Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: A Troublesome Genius
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Moonlight danced upon the surface of Yeong-gyo Lake, cloaked in darkness.
Splash. Ripple.
A black shadow sprinted across the water's surface, stepping on floating branches.
It was Bu Eun-seol, dressed in worn martial arts robes.
Whoosh. Tap.
With every leap, a hazy afterimage of his feet scattered in the darkness.
He seemed to be running in a straight line, yet from a distance, his movements crisscrossed the lake unpredictably.
“That's Master Go's Geuk-sok-mu-yeong.”
Baek-yeon's eyes wavered as he watched from afar.
“Geuk-sok-mu-yeong is a movement art that can't be mastered in a short time, no matter how talented one is...”
He tilted his head and muttered with a look of disbelief.
“Don't tell me he's done nothing but practice movement techniques since coming to the main hall.”
“Of course not.”
Dan-cheong chuckled and shook his head.
“That kid arrived three months ago. And just two months ago, he was still on Cheol-jang Peak, learning an internal energy technique.”
“Cheol-jang Peak... you mean...”
“He's learning the Ban-geuk-sim-beop from Hyeol-geum-gang.”
“The Ban-geuk-sim-beop, you say.”
As the unbelievable stories piled up, Baek-yeon furrowed his brow.
“Then the rumor that he mastered Ya-su-do in just half a month on Hell Island...”
“It's not a rumor. It's the truth.”
Recalling the leather pouch Sa-u always carried, Dan-cheong gave a wry smile.
“It seems his paranormal nerve plexus opened up quickly because he drank all of the Geuk-cheon-yeong-su that Sa-u had.”
“That's absurd.”
Baek-yeon shook his head.
Ya-su-do is less a martial art and more a realm of enlightenment.
Even if he had consumed the legendary Golden Spirit Immortal Fruit instead of Geuk-cheon-yeong-su, he shouldn't have been able to master Ya-su-do.
“In that case, all the rumors must be true.”
“What rumors?”
Baek-yeon replied to Dan-cheong's question with a vacant stare.
“The rumor that they ended up with fourteen Sip-ma-jeon-in instead of the planned twelve, all because that kid's talent was too exceptional.”
“That's also true. It's why the old man Hyeok-ryeon, who was the Head Instructor, was disciplined and sent back to the Ma-jeon.”
Dan-cheong couldn't hide his pleased expression.
“I wasn't expecting much, but thanks to the Sip-ma-jeon-in tournament, our hall has gained an excellent successor.”
He saw Bu Eun-seol not just as a Sip-ma-jeon-in, but as a successor who would one day lead Nang-ya-gak.
“It's not that simple.”
“A problem?”
“Because that child has caused quite a troublesome situation.”
“Troublesome situation?”
Baek-yeon paused for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject.
“When on earth is the Rang-ju going to end his seclusion?”
“That's what I'd like to know.”
Dan-cheong shrugged his shoulders and said listlessly.
“Thanks to him, I'm stuck on Geom-mi Mountain handling all sorts of tedious chores.”
“Hmm.”
After a moment of thought, Baek-yeon got to the point.
“Originally, the Sip-ma-jeon-in plan was pushed by the Ma-jeon, so the Ten Demonic Sects were full of complaints.”
Dan-cheong immediately picked up on his words.
“Isn't that obvious? The other sects have complicated issues like factions. That's why they have to select their successors well in advance to avoid trouble later.”
Unlike other sects, Nang-ya-gak has no need to designate an heir or successor.
Only the strong. The absolute strongest becomes the next Rang-ju.
“So, what's the problem?”
“The truth is, all the Ten Demonic Sects, excluding our hall, had long ago selected those who would inherit the essence of their martial arts. So when the Sip-ma-jeon-in plan was announced, they were naturally flustered.”
“That makes sense. But...”
A sharp light glinted in Dan-cheong's long eyes.
“Wasn't the Sip-ma-jeon-in plan just the Ma-jeon's way of creating swordsmen to kill off the Dae-ui-go-su?”
“So you knew.”
Baek-yeon nodded.
Currently, the power balance between the Orthodox and Demonic factions was about six to four, with the Demonic faction at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, the Murim Alliance had begun cultivating joint successors called the Dae-ui-go-su to raise the next generation of martial arts grandmasters, and the Ma-jeon saw them as a thorn in their side.
“However, a few of the Ten Demonic Sects, unaware of the Ma-jeon-ju's true intentions, made a difficult choice.”
“A choice?”
“They entered the disciples they had already designated as successors into the Sip-ma-jeon-in tournament.”
“Not a bad choice.”
