episode_0040

It was a strange companion.

Honestly, unless you’re an idiot, you could probably guess why Jongnampa sent one of his companions away.

As for me, I would say he is a rising star in the martial arts world, a promising swordsman, or a blue chip who has yet to be evaluated.

Of course, if you find out that his true identity is a devil’s advocate and a cult member who was dispatched to interfere in someone else’s party called Yongbongjihoe, you will immediately lament that Jongnampa is not a good stock but a bunch of dogs!

Besides, if they found out that he wasn’t just a cultist, but a disciple of the Heavenly Demon, they would be terrified and demand that he be delisted immediately.

For the sake of Elder Yeo Il-gyu and Jongnam Jang Moon-in’s mental health, let’s keep this fact a secret that only I know.

Anyway, sending this woman named Lee Seo-ran along as a companion is similar to buying undervalued blue chip stocks with the seed money you had.

“Although my skills are still immature, I am learning from Jang Moon-in.”

“Ah, you are the eldest son of the Jongnam faction.”

His voice was as blunt and businesslike as his appearance, but he was still a companion.

Moreover, he was not an ordinary disciple, but the eldest disciple of the eldest disciple of the Jongnam faction.

There were a few other things I found out during the conversation.

He is twenty-five years old, eight years older than me, and is quite famous in the Shaanxi region under the nickname Baekran Sword.

If you reach your peak at the age of twenty-five, it is by no means a late achievement, so it is no exaggeration to call you the master of the 36 swords of the Jongnam faction.

However, as a companion to go to Hanam where Shaolin is located, it was difficult to give it a high score.

“… … .”

“… … .”

First of all, he is a man of few words.

Even if you speak, all you get back are brief, business-like yes or no answers.

However, when talking about martial arts-related topics, he becomes quite talkative, but unless it is a field he is interested in, he is extremely reserved.

Actually, I’m not really the type to talk that much, but let’s just say that I followed you around as a companion and the awkward atmosphere just continued.

It creates a stuffy, suffocating atmosphere, as if you’ve eaten a hundred sweet potatoes without any water.

‘It’s just inconvenient to have, but can’t I get a refund through Jongnampa?’

I agreed because I thought I wouldn’t be bored if I went with someone and had someone to talk to.

If I could return it to Jongnampa, I would like to do so.

Besides, there was an even bigger problem.

“Hmm.”

Long distance travel is usually done by horseback or by using the method of flying, and then walking again when you feel tired.

If you feel like it’s okay, move quickly again with the renewal method.

Since we don’t talk, we naturally move like that, but the problem is, he keeps glancing at me.

A gaze that keeps stealing glances from the side.

Since it is rare for a male martial artist to be around, I tend to get stares wherever I go, so I have become quite sensitive to other people’s gazes without intending to.

‘It’s difficult.’

I have nothing to say if you ask me to drink kimchi stew first without even thinking about giving me rice cakes. But there are secret gazes directed at me that are difficult to detect even with the senses of a true expert.

Although Lee Seo-ran has a face that would make people call her beautiful wherever she goes, in terms of my past life, I am currently in the middle of a romantic relationship with my sister.

Two-timing? That’s unthinkable.

How can we resolve this issue smoothly and without making things awkward?

When I was training in the Demonic Cult, I was busy taking care of my own life, and after that, I became my sister’s disciple, so there was no situation where something like this would happen.

This is a really difficult situation.

I was definitely thinking that way until the first evening.

“Small business.”

“Huh?”

The road from Shaanxi to Henan is quite long.

The fact that it is close is only because it is an administrative district right next to the central plains.

It is not a volcano located at the eastern end, and it takes at least several days to get there from Jongnam, located in the center of Seomyeon.

Since it was a journey along the main road in the heart of the Central Plains, it was only natural that as the sun began to set, we were planning to find a room at a nearby inn and stay for the night.

As I was about to get up from my seat after an uncomfortable dinner, Lee Seo-ran spoke to me hesitantly.

Lee Seo-ran’s confession attack!

Yeonjin’s eyes went dark!

No matter how you look at it, the atmosphere is like that. The situation where you’re about to get up after dinner, the subtle expressions and hesitating attitude of a person who always has a blank expression on his face.

A confession attack just one day after meeting? This is an unexpected situation.

My brain was spinning fast in the face of a crisis. Since ancient times, confession is the final step that must be taken when a relationship has progressed through a flirtation and both parties have reached an implicit agreement.

