episode_0191

“The name of this sword technique is Yeongsal Sword.”

“Yeongsalgeom.”

I repeated the name slowly.

“What does it mean?”

“A sword that kills spirits.”

“The spirit…”

As he said that, Mo Yong-yeon took out his sword.

Sling.

The sword slipped out of its scabbard.

The sound of the sword and scabbard brushing against each other was somehow creepy.

Then he started to breathe internal energy into the sword.

It was a dark aura so strong that it made the sword appear blue.

I made a worried expression when I saw the sword energy that seemed to have a little too much internal energy in it.

Mo Yong-yeon read my expression and smiled faintly.

“To penetrate the hard outer shell of the spirit.”

“I see.”

The spirits that appear in martial arts novels are similar to monsters in a fantasy world.

Among them, there was a spirit whose outer skin became as hard as steel.

I guess you need that much internal energy to be able to inflict damage.

Then Mo Yong-yeon swung his arm.

The black energy flew away, leaving a deep wound on the cave wall.

It was a similar movement to mine, but the result was a bit more intense.

Kururung.

The cuts were so deep that the wall collapsed and rocks rolled around.

Mo Yong-yeon slowly put his sword away while watching the scene.

“That was a little too much.”

She admitted that she had a lot of internal energy, and shamelessly put the sword away.

“…a little?”

He was great as a pilot, but I felt he was a bit lacking as a teacher.

The broken wall, which was even more damaged than mine, had rough marks on it, as if it had been scratched by a dragon.

Large pieces of rock and debris fell from the wall and clattered to the floor.

Before anyone could tell me to do so, Mo Yong-yeon and I continued our conversation while pushing away stones from each other.

“That’s weird.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You handle the sword like that, but you don’t know a single sword technique.”

“Ah.”

That was understandable.

Although I was able to handle the sword skillfully thanks to my ability in martial arts and my experience in various worlds, my swordsmanship was limited to the basic Samjae swordsmanship I learned at the martial arts school.

I can’t talk about skills, so I’ll just beat around the bush.

“I trained with a sword since I was young, but I didn’t learn proper swordsmanship until a few months after I entered Muhak-gwan.”

“Muhak-gwan… Are you talking about Inmuhak-gwan?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

She lifted the heavy stone lightly and stared blankly, as if thinking deeply.

Although it was described as a heavy stone, it was actually closer to a rock.

Who could possibly lift that heavy weight and get dazed?

And who else, if not me, could wait with a similarly sized boulder to allow the Master to finish his thoughts?

Nana Moryongyeon had monstrous strength.

“I feel bad for the other Muhak-gwan.”

“Huh?”

“I have to meet you at the non-contest.”

As he said that, Mo Yong-yeon moved the stone with light steps.

I followed her and told her things I thought she might not know.

The non-competitive tournament has changed a bit, with the sects participating, and I also have to go to that non-competitive tournament a month later.

“Really?”

The reaction was more vain than I expected.

I don’t know why, but I somehow thought that Mo Yong-yeon would be against it.

It would have been a cliché for a normal teacher to oppose this by telling them to focus on training.

“What is the prize for winning?”

“That… I don’t know.”

“If possible, I’d like something like an elixir or an elixir… If Shaolin Temple is participating, then something like Daehwandan…”

Perhaps he still felt regret about the English version, as he looked at the empty drawer and pursed his lips in regret.

Mo Yong-yeon’s words had a tone that made it seem as if he was certain that I would win.

“Do you think I will win, Master?”

Everyone in the academy seemed to accept defeat as the sect was participating in the war.

Even instructor Cheol-woong didn’t show it, but it seemed like he wasn’t expecting much.

However, Mo Yong-yeon was just saying calmly that he would like the winning prize to be a genius.

If you don’t win, whatever happens to the prize, it’s fine.

“If you learn just one week, that’s enough.”

Mo Yong-yeon said firmly.

“Oh…”

Those words felt reassuring.

And I decided to practice by going back and forth between Muhak-gwan and this cave.

At first, I thought we were living together in a cave and training.

“It’s comfortable to sleep alone.”

I had no choice but to follow Mo Yong-yeon’s words.

Since the Muhak Hall was close anyway, there were no major complaints.

In addition, when I was at Muhak Hall, I could naturally hear new information.

The next day, I finished my basic physical training in the training ground where the excitement had disappeared unlike before.

Seol-yeong and Jeong-seon were not shown, but instead, a letter was left in front of my room.

Seol-yeong plans to meet with a master from Bukhae Ice Palace and train with them for a month, and Jeong-seon plans to train with the secrets he obtained from the master in Giru.

