Chapter 428
Chapter 428
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 428
Chapter Title: Waves (2)
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Upon reaching the pinnacle realm where one's body fully obeys the will...
After confronting the Heart Sword, my mind had grown resolute.
A steadfast mind fundamentally enables clear insight, piercing through the essence of all things.
For instance, if facing a formation, one remains unshaken by tricks meant to disrupt reason and intellect, able to pinpoint its core.
If facing an opponent, one can more clearly gauge the years they've endured and the foundation they stand upon.
"...Ordering your old master around like this. We really need to properly establish the dignity of our Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect someday."
In my case, it went further—I could now summon Master into my inner world.
Originally, drawing in a soul of Master's caliber into one's inner world could lead to heart demons or qi deviation.
'That's precisely why he entered Regret in the first place.'
Yet, thanks to confronting the Heart Sword, my inner world had also solidified.
And so, meeting Master like this became possible.
Of course, I couldn't spend day and night with him endlessly.
The time I could meet Master was limited to about a quarter-hour—fifteen minutes.
'Experiments revealed that holding him longer brings chills and freezes the blood vessels.'
A quarter-hour.
It wasn't enough for a deep, drawn-out exchange, so it felt short.
But even that time nourished me like blood and flesh.
It's no empty saying that seeing once surpasses hearing a hundred times.
Watching and facing Master's Heaven-Splitting Sword strikes was truly eye-opening.
"Let's begin. Time is short."
"I'm your master, yet you're acting like I'm some inn errand boy bringing food... Master, this is how your disciple lives."
"Master."
"Fine, fine. Straighten up, kid."
"You've heard Professor Chang-ryang. Those plotting against your disciple are coming in earnest. A quarter-hour is short, and the Heavenly Martial Tournament is right around the corner."
"Stop your whining. We finally meet face-to-face, but it feels like we're just clashing swords and parting. Is this any way for master and disciple? I complain once, and I don't even break even! Tch!"
Master grumbled briefly, then swiftly drew the sword from his waist.
The moment his aura shifted.
The air between us pressed toward me endlessly, delivering suffocating pressure for a moment.
Flash—
Master's form scattered like mist as he charged at me.
Tracking his movements purely with eyesight was impossible.
But Master's steps and swings were the Heaven-Splitting martial arts I too had practiced thousands, tens of thousands of times.
'Left!'
Thus, I barely anticipated his intent and slotted Regret into a thrust posture.
Claaang!!!
But blocking Master's strike was far from the end.
The weight riding the blade first numbed my joints.
And in that instant my stance faltered slightly...
The true origin of the Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship poured forth mercilessly.
To cope with Master's overwhelming prowess, I wildly swung Regret.
Kaang! Kaang!!
Kaaang!! Claaaaang!!!
Of course, that wasn't enough, so I even had to roll disgracefully on the ground.
'Divine Victory and Boundless Sword.'
Meanwhile, images of the two absolute masters I'd faced flashed through my mind.
'Abbot Gong-deok felt like an unfathomable ancient tree.'
Myeong-yeong felt like a gentle breeze that could receive anything.
'Whereas Master is like a storm that sweeps away everything in its path.'
Yet that storm was fully controlled by Master's hand.
Death brushed past me countless times, yet not a single scratch marred my body—that was proof.
'If I were an enemy disciple, I wouldn't be standing here unscathed.'
As I finally escaped Master's range and caught my breath, lost in thought...
Master sheathed his sword at his waist and beckoned me closer with a finger.
"That's enough for today. Let's talk."
I approached at his words.
Master crossed his arms and let out a small sigh.
"Do you still not know why your body feels so heavy?"
"After sparring with you continuously, Master, I think I've realized."
"First, tell me your thoughts. Speak."
"You channel the internal energy from Heaven-Splitting Divine Art into your sword without mercy. But I'm unconsciously restricting myself, fearing I can't control my power."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Thinking back, it's been like that ever since the Blood Demon melted away in the true face of Heaven-Splitting Divine Art."
"Hmm."
"Even sparring with Jeong-hyeon or Won-cheol, or hesitating to use it when heading to Lake Dongting to meet Baek Gwang-ho."
The step forward from confronting the Heart Sword.
Simultaneously, the immense power inherited from the Blood Demon and Myeong-yeong.
These fortunes were blessings.
But I couldn't fully control the power now in my grasp.
"Uncontrolled power only breeds indiscriminate slaughter, heedless of friend or foe, no?"
The thought that a sword swung to fell enemies might harm my younger siblings or family...
That was my conclusion: hesitation crept into every strike without my realizing.
Master nodded at my words.
"Exactly. Heaven-Splitting martial arts grow so extreme that all things become mere insects. Even a light motion from me can make them burst."
"Yes. So I'm unconsciously restraining myself... But you swing without mercy, Master, and I'm unscathed? How can this disciple become like you?"
To my question, Master replied immediately.
"That's for you to figure out."
"...Pardon?"
His deflating answer left me dazed, so Master spoke again.
"I've never had your worries. No following juniors, no one to protect. Just those to kill, those charging in, those fleeing."
"......"
"That Hyeok Ryeon-geum who founded the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was a bit different, but not a deep bond. I just kept cutting and cutting until it came naturally."
To Master's words...
I offered a brief sentiment.
"...Impressive."
Then Master flicked my forehead.
Thwack!
"Ow!"
"Anyway, solve this yourself. Your Heaven-Splitting Sword has already taken a slightly different form from mine, and it's not like a recipe with fixed measures."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Facing the homework gained from time with Master...
It wouldn't resolve overnight.
So I stood guard while Won-cheol and Jeong-hyeon meditated.
Then turned toward the Student Council room.
"...Group battles, huh. Just training mind and body won't cut it anymore?"
