Chapter 6: Turns Out I'm a Genius at Demonic Arts
I stared blankly at the sword clutched in my hand.
'Feels really damn weird.'
The movements I'd never done before felt unnaturally comfortable.
Swinging the blade without a hitch sent a thrilling jolt surging through my whole body.
Is this what martial arts feels like?
But Bongmareung shattered the moment.
"Jang Hosam, how much do you know about swordsmanship?"
It was an ambiguous question.
If he meant knowledge of Murim sword arts...
'Well, not totally clueless.'
Who were the hotshot swordsmen rising these days?
Which sects boasted what famous styles?
I had pretty detailed trivia on all that.
But it didn't seem to match what Bongmareung was getting at.
'He means as a martial artist, right?'
"Indeed. Have you ever learned anything formal? Even the common Three Talents Sword Method?"
In that department, I was a total illiterate.
Sure, as a back-alley blackguard, I'd swung knives plenty, but proper sword manuals? Never touched one.
"Never learned any swordsmanship?"
'Thievery's my major.'
"Then do you know the sword arts of the Yong Demon Clan?"
'Yong Demon Clan's sword arts? Yeah, a bit.'
As Yong Baekheon's body double, I had to know exactly what that bastard was practicing.
Plus, chunks of his memories still lingered.
"Recite what you know."
'Seven Stances of the Supreme Sword for basics, Twenty-Four Dragon Sword, Asura Heaven-Shattering Sword, True Light Blood-Extinguishing Sword Stance, Horned Dragon Ascension Sword...'
Sword arts Yong Baekheon had mastered.
The sword genius had devoured the Yong Demon Clan's hereditary techniques, making them his own with terrifying proficiency.
Bongmareung nodded.
"Then you know the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's sword arts divide into three main branches."
'Course.'
Supreme Sword Style emphasizing power.
Fast Sword Style for speed.
Illusion Sword Style for deception.
Different demons prioritized differently, but the Cult's sword arts fell into these three broad categories.
"Among the three, the Supreme Sword Style reigns supreme. Why? Because it can encompass both the Fast Sword and Illusion Sword styles."
'Huh?'
Honestly, I couldn't wrap my head around it.
Encompass them all in the Supreme Sword Style? How?
"Details when I properly instruct you later. Just keep it in mind for now."
His voice deepened.
"The White Dragon Soaring Sword you just initiated is the pinnacle of the Supreme Sword. But an unfinished pinnacle. After Yong Bijeong, several Heavenly Demons infused their interpretations to complete it, yet none succeeded."
A sword art left incomplete for ages.
But I'd been handed the crucial clues.
The full stances and eight-character incantation—hints later descendants would have killed for.
"From now on, unravel the White Dragon Soaring Sword incantation and make it yours. Right now, you've only grasped the shell."
The spirit's voice grew heavy again.
Without grasping the incantation's true meaning, the sword art was no more than an empty shell.
I was a martial arts novice, but now I got it crystal clear.
Thanks to Yong Baekheon's leftover knowledge.
"White Dragon Soaring Sword is the divine ultimate art the Sword Heaven Demon perfected in his final years. It might be a mirage you chase your whole life without reaching. Heh heh heh heh!"
He suddenly burst out laughing like it was hilarious.
'What's so funny?'
"Treating this spirit like a junk dealer, I figured I'd just hand over everything. But now there's a show to watch. How could I not laugh?"
Yeah, my karma.
Anyway, I'd scored big here.
My depleted true qi had refilled, washing away the headache.
The backs of my hands, cracked like parched earth, were already glossy with healing bruises.
'Any chance I can suck up more qi?'
Might as well stockpile a few more sacred relics here, puff up my qi reserves?
But Bongmareung clicked his tongue.
"Never seen such an ignorant fool. No lower dantian yet, and you want to gorge yourself?"
'Can't I?'
"Just gather the sacred items to absorb for now. Qi is held in a vessel—overflow means waste. It is far better to expend, then refill."
'Gotcha.'
Like hoarding rations. Plenty if stockpiled.
I sheathed the longsword without complaint and pocketed a few small sacred relics.
Shady vibe or not, he was basically my master—trust him on this.
"That is the spirit!"
'You know it's just me, right, Mister Bong?'
"I know, I know! Anyway, qi restored—time to learn the Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes. Get to it."
I returned to the Young Cult Leader's Palace with Geumran waiting outside.
This time, she'd stand guard while I learned the eye technique from Bongmareung.
But something felt off when we arrived.
"Ah, there he is!"
"Young Cult Leader...!"
A pack of men was sprinting toward us from afar.
I had no choice but to halt.
'Blue Eagle Unit warriors loyal to the Young Cult Leader!'
Tiger- and dragon-like brutes, all first-rate masters.
Geumran whipped around urgently.
Her lips twitched.
"Hosam! I'll hold the Blue Eagle Unit—escape now!"
I resembled Yong Baekheon like a twin and could ape his speech and mannerisms perfectly.
But I lacked his unique martial bearing and gaze as a warrior.
Warriors who'd long observed the Young Cult Leader would suspect up close.
To minimize risk, bolt first.
'Thanks, Geumran!'
No transmission art yet, so I shot her a quick glance and spun on my heel.
Behind me, she intercepted them.
"Halt, all of you! The Young Cult Leader wishes to ponder alone. Do not disturb!"
