Chapter 89
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Growth (4)
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“Hah! Hah!”
After half a day, the sparring session with Lee Cheonsang finally ended.
Of course, it could hardly be called sparring. Lee Cheonsang had merely received Seo Ryang's attacks, not launching a single proper one himself.
But Seo Ryang had endured Lee Cheonsang's overwhelming presence, delivering his best strike every moment for half a day. Even someone like him was bound to be exhausted.
Sprawled on the ground, Seo Ryang's face was deathly pale.
He couldn't even think of showing proper etiquette before the Cult Leader. He was so exhausted that even the muscles around his lungs felt paralyzed.
‘It wasn't even this bad when I endured the Heavenly Net.’
In other words, in just half a day, he had accumulated more fatigue than he had over seven days.
Looking down at the panting Seo Ryang, Lee Cheonsang was perfectly fine.
His clothes were slightly soiled from the winds of the blade and dust, but it was nothing compared to Seo Ryang, who looked completely battered.
Lee Cheonsang glanced down at his own sleeve.
“What an astounding fellow.”
Normally, the internal energy emanating from his body should have prevented even a speck of dust from settling on his clothes.
Yet, after half a day of sparring with Seo Ryang, not only were there dust marks here and there, but the very edge of his sleeve had been slightly cut.
It was the mark of the one strike that had finally succeeded.
‘How long has it been?’
The martial arts of a Demonic God, which permitted no one to approach.
A year ago, even before he entered seclusion, he was an absolute powerhouse who had earned the title of Heavenly Demon. Even then, it was hard to find anyone who had so much as touched the hem of his clothes.
But today, his sleeve was cut by his disciple's blade. And it was the work of a young man who was only in his mid-twenties.
The implications of that were immense.
‘To think he's grown this much.’
Of course, this result was only possible because he had been focused on teaching.
Had Lee Cheonsang been even slightly serious, Seo Ryang's life would have been forfeit within five exchanges, let alone cutting his sleeve.
‘No, that's not quite right either.’
Lee Cheonsang's eyes glinted.
‘What's etched into his soul is death itself.
But for now, his survival instinct takes precedence over his offensive instinct. If I got serious, he would flee ten li away in an instant.’
He was the type to survive no matter what. He would only draw his blade when he was confident.
In a way, he was no different from a wild beast. Even ferocious and vicious beasts will turn tail and retreat if they think they will get hurt.
‘…Interesting.’
Lee Cheonsang's expression appeared indifferent.
In reality, his heart was as cool and hard as transparent rock.
But today, while teaching his disciple, he had felt the most excitement he had in years.
He found it quite amusing, and it also made him feel a sense of alarm.
To feel amusement toward someone meant that he was still captivated by the demonic.
“Ugh.”
Seo Ryang slowly pushed his upper body up.
His body didn't hurt. He just couldn't muster any strength. Having exhausted all his internal energy, he had to rely solely on physical strength to get up.
Lee Cheonsang asked.
“Did you gain anything?”
“A, a little.”
He nodded. There was no need to ask what he had gained.
“I merely received your attacks. What you gained was through your own effort, not my teaching.”
“Cough! I don't even have the strength to move anymore.”
“There will be no more sparring. Come up to the pavilion.”
Lee Cheonsang walked to the pavilion without a backward glance. His attitude made it clear he had no intention of helping Seo Ryang up.
Seo Ryang grumbled inwardly.
‘Cold-hearted bastard, a man who knows no respect.’
Ah? Maybe he's not even human.
‘What in the world is he made of?’
His current skill was only at half of his peak.
But the attacks he had poured on Lee Cheonsang for half a day were anything but simple. Regardless of his skill level, it was the first time he had ever attacked someone with such concentration.
And yet, all he'd managed was to get some dust on his clothes.
‘A monster, a real monster. That son of a bitch, the Alliance Leader of the Righteous Heaven Alliance. That damn old geezer sent me to assassinate a monster like that?’
