Chapter 26: Flash Divine Sword Baek Yang-cheon (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 26: Flash Divine Sword Baek Yang-cheon (2)
“What did they say?”
Baek Yang-cheon asked as Seok Myeong returned toward evening. He seemed curious about what had taken the young man so long.
Looking at Baek Yang-cheon’s face, which was clearly ravaged by illness, Seok Myeong found the old man's voice strangely familiar and comforting. It was likely because he had spent so much time by the side of his own master, True Person Song Hye, before her passing.
“Just as you said, they became very cautious once I identified myself as a disciple of Qingcheng.”
“See? I told you so. I knew it. Ho ho.”
The old man laughed happily, but to Seok Myeong, the mirth felt hollow. A faint trace of bitterness seemed to linger in the old man’s eyes.
“Now that I think about it, I’m glad I could receive a guest before my strength completely fails me. I didn't think I’d be able to see anyone else. Suddenly, I feel a surge of energy.”
“If that’s the case, you should shake this off and stand back up.”
“Is that how it works? Hahaha, I appreciate the sentiment.”
He carried a very human warmth. His smile was gentle enough that anyone would find him kind-hearted. No matter how one looked at him, he didn't seem like the kind of person who would have trained a disciple with such severity.
“By the way, if I should die during our duel, you won’t have to worry about money in the future. I earned quite a bit in my youth. Later, take as much as you need from that chest over there.”
“Elder…”
Seok Myeong started to protest but stopped. He had never agreed to a duel. Nor had there been any talk of killing. Why was the man pouring out such grim words?
However, Baek Yang-cheon’s expression was firm. He was radiating a clear determination to see the duel through.
“But how did you know?” Seok Myeong asked, changing the subject.
“Know what?”
“That I possess three different types of energy.”
Seok Myeong was curious. In truth, wasn't that the reason he was still staying here? He wondered how the man could see that energy, and if it was possible for others besides Baek Yang-cheon to do the same. It would be troublesome if the fact that one of his three energies was Demonic Qi were to be discovered.
“I saw it.”
“With your eyes?”
“Indeed.”
“Just what kind of martial art did you learn to be able to do that?”
“My master was a secular disciple of the Quanzhen Sect.”
“Quanzhen? The Quanzhen Sect!”
Seok Myeong spoke with a look of surprise. Baek Yang-cheon continued with a calm gaze.
“Among the martial arts of Quanzhen, there is a technique called the Different Eyes Dual Skill. It allows one to see an opponent’s energy with their eyes. To be precise, it allows one to see colors. Based on the color, one can guess the nature of the martial arts the opponent has mastered.”
“Is that so?”
Seok Myeong looked at Baek Yang-cheon again. The old man seemed to possess abilities far greater than he had initially thought.
“Then, what was the nature of my martial arts as you saw it?” Seok Myeong pressed further.
“It was cold, quiet, and dark.”
“Ah…”
Seok Myeong’s eyes widened. He had perceived the Qingcheng energy as cold. The Taiji was quiet, and the Demonic Qi was dark.
Seok Myeong considered asking a few more questions but decided against it. Since the man could even identify the colors of the energy, there was a risk that the existence of Demonic Qi might be fully exposed, leading to unnecessary misunderstandings.
Seok Myeong spoke again. “There is one more thing I am curious about. It might be a bit rude to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“I saw your disciple’s martial arts a moment ago, and I have a question.”
Seok Myeong chose his words carefully as he watched the man’s reaction.
“Normally, aren't the initial forms of a martial art all interconnected? Like words formed by combining syllables. But I didn't see that in his martial arts. While a few forms seemed to flow together, other movements were actually quite stiff. I’m not sure if what I saw was the Heavenly White Divine Art, but…”
“You are right. It is the Heavenly White Divine Art.”
“Pardon?”
Seok Myeong asked with a startled look. He had suspected it, but it was true. He asked again, “Then why were the forms like that…?”
“Because I did not teach him.”
“The flow of the forms?”
“That is correct.”
“But why…?”
“Hehehe.”
The old man let out a deep chuckle. Then, he turned his head toward the cold ceiling.
“Would you believe me if I said it was to broaden the scope of his thinking?”
“…”
“The Heavenly White Divine Art is a martial art that fully deserves to be called a 'Divine Art.' My own achievement reached only the eighth star, but even with that, I was able to become an undefeated master.”
He continued in a calm voice, as if lost in memories of the past.
“But I could not be satisfied. I practiced and practiced like a madman. In the midst of that, I committed the extreme act of wounding my own body in an attempt to expand my Dantian.”
Baek Yang-cheon looked at Seok Myeong.
“They say you only truly gain when you throw everything away, but it wasn't all over. Around the time I was obsessed with martial arts, I had a sudden realization. I realized that the path I had taken was wrong from the start, and I could no longer ascend. And it was around that time that I took a child as my disciple.”
Seok Myeong listened intently to his words.
“I taught Hyeok-jin the very smallest things. Stabbing, slashing, and diagonal slashing. I only had him perform basic cultivation so that he could gain enlightenment later.”
