Chapter 122
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Refining the Swordplay
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"No, the downward strike has to be way more powerful! Like this—shwaak!—coming right down."
I was trying to teach Jeon Minji the domineering sword style of the Nangong clan's techniques.
"Taaaa!"
Buwoong—.
It was just a light wooden training sword, but when I swung it, it sliced through the air with a proper whoosh.
"Like this—taaaaa!"
But when Jeon Minji swung it... it totally missed the mark.
"Director, this isn't gonna work."
Chu Miyoung shook her head as she filmed and fiddled with the angles.
Even mentally slapping on CG filters and imagining blue sword auras whipping around, it still wasn't enough.
"The forms... no, let's change up the movements."
This wasn't salvageable.
Jeon Minji, who had zero swordsmanship basics, was struggling way too much to replicate the Sovereign Sword Form's techniques, which emphasized powerful strikes, dominating blades, and heavy swords.
It just looked like cosplay random swinging!
Which it kinda was, but the video had to look cool, not funny.
"What should we do?"
Though she couldn't quite nail the vibe, Jeon Minji had spent half a day trying her hardest to get close.
She looked up at me with worried eyes.
"Maybe something a bit more complex would be better. You can memorize it, right?"
"More complex?"
Jeon Minji flinched at the words.
But simple downward chops actually channeled inner power more easily.
I demonstrated a far more intricate form instead.
The Mount Hua Sect's famed Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques, renowned for their illusory swordplay.
Specifically, the ninth form: Plum Blossom Nine Changes, which scattered feints repeatedly while shifting the blade's path.
...Adapted into slow-motion movements at 0.1x speed.
Sararak—.
Amid the flowing, dance-like sways, countless slashes and thrusts wove in.
But only nine of them were real, effective strikes.
I performed what a Mount Hua swordsman would finish in a blink agonizingly slowly, putting power only into the final downward chop.
Kuuuung!
'The Martial Alliance Leader or Mount Hua folks would scream if they saw this... but no choice!'
Clans like the Nangong's, who favored heavy swords, generally dismissed the feints of illusory swordplay as meaningless.
And those who wielded fast, complex blades criticized simple, weighty strikes as crude.
They say all paths lead back to the source at their pinnacle, but while you're deep in your own narrow road, your view stays limited.
They'd probably want to kill me for mixing it all up, but they'd never see it anyway.
What mattered to me was making the NewTube video look legit.
"Uh... it's cool and all, but doesn't it feel too floppy? Like a dance."
"Ah, play it at 5x speed. That's how it's supposed to be."
Not that I could do 5x myself.
I repeated the form at 3x speed.
At full speed, it was a blur of shwaaak—too fast to follow, right?
"......"
Thud.
Chu Miyoung dropped the phone she'd been holding for filming.
"Wha—what...!"
Jeon Minji blinked wide-eyed, hand over her mouth.
"Wh-what was that?"
"Couldn't see it properly? No worries. Practice with the slo-mo version I recorded. We can speed it up in post."
"No, the problem isn't me not being able to follow it...!"
Ahem, was it that impressive?
I'd only matched the visible flair with my sharp eyes.
Their awe was making me a bit embarrassed.
"Alright, enough gawking—memorize it! If you upload it fast, even I can fake a similar vibe with editing."
"Yes...!"
While Jeon Minji needed those tweaks, Yoo Kyung-hun was deeply immersed in his practice.
Kuung! Kuung! Kuung!
...The ground didn't actually shake.
But his serious face made it seem like he was witnessing the real deal.
The expression alone brimmed with as much authority as the Heavenly Demon herself.
His overwhelming presence nailed the Heavenly Demon Overlord Step perfectly.
"Your footwork's improved a lot. Now, try with the sword."
His precise movements still needed work, so I drilled him separately, but after a few reps, it sharpened right up.
"Thank you!"
"Practice on your own, and it'll get even better."
"Yes! So that's the effort behind those NewTube videos."
"No, I just... never mind. Sword up."
I almost said it was just the booze, but shut my mouth.
Those prior decades of effort were real, after all.
That 'real deal' couldn't be taught, and mastering it in days was impossible anyway.
In the end, I got Yoo Kyung-hun memorizing basic demonic arts forms and Jeon Minji a weird mashup of Sovereign Sword Form and Plum Blossom techniques.
I figured simple moves plus CG would wrap quick, but it took way longer than expected.
"Once the custom costumes arrive, we'll film properly and send it over! Please review!"
I'd even advised on the outfits.
"I'll have the manual memorized by next time."
The treatment manual briefing was done.
Jeon Minji was sticking around Busan for observation anyway, so no big worries.
Interior plans were basically sketched out too.
"See you in Seoul next!"
