Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Dawn Sword Practice
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The sound of birds chirping could be heard.
Morning.
Su-a opened her eyes and first kicked off the blanket. Yawning, she nodded off for a moment before sitting up.
"...Daddyyy..."
She opened the door to the next room, but he wasn't there. Su-a grabbed a towel and turned around.
She headed to the backyard of the Third Hall.
A person moving before dawn had broken. She could see him slowly wielding his sword.
The red-tinged sword blended into the chirping of the birds. He was clearly moving, yet it felt like he wasn't-a strange sight.
Extremely slowed, controlled movements.
Su-a sat on a polished wooden stump, crossing her legs and resting her arms on them as she watched the martial artist move.
Perfect concentration. He hadn't even noticed her arrival. His movements were so slow that, at a glance, he seemed to be standing still.
But Su-a couldn't tear her eyes away. She knew nothing about martial arts, but she could instinctively tell this was no ordinary sight.
Splitting a single motion into hundreds of parts and repeating it as slowly as possible-that's what Dad had said.
Even her older brother and sister, who tried imitating him, collapsed before completing the first motion. Just a brief attempt left them drenched in sweat like rain, soaking the floor.
A continuous series of incredibly difficult motions.
And Dad performing them effortlessly.
Su-a fidgeted with her hands as she quietly watched her dad. She memorized each movement in her head, unable to look away from the tip of the slowly moving blood sword.
Perfect form. It felt like gazing at a meticulously sculpted statue.
As dawn broke, the final sword slid into its sheath. Red Cloud, cooling his sweat, spun around in surprise.
"...Su-a? How long have you been here?"
"Daddyyy."
Su-a toddled over and clung to him. Red Cloud hesitated awkwardly.
"You'll get sweaty."
"I have a towel."
Su-a handed him the towel she'd brought. Her slightly widened eyes soon curved into a small smile.
He knelt to her level, and a hand gently stroked her head.
"Thanks."
"Ehehe."
She loved that big hand. The hand that gently petted her head.
Su-a's stomach growled. Red Cloud chuckled.
"Not hungry?"
"I am."
"Then I'll wash up quick, and we'll eat together. Got it?"
"Yes!"
"Wait here just a sec."
Su-a waved as Red Cloud left. Once he was gone, she hopped down from the stump.
Like... this?
Grabbing a tree branch, Su-a began to move.
Imitating exactly what she'd just seen.
...
The dawn training was simple.
Loosening unused muscles and awakening the dormant body.
It wasn't even worth calling it martial arts. Just something he'd naturally come to know as his realm advanced.
He had replaced all Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword practices with mental visualization. As enemy territory, he couldn't afford even a moment's lapse.
After the light training, he washed up. He crossed paths with Na-rin and Gwang-yang, who had come out late.
"...Master? You didn't sleep?"
"It's not even dawn yet, what..."
He had come out unusually early.
But there was a reason. After entering this Heavenly Martial Academy, famous among young martial artists, he understood why.
The air was different.
Not a metaphor. The qi density was thick. It felt like a special formation had artificially heightened the qi concentration.
That's why he felt a bit excited.
It was his first time in a place like this.
"Do you usually start dawn training at this hour?"
"What you taught us became habit, so now my eyes just open on their own."
"Big Sis and I come out every dawn and evening without fail to review what we've learned."
"Good job."
"Ehehe."
"Ahem."
Na-rin and Gwang-yang grinned sheepishly. He patted their shoulders, then scooped up the freshly washed Su-a into his arms.
"Big Bro. Sis. Good morning."
"Yeah, Su-a. Good morning. But Master, shouldn't Su-a sleep more?"
"Yeah. My eyes just opened. Daddy didn't wake me."
"Like father, like daughter..."
"Such a diligent young lady."
"You gonna keep calling Su-a 'young lady'?"
"Master is like a second father to me. Of course she's a young lady. Big Sis should be called that too."
"No helping it... We'll settle it with a spar."
"Bring it, Sis."
Leaving the bickering pair behind, he strolled the garden with Su-a. Their progress could be checked later...
First, he needed to feed Su-a, whose stomach had been growling.
It wasn't time for breakfast yet. But fortunately, he had a dedicated maid.
His eyes met a beauty who had risen early. She smiled coquettishly and bowed.
"Up early, my lord."
"Gyo-a. Sorry to bother you at dawn, but could you get something light to chew on? Su-a seems hungry..."
"Of course. That's why I'm here."
Gyo-a.
The academy lord's eyes planted on him.
The heavily made-up beauty stepped out briefly and returned with a tray of simple snacks-delicious enough to find no fault.
Su-a nibbled away. She even held food out to him.
"Daddy. Ah."
"Ah."
After filling their stomachs lightly, he strolled the grounds with Su-a. Children beginning to wake glanced at him.
"Look... Silent Sword..."
"He came as assistant instructor...?"
"Maybe he'll teach us properly...?"
"Who knows... We'll see."
Doubt mingled in their gazes. As Na-rin and Gwang-yang said, the instructors here seemed to neglect the less privileged.
Su-a toddled ahead, glancing around before guiding the way.
"This is the training hall... and straight that way..."
Remembering a path she'd seen just once?
Stroking her swaying hair, he finished the light walk with her.
Once his assistant instructor stint ended, he'd leave immediately.
He couldn't drag her into danger, so he wanted her perfectly settled here first.
He'd have to tell her about leaving someday...
But that could wait.
"...You're early."
After a simple breakfast, the beginner class morning session began.