If we use a contract metaphor, confession is the act of simply stamping a seal on a contract after both parties have written it up and it is all done.

‘Is this really the Central Plains…? …! A barbaric age where the weak cannot survive!’

You’re telling me to confess and get scolded in one day?

After feeling the fear of the male-female reversal in the martial arts world firsthand and preparing myself mentally, I opened my mouth.

“So-hyeop, I’m sorry to suddenly bring this up, but if you don’t mind, could you try out So-hyeop’s sword?”

“Sorry, I already have… … Yes?”

“Huh?”

* * *

Lee Seo-ran, known by the nickname Baekran Sword, is the disciple of Jin Seong-yeon, the leader of the Jongnam faction.

In other words, he becomes the eldest son of the Jongnam faction.

Her beautiful appearance and blunt personality are what make her unique and unique, making her difficult to approach.

But if there is something that all the disciples of Jongnampa have in common about Lee Seo-ran.

“I’m crazy about martial arts.”

“How much poison do you have to have to work that hard?”

It was that Lee Seo-ran was an incredible martial arts fanatic.

Jin Seong-yeon gladly accepted that point and took him as his disciple, but even though he had achieved peak achievement at the age of twenty-five, he devoted himself to training by reducing his sleep as if it was not enough.

“… … I know it’s rude, but I can’t stand seeing the small group.”

Even though Lee Seo-ran said it herself, she avoided eye contact as if embarrassed.

If you look at it out of context, it was a statement that could be very misunderstood, but Yeonjin tried to talk calmly.

“So you’re saying you want to fight me?”

“It’s embarrassing, but yes. I think it’s really great that Sohyup achieved something at that age before he even reached his prime. Maybe that’s why I want to try sword fighting… … ”

“Oh my, you’re putting it in front of people and gilding it too much.”

Yeonjin answered as if it was nothing, but in fact, from the perspective of the central government, Lee Seoran’s actions were rude.

The very act of asking for a fight is problematic, especially when the person being asked is eight years younger than him.

Even men.

It would not be strange for Jongnam’s other disciples, who usually respected her, to turn away and pretend not to know, saying, “Oh, that’s a bit much.”

Since the world is what it is, there is no expression to say that you should take off what is hanging from below, so I don’t think I will hear such words, but I have nothing to say even if I am jeered at for asking if that is really a woman.

However, for Lee Seo-ran, a martial arts fanatic, it was a difficult thing to say after struggling between shame and pride all day long.

Lee Seo-ran thought she had nothing to say even if she was rejected or embarrassed, but Yeon-jin’s answer was surprisingly refreshing.

“There seems to be an unused space behind the guest house. That would be fine. I’m too tired to stay for long, is that okay?”

“… … Are you giving me a free ride?”

Lee Seo-ran blinked and asked back at the refreshing acceptance.

But Yeonjin had already put down her chopsticks and was getting up from her seat.

“You said you wanted to be a slut. Did you change your mind?”

“Oh, no!”

Rather, Lee Seo-ran, who had applied for the military service, hurriedly moved to the empty lot.

After moving, Lee Seo-ran, who was still looking dazed, came to her senses and took the lottery.

“I am Seoran Lee. I am embarrassed to say that I am called Baekran Sword, and I learned Cheonha 36 Swords from Jongnampa.”

“I’m Yeonjin. I don’t have a nickname, but I learned the Bokma Yeorae Sword by chance.”

Bimu is the act of comparing and contrasting each other’s martial arts skills.

Of course, it must have its own example.

After exchanging greetings and showing respect to each other, without saying who would go first, they drew their swords and began to explore each other’s true and false sides.

If we only consider practical experience, Lee Seo-ran has an overwhelming advantage.

Moreover, it was much earlier that Lee Seo-ran reached her peak.

Considering the distribution and age, it is not a matter of life or death, and since it is a non-combat situation, it is only natural that Lee Seo-ran should give up the third second.

“It’s not enough, but I’ll give you three seconds first.”

“Good. I was going to spread rumors that it would be fatal if you didn’t give in.”

“Huh?”

Lee Seo-ran’s eyes widened at Yeon-jin’s answer, which she couldn’t tell if it was a joke or serious, but Yeon-jin had already kicked the ground and rushed at her.

A three-second concession means not to counterattack while three seconds are being made.

This means that even if an opening is revealed up to the third attack, you will only defend and not counterattack, so it is perfect for attacking without worrying about the opponent’s counterattack.

