Chapter 28: The Last Lesson (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 28: The Last Lesson (2)
Hyeok-jin sat by the edge of a small pond near the mountain entrance.
Uncharacteristically, his eyes were clouded with a distant, wistful longing. He stared blankly at the ripples on the water’s surface, looking as if he were lost in the depths of his own thoughts.
"May I sit for a moment?"
It was Seok Myeong who had followed him out. Knowing that Hyeok-jin found formal speech stifling, Seok Myeong softened his tone as he asked.
Hyeok-jin gave a silent nod of permission.
Silence hung between them for a long while. Hyeok-jin, still unable to compose his emotions, kept his gaze fixed on the pond, while Seok Myeong watched him without a word.
"He seems like a good man."
After about fifteen minutes had passed, Seok Myeong finally broke the silence. When Hyeok-jin didn't respond, Seok Myeong continued.
"I mean your master."
"He is."
"Oh?"
Seok Myeong was genuinely surprised by the reply. He had expected Hyeok-jin to deny it, but the young man had offered an immediate affirmation instead. Seok Myeong’s gaze naturally drifted toward the boy's face.
"He is a good man. That is why I have stayed with him all this time."
"..."
"But things are different now. I don't need a 'good' master; I need a 'great' one."
"From what I can see, your master is quite great."
"Then you have misjudged him, Disciple of Qingcheng. My master is no master. He merely wants to imitate one. I know this better than anyone; I have been by his side for over ten years."
Seok Myeong could not offer a rebuttal. He didn't have any definitive proof yet. While he had a strong suspicion that the old man was extraordinary, he didn't know anything concrete enough to convince the disciple.
Up until now, other than the peculiar ability to see Seok Myeong's energy, the old man hadn't shown any particularly remarkable traits.
As Seok Myeong was lost in thought, Hyeok-jin spoke up again.
"I don't know why, but there was once a rumor that my master was the greatest expert in this region. Some people even traveled here just to visit him. But now, those people have all vanished. If I ever mention that I've learned my master's martial arts, people just sneer and ask what on earth the 'Heavenly White Divine Art' is supposed to be."
"..."
"I don't care if they mock me. I can accept that my own talent is lacking. But I cannot bear to see them point fingers at my master. Honestly, that is harder to endure than the fact that he might actually be a mediocre martial artist."
At those words, Seok Myeong’s eyes grew deep and somber.
He had misunderstood. He had assumed that Hyeok-jin simply disliked Baek Yang-cheon. But that wasn't it. It was the pain of seeing the master he loved being ridiculed by others that he couldn't stand.
And that pain had eventually curdled into resentment.
Seok Myeong spoke carefully. "Hypothetically speaking..."
"..."
"What if Elder Baek’s Heavenly White Divine Art was actually a magnificent martial art? What would you do then?"
"Ha, that’s impossible. I know that martial art better than anyone."
Hyeok-jin shook his head. He dismissed the idea with a bitter smile, as if it weren't even worth a moment's consideration.
Seok Myeong didn't say anything. He didn't laugh, nor did he agree. He simply looked at the youth, his face set in a serious silence.
How much time passed? Hyeok-jin, who had been quiet, spoke up again.
"If..." His voice grew gradually louder. "It’s impossible, of course, but if my master really was a great expert and the Heavenly White Divine Art was a magnificent martial art..."
Hyeok-jin looked back at the pond before continuing.
"I wouldn't give up like this. Even if I had to live my whole life as a third-rate warrior, even if I were met with mockery and contempt, I would never abandon that martial art until the day I die."
It was a vow filled with resolve. He looked like a man speaking of a dream that could never come true.
"I hope you keep that promise."
The expression on Seok Myeong’s face as he spoke was more serious than ever before.
*
The next morning.
Hyeok-jin climbed the mountain at dawn.
Baek Yang-cheon had requested that he come to the small lake on Sichuan Mountain. Hyeok-jin had argued that he needed to stop by the Stone Martial Hall, but he eventually gave in with a disgruntled expression when Baek Yang-cheon insisted it was his final request.
Seok Myeong and Baek Yang-cheon were already waiting halfway up the mountain. It was a wide, open space with about fifty paces of clear ground on either side.
"Everything is ready, so please begin."
"I'll say it one more time: I cannot take responsibility for the outcome."
"Of course. Do you think I would have asked this of you without being prepared?"
