The Spear's First Flame
Woo-gang was completely immersed in sparring.
He'd wake up in the morning, cultivate the Hyeoncheon Yeolhwa Singong, and from then on, he'd watch Yeom Si-woo out of the corner of his eye.
Pretending not to care while stealing glances, he radiated an aura that screamed he wanted to spar, his whole body practically begging for it.
Yeom Si-woo couldn't possibly miss it.
It was admirable and amusing to see Woo-gang doing it not out of obligation, but because he genuinely wanted to—because he enjoyed it.
So sometimes, Si-woo would pretend not to notice and go about his business, only agreeing to spar with Woo-gang belatedly.
Whenever that happened, Woo-gang would charge at Si-woo with even more desperation.
Si-woo occasionally teased him, but he always took their spars seriously.
Sparring every day like this, he'd suddenly notice Woo-gang's growth, and the joy from that was considerable.
Above all, there was real satisfaction in teaching him.
He never gave verbal instructions even now, but sparring itself was an immense lesson.
Given the vast gap in their skills, Si-woo could guide Woo-gang's movements.
He'd pinpoint Woo-gang's weaknesses and induce motions that would fill those gaps.
Of course, Woo-gang was utterly oblivious to it.
Through Si-woo's subtle guidance, whether Woo-gang realized it or not, he was growing at a steep pace.
Whoooosh!
A fierce cold wind howled.
His hair whipped wildly, and snow piled in places flew up, battering his face.
Yet Woo-gang didn't blink, gripping his spear and staring straight ahead.
His stance, expression, and piercing gaze now unmistakably evoked a true martial artist.
Standing before him was Si-woo, exuding relaxed confidence.
But his face was deadly serious.
It was almost unbelievable that he could wear such intensity for a spar with his disciple meant for training.
Yet Si-woo's seriousness stemmed from Woo-gang himself.
Woo-gang's skills had risen so much that if Si-woo held back even slightly, he might suffer an embarrassing reversal.
Proof of that lay in Si-woo's hand: not a staff, but a spear.
For some time now, he'd been facing Woo-gang with a spear.
Lately, Woo-gang had been experiencing firsthand just how different Si-woo was with a staff versus a spear.
'He's about ready to step into real matches.'
Si-woo murmured inwardly as he eyed Woo-gang's stance.
"How long are you going to just stare? You not doing this?"
Even at Si-woo's question, Woo-gang only fixed him with a razor-sharp gaze.
'No openings.'
Woo-gang wasn't frozen; previously, paths to attack would reveal themselves, but now, nothing.
No matter how he lunged, it felt like it'd all be blocked.
Si-woo wasn't someone he could fell in one blow, but right now, he couldn't move at all.
The lack of gaps was total, and the pressure immense.
"If you're not coming, I'll go to you."
Thud!
The moment Si-woo shifted his foot ever so slightly, a scorching heat surged from the front.
Si-woo had closed in instantly, thrusting his spear lightly.
Woo-gang startled and hastily retreated, widening the gap.
It wasn't the sudden attack.
Si-woo's thrusting spear was engulfed in roaring flames.
The application of Hyeoncheon Yeolhwa Singong.
Si-woo was demonstrating the next direction himself.
Thud!
Thanks to Woo-gang pulling back, the spear thrust missed.
But it didn't end there.
Whoosh!
The flames from the spear tip billowed toward Woo-gang.
"Ah!"
Woo-gang swung his spear in alarm.
But his swing couldn't cleave the soaring blaze, so he quickly retreated further.
The flames from Si-woo's spear tip rushed at him like they would engulf him, only vanishing at point-blank range.
Si-woo withdrew his spear.
Woo-gang stared at him in shock.
"Why so surprised? Flames are the energy most familiar to you. You going to fear what you wield?"
At Si-woo's words, Woo-gang looked dazed.
"I was just startled since it's my first time seeing it."
"Is that so? Then let's try it once more."
Woo-gang gripped his spear tighter at Si-woo's words.
And in that instant.
Roar!
Si-woo's spear blazed again.
He began swinging it rapidly in all directions.
Amid the flames painting the air, Woo-gang swallowed hard.
It was the first scorching heat he'd felt since arriving in this frigid North Sea.
The chill that had filled the surroundings had been utterly driven away by Si-woo's blaze.
Splash!
Woo-gang kicked off the ground.
The thin ice on the floor melted, producing an uncharacteristic sound.
Shrieeeek!
He thrust his spear fast and fierce.
The sharp tip pierced straight toward the flames swirling around Si-woo.
Boom!
With an explosive sound he'd never heard before, Woo-gang was hurled back.
The tremendous impact sent him tumbling across the ground, unable to steady himself.
Si-woo stood firm.
Flames still licked from his casually whirling spear, dying the surroundings red.
'This is the power of Hyeoncheon Yeolhwa Singong?'
He hadn't reached that level yet, but even alone, Si-woo's Hong Yeom Cheon Ui Chang wielded immense might.
Infused with the technique, it transformed into something entirely new.
"Don't get distracted by the visible flames. Focus on the true power of Hong Yeom Cheon Ui Chang."
Si-woo, standing tall, addressed Woo-gang.
"Yes."
"Master that, and you'll have laid the foundation to reach its pinnacle."
