Chapter 12: Duel (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 12: Duel (4)
'A disciple?'
I was momentarily speechless at the unexpected words coming from Hae Ak-cheon’s mouth.
This was a situation I hadn't anticipated at all.
I had only hoped this fickle and eccentric old man would keep his promise; I never imagined he would suddenly offer to take me in as his disciple.
The Lesser Conversation Sword and the Namcheon Iron Sword, who had been watching the old man alongside me all this time, chimed in.
To think the three of us would be in such total agreement.
I found it hard to believe as well.
To be honest, I felt like he must be up to something.
“Why aren’t you answering? Do you want to die as a disposable pawn? If I say I’m taking you as a disciple, you should be bowing in gratitude immediately, not standing there like a fool.”
Hae Ak-cheon frowned and snapped irritably.
And he expects me to trust him like this?
“It’s just so sudden...”
I wasn't the only one who thought so.
Song Jwa-baek, who was being supported by his brother, was also staring with a look of utter bewilderment.
His face seemed to scream, 'Why him all of a sudden, and not me?'
Hae Ak-cheon looked at me as I trailed off, then let out a smirk.
“Your talent is too wasted to be thrown away as a disposable pawn.”
“...You flatter me.”
So he thinks highly of me. I have a hunch about what it is—could it be that?
“There are those called 'geniuses.' If you teach those fellows one thing, they understand many more on their own.”
“I am not quite at that level.”
“Drop that useless modesty in front of This Seat.”
“........”
“Do you think it’s easy to master a sword form on your own after seeing it only four times?”
So you did that knowing how hard it was?
If I didn't have the ability to hear the Voice of the Sword, I would have surely died as a disposable pawn.
Thank you, Namcheon Iron Sword.
“Well, I wouldn't have taken you as a disciple for just that. But you have the eyes to discern the truth and falsehood within a sword form. Such talent is only found in Grandmast—kuhum, no. Anyway, This Seat has decided to take you as a disciple.”
It was just as I expected.
He highly valued the fact that I found the flaws in the sword forms.
Except I didn't find them; the Namcheon Sword Guest, whom he wanted to defeat so badly, was the one who had refined those forms.
My original intention was to make Hae Ak-cheon realize something—that just as he analyzed sword forms to grow stronger, the Namcheon Sword Guest would have done the same.
It was as the Lesser Conversation Sword said.
Unintentionally, I had been packaged as someone with incredible talent.
As I felt a slight pang of guilt, the Namcheon Iron Sword spoke up.
'Huh?'
His words made me feel a bit better.
Perhaps this was a talent given to compensate for my miserable previous life.
Though, even now, it felt like I couldn't see an inch in front of me.
'That's right.'
He is one of the Four Venerables, the four absolute masters of the Blood Cult.
'You think I haven't thought of that?'
The problem lay elsewhere.
Even if finding the flaws in the sword forms was considered my talent, I had a fatal flaw that outweighed it.
Unless I confirmed his intentions regarding that, I couldn't know if this old man truly meant to take me as a disciple or if I was just being upgraded from a one-time pawn to a two- or three-time pawn.
'I plan to.'
“But, Elder. Your clan’s secret martial art, the True Blood...”
“The True Blood Golden Body.”
“Yes. Didn't you say the True Blood Golden Body can only be learned by those with a special constitution where the blood circulates rapidly, like those twins over there?”
Unlike the twins, I didn't have that kind of constitution.
I might be able to learn the Body Lightening Method, but Hae Ak-cheon’s core martial arts were out of the question.
“Heh heh, This Seat has no intention of teaching you fist techniques.”
“Pardon?”
“You should be grateful to This Seat.”
“What do you mean...?”
“The sword technique you learned belongs to the Namcheon Sword Guest, who was once called the Hegemon of Yunnan Province.”
That was unexpected.
I thought his pride would prevent him from ever revealing that.
Did he gain some realization from this incident and let go of his obsession with the Namcheon Sword Guest?
I pretended to be shocked so as not to arouse suspicion.
“I-Is that true? Was that skeleton really the Namcheon Sword Guest?”
“Indeed. Those are the remains of the Namcheon Sword Guest, who went missing.”
“I had no idea.”
“Heh heh, how could a brat who just started learning martial arts know such a thing?”
“Haa...”
I let out a gasp and trembled slightly, as if I were deeply moved to have learned such a sword technique.
The Lesser Conversation Sword clicked its tongue in admiration.
Of course it is.
I lived as an actor for eight years.
If I couldn't act this well, I wouldn't have survived as a spy.
Hae Ak-cheon watched my reaction with a satisfied look, as if he were the Namcheon Sword Guest himself, and continued.
“This Seat was the Namcheon Sword Guest’s greatest rival.”
The Namcheon Iron Sword shouted fiercely.
Don't get so excited. When you scream like that, it rings in my head like a migraine.
“You saw his remains, but the Namcheon Sword Guest met a mysterious death. Unfortunately, he had no sect or family, so This Seat was the first to find his bones.”
I had heard that from the Namcheon Iron Sword.
He said the Namcheon Sword Guest had no surviving family, so no one ever came looking for him.
It was quite a coincidence.
The only person who searched for his whereabouts was Hae Ak-cheon, who was desperate to defeat him.
“As such, This Seat knows the Namcheon Sword Guest’s sword better than anyone.”
“Which means?”
“It means I can teach you so that you can complete the sword technique. Heh heh heh.”
I’m sorry, but I’m already learning the even more evolved Life Bright Sword Technique.
