Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Lessons for the Prodigy
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Teaching his own daughter, of all things.
If it weren't for Red Cloud, she would have scoffed at the idea. She had no interest in teaching to begin with. Her only concern was honing her own martial arts.
But proper training was impossible here. The best she could manage was mental visualization...
Unlike physical training that left her drenched in sweat, it offered no real sense of accomplishment. So she spent the rest of her time staring blankly out the window.
Because that idiot Red Cloud was too busy with the horses to chat with her.
"......"
That line just now had a nice rhythm to it, didn't it?
Eun Seol-ran snapped out of it. She turned to Su-a, who was sitting demurely before her.
"What do you want to learn?"
"I'll gratefully learn whatever you teach me!"
"...Hmm."
Her attitude passed muster, at least.
Now, what about her talent?
"What martial arts have you learned?"
"Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art and the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship!"
".......?"
She understood the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art. It was her parents' art, after all.
But what was this random Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship?
Eun Seol-ran asked her to demonstrate her swordsmanship, half-dubiously.
Before her eyes, crimson plum blossoms bloomed in wild profusion.
The complete opposite of the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art's nature.
"What?!"
The skill level was impressive. No, beyond impressive-it was practically perfect.
Eun Seol-ran hurriedly examined Su-a's body. The accumulated internal energy was clearly blood qi based on the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art...
But something was off. Qi nature was usually singular.
Yet this...
It seemed mixed with a rainbow of colors. The foundation was red, sure...
But it felt like she could mix in paints and change the hue at will.
"What is this... what?! What did Red Cloud teach you?!"
"He taught me the sword."
"You couldn't have learned something like this from the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Sword?!"
"...Ah."
Su-a grinned sheepishly.
"I modified it a bit to fit the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordsmanship! This version suits me better!"
"...You modified the heart method to match a swordsmanship known as the essence of Mount Hua... on your own?"
"If you understand the flow and nature of your internal energy, isn't it easy?"
What nonsense was this? If martial arts were that simple, half the world would be masters.
Eun Seol-ran dubiously drew her sword. She had planned to teach just a basic move or two...
But this changed everything.
"What I practice is the Seven Bewitching Demon Swords. Its core is 'explosion'-it emphasizes condensing internal energy and detonating it in an instant. Even if sustained power is lacking, if you overwhelm in that one moment, you can defeat anything. It's the art of a true powerhouse."
"That's cool..."
"...But because it belongs to a sect, I can't teach you much. It's a one-line transmission art. So, I'm only going up to the basics. No more than that-keep that in mind."
She began moving her sword. From footwork to a short, powerful strike ending in swordsmanship.
The first form of the Seven Bewitching Demon Swords. Teaching even this was pushing it...
But it was Red Cloud's daughter, so this much should be fine...
"Like this?"
Su-a swung her sword. The step she took in that instant matched exactly the distance she had demonstrated.
The qi gathered at the sword tip. Clumsily, but condensed, it whipped through the air.
--Crack!
The air exploded.
Eun Seol-ran's mouth fell open.
"Wh-what?! How did you do that on the first try...?!"
"It still feels a bit sloppy..."
"No, the fact that you can do it at all is bizarre! Sh-show me once more?!"
Su-a moved again. Eun Seol-ran frantically tracked the sword tip with her eyes.
It was still a bit rough and incomplete...
But that movement was unmistakably the first form of the Seven Bewitching Demon Swords.
"......."
She followed the instructions perfectly on the first go... and now she's even adapting it?
What... is this kid...? A real monster...? On a level I can't even compare to?!
But regardless...
"...Sigh."
She's progressing so quickly... it feels kinda good?
"...Want to try this one too?"
...
"Sis."
"Hmm?"
Ju Ryeong-ryeong grinned. Su-a, nestled in her arms, looked up at her.
"How long are we going to stay like this?"
"Until I die."
"Eek."
Ahh. So cute. Soft and warm.
The perfect little sister vibe. And her face is adorable. Every gesture is cute and cheeky...
"Hee hee..."
Su-a shook her head at the drool trickling down.
"Sisss."
"Hmm?"
"I came to learn from you... Can't you teach me something instead of just holding me?"
"Tch! Holding a sword with these delicate hands?! Just stick by sis's side. Okay?"
"Dad said having the power to protect yourself in emergencies is important..."
"Can't argue with that."
Well, she had called her to teach her a thing or two anyway...
Time to get moving.
Ju Ryeong-ryeong whipped up a sinister yin qi in her hand. Su-a's eyes sparkled at the near-perfect technique.
"Amazing! Sis!"
That one phrase made her shoulders tense with pride. She smashed a nearby tree with a swipe.
"Wooow!!"
"My soft little fawn... Want to learn?"
"Yes!"
"It might be tough. The Nine Yin White Bone Claw divides into twelve forms-it's a peerless art. I didn't learn it because I wanted to, but once I did, it's surprisingly useful in many ways. With your Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art, fully grasping it might be hard, but if you just trust this sis and follow along..."
Suddenly, a tree beside the chattering Ju Ryeong-ryeong toppled with a thud.
Su-a's hand blazed in the form of the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.
"Hmm... Just mimicking seems inefficient. How do you circulate the internal energy here?"
".......?"
Ju Ryeong-ryeong rubbed her eyes. She looked down at her.
Wait. This is... um.
She tilted her head and looked again.
This has to be... right?
"...You saw it once and copied it?"
"Yes!"
"How?"
"Hmm... Somehow...?"
This...
