Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 32: Heavenly Secret (4)

Swish! Slash!

The blade cut through the air with a crisp sound.

The numerous trajectories the sword traced were the forms of the Cave Breaker Sword Technique.

I was currently witnessing the memories of the Azure Spirit Sword.

However, it was quite different from the memories it had shown me before. Every time I saw the trajectory of the sword, the path was etched into my mind as if I had become the sword itself. My wrists and arms twitched, feeling as though they should move at any moment.

What I was seeing now was a demonstration of the Cave Breaker Sword Technique by So Ik-gyeom, the former Great Family Head of the Yikyang So Family, who had died in the Great Orthodox-Evil War.

Yet, rather than simply watching, it felt more like I was reliving the memory.

Following the first five forms, the latter five forms were immediately shown—a literal feast capturing the essence of the heavy sword.

Whoosh! Thud!

The moment the sword swung down with force, the heavy energy pressed into the floor of the training hall. Even without direct contact, the ground was gouged in the shape of the blade.

It was magnificent.

Family Head So Ik-heon had added speed to the heavy sword to compensate for the missing latter half, but once these forms were mastered, there was absolutely no need for that.

The vision blurred, and I returned to reality.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

It wasn't just a matter of "thinking" I understood. It was etched into my brain as if I had shared the memory with him. I knew exactly what the forms were.

Then, the Lesser Conversation Sword spoke to me.

'Short?'

That couldn't be right.

A heavy sword is different from a fast sword, so the demonstration process wasn't quick. It felt like it took at least half of a quarter-hour to see all ten forms. Was that considered fast?

'…I just blinked?'

Even the Azure Spirit Sword seemed puzzled by the Lesser Conversation Sword’s remark. To me, it hadn't felt that way at all.

'Hmm. This is strange.'

If it really was just the blink of an eye, there was a way to check. I pulled a silver coin from my robes.

'Azure Spirit Sword.'

'If I flip this coin, can you show me the demonstration again?'

The Azure Spirit Sword ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠answered readily.

As a test, I flicked the silver coin into the air with my finger. At that moment, my vision blurred, and the scene of the Cave Breaker Sword Technique demonstration appeared again. I watched it as if on repeat.

When the demonstration ended, I returned to reality.

'Huh?'

An amazing sight met my eyes. The silver coin I had flicked before the vision started was only just now falling through the air. It wasn't just the blink of an eye; it was a mere instant.

Clack!

I reached out and snatched the falling coin.

'Unbelievable.'

It was staggering. The perceived time spent retracing the memory was completely different from actual time. I was momentarily speechless at this bizarre phenomenon.

The Namcheon Iron Sword spoke up, sounding intrigued.

'Revolutionary?'

Mindscape training.

It was something the Namcheon Iron Sword had mentioned when he first passed down the Life Bright Sword Technique to me. He said that once the physical foundation is laid through repeated practice of sword styles and forms, one needs training in higher sword paths by visualizing the trajectories in one's mind.

Ah…

So that was what it meant for the mind to influence the body.

Thanks to the Azure Spirit Sword, I had repeated the memory of the Cave Breaker Sword Technique twice. Perhaps because of that, it remained much more clearly in my mind.

Dozens, hundreds of times.

It wasn't as easy as it sounded. But if this succeeded, as he said, I might be able to master the sword forms in an instant, as if I had practiced them hundreds of times.

It wouldn't hurt to try. If it only took an instant anyway.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'I'm fine.'

As soon as the Azure Spirit Sword finished speaking, the memory of So Ik-gyeom’s demonstration began.

Once, twice, three times…

As it repeated, it felt as if I myself had become the sword and was performing the forms. However, as the repetitions continued, a problem arose. I began to feel dizzy, and a headache set in. Even my Innate True Qi was being slowly consumed.

'Just a little more… just a little…'

It was when I passed twenty repetitions.

"Ugh!"

The dizziness became so intense that I gagged.

The illusion of the memory vanished, and I returned to reality.

The Lesser Conversation Sword and the Namcheon Iron Sword called out to me in concern. My head was spinning. I had been fine until the eighth or ninth time, but once I passed ten, a tremendous burden began to weigh on me.

At the Lesser Conversation Sword’s words, I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. Sweat was pouring down as if I had been training intensely all day.

'He's right.'

