Why Sword Dao in Martial Cultivation?
Seeing Yeop Hyeon's tears, the people around him—especially those close to him like Gang Gu and Mu Yun Qi—were utterly shocked.
They had always thought of Yeop Hyeon as a tough man who would shed blood before tears.
For such a man to shed fat tears like a chick at a single word from Yeop Ryeong!
That alone showed just how important Yeop Ryeong was to him.
The girl in the pink jacket felt puzzled as well. Having arrived here early, she had witnessed the entire scene of Yeop Hyeon fighting.
Though she didn't particularly like him, his boldness and fearless bravery in that recent battle were more than enough to make her acknowledge him as a man.
Yet here he was, showing fragile tears like a young girl in front of his sister...
She couldn't understand it, but she could tell he truly cherished his sister.
Of course, to a martial artist, such emotions were nothing but a luxury.
At that moment, tears began to flow from Yeop Ryeong's eyes as well.
"Oppa, I want to get strong!"
Yeop Hyeon silently gazed at Yeop Ryeong.
Wiping her tears, she continued.
"I don't want to be a burden to you anymore, and I don't want to get kidnapped by bad people and put you in danger. What I want is to grow stronger than I am now and help you!"
Yeop Hyeon took another step toward her and gently wiped away her flowing tears.
"It's because your oppa is worthless... I couldn't even protect my own sister."
Yeop Ryeong shook her head fiercely.
"No, it's all because I'm useless. From the time I was little, I've only been a burden to you..."
"Don't cry, you fool... Your face is all blotchy... Haha..."
Yeop Ryeong pulled Yeop Hyeon down to sit and wiped his tears.
"Oppa, I'll definitely get strong. So I can protect you, just like you protected me!"
Yeop Hyeon smiled faintly without a word and wiped her tears.
At that point, the girl in the pink jacket cleared her throat.
"Ahem. You know well that your sister's constitution is special. Even using something like Fire Spirit would only extend her life for a time. In the end, the only way to resolve this is for her to come with me to Bukhanjong."
As Yeop Hyeon looked up at her, the girl met his eyes and continued.
"You'd better abandon any thought of protecting her forever. In the end, your sister needs to be able to protect herself. And we at Bukhanjong will do our utmost to raise her."
"As that child says, Yeop Ryeong's unique constitution can only find its answer in Bukhanjong!"
Ji Yuan Zhang, who had appeared unnoticed, approached Yeop Hyeon and spoke.
Yeop Hyeon lowered his head.
"But Ryeong has never been apart from me, not even once."
Ji Yuan Zhang let out a small sigh.
At that moment, the girl's voice echoed in Yeop Hyeon's mind.
"Do you still not grasp the situation you're in? If your sister stays with you, she will surely die. But we at Bukhanjong have the power to protect her. I understand your desire to protect her, but your actions right now are selfishly endangering her life!"
'Me... selfish!?'
Strength gradually gathered in Yeop Hyeon's fists.
Everyone waited for what would come from his mouth.
A moment later, Yeop Hyeon turned to Yeop Ryeong with a resolute expression.
"All right! I permit it!"
Upon receiving his permission, Yeop Ryeong began wailing as if the world were ending.
Those words meant the siblings now had to part!
"Don't cry..."
Yeop Hyeon gently stroked her head, then took her hand and led her to the girl.
"Please take good care of my sister!"
The girl silently extended her hand toward Yeop Ryeong.
"My sister has a soft heart and doesn't like fighting others. I'm worried she might be looked down on at Bukhanjong..."
"Don't worry! As long as I'm there, no one will dare belittle her!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded, then took out a ring and placed it in Yeop Ryeong's hand. It was the storage ring he had acquired before. Inside it was all the wealth he had gathered so far.
"At Bukhanjong, you must never show weakness. If anyone looks down on you, pay them back double or triple. If you can't win against them, I'll come later and deal with it. Got it?"
Yeop Ryeong wiped her tears with her sleeve, nodded her small head, and replied.
"Yeah!"
At that point, the girl spoke to Yeop Hyeon.
"You should keep that storage ring. You won't need anything like that inside Bukhanjong anyway."
"But if I want to give it to my sister..."
"Then give her something better! What do you mean, stuffing it with junk like this? Having stuff like this at Bukhanjong will only make her a laughingstock!"
Yeop Hyeon had no choice but to be taken aback by her words.
'No, it's filled with top-grade spirit artifacts—how is this all junk?'
Then Ji Yuan Zhang interjected into the conversation.
"She's right. Keep those things for your own use. Bukhanjong will have plenty of such items."
Yeop Ryeong returned the storage ring to Yeop Hyeon and pulled a small wooden doll from her bosom, waving it.
"I only need this!"
The doll was carved in Yeop Hyeon's likeness.
As the girl took Yeop Ryeong's hand to leave, Yeop Hyeon hurriedly asked.
"Where is Bukhanjong?"
The girl looked at Yeop Hyeon. Her expression seemed reluctant to tell him.
Then Ji Yuan Zhang spoke to the girl.
"If you take that kid to Bukhanjong, he won't be the weakest, even if he's not the top. Moreover, in the future, he might become a Sword Lord, a Sword Emperor, or even reach a higher realm. Wouldn't it be good for Bukhanjong to build a good relationship with him now?"
The girl fell into brief contemplation.
In truth, she was only interested in Yeop Ryeong. She had no particular thoughts about Yeop Hyeon. However, as Ji Yuan Zhang said, if Yeop Hyeon became a Sword Lord, Sword Emperor—or impossibly, a Sword Immortal—it would be a tremendous boon for Bukhanjong!
