Inevitability Born from Coincidence (6)
“Hoo.”
How long had he remained like that? His clothes, repeatedly soaked with dew and dried again, had become limp and soggy. The sweat-matted strands of hair clinging to his face spoke of how long he had sat motionless in that position.
The realm of no-self. Yeon Jipyeong’s eyes, which had entered a meditative trance right there for a full three days, resembled a serene lake.
A faint smile tugged at Yeon Jipyeong’s lips.
Moments later, his expression twisted sharply.
“It’s... dooone! Ow, my legs!”
Unfolding from his cross-legged position, Yeon Jipyeong let out a groan as he kneaded his numb thighs.
Woooong.
As he hurriedly circulated his inner energy, a chilling white qi swiftly flowed toward his stiffened legs.
Flash!
A razor-sharp energy streaked through like lightning.
It was true energy utterly unlike the Bi-yeon Simbeop. While the Flying Swallow Heart Method produced a gentle verdant glow, this true energy boasted a cool, pristine white aura reminiscent of a divine sword or treasured blade.
Sharp, yet pure and crystalline at the same time. It was as if it were guiding Yeon Jipyeong along the path he must tread as a swordsman.
“Hoo, that’s better.”
The energy that had loosened his legs surged through his entire body in an instant. His rigidly stiffened frame relaxed in a flash. His joints still felt a bit rusty, but after a few stretches, they were fine.
Yeon Jipyeong clasped his hands together in front of his chest. He then focused his qi.
Woooong.
How much time passed? The qi emanating from his body coalesced, forming a soft white glow.
Joy bloomed across Yeon Jipyeong’s face.
“It worked! Yes!”
He had emanated his internal energy from within, meticulously controlled and compressed it, then fixed it outside his body. This was a level of qi manipulation impossible without profound mastery of inner arts. No sixteen-year-old could achieve such a realm.
The energy was astonishingly clear and lofty. It was one of the Yeon family’s five divine arts: Geomgeuk Sagi, or Sword Extreme Thought Qi.
Whoosh!
He absorbed the energy hovering before his midsection. His entire body felt brimming with qi. Pride welled up, drawing an involuntary smile.
“Hee hee hee.”
Yeon Jipyeong giggled to himself before clearing his throat and crossing his arms.
“No, I can’t get complacent here.”
He thought of Yeon Hojeong, his older brother.
“Big brother never settled after gaining something.”
His brother was someone who always looked upward. In truth, it didn’t quite suit Yeon Jipyeong’s own temperament—at least not now. But as a martial artist, there was much to learn from his brother’s mindset.
Having climbed to this height through diligent effort, one must consolidate their foundation before aiming higher once more. That was probably true for every warrior surviving in the jangho.
It was the fate of those who lived in the martial world: never neglecting daily refinement in pursuit of greater power and higher realms.
Yeon Jipyeong drew the longsword he had left in the corner of the training ground.
Shing.
“Ugh!”
The edge was still keen, but its luster had somehow dulled compared to before. Being an ordinary iron sword rather than a treasured blade, it was inevitable that a few days without care would tarnish its shine.
Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, Yeon Jipyeong quickly wiped the blade. Of course, rubbing it with his sleeve wouldn’t restore its polish. In the end, he pouted and stroked the sword fondly.
“Sorry. I’ll polish you properly after training.”
It was the true sword he had received for the first time in his life. Over a year had passed since he began wielding it. It was bound to hold special meaning.
“Alright.”
Lowering into a stance with his sword at the low guard, Yeon Jipyeong’s face, full of mirth moments ago, turned impassive in an instant.
Pa-ba-bak!
His footwork as he charged forward was swift and light. It was the Yeon family’s secret technique, Cheonra Sinbo—Heavenly Net Divine Step—a peerless movement art that blanketed all under heaven like a net. Though his frame was small, his genius produced results beyond what he had learned.
Weaving through the entire training ground with illusory steps, Yeon Jipyeong at last swung his sword.
Shieeeek!
Pu-pu-pung!
A powerful emission erupted from the sword tip. Fierce yet precise. In an instant, he violently churned the air ahead, then whipped his sword at terrifying speed.
His sword strokes tore through the void like a net—fierce and rapid swordplay uncharacteristic of him. He was unleashing the Iron Sword Faction’s Chaotic Swordsmanship.
‘Huh?’
Srrek.
Mid-stroke, Yeon Jipyeong suddenly straightened his posture.
‘What’s this? It feels different from before.’
He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had changed. But something had shifted. And because of it, at least for now, it seemed best not to continue with sword forms.
“Hm, time for physical conditioning.”
Gurgle.
“...After I eat.”
Shing!
“Gah! Gotta maintain the sword too! So busy, so busy.”
Yeon Jipyeong clutched his sword and scampered off.
Moments later, Yeon Wi and Yeon Hojeong appeared in the now-empty training ground.
Yeon Wi glanced sidelong at Yeon Hojeong.
“What do you think?”
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue in amazement.
“When did that kid grow so much?”
“Even to your eyes, he seems quite capable?”
“You call that merely ‘quite capable’? Who at Jipyeong’s age could manifest such profound sword arts?”
Yeon Wi’s eyes gleamed.
“Sword arts. You truly have an eye for it.”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“It’s just a discrepancy from his body not fully maturing yet, but his sword has already reached the realm. If he had kept training like that, the gap between sword principle and flesh might have led him astray on his sword path.”
“Likely.”
“Yet he realized it and stopped. He sensed that enlightenment from a few swings had surpassed his physical conditioning. It means he clearly sees his own growth markers.”
Yeon Hojeong was once again awed by his little brother’s talent.
