Experience Is The Ability To Survive (2)

Baek Gyu and Yu Jinsan stood side by side, hands clasped behind their backs, intently watching something.

At some point, Baek Gyu broke the silence and spoke first.

“Hyung, when did you teach Seol the double spear technique?”

“I didn’t teach her. It isn’t something one can simply pick up, you know?”

The two were currently observing Yu Seol’s training session from afar.

“So you’re saying she learned it on her own?”

Yu Jinsan looked proud.

Even the disciples of the prestigious sects trained for no more than two sessions a day. This was because practicing martial arts required a considerable amount of physical and mental strength.

But Yu Seol spent most of the day at the training center, even though no one had asked her to. This might have been due to her natural physique, talent, and unique personality for training.

Watching the child fly while holding two wooden sticks resembled observing a dragon soaring through the sky.

“The most challenging technique among the spear arts is the twin spear technique. In our family, there was only one person who could do that, and he was the ancestor known as Spear Ghost.”

Handling two spears simultaneously demanded immense internal qi and an extreme level of concentration. It was impossible without a deep mastery of spear techniques. A strong wind whipped through the air wherever the two bamboo sticks moved.

With his extreme killing ability and swift movements, Baek Gyu couldn’t help but openly admire Yu Seol’s martial arts skills, which appeared as if she were performing a stunt.

“There has never been a child with such a level of talent in the Murim land. If she continues to grow like this, then the most unexpected Martial God will be born.”

“Ahem, indeed. Who could have reached the Grandmaster level at such a young age?”

Baek Gyu chuckled and shook his head, waving his index finger from left to right.

“Seol is stronger than you think.”

“Hmm. Explain more about what you mean.”

“When Hyung was bedridden, I often sparred with Seol. Well, I consistently lost, but when I assessed the situation, I realized something. Anyway, from that moment, Seol had already surpassed the threshold into the realm of peace.”

Even within the same realm of martial arts, there were varying degrees of mastery. Yu Seol’s rapidly advancing skills had now exceeded what Baek Gyu and Yu Jinsan could evaluate.

“Since she was an infant, her understanding and execution of techniques have been extraordinary. Can you believe she mastered the technique of stepping in mid-air at just 2 years old? She’s a natural-born martial artist.”

“I completely agree with you. At her current level, she might even surpass the Evil Faction…”

Baek Gyu’s voice trailed off. He couldn’t complete his thought because Yu Jinsan and Seol were not associated with the Evil Faction.

A brief silence followed.

The two men seemed entranced, focusing solely on Yu Seol’s movements.

Suddenly, Yu Jinsan activated a qi barrier that muffled sound and said,

“We have 2 days left. And it is going to be a brutal day to witness. I don’t believe it’s appropriate for a child to be involved in this.”

Baek Gyu immediately grasped the gravity of Yu Jinsan’s statement.

The fateful day, upon which everyone’s fate hung in the balance, was imminent.

This was not a skirmish where the enemy could be subdued with moderate force. They were facing a war where lives hung in the balance. Sending a child into such savagery was unthinkable.

“Seol is like family to me. I have no intention of placing her in harm’s way, so don’t worry. That’s not what I want either.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Think nothing of it. I’m the one who’s at a loss over the Black Rabbit Sect negotiations. Now that Mount Hua has vanished from sight, this upcoming battle seems worth engaging in.”

Yu Jinsan offered a silent smile and nodded in agreement.

“I saw that the elders of the alliance and the clans visited this morning. Are all the defense preparations complete?”

“There are three roads leading to Ho County. Our clan will block the one leading to the Southern Edge Mountain, and the other two directions will be blocked by the clan and the alliance, respectively.”

“Hmm. Since we’re relatively outnumbered, it might be advantageous to block the narrow path and hold out. But if any one of the three routes is breached, the entire place will fall into their hands.”

Baek Gyu didn’t deny it. Even if it wasn’t spoken aloud, it was the thing he feared the most.

“If one place falls completely, I plan to gather the clan and fight.”

“Where should I come to help?”

