“Haah!”
“Chaah!”
As dawn broke, the Outcast Inn was filled with the sounds of battle cries. I mixed among them, stretching a bit while scanning the faces of the Outcasts.
The new Outcasts were generally of high caliber.
Most were at the peak stage of their abilities.
I asked Jeong Sam, who was putting on a show of strength while swinging around a Half-Moon Blade, “Hey, by the way, I noticed some Outcasts are missing?”
“Huff, huff! A few have retired. Especially Yeong Ji-hu-yeol, who became an exceptional expert and returned to their hometown.”
“Heh.”
So, an exceptional expert emerged among the Outcasts. Considering the current status of Sacheon Outcasts, one would think an exceptional expert would stick around… but Yeong Ji-hu-yeol seemed to have their own backstory.
Becoming an exceptional expert must come with some responsibilities.
“What about Jaso-gyeong?”
“They said they left to train in the Feiguan technique.”
“What?”
Jeong Sam clicked his tongue.
“After Da Jeryong became an exceptional expert, Jaso-gyeong worked hard but still couldn’t break the barrier. Eventually, they declared they wouldn’t return until they became exceptional and disappeared somewhere.”
“….”
I offered a silent prayer for Jaso-gyeong.
You chose that path—tough it out with determination.
After finishing the morning training, I choked down some noodles, and Yu Sa-yeon appeared with a displeased expression.
“Hey, I told you to take care of the kids’ martial arts. Why are you having Miss Geum Myeong-wol do it?”
“Hmm? Ah.”
I turned my head towards Hyeok Gi-rin. I spotted Hyeok Gi-rin teaching the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword to Seo I-ryeong and Jo Yong-sang.
“I can’t teach the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword properly.”
“What?”
“It’s a thing. Anyway, it’s not because I’m too lazy to ask Miss Myeong-wol for help.”
I could assist in raising their levels, but I can’t teach the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword.
All my martial arts techniques turned into Brain Knives.
I had honed only the principle of a single lethal strike to defeat Jeong Cheol. I exclusively practiced the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique and strengthened only the power of the lethal strike within the Heavenly Demon Arts.
This was a kind of reverse strategy.
To make it easier to understand, let’s compare martial artists to trees.
How does a tree grow?
Countless branches sprout many leaves, and those leaves produce nutrients that nourish the tree. In essence, the more abundant the branches, the better the tree grows.
Well, there are exceptions like the Heavenly Demon, but usually, it’s a contest of who can reach greater heights.
For a tree to grow tall, it must also spread out sideways.
However, I pruned the branches of potential.
Ultimately, the height of the tree is determined by a single vertical branch. Thus, I cut away all branches to nourish that one branch.
Without the time to grow, I planted all the nutrients I collected into growth.
That’s how I forced my way to the height known as Hwa-gyeong as a martial artist.
Typically, a highly skilled martial artist can usually teach others who have practiced various martial arts.
It’s advantageous for trees to have plentiful branches and leaves to grow big.
That’s why renowned sects often encourage unripe talents to take risks in the Martial World. They hope that while the principles of martial arts sprout, the branches of the unripe talents will flourish by hearing, seeing, and experiencing the principles spread across the world.
It might not seem important, but ultimately, the principles of martial arts thrive best in numbers, which is evidenced in the current Martial World.
The Heavenly Demon Sect of Xin Gang and Shaolin Temple of Mount Tai.
If you were to name the strongest sect in the world, martial artists would likely choose either Shaolin or the Heavenly Demon Sect.
The flourishing of these two sects was no coincidence.
These two sects possessed distinctly different characteristics compared to other sects across the world.
They held within them a multitude of martial arts principles.
Even prominent sects like the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Clans usually center around one principle and branch out from there.
However, the Heavenly Demon Sect and Shaolin were different.
The two sects did not tie themselves to one principle and broadly encompassed martial arts principles.
Shaolin covers the entirety of the Eighteen Supreme Martial Arts and proudly displays the high quality and wide-reaching branches of the 108 Divine Techniques, while the Heavenly Demon Sect offers infinite branches through the Heavenly Demon Library.
Unlike other sects, they can grant a greater number of branches, thus producing many exceptional martial artists.
“Nah, nah, how could the first-class innkeeper understand the intentions of a peak expert?”
“No, I’m serious.”
If I teach it, it won’t turn into the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword but rather into the Thunderclap Blade!
“Just whining! If you don’t like it, just say so!”
Anyway, I finished breakfast while being nagged and, feeling Yu Sa-yeon’s glare, left the Outcast Inn.
“Chhp…”
Looks like I upset Black Rib a lot by dropping him so far away.
Hmm.
Rather than getting pointed out by Yu Sa-yeon, maybe I should start learning other martial arts principles and grow new branches.
In truth, growing new branches wouldn’t be very helpful.
Even Hyeok Gi-rin, who has a rich understanding of martial arts principles, ultimately only employs the Four-Finger Saber Technique in practice. Diverse martial arts principles merely serve as the driving force to elevate martial artists; they aren’t elements to utilize in actual combat.
Someday I’ll need to increase my branches again, but today is not that day.
I had been putting it off in this way, but now it might be time to try.
The inheritance of the Heavenly Demon Arts might have been a kind of fate, as my stagnated skills were gradually increasing since absorbing the Brain Crystal.
Since I wouldn’t be staying in Sacheon for just a day or two, I should consider it seriously.
Having wrapped up my thoughts like that, I surveyed the atmosphere around me.
I couldn’t tell if it was because of me or if the Outcast Inn was still the center of attention, but despite the early hour, there were many people around the Outcast Inn.
