Chapter 23: Lose Weight? You Want Me to Die?
Yeop Hyeon returned to the lowest-level cabin where he and Yeop Ryeong had originally been staying, bringing his sister along. He was utterly fed up with all the talk of deluxe suites and the like.
After confirming that Yeop Ryeong had fallen asleep, Yeop Hyeon immediately entered the Gyeok Ok Tower. He sensed an odd atmosphere.
The tower's second floor began to tremble!
As Yeop Hyeon started in surprise, the Heavenly Maiden's voice echoed forth.
"Feeling a bit better now?"
Yeop Hyeon clasped his hands in a formal salute toward the darkness and said,
"Thank you for saving my life, Heavenly Maiden!"
The Heavenly Maiden replied in her cold voice.
"Do you know why I intervened?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"You once asked if I knew the consequences my sword would bring. Do you remember?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"If you had sheathed your sword back then, I wouldn't have stepped in either."
Yeop Hyeon couldn't comprehend it.
"What do you mean, Heavenly Maiden? Are you saying you came to save me because I recklessly stood my ground?"
"I'm talking about the qualifications of a sword cultivator. If your family falls into such a situation and all you think about is the consequences, you have no right to wield a sword!
If you hadn't drawn that One Sword Determines Life and Death, your heart would have filled with injustice. Your sword heart would have shattered, robbing you forever of the chance to become a sword cultivator!"
"What does it mean for the sword heart to be destroyed?"
Yeop Hyeon still didn't understand, so the Heavenly Maiden continued.
"A sword cultivator must cultivate not only the sword but also the heart—the true self. Earlier, you harbored the desire to kill for your sister's sake. But if you'd feared the consequences and tried to bury the incident, you'd have betrayed your own heart.
You might think it's no big deal. But it's crucial. The sword is linked to the sword cultivator. The moment you betray your true self, the realm of Sword Heart Clarity shatters."
Yeop Hyeon gave a wry smile.
"Heavenly Maiden, if it's always like this, sword cultivators won't live long."
"That's precisely why there are so few sword cultivators in the world—true Sword Immortals are exceedingly rare. That's why I told you the path of the sword is far more arduous than you imagine."
Yeop Hyeon drew a deep breath. He felt he finally grasped her meaning.
"I shouldn't have intervened in the first place. But I ended up leaving the Gyeok Ok Tower. Do you know the consequences this will bring?"
"Consequences?"
Yeop Hyeon couldn't follow her words.
"What consequences?"
"As I said before, the tower's seal is already weakening. By briefly leaving, I've affected the seal around the tower. In simple terms, the second floor's seal will break sooner—within four or five months at most, it will vanish completely.
If you don't find a Dochik before then, you'll die. And I won't be able to help you. The moment I act against the sealed entities, it will impact the entire tower's seal and bring even worse results. Understand?"
Yeop Hyeon's expression grew grave. After a moment of silence, he asked,
"Then, Heavenly Maiden, does that mean you can never intervene again?"
"Not until you find the Dochik. Not even leaving the tower like this time. Even if possible, I won't intervene again. I acted because your courage impressed me and that man's attitude grated. Now do you understand?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Yes, Heavenly Maiden!"
The only one you can rely on is yourself. Even if someone helps you once, there's no guarantee they'll do it again. You shouldn't expect it.
Having received such aid once was already a immense grace.
Yeop Hyeon had always been fiercely independent. He never took others' help for granted. Raising his sister alone, he'd always believed he had to grow strong on his own.
The Heavenly Maiden's final words resonated deeply.
Right! I can't depend on her anymore. I have to build my own strength to protect myself and my sister!
Finding a Dochik was a headache, though. To control one, he first needed to reach Control Qi Realm or even Soaring Realm swiftly. The Heavenly Maiden had said Qi Transformation Realm cultivators couldn't wield them.
I can't slack on training!
Yeop Hyeon reaffirmed his resolve inwardly. His top concerns were treating Yeop Ryeong and the Gyeok Ok Tower's seal.
He'd already sensed something amiss with the tower. Her words rang true. If the seal broke, she couldn't help him.
He'd have to resolve it with his own power.
Suddenly, Yeop Hyeon asked,
"Heavenly Maiden, what exactly is Sword Heart Clarity?"
He hadn't fully grasped the term she'd mentioned.
"It's like looking in a mirror. Normally, you can't see your own form clearly, but a mirror reveals it. Through Sword Heart Clarity, you gain clear insight into your own sword path."
In a low voice, Yeop Hyeon asked,
"What changes when you reach Sword Heart Clarity?"
"Didn't you feel a difference when you used One Sword Determines Life and Death this time?"
In that instant, realization dawned on Yeop Hyeon.
That's right!
The first time he'd used One Sword Determines Life and Death, he'd been left half-dead, a wretched state. But this time, he was merely a bit fatigued!
