Chapter 37 - Final Lecture (4)
Master Baek Ryuk Geom's body had been cremated according to his will, with the ashes scattered around the stone pagoda.
So what could be slumbering inside this one?
'He said he'd leave something helpful for his successor.'
Nice words.
But if he had been Master Baek Ryuk Geom himself, he would have first doubted whether the successor was truly worthy of inheriting the White Flow Divine Art.
No matter how worried he was about the lineage of the Blue Sword Sect being severed, he wouldn't have wanted some wicked or deficient person to inherit his martial arts.
In Kim Sun-woo's judgment, this stone pagoda was essentially the first and final test.
Having already given lectures to an unspecified multitude via the internet, this was likely the only method left.
As he stared intently at the stone pagoda, Kim Sun-woo noticed something odd in its haphazardly stacked form.
"It's not just piled up randomly, huh?"
The pagoda was said to have been built by hand by Master Baek Ryuk Geom while he was still alive.
He had thought it was just stacked anyhow, but a clear pattern emerged before his eyes.
Whoosh. Whoosh-whoosh. Whoosh.
Swinging his hand through the air following the pagoda's contours, Kim Sun-woo tilted his head.
"Doesn't match."
The stones embedded in the pagoda did follow a certain regularity.
He wondered if it mimicked the forms of the White Flow Sword Technique, but disappointingly, the trajectories didn't align...
"Hold on."
He shifted his steps and walked sideways along it.
Then he approached the front of the nameplate inscribed with Master Baek Ryuk Geom's last words.
Swoosh. Ssswoosh. Whoosh.
Drawing trajectories over the jagged protruding rocks, he confirmed they perfectly matched the forms of the White Flow Sword Technique.
Shing.
Without hesitation, Kim Sun-woo drew the Black Flow Sword.
The moment he pointed the blade at the stone pagoda and exhaled...
"......"
His motion, poised to swing at any second, came to an abrupt halt.
"Tch."
Slicing the pagoda with the White Flow Sword Technique must be the final test.
But even if he cut it with mediocre skill, would there be no risks?
'If it were me, I wouldn't leave it that easy.'
No matter what lay inside, it wouldn't be handed over so simply.
Swipe.
Kim Sun-woo dragged his foot back, proceeding with greater caution.
'Upper: Flying Thunder Flash, middle: Absolute Shadow Chaos Flow, lower: Flying Moon Severing Shadow.'
The trajectories followed only the sword techniques from the lectures.
Exhaling briefly, Kim Sun-woo first swung his sword through the empty air, carefully practicing the paths.
No matter how solidly stacked, a pagoda exposed to years of wind and rain would inevitably warp.
Thus, there would be deviations from the original intent.
Staring fixedly, he began to see trajectories subtly different from what he remembered.
Thud.
Stabbing the Black Flow Sword into the ground, Kim Sun-woo focused his eyes and analyzed meticulously.
Day fell, dawn broke, the sun climbed to midday, and dusk settled—over and over.
Suddenly, he yanked the Black Flow Sword from the earth and thrust it forth like lightning.
Shiiiiaaak!
Sword aura surged along the pitch-black blade.
Unlike before, no preparation time was needed; the pristine white sword aura flickered vividly, carving a long arc through the air.
In a single breath, three forms unfolded in succession, cleaving the stone pagoda.
A linkage impossible before, made feasible by his concentration elevated to the extreme.
Ting.
The moment he finished all swings, the overexertion's backlash sent the Black Flow Sword flying from his grip.
"Kuh."
His palm tore open, fresh red blood flowing.
Slumping down, Kim Sun-woo panted raggedly as he eyed the pagoda.
"Seems like I cut it right..."
He had perfectly followed the trajectories with a sword aura-infused blade.
Whatever was inside shouldn't be damaged.
Forcing himself up, he retrieved the Black Flow Sword and approached.
Cautiously pushing with his hand...
Rumble!
The towering top of the stone pagoda collapsed.
This triggered the rest of the jagged stones to tumble down entirely.
Moments later, only a single upright pillar remained at the center.
On the wooden pillar, the marks of Kim Sun-woo's sword cuts were vividly etched.
"...Barely a pass, huh?"
Red markings on the pillar seemed to indicate Master Baek Ryuk Geom's prescribed paths for the forms.
Meant for a future successor to see they weren't perfect yet and strive harder.
Even now, faint red traces lingered along each trajectory.
Partly due to the pagoda's warping, but also to signal his realm was still incomplete.
Kim Sun-woo carefully reached into the pillar's center.
A hollow space held a small box, plainly visible.
Opening the lid released a refreshing aroma.
Inside: a small wooden case, a book in classical Chinese, and a palm-sized notebook.
Click.
Opening the wooden case first, Kim Sun-woo's eyes widened.
An extraordinary fragrance pierced his nose, spreading around.
The spiritual herb, finely layered on paper, gleamed auspiciously in the sunset glow, displaying its form.
