Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Hwau Sword Sect
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After finishing his training at Nang-ya-gak, Bu Eun-seol returned to the cave.
Stepping inside, he wore a peculiar expression. Unlike when he first entered, he could now sense a myriad of things.
The insects crawling on the cave floor, the flow of the musty, damp air... Information he could never have perceived before now felt as vivid as if he were seeing it with his own eyes.
‘I need to recover my strength quickly.’
Bu Eun-seol was utterly exhausted.
He had walked for a month without rest to enter this place, and upon arrival, had fought a battle for his life.
But the main reason for his extreme fatigue was his training in the Ya-su-do.
‘I can feel too much.’
Perceiving and sensing so many things meant that his mind had to process an equal amount of information.
Having just begun to learn the Ya-su-do, Bu Eun-seol was unconsciously and constantly analyzing the information relayed by his senses.
Even just standing still was as tiring as writing with one hand while reading a book with the other.
‘I need to get at least some sleep.’
Bu Eun-seol suppressed the flood of sensations as best he could and closed his eyes.
But even in sleep, the senses of the Ya-su-do would not fade.
For a warrior, this was an unparalleled advantage. For resting, however, it was a hindrance.
*Drip.*
Just then, a single drop of water fell from the cave's ceiling.
*Drip. Drip. Drip.*
‘That’s it!’
Counting the water droplets falling at a steady rhythm, Bu Eun-seol had a sudden realization.
‘I need to stem this flood of senses, letting it through one drop at a time, like this water.’
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol slowly closed his eyes.
And he began to practice dulling the blade-sharp senses of the Ya-su-do, little by little.
In truth, what Bu Eun-seol was attempting was a practical application method that even the masters of Nang-ya-gak, who were accustomed to the Ya-su-do, found difficult.
Bu Eun-seol focused with all his might to recover his body quickly.
Without realizing it, he was mastering the technique of finely controlling the senses of the Ya-su-do on his own.
*Drip.*
Finally, after counting three thousand, one hundred and forty-two falling drops, Bu Eun-seol stopped.
Having managed to reduce the intensity of his senses considerably, his fatigue melted away as if he had slept soundly.
When he slowly rose and stepped out of the cave, dawn had already broken.
“Where to now?”
Stepping into the clearing in front of the rocky mountain, Bu Eun-seol once again looked at the parchment map showing the locations of the training halls.
As he pondered with a serious expression, the words of the man named Sau suddenly came to mind.
—Do you think you have infinite time to learn martial arts on this island?
If that was true, then he didn't have much time left to learn.
In that case, he had to become stronger as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“I have no choice.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded, his eyes fixed on one spot on the parchment.
It was the location of the Hwau Sword Sect, known as the strongest of the Ten Demonic Sects.
The masters of the Orthodox Faction use swords.
The masters of the Demonic Faction use sabers.
This was something of an unwritten rule in the martial world.
Unlike the sword, the way of the saber was domineering, unbound by forms and principles. Its power was also immense, so in the Demonic Faction, which revered the path of supremacy, everyone chose the saber.
That is, until the Hwau Sword Sect was established.
Seven hundred years ago, the Hwau Sword Emperor, Jeok Hwa-un, appeared like a comet in the demonic martial world. He was a grandmaster of peerless martial arts, second only to the Heavenly Demon Grand Emperor who founded the Demonic Faction.
He compiled all the unsystematized sword arts of the Demonic Faction and finally created a single sword style: the Hwau Sword.
This sword style, which truly looked like a rain of fire falling from the sky, became the number one sword art of the Demonic Faction, and the sect now stands at the pinnacle of the Ten Demonic Sects.
“So this is it…”
Following the map, Bu Eun-seol had ventured deep into the island's rocky mountains.
There, he saw a training hall consisting of five buildings, including a training ground.
“The Hwau Sword Sect's training hall…”
Though it was made of old wooden buildings, compared to Sau's thatched hut, it looked like a palace.
