Chapter 13 – Baek Ri-seol (2)

by fnovelpia

The training continued in this manner.

Cho Un-hwi would laze around, seemingly uninterested, until Baek Ri-seol reached her breaking point. Then, he would reluctantly get up and offer a brief explanation.

Namgung Yun-ho watched nervously as Baek Ri-seol’s face turned red with frustration, her teeth clenched tightly.

But Cho Un-hwi, the experienced beast tamer, always managed to dangle a carrot at just the right moment.

“Miss Treasure of the Muhan Branch, use your brain. The first and second forms are performed with a single sword. But the third and fourth forms require two swords. And then the fifth form goes back to a single sword. Don’t you find that strange?”

“Hmm… where did the other sword go? Don’t tell me…!”

Baek Ri-seol, who had been practicing the forms repeatedly, suddenly threw the sword in her left hand.

Whoosh! Thud!

The sword embedded itself in a nearby tree, its blade quivering.

Cho Un-hwi clapped his hands.

“Good job! What a brilliant idea! You truly are the treasure of the Baek Ri Clan, the monster of the Muhan Branch!”

“Hold on, I think I heard some rather disrespectful terms in there.”

“Must have been your imagination. You’re doing great! You’re a genius! Now, show me the next form of your… Supreme Invincible… whatever it’s called.”

“It’s the Supreme Invincible Unparalleled Sword Technique!”

Cho Un-hwi clapped again, ignoring her protest.

“Hmph, I’ll let it slide this time. I’m a genius, and I’m also very forgiving.”

She puffed out her chest, her shoulders squared, and her nostrils flared.

If it weren’t for her lack of self-awareness, she would have been dancing with joy.

The name of the technique no longer seemed to matter.

“You’re doing great, Seol-ah. Good girl.”

“Who are you calling Seol-ah?!”

Despite her protests, Baek Ri-seol continued to practice with renewed enthusiasm.

***

“This is unbelievable…”

Namgung Yun-ho couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

It wasn’t Cho Un-hwi’s fault.

He had come to expect the unexpected from the monstrous instructor.

What shocked him was Baek Ri-seol’s talent.

‘She can replicate a technique just by hearing it described?’

When teaching martial arts, most sects would put their students through rigorous basic training before introducing them to the concept of sword intent.

Sword intent was the essence of a technique.

It encompassed the meaning behind the movements, the situations in which it should be used, and the energy that should be infused into the blade.

It was the most crucial aspect of swordsmanship, and most masters would spend a considerable amount of time teaching their students about it.

No matter how perfectly a student could mimic the physical movements of a technique, they wouldn’t be able to unleash its true power without understanding its underlying intent.

But Baek Ri-seol was different.

She could replicate a technique flawlessly just by hearing Cho Un-hwi describe its intent and purpose.

“White Crane Ascending!”

She executed the third form, which had seemed impossible just a day ago, with grace and precision.

Her breathing and movements were synchronized, her internal energy flowing smoothly through her body.

‘This is insane.’

Her talent was beyond anything he had ever seen.

She could probably master a technique just by reading a manual, without any formal instruction.

‘She’s a monster.’

He wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.

He suddenly remembered Cho Un-hwi’s words.

‘Stop focusing on people’s weaknesses. If you want to survive in the Murim world, you need to learn to appreciate their strengths.’

Why had he been so focused on the flaws in her technique?

He felt a pang of shame.

‘I was being complacent. I, the former Ghost of Dongcheon Hall, had no right to judge anyone.’

Had he become arrogant after achieving a small measure of success?

‘I need to learn from her. She sees the good in everything, while I only see the bad.’

He steadied his wavering heart and resumed his training.

He pushed himself harder, striving to break through his limitations and reach new heights.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

His movements became more refined, his swordsmanship more elegant.

He wouldn’t stop until he had surpassed his limits.

“These kids…”

Cho Un-hwi chuckled as he munched on a pastry.

“They’re growing up so fast.”

***

Fifteen days later, Baek Ri-seol had stopped tripping over her own feet.

And she had finally mastered the seventh form of her incomplete sword technique.

“Secret Strike!”

She leaped into the air, spinning gracefully as she flicked her sleeves.

Whoosh! Thud!

A hidden blade shot out from beneath her sleeve, piercing a training dummy.

The dummy shattered into pieces.

“Ugh, now I have to fix that.”

Cho Un-hwi grumbled, but Baek Ri-seol was too ecstatic to notice.

She stood there, her chest heaving, her eyes shining with tears.

“Sniff… sniff…”

“Miss…”

Ryeong-ryong looked at her with concern.

Baek Ri-seol wiped her tears and turned to face them, a bright smile on her face.

“I knew I could do it!”

She beamed with pride.

“I’m a genius!”

