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Chapter 7: The Training Talk

“My body seems to be fine.”

“…Yes.”

After finishing the sparring, my father still looked the same.

The strange part was that he was purposely turning his back to me.

“Why are you turning your back?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Is my face that funny?”

“…No.”

‘He’s definitely avoiding looking at me because I’m a joke.’

If my father finds it hard to look at me for long, I wonder how bad it is.

‘And why hasn’t that Sleeping Dragon said anything about this ridiculousness?’

He’s the bigger problem.

As soon as Gu Huibi saw me, she burst out laughing. If my father found it hard to look at my face, then Woo Hyeok must have known by now but didn’t say a thing.

‘That brat must have done it on purpose, right?’

It was obvious that he wanted to see me make a fool of myself.

Before anything else, I had to focus on my father, so I decided to ask some questions to break the ice.

“Training in a foreign land… Is something going on?”

My father usually doesn’t train outside. The Gu Clan has its own dedicated training grounds, so it’s not common for him to overlap with other places.

At the very least, I knew my father hadn’t traveled to train elsewhere.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I practiced a bit.”

“A bit? It seems like quite a long while to me.”

I could tell from the lingering heat around us that he had been at it for a while.

Practicing while being unable to sleep? Did he stay up all night? As that thought crossed my mind—

“Third.”

“Yes?”

“Where did you learn that strength?”

“…”

My father cut straight to the point.

He skipped any preamble about morning greetings or whether I had eaten, jumping right into business. It was a bit startling.

‘Typical of my father.’

That was actually a very ‘father-like’ behavior.

“You mean my strength?”

“Yes.”

“What exactly do you mean?”

I thought about pretending I didn’t know anything, but then—

“Tua Pacheonmu.”

“…”

I had to clamp my mouth shut at his nonchalant revelation.

“It was the martial arts of the Master of the Martial World.”

“…No.”

I may have pulled my Inner Strength around me, but before I could use it properly, I got hit in the face and fell over.

How does he know this?

Did he spot it immediately?

“You’re carrying two types of inner techniques, aren’t you?”

“That… erm, it just kind of ended up that way.”

Actually, it was not just two but more like four or five, but if I brought that up, this wasn’t going to turn out well.

Only then did my father turn from his back to face me.

“Seeing that you’re fine despite carrying two inner techniques, it seems like there’s something going on.”

His tone felt more like confirming results than asking for reasons.

“Yes… um, I just managed to do it.”

“Did the Master instruct you to do so?”

“No, that’s not it. I insisted on learning both since I can’t abandon my home clan’s martial arts.”

“…Hmph.”

My answer didn’t seem to sit well with him. But still, that was the truth.

It was true that I can’t abandon my home clan’s martial arts, and I also did insist.

“Clan Leader.”

“Speak.”

“Then, the reason you knocked me out yesterday was that I was trying to use both inner techniques, wasn’t it?”

I was wondering if he knocked me out to prevent my body from exploding.

“Yes.”

And with my father’s answer, I understood that was exactly it.

In his eyes, perhaps I appeared ready to commit suicide by suddenly attempting to use different inner techniques.

Feeling a bit awkward, I saw him changing the subject.

“When did you start practicing?”

“A few months ago.”

“That means the Master is currently in Hanam.”

“…”

Oh dear, was that a slip of the tongue? I suddenly felt cautious about whether this would cause any issues.

“That’s your choice, so I won’t bring it up again. If you’re saying there’s no problem with it, then proceed.”

“…Yes.”

“If you happen to meet the Master, please tell him that I’d like to see him soon.”

“Understood.”

I anticipated that the Master would not take my message well, but what could I do if he found out?

After letting out an internal sigh, I turned to my father and said,

“Um… Clan Leader.”

“What is it?”

“Does that mean the bet is now null and void?”

My father’s eyes darkened with a strange look as he gazed at me.

The spar yesterday was just a ruse to get information about my mother.

Since I couldn’t land a single attack, I lost the bet.

I already knew that, but I wanted to cling onto it foolishly.

‘Just because he shows off doesn’t mean I get fed? I should aim for what I can.’

I was fortunate that I was far from being that type of person.

“You’re playing this pretty lightly compared to my expectations.”

“…Ahem.”

He was clearly implying to me to let go of our conversation.

I felt a bit embarrassed, but it wasn’t something that could just be brushed aside; moreover, bringing this up was not unfounded.

“Clan Leader, you definitely mentioned you’d only use one hand yesterday.”

“…”

At my words, his eyebrows shot up.

From that, I could tell he understood precisely what I meant.

At that moment, I clearly saw it.

“But why did you use your right hand?”

“…”

The hand that hit my face last night was definitely his right hand.

“Am I wrong?”

