Chapter 165
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: The Wind from the Northern Sea (5)
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“You’ve worked hard on the Iron Horse Hall matter.”
“Thank you.”
Ju Seoyun’s face remained expressionless as she bowed her head respectfully.
Lee Cheonsang, looking down at her, nodded.
“They say one can improve by leaps and bounds. It seems you have been training diligently.”
“...Thank you.”
Receiving such praise from Lee Cheonsang was no easy feat. It was a moment where Ju Seoyun’s talent and effort truly shone.
“The Purple Lightning Demonic Art, among the Ten Great Demonic Arts, is particularly specialized in destructive power. On the other hand, its weakness is a lack of stamina.”
“Yes.”
“You've used your unique way of circulating energy to compensate for that lack of stamina. You chose to mend your weakness rather than maximize your strength.”
“That is correct.”
“It is proof that you have a clear understanding of the path your martial arts are taking. Not bad.”
After taking a sip of his drink, Lee Cheonsang continued.
“But it is inevitable that there are still some shortcomings.”
Ju Seoyun’s eyes flashed.
These were the words of the only person in the cult who could stir the waters of her heart. She never took Lee Cheonsang’s words lightly.
In fact, she took it a step further.
“Please grant me your teachings.”
He was also the only one before whom she could set aside her pride. That was why she had no hesitation in asking for his guidance.
Lee Cheonsang spoke.
“Your martial arts are confined solely to the concept of ‘martial.’ Nothing exists beyond that.”
“...?”
“The strengths and weaknesses of a martial art are trivial matters. You have failed to incorporate the truly important element into your techniques.”
“What might that be?”
“It is not a realm you can understand simply by being told. You must realize it for yourself.”
Ju Seoyun bowed her head even deeper.
If Lee Cheonsang said it was so, then it was so. She trusted his words completely.
“Thank you for your teachings.”
What thoughts crossed his mind as he looked at Ju Seoyun?
Lee Cheonsang spoke again.
“Even a scholar who has read tens of thousands of books cannot be well-versed in the ways of the world.”
“...?”
“To become well-versed in the ways of the world, one must leave the study. You, right now, are no different from a scholar who blindly trusts only the words in a book.”
Ju Seoyun’s eyes wavered.
She had heard similar words not long ago.
-I deliberated intensely to resolve issues and actively engaged with people. When martial arts were needed, I charged forward boldly, and when intellect was required, I didn't even raise a fist, let alone a sword.
-I believe that such processes and experiences, gathered one by one, complete what we call ‘learning.’ It’s the same principle as how one who secludes themselves in a room and reads tens of thousands of books may only increase their knowledge, but will struggle to gain wisdom.
-That must be how the Third Young Master has grown so strong.
Those were the words of Grand Marshal Ho Yoseong.
Although Ho Yoseong had also learned martial arts, he was by no means a master. His words had been moving enough, but his advice hadn't resonated with her as deeply for that reason.
But now, Lee Cheonsang was telling her the same thing.
Did extremes meet? Lee Cheonsang, who had glimpsed the pinnacle of the martial way, and Ho Yoseong, who had established an unrivaled domain in the literary arts—both of them saw the same flaw in Ju Seoyun.
“Then... what must I do?”
“Fixing your stubborn mind is a task only you can accomplish. If you can do that, you will continue to grow, whether you are eating or sleeping.”
“...”
“You may leave now.”
“...Yes.”
Ju Seoyun rose from her seat.
‘He said my mind is stubborn?’
A warrior must stake their life on the martial way alone. That was how she had been taught, and how she had grown.
But now, she was being told that the path she had walked was not the right one. She couldn’t help but feel confused.
Just then, the voice of a cultist echoed from outside the grand hall.
“Cult Leader. The Third Young Master requests an audience.”
“Let him in.”
*Rumble.*
The doors of the grand hall opened, and Seo Ryang walked in.
Ju Seoyun’s eyes turned toward him.
‘Third Brother...’