My fingertips trembled slightly. Feeling strange, I looked at the back of my hand and my wrist; they were twitching as if they had been overworked for a long time.

'Ha!'

It was truly remarkable. Even though only an instant had passed in reality, my body had accepted the experience as real. That was why I wasn't just mentally exhausted, but physically spent as well.

I felt the same. By repeating a memory that was indistinguishable from reality, rather than a simple visualization, this bizarre phenomenon had occurred. Perhaps this was the true power of the Heavenly Secret.

I agreed. Forget hundreds of times; even dozens was pushing it.

"Pant… pant…"

I was exhausted. After twenty repetitions, the mental and physical fatigue was no joke. I had to avoid doing this consecutively. Or perhaps I needed to adjust the frequency until I became more accustomed to it.

'I need to circulate my energy.'

After about fifteen minutes of practicing the Innate Heart Method, the Innate True Qi and physical strength consumed by the consecutive use of the Heavenly Secret were somewhat restored. If I had repeated it any more, I think I would have collapsed.

The Namcheon Iron Sword called my name. I soon realized why.

Crumble!

"Urgh."

Family Head So Ik-heon, who had been half-embedded in the wall of the training room, staggered out. It seemed he had regained consciousness.

So Ik-heon stared at me with a confused expression. Whether it was because of his defeat or because I had surpassed him, he seemed deeply shocked.

"You…"

"You should focus on circulating your energy first."

Though I had adjusted the strike to avoid a fatal blow, he had been hit by the True Chasing Return Sword. The energy of the technique had seeped into his body and internal organs; if he didn't clear it, it might even damage his Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

Shimmer!

A faint haze rose from So Ik-heon’s body. Unable to bring himself to perform full Energy Circulation and Breath Control in front of me, he was forcing the energy out through internal circulation.

So Ik-heon frowned and asked me, "Why did you stay your hand?"

He seemed puzzled that I hadn't landed a lethal blow.

"Did you wish for me to kill you?"

"…If you spared me for the sake of your goals, I tell you now it is useless. Unless you prove you are not of the Blood Cult, I will never—"

"I would appreciate it if you stopped provoking me."

"What?"

"Let's drop the hypocrisy with each other."

"You…"

"I hope you don't mistake my staying my hand as some lingering familial affection for the man who raised me, especially since you aren't even my biological father."

'!!!'

At my words, So Ik-heon’s eyes shook as if an earthquake were happening behind them. He clearly hadn't expected me to know the truth.

"How… how do you know that?"

Judging by his reaction, it seemed my mother might have asked him never to reveal the truth. In his confusion, he spoke again.

"…So you knew?"

"The way you look at my two older brothers—no, your own children—is starkly different. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"

So Ik-heon swallowed hard, his face stiff. He said to me, "Did you hear it from your mother…"

Before he could finish, I threw the Azure Spirit Sword.

Whoosh!

Infused with Innate True Qi, the Azure Spirit Sword flew at an incredible speed, grazing So Ik-heon’s clothes before embedding itself deep into the wall of the training room.

"Do not let my mother's name cross your lips. It's disgusting."

So Ik-heon couldn't find the words to respond. I had no intention of reconciling with him. I didn't have a shred of desire to consider a man my father who only justified his actions with 'responsibility' to ease his own conscience.

So Ik-heon, who had been silent, finally opened his mouth.

"I… to you…"

"Are you going to say you did enough?"

"……."

"I hope you aren't about to spout some nonsense about trying to protect me or Yeong-yeong from Lady Yang and her children."

So Ik-heon’s face contorted. He must have been troubled, having lived under the delusion that he was fulfilling his responsibilities. But he needed to face the truth.

"You claim you tried to treat me like your own child for my mother's sake. That you did it to protect us. Wasn't that ultimately just to give your selfishness a sense of legitimacy?"

"How dare you!"

"If you truly had the intention to protect me and Yeong-yeong, shouldn't you have stood up firmly against Lady Yang? Are you going to give me some bullshit excuse about being a bystander just to treat all your children 'equally'?"

"Gah."

Blood trickled from So Ik-heon’s mouth. He was supposed to be focusing on his internal circulation, but his mind was wavering from the shock. I didn't care.

"I have no interest in what you did for us behind the scenes. If you think that constitutes responsibility and duty, let me tell you that you are gravely mistaken."

