Chapter 118: Intensive Training Week (3)

Jang Cheol-sim’s enthusiastic outpouring of insights began.

He continued teaching without pause for a long time and even demonstrated his skills.

*Clang!*

He flicked his shoulder and drew his sword, striking a majestic pose.

*Swish!*

*Slash!*

He then unleashed his sword energy, cutting through tree branches, and performed a somersault.

*Splash.*

Landing on a small branch floating on the shimmering river, Jang Cheol-sim’s graceful movement drew gasps from the students.

“Amazing footwork.”

“Light as a feather. Could it be…”

“Bu-un Yak-pyo?”

Bu-un (Floating Cloud). Stepping on clouds.

Yak-pyo (Leaping Flutter). Fluttering steps.

Seeing the rare technique, which only a few senior disciples of the Cheongseong Sect could master, the students were ecstatic.

‘He’s even showing the secret techniques of the Cheongseong Sect.’

He must be feeling the heat.

“Though it’s embarrassing to show such tricks in front of a senior.”

*Twitch. Twitch.*

“To elevate the students’ knowledge, I must endure the effort.”

With his lips trembling in happiness, Jang Cheol-sim said,

“Students, observe. This is the essence of the Shinmu Sword Technique.”

*Slash! Swish! Swish!*

*Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!*

Balancing on the thin branch floating on the river, Jang Cheol-sim elegantly performed the first three forms of the Shinmu Sword Technique: One Strike Return, Wind Splitting Cross, and Clear Wind Moon Slash.

*Clap. Clap. Clap.*

“The instructors are very skilled.”

Encouraged by Wang Woo’s small praise, Jang Cheol-sim excitedly continued to perform the middle five forms and even the final forms without rest.

Though he was panting and his hooked nose looked quite unsightly, the sight of him cutting through the river with flashing sword energy was beautiful.

“Indeed, a senior instructor.”

“There’s a difference even among peak-level masters.”

“Is this what a mature peak-level senior looks like?”

The students were all in awe.

“Phew.”

After the demonstration, drenched in sweat, Jang Cheol-sim twirled his sword in reverse grip and sheathed it behind his back.

“Did you all see that?”

“…”

There was no response.

‘See what?’

He showed off his swordsmanship alone.

“Ahem.”

Realizing his mistake, Jang Cheol-sim blushed and exclaimed regretfully,

“How foolish. What was the essence I asked about earlier?”

“…”

Still no response, which made Jang Cheol-sim angry.

“Didn’t you see me balancing on that thin branch?”

But no one answered easily.

It couldn’t be helped.

If the first three forms were like cutting and slicing carrots, the middle five forms were like cooking with the carrots, making it a significant difference.

‘It’s not something immature martial artists can easily answer.’

Only Namgung Yun-ho’s lips moved slightly.

– Balance. Center.

Though he only mouthed the words, Cho Un-hwi understood their meaning.

‘As expected, his observational skills are impressive.’

As one would expect from the Sword Ghost of the Namgung Clan.

Finally, after several explanations from Jang Cheol-sim, one diligent-looking student murmured,

“Both feet on the branch. Ah!”

“Did you figure it out?”

“The essence of the Shinmu Sword Technique is balance and center!”

“Correct!”

Jang Cheol-sim laughed heartily at the answer.

“Exactly. All the forms of the Shinmu Sword Technique maintain balance.”

“The center doesn’t waver easily and moves heavily. That’s the key.”

“The reason the high-ranking masters of the alliance formalized the Shinmu Sword Technique is precisely this.”

“The method of maintaining balance and center. It’s a fundamental principle that helps with any martial art.”

Jang Cheol-sim exclaimed and then gracefully leaped off the branch, performing five somersaults in the air.

Gently landing by the river, he said,

“Balance and center. The foundation and beginning of martial arts. This is the lesson for today.”

Jang Cheol-sim turned with a flourish of his sleeves.

***

After Jang Cheol-sim’s demonstration, the students tried to balance on the branches and perform the Shinmu Sword Technique.

But even the carefully selected students couldn’t easily balance on the thin branches over the flowing river.

*Splash.*

Most ended up looking like drowned rats.

“Oh no.”

*Plop!*

Some managed to balance on the branches with impressive footwork but fell into the water after a few forms.

While the students were busy trying to master the night’s lesson, Jang Cheol-sim was glued to Wang Woo’s side, chatting excitedly.

***

Ignoring the sound of students splashing into the river, Jang Cheol-sim eagerly tried to find more joy in Wang Woo’s ever-smiling face.

“I showed my inadequate skills.”

“No, it was a wonderful Bu-un Yak-pyo. Your footwork is unmatched.”

“How could I compare?”

Jang Cheol-sim’s nostrils flared as he spoke.

He was thrilled to be recognized by the heir of the Kunlun Sect.

If he had a tail, it would be wagging so hard it might lift him off the ground.

Wang Woo spoke in a gentle voice.

“From what I saw today, the level of Shinmu Academy is very high.”

“Really?”

“Not only their skills but their passion for learning is remarkable. These young sprouts will grow into great pillars of the future.”

“You’re right. So…”

“But I’d like to observe a bit more. As you know, deciding to teach martial arts isn’t something to be done lightly.”

“That’s true.”

Quickly hiding his disappointment, Jang Cheol-sim returned to his smiling face.

