Chapter 36: Unexpected (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: Unexpected (3)
“So she just left?”
“Yes.”
I nodded in response to Haeakcheon’s question.
Fortunately, he was still staying at the inn, so I was able to inform him that Baek Hye-hyang was here.
In truth, she hadn't just left. She had vanished after sending a spine-chilling message via Secret Sound Transmission.
[Even if you escape now, it won't be long before you're lying beneath me.]
‘!?’
It was confusing. Utterly confusing.
Regardless, I couldn't bring myself to relay those specific words to Haeakcheon. I simply told him that she was trying to recruit me.
However, the recruitment wasn't the important part.
“As I thought, she’s after it too.”
The problem was that Baek Hye-hyang was also targeting the Blood Demon Sword.
“She hasn't changed a bit,” Haeakcheon clicked his tongue.
He was likely referring to her bold infiltration. This could act as the worst possible variable.
“What are your thoughts?”
“...If Lady Baek Hye-hyang enters the Martial Discussion, winning will become much more difficult.”
I realized this after our brief clash. She was strong—unbelievably so for someone her age.
Haeakcheon had told me once before: Baek Hye-hyang’s talent for martial arts was so great it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a gift from the heavens. She had already surpassed the standards of ordinary people.
Stroking his beard, Haeakcheon spoke.
“The Lady will not participate in the Martial Discussion.”
“Pardon?”
“Her pride wouldn't allow her to compete against those fledgling young experts in a tournament hosted by the Orthodox Faction.”
That made sense. As Haeakcheon said, she was a woman aiming for the position of the Blood Cult Leader. For such a person to enter a competition where she would be judged by the Orthodox Faction was beneath her status—even if her age was no different from the other rising stars.
“The aftermath will be the problem. Kuk-kuk.”
Haeakcheon shook his head. Since she was also of the Blood Demon’s bloodline, he didn't seem to hate her.
However, this made seizing the Blood Demon Sword even more difficult. Even if we luckily managed to steal the sword from the Martial Alliance’s Secret Vault, we now faced the problem of transporting it safely without losing it to Baek Hye-hyang.
“What should we do?”
The aftermath was a problem, but so was the present. If she targeted me as she did today, the entire plan could be ruined before we even got to the sword.
After considering my words, Haeakcheon reached a conclusion.
“We’re changing the plan.”
Originally, Haeakcheon had planned to wait outside the outskirts of the Martial Alliance.
However, he changed the plan due to the variable that was Baek Hye-hyang. While he couldn't enter the inner fortress of the Martial Alliance, he decided to wait here, just outside. It was a measure taken because he didn't know when the situation might take a sudden turn.
Haeakcheon gave me two specific instructions.
[If the Lady targets you again, do not hesitate. Either run or shout while infusing your voice with internal power. I will come to you.]
Haeakcheon judged that my current martial prowess was not enough to face her. I couldn't deny that. Even with my Middle Dantian open, I had felt overwhelmed by the killing intent she radiated.
[When you move around, you must always move in a group of three.]
It was a bit inconvenient, but Haeakcheon was right. It was easier to deal with an enemy ambush with three people than alone.
Actually, I was fine. It was Jo Seong-won and Sama Yeong who were bored. They had to keep waiting for me while I was inside the blacksmith shop.
To appease them, I took them on a culinary tour of whatever restaurants they wanted after my business at the forge was done. Since the town was so large, there were many famous chefs and restaurants. The Hubei-style roasted duck we had yesterday was a particular delicacy.
Three days passed like that.
Contrary to our fears, Baek Hye-hyang did not reappear. It was a relief, but I couldn't let my guard down.
On the fourth day, I turned about seventy-five of the swords in the incense burner into iron powder. Once I watched their memories and consoled them, the swords invariably crumbled.
Shhh!
Over seventy-five instances of Heavenly Secret.
Now, the Ink Immortal Great Formation Sword, the sword technique of Baek Hyang-muk, the First Sword of Wuhan, was completely engraved in my mind. I was even capable of performing it.
The downside was that since I didn't know the exact method of internal energy circulation for the technique, its actual power would likely be less than half of the original. If I reached a higher realm, I might be able to mimic the circulation method as well, but for now, this was my limit.
‘Should I stop here?’
Heavenly Secret wasn't an ability I could overexert. Of course, I could do more if I took breaks to circulate my energy, but the mental exhaustion grew the more I used it.
Looking at the remaining swords in the burner, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
‘At this rate, wouldn't the 6th stage of the Life Bright Divine Art be possible?’
I had watched a member of the Eight Great Masters perform his martial arts seventy-five times. While watching, I had fallen into a mindscape countless times over the past four days. It was undoubtedly a form of enlightenment.
‘...I might not even be consciously aware of it.’
