Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Second Growth (3)
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"First form of the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon, Demonic Flash."
As the sword flashed out of its sheath, a sharp energy thick with killing intent erupted.
However, I pulled back my strength at the last moment, so the unfortunate incident of slicing through the cave wall was avoided.
Starting with that, I flawlessly recreated all five forms I had mastered.
"Second form of the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon, Demonic Twin Rings."
"Third form of the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon..."
The Black Insignia Sword, now fused with the Heavenly Demon Sword, could be called a divine artifact without exaggeration.
Its sharp energy was so potent that even in training, wielding it felt no different from a real battle. I could control its power with my will alone, without having to meticulously adjust my strength.
Most special of all, the Heavenly Demon Sword felt less like a mere object and more like a companion I had spent years with.
Thanks to this, simply refining the five forms I had learned over the fortnight was enough to send me back into a state of selflessness.
"*Hoo, hoo.* The sixth form of the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon!"
Even the sixth form, which had given me the most trouble, posed no difficulty with the Heavenly Demon Sword in hand.
'It seems that, contrary to the saying 'a master craftsman doesn't blame his tools,' the tool can indeed make the master.'
Though beads of sweat formed and dripped endlessly from my brow, I didn't feel tired.
It was as enjoyable as when I first learned the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger and practiced its fist techniques.
Was that why?
I was able to execute the sword forms so fluidly, it felt as if the Heavenly Demon Sword had become a part of my body.
My training progressed so quickly that the fortnight, which had felt so pressingly short, now seemed to have time to spare.
Unlike before, when it took two or three days to complete a single form, I could now master one form per day.
Thus, when the fifth sun shone in the sky, I was able to achieve great mastery in the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon.
'I've mastered the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon in just five days...!'
A sweet sense of accomplishment washed over me.
It was a feeling I had missed, one I had lived without for so long.
I found myself looking down at the Heavenly Demon Sword.
As if it understood my feelings, the Heavenly Demon Sword let out a low hum.
*Shhhrrrring.*
I ran my middle and index fingers along its blade and thought.
'Now, all that's left is to combine the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon and the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger to create my own Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon.'
Back when I met the founder of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in the black pool of water, right after I lost consciousness and woke up.
Among the information that flooded my mind was knowledge about the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon.
Contrary to my expectations, the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon did not consist of any set forms.
The Heavenly Demon founder had said that the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon were similar to the Heavenly Demon Sword in that their forms were free.
I just needed to freely mix its foundations—the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger and the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon—and adapt them to my own body.
'My own Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon...'
That was easier said than done. In fact, it was one of the most difficult things to achieve.
Combining a divine art for the body with a divine art for the sword was, after all, more difficult than creating an entirely new martial art.
Of course, it wasn't as if I had no ideas.
The Heaven and Earth Body, the experiences and memories of my past life, the enlightenments gained in this new body.
Clues were visible in all of these.
'First, I'll use the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger as the base, then blend in the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon and the Green Forest Demon Subduing Sword to add sharpness.'
Just as Hwan Cheon-hwa had seen in her premonition, I envisioned a style where my left hand would use the fist arts imbued with my experience as the Fist King of the Green Forest, and my right hand would wield my own sword style, combining the Green Forest Demon Subduing Sword with the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon as its foundation.
And so, I spent another five days pouring my efforts into creating my own Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon.
Honestly, it was a complete struggle at first.
That was to be expected. Martial arts aren't typically performed with just one part of the body; one must assume the optimal stance with their entire body and focus completely.
Even if you could use both hands, doing so without sacrificing efficiency or creating openings was next to impossible.
But would the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon be called as such for no reason?
In the end, after much agony and enlightenment, I managed to perfect it.
Ultimately, I didn't have enough time to create many forms, but just being able to execute the divine arts with each hand was a success in itself.
It meant that while others could use a special technique once, I could use at least two.
For example, I could prepare a spinning fist with my left hand while executing the Demonic Flash, the first form of the Sword Arts of the Heavenly Demon, with my right.
With this, I could dream not only of taking control of the Demonic Cult, but of conquering the entire martial world.
When I clenched my fist, it felt like I could shatter a mountain with a single punch; when I held my sword, it felt like I could part the seas.
And since I could do both simultaneously, there was nothing left to fear.
Of course, that didn't mean I grew complacent.
"Greed can make you lose even what you hold in your hand. For the remaining five days, I'll organize my recent enlightenments and recover my body."
Do you know what every martial artist who has reached a certain level knows?
That recovery is just as important as training.
Leaning against the cave wall, I sat down, circulated my energy, and thought.
'I wonder if they're doing well.'
My eyes were closed, but I could clearly see the faces of my newly acquired subordinates.
'Do Gwang and Jo Gwang-uk are probably at each other's throats, as usual. And I bet Ha Gyeong and So-so are chattering away with Chang On stuck in the middle.'
* * *
While Maeng Ak was engrossed in his training in the cave, his subordinates were similarly gathered together, training just as hard.
Their training included studying the heart technique of the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger, which Maeng Ak had taught to So-so and Ha Gyeong before he disappeared.
However, perhaps because they had all learned different martial arts, disagreements would flare up into arguments at every opportunity.
Unsurprisingly, Jo Gwang-uk and Do Gwang, who had always been like cats and dogs, clashed the most, and this time was no different.
