Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Uncle's Probe and Limitless Training
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"What brings you here, Uncle?"
"You made a bet with Cheol-jin?"
"Yes. Is that why you're here?"
"I came to see what you were up to."
"I was just doing some sword training after a long time."
Shin Yu-hyun answered with a nonchalant expression.
At that, a glint appeared in Shin Sung-hyun's eyes.
"I heard you said you'd take down a 2-star boss on your own?"
"Yes."
"You really made that absurd bet?"
"We'll see about that."
Shin Yu-hyun flashed a smile at Shin Sung-hyun, who looked incredulous.
That confident demeanor sparked curiosity in Shin Sung-hyun. The nephew he knew wasn't someone overflowing with self-assurance like this.
He had always been anxious, fidgety, and overly conscious of others' gazes.
That's why he'd rushed over the moment he heard about the bet with Shin Cheol-jin.
To figure out what this talentless, unskilled nephew was thinking.
"Looks like you weren't just looking for an excuse to leave the clan."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
Shin Sung-hyun shook his head at Shin Yu-hyun's question.
He'd suspected Shin Yu-hyun might be making an impossible bet with Shin Cheol-jin to force his way out of the clan.
But seeing him sweat it out in the outdoor training ground, swinging a wooden sword, changed his mind.
His eyes no longer cowered, peeking at others for approval.
"Taking down a 2-star boss alone right now would be tough. Got a plan?"
"Sorry, but I can't share that."
"So you do have something in mind."
"……."
Shin Yu-hyun offered only a polite smile, neither confirming nor denying.
'I can't tell him I've returned from the future, or about the Immortal King's power.'
Right now, Shin Yu-hyun held two weapons: knowledge of the future and the Immortal King's authority.
Thanks to them, he knew exactly what magic beast would appear in the 2-star dungeon he had to clear, and its weaknesses.
"Understood. I was worrying over nothing. If you need my help with this, just say the word."
"You'd help me?"
"Wouldn't I have to, if my nephew asked?"
Shin Sung-hyun gazed at Shin Yu-hyun with a smile full of warmth.
Anyone would see it as an uncle doting on his nephew.
But.
'Am I crazy? Accept his help?'
A member of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan offering aid without strings attached?
The Clan Leader's right-hand man and Grand Dharma Protector, no less?
Ridiculous.
In the martial-focused Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, help always came with a price.
The clan motto itself was "The Strong Stand Alone."
It meant the truly strong stood on their own in this world.
Thus, solving problems independently was a virtue, and any help demanded equivalent compensation.
"Thank you, but I'll pass. I can handle it alone."
Shin Yu-hyun declined politely.
The old him would have jumped at Shin Sung-hyun's offer.
But now, he knew exactly what his clan was like.
So he could see it.
That Shin Sung-hyun's "help" was poisoned wine.
"Kuhahaha!"
Shin Sung-hyun burst into hearty laughter.
"That's right! That's how it should be for someone of our clan!"
'As expected.'
Relief mixed with chills at those words.
He'd just realized Shin Sung-hyun had been testing him.
Accepting help without conditions? That could lead to trouble later.
This was a direct mission from the Clan Leader, and Shin Sung-hyun was the Grand Dharma Protector and the Sword King's right hand.
"Instead."
Shin Yu-hyun met Shin Sung-hyun's eyes with a challenging glint.
"Could I ask one favor?"
"A favor?"
Shin Sung-hyun looked intrigued.
Turning down help, yet asking for a favor? What could it be?
"If I take down the 2-star boss alone, I want you to have my back."
"What?"
Shin Sung-hyun's expression hardened slightly.
Having his back wasn't a light request. It crossed lines far beyond accepting unearned aid.
Shin Yu-hyun was essentially asking him to become his patron.
In the battle for Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan succession, no less.
"Arrogant. Can you even handle that?"
A chill emanated from Shin Sung-hyun, who had shown warmth moments ago.
But Shin Yu-hyun stood firm.
"You know it too, Uncle. If I fail, I'll be expelled anyway. Isn't that payment enough?"
Exactly.
Failure meant expulsion from the clan.
So he'd gone for it.
