Chapter 21
Chapter 21
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Obtaining a Sword
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to the Five Elements Pill, I had broken through a wall between the Transcendent and Profound realms.
Still, I was far from the state of a fully mature Profound realm master.
That was because I hadn't achieved great mastery of the Divine Arts in this new body.
But that, too, was a problem time would solve.
“Hooo.”
Finishing my energy circulation, I placed a hand over my dantian and thought.
‘If only I could have taken this in my past life…’
An idle thought surfaced unbidden.
With just this unfinished body, I had gained such stability and balance.
If the me from before the war with the Orthodox Faction had taken it, the history of the martial world would have been rewritten.
‘There’s nothing more foolish than regret.’
I shook my head, clearing the stray thought.
There was no turning back time, no matter what.
It was a hundred times better to do my best in the here and now.
*Swoosh.*
I rose to my feet and stretched.
This secret vault was also a cavern.
It was far better than any ordinary training hall.
And since only my master and I knew of it, there would be no interruptions.
*Clang.*
I set aside the sword for the first time in a while and returned to my true self.
*Grip!*
As I lightly clenched my fist, I could feel the overflowing power.
The feeling that I could shatter anything in a single blow.
“This is good.”
A slight smile crept onto my lips.
I was reminded of the time I trained in the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger with my master in the Green Forest.
It was like returning to my roots.
My body had long felt light, and now my mind was light as well—the perfect state for training.
*Shwooo! Paang!*
I threw a light punch.
And just before the power exploded at the tip of my fist, I reined it in.
Like a dewdrop clinging precariously to the tip of a leaf at dawn, the energy at the edge of my fist wavered.
If I had added even the slightest bit more force, the wall in front of my fist would have been blown apart.
Then, a catastrophe would follow as the river water flooded in.
My life was on the line with every punch I threw.
But even so, I felt no fear.
I knew how many lives would hang on this single punch in the future.
I simply did my best in every moment, with every movement.
‘Hesitate for a moment, and my head will fly.’
*Shwooo! Paang!*
‘Make a mistake, and someone precious will bleed.’
*Shwooo! Paang!*
I threw my punches with all my might and withdrew the energy with all my might.
It felt like climbing a cliff with a full teacup balanced on my head.
That precariousness became tension, which sublimated into concentration.
“Hah, hah!”
How many punches had I thrown?
A quarter of an hour? Or half an hour?
At most, it couldn't have been more than an hour.
And yet, my entire body was drenched in sweat, and every muscle trembled.
“I’m still a long way off.”
The Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger had a total of nine forms, characterized by a tyrannical flow from the first form to the last.
But this time, I had stopped at the seventh.
Even after consuming the Five Elements Pill and the Jade Serpent's inner core, I couldn't match the achievements of my past life.
‘Don’t be impatient. Excessive greed brings disaster.’
Of course, I had caught up by more than half.
Considering my age, my progress was much faster than in my past life, so there was no need to rush.
After all, not even half a year had passed since I woke up in this new body.
“Hah, hah.”
My shoulders heaved with each ragged breath.
I tried not to be impatient, but I couldn't help feeling a sense of urgency.
Whether this body was twenty years old or I had only been awake for half a year.
My mind was still that of the Fist King of the Green Forest, so perhaps it was only natural.
‘Is the only silver lining that this is the Heaven and Earth Body?’
If I didn't even have the Heaven and Earth Body, my growth would have been much slower.
A normal body, having already learned Demonic Arts, would have been unable to use the techniques, let alone the internal arts, of the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger.
But the Heaven and Earth Body made the impossible possible.
It combined Demonic and Unorthodox Arts to evolve the sword techniques its original owner had learned, and it fully accepted the mysteries of the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger.
It was also a vessel large enough to devour the energies of the Jade Serpent's core and the Five Elements Pill with room to spare.
That alone was enough.
I calmed my impatient heart once more by thinking of the Heaven and Earth Body.
Just then, Ha Song, who I thought was snoring in a corner, spoke up.
“My… my Lord? Are you finished now?”
“Ha Song? You’re awake?”
“Pardon? I’ve been awake for a while. Let’s see… I lost consciousness on the first day, so… yes, it’s already been five days.”
“Five days? You mean…”
Come to think of it, his loud snoring had stopped at some point.
No, before that, I couldn't recall seeing anything else after I finished my energy circulation and began practicing the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger.
I hadn't looked around; I had been focused solely on each and every form.
Seeing me truly lost in deep thought, Ha Song spoke.
“Could it be that you were practicing the forms in a state of selflessness? Indeed, one must be at that level to be called a monster…?”
“A state of selflessness, you say. From the convergence of the five energies to this, the blessings from the Five Elements Pill are endless.”
His words were true; the state of selflessness was as much a blessing as the convergence of the five energies.
