Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: You Have to Get Used to It
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The people of the Iron Lion Sect were truly training hard.
Whenever things seemed to settle down, all sorts of incidents would crop up, but with the sect leader Sa Jung-gyeong and Martial Uncle Yeop Mun-wi remaining steadfast in their cultivation, the disciples could follow their lead and stay focused.
Watching such a sight always filled Do Cheon with joy. He was grateful to his master and martial uncle, and proud of his junior brothers.
Only one person was a problem.
Neung Sa-un, who had recently joined them.
At first, he threw himself into training harder than anyone, burning with determination, but now he was just wasting time. Do Cheon knew full well that while Neung Sa-un was staying put to avoid disturbing the others and pretending to train diligently, he wasn't actually doing anything.
"Neung junior brother, come with me for a moment."
Do Cheon called Neung Sa-un aside.
Leaning on his cane due to his still-impaired body, Neung Sa-un followed behind Do Cheon.
Do Cheon headed to Neung Sa-un's quarters.
Standing in the front courtyard of Neung Sa-un's quarters, Do Cheon turned to gaze at the mountain behind the Iron Lion Sect. Neung Sa-un, who had followed with difficulty and paused to catch his breath, stood beside him.
"Sa-un."
"Yes, Eldest Senior Brother."
"Think you could leap over that mountain?"
"...!"
"Of course you can't. What you're trying to do right now is the same thing. With a body like that, wanting to run is why you can't accomplish anything."
"Then what should I do?"
"What did I say when I gave you the Heavenly Sound Icewhite Divine Art?"
"Not to try learning it until you fully understood it."
"Are you doing that?"
"...I'm sorry."
"Are you in such a hurry?"
"I feel like understanding it with this body won't change anything. I keep thinking that if I force myself to learn it, I might at least find a path forward."
Neung Sa-un lowered his head, his eyes reddening.
Do Cheon gazed at him steadily and sighed.
"Haa, I'm weak on martial arts theory. I feel sorry that I can't lead my junior brothers properly. Sa-un."
"Yes."
"You seem smarter than me, so I'll say it again. Ponder the Heavenly Sound Icewhite Divine Art deeply—ponder and ponder and ponder some more until you fully comprehend it. Once you perfectly grasp its principles, your current body will pose no obstacle."
"How could that be possible?"
"The Icewhite Death God left something behind."
"Pardon?"
"The Iron Lions didn't just leave behind martial arts. They left their internal energy for you all as well."
"...!"
"Once you've fully comprehended the Heavenly Sound Icewhite Divine Art, come to me. I'll pass on the internal energy left by the Icewhite Death God."
"Eldest Senior Brother...!"
"I'll be the one transmitting the energy, but drawing it out fully will be up to you. In the end, it all depends on your efforts. If you come to me out of impatience, it could lead to an irreversible situation. So only come when you've understood it as deeply as the one who created it."
Neung Sa-un stared at Do Cheon in shock and bewilderment.
Do Cheon smiled faintly.
"Feeling motivated now?"
"Eldest Senior Brother... thank you."
"Save your thanks for the Iron Lions. Even in that situation, they left behind their insights and energy for us, their descendants."
"Yes. I give my thanks to our predecessors. And to you too, Eldest Senior Brother."
Tears welled up in Neung Sa-un's eyes. Do Cheon placed a hand on his shoulder and patted it reassuringly.
"Master studied not only the third-rate martial manuals circulating in the market but every miscellaneous book under the sun to reclaim our sect's core arts. None of that study was in vain. It'll greatly help you understand the Heavenly Sound Icewhite Divine Art."
"I understand. I'll ask the sect leader and learn everything he has to offer."
"Don't rush. They won't get away. Even if they try, I'll have people watching to see where they go."
In the end, Neung Sa-un's impatience stemmed from a desire for revenge.
Those who had killed his parents and sister.
His burning wish to find them quickly and exact vengeance was what made him so frantic.
"Thank you. Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother."
"If you're truly grateful, rest today and calm your impatient heart."
"Yes."
Neung Sa-un nodded. Do Cheon patted his shoulder a few more times before turning to leave.
'This is great. How wonderful it is to walk this path with my martial brothers!'
Do Cheon left Neung Sa-un's quarters with a pleased smile.
But the smile on his lips didn't last long. It was because of one person snooping around here and there.
"I clearly warned you to stay holed up in your quarters, didn't I?"
Do Cheon said coldly.
"Ah, Do hyung. How can a beast with legs just sit still?"
The one replying so shamelessly was none other than Nam Myeong. His neat attire and handsome features made him look every bit the disciple of a prestigious sect, which instantly furrowed Do Cheon's brow.
"Want me to break those legs?"
"Hey now, I know you're a good guy, so no need for empty threats. Just tell me where that Wall Girl is."
"Why do you want the Wall Girl?"
"My junior sister and brother keep talking about her, so I'm curious what she's like."
"Don't get interested."
"Why not?"
"...!"
"Could it be Do hyung has feelings for her too?"
"No."
"Then why tell me not to get interested?"
Do Cheon couldn't respond. Nam Myeong stared at him intently before nodding.
"You do have feelings for her. Ha, my poor junior brother. His rival is just too... Ack!"
Nam Myeong suddenly clutched his face. Do Cheon had thrown a punch.
"Use words. Words."
"I don't like you, your junior sister, or your junior brother. Any of you."
"We're not living to please you, are we?"
"Then don't mess with me and spout whatever nonsense you want."
