Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Iron Lion's Heir
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"I came to the Iron Lion Sect when I was four years old.
From that moment on, it was Eldest Brother who looked after me. Second Brother and Third Brother were still too young to take care of me properly. Thanks to Eldest Brother caring for me so well, Master could focus entirely on restoring the sect's martial arts.
Sometimes like a father, sometimes like a master, and other times like an older brother—he taught me, scolded me, and carried me on his back. That's why Eldest Brother is the scariest, the easiest to approach, and the one I'm most worried about.
This brother of mine seemed to carry a lot on his mind. He always had a serious face. But whenever he saw me, he smiled. Even if he looked like the sky was falling, he'd break into a bright smile the moment he spotted me.
Third Brother was a bundle of trouble then, and he still is. But he grumbles a bit and then does whatever I ask. He's a troublemaker, but a kind brother. That's why I'm always happy as long as my brothers are safe and sound."
These were Little Sparrow's words, drawn out from the depths of her heart after chattering away happily upon reuniting with Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun.
A dark night.
A slender figure emerged from the building, wandering aimlessly as he glanced around, unsure of where to go.
"That's not like you."
The sudden voice made the slender figure turn toward its source. From the shadows, a man stepped forward. It was Do Cheon. And the slender figure was Yi Yeol.
"What do you mean by 'like me'?"
Yi Yeol asked.
He clearly looked dejected, weighed down by something.
"Someone who quietly pushes through whatever task is set before him. Little Mountain always grumbled, though."
"I see."
"Yeah, that's right. But seeing you all slumped over like this, it looks like you're struggling quite a bit?"
At Do Cheon's words, Yi Yeol looked up in surprise.
The Eldest Brother that Yi Yeol knew was always like this. He acted like he didn't care at all, yet somehow he knew everything about his junior brothers' affairs.
"Yes. It's been tough."
Yi Yeol tried to smile but turned his head away instead.
Do Cheon silently watched him for a moment before grabbing the back of his neck and tossing him into the air. Yi Yeol shot up unexpectedly, flailing his limbs in panic, but the surrounding air gathered softly to cushion him. Once he calmed his racing heart and looked around, he found himself atop a roof.
"Did I startle you that much?"
Do Cheon asked as he landed soundlessly.
"Don't ever do that again."
"Got it."
Do Cheon nodded and lay down flat on the roof.
"You lie down too. Those two are gone, so let's take in the moon for old times' sake."
Yi Yeol lay down beside him.
Lying there, the bright white moon filled his view at once. In the dark night, the pristine moon hung high, surrounded by countless twinkling stars scattering their light. The two men silently took in the sight for a while.
"What is a senior brother, anyway?"
Yi Yeol suddenly asked.
"To his junior brothers?"
"Yes."
"Someone who passes on what he knows."
"Then what's the difference from a master?"
"A master teaches what's right."
"...!"
"I've taught you all a lot since you were young, haven't I?"
"Yes."
"What could a ten-year-old, a thirteen-year-old, or a fifteen-year-old really know? Even so, I tried to teach you one more thing, whatever it was. Right or wrong, I didn't know—I just shared it all. That was the only thing I, as your senior brother, could do. It's still the same. I just share what I know and what I have with you all. Whether you follow it or not is your choice, and whatever comes of it is our shared burden."
"Even if you know nothing? What if there's nothing to share?"
"I don't know. If I have nothing to share and nothing to teach, then I'm a lousy senior brother."
"I see."
Yi Yeol nodded.
Do Cheon didn't need to look—he could sense from Yi Yeol's energy that he was still downcast. So he asked directly instead.
"What if I really am that lousy?"
"You're not lousy, Brother. You're doing great."
"I'm saying, what if?"
"Well..."
"If I know less than you and am weaker, would you ignore me and trample over your senior brother?"
"Of course not."
"Little Mountain wouldn't either."
"...!"
"That guy? If he gets stronger than you, his senior brother, he'll puff up his chest, strut around, and tease you to no end. Right?"
"Yeah, he would. That's exactly his style."