As Dan-cheong stroked his chin, Baek-yeon nodded.
“Successors with the best talents, who had long been trained in the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects, would surely be chosen as Sip-ma-jeon-in no matter where they were.”
“Exactly. In fact, it was an opportunity for their successors to prove their skills, so from their perspective, the Sip-ma-jeon-in tournament wasn't entirely a bad thing.”
Baek-yeon pointed at Bu Eun-seol, who was running across Yeong-gyo Lake.
“But because of that child, their plans have gone awry.”
“Gone awry... you say.”
“At that child's hands, Kang Mu-ryun, the grandson and sole blood relative of the Baek-ma-sa-ju, died.”
Dan-cheong finally seemed to grasp the full situation and nodded.
It was clear that a successor sent by one of the Ten Demonic Sects—a direct blood relative, no less—had lost his life to Bu Eun-seol.
“Their confidence was excessive.”
“Fortunately, the third gate was created with the approval of the Ten Demonic Sects, and even the Head Instructor didn't know the Baek-ma-sa's grandson was there.”
“Well, losing a grandson is unfortunate... but it doesn't seem like something they can blame others for.”
“There's another problem.”
“What is it?”
“The Hwau-geommun is also raising an issue.”
“Hwau-geommun?”
For a moment, Dan-cheong recalled the words of the Sword Demon, Wi Hyeok-gun, back on Hell Island.
—Not only Elder Jin, but even you, Elder Dan, praised him highly. And he even inherited Elder Cheon's ultimate technique?
“Don't tell me they're taking issue with the sword art that child learned...”
“That's correct.”
Baek-yeon shook his head with a bitter expression.
“They've requested sanctions from the Ma-jeon, claiming that someone who isn't even a disciple of Hwau-geommun is practicing their advanced sword arts.”
“That's ridiculous. Wasn't it an agreed-upon matter that the gates were created so participants could freely learn the ultimate techniques of the Ten Demonic Sects?”
Dan-cheong said, sounding incredulous.
“Besides, the Jeon-roe-mu-ssang-sik isn't even part of Hwau-geommun's orthodox sword arts; it's a killing sword style created by Cheon Un-gwang, the Heaven-Shattering Sword of Slaughter.”
“The Ma-jeon explained that as well, but the Hwau-geommun—or to be more precise, the Sword Demon Wi Hyeok-gun—is strongly insisting on sanctions.”
“Wi Hyeok-gun... Is he really that narrow-minded?”
Bu Eun-seol had rejected Wi Hyeok-gun's offer to become Hwau-geommun's successor.
Could he be holding a grudge over that and causing all this trouble?
“It's not just about pride.”
Baek-yeon shook his head at Dan-cheong's words.
“Wi Hyeok-gun is a man who reveres Hwau-geommun to an extreme degree. Even if it's a branch of sword arts created by Cheon Un-gwang, he cannot tolerate it being passed down to the successor of another sect.”
“What nonsense. He should take it up with Cheon Un-gwang, the one who taught the sword art.”
“Cheon Un-gwang has already been stripped of his position as Elder and sentenced to wall-gazing for the crime of arbitrarily passing on Hwau-geommun's secret arts.”
Dan-cheong gave a hollow smile.
“So they've punished the one who taught the sword art, and now they want to punish the one who learned it?”
“Exactly.”
“So. What are Baek-ma-sa and Hwau-geommun demanding?”
“Baek-ma-sa wants to summon the child to the Ma-jeon to re-evaluate whether he has the qualifications to be a Sip-ma-jeon-in.”
“Making such a ridiculous demand... It must have been the Baek-ma-sa-ju, Kang Yang-cheon.”
“That's right. Under the pretext of verifying his qualifications, their real intention is to summon the child from Nang-ya-gak and avenge his grandson.”
“And Hwau-geommun?”
“Hwau-geommun...”
Baek-yeon paused, then narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“They demand that the child be forbidden from using a sword ever again. To prevent him from using the Jeon-roe-mu-ssang-sik.”
“Hahaha!”
Having heard the whole story, Dan-cheong looked up at the sky and laughed heartily in disbelief.
“Wi Hyeok-gun. The man is still young, but he must be going senile. Demanding a disciple of our hall to stop using a sword? Hahaha!”
Dan-cheong abruptly stopped laughing and spoke in a cold tone.
“Not even worth listening to.”
“Vice-Rang-ju.”
“Reject both demands. Tell them if they have a complaint, they can come find me.”
Whoosh.
Just then, with a sound of tearing air, twelve afterimages poured down from the sky.
Thud.