"Things happen when people live. Clashes occur."
"Was that just a clash? You were trying to kill me."
"Misunderstandings between martial artists lead to blades clashing sometimes. That's the martial world."
"That's the martial world of the strong. For the weak, it's a place where they're trampled just for being weak and die unjustly. Just like how you got punched by me right now."
"...!"
"You lot dress it up as 'the martial world' and call it natural, but for the weak, it leaves resentment. The kind of grudge that lingers even as a ghost after death. So don't package it like it's no big deal."
"But you're strong now, Do hyung."
"Until recently, I was weak. I had to dodge and hide from people far below you lot. So I don't want to taste a fist full of all that injustice from back then. Stay out of my sight."
Do Cheon threatened. Nam Myeong wiped his nose and stared him down directly. He wasn't backing down.
"You have to get used to it."
"Used to what?"
"Being strong yourself."
"Cut the nonsense and get lost."
"If I were you, I'd want to raise the Iron Lion Sect. What about you?"
"The Iron Lion Sect will grow big enough to look down on the Tyrant Emperor Sect. So shut up and go back to your quarters."
"Which is exactly why you need to get used to it. To the fact that you're strong now. You have to forget all those habits ingrained from being weak."
"I said cut the nonsense."
"Building a big ship requires big bones from the start. If you piece it together from small parts, they all scatter at the slightest impact. My master knew that, so to found the Tyrant Emperor Sect, he boldly stormed one of the strongest unorthodox sects at the time. He toppled the strongest and built massive bones there—ones that wouldn't break under any shock."
"...!"
Do Cheon fell into thought.
It was the complete opposite of his own approach. While he was building up steadily from small things, the Heaven-Rending Legion had seized the big framework first and then swept up the rest. Neither was definitively right. Besides, everyone in the Iron Lion Sect except him was still weak.
'Still, it's something to consider.'
As Do Cheon pondered, Nam Myeong watched quietly.
Which path to take?
What did standing at such a crossroads feel like?
Nam Myeong himself had never even reached that crossroads. He lacked the qualifications. In trying to gain them, he'd recklessly learned the Hell Demon Scripture and ended up like this.
Nam Myeong respected his master, the Heaven-Rending Legion.
His master was unorthodox.
He didn't deny it.
He didn't deny being called a villain either.
- Not all unorthodox are the same! Let's have some class. No more picking on the powerless like street thugs. Fight the orthodox masters, clash among ourselves when our ideals don't align, and even take on those demons feared as symbols of terror.
The Heaven-Rending Legion had gathered his minor unorthodox subordinates and roared those words. Nam Myeong had never forgotten that sight for a moment. It was truly magnificent. He showed with his own body what an unorthodox leader should be. Nam Myeong wanted to join the world of unorthodoxy his master dreamed of. That's why he'd touched the Hell Demon Scripture.
'Well, it's all over now... That's why I envy you, Do hyung.'
As Nam Myeong sighed inwardly, Do Cheon finished his thoughts.
"If staying here feels stifling, want me to take you back to where you used to live?"
Do Cheon offered goodwill. But Nam Myeong shook his head.
"Master told me to wait here."
Clear Dawn Escort Agency.
It was an hour when only the intermittent cries of night birds echoed from afar.
Yeo Mun-rak and Yeo Song-hae were holding a heavy conversation.
"No other word, just told you to find out and go back?"
"Yes."
"And you just came back like that?"
"I couldn't exactly show my face at the Iron Lion Sect."
"Still... Haa, how did things end up like this?"
"It's all that guy's fault."
"Heh, yes, all that guy's fault. Of all people, why'd it have to be him who got strong and came back?"
"Shall we check on the Baekri Clan?"
"They've probably thrown in together by now."
"No way?"
"That's why they'd pull back so quietly."
"Want to look into it more?"
"No need. Might just stir up trouble."
"Then what do we do? At this rate, we're done for. Most of the merchants who used our escort services are switching to the waterways."
"Who doesn't know that?"
"We need to find some way."
"Hmmm..."
A groan like a moan escaped from Yeo Mun-rak's lips as he closed his eyes. As Yeo Song-hae fell silent at the sight, the door to the escort leader's office quietly opened.
"Who's there!"
Yeo Song-hae shouted sternly and looked. He froze as if seeing a ghost.
Thud... thud!
Heavy footsteps resounded.
Yeo Mun-rak opened his eyes and looked. His eyes widened like saucers.
"Y-You...!"
"Getting in and out of this place is this easy for me."
A deep voice flowed out.
The one who stopped before the two was none other than Do Cheon.
"H-How did you...?"
"No matter how I thought about it, this was the only place."
"What place?"
"The place you said you went to find—the Wudang Clan."
"...!"
As Yeo Mun-rak shut his mouth, Yeo Song-hae jumped up and yelled.
"So you're here to kill us?"
"Think I can't?"
"You bastard!"
"Yes, I won't kill you. Su-a would see me as an enemy then. But you know, I could probably cripple both your legs so you can't wander around. Want me to?"
This wasn't an empty threat.
His cold glare made it feel like he'd do it if they breathed wrong.
Not just Yeo Mun-rak—even Yeo Song-hae clamped his mouth shut in panic. Do Cheon shot them one last icy look before turning away.
"Live quietly. And accept what you've lost."
"Why! Why you of all people!"
Yeo Mun-rak shouted from behind. As if indignant, demanding why it had to be Do Cheon who returned strong. Do Cheon walked out without a word, as if it wasn't worth responding to.