Chapter 99

“You, how did you use that Redirecting Force just now? I mean, how did you deflect my sword strike.”

Jeok-hyeon asked as if he couldn’t believe it.
Seeing the slight tremor at the end of his voice, he seemed quite shaken.

‘I already knew it, though.’

Redirecting Force was a method of deflecting an opponent’s attack with the sword to protect oneself.
It was a skill you couldn’t realize without deep attainment in the sword.
Jeok-hyeon seemed to be mistaken that I’d just realized it.

I had already mastered Redirecting Force in my past life.
I’d reached a fairly high realm with the sword.
Why else would I have taken up a sword and faced the Heavenly Demon.
But in this life, I hadn’t tried Redirecting Force even once.
Body, internal energy, and even visual acuity.
Not a single one was properly in place.
But just now, I’d gained the most important thing.
Sword Eye.
It had the character for ‘sword’ because swordsmen usually gained it, but it wasn’t limited to the sword. It was an opened sight that could grasp the trajectories of all martial arts.

‘Why?’

In my past life, I’d only barely entered the threshold of Sword Eye about a year before I died.
So I’d thought I’d gain it much later in this life too.
But that moment arrived far sooner than I expected.
How did that happen?

‘Could it be because of Jeok-hyeon?’

I looked at him without thinking.
This time too, the odds were high it was thanks to Jeok-hyeon.
Behind Jin Mu-seong, Jeok-hyeon was always there.
I sparred with that guy every day, but that was a process of indirectly experiencing Jeok-hyeon’s sword principles. That was the foundation.
And when I actually faced Jeok-hyeon’s sword, it became the catalyst and brought enlightenment.

‘Ah, this isn’t the time for this.’

Maybe because I didn’t answer his question and fell into thought.
Jeok-hyeon was grumbling to himself.

“The one I’m trying to raise barely grows a sliver, so why is the one helping gaining even enlightenment? They say there’s talent on top of talent, so should I ask Dao-friend Seol to swap disciples instead?”
“Dao Master.”
“They probably wouldn’t welcome it either……?”
“Dao Master!”
“Hm?”

Only then did Jeok-hyeon hear my voice.

“I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“Come at me.”
“……Hm?”

I adjusted my grip on the dagger and took a fighting stance.
Jeok-hyeon let out a deep sigh.

“You must be thoroughly angry. I understand. This old man acted foolishly again. Even if you think I’m a washed-up relic unworthy of being called Dao Master, I won’t fault you.”
“There’s no need for that, so just attack. If you won’t, then I will.”

Unlike earlier when Jeok-hyeon made me feel burdened, now I actually wanted to fight.
He probably hadn’t even shown one-tenth of his true ability.
I wanted to test what stage my current Sword Eye was at, against him.
Sword Eye didn’t necessarily open at the first stage.

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to recall the sensation of Redirecting Force and engrave it firmly into your body?”

It wasn’t Redirecting Force, but broadly, he was right.

‘What should I say?’

I hesitated for a brief moment.
It was fine if he misunderstood and thought I was training Redirecting Force.
But because of the Great Clarity Qi Art, the more I grew, the worse it would be for Jeok-hyeon.
Would he willingly help me?
Even aside from that, it wasn’t easy to toss aside his own disciple and spend time with another man’s disciple.
No matter what relationship Jeok-hyeon and the Heavenly Demon had.
As if my worry was meaningless, Jeok-hyeon nodded firmly.

“I’ll help you as much as you like.”
“Really?”

His response was so easy that I asked back without realizing it.
At Jeok-hyeon’s next words, I admired him.

“A true swordsman, when he sees a talented sprout, willingly becomes its fertilizer.”

I’d forgotten, but Jeok-hyeon was an elder of a prestigious orthodox sect.
Even if it brought disadvantage to oneself, to practice righteousness and chivalry. That was the spirit of the orthodox sects.

“……Then I’ll impose on you.”
“As much as you like.”

The spar that resumed from then on didn’t end until two hours had passed.
Thanks to that, I learned what stage my Sword Eye was at.
Second stage.
It was enough to read the trajectories of martial artists around the Peak Realm.
There were many stages ahead, so I’d have to keep working without rest.

