Chapter 131
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: There's No Time Like the Present for Learning (1)
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Flash!
With a single strike, the boulder was split clean in two.
Ju Seoyun’s expression was as indifferent as ever as she gazed down at the sundered rock.
After staring at the clean cut for a long moment, she swung her sword again from where she stood.
Swish!
The sword form was fast and light, yet it seemed to carry no particular force.
Dozens of hairline cracks appeared on the split boulder.
Crumble!
The massive boulder, which had stood in that spot for countless ages, met its end, shattering into hundreds of pieces.
Thud.
Sheathing her sword, she turned.
Just then, the sound of applause echoed from one side.
“That was incredible!”
Ju Seoyun didn't look in that direction. She had known for a while that someone had arrived and was watching her practice.
“I may not know much about martial arts, but it seems you've clearly established your own style. It's remarkable for someone your age.”
It was a great discourtesy to watch another's training. But Ju Seoyun did not rebuke him.
Of course, even if it hadn't been Ho Yoseong, it wasn't in her nature to give someone a disapproving look.
“Haven't you only recently mastered one of the Ten Great Demonic Arts? Yet, at a glance, it seems you've made it completely your own.”
At Ho Yoseong's admiring words, Ju Seoyun gave a slight nod.
She answered and greeted with a silent inclination of her head. It was typical of the quiet woman.
Ho Yoseong smiled.
Though the remarkable awl known as the Third Young Master had recently emerged, before him, the disciple who had stood out the most was the Fifth Young Mistress, Ju Seoyun.
This was in terms of talent, not necessarily skill. Of course, her skill was formidable, but Ju Seoyun's growth was so rapid it inspired not just admiration but disbelief in those who watched.
The talent of the Seventh Young Mistress, Chae Yeomin, was also considered to be on par with Ju Seoyun's. However, she still lacked a clear goal and, crucially, was too young.
Among the seven disciples, the one most specialized in martial talent. That was Ju Seoyun.
“What is it?”
Indifferent and heavy.
For someone in her early twenties, it was rare to have such weight in her voice, Ho Yoseong thought.
“Haha! Normally, I’d try to crack a few jokes, but it’s not so easy in front of the Fifth Young Mistress.”
“…”
“Ah… very well! I’m sure you’re busy, Fifth Young Mistress, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
Ho Yoseong smiled and handed her a letter.
As Ju Seoyun took the letter, a peculiar light flickered in her eyes.
“The Iron Horse Sect?”
“Indeed.”
“…Why them?”
“They’ve been meddling quite a bit in our business lately. We were going to leave it to the local branch, but it seems they’ve expanded their influence considerably.”
Ju Seoyun lifted her head and looked at Ho Yoseong. A hint of doubt surfaced in her clear eyes.
The Iron Horse Sect, though a demonic faction, was nothing more than a common, small-to-medium-sized sect. Leaving aside whether a branch office could handle them, the very idea that they would dare to provoke the Divine Cult was absurd.
“In truth, it can happen. The Cult has quite a few businesses that operate in secret. There have been a few, albeit a very small number, of factions that ran wild without knowing the situation. Usually, we can resolve it by simply letting it slip that it’s a secret operation of the Divine Cult.”
“…”
“But this time, the situation is different. We’ve received intelligence that a certain power is backing the Iron Horse Sect.”
“A certain power?”
“Yes.”
“Which one?”
“We suspect it’s the Sword Palace.”
A peculiar light flashed once more in Ju Seoyun's eyes.
The term "Beyond the Pass" usually referred to the northern frontier of the Central Plains. But now, it was also used to describe other regions outside the Central Plains.
In the martial world Beyond the Pass, there were four representative sects. They were known as the Four Palaces Beyond the Pass.
And among them, the Sword Palace was the sect of Sword Fiends that presided over the eastern region of the Four Palaces.
“It's still just circumstantial, but if it's true, we’d be getting robbed blind. Yet, it’s difficult to confront them without any certainty.”
“So you’re sending me?”
“That’s right. We could send one of the Elders or the 108 Demonic Generals, but in a case like this, a big name is more effective than brute force, wouldn't you agree?”
Ju Seoyun's gaze deepened.
He came because he needed a name, not force. It meant that while she was a great master, she was not yet a powerhouse who could challenge the prestige of the Elders and Demonic Generals.
Of course, she too was well aware that her level was not yet there.
However, hearing it from someone else still left a bitter taste.
“Why me, of all people?”
“The First Young Master is still in seclusion. The Cult Leader has another task for the Second Young Master. The Third Young Master is currently away from the mountain as a Special Inspector, and as for the Fourth Young Master, well…”
“…”
“The Sixth Young Master is too young and lacks the martial prowess for this kind of mission. Besides, he returned not long ago and is struggling to master the ultimate arts of the Giant Whale House.”
As for the Seventh Young Mistress, Chae Yeomin, it went without saying. She was still a young girl of only twelve.
“In short, the Fifth Young Mistress is the only suitable person for this job.”
Ju Seoyun shook her head.
“Can’t you send someone else?”
“Do you feel your training is lacking?”
“…”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. I have already received the Cult Leader’s approval.”
Ju Seoyun nodded. Since things had progressed this far, she had no choice.
Still, it was a pity. She had just found a foothold toward a new realm, and every moment was precious.
Ho Yoseong, who had been watching her with a smile, spoke.
“Well, my business here is done.”
“My departure is…”
“However, while I may be a layman in martial arts, I pride myself on having a decent grasp of the ways of the world. So, I’d like to offer a word of advice.”
“…”
“Unless you are trying to attain something through seclusion, I hope you won't become too fixated on the word 'training'.”
Ju Seoyun’s eyes glinted.
