Meng Yuon (3)
The ultimate technique of the Tu Gye Jin Kwon transformed into a fist wind and poured down over Meng Yuon's sword. My attack was impressive enough, but Meng Yuon's defense was even more exquisite. He had tilted his blade at a diagonal angle, smoothly receiving and deflecting my descending fist qi from above.
"Eek! Eeeeek!"
Namgung Cheol, who had barely survived this otherworldly clash, let out a shriek and leaped backward. He was utterly terrified of Meng Yuon, whose eyes had rolled back in frenzy, and it seemed he wouldn't dare come near this place again. There was always the guy who caused the mess and the one who cleaned it up.
"Meng Yuon, take a deep breath and calm down. Don't surrender to the savage instincts of your demonic nature—return to your cool reason."
I gently advised Meng Yuon, who was purely on the defensive, but all that came back was...
Shwaaaaa!
Only sharp attacks, like a beast raking its claws. Moreover, his pursuit of the ultimate swift sword was so fast that dodging with your eyes alone was too slow. You had to rely purely on sensation to handle it.
'That was close just now.'
I'd felt my academy uniform narrowly sliced by Meng Yuon's swift sword. If I'd been even a fraction slower to dodge, my skin would have been cut, leading to a major setback.
"This guy!"
I wasn't some perfect gentleman either, so I got angry when my efforts weren't being matched despite his progress. But that anger faded quickly.
'No. If I get worked up too, there'll be no one to bring Meng Yuon back.'
I wanted to change him—not a born villain, but one shaped by society. And I wanted to put his precious, extraordinary talent to better use.
-Tu Gye Pung Pa!
As his attacks grew fiercer, I closed the distance further. Being partially consumed by his demonic nature meant his judgment was impaired, showing cracks in the finer details.
Bwoooong!
I swung my fist fiercely, focusing on misleading his eyes. In that short exchange, so many intense blows had flown back and forth that it was impossible to count.
Flash!
His swift sword flashed once more, and rather than retreat, I chose to advance.
The result!
Slash!
The front of my collar split open, accompanied by a bit of bleeding. Charging forward the instant the light flashed had worked. If I'd pulled back, Meng Yuon's accelerating sword would have cleaved straight into my chest.
His swift sword was so powerful that it pierced even the protective qi of my Taeryeok Cheolgang Gong, drawing blood.
-Ban Yong Seul!
Though I'd taken a hit, I didn't stop my counterattack. Hesitating before a swordsman boasting sharp sword qi was like begging to be sliced, so I had to shake his soul at point-blank range.
Thud, smack!
I followed up with consecutive knee uppercuts from the Ban Yong Seul, rattling his mind.
Then...
-Naeng In Jang!
I unleashed the Naeng In Jang, infused with powerful cold energy.
Shwaaaaa!
The palm wind of the cold-attribute Naeng In Jang was more than enough to halt Meng Yuon, whose body was burning hot. And with the forceful wind, it might have even cooled his head.
Under the relentless barrage, Meng Yuon was defenseless, taking every hit. Even fully possessed by his demonic nature, he couldn't beat me. It was only natural—he couldn't even match my full power in his right mind.
-Moon Palace Finger!
I finished off the immobilized Meng Yuon with the Moon Palace Finger. Not only did it possess profound power, but it was also excellent at expelling evil energies.
Whoosh!
With a fierce finger wind, my fingertip struck like a sharp sword tip right between his brows!
"Huh? Wh-what?"
Was it the power of the Moon Palace Finger shaking his muddled mind? Meng Yuon, who had looked frenzied with his demonic nature awakened, suddenly began to regain his senses. First, the whites of his eyes faded, and his pupils returned. Soon, the wicked expression vanished, replaced by an innocent face.
"Meng Yuon, can you hear me now?"
His eyes were back to those of the Little Affectionate Swordsman, not some sword demon—his nickname earned for his small frame and affectionate nature.
"You're... Cheon Myeong?"
He seemed to have calmed enough to recognize me.
"Yeah."
"What the hell... happened?"
Meng Yuon looked around with bewildered eyes, as if he had no memory of his frenzied rampage. Spotting the blood from Namgung Cheol's gang and the wound seeping on my chest, his pupils trembled.
"N-no way, did I...?"
Clang!
In his panic, he dropped his sword—the soul of a swordsman—to the ground and stared endlessly at his bloodstained hands.
"It's okay. Calm down. No one died."
I showed him my open palms calmly, signaling him to relax toward the unpredictable Meng Yuon in his agitated state.
"This can't be. I... I remember..."
Despite my efforts, Meng Yuon seemed to have no recollection, panicking greatly and unable to bear the weight of his actions. Then, past memories resurfaced, and tears welled up.
