The Nine Bows Ceremony
A palm-sized piece of metal rested on the shelf.
Jeong Gwang approached it and made a light gesture with his hand.
The dust accumulated on its surface vanished in an instant, revealing an intricately engraved pattern.
It was an extremely bizarre pattern, and right in the center, Sanskrit characters were carved.
'Yeokcheon-gyeong... A type of zhaoyao-jing?'
At that moment, as if affirming his thought, the Yeokcheon-gyeong whispered.
Through a vibration that only Jeong Gwang could sense.
-Wooooong.
A faint line drew across Jeong Gwang's lips.
'Impatient little bastard. Let's see what you've got.'
The moment he reached out and grasped it, a strange energy surged into him.
It was so eerie and demonic that it sent shivers down his spine.
'Oho. Got some real power, huh.'
Jeong Gwang accepted the energy head-on and flipped his hand over.
The Yeokcheon-gyeong flipped with it, revealing its smooth front surface...
And there was the face of an astonishingly handsome young man.
'Definitely a zhaoyao-jing.'
It wasn't the face he currently wore, altered by the Thousand Transformations Disguise Bone Shrink Demonic Art.
Nor was it his original face from this life, the one that had earned him the nickname Jade Dragon.
'Feels kinda awkward seeing it after so long.'
It was the face from his previous life.
The man once called the True Heavenly Demon.
'Whatever, that's beside the point.'
After staring into the Yeokcheon-gyeong for a while, Jeong Gwang furrowed his brow.
The demonic energy pouring from it was swirling through his body, trying to devour even his brain.
'You little shit!'
He'd been too lenient, and now it knew no bounds!
Jeong Gwang didn't panic.
This thing had a soul. He could just unleash the Demonic Spirit Soul Control Art and subdue it.
But he changed his mind immediately.
Beating it senseless came first, before any soul domination.
'You dare look down on me?'
As he focused his mind, his intent surged forth.
It coalesced into the form of a club, hardening tougher than diamond.
Just before the mirror's demonic qi could swallow his brain!
'Eat this!'
Jeong Gwang swung the intent-formed club at it.
One solid hit after another!
Bam! Bam! Boom!
-Kiiiiieeeek!
The thing let out a wretched scream, but Jeong Gwang just snorted.
'Oh? Still got the breath to scream? Not beaten enough yet, huh?'
Time to make it hurt more, then.
Jeong Gwang kept swinging.
Beat, beat, beat again.
Then the damn thing tried to flee outside his body!
Its movements were so swift it was almost admirable!
But Jeong Gwang wasn't about to let it go.
Conveniently, he had just the thing for this.
The ta-gu-bong-beop of Beggar Venerable Geol Jon, one of the Ten Supremes!
Jeong Gwang unleashed the Beggars' Sect's supreme technique, pummeling the mirror's demonic qi.
Just like clubbing a dog—thoroughly and viciously!
Crack! Craaack! Clang!
-Kyaaaack!
The thing screamed ear-piercingly as it scurried away, but the ta-gu-bong-beop was made for catching such pests.
In the end, after fleeing desperately, it collapsed to its knees in a half-dead state.
Submitting to Jeong Gwang.
'Gonna try that shit again?'
-......
'No answer? More beatings it is.'
-Wooooong! Woooooong!
The Yeokcheon-gyeong frantically signaled no, but Jeong Gwang couldn't understand it.
'Oh? Wanna go again? Fine!'
-......!
Gyeondu-bonggal, Balgu-jocheon, Cheonha-mugu—the pinnacle moves of the thirty-six forms of the ta-gu-bong-beop exploded in a flurry.
-Kyaaaaang!
Thirty-six forms weren't the end; he unleashed them three times in succession—a total of 108 strikes!
'Nice! Been a while since I savored the... nah, the mental taste of this!'
Jeong Gwang, thrilled, entered a state of bong-a-ilche—unity with the staff—rather than object-and-self unity.
But sadly, the fun didn't last long.
The mirror's demonic qi was writhing on the ground, defeated.
Jeong Gwang swallowed his regret and asked.
'Gonna pull that again?'
-Kiiing.
'Driving me nuts. I'll kill you for real.'