He continued to remain silent.

He looked quite scary with that scowl, but I could sense that it also hinted at surprise.

“Then by that logic, I won the bet, right?”

“…”

Still no response. My father was subtly trying to play dumb, but there’s no way I’d let this go.

I’m the best at picking apart other people’s actions; there’s no way I’d miss this.

Before we started this spar, my father sealed one of his hands.

That sealed hand was definitely his right hand.

His using it at the end implies that, technically, I won.

As I watched, waiting for his reaction, he said,

“I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”

“Wow.”

I couldn’t help but be amazed at my father’s answer.

I never thought I’d live to see my father try to wiggle out of something.

“Is this how you’re going to come at me?”

“Well, since it seems like you’re feeling quite disappointed, I’ll give you one more chance.”

“What do you mean by that? What am I disappointed about?”

He was edging away slyly, wasn’t he?

What on earth would I feel disappointed about?

I stared at him in disbelief before I had to stifle a laugh.

The fact that he’d come this far and acted like that meant—

“…It seems like you don’t want me to go there no matter what.”

“Should’ve just said so from the start.”

“But I still have to go. I’ll find a way to get there, no matter what.”

“…”

“Even if you try to stop me, I’ll break through fiercely.”

I had to go.

By any means necessary.

I couldn’t just leave the Divine Sword I bore behind, and I needed to push through to learn about what’s happening to me.

No matter what my father does, this situation wouldn’t change.

As I expressed my determination, my father stayed silent for a moment before speaking up.

“Very well.”

“Yes?”

Very well? Just when I was filled with unexpected hope from his response.

“If you want to go there so badly, I’ll lay down one condition.”

I frowned at my father’s next words.

“A spar? Again?”

There’s no way I can win that fight.

I confirmed the gap between my father and me yesterday.

Unless I regain all the realms I reached in my previous life.

In my current state, I wouldn’t be able to reach him.

More importantly, the time it would take to regain my previous life’s strength is also a concern.

“It’s not a spar.”

“What then?”

“How far along are you in your inner techniques?”

“Seven Star.”

To be exact, I’m at the very beginning of Seven Star.

Thanks to my growth in the Transformation Realm and the concurrent development of the Technique of the Flame Wheel.

“Reach ‘Gongseong’. If you achieve that, I shall teach you.”

“…Gongseong?”

“Yes.”

Gongseong was a realm I had reached in my previous life.

So, does this mean if I regain my previous life’s strength completely, he would teach me?

‘It’s somewhat different though.’

It would differ from my previous life.

At that time, I was more immersed in enhancing Demon Energy than my home clan’s martial arts. So, if I aimed for it now, I would reach it much sooner.

That wasn’t a bad deal at all, but…

“Could I ask why it has to be Gongseong?”

The condition seemed much more specific than I anticipated, so I was a bit puzzled.

Hearing my question, my father didn’t hesitate to answer.

“That much is necessary to survive.”

“…”

I was left speechless by my father’s answer.

I had no idea how immense that place might be, but looking at my father’s face, it was clear he was serious about this condition.

‘Is this the limit of what I can get over the talk of my hand?’

Even if I pushed him on whether he used both hands or not, the spar itself had been conducted with my father’s consideration, so there was no way I could get more than this.

‘Gongseong…’

Though it’s currently two realms ahead, that gap would only grow thicker the longer I go.

“…Understood. I will reach Nine Star, and then I will ask again.”

But for now, I had to comply.

I was agreeing, but I also intended to look for other ways while elevating my realm.

My father nodded at my words.

And then—

“…”

“…”

A long silence followed, perhaps because the conversation had ended.

It was very uncomfortable.

Should I flee, or take the initiative to speak? I kept battling within myself.

“Third.”

Surprisingly, my father spoke up first.

“Yes?”

“Have you eaten?”

“…”

I was taken aback by my father’s words. Because this sounded awfully familiar.

‘Where have I heard that before?’

Once I turned my thoughts even slightly, I could recall immediately.

‘That’s something I always said.’

It was a curt question meant to ensure I wasn’t famished and to check if anything was wrong.

“I… haven’t eaten.”

“I see.”

After hearing my answer, my father walked past me.

Then he casually said,

“Let’s go eat. Follow me.”

“…”

I quietly watched my father’s back. It seemed as though this was my first time hearing such words from him.

Did he mean he wanted to have breakfast together?

As I thought over that meaning, I cautiously began to follow him.

“…Yes, Father.”

At my casual reply, I noticed my father’s shoulders slightly flinch.

I couldn’t help but wonder if I looked odd doing that.

But my father didn’t utter another word.

What followed was another silence akin to ours earlier.

However, unlike before, this silence didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

How strangely delightful this feeling was.

 

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