“Since there is no Mount Hua Sect, there’s no need for you to get involved, Hyung. You can stay back with Seol.”

“What’s all this now?”

“If something happens to you…”

Yu Jinsan smiled at those words and interrupted Baek Gyu.

“Don’t worry, I don’t plan to make Seol an orphan either. If needed, I’ll run away and then avenge your clan.”

“Ahaha. As expected of Hyung. Then stay as reinforcement for the youngsters and provide us with any support in case of an emergency.”

Yu Jinsan nodded willingly.

“Right.”

The two fell silent again and watched Yu Seol’s training.

Her movements were as swift as a flying squirrel’s. Watching the spear move so calmly made their hearts feel as if they might burst from their chests.

It was while they were absorbed in this contented mood that the interruption came.

“Clan Leader!”

A bald warrior came running, gasping for air, leaving Baek Gyu both confused and puzzled.

“What is it?”

“People from Murim are flocking to the Dongchun Market. The number has clearly surpassed a hundred now.”

Baek Gyu’s left hand unconsciously reached for his waist.

“Could it be? Have they started to invade?”

“They are not the Justice Faction. I heard they came to help at the request of the Yin Yang Twin Monsters?”

Considering that the total strength of the clan itself was less than 100, this was a huge number for them.

And when the news felt like reinforcements, Baek Gyu turned to Yu Jin, looking all shocked.

Smiling, Yu Jin explained.

“There are small and medium-sized clans in Shaanxi that are siding with us. I didn’t tell you yet because I wasn’t sure they would come to cooperate with us. Do you like this gift?”

“Hyung….”

Baek Gyu, who felt so emotionally touched, had red eyes.

It was a time when every single person mattered. Was this a situation where over a hundred people were coming to help? And considering the additional people who would join tomorrow, this felt like the most helpful situation.

Although he didn’t know how many of them included skilled warriors, this was no different from gaining a thousand soldiers and ten thousand horses on their side ¹

“Now, we won’t be at a huge disadvantage in terms of numbers.”

“I am rather worried that they might get scared and run away.”

“The Justice Faction will not cancel their plan. Since this is an uprising taking place simultaneously not just in Shaanxi but also throughout the Ganghu region, there wouldn’t be time for them to make any changes.”

Unlike a moment ago, Baek Gyu looked confident now.

He warmly wrapped his large hands around Yu Jin’s back.

“The greatest luck in my life was to meet Hyung.”

Was that touch a bit cringe? Yu Jin reflexively shook his shoulders and said.

“Men don’t do this to each other! It is going to get busy now, so hurry up and head out there. If you want to lead them, shouldn’t you at least meet the new faces?”

“Haha. I will go then.”

Baek Gyu had a sheepish smile as he walked with his subordinate, and Yu Jin looked at him walk away with a smile.

“That guy, really…”

The day grew dark as Yu Jinsan sat across from his granddaughter.

His expression was serious, with his arms crossed.

Next to him stood a warrior under Baek Gyu, silent and with hands clasped.

“Follow this Mister.”

“…Why?”

“They say there are many things to see around. I’ll come to where you are in a few days, eat delicious food, and see a lot of interesting things.”

“Grandpa?”

“I have some work to do, so I can’t join you now. It will be fun over there, so go ahead.”

After saying that, Yu Jinsan seemed slightly unsure because his granddaughter, who should have been excited, had tears in her eyes.

Yu Seol suddenly began to cry, her head bowed.

“…”

“Child, why are you crying?”

His granddaughter, covered in tears, slowly raised her head.

Her crying voice was filled with sorrow.

“…Are you abandoning me?”

“Who says you’re being abandoned? Why would Grandpa abandon our pretty Seol?”

“Don’t abandon me. Ehhh…”

It seemed the child had blown things out of proportion.

Yu Jinsan hugged her and patted her on the back.

“Actually, your uncles are preparing a gift for Seol. So just pretend that you don’t know and leave quickly.”

Yu Seol tilted her head, looking calm.

“A gift for me…?”

Yu Jinsan felt bad about lying but had no other choice at the moment.