Moreover, since most of the candidates for the Sip-ma-jeon-in on the island had flocked here, a boisterous noise could be heard even from outside.
“What is your business?”
A gatekeeper stood in front of the hall. From the intensity in his eyes, he appeared to be a master who had deeply cultivated his martial arts.
“I have come to learn the martial arts of the Hwau Sword Sect.”
When Bu Eun-seol answered politely, the gatekeeper pointed toward the hall.
“The hall is divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced sections, each with its own assigned instructor.”
With a cold expression, the gatekeeper pointed to a small building on the left.
“Go to the beginner's hall.”
Bu Eun-seol slowly walked into the small hall the gatekeeper had indicated.
Unlike its exterior, the interior was very simple. It looked almost identical to the small training halls commonly found in a noble house.
At the far end of the hall, where various weapons were racked, was a small office. Inside, a man in black sat composedly.
‘That man…’
Bu Eun-seol looked slightly surprised.
The man sitting in the office was none other than the man in black who had been leading the children on the ship.
‘So he was a master from the Hwau Sword Sect.’
“You.”
The man in black looked puzzled upon spotting Bu Eun-seol.
“What brings you here?”
“I've come to learn the arts of the Hwau Sword Sect.”
“You've come to learn our sect's sword arts?”
The man in black found this strange.
The sword arts of the Hwau Sword Sect, which encompass all of demonic swordplay, are as profound and vast as the martial arts of Shaolin, making them extremely difficult to learn.
Therefore, those who intended to learn swordplay from the start, or who specifically sought the number one demonic sword art, had entered the hall early on.
“And you've come to learn our sect's sword arts only after a fortnight has passed?”
“Yes.”
At the confident reply, the man in black's expression soured.
‘Was I mistaken in thinking he was a prodigy?’
He cleared his throat and spoke in a low voice.
“Those who entered before you have already finished their training and most have moved on to the intermediate hall. A few of them came here already having deeply mastered the sword, yet they still haven't advanced to the upper hall.”
The man in black looked down at Bu Eun-seol and spoke again.
“Our sect's sword arts are the most extensive among all demonic martial arts, and they are time-consuming.”
“By that you mean…”
“It means that in learning our sect's sword arts, a fortnight's delay can create a gap in skill as wide as the distance between heaven and earth.”
“I understand.”
Seeing no change in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, the man in black asked with a puzzled look.
“What in the world were you doing for a fortnight?”
“I was learning martial arts at Nang-ya-gak.”
“Nang-ya-gak?”
The man in black spoke as if he couldn't comprehend.
“You were at Nang-ya-gak for a fortnight?”
“Yes.”
After pondering for a moment, the man in black asked again.
“Don't tell me you were learning the Ya-su-do?”
“I was.”
The man in black frowned.
The Ya-su-do, the basic martial art of Nang-ya-gak, is not only extremely difficult to learn, but nine out of ten who attempt it lose their lives.
Yet he spent a fortnight there and came back perfectly fine?
‘He must have dabbled in it and given up.’
In a fortnight, he wouldn't have been able to master even the basics of the Ya-su-do.
The man in black's eyes now held a look of open contempt.
“It's not too late. Choose another training hall. Elsewhere, depending on your ability, you might be able to catch up in a fortnight.”
The man's expression, as if looking at a nuisance, was a spitting image of Sau, the man he had seen buried up to his neck in front of the thatched hut.
“Thank you for your concern and advice.”
Bu Eun-seol cupped his hands with a calm expression.
“However, I will learn the Hwau Sword.”
“Hmph.”
The man in black nodded as if he had no choice.
“What is your name?”
Bu Eun-seol bowed his head respectfully and cupped his hands.
“My name is Bu Eun-seol.”
“Bu Eun-seol.”
Muttering the name, the man in black pointed to himself.