‘A genius who encompasses all through intuition. Even Black Emperor Castle had no such prodigy.’
Though it was merely a few swings, Yeon Hojeong had precisely grasped the direction his brother’s sword was heading.
What Yeon Jipyeong had realized was the sword of the Middle Path. It was also what his father, Yeon Wi, pursued. Thus, the true Dao of the sword. A righteous path that deviated toward no extreme.
“The most crucial thing for a warrior is knowing what training to undertake from one’s current position to grow. In that regard, Jipyeong is innately gifted with such intuition.”
“He’ll grow faster than anyone. Perhaps even faster than me.”
“That worries me. He’ll rise steeply, but martial arts grow ever harder in higher realms, just like any other domain. I’ve seen many geniuses who never knew defeat shatter upon hitting a wall.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled. His gaze lingered where Yeon Jipyeong had vanished.
“Jipyeong will manage. He won’t stray like I did.”
Yeon Wi looked at Yeon Hojeong. His eldest son was smiling. His eyes held only pride and joy for his brother—no other emotions. It was like a parent beaming at their child’s growth.
Yeon Wi felt his son’s genuine welcome of his brother’s progress. A small smile touched his own lips.
‘You haven’t strayed either.’
One could stumble once. But Yeon Hojeong had overcome himself and grown this much. In the end, he too had grown straight and true without straying.
The sight of his firstborn repenting his errors and turning toward the world stirred greater surprise than even his second son, in a way. Yeon Wi gazed at the sky. Was it because his eldest had returned? Thoughts of his late wife suddenly surfaced.
A warm light flickered briefly in his once impassive eyes.
‘Thanks to you watching over them well, our sons have grown so upright.’
Yeon Wi truly believed he had done nothing. He felt his departed wife had lent strength to their two sons from the heavens, allowing them to grow so properly.
As for himself, he had given his children nothing thus far, so from now on, he would give them everything he could.
“Let’s head up.”
“Yes.”
Father and son stood at the center of the training ground. The moment they did, their auras shifted dramatically.
Yeon Wi eyed the axe slung on Yeon Hojeong’s back.
“It’s grown quite battered.”
Yeon Hojeong tapped the axe blade.
“Needs some maintenance. The edge is pretty chipped from all the clashes with the Myeong family.”
“Doesn’t look like just the edge took damage.”
“Yes. It’s holding for now, but the shaft has issues too.”
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“Even with the aftermath of martial clashes, such a massive heavy weapon shouldn’t sustain that much damage so soon.”
“Yes.”
“It’s proof your inner energy is supremely potent. Endlessly forceful qi inevitably burdens the body. If your control were perfect, it wouldn’t have degraded this much.”
“I know.”
Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Black Tortoise. He had acquired three of the Four Gods Martial Arts’ energies and mastered their control. But that meant no issues in handling true energy—it didn’t mean he had properly refined the true energy itself.
It would polish itself in time. However, unless wielding a treasured weapon, any armament in his hands would have a short lifespan.
“Visit Master Pyeon tomorrow for repairs.”
“Understood.”
Shing.
Yeon Wi drew his sword. Not the training heavy sword he had used against Yeon Hojeong before, but a three-and-a-half-chi iron longsword.
Yeon Hojeong’s face hardened instinctively.
Whoosh.
A terrifying sword qi naturally rode the wind.
‘He’s serious.’
He hadn’t drawn his cherished blade. But this was in earnest. No longer a spar to match levels—this was the head of the Bi-san Yeon family and Judge Sword of renown standing here.
“Unleash everything you’ve gained, right here.”
“Understood.”
“I don’t wish to scar my son’s body. But bear in mind—you may be injured unless you draw your true power.”
Boom!
The entire training ground seemed to quake. With a more powerful stance than ever, Yeon Hojeong lowered his axe to the lower right guard.
Yeon Wi’s eyes flashed.
‘Incredible qi!’
Pure white energy rose like smoke from beneath his son’s feet. Astonishingly sturdy and chilling. Such qi was rare anywhere under heaven.
The most aggressive energy of the Four Gods Martial Arts. The Metal God of Geng Yin, ruler of wind—White Tiger—roared.
Hooooowoooong!
Winds from all directions gathered at the axe tip. Yeon Hojeong spoke.
Yeon Wi could see the remnants of a white storm spilling from his son’s open mouth.
“I’m still sorely lacking, but...”
Whoosh!
Even before the attack began, his momentum pressed the foe. The White Tiger’s pressure, based on Bi-ra Jin-gyeol, spread endlessly.
Cra-cra-crack!
The ground around Yeon Hojeong cracked in a circle. The training ground’s sturdy earth couldn’t withstand the pouring qi pressure.
Surprise crossed Yeon Wi’s face.
‘Impossible.’
A realm where mere qi pressure affected the surroundings. He had doubted, yet his son’s level had truly risen to where even a major sect elder couldn’t easily decide victory. In mere months!
“I’ll give my all.”
Kwaaaang!
Utterly combative. With a mighty stance, Yeon Hojeong swung his axe in a storm-like rush.
Buaaaaang!
So forceful it seemed it could bend an iron rod. Astonishingly, the target was Yeon Wi’s collarbone.
A diagonal cleave to split the torso—proof he saw his opponent not as father, but as a fellow warrior.
In that fleeting instant, a strange thrill lit Yeon Wi’s face. This battle spirit, this pressure. How long had it been since he felt such as a swordsman?
As head of the Yeon family, evoking the words life and death, he felt not tension, but boiling will to fight.
‘Excellent!’
Yeon Wi’s sword moved like lightning. The two weapons clashed head-on.
Kwarung!