“Thank you for your support.”
“Let’s see what you’ve realized so far.”
Thanks to Rano Jingbu’s good will, I received the gift of the Barley Lotus Pool.
Since breaking through my limits while purifying my spirit in the Barley Lotus Pool, various incidents have come and gone. I’ve rolled around like a dog, training for a long time.
Finally, I reached the Peak Stage.
And to confirm exactly what I realized and how much I developed, I drew my sword facing Hyeok Gi-rin.
Sssss!
“I never thought I’d get to use my sword skills in a duel with an outcast. What a nostalgic feeling.”
Since this match was more about measuring the power of my strength than a typical duel, Hyeok Gi-rin formed his sword aura from the beginning and wrapped his body in qi.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but admire him softly.
It’s true they say you see as much as you know.
I noticed the flow of qi that constituted Hyeok Gi-rin’s momentum. The quality of my own momentum was at a completely different level, even my form felt unstable compared to his.
With that sword aura before me, I relaxed my mind and focused completely. I could only feel Hyeok Gi-rin’s powerful skill in fragments, but those fragments alone told me he could fully receive my attacks.
Rumble!
As I began to operate the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique, thunder echoed within me. I considered my body a single cloud, spreading my internal energy down to every corner. Since I had experienced this before, my qi moved naturally along the flow of the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique.
“I’m coming.”
“Bring it on.”
Kwa-ruuung!
Thunder rumbled in my mind. When I first created my sword aura, I just mindlessly shoved my internal energy with my right arm, but the lightning now spiraled all around my body instead of just going straight through my arm.
If I could create lightning just once, I shouldn’t waste it recklessly but rather utilize it resourcefully.
Ilroe surged forward.
Pzzzt!
From the first form of the Seven Thunder Defense Technique, the first line of the Single Unifying Thunder Technique leaped forward. The leg fueled by the lightning charged towards Hyeok Gi-rin with unparalleled speed.
The lightning that rebounded from my legs coursed through my upper body, filling it with power. Based on that strength, I unleashed the essence of my swordplay.
Single Cut Blade Technique. The First Movement. Lightning Strike.
And at the same time, I guided the power of thunder through my arms and hands, injecting it into my sword. The lightning became a trunk, and the trunks entwined and intertwined. The density of the compressed qi was now visible even to the naked eye.
It became the symbol of the superhuman, a sword aura that even those without any perception of qi could witness.
The strike of lightning unleashed amidst the thunder was truly a bolt from the blue. I thought to myself as I observed the scene.
In reality, I had this thought right after reaching the Peak Stage. In the moment of forming my momentum, I felt like I might actually die, but after some time passed and I looked back with a cool head, I realized I was in a surprisingly relaxed situation.
While it was good to have fortified my inner strength and reached the Peak Stage, I couldn’t help but wonder if it had taken too long to get there.
I felt a sense of regret that the Unknown Master might have been too conservative in monitoring my growth.
However, at this moment, as my entire Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique unfolded with a single breath of Ilroe and I materialized my sword aura, I realized how foolish I had been.
How long would it take for someone who just awakened their sword aura to fully unleash their martial arts while using it in real combat? I didn’t know the answer, but I knew it would take quite a while.
But what about me now?
Having fully unleashed the footwork and sword techniques I trained in, along with the sword aura, I stood here.
Sure, I had the shortcoming of pouring everything out to create lightning, but the strike I executed at this moment was not something a fledgling could achieve just by barely reaching the threshold of Peak Stage.
A leap.
I hadn’t just crossed over to the Peak Stage; I made a literal leap across the realm.
Now I understood that the Unknown Master was plotting a bigger picture than I had anticipated.
Unlike me, who clung to simply stepping into the Peak Stage, the Master looked further ahead and painted a larger picture to arrive at a higher place more quickly.
I had climbed higher than I thought.
Soon, I was able to unleash a perfectly integrated strike combining the true martial arts and sword aura.
Hyeok Gi-rin, who clearly didn’t expect such a strong attack from me, widened his eyes and rapidly added momentum to his sword.
Kwaaaaaaang!!!