"Sigh…"

So Ik-heon’s face grew infinitely dark. It was likely because I had just informed him that the 'responsibility' he used to justify himself was nothing but nonsense.

"I… I was merely trying to protect you…"

"Is sending me away 'protection'?"

"……."

"You were simply avoiding responsibility. You told yourself you'd done enough for a child that wasn't even yours. That whatever happened from then on wasn't your fault. Isn't that your true heart?"

Cough, cough!

Even as he coughed up blood-flecked phlegm, So Ik-heon could not answer. Now that the mask of self-consolation had been stripped away, he was in turmoil.

"If you hadn't sent me away while wrapping your true intentions in such pretty packaging, I would never have been kidnapped by the Blood Cult."

'!?'

So Ik-heon’s eyes widened. Look at him reacting the moment the Blood Cult is mentioned. He really should listen until the end.

"If my Master hadn't saved me, I would have become a puppet of the Blood Cult, just as you feared."

As he frowned, I pulled something from my robes and tossed it. So Ik-heon caught it, his face filled with shock.

"This is…"

"It is the sect token of the Divine Healer of Ten Thousand Ailments."

"How did you get this?"

"You probably wanted to believe my Dantian was restored through some evil art or forbidden technique of the Blood Cult. But this is the truth."

I hadn't expected to use the Divine Healer’s token this way. Well, there was no lie in it. The Divine Healer really had intended to treat me. Now, it was time for my specialty.

"My Master has a long-standing friendship with the Divine Healer. Thanks to that, I was able to restore my Dantian."

"Ah…"

An exclamation escaped So Ik-heon’s lips. He seemed stunned that the man called the greatest physician in the Central Plains had treated me. But the important part was coming up.

"You said I wasn't qualified to be a successor, didn't you?"

Shring!

As I drew the Namcheon Iron Sword, So Ik-heon looked puzzled. Ignoring his bewildered expression, I took a starting stance.

"You… surely?"

So Ik-heon’s eyes trembled at the sight of the Cave Breaker Sword Technique’s starting stance. I moved my body, following the trajectories of the memory that surfaced naturally in my mind. I followed the sword path So Ik-gyeom had demonstrated like a shadow.

Swish! Slash!

The principles of the heavy sword were manifested through the Namcheon Iron Sword. Watching this, So Ik-heon muttered in a daze.

"How can you…"

It wasn't just a simple imitation of the forms, so his reaction was natural. I was currently performing the demonstration at a level almost identical to the former Great Family Head, So Ik-gyeom, who had practiced these forms for a lifetime.

As the first five forms flowed into one another, So Ik-heon couldn't take his eyes off me. And just when he thought it was the end…

Swish! Slash!

As the sixth form—the beginning of the lost second half—followed, a sound escaped So Ik-heon’s lips.

"What?!"

As the latter forms, which had been lost when So Ik-gyeom died, unfolded from my hands, So Ik-heon’s eyes widened so far he couldn't close his mouth. Even if he hadn't been taught them, he couldn't help but recognize these forms. At least, if he had seen So Ik-gyeom perform them even once.

Boom!

As I performed the final tenth form, the secret technique of the Cave Breaker Sword Technique—the Heavy Pressure Sword Strike—the floor of the training room was gouged deep. Because I had performed it with Innate True Qi, I was able to bring out a significant portion of its power.

Having finished the forms, I looked at So Ik-heon. His expression was a sight to behold.

I said to him, "Do you still think I lack the qualification?"

At my question, So Ik-heon, unable even to catch his breath properly, asked, "How… how do you know those?"

I pulled out a piece of paper I had prepared in advance. Before viewing the Azure Spirit Sword’s memory, I had written down the oral formulas for the remaining forms of the Cave Breaker Sword Technique using the brush and ink in the training room.

"The Divine Healer of Ten Thousand Ailments demands a price when he treats someone. It could be a sect token, or perhaps a precious secret manual."

"Then… my father did?"

I didn't finish the sentence, but So Ik-heon jumped to his own conclusion. Thanks to that, I was able to make the situation look plausible by simply nodding as if it were true.

So Ik-heon’s eyes wouldn't leave the paper in my hand. Having seen a lost secret technique, it was only natural he'd be obsessed.

Now, it was his turn to beg.

I waved the paper with the oral formulas in front of So Ik-heon and said, "Now, who is the one who needs to do the asking?"