"But if someone tries to ignore or trample you, he'll be the first to charge in. Even if it puts his own life at risk."
For a moment, a faint smile crossed Yi Yeol's face.
"He'd go wild like a mad dog."
"Exactly. He'll turn into a rabid mutt. That's why Little Mountain's a great junior brother."
"You're right. He's an excellent junior brother."
"You too."
"...?"
"Don't push yourself so hard. It's not easy to catch up to someone born with natural talent through effort alone. Acknowledge what you must and just do what you can."
"Is that okay?"
"It is. The world will be stunned by that alone."
"...!"
"Since it came up, let's do it that way."
"Pardon?"
Do Cheon sat up cross-legged.
"You sit too."
Yi Yeol sat cross-legged as well.
On the slanted roof, their postures began to tilt, but the surrounding air pressed in from below, supporting them into perfect form.
It was an astonishing feat, but Yi Yeol forced his focus away from it and onto Do Cheon. At that moment, Do Cheon, who had erected barriers of air around them, smiled faintly and spoke.
"Your progress with the Four Souls Absolute Destruction Technique has stalled, hasn't it?"
"Yes."
The Four Souls Absolute Destruction Technique was the core method Do Cheon had taught alongside the Four Souls Nine Swords, the foundation that had spread the fame of the Nine Swords Sovereign.
From the day he first learned it, his cultivation of the Four Souls Nine Swords had progressed at a blazing pace, like the rising sun. But a few days ago, it hit an impenetrable wall due to insufficient inner energy. That left Yi Yeol drowning in self-doubt, wondering if this was his limit.
"Normally, the one who taught it—the master—should guide you properly. But since the Nine Swords Sovereign left something behind, you can take a shortcut."
"...?"
"Close your eyes and focus inward."
As Yi Yeol shut his eyes, Do Cheon lightly raised his right hand.
In an instant, a lump of inky-black energy formed in his palm, coalescing into a sphere the size of a child's head.
Yi Yeol jolted in surprise as a massive surge of the same energy he cultivated—the Four Souls Absolute Destruction Technique—formed suddenly, but he clung to his focus as Do Cheon had instructed.
Meanwhile, the inky sphere drifted gently from Do Cheon's hand toward Yi Yeol.
"Raise your right hand."
Yi Yeol lifted his right hand.
"This is the Four Souls Absolute Destruction Technique the Nine Swords Sovereign left for you. Don't panic, don't be greedy—just accept it slowly."
"...!"
The moment Yi Yeol flinched in shock, the energy touched his outstretched palm and began absorbing gradually. Reciting the technique's incantation silently, Yi Yeol guided it bit by bit into his dantian.
Time crawled by, relentlessly inching forward.
What began at the hour of Ha-si (between 9 and 10 PM) continued until dawn broke. As the darkness lightened to a hazy gray all around, Yi Yeol opened his eyes.
"About forty percent, I'd say."
Do Cheon smiled faintly.
"Yes. Due to my shortcomings, I could only gather that much."
"It's inside you now. It'll become yours in time."
"Thank you."
"Thank the Nine Swords Sovereign. I just delivered it."
"Yes. Thank you to the Nine Swords Sovereign—and to you, Brother."
Yi Yeol smiled faintly too.
"Let's get up. You have a lot ahead of you, so train even harder from now on."
"Yes."
The two rose and stood on the roof, surveying the Iron Lion Sect's grounds before descending. Yi Yeol's chest swelled with pride, his earlier self-doubt wiped clean.
As water overflows when full, when one leaves, another arrives.
Clunk!
Someone flung open Do Cheon's door.
"Eldest Brother!"
It was Iron Mountain's voice.
He sounded wildly excited about something. Do Cheon, lying on his bed, turned his back to signal he shouldn't be woken. But Iron Mountain wasn't one to back off politely.
"Get up!"
"I need to sleep in today."
"Get up, I said! Second Brother's flying around, smashing logs and all that!"
"Really? Looks like Second Brother finally had his breakthrough. Tell him congrats and get out."
