Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Intent of the Sword
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Upon realizing the state of his own body, Neung Un-bi was buzzing with energy.
How could he possibly stay still?
Not when he was overflowing with this much power!
This was the nature of a martial artist. The moment they gained new strength, an irresistible urge to test it would arise.
And if that power was a world apart from what it used to be, the urge was simply unbearable.
However! He had to endure it, for no one could see. He would have to wait until he reached his residence to try it out.
He wasn't some beast ruled by instinct; he had at least that much patience.
And…
“Wang Cheon.”
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you busy?”
“Right now, the busiest I can be… is looking after you, Young Master, since you’ve just recovered. There’s nothing else.”
“Hey, what do you mean ‘looking after me’? I told you I’m fine.”
“…”
“Think carefully. Isn’t there something? Something you haven’t been able to do, that’s been put off… you know, something like that?”
“Not really…”
“Tsk! I said think! Don’t just say no! I’m even giving you this gracious opportunity!”
“…”
At Neung Un-bi’s outburst, Wang Cheon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
This was unsettling.
His master wore an expression that screamed he was about to cause some trouble as soon as he was sent away.
“What kind of trouble are you planning to start this time?”
“Trouble? What trouble?”
“You’re trying so hard to get rid of me.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? What do you take me for…”
“I think I see you quite clearly?”
This guy. He looked slow, but he had a sharp side to him.
Perhaps because they were always together, he seemed to know his personality better than anyone.
But he had to get rid of him. If he was seen practicing his martial arts, who knew what kind of rumors would spread, making his situation even more difficult.
“My, my. If you don’t want to believe me, then don’t. Why make a fuss when I’m offering you a rare chance?”
“…”
“Still, if there’s something you want to do, go do it. I need to get some rest. Aigoo, my body aches.”
Playing dumb, Neung Un-bi clutched his back and entered his room.
*Thud.*
As the door was firmly shut, Wang Cheon let out a deep sigh.
…Could he be any more obvious?
Well, it was a relief he only acted this way around him.
Sighing repeatedly, Wang Cheon stared at the door for a moment, lost in thought.
He could picture it perfectly.
Inside, Neung Un-bi would be holding the doorknob, his ear pressed against the door, listening.
“Hah, honestly. I’m going to grow old from this, I swear. I’m already worried about the gray hairs I’m getting…”
Muttering to himself, Wang Cheon turned away.
Just let him do whatever he wants.
He must have been desperate to say something as insane as refusing to be the Cult Leader’s disciple.
One hundred and thirty-six times.
Though Neung Un-bi was likely unaware, that was the number of assassination attempts he had thwarted before the young master fell into Qi Deviation.
Tragically, aside from the Cult Leader who watched over him in secret, no one had extended a helping hand.
Wasn’t that why he had resorted to a forbidden text, ultimately suffering from Qi Deviation?
He wanted to become stronger.
He wanted the power to stand tall on his own, without any backing.
Constantly crushed by that pressure, he had always kept his guard up, his words sharp as blades to everyone but him.
Fortunately, after waking from his Qi Deviation, his personality had changed, regardless of who he was with.
He had become brighter, more cheerful.
The Cult Leader must have known this, which was why he had smoothed over so many of his incidents.
So, let him do whatever he was planning for now.
Let him vent his frustrations.
If he went too far, he could just step in then, couldn’t he?
He’d get an earful, but still.
“Well then, Young Master! While you rest, I’ll go visit my mother. It’ll take about three or four hours, so don’t look for me and just wait.”
“…”
Wang Cheon deliberately shouted, but no answer came.
Knowing that his master was probably inside, grinning from ear to ear, Wang Cheon chuckled and left the residence.
Of course! He wasn’t really leaving!
*Whoosh!*
Slowing his footsteps to feign distance, Wang Cheon suddenly twisted his body and leaped, vanishing without a trace.
It was a stealth technique known to all guards of the Demonic Cult. However, it was at a level that the current Neung Un-bi couldn't detect—no, a level he couldn't sense even if he became much stronger.
A long while after Wang Cheon disappeared.
*Creeeak.*
The firmly shut door to Neung Un-bi’s room opened cautiously.
“…”
Peeking his head out, Neung Un-bi surveyed his surroundings, then focused his senses to carefully search for any hidden presences.
“Khuhuhu, he’s gone. He’s really gone.”
Satisfied that he felt nothing, Neung Un-bi let out a strange laugh and strode confidently outside.
