If a Person Isn't Humble, They're Likely to Get Smacked Around Outside
Of course, Yeop Hyeon was no Great Sword Master. The reason he had previously unleashed sword intent was simply due to the nature of the sword qi contained within One Sword Determines Life and Death. In terms of actual skill, he was still far from that level.
The martial artists, unaware of this fact, trembled in fear as sword intent poured forth from his Spirit Sword. In an instant, everyone froze, and silence filled the room.
The room fell eerily quiet in the blink of an eye.
Even the haughty woman's gaze began to waver. Becoming a Sword Master was difficult but not rare. A Great Sword Master, however, carried a different weight. Throughout history, the Jiang Kingdom had produced fewer than a hundred.
Yet here was a young man who didn't even seem to have reached twenty, claiming to be one himself. The woman's fierce expression softened. Pointing to the corpses strewn across the floor, she commanded her men.
"Feed these bodies to the dogs. And make sure to catch that runaway from earlier—toss him off the cloud ship! And..."
She turned to Yeop Hyeon with a warm gaze.
"Escort this young master to the deluxe cabin. Treat him exactly like our other deluxe guests!"
The woman addressed Yeop Hyeon directly.
"Young master, please follow me."
Guided by the stewardess, Yeop Hyeon and his sister entered the deluxe cabin, their mouths falling open in awe.
It was enormous! At least ten times larger than their previous room. Plush carpets and dazzling decorations gave it the feel of an emperor's chambers.
"Wow—!"
Yeop Ryeong exclaimed, looking all around.
"Brother, it's so big and beautiful!"
Yeop Hyeon smiled faintly without a word. Yeop Ryeong looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
"Brother, are they treating us like this because you're a Great Sword Master?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded. Just as he was about to speak, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in!"
It was the same veiled woman from before. Sitting down, she poured tea and said,
"This is Spirit Immortal Bamboo Tip tea. Please, have some."
"I won't stand on ceremony."
Yeop Hyeon accepted the cup and sipped. The smooth, refreshing flavor slid pleasantly down his throat.
Setting the cup down, he looked at the veiled woman.
"I'm Yeop Hyeon of Qingcheng."
"Han Hyangmong."
Yeop Hyeon smiled slightly at her curt response. She clearly had no intention of revealing more. Han Hyangmong took a sip of her tea.
"To become a Great Sword Master at such a young age—truly impressive. If it's not too rude, may I ask where you trained, young master?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head with a smile. Han Hyangmong furrowed her brow.
"What do you mean by that, young master?"
Yeop Hyeon met her gaze directly.
"Miss Han, forgive my rudeness if I've offended you. But I have a question: Do you judge people by their background when making friends?"
Han Hyangmong was momentarily taken aback. She hadn't expected this from him.
"I believe that when befriending someone, one should value their true character over benefits or status. If this is how you choose companions, then we're not a match."
Yeop Hyeon rose abruptly.
"Ryeong, let's go!"
Yeop Ryeong jumped up and followed. Yeop Hyeon strode toward the door without hesitation.
At that moment, Han Hyangmong called out urgently.
"Young master, wait!"
Yeop Hyeon paused at the door. Han Hyangmong's voice softened.
"I was forward. Forgive my impertinence."
Yeop Hyeon turned to face her.
"Miss Han, I won't forget how you overlooked what happened in that room earlier. Someday, I'll repay the favor!"
His tone carried a hint of lingering anger. Sensing his intent, Han Hyangmong nodded slightly.
"It's already dark. Please rest, young master."
With a polite farewell, she quietly left the room.
As soon as Han Hyangmong was gone, Yeop Ryeong looked up at him with bright, curious eyes.
"Brother, is being a Great Sword Master that amazing?"
"You could say that!"
"So you're a Great Sword Master?"
"Not. Quite."
"Whoa... so everything you said earlier was a lie...?"
"Hey! Can't you be quiet? Otherwise, even if you're my sister, I might have to silence you for good..."
"Haha... even with that scary face, you're not scary at all..."
Half a shichen later, Yeop Hyeon tucked the soundly sleeping Yeop Ryeong into bed and entered the Gyeok Ok Tower to begin his cultivation.
Only the strong earn respect!
That was the harsh truth of the world Yeop Hyeon had learned. His current realm had already reached the peak of the Qi Transformation Realm and Minor Sword Cultivator. His power, speed, and reactions surpassed what ordinary Qi Transformation Realm martial artists could match.
Yet to survive in the Imperial City teeming with experts, it wasn't enough. To face those in the Soaring Realm and beyond, Yeop Hyeon needed ceaseless training.
He was already on par with Shadow. But satisfaction was premature. His immediate goal was to completely overwhelm Shadow as quickly as possible.