Clearly brimming with immense inner energy at a glance.
Next, he checked the notebook.
The classical Chinese manual was illegible anyway.
"I've left these for my successor. Once you retrieve the box, the pillar will ignite in one minute. Beware the flames."
Fwoosh!
Almost simultaneously, crimson flames erupted from the pillar.
Fire raced up from the base, devouring it in an instant.
Kim Sun-woo, right in front, shielded the box with his body.
Thanks to his flame resistance, it wasn't too hot, but Master Baek Ryuk Geom's relics could be damaged.
Kicking off the ground, he leaped back, confirmed no harm, and sighed in relief.
"I've arranged safeguards in the stone pagoda. As you discerned, cleave it with the three forms of the White Flow Sword Technique. Precisely follow the set trajectories to shave the stones and wood of the pillar. If insufficient, no issue—but exceed my standards, and the pressure on the base weakens, igniting the flames immediately."
Kim Sun-woo gave a wry smile.
Studying the sword paths so meticulously hadn't been in vain.
Still, he hadn't expected such a trap.
A slight misstep, and it all would've burned.
Thud.
The charred pillar remnants rolled across the ground.
With nothing left there, Kim Sun-woo returned to his tent and focused on the notebook.
"Little time remains for me. Only portions could be conveyed via lectures. Thus, I commit the rest to writing.
"The following details the remaining forms of the White Flow Sword Technique and White Flow Step, advice on true energy operation, and insights into sword gang cultivation.
"In the wooden case lies the spiritual pill called the Soul Equilibrium Pill, rare even in the Central Plains—fortuitously obtained on Earth. None here knew its value, a blessing from heaven for my successor. It pairs perfectly with the White Flow Divine Art. Absorb it fully for inner energy exceeding half a jia, and senses sharper than before. A transformation akin to exchanging bones and shedding marrow. Alas, it can't cure my chronic ailment, so I entrust it to you. Please use it well, that my efforts not be wasted."
"......"
Writing that it couldn't cure his illness was to spare the successor any guilt or burden.
Kim Sun-woo nodded briefly, then opened the wooden case.
Click.
The auspicious fragrance stirred his heart once more.
'Half a jia.'
Equivalent to the inner energy gained from the treasure vault in the Cradle of the Broken Pilgrim.
All from this single pill.
Any martial artist would covet it, yet he left it for his successor.
Offering silent gratitude to Master Baek Ryuk Geom, Kim Sun-woo swallowed it without hesitation.
Unlike the vault's treasures, it didn't melt instantly into liquid.
A chewy sensation, like tough grass.
But its flavor was peerless.
Having chewed and swallowed it all, he closed his eyes and entered meditative circulation.
'No one will disturb me here.'
He wouldn't descend until fully absorbing the Soul Equilibrium Pill's energy.
Meanwhile, he mentally rehearsed the remaining White Flow Sword Technique and White Flow Step forms, cultivating endlessly.
After three cycles of sunrise and sunset atop the ridge...
Kim Sun-woo's eyes snapped open in the tent, still seated in lotus position.
"......"
But he soon squinted.
It was night outside.
Why, then, did his eyes dazzle so?
As if broad daylight...
"Huh?"
The darkness was as clear as day.
Even without circulating inner energy, everything was vivid.
Rustle, rustle.
Wind through foliage, insects gnawing wood, mountain beasts scurrying...
Not just sight—his hearing, touch, all senses amplified beyond compare.
Rising in a daze, Kim Sun-woo checked his body.
No waste expulsion like his first meditation—consistent practice had paid off; nothing soiled.
"...One jia."
Standing, he murmured, stroking his lower abdomen.
The inner energy a common martial artist needed 60 years of diligent cultivation to attain.
How long since he began learning martial arts?
Scarce two months.
No one would believe it; they'd call it a lie.
"I barely believe it myself—who would?"
Wry smile forming, he clutched his belly and chuckled.
"First things first—what to eat. Starved for days; I'm dying here."
His dantian brimmed with inner energy, but days without food had his stomach clinging to his back.
He set water to boil, ripping open all five instant noodle packs from the mart.
Right now, he could devour them plus rice.
Bubble bubble.
Awakening with one jia's power, first act: boiling ramen.
Hunger waits for no one.
Kim Sun-woo inhaled the noodles frantically, sating his famine.
Halfway through the pot, he calmed enough for cold assessment.
"So, how strong am I now?"
Inner energy alone had doubled instantly.
A-rank might be a stretch, but B-rank should be feasible.
This ordeal had brought insights into his martial progress too...
Reaching for chopsticks and noodles, Kim Sun-woo snapped his head up.
Huff, huff...
Thick stench of blood, pained breaths, staggering footsteps—someone wounded, racing up the mountain trail toward here.
"...Team Leader Park?"
Dropping his chopsticks, Kim Sun-woo grabbed the Black Flow Sword and kicked off the ground.