"With Sword Heart Clarity, illusions or hypnotic arts from opponents won't affect you—unless their skill vastly surpasses yours. Beyond that, your heart and sword connect strongly, doubling the power of your sword qi and sword strikes.
I'm tired now. No more talk—go spar with the shadow over there. You'll understand through practice!"
At her words, Yeop Hyeon summoned the shadow and began sparring.
But as he unleashed his first strike, he faltered.
His sword felt different from before. And the shadow's sword seemed somehow off—too simple, inexplicable.
About an hour later, Yeop Hyeon had to stop.
His longsword had pierced the shadow's chest.
In an instant, the shadow vanished.
Yeop Hyeon bowed his head in silence for a moment.
Then, he gazed intently at the Spirit Water Sword in his hand. After a long while, he murmured softly,
"Now, at last... you feel like my sword."
Until now, the Spirit Water Sword had felt alien to him.
Not truly his own—like wielding something foreign, awkward with every use.
That unfamiliarity was gone. Wielding it now felt natural, comfortable.
Yeop Hyeon finally understood the vital bond between warrior and weapon.
Sheathing his sword, he exited the Gyeok Ok Tower to rest.
Rest was as crucial as training. Replenish your vigor, and better cultivation follows.
After the commotion, the cloudship resumed its journey. Everything seemed normal.
People still fretted over the boy from the deck brawl. They assumed he was surely dead. The warriors of Chwiseonru carried immense presence; standing against them meant no survival.
The cloudship crossed a vast river, reaching an endless mountain range. The view from below was breathtaking.
Many climbed back to the deck.
Their faces were serene, as if nothing had happened. Chwiseonru had warned them—they had to keep silent, lest they face repercussions.
Provoking Chwiseonru wasn't for the faint-hearted.
In Yeop Hyeon's cabin.
How long had he slept? Something tickling his face jolted Yeop Hyeon awake.
Yeop Ryeong was innocently rubbing her head against his cheek.
Seeing him stir, she beamed sweetly.
"Oppa!"
Still groggy, Yeop Hyeon scanned around and asked,
"How much time has passed?"
"It's past noon already. You must've been exhausted today. Sleep more—I'll stay by your side!"
Yeop Hyeon pinched her nose lightly and chuckled.
"Shall we go out for some fresh air?"
After a quick wash, Yeop Hyeon headed to the deck with Yeop Ryeong.
The siblings' appearance drew every eye at once.
He's alive?
Question marks filled everyone's minds.
Alive after killing a Chwiseonru warrior?
At that moment, Lu Xiaoruan spotted Yeop Hyeon and muttered,
"That kid... he's no ordinary one."
The chubby boy beside Lu Xiaoruan waddled over to the siblings. Staring at Yeop Hyeon's face, he suddenly dropped to one knee.
"Great hero! Take me as your disciple! If you need money, just say the word—my dad's loaded!"
"......"
Yeop Ryeong covered her mouth, giggling at the sight.
Lu Xiaoruan, who had approached unnoticed, kicked the boy's butt lightly and scolded,
"You fool, do you know how grueling the path of a sword cultivator is!?"
The chubby boy looked up with puffed cheeks.
"What's so hard about it? Money solves everything, right?"
Lu Xiaoruan looked embarrassed and saluted Yeop Hyeon formally.
"Forgive my son's rudeness. It's my failing in raising him properly!"
Yeop Hyeon smiled faintly at the boy.
"You want to become a sword cultivator?"
The boy nodded vigorously.
"Then, first thing—lose some weight."
The boy's face turned deadly serious.
Lose weight? He's telling me to die!
Seeing his expression, Yeop Hyeon and Lu Xiaoruan could barely hold back their laughter.
"Are you heading to the Imperial City, young master?"
"Yes."
"Then you must be applying to Changmok Academy."
"How did you know?"
Lu Xiaoruan chuckled.
"The triennial new student recruitment at Changmok Academy is Jiang Kingdom's grandest event. A young man like you heading to the Imperial City at this time? A hundred out of a hundred are applicants."
Pointing to his son, Lu Xiaoruan said,
"This is my eldest, Lu Ming. He's also on his way to apply to Changmok Academy."
The boy thumped his chest.
"Don't worry, Dad! I'll definitely get in! If they reject me, I'll just buy the whole academy!"
"......"
"It's my fault for spoiling him rotten."
Yeop Hyeon nodded. The Imperial City, Jiang Kingdom's most prosperous hub, drew talents from everywhere. Lu Ming might run wild in Tianshan City, but the same in the capital would spell disaster. The boy seemed immature; Lu Xiaoruan's worries must run deep.
Gazing warmly at them, Yeop Hyeon had a vague sense that his ties with these people would endure.