Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The First Demonstration
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“From now on, continue to train diligently here.”
“Thank you.”
“Starting tomorrow, you will learn the first form of the Hwa-u Sword, Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon. Be at the training grounds by the Hour of the Dragon.”
Bu Eun-seol bowed his head and turned away.
As he slowly made his way out of the training grounds, his eyes met with five trainees who were waiting.
“……”
An icy chill emanated from the five pairs of eyes.
Bu Eun-seol knew what their gazes meant, but he said nothing and returned to his dwelling.
The entrance to the cave he stayed in was extremely narrow and low.
He had to practically prostrate himself on the ground just to squeeze through.
Inside, after passing through a muddy area that gave off a musty odor, a wide, flat space opened up.
*Thud.*
Bu Eun-seol lay down on a pile of grass he had gathered to serve as a bed.
How much time had passed?
Lying comfortably with his eyes shut tight, he suddenly snapped them open and let out a sigh.
“So it comes to this, after all.”
Slowly sitting up, Bu Eun-seol picked up the iron sword he had placed beside him.
He then ventured into the dark depths of the cave and pushed a large boulder in the corner.
*Rumble.*
The massive boulder, which seemed impossible to move, shifted with surprising ease at Bu Eun-seol’s touch.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn't a real boulder but a meticulously crafted fake.
*Click.*
With a hollow sound, he set the boulder aside, revealing a space dug out beneath the floor, large enough for a person to lie down in.
‘Who would have thought that playing at making coffins with my grandfather would come in handy here.’
To build a coffin, one had to cut wood into various shapes to create curved surfaces.
Bu Eun-seol had cut wood from all over Hell Island to create a curved, fake boulder, then caked it with clumps of dirt.
Of course, it would look crude in the light, but in the darkness of the cave, it was nearly impossible to tell the difference.
“Hmph.”
Lying down in the space beneath the floor, Bu Eun-seol pushed the fake boulder back into its original position.
Not long after,
*Swish.*
With a low sound, five dark shadows began to seep into the cave.
“...He’s not here?”
One of the shadows, carefully scanning the dark interior of the cave, spoke in an irritated voice.
“Didn’t you say you saw him go in?”
At that, a shadow across from him shook his head.
“Byeok Yeon-ha. She definitely said that scrawny bastard went in here.”
“But he’s not here.”
“I know. Dammit.”
Listening to their voices from beneath the rock, Bu Eun-seol’s eyebrow twitched.
One of their voices was remarkably familiar.
—*Isn’t that similar in meaning to Sword-Body Unity or Divine Sword Unity?*
It was the voice of one of the five trainees who had taken the test with him at the training grounds.
“That bastard. I really wanted to teach him a lesson!”
“Tell me about it. I had a bad feeling about him ever since he showed up in that weird robe.”
“He came from the intermediate hall hiding his skills and even committed murder.”
“And because that guy suddenly appeared and acted all high and mighty, we’re the ones who failed to get into the advanced hall!”
‘So it was you.’
The five shadows who had invaded the cave were the trainees from the advanced hall test.
They had all failed the test given by Dan Cheon-yang and were now holding a baseless grudge against Bu Eun-seol.
‘Was it better when they just looked at me with contempt?’
Hiding beneath the boulder, Bu Eun-seol let out a bitter smile.
When he left the training grounds today, he had sensed that the gazes of the five trainees were unusual.
And just as he suspected, they had come to his cave to ambush him.
‘There’s probably no need to kill them.’
Judging by their words, it seemed they hadn’t come to kill him but to vent their frustration by giving him a sound beating.
‘And there’s no guarantee I’d win.’
Although they had failed the advanced hall test, they were disciples of demonic sects who had practiced swordsmanship for a long time.
Even though he had learned the Ya-su-do, he had no experience in fighting multiple opponents, so he couldn’t be sure of victory.
“Tch, let’s go.”
Fortunately, they left the cave shortly after.
