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“I can’t believe we made it to Guanzhong so quickly.”

Miho and I didn’t take long to reach Guanzhong. It wasn’t too far from Henan, so we didn’t even need to use any light body techniques. We arrived in just five days. As soon as we got to Guanzhong, Miho rushed right into the fanciest inn, ready to eat the most expensive food.

“What’s the best restaurant in Guanzhong?”

“……”

“Hmm? You don’t want to buy a meal for this maiden?”

“We can eat later, can’t we? Just thinking about meeting Lee Kwang gives me a headache.”

Miho wagged her tail playfully from the bed.

“You just don’t get it. With a life that could end at any moment, what’s stopping us from savoring every meal until we’re bored? With the money we have, we could eat the finest food all around.”

“What if we actually need money later? Do you want to die and regret saving too much for this trip?”

“… Cheapskate.”

Seeing Miho glare at me with a pout, I felt defeated. Reluctantly, I exchanged some money and handed it to her. Miho gazed at the cash I offered as if it were a rare treasure, then burst out laughing.

“Is this a joke? You actually believe I’m going to take it seriously? I could easily use an illusion technique to trick someone out of their money.”

I sighed.

“Whatever, just spend it. If anyone finds out about your trickery, you’ll only land us in more trouble later.”

“Are you really giving it to me?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm, thank you! I’ll use it wisely!”

With a big smile on her face, Miho accepted the money, likely dreaming of the delicious food from the famous Jong Clan restaurant in Guanzhong.

“You’ll probably get to have a private chat with Lee Kwang after all.”

“That wasn’t the plan, but sure.”

“Uh-huh, this maiden isn’t eager to meet Lee Kwang anyway. Superior masters tend to find my charms ineffective, which gets annoying.”

“……”

“Well, see you later then!”

With that, Miho vanished using a transmission technique. I figured she was planning to show up whenever she felt like it. Feeling a storm had passed, I lightly collapsed onto the bed. Staring at the ceiling for a bit, I made a decision.

‘ Right. What do I have to lose now?’

Even if I died here, I had already gained so much. In my next life, I could make active use of what I learned this time and look for alternatives to throwing myself at Lee Kwang. For now, it was crucial to shake off my mental anguish.

I got up a little later and headed towards the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

Stopping outside the school, I spotted Bangil standing there with his brother. It was quite the reunion for me, seeing familiar faces after over ten years. Of course, Bangil, having never seen me before, spoke first.

“Who are you?”

“I’m here with an urgent letter.”

“A letter? From whom?”

“It’s a letter for the Lord of Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, Lee Kwang. Please let me deliver it to him.”

Bangil snorted and reached for me.

“Where did this brat come from…?”

Thud!

I swiftly dodged Bangil’s hand using Thunder Shadow Step and knocked him out with a chop to the back of his neck. He collapsed without a sound. I couldn’t help but click my tongue.

“Fresh reaction!”

Another gatekeeper nearby stammered before trying to run into the building to notify others. I quickly moved to suppress his blood flow before he could make any noise.

Thud!

“……!!”

Having had his vitality suppressed in an instant, he froze in place. I casually tucked my spit into my pocket and said, “You’ll be able to move in about half an hour. Don’t worry, nothing serious will happen.”

I didn’t want any unnecessary noise, so it seemed I had no choice but to go inside and explain things directly. Sneaking onto the rooftops to avoid detection, I quickly made my way to Waryong Hall, landing gracefully in front of it.

With a deep breath, I stood there facing Waryong Hall. Behind that door awaited a troublesome presence. I steadied my nerves and called out.

“My name is Baek Woong. I’ve traveled from afar to deliver a message.”

The silence hung in the air for a while.

After a moment, a familiar voice called back, “Come in.”

With a creak, I opened the door and walked inside. Feeling the tense energy, I moved through the dimly lit room, spotting an older gentleman quietly pouring tea at a table.

He lacked the impressive stature and vibe of the Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong, yet I knew he was one of the most fearsome individuals in the world.

Lee Kwang, the Lord of Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, glanced at me and said, “A message, hmm? Who sent you?”

“General Jang Gyeong-ik has sent a letter for you.”

“Let me see it.”

I stepped forward and politely offered him the letter. To avoid raising any suspicion, I hadn’t opened it beforehand. It wasn’t necessary since I had already brainwashed the sender to learn the content.

As he opened the letter, reading it carefully, I stood silently, waiting. After a while, he finally spoke.

