The gazes of the two individuals met head-on.
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly at the tension that was inexpressible in words. Despite neither of them particularly raising their momentum, this chilling sensation running down my spine was unsettling. Ignoring the instinct screaming at me to run away, I tried to mediate.
“Well, are you worried for me?”
Yeo Il-ye said with a slight smile.
“I just thought it was the logical thing to do.”
“It’s fine. If you’re from the sect, you’ll be rooting for me to repay the kindness.”
“…Tch.”
The Black Cat clicked her tongue and turned her head. After momentarily observing the Black Cat, Yeo Il-ye turned to me and said.
“I heard that the big brother was also summoned by the Imperial Family. May I ask for the details?”
“Oh… is that so?”
I wondered if Yeo Il-ye knew that Hyeok Gi-rin was a princess. While I hesitated, Yeo Il-ye formed a ki circle first.
“You both know the gender of the big brother, right? I heard that you accompanied him to Nangyang. What happened then?”
“Miss Yeo Il-ye knows about Hyeok Gi-rin’s identity as well?”
“Yes. It seems both of you have figured out the big brother’s status.”
It’s fortunate that Yeo Il-ye was aware of Hyeok Gi-rin’s identity.
“Then it’s fine to tell you about my trip to Nangyang with Hyeok Gi-rin!”
While recounting stories of Nangyang, I could naturally let Yeo Il-ye know that the Black Cat and Hyeok Gi-rin became close. Even if the Black Cat showed a sharp attitude, I hoped that Yeo Il-ye, wishing for camaraderie with Hyeok Gi-rin, might overlook it upon seeing Hyeok Gi-rin’s face.
No, why not start with my training in the Jeomchang Faction and how the teachers took care of the kids?
“First, let me start with my training in the Jeomchang Faction.”
“Hehe, I’m looking forward to it.”
I looked at Yeo Il-ye’s graceful movements. Acknowledging that it was the training hall of the Outcast Inn, she focused on basic movements to warm up instead of showcasing the martial arts that could represent the sect, yet it was enough to make me marvel.
Truly, should I call her a peak-stage martial artist?
Her movements were smooth and delicate. So slow that I could see each movement clearly.
Even while walking as lightly as if strolling, Yeo Il-ye’s new form surged forward explosively. It felt almost like there was a moving walkway only under her feet, her slow steps dashing through the training hall, creating an almost surreal experience even though I was witnessing it myself.
I tried to add my imagination to Yeo Il-ye’s movements. It felt as if, without even swinging a sword, just extending it, she could suppress someone like me in just a few moves.
The last time I confirmed Yeo Il-ye’s skill was when she lost her rationality and stormed into the Hwang Gold Clan. Back then, Hyeok Gi-rin had blocked her and they shared their energies.
What I saw then was of a different level. I couldn’t tell if this was due to her growth through revenge or if it was because she lost her rationality back then, but…
Turns out Yeo Il-ye was indeed a higher level peak-stage martial artist than I thought.
The reason Yeo Il-ye was warming up in the Outcast Inn’s training hall was that she had stayed here the previous night.
As I finished recounting the tales of my training in the Jeomchang Faction and the incidents in Nangyang, it was already late at night, and as Yeo Il-ye was about to leave, Yu Sa-yeon stopped her.
“Is there really a need to find another inn? This place is an inn too.”
“But…”
“Let’s stay here! If anyone says anything, I’ll take care of them!”
I wasn’t sure what Yu Sa-yeon was thinking, but thanks to that, this morning, Yeo Il-ye and the indifferent outcasts managed to warm up together in the training hall.
There was no denying that there was a tension between Yeo Il-ye and the outcasts. However, now that Yeo Il-ye’s story was widely known, it was no surprise the Sacheon Outcasts had heard the rumors.
The Sacheon Outcasts, having come to understand why Yeo Il-ye had despised them, now found themselves uncertain about how to approach her. Knowing the reason didn’t erase their past grievances, and they seemed at a loss on how to face Yeo Il-ye.
It seemed that Yeong Ji-hu-yeol had been personally conversing with Yeo Il-ye, but didn’t seem keen on acting as a bridge between the outcasts and her.
So, I decided to step in.
“Truly, such skills befitting the Ten Prodigies of the Jeomchang Faction.”
“You flatter me. It’s just a trivial skill.”
Yeo Il-ye replied with a bright smile.
“May I take a moment to see the skills of the Honorable Person? I’m curious about your stability.”
“Hmm, then let me show you my swordplay.”
I had been waiting for that remark, so I quickly drew my sword. Yeo Il-ye was also one of the representatives of the Jeomchang Faction. While she may not be on par with Hyeok Gi-rin or the teachers, she undoubtedly qualified as one of the top instructors.
I figured she could offer some pointers on reaching the peak, so I held my sword and demonstrated the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword from start to finish with full force.
“Wow, Senior Ho’s skills have truly improved a lot.”
“It seems I’ve devoured plenty of good stuff in Nangyang…! Ugh.”
I heard mixed voices of surprise and complaints from the outcasts as I brushed it off. Hmph, when I arrived, they were only concerned about the Black Cat, and now they’d marvel at my skills.
I forced my shoulders down and waited for Yeo Il-ye’s impression.
“With swordplay that embodies the peak-level, it seems it’s time to focus on the topic of the peak.”
As expected of a top instructor. Her ability to pinpoint the crux of the matter instantly increased my trust in her.
“Indeed. I don’t think my level has reached the stage of peak yet, but I believe it’s wise to engage with it ahead of time.”