Forget assassination, just try not to get eaten alive. The moment that monster appears in the martial world, you're a dead man.
‘Anyway.’
As Seo Ryang finally got to his feet, a look of elation spread across his face.
‘Still, I've gained a great deal.’
Wielding a blade against a supreme master with a presence as overwhelming as Lee Cheonsang's was a lesson in itself.
After swinging his blade like that for half a day, it was impossible not to have gained something. He was able to recognize and correct the unforeseen flaws in his saber techniques one by one.
For a master of Seo Ryang's caliber, real combat was the best teacher.
Though it wasn't a real fight, this exchange, which required more focus than one, had transformed his saber arts, making them smoother and more aggressive.
‘He's always suffocating me, but I guess he gives blessings like this too.’
Smiling, Seo Ryang took a step, then let out an involuntary groan.
“Ugh.”
Damn it, so the pain's only hitting me now.
With a strange, awkward gait, he struggled up to the pavilion, only to find Lee Cheonsang drinking alone again.
Seo Ryang muttered.
“Does it taste good drinking alone?”
He was startled by his own words, which had slipped out unconsciously.
As Seo Ryang nervously glanced at him, Lee Cheonsang's reply was quite surprising.
“It tastes awful.”
“...Ah, yes.”
“Would you care for a drink?”
If he drank in this state, he'd definitely get drunk.
He considered testing it, but decided against it. He wanted to escape this uncomfortable situation as quickly as possible.
“I'm fine.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Seo Ryang mentally slapped himself across the face.
You idiot! The Cult Leader offers you a drink and you refuse it?! Are you insane? Do you have a death wish?
Once again, Seo Ryang watched Lee Cheonsang's reaction.
But Lee Cheonsang simply gave a clean nod.
“Sit.”
“Yes, sir.”
Seo Ryang quickly sat down opposite him. His heart was pounding so hard he couldn't even feel the pain anymore.
After filling and emptying his cup once more, Lee Cheonsang picked up a piece of paper from his side and handed it to Seo Ryang.
“What... is this?”
“The flaws in your demonic art.”
“...!”
“Your demonic art is not inferior to the Ten Great Demonic Arts. However, since it is a recently created technique, I could see quite a few areas that need improvement.”
“That...”
“I don't know the incantations, but this should be helpful. This is the true ‘lesson’ I am teaching you.”
“...”
“If you have nothing more to say, you may leave.”
Seo Ryang looked to the left of the drinking table.
There, an untidy set of paper, ink, and brushes lay scattered. It seemed he had written it down right before coming up to the pavilion.
Staring silently at the paper, Seo Ryang lowered his head.
“Thank you.”
It was a greeting that came from the heart.
Lee Cheonsang glanced at Seo Ryang before pouring another drink and speaking.
“It is a fitting reward for a disciple who has surprised his master. Do not trouble yourself over it.”
So he's capable of saying things like that.
Seo Ryang smiled and said.
“I will not disappoint you.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Then.”
And so, Seo Ryang staggered away from the pavilion.
For a long while, he poured and drank, then poured and drank again, all alone.
Lee Cheonsang descended from the pavilion and looked down at the pond.
“Now I see why that fellow Sirang took an interest in him.”
The legend of Sirang, who brings war to the nation.
If that legend were true, the one to lead the war would have to be the one closest to death.
And that boy understood death better than anyone.
Lee Cheonsang raised his head.
The sky was dark. It was only a little past noon, but the thick, dark clouds suggested a downpour was imminent.
His prediction was correct.
A moment later, the rain began to pour.
Whoooosh!!
The pouring rain soaked Lee Cheonsang's body. He could have used his internal energy to repel every drop, but he chose not to.
His body growing drenched, the dust washing away.
Flash!
Amidst the raging lightning, Lee Cheonsang's demonic eyes glowed with a menacing light.
“Is it about time I took hold and wielded it?”
* * *
“Ack? Young Master!”
“Hey, hey, don't grab me! Don't support me! Ugh!”