Once he sensed their presence had completely vanished, Bu Eun-seol moved the fake boulder again and rose from the ground.
“I’ll have to stay in the advanced hall for the time being.”
The good thing was that the advanced hall was equipped with training rooms where trainees could practice martial arts day and night.
“...!”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol’s eyes flashed in the darkness.
A black shadow was standing stock-still at the entrance of the now-empty cave.
“So you really have learned the Ya-su-do.”
The shadow was wearing the loose martial arts uniform issued on Hell Island.
But with their face wrapped in black cloth and their androgynous eyes, it was difficult to tell if they were male or female.
*Click.*
When Bu Eun-seol immediately placed his hand on his iron sword, the shadow shook its head.
“No need to draw your sword. I didn’t come here to fight.”
“……”
“A man of few words, I see. Good.”
As if intentionally altered, the shadow’s voice was as low as grinding metal.
As Bu Eun-seol waited for them to continue, his hand still on the hilt of his sword, the shadow nodded again.
“As you may have guessed, a storm of blood is about to sweep through this Hell Island.”
Bu Eun-seol looked surprised.
The trainees here knew nothing of the second gateway, so most of them spent their days in a relaxed and comfortable manner.
How could this person have guessed such a thing?
“Hmph, until now, you’ve just been mixed in with the rabble.”
The shadow scoffed, having seen the look in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
“There are many peerless martial talents here with insight and ability no less than your own.”
“What do you want to say?”
At Bu Eun-seol’s question, the shadow spoke in a low voice.
“Join our group.”
“Group?”
“The Demonic Hall’s plan was always the ‘Sip-ma-jeon-in.’ In other words, out of all these applicants, we only need to be among the ten.”
With every word that flowed from the shadow, echoing through the cave, it felt as if ominous dark clouds were gathering.
“Why are you making me this offer?”
Bu Eun-seol asked calmly, his expression unchanging.
“Just a moment ago, didn’t you say there were many martial talents greater than me?”
“And yet, you are the only one who has learned the Ya-su-do of Nang-ya-gak.”
‘So that’s what it was.’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed.
The shadow before him was likely one of the trainees from the Hwa-u Sword Clan’s intermediate hall.
“Besides, for someone who could kill Byeok Han-seong with a single blow despite holding a sword for the first time… your chances of becoming one of the Sip-ma-jeon-in aren’t small.”
A strange heat rose in the shadow’s voice.
“Our group has gathered exceptional talents. We share the martial arts insights we’ve learned from each hall and discuss what’s to come.”
“And so?”
“If we join forces, we can become the Sip-ma-jeon-in, no matter what happens.”
Bu Eun-seol inwardly nodded.
In a situation where no one knew what the future held, it was by no means a bad idea for exceptional talents from various fields to join forces.
“Do you accept?”
At the shadow’s question, Bu Eun-seol decisively shook his head.
“I refuse.”
“Why?”
“First, there is no guarantee that they will choose exactly ten for the Sip-ma-jeon-in.”
“Hmph.”
“If they choose fewer, then I will have only increased the number of people who know my weaknesses.”
Bu Eun-seol’s voice was devoid of emotion.
“Nine enemies who know me well are more frightening than a hundred who don’t.”
“Hehehe. Bu Eun-seol. You are truly a timid one.”
The shadow let out a sneer, then nodded.
“You will one day weep with regret for refusing my offer.”
Then, without a second thought, they vanished into the darkness.
“Hmm.”
Once even the shadow’s presence was gone, Bu Eun-seol lay back down on the pile of grass.
“Things are going to be difficult from now on.”
Bu Eun-seol had survived the second gateway because he was met with contempt and disdain.
Being noticed as a strong contender by so many was by no means a good thing.
***
“The reason our clan’s swordsmanship is recognized as the greatest in the demonic path is that it opens up various paths to reach the highest state.”
Inside the training grounds of the Hwa-u Sword Clan’s advanced hall.
The trainees were seated at tables while Dan Cheon-yang instructed them in a low voice.
