Chapter 5
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Nine Spirits School
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The Ouyang Clan.
Upon arriving at the clan estate, I immediately headed to the inner court with Seong Je, the leader of the Emperor's Sword Guard.
“Young Master. It's a relief you've come to your senses.”
Seong Je offered this single remark with a stoic expression, then fell silent.
Seong Je was a man of few words.
But having lived with him in the clan, I knew he was a man among men, with a heart of fire.
That must be why he remained here even as the Ouyang Clan declined.
“Thank you.”
I replied respectfully, honoring his loyalty.
In truth, his position in the clan was second only to Ouyang Hyeon, and his martial prowess was the greatest.
Even my older brother, Guyang Su, regarded Seong Je as his master.
The Inner Court.
After entering the room with Seong Je, I recounted everything to my parents: how I had stopped by Seongwolbang to apologize to Kang Ho-chung and Kang Seung-ju, and what had transpired with Chung So-gu at the inn on my way back.
Seong Hwi was a witness, and many others, including Hwangbo Yeon, could corroborate my story.
Ouyang Hyeon fell into thought for a moment before speaking.
“Are you injured anywhere?”
“No, I am not.”
“Then that's all that matters. As your father, I have always lived with pride as the head of the Ouyang Clan. That's why I could never forgive myself for being born with mediocre talent. Cheon, my son. Your father is proud of you. Don't worry. I have the power to handle something like this. Isn't that right, Captain of the Emperor's Sword Guard?”
“Of course.”
A sharp, blue energy flickered in Seong Je's eyes before vanishing.
“But I heard Chung So-gu's martial skill was considerable.”
“He probably didn't expect me to draw my sword and attack.”
“I see. That makes sense. Cheon, you may leave. Captain, please stay.”
I bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Outside, I stared at the inner court for a moment before walking away slowly, with Seong Hwi following behind.
“If my father steps in, not even Sect Leader Chung will dare to act rashly.”
Seong Hwi seemed to have absolute faith in Seong Je's martial prowess.
I was curious.
Just how strong was he?
From what my honed senses could tell, Seong Je was a master who had reached the peak level, or perhaps even surpassed it.
But since my six cycles of internal energy had vanished, it was difficult to gauge anything beyond that.
Seeing the curiosity in my eyes, Seong Hwi began to explain.
“My father was a disciple of the Sword Emperor. He originally planned to establish his own independent school, but he remained with the clan after the Sword Emperor's sudden passing. I can guarantee you, my father's martial skill ranks within the top five in Henan Province.”
I nodded silently.
At that level, he would be on par with Chung Pa-heon, the leader of the Nine Spirits School.
It occurred to me that Seong Je's strength might be the reason the Ouyang Clan had managed to hold on this long, despite being checked by the Martial Arts Alliance and shunned by the major sects of Henan.
I stopped walking for a moment.
‘I need an elixir. I must accumulate at least a sixty-year cycle of internal energy to properly execute the second form, Swift Explosion Killing Strike, and the third form, Thunderous Halt. Buying an elixir would cost at least ten thousand nyang. Moreover, to find one that could grant the fifty years of internal energy I need, it would likely cost a hundred thousand nyang. And that's if I'm lucky. There's a reason they say elixirs choose their own masters.’
A hundred thousand nyang.
There was no way the Ouyang Clan had that kind of money.
They were probably struggling just to maintain the Emperor's Sword Guard and the Sword Wielding Guard.
A prime example of how hard the Ouyang Clan was struggling after the Martial Arts Alliance and the major sects turned their backs was that my older brother, Guyang Su, had to lead the Sword Wielding Guard on escort missions.
‘I was too harsh. If I had loosened the sanctions even a little, the Ouyang Clan wouldn't have fallen this far.’
For the first time, I felt a pang of regret.
My actions had been a powerful measure to ensure that no faction from the Orthodox Path would ever again dare to challenge the authority of the Martial Arts Alliance.
I started walking again.
I told Seong Hwi not to seek me out unless it was important, and then entered the training hall.
I sat down on the floor, circulated my energy, and then drew my sword.
*Shhhring.*
The chilling sound awakened a dormant tension within me.
*Swoooosh.*
Like a bolt of lightning, I unleashed the Lightning Flash Strike.
It was too fast for the eye to follow.
I practiced the Lightning Flash Strike until my internal energy was completely depleted.
Then, I replenished my energy through meditation and repeated the process, practicing until I was exhausted once more.
“It's still not enough.”
Guyang Cheon's body was excellent, but it had many shortcomings compared to Hwa Un-ryong's.
Moreover, it was stiff from long years of neglecting proper martial arts training.
That was why I had to practice and practice until this body could perfectly accept the Lightning Flash Strike.