Yeonjin took the lead with the Bokma Yeorae Sword and Sumijeondan’s first technique.

The blade, covered in the glow of the sunset, seems to symbolize the compassion of the Tathagata, but it strikes down with a firm and unwavering sword force like a diamond.

Boom-!

The initial impact sent heavy waves crashing in all directions.

The unrefined air wave spreads out like fragments, casting a faint light across the darkened landscape, and for a moment, Yeonjin frowns at the tingling sensation in her hand that is more intense than she expected.

“Hmm.”

Lee Seo-ran fell into a deep sleep.

Lee Seo-ran thought that considering Yeon-jin’s age, it wouldn’t have been that long since she reached her peak.

However, it was so fierce that I thought I might lose if I let my guard down because it was a non-combat weapon that didn’t use Yeonjin’s black herb.

Of course, it’s not like they’re trying to beat each other, but isn’t the purpose to compare each other’s martial arts and use it as a touchstone to improve themselves?

Thinking that she couldn’t let her guard down, Lee Seo-ran quickly adjusted her sword and Yeon-jin’s separation continued.

In an instant, dozens of sword strikes with variations of false and real swords poured down like a shower along the sword path, and Lee Seo-ran skillfully distinguished the real and false swords and countered the sword strikes.

It is not a sword with a specific purpose.

Martial arts that have a purpose such as a quick attack, a swing, a change, etc. have the advantage of being specialized for that purpose, but on the other hand, if you can hit that weak point, it can easily be destroyed.

However, being able to freely change swordsmanship whenever necessary, like water flowing without any particular purpose or a snake jumping over a wall, has one strength.

The strength of not being easily defeated by any opponent.

It is difficult to deal with her, and it is not surprising that Lee Seo-ran is surprised that Yeon-jin has already mastered that much swordsmanship at that age.

‘… … strong.’

Of course, Yeonjin had no intention of using the Heavenly Demonic Power in the fight, but even if you exclude the Heavenly Demonic Power, she was already a strong enough opponent.

It was a beautiful sword.

Just looking at the ecstatic swordplay makes me dizzy, makes my breathing quicken, and makes me want to swing my sword with more power.

Lee Seo-ran’s expression became hazy, and Yeon-jin, who did not have enough time to examine Lee Seo-ran’s expression, grumbled to herself without even realizing it.

‘What’s so hard about this?’

The reputation of Jongnampa’s Cheonha 36 Swords is high, but this is my first time actually experiencing it.

My first experience dealing with the martial arts of the old school.

It was a very precious experience, but my only impression was that the defense was so damn strong that it would be difficult to break through at the current level without using the Heavenly Demonic Skill.

The Bokma Yeorae Sword is a magical martial art, so it only has an extremely bad compatibility against the evil ones of the Sima Oedo, and it cannot have an advantage in compatibility against the same orthodox martial arts of Taoism.

But I just swing my sword, thinking that this will be a valuable experience.

While Yeonjin and Lee Seoran were having an unexpected fight at the inn in Seomseo, the guardian angels in charge of Yeonjin’s long-distance escort and communication mission were gathered together on a tree far away and watching the scene.

“At that age, you’ve got a lot of skill.”

“I agree. The leader of the small group didn’t take him in as a disciple for nothing. What should I write in the regular report?”

“Jongnampa’s eldest son, Baekran Sword’s Lee Seo-ran, and Shaolin are accompanying each other. It is presumed that they became close enough to engage in a duel during their trip.”

“Considering the ultimate goal of infiltrating the Yongbong branch, it seems like we have achieved our desired results without a hitch.”

The court elders looked at each other and nodded.

He even became friends with the disciple of the head of the Jongnam faction.

Now, isn’t it a given that the identity guarantee will be given away?

Even though he has a high status as a disciple of a religious sect, he devotes himself so diligently to a mission that is completely useless if not fun!

He is indeed the disciple of the Little Leader. He is qualified to become the disciple of the future Supreme Being.

The court experts who gathered up such thoughts, saying that the interpretation is better than the dream, looked very moved.

After writing a letter to Jeonseo-gu every month in a single stroke of a pen for regular reporting, the court officials continued to watch the proceedings with pleased faces.

They still didn’t know that the letter they were going to write would end up in Yu Ye-hyang’s hands and be crumpled up in a mess.

And, of course, it was better not to know that fact.