Chapter 35
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Contemplating the Sword Art
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Leaving Zhengzhou, I traveled with Seong Hwi at a leisurely pace.
With Seong Hwi accompanying me, Pure did not show herself, instead relaying necessary information through telepathic messages.
During the day, we ran using lightness techniques. As dusk fell, we would check into an inn to eat and wash up, after which I would lose myself in thought.
I contemplated the Ouyang Sword Art, deconstructing and reassembling it to suit my style while keeping the overall framework intact.
It was a highly difficult task, one that couldn't even be attempted without having realized the pinnacle of martial arts.
Seeing me so deeply lost in thought with such a solemn expression, Seong Hwi was always careful not to disturb me.
“Let's go outside.”
It was the dawn of the sixth day since we left Zhengzhou.
“Have you perfected it?”
“We'll see. I need to perform it first. You can watch and give me your advice.”
“Me? My martial skill isn't that high. Will I be able to offer any advice?”
“It's fine. You know the Ouyang Sword Art well, so in a way, your advice might be more accurate.”
“I understand.”
I gave a quiet nod and slowly walked toward an open clearing.
-May I offer my thoughts as well?
-What? Don't tell me you were on standby near me all night?
-No. I am on standby at a close enough distance for my messages to reach you, Affectionate. I've been eating, sleeping, and resting, so don't worry.
-I see. Then please do. I'd like your honest assessment.
-I'm really looking forward to it.
-Hmph. Don't get your hopes up. The disappointment will only be twice as great.
-Or the joy could be twice as great. I'm sure you, Affectionate, will bring joy rather than disappointment. It's easy to say, but reconstructing a martial art is something most martial artists can't even imagine.
At Pure's telepathic message, I gave a faint smile and a slight nod.
The clearing.
Perhaps because dawn was just breaking, there was no one around.
I heightened my senses, checking if anyone was watching me.
Convinced there was no one, I slowly drew the Soul-Returning Sword.
Seong Hwi and Pure focused on my sword.
“Hah!”
With a short cry, I infused my internal energy into the blade and unleashed the new Ouyang Sword Art.
A sharp, keen energy swept through the area, and within it, a murderous intent that felt like it could tear flesh sliced through the air as fast as light.
The Soul-Returning Sword then seemed to multiply into two, then three.
The sword couldn't actually multiply, but it moved so quickly that it appeared to.
“Hoo.”
After performing the Ouyang Sword Art at full power for about a quarter of an hour, I let out a long breath and sheathed the Soul-Returning Sword.
*Crrraack.*
*Crash.*
I looked up to see a large tree about fifty feet away toppling over.
The nearby bushes and grass were neatly trimmed, as if cut by a scythe.
The large tree's branches had all been severed, and the base of its trunk was cut cleanly, as if by a saw.
-Incredible.
While Seong Hwi stood gaping in astonishment, Pure offered her opinion first.
Having seen me perform both the Ouyang Sword Art and the Heavenly Will Sword Art, she was able to give a quick assessment.
-It has certainly surpassed the original Ouyang Sword Art, but it still falls short of the Heavenly Will Sword Art.
-That's a given. What else?
-If the Heavenly Will Sword Art is one of a single, fatal strike, then this Ouyang Sword Art is exquisite for its swift and killing moves hidden within flashy variations. Unless you face a supreme master, I believe this sword art alone will be sufficient.
-Spot on.
I was impressed by Pure's assessment.
Having a foot in the Martial Arts Alliance, she must have encountered many sword arts.
That must be why she could offer such a cool-headed evaluation.
-Will it work against Yeo Jung-myeong?
-Of course.
-I'll keep researching and developing it whenever I have time.
-What? It's already incredibly powerful.
I smiled faintly and turned my gaze to Seong Hwi.
“Hwi. You give me your opinion as well.”
“Is that really the Ouyang Sword Art?”
“It is. I've just modified it a bit.”
“It looks completely different. Young Master. Please teach me this sword art.”