I have nothing to learn from you regarding sword techniques.
I’m only interested in your Body Lightening Method.
“And don't you want to restore your shattered Dantian?”
'Ah!'
That was my second doubt.
Thanks to the perfect Innate Heart Method, I was able to overcome my shattered Dantian with Innate True Qi, but Hae Ak-cheon didn't know that.
From his perspective, I should have been a nuisance who only consumed vitality, so I couldn't understand why he would take me as a disciple.
But the fact that he brought it up himself meant...
'He’s serious!'
He really intended to take me as his disciple.
I didn't actually need to restore my Dantian anymore, but knowing that Hae Ak-cheon was sincere about the apprenticeship put my mind at ease.
Since he was such an eccentric and unpredictable old man, I couldn't help but be suspicious.
But if he was sincere...
Thud!
I quickly prostrated myself on the ground and bowed to him.
“Blood Tax! Blood Tax! Blood, Blood Tax! Your disciple, So Woon-hwi, pays his respects to the Master.”
I performed the formal etiquette of taking a master.
If he was truly taking me as a disciple, there was no better opportunity.
He wasn't just anyone; he was one of the Four Venerables.
For someone like me with no connections in the Blood Cult, the benefits of becoming a disciple of Hae Ak-cheon, one of the four absolute masters, were immense.
The Namcheon Iron Sword said, sounding a bit disappointed.
I understood how he felt.
In a way, I was becoming the disciple of the thief who had stolen his former master’s martial arts, so it was natural for him to be unhappy.
'Just bear with it for a bit. I’ll flip the script someday.'
I had no intention of serving him as a master in my heart.
I only viewed him as a stepping stone to climb higher.
He relented.
As I remained prostrated, laughter echoed from above.
“Heh heh heh.”
Hae Ak-cheon, who had been chuckling softly, suddenly burst into a mad roar of laughter.
The laughter was far too loud for someone just happy to have a new disciple.
I stole a glance and saw him laughing while looking up at the sky.
“Bwahahahaha! Jongdae! Jongdae! Did you see that? The boy who is practically your successor has become my disciple! Hahahaha! This is as good as my victory!”
'........Ha.'
So this was his true motive.
He really is an incredible human being, in a way that leaves me speechless.
The Namcheon Iron Sword was thoroughly offended.
Crazy old man.
He could have just kept that to himself; why did he have to blurt it out so joyfully?
It looks like I’ll have to sweat a bit to soothe this guy’s feelings.
After laughing like a madman for a long time, he finally stopped, seemingly satisfied.
Then he spoke.
“Rise.”
As I stood up and bowed my head, Hae Ak-cheon spoke in a pleased voice.
“Heh heh, now that you are my disciple, you must be prepared to become strong enough not to shame This Seat’s reputation.”
“I will keep that in mind, Master.”
He’s already trying to intimidate me.
I’ve watched him for six months; did he think I didn't know? I was already prepared.
Just then, a pitiful voice drifted over.
“......Elder.”
It was the older twin, Song Jwa-baek.
Perhaps the aftereffects of the True Blood Golden Body had subsided somewhat, as his complexion had returned, and he was looking on with tearful eyes.
He seemed to think it was all over for him now that I had been taken as a disciple.
I looked at him and mouthed the words.
'Probably not.'
He looked at me with a puzzled expression.
Then, Hae Ak-cheon spoke.
“What are you staring at so blankly for?”
“T-That is...”
“Hmph. You don't quite meet my standards, but I shall take you both as disciples as well.”
“Pardon?”
Song Jwa-baek’s eyes went wide.
His younger brother, Song Woo-hyeon, who was supporting him, merely frowned.
“But I didn't win the duel...”
“You have decent guts.”
Hae Ak-cheon’s gaze was fixed on the boy’s shoulder, which was wrapped in cloth.
Though he had scolded him for recklessly using the True Blood Golden Body, he seemed to have secretly valued the strong competitive spirit that led him to sacrifice himself for victory.
“Are you going to keep standing there?”
When I smirked and nodded at him, Song Jwa-baek hurriedly prostrated himself.
“What are you doing? Follow me!”
“O-Oh. Okay.”
As the younger brother, Song Woo-hyeon, also prostrated himself, the older one shouted loudly.
“Blood Tax! Blood Tax! Blood, Blood Tax! Your disciple, Song Jwa-baek, pays his respects to the Master!”
“Blood Tax! Blood Tax! Blood, Blood Tax! Your disciple, Song Jwa-baek...”
'!?'
“No! You have to use your own name!”
“Ah...”
“Don't 'ah' me!”
He sure has a hard time taking care of his brother.
“Your disciple, Song Woo-hyeon, pays his respects to the Master!”
Despite a small mistake, the twins also successfully performed the ritual of taking a master.
“Heh heh, very well.”
Hae Ak-cheon looked at them with a satisfied face.
Actually, I had expected Hae Ak-cheon to take the twins as disciples regardless of the outcome of the duel.
Since he said he hadn't been able to raise a successor because he couldn't find anyone with the special constitution of rapid blood circulation, it was a natural conclusion.
“Rise.”
“Yes, sir!”
Song Jwa-baek’s face was filled with such joy it was radiant.
I smiled brightly at him and said,
“Congratulations, Junior Brother.”
The boy’s radiant smile instantly crumpled as if he’d been doused with cold water.
Well, I became a disciple first, so it’s only right.
We have to keep the hierarchy clear, don't we?