What good was it to have mastered the ultimate principles?
It was all useless if the body couldn't keep up.
When would this body finally move like Hwa Un-ryong's?
I continued to practice the Lightning Flash Strike.
Next was the Swift Explosion Killing Strike.
To unleash the true power of the Swift Explosion Killing Strike, I needed at least a sixty-year cycle of internal energy, so for now, I focused only on executing the form with precision.
Right now, there was only one technique that could reliably protect me.
The Lightning Flash Strike.
“Young Master.”
On the second day.
Seong Hwi came to find me.
“What is it?”
“Men from the Nine Spirits School have arrived. I believe you should come and see.”
I gave a slight nod and slowly walked with Seong Hwi towards the training grounds.
My father was already there, standing face-to-face with Chung Pa-heon, the leader of the Nine Spirits School.
Though over fifty, Chung Pa-heon had a massive frame, the stamina of a man in his prime, and a very hot-tempered personality.
“So you're saying you won't apologize?”
Chung Pa-heon spat out the words harshly, but my father retorted without the slightest hint of intimidation.
“I will not. He dared to insult the Sword Emperor and the Ouyang Clan. Even if Cheon had cut off his head, I would not have reprimanded him.”
“What? Cut off his head? Have you lost your mind?”
“Sect Leader Chung, what would you do if someone insulted the Nine Spirits School and your father? Would you endure it like a little girl?”
Chung Pa-heon's face turned beet red.
He likely hadn't expected my father to be so defiant.
*How dare the fallen Ouyang Clan provoke the Nine Spirits School?*
He must have come here with that mindset, so he was probably quite flustered right now.
“Well, well, look who it is. The star of the show. Are you the bastard named Guyang Cheon?”
I felt a sense of lament.
I recalled fighting alongside Chung Pa-heon in the campaign to subjugate the Blood Palace just a year ago.
He had been more loyal than anyone.
It seems a person's true character is revealed not when you look down from above, but when you look up from below.
To think I failed to see through such a man.
“If I am a bastard, then what should we call Chung So-gu, who insulted the Ouyang Clan and was defeated in a single blow? Sect Leader.”
*Pfft.*
Standing behind me, Seong Hwi couldn't suppress a burst of laughter.
Realizing his mistake, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand.
Chung Pa-heon's face grew even redder.
“Are you looking to die?”
“I warn you. If you draw your sword, I will not stand by.”
Seong Je shouted coldly, his hand on the hilt of his sword, while the Emperor's Sword Guard also assumed combat stances with grim expressions.
Ouyang Hyeon rushed to stand in front of me.
“If you harm my son, I will curse you even from the depths of hell.”
He knew he was no match for Chung Pa-heon, but he didn't back down an inch.
Watching him, I felt something hot bubbling up from deep within my chest.
And I thought it was a good thing I hadn't killed Chung So-gu.
If I had, a storm of blood would have erupted between the Nine Spirits School and the Ouyang Clan.
“Alright then. Is your martial skill so great, Guyang Cheon? How about you try facing my sword?”
“I will be your opponent.”
Seong Je stepped in front of me.
“Hmph. Are you hiding behind him like a coward, Guyang Cheon?”
“Sect Leader. If you were to lose to me, how would you ever show your face again?”
Chung Pa-heon flinched.
He had been certain of victory, but my unusual aura made him hesitate.
If he really lost, it would be a complete disgrace.
“Hah, how absurd. Do you really think you can beat me?”
“Are your words so cheap, Sect Leader? What happened to that grand ambition you spoke of, to risk your life to eliminate the Blood Palace remnants that plague the world and bring stability to the martial realm?”
“What is this bastard talking about...”
Chung Pa-heon stopped mid-sentence, a look of shock on his face as he asked again.
“H-How do you...”
“I apologize for what happened with Chung So-gu. However, I had no choice when he was insulting my clan and the Sword Emperor. If you truly wish it, I will be your opponent in a duel.”
Seeing my firm resolve, Ouyang Hyeon stepped in, insisting it was out of the question.
Seong Je was ready to draw his sword at any moment.
Chung Pa-heon, his face redder than ever, was caught in a dilemma before he finally spoke.
“Don't act so recklessly in the future. Let's go.”
As Chung Pa-heon retreated with his men, Ouyang Hyeon let out a sigh of relief.
A battle with the Nine Spirits School would have dealt a blow so severe that the Ouyang Clan might never have recovered.
“You did well. Your grandfather would have understood your actions too.”
My father patted my shoulder, told me to rest, and then walked back to his quarters.
His steps seemed particularly heavy today.
Seong Je approached me.
“Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“What would you have done if the Sect Leader had actually drawn his sword for a duel?”