I'd personally asked Madam Heo Sun-nam if we could visit her gallery, and she mentioned signing an exclusive deal with an Eastern painter recently.
The couple loved the photos she sent, so I set a date with the branch directors.
Hit Seoul soon, tour up to branch three, and it'd be perfect.
"The sea! Let's go see the sea quick!"
With the schedule wrapped.
We toured with Chu Miyoung on the second evening and third day.
Beach, hotspot cafe, black pork barbecue—and time flew.
The hotel pool she'd craved got just a quick morning dip on day three, but she seemed thrilled.
"Next time, Hallasan too."
A touch of regret lingered.
I'd wanted to soak in Hallasan's energy while here, but with her hating hikes so much, oh well.
But boomer complaints like that only landed with folks like Chairman Choi Gwi-jae, so I kept quiet and saved it for later.
Not long after, the branch four couple and I met in Apgujeong.
We'd come to the gallery run by Madam Heo Sun-nam.
"Whoa, you own a gallery this huge?"
I'd known since early on she had one in Seoul.
She paid for her grandson's—or boyfriend's?—herbs without blinking, so I figured she had money.
But this big?
I'd imagined a martial world painting peddler with a room or two... this was practically a small museum.
Wait, aren't commercial art spots called galleries?
Total art noob, I wandered around gawking.
"Started sellin' my husband's and other painters' works at first. Somehow ended up like this, y'know."
I didn't get modern art, but it felt cool and impressive anyway.
"Wow!"
"Whoaaa...!"
The branch four couple, rarely gallery-goers, reacted just like me.
"Exhibit's rented out, but the ones I showed ya are over here. C'mon."
"Ah, yes."
We passed the special exhibit into the permanent one.
Lots of paintings, but one stood out.
"Whoa, so cute."
The squirrel in it looked just like the one from the back mountain.
Only one I'd seen in modern times, so maybe bias, but the vibe was uncanny.
"Ah~ that's by my boy. If ya like it, Director, just take it!"
"No way, I have to buy it!"
"Ya fixed my back like that—what's one painting!"
"Hey, I've taken plenty already!"
As Madam Heo and I bickered, the branch four couple froze before an Eastern painting.
"......Whoa."
A massive horizontal dragon scroll, way bigger than the rest.
Not many martial-themed fits for interiors here, but this was perfect.
Red and black tones to boot.
No wonder Yoo Kyung-hun was hooked.
Madam Heo said all the Eastern paintings here—bar one—were by the same artist.
Seong Myeong-in, newly exclusive with her gallery.
The outlier? His master, Cheon Won-il's work, priced over ten million won.
She'd fallen hard for Seong at a prior Eastern painting exhibit centered on Cheon Won-il and disciples.
"Knew ya'd like this. Told the painter to come."
"Pardon?"
"Said customers interested in his stuff might buy a bunch—wanted to explain personally."
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"
"Nah. I said if he's busy, no biggie, but when I mentioned ya, the back-fixer, he jumped first to come."
Yoo Kyung-hun, Jeon Minji, and I were stunned, but Madam Heo was chill.
Common occurrence? Hope I hadn't imposed.
"Hello? You folks interested in my paintings?"
But no displeasure from the painter at all—our worries unfounded.
"Yes, thank you for making time."
"Not at all. Was gonna visit you in Busan anyway. Honored to meet in Seoul and explain my work!"
"Me?"
I was just sightseeing...
Grateful for past help from Madam Heo, I'd planned to buy a piece or two politely.
Customer was us?
I glanced at the couple, but Seong grabbed my hand.
"Madam Heo says you're the nation's top divine physician."
"Oh, no such thing!"
"No one else could heal what you can't."
The sudden lavish praise from a stranger burned my cheeks.
I was used to Madam Heo's hype, but this was awkward.
"You were coming to see me? Something hurt?"
Famous painters might travel for a look, but healthy folks don't trek to Busan for a doc.
Seong scratched his head.
"Not me—my master's shoulder. Can't lift his arm, halted his painting."
"Ahh."
Patient incoming!
"Cheon Won-il?"
Madam Heo was shocked.
Big name, huh.
"Where is he? I can check him quick while you explain to these two."
No sign nearby.
Touring the special exhibit? In the car?
I scanned around.
"Ah, didn't wanna impose while you viewed my work—said he'd go to Busan later."
No patient with him.
Makes sense—buyers might not love treatment requests mid-browse.
"Doesn't bother me. If he's close, fetch him now."
I'm used to folks swarming everywhere yelling 'Divine Physician! My chronic issue, just once...!'
"Still, bothering on your day off..."
"Really, it's fine."
"Ah, our Director says it's okay—why so stuffy?"
Seong hesitated, but Madam Heo dialed.