714 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

He once spoke to her during training. "Seol Ah, you must always ponder what to instill in your sword, not just how to wield it." Wi Seol Ah tilted her head in confusion. She couldn't comprehend it. To fill a sword with something—what could that mean for a sword, which isn't a vessel? As a child, Wi Seol Ah couldn't grasp this concept. Or rather, she didn't want to understand it. Back then, she was too impatient to think about anything else. It wasn't until she surpassed the blossoming realm that she began to grasp her grandfather's teachings. What kind of sword dance should she perform? Which sword path should she follow? Where should she focus her strength, and how should she direct her energy? Before delving into such issues, she needed to contemplate what to imbue into her sword. What thoughts and mindset should she have when facing the sword? The Heavenly Master, who imparted knowledge to Wi Seol Ah, had once said: "A martial artist can be divided by their realm, but a sword practitioner cannot be categorized so simply." "How much of yourself can you instill into the sword? That's what truly matters for a sword practitioner." How much of oneself can be instilled? It was both a difficult and straightforward statement. The dream of sword practitioners to unify with their sword. She began to understand this when she finally found her bearings and grasped the meaning of the words. Yet, "Instill myself into the sword…" It begs the question: what does 'myself' even mean? Even after gaining direction, she couldn't grasp it because she didn't truly know herself. "What am I?" What on earth was she? Wi Seol Ah pondered endlessly, but even with persistent contemplation, she still had no answer. Would she eventually find out if she continued to ponder quietly? And if she ever became certain of what she was, would something change? For some reason, the thought frightened her. "..." Her eyelids slowly opened. As she lifted her heavy eyelids, she saw a slightly wavering view. A few seconds later, Wi Seol Ah realized she was in someone's arms. Though startled, she didn't struggle. Instinctively, she knew whose arms held her. "You're awake?" The person holding her, Gu Yangcheon, spoke to Wi Seol Ah as he walked. "...Yes." A feeble response. Her exhausted body made her feel limp. Yet, amid her weariness, Wi Seol Ah still asked Gu Yangcheon. "...Did I lose?" "Yes, you lost." A calm response met with a nod from Wi Seol Ah. Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon softly chuckled and asked. "Are you disappointed?" She surely felt disappointment. It was indeed a close loss. 'So close.' Just a tiny margin. Had Wi Seol Ah wielded just one more sword… Or had she infused a bit more spirit into her final strike… Wi Seol Ah, not Shin Ryong, would have been the victor. 'Hmm.' Gu Yangcheon swallowed a faint pain rising within him. In haste to block the shock, he had erected an emergency qi barrier. Even though it withstood everything, a slight internal injury was inevitable. An internal injury that wasn't worrisome—it would heal in less than a day, really. The issue was, 'I sustained an internal injury.' The impact from the clash between the two was enough to penetrate him. Their level was such that he was left with mixed emotions. 'I understand Wi Seol Ah…' She had once ascended to the pinnacle of the world in her previous life. Knowing the power she had wielded during her prime, it wasn't surprising. Despite yearning for her not to wield the sword, he knew this outcome was inevitable. However, 'What is Shin Ryong?' What was he? Every time he unleashed a Hundred-Step Divine Fist, there was an infused intent. It didn't seem intentional, yet the motion carried his spirit. When compared, he would easily overcome the likes of Fenglin or any other strong fighter and wouldn't take long to catch up to the Ghost Flame Sword. 'Is that level achievable at such a young age?' It was absurd. While he had advantages due to returning to the past, Shin Ryong was showing far greater prowess than in his previous life. 'Weaker than Gui-seung, yet vastly different from his past self.' The name of the Divine Dragon. He surpassed it to an overwhelming degree. Even more, 'I didn’t sense any demonic energy.' The suspected presence was entirely absent. Of course, he had thought the likes of Yuseong had already claimed him, yet there was no such sign. 'Did I fail to notice it?' While possible, Gu Yangcheon believed otherwise. It was pure talent and effort that led Shin Ryong to that height. If so... truly... 'Is he insane?' He must be insane, Gu Yangcheon was convinced of that. 