“Wise words. So, shall we experience the peak level?”
“…Experience?”
“Could you momentarily take your sword and assume the middle stance?”
Following Yeo Il-ye’s guidance, I assumed the middle stance. Gripping the sword with both hands, I naturally extended my arms forward. Yeo Il-ye also drew her sword and stood in that stance, gently pushing against my sword.
As we pushed a step closer, we found ourselves testing our powers against each other.
The situation was where we exchanged forces without losing balance. At a light pressure where I could block 20-30% of my full strength, Yeo Il-ye opened her mouth.
“I’m sure you have experienced this situation often in actual combat. This state where swords meet and strength counteracts one another.”
“Hmm.”
“Now, how about now?”
As soon as Yeo Il-ye’s words finished, my sword began to slowly get pushed back. I hurriedly tried to up my strength, but even after exerting nearly all my arm’s power, my sword showed no signs of retreating.
Brrr!!
Even when I pushed with enough force to shake my arms, I couldn’t handle Yeo Il-ye, who was smoothly pressing forward.
“I’ll push a little harder.”
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, it felt like I couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t just difficult to breathe; I felt like I had just woken up after drinking too much and my stomach was churning when Yeo Il-ye withdrew her sword.
“This is the realm of the peak. It’s a phenomenon that occurs when one has completely mastered the secrets of releasing Qi.”
As I took a deep breath and exhaled, Yeo Il-ye calmly continued her explanation.
“You must have tried to push my sword away with all your might, but your strength probably didn’t transfer. Am I right?”
“…That’s right.”
“Because the Qi emitted from my sword penetrated your arms, you couldn’t exert your full strength. You couldn’t even enhance your arm’s strength with your Qi, and because the flow of Qi which normally flowed was blocked, you couldn’t utilize your arm’s muscles properly either.”
I clenched and unclenched my fist to confirm the sensation. Contrary to just moments before, I easily felt strength returning to my arms.
“When I mentioned raising my strength again, you felt difficulty breathing or discomfort in your stomach. That was because my Qi had seeped through your arms into your body. If it penetrates longer or if a stronger Qi penetrates, it could lead to internal damage.”
The part Yeo Il-ye explained was something I theoretically understood as well.
“What you just experienced is the technique of peak martial artists and the area of Qi that you must newly engage with as you become a peak martial artist. The release of Qi, which was once confined to your body, extending into an external realm and directly or indirectly influencing the opponent.”
Yeo Il-ye slowly extended her fist towards me. Unlike before, I felt the strong current of Qi enveloping her fist as it slowly stretched towards me and then dissipated into the air.
“The flow of internal energy wished to harm or suppress your opponent is called ‘Jing.’ Knowing how to emit Qi and have an actual influence on the opponent is what can truly be called the realm of the peak. I think it would be good for you to keep this question in mind while concentrating on your training.”
“Hmm… Thank you for the lesson.”
“Hehe, it’s nothing. Would you mind if I looked over your posture a bit more instead of focusing solely on the peak?”
“In that case, I won’t hold back…”
Just as I was about to receive guidance from Yeo Il-ye.
“Senior, let’s eat!”
Hearing Black Cat’s voice behind us, looking displeased with her arms crossed, she called out to me.
“Sorry, could you hold on for a bit?”
“Ugh! I don’t want to! I want to eat now! Hurry up!”
“You eat first. I think I need more training.”
The Black Cat stomped her feet.
“Ugh..! Fool! Idiot!”
“No….”
“Forget it! I’m eating first!”
With that, the Black Cat huffed and disappeared into the Outcast Inn. As I watched her, I wondered if Yeo Il-ye would feel displeased, so I glanced at her.
“Hehe.”
Surprisingly, Yeo Il-ye was smiling. As if she sensed my astonishment, Yeo Il-ye wore an embarrassed expression.
“Oh my, this is embarrassing.”
“Hmm, I’m sorry. But it seemed like your relationship with the Black Cat wasn’t that great…”
“It’s true that I felt awkward. I intellectually understood that causing trouble while walking around with such looks would be inevitable, but for some reason, I just felt averse to it. I don’t know why, but I felt like it would harm you. Even after providing information to support my revenge, I still felt uncomfortable…”
Yeo Il-ye looked up at the sky as she spoke.
“Ever since yesterday, I’ve started to think that she’s not so bad; in fact, I found her cute. Perhaps it’s because I’ve become fond of such beauty, or maybe it’s because I have some peace of mind after finishing my revenge. It might be that the charm of the Black Cat has finally caught my eye.”
Did the Black Cat’s ability to control her power change Yeo Il-ye’s perspective towards her?
Perhaps, just like Hyeok Gi-rin, Yeo Il-ye could also become a friend to the Black Cat.
“Hmm… I hope you’ll see her as cute. She’s a child who’s been hurt by a lot of people.”
“Yes. Living with such beauty must not be easy.”
“I’d personally ask for your friendship with her. There’s no harm in friends among those of the same age who have reached the same level, right?”
“Friends…”
Yeo Il-ye’s eyes softened.
“You really are quite the mischievous one.”
“….?”
“Hehe. Just kidding. It seems the Black Cat has been having a lot of trouble.”
Yeo Il-ye lightly grabbed my sleeve and smiled.
“How about training after we finish our meal? I think it’d be good to eat with the Black Cat and become closer for now.”
“I’ll take that as a request.”
Thus began the strange breakfast between me, the Black Cat, and Yeo Il-ye.
