Chapter 13
Bu Eun-seol was able to leave the Intermediate Hall after a month.
The Peerless Thunderbolt.
It was Cheon Un-gwang's exclusive martial art, and it took Bu Eun-seol an entire month to master the essence of the Killing Sword.
Considering that he had learned the Way of the Beast—which was said to be nearly impossible to master—in a mere fifteen days, this was an enormous amount of time to devote.
It was truly difficult.
Walking toward the Upper-Level Hall, Bu Eun-seol felt overwhelmed for the first time.
During that month, he had not simply learned a sword technique. He had learned the theory of orthodox martial arts that he had never been taught before.
He had to cram the essential principles of Superior Martial Arts—things that should have been absorbed slowly over years—into his mind within a single month...
That agonizing and painful process was difficult to put into words.
Clack.
As Bu Eun-seol opened the door to the Upper-Level Hall, a peculiar expression crossed his face.
Surprisingly, the Upper-Level Hall resembled not a martial training hall but rather an academy for studying texts.
The semicircular interior had a raised platform at the front, and below it were arranged desks and chairs.
And upon the platform stood an old man with his white hair tied up—Dan Cheon-yang, the head instructor of the Upper-Level Hall.
"I am called Bu Eun-seol."
When his gaze met Dan Cheon-yang's, Bu Eun-seol respectfully clasped his hands together.
"I was training under Head Instructor Cheon Un-gwang, and today I have been promoted to the Upper-Level Hall."
"I have heard the stories. A martial talent of considerable skill, they say."
Dan Cheon-yang smiled gently and gestured toward an empty seat.
"Come, sit down. I was just about to begin."
As Bu Eun-seol took his seat, he felt the sharp gazes of the surrounding trainees.
It's different.
Bu Eun-seol could feel it.
The gaze of contempt that had clung to him relentlessly until now had vanished. Now he felt only gazes of curiosity, awe, or envy.
And the reason was that he had struck down Byeok Han-seong in a single blow.
For something as trivial as this?
Disgust welled up within Bu Eun-seol.
Was wiping corpses a thing to be pointed at with fingers, while a murim warrior cutting down a person was something to be met with awe and admiration?
Bu Eun-seol, who was learning martial arts solely for revenge, could not understand this cruel and heartless world of murim.
"Well then, let us begin today's study of doctrine interpretation."
Dan Cheon-yang, who had been glancing at Bu Eun-seol, spoke in a low voice while standing on the platform.
"Since a new trainee has arrived, I shall explain once more the chant formulas of the Fire Rain Sword and the Seven Teachings. Power throughout the entire body, standing upright and centered, chest drawn in and back extended, a single strike not yet deeply penetrating..."
The chant formulas of the Fire Rain Sword—which spoke of destroying all things with droplets of fire—were, in truth, no different from the sword studies of any other sect.
Looked at differently, this could be interpreted as placing that much importance on fundamentals.
So that's what it was.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he listened intently to Dan Cheon-yang's doctrine lecture.
If he had not learned martial theory and Advanced Sword Studies in the Intermediate Hall? He would never have been able to understand these doctrines.
The doctrine lecture continued for about an hour.
"Shall we conclude today's doctrine interpretation here?"
Closing the book, Dan Cheon-yang descended from the platform with a stooped gait and spoke.
"The five who were previously corrected by this old man. And you, the one who has just arrived—follow me."
Noticing Bu Eun-seol's puzzled expression, Dan Cheon-yang said in a gentle voice.
"There is no need to be tense. We are simply going to the training ground where sword techniques are practiced."
Stepping outside, Bu Eun-seol saw a training ground paved with blue stone slabs.
The sunlight was warm, and a cool spring breeze blew from somewhere.
It was peaceful.
If Bu Eun-seol had not gone through the Second Trial. If he had not fought a life-or-death duel with Byeok Han-seong in the Intermediate Hall...
Even Bu Eun-seol might have become intoxicated by this leisurely and peaceful atmosphere of the Upper-Level Hall.
Before long, it will demand blood again.
He could guarantee it.
Once the martial hall's curriculum ended, all this peace would vanish like foam.
"You there, come closer as well."
Dan Cheon-yang, noticing Bu Eun-seol lagging behind while lost in deep thought, gestured with his hand.
"The time for learning is limited. Cast aside your idle thoughts."