“I asked for an assessment, and this rascal gets greedy instead.”
I feigned a scolding at Seong Hwi, then burst into laughter.
His eagerness alone was enough to tell me how powerful the newly modified Ouyang Sword Art had become.
“Alright, I will.”
“How long will I have to learn to display such outstanding martial skill as you, Young Master?”
“Just keep trying. Don't just keep looking at the top. If you work steadily, you'll one day find yourself at the level you envisioned.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“Watch closely.”
I calmly performed the Ouyang Sword Art in segments, repeating the motions.
Since the framework was still that of the Ouyang Sword Art, Seong Hwi frowned in concentration.
“Do you understand?”
“I've committed it to memory for now.”
“Try performing it.”
Seong Hwi gave a quiet nod, drew his sword with a tense expression, and stood in the center of the clearing.
“Hah!”
With a sharp cry, Seong Hwi's sword moved along the sword path.
-Hmm, he has a lot to learn.
-Pure, do you think you could beat Seong Hwi?
-I'm not sure. My eye for skill is sharp, but that doesn't mean I'm a good fighter.
True, she specialized in stealth and lightness techniques.
But I had a feeling her swordsmanship was formidable as well.
One gains enlightenment by continuously witnessing duels between masters stronger than oneself.
Pure was probably undergoing that same process, though she herself might not be aware of it.
-Affectionate.
-Speak.
-May I learn it too?
-Yes.
Pure was taken aback by my easy agreement.
-Are you sure?
-Why? Is there a problem?
-The modified Ouyang Sword Art is exceptional.
-Because you are important to me, Pure.
Having lived so coldly in my past life, there was almost no one I could talk to as comfortably as this.
If there was anyone, it would be Zhuge Mun-hyeon.
All other martial artists had revered and feared me.
That's why in this life, I intended to take good care of the people around me. I had spoken to Pure with that sentiment and planned to teach her the Ouyang Sword Art.
After returning to the inn for a meal, we set out for Wuhan again.
I had modified the Ouyang Sword Art, but I wasn't satisfied yet, so I didn't rush.
When we rested at inns, I would teach Seong Hwi in a clearing and lose myself in thought in my room.
“Is this it?”
As Seong Hwi and I entered the inn, Pure, dressed in black martial arts attire, revealed herself.
She drew her sword and began to perform the Ouyang Sword Art.
Her swordsmanship was truly astonishing.
She was clearly a cut above Seong Hwi.
Her variations still needed refinement, but her swift moves were truly impeccable.
After practicing for a while, Pure plopped down on the ground.
‘He said I was important to him. Me.’
She recalled my words, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
**
Wuhan.
A fortnight after leaving Zhengzhou, we arrived at the Martial Arts Alliance.
Seong Hwi stared at the magnificent Martial Arts Alliance, his mouth agape in wonder as he looked around.
Zhengzhou was a major prefecture no less than Wuhan, but it had no grand estate like the Martial Arts Alliance.
-Affectionate.
-Speak.
-I have to enter through a different gate.
-Alright. See you later.
I felt her presence vanish.
It was such a faint presence that even I barely noticed it.
Passing through the main gate while concealed would be suicide.
Unable to show herself in front of Seong Hwi, Pure chose a different route.
There was a separate gate used only by the liaisons of the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion.
Demon-Dispelling Pavilion.
Upon hearing of Pure's arrival, Hwang Seong-won, the head of the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion, met with her privately.
She did not reveal herself even to Hwang Seong-won, conversing with him via telepathy.
Hwang Seong-won did not reprimand her for it.
It was a rule of the Alliance.
-What of Affectionate?
-He just passed through the main gate.
-I know that. What's his current condition?
-He is beyond what you can imagine, Pavilion Head. Using only the Ouyang Sword Art, without the Heavenly Will Sword Art, he has surpassed the Soul-Chasing Sword Squad Leader.