"Do I look like an idiot?"
"Yeah."
"Eldest Brother!"
"Let me sleep! Please!"
"You can circulate your qi for that!"
"Too annoying!"
"You taught Second Brother all night, didn't you? Get up already!"
"Fine, fine! If you don't leave now, no dreams for you!"
Startled by Do Cheon's stern warning, Iron Mountain stared blankly at him before heading out.
Peace returned to the room. But Do Cheon kicked off the covers, bolted up, and yanked open the door.
"If you're gonna lurk, at least hold your breath—or what, snorting like an angry boar?!"
"Damn, why chew me out just 'cause you're sensitive..."
Do Cheon glared.
Iron Mountain averted his eyes and changed the subject.
"Teach me too, and I could do it just as well."
"That's why you can't."
"What nonsense is that?"
"You're a late bloomer."
Late bloomer.
Those destined for greatness achieve it later. In other words, Iron Mountain's talent was so immense that it needed time to mature properly.
"Explain properly!"
"Second Brother's smart, but his body can't keep up. That's why now's the right time for him. You're the opposite—your body's great, but your mind lags. You need your mind to catch up to your natural physique."
"You saying I can get stronger than Second Brother?"
"Yes. You have what it takes to surpass him. So wait a bit longer."
"...!"
"If you get it, stop overthinking. Focus on tempering your body and meditating inward. Don't skim over the principles in the Brain Wall Fist incantations—chew them over again and again. Eventually, you'll see your own new fist techniques. Tell me then."
"For real?"
"No matter how much of an expert Second Brother becomes, the world is full of absurdly strong masters. When I'm not around, who'll protect him and Little Sparrow?"
"Me, obviously!"
"Right, you. Stay by Second Brother's side always. Same for Little Sparrow. So don't chase small gains out of greed—empty your mind. I guarantee, if you drop the greed and keep working hard like now, one day the Iron Lion King in the afterlife will praise you."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You'll be the Iron Lion Sect's secret weapon."
"Secret weapon, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Well, then."
"You head to the back mountain again today?"
"Every day. That woodpecker peak seems legit—lots to learn."
"Good job. Both you and Second Brother are reliable."
"Hmph. Well, the secret weapon's retreating, so sleep more."
"Thanks to you, I'm wide awake. Go train—I'll catch some sun."
"Got it."
Iron Mountain turned away beaming. But after a few steps, he tossed out an unexpected line.
"'Late bloomer' doesn't mean that."
"...?"
"Great vessels have no edges, great sounds have no tone, great forms have no shape, and the Dao leaves no name. That's followed by late bloomer. All the prior terms mean 'absence' or 'none,' so late bloomer should mean a great vessel that seems unformed. Or closer to 'great vessel, full potential.' It's dae-gi-myeon-seong, not dae-gi-man-seong."
"...!"
"Don't use it loosely if you don't wanna sound ignorant."
With that, Iron Mountain left.
Do Cheon blinked, then scratched the back of his head. It felt like a solid hit.
"Was it back then? That kid who hated books was carrying one around for days..."
Recalling their younger days, Do Cheon chuckled. Iron Mountain's rough speech mimicked local thugs, but he wasn't a total fool. He'd picked up basics as quick as anyone back then.
"Give him anything, and he'll excel... Yawn!"
Do Cheon yawned hugely and plopped down anywhere. The risen sun poured warm rays. The gentle heat wrapped his body cozily, lulling him into pleasant drowsiness. Smiling, he surrendered to the sunlight.
Soon, a shadow blocked it. Opening his eyes, he saw Steward Seo.
"Sorry to disturb you, but a guest has arrived."
"Guest?"
"Yes. Claims to be the heir of the fifth Iron Lion, the Ice White Death God. Wants to see you, young master."
"...!"
Had one of the long-awaited heirs of the Iron Lions finally appeared?
The lineage of the Iron Lions, scattered ages ago!
Do Cheon jumped up in delight.
"Where?"
"In the guest hall... for now."
Before Steward Seo finished, Do Cheon vanished like the wind.