Chapter 179: Effort (1)
Nothing happened at all until we crossed into Sichuan.
No one with the guts to mess with a carriage flying the Tang Clan's banner.
In truth, Sichuan was historically righteous faction territory for generations. It just had a reputation as a madhouse because of the Tang Clan's "vicious" tendencies.
Not only the Tang Clan, but also the Ami Sect, Jeomchang Sect, and Cheongseong Sect from the Nine Great Sects had taken root there.
The Ami Sect could be called merciful as a Buddhist sect, but the Jeomchang Sect—perhaps influenced by the Tang Clan—wasn't exactly known for mercy despite being Daoist.
The Cheongseong Sect was overshadowed by the others, but it was still a proper member of the Nine Great Sects.
Any sane person wouldn't dare cause trouble here.
Which means things might pop off once we leave Sichuan.
Our goal was Shaolin first. To reach Henan, where Shaolin was located, we could go through Shaanxi or Hubei.
Since the Murim Alliance was closer to Hubei, we chose the Shaanxi route.
[Shaanxi, eh. Home to the Zhongnan Sect and Hwasan Sect.]
Yeah. That's why we came this way.
The Hwasan Sect next door had a master who smashed pots and dominated the jianghu, but this local Hwasan Sect was a bit different.
How to put it... They shared an extreme love for plum blossoms, but they gave off the vibe of elves or something.
No wonder they say this Hwasan picks Taoists based on looks.
In Murim Returner, the higher the importance and skill level, the more likely characters were depicted as handsome men and beautiful women.
But even the lowliest junior disciple you brushed past here could rival a child actor.
They preferred leisurely seclusion in mountains and forests, loving peace over fighting.
Hence the nickname "wuxia elves."
In other words, low chance of bandits.
Elves ruling the forests? No room for orcs or goblins.
[Why fuss over bandits? Even low-rank bandits from the Green Forest 72 Branches would get swept away.]
Tsk tsk. You know one but not two. In expanding worldviews, extras level up too.
[Ex... tra... level...?]
Simply put, even small fries start hitting first-rate soon.
In games, tutorial wolves are weak, but later they hit level 100. Why would novels be different?
Extras grow stronger as you go.
Of course, it didn't matter against our group.
Honestly, I could just stand there arms crossed.
[Exactly. I'll handle the fighting.]
...Anyway.
[Even a branch leader from the Green Forest 72 Branches—we'd win without getting cocky. Unless it's the Green Forest King.]
That guy's Super Peak. Point is, it's not just about getting stronger.
Murim Returner was a mega-hit long-runner. They even talked about adapting it into a drama.
That meant a massive storyline, which implied...
One-off characters dropping tons of plot hooks.
That's the fate dumped on the protagonist.
[That could be trouble.]
We already had plenty to handle. We prioritized, but since entering the jianghu, problems kept piling up.
No need to stick our noses into every mess. Minor incidents would self-resolve.
If Cheon Gi-ja really wants the world back to normal...
He'd hate me meddling and altering the story.
Couldn't know for sure until we met, but caution costs nothing.
Hence Shaanxi over Hubei, for various reasons.
Paeng So So grumbled about the mountains, but what could we do?
"How's your progress on the Thunder Shadow Saber?"
The long journey meant Paeng Yu-gun kept pestering.
He'd been hovering since early on, camping in the carriage to refine his minor insight.
But even I needed breaks outside.
People eat and rest, right?
Then Paeng Yu-gun appeared like he'd been waiting. At his level, he could show up the instant he sensed presence.
Paeng So So followed—more boredom than curiosity—but Paeng Yu-gun had a strict side.
"So So, you shouldn't peek at others cultivating martial arts."
"But Grandpa, you are."
"That's because I taught him the Thunder Shadow Saber. Nothing else."
Peeking at cultivation was taboo here. Expecting that from our Paeng So So was hopeless.
Hard to dislike her. She was just being herself—no reason to get mad.
"Tch."