She's a completely different type from Red Cloud...
"...Su-a, you're going to surpass your dad as a martial artist."
"No way. Dad will always be there for me."
".......?"
"I just know it!"
Su-a beamed.
"So, how do you do this one?"
"...Hyah."
Honestly speaking, she had taken this lightly...
But at this level, she actually wanted to teach her. For real.
"Shall we do it properly?"
...
Black Peony sipped freshly brewed tea.
"Su-a. Let me say this upfront: I don't like kids much."
"...Why?"
"They're selfish and willful, always putting themselves first. With so little experience, they mistake themselves for the center of the world."
Black Peony set her teacup down with a clink.
"So I hope you're different. I'll try to say nice things most of the time... but remember, I'm not a kind person by nature. One warning. If it happens twice, no more lessons."
"...Yes!"
Su-a nodded sharply at attention. Black Peony smiled in satisfaction.
She had meant to scare her a little, but the kid seemed sharp and clever-no need to worry.
Well, whose daughter is she? Of course she'd have qualities worth adopting.
"Unfortunately, I won't teach you martial arts."
"Then what?"
"I'll teach you the Demon Fox Illusion Technique and formations... But first, something to clarify. Su-a, in your opinion, what's the foundation of a female expert?"
"...Martial arts?"
"Wrong. The correct answer is..."
Black Peony snapped open her fan.
"Elegance."
"El-elegance...!"
"Even with the same technique, you have to wield it more gracefully than a male martial artist. Prettily and beautifully. Know why? Allure brings an indescribable advantage on the battlefield. It can make an opponent hesitate for a split second, entranced by your beauty."
"O-oh...!"
"It's the opposite direction from Red Cloud's martial arts, but that's what I pursue. Raw power? Important, of course. But in the end, the one who survives is the strongest, right?"
"I think I get it..."
"To survive, you use every tool available. And the foundation of that is the Demon Fox Illusion Technique, built from the basics: tea ceremony, etiquette, dance, song, movement... all of it."
".......!"
"So today, you'll learn the tea ceremony from me. How to brew tea, how to handle it, how to drink and clear it... the most basic things."
She spoke grandly, but honestly, it was something she wanted to pass on.
Red Cloud was kind. A gentle and strong martial artist.
But sadly, he was clueless about the world of women.
Strength earns respect anywhere. But without basics, you're subtly disdained.
The same actions get you labeled vulgar, fingers pointed-or worse, sighs.
That gap is bridged by 'learning.'
"Now. Straighten your back from your seated position."
"...If I learn all this... will Dad think I'm pretty too?"
Black Peony smiled at the question.
She didn't like kids much, true...
But one who thought of others first made her want to teach. It showed true cleverness.
"Of course. Naturally. So start by composing yourself. Got it? Etiquette lessons will be every day without fail-no skipping."
"Yes!"
...
Baek Mae rolled her eyes. She stared at Su-a.
She had agreed on a whim when everyone else did...
But actually teaching swordsmanship came with issues.
'It's the Four Blood Division's swordsmanship. Leaking it means death?'
But Master...
For Red Cloud's daughter... is it really leaking?
"Hmm..."
She pondered deeply. Su-a mimicked her beside her.
Touch chin, she touches chin. Tilt head, she tilts head.
"Hmmm..."
"Hmmm..."
"Hmm?"
"Hmm?"
"Hmmmm..."
"Hmmmm ahh..."
Su-a yawned. She grinned.
"What're you thinking about, sis?"
"Lots of things."
"Teach me."
"You want to learn?"
"Yes!"
So cute.
Baek Mae poked Su-a's nose. Su-a giggled.
"That tickles."
"That's the point."
"Eek. Then tickle for you too, sis."
"Oh? Coming at me?!"
They tumbled around playfully. Dealing with kids was tricky...
But when she approached first so warmly, it felt... strange. Nice.
I'm not usually popular with kids.
I hear I'm cold, mostly. Well, except around big bro...
I get comments on my looks everywhere, baseline.
"Not scared of me?"
"Nope."
"Why?"
"You caught me every time I wobbled in the carriage."
"Th-that was so you wouldn't fall..."
"You don't like bumping into people, right?"
"......."
True. Honestly, skin touching skin felt uncomfortable.
Especially men. Women too, not exempt.
Not quite mysophobia...
Just hated contact itself.
"But you caught me anyway. Without showing it."
"W-well... in case you fell..."
"Hee hee."
"...Ahem."
She was just like her dad-putting people in awkward spots.
Baek Mae cleared her throat and narrowed her eyes.
"I don't teach easily. I scold a lot while teaching."
"I'll be careful not to get scolded."
"...No playing during training. I'll be strict."
"Won't look away!"
"...And... and also..."
Darn.
Why are those eyes so pretty? That upturned face looks so soft, like glutinous rice cake.
Sip... gotta calm down...
"A-anyway! Steel yourself! Got it?!"
"Yes!"
"Good at answering, huh..."
Baek Mae gently stroked Su-a's hair. Like father, like daughter.
No resistance at all. That's why she had caught her.
"What I'll teach you can't be spread anywhere. Can you swear silence?"
"What if I don't?"
"...I won't teach you."
"Then I will!"
"Teasing adults now."
"'Cause you're cute, sis."
"Oh? You say that to a prospective master?"
"Can... I?"
"C'mere. Not coming?"
"Ow! Hee hee."
Well, since we're teaching anyway, let's do it right.
As long as I don't give away the family jewels...
It'll work out somehow.