A gift. All he had to do was prepare something nice by the time she came back.

“Then! Grandpa won’t move from here, so go and have fun!”

“…”

Yu Seol looked at her grandfather with a suspicious gaze, then finally nodded, as if she had made up her mind.

With a happy smile, Yu Jinsan placed the bag he had prepared on the child’s back.

“Do not get lost while wandering alone. Just follow this man.”

“Okay. I will go and come back soon!”

Yu Jinsan patted her on the head and then nodded to the warrior in charge of guiding her.

Finally, he handed the man two silver coins and said,

“You said your name was Hongki? If the child wants something, take care of it without thinking.”

“Wh-why give so much money, though?”

Yu Jinsan placed the coins in the man’s hand and pushed them back.

“There is no time to waste now. Get going.”

“Yes, Elder.”

Yu Jinsan watched the man and his granddaughter walk away.

When he saw the child glance back, his heart clenched for some reason.

‘Everything will be alright. Don’t worry about Grandpa, and have fun on your short trip.’

Left alone, Yu Jinsan sat down.

The internal qi in his dantian began to circulate through the blood vessels of his entire body. Since he wouldn’t be able to sleep, he decided that spending time on cultivation was better.

Above all, he needed to get his body into perfect condition for what was to come.

Even as he was cultivating, he didn’t forget to check the plan.

‘If things continue like this, the defense of the county should be fine.’

Although it wasn’t certain, he had calculated that the power he had now would be enough to prevent major destruction.

The problem wasn’t Ho County, but the Evil Faction in other regions.

It was unpredictable how many would survive the extermination led by the Murim Alliance. Depending on the Murim Alliance’s plan, the outcome would change.

‘No matter what the outcome is, the future will be an era dominated by the Murim Alliance. And… the next?’

There was no way this was what the Murim Alliance wanted.

The law by which strong forces could exist and be in balance wasn’t complete peace. There was no way the Murim Alliance didn’t know that.

The reason for them to try and annihilate the other forces seemed ignorant. No matter how much he thought about it, it was tough to guess.

‘Maybe they gained another strong enemy? To the extent that the other existing hostile forces had to be sorted out in advance?’

There was nothing he could be sure of now.

He was curious about their reasoning and purpose, but for now, he could only wait and see what would happen.

Yu Jinsan gradually lost track of time and fell into a trance.

He repeated the cycle a dozen times, and he couldn’t even tell how much time had passed.

Kuku!

Judging by the sound of the rooster crowing, it seemed like a day had passed.

Still, he didn’t stop his cultivation. The chill began to seep into his previously warm body. Night must have fallen.

Then the warmth of the morning caressed his body when someone came to his residence.

Yu Jinsan ended his cultivation and stood up with a confused look.

“Why have you come back?”

It was Hongki, who had left with his granddaughter.

The man was looking to the left and right.

“E-Elder! Has Seol come here?”

Yu Jinsan was puzzled by this.

“…Why are you asking me that?”

Hongki kneeled down, placing his head on the ground.

“I have committed the gravest sin! While we were taking a break in the wildflower garden…”

There was no need to hear the rest.

The best tourist attraction in Shaanxi that was teeming with people. The child must have gotten lost there.

But there were some things that didn’t add up.

“There’s no way our Seol would have missed your presence, right? Just calm down and explain in detail.”

After hearing the story, Yu Jinsan sighed as though he were shocked.

Yu Seol said she was going to buy a gift for her grandpa, and during that time, Hongki was around the garden. They had set a promised time and place.

Hongki, whose guilt had reached its peak, couldn’t stop crying. Part of him wanted to yell, but what use was it when he already did everything he could?

After catching his breath, Yu Jinsan patted the man.

“Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t worry, and raise your head now. She will be back soon.”

“But…”

“Our Seol can run anywhere in Shaanxi within two hours. Coming back wouldn’t be a problem for…”

Yu Jinsan didn’t finish his sentence.

Another person came to his place.

“Elder! It has begun! The Justice Faction people have attacked!”