161
Chapter 161: Just One Sword.
"This... This makes no sense."
After hearing Mu Hwi's words, Dokgo Yul's mind became so tangled that he couldn't find the right words to say.
An unheard-of marvel.
Though Dokgo Yul listened carefully to the detailed explanation of the series of events, he couldn't easily accept it.
Yet, there was no denying that Mu Hwi knew about the Dokgo Heart Method and had a deeper understanding of it than he did.
The Dokgo Heart Method had no separate secret manual—it had been passed down orally by his master to him alone. Now that his master was dead, Dokgo Yul was the only one in the martial arts world who knew the Dokgo Heart Method.
'Even if it wasn’t the Dokgo Heart Method...'
From their first meeting, Mu Hwi’s tone and behavior had reminded him of his master. The sharp glint in his eyes, visible at times, especially evoked that memory.
He had always been a man who reminded him of his master, so it was true that Dokgo Yul felt an inexplicable closeness to him.
"Ugh..."
As if his thoughts were too much to bear, Dokgo Yul clutched his head and groaned. Watching this, Mu Hwi let out a wry smile.
He understood Dokgo Yul’s struggle to speak. In fact, it was natural—accepting it outright would have been stranger.
"What, do I need to recite the Dokgo Heart Method, the Dokgo Sword Technique, and even the formation of other martial arts for you to believe me, you dull disciple?"
"Then, one last thing..."
After a moment of hesitation, Dokgo Yul asked:
"When I first met my master, I was on the verge of starvation. He saved me by giving me food—what was it?"
At the question, Mu Hwi chuckled as if reminiscing.
On his way back after buying a rare elixir from Heuksang with money earned from a request, the Sword Devil locked eyes with someone.
A starving orphan, skin clinging to bones, slowly dying.
Even as the light in his eyes dimmed, the orphan’s gaze burned with a fierce will to survive.
When their eyes met, the orphan didn’t beg for help or food.
He just smiled like a fool.
Pausing at that gaze and smile, the Sword Devil stared for a long moment before asking:
-Why don’t you say anything? Why just smile?
-I didn’t think I needed to say anything.
The Sword Devil laughed incredulously at the answer. Though he didn’t ask its exact meaning, he felt an inexplicable pull.
Normally, he would have offered minimal help or ignored the orphan, but his feet refused to move. Then, he recalled the words of the wandering Taoist who had named him,
‘Fate is like a falling petal.’
It may cling to your sleeve even if you don’t reach for it, or slip away even if you try to grasp it.
Feeling he had met a falling petal, the Sword Devil slowly reached out and checked the orphan’s pulse.
The child’s vitality was nearly gone—this wasn’t something mere food could fix.
-I saved for three months to buy this...
After a brief hesitation, the Sword Devil sighed and pulled out a wooden case from his sleeve.
-My name is Dokgo Heon.
-I don’t have a name.
-We’ll think of one later.
The orphan survived by consuming the Sword Devil’s elixir.
That orphan gained a new life and a new name: Dokgo Yul.
Recalling this, Mu Hwi smiled warmly.
"Food? You ate a priceless elixir. Now that I think about it, you’ve been leeching elixirs off me. When will I ever see my disciple repay me?"
At Mu Hwi’s answer, Dokgo Yul’s eyes widened as if they might pop out. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"I never thought that scrawny kid would grow this big. At least the elixir wasn’t wasted."
"Haha..."
Dokgo Yul laughed weakly.
The idea that his dead master had returned by borrowing someone else’s body was unbelievable no matter how many times he heard it.
But given Mu Hwi’s knowledge of martial arts and facts only he and his master knew, he had no choice but to accept it.
Dokgo Yul looked at Mu Hwi, who was smiling at him. Though his face was different, the smile was identical to his master’s from the Sword Devil days.
Even if his appearance had changed, his master was still his master.
"Master!"