"What? Hey! Phantom Fox Unit Leader! How dare you...!"
"Defy the Young Cult Leader's command, and you'll cross blades with me here!"
Geumran was going all-in for me.
The Phantom Fox Unit had its prestige as the Young Cult Leader's direct guard, but it paled against the Blue Eagle Unit.
They were one of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's official strike forces.
'Silver lining: the Blue Eagle leader himself isn't here... Still, the whole unit showing means business with the Young Cult Leader.'
She couldn't stall them forever.
I walked on, racking my brain.
'Where to?'
Where could I hide to shake them and buy time?
Then worry hit.
'If I just bail like a punk, what happens to Geumran? Is she gonna catch hell?'
Head spinning wild—then my feet stopped on their own.
A solid idea had sparked.
'Right—Yong Baekheon's training chamber! Head there.'
The underground chamber in the Young Cult Leader's Palace was special.
Strict rule: only the Young Cult Leader entered.
Multiple entrances, though. Yong Baekheon used it to summon and command me privately...
'And I milked it pretty good myself.'
He never knew I'd snuck in on my own.
Once inside and door shut, no one outside could open it—unless the Grand Cult Leader himself came calling.
'Issue: even the nearest entrance means passing those guys.'
The palace lay beyond them.
Geumran tussling with the men blocked the path to the chamber.
Had to go through the Blue Eagle Unit.
'A mountain I gotta climb.'
Decision made, I turned and strode toward them.
As I approached, Bongmareung spoke up.
"What are you planning?"
'What else? Go through 'em.'
Didn't sit right dumping cleanup on Geumran and rabbiting.
And I wasn't totally helpless.
No inner power yet, no Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes...
'But I've got swordsmanship.'
White Dragon Soaring Sword.
Sword Heaven Demon's legendary art etched in my mind.
Mind set, an inexplicable sensation pooled in my palm.
The feeling I could fight.
"Fool! That is what they call baseless bravado since ancient times!"
'Nah, this is the real deal.'
Audacious even for me.
I flicked the sheath at my waist to loosen it for a quick draw, gripped the hilt, and picked up speed.
The Blue Eagle Unit loomed close.
"Step back!"
"Shut it! Who do you think you're ordering...!"
A black-clad thug lunging for Geumran's collar.
I slipped between them, drew, and slashed upward.
White Dragon Soaring Sword—drawing stance.
Borrowed Flow, Unrivaled Strike.
Borrowing the flow, unrivaled strike.
"Ah, Young Cult Leader! Uh...?"
Shwick!
No internal energy infused, the blade arced lazily from below upward.
Yet it executed flawlessly, goosebumps-inducing precision.
The black-clad's pant leg snapped clean, slithering to the dirt.
"Y-Young Cult Leader!"
He clutched his crotch and stumbled back.
The entire Blue Eagle Unit's faces hardened like stone.
Public humiliation—no wonder.
But smack in their midst, I twisted my lips into a smirk.
"What? Not satisfied with my mercy? Should I have taken your head?"
"Mercy?!"
"You ignored my command, so I taught a lesson. You reached for my guard captain—could've lopped your wrist instead."
"...!"
"But I didn't. Not a speck of qi stirred. If that's not mercy, what is?"
I cocked my head slightly; the men averted their eyes.
Beside me, Geumran gaped in shock.
"You even know the tricks of an intimidation standoff. Impressive."
True—I had my own knack.
'Play the Yong Baekheon name to the hilt while bullshitting my way through.'
Now with legit sword skills, frontal assault wasn't impossible.
"Forgive us, Young Cult Leader. But please hear our business first..."
"Later. Don't wanna chat with some goon clutching his balls—looks bad. Find me after I emerge from the training chamber. And mend those pants proper."
The black-clad's face flushed beet red.
I smoothly sheathed the blade and nodded to Geumran.
"Let's go, Ok Captain."
"Pardon? Y-Yes! Young Cult Leader!"
We strolled casually like nothing happened.
Then bolted around the corner.
"What the hell? When'd you learn swordsmanship like that?"
"Later!"
Inside the Young Cult Leader's Palace, I gave Geumran a break, then headed straight to the training chamber.
Door locked—reality sank in.
'Bluffed past Blue Eagle warriors like that.'
My own stunt, but I couldn't help chuckling.
Bongmareung guffawed too.
"Guts of steel. The more I see, the more potential."
'Praise? Thanks.'
Catch breath.
"Huu..."
Cross-legged in the chamber.
Time for Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes.
"Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes is the study of beholding spirit-flesh essence, self-nature, life-death."
'Spirit-flesh? Essence? What's that mean?'
"I'll explain step by step. It won't be easy, but follow my lead. I'll drill you till it sticks."
'Scary...'
"It will take time and frustrate, but approach calmly."
But Bongmareung's prediction missed spectacularly.
"Oh, this the Deep Eye? Wild."
"Huh? H-How so quick?!"
The demonic spirit floundered in shock.
My eyes blazed blue light as I scanned around.
I could now emit that signature glow, Yong Baekheon's trademark.
"Impossible...!"
Not even half a day.
Just one sichen.
Astonishingly, without digging into Yong Baekheon's enlightenments.
'Turns out I'm a genius at demonic arts?'
"Shut it. Let me think."