you can walk.

That made sense. But I didn't think I had the time to learn it right now. If I delayed any longer, that crazy old man might come looking for me himself.

Grip!

I grabbed a protruding rock on the cliff and began to climb. Once I learned the Body Lightening Method, would I be able to run up mountain peaks vertically like that crazy old man?

—That is impossible.

Huh?

I was puzzled by the Namcheon Iron Sword’s blunt denial.

—No matter what Body Lightening Method you learn, walking vertically up such a steep mountain is impossible. Even my previous master could not do that.

Then how did that crazy old man do it?

—It is because his personal Body Lightening Method is extraordinary. Even my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠previous master always marveled at that man’s unique movement techniques.

A Body Lightening Method that even the Namcheon Sword Guest acknowledged? That was unexpected. Since I knew the Sword Guest had never beaten him, I had assumed he was inferior in every aspect.

—In terms of Body Lightening Methods alone, he is superior.

The Namcheon Iron Sword was surprisingly objective, even when it came to its former master. Regardless, it meant Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon’s movement skills were exceptional enough to be recognized by the Namcheon Sword Guest.

As I climbed while conversing with the swords, the summit soon came into view. At least the climb wasn't boring.

Wait?

Upon reaching the top, I witnessed a sight that made my eyes bulge. Song Woo-hyeon, the younger of the twins, was standing perfectly still like a wooden post, but his head was planted firmly into the ground. He was upside down, his arms tucked behind his back, showing incredible balance. The source of the strength allowing him to endure this seemed to be his neck, which had grown thick with bulging veins.

—So that’s why he’s balding. Oh dear.

Just as the Lesser Conversation Sword said, the hair loss in the center of his head seemed to be a result of this training. He was going to lose all his hair at this rate.

Aside from Song Woo-hyeon, I also spotted Song Jwa-baek.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap!

Song Jwa-baek was running. But he wasn't running on his feet; he was sprinting on his fists in a handstand. It looked so painful it made me wince just watching.

—He’s going to kill those kids. Truly.

I agreed. This teaching method went far beyond the scope of normal training. It was a method that pushed one to the absolute limit. Then again, this was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a man who hung people from cliffs for over four hours; this might be mild in comparison.

—Looks like the old man went somewhere.

As the Lesser Conversation Sword noted, only the twins were visible on the peak. If I stayed here, he might scold me for watching their training, so I thought it best to head down the other side quickly.

I was trying to sneak around them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as if fleeing when—

“Did you feel the Innate True Qi?”

Gah! My heart nearly leaped out of my chest. Hae Ak-cheon was standing right beside me. I hadn't even realized when he had approached. How much would I have to train before I could sense even a hint of his presence? It felt like a distant dream.

“Why are you silent?”

When he asked again, I shook my head.

—Eh? You didn't just feel it; you even learned the Heart Method.

—Watch quietly, Sodam.

I was too tense to pay attention to the conversation between the two swords. He had warned me that if I didn't feel the Innate True Qi, I wouldn't have a single whole bone left in my body. I was terrified of how he might react.

“You aren't trying to deceive me, are you?”

Hae Ak-cheon placed his hand on my chest. Then, he injected his Qi. A warm energy entered my chest and roamed through my body.

Thump!

After moving his Qi around for a long while, Hae Ak-cheon removed his hand. Then, he let out a short laugh and muttered.

“You didn't feel it.”

He didn't seem disappointed or angry. Rather, his tone suggested he had expected this result. For a moment, my lips almost twitched.

He really can't find it.

I hadn't just felt the Innate True Qi; I had mastered a proper Heart Method, not the fragmented secret technique he had left on the floor. I had deceived him for two reasons.

First, to confirm what the Namcheon Iron Sword had said:

—Innate True Qi is different in nature from ordinary internal energy, so unless you intentionally manifest it, it cannot be detected.

Hae Ak-cheon truly hadn't discovered it. I had been worried deep down, but this was a chance to confirm the advantageous strength of Innate True Qi.

“Well, there’s no way you could have felt it in a single day. Hehe.”

Watching the laughing Hae Ak-cheon, I cheered inwardly. Whether in the martial world or anywhere else, revealing all your cards only puts you at a disadvantage. Therefore, I intended to hide at least sixty to seventy percent of my achievements. To keep him off guard.

—Oh, not bad, Un-hwi.

The Lesser Conversation Sword praised my plan. Hae Ak-cheon, who had been satisfied that I had made no progress, suddenly frowned. His lips curled into a sinister smile as he spoke.

“I almost let you fool me. Hehe.”

Thump!

My heart sank. Had he noticed I was deceiving him?

“You’re probably trying to stall as much as possible because you’re afraid of exhausting your vitality. I suppose I need to make you realize that you must take this seriously.”

Phew.

Fortunately, he hadn't realized my true intent. Because this old man was cunning himself, he had overthought it and reached the wrong conclusion. Since he had no idea I had learned the complete Innate Heart Method, this was the only logical conclusion for him.

“Fine. If you lose the duel, I will put the Blood Drum back inside you.”

“What?”

“And you will never be able to rise above the rank of a Low-Rank Warrior.”

“Wasn't that different from our agreement?”

“That was before you started using your petty tricks to avoid the duel.”

He was pressuring me to learn the incomplete Heart Method no matter what. In the end, all he cared about was achieving his own goal.

“Hehe, doesn't this give you the motivation to learn it properly?”

So that’s how he wanted to play it. Fine. I had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a plan of my own.

“...You said that would be my punishment if I lose. But what if, by some miracle, I win?”

“What?”

“You said I have to learn the Innate True Qi that consumes my vitality, and if I lose, I’ll have the Blood Drum and live as a Low-Rank Warrior forever. Is there no reward for winning?”

“Ha!”

At my bold words, the corners of Hae Ak-cheon’s smiling mouth twisted. He seemed displeased, but I knew it would be a hassle for him to find a replacement after training me for two months.

“Your guts are as big as ever.”

At that, I put on a terrified expression and prostrated myself on the ground. I spoke in a desperate voice.

“I don't ask for much. It’s just that while climbing this cliff, I have always admired your skills, Great Master.”

When I suddenly took such a humble stance, Hae Ak-cheon frowned and asked back.

“Skills? Are you talking about my Body Lightening Method?”

“If you say no, I cannot help it, but please give me the chance to learn your skills if I win.”

Hae Ak-cheon narrowed his eyes and glared at me. Then, he nodded and spoke.

“Fine. If that’s what it takes to motivate you, I shall grant it. But only if you win.”

“Thank you! Blood Tax! Blood Tax! Blood-Blood Tax!”

Hae Ak-cheon’s expression softened considerably. He was likely certain that he had nothing to lose.

“Hmph. Go back to your quarters. I’m not done training these wild colts yet.”

“Understood.”

Snap!

I saluted and turned away from him. As soon as my back was turned, a smile naturally spread across my face.

That Body Lightening Method is as good as mine.