“There are many paths to mastering the Hwa-u Sword. Here in the advanced hall, you must take the basic forms of Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon that you have been taught and transform them into your own sword forms to create fire-rain drops.”
Dan Cheon-yang, holding a tree branch, lightly extended his hand.
In that instant, the light that illuminated the world seemed to vanish, and a suffocating darkness descended upon the land.
*Whoosh.*
As the branch danced through the air, an incomparably fierce energy grazed the trainees’ cheeks.
‘This is the Hwa-u Sword.’
Bu Eun-seol, watching Dan Cheon-yang’s demonstration, took a deep breath.
When he blinked, all he saw was a single streak of light. Even Bu Eun-seol, whose senses were heightened by the Ya-su-do, found it difficult to predict the path of the Hwa-u Sword.
‘If not for Instructor Cheon’s teachings, I would never have even begun to grasp the mysteries of the Hwa-u Sword.’
Advanced swordsmanship was like a field of study.
If one could not understand and interpret the sword formulas, one could never reach the true essence, no matter how much they practiced the forms.
While learning the Thunder-Lightning Peerless, Bu Eun-seol had relentlessly memorized the principles and secrets of advanced swordsmanship.
Thanks to that, he was able to somewhat appreciate and understand Dan Cheon-yang’s lecture and demonstration.
*Swoosh.*
Having completed the sword form, Dan Cheon-yang calmly tucked the branch into his belt.
A breathtaking silence filled the training grounds. The momentary swordplay Dan Cheon-yang had displayed left a lasting impression.
“I, too, have merely shown you one path that has branched off from many others.”
Looking at the trainees’ eyes filled with awe, Dan Cheon-yang smiled.
“As you know, if you can execute Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon with precision, you can break the edge of any sword art in the world.”
The first form of Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon, which contained the principles of the Scattered Sword, was most suitable for defending against unexpected attacks.
It was only because of Dan Cheon-yang’s magnificent sword presence and swift technique that it had appeared as a mysterious form, invisible to the eye.
“Now, I believe it is time to see the fire-rain drops you have created.”
His gaze then stopped on the eyes of the boy who was frozen like ice among the trainees.
“Bu Eun-seol.”
“Yes.”
“Demonstrate Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon.”
As his eyes met Dan Cheon-yang’s, Bu Eun-seol sighed inwardly.
It had already been a fortnight since he began training in swordsmanship at the advanced hall. Every time he taught the principles and sword forms, Dan Cheon-yang asked Bu Eun-seol more questions than anyone else.
And now, he was even being asked to give the first demonstration of the Hwa-u Sword.
‘I have no choice.’
As a student, he couldn’t very well get angry for receiving attention.
Swallowing a bitter smile, Bu Eun-seol walked to the center of the training platform and gripped the hilt of his sword.
*Shhh-ing.*
As he drew his iron sword, the expressions on Dan Cheon-yang and the trainees turned peculiar.
He had taken a stance, holding the iron sword with both hands and raising it high above his head, like the sun rising in the morning sky.
“……”
A taut tension, like a drawn bowstring, filled the air.
*Whoosh!*
A fierce wind abruptly blew.
Simultaneously, Bu Eun-seol’s iron sword, which had shown no sign of movement, began to slice through the air.
*Fwoosh-fwoosh.*
With the sound of a raging wind, brilliant sword forms scattered above Bu Eun-seol’s head.
As the sword shadows that filled the sky descended to the ground, they spread out in all directions like fireworks.
*Ch-ch-ch-ch-chik.*
At the same time, sharp gashes were carved into the ground around where Bu Eun-seol stood.
The sword marks looked as if dozens of massive beasts had clawed at the ground.
He had unleashed the first form of the Hwa-u Sword, Hyeon-ji-u-hyeon, raining it down from above to shred everything within a dozen feet.
*Clang.*
As Bu Eun-seol sheathed his iron sword, a heavy silence once again descended upon the training grounds.