Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Roast Bird
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"Ha.... Is this really the right way?"
I had parted ways with Gwangyu at the market and come alone to the secret training ground.
"Work, you bait!"
Gwangyu, whom I'd thought would faint at my bold declaration, wore a quite serious expression instead.
"Are you serious?"
"If I am, will Master become my bait?"
He shook his head as if that wasn't what he meant, his face saying he wouldn't regret it.
"Not about becoming bait. You asked me to be bait because you want to build up enough skill to enter the Demonic Cult's martial tournament, right?"
"That's my intention. But my internal energy won't respond to my will."
Gwangyu calmly pointed out my issue as I sulked.
"That's because you're deluded into thinking you can only manifest your internal energy with bait."
"Isn't that the case?"
"Of course not. If it were as you say, no martial artist in the world could use internal energy without bait."
"...True. But the method Master taught me was just endlessly repeating forms. That takes too long. With bait like Master, I can unleash powerful martial arts right away!"
'Why take the long road when there's a shortcut?'
Anyone who's not an idiot would take the shortcut.
"But without that specific bait, you can't do anything."
Gwangyu pinpointed my problem exactly.
'He's sharp as a tack.'
"That's true, but..."
I couldn't refute that unchangeable fact.
"Going too fast can backfire. Don't focus on the bait—memorize the flow and sensation of your energy when you fully unleash it on your own. Only then have you truly learned."
"So... I should recall the sensation when I used Seven Demons One Sword and Seven Demons Seven Swords?"
Remembering Gwangyu's teaching, I pulled my sprawled body up and gripped the wooden sword again.
'Seven Demons One Sword has simpler movements than Seven Demons Seven Swords, so let's practice that.'
What was the flow of energy like when I properly used internal energy?
The sensation throughout my body?
The feeling when swinging the sword?
'Good, something's surging up inside!'
"Seven Demons One Sword!"
I focused on that moment without letting it slip and swung the wooden sword with all my might.
Whish―
But only a deflating wind sound followed—no internal energy like before.
'Was that surging feeling just my anger?'
"Argh, whatever! With this level of skill, entering the tournament is a joke.... I should be grateful if I don't tarnish Master's name."
I tossed the wooden sword to the ground like trash and flopped onto the floor in despair, spread-eagled.
'Truth be told, I'm more afraid of losing itself than tarnishing Master's name....'
My growth was already sluggish, and feeling the gap with the Demonic Cult folks would shatter even the positive mindset forged from my past life's truths and long hours of part-time jobs.
'Anyway, entering the tournament wasn't in my plans to begin with. No need to rush.'
Resolving to steadily build my skills as Gwangyu advised, I picked up the fallen wooden sword again. That's when I naturally looked up.
"I know you're spying from there."
I turned toward the familiar presence approaching from the direction I'd been gazing at the sky.
"You've done enough. Time to come back, Ppippi?"
Ppippi, who had been holding its breath, peeked out its beak at the sound of its name, then fully revealed itself.
"Ppiiik-pip-pip-pip! Pip-pip! Ppiik-pip? Ppiik-pip-pip! (You betrayed me first, Seol Cheon-seong! You chose Gwangyu over me! Fine, I'm not here because I missed you or anything? I'm leaving, so don't stop me!)"
"Didn't I clearly tell you nicely to come back?"
Ignoring my final warning completely, Ppippi flapped its wings and took off.
"Seven Demons One Sword!"
Not missing the moment, I swung the wooden sword faster than ever.
Rumble! Crack!
'Got it!'
At the same instant, a deafening thunderclap rang out, and the massive tree right in front of Ppippi's beak was struck by lightning and collapsed limply.
"Ppiik! (Aaaah!)"
Startled, Ppippi plummeted to the ground without even thinking to flap its wings.
"Ppiik? Ppiiik? Pip-pip? (What? Why did lightning fall from the sky all of a sudden? I almost became roast bird!)"
I gave the terrified Ppippi my kindest smile.
"Making me clean up your droppings was enough."
'Considering I cleaned it up by hand....'
The slimy feel of bird poop still lingered vividly on my hands.
"Don't just tell your side and run. Come here and hear mine too. Or else..."
I rested the wooden sword ostentatiously on my shoulder and gritted my teeth.
"I don't know where the next lightning will strike."
"Hey, is this all the laundry for today?"
"Yes, that's the last of it."
The laundry area bustled with maids handling the linens from the Demonic Cult.
Amid the maids washing and carrying laundry, a strikingly tall man stepped in.
'Is this the laundry area?'
Gwangyu awkwardly loitered near the laundry.
His amber eyes sparkled more brilliantly under the sunlight.
His black hair, reminiscent of fine silk, and his alluring, elongated eyes were enough to draw the attention of the Demonic Cult maids.
"Hwa-ryeon unnie, look over there. A flower is walking around the laundry area. How can a man be that handsome?"
"Hey! Watch your mouth! Do you know who that is?"
"Who? What, the King of Hell or something?"
"No different from the King of Hell! That's one of the Eleven Elders, Lord Gwangyu!"
"One of the Eleven Elders? With a face like that and a martial arts master to boot? That's cheating... Mmph!"
The maid praising Gwangyu's looks had her mouth covered by another.
Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed, and in the blink of an eye, Gwangyu was before them.
"We're sorry, Lord Gwangyu. This one's new and misspoke."
"Misspeak? Oh, calling me a flower?"
'Why does he have such sharp ears? Because he's an Elder? Anyway, I really stepped in it today.'
"Hey, apologize quick! You should be kowtowing!"
"P-Please spare me! I spoke out of turn."
The maid who had praised Gwangyu paled at the others' urging, sensing something wrong, and bowed her head before him.
"Why are you bowing?"
Contrary to the maid's expectation of a scolding, Gwangyu asked calmly.
"Because I dared call you a flower and cheating."
"Ugh! Idiot! You don't blurt that out when he asks!"
The maid who had silenced her panicked, but Gwangyu smiled faintly at the teary-eyed offender.
"What's wrong with me being a flower? It's a compliment! Honestly, I am pretty damn handsome, like a con artist! So don't bow your head carelessly. I hate seeing Demonic Cult members bow just because they're weak when they've done nothing wrong."
Moved by Gwangyu's words, the maids lifted their heads.
Only then did Gwangyu look satisfied.
"More importantly, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it? We'll do anything we can."
Fired up by Gwangyu's kindness, the maids rolled up their sleeves at the word "favor."
"Teach me how to do laundry? I want to clean this properly."
Gwangyu untied the dirt-caked handkerchief still faithfully around his neck.
It was the one Cheon-seong had tied for his wound.
"You want to wash that handkerchief? Give it to me, and I'll clean and iron it like new."
Though it would lighten his load to hand it over, Gwangyu politely declined.
"No! I appreciate it, but I'll do it myself. Just teach me the method. This handkerchief is very precious to me."
"Mm, let's treat the wound first. Then I'll let it go."
"It's fine! I stopped the bleeding, so no more blood."
Recalling Cheon-seong as he gazed at the handkerchief, Gwangyu grinned foolishly.
'Does he have a lover?'
'Must be a woman he admires.'
Misreading Gwangyu's feelings, the maids diligently taught him laundry techniques with utmost care.
"First, roll up your sleeves like this...."
Gwangyu rolled up his sinewy arms and soaked the handkerchief in water.
"Rub the heavily soiled spots hard to get them clean."
"Rub hard, got it?"
'Using strength is my specialty!'
His passion to keep Cheon-seong's gift clean ignited, and as Gwangyu rubbed the handkerchief vigorously—
Riiip―
The fabric tore.