Breaking the silence, the girl spoke to Yeop Hyeon.
"Jungto Sinju, Northern Border's Extreme Cold."
The girl spoke quietly only to Yeop Hyeon.
"Bukhanjong will forbid contact between you and your sister. However, this principle may change based on your future achievements. But if you fail to reach even the Sword Lord realm before thirty, it would be best to give up then. Your existence will only burden her."
With that, the girl took Yeop Ryeong and vanished into the high sky in an instant.
Yeop Hyeon, staring blankly at the sky, shouted toward where she had disappeared.
"Ryeong! Just wait a little! Oppa will definitely come get you! Just wait a bit..."
At that moment, a small, delicate voice came from the distant sky.
"Oppa, take care..."
Yeop Hyeon gazed endlessly in the direction Yeop Ryeong had vanished, then lay flat on the ground like a starfish.
His eyes were utterly hollow, as if the world had ended.
As Mu Yun Qi hesitated and approached to comfort him, Ji Yuan Zhang shook his head and blocked him.
"Leave him to think alone."
In life, everyone faces a major hurdle at some point. And the only one who can overcome it is oneself.
Soon after, Yeop Hyeon sprang up from his spot. Clenching his fists, he shouted.
"I'll become a Sword Lord. No! A Sword Emperor. Wait, no. Since I'm at it, I'll become a Sword Immortal, a Sword Immortal!"
Sword Immortal!
'If I were a Sword Immortal, would Changmok Academy have dared to torment me?
If I were a Sword Immortal, would people have dared to look down on Yeop Ryeong?
If I were a Sword Immortal...
Yes, it's all because I'm weak.
Weakness itself is a sin!
Without power, one can't protect family, friendship, or love!
The world is endlessly harsh to the weak. To avoid being taken from, one must become strong.'
At that moment, Yeop Hyeon felt as if his mind had shattered open.
And with it, for the first time in his life, he gained a concrete goal.
To become a Sword Immortal!
Right then, the Spirit Water Sword inside his body began trembling violently before shooting toward the sky.
Seeing the Spirit Water Sword hovering and quivering above Yeop Hyeon's head, the people in the arena felt an eerie sensation.
Ji Yuan Zhang, standing nearby, wore a complicated expression and was about to say something to Yeop Hyeon when the ground began shaking as if struck by an earthquake. At the same time, the scenery around him distorted greatly.
"The Biyeong is about to disappear. Let's get out—quick!"
Ji Yuan Zhang shouted, spreading his right hand. Everyone in the arena vanished from their spots.
Outside the Biyeong.
Having exited, Ji Yuan Zhang looked around, then suddenly paled.
One was missing!
'Yeop Hyeon?'
Ji Yuan Zhang abruptly turned toward the Biyeong's gateway. But the gateway had already vanished. As he prepared to leap, a voice echoed in his mind.
A moment later, Ji Yuan Zhang muttered lowly.
"That guy..."
Meanwhile, Yeop Hyeon felt as if his head had been struck by a blunt weapon—heavy and ringing.
As time passed, the sensation gradually faded.
Shaking his head vigorously, Yeop Hyeon rose. He realized he was in a cave-like place. Before him sat a middle-aged man in the lotus position. The man, clad in white robes, exuded an air of refinement. Yet he was merely an illusion.
Yeop Hyeon spoke to the middle-aged man.
"Who... are you?"
The man opened his eyes and examined Yeop Hyeon intently. Finally, smiling, he said.
"A hidden realm within the Sword Invincible Body Art. And this hidden realm is different from others. Most importantly... you have no dantian, yet you're not weak at all. Especially the sword intent you possess... I've seen many sword cultivators and sword intents, but yours is uniquely special. Quite astonishing."
Sensing the wariness in Yeop Hyeon's eyes, the man chuckled.
"No need to worry. I harbor no ill will toward you. I'm just a bit curious about your master. Could you tell me your master's name?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"Fine. I won't press. Among martial, body, sword, I know little of body and sword. But I know a bit about martial. If your master doesn't mind, I can teach you a little about the martial path."
Yeop Hyeon hesitated briefly before speaking.
"He certainly wouldn't mind. But... why?"
"Hahaha! If calamity befalls our Jeoguk in the future, would you lend a hand?"
"You're from Jeoguk."
"Is there a problem?"
"None at all."
The middle-aged man smiled faintly.
"I'll pass on one technique: Battle Intent Condensation."
With those words, he extended his hand. Instantly, a strand of fierce battle intent surged from his palm.
"You can use battle intent, but it's not that strong. The reason is that the battle intent in your heart is weak. Battle intent ultimately starts from the single character 'battle.' Recall in your mind the scene when you first awakened battle intent."
'The first time I awakened battle intent?'
Yeop Hyeon recalled that moment in his mind.
It was outside Yangjie City. Thousands of cavalry charged toward him.
In that instant, there was no death, no sister. Only one character filled his mind.
Battle!
Who the enemy was, how many there were—none of it mattered.
He would fight to the death!
At that moment, the Spirit Water Sword emerged from his body. A strand of intent realm churned within it.
The energy the Spirit Water Sword now emitted was not sword intent, but battle intent!
The middle-aged man, who had been watching Yeop Hyeon's state closely, suddenly looked perplexed.
"W-wait a minute. Something's off here. We're cultivating the martial path right now, so why suddenly the sword path..."