“Did you hear about the prizes from the non-contest this time?”

“You heard, it wasn’t a joke?”

“So, almost all the participating sects offered rewards? Even our school offered prize money.”

“…Our school also has pride.”

As soon as the students gathered at the training center and finished their training, they started chatting away.

I snuck a peek right next to it, catching my breath.

There was no information that I didn’t know where they were getting it from.

‘I’m sure the teacher will like it.’

There were more than 10 prizes awarded in this year’s competition.

It started out as a petition group of non-partisan people.

The shamanists, without anyone saying anything, offered the prize of Socheongdan, a special elixir that they did not even share with their disciples.

They said it was an investment in the latter index to win the non-competitive tournament, but it seems other sects felt differently.

“Why did the non-partisan group suddenly put the petition group up as the winning prize?”

“It’s a precious elixir, but we’re going to win anyway, right?”

I don’t know if the Shamans really thought that way, but at least the other sects seemed to think so.

Several powerful groups, including the Shaolin Temple, the Hwasan Sect, and the Sichuan Tang Sect, competed with each other with confidence, offering prizes such as precious elixirs, weapons, and poisons.

Since there were only three elixirs, it was a winning prize that satisfied the Master.

“But… isn’t it a little strange?”

“What.”

“No, I think it’s because you’re putting up products without anyone asking you to, and the stakes are getting too high.”

“That’s true, but it’s a bit much to bet on just pride…”

Overhearing those words, I once again became suspicious of the sects’ intentions.

I wholeheartedly agree with the statement that the compensation is excessive.

Even though the battle of pride has become heated, is there any reason to bet elixirs like Daehwandan or Socheongdan on the winning prize?

It would be more helpful to increase the chances of winning if they feed it to their disciples who are competing.

Then, is it really to lure Sapa or the Demonic Cult?

“…I don’t know.”

After finishing my training, I decided to return to the cave.

If you talk to your teacher, he will probably give you some advice.

***

“You’re luring me.”

“I see, right?”

As soon as Mo Yong-yeon heard what I said, he answered immediately.

And then he said exactly what I suspected.

“It seems like they’re trying to lure the devil.”

“Yes?”

I expected the content of the quest to be about torturing a spy of the Demonic Cult, but I never thought that such words would come out of Mo Yong-yeon’s mouth.

“The only guys that all the sects can lure together are the Sapa and the Demonic Cult.”

“…That’s right.”

Because Sapa and the Magi were public enemies.

“And, the only ones who sneak into a place where all the sects are gathered and try to steal the elixir are the Demonic Cult.”

So, does that mean the Demonic Cult is a group of crazy people?

Still, I couldn’t quite believe it.

You’re barging into the place where all the sects are gathered.

Shouldn’t we try something a little safer?

“Will he come?”

“Wow. Those guys.”

Mo Yong-yeon nodded and answered immediately, knowing a little about the Demonic Cult.

“The Yeongsalgeom is a sword used to hunt spirits.”

“Yes.”

I’ve heard it before.

The swordsmanship you are teaching me is a swordsmanship that was originally created to hunt spirits.

“Whenever I go out hunting for spirits, I often run into demonic bastards.”

Mo Yong-yeon’s expression became slightly distorted as he spoke, perhaps because it was a memory he did not want to remember.

“The danger doesn’t matter to them.”

I don’t know what kind of sight he saw, but his expression and voice alone were enough to convince him.

“They look like monks from Shaolin Temple.”

“…You shouldn’t say that somewhere else, right?”

If the monks of Shaolin Temple had heard it, they would have blurted out words that could have resulted in a life-or-death decision.

Mo Yong-yeon, who actually spoke, remained calm.

“It’s not that they’re unmanned, but that they’re closer to believers. It’s not called a cult for nothing.”

Not unmanned, but closer to a believer.

When you say it like that, I understand the madness.

“…The devil will come in. Whether it’s as an audience member, a participant, or a master. Disguised as someone.”

My thoughts were no different.

“Nothing else matters, but if those guys infiltrate the sect’s later indexㅡ”

Then, Mo Yong-yeon threw something at me.

It was fast paced, but I received it skillfully.

Clank.

I felt a heavy weight and heard a refreshing sound.

What I received was a pouch.

When I carefully opened the pocket, it was full of silver coins.

“You’re going to sleep here from today, so buy some bedding and other necessities.”

“Yes? Starting today?”

“Uh.”

With those firm words, I packed my bags and went down to the market.

I came to live with my teacher under the same roof, or rather, under the same cave.