Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 51: Finally Realizing the First Form (1)

After spending a day at the Seong Estate indulging in reclining cultivation, I headed toward the Ilguk Sect.

According to the news that arrived this morning, the Demon Subjugation Groups from various sects had gathered at the Ilguk Sect to confront the Blood Lama. The fighting had been fierce, and many had perished. Fortunately, the Tang Clan, the Qingcheng Sect, and the Emei Sect had joined the fray, preventing a total massacre.

I also heard the absurd explanation that the absence of other Demon Subjugation Groups at the Seong Estate was due to an administrative blunder by the Murim Alliance. When rumors spread that a secret manual was hidden at the Ilguk Sect, all the Blood Lamas swarmed the area, prompting the Murim Alliance to concentrate all their Demon Subjugation Groups there as well.

The Blood Lamas who attacked the Seong Estate were originally supposed to head for the Ilguk Sect. However, after their comrades were wiped out at the estate, some of them, driven by a desire for revenge, brought Blood Luo Living Jiangshi to attack the Seong Estate instead.

Unaware of these circumstances, I had stopped by the Seong Estate thinking it would be free of Blood Lamas, only to be caught in a stroke of terrible luck.

"I'm worried because there's been no word from the Sword Palace Squad," Do Yeon finally said, breaking her silence regarding her group.

"No news is good news. It's best to assume they're safe," I replied.

The warrior who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had arrived this morning with news of the battle at the Ilguk Sect hadn't mentioned the Sword Palace Squad at all. I had nothing else to offer her. I could only hope they were unharmed.

As we left the Seong Estate and made our way toward the Ilguk Sect, the sunlight became so intense that we ducked into a forest to rest for a while. Summer was still far off, yet the sun felt strangely stinging. In the fields and paddies, many farmers were busy moving to and fro.

If I had even a small patch of land to farm, would I still be holding a sword like this?

As these thoughts drifted through my mind, my gaze fell upon Hwang Chu, who had been following us all this time. It occurred to me that Hwang Chu, who had nothing to do with the Murim, might get caught up in this and meet a grim end. I was about to speak to him when Po Zhongyin, as if reading my mind, approached him first.

"Brother Hwang, wouldn't it be best for you to go your own way now? If you keep following us, there's no telling when you might lose your life."

Po Zhongyin said exactly what I wanted to say. However, an unexpected response came from Hwang Chu's mouth.

"I can be considered a member of the Murim as well. My sect, the Profound Heaven Sect, existed long before the current Murim even took shape. Even after the Murim was established, our sect cooperated with its warriors. Long ago, when thaumaturgists using foul sorcery like the Worship Cult ran rampant, our sect joined forces with the Murim to drive them out."

For a man who wasn't a warrior, Hwang Chu certainly had plenty of grit. Seeing how he hadn't fled even during the life-and-death crisis at the Seong Estate, it was clear he wasn't a coward. In fact, he might have been braver than me, as I was the one always looking for a chance to run away.

That was one thing, but I still couldn't figure out why Hwang Chu was following us.

Was it because he liked me? Because he liked our group? Or was he enchanted by Do Yeon's beauty?

None of those reasons seemed to fit, which made his persistence suspicious. If he were interested in Do Yeon, he would at least glance at her occasionally, but he seemed completely indifferent to her presence.

To confirm his intentions, I called out to Hwang Chu while he was watering the horses at a small stream in the forest.

"Brother Hwang, what is the real reason you are following our Demon Subjugation Group?"

When I asked him point-blank, Hwang Chu flinched.

"I'm not following the Demon Subjugation Group; I'm following Young Hero Eo."

I watched his eyes closely for any reaction. "What do you mean by that?"

"When I spoke about the Ghost Sword or thaumaturgy, you were the only warrior I've met who didn't look surprised and actually believed me. Perhaps that's why I felt I could rely on you."

He expected me to believe that? It would have been more understandable if he'd said he was following us because Do Yeon was pretty.

Well, whatever his reasons were.

Truth be told, it wasn't that I didn't find him suspicious. I had allowed him to accompany us this far because I had a hidden motive of my own. After hearing him talk about the Ghost Sword and the bell used to control it, a certain greed had taken hold of me, preventing me from turning him away.

There was no telling how much more dangerous this "tour" with the Demon Subjugation Group would become. If so, the more layers of protection I had, the better.

"The reason I called you here is because I have a favor to ask."

Hwang Chu looked at me blankly.

"I possess a certain sword technique, but it is incomplete, and I cannot properly execute its forms. However, I believe that with your Ghost Sword and the bell that controls it, I might be able to perform the techniques. To face the many Blood Lamas and Blood Luo Living Jiangshi at the Ilguk Sect, I think I'll need your items. It's shameless of me to ask, but may I borrow them?"

It was better to be straightforward with such requests. That way, the other person wouldn't suspect a hidden agenda.

Hwang Chu spoke with a troubled expression. "These items are not ordinary."

"I am aware. That is why I am asking. I only wish to borrow them for a few days. My goal is to reduce the sacrifices of not only our group but other warriors as well."

Hwang Chu thought for a long time before finally nodding.

"If I cannot trust Young Hero Eo, who is known as the Great Small Hero in Sichuan, then who can I trust? Besides, I trust my own eyes."

Exactly. This was the persuasive power of the reputation I had spent blood, sweat, and tears to build.

As you know, my sword art was an advanced martial art that couldn't be properly executed without two jiazi of internal energy. Thanks to the strange internal energy in my upper dantian, I could somehow mimic the first form if I poured in everything I had, but it would be foolish to recklessly reveal a sword art as dangerous as a Thunderbolt Bomb.