"You madman, you absolute madman. *Sigh*, I guess if you were sane, your name wouldn't have *Gwang* in it."
"Ha! You think every name with 'Gwang' in it means 'madness'? Then again, what would a muscle-brained oaf know."
"Muscles for... what? ...You know what? Words are wasted on you, Do Gwang."
"Oh? You wanna go? What are you going to do when you can't beat me with your fists either?"
"As if this body would ever lose to a scrawny anchovy like you!"
*Boom!*
Jo Gwang-uk stomped the ground and threw himself at Do Gwang.
His speed and ferocity were so intense, it seemed like he was genuinely trying to kill him.
"They say a dull mind makes for a weary body!"
*Clang!*
With equal ferocity, Do Gwang drew his blade and met the charging Jo Gwang-uk.
His blademanship was so powerful that it felt like a single moment of carelessness from either of them would result in death.
Of course, for So-so, Chang On, and Ha Gyeong, who were nearby, this was just another day.
Ha Gyeong and So-so, seemingly oblivious to Chang On sitting between them, carried on a conversation right through him.
"Those idiots are so loud, aren't they, Ha Gyeong?"
"Have they ever been quiet? Anyway, So-so, this heart technique... the more I practice it, the more incredible it seems, right? No wonder the Master is so strong."
"I know. It's amazing enough to be called a divine art, and yet he taught it to us, even though we're not his direct disciples..."
"I'm glad I kowtowed so hard that day my forehead almost cracked."
"Pfft, you have no idea how funny you were back then. You said one wrong thing to the Master and..."
The pair had to raise their voices to be heard over the bickering of Jo Gwang-uk and Do Gwang.
Thanks to them, Chang On, stuck in the middle, was having a miserable time.
Finally, having endured all he could, he exploded.
"ENOOOUGH!"
The usually quiet and gentle Chang On had shouted.
In an instant, the large training hall where the five cadets were gathered fell silent.
Seeing that the atmosphere had calmed down, Chang On continued.
"*Ahem*, all of you! Don't you think you're going too far? Do you think the Master would even imagine seeing you like this? He bestowed upon us the verses of a heart technique worthy of being called a divine art, without asking for anything in return!"
The other four cadets listened quietly, as they were not ignorant of what Chang On was trying to say.
"And yet, this is the pathetic state we're in. Is there anyone here who has completely mastered this heart technique?"
The question was asked, but no answer came.
Even Chang On, who had asked, had not mastered it completely.
Letting out a deep sigh, Chang On continued.
"*Sigh*... Why do you think the Master gave us such a divine art for free? Wasn't it his way of ensuring we could overcome hardships on our own in his absence? Do you think you've all survived this long because you're so skilled?"
"..."
No one could answer in the affirmative.
Honestly, since the second test where they met Maeng Ak, they had only survived this far thanks to his help.
"I heard the Cult Leader and the Great Elder are frantically searching the mountains for our missing Master. In a situation like this, we should be striving to be of some help, however small! Think back to the tournament. What did we do? When Instructor Ha Song and Hwan Cheon-hwa leaped onto the stage, we just stood by and watched."
Chang On's voice trembled slightly toward the end.
It seemed he was bothered by the fact that they had been of no help during the tournament when Maeng Ak was clashing with the Cult Leader, the elders, and the guardians.
It was unfortunate, but honestly, staying out of it was the most helpful thing they could have done.
At their current level, they were no match for the leaders of the Demonic Cult.
Of course, they were the ones who knew this best.
That was why, from that moment until Maeng Ak bestowed the heart technique upon them, they had continued their arduous training.
But without realizing it, they had gradually become lax.
Chang On was pointing that out.
Since they understood him, no one was offended by his criticism.
"Chang On, you're right."
"I'm sorry, Chang On."
And so, they expressed their remorse and guilt with words of apology.
Chang On hadn't brought it up to ruin the mood, so as he accepted their apologies, he changed the subject.
"...That's enough. It's not like I don't know how you feel. *Ahem*. Well, at times like this, the best thing to do is set a clear goal, right? Have you all decided which of the cult's masters you want to fight in the fourth test?"
"I'm going for the one from the Four Heavenly Pillar Gates..."
Thanks to that, the topic shifted and the atmosphere changed.
For some reason, a sense of fervor could be felt.
Jo Gwang-uk and Do Gwang, who had been on edge because they were struggling with the heart technique; So-so and Ha Gyeong, who had lost their focus; and even Chang On, who had been swept up in it all—the light in their eyes had changed.
And so, after each of them set their own goals, they began to adapt the heart technique to fit their individual martial arts.
For example, Gung So-so, who used a bow, focused on strengthening the energy channels in her arms and shoulders, while Chang On, who used a spear, trained the channels in his arms and thighs.
Working together with their comrades, burning with renewed determination, they found that the path that had once been blocked now yielded answers more easily than expected.
Thanks to this, their progress surpassed their own expectations.
"Could the Master be a living stroke of fortune?"
"Yes, that must be it. There's no other explanation."
"I'm going to stick by his side for life."
"Then we'll have to become just as strong."
Every time they felt themselves grow, each of them would spontaneously utter words of praise for Maeng Ak.
Seeing them praise someone who wasn't even there, it was clear their feelings were completely genuine.
As they devoted themselves to training, time flew by faster than they realized, and the date of their fourth test drew near.