"Ugh... It's always like this with me. When I get excited, my vision goes white, my breathing gets ragged..."
And then the surroundings would be drenched in blood and left in ruins. Because of those horrific, guilt-ridden memories, Meng Yuon had sealed his extraordinary potential—rivaling even Baek Muhon's—and reached a point of profound self-deprecation.
"So that's why. Even though you wanted to hang out with me and Peng Jincheon, you were worried about being a burden..."
Finally understanding all of Meng Yuon's feelings, I nodded in empathy.
"Cheon Myeong, I'm grateful you're helping, but I probably can't be fixed. It's obvious I'll get consumed by this evil heart and cause trouble."
I flinched at his self-abandoning words. Hadn't it played out that way in the original story too? Of course, that was because evil forces had given him a cruel demonic sword, leading to his downfall.
"No. You haven't killed anyone this time. You can change."
I kept reassuring him, maintaining a calming posture to prevent more agitation.
"Even my master and seniors from the Fighting Sword Sect couldn't fix me. How could you?!"
As Meng Yuon vented with resentment, I explained the solutions I'd prepared.
"Meng Yuon, you have outstanding martial talent, but your flaw is getting excited. It's because you're innately fiery, and your martial arts pursue explosive swift swords."
"Then..."
"A complete cure might need a better physician, but I know ways to suppress it. Two, in fact."
I held up two fingers, persuading him logically. Rather than sweet talk to calm him now, a rational explanation was needed. Sure enough, Meng Yuon started listening intently.
"First, I have a heart method that's slow to learn but pure in nature, clears the mind, and excels at removing internal impurities."
I pulled out the manual for the Ubo Cheonri Heart Method and offered it to him. No worries—it was freely available for borrowing and reading at the Cheonmu Library.
"R-really?"
As expected, his face brightened at the Ubo Cheonri Heart Method. His current heart methods likely all raised his heart rate and stimulated his fiery nature.
"Of course. Especially this one—it pairs perfectly with any heart method without side effects or drawbacks."
That was its greatest strength: seamless integration with any inner art. Slow to master, but always progressing righteously.
And one more thing.
"Pair it with the second method. Use herbs with strong cold energy to brew a tonic that suppresses your innate fire."
At my words, Meng Yuon's joy turned to despair.
"Where would I get such expensive spirit herbs? Even if I could find some, neither I nor the Fighting Sword Sect can afford them."
I knew their situation well. The Fighting Sword Sect was newly rising, and Meng Yuon came from such poverty that he couldn't afford attribute-based elixirs.
"Don't worry. I have them."
I pulled out the precious Moon Spirit Herb I'd kept safe. Grown beside the Millennium Snow Ginseng, it carried intense cold qi. Just three roots could cure even the Extreme Yin Blocked Meridians. I still had five.
'One root decocted for Meng Yuon, then proper treatment later.'
I planned to leave the full cure to the world's best physician. So one root wasn't too precious.
"How could you give away something so valuable..."
Even Meng Yuon recognized its worth at a glance from the emanating cold qi. It was something you couldn't buy with a chest of gold.
"I'll give you this Moon Spirit Herb too. But promise me one thing."
I wanted a vow in exchange for the herb.
"Don't abandon your talent. Graduate from Cheonmu Academy with me."
That was the condition. It meant not getting swept into petty squabbles and losing control, and not suppressing himself out of fear of harming others.
'And form a trio with Little Dragon Peng Jincheon as my comrades to shatter the academy's graduation record.'
With protagonist Cheon Myeong, Dragon Blade, and Sword Demon—a trio with unmatched potential, the strongest in this world? I was certain we'd make history.
"Do you think... I can do it?"
Meng Yuon hesitated, lacking confidence, but I knew him well. If he truly doubted, he'd have refused outright.
"Of course. If you struggle, we'll help."
"We?"
He blinked in confusion at "we." In the meantime, Peng Jincheon came running from afar.
"Namgung Cheol, that jerk bothering you again? Don't worry—I'll handle the aftermath!"
Peng Jincheon bellowed with a voice as sturdy as his large frame, boldly claiming responsibility for today's mess.
Finally, the picture I'd designed at Cheonmu Academy was coming together. All my chosen ones were gathered—pure joy.
"By 'we,' I mean you, me, and that guy. What do you say?"
I grinned and extended my hand.
"Let's make history at Cheonmu Academy."
Meng Yuon grasped my hand with his usual shy expression.
"Alright. If you rid me of this damned demonic nature... I'll stay by your side forever."
The moment Meng Yuon opened his heart—welcoming another main character and even a key villain into my party.