The Yeokcheon-gyeong was on the verge of madness itself.
It kept saying no, but this guy wouldn't listen and just kept blabbering!
At this rate, death might be preferable to more beatings.
As the Yeokcheon-gyeong resolved to let go of its attachment to life and die...
'Ah. You're low on demonic qi, so you can't speak properly?'
The Yeokcheon-gyeong's mind flashed awake.
This madman with righteous and demonic energies was finally thinking!
-Kiiing! Kiiing!
'My ears hurt, you punk.'
-......
'Alright, let's do this. Yes is "ng", no is "ng-ng". Got it?'
-......Ng.
'Sounds off. Let's go with "ung", "wooong" instead.'
-......Ung.
'Should've done that from the start. Wasted energy for nothing.'
-......
'Stay quiet like you're dead until I call you.'
-......Ung.
Jeong Gwang smiled in satisfaction.
Watching him, Pang Man-so asked with a stiff expression.
"What were you pondering so deeply?"
"Just said hello."
"...Do you know what that bronze mirror is?"
"It's engraved with 'Yeokcheon-gyeong'."
"...You even know Sanskrit. Impressive scholarship."
Pang Man-so shook his head and muttered.
"It's been passed down for ages. No one knows which ancestor found it where."
At a glance, it was just a bronze mirror with unique patterns.
But the Pang Clan had experts, so they'd long sensed the peculiar energy emanating from the Yeokcheon-gyeong.
"As the Jianghu knows, our clan is weak in literary pursuits. And almost no one in the world knows Sanskrit."
So the Pang Clan had invited renowned scholars with money and connections to identify the Yeokcheon-gyeong.
"But that was it. The name suggests it might be the legendary zhaoyao-jing..."
Over the years, countless Pang Clan experts had taken interest in the Yeokcheon-gyeong.
But no matter how they touched or peered into it, it never reacted.
"In the end, everyone lost interest."
Jeong Gwang looked at Pang Man-so with pity.
The Pang Clan had wasted their efforts all this time.
'They don't even know what a zhaoyao-jing really is. Clinging to pointless legends.'
This wasn't something for practitioners of orthodox martial arts.
It required two other conditions, but no need to share them.
Either way, in his past life and now, only Jeong Gwang could wield it.
"Can I take this?"
"...It's useless to the clan anyway. Go ahead."
Jeong Gwang tucked the Yeokcheon-gyeong into his bosom.
Feeling even greater fondness for Pang Man-so.
He'd clearly noticed Jeong Gwang knew something, yet handed it over without hesitation.
'Like it? Yeah, I do.'
Jeong Gwang glanced around and muttered.
"Some decent stuff here."
"..."
"If I grab a few more, I can teach even harder."
Pang Man-so let out a quiet sigh.
He wanted to smack him, but this was his precious granddaughter's future master.
Besides, his insight—honed through countless betrayals—told him otherwise.
Jeong Gwang was no betrayer... at least, not lightly.
He would become the world's greatest, and under his guidance, Pang Su-bin might become the world's second-strongest sword.
"...Do as you wish. Just take good care of her."
"Of course. Leave it to me."
Master:Jeong Gwang
Disciple:Pang Su-bin
"Disciple Pang Su-bin vows to cultivate martial arts under Master's teachings, act righteously in the Jianghu..."
Jeong Gwang and Pang Man-so returned to the training ground from earlier.
But Pang Su-bin was still practicing her swordsmanship.
Judging by the amazed expressions of Paeng Gang-hwi, Baek Seung-mu, and Jao, she'd been at it since before.
Jeong Gwang nodded inwardly.
'Pretty diligent.'
Pang Su-bin was too young, lacking both strength and inner power.
Yet she gritted her teeth, executing the Su-bin Pae-geum that Jeong Gwang had taught her.
A kid worth raising.
A calm voice slipped from Jeong Gwang's mouth.
"Stop."
"...!"
The voice was soft and low, but it pierced the ears of Pang Su-bin, lost in her training.
She sheathed her sword and bowed at once.
"Young master. You've returned."
Jeong Gwang cut straight to it.
"Want to be my disciple?"
"...!"
"If not, just say no..."
"Yes! I do!"
Her voice was so loud and high that everyone jumped.