Seok Myeong had finally decided to follow Baek Yang-cheon’s wishes. The old man's final plea had moved his heart, which had been wavering with hesitation.
Please, help me become a master my disciple won't be ashamed of.
Tap. Tap.
Seok Myeong took his position behind the old man and began to strike his pressure points, injecting the necessary internal energy.
In an instant, the Demon Acupoints were struck open. Baek Yang-cheon’s pupils trembled violently as True Qi erupted from the points. Soon, a transformation occurred as the surging energy merged with the Origin Qi in his lower Dantian.
Seok Myeong took a step back and watched the change.
Just how strong will he be?
Baek Yang-cheon’s martial prowess—if he was someone who could claim he had almost reached the Absolute Realm, Seok Myeong was eager to see just what kind of power he would display.
Sssssss.
A shimmering haze of energy seeped into the old man. Tangible qi erupted all at once, shrouding his body. Seok Myeong noted the peculiar transformation. It was a phenomenon he had never seen before.
The Demon Acupoints were wringing out the body's Origin Qi. It was no different from lighting a fire using one's remaining life force as fuel.
Even after the transformation ended and the air grew quiet, Baek Yang-cheon did not open his eyes. In the meantime, Hyeok-jin arrived. A moment later, as if he had been waiting for his disciple's presence, Baek Yang-cheon opened his eyes and stood up.
"Master..."
Hyeok-jin was stunned to see his master standing tall and dignified without any assistance. This was not the master he knew. Ever since his illness had worsened, Hyeok-jin had never seen him stand up on his own.
"Hyeok-jin."
The master’s eyes were warmer than anything else as he looked at him. Unlike his usual self, his voice was full of strength, and Hyeok-jin responded instinctively.
"Yes, Master."
"Watch closely—every single move. You must remember my movements without missing a thing."
"..."
"Furthermore, you must think deeply. There is no single 'correct' answer in the study of martial arts. If a martial art claims to have a fixed answer, then it is not a proper martial art."
Baek Yang-cheon drew his sword.
Sliiiide.
Unlike before, the sound of the steel was smooth and refined. He had likely sharpened it before bed just for this moment.
I wonder what kind of martial art it is.
With a heart full of anticipation, Seok Myeong drew his own sword. He felt a strange sense of excitement. He steeled himself with the thought that he must do his absolute best against Baek Yang-cheon, who was engaging in this duel by burning away his very life.
"According to the customs of the Jianghu, this old man should concede the first three moves, but..." Baek Yang-cheon continued with a smile. "Since this is my last chance to show my disciple, I shall attack first."
Seok Myeong tightened his grip on his sword. The Azure Clarity Sword, which he had received from his master, True Person Song Hye, extended vibrantly.
"Come."
*
Whoosh!
Baek Yang-cheon’s first movement was incredibly concise. It was a level of movement that looked like he was simply tapping the sword naturally.
Seok Myeong moved with ease as he observed the trajectory. He naturally parried the sword, deflecting it diagonally.
The first exchange.
Clang!
A short metallic ring echoed as the swords collided.
Swish!
The sword came in again. It was a thrusting motion similar to the first—just as concise, and the direction and trajectory were almost identical. The only slight difference was the orientation of the back of the hand. In the first form, it had faced the ground; in this form, it faced the sky.
Clang!
Seok Myeong blocked the sword. The ring of steel was clear.
What is he doing?
Hyeok-jin watched, feeling frustrated. He was bewildered by what he was seeing. A spar was underway, but it seemed far too light to be called a duel.
Baek Yang-cheon’s third strike flew toward Seok Myeong. It was as concise as the first movement, and the trajectory was the same as well. However, the sensation upon impact was fundamentally different.
Clang!
It’s heavy.
There was no visible strength behind it. It was a strike that showed no significant difference from the first or second movements. If he had to find a difference, it was a matter of a single step. And yet, the shock transmitted through the sword was strong enough to vibrate through his entire body.
Whoosh!
As Baek Yang-cheon’s sword moved for the fourth time, Seok Myeong’s eyes grew sharp. Instinctively, he circulated his internal energy to protect his body as he received the opponent’s blade.
Zzzzzing!
"Ugh!"
Seok Myeong’s eyes widened at the powerful impact. He let out a groan of disbelief. From a strike that looked no different from the previous ones, he felt a power unlike anything before.
It was heavy. It was strong. Strong enough that he would have suffered internal injuries if he hadn't bolstered himself with internal energy.
