Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Elder, Let's Do One Thing Together (2)
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"So, like I was saying, Elder, let's do one thing together."
"Like I was saying? What's that supposed to mean? From the way you're talking, it sounds like this 'one thing' is really just you wanting me to teach you a single martial art technique."
"No, it's not?"
What do you take me for?
Just one technique? No way.
"I'm not some small-minded guy who'd be satisfied with just a single technique."
"...?"
"I want all of the Heaven-Splitting Seven Swords from you, Elder."
Heaven-Splitting Seven Swords.
The ultimate secret art of the Sword Demon Wi Cheol-jin, a name that oozed with arrogant confidence capable of even splitting the heavens.
If a man had found the Sword Demon's grave, of course he'd covet something like that!
"Hahaha. In all my years, I've never met a madman like you. Not content with calling yourself small-minded, you want the entire Heaven-Splitting Seven Swords?"
At my words, Wi Cheol-jin burst into laughter.
But he didn't seem particularly displeased.
I immediately knelt properly and continued.
"Yes. I want to become your disciple, Elder."
Wi Cheol-jin dismissed my declaration with a snort.
"Hah. Leaving aside whether you can handle your own words, why does the conversation keep veering there? Weren't we just discussing how you presume to know me?"
"First off, didn't I find you before all those people claiming to be your successors? That alone proves I'm the most sincere toward you in the entire world."
"Hmph. Even a cow backing up can catch a rat by chance, so that's hardly proof."
But I didn't falter at all and calmly pressed on.
"Well then, shall I recount it step by step?"
"Recount what?"
"You were born with nothing in your hands, abandoned by parents who tried to tighten their belts during the first famine you remember. Afterward, you wandered the world until you met your master, the Manbak Mendicant Monk, and took up the sword. Shall I continue?"
"Hmph. Looks like you picked up some superficial version of my story somewhere. Well, finding this place probably came from those childhood tales I told Ryeon-geum once or twice. I mentioned living on the real Isle of Peach."
"If I may be so bold, wouldn't it be better to hear my full story before dismissing it as superficial? After all, to you, I'm practically a long-lost conversation partner—aren't you treating me a bit shabbily?"
"The way you talk is just like that guy's. Fine. Go on then. Let's see how your tale ends."
I thought the flow was good, and somehow, like a snake slithering over a fence, I'd been acknowledged as a conversation partner.
It's done. It's all done.
"Thus, the Sword Demon, having received the Mountain-Splitting Sword Formula—the origin of the Heaven-Splitting Seven Swords—from the Manbak Mendicant Monk, tended to his master's illness and independently transcended his limits, evolving the Mountain-Splitting Sword Formula into the Heaven-Splitting Seven Swords. A realm that even sword prodigies born into prestigious sects, who enjoyed every advantage and devoted their lives solely to martial arts under great masters, could scarcely reach."
"Hmph. Scarcely reach? Back in my day, among the orthodox faction, only three guys could challenge me with real skill—one from the Jeon-ga clan among those so-called Four Great Heavens or whatever. Among the unorthodox, just one."
Look at this. Look at this.
He grumbled as if annoyed, but I could see the corner of his mouth twitching upward ever so slightly.
This old man. Says no with his mouth, but his smile tells the truth, huh?
Well, who wouldn't smile at praise across all ages?
Especially for the Sword Demon, hearing someone recite the Sword Demon's lay after nearly a century—his mouth had to be itching.
I swallowed a laugh inwardly and continued recounting Wi Cheol-jin's past from the original story.
"After entering the martial world, you crossed swords with masters regardless of faction, ultimately facing and effectively defeating the Four Great Heavens of the orthodox martial world alone."
This much was a condensed version of Wi Cheol-jin's life from the original novel.
"The world couldn't understand your actions of clashing swords without regard for faction, and the jianghu folk branded you with the character for 'demon,' but in truth, weren't you merely punishing those who crossed the line you'd drawn?"
And this was my interpretation.
If my take was right, then aside from me being a bit more cunning and him a bit rougher, the Sword Demon and I shared quite a few personality traits.
That was why this man, who appeared only briefly in the vast original novel, stuck so vividly in my memory.
If it were me, I wouldn't accept every challenge coming my way—I'd pick and choose, beat the ones worth beating, and slyly screw over the rest.
Anyway.
That was the end of my tale.
Wi Cheol-jin, silent for a moment, finally spoke with his signature snort.
"Hmph. I don't know where you heard it, but most of it's accurate."
But this snort carried a clear note of delight, unlike the previous one.
"Those numerical bastards from the bandit lairs tried to collect tolls like they were imperial troops, so I turned them upside down. Shaolin had a grudge with my master—something you wouldn't know. Anyway, you've gathered quite a bit. But one correction."
"Hm? Was there something wrong?"
"In the story of those Four Great Heavens, I did win the bet against that Divine Machine Strategist fair and square. But with the Infinite Sword Emperor, Single Heaven Blade Emperor, and Plum Blossom Sword Emperor—the three of them—I can't call it a victory."