Success meant snatching the Heaven-Splitting Divine Pill from Shin Cheol-jin and gaining the Grand Dharma Protector's backing—a two-for-one win.
Of course, failure wasn't an option.
"Kuhahahaha!"
Shin Sung-hyun laughed heartily at Shin Yu-hyun's bold words.
"Blood doesn't lie, after all."
Shin Sung-hyun was of the iron-blooded Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan lineage.
He'd never thought much of Shin Yu-hyun, who lacked talent, skill, and backbone.
Yet here he was, asking to be his patron?
How could he not laugh?
'The cub of a tiger is a tiger. Hiding his true self all this time.'
Who'd have thought the weakling dubbed the clan's trash was gunning for the succession?
It delighted Shin Sung-hyun to no end.
Shin Yu-hyun's actions proved he was true Heaven-Splitting blood.
"Fine. If you truly solo the 2-star boss without help, I'll back you. We'll see."
Trash by rumor, or a hidden talent?
It all came down to whether Shin Yu-hyun could do it alone.
"Thank you."
Shin Yu-hyun bowed, smirking where no one could see.
He'd conveyed his intent to the clan's number two, and it was accepted.
That was enough for now.
'With the Grand Dharma Protector watching my back, I'll have protection within the clan.'
Even his bold brothers wouldn't dare touch him lightly.
Shin Sung-hyun was second only to the Clan Leader.
All that remained was soloing the 2-star boss.
After his talk with his uncle Shin Sung-hyun, Shin Yu-hyun continued his sword form training.
'It's been ages since I trained Shadowless Swordsmanship.'
The Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan had a variety of sword arts.
Shadowless Swordsmanship, the basic form all disciples learned first.
The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise Swordsmanship, taught in the Four Directions Guardian Sword Halls.
Then Heaven-Splitting Swordsmanship, reserved for direct lineage.
And various derivative arts besides.
Shin Yu-hyun, hailed as a sword prodigy from childhood, had studied and mastered them all.
The only issue was his lack of mana talent, preventing energy gate opening.
'To regain my feel, I need to move.'
In the Black Tortoise Hall's outdoor training ground, Shin Yu-hyun slowly performed the clan's most basic art: Shadowless Swordsmanship.
Slash, block, swing, thrust.
Simple forms, yet they taught the essence of fundamentals.
They formed the foundation for the Four Directions Guardian Sword Arts or advanced equivalents.
But Shin Yu-hyun's execution felt somehow off.
'Still some disconnect.'
His body didn't follow his mind perfectly. The gap felt wider with full forms than mere swings.
Not huge, but in battle, 0.1 seconds could decide victory.
No brushing it off.
Facing a boss like this? Too risky.
So he slowly worked through Shadowless Swordsmanship, chipping away at the disconnect.
How much time passed?
Dusk had fallen thick over the training ground, a white moon hanging in the sky.
Even the Black Tortoise Hall swordsmen had left.
"Hah... hah..."
Yet under the moonlight, Shin Yu-hyun panted, pressing on.
'One more time!'
He gritted his teeth.
999 consecutive reps of Shadowless Swordsmanship without rest.
The urge to quit had slithered up countless times.
But he endured.
Fueled by vengeance against the Getia bastards and his 100-point mental fortitude.
Without this training, he couldn't solo the 2-star boss in a week.
Though on the verge of collapse, he didn't stop.
Now, his forms flowed like water.
Utterly transformed from the start.
On the 1000th rep.
'Huh?'
Shin Yu-hyun blinked in surprise at the unexpected system message.
A thrilling rush shot up his spine.
The sensation of stats rising.
'Stats went up?'
Shock turned to a satisfied smile.
An unexpected windfall.
Today's intense training was just to regain body feel.
Not expecting stat gains.
'Jackpot.'
Raising stats was never easy.
Days of this might yield one point, if lucky.
Each point boosted power by about 20%.
Three points in one day?
'Mental strength pays off like this.'
Pushing this body to the brink was thanks to maxed mental stats.
Without it, he couldn't have done it.
'I'll get stronger faster now.'
His eyes gleamed under the white moonlight.
Three days after starting training.
'What?'