Everyone except Jeong Gwang and Pang Man-so.
Pang Man-so chuckled and said to Jeong Gwang.
"See? What did I tell you?"
"You did. Excuse me a moment."
Jeong Gwang excused himself from the others and entered a room with Pang Su-bin.
"Sit."
"Yes!"
They sat facing each other.
Jeong Gwang stared into her eyes for a moment before slowly speaking.
"First, about me. I'm a Kunlun Sect disciple with the Dao title Jeong Gwang. In the Jianghu, they call me the Jade Dragon."
"Ah!"
Pang Su-bin couldn't hold back her gasp of shock.
Kunlun's Jade Dragon!
The supreme young genius shaking the martial world!
There was talk of his temperament and heavy hand, but she had no time to nitpick now.
'Me, disciple to the Jade Dragon? The one who made second brother shatter his walls, the one Father praised to the skies?'
Her heart swelled, but Jeong Gwang's voice remained even.
"Even if you become my disciple, your name won't go on Kunlun's roster. You'd be my anonymous personal disciple. Not a massive sect backing you—just me alone."
"I don't care! No, that's exactly what I want!"
Jeong Gwang nodded approvingly.
"Smart kid. Quick on the uptake."
"..."
Pang Su-bin gaped in disbelief.
'They said he's mad... and he really is.'
But she recovered quickly.
"One last thing. As my disciple, you'll lose three things and gain three. Listen carefully and decide."
"Of course it's f..."
"Decide after hearing. Perfect setup for a scam."
"...Sorry."
"First, what you'll lose."
Jeong Gwang ticked off his fingers one by one.
"One: time. You'll spend most of your day on martial training."
"That's what I want!"
"Feisty. Two: fun. Endless training will make life bland."
"Fine by me! Training is my greatest joy!"
"Tch. How does the Pang Clan even raise kids? Whatever, works for me."
He raised his last finger.
"Three: you'll have to hustle for money but stay broke forever. Cool?"
"...That one's hard to get..."
"You'll see. Can you handle it?"
Pang Su-bin's eyes shone with firm resolve.
The third gave her slight pause, but this was her chance to be the Jade Dragon's disciple. What was there to fear?
"Yes!"
"Straight shooter. Now, what you'll gain."
These were brief.
"The best master. The best martial arts. If you train hard, you might become the world's second strongest... nah, impossible. The second strongest, maybe."
"...With Young Master as the strongest?"
"Obviously."
"..."
"So? In?"
Pang Su-bin realized the rumors understated it.
He dodged even the Ten Supremes' teachings—truly living up to the hype!
No, Jeong Gwang was insanely mad beyond the rumors.
Still, she had near-certain faith.
That mystical sensation when executing Su-bin Pae-geum!
Like a chick hatching, beholding the vast world in awe.
As his disciple, she'd feel that endlessly.
She rose and performed the nine bows ceremony.
Kneeling, she poured her heart into her words.
"Disciple Pang Su-bin vows to cultivate martial arts under Master..."
"No need for the righteousness bit. Do whatever you want."
"...!"
Jeong Gwang's absurd words scattered her rehearsed lines.
He grinned at her.
"Disciple. Welcome."
"...Me too, Master."
"Don't mess up my retirement... er, you misheard. Get along from now on, yeah?"
"...Likewise, Master."
"Let's start right away."
"...Pardon? Start what...?"
Jeong Gwang flung open the door and shouted.
"Jao!"
"Yes! Young master!"
"Spar with my disciple?"
"Ah! You've taken Miss Pang as your disciple! Congratulations! May the Primeval Celestial Venerable bless..."
"Cut it. Grab your hidden weapons."
Everyone outside blinked at Jeong Gwang's bizarre request.
Jeong Gwang calmly led Pang Su-bin out.
"Disciple. Draw your sword."
"Y-Yes! Understood, Master!"
As she gripped her sword, Jeong Gwang's gaze shifted to Jao.
"My disciple grew up too upright."
"...Pardon?"
Jao's eyes widened slightly.
Sudden disciple bragging?
But that wasn't Jeong Gwang's intent.
One corner of his mouth lifted wickedly.
"Teach her how dirty and vile the world is."