The roar of thunder and explosion, along with the collision of our energies, hit me hard. Even though I was the one attacking, the shock was enough to make my entire body tingle and my arms tremble involuntarily!
I understood what it meant when energies collided.
Chwaaaaack!!
Hyeok Gi-rin’s sword form was pushed back significantly. He was pushed back at least a foot.
“You’re incredible.”
Hyeok Gi-rin couldn’t help but let out a pure exclamation.
“To have such power, I’m truly surprised. Even a typical Peak Stage would have been severely injured by that attack.”
“Isn’t it all thanks to the Master’s arrangements?”
I subtly redirected the praise toward the Master.
Listening to his words is like finding joy in dreams!
Having experienced that fact physically, I made my resolution clear.
From now on, I won’t mess around and just follow what the Master says! And indulge myself in all the goodies!
“Haha, that’s right. It seems you’ve finally shed a layer and grown a bit wiser.”
Seeing the Master stroke his beard contently, I bowed my head and said.
“I’m sorry for showing you my foolishness all this time. Now that I understand your grand intentions, how can I repay this immense kindness!”
“Ahahaha!”
The Master burst out laughing.
As my companions looked at me with expressions of disbelief, my heart was already made up. From now on, I’ll do my best to please the Master and relish in the sweetness!
“Indeed. I’m glad to see you’re finally coming around, my disciple.”
“To know the Master is pleased truly brings relief to my heart!”
“Hahaha!”
“Ha ha ha!”
The two of us continued to laugh merrily at each other.
“Now, my disciple, there’s something I want to talk about.”
“Yes! Please ask away! Master!”
“Let’s begin the solo chores again.”
For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears.
“…What?”
“Wasn’t the agreement you made to conclude your duties? You’ve received kindness as others helped you due to your urgent training, but now that you’ve come into your senses, how long can you rely on others?”
“Ha…Ha…Hah! Of course! Master! Yes! Naturally, it’s up to me!”
I nodded vigorously while trying not to let my emotions show.
The reason my companions shared the burdens of the chores was quite simple.
It was because I had been doing the solo chores for a very, very long time!
After believing they’d endured enough hardship witnessing me struggle, they decided to take some of the work.
Not even Tang So-yeol, who found joy in witnessing my hardships, disagreed with sharing the household work, so it was clear how severe my trials had been.
Could they not see that I had worked hard enough already without letting me take a break?
I wanted to call them an utterly merciless old geezer, but I swallowed that thought down and calmed my heart. It had barely passed five minutes since I vowed to sweetly savor the Master’s presence, so I couldn’t change my mind already.
Once a man draws his sword, he must cut something.
But that determination was immediately shattered by the Master’s following words.
“What are you doing just standing there? Chop wood, fill the water trough, and start a fire!”
Damn it.
“AAAAAAH!”
Hyeok Cheon-an yelled, running out while carrying an axe and water bucket, causing a ruckus. Seeing him, the Unknown Elder and Tang So-yeol laughed quietly at his back, and I thought that nothing had changed.
The only difference would be Hyeok Cheon-an sprinting out much faster than before.
As we watched Hyeok Cheon-an bolt out, the expressions of the group filled with small smiles.
After they burst into laughter, Tang So-yeol took a breath and opened his mouth.
“By the way, Elder.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you aware that there’s a crack in the core stone?”
The smiling faces of the group hardened instantly. A crack in the core stone? If there’s a problem with the core stone, wouldn’t that create problems for the summoning of the Unknown Elder as well?
In contrast to everyone’s tense expressions, the Unknown Elder stroked his beard calmly as he spoke.
“It seems the formation is reaching its limits.”
His attitude suggested that he expected it, and Hyeok Gi-rin’s countenance grew noticeably heavier.
“If you anticipated this situation, did you prepare a countermeasure?”
Reading the genuine worry in Hyeok Gi-rin’s voice, the Unknown Elder chuckled softly as he patted Hyeok Gi-rin’s head. Typically, he’d swipe the hand away angrily for treating him like a child, but Hyeok Gi-rin merely gazed up at the Unknown Elder quietly.
