Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Seeing the Wall
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Geon Cheon-hwi, who had been staring blankly up at the sky, lowered his gaze to the sword stuck in the ground.
……I lost again.
It felt empty.
All the gritted-teeth training and martial arts practice up until now seemed utterly pointless.
The humiliation grew as clear as the pain creeping up from the cuts on both his shoulders.
……I’ve improved since before.
His strength, stamina, and agility had all increased as a baseline, and the control and output of his internal energy were incomparable to before.
The Thunder Dragon Ten Strikes and Ten Thunder Arts had undoubtedly advanced a step.
He could have even killed that thug, though it would have been a close call.
But that was the limit.
The moment he faced their leader, that familiar powerlessness returned.
The only difference was that this time, he could track the man’s movements, and his body reacted.
And yet, he still lost.
……What should I do?
How do you accept losing even when you can see and follow the movements?
What do you do when you encounter an enemy with this kind of gap?
He couldn’t rely on luck forever.
Something strange keeps happening around Young Master Yi. There’s no guarantee it won’t happen again.
In a situation like this, should he be satisfied with this level of growth?
Was there no way to get stronger?
He finally understood why Namgung Hyeok looked down on their skills.
How frustrated must Namgung Hyeok be, having to guard guys who needed guarding?
……I have to do my part.
Not just to fulfill his role as a guard, but to survive.
Geon Cheon-hwi stood up and pulled out his sword.
He regulated his breathing for a moment and circulated the Ten Thunder Arts.
The energy in his dantian surged and flowed into his sword.
The Thunder Dragon Ten Strikes unfolded in the air.
A saber technique filled with fast and heavy power.
At this level, the blade carried enough force to easily shatter a stone statue.
Shiiiaang! Shiiiaang!
The sound of the sword wind echoed through the training ground.
Compared to before meeting Namgung Hyeok, the power and precision had risen, and the speed had increased.
He had circulated the Ten Thunder Arts whenever he had a chance to recover stamina and swung the Thunder Dragon Ten Strikes like mad, so the progress was inevitable.
Paak!
“This isn’t it.”
Something felt subtly off.
That’s why he couldn’t block the leader’s movements that he had visualized in his head.
It felt like facing a massive wall.
Lately, he had been feeling that wall often.
“Is this my limit?”
An immense sense of disappointment washed over him.
It was nothing compared to Namgung Hyeok’s insane growth—from bedridden to unleashing that monstrous sword aura in less than three months of training.
After over ten years of martial arts training, why couldn’t he even produce a proper sword aura properly? What a mess!
It made him reflect on how pathetic it was that the Namgung family warriors strutted around with puffed-up shoulders.
……Can I really get stronger?
Namgung Hyeok’s bizarre training methods had definitely worked, so maybe he had some secret technique.
……Does he have a secret manual?
Geon Cheon-hwi clutched his head for a moment, sighing deeply, then shot to his feet.
“Where are you going?”
Jang Woong muttered, slumped like a wet cotton ball.
Geon Cheon-hwi hesitated briefly before turning his head.
“To Young Master Yi.”
“Why?”
“To ask him something.”
“Suddenly?”
“I’m going to ask him to change the training method. This isn’t working.”
“That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”
“Why?”
“……Aren’t you delirious from poison? Rest when you can rest.”
“Am I crazy?”
Jang Woong flinched and slyly turned his back.
Tak Hyeok-dong clicked his tongue beside them while stuffing in a potato.
“If you’re just gonna spout nonsense, eat another potato.”
“…….”
“Training must be tough. Our eldest, who preached moderation in abundance, is now volunteering for more hardship and talking crazy.”
“Haven’t you felt anything from your recent training?”
“It hurts, and it’s hard?”
“……Forget it.”
Geon Cheon-hwi clicked his tongue and looked at the two pitifully.
As the three bickered, Namgung Hyeok entered the training ground.
Clatter clatter.
“Here.”
Namgung Hyeok tossed the basket he was holding.
Thud! Clang.
Rumble!
The basket hit with a heavy thud, spilling its contents.
Swords gleaming brilliantly poured out in a heap.
Geon Cheon-hwi, Jang Woong, and Tak Hyeok-dong’s eyes went wide.
“What swords are these?”
Namgung Hyeok, looking annoyed as he scratched his ear, said,
“Put them over there.”
Geon Cheon-hwi’s gaze swept over the swords spilling from the basket.
They looked extraordinary at first glance.
The sharpness and craftsmanship emanating from the blades far exceeded the ordinary.
They were on a different level from the weapons from Iron Cloud Merchant Group.