However, the forms were so powerful that I couldn't easily discard them. Moreover, since the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠original form of the sword art had been significantly altered, I wondered if anyone would even recognize it.

Had I not seen Hwang Chu's Ghost Sword and bell, I might not have felt this way, but after seeing them, I felt a desperate urge to try executing the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash with that Ghost Sword. Seeking proper martial arts was the lifelong pursuit of any martial artist.

Hwang Chu pulled a small rod with three green-glowing bells attached from his robe.

"This bell is called the Soul-Soothing Three Spirit Bell. It is a treasure of our Profound Heaven Sect."

Hwang Chu started to say something more but stopped himself. I didn't need to hear it to know what it was. He was likely about to give further explanation but hesitated, wary that I might be overcome by greed.

But honestly, I had no interest in the Ghost Sword or the bell themselves. To be frank, even the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet was too dangerous for me to keep, and I had no desire to go around draped in such hazardous items. That would only make me a target for assassins.

A third-rate weakling should never go near beauties, secret manuals, or rare artifacts. Such things are always surrounded by masters. If I ever ended up with one... the best thing to do would be to sell it for cash immediately.

"Can these bells be detached individually?"

At my question, Hwang Chu pulled one bell off the small rod.

"I think you're expecting something like Manipulating Sword with Qi, but this doesn't have that kind of destructive power. It merely allows the sword to float in the air and adjust its direction."

"I am aware. If this truly allowed for real Manipulating Sword with Qi, it would be the greatest treasure in the Murim. But will one bell be enough?" I asked, since he had only pulled off one of the three.

"Yes, if it's just for controlling the Ghost Sword, one bell is sufficient," Hwang Chu continued. "Normally, the Ghost Sword only obeys commands when used with our sect's incantations and spells, but I will release the spell so that you can use it."

"So I just have to shake it?"

"Yes. And I'll cast a spell to keep the bell silent. It would be strange if people heard a bell ringing while you're controlling the Ghost Sword."

"What if I run away with this?" I asked jokingly.

Hwang Chu laughed. "Hahaha, since you put it that way, I'll be honest. I'm going to cast a spell so that the Ghost Sword and the bell only remain active for three days. After three days, the spell will break, and both the sword and the bell will become useless."

He was a meticulous fellow, after all.

Hwang Chu stepped aside for a moment, shaking the bell and muttering words that sounded bizarre beyond belief. Then, the Ghost Sword rose from the ground on its own, floating in the air and circling around him.

Hwang Chu caught the Ghost Sword mid-air and held it out to me. "The spell is cast."

I took the sword and the bell. After wondering what to do with the bell, I tied it to my bracelet. Even when I shook my hand, the bell made no sound. Seeing that, it was clear the spell had indeed been cast.

I thought he was just a fake medicine seller, but it seems he has deep knowledge of the Left Path Fang Gate.

I gripped the Ghost Sword and walked quietly into the forest. I placed the sword on the ground and gave my wrist a slight flick; the Ghost Sword rose into the air. When it reached chest height, I reached out and grabbed it. To an onlooker, it would have looked as if I had caught the sword using Empty Space Grabbing.

Even though it was a sword possessed by a ghost, I felt a slight thrill, as if I had become an absolute master.

"I was uneasy because it's a ghost-possessed sword, but it certainly makes me feel quite proud."

I gripped the Ghost Sword and took the opening stance for the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash.

I realized later that the Nine-Section Soul-Severing Sword was originally meant to be executed in a single breath. However, it was impossible for a third-rate martial artist to perform dozens of movements in one breath.

When I used to train in the mountains, I could only manage seven movements in one breath at most. Back then, I needed three breaths to complete the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash.

I only learned later just how crucial breathing is to a martial form.

The last time I had used internal energy to execute the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash, it had happened so suddenly that I couldn't remember if I'd done it in one breath or three. I decided to try it once more.

Let's do it properly this time.

Tree branches stretched out in all directions around me. I treated them as imaginary enemies and channeled internal energy into my Gushing Spring points and Palm Centers.

"Hah!"

I kicked off the ground, lunging forward as I unleashed the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

As the internal energy flowed naturally through my body and into the sword, the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash took on its proper form. As I executed the technique, I began to understand the parts that had been ambiguous until now.

The questions that had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lingered through my three months of mountain training and the years of practicing the forms as a warm-up began to unravel one by one.

The core of the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash was to retract the sword softly and strike out rapidly. I only now realized that these movements were designed for Energy Emission through the sword. It shared a common thread with the subtle essence of Energy Emission in Taiji Quan.

However, this form didn't end with simple Energy Emission.

When I looked back at the path I had taken while executing the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash, I saw that the lush green leaves on the branches were either riddled with holes or had been sliced off and were fluttering to the ground.

To think that simply executing the form could cause such a change. Could just injecting internal energy make this much of a difference?

I shook my head. What kind of form could punch holes in countless leaves and slice them apart? It was impossible. There was only one explanation.

It was the very thing I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had heard of in countless rumors or read about in martial arts novels.

It was Sword Qi.

Me? Using Sword Qi?

I picked up a leaf and examined it. Some were sliced, but others were riddled with holes as if eaten by caterpillars. The other leaves were the same.

It was too ambiguous to even call it Sword Qi.

Furthermore, it made no sense. Sword Qi was something that occurred when a warrior whose internal power approached the super-peak level injected energy into a sword, causing a blue light to erupt. Did that mean I was a super-peak master?

Even among the dozens of battles between masters I had witnessed, I had only seen it once. I had never seen it up close; Sword Qi was not a technique that just anyone could manifest.

Since it was impossible for someone of my level of internal power to emit Sword Qi, I figured there had to be some other reason for this.