Dokgo Yul rushed to hug him, but Mu Hwi flinched and flicked his forehead with a bent finger.
Thwack!
"Gahk!"
Sent flying backward by the flick, Dokgo Yul tumbled across the ground. Mu Hwi frowned at him.
"Disgusting. With that size of yours."
Clutching his forehead, Dokgo Yul suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
His laughter soon mixed with sobs.
Memories of his conversations with Mu Hwi resurfaced. Until now, he had thought they were just talks between friends, but realizing they were actually with his master made every word feel new.
And as he sensed the deeper meaning behind those words, Dokgo Yul could barely contain his surging emotions.
Mu Hwi quietly listened to the strange mix of laughter and waited for Dokgo Yul to compose himself.
After a long while, Dokgo Yul asked,
"Can I call you Master now?"
"Only when we’re alone. Otherwise, act as usual."
Dokgo Yul nodded.
"It’s amazing to talk with my master, whom I thought was dead, right beside me."
"I did die, technically."
"That’s okay. No matter what form you take, you’re still my master."
"Is that so?"
Dokgo Yul nodded, then asked,
"Then, the Iron Plum Sword Technique from Hwasan..."
He had been slightly puzzled by it from the start, as its principles shared similarities with the Dokgo Sword Technique.
"Master, was that technique you used to break the Hundred-Faced Old Demon’s heavy sword a new move from the Dokgo Sword Technique?"
Dokgo Yul’s eyes sparkled as he asked.
Having trained alone since the Sword Devil’s death, he thirsted for guidance.
"It’s a new technique, but not part of the Dokgo Sword Technique. I’m creating an entirely new sword technique. So far, I’ve only completed seven moves."
"Wow! Can I learn it too?"
"Of course. It was never meant for Hwasan—it’s for you."
Dokgo Yul grinned widely at Mu Hwi’s words.
"Since the sword technique isn’t complete yet, I’ll teach you the heart method first. It’s not a new martial art but a refined and advanced version of the Dokgo Heart Method."
Rather than creating a new heart method, Mu Hwi had restructured the Dokgo Heart Method, which had originally been based solely on unorthodox principles.
The process was greatly aided by the Taixu Wuling Heart Method and orthodox martial arts he had observed in the Martial Alliance.
Sitting cross-legged, Mu Hwi watched as his disciple listened to the new formula and began meditating.
Though the Dokgo Heart Method was more stable than most unorthodox arts, its roots were undeniably unorthodox.
Thus, it allowed for rapid progress but was equally prone to collapse, and the higher one’s realm, the thicker and taller the walls they faced—a hallmark of unorthodox martial arts.
Given that Dokgo Yul had reached the peak alone without his master’s guidance, he must have poured his all into his training.
‘With the advanced Dokgo Heart Method, he might even gain new insights.’
Thanks to experiencing the Great Rejuvenation Pill and the natural energy of the Absolute Realm firsthand, Dokgo Yul’s realm had skyrocketed.
If he gained new realizations while practicing the heart method, he might even reach the Transcendent Realm.
"My inner energy’s depth and stability feel different. It’s like I’ve learned an orthodox martial art."
Dokgo Yul marveled after completing the energy circulation as instructed.
Mu Hwi nodded and added,
"Don’t forget the sensation of natural energy during circulation. Keep it in mind and focus. The Transcendent Realm isn’t so distant for you now."
"Yes, Master."
Suddenly, Dokgo Yul’s expression turned dazed. Noticing this, Mu Hwi asked,
"What’s wrong?"
"It’s just... Strange to call you Master again after so long. I never thought this day would come."
"Hmm."
Having learned the new Dokgo Heart Method and the teachings on natural energy, Dokgo Yul smirked at Mu Hwi.
"Master’s gotten a lot softer in this new life. Back then, you’d have just taught me roughly and told me to figure it out myself."
"Shut up."
Mu Hwi immediately silenced him and drew the Sim-myeong Sword.
