Hurry Up And Hand It Over, The Martial Arts Manual. (2)

All the way home, my granddaughter looked gloomy.

Maybe because we stopped by our hometown to perform the ancestral rites? She seemed unable to forget her parents.

“Child, why are you so gloomy?”

Yu Seol asked softly with downcast eyes.

“When will you let me meet the Murim Alliance leader?”

“What leader? The Murim Alliance leader?”

“Yes. You said if I master the Air Spear Technique you’ll let me meet him.”

I was dumbfounded by my fearless granddaughter’s reaction.

He was the top figure in the current murim world. Not someone you could just rush in and beat without a plan.

“Well, Grandpa did say that. So when will you master it?”

Instead of answering, Yu Seol casually extended her left hand.

At that moment, Yu Jinsan widened his eyes in surprise.

Hundreds of pebbles gathered and swirled in the air around them.

“…Huh!? What is that?”

Yu Seol, who had stretched her hand forward, swished it to the side.

Then the circling pile of stones flew to the right like hail.

There stood a huge boulder, motionless.

Kra-kraah! Kra-kraah-kraah!!

The small stones charged endlessly at the rock, creating cracks. Each one seemed imbued with Yu Seol’s qi.

The massive boulder, which had been cracking, couldn’t hold and shattered.

Watching that, Yu Jinsan stood with his mouth agape.

“Not enough?”

At this point, it wasn’t about the Air Spear Technique.

When had she grown this much? I had grown stronger too, but my granddaughter was becoming a being of a different caliber.

But I couldn’t inflate her by telling the truth. Pride is forbidden in the murim world.

“Y-You’re quite something. But you’re still far from it.”

“Then how much stronger do I need to be to meet him?”

It’s true my granddaughter had grown stronger, but it was premature.

Right now, we had no information on the Murim Alliance’s defenses, and we didn’t know how strong she really was. How could we just barge in blindly?

We needed to find a reasonable excuse to buy time.

But how could I fabricate mastery of martial arts realms I myself hadn’t reached?

He resorted to a legend he had overheard somewhere.

“True Air Spear Technique lets you ride the spear and fly. Can you do that?”

Yu Seol lowered her head with a sullen expression.

“No…”

“See. The Murim Alliance leader can do it.”

Of course it was a lie. Unless one were an immortal, how could anyone step on a spear and fly?

But Yu Seol’s expression was utterly serious.

“If I can ride the spear, will you let me meet him?”

“Of course! We’ll storm in and teach him a lesson right away.”

“Really? Promise?”

“Yes. When has Grandpa ever lied?”

Yu Seol shook her head left and right.

“No, never.”

“But how are you going to deal with the Murim Alliance leader?”

“Once I meet him I’ll catch him and…”

Yu Jinsan let out a hollow laugh.

He found the sight of his granddaughter trembling with clenched fists amusing.

“What made you so angry?”

“They said the Murim Alliance leader ordered me to be kidnapped.”

“Yes. But luckily your mother hid you well and Grandpa found you. You don’t know how much trouble it caused.”

“Thank you, Grandpa…”

Yu Jinsan patted his granddaughter’s shoulder with a pleased smile.

“Alright. Then you must listen to Grandpa. Understand?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Seeing his granddaughter grow more composed made Yu Jinsan proud.

“Our granddaughter is beautiful. Grandpa will drop by the Defeating Blade Clan for a bit, so go home and train first.”

It was to inform her of the conversation he had with the Blue Dragon Troops’ leader.

Yu Jinsan said goodbye to his granddaughter and turned direction.

When Yu Jinsan arrived at the Defeating Blade Clan, he couldn’t hide his astonishment.

‘What on earth happened…’

Because all the children’s hair had been shaved off.

No matter that baldness was a sect symbol, he hadn’t expected them to shave the kids’ heads too.

He clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Two familiar people approached and bowed.

They were his granddaughter’s friends, Mandu and Cheong-pung.

“Oh. But where did everyone’s hair go? Did it go out for a walk?”

At Yu Jinsan’s joke, Mandu smoothed his shiny head and grinned.

“Hehe. We all shaved together yesterday.”

“Tsk. Baek Gyu did something unnecessary, huh.”

Cheong-pung and Mandu both waved their hands in denial.

“No, Grandpa. We cut it ourselves.”

“The clan leader said we didn’t have to cut it if we didn’t want to.”

Seeing the kids defend him, it seemed the sect leader hadn’t fallen out of favor.

“So you’ve all decided to become official disciples?”

“Yes, we’re so happy!”

“I’ve been waiting for this day.”

Yu Jinsan walked on with a contented smile and his hands behind his back.

“Alright. Then see you next time.”

He felt their aura change whenever he looked at the kids. They hadn’t neglected their training.

Among them, Cheong-pung’s strength was enough to overwhelm elders of many reputable orthodox sects.

Just as he was about to leave with a pleased smile, Cheong-pung urgently asked something.

“Grandpa, but where is Seol?”

“Why are you looking for my Seol?”

“Just curious.”

Cheong-pung and Mandu were three years older than his granddaughter, but they got along as friends.

But there’s no such thing as ‘just’ in this world. Everything has a reason.

Yu Jinsan narrowed his eyes and probed Cheong-pung.

“You don’t mean… you don’t like our Seol, do you?”

Suddenly Cheong-pung’s face flushed like a persimmon.

“Ah, no! I really was just asking.”

“Seeing you flustered, it seems that’s true, huh?”

“I-It’s true. I just wanted to hang out together…”

It was a rare pleasure to tease the kids.

Yu Jinsan barely suppressed a laugh and put on a solemn face.