“So you’re Baek Woong. Your martial arts style appears to belong to the Thunder God Lineage, correct?”

I was taken aback. Until now, I had always revealed and proven my affiliation openly, but somehow, he picked up on it with a simple look. I nodded and knelt in respectful demeanor, showing proper etiquette to the elder of the Merchant Sect.

“Indeed. How did you figure that out?”

“Your movements in Thunder Shadow Step are quite advanced.”

I felt inexplicable joy at that praise. Lee Kwang, who was notoriously stingy with compliments, recognized my skills. Yet, given the hardships I’d endured from him in the past, my happiness weighed heavily.

Lee Kwang gestured for me to rise and straighten myself.

“You needn’t be overly tense. If you’re a disciple of Thunder God Lineage, that makes you a junior to me. I have no reason to harm you.”

“Understood.”

“Where is your master now?”

“He has passed away. His illness worsened…”

“Ah, so he was unable to achieve the Thunder Spirit level of mastery? A true master should have been able to teach you.”

I sighed.

“I gained my skills through serendipity while wandering the world afterward. It’s quite regrettable.”

“What kind of serendipity?”

“I consumed the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”

“Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng…!! That’s certainly a worthy spiritual pill.”

He nodded, seeming to understand why I had achieved my current level. Yet mixed emotions coursed through me. The Lee Kwang before me was clearly different from the one who tortured and despised me.

Standing before me was a genius in the martial arts world, indifferent and self-centered. He didn’t seem to despise me; in fact, he appeared only mildly interested, as was his nature. This was the real Lee Kwang, I thought.

‘Mangnyang, you were right… That Lee Kwang was just an exception.’

Though my lingering grudges remained, it felt like I was starting to understand rationally. As I calmed my emotions, Lee Kwang spoke.

“You’ve attained considerable mastery in Thunder God Lineage. How did you come to carry out General Jang Gyeong-ik’s errand?”

I decided not to fabricate any larger lies here. Given the possibility of Lee Kwang eventually seeking out Jang Gyeong-ik for verification, it could backfire on me.

“While wandering the world, I came to know the Hua Clan and aimed to meet the Guangming Divine Doctor, Hwa Seong-myeong, in Goryeo. During that journey, I encountered General Jang Gyeong-ik, and after talking, he asked me to deliver a message. That’s why I ended up here in Guanzhong after visiting Goryeo.”

“The Guangming Divine Doctor, Hwa Seong-myeong? One of the Five Great Physicians. I heard the White Lotus Sect has been trying to edge them out…”

“Yes. My master was close to Hwa Seong-myeong, which is why I wanted to meet him.”

“I see.”

Lee Kwang pondered my detailed explanation, appearing convinced since the flow of the story seemed coherent and there was nothing fabricated. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Where do you plan to go next?”

I recognized this was a crucial moment. Therefore, maintaining the courtesy of Thunder God Lineage, I respectfully said, “If you are a master of Thunder God Lineage, I wish to receive instruction from you.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that.”

Then slowly, Lee Kwang added, “But first, I’d like to see your martial arts in action.”

“May I use the sparring arena?”

“Go ahead, use it as you wish.”

Vroom!

I dashed towards the sparring arena to demonstrate all the Thunder God Lineage techniques I knew, just like I had practiced numerous times before. Of course, I pretended not to know about the secret techniques. After finishing with the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, and Thunder Cloud Palm, Lee Kwang said while watching from the sidelines, “Impressive accomplishment for someone your age.”

“Thank you.”

“Yet, why not showcase Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear and Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique?”

He was confidently asserting I wasn’t using them. I feigned ignorance, but it seemed Lee Kwang could read my expressions. I hesitated but attempted to cover up the truth.

“I’ve learned the forms, but I don’t think they’d impress with my lack of talent.”

“Still, show me what you’ve got.”

“Alright.”

Slowly, but with all my effort, I began demonstrating the Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear and Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique. I thought, once he witnessed my performance, he would also realize my skills and be disappointed.

But then something bizarre occurred.

My vision blurred; I felt my body was no longer my own. It was like I was watching myself from the outside. It was different than when Yeodong-bin had controlled my body; I couldn’t distinguish whether I was holding a weapon or not.

Bzzzz!

In that surreal state, I fluidly connected spear techniques with sword techniques, seamlessly transitioning into Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique. Strangely enough, as I took hold of the sword, it felt as if the sword was