#141. Meeting the Manseogo Demon: The Black Flame Dragon (5)
“Heh heh heh……”
Geum Pyo laughed like he’d lost his mind.
“Heh heh heh heh……”
Eunho laughed the same way beside him.
“Hee hee.”
Dongryong just smiled along, watching his seniors.
Eunho, sprawled flat on the ground, looked up at the stunned Hong Saryeon and asked, “How was it, Senior Sister?”
“……”
Hong Saryeon, having witnessed the gold-silver-bronze trio’s new sword formation demonstration, still couldn’t close her gaping mouth.
“……What the hell was that?”
“White Tiger Sword Formation – Deadly Variant.”
“Deadly?”
She knew the three brothers had made massive strides during their secluded training. But what they’d just shown shattered her expectations beyond belief.
“We’ve been studying Dongryong’s sword styles a bit lately,” Eunho explained.
Hong Saryeon’s gaze shifted to Dongryong. The Heavenly Killing Star, they called him. Luckily, his killer instincts had been suppressed through the Tae-eul True Scripture and relentless mental cultivation. And Geum Pyo and Eunho had mimicked the natural genius of that star’s murderous sword styles……
“Plus, we added Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth on top.”
It was clearly the standard White Tiger Sword Formation, but the destructive power they unleashed made it unrecognizable as the same technique.
“……”
One glance around the training ground showed the devastation. The marble floor was cracked, and the wooden dummies shattered to splinters.
No one had ever heard of the formation packing this kind of punch when executed by three people.
“……And that’s not even the end of it?”
Eunho beamed proudly at Hong Saryeon’s dazed question.
“Didn’t you say you’ve started on Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth, Senior Sister?”
She nodded. After entering the academy, she’d mastered the Sword Emperor’s martial manual, endured punishment from the Divine Sword, and through her own tireless efforts, recently forged her first Ten Thousand Sword – the essence of the Sword Emperor’s ultimate art.
“We’ll make it four of us, including you.”
“……Is that okay? I’ve never synced the formation with you guys……”
“The White Tiger Sword Formation was designed so even those with different sword styles can unite seamlessly. And we’re all practicing the same arts anyway.”
Hong Saryeon nodded at Eunho’s words, then a sudden question popped into her head.
“But why me specifically? You three have been training together for ages.”
“With you, the Deadly Variant gets even stronger.”
“Even stronger?”
The White Tiger Sword Formation excelled at defense over offense. Boosting its attack power – what were they planning to use it for?
“On Big Brother.”
“Huh?”
“Big Brother’s been so worried about us juniors. Isn’t this the perfect chance to flatten that nose of his and prove we don’t need his fretting?”
“……You planning revenge or something?”
“……”
That guilty look said it all. Dongryong was too gentle and sweet for that, but Geum Pyo and Eunho were pranksters who often got smacked by Jin Sowoon.
No way – was that why they’d trained so obsessively?
“……No way. Revenge on our sky-high Big Brother? Not a shred of that in our hearts. It’s all about showing our growth.”
Every word sounded like a blatant lie.
……Still, whatever the intent, landing a solid hit on him wasn’t a bad idea at all.
“If you’re gonna prank him, might as well do it right.”
“Pardon?”
“Where do I slot in?”
Hong Saryeon felt her old training fire reignite after so long.
I’d fetched the book the Sword Demon was looking for from Manseogo.
He read it over and over. Tears streaming down as he read, or flipping pages with a stony face.
After devouring it multiple times, he geared up to rush off and find them right then – and I had to stop him.
“……Where do you think you’re going like this?”
Seop Sojeong’s letter placed her in Jilin Province – past Beijing and Liaoning.
“And it’s been five years since that letter. How can you be sure they’re still there?”
“If they’re not, I’ll start searching from there.”
“What if it’s a fake?”
“……”
“You gonna scour the whole world?”
The book’s contents and full text were packed with secrets only they two knew, so it couldn’t be fake – but who really knew?
Besides, the Sword Demon had enemies galore. Both righteous and unorthodox paths saw him as a thorn in their side.
Someone might’ve schemed to lure him into endless duels with his Infinite Challenge Path – crashing uninvited into foes’ homes for fights.
“Send someone to check first. If they’ve moved, it’s better to track through agents than go yourself. And didn’t you promise to teach me martial arts?”
“Hire the Beggars’ Sect? But I’ve got no money……”
“……I’ll cover it. Think of it as tuition.”
While verifying Seop Sojeong’s whereabouts, my private lessons with the Sword Demon began.
“Who the hell wraps their sword aura like that? You trying to use it as a torch?”
“Sword aura doesn’t need to be big. Smaller the better, actually.”
“What? Too small and momentum crushes it! Why obsess over size? Got some weakness elsewhere?”
“It’s about density. You compress the aura for density. Once you max density, size doesn’t matter.”