It wasn't a life-or-death battle, nor was it a duel.
To think I had lost all sense of time and entered a state of selflessness while merely practicing forms on my own.
Usually, it wasn't easy for a master like me, who had once reached the pinnacle, to attain enlightenment on their own.
But practicing the forms in a state of selflessness was akin to physically expressing a realization gained subconsciously.
For me, at least, it was a blessing comparable to the convergence of the five energies.
‘Was this also a blessing brought about by the Heaven and Earth Body? Or was it simply luck?’
Thinking back, it seemed the key was practicing the forms from the very beginning with a beginner's mind in this new body.
It was no different from re-establishing the Divine Arts I had already mastered, but from a fresh start.
On top of that, to maintain the tension I lacked while practicing alone, I added an element of danger.
My concentration must have been at an indescribable level.
If it hadn't been for the state of selflessness, I would have smashed through the wall and been submerged in water long ago.
“Now that I know, I can finally see it… Ha Song.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. On the first day, even breathing was agonizing, but from the second day, I realized the grace you bestowed upon me.”
“And what was that?”
“Just as you said, my Lord, I felt my Gate of Life and Death being forced open. I am ashamed to say I lost consciousness at that moment. Though it is late, I thank you for your grace…”
“Enough. It was not by my power alone that your Gate of Life and Death was opened. If you truly wish to give thanks, thank the effort you have put in all this time. And thank your parents for giving you your gifted body.”
At my last words, Ha Song flinched and muttered.
“…Gifted body.”
“Ha Song. You, too, were born with a gifted body. What common man could break through to the pinnacle realm on his own through sheer effort? Well, it’s not your fault. It's easy to fall into self-pity when you're around this body.”
I offered Ha Song some words of comfort that weren't quite comforting.
I didn't know his story, but Ha Song sometimes had a tendency to underestimate himself.
I wanted to make him aware of that.
“You are a subordinate this body personally selected. How can you think of yourself as a common vessel? Are you, by any chance, doubting my judgment?”
“Sob! I, Ha Song, will never commit such sacrilege again!”
Ha Song burst into tears, cupping his fist in a salute. It seemed he had become quite the crybaby lately.
Well, it was something to be moved by.
Honestly, how many martial artists would ever receive such praise from me, the Fist King of the Green Forest?
Shedding a few tears was the least of it.
Of course, right now I was just a rising star of the Divine Hall of the Latent Demon, but still.
That aside, looking around, it seemed Ha Song had stood guard and protected me for five days.
If he had held even a sliver of resentment toward me for putting him through the agony of torn muscles and shattered bones for a quarter of an hour, he wouldn't have done so.
He was a good kid.
‘The people of the Demonic Cult are better than those Orthodox bastards. At least they don’t betray you.’
Now that I had come to my senses.
Somehow, only ten days remained, so I had to get moving.
“Ha Song. Stop crying and come at me.”
“Yes, sir! Wait, hold on. Wh-what did you just say…”
My words made Ha Song’s face fall even further. But I had no intention of going easy on him.
*Thump!*
“Who gave you permission to question me?”
“Hiiik!”
As I kicked off the ground and charged, Ha Song yelped and scrambled backward.
“Draw your sword, Ha Song!”
“Tch!”
Ha Song hesitated to draw his sword.
It was probably because of our master-servant relationship.
However, that was of no help now, when we were training for a real battle.
I barked at Ha Song, charging forward without slowing down.
*Kwoong!*
I stomped my right foot down hard, drew back my left hand, and thrust it forward with a twist of my waist.
I had managed to close the distance in the instant Ha Song hesitated.
I faced Ha Song with a simple form, unbound by any established style.
Indeed, once a master surpasses a certain level, they must break free from the mold of ‘styles’ and learn to use their own personalized forms freely. Just like me, right now.
‘I will concentrate, not letting a single ounce of power go to waste.’
The punch I had thrown countless times over five days in a state of selflessness was now unleashed again, this time against Ha Song.
*Shwoooong!*
The fist flew straight toward the solar plexus of Ha Song, who had belatedly drawn his sword.
In the blink of an eye.
Ha Song would surely lose the area around his solar plexus.
He would die with a gaping hole in his chest, as if hit by a cannonball at point-blank range.
And Ha Song, the one on the receiving end, knew it too.
Time seemed to slow down.
I could clearly see the cold sweat from Ha Song’s forehead trickling down his cheek.
The sword, now halfway out of its scabbard at his left hip, seemed like it would just barely block my fist.
Of course, there was no way Ha Song could block my fist with a blade drawn in such haste.
But I had no intention of killing him, so just as I had done before the wall, I withdrew the energy at the tip of my fist.
Just enough so it wavered precariously at the very edge.
Time resumed its flow.
A sound of tearing air was heard.
