Ch 128
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 128
Though she said she would tell me if I succeeded, that Luciel fellow didn't reveal what magic it was until my internal energy recovered.
Time was running short, so I came back and turned my phone off and on to check the time—6:15.
Only 15 minutes left until the appointment time.
There were quite a few missed calls from Se-jin, so I'd definitely have to use Warp Magic.
I was planning to use Warp when moving to the portal anyway.
First, I called Se-jin.
—Yes, Teacher.
"Sorry. I was doing something else and couldn't check my phone. Where are you?"
—I'm at home. Should we delay the appointment time a bit then?
"No. I can come right now... Are you alone at home right now?"
—Yes.
"You're fully dressed, right?"
—Huh? Of course I'm dressed. Why would you ask that...?
Because if I warped to Se-jin's house, an awkward situation might arise.
"Then that's fine. I'll come right away."
I hung up and used Warp Magic, and my vision changed instantly.
I moved right to the front door, and I could see Se-jin right there.
"Te... Teacher? How are you there...?"
"I said I'd come right away."
"But still, how did you...?"
"Well, come here first, put on your shoes, and give me your hand."
Actions speak louder than words, so it would be faster to make her experience it directly rather than explain.
I grabbed her hand and used Warp Magic to arrive near the portal where Master had been.
Surprised by the suddenly changed scenery, she looked around frantically.
"Te... Teacher, where is this?"
"This is Mount Seorak."
I showed her the location on a map app and explained that it was a newly developed magic.
If it had been someone else, she would have suspected me of being a monster or thought it strange and questioned me.
But since she had developed and actually experienced the Regeneration Magic last time, she seemed to believe my words at face value.
"You're really amazing."
"Amazing, what. Actually, Se-jin, there's something I lied to you about."
"A lie?"
I explained about martial arts and Master.
I learned martial arts not in China but in Korea, and this was the portal where Master lived.
I made up a story about discovering it by chance while conquering another nearby portal.
Even about ascending recently...
It was hard to believe, so she tilted her head from time to time.
But while talking, we had somehow arrived in front of the portal where Master had been.
"There really is a portal here?"
It felt like it had been really long since I came here.
Since Master wasn't here anyway, and coming here would only make me think of Master and become depressed and weaken my heart, I deliberately hadn't visited.
"Do you believe me a bit more now?"
"I believed you from the beginning."
I don't think that's a lie.
Se-jin's faith in me is so strong that she wouldn't doubt me even if I said I made soybean paste out of dung.
"Since I took a disciple, Master really wanted to see you. If I had known he would leave so suddenly, I would have shown you to him..."
Thinking of Master feels like someone is stabbing my chest with an awl.
"Ah... Excuse me, don't you have any photos or anything of that Master?"
"You don't believe me?"
"No, it's not that. It's just that since he's your Master, Teacher, I'm curious too... I'm sorry."
"Yeah..."
‘I should have taken at least one photo together. I really regret not doing something so simple that I could have done with my phone.’
"Teacher... Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. As I said before, I don't think Master died but really became an immortal. If he became an immortal, Master might be watching over me, so even though I'm late, I came here to show you to him now."
"Ah..."
"Will you come with me? I'll give you an answer after greeting Master."
"Ah, yes."
I entered the portal with Se-jin.
"Te... Teacher? Is this place originally like this?"
Se-jin asked, but I was in no state of mind to answer.
What is this?
The ground was turned over, trees were split and fallen, and the state was completely chaotic as if a typhoon and earthquake had occurred.
No, this isn't a natural disaster.
Looking at the fallen trees, they're all cut cleanly.
Could it be?
I told Se-jin to wait a moment and immediately ran to where the cave was.
Fortunately, the cave and the Internal Energy Manual carved in the cave were intact, and the tombstone I had made was also as it was.
I spread my internal energy and went around every corner of the portal, but except for Se-jin, I couldn't find anyone else, so I returned to the entrance.
"Teacher, what's wrong?"
"I wondered if Master might have returned... When I last erected the tombstone and left, it wasn't in this state."
"Really?"
"But there was no one anywhere."
If not Master, who on earth came here?
In the original work, the protagonist is the first to discover this place, and it's not time yet…
***
When I swung my sword, the ground turned over and trees fell at once.
Is this another failure?