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a saying, isn’t there? Obsession only pushes things further away.”
Ju Seoyun nodded.
It wasn't because she agreed with Ho Yoseong. Anyone could say such things. She was merely reacting out of courtesy, as he seemed to be showing concern for her.
But Ho Yoseong’s next words made even the stoic woman pause.
“In that respect, the Third Young Master is truly a remarkable person.”
“…?”
“The Third Young Master never neglected his daily training. But he also gave his all to the missions he was assigned. He didn't greatly lament his unfinished training.”
“…!”
“He agonized intensely over how to solve problems and actively engaged with people. When martial arts were needed, he charged in boldly, and when intellect was required, he didn't even raise a fist, let alone a sword.”
“…”
“I believe it is the accumulation of such processes and experiences that completes what we call 'learning'. It's the same principle as how locking yourself in a room and reading tens of thousands of books might increase your knowledge, but you'd struggle to gain wisdom.”
Ho Yoseong smiled.
“Perhaps that is why the Third Young Master has become so strong.”
Ju Seoyun’s eyes wavered.
A corner of her mind felt an urge to say, *You only say that because you know nothing of martial arts.* She wanted to say that he spoke as he did precisely because, by his own admission, he had no experience with the Martial Way.
But she didn't say the words.
Because she now understood what Ho Yoseong was trying to say. Whether to accept it or discard it was entirely her choice.
“Oh, my! I’ve taken up the time of a busy person. It was just meddling that hardly qualifies as advice, so please don't take it too seriously.”
“…”
“Well then.”
With a bow, Ho Yoseong walked away with long strides.
Ju Seoyun watched his retreating back. Her eyes were on his figure, but no one knew what she was thinking.
A moment later, she closed her eyes.
“…The Iron Horse Sect, is it?”
* * *
On a mountain peak not far from the Fighting King Demonic House.
It was the perfect place to admire the brilliant moonlight. Seated on a rock, so flat it seemed crafted, one could look up at the sky and feel their heart flutter as their eyes filled with the moon's glow.
A golden beast lay beside the rock. And on the rock, Seo Ryang sat looking up at the moonlight, creating a strangely elegant scene.
Jong Risan, who had been silently observing the man and beast, walked over with steady steps.
“You’re here?”
Jong Risan didn't answer.
Seo Ryang gestured to the spot beside him.
“It’s a good night for moon-gazing. If you’d like to watch, please sit here.”
Jong Risan boldly sat right next to Seo Ryang. The same man who had told Wi Hongryeon not to invade a warrior's space was now readily intruding upon Seo Ryang's.
It wasn't that he was audacious; it was that he knew. He knew Seo Ryang wouldn't attack him.
Jong Risan glanced at Geumho.
“I’ve been wanting to ask…”
“Go ahead.”
“What exactly is that fox?”
Seo Ryang shrugged.
“He’s my friend.”
“Friend?”
“And a reliable ally.”
That much seemed plausible. Though he had tried to erase it from his mind due to the shock, the aura that fox had emitted three days ago during their confrontation was no less than that of a transcendent master.
That was what was so surprising. For a mere beast to exude such an aura. And wasn't it a fox that had killed a tiger?
In many ways, it was no ordinary beast.
“Is it what they call a spirit beast?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure either. Since there’s no other word for it, I suppose we’ll have to call it a spirit beast for now.”
Jong Risan nodded. There was no need to dwell on a curiosity that couldn't be satisfied.
In truth, he was more curious about Seo Ryang than Geumho.
‘Truly an inscrutable man.’
Jong Risan’s expression turned peculiar.
‘How can someone at his age…’
His skill was beyond question. The aura Seo Ryang had emanated back then was hardly inferior to his own.
That alone was astonishing, but the insight he had shown on the way here was worthy of a grandmaster. As he observed the Fighting King Demonic House’s influence and troop deployment, he had pinpointed with uncanny accuracy how the Giant Whale House’s forces should move.
Thanks to him, thirty percent of the Giant Whale House’s actual forces were now exquisitely positioned near the Fighting King Demonic House.
‘And yet, he was excessively ignorant when it came to business-related matters.’
The topic of how the Fighting King Demonic House managed its businesses had briefly come up.
At that time, Seo Ryang had become as silent as a clam. He even admitted he knew nothing about such things.
‘He possesses outstanding abilities in martial arts and tactics. It would be no exaggeration to say his insight, especially concerning surprise attacks, is world-class.’
Jong Risan’s gaze deepened.
‘But in other areas, he was astonishingly clueless.’
He had more than enough capability to be the representative master of an organization, but he would struggle to become its leader. In other words, he was a man of clear strengths and weaknesses.
To send such a person as an inspector, the Cult Leader was certainly no ordinary man, he thought. It was impressive how he had seen through the falsified ledgers.
“…How strange.”
“What is?”
“My son assessed the Third Young Master thus: a man whose lust for power and desire to show off are excessive, but whose talent is equally great, making him all the more dangerous.”
Seo Ryang smiled.
Jong Risan’s son would be the Sixth Young Master. A fellow he had yet to meet.
‘A good judge of character.’
At least, that was what Seo Ryang had been like before he took over this body.
“But it seems my son’s judgment is still lacking. You are so different from what I heard.”
“People are bound to change.”
Jong Risan nodded. Like Geumho, Seo Ryang was not someone he could understand right away.
Taking a deep breath, Jong Risan asked.
“We’ve reached the territory of the Fighting King Demonic House. What are your plans now?”
“We’ll go in.”
“When do you intend to go in?”
“A festival is always more exciting at night, isn't it? I see no need to drag this out.”
Seo Ryang smiled and stood up.
“Let's go and get this sorted out quickly.”