Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Talent That Touches the Heavens
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"Scholar Cheon, this street will be under Dusik's watch until you return."
"Good. Help those in need, look after the struggling, and chase off the bad apples. If any martial artists show up, don't step in yourselves—report it to the Nangong Family. I've already given them a heads-up, so just drop my name and ask for the steward."
Seeing how thoroughly he'd prepared everything, Dusik felt his eyes grow hot.
Who would ever look out for them with such care? For lowly folks like them.
"Oh, and starting tomorrow, you and your gang guard the Clear Heart Tea House and the Saintess's infirmary. That's where I'll be putting you to work. So don't worry about food or shelter."
Dusik and his crew bowed even deeper.
"Sniff!"
Moved to tears, Dusik and his gang let them flow freely.
The group traveled in two carriages.
One carried Cheongyo and Songran, along with two maids to attend them.
The other was for Cheon Taesan and Yeoseol.
By Nangong Hak's arrangement, Eunbi would serve them.
A coachman who'd long worked for the Nangong Family handled the reins.
Nangong Hwajun, following behind the carriage, spoke up.
"Scholar Cheon, aren't you a bit too chummy with those lowlifes?"
He was referring to Dusik and his gang from earlier.
Nangong Pyo nodded in agreement.
In truth, consorting with street thugs was something they couldn't even imagine.
But Nangong Cheolwoong murmured quietly.
"Think about it. Do you really see those thugs as different from us collaterals?"
"Of course they are. What kind of talk is that?"
Nangong Hwajun bristled.
"What's the difference? Warmer rice and better clothes? Or learning martial arts? We're all penned in like livestock, facing discrimination. But Scholar Cheon treats even street rats like people. Did our instructors ever teach collaterals more than direct descendants?"
Nangong Cheolwoong continued.
"Scholar Cheon embraces even thugs, sharing insights with someone like me. He looks at everyone without distinction—collateral or direct, it doesn't matter to him."
Realizing he was right, the two flushed and nodded.
"I had it wrong. I was the one discriminating."
"Same here. I raged against collateral bias while doing the same to them. From now on, I'll follow your lead, Cheolwoong. Count on me."
"Not mine—Scholar Cheon's words. Only then might he point out our flaws."
The three took deep breaths, steeling their resolve anew.
A man gazing at a grave mound thrust his sword into the earth beside the tombstone.
"Wanbok. Rest easy."
His long hair whipped in the wind.
As he casually tied it back with a cord, his face came into view.
His stern eyes and square jaw gave off an impression of unyielding stubbornness.
A scar at the corner of his mouth pulled one side upward like a fishhook, making his lips twitch.
"Your revenge—your big brother will handle it."
A subordinate prostrated himself behind him.
"Branch Head. The target has left the Nangong Family."
"Escort size?"
"Just three."
"Three? Experts?"
"Duty Hall warriors. All first-rate swordsmen."
"And that's their full escort?"
"Yes."
"Sounds like he's pretty confident."
"Pardon?"
"That scholar's overestimating his skills. Makes sense—Wanbok wouldn't fall to some nobody. Anything else to report?"
"Two escorts joined. Maids invited to Elder Mak's sixtieth birthday."
"Dragging randoms along when he might not even survive. Our boys?"
"Twenty first-raters on standby."
"Good."
"Shall I call more?"
"Too many would draw eyes. That's plenty."
"Strike point?"
"Around the Anhui-Jiangxi border. Hit them disguised as bandits when they cross the mountains. That way, Mak Yeohyeon and Nangong Hak's wrath goes to the bandits, not us."
"A brilliant plan, Branch Head."
"They'll arrive in four days. Tell everyone to get there first and prepare."
"Yes, Branch Head."
Hundred-Year Fire Crucian Sword Mok Jin poured liquor over Wanbok's grave.
"Just wait a little. I'll lay them on your altar."
As his epithet suggested, Hundred-Year Fire Crucian Sword Mok Jin was a Blood Cult elite who'd reached the pinnacle by devouring a century-old crucian carp's inner core.
His crucian-like looks and rise via its core made his moniker popular among enthusiasts.
He and Wanbok were meant to target Jong Sobin together, but Mok Jin held off the Nangong extermination squad while Red Dragon Spear Demon Wanbok pursued her.
Their bond was like sworn brothers in the Cult.
They'd set out for this mission as a rivers-and-lakes jaunt, but Wanbok's death kept Mok Jin from returning—he lurked for revenge.
The moment they left the Nangong Family, Yeoseol was the happiest.
"Brother, can I do whatever I want now?"
Knowing exactly what she meant by "whatever," I gave a wry smile.
Until now, to hide her identity in the Nangong household, I'd constantly cautioned her against showing her abilities.
But no longer. With fewer eyes around, there was little to worry about.
Plus, inside the carriage, it was just us three including Eunbi—no need for much caution.