“I’m the precious daughter of the Baek Ri Clan!”

“The most treasured jewel of the Muhan Branch!”

Cho Un-hwi chuckled.

“I knew you could do it too.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Have you ever known me to lie?”

“Hehe, you have so much faith in me.”

She smiled brightly, her face radiant with joy.

***

The day Baek Ri-seol mastered the four incomplete forms of her sword technique, she invited Cho Un-hwi and Namgung Yun-ho to her room.

“Wow, this is your room?”

“Yep, it’s pretty big, huh?”

She was right.

It was a spacious room, large enough to accommodate ten people comfortably.

“Impressive, isn’t it? My room is a reflection of how much I’m loved.”

“Uh-huh, sure.”

Namgung Yun-ho frowned as he surveyed the room.

“There’s something… ow!”

Cho Un-hwi smacked him on the back of the head.

“What was that for?!”

Cho Un-hwi plopped down on a chair and gestured towards the table.

Ryeong-ryong poured them some tea, but Cho Un-hwi frowned.

“Do you have anything stronger than this bland tea?”

“I-I’ll bring some wine right away!”

She scurried away.

“Why did you invite us here?” Cho Un-hwi asked Baek Ri-seol.

“Hehe, I promised to reward you, didn’t I?”

She had promised to give him anything he wanted if he helped her complete her sword technique.

“The Muhan Branch, and even the Baek Ri Clan itself, will grant you any wish you desire. What is it that you desire most?”

“Wine.”

“Hehe, the wine will be here soon. Ryeong-ryong is very efficient.”

She was right.

Ryeong-ryong returned moments later, carrying a tray laden with wine and snacks.

“Ah, perfect. Now, where were we?”

“I was about to reward you.”

“Rewards. I love rewards.”

Cho Un-hwi rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, a greedy gleam in his eyes.

“How much are you willing to pay?”

“Is money enough?”

“Our relationship began with money, so it’s only fitting that it ends with money.”

Baek Ri-seol’s face fell for a moment, but she quickly recovered and smiled.

“Of course.”

“You’re loved and cherished, while I’m just a poor beggar who’s been abandoned by the world. And my salary is pathetic.”

“Ryeong-ryong, bring it. All of it.”

Ryeong-ryong retrieved a small chest from beneath Baek Ri-seol’s bed.

“Thirty silver ingots.”

Silver ingots were boat-shaped pieces of silver, more valuable than standard silver coins.

Each ingot was worth about twenty silver coins, so thirty ingots were equivalent to six hundred silver coins.

Cho Un-hwi’s monthly salary was ten silver coins, so this was a fortune, a sum he wouldn’t be able to earn even if he saved every penny for five years.

But his expression remained impassive.

“The Baek Ri Clan is stingy.”

“Ugh, is that not enough?”

“You said the Muhan Branch would give me as much money as they love you.”

“This is all I have right now.”

“Fine, I guess I’ll have to settle for this.”

He took a swig of wine and stood up to leave, but Baek Ri-seol grabbed his sleeve.

“You can’t just leave like this! I’ll bring you more when I visit the Muhan Branch soon.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“I always keep my promises. My father will give you anything you want, even if it costs a fortune.”

“Sure, sure.”

Cho Un-hwi patted her head condescendingly.

“You’ve done well. The Murim world is vast, so perhaps our paths will cross again.”

“Yes, of course.”

She smiled brightly.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“The snacks were delicious.”

***

Namgung Yun-ho walked out of Baek Ri-seol’s room, his mind racing.

He glared at Cho Un-hwi’s retreating figure, his heart filled with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

‘He’s doing all of this for money…’

He was disgusted.

How could he extort money from a child? And then complain that it wasn’t enough?

“This is not the way of a true martial artist.”

But that wasn’t the only thing that bothered him.

Their relationship was purely transactional, based solely on money.

‘I thought he was different…’

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

No matter what, Cho Un-hwi was the one who had saved him.

He was the one who had offered him a hand when everyone else had turned their backs on him.

“I will trust him, no matter what.”

He paused, a sudden realization dawning on him.

There was something wrong with this picture.

‘This doesn’t make sense.’

He thought back to Cho Un-hwi’s words.

‘We need to find you some classmates.’

He had specifically said he was looking for students.

And he was picky.

He had even rejected Sa-son, the talented disciple of the renowned Yeongcheon Sword Clan, claiming that he would be too much trouble.

‘He’s not just going to accept anyone.’

So what about Baek Ri-seol?

‘Her talent is undeniable.’

He had never seen anyone with such natural ability.

Even his younger brother, the Little Sword Dragon, who was considered the most talented member of the Namgung Clan, paled in comparison.

‘Would he really let go of someone so valuable?’

Someone who could potentially surpass even the Little Sword Dragon?

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