In that instant, her face stiffened.
*Sssst.*
Though there was nothing visible, it was as if smoke was rising from the ground with his every step.
He exuded an undeniable presence that commanded attention, even without actively releasing his energy. An incredible sense of ease could be seen in Seo Ryang as he walked forward, step by step.
Ju Seoyun’s expression changed in a flash.
This feeling, where her own internal energy churned on its own even though he wasn't emitting any demonic energy.
‘Could it be?!’
Seo Ryang glanced at Ju Seoyun.
He could sense a flicker of surprise on her expressionless face, and within that surprise, a mix of admiration and confusion.
‘Sharp senses.’
She had recognized his level at a glance. Even though she hadn't reached the Transcendent level, she felt the different quality of his aura. Her senses were exceptionally keen.
But that was all. Tearing his gaze away from her, Seo Ryang bowed his head to Lee Cheonsang.
“I have arrived.”
“Yes.”
Lee Cheonsang said.
“Fifth child, you may leave.”
“...Yes.”
Ju Seoyun exited the grand hall.
‘I didn’t see it wrong.’
Her beautiful face was stained with shock.
‘The Pinnacle of the Demonic...!’
The absolute wall that those who have transcended human limits must face.
The supreme realm where one begins to break free even from the concept of martial arts—that is the realm of the Pinnacle of the Demonic. Her third brother had clearly achieved the zenith of the demonic, a state where he could master any demonic art with ease.
‘How?!’
She had never once been arrogant while training her martial arts. However, she knew she possessed more outstanding talent than others. After all, it was hard to find a master who had reached her level, even looking across the entire martial world.
Her third brother had ascended to a realm on a completely different dimension from her own. Despite being only three or four years older, his level was entirely different.
With a pounding heart, she left the grand hall.
“What do you think?”
“Pardon?”
Seo Ryang tilted his head.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about the fifth child.”
“...?”
“What is your assessment of her?”
“She’s decent, isn’t she?”
Decent. But that was all. Her strength and talent were surprising enough to warrant a moment’s attention, but it ended there.
Lee Cheonsang nodded.
“Including you, she has the greatest talent in our cult. If I had to make a comparison, only the youngest could match her.”
“So it seems.”
“However, she has failed to correct one single problem.”
Seo Ryang smiled.
“It's the wall that those with overwhelming talent always struggle with. If she can break through it, she'll become frighteningly strong.”
“That is also true.”
Lee Cheonsang raised his hand.
*Woong.*
An empty cup floated into the air.
“Care for a drink?”
“Ah, I’d appreciate it.”
The cup Seo Ryang received was filled with Wuliangye, the famed liquor of Sichuan.
“You seem to be fond of Sichuan liquor.”
“The lands of Sichuan are famous for their abundance. The liquor brewed there is undoubtedly the finest.”
“Is that so?”
Seo Ryang emptied his cup. The aroma was certainly nice, but he couldn't feel much of a difference compared to other famous liquors.
Lee Cheonsang asked.
“Did your conversation with the young lord of the Ice Palace go well?”
Seo Ryang’s eyes gleamed.
“You knew?”
“There is nothing that happens within the cult that I do not know.”
He said it as if it were obvious, but it was enough to send a chill down the spine of anyone who heard it.
Seo Ryang let out a sigh.
“He made a rather cute proposal.”
“So his claim of wanting to see the cult was just a pretext.”
“Is that why you put him in the Solitary Bamboo Forest?”
“It was a consideration of sorts.”
“He seemed to have long since surpassed the state of being impervious to heat and cold.”
“The body may be fine, but the mind can still grow weary.”
If any cultist had witnessed this scene, they would have doubted their eyes and ears. Lee Cheonsang was not a man of many words, nor was he one to hold long conversations with anyone.
Seo Ryang scratched his head.
“Well, as for what that fellow proposed...”
“I am not curious.”
“Pardon?”
Lee Cheonsang refilled his own cup and spoke.