“Seol will be busy training for a while. If you miss her, come visit the house later.”

“Yes, goodbye.”

Turning away, Yu Jinsan didn’t forget to add one more thing.

“Alright. And I’ll pass on the message—that you like her.”

“Aah! No, Grandpa! It’s really not true!”

Cheong-pung’s cries continued to echo from behind.

As I stifled the laughter trying not to burst out,

A familiar figure approached, laughing loudly.

“Hahaha! You’re as ever, elder.”

It was Hong Gi, the Defeating Blade Clan’s assault troops captain.

He ranked just after Baek Gyu in the clan’s hierarchy.

“What’s so funny?”

“Haha. Watching you tease the kids made me think Seol is just like the elder.”

Yu Jinsan cleared his throat, feeling a sting to his conscience. He could picture how his granddaughter teased him.

It was no different from his earlier self.

“Ahem! By the way, is the junior in?”

“The clan leader went out for a moment. Would you like to wait?”

“No. I just dropped by to convey something.”

Yu Jinsan summarized and explained the conversation he had with Hwang So-cheon.

It was about the Blue Dragon Troops delivering a martial arts manual to the Defeating Blade Clan.

After hearing it, Hong Gi looked astonished.

“Wow! The advanced martial arts the Blue Dragon Troops practice—that’s incredible. I’m so curious.”

“You wouldn’t be able to learn them anyway.”

Existing disciples who cultivated internal qi through the Evil factions’ methods couldn’t learn the Justice factions’ martial arts.

For them it was a distant dream.

“It’s a pity but can’t be helped. In any case, you really accomplished something big.”

“Big accomplishment? When the junior returns, relay the details to him.”

“Yes. Thanks to you, elder, the Defeating Blade Clan’s Ghost Head Troops will soon grow to be the best in the murim world.”

“Ghost Head Troops?”

Hong Gi answered while looking at the training ground where the kids gathered.

“We’ve recently reorganized the clan’s structure. The Ghost Head Troops is a group formed by separating the kids.”

“Mm. That’s the right move. In a few more years of growth they’ll be invincible.”

“I think so too. We’ll hold a martial arts tournament in the Ghost Head Troops starting tomorrow—would you like to observe?”

“A tournament?”

“The strongest martial artist will become the head of the Ghost Head Troops.”

It’s natural for the strong to lead. That’s the rule among the Evil factions.

Yu Jinsan shook his head as if uninterested.

“Sorry, I’m busy these days too. I must be off.”

He didn’t even have enough time to train.

Besides, the answer was already decided, so there was no curiosity.

There’s a ninety percent chance Cheong-pung will become the leader of the Ghost Head Troops.

Though not on par with his granddaughter, the kid was a genius among geniuses, having reached a Super Master level at thirteen.

“Take care on your way, elder!”

Yu Jinsan headed home with a light step.

A moment later, standing at the gate, he hesitated and perked up his ears.

‘Who could it be? Is there a visitor?’

Hearing his granddaughter’s laughter, it was clear there was a guest.

But from inside he couldn’t sense any martial arts presence at all.

Surprisingly, it must be a warrior whose martial skill was even higher than his.

Listening at the gate, he was startled by the conversation he overheard.

“Soso, have some too!”

“Yes, thanks Seol. When did you grow so pretty?”

“Heehee. You’re pretty too, sister…”

It was a familiar name he’d heard somewhere.

Yu Jinsan couldn’t possibly not know her name.

Because it was the name of the Sword Empress.

‘The Sword Empress came to our house? And being called unnie..’

From the atmosphere it looked like a sisterly reunion.

A peerless warrior who had stirred the murim world in the previous era.

The last time he’d seen her was on Yangju Mountain, before his body reformation.

He had longed for the meeting, but hadn’t expected it to be so sudden.

Yu Jinsan hesitated for a moment at her sudden visit.

But both of them already knew he had come.

“Seems like Grandpa has arrived?”

“Mm. Unnie’s here so he’s shy, I guess.”

“Come on, let’s go out together.”

Yu Jinsan cleared his throat and braced himself.

She walked toward him holding his granddaughter’s hand—definitely the person from his memories.

The Sword Empress wore light clothes and carried just a single sword on her.

Despite not dressing up, she was as radiant as a blossom, and her understated dignity felt like seeing a phoenix.

“Long time no see, Grandpa. Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you, I live well like this.”

Although he was much older, the Sword Empress’ standing was on par with the head elders of reputable Justice Faction sects.

And she had been the benefactor who cured his illness in the past.

So it wasn’t strange that Yu Jinsan treated the Sword Empress with respect.

Then she smiled brightly and gave a slight bow.

“How did you become so cute like this?”

She had as much mischief as the granddaughter.

No wonder the two were so close.

“Ahem! There’s a story. But how did you come to this humble place…?”

“I heard from Yeong-yeong. I ran here at once.”

Yeong-yeong is the name of the Evil Sect Alliance leader.

To the Evil factions she was like the God, but to the Sword Empress she seemed just a close friend.

“Welcome. I’ll bring tea, so please come inside first.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

At least in the murim world she was a woman worthy of being at the top.

Yet her polite demeanor, then as now, deserved full respect.

He went into the kitchen and hurriedly prepared tea.

Normally he’d have his granddaughter do it, but for such a distinguished guest he prepared it himself.

“Grandpa, I want honey tea!”

His granddaughter’s loud voice came from outside the kitchen.

“Oh dear. That kid is really bossing her Grandpa around like this.”

Yu Jinsan grumbled but prepared an extra cup of honeyed tea.

Having finished preparations, he carried the tea tray to the outdoor pavilion.