"They were three, and you were alone. If it ended in mutual destruction, doesn't that mean you won?"
"Because I chose to fold. Once I decide to yield, it's a fair fight—so it can't be counted as my victory."
Having encountered quite a few powerhouses across my past and present lives, I could sense in Wi Cheol-jin's voice a confidence akin to those rare few who stood head and shoulders above the rest.
I'm liking this old man more and more.
Yet, woven into that confidence was a subtle regret.
Feeling that regret made the surrounding scenery take on new meaning.
Wait, isn't this place shaped like Kunlun Mountain?
In that instant.
A thought flashed through my mind.
I think I know why Wi Cheol-jin created this formation and chose the path of a hermit.
A magic that could hold time was top-tier even in my previous world's magic system, requiring immense sacrifice from the caster. If Wi Cheol-jin had the internal energy and mental fortitude to build this formation, he could've ascended with ease.
Yet he chose to remain in this moment.
He must still have lingering regrets about the Kunlun Sword Debate.
With my thoughts reaching that point, I immediately spoke up.
"Come to think of it, this is Kunlun Mountain, isn't it?"
"You just now realizing that?"
"I've lived in Hebei my whole life. So, if you fought those guys again, could you beat them even after folding?"
"What nonsense is that, like a ghost eating fermented soybeans?"
"Come on, don't play dumb. The fact that this formation holds this place suggests you've been replaying that battle up to now, right?"
"Hmph. You're as sharp as that Ryeon-geum bastard."
...Is that a compliment or an insult?
The founding Heavenly Demon Hyeok Ryeon-geum was the man who established the cult, so I'll take it as praise.
"I'd win, sure. The Heaven-Splitting Seven Swords you want have become the Heaven-Splitting Ten Swords in the meantime. But what meaning does that hold? Those guys have long rotted into dust, while I'm trapped by a moment's regret, choosing the path of a hermit and becoming a soul adrift."
His voice carried even deeper regret than when recalling the first Kunlun Sword Debate.
If I play this right, I could easily form a master-disciple bond.
Visions of a bright future made a laugh slip out.
"What do you mean no meaning? Sure, the Infinite Sword Emperor, Single Heaven Blade Emperor, Plum Blossom Sword Emperor, and Divine Machine Strategist have rotted to dirt, but with the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families still thriving, their martial legacies live on in their successors, right?"
As I chuckled and broached the topic, Wi Cheol-jin furrowed his brow and shot back.
"Kid, what did you hear me say?! Even if those successors exist, what good does it do? I can't wield a sword outside this formation."
"Then I'll fight them in your place."
"Heh heh heh. So that's where this is going—back to wanting to be my disciple after all that circling?"
"I've always been taught that one must remain steadfast in their original intent."
"Hmph. You'll be all mouth-flapping if you drown. Fine. It was a short meeting, but enjoyable, so I'll teach you one technique. You seem to lack internal energy from neglecting your heart method—practice it morning and night daily, and you'll gain something."
It was really done.
The original protagonist, Jeong Hyeon, had bowed in thanks and accepted a similar offer.
But I'll take it one step further.
The hardest part is always the first resolve.
Once he's decided to teach a martial art, just one more push, and instead of a single technique, I could become the Sword Demon's true disciple.
To cross that final hurdle, I spoke to Wi Cheol-jin.
"Wait. Wait."
"?"
"Just a moment, Elder."
"Now what?"
Now what? Treating me like a leech.
Anyway, I had to say it.
"I said I want to formally become your disciple. You're willing to teach me one technique, which means you have at least some intention of taking me as one, right?"
"...Well, yes."
"Then, since you've already decided, why not go big? Pass on all your martial knowledge. The Heaven-Splitting Seven Swords—no, the entire Heaven-Splitting Sword Art you've now named the Ten Swords."
"Hah. Treating a master-disciple bond like haggling at a marketplace."
"Think of it as me being that eager to inherit your legacy."
"Hmph, eager my foot—like calling a pig's nose pretty?! And beyond that, kid, you're the culprit, but you must sense it too: cracks are forming in my time-holding formation since you entered. We don't have time for that. Don't you know greed brings disaster?! Take the heart method and go without showing off."
"Sure, excessive greed usually brings backlash. But that's only when it's just greed. I'm not all greed. I have a way to extend our time together."
"??"
I've got some skill in black magic, you see.
Especially possession and spirit embodiment—my specialties.
Hah.
In my original world, that line alone would've hit home, but here? They might not even understand.
Hm.
Then, in their terms...
"As you can see from how I disrupted the formation, I have some skill in what they call left-path gates or trapping arts? To put it simply, I could turn you into a guardian spirit or protective spirit via something like spirit possession and house you in my body."
"???"
"With that in mind, let me ask once more. Elder, let's form a master-disciple bond and do this one thing together."
I get stronger.
Elder sees his arts crush the successors of the Four Great Heavens and achieves enlightenment.
Perfect. Just perfect.