Chapter 021 - Sword Aura Merchant (2)
Dawn broke.
A figure shot up the rugged mountainside like an arrow.
Whoosh!
Having fully recovered his qi, Kim Sun-woo climbed the back mountain using Flash Flow Step.
He raced along the trail faster than birds soaring through the sky, reaching the summit in no time.
Now, he could execute Flash Flow Step with his eyes closed.
Even on the damp ground from last night's drizzle, not a single footprint marred the earth. Dew-laden grass blades merely swayed lightly from his feather-soft movements.
His internal energy consumption had plummeted dramatically.
Before, he'd brute-forced speed at great cost, but now he knew efficient movement, saving over half the qi.
The White Flow Sword Technique still drained a fair amount.
But proficiency would grow with time here too.
Kim Sun-woo felt no impatience.
His talent would sort it out anyway.
Whoosh! Swish!
Atop the peak, against the dawn-lit ridge, he began his training.
He reviewed the forms of Flash Flow Step, Illusion Flow Step, and Dark Flow Step, then refined his movements through the three forms of the White Flow Sword Technique.
Truth be told, he itched to practice mixed forms right away.
Blending Flying Moon Severing Shadow into Flash Flow Step, or unleashing Flying Thunder Flash with Dark Flow Step.
But Baek Ryuk Geom's lectures warned against it: such attempts would harm until every form was perfectly established.
Normally, he'd have deemed this enough and dived in.
Confident his talent would adapt swiftly as he swung away.
If not for the Black Knight and his bout with Baek San-hu.
'Still plenty of rough edges.'
Even with innate sensory gifts, perfection chased within one's perceived limits.
Flawed concepts or rigid molds bred danger.
Thus, Kim Sun-woo needed exposure to myriad martial arts, spars aplenty.
To spot flaws in motions he'd thought flawless.
"Whew."
Finishing a round of form polishing, he wiped sweat from his brow and drew not his training blade, but his real sword.
Shing.
A pleasing ring accompanied the keen edge emerging, exuding a chill menace.
"Nice."
A natural sigh of admiration escaped.
This blade, named Black Flow for its inky wave patterns etched into the steel, had once armed the Black Knight.
As a dungeon-acquired item, registration and appraisal dragged, sidelining it for the rank exam.
Kim Jin-cheol pulled strings to expedite, letting him claim it on yesterday's way back.
Ting.
Flicking the flat yielded a deep, resonant hum.
No fancy enchantments like a magic sword, but superb mana conductivity and durability.
"Didn't even chip after that brutal scrap."
Word was, an elite monster's sword like this fetched at least 300 million on the market.
Nothing better for his current level.
The patterns, the vibe, the epic tale to claim it—all perfection.
Black Flow Sword nodded to Baek Ryuk Geom too.
A fitting counterpart, no?
Zzzz.
Channeling qi, a hazy mirage shimmered atop the blade.
Minimal input kept it formless.
Flash!
Ramping output, the haze roiled wildly before crisp white light bloomed along the edge.
Fruits of last night's lecture practice.
He'd wrestled qi till his dantian emptied, manifesting sword aura as vivid as the old master's.
As lectures explained: condensed qi surpassing threshold, materializing.
'The hitch? Consumption explodes.'
Hazy state burned 1 qi per unit; materialized, 7.
On 30 years' total, seemed modest—but combat flipped that.
Footwork, bodily qi flows, clashes—all piled extra drain beyond emission.
'Real fight? Factor tenfold. Save materialized sword aura for true need. Regular haze maybe, but not this.'
No wuxia-style aura barrages yet.
Sensory talent aside, qi reserves mattered—unavoidable.
Steady meditation to expand dantian, stockpile qi.
Short-term boost? Elixirs... but dumping 2 billion barely scratched desired gains.
The treasure vault's fortune hit home anew.
Elixirs for 30 years' worth? Base models granting 1-2 years started at hundreds of millions.
Stack same type? Effects halved, side effects possible.
Money couldn't conjure prime elixirs.
Thus, Kim Sun-woo thanked his luck, sought no more miracles.
Whoosh! Swish!
White Flow Sword Technique with sword aura unleashed otherworldly prowess.
No joke—raw power felt tenfold at least.
Craaaack!!
Flying Thunder Flash rent the air; an explosive roar shook the surroundings.
Scattering shockwaves drew an awed gaze to Black Flow.
"Sword aura in the Black Knight fight? Would've steamrolled."
Dodges or parries meaningless.
It would've pulverized armor, bones, life vessel outright.
Yet sustaining aura through forms taxed even 30 years' qi heavily—reserve for dire need.
Still, jackpot.
Chaining same forms? Foe panic at power leap.
A finisher acquired.
"Next raid when?"
Thrill to test on monsters bubbled.
Crack.
Morning session done, meditation capped, he prepped descent.
Usually glued till dusk, but afternoon plans.
Time to wash, gear up.
Bzzz.
Phone on rock buzzed.
Portable repeater snagged signal fine.
Familiar name on screen; he answered.
"Yeah, Su-ah. What's up?"
-Oppa, what're you doing?
"Back mountain training."
-Did I interrupt?
"Nah, wrapping up descent. Picked right up."
-Perfect timing. Afternoon free?
"House hunting with agent. Why?"
-No lunch then? Eat out? My treat.
"...Sure, sounds good."
Free grub? No-brainer.
Was nuking frozen bentos anyway.
Outdoors beats that.
-Thirty minutes out. Heading now.
"Cool, drive safe."
She'd dropped him home yesterday; address saved.
Hung up, kicked off down the trail.
Morning nonstop sweat-fest; full-body drench.
Tight for shower-outing prep.
But hustle paid; bang on time.
Vrooom.
Stepping curbside, cherry-red sports car braked sharp before him.
Obscene luxury drew stares.
Door popped; he slid into Su-ah's passenger seat casually.
"Didn't drag you out sudden, right?"
She peeked over lowered shades, gauging.
Felt too impulsive herself.
But Kim Sun-woo belted up unfazed.
"Sudden, yeah—but free meal? Pass."
"Making it top-shelf then. Ah, feeling okay?"
"Fit as discharge. Saw at exam?"
"Still, unknowns lurk. Hidden sequelae. Full scan later. One ignored ache grabs ankle."
"......"
Nag barrage drew wry smile.
Mom never babied this hard.
Warmth bloomed.
Vrooom!
Heavy engine growl propelled them forth.
Su-ah hummed cheery, then turned.
"Spot I hit only for big wins. Special intro."
"Hyped. Your pick."
Gourmet kid-turned-adult; refined palate.
Her rave? Legit hype.
'Starved.'
Light brekkie for dawn drill; guts gnawed.
Hunter metabolism guzzled multiples.
Pricey spot fine; no cheapskate vibes.
"Bet. But oppa."
"Yeah."
"Overnight celeb vibes? All about you."
"...Me?"
Huh?
Puzzled frown.
Su-ah blinked wide, Eh? face, nearly missing lead car.
Dodged, short exhale, flustered tone.
"Communities, SNS swamped with you? Rank exam blew up. One-shot Lee Kyung-won, Plum Blossom Sword Saint spar—all."
"Huh."
No wonder unknown calls nonstop yesterday.
Figured voice phishing.
Debt collector PTSD; insta-blocked.
Wrong?