"Pinnacle..."
"Indeed. Only upon attaining the pinnacle can you unleash the ultimate secret technique. You'll learn it naturally when the time comes."
Woo-gang's eyes gleamed at Si-woo's words.
The knowledge of something he couldn't yet learn—something he'd never even seen—stirred strange excitement.
"You planning to melt the whole Bing Palace!"
Suddenly, a shout erupted from behind Si-woo, and the flames vanished in an instant.
Whoooosh!
The cold air, pushed back by Si-woo's blaze, rushed in all at once, whipping up a gale.
Han Si-rang stood behind Si-woo.
Seeing him, Si-woo offered an awkward apology.
"Sorry about that."
"Sorry? Take a look around!"
As Han Si-rang said, the area was a mess.
Melted ice and snow had refrozen into a chaotic jumble.
"I got carried away without realizing. My apologies again."
"Haa... I appreciate you helping train your disciple, but not like this!"
"That's why I'm apologizing. It's a bit messy, but nothing's actually broken..."
Rumble!
Before Si-woo could finish, part of the inner Bing Palace wall collapsed with a roar.
In the North Sea, where stone was scarce, they'd mixed ice and rock for the walls. The recent flames had melted the ice, causing the collapse.
"Haa..."
Han Si-rang clutched his head and sighed deeply.
Si-woo, caught off-guard by the sudden mishap, could only shrink back silently.
While Si-woo and Han Si-rang bickered.
Woo-gang stared intently at his spear.
The sight Si-woo had just shown him was a massive shock.
'To wield Hyeoncheon Yeolhwa Singong to that degree.'
Woo-gang closed his eyes and focused on the inner energy coursing through him.
The hot qi freely circulating his body felt even clearer now.
'I already know how to circulate qi.'
Through practicing thrusts and swings, he'd already grasped qi utilization.
He used it even now in spars with Si-woo, but he couldn't produce what Si-woo had.
'If Grandfather can do it, so can I.'
Wasn't he cultivating the same art?
So he believed he could too.
What was stopping him?
Flash!
Woo-gang opened his eyes.
Concentrating on his qi's flow, he lightly swung the spear.
Swish!
But no flames erupted from Woo-gang's spear.
It merely stirred the cold air, dissipating the lingering heat.
Woo-gang frowned slightly and circulated his qi again, swinging once more.
Swish!
Still no change.
Han Si-rang was still scolding Si-woo, but Woo-gang's ears were deaf to it.
'I can do it. I can.'
Woo-gang sank deeper into a trance.
Focusing solely on the spear, himself, and the qi within.
He swung lightly again.
This time, channeling his mind and sending qi into the spear.
As the swiftly moving qi gathered in the swinging spear!
Roar!
Flames burst from Woo-gang's spear.
But unpracticed, it couldn't match Si-woo's blaze.
The weak, small flicker couldn't overcome the ambient chill and died quickly.
'Got it. I can do this. Again.'
Woo-gang steadied his mind calmly.
Concentrating once more, he swung while channeling qi.
This time, more qi flowed faster into the spear.
Roar!
A larger flame appeared.
The sudden progress brought a smile to Woo-gang's lips.
"If this happens one more time, ancestral pacts be damned—I'll throw you out, got it!"
"Understood. This one's fully on me, so calm down now."
"Hoo..."
After repeated apologies from Si-woo, Han Si-rang figured it was enough. He took a deep breath to settle himself.
He'd vented plenty; time to head back.
That's when.
Roar!
A sound struck their ears, drawing both men's gazes.
Woo-gang was there, swinging his spear deep in thought.
Si-woo and Han Si-rang watched silently.
Roar!
"Hm?"
The sound again.
This time, they saw it clearly.
Flames flickered on Woo-gang's spear, then vanished.
Surprise lit Si-woo's face; Han Si-rang frowned.
Si-woo's earlier blaze had nearly caused disaster.
Now his disciple was conjuring flames—worry mounted.
Roar!
Woo-gang swung again, another small flame blooming and fading.
'Of course. Not that easy. Safe for a while.'
Impressive to produce flames at all, but Han Si-rang thought that was the limit.
"Anyway, I'm off."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, go ahead."
Si-woo, staring blankly at Woo-gang, mumbled a vague reply before refocusing.
"Sigh..."
Han Si-rang sighed heavily and turned—
Roar!
"Gasp!"
Both men inhaled sharply.
Han Si-rang especially stared in disbelief.
A clear blaze roared from Woo-gang's spear, refusing to die.
Far smaller and cooler than Si-woo's, but compared to the prior flickers, it was monumental.
"Yes!"
Woo-gang shouted, eyeing the flames cloaking his spear.
He swung it about, flames trailing faithfully.
Whoooosh!
A strong wind blew then, snuffing the flames on Woo-gang's spear.
Woo-gang looked stunned; Si-woo glanced at Han Si-rang.
His palm strike had unleashed cold qi, extinguishing it.
Face flushed with anger, Han Si-rang glared at master and disciple alternately, then bellowed.
"You trying to bring the whole place down!"
After that, Si-woo and Woo-gang endured Han Si-rang's wrath for quite a while.
It was grueling, but Woo-gang's face shone with the glow of achievement.