Geon Cheon-hwi asked just in case.
“……Are you giving these to us?”
“What bullshit. I said they’re for the warehouse.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Swords have their own masters. Be content with your Iron Cloud scraps.”
……Ah, yes. Scraps.
Turning Iron Cloud weapons into scraps in an instant and deeming them below their level.
Geon Cheon-hwi scratched his head and then spotted Namgung Ryong standing blankly behind Namgung Hyeok.
He hurriedly bowed at the waist in greeting.
“I greet the eldest young master!”
“Uh? I greet the eldest young master!”
Tak Hyeok-dong and Jang Woong, who had been gathering the basket, also bowed in surprise.
Namgung Ryong gave a curt nod.
The corner of his mouth twitched up slightly, looking satisfied.
Geon Cheon-hwi rolled his eyes briefly.
Startled by Namgung Ryong’s sudden appearance, but it reminded him of what he wanted to say to Namgung Hyeok.
He carefully broached the subject toward Namgung Hyeok.
“Um, young master.”
Nom nom.
Namgung Hyeok, pulling snacks from his robe and munching, stared blankly at Geon Cheon-hwi.
“……Could you change our training method a bit?”
Nom nom.
Chewing snacks on one side, fiddling in his robe for more with the other hand, Namgung Hyeok tilted his head.
“Huh?”
“Stamina training seems sufficient now, so more focus on martial arts…….”
Geon Cheon-hwi glanced slyly.
But Namgung Hyeok readily nodded.
“Sure.”
“Yes?”
What?
Why so easy?
He had braced for a smack to the head, but it was approved so simply.
Geon Cheon-hwi looked at him suspiciously.
“……For real?”
“Have you only lived getting scammed? Do it. Who’s stopping you?”
“Not that, but…… really?”
“You should be able to handle that much on your own by now.”
Geon Cheon-hwi lost his words for a moment, watching Namgung Hyeok nod agreeably.
All his agonizing up to now felt pointless.
“So, we learn new martial arts?”
“What bullshit. Did I hand over martial arts?”
“……Yes?”
“Back in my day, it took ten years of mopping to learn one form by peeking over the shoulder, you punk. You think you can get it for free?”
Namgung Hyeok snorted while munching snacks.
It would have been true in the past.
Sigh, better not say it.
Watching Geon Cheon-hwi’s expression harden, Namgung Hyeok twisted his lips.
‘He’s been stimulated, that’s it.’
After passing a few hurdles, his perspective would have changed.
Both body and mind would have transformed repeatedly.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
“You saw the wall, right?”
“……Yes?”
Was he a ghost?
How did he guess that on the first try?
Geon Cheon-hwi looked at him with newfound eyes.
An ominous feeling grew at Namgung Hyeok’s crooked smirk, but he had to ask.
“Is there a way?”
“Think there isn’t?”
“…….”
“There are many, but the fastest is one.”
“What is it?”
“Actual combat.”
……Ah.
Namgung Hyeok chuckled at Geon Cheon-hwi’s dumbfounded face.
“Sparring counts as actual combat. Roll around prepared to break some bones.”
“……With you, young master?”
“Yeah. But I’ll break your bones.”
Geon Cheon-hwi was certain it wouldn’t stop at broken bones.
No, maybe a simple break would be better than getting beaten senseless.
Gulp.
“……I’ll do it with Tak Hyeok-dong.”
“No, fuck! Why drag me into this suddenly?!”
Tak Hyeok-dong yelled indignantly before shrinking back slyly.
Namgung Hyeok wagged his finger side to side.
“Has to be with someone strong for it to work.”
“You’re not just itching to beat someone…….”
“Wanna find out? Come at me if you want to get hit.”
“……Sorry.”
Namgung Hyeok let out a low hum.
His gaze flicked between Namgung Ryong and Geon Cheon-hwi.
Namgung Hyeok twisted his lips up and asked Namgung Ryong.
“Wanna spar with him?”
Namgung Ryong tilted his head.
“Endure five forms without moving a step.”
Geon Cheon-hwi groaned at Namgung Hyeok’s words.
What? A spar where he endures five forms without moving a single step?
Even if Namgung Ryong was a sword genius master, this condition was absurd.
‘Even as the eldest young master, five forms…….’
This was a total loss for Namgung Ryong no matter what.
Lose and it’s humiliating; win and no gain, right?
“I’ll buy you a meal at Heavenly Pavilion.”
“……Meal?”
“Yeah, meal.”
“Together?”
“Yeah, together.”
Namgung Ryong pondered briefly, lips curling up, then nodded readily.