Assistant instructors under lead teacher Im Won-pyeong taught according to the trainees' levels.
That was the plan. But all assistants focused on just a few students. Na-rin clicked her tongue.
"Those kids will move to intermediate soon. Disciples of the Wudang Sect, I hear."
"Wudang?"
"All the ones getting taught properly are like that. Children of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families... or at least from notable clans. Only they get proper attention from assistants and the lead. Look over there."
Na-rin pointed. A boy swinging a wooden sword alone glanced around before asking an assistant.
"Um, Instructor? How do I do this...?"
"Tch. If you don't know, watch the others. Can't even do that...? Now, now, Baek student. That's not right. Like this-you'll balance better."
Ignoring the raggedly dressed boy, he taught only the one who looked pampered.
Rotten from the top, the bottom follows. Raising the righteous faction's future like this...
No hope. None at all.
He sighed and turned to Na-rin and Gwang-yang.
"Warm up first."
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
Students flocked to Na-rin and Gwang-yang as they began moving briskly, clumsily imitating them.
The two seemed accustomed, even offering tips to the followers.
Su-a followed along perfectly. Mimicking flawlessly on the first try, he blinked in surprise.
"Not tiring?"
"No. Daddy."
She's no ordinary child...
Though he didn't know much about prodigies.
"Be careful. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Leaving her, he cautioned Na-rin and Gwang-yang as they warmed up.
"Just warm up yourselves."
"Huh? B-but Master... the kids want to learn..."
"I'll teach them. Focus on yourselves."
Na-rin's eyes sparkled. Gwang-yang grinned.
"Yes, Master!"
"See, Sis? Master is Master."
"I know."
The students meeting his gaze flinched. He lightly checked his throat.
Scanning the number-over thirty here alone...
"You."
He pointed at one. The student flinched.
"M-me?"
"Yes. You're the standard. No formal speech from me as teacher. Repeat: standard."
"St-standard!"
All eyes turned to the shouting student. He spoke lowly.
"Those who want to learn, form lines by class number. Execute."
"Ex-execute!"
Glancing around, students began moving. The lead instructor's eyes twitched at the indiscriminate lining up.
"What are you doing?"
"Teaching martial arts to those who seek to learn."
"...Tch."
Not liking the action but unable to nitpick, the instructor turned away.
"Teaching scum without talent... Won't gain anything. Idiot."
He moved toward the elite children. Ignoring calmly, he checked the neatly formed line.
This was Beginner Class 1. He felt two fellow assistants glance at him.
Ignored that too. No need to care.
"Widen the gaps a bit. Don't bump into neighbors or those ahead. A little more. Perfect."
First time teaching so many. But lessons from training Na-rin and Gwang-yang helped outline it.
Like with them, build base stamina first.
But no endurance in their eyes. Glances at him were all feeble.
No desperation.
Like Na-rin and Gwang-yang.
Those two were special too-poisonous glints in their eyes, absent here.
Stamina training? They wouldn't follow. So he shifted the training direction.
First Demon taught from basics...
But pairing swordsmanship with it wouldn't hurt.
Need something to spark interest. During assistant time, he'd focus on the role.
Besides...
He disliked opportunities denied for lack of background.
"My name is Red Cloud."
Embarrassing, but he uttered the nickname.
To draw interest.
"They call me Silent Sword, though unworthy."
"R-really...?"
"Whoa... awesome..."
Na-rin and Gwang-yang straightened proudly before the murmuring students. Su-a beamed beside them.
Why do they like it more?
"I'll serve as assistant for three months. Short time, but I won't neglect my duty."
"......"
"......"
"Normally basics first, but I'll teach swordsmanship today. Some here have trained, others grip a sword for the first time."
He scanned the students. A few with decent posture puffed up.
Those have some sword experience.
"But today's lesson is one: Three Disasters Swordsmanship. Everyone who's held a sword has heard of it."
"...Three Disasters?"
"Basics of basics. On the entrance exam."
"Horizontal, vertical slash, thrust... Who can't do that?"
Some students laughed. He lowered his voice.
"Quiet."
"......"
"......"
"True, everyone knows Three Disasters. Just three simple motions strung together-barely martial arts. But how deeply you understand it is another matter."
"...Um, Instructor? What does that mean?"
To the question, he pointed at one child.
"Do a vertical slash."
"Pardon?"
"Now."
"Y-yes!"
The student who'd shrugged off martial talk earlier swung.
Students gasped at the clean strike. He nodded.
Among these, a talented one. Minus background, could rise to intermediate soon.
"Well done."
"Th-thank you!"
"But issues to fix. Stand beside me."
He corrected the boy's posture: ankle with hands, straightened back, guided the full downward stroke from behind.
Innate talent matters. But so does a master.
Precise guidance from First Demon taught him much-including that a teacher is like a second self in martial arts.
"Minimize power loss. That's today's task. Can't master overnight. But corrections yield gains today."
He stepped back from the awkwardly posed student.
"Swing like before."
"Yes!"
-Whoosh.
Wind split at the wooden sword's tip. Stronger, smoother than before-the student himself startled.
"Wha...?"
Unbelieving his own swing. He patted the boy's head.
"Don't forget that posture. Whatever your arts, it'll help, not hinder."
"Y-yes..."
Sending the dazed boy back, the witnessing students stopped whispering, staring intently.
He kicked up his wooden sword lightly, gripped it, and assumed position for demo.
"Now."
For those who'd come seeking chance but seen none.
He moved the sword for them.
"I'll break down the motions in detail. Follow as you watch."
Everyone deserves to dream.