“To begin with, the formation is not something meant to be used for prolonged periods. It’s quite impressive it’s held up this long.”
“True!”
“Then, Elder, how long do you think this formation can last?”
At Yeo Il-ye’s question, everyone held their breath, waiting for the Unknown Elder’s answer.
“Well, since it has already cracked, it wouldn’t last more than a week at best.”
“…Is that so.”
“Haha, you all look quite serious. Don’t worry. Since the core of the formation uses the talismans I brought, even if I vanish suddenly, the formation will automatically disband.”
The Unknown Elder’s light-hearted joke drew forced smiles from the group.
“Indeed, it’s your arrangement, Elder.”
“At the very least, we don’t need to worry about being trapped.”
“Ha ha. Yes, let’s set aside our unnecessary worries and have lunch instead.”
With a carefree laugh, the Unknown Elder headed into the kitchen, and the group watched his retreating figure.
The time for parting was approaching.
“Did you say there’s a crack in the core stone?”
Upon hearing this sudden news, I checked the core stone embedded in the door. The cave door had always been open, and since it was placed in the crack of the cave, I hadn’t noticed it at all.
“Hmm.”
The core stone of the door, which I hadn’t seen in a long time, was noticeably cracked at first glance.
What in the world is happening!
I was planning to savor the Master’s sweetness from now on, but the formation’s lifespan is up!
I sighed and thought.
This summoning formation was originally designed to obtain byproducts through trades or battles amongst those inside… It wasn’t made to operate for ten years or a hundred years, so it seems like its durability is reaching its limits.
“So what did the Master say?”
“He said it wouldn’t last more than a week.”
Upon hearing Hyeok Cheon-an’s response, I immediately sought the Unknown Elder.
“Elder! I heard about the core stone!”
“Haha, remember that my training will continue until the very moment I disappear.”
“That’s only natural! But Elder! Isn’t there something more urgent here!”
“…Urgent? Let’s ditch the goodbyes and whatnot.”
“No, that’s not it!”
At my firm response, the Elder looked at me with a puzzled expression.
How could the Elder have forgotten something this important? I couldn’t believe it!
“Do you have any hidden spiritual medicine, secret texts, or martial arts? Please pass them on to me right now… Cough!”
I lost my breath.
Though I had taken many beatings from the Elder, this was the first time I had been hit with a fist.
After spinning twice in the air, I fell to the ground and thought.
“That punk! Just let it go! I’ll send that brat straight to the underworld!”
“AAAH! No! Calm down!”
“Stop him!”
“Catch him!”
In the end, Hyeok Cheon-an was stomped into the ground by the Unknown Elder, losing consciousness.
“Huhhhh…”
Throughout lunch, the Unknown Elder kept muttering about Hyeok Cheon-an, and while watching him, the Black Cat reflected.
‘What could the Unknown Elder’s true identity be?’
The Black Cat understood better than anyone that certain matters in this world must not be touched.
Digging into the past of a Qi Person who hides and unveils their story is a sure path to a short life, so the Black Cat deliberately averted its gaze from the identity of the Unknown Elder. But after experiencing so much with him over a long time, that wariness began to fade naturally.
Hearing that we would soon part ways, curiosity about the Unknown Elder’s identity naturally grew.
Although he was a being manifested through the formation, since we had maintained this connection for so long, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to search for traces of him in reality.
The Black Cat began to seriously speculate about the Unknown Elder’s identity.
Hyeok Cheon-an knew the martial arts he had learned and called him the master of western studies, which firmly indicated he was a figure from the past who actually existed.
But somehow, there wasn’t a single bee buzzing around the place.
‘If he holds such noble martial arts, I should’ve at least heard a name or two before…’
To have such high-grade martial arts, one must not only train but also experience numerous actual fights. It’s reasonable to assume that during that process, rumors or information would normally spread naturally.
‘Suddenly, I really want to dig deeper into this.’
With not a single clue about the Unknown Elder’s identity, the Black Cat felt an urge to compete.
Feeling confident in her information-gathering abilities, she felt utterly humiliated upon realizing she couldn’t find even a single lead.
For the first time in ages, the Black Cat’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