“Fine.”
……No, you can’t agree to that!
Geon Cheon-hwi stared at Namgung Ryong in bewilderment.
‘……He accepted this?’
His mouth hung open in absurdity.
A surge of frustration rose too.
Doesn’t that mean he thinks such a handicap is needed to balance their skills?
He wanted to show Namgung Hyeok he was wrong.
Sring.
Geon Cheon-hwi paused briefly at Namgung Ryong drawing his sword first.
But he quickly hardened his expression and tensed.
“Young master Yi, if I win, will you teach me a martial art?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Yes.”
Geon Cheon-hwi gritted his teeth and gripped his sword.
He circulated the Ten Thunder Arts and glared at Namgung Ryong.
The aura and presence were weighty, befitting the Namgung family’s eldest young master.
It even felt like facing a great tree.
……He’s certainly got spirit.
Geon Cheon-hwi readjusted his grip.
The moment the Ten Thunder Arts energy gathered at his sword tip, he kicked off the ground.
Paak!
Assuming the opponent was definitely superior, he unleashed the Thunder Dragon Ten Strikes.
An attack with no trace of carelessness.
The Thunder Dragon Ten Strikes was a saber art of heaviness and speed.
It had the power to shred and push back opponents with minimal movement.
Even a stone slab finger-thick couldn’t withstand its force.
His intent was to push Namgung Ryong back outright.
Despite the ferocious power that should have startled him into retreat, Namgung Ryong’s expression didn’t change.
Geon Cheon-hwi gritted his teeth and pressed forward with the Thunder Dragon Ten Strikes.
Namgung Ryong’s sword moved belatedly, drawing a circle.
The Thunder Dragon Ten Strikes, charging like a raging bull, got ensnared in the circle Namgung Ryong created.
A pressure like a noose tightening around a bull’s neck.
Hwaaang!
“……!”
The sword wind lightly grazed his body, shaking his balance and shoving him aside.
Geon Cheon-hwi retreated in alarm and stared at Namgung Ryong.
Namgung Ryong was still in the same spot.
‘What the……!’
After a brief fluster, Geon Cheon-hwi readjusted his sword and charged again.
The forms of the Thunder Dragon Ten Strikes unfolded rapidly.
Each one fierce and powerful.
Shwaaang! Shwaaaang!
Fierce saber winds and lightning-like blades whipped around, pressing Namgung Ryong from all sides.
But every time Namgung Ryong moved his sword once, the winds died down, and the lightning scattered to the ground.
Trapped in the circle Namgung Ryong created, Geon Cheon-hwi was pushed, pulled, held, then pushed again.
In the unrelenting flow, Geon Cheon-hwi’s sword got caught up and lost its way in an instant.
At some point, Geon Cheon-hwi began swinging wildly, teeth clenched.
He poured out full power, building momentum to thrust in somehow, but before Namgung Ryong’s sword flow, he could do nothing.
Ziiing!
Finally, with a metallic ring, Namgung Ryong’s sword shoved Geon Cheon-hwi’s blade aside and aimed at his throat.
Cold sweat dripped down Geon Cheon-hwi’s forehead.
He looked down at the razor-sharp blade with dazed eyes.
Namgung Ryong stood firm in place, sword pointed at his throat.
It was as if he had thrust his own neck onto the blade.
Geon Cheon-hwi’s face went slack.
“……I-I lost.”
Despair.
Was the gap this wide?
Wide enough to pin him without a single step?
His arrogance in quietly assuming victory felt pathetic.
Another wall loomed, making his limits feel even vaster, a dizzying void.
Toward the dazed Geon Cheon-hwi, Namgung Hyeok said,
“Got a sense of your place now?”
Geon Cheon-hwi snapped to.
“Y-Young master…….”
Namgung Hyeok curled his lips.
“You thought you were something until now?”
“…….”
“Delusion, pure delusion. Thought a little progress meant you’d shed your mortal shell? Felt like a master?”
It struck to the bone.
“Begging for manuals? What’s the point giving them to amateurs? This is all you’d manage.”
Namgung Hyeok spoke coldly.
“Master what you have first.”
Geon Cheon-hwi’s shoulders trembled before he bowed his head deeply.
Namgung Hyeok immediately turned to leave.
“You lot wait here. Let’s go eat.”
Namgung Ryong sheathed his sword and shook his head.
“Father’s calling.”
“……Me too?”
Namgung Hyeok, heading out, paused.
“Again?”
Namgung Ryong shook his head side to side, grabbed the departing Namgung Hyeok, and dragged him along.
‘……What a hassle.’