“The leader of the Four Palaces Beyond the Borders, who has long been silent, has made a move. It must be something unusual. Whether it’s an alliance or a provocation, what is important are the events that will unfold after your conversation with that child.”
“But you don’t know what we talked about.”
“I at least know the fact that he sought you out instead of coming to me.”
Seo Ryang’s eyes gleamed again.
“He didn't seek the master, but called upon the master's son for a chat. And he did so while the Sword Palace and the Beast Palace were causing such a ruckus.”
Lee Cheonsang downed his cup.
“It will either benefit the cult or harm it. In the end, it must be for one of those two reasons.”
Seo Ryang’s eyes narrowed.
“What if he has some other ulterior motive? What will you do if he came here to harm the cult?”
“The young lord of the Ice Palace is within our cult’s grounds.”
“...”
“For whatever reason, he is not in a position to act recklessly.”
In other words, if things went south, they could just grab him and shake him down.
Seo Ryang let out a low exclamation of awe.
“You truly are... amazing.”
He wasn't curious about something anyone else would be dying to know. The reason was simple: what mattered wasn't the reason, but the result. By identifying the possible outcomes and working backward, he realized there was no need to be curious in the first place.
He was a man who had mastered the history of the martial world, and by extension, the ways of the world. He didn't have the ability to predict the future, but he never lost his composure because he always accurately saw through the flow of events.
‘Terrifying.’
It wasn't because of his martial arts or his presence.
Seo Ryang felt a sense of fear at Lee Cheonsang’s wisdom and insight. Ho Yoseong also possessed unimaginable insight, but Lee Cheonsang was different.
‘It’s an enlightenment that transcends wisdom. His very perspective on the world is different.’
When summer comes, it will get hot; when winter comes, it will get cold. He knows when summer will arrive, and he knows when winter will arrive.
Because he knows this natural order, he can prepare for the heat and cold in advance. The world Lee Cheonsang saw was contained within that single word: ‘obvious.’
“So.”
Seo Ryang looked up at him.
Lee Cheonsang spoke with an interested look on his face.
“Will you be getting busy again?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Is it something that can be handled within the cult? Or will you have to go outside?”
“Both.”
“An alliance, then.”
A shiver went down his spine.
“I have not seen him, but the position of the Ice Palace's young lord is not one that can be held by just anyone. They hold their own blood to an even stricter standard. In other words, the one you met is no pushover.”
“So I've heard.”
“Do not be swayed by him; sway him instead. If you wish to achieve your dream.”
Seo Ryang’s eyes flashed.
“On that note, I have a favor to ask.”
“Speak.”
“May I mobilize the cult’s forces?”
“If it is something that must be done in secret, then it is not possible.”
“Hmm... I figured as much.”
The reason the Inspectorate could be accompanied by the Berserk Demon Unit was because it was an external and official matter.
But if the number of people who knew about it had to be kept small, he couldn't assign troops. It might have been different if it were a simple internal affair, but this involved an external power.
Scratching his head, Seo Ryang rose from his seat.
“I guess there’s no other way. I’ll have to think about it a bit more.”
“Understood.”
“Well then.”
*Woooong.*
A single document flew into Lee Cheonsang’s hand.
After checking its contents, Lee Cheonsang tossed the document to Seo Ryang.
“Use this for reference.”
Seo Ryang looked at the document.
‘Hm, this is just a mission status report for the cult’s forces. But what...’
Huh?
Staring intently at the bottom of the document, Seo Ryang soon broke into a grin.
“Thank you.”
“If your footwork is still this clumsy the next time you come, I'll strip you of your technique.”
It seemed he had seen through the level of his Demonic Emperor's Reigning Steps at a glance. Seo Ryang shrugged.
“I have to get better than this, so I don't embarrass myself.”
“You may leave.”
“Yes.”
*Rumble.*
As Seo Ryang left the grand hall, Lee Cheonsang muttered to himself.
“Still, he gets the basics right.”