I was sufficiently prepared. It was worth a try.
I closed my eyes and focused on the Innate True Qi in my Middle Dantian. Then, I slowly pushed the Life Bright Divine Art to its limit.
1st stage, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th...
“Whew.”
As I exhaled and raised my energy—
Crack! Snap!
At that moment, the wooden floorboards beneath my feet split, and a sharp energy leaked out from my body. It was what they called Sharp Killing Intent.
The Namcheon Iron Sword had said that once the Life Bright Divine Art reached the 6th stage, one could temper their Innate True Qi to be as sharp as a blade.
I formed a sword hand and slashed at a wooden pillar.
Slash!
A sharp scar appeared on the pillar, as if it had been cut by a real sword.
“Ha.”
A laugh almost escaped my lips. I had finally grasped the essence of the 6th stage. The effect of repeatedly watching Baek Hyang-muk’s sword dance had finally manifested. I had stepped into the true Supreme Peak Realm.
‘It might be possible now.’
The Twelve Heavenly Realm Sword, the final 7th formation of the Life Bright Sword Technique, which can only be performed after reaching the 6th stage or higher. It was a high-level sword formation that I couldn't have performed before even if I wanted to.
I wanted to test it, but if I did it here, the blacksmith shop would be a mess.
‘Ah...’
The feeling was special. I had finally reached the 6th stage, the realm the Namcheon Sword Guest was said to have attained. Though I was only at the beginning, if I trained diligently and mastered the 6th stage, I would reach the same level as the Namcheon Sword Guest was in his prime.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of hammering metal echoed from the workshop. When I walked over to the heat-filled workspace, the master blacksmith was incessantly dipping the blade of the Namcheon Iron Sword into the hot furnace and hammering it.
The rust had been removed yesterday; he said this was the process of straightening the blade, which had been neglected for so long.
—Haaa...
I heard the Namcheon Iron Sword breathing. It was incredibly happy.
—The brat is enjoying it way too much.
Tell me about it. Hearing this sound after so long gave me goosebumps. Still, after this process, the Namcheon Iron Sword would be reborn. Seeing the faint light emanating from the red-hot blade, it was clearly being transformed back into a precious sword.
‘It’ll be finished by tomorrow, right?’
One day left. Once I received the sword tomorrow, I would enter the Martial Alliance’s fortress. That would be the real start of the mission.
I had filled my quota for today and achieved results, so I should head out, grab Sama Yeong and Jo Seong-won, and go to the Deungjeong Inn I had reserved. I heard the Dongpo Pork there was delicious, but it was so fully booked two days ago that we couldn't even get a seat.
The Deungjeong Inn was located in the heart of the town. One could tell how popular it was just by the swarms of customers. The unique scent of star anise from the Dongpo Pork stimulated my nose from the entrance. My mouth watered involuntarily.
“We finally get to eat it.”
“Deungjeong Dongpo Pork!”
“They say it’s so good you wouldn't notice if your friend died next to you. I might just faint while eating.”
“Then the Deputy Unit Leader will carry you back to the inn.”
“Hehe. Then I can faint in peace.”
Sama Yeong and Jo Seong-won got along perfectly when it came to food. The two of them excitedly entered the inn ahead of me. A young waiter ran over to greet us.
“You’re the ones who came two days ago, right?”
The boy had a sharp eye and recognized us. He grinned and gestured for us to follow. Since I had asked for a good seat, he had saved a window seat on the second floor with a view of the town. I gave the boy a coin for his trouble. His smile stretched from ear to ear.
“You’re ordering the Dongpo Pork, of course?”
“Is that even a question?” Sama Yeong replied excitedly.
After the waiter went downstairs, we watched the other customers eating their Dongpo Pork. Even though I wasn't the one eating yet, I felt a sense of vicarious satisfaction. Dongpo Pork is a dish made by boiling and braising pork belly with its chewy fat, and its texture is exquisite. Seeing the happy expressions on everyone’s faces, it had to be delicious.
—Un-hwi.
Just then, the Lesser Conversation Sword called out to me. I think I knew why.
Five or six martial artists had entered the inn. Those who just arrived were far stronger than the other martial artists currently in the building. I could easily tell just by their energy sense.
‘It’s because of those two, right?’
—Yeah.
Two of them seemed to possess famous swords. I could feel a strong presence just from the names I heard. Since the Heavenly Secret had opened and the Heavenly Immortal had grown stronger, I too had become able to distinguish how famous a sword was through the Voice of the Sword.
“Hmm.”
Sama Yeong, who had been watching people eat, also glanced downstairs. She must have noticed them with her energy sense as well. Before long, six men and women came up to the second floor.
‘Ah!’