“…”
“In that way, I let him develop bit by bit. But I taught him nothing other than the basic sword techniques. It was because I hoped he would find the answers within them. You may not know, but that is very important. I believed that only one who has gone through that process can see the ultimate essence of the Heavenly White Divine Art. Even so, I watched him with a half-doubting heart…”
“Ah…”
“Surprisingly, the boy followed well. He was a natural martial genius. Not only in his achievements but also in his direction and movement—he began to develop by creatively transforming everything.”
Seok Myeong could not hide his astonishment. He himself had trained by following most of the forms of his martial arts. He had followed them without a single doubt.
However, this old man had begun to doubt everything except the basic sword forms. Any uncertainty within a form or any connecting movement he deemed imperfect was left untaught. He refused to give the disciple a chance to learn something wrong, ensuring he could only move in a better direction.
It meant he would not tolerate even the slightest negative influence on the boy's development, let alone his enlightenment. It was just like how Seok Myeong had correctly mastered the Sixth Initial Form of the Heaven and Earth Sword after long deliberation.
‘Perhaps… this man isn't boasting. He might have truly been a master who glimpsed the Absolute Realm.’
Seok Myeong found himself listening more and more to his words.
It was then.
“Are you inside?”
Someone entered the room. It was Hyeok-jin.
Unlike when they first met, his eyes were a bit brighter. He cast a favorable glance toward Seok Myeong. However, the look he gave his master remained the same. It was indifferent, as if he were looking at a stone.
Clack.
He hung up the sword belonging to Baek Yang-cheon that he had brought with him and turned around.
“Rest well. I’ll be going.”
He bowed his head and walked out. Since his behavior was in no way respectful toward a teacher, Seok Myeong furrowed his brow.
“I’ll go and have a word with him.”
“It’s fine.”
“But…”
“At least his face looked bright. Days like this are rare.”
“…”
Seeing the magnanimous Baek Yang-cheon, Seok Myeong felt a pang of pity for some reason. He returned to his original expression.
“For now, you should sleep. It would be better to talk tomorrow.”
*
Seok Myeong had a dream.
Bubbling, boiling lava grew as large as a mountain and blocked his path. Thinking he couldn't die like this, he looked for a way out, but he couldn't find one anywhere.
Just as despair was about to overtake him, the lava suddenly began to part. A massive stream of water appeared and mingled with the lava.
But that alone didn't improve the situation. Perhaps because of the heat and the cold, he felt a pain as if his skin were being torn apart. Seok Myeong screamed in heart-wrenching agony.
Yet, no one helped him. No one reached out a hand to save him.
Dong—
Then, a massive bell tolled. The sound of the bell grew louder and louder as it rang. It echoed in Seok Myeong’s ears as if trying to push something away.
Was it because of that? The violently moving energies gradually slowed down. The energy became docile.
The pain also subsided. At the same time, his chest felt at ease. Something stifling slowly drained away. Seok Myeong opened his eyes, feeling a sense of peace.
“Are you awake?”
“…Elder?”
An old man was looking down at him with a hand placed on his forehead. Baek Yang-cheon was the one looking after him.
“You were sweating. I couldn't just stand by and watch you in such distress.”
“How did you do it?”
“I didn't do anything special. I just kept my hand on your forehead. If anything did something, it wasn't me, but the Dark Heaven Bracelet.”
Seok Myeong bolted upright with a startled face.
“You know about the Dark Heaven Bracelet?”
“How could I not know of such a precious item?”
Seok Myeong blinked. The more he knew, the more mysterious this old man became.
“I was watching, wondering how those energies could remain calm without mixing, and then I discovered it. For now, focus on your breathing. The unstable energy might surge back again.”
Whether it was his imagination or not, Baek Yang-cheon’s tone had become as grave as that of a great teacher. Seok Myeong had many questions, but he decided to follow the instruction. He immediately sat in the lotus position and began his cultivation.
After a long time had passed and he opened his eyes, Baek Yang-cheon spoke to him kindly.
“I don't know what circumstances led you to possess such energies, but do not be afraid or impatient. The fact that the colors of the energies are different is a matter of transformed properties, not their essence. The day will come when you can communicate with those energies.”
Baek Yang-cheon moved toward a storage cabinet. He opened it, pulled out a heavy book, and handed it to Seok Myeong.
“Take this.”
“What is this?” Seok Myeong asked, looking at the book Baek Yang-cheon was handing him. The title written on the cover was Heaven-Salvation Blood Method.
“It is something necessary to prepare for our duel.”
“When you say preparation…”
“Don't ask for details; just look at it for now. And later, use the techniques written there on me.”
Seok Myeong met Baek Yang-cheon’s eyes and raised his voice.
“Elder, do you truly intend to duel with me?”
“Did you think I was joking?”
Seok Myeong shook his head.
“I don't think it’s right. You know very well what your current physical condition is.”
“That is why I gave you that book. If you do as it says for me, I will be more than capable of a match.”
“Elder…”
“Then I shall take that as your consent.”
The old man turned over and lay down. Then, as if he had fallen completely asleep, he did not open his eyes or get back up.
‘Just what is this…?’
Seok Myeong set the book the old man had given him to one side. Then, in the darkness, he stared up at the ceiling in silence.
It was a night when sleep eluded him.