"Let’s head up the cliff."
Grabbing Dokgo Yul by the scruff, Mu Hwi focused on the Sim-myeong Sword.
*Hum!*
As Mu Hwi’s will infused it, the Sim-myeong Sword emitted a clear hum. Instantly, the sword shot upward.
Holding onto the sword, Mu Hwi and Dokgo Yul soared into the air.
"Wha—?!"
Caught off guard, Dokgo Yul yelped and looked up. The Sim-myeong Sword was piercing through the air, carrying them.
Thanks to its speed, they reached the top of the cliff in an instant.
"Not bad."
Dokgo Yul gaped at what Mu Hwi had just done.
"Master, was that...?"
"Yes. Sword Flight. I’m not fully accustomed to it yet."
Upon reaching the Absolute Realm, Mu Hwi had fully grasped the Formless Sword.
By manifesting strong will to influence reality, extending it beyond his fingertips to his entire body, and merging it with natural energy, he could now project his will onto a distant sword and move it—Sword Flight.
Though still unpolished, mastering this would allow him to wield sword techniques previously unimaginable.
He could control multiple swords simultaneously or manipulate scattered Formless Swords in the air through Sword Flight’s principles.
Catching a glimpse of a new horizon in martial studies, Mu Hwi was eager to train.
"The Paewangseong troops seem gone."
Dokgo Yul scanned the area as Mu Hwi nodded.
"Quite some time passed while we meditated, and I don’t sense any presence beyond Chamdan either."
Using his Absolute Realm senses, Mu Hwi found no trace of the Paewangseong. The net surrounding them had dissolved.
"Master, what will you do?"
Mu Hwi thought of the Paewangseong Lord.
The Paewangseong Lord’s injuries were severe.
With wounds deep enough to reveal bone, his reckless use of the Heaven-Shuddering Divine Palm had worsened them.
By now, he was likely recuperating in the Paewangseong Castle.
"First, we return to Cheongseong to assess the Sacheon Sect’s situation."
Mu Hwi wanted to storm the Paewangseong Castle immediately, shatter its gates, and charge in.
But understanding Sacheon Sect’s developments in his absence and adapting to the Absolute Realm through training took priority.
"There will be time to face the Paewangseong properly later."
For now, it was time to step back.
***
Seven days and nights after the Paewangseong’s net dissolved.
But the clashes between the Sacheon Alliance and the Paewangseong hadn’t stopped.
Though the Paewangseong Lord and the Five Martial Lords were absent, the Paewangseong’s Seven Great Swords led fierce assaults on the Sacheon Alliance’s frontlines.
Yet, the Sacheon Alliance’s resistance was formidable.
"Great Lord! The Five Kings Unit has been annihilated."
"Annihilated? How?"
"Yes. They clashed head-on with the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, and this was the result."
"Tch."
The Leader gritted his teeth at the report.
"Those mad dogs are rampaging in vengeance for their Sword Saint."
Everyone in Sacheon knew of the life-and-death duel between the Paewangseong Lord and the Hwasan Sword Saint at Chamdan.
And that the Sword Saint, severely wounded, had fallen off the cliff.
With no news for seven days and nights, his death was all but confirmed.
"If they want to follow their Sword Saint, let them."
The Leader sheathed his sword and stood. Just then, a subordinate rushed in.
"Great Lord! Urgent news! Our rear was ambushed—three martial units were wiped out."
The sudden report made the Leader frown.
"What nonsense! Who attacked, and how many?"
The subordinate hesitated before answering,
"Just one sword."
"What?"
The Leader wondered if the man was drunk.
"A black sword, flying like a ghost, slaughtered all our martial artists in the rear."
The Leader, who had raised his hand to strike the man, froze.
"A black sword..."
Black blades were rare in the martial arts world. And one came to mind immediately.
A sword with a blade like carved darkness, shimmering with violet light.
The Leader remembered its owner.
"No way!"