"Primeval Heavenly Lord. No need to doubt the synergy between Young Master Eon and us, but we need preparations fitting the Heavenly Martial Tournament's format."
Glancing back, feeling one side empty...
Jeong-hyeon followed right behind, but Won-cheol lagged far, hesitating.
"What are you doing?"
Asking why...
Won-cheol scratched his bristly head and spoke.
"Ah. Heading to discuss Heavenly Martial Tournament prep?"
"Yes? You came as an exchange student to broaden your horizons, didn't you? You should join too, monk."
"True, but once it starts, we'll compete. Is it okay for me to hear Righteous Martial Academy's strategies?"
"Planning to represent Shaolin?"
"...Yes? It's my sect, after all?"
"You're a Righteous Martial Academy cadet now too. Shed that mindset first. Last semester's class linked with the Magic Brigade covered Righteous-Demonic War phases. When the alliance crumbled, did sects maintain their forces separately?"
"...No, we learned they didn't."
"Don't forget—moments may come where you overcome hardships with others."
"Yes."
"Not forcing you, though. Even if you represent Shaolin, join us. I'm aiming to dominate, but the tournament pushes unity among factions upholding the orthodox martial world—not just immediate wins or losses."
"...Amitabha. How narrow my lesser vehicle's vision. I learn so much thanks to the Dragon."
"Save the lip service. Let's go."
Arriving at the Student Council room...
My Eon siblings wrestled with stacks of documents; Je-gal Seol-ji spotted us entering and spoke.
"You're here. Told Professor Chang-ryang you're training when he asked. Saw the official notice?"
"Saw it. But what's everyone doing?"
"Group battles, right? Reviewing past exchange match group tasks and battle types."
"Hmm. Not a bad approach..."
"You look like you have more to say."
"Lately, rediscovering 'seeing once beats hearing a hundred times.' Everyone, set down papers, grab Hyun-cheol shackles and weights. To the training ground."
"...Pardon? Shackles and weights? Suddenly why?"
At my words, Je-gal Seol-ji and the Eon siblings looked puzzled.
But to my curt command...
"Assemble."
"A-assemble!"
They echoed reflexively and dashed to the training ground.
Leading them, I climbed Ssangno Peak, infamous among Wudang Mountain's summits for its peril.
"Gah! Why's climbing this damn mountain always so tough?!"
"Because every time our skills grow, big brother Eon adds weights to our bags and thickens the shackles!"
"Dang Ok-gi. Woo So-reung. Got breath to yap? If you summit after me, I'll share my bag's weights one by one."
"KyaAAaah!!"
Then northbound along the Wudang Range's foothills.
Reaching Lake Dan-gang's shore...
I ordered them into the water.
"Swim to that island visible there. But every two jang, dive, touch the lake bottom, surface."
Cheon Jang-ho flopped belly-up and grumbled.
"Ow! Swim with Hyun-cheol shackles?! Trying to drown us?!"
"Quit whining. You can swim fine. Not like ocean riptides or Yangtze Three Gorges. If someone truly exhausts midway and sinks, I'll save them."
"Uwaaaah! Save meee!"
Then Yin Ha-yeon spoke.
"Seems tournament-related... Following blindly makes it harder. If not secret, tell us why."
"What's the ultimate goal of the Heavenly Martial Tournament?"
"To shake up complacent factions and unaffiliated elders..."
"Ultimate."
"...To prepare since war with Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is inevitable? Hence group battles."
"Right. To break that link, we must strike the Ten Thousand Great Mountains eventually. Qinghai Province and Great Mountain area have countless lakes and ranges."
"...Lakes and mountains."
"Righteous Martial Academy's nearby has similar terrain, different climate. Don't know the tasks, but locations are set, right?"
"......"
"Gotta dive in?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thus, steadily preparing with my Eon siblings for the tournament—over a month passed.
As the event neared, crowds flooded Righteous Martial Academy.
Spectators, peddlers, participants—Dan-gang buzzed with arrivals.
"Shanxi Golden Peng!"
"The Jinshang elder who slapped away even Death's summons!"
"Dragon's maternal grandfather!"
My maternal grandfather, as sponsor, descended the carriage supported by Uncle Yun-yeong.
"We greet Elder Shanxi Golden Peng."
"Yi Gil-hwan."
He lightly acknowledged greetings from Kyung-hye and staff, approached us, and shot a glare.
"You, Yong-un, and that Yong-myeong too. Never visit once? Just scraps of letters. Tch."
I apologized sincerely.
"Leading the Jinshang keeps you attuned to world affairs, so you know we've been busy. Though using busyness as excuse to Grandfather is filial impiety itself..."
Uncle Yun-yeong, listening, smiled broadly and patted mine and Yong-myeong's shoulders.
"Don't mind. Your grandfather prefers 'Dragon's maternal grandfather' over Shanxi Golden Peng lately. Brings you up everywhere."
At Uncle's words, Grandfather cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem. Yun-yeong, pointless chatter."
The mood warmed pleasantly for a moment.
Then more bigwigs arrived? Spectators shouted...
"Voracious Horse Vanguard?! Kunlun Sect! Kunlun swordsmen!"
"Those cloud-emblazoned sword guards behind—are they Zhongnan's Cloud-Soaring Sword Guards?!"
"Yes! Zhongnan! Zhongnan's Cloud-Soaring Sword Guards!"
Soon, they crossed Righteous Martial Academy's threshold.
Kunlun and Zhongnan swordsmen glared at me uniformly, radiating hostility.
Facing those eyes, I voiced my impression.
"Sharp eyes."
Yin Ha-seong wryly smiled back.
"Sharp? They look ready to grind us to dust."
To that, I grinned and replied.
"That's what makes stepping on them satisfying."