I didn't think it would be easy to follow, but since Yeo Dong bin, who lost to me, could do it, I thought there was nothing I couldn't do...
Perhaps trying to follow such a technique just by watching with my eyes was too much.
Really, effort... huh?
A black crack appeared in the air in the direction I had swung my sword.
It's slightly different from what Yeo Dong-bin showed me, but I definitely cut through space.
Thinking that there might be a possibility if I did a little more, I raised my sword while recalling the sensation from earlier.
After swinging my sword several more times, the black crack gradually widened and soon took on an oval shape.
This much should be enough to pass through...
At first, I was only thinking about getting out of here somehow to find my disciple, but if I go out through here, can I really get to where my disciple lives?
If I go to some strange place and can't come back here, that would be troublesome...
The size of the oval gradually shrinks.
Well, somehow it'll work out. I succeeded with great effort, so I can't not even try.
The moment I was about to step forward, a person popped out from between the black crack.
It's Yeo Dong-bin.
"Why are you coming out from there?"
"Who's talking. What exactly are you doing right now?"
"What am I doing? My disciple didn't come, so... I was thinking of going to look for him and tried to follow the technique you did, but it seems I opened it wrong."
From when Yeo Dong-bin popped out, I expected this, but it seems to be connected to the Immortal Realm rather than the world where my disciple lives.
"You... you just watched Dimension Cutting and tried to follow it?"
"I tried and it worked."
"What nonsense are you talking about..."
"Anyway, this works out well. Since you're here, help me get to my disciple."
Since Yeo Dong-bin was skilled, he should definitely be able to do it.
"I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Why do you want to meet your disciple? Didn't you promise me not to interfere with the world anymore?"
"Well, that's true, but... Because of you guys, my disciple thinks I ascended and even erected a tombstone, so he hasn't been coming..."
"Whatever the circumstances, you must not interfere with the world. Besides, isn't your disciple from another dimension? You shouldn't have met him in the first place."
"What does that matter? I didn't come here because I wanted to. Ultimately, isn't it all the Immortal Realm's fault?"
"...Well, I can't say no to that, but that's why we granted your request, didn't we?"
"Wasn't that because I won the duel?"
"Haha. I only faced you with mortal strength and lost. If I had used divine power too, the result would have been different."
I was about to say what nonsense he was talking about after losing, but when Yeo Dong-bin waved his hand once, my internal energy disappeared and I lost strength in my body.
"Do you think there's no one stronger than you in the Immortal Realm just because I lost?"
"..."
"If we had sent someone else to subdue you, you would have had to ascend. But we didn't do that. Isn't that right?"
He's calmly refuting, and I have nothing to say.
Looking at it now, he's not a Sword Immortal but a Word Immortal, considering how well he speaks.
"We respected your will as compensation for the time you spent alone and lonely here due to the Evil Dragon's curse, so you should also keep your promise."
"Well... Then can you at least convey to my disciple that I didn't ascend?"
I have no lingering attachment to the world anyway.
Even when I was in the Central Plains, both the Heavenly Demon and Sambong asked me to help their Demonic Cult and Orthodox Faction, but I refused because I wasn't interested in such power games.
All I want is ramen, chicken, variety shows, and a disciple who will bring these to me.
"That's not possible."
"Why? I made a concession too..."
"Immortals must not carelessly show themselves before mortals. Besides, as I've said repeatedly, this is a completely different dimension. Interference is fundamentally prohibited."
"But my disciple misunderstood that I ascended because of your duel..."
"Weren't you the one who suggested the duel first? You were also the one who suggested moving locations."
Sigh... It's really unfair, but since it's true, I can't refute it at all.
Still, I was about to ask if there wasn't some way, when space split and... Huh?
"Sword Immortal, you came early. It's been a while, Yu-ryang."
White Taoist robes with Taiji patterns embroidered on them and a familiar face.
"Sambong? You became an immortal!"
"I gained enlightenment in my later years. Well... Sword Immortal, please return now. Since he was my friend, I'll talk to him so he understands."
"I've already conveyed everything... Very well. If it's Master Zhang, I can trust him."
With those words, Yeo Dong-bin disappeared.
"Seeing that the tiger-mustached Taoist became an immortal, quite a lot of time must have passed."