“He was highly agitated and underestimating me, so I believed I had a chance to win. I have a hidden ace up my sleeve, after all.”
Seong Je read the confidence on my face and felt a sense of bewilderment.
He knew Guyang Cheon better than anyone.
Which only made his confusion greater.
“I've heard you've changed a great deal recently and are training hard. Your skills have improved as well. But be careful. The leader of the Nine Spirits School is a renowned martial artist in Henan Province.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
Seong Je's tone had become more respectful.
It was a sign that he acknowledged me.
I thanked Seong Je politely.
I was no longer Hwa Un-ryong, the Alliance Leader, but Guyang Cheon. I had to act accordingly.
After Seong Je left with the Emperor's Sword Guard, I sent Seong Hwi away as well.
I stood alone, gazing up at the sky, lost in thought.
-Alliance Leader! I will dedicate my life to eradicating the remnants of the Blood Palace that disturb the world and bring stability to the martial realm.
The words Chung Pa-heon had pledged to me still rang clearly in my ears.
‘Was he, too, just a father who couldn't help himself when it came to his child?’
A bitter feeling washed over me.
I realized that if I couldn't increase my internal energy, I wouldn't be able to protect the Ouyang Clan when a great danger inevitably arrived.
I had to build up my internal energy, no matter what.
There were two ways to increase internal energy.
The first was through meditation and energy circulation.
Having mastered the Universe's Will Divine Art, I could accumulate internal energy three times faster than others and could circulate my energy at any time.
But "relatively fast" was still a far cry from accumulating the amount of energy I needed.
For example, to build up a sixty-year cycle of internal energy, I would only need twenty years.
But who had twenty years to wait?
The second method was to consume elixirs.
Depending on the elixir, one could gain anywhere from a year to a full sixty-year cycle of energy in an instant.
Of course, the amount of energy one could absorb depended on their individual aptitude; in the worst cases, one might only absorb twenty percent and waste the other eighty.
Having reached the pinnacle of martial arts, I was confident I could absorb over ninety percent.
The problem was money.
Where could I get it?
Only one place came to mind.
Elder Geum of the Full Moon Tower.
I didn't know if he would lend me money or offer me a suitable job, but I decided to try my luck.
I never had to worry about money when I was Hwa Un-ryong.
Living as Guyang Cheon, the one thing I missed most was money.
The next day.
I left the clan estate early in the morning and headed for the Full Moon Tower.
I instructed Seong Hwi to train with the Emperor's Sword Guard for the time being.
It was better for the Ouyang Clan if he spent his time swinging a sword rather than following me around.
The Full Moon Tower.
Seeing the massive, nine-story Full Moon Tower, I felt a sense of gladness.
Elder Geum wouldn't recognize me, but I knew I would be very happy to see him.
When eradicating the Blood Palace forces that had run rampant in Henan Province, Elder Geum's help had been indispensable.
He had provided enormous financial support and crucial intelligence.
Without him, it would have been a much harder fight.
The young master of the fallen Ouyang Clan.
The negative thought, ‘Will he really help me?’ crossed my mind, but I shook my head vigorously to dispel it.
I straightened my shoulders and walked inside with confidence.
“How may I help you?”
When I reached the eighth floor, a well-trained martial artist blocked my path.
I clasped my fist in a polite salute.
“I am Guyang Cheon, young master of the Ouyang Clan. I am here to see the master of the Full Moon Tower.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
“Ordinarily, an appointment is required, but please wait a moment.”
The man had me wait and sent a subordinate inside.
I found it a bit strange.
The rules must have been set by Elder Geum, the master of the tower, yet the guard at the entrance was showing flexibility on his own authority?
Especially when it came to meeting the master himself?
He must have read the question on my face, for he spoke with a faint smile.
“The Ouyang Clan is an exception.”
I nodded at his words.
Elder Geum had respected the Sword Emperor.
When the Sword Emperor died, Elder Geum had refused to eat for several days.
Despite that, Elder Geum had actively responded to the Martial Arts Alliance's requests.
I remembered being very fond of him during my time as Alliance Leader, as he was a man who clearly distinguished between public and private matters.
“I've heard you've changed a lot recently. Enough to defeat Chung So-gu in a single blow.”
“I was lucky.”
The martial artist before me was clearly favorable towards the Ouyang Clan.
A moment of silence passed before his subordinate, who had gone up to the ninth floor, rushed back down and whispered a report in his ear.
He nodded, dismissed his subordinate, and then clasped his fist to me.
“As it happens, the master has time to see you. Please go up.”
“Thank you.”
I returned the salute, a faint smile on my lips, and walked confidently up the stairs with my shoulders squared.