“I am Jin-gak, the instructor in charge of the beginner's hall. Address me as Instructor.”
“Understood, Instructor.”
“Have you ever learned the sword…”
The man in black, Jin-gak, looked at Bu Eun-seol's posture with the iron sword at his waist and shook his head.
“…Apparently not.”
“How did you know?”
“Any warrior who has learned even a little swordplay keeps their hands loose, ready to draw their sword at any moment.”
Jin-gak narrowed his eyes and said.
“But you show no signs of having ever practiced the sword.”
“That is correct. I have never learned swordsmanship.”
“Honesty is a virtue, but this is problematic.”
Jin-gak stroked his chin.
“Our sect's sword arts are so esoteric that even prodigies with outstanding physical talent find them difficult to master.”
“Is that so?”
“Furthermore, since you've never learned the sword at all, it will take you even longer.”
Jin-gak spoke with a look of pity.
“I'll advise you one last time. It is not too late. Go to another hall.”
“Thank you for your concern. But I will learn the sword arts of the Hwau Sword Sect.”
“Very well.”
Realizing Bu Eun-seol's resolve was firm, Jin-gak nodded.
“Follow me.”
After leading Bu Eun-seol to the center of the hall, Jin-gak spoke.
“The sword style I will teach you now is called the Thirteen Forms of the Hwau Sword. These thirteen moves contain the profound principles needed to grasp the foundations of the Hwau Sword.”
*Thud.*
As Jin-gak stomped his foot, a large parchment unfurled from the hall's ceiling. On it were inscribed intricate diagrams and characters.
“These are the forms and practical principles of the Thirteen Forms of the Hwau Sword. First, you will practice the sword by studying these diagrams.”
Bu Eun-seol looked perplexed.
He had never even seen a martial arts manual, let alone learned from one. And now he was being told to learn from a manual by himself.
‘I have no choice.’
Focusing his mind, Bu Eun-seol drew his iron sword and tried to mimic the movements in the diagrams on the parchment.
‘Hmm.’
He was definitely assuming the posture shown in the diagram, but something was off.
The path of his sword was erratic, staggering like a drunkard.
Watching him, Jin-gak looked dumbfounded.
“Do you not know how to read a sword manual?”
“Am I not supposed to just follow the postures?”
“That is correct, but…”
Jin-gak let out a deep sigh and said.
“Why are you not applying the principles written on the side?”
“The principles… you say?”
“They are written next to each move. Read them.”
Bu Eun-seol wore a troubled expression.
“Relax the entire body, flow softly into one…”
The characters written next to the sword diagrams were not ordinary phrases, but martial principles containing the logic of the art.
But to Bu Eun-seol, who had never learned martial arts, they seemed to be nothing more than strange, incomprehensible phrases.
“To be honest, I don't really understand what they mean.”
“These are basic principles that anyone who has read a martial arts treatise would know.”
As Jin-gak stared at him with a strange look, Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
‘The truth will come out eventually.’
Unlike the Ya-su-do, which was called an esoteric art beyond the world, the Hwau Sword Sect's art was an orthodox martial art of the Central Plains' Demonic Faction.
If he kept hiding the fact that he had never learned martial arts, he wouldn't be able to learn even a single move of the sword.
“To be perfectly honest, I have never learned martial arts at all.”
“You've never learned martial arts?”
“That's right. My master… passed away suddenly, so I was unable to learn.”
“You mean you haven't learned anything at all?”
“Yes.”
Jin-gak looked flabbergasted.
“Even if this is the place to teach basic swordplay, do you mean to say that I must teach you the very fundamentals of martial arts?”
“…I apologize.”
“Hmph.”
Jin-gak let out a stifled groan.
He wanted to shout, ‘Come back after you've learned the basics!’
But when he saw the fervent passion burning in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
‘If he wants to learn, I must teach.’
With fine lines creasing the corners of his mouth, Jin-gak spoke with a look of resignation.