Their eyes gathered on me as I stepped out of the Outcast Inn.
“Isn’t that the Brain Knife Outcast?”
“Well, I can’t tell since he doesn’t have a Great Sword or a cape.”
Since I hadn’t shown my face in Sacheon before, the residents of Sacheon seemed confused as well.
“I don’t think so. But if I’m not mistaken, the Brain Knife Outcast must be better looking than him, right?”
“Hmm. That’s right.”
What’s with the focus on good looks?
Though I had an overwhelming urge to confront them right away, I held back as revealing my face all over Sacheon would diminish the dramatic effect of my plans.
I remembered both their faces.
As I glanced at the two of them, I moved toward a familiar alley.
Arriving at Mukju Sect, having walked through the typically quiet alleys of Sacheon.
Even considering that martial artists start their day early, it was still too early to be visiting a sect, but it couldn’t be helped. I had several sects to visit today.
Stopping in front of the main gate of Mukju Sect, the two Gatekeepers who were standing nearby asked,
“Do you have business at Mukju Sect? May I ask what it is?”
Since becoming known as the Brain Knife Outcast, this courtesy was still something I wasn’t used to.
Black Rib’s status as an Outcast was like a trigger for the Gatekeepers. Memories of desperately delivering martial arts manuals came rushing back.
“I’m here to see the Sect Leader.”
“Hmm, the Sect Leader?”
A look of confusion passed over the faces of the two Gatekeepers.
“Could you tell me your name?”
I pondered for a moment.
What kind of performance would excite the two martial artists of Mukju Sect into gossiping around the neighborhood saying, “This is a secret: I met the Brain Knife Outcast while standing guard today!”?
This should work.
“That’s hard to say, but I’ll show you this instead.”
I reached into my pocket. The two Gatekeepers looked on with curiosity, their brows furrowing at what might come out of my hand.
It was because a silver coin was stuck between my fingers.
“How rude!”
“You can’t meet the Sect Leader for just a coin… Ugh!”
The two, who were about to spout anger, ended up holding their breath.
Crack!
As the silver coin glowed with my Qi and sparked, the very energy was released.
Who could show the Qi created from the Brain Knife in the current Sacheon?
“B-Brain Knife…!”
“Shh.”
I stopped the Gatekeeper from gasping in realization. With a smile, I said to the two Gatekeepers,
“Could I see the Sect Leader?”
“Oh, I’ll inform the inside!”
“Thank you.”
One of them dashed inside, while the other looked at me, his face flushed.
Given his expression, he seemed ready to tell everyone the moment his shift ended, “This is a secret just between us, but I met the Brain Knife Outcast today!”
No need for me to ask; the people around Sacheon would soon know just how handsome I am.
As I nodded with satisfaction, the Gatekeeper returned shortly.
“I’ll guide you! This way, please!”
It seems like the first button was nicely fastened.
* *
It had been a week since the Brain Knife Outcast, Ho Cheon-an, returned to Sacheon, but the rumors surrounding him showed no sign of fading.
Among the rumors about Ho Cheon-an, the most talked about in Sacheon was, unexpectedly, his face.
Black Cat, Miss Yeo Il-ye, Hyeok Gi-rin, Dokgo I-seol, Moyong Yeon-hwa, and even Tang Do-yeon and Tang So-yeol were all women with beauty akin to blossoms.
As Ho Cheon-an traveled with such beautiful women, people wildly speculated about his charm, leading to the prevailing theory: Ho Cheon-an is the ultimate handsome man.
With a face that could leave even the most attractive men in the world in the dust beneath that Black Rib, it was somewhat convincing that women would flock to him, making it almost a widely accepted truth.
Adding to this story was a recent tale about a woman who secretly admired the Brain Knife Outcast, who refuted the rumors and sought to see Ho Cheon-an’s face, only to break down in tears right there, which became a new legend in Sacheon.
While his face was noteworthy, Ho Cheon-an’s movements also garnered attention.
What could be his secret motive for quietly visiting the sects in Sacheon?
While no one knew the content of the discussions between the Brain Knife Outcast and the sect leaders, rumors of their anxious looks post-visit started circulating, heightening the intrigue.
The martial world’s sects, receiving news from Sacheon, were equally curious.
What was the Brain Knife Outcast scheming in Sacheon?
As the martial sects scratched their heads trying to figure out Ho Cheon-an’s intentions, they received news from another direction.
The Heavenly Demon Sect, steadily advancing into the land of Qing, was reportedly sending an envoy to the Outcast Faction’s Seoak Sect.
Following the envoy’s arrival, the Seoak Sect hastily prepared a banquet and began sending invitations to nearby factions, leading the martial sects to piece the puzzle together.
A conflict had arisen between Ho Cheon-an and the Heavenly Demon Sect!
Though the Heavenly Demon Sect proclaimed they wanted to repay a debt of gratitude to Ho Cheon-an, very few took their claims at face value. It was hard to believe that they would incur long-standing silence to venture into the Central Plains merely to express gratitude.
Martial conquest!
The Heavenly Demon Sect made its move under the pretext of repaying Ho Cheon-an’s kindness!
Although unspoken, many factions in the Central Plains shared this sentiment.
Could it be that the Heavenly Demon Sect intended to become the second Blood Sect, spreading its influence in the martial world?
The key to deciphering their intentions rested on observing Ho Cheon-an’s actions and the movements of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
All eyes in the world focused on the Seoak Sect, soon to host the Heavenly Demon Sect, and Sacheon, where Ho Cheon-an was active.