-Surpassed the Soul-Chasing Sword Squad Leader, Yeo Jung-myeong?
A look of bewilderment crossed Hwang Seong-won's face.
The claim that he had surpassed Yeo Jung-myeong with just the Ouyang Sword Art was utterly unbelievable.
-That is how I see it.
-The Alliance Leader said he would verify his skills. He might do it himself, or he might send a suitable person to check.
-Shall I relay that to him?
-Yes.
The conversation paused for a moment.
Hwang Seong-won resumed speaking.
-How do the Heavenly Will Sword Art and the Ouyang Sword Art compare?
-At first, the Heavenly Will Sword Art was so superior they couldn't even be compared. However, as Affectionate traveled here, he continuously modified and developed the Ouyang Sword Art, and now it has reached a level where a comparison is possible.
-W-What are you saying?
Hwang Seong-won was dumbfounded.
-Do you think that makes any sense?
-I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. But it is the undeniable truth.
-Affectionate. Just what is this bastard's true identity?
Hwang Seong-won was at a loss for words.
Zhuge Mun-hyeon had informed Hwang Seong-won and Jo Jin-ryang that Affectionate and Guyang Cheon were the same person.
It was a top-level secret, but he had told them because they needed to cooperate closely with Guyang Cheon's newly formed strike team.
Moreover, they were men whom Zhuge Mun-hyeon had personally selected when they were low-ranking officers and promoted to their current positions.
Confident that he could trust them, he had shared the secret.
That was why Hwang Seong-won couldn't believe the current situation.
He simply couldn't believe that Guyang Cheon, a martial artist in his mid-twenties, had already reached such a level.
-You will understand when you see for yourself. So please do not jump to conclusions.
-How shameful of me. Yes, I shouldn't jump to conclusions.
-Then I will take my leave.
-Good work.
As Pure's presence faded, Hwang Seong-won let out a short sigh and opened the window.
“What kind of madness is this.”
When the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Yang Cheon-rin, had said he would verify Guyang Cheon's martial skill, he had thought, 'Is there really a need for that?'
But thinking about it now, he came to the conclusion that Yang Cheon-rin had grasped Guyang Cheon's astonishing skill from Zhuge Mun-hyeon's report alone.
Hwang Seong-won saw Yang Cheon-rin in a new light.
He had thought that Yang Cheon-rin was simply less skilled than Hwa Un-ryong but had become the Alliance Leader through good fortune. However, seeing his insight regarding Affectionate was truly surprising.
‘I'm really looking forward to seeing Affectionate's skill. No, the official leader of the strike team isn't Affectionate, it's Guyang Cheon. Guyang Cheon, eh? He will bring a great storm to the martial world. I'm sure of it.’
At that moment.
I was assigned lodging with Seong Hwi.
Since the name Guyang Cheon was still virtually unknown in the Martial Arts Alliance, we were given ordinary quarters.
‘There must have been an order from Strategist Zhuge not to draw attention.’
I didn't think too deeply about it. I washed myself with water in the bathing area and changed into a clean, blue martial arts uniform.
Seong Hwi also changed into a neat, black martial arts uniform.
“Young Master. You're so calm.”
“There's nothing to be surprised about.”
“There are no buildings this grand in Zhengzhou. Honestly, I thought you'd be surprised too, Young Master, so I don't quite understand how you can be so composed. To be this calm after seeing such a magnificent structure for the first time...”
I understood what Seong Hwi was saying.
But how could I be impressed by a building that was so familiar to me?
“Hwi. Instead of thinking about such things, practice the Ouyang Sword Art.”
“Yes, sir.”
Seong Hwi replied energetically, immediately grabbing his sword and leaving the room.
He was a bit simple, but he was definitely a man of action.
I sat comfortably and circulated my energy to replenish the internal energy I had consumed using lightness techniques.
Afterward, I spent my time comparing the Ouyang Sword Art, the Heavenly Will Sword Art, and the sword arts of the opponents I had faced.