“So, it’ll take him a good three or four hours, huh?”
Muttering to himself, Neung Un-bi headed to the center of the courtyard.
He had waited with such bated breath.
Normally, it wouldn’t matter, but he absolutely could not let anyone see him train now. Wang Cheon would surely notice the changes in him.
He might seem a bit goofy, but his skills were anything but lacking. The proof was that Neung Un-bi had never once been able to accurately gauge his level.
It was likely the same for the guard captains of the other disciples.
The protectors of the Demonic Cult’s Dragon Seeds.
They stood beside those who would one day rule the cult, so they were not chosen lightly.
Naturally, they were all masters whose skills were counted among the best in the Demonic Cult.
And Wang Cheon was the most special among them. He had been personally selected and assigned by the Cult Leader to protect Neung Un-bi, who had to endure external threats alone without any factional support.
This wooden hut, too, was a place the Cult Leader had ordered to be protected for his sake after he fell into Qi Deviation. No one but Wang Cheon and himself could approach unless they were prepared to have their heads fly at the Cult Leader’s command.
And now, thanks to his brilliant acting, he had tricked Wang Cheon into leaving, securing his freedom for the next three to four hours.
In other words, he could train to his heart’s content.
Unleashing every last bit of his newfound power.
“Hoo.”
Standing at ease in the center of the courtyard, Neung Un-bi lightly controlled his breathing and checked his body.
As expected…
His energy flowed without any obstruction.
What was he to do with this feeling of fullness? As impurities left with his exhale and his lungs filled with refreshing air on the inhale, a faint smile graced Neung Un-bi’s lips.
First, slowly.
His leg moved, following his extended foot, and his hands soon followed.
Light.
His movements were as gentle as the hem of a robe swaying in a soft breeze.
Feeling a sense of relief, as if something blocked had burst open, Neung Un-bi gradually increased the speed of his movements.
*Pak! Papak!*
From the thrust of his hand, the kick that tore through the air, to the way his body landed back on the ground.
Demonic energy permeated every single motion, flowing as naturally as water, and at its peak, it burst through the air with a satisfying crack.
“This is great!”
When the movements he pictured in his head were expressed so naturally by his body, Neung Un-bi, filled with excitement, grabbed a wooden sword and ran vigorously across the courtyard.
*Shwiiiik.*
The sword flowed with the wind.
He couldn't feel the air resistance that should have been there.
A horizontal slash cut through the desired amount of air, and when pulled with force, it shot up diagonally before smoothly slashing downward.
Next, the demonic energy he gathered swelled his sleeves, flowed down his arm, and filled the sword. This was the art of charging the sword.
It was something any practitioner of internal arts could do, but it would be difficult to perform it as naturally as the current Neung Un-bi.
*Paang!*
A fierce energy exploded from the tip of the sword, stirring up a gust of wind.
“…Now that it’s filled, it shall manifest.”
The energy drawn into the sword shimmered on its surface before extending straight out, becoming longer than the physical blade.
To fill was to charge, and to reveal externally was to manifest.
This was Sword Aura, a technique used by renowned masters who represented their respective regions.
*Chwiririk!*
The energy, gently layered over the sword, stretched out like a whip, and following the sword’s movement, it drew an arc in the air as if it were a canvas.
*Skgeok.*
The severed cross-section of a training dummy three yards away was incredibly smooth.
*Thud!*
Immediately retreating and leaping into the air, Neung Un-bi powerfully thrust his sword toward the dummy.
*Pyut!*
The elongated Sword Aura snapped and shot forward like an arrow.
The state of Projection.
*Ppagagak!*
Before the severed piece of the wooden dummy could hit the ground, it collided with the energy Neung Un-bi had unleashed and shattered into pieces.
This much, while a bit strenuous, was something he had been capable of before.
What came next was a path his current body had never walked.
A life from long ago.
Neung Un-bi recalled the memories of Cheok Wol-rin that he had kept buried deep inside.
The stage after Projection, Intent.
Having caught his breath, Neung Un-bi closed his eyes and slowly focused his mind.
Simply manifesting and projecting energy wasn’t enough.
Whatever martial art one used, the action had to carry intent. If it carried killing intent, it would become an Intent to Kill, harming the target. If it carried life-giving intent, it would become an Intent to Heal, saving the target.
One had to imbue every movement with energy and intent, and only by mastering this could a martial art possess true power.
Neung Un-bi slowly concentrated, drawing on the memories of his past.