Dan Cheon-yang seemed to see straight through Bu Eun-seol's mind.
"I apologize."
As Bu Eun-seol bowed his head, Dan Cheon-yang smiled gently.
"There is no need to apologize to this old man."
In the vast training ground, which seemed to be roughly a thousand square meters, six trainees including Bu Eun-seol had gathered in a circle, and at the center stood Dan Cheon-yang with his back bent.
"Today, let us discuss Swordlessness Surpasses Swordsmanship."
Dan Cheon-yang picked up a gaunt tree branch tucked into his waist.
Then, from behind his skinny, stooped figure, an aura rose that evoked a great mountain range.
"According to Instructor Cheon, you have only just begun learning Sword Studies—no, Martial Arts."
Dan Cheon-yang's gaze remained fixed on Bu Eun-seol.
"Is that true?"
Bu Eun-seol nodded without hesitation.
"It is."
At that moment, the eyes of the trainees standing around changed.
The one who had killed Byeok Han-seong, a disciple of the Asura Sword Sect, in a single strike had only just begun learning Martial Arts?
Thud.
At that instant, the trainees' gazes changed completely.
—Unbelievable!
But they had to believe it.
Because if one lied before Dan Cheon-yang, the instructor of the Upper-Level Hall—no, an Elder of the Fire Rain Sword Sect—one could not even remain in the Demonic Path Murim, let alone become a Ten Demonic Heir.
'This is troublesome.'
Feeling the gazes pouring in from all directions, Bu Eun-seol's brow furrowed slightly.
—He must not draw attention.
The truth Bu Eun-seol had learned after passing through the Second Gate of Death was that he must never attract the other trainees' attention.
To receive attention was to become a target of wariness.
"Hmm. I see."
Whether or not the trainees' gazes changed, Dan Cheon-yang kept addressing Bu Eun-seol.
"Then, do you happen to know the martial principle of Swordlessness Surpasses Swordsmanship?"
"I do not."
"I see. Then I shall explain it simply."
Smiling gently, Dan Cheon-yang glanced at the tree branch and continued in a calm voice.
"Swordlessness Surpasses Swordsmanship is, as the words say, a realm in which one can defeat a sword-wielding opponent even without a sword. In short, it is a state where there is no restriction whatsoever in executing sword techniques, whether or not a sword is present."
Perhaps because he was speaking of profound Sword Studies, strength gradually entered Dan Cheon-yang's voice.
"To reach the realm of Swordlessness Surpasses Swordsmanship, the boundary between the arm and the sword must be eliminated. Can anyone guess what this means?"
Only then did Dan Cheon-yang withdraw his gaze from Bu Eun-seol and look at the surrounding trainees.
But no one answered. Most of the Demonic Sword Sects valued real combat, and there was no place that discussed the principles of Sword Studies or the realms of Martial Arts.
"Is it not similar in meaning to Sword-Hand Unity or Body-Sword Unity?"
After a long silence, a boy with an iron sword strapped to his back stepped forward, and Dan Cheon-yang wore a faint smile.
"It is a little different from those. Sword-Hand Unity is using the sword as freely as a hand through which blood and flesh flow, and Body-Sword Unity is a realm in which the physical body itself becomes a sword."
Then Dan Cheon-yang's gaze fixed on Bu Eun-seol once more.
"What do you think? Can you guess the meaning of the boundary between the arm and the sword having to disappear?"
Bu Eun-seol remained silent.
But Dan Cheon-yang waited patiently, and persistently, for Bu Eun-seol's answer.
"In my opinion..."
Breaking the long silence, Bu Eun-seol slowly opened his mouth.
"Is it not seizing control of the boundary between existence and nonexistence?"
It was a puzzling answer.
But upon hearing it, Dan Cheon-yang wore a meaningful smile.
"You truly must be learning sword techniques for the first time."
At Dan Cheon-yang's words, all the trainees sneered.
—He pretended to be an enormous prodigy... but he was just trying to cover it up with a plausible-sounding answer.
—Seeing how Instructor Dan speaks, he really must be a novice after all.
Listening to the trainees' murmuring voices, Dan Cheon-yang looked at Bu Eun-seol and spoke in a voice barely audible.
"If that were not the case, how could he possibly fathom the realization of a peerless swordsman who has crossed between life and death for decades?"