*Paang!!*
And I also heard the sound of the sword shattering as it met my fist.
*Clink.*
The blade split cleanly in two, as if it had been sliced by another sword.
And onto the fallen blade, *thwack*, a drop of cold sweat fell from Ha Song’s cheek.
“Hah, hah. C-Congratulations, my Lord!”
Ha Song, who had just escaped death, knelt before me and gave a fist-and-palm salute.
He was a good fellow, foolishly consistent.
To congratulate me while trembling after returning from the brink of death, even when the sword he cherished like his own life was broken in two.
I had to laugh.
“Pfft, puhahahaha.”
“My Lord?”
“Why is it that I see the faces of my dear brothers in you? Hehehe.”
It was true.
In Ha Song, a drill instructor of the Demonic Cult, I felt a sense of camaraderie I had only ever felt with my Green Forest brothers in my past life.
That’s right. Camaraderie. Something entirely different from loyalty.
It was a strange feeling. But not a bad one.
“Ha Song. I think I made a good choice in picking you.”
“I feel the same. To think you’ve grown another level in such a short time… I think I understand why the other cadets call you a monster.”
“You flatter me.”
“Flatter you? On the contrary, I fear that my humble eyes are diminishing you, my Lord.”
“Did you practice flattery by yourself for five days? Well, never mind that. I broke your sword, so I should compensate you.”
At my offer of compensation, Ha Song waved his hands dismissively.
But contrary to his hands, his eyes were sparkling as they darted between me and the broken sword on the ground.
‘Right. A man who’s honest with his feelings is easier to deal with.’
A man who was too good at flattery was always tiresome, but Ha Song knew how to walk that line.
Judging by his sparkling eyes, he wasn't very good at hiding his feelings either.
I pointed to the corner where the Five Elements Pill had been and said.
“Dig a hole next to that small, open chest over there.”
“A hole, you say?”
Ha Song looked at me as if I were spouting nonsense.
“Yes. There should be two swords buried there. I’ll give you one of your choice.”
“*Gulp*. Yes, sir!”
“Ah, bring them both. I’ll use the one that’s left.”
Ha Song swallowed dryly, then quickly went and brought back two swords.
The swords were in a large, specially treated wooden box.
‘They were originally put in the secret vault in place of gold coins, but I never thought I’d use them myself.’
I was originally a pugilist. So was my master, Maeng Eun-ho.
So, there was only one reason to keep swords in this vault.
To raise travel funds.
But to think they would be used so conveniently like this.
If I hadn't broken Ha Song's sword, I would have forgotten about them completely.
Ha Song, who had already brought the wooden box, spoke.
“May I be the one to open it?”
“Yes. And take whichever one you like.”
As soon as permission was granted, Ha Song reached for the wooden box.
*Thud. Screech.*
Strangely, the box was designed so that once the lock was released, the lid had to be pushed open.
And inside, two swords with an extraordinary aura were resting.
However, one was truly brilliant, while the other was sinister.
The brilliant one had ‘Silver Sword of Repayment’ inscribed on its scabbard, while the sinister one had ‘Black Hegemon Sword.’
Anyone could see that the Silver Sword of Repayment was the superior blade.
Ha Song’s eyes clearly favored the Silver Sword of Repayment.
But he said the opposite of what he was thinking.
“My Lord. My eyes are poor, so I dare not choose. It would be better if you chose first and bestowed the remaining sword upon me…”
“Alright, fine.”
*Swoosh.*
Before Ha Song could even finish his sentence, I quickly snatched up the Black Hegemon Sword.
‘How dare he try to give the better one to me.’
Even if I had created the Green Forest Demon-Slaying Sword through this body, my essence was still that of a pugilist.
There was no way I would covet a sword.
But for some reason, the sight of Ha Song being considerate because of me was irritating, and I couldn't stand it.
Ha Song seemed a little surprised by my choice.
After all, I had just yielded the obviously better-looking sword to him.
“Ah. I still cannot fathom it. I am simply happy to serve a lord with a heart as vast and gracious as the sea.”
“Is that how it turned out?”
“And your humility… I, Ha Song! In the name of this Silver Sword of Repayment you have bestowed upon me, I will devote my life to repaying your grace!”
That fellow Ha Song was getting teary-eyed again as he cupped his fist. I was starting to think I should issue a ban on fist salutes for him.
He was ready to cry over the slightest thing, honestly…
But it wasn't an entirely bad feeling.
He was even quite admirable.
“Devoting your life, you say. Good. Then let’s roll up our sleeves for the remaining ten days.”
“W-wait a moment, my Lord. That’s not what I meant…”
“Draw your sword, Ha Song. If you hesitate this time, you will surely see the afterlife.”
*Thump!*
And with a hard stomp of my right foot, I restarted the training.