'What kind of life has he led? An absolute madman.' Even before, when he had interactions with a bald monk who constantly munched on buns, he knew Shin Ryong was extraordinary. An unparalleled genius, a prodigy sent down from the heavens. Even with all these descriptors, reaching that level was unthinkable. This required, 'Real dedication, beyond mere words.' Living a life of relentless dedication to training, endowed with talent. Without that, such pure power couldn't be reached at his age. 'The fact that his energy is so refined suggests he consumed plenty of those miraculous pills.' But downing numerous of those wouldn't just elevate one's level. There's a limit to that. 'If it were so easy, I would have transcended long ago.' Even the top-tier pills equivalent to Docheondan. Gu Yangcheon would chew these as if snacking every time he felt bored. 'He is the real deal.' The genuine among the genuine. Perhaps someone on par with Wi Seol Ah in terms of talent. In today's world, filled with fakes, he was one of the few true martial artists Gu Yangcheon deemed authentic. Thus, he let it slide. 'I wanted to intervene and tear it all apart.' Fed up with the scheming within the alliances, he was ready to burn everything, yet he refrained because Shin Ryong wasn't an imposter. It was also a silent apology for belittling him internally. 'It wasn't bad.' The Manifestation of the Yellow Dragon. Even in the past life, he had never witnessed this martial art from Shaolin. Gui-seung had never used Shaolin's secret arts, so Gu Yangcheon had never seen them. "...It seems so many things have changed in this lifetime." Even if Shin Ryong was weaker than Gui-seung from the previous life, he held infinite possibilities in his current form. Even for Gu Yangcheon, who felt the most detached from martial arts, Shin Ryong inspired a faint passion. Shin Ryong was indeed a remarkable existence. It made him ponder. "Will he be a hindrance?" Would Shin Ryong become a hindrance to the plans he had set for the future? If so, he would eliminate him in advance, considering the details carefully. "I still can't tell." He wasn't certain. He felt he needed to watch a bit longer. "What on earth happened?" What could have caused Shin Ryong to change so much? Was it something he consumed? Was it the dumplings? But why didn't he eat them in his past life? It was indeed odd for a monk to indulge in such things. "Who on earth fed him those?" He doubted Shin Ryong would have picked them up on his own. He wanted to know who was behind it. Surely, it wasn't a normal person. At that moment, "...I feel disappointed." Wi Seol Ah spoke while being carried. What was she referring to? Gu Yangcheon pondered for a moment before recalling. "Oh, right, I asked." Yes, he had asked her if she was disappointed. Of course, she'd be disappointed. Wi Seol Ah lost by such a narrow margin. Being directly involved in the sparring, she was surely aware of it. But then, "Oh…. It's not that I'm disappointed because I lost the match." Wi Seol Ah's words prompted a look of confusion from Gu Yangcheon. "Huh? Then what are you disappointed about?" "..." It wasn't about losing the match? Then what was it? Gu Yangcheon asked for clarification, but Wi Seol Ah didn't respond. She merely averted her gaze slightly. "...What?" What was it? He couldn't understand why she wouldn't answer after sparking curiosity. Yet he did not press the matter further. He assessed that she likely wouldn't answer even if he asked again. Noticing her slightly reddened ears, He had the urge to touch them but refrained. Instead, he chuckled softly. "Let's get you checked and then grab something to eat. She's waiting too." Namgung Bi-ah was already outside, waiting. "...Okay…." "Is there anything particular you'd like to eat?" "I want some meat." "Oh, alright…. Let's have that then." Gu Yangcheon felt a sense of relief seeing her. She was always the same Wi Seol Ah. And that alone was enough for him. ****************** After the second day of the main event, All of Hanam was buzzing with stories. Of course, these stories were about the previous day's sparring matches. "Can you believe it? The Seomwoel Sword from Mount Hua..." "The bout that Do-wang demonstrated was also like a painting…." "I never knew there were so many hidden masters in the martial world." The stories from the first day had faded into the background. At most, there were tales about the Poisonous Bee defeating the Ghost Flame Sword? Among the accumulating tales, the most vibrant was undoubtedly one topic. "Though they say he's the youngest to achieve the blossoming realm, that was an incredible sparring match." "He not only lived up to the name Shin Ryong, he exceeded it." "Surpass it? This Shin Ryong might be the greatest in history." "I never thought I'd witness such a sparring match… It was like a