"Bored? Go train those brats you drag around. Warriors huffing after a few hills."
"They've got good loyalty, though."
"Already defending your new family? Loyalty comes from stamina. Train basics. Remember our lower-body drills?"
"Eek!?"
Whatever he made her do turned her face pale.
Made sense—for the Paeng Clan's natural toughness, normal training wouldn't cut it.
Dang Si Hyeok once mentioned Paeng So So shoving him into a snake pit.
...Was she driven mad by sorcery, or was she always a maniac?
Anyway, I bowed politely.
"My attainment is still low."
"Hmm. Care to show me?"
"My poor skill might offend Dao King's eyes."
"Hahaha. Excessive humility is pride, kid."
Problem: Paeng Yu-gun overhyped my level.
Concept too strong?
We'll be fine?
[We've prepared. As long as no fighting.]
Okay.
[Got it?]
Yeah. Got something to show?
[Of course. I stayed awake while you slept, pondering new swordsmanship. Picked up side techniques.]
Right—Pa Cheon declared he'd absorb righteous sword arts in Tang Clan to forge new ones.
I'd been hyped for the top wuxia AI's creation, but he kept teasing without revealing.
Refined, I drew my sword before Paeng Yu-gun.
"Sword Dragon."
Paeng Yu-gun spoke.
"Flying Sword's fine, but swing it more. Your draw looks awkward. A true swordsman should have hands like blades. Well, you'll manage."
I'd drilled endlessly, but to a tier above Super Peak like Paeng Yu-gun, it fell short.
More practice in the carriage.
Fools below his level, but not him yet.
Best: Never draw at all.
"I'll remember. May I show my skill?"
"Yes. Let's see your attainment."
I told Pa Cheon.
Light up the Red Dragon Qi first.
Red Dragon lightning rose along Pa Cheon Sword's blade—purified by Gongjin's power. Yin energy, not evil.
"You taught that Thunder Shadow Saber channels lightning's irregularity into the blade."
"Right. Even basic, mastered, foes feel like fighting illusions."
Experts strike, defend precisely—efficiency breeds counters, like in sword sparring.
Thunder Shadow Saber targeted that. Blocks miss, dodges fail.
Like swordplay's Phantom Shift. Perfect for "??? : too slow" moments.
"This is your Thunder Shadow Saber—no, Thunder Shadow Sword."
I let go.
Drawing was awkward; swinging would expose me.
Pa Cheon Sword traced a line—not smooth now, but jagged like lightning's afterimage.
"...Impressively perfect. Thunder Shadow Saber needs body mastery. How do you wield it so well?"
Paeng Yu-gun nodded in admiration.
"Sword Dragon, your dark circles—you're skimping sleep for training. Relentless even in secret."
"......"
"Natural at your age and realm. Kid, your showmanship's top-notch."
Truth: Pa Cheon's doing.
We'd agreed quiet nights—I wasn't a true master, needed two hours' sleep.
But in Tang Clan, Pa Cheon danced blades nightly for new arts.
That's why I was sleep-deprived—and it backfired as praise.
Well, he trained while I slept, so half-true.
Convenient misunderstanding.
Protagonist's orbit nerfs intelligence? Or Paeng Clan's nerfed smarts made it easy.
"Even masters tire filling sleep with meditation. Strong body births strong mind—sleep more."
"I'll remember."
"Basics solid, so you're pondering more?"
"Yes."
Words done—
Kiiing—
Pa Cheon spun lightning energy.
First showing Paeng Yu-gun the vortex-enhanced version, but we'd used it on Red Dragon Qi before.
For max punch, we'd crammed every technique.
But now...
"?!"
Fierce currents along the blade.
Sparks flying.
All whirling independently.
Like dozens of meteors orbiting Pa Cheon in varied paths.
Mo Yong Family swordsmanship!
But trajectories weren't uniform.
Different directions, speeds—fiercely rotating.
"Such a fucking—"
Paeng Yu-gun swore, decorum forgotten.