At that moment, the trainees' gazes rippled like waves.
Looking at the situation, didn't the story Bu Eun-seol had told seem quite reasonable?
"I merely dared to guess."
"Hohoho. That could be so."
With a satisfied smile, Dan Cheon-yang spoke to Bu Eun-seol in a low voice.
"Aren't you curious why this old man is so persistently questioning you?"
"I am."
"While you were in the Intermediate Hall, all the trainees here learned the first form of the Fire Rain Sword, Mystery Upon Mystery. And now they have entered into the study of sword theory."
Walking closer to Bu Eun-seol, he spoke in a cold voice, unlike before.
"But because you suddenly barged in midway, this old man is in a difficult situation. Do you understand what I mean?"
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Up until now, he had been fortunate enough to receive one-on-one instruction from Jin Gak and Cheon Un-gwang.
But the Upper-Level Hall was where prodigies selected to learn the true Fire Rain Sword were gathered. Exceptional education could never be permitted.
"If you cannot immediately understand and keep up with what I ask now, this old man intends to cast you out at once."
Dan Cheon-yang looked with sharp eyes at the five trainees standing behind Bu Eun-seol.
"The same goes for all of you. You may have come to the Upper-Level Hall, but you have not properly mastered the sword techniques of the sect."
Across the wide training ground, a silence as heavy as a lump of lead flowed.
"If you too cannot immediately understand and realize the sword theory this old man expounds today, you will have to leave at once from the martial arts hall established by the sect."
Only now did Bu Eun-seol understand why Dan Cheon-yang had called the five trainees and himself separately.
'So he intends to confirm whether we are material worthy of remaining in the Upper-Level Hall.'
The Fire Rain Sword Sect, called the Demonic Path's Greatest Sword Sect.
The process of learning its Sword Studies was never easy.
"Since you seem to understand the principle of Swordlessness Surpasses Swordsmanship to some degree... I shall ask you first."
Flash!
A streak of light flashed, and before one knew it, Dan Cheon-yang had thrust a twig right up against Bu Eun-seol's forehead.
"If this old man had been holding a longsword, your brow would have been pierced by the sword's tip."
Then, after withdrawing his hand, he asked Bu Eun-seol.
"Suppose you were attacked suddenly as just now, but you have no sword in your hand. How would you execute your sword techniques?"
"If I have no sword in my hand..."
"I tell you in advance, this is a question-and-answer assuming real battle. If you give an answer that floats among the clouds, it would be better not to answer at all."
A sigh escaped from Bu Eun-seol's lips of its own accord.
Exchanging sword theory felt harder than surviving through extreme battle and contests of life and death.
Then, suddenly, he met Dan Cheon-yang's sharp eyes.
'If this is real battle...'
Dan Cheon-yang, even without a sword—no, even with that thin twig—could have easily pierced through his head.
'I have no sword. I have no sword...'
Only then did Bu Eun-seol realize something, and he nodded.
"You said the opponent is certainly holding a sword."
And with a confident face, he stared straight into Dan Cheon-yang's eyes.
"I will use the opponent's sword. That is the Swordlessness Surpasses Swordsmanship I can perform right now."
Swoosh.
And with a movement like a lightning flame, Bu Eun-seol reached out his hand toward the twig Dan Cheon-yang was holding.
"That is a hasty conclusion."
With a laugh, Dan Cheon-yang lightly swatted Bu Eun-seol's wrist with the hand technique of Shattering Void.
"?"
But Dan Cheon-yang's form did not unfold to its end.
Bu Eun-seol, having predicted his movement in advance, had slipped inside his guard once more.
"...!"
Dan Cheon-yang opened his mouth, but no voice came out.
As an Elder of the Fire Rain Sword Sect, his skill was as far above Bu Eun-seol's as the heavens are above the earth.
Yet the reason Bu Eun-seol had been able to close the distance was his keen eye, capable of predicting a form from hand movement alone.
And the terrifyingly sharp ability of the Beast Path.
"Huhuh..."
Dan Cheon-yang, who had stood with his mouth open for a long while, burst into a hearty laugh.
"Uhahaha!"
As if he had discovered something amusing, he pointed at Bu Eun-seol's face and burst into laughter, then,
"Pass."
He patted Bu Eun-seol on the shoulder and nodded.