I recognized them at a glance. Three of them were rising stars belonging to the Hunan Province Branch of the Martial Alliance, and the other three were rising stars from the Qingcheng Sect, the Sichuan Tang Family, and the Quanzhen Sect.
I knew the former three because they were from the same Hunan Province Branch, and I knew the other three from the Martial Alliance before my regression.
—I think it’s them.
My eyes naturally drifted toward the young Taoists from the Qingcheng and Quanzhen Sects. The Qingcheng Taoist with long, drooping eyebrows went by the Taoist name Cheongmyeong and would later be known as the One Yang Swordsman. The Quanzhen Taoist, Hyeonjin, was an outstanding swordsman who would become the Vice Hall Master of the Black Tortoise Hall.
The swords these two carried were likely famous blades provided by Qingcheng and Quanzhen.
‘They’re the quintessential Orthodox types.’
In my memory, they were quite decent people. Coming from Taoist sects, they lacked greed and possessed a strong sense of justice. But for such noble, crane-like fellows to be hanging around with those guys...
‘This is going to be a pain.’
“Oh!”
Just as I expected. The fact that their reserved table was right next to ours was the problem. Those three were the siblings of the group that hung around with So Jang-yun: Do Il-chan, Jo Kang, and Kang Hye-mi. Naturally, they knew my nickname better than anyone.
Do Gyeong-uk of the Wonreung Do Family, Do Il-chan’s older brother, approached us.
“Well, well. Look who it is. Isn't this our little brother So from Yulrang County?”
It was more of a sneer than a greeting. At his words, another one approached. It was Jo Ik of the Sunyeong Jo Family.
—I guess they haven't heard the rumors yet.
It seemed so. Unlike So Jang-yun’s crowd, these guys were the representatives of the rising stars. They would have already been heading to Wuhan by the time I returned to the Ikyang So Family, so it was natural they didn't know.
Jo Ik pretended to recognize me.
“My, my. To think I’d see you here. It’s been a long time, Brother So.”
At least he didn't call me the Colt of Yulrang County. In the past, he would call me that the moment we locked eyes. He was probably being conscious of the company he was with.
“Do you know him?”
Since two of his companions were acting familiar, Cheongmyeong of the Qingcheng Sect asked out of curiosity. At that, Jo Ik smirked and spoke in a mock whisper.
“Do you remember what I told you before? That fellow who was kicked out of the Ikyang So Family.”
He called it a whisper, but it was loud enough for most to hear. At his words, Sama Yeong’s eyes flashed. If she stepped in, things would only escalate, so I stood up and gave a fist-and-palm salute to Cheongmyeong.
“Are you not Taoist Cheongmyeong of the Qingcheng Sect?”
At my words, Cheongmyeong looked puzzled but returned the salute.
“I am Cheongmyeong. Does the Young Master know me?”
“How could I not? It would be stranger not to know the rising star of the Qingcheng Sect, Taoist Cheongmyeong.”
They say praise can make even a whale dance. At my flattering words, a smile played on Cheongmyeong’s lips. He seemed to be a good-natured person at heart, just as I remembered from before my regression.
Snap!
I turned and gave a fist-and-palm salute to the other two as well.
“I also offer my greetings to Taoist Hyeonjin of the Quanzhen Sect and Young Lady Dang Hye-hwa of the Sichuan Tang Family. I am So Un-hwi, the third son of the Ikyang So Family. It is an honor to meet two people of such high renown.”
At my confident greeting, the two also returned the salute.
“So you are a young master of the So Family. I am Dang Hye-hwa of the Tang Family.”
“I am Hyeonjin of the Quanzhen Sect.”
This is the importance of a greeting. Simply recognizing the other person first and greeting them can appropriately raise their prestige.
“How... do you know...?”
Why? Did you think I wouldn't know them? I probably know them much better than you do.
The expressions of Do Gyeong-uk and Jo Ik, who had intended to belittle me, soured. They hadn't expected me to beat them to the punch.
“Yulrang...”
Unable to contain himself, Jo Ik tried to say something. At that moment, I threw my arm around his shoulder.
“It’s been a long time, Brother Jo,” I said, smiling as if we were close friends.
He looked at me in absurdity and tried to shrug my arm off.
“Since when were we clo—”
But before he could even raise his hand to push me away, I tightened my grip on his neck.
Grip!
‘!?’
Because I applied internal power to the back of his neck, his body instantly stiffened. If he moved even slightly wrong, his neck would snap. He looked at me with trembling eyes, completely flustered.
I sent him a message via Secret Sound Transmission.
[Smile. Unless you want to miss the Martial Discussion because of a broken neck.]
Squeeze!
As I applied more pressure, he jumped in surprise and forced the corners of his mouth upward. At that, I gave a broad smile and spoke to the rising stars.
“It’s truly a pleasure to see someone from back home in a foreign land like this.”