dream." Most of the narratives revolved around Shin Ryong's sparring match. Who wouldn't talk about it? It was that dazzling and intense event. "Could it be that Hwang Abul-yeong has reincarnated?" Hwang Abul-yeong. A hero of Shaolin who once ended a massacre. Some now believe Shin Ryong would be comparable to him. Well, Given such talent, achieving that wouldn't be difficult. Through this sparring match, Shin Ryong firmly imprinted his presence. Shaolin's hope and the strongest among the Five Dragons and the Three Peaks. Words spread that he was recognized as a promising leader for the future of the martial world. However, Shin Ryong wasn't the only one who left an impression. "And what about the successor of the Sword Sovereign." "That young lady was incredible too! As the successor of the Sword Sovereign, she was not lacking at all." "The ethereal sword dance she performed was mesmerizing... I had only heard tales, but it turned out to be true." "And her appearance too…" The Wolseon Mugum. The Sword Sovereign's unique martial arts had always been a famous style. The characteristic of a golden hue, a sword path imbued with moonlight, and The fact that she used her internal energy to form an ethereal sword—it was astonishing. Forming internal energy to use as a sword in the air required precise control, a level of finesse that naturally surprised onlookers given the young sword practitioner demonstrated it. This led to a subtle moniker bestowed upon Wi Seol Ah. "The Seomwoel Sword… She seemed like the Sword Sovereign reincarnated." "A perfect nickname." Seomwoel Sword. Perhaps it was inspired by the crescent moon-shaped sword strike she displayed at the end. Reflecting on it, "Seomwoel Sword… Compared to her past life, it seems somewhat weaker." Wi Seol Ah's past life, where she was known as the Little Sword Saint. Although not as prestigious, it wasn't a bad nickname. Gulp. In a high-up guesthouse. A sip of tea was taken quietly. Listening to the rumors being traded was quite satisfying. He deliberately refrained from setting a qi barrier. It was to listen to the stories about Tang Soyul and Wi Seol Ah. He filtered the rumors and absorbed them as they gradually entered his ear. "...The Emei Sect seems inactive. It looks like they're holding back after the recent events." Cheol Ji Sun, who was dining alongside him, continued in his conversation. It was late into the night, and for some reason, they found themselves in the guesthouse, meeting openly in the county. The reason was simple. To gauge how the rumors were spreading among the people. As those words reached him, he focused his attention back on Cheol Ji Sun. Simultaneously, he placed his hand to create a qi barrier. Vwoom—. It was time to get to the core of the conversation. "Did all the ones lurking around disappear too?" "Yeah, as far as the reports tell us." "That's a shame. I was hoping they’d be a bit more reckless." Could it mean that the Powder Fairy wasn't entirely useless? After all, continuing to make moves after being so openly warned would have meant relinquishing their position as head. "Anything else?" "Hwangbo Ga Joo sent a message. He says everything is ready, just let him know." "Good." It's impressive how quickly things are moving. I can sense Hwangbo Ga Joo sharpening his sword, so to speak. "Is he eager to ascend to his position, then?" His long-cherished dream of becoming the leader of one of the Four Great Clans. His desire to get there was transparently evident. It's not a bad thing. His ambition makes him easier to handle. "Tell him to wait a little longer." "Got it." There's less than ten days left. For maximum impact, we must use him at the most opportune moment, so for now, he must wait. "The most crucial part isn't ready yet." News should be arriving soon. Just as I was thinking that— "Oh, and... there's another message from the Hwangbo Clan." I turned my ear to Cheol Ji Sun's words. He hesitated briefly before continuing. "Go on. It's fine." "...Il Ryong Daejoo caught a martial artist in Hubei who's being transported back." Silence. I paused mid-sip, holding my teacup. "The martial artist is one of the Demonic Cult members who attacked the Wudang..." Cheol Ji Sun's pauses allowed me to catch my breath with each uttered word. "He goes by the name Dang Deok." Thud. I placed the teacup back on the table without taking a drink. Cheol Ji Sun's gaze on me was peculiar. What was he pondering to ask me? If I was okay? Or how I planned to extract him? Neither, as far as I knew Cheol Ji Sun. He would undoubtedly ask this: -So, this— "Yangcheon, is this your doing...?" "…" I lifted the corners of my mouth subtly in response to his question. Indeed, he was sharp. "Yes." He hit the nail on the head straight away.