"Ahem, well... I also heard news that you fought the Sword Immortal, won, and refused ascension, so I thought you were still the same."
"Listen, Sambong, I won't talk long, so just tell my disciple that I'm alive."
"Didn't the Sword Immortal explain? You must not interfere with this world. That goes for us too."
"Don't be so cold about it. Didn't I save your life once?"
"I've helped you quite a few times too, haven't I? Besides, you probably didn't know, but do you remember the victims of the Evil Dragon's curse?"
After defeating the dragon, I ignorantly made contact with people and several turned to stone...
"I remember. What happened to them?"
"The curse victims were taken by our Wudang sect and after three years of effort, we restored them to their original state. But because of that incident, you almost became a public enemy of the martial world, didn't you?"
"A... Public enemy of the martial world?"
"If I hadn't defended you saying you weren't that kind of person, that's what would have happened. I think this is enough to repay the favor. Isn't it?"
This guy was originally weak in martial arts but could be called the best in the world with his mouth, and now that he's become an immortal, his eloquence seems to have improved even more.
"Hmm, really can't something be done?"
"...There's no way."
"Don't say it so firmly. What do you think I stayed here refusing even ascension for..."
"Then how about ascending now? The Immortal Realm isn't such a bad place either. There are several guys you might know."
"Didn't Yeo Dong-bin say once you refuse, it's over?"
"That's true, but since you have circumstances, how about going together and asking the Three Pure Ones once? I'll also petition together."
Ascension...
I firmly refused before, but that was naturally because Shin-hyeok kept coming at that time.
If I keep waiting, wouldn't he come at least once someday?
He's not someone without affection, so it seems like he might come once, but since he's such a busy guy, when he'll come...
I asked Sambong if he could give me a little time, but he said that wasn't possible.
"I understand. Then let's go and at least ask."
If that bastard Shin-hyeok doesn't come, there's no reason to keep staying here.
When Sambong drew his sword once, a door opened.
"Follow me."
Following Sambong inside, the surrounding scenery changed instantly.
Large stone mountains float in the sky, and many immortals flying around on clouds are visible.
"This is Penglai Mountain where immortals reside. Since only immortals can enter Penglai Mountain, I'll ask the Three Pure Ones first and come back. Wait a moment."
I answered that I understood, and about two hours passed when Sambong approached with some kid.
"What did they say? And why did you bring that brat?"
"Br... Brat? You foolish guy, do you know who this person is! Quickly bow your head and greet him."
When the kid raised his right hand, Sambong bowed his head and stepped back.
Is he someone quite high up in the Immortal Realm?
Even so, having to bow my head to such a brat—the Immortal Realm really isn't my style.
"Are you Cho Yu-ryang?"
"That's right."
Sambong glared at me from behind as if he would devour me, but he's your superior, not mine.
I don't bow my head to just anyone.
"As I heard, you're quite a stubborn fellow."
With the child's words, I found myself bowing my head without realizing it.
"Wha... What kind of sorcery did you use?"
"What sorcery. It's just due to the natural difference in status. According to Master Zhang, you refused ascension once but changed your mind."
"Honestly, rather than ascension, if you could just let my disciple know that I didn't ascend..."
"That won't do. Originally, absolutely not interfering with other dimensions is the supreme law of the world."
So it really can't be done...
"Then ascension..."
"That's also impossible. Since the Immortal Realm was created, there has never been a case of giving another chance to someone who refused ascension once. Originally, such a personality doesn't fit the Immortal Realm."
"But I didn't choose to come to your dimension because I wanted to, it's all because of the Immortal Realm..."
"Tsk tsk, how long will you keep blaming us? Didn't we also allow your refusal of ascension? Originally, when someone who should ascend refuses, we judge it as threatening the balance of the world and liberate the soul through death. We showed enough consideration."
"I won't interfere with the world. I'm just asking to at least see my disciple like before, what's so..."
"Primordial Heavenly Honored One, he was my friend when in the mortal world and did many righteous deeds. Couldn't you show a little mercy?"
Sambong from behind helped me... But wait. Pri... Primordial Heavenly Honored One?
Primordial Heavenly Honored One is the leader of all immortals.
"Impossible. What won't do won't do. Listen, Cho Yu-ryang."
"Wha... What?"
"Wasn't it your choice to refuse ascension? Stubbornly endure it."