“‘Relax the entire body’ means to perform the sword forms with a relaxed and flexible body. You must especially release the tension in your abdomen and waist.”
“I don't understand how to release the tension in my abdomen and waist.”
“You must calm your mind to release tension. When the body is stiff, the abdomen naturally tenses, and when the abdomen tenses, the body becomes rigid. As for ‘flow softly into one’…”
Jin-gak began to teach the sword style, breaking down the principles one by one.
This was a stroke of luck for Bu Eun-seol.
If he had entered the beginner's hall from the start and learned alongside the numerous Sip-ma-jeon-in candidates, he would never have received such detailed instruction.
But now, since Bu Eun-seol was the only one in the beginner's hall, Jin-gak had no choice but to teach him in detail, albeit reluctantly.
“Yes. That's how you do it.”
Fortunately, Bu Eun-seol was a quick learner.
Jin-gak was teaching him the sword arts in meticulous detail, as if he had taken on a direct disciple.
Four days later.
Bu Eun-seol stood with his iron sword, performing the sword forms.
Thanks to Jin-gak's detailed instruction, he was able to perform the Thirteen Forms of the Hwau Sword in just four days.
*Swish. Whoosh.*
Bu Eun-seol performed all the sword forms slowly, but with a fair degree of accuracy.
Watching him, Jin-gak spoke again.
“Faster than I expected. You have a talent for the sword.”
“Thank you.”
“Hmm. You've learned all the forms and the sword principles…”
After a moment of thought, Jin-gak nodded.
“From now on, I want you to perform the Thirteen Forms of the Hwau Sword as if there is an enemy before you.”
“An enemy… you say?”
“That's right. That is the test to advance to the intermediate hall.”
“A test.”
The opportunity had come sooner than he expected.
Steeling his resolve, Bu Eun-seol drew his iron sword and began the forms.
But as he slowly went through the moves, Jin-gak shook his head.
“Did I not tell you? You must perform the sword forms as if you are in a real battle, with an enemy before you.”
“Like a real battle… you say?”
“Correct.”
Jin-gak said with a solemn expression.
“If you merely perform a sword dance without conjuring a virtual opponent, you will fail. Do you understand what I mean?”
“A virtual opponent…”
“It means you must perform as if a real enemy is standing before you. Only then can I see the sword intent within your moves.”
“I understand.”
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol closed his eyes.
‘A virtual enemy…’
As he continued to focus his mind, his vision blurred, and suddenly, the tragic image of his grandfather came to mind.
And gradually, a black shadow appeared before him.
That shadow was likely the master who had driven his grandfather to his death.
*Shing!*
Bu Eun-seol drew his iron sword with all his might and executed the first form of the Thirteen Forms of the Hwau Sword, Formless Whirling Wind.
*Swhaaack!*
Like a flash of lightning from a swift sword, a streak of light cut through the air.
‘Huh?’
Watching Bu Eun-seol's first move, Jin-gak narrowed his eyes.
‘Something's strange.’
He tilted his head in confusion, but then his eyes flashed as he saw Bu Eun-seol twist his body to execute the third form, Flowing Cloud, Drifting Mist.
‘What is this?’
The form Flowing Cloud, Drifting Mist was, as its name suggests, meant to be executed with soft, fluid movements, like clouds drifting or mist spreading.
But the Flowing Cloud, Drifting Mist that Bu Eun-seol performed flowed with a sharp killing intent, as if he were executing a supreme demonic art.
Not only that, the tip of his sword trembled strangely, making its path difficult to predict.
‘The sword moves are subtly different.’
When one performs a sword style, there are only two possible outcomes.
Either you execute the principles and forms correctly and produce the proper power, or you don't.
But Bu Eun-seol's sword forms were not precise, yet their power was somehow stronger and sharper.
‘Could it be… that this boy is a peerless prodigy, capable of freely altering a sword style at will?’