Startled, Seok Myeong glanced toward Hyeok-jin. He wondered what the youth was thinking as he watched this. But, as expected, Hyeok-jin was looking on with a blunt, unimpressed expression.
"I will attack differently this time. But be careful, as it will be harder to block than before."
His swordplay changed. Moving his body forward and then back, he made a motion as if slashing his sword diagonally to the right.
Clang!
The initial feeling of the collision was light.
The second attack began.
Swish!
With the same movement as before, he moved his body forward and then pulled back, slashing the sword to the right. The difference was that while he had moved a full step the first time, he had reduced the range of his body's movement to a half-step.
Flutter.
But from Seok Myeong’s perspective, it was entirely different. It was the same motion, but the movement had become unpredictably fast, and the sword's trajectory was far sharper.
Drip.
In the end, a small scratch appeared on his face.
The third one...
Seok Myeong began to feel extremely tense. Since the previous thrusts had grown in power with each repetition, he could expect the same here. But if even the second attack had been this difficult to block, he couldn't imagine how hard the third would be.
Slide.
Suddenly, the old man lunged forward. Instinctively, Seok Myeong thrust his sword out quickly to drive him back.
It was then.
The old man smoothly pulled his body back, evading Seok Myeong’s blade, and simultaneously moved his right hand, which held his sword, with lightning speed.
Whoosh!
Seok Myeong twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the blade.
What on earth is this...
A cold sweat broke out. If Baek Yang-cheon had intended to kill him, that attack would have left him severely wounded. Seok Myeong bit his lip. At the same time, the sword in his hand began to tremble slightly.
The opponent’s attacks were simple movements. Furthermore, they weren't attacks that concentrated internal energy, like Sword Shadows or Sword Aura. And yet, they were so fast and sharp that he couldn't help but be tense.
Baek Yang-cheon’s fourth attack began. Seok Myeong saw him approaching. He also knew that the man would pull back and slash his sword to the right.
Swoosh—!
In an instant, Seok Myeong unleashed his Body Lightness Law. His intention was to not miss the moment the man lunged forward and then pulled back.
The First Initial Form of the Heaven and Earth Sword.
He intended to stop being on the defensive and suppress him at once with the Sprinting Scratch Sword. The Sprinting Scratch Sword was a technique faster than any other in the Qingcheng Sect, designed to seize a split-second opening.
Slide.
As expected, the old man moved his body back, and it seemed he had fallen perfectly into Seok Myeong’s trap.
At that moment.
Shwaaaaak.
As he pulled back, Baek Yang-cheon’s sword, which had been moving to the left, began to draw a faint curve. As Seok Myeong lunged in, aiming for the moment the man retreated, Baek Yang-cheon’s sword shimmered near Seok Myeong’s legs.
Seok Myeong’s face turned pale as he abruptly halted his movement. That was when it happened. The sword that had been aimed at Seok Myeong’s legs suddenly stopped precisely at his throat.
If he had been serious, it was an attack that could have taken his head.
Silence. A heavy silence fell.
Absurdly, Seok Myeong’s sword was pointed at the ground, while Baek Yang-cheon’s blade rested against Seok Myeong’s neck. Seok Myeong stared with a dazed expression, unable to comprehend how this had happened.
Only... only one thing had changed. The direction of the wrist holding the sword. It was just that one thing, but that tiny change had brought about an unbelievable result.
"This is the essence of the Heavenly White Divine Art that I have mastered."
Baek Yang-cheon’s voice drifted out then. It was a voice so soft it was barely audible even to Seok Myeong.
"I ask this of you, though I know it is shameless. If the opportunity arises, please teach that child. At the very least, with your eyes, you will realize the truth faster than he will."
It was a mundane and incredibly simple form. Yet Seok Myeong had been unable to do anything against it. Though Seok Myeong was usually able to distinguish between feints and real strikes in almost any martial art at a glance, this time, he couldn't make a judgment at all. No, he couldn't even predict it.
"What on earth are you two doing?"
Hyeok-jin’s angry voice echoed from a distance. He seemed to have failed to grasp the reality of the situation, shouting for an answer in his curiosity.
At his shout, Baek Yang-cheon took a step back. Then, this time, he took a proper Qi Gathering Stance.
"Shall we begin for real now?"
"Pardon?"
"I have to convince my disciple, don't I?"
Seok Myeong barely managed to shake off the shock from a moment ago and nodded.
"Let us go again."