His training was brutal, pride-shredding, but packed with practical, combat-ready wisdom.
For me, it was the first real master since Gang Chaeseok – filling all my gaps and curiosities.
He interpreted my orthodox-based questions through his unique insights, with answers so simple and concise they made me chuckle.
“Form and stance? Sure, important. But worthless if you can’t use ’em in a real fight. Not saying ditch ’em, though.”
“What? Abandon forms for enlightenment’s next step? You lunatic! You reach transcendence or something?”
“Sword energy? I told you not to obsess! Damn it, possessed by a ghost from your past life who couldn’t master it? Look at those Heavenly Gang Sect bastards – sword aura, fist aura, all sliced apart by one swift strike. Useless even if you master it.”
“Perfect your sword aura first. Sword energy follows. Half-assed sword energy’s just paper scraps. ……Think I’m talking shit? Clash your sword energy with mine right now.”
His fiery, thuggish temper made lessons tough.
Still, we shacked up together – no more dorm treks – training dawn to dusk.
One day, mid-session, something felt off. I slowly lowered my Black Dragon Sword.
The Sword Demon’s brow furrowed deeply.
“We’re still training. Raise your sword.”
“That move you just showed – isn’t it your signature art, Sword Demon?”
“Ho, you’ve got eyes after all – spotting fine swordsmanship on sight?”
Damn, always twisting words……
“Like I said last time, I’ve got sharp eyes and great memory.”
“Pfft hah! Even if you memorize my forms, can you replicate ’em?”
“……”
“White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms.”
I knew it well. In the future, he’d unify the unorthodox world with it.
“Steal it if you can.”
Total confidence I couldn’t.
True to his word, I faced the White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms daily – but couldn’t grasp even the first form.
“Why does my Ten Thousand Sword shatter against an unadorned branch?”
“First form’s essence is Extreme Swiftness. What’s needed for max speed?”
“Power?”
“Nothing.”
Didn’t I just ask what?
“……”
“Lightest state for fastest speed. Nothing catches it; nothing blocks it.”
“But it clashed with my Ten Thousand Sword.”
“Blocked its path before completion. Sword aura’s density, remember? Unfinished sword’s a sandcastle. Yours too.”
A month passed. Still no breakthrough on his first form – even as word came back on Seop Sojeong in Jilin.
“……”
The Sword Demon stared holes through me as I unrolled Haomen’s dispatch.
“What’s it say?”
“……Just opened it.”
He swallowed hard, urging me on. I shook my head and read.
And then.
The two are currently residing in Liaoning Province.
The Sword Demon’s eyes twitched at my report.
“They’re the ones I’m looking for…… right?”
“A mother-daughter pair of stunning beauty, farming a plot.”
“……”
I handed the stony-faced Sword Demon Seop Sojeong’s details.
“Guess I took the L. Didn’t even get proper lessons.”
He scowled mid-read, stiff as a board.
“You still drew sword energy, didn’t you!”
“Ah, true.”
I’d finally reached the sword energy realm I’d craved. But after a month staring at his ultimate art, the White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms, the achievement felt hollow.
“You heading out right away?”
“……”
“Not going?”
“Seop Sojeong was Baekhwa Palace’s heir. Hard to accept her farming away.”
The man unflinching before my full-power Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth slumped like bearing a crushing load.
“She bore an unorthodox child as a Baekhwa woman – living like a criminal. Duh.”
“What?!”
“Fact’s a fact.”
“……”
“Anyway, I’ve thought about it. Why didn’t Senior Seop reveal her location outright? Why make you wander Manseogo?”
“……”
“She wanted a decision from you.”
“Decision?”
If she wanted responsibility for the child, she’d show up with him. No need to tell him otherwise.
But she chose the thorny path.
“She abandoned her Baekhwa ties, so she’s testing if you can shed your burdens too.”
“……”
“Don’t show if you wanna stay Sword Demon forever – that’s the message.”
His eyelids fluttered like enlightenment dawned.
“……Sounds right.”
“Still attached to the Sword Demon name?”
“……”
He stared at his hands. Silence flowed.
Then he shook his head – face unburdened, not a trace of regret.
I was shocked he could look so pure.
“How’s it feel? Good fit?”
The Sword Demon, adjusting his robes, awkwardly shrugged a few times.
“Bit flashy.”
I’d commissioned the servant tailor personally. White and blue blended simply – but to a man who’d ignored clothes his life, it dazzled.
“Gotta blend in.”
“Just dash there faster.”
“Fine in empty spots, but crowded areas? You’d stick out.”
“True……”
He’d dropped the hunchback elder guise completely. Releasing Reverse Bone Technique and disguise arts, he looked like any middle-aged man.
“This horse pass from Wang Merchant Group’s stables. And Haomen’s black token – flash it on your belt for help, they’ll come.”