“You’ve got a crafty side. I didn’t know you had opened Sword Eye.”

As expected, you couldn’t fool the eyes of an Absolute master.
Jeok-hyeon shook his head.

“Heh heh. This really is a deal that doesn’t pay.”
“Thank you.”

Without saying this or that, I politely clasped my fist.
Jeok-hyeon replied briskly.

“No need to thank me. Think of it as me making up for the mistakes I’ve done to you so far.”
“I will.”

I let out a small laugh.
I had no more reason to complain to Jeok-hyeon.
In the end, he’d given me more than he’d bothered me.

“Hey.”
“Go ahead, Dao Master.”
“Won’t you walk with me for a bit?”

I was slightly puzzled.
Why was he suddenly asking me to walk with him?

“You’re not dragging me to a secluded place to assassinate me, right?”
“Why would I assassinate you?”
“Because you can’t leave a peer who’s better than your disciple alive?”
“You must’ve watched too many lowly plays. Are you coming, or not?”
“I’m coming.”

It looked like he had something urgent to say.
I decided to follow Jeok-hyeon.

“Mu-seong, you go and rest.”
“Y-yes.”

From earlier until now, Jin Mu-seong had been standing in the same spot like a scarecrow.
Why did his dejected back look pitiful?

“You said you’re Dao-friend Seol’s last disciple, right?”

After we walked in silence for about seven minutes, Jeok-hyeon opened his mouth.

“Yes.”
“How long has it been since you formed the bond of master and disciple?”
“Mm, a little over half a year.”

In truth, I had to add ten more years to that.
Jeok-hyeon looked confused.

“Huh, but you already have this level of attainment? Did you perhaps learn martial arts before that?”
“Ah, I just picked up this and that.”
“You couldn’t understand Dao-friend Seol’s martial learning with just that. As I’ve felt so far, it seems your comprehension is truly outstanding.”

I swallowed a bitter smile inside.
Thanks to my severed meridians, my talent was clearly exceptional, but the order of my growth had become a mess.
Because of my internal energy’s limits, I couldn’t even manifest Sword Qi, yet I’d opened Sword Eye, a realm far higher than that.
Jeok-hyeon let out a deep sigh.

“Looking at you makes me doubt my own eyes. How can you be the same age and yet the gap be this great.”
“I don’t think so. Jin Mu-seong has potential too. It’s just that it’s not time for him to bloom yet.”
“Do you truly think so?”
“Yes.”

Recently, he had also been steadily growing.
He only looked shabby compared to me. His talent was clearly decent. His fundamentals were solid, and his internal energy was deep as well.
Though the claim that he was a prodigy Mount Hua gained once in fifty years was somewhat questionable.
Either way, his real problem wasn’t this.

‘His insidious personality is the problem.’

If that couldn’t be fixed, he’d be useless for anything.
Even if he grew strong, he’d only bring harm to his sect.
Then Jeok-hyeon, who was walking ahead, stopped.

“It seems continuing sparring beyond this would be meaningless wasted time for both Mu-seong and you. I will acknowledge my defeat cleanly.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll give you the Great Clarity Qi Art.”
“Oh.”

A welcome thing to hear.
I’d felt it earlier too, but he definitely had a hotter side than he looked.
He could’ve tried to be stubborn and refuse.

“But not right away. There’s no fool who carries a sect’s secret manual around carelessly, is there? I’ll go to Mount Hua, secretly steal a copy, then send it through a courier.”
“There’s a courier who goes from the orthodox sects to the Divine Cult?”
“Of course. No matter where in the world, there’s always at least one rat hole.”
“Damn, that’s cool.”

When I raised my thumb, Jeok-hyeon smiled proudly.

“Hehe. In what way?”
“I’m moved by how you’ll steal your sect’s secret manual and even risk smuggling just to keep your promise. And you’re not just any Taoist. You’re the Mount Hua sect leader’s sahyung. I think you’re truly amazing.”
“……It’s true, but it doesn’t quite sound like praise. Are you saying I’m not Taoist-like?”
“No way. You’re misunderstanding it.”