“As you stay, you’ll surely find students with satisfactory qualities.”

“I hope so.”

After chatting for a while, Jang Cheol-sim left as quickly as he had arrived, taking the soaked students with him.

Watching them leave, Cho Un-hwi sent a telepathic message to Wang Woo.

[What did you talk about?]

[Nothing much. I gave a plausible reason, so they won’t send any more immature students.]

Oh, that’s a relief.

[They’ll send more polite and less troublesome students from the righteous faction.]

Less troublesome sounds good.

[So, my lord, you can rest and watch the skills of future enemies.]

This man still hasn’t given up on his dream of conquering the martial world.

***

Thanks to Wang Woo’s assistance, the swamp became much quieter.

Today being a holiday, Cho Un-hwi gave the assistants a break and came to the swamp alone to make plans.

“Now there’s only one thing to worry about.”

Though it had been a hectic time, the goal remained the same.

“How to find my fiancée.”

He had joined the sect his fiancée belonged to and had the job of a martial instructor, just like her first love.

He was confident he could win her favor once they met.

“I’ve surpassed her first love in many ways.”

In terms of sect, skills, and occupation, he was on par or better.

“With the advantage of being able to use dirty tricks, I’m way ahead.”

Now he just needed to easily surpass the guy who made her cry in the previous life.

He had another reason for his confidence.

Cho Un-hwi pulled at his messy bangs.

“The hair she liked so much.”

When they had to rely on each other, she would often shyly say,

– You should grow your bangs a bit.

That was why he had grown his hair immediately after escaping his subordinates.

It was frustrating, but if she liked it, he had to endure.

“Ugh. Maybe she likes dogs? Considering she likes shaggy hair.”

Will Myojinmun be okay?

‘If not, I might have to create a Dog Sect.’

Muttering, he reviewed other things to improve.

“My personality, which was harsh in the previous life, is better now.”

As long as he didn’t throw knives at her and tell her to die, the first meeting should be fine.

“Now, the competitors.”

Having surpassed her first love, it was time to outdo the other competitors.

But no matter how hard he thought, no one came to mind easily.

“I interacted with many people, but I don’t know who was a colleague and who was a lover.”

Keep the colleagues alive and eliminate those who could be lovers.

But it wasn’t easy to distinguish between colleagues and potential lovers.

“Well, it wasn’t a peaceful time for leisurely romance.”

However, one name vaguely came to mind.

“Was it the Huashan Sect?”

There was someone who appeared like a comet and was once called the hope of the righteous faction.

“Maybe because he was active for such a short time?”

I can’t remember at all.

The memory was hazy, like a fog, from a hundred years ago.

“If I can’t remember, there’s nothing I can do. Let’s focus on the present.”

He had already prepared to some extent.

“Sima Yul will sort out those participating in the Murim Excursion, and Danya will join with the assassins.”

It wouldn’t be difficult to observe those visiting Myojinmun.

“I can afford to be a bit more ambitious.”

Though the regulations originally tied him to the assigned location, now he had the convenient ally Wang Woo.

“If things go well, I might find my fiancée before the year ends.”

Cho Un-hwi murmured with anticipation.

The woman he parted with long ago.

[If our time together meant anything.]

Her fading sobs in happiness echoed in his mind.

[Please find me again, even at the end of a nightmare.]

“Yes, I’ll find you again.”

It wouldn’t take long.

It was an intuition.

A certainty that he would meet his lover again, even amidst the flames that once consumed him.

The intuition that his wish would become reality through his will.

***

Gon Ya-pyeong, the Hidden Moon Flying Thief, trembled as he looked at the man standing before him with a relaxed smile.

A man in a red martial uniform, with hair like burning flames.

*Whoosh.*

Flames danced playfully between his fingers.

Seeing the flames evolve from red to white, Gon Ya-pyeong swallowed hard.

‘Just facing him is scorching.’

His face felt like it was burning.

‘Even from fifteen meters away, this heat…’

Few could wield such fearsome extreme yang martial arts.

No matter how many hidden masters there were in the world, how many could produce real white flames with their energy?

Among those who could appear here, only a few names came to mind.

The first name was,

– The Light of the Flame, Ma Gil-sang.

A member of the Ten Great Swordsmen and the owner of the extreme yang body could do it.

But it wasn’t Ma Gil-sang.

Gon Ya-pyeong knew Ma Gil-sang’s face.

Other names came to mind but were quickly dismissed.

‘No one else could have this presence.’

Gon Ya-pyeong, who prided himself on his internal energy, felt his 120 years of cultivation suppressed by the man’s aura.

To bind his energy with just presence?

This man was far beyond a peak-level master.

‘He’s surpassed human limits.’

An ultra-master who had surpassed the peak level, the limit of human potential.

‘This young man.’

He had reached a level that Gon Ya-pyeong couldn’t achieve in decades of training.

Envy, jealousy, and self-reproach surged.

But the strongest emotion was,

– Fear.

Gulp.

How could such an unbelievable master appear without a sound?

But Gon Ya-pyeong knew. He should have realized it sooner.

If not for the overwhelming fear, he would have thought of it first.

Those who exist but don’t exist.

“Are you from the Heavenly Destruction Society?”

Finally, the man spoke.

“You’re not entirely stupid.”