Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: The Time of Tempering (3)
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After forming a contract with his disciple Eon Yong-un, the Sword Demon's senses had sharpened beyond those of his living days.
For example, it went beyond simply gauging an opponent's level of attainment; if they were a warrior who had taken a few lives, he could even sense the stench of blood clinging to their soul.
This heightened sensitivity applied to the Sword Demon himself as well.
...Hm. It won't be long before the day comes when I can manifest as Eon Yong-un described, according to my own will.
Eon Yong-un had told the Sword Demon that once his soul properly settled within the sword Regret, he would be able to manifest it at will.
The principle was nothing special.
Apparently, after experiencing the joys and sorrows of human affairs for over a hundred years in isolation, the soul would naturally take root.
No, perhaps it is something special after all?
The Sword Demon had been cut off from human affairs for over a century.
In truth, even back in the days when he roamed the world alive a hundred years ago, he hadn't particularly felt joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure.
Of course, anger—that he had felt.
But he had no particular ties to the other emotions.
Then, after awakening within Regret, thanks to his disciple Eon Yong-un, he had begun experiencing all sorts of things.
Who would have thought that the moment Eon Yong-un achieves his breakthrough would bring me more joy than my own achievements?
The feeling when he himself had broken through new barriers had been a thirst, like that of someone facing a wall. But witnessing Eon Yong-un's breakthrough brought clear joy.
And that was not all.
Whenever someone slighted Eon Yong-un, his usual anger flared even hotter.
And when he performed a rite for the souls wandering the Nine Heavens in rags, it filled me with pride.
That pride strangely reminded him of his master, the Manbak Mendicant Monk, and his own childhood, stirring a twinge of sadness.
Come to think of it, that might be sorrow.
Joy was hard to single out amid so much else.
As a result, he could clearly feel that the time when his soul would fully take root, as Eon Yong-un had mentioned, was drawing near.
...But of all places, this fool has to reach enlightenment right here.
From the Sword Demon's experience, enlightenment came in two main forms.
One was complete immersion in a trance, so deep that one wouldn't notice someone calling or speaking to them.
The other also occurred in deep focus, but usually manifested in life-or-death crises, born from the will to escape.
The latter has come.
Amid the wingbeats of the Layered Wing Formation, designed based on deadly techniques, Eon Yong-un's dazed expression and darting eyes searching for a path suggested the second form of enlightenment.
...Hm. I want to give him a little push.
There was a technique from the Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship that could only be learned in exactly this situation.
Given the minimal requirement of wielding sword energy freely to manifest sword aura—a pinnacle master's level—and Eon Yong-un's realm and intellect, he could surely digest it.
However, there were two problems.
One was that explaining it verbally might not only fail to convey it but could disrupt the moment of enlightenment.
The other was that forcing manifestation now might collapse the tower of joys and sorrows he had built up through emotional detachment(?).
What a dilemma.
It wasn't personal desire on the Sword Demon's part.
In truth, whether inside the sword or out made little difference to him.
The only variances were a bit more freedom to admire scenery or savor delicious food more comfortably.
Thus, this was purely the master's worry over how best to help his disciple.
Should I show him one move even if it means the tower of emotions regresses to its foundation, or prioritize manifesting myself?
The deliberation was deep, but the decision came quickly.
Great enlightenment is like a sneeze.
Miss the moment it bursts forth, and there's no guarantee it will return even with similar circumstances and training.
Better to push him now.
Thus, a resolution formed in the Sword Demon's heart.
But one thing remained to confirm.
Eon Yong-un's focus and concentration are extraordinary; sometimes he tunes out my voice entirely.
In such a state, the Sword Demon wouldn't need to force manifestation.
To check, he spoke.
- Yong-un.
Master, I'm seeing something right now. If it's not urgent, could you hold off a bit?
What an insolent brat.
At that moment.
The Sword Demon recalled his master's old words: Try taking a disciple like you sometime.
Master, your words have come to fruition.
- I was just about to tell you about the scenery you're seeing. You see a path, but about a hundred of them, right?
Eh? Yes.
- You're hesitating because you know that, but most lead to dead ends for the trapped horse. I will show you the one and only path through the heavens to escape this trap.
The conversation ended there.
The Sword Demon began concentrating his mind to manifest.
In that eternally stretched instant, dozens or hundreds of paths seemed like they could break me free from the Layered Wing Formation.
However, since it wasn't some amateur combined formation, most of those apparent paths were traps.
I knew that better than anyone, having been one of those practicing the Layered Wing Formation until moments ago.
So, as I pondered which path to choose to earn a reputation for a good pick.
Hummm—
Master, lost in a trance, suddenly offered to show me the way.
And Regret began to hum as never before.
Hummmm—
In that instant.
I instantly understood what thought had led Master to that decision.
Good grief.
Always grumbling, yet somehow skilled at throwing people off balance.
Anyway.
As I thought that.
The sword strikes of my fellow students forming the Layered Wing Formation closed in again.
Clang! Clang!
Clang clang clang! Kang!!!
I busily deflected the flashing White Lotus Swords at close range.
Creating a brief respite.
- ......
Master had already regained his full Sword Demon form, giving an awkward half-joking expression.