Waving my hands, I added.

“The orthodox rules are so rigid. But you’re free in a way that isn’t like an orthodox person, Dao Master.”
“So I’m not only not Taoist-like, but also not orthodox-like?”
“No, I meant it’s admirable how you don’t get bound by unnecessary formality and you secure the practical benefit. Should I say you even have a Divine Cult-like side.”
“So I’m a talent suited not for the orthodox sects but for the Divine Cult? Are you telling me to join the Divine Cult?”
“…….”

I just shut my mouth.
The more I spoke, the more it felt like I was sinking into a swamp.
Jeok-hyeon spoke in a displeased voice.

“You really are Divine Cult-like.”
“……What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you hide your talent and set up a board to fleece an old man. A typical Divine Cult-like behavior.”

Jeok-hyeon grinned.
It seemed he had to land one hit to feel satisfied.
Unlike myself, I decided to lose once.
Because there was still something I wanted from him.

“But you’re not really an old man.”
“I’m seventy-eight this year.”
“Wow.”

Admiration came out on its own.
He looked, at most, like early middle age, yet he was seventy-eight.
He must have internal energy so deep it was unbelievable.
Maybe because of my reaction, Jeok-hyeon spoke with a satisfied face.

“That’s all I had to say, so let’s go back now.”
“Ah, wait a moment.”

I stopped Jeok-hyeon.
Since we’d come this far, there was something I really wanted to ask.

“Could you tell me how you formed ties with my master?”

It was the question I’d asked when he first joined us.
Back then I didn’t get an answer, but I thought maybe he’d tell me now.
As if the thought wasn’t wrong, Jeok-hyeon looked up at the sky like he was considering.
After a moment, he opened his mouth.

“I met Dao-friend Seol two years ago.”

Two years ago.
Surprisingly, the connection was short.
I didn’t know why, but I’d assumed it would be much longer.

“From early dawn that day, my heart felt unsettled. I took a divination, and something snagged on it.”
“Wow, taking a divination. That’s really Taoist-like.”
“Enough of that.”
“Yes.”
“The divination was like this. It was the hexagram of Water-Thunder Zhun, a sign where disaster of Zhen is born within the abyss of Kan. And one, the Initial Nine, moved—”
“Stop.”
“……Very well. Anyway, it was an omen that an unprecedented calamity would appear at Mount Hua’s Heart-Demon Abyss, so I was guarding it. That day, Dao-friend Seol appeared.”

Jeok-hyeon continued.
He said he instinctively realized Dao-friend Seol intended to absorb Heart-Demon Qi, and he fought a life-and-death battle to stop it.

“Hollowly, I couldn’t last even ten exchanges. I suffered heavy internal injuries and dropped to my knees. It was a situation where I would die without question. Do you know what came to my mind then?”
“No idea.”
“Relief. It was foolish to guard the Heart-Demon Abyss alone when I wasn’t even worthy, but thanks to that foolishness, it was a situation where only I had to die.”

I admired him quietly.
Because I could feel a noble spirit of sacrifice from Jeok-hyeon.

“But Dao-friend Seol passed by without harming me. At the very least, you’d think he would have killed me to keep my mouth shut.”
“Why?”

This was definitely strange.
The Heavenly Demon was absolutely not the type to enjoy indiscriminate slaughter.
But he also wasn’t so soft that he’d let even someone who blocked his path live.

“I thought hard as well, but I couldn’t find the answer. Still, there is something I can guess.”
“What is it?”
“It may be because of something from thirty years ago.”
“Thirty years ago?”

Jeok-hyeon said he met the Heavenly Demon two years ago.
So where did thirty years ago suddenly come from?

“I don’t know about Dao-friend Seol, but I remember something clearly. I had met him thirty years ago.”
“My master?”
“That’s right. He wore clothes not even as good as rags, and he was gaunt and dried up. Like he wouldn’t last a few days.”
“……!”

My mouth fell open without me realizing it.
Because it was the Heavenly Demon’s past I’d never expected.