“……I’m not a kid. I’ll manage……”
“Aigoo, pipe down. You gonna make me trust the guy who scoured Manseogo from shelf one for a hidden book?”
“……”
Pocketing the pass and token, he stared blankly at me.
“Why so helpful?”
I didn’t know his path ahead, but come the Upright-Demonic War, he’d return to the jianghu.
Worth investing for that day.
“You’re my master. Disciple’s duty.”
“Hmph! With that skill? Don’t you dare claim you studied under me. I won’t let it slide.”
“Yes, yes.”
I handed him a money pouch.
“Gold inside – save it. Use silver and coppers for daily……”
“Think I’m a halfwit?”
Bellowing, he peeked inside and tucked it away.
“Once I’m gone, erase every trace of me here.”
“Already planned.”
“And toss these too.”
He passed me a booklet and wooden box from the cot.
“Still reading the thesis……”
Mid-read, my eyes froze on the text.
Hundreds of characters detailing three sword forms. Plus weaknesses of lifelong duel foes and battle insights.
The Sword Demon’s entire legacy in one book.
[Hundreds of characters elucidating the three ultimate forms: Extreme Swiftness, and beyond.]
[Weaknesses of rivals, hard-won duel realizations – the Sword Demon's lifetime essence.]
“This is White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms, right?”
No reply – just a nod to the box.
I opened it quick. A fresh woody scent bloomed with a pop.
An elixir rivaling Shaolin’s Summoning Pill in potency.
Bewildered, I looked at him.
“……You need ’em more than me now. Go be the world’s best, like you wanted.”
Still remembers that old talk?
Emotion welled, tears pricking –
“Oh, and pass it on freely? I’ll kill you.”
Tears vanished. One line, a thousand-tael debt.
“Anyway, accept me as disciple proper.”
Not official, but I’d inherited his arts. Three bows at least – human decency.
I bowed.
But my body froze. Like pinned by invisible qi.
Perplexed, I eyed him. He said coolly,
“No master-disciple bond with you. No bows needed.”
“……Then if folks ask where I learned this?”
“Say you stole it.”
“……Crazy.”
Stole from the Sword Demon? Who’d buy that?
“From the Sword Demon?”
“……This punk, still Sword Demon this, Sword Demon that? Been ages since I ditched it.”
Two days since you vowed to.
“……Then tell me your name.”
“Baek Hae-gwang. That’s me.”
Probably to keep his burdens off me. Rough mouth, kind heart.
“After meeting Senior Seop, what then?”
“……Haven’t thought that far.”
“Keep farming?”
“Nah. But no clue where to start.”
Neither Baek Hae-gwang nor Seop Sojeong could live normally.
“Why not found a sect?”
“Sect?”
“Can’t return to old sects or clans. One orthodox, one infamous unorthodox – nowhere welcomes you.”
“……A sect.”
“A strong one, even small – safe haven for Senior Seop and her daughter. Can’t hide or run forever.”
He nodded repeatedly.
“But you know I got nothing. Founding ain’t easy, no followers……”
“I know a great patron. Stay as a guest elder in his sect, build foundations.”
“Patron?”
“Not some rootless unorthodox crew.”
He could crush any minor group now and take over. But he wanted a shield for Seop Sojeong and daughter – built from scratch, the hard way.
“……Would this great one sponsor me?”
“His sect lord’s generosity is legendary – villagers rave. His disciple’s the same, no bias in allies. He’ll back you.”
“Such a guy exists……? Who?”
Who else?
“Tae-eul Gate’s Jin Sowoon. Duh.”
“……”
Hook, line, sinker.
“Heh heh heh.”
Couldn’t stop grinning writing Father the dispatch.
Baek Hae-gwang said all decisions post-Seop Sojeong. Prepping Father now.
Great haul: White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms, elixir. Best? Sword Demon maybe guesting at Tae-eul Gate – with Seop Sojeong and daughter.
Where else for the infamous Sword Demon? Founding takes years.
He’d hole up at Tae-eul Gate long-term.
“Hee hee hee, touch Tae-eul Gate and you’re toast~. ’Cause the Sword Demon’s our guest elder~.”
Mid-dispatch, familiar voices and footsteps.
“Why’s Big Brother grinning like that?”
“Shady thoughts – that’s his ‘gonna screw someone’ face.”
I snapped at them. “No respect for Big Brother, huh.”
Saw Geum Pyo, Eunho, Dongryong, and……Hong Saryeon enter. Speechless.
“……What the hell you all been up to?”
Gold-silver-bronze were scruffy dudes, fine. But Hong Saryeon looking beggar-chief?
Geum Pyo exchanged glances with the others, stepped forward.
“Big Brother. Word.”
“Spit it.”
“Let’s throw down!!”
Ho, finally rebelling, huh.