Inside the Gyeok Ok Tower, it was Yeop Hyeon's private domain. During training, no one disturbed him; he could become a solitary sword cultivator. Unless something urgent arose, even the Heavenly Maiden didn't speak to him. Yeop Hyeon trained in silence.
Cultivation was inherently tedious and lonely!
Two shichen later, Yeop Hyeon gripped his sword and halted. His body was drenched in sweat.
"Heavenly Maiden, every time I spar with Shadow, it feels like I'm about to catch up. But in the next bout, it's the same—right at that point. Every time I close in, he pulls ahead by one step. Are you strengthening Shadow's power?"
The Heavenly Maiden responded.
"The fact that you feel that way proves your skill is improving each time. But you're still far off. By the standards of Qingcheng or the Jiang Kingdom, your foundations are excellent. If we expand to the world, you're merely average. Stay in the Qi Transformation Realm longer to solidify your basics. Then, find a solution for your Spirit Sword."
"Understood."
Before reaching the Control Qi Realm, Yeop Hyeon prioritized elevating every aspect of his foundations by one level.
Finishing his session, he rested. Excess in anything becomes poison—even training required ample recovery.
One shichen later, Yeop Hyeon awoke. Yeop Ryeong soon stirred as well. Breakfast arrived shortly after. The siblings devoured every scrap, leaving nothing behind.
Having gone hungry so many days in childhood, they never wasted food. After eating, Yeop Hyeon took his sister up to the deck.
The cloud ship soared hundreds of zhang above the ground. Many passengers crowded the deck. Yeop Hyeon led Yeop Ryeong to the bow—the best vantage point, reserved for deluxe guests.
Lifting his gaze forward, he saw unnamed birds performing acrobatics amid countless mountain peaks. It was a breathtaking sight.
"Wow—!"
Yeop Ryeong cried out in excitement.
"Brother, look! The mountains look so tiny!"
Yeop Hyeon gazed at the vista. The harmony of white clouds and green peaks felt like entering an immortal realm. Unlike the ground's limited view, the skies revealed everything at once.
Qingcheng is small, and the world is vast.
Human existence is insignificant; heaven and earth are boundless!
Yeop Ryeong approached the railing, gripping it tightly and exclaiming,
"It's so beautiful!"
"How tacky."
A sneering voice pierced her ears. Turning, she saw a boy about her age in flashy clothes. His body was pitifully small compared to his garb—obscenely fat, with eyes nearly buried in flesh.
Not wanting to bother Yeop Hyeon, Yeop Ryeong quickly looked away and ignored him. The boy sidled up, scanning her up and down.
"Look at those rags. Can't afford clothes?"
Yeop Ryeong brushed it off.
"What's wrong with clothes? As long as they cover me. Anyway, I have my brother—that's all I need!"
The boy patted his outfit smugly.
"Know what this is made of? Demon beast and spirit fox hides. One set could buy ten thousand of yours."
Yeop Ryeong glanced at it.
"So? I have my brother."
The boy pulled out a clear, flawless jade stone. Yeop Ryeong's eyes widened—it was stunningly pure. Sensing her interest, he boasted again.
"Top-grade Spirit Jade. Worth a fortune. Bet you don't have one."
Yeop Ryeong snorted.
"I have my brother!"
The boy snapped irritably.
"Enough about your brother!"
Ignoring him, Yeop Ryeong turned to the sky. Moments later, her soft voice carried on the wind.
"I have nothing but my brother..."
Indeed. For Yeop Ryeong, Yeop Hyeon was everything. She needed nothing more.
The boy pressed closer.
"Your brother's that great?"
"Super great!"
"Still not as great as my dad!"
Yeop Ryeong tilted her head.
"Your dad's great too?"
The boy nodded eagerly.
"Of course! He's the lord of Tianshan City! Everyone bows to him!"
Yeop Ryeong's eyes widened.
"Whoa, that's amazing!"
"Duh! Our house is the biggest in Tianshan!"
She eyed him again.
"My brother says if a person isn't humble, they're likely to get smacked around outside."
"You dare touch me with my dad around? Hmph, dream on!"
Yeop Ryeong fell silent. To her, the boy was just a spoiled brat. He pointed at Yeop Hyeon.
"That's your brother?"
"Yeah, cool, right?"
"Tch, cool or not, it doesn't fill your belly for ten meals!"
Yeop Ryeong returned to Yeop Hyeon's side, standing quietly so as not to disturb his contemplation.
By now, the cloud ship had passed Tianshan and flew over a vast river—endless in length, thousands of zhang wide. Like a meditating monk, Yeop Hyeon stared fixedly ahead, unmoving.