*Parararak!*
A wind rose from the naturally generated energy, making his robes flutter.
*Tuduk.*
The string tying his hair snapped from the overflowing energy, and his hair scattered softly in the wind.
*Wooooong!*
The sword began to hum, responding to Neung Un-bi’s energy.
Then, thin, thread-like wisps of energy rose one by one and covered the sword. The strands of energy layered upon each other until they completely enveloped the blade, emitting a dim light.
“Now!”
The moment Neung Un-bi’s eyes flew open, he swung the sword with all his might toward a large rock standing in a corner of the courtyard.
*Pagagagak!*
“…”
But the rock remained unscratched.
The wooden sword in his hand couldn't withstand the energy and had simply exploded.
“Damn it… I should have used a real sword.”
Though his tone was tinged with regret for not cutting the rock, a satisfied smile played on Neung Un-bi’s lips.
The rock? That didn’t matter.
He had imbued it with Intent. That was enough.
This was all thanks to the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill. Neung Un-bi once again offered a silent thanks to Han Ui-gyeom for creating this opportunity.
All that was left now was to get used to it.
Once he grew accustomed to the state of Intent, he might even be able to reach the realm of Steel, a place he had never walked in his past life.
At that time, his own unique martial art, which existed between Intent and Steel, had been sufficient.
The realm of Steel was not easily reached, and he hadn't had the time.
But his starting point was different from the past. And he had plenty of time.
So, he had to try. He had to reach that place called Steel.
“…But I must hide it.”
Dodging the Cult Leader's three strikes was surprising only because the target was Neung Un-bi. It was proof that he was not only recovering from his injuries but also regaining his strength.
But the state of Intent was different.
It was the first step toward the realm of Steel. If anyone found out, rumors would spread, and the vultures who were already keeping a close eye on him would not leave him be.
He would practice diligently, keeping it hidden until all his preparations were complete.
The martial arts of the Demonic Cult, engraved in his mind like a brand, in addition to the arts from his past life.
Once he became familiar with all of them?
“The Great Escape from the Demonic Cult! I’ll disappear forever. Khuhuhu.”
Reaffirming his goal once more, Neung Un-bi carelessly tossed aside the hilt-only wooden sword and disappeared back into his room.
Excitement was bubbling up to his throat, but excessive training was forbidden.
No matter how quickly he had recovered, no matter how much new power from the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill was coursing through his body.
There might still be aftereffects he couldn't feel, so he needed to rest sufficiently and recover completely.
*Tak.*
The door closed.
*Drrr, phuu…*
The loud sound of snoring, as if he had instantly fallen asleep, leaked out from under the door.
And a long while later.
“He’s a swordsman?”
Wang Cheon, who had been watching Neung Un-bi from a distance while concealed, had his eyes wide in disbelief.
What in the world was happening?
Neung Un-bi, who could barely manage the state of Projection, was suddenly unleashing Sword Silk? And a near-perfect Sword Silk at that!?
He rubbed his eyes again and again. It was definitely Neung Un-bi.
But it felt as if he were a complete stranger.
“Then he really has reached the state of Intent… So suddenly? Just like that?”
Wang Cheon was so shocked that he clamped a hand over his own mouth.
My heavens!
Even for the Cult Leader’s disciple, blessed with abundant talent, to achieve this at the mere age of eighteen…
If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would have never believed it.
Suddenly, the years of hardship Neung Un-bi had endured flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
“*Sob!*”
Perhaps it was the culmination of all the past sorrows welling up at once?
“Third Young Master…”
The moisture gathering in his eyes formed into streams and flowed down his cheeks.
“*Sniffle*, you’ve done so well. Truly, you’ve done so well. I knew you could do it. Yes! I knew the Young Master would succeed. With this, my future is truly bright… no, the Young Master’s future is…”
After accidentally revealing his hidden, darker desires, Wang Cheon hastily corrected himself, his eyes turning sharp.
“This is no time for this. I must spread the rumor immediately… no, there’s no need. Of course!”
Before, he had spread rumors for show, because his master had nothing.
But the situation was different now.
Why would he spread rumors about something he already possessed?
Now was the time to hide it.
Doesn’t a trump card shine brightest when revealed in a moment of crisis?
However, a select few had to be told.
So that those who had been waiting for Neung Un-bi’s change could be certain.
*Third Young Master, just you wait.*
*This Wang Cheon will stick by your side and rise in the world… no, I will become your steadfast pillar of support.*
*Until the day you become the next Cult Leader.*