Even Wi Hongryeon, who had been looking at Seo Ryang with a pout, was startled and rushed to his side.
Groaning, Seo Ryang glanced at Wi Hongryeon.
“What? Why are you here again?”
“...That's a fine thing to say to someone who's worried about you.”
“I'm curious.”
“I came for a drink. Happy now?”
“What a mouth on you. If you want to drink so badly, drink alone.”
“But it's only fun when I drink with you, Young Master.”
“Bullshit.”
Grumbling, Seo Ryang collapsed onto the training ground.
“Aeng-hwa!”
“Yes, Young Master!”
“Get me some food! A lot of it!”
“Yes, yes! I'll bring it right away!”
Aeng-hwa scurried away. She ran with more urgency than ever before.
Thinking her speed rivaled that of a decent martial arts master, Wi Hongryeon asked.
“My, how did a man as sturdy as you end up coming back looking like a wilted vegetable?”
Ma Dongpil frowned.
“Watch your words.”
“It's the truth.”
Seo Ryang waved his hand dismissively.
“You're giving me a headache. If you're going to fight, take it outside, you two. Ugh, my back.”
“Your back? Does your back hurt? Should I step on it for you?”
“It hurts, so why would you step on it, you crazy wench. Are you trying to finish me off for good?”
“It's a massage, a massage.”
“Sigh, how did I ever get involved with a demoness like this.”
“A demoness! Huh? Or is it? Is being called a demoness a compliment?”
“Enough, just take off my blades. They're heavy.”
The two of them removed the Dragon Scale Saber, the Meteor Twin Blades, and the Seven Nights Saber from Seo Ryang's body one by one and set them aside.
Seo Ryang flopped down. Even though it was the bare ground, lying down felt like heaven.
Ma Dongpil and Wi Hongryeon exchanged glances. They had never seen Seo Ryang this exhausted before, so they couldn't easily find words to say.
Of course, the silence was only momentary.
Our Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit, Wi Hongryeon, was not someone who was naturally inclined to read the room.
It was said that her lack of tact was inversely proportional to her crazed personality.
“Young Master, you must be very tired?”
“Can't you tell by looking? If I close my eyes now, I'll be out for three days straight.”
“I see.”
“...”
“...”
“What? You have something to say?”
“Not really, no.”
“If you have nothing to say, then go...”
“What about mine?”
“What? What are you suddenly talking about?”
After a moment's hesitation, Wi Hongryeon pointed a finger at Ma Dongpil's sword.
“You gave him a treasured sword.”
“I did. So what?”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“You little brat, don't tell me... Are you asking why I haven't given you a sword like that?”
“That's right.”
“Have you ever seen such a shameless wench? Hey! Are you and Dongpil the same? Why the hell should I give you a divine weapon? What have you ever done for me?!”
“Ah, there you go saying hurtful things again. That's not how human connections work. Why are you discriminating?”
“Dis-discriminating...”
Seo Ryang's eyes closed. He clutched the back of his neck, looking as if he might foam at the mouth from high blood pressure.
“Stop bothering me and go home. Go on, quickly!”
“I'm not going.”
“Why not?!”
“You said you were going to eat. It seems like drinking is out of the question, so let's at least eat together.”
“Aren't you worried about your unit members? Go take care of them!”
“They'd probably be happy that I'm not there.”
It was an undeniable fact, and Seo Ryang faltered for a moment.
He wanted to retort but soon gave up.
“Fine, just eat and go. Got it?”
“So cold.”
“Shut your mouth, you walking nuisance.”
A short while later, four people and a fox were enjoying a lavish feast.
After eating for a while, Seo Ryang finally straightened up, looking like he might live.
“I'm not coming out of my room today, so you know.”
Ma Dongpil asked.
“Is there something you need to do?”
“Something to do? Yes, there is.”
Seo Ryang's eyes deepened.
“Something that requires me to use my head has come up.”
In his hand, the paper Lee Cheonsang had written for him had appeared.