"Read all these books."
The carriage was packed with books for Yeoseol; one more wouldn't raise eyebrows.
She'd learned letters from me not long ago, breezing through the Thousand Character Classic and into the classics.
Others might think her recovered memories sped her learning, but knowing the truth, I was stunned by her aptitude.
Yeoseol had abilities like mine.
"I memorized them all."
She tossed the books back at me—after one look at the North Sea Ice Palace manual compiling their arts.
In a single day.
Eunbi, having witnessed Yeoseol's genius often in the Nangong house, barely blinked.
"Like brother, like sister—no surprise there. Memorize everything at a glance? Genius must run in the family."
Eunbi could embroider even in the jostling carriage, her focus impeccable.
"I can't embroider like you, Sister Eunbi. You're a genius too."
"Hohoho, thank you, Miss Yeoseol."
I said to Eunbi what I'd held back before.
"Eunbi, I feel bad making you suffer on our account. Sorry."
Staring at me, she chuckled softly.
"Scholar Cheon, why say such heartbreaking things? Thanks to you, my whole family is healthy. Your medicines and prescriptions saved us from major illnesses—Grandma, parents, little siblings too."
Choking up mid-sentence, she bit her lip.
"And I know you secretly sent money home so we could open a little shop. The pocket money whenever you visit—I'm always grateful. I'd follow you to hell and back if you asked."
Yeoseol rummaged in her bosom.
"Sister Eunbi likes money, huh? Here, a hundred-nyang bill. Brother gave it to me—now it's yours."
"Miss!"
"It's fine. Take it."
I added,
"Keep it. We'll need plenty there. Buy whatever."
"Yes."
Eunbi tucked the bill away.
As dusk fell, we headed to the first inn that caught our eye.
I'd have preferred camping to teach Yeoseol martial arts, but we booked rooms for Cheongyo and Songran.
"Tomorrow, camp and teach her properly."
After dinner, I took Yeoseol outside.
Nangong Cheolwoong and the other two tried to follow, but I asked them to guard Cheongyo's group at the inn and left.
"Yeoseol. Express the contents of yesterday's book through dance. Can you?"
"Easy."
"Good. Perform the Snow Wind Sword Technique."
Taking the wooden sword I'd brought, she pondered briefly before moving slowly.
North Sea Ice Palace arts were mostly feminine—delicate and elegant.
The Snow Wind Sword Technique epitomized this: sharp as snowflakes in wind, yet pursuing freeform grace.
Seemingly scattered strokes hid myriad variations.
"She truly understands the Snow Wind Sword Technique."
The sword intent that took years to grasp, she intuited from one read.
"A genius surpassing even me. No wonder the Demonic Cult and Blood Cult hunt Ice Sacred Bodies."
Above all, wielding natural qi in her strokes felt utterly seamless.
She unleashed enough sword qi to shred the surrounding brush, yet her breathing stayed even.
Proof she'd mastered channeling inner energy with natural qi.
"Ice White Asura Sword Technique."
At my cue, her wooden sword danced again.
The Ice White Asura Sword was one of the Ice Palace's rare masculine arts.
The palace did have male disciples.
A domineering sword style for them.
As the name implied, it fused ancient Demonic Cult swordsmanship that leaked out with Ice Palace techniques.
Today's Demonic Cult was the New Demonic Cult; the jianghu distinguished old from new.
The old pursued the demonic path to demon godhood and sainthood.
But a faction pushing world domination split off, founding the New Demonic Cult a century ago.
What people now called the Demonic Cult was the new one.
"Her power's still nascent, so the domineering aura's weak, but she's executing the Ice White Asura Sword's intent perfectly."
No flaws to critique in her flawless forms.
"Scattering sword qi from an immature dantian with natural qi mastery... Once her dantian fully forms, the world will yield 'strongest under heaven' to her."
Watching, I pondered if limiting her to North Sea Ice Palace arts was wise.
She could master any style, so sticking to one wasted her talent.
Without my input, she flowed into the palace's advanced Thousand-Year Ice Sword.
Witnessing it, I realized Ice Palace arts couldn't fulfill her potential.
Ice-cold qi arts were inherently unbalanced; such bias ill-suited her.
Her body embraced natural qi as if meridians incarnate.
Forcing a single amplified energy on her was folly.
"Sorry to Jong Sobin, but I won't teach Yeoseol only Ice Palace arts."
If she later wanted to lead the palace, I'd not stop her.
Nor force the warrior's path on her.
But I'd nurture her gifts to the utmost.
Much later, after reviewing her forms, we returned to the inn.
As I headed to my room, Nangong Cheolwoong, Hwajun, and Pyo eyed me with eager anticipation.
I knew their hopes and couldn't ignore them.
"You three, come to my room."
They rushed in like cats to a meal, claiming seats in an instant.