At the same time, the twelve scattered afterimages merged into one, revealing a young man in martial arts robes.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
“Vice-Rang-ju.”
Looking at Dan-cheong, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
While practicing Geuk-sok-mu-yeong, Bu Eun-seol had sensed the two men observing him.
When the sound of “Hahaha!” shook Yeong-gyo Lake, he could no longer pretend not to notice and approached.
“So you learned Geuk-sok-mu-yeong from Master Go.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
As Bu Eun-seol bowed his head at Dan-cheong's words, Baek-yeon stepped forward.
“Are you our hall's Sip-ma-jeon-in?”
Bu Eun-seol hesitated for a moment.
The middle-aged man before him was not only dressed in very strange attire, but the energy flowing from his body was no less than Dan-cheong's.
“This is Baek-yeon, the Captain of our hall's Pung-un Brigade. Pay your respects.”
At Dan-cheong's words, Bu Eun-seol bowed his head again.
“Bu Eun-seol greets the Captain.”
“Hmm.”
Nodding, Baek-yeon quickly scanned Bu Eun-seol's body.
*‘His frame doesn't seem that impressive...’*
But then he saw the gleaming eyes in the darkness and nodded.
*‘But his eyes... they are the very soul of a warrior.’*
“You've come at a good time.”
As Baek-yeon was about to relay the story, Dan-cheong shook his head.
“Captain Baek. It's not worth hearing. There's no need to tell the child.”
“I am also a disciple of Nang-ya-gak.”
Bu Eun-seol said in a firm voice.
“I do not run from a fight that comes to me.”
In that instant, Baek-yeon's eyes slowly widened.
“Did you hear everything we just said?”
“My apologies.”
“Has your internal energy already reached the peak of perfection?”
The distance between Yeong-gyo Lake and here was at least a hundred yards.
To be able to eavesdrop while frantically performing a movement technique? Did that mean Bu Eun-seol's level of internal energy already rivaled Hyeol-geum-gang's?
“This vast lake became my ears.”
At Bu Eun-seol's answer, a thought suddenly flashed through Baek-yeon's mind.
“Did you apply the principles of Gong-pa-sim-an from Ya-su-do?”
Gong-pa-sim-an.
It was one of Ya-su-do's practical techniques, allowing one to expand their extrasensory perception by vibrating surrounding objects.
Bu Eun-seol had used the vast lake as a medium, eavesdropping on Dan-cheong and Baek-yeon's conversation even while performing Geuk-sok-mu-yeong.
“Yes.”
At Bu Eun-seol's reply, Baek-yeon's eyes filled with astonishment.
“The principles of Gong-pa-sim-an can only be utilized by concentrating one's mind in a state of extreme tranquility. But you used it while performing a movement technique?”
“The Geuk-sok-mu-yeong that Master Go taught me requires changing direction mid-course, so...”
“So?”
“With every kick off a branch on the water, I tried to draw out the power of Ya-su-do by following the ripples spreading across the surface.”
The focus drained from Baek-yeon's eyes.
“You drew out the power of Ya-su-do by following the ripples on the water's surface?”
“Yes.”
Unable to hide his shock, Baek-yeon looked at Dan-cheong standing beside him.
Dan-cheong then opened his mouth with a nonchalant expression.
“This is usually how it is when this kid learns something. It's always the teacher who ends up surprised.”
“...I see.”
Only then could Baek-yeon understand Dan-cheong's feelings.
—Reject both demands. Tell them if they have a complaint, they can come find me.
Bu Eun-seol was a peerless martial genius who would make Nang-ya-gak's practical combat arts blossom.
And Dan-cheong was willing to clash not only with Baek-ma-sa but also with Hwau-geommun, the number one demonic sect, to protect this once-in-a-millennium genius.
“I will take responsibility.”
Bu Eun-seol said then, his eyes filled with determination.
“I will go to the Ma-jeon and take the test, and I will no longer use the sword. All of it, I will...”
“Hahaha, look at this audacious kid.”
But Bu Eun-seol's words were cut short. Dan-cheong had clapped him heavily on the shoulder.
“Bu Eun-seol. You are already a disciple of this hall.”
“Vice-Rang-ju.”
“A disciple of this hall must not yield to any outside pressure. Do you understand?”
Dan-cheong cut him off with a solemn gaze.
“Does this hall look so weak that we would let a child like you bear such a responsibility?”
He chuckled and said in a low voice.
“You don't need to worry about such things. All you have to do is train hard in your martial arts.”
But then, Baek-yeon stepped forward and said something unexpected.
“Vice-Rang-ju. Why don't we try trusting this child instead?”