Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Paths of the Sword
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The Sword King gazed at Dan Hyeong-u with eyes full of wonder. He couldn't fathom how someone so young could possess such divine skill. What kind of training, what martial arts could lead to this?
"Thanks to you, I've glimpsed a new realm. That makes me feel even sorrier for that kid. I interrupted someone who was on the right path..."
The Sword King's words struck Jong Chil like a thunderbolt. What did he mean? Interfering with someone on the proper path? Jong Chil focused intently on the Sword King's voice. The carriage jolted slightly, but he had no attention to spare for that now.
"I only realized it after experiencing it myself. That kid's sword— you taught it to him, didn't you?"
Dan Hyeong-u nodded.
"I figured as much. That's why that sword emerged. What I called excess wasn't excess at all. For him, it was the correct path."
The Sword King's words hit Jong Chil like a bolt from the blue. Then what about the swift techniques the Sword King had taught him? Memories flashed through Jong Chil's mind like a lantern show.
Whenever Jong Chil practiced the Sword King's sword, Dan Hyeong-u had watched and even offered advice. But Jong Chil had rejected it. He had no words for Dan Hyeong-u back then. Now, he resolved to resume that training from this point on. After all, even the Sword King acknowledged it.
But the Sword King's next words dragged Jong Chil deeper into despair.
"It's probably too late now, isn't it?"
Dan Hyeong-u nodded at the Sword King's question. Jong Chil jumped in shock, blurting out without thinking.
"What do you mean? Too late?!"
Jong Chil shouted, but the Sword King didn't even glance his way. He merely nodded toward Dan Hyeong-u.
"You knew it too, huh. Well, I'm sorry for the kid, but what can you do? And the techniques I taught aren't bad either. It might even be for the best. If he doesn't have the talent to go further, my style is much better suited."
Dan Hyeong-u nodded, as it made sense. But Jong Chil couldn't just sit there and listen.
"You're talking about me like I'm not even here! Tell me too! What exactly went wrong?!"
Jong Chil's cry bordered on a scream. The Sword King chuckled.
"What choice did you have? Just accept it and swing what I taught you diligently."
Jong Chil clamped his mouth shut. Inside, he was burning up. Yelling at the Sword King was bad enough—what punishment might come later? He could do nothing more.
As if sensing Jong Chil's turmoil, the Sword King spoke kindly.
"Once people take the easy path, they keep seeking it. They don't bother with the hard one. If you had a cliff thousands of feet ahead and a smooth path behind, which way would you go?"
Jong Chil shot him a look that said, Why ask something so obvious? But he held his tongue. No need to provoke the Sword King or interrupt.
The Sword King continued.
"Sword training is the same. If one way is easy and powerful, no one chooses the hard, less powerful one. And it shows unconsciously in the body."
Jong Chil's face clouded in confusion. He half-grasped it, half-didn't.
"Tsk tsk. Still not getting it? Good thing, then. You're not cut out for that Heavenly Thunder technique anyway. You've found the right match."
The Sword King watched Jong Chil bristle, then flicked his hand.
Crack!
"Gah!"
Jong Chil nearly blacked out from the head-splitting pain. The carriage rocked wildly, but he forced himself alert and steadied it.
He wanted to scream, Why hit me? But he couldn't. It was the Sword King.
As Jong Chil swallowed his rage, the Sword King went on.
"Your initial training looked like clashing energies, but it was actually slicing the gap between them. I only saw the clash, not the gap-slice. That's why I told you not to obsess over collisions. The force from energy clashes burdens you entirely—too taxing."
Suddenly, it clicked for Jong Chil. His face twisted.
"So you stripped away that 'excess.' It became a fine technique—minimizing clashes while keeping power. But that's it. It can't become Heavenly Thunder. That's piercing the gap, impossible to block normally. Incredible."
The Sword King paused, lost in admiration. Who created such a technique? After a moment, he wrapped up.
"Anyway, removing the excess made it too easy. You can't return to the hard path now. Your subconscious will resist. Even forcing it yields little fruit."
Jong Chil felt hollow. No gains from switching back? Unbelievable. He glared at Dan Hyeong-u, who nodded agreement.
Jong Chil bowed his head. It felt unfair, but against the Sword King, complaints died unspoken.
"Don't worry. My techniques suit you better. With effort, you'll reach first-rate expert level easily."
Even then, Jong Chil's head stayed down. Before his eyes, a lightning bolt slicing foes faded away.
The Sword King sat atop the carriage, probing Dan Hyeong-u with questions. Dan seemed indifferent but answered readily.
"You're a strange one. Who created that sword art of yours?"