- Come to think of it, humans are supposed to have limbs attached, right? Tricked by your bluff into getting trapped in Regret, this body feels awkward now.
An eye for an eye.
A joke for a joke.
Is that your impression of returning from demonic sword to Sword Demon? Such a precious sentiment—should record it for posterity. Please clarify your stance, Master.
- ...That mouth of yours never shuts up. Anyway, you're far superior to me in defensive formations like this, so you know better, but I can't maintain this form long.
Thus, the master-disciple banter ended.
- It'll be just once. Watch closely...
I'll learn well.
- Good.
I didn't say it was unnecessary or offer thanks.
What Master wanted wasn't superficial words, but that I properly inherit his teachings.
Right now, focus only on etching Master's form into my eyes.
Gratitude can wait.
As I steeled my resolve.
Master, now in his complete Sword Demon form, drew out strands of sword energy, wrapping them around the blade in sword aura form.
At Master's level, he could manifest sword rays or beyond, but he was matching my level precisely.
Anyway.
Once the sword aura fully enveloped the entranced blade, Master stepped forward deliberately, beginning to unfold his sword dance like a sword dance.
I devoted all my nerves and spirit to following his movements.
And at some point, I began overlaying my form onto Master's as if entranced, kicking off the ground first.
Overlay myself onto Master's demonstrated form.
Clang! Clang clang!
Kaaang!!!!
Overlay.
Clang clang clang! Clang clang clang clang!
Kang! Kaaang! Kang!!!
How long had it been since I imperfectly followed Master's steps?
Kang!
Kaaaaang!!!
Suddenly, the oppressive pressure of the Layered Wing Formation vanished entirely.
"Hey hey hey, back off for now!"
"What if we both back off?"
"Then what if the swords break?! Didn't you see my sword fly off?!"
The cadets with broken White Lotus Swords began retreating, opening the path wide.
That was the end.
I dashed down the wide-open path and slowly pressed the flat of Regret against Yin Xia Lian's nape.
The chill from the blade snapped her back to reality, and words of surrender escaped her lips.
"...Hah, I surrender. I surrender. You win."
I sheathed Regret at my waist.
Then.
Master transmitted a message.
- That was the Heaven-Splitting Crane Dance. Not bad for seeing it once.
Heaven-Splitting Crane Dance. Is this the fifth form of the Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship?
- No. The eighth.
Why skip five, six, and seven for the eighth?
- Because I didn't learn it from my master. I formalized it while in the tomb, recalling when those hundred-eight Shaolin monks came causing trouble.
Aha.
- So in sequence, it's the latter three forms, making it eighth. Anyway, the Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship follows your temperament's odd order.
......? Back to your true form, and already itching to devour your good disciple.
- True form...? Good...?
?
Nothing more to say.
Pretending not to hear Master's last words, I scanned the surroundings.
Though I had followed Master's form, I held back in my strikes, so no one was physically injured.
Mentally wounded? A few.
Prominently, two: First, the kid Wo So-ryeong, who acted like he'd seen a ghost upon eye contact.
"Eek!"
Wo So-ryeong was soothed by nearby Gyeong-ryong hyung.
"Wo junior. Deep breaths. It happens. It happens to me too sometimes when I meet Yong-un dongsaeng's eyes. Big deep breaths. You'll be fine."
Different in degree, but Ha Seong was similar.
"...Maybe I'm just weak after all?"
Jeong-hyeon patted his shoulder.
"It's not that you were weak, Eun gongja. For a moment, I thought the God of War had descended onto the Qingzhu Pavilion training grounds."
Then.
Myeong Tae-seong, watching from the platform, clapped as he descended.
"Everyone did well."
At that, Yin Xia Lian furrowed her brows in disbelief.
"We got utterly crushed by one guy, and 'well done'? Scold us if you want—just don't sugarcoat it."
But Myeong Tae-seong shook his head firmly.
"I heard what Jeong-hyeon cadet said on the way here, and it fits perfectly. It's not that you failed; it's that Eon Yong-un cadet excelled."
"But it was just one person. We could have five at a time, but we had layers of people?"
It was a reasonable argument.
But from Yin Xia Lian's tone and expression, she seemed the most shocked here—not Wo So-ryeong or Yin Ha-seong, but her.
I wondered what to say, but stayed silent to avoid backlash.
Meanwhile, Myeong Tae-seong spoke again.
"Of course, with more experience and slightly higher realms, you wouldn't have crumbled like that. But your Layered Wing Formation just hatched from the egg. Do fledglings fly right away?"
"......"
"It had to break, and it must break. Those experiences will save you in true danger."
Seemingly comforted, Yin Xia Lian's expression softened.
Having soothed her, Myeong Tae-seong turned to me.
"You were flawless. Nothing much to say."
Hm.
A bit awkward.
"You're too kind."
And rightly so.
A moment of enlightenment had come.
But without Master's timely push, the surrender might have come from my mouth instead.
"Since the other cadets all see you as a cut above, I'll say it freely: you stood head and shoulders above the rest."
To hear such words, I needed to give the deferred thanks.
"It was only thanks to good guidance."
I spoke to Myeong Tae-seong while mentally honoring Master with a fist salute.
Master snorted.
Myeong Tae-seong chuckled heartily.
It was summer.