Dan Hyeong-u pondered. Its origin was the Heavenly Qi Master, but traces were gone. He'd practically created it anew.
"The prototype was the Heavenly Qi Master, but..."
"Oh ho, Heavenly Qi Master. A name I haven't heard in ages."
The Sword King nodded nostalgically.
"You know him?"
"Of course. Met him a few times. I was young then—might not recognize him now. Though I barely age."
The Sword King reminisced briefly.
"So it's his sword art?"
"But very different."
"Different? You modified it?"
"I broke it and rebuilt it."
The Sword King fell silent, eyes widening in shock.
Reconstructing a sword art wasn't simple. Breaking and remaking the Heavenly Qi Master's? Even he lacked confidence.
"Broke and rebuilt? Then the original Heavenly Qi Master's art..."
"Forgotten."
"Urgh."
The Sword King groaned. He wanted to learn it too, to see the reconstruction. Witnessing Heavenly Thunder and glimpsing a new realm was impressive enough.
But forgetting? To reconstruct, one masters perfectly first. Forgetting takes decades. A twenty-year-old like Dan? Impossible.
Reaching such heights at twenty was rare. To the Sword King, Dan was the pinnacle of geniuses.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty."
The Sword King eyed him suspiciously. Maybe a rejuvenated supreme master?
After scrutiny, he sighed and nodded. He had to accept it.
"Young hero Dan's age is confirmed. Verified in Sichuan recently."
Jong Chil spoke maturely, sensing the doubt. The Sword King cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem. Sounds like I'm some petty old man suspecting you."
Glancing at Dan, he saw a faint smile.
"Ahem, enough. Anyway..."
The Sword King's eyes gleamed like a viper eyeing a rat.
"I like you a lot. Very, very much—no one compares. I have a granddaughter, prettier than any. What do you say?"
Dan Hyeong-u stared blankly.
"Hey, what do you say?!"
The Sword King pressed, but Dan remained silent.
"Never seen such a frustrating guy. I'm offering my granddaughter!"
He shot up, yelling. Jong Chil whipped his head around in alarm. The Sword King's gaze was intense. The carriage swerved.
"Hey! Drive straight!"
Jong Chil startled, steadied it.
The Sword King fixed Dan with expectant eyes.
"You don't dislike her, do you? Answer!"
Dan Hyeong-u shook his head lightly.
The Sword King's eyes widened at the firm refusal, then softened into a warm smile.
"I get it. Judging her by me is a mistake. Meet her first. You'll beg me then."
Dan Hyeong-u had no choice but to nod. He wasn't opposed. Meeting new people was one of his greatest joys. He was still learning the world.
The Blood Demon brooded in the curtained hall.
"Blood Shadow."
Blood Shadow appeared instantly.
"What of Demon Shadow?"
"Report came earlier. Seems he found the Sword King."
The Blood Demon frowned slightly.
"His bad habits flared again."
Blood Shadow bowed faintly in affirmation.
"He won't lose to the Sword King, but it's unsettling."
Blood Shadow disagreed.
"The Blood Demon Sword recently reached nine-tenths mastery."
The Blood Demon's eyes widened in surprise.
"Already?"
"Yes."
The Blood Demon smiled.
"No worry about the Sword King then. A genius of the ages. Nine-tenths already—nearly unrivaled."
After savoring it, he eyed Blood Shadow. Only three subordinates entered here.
"Time for Heavenly Qi Master's traces to emerge. You know what I mean?"
"Yes."
"Couldn't uncover all, but the first is known: the Secret Cave."
Blood Shadow's eyes gleamed at "Secret Cave."
"Yes, what you desire is there."
"Then the Blood Shadow Sword!"
The Blood Demon nodded.
Blood Shadow trembled with excitement.
"Let me go."
"Take the entire Blood Shadow Unit. Can't let it follow Heavenly Qi Master's script. Make a bigger play. Plenty of valuables there besides the sword."
Blood Shadow bowed deeply.
"Understood."
A chilling smile crossed the Blood Demon's face.
"What is this list?"
The Alliance Leader's question drew a respectful reply from Vermilion Bird Unit Leader Ma Yeong-seong.
"Sects that rose in the last decade."
Dugun Un looked puzzled.
"Plotting something?"
"No."
"Then?"
Ma Yeong-seong paused, then spoke cautiously.
"Places we judge to be practicing Heavenly Qi Master's arts."
Dugun Un's eyes widened slightly.
"Certain?"
"Almost."
Dugun Un pondered gravely. So many suddenly practicing Heavenly Qi Master's arts? Thirteen sects listed.
"These red-lined ones..."
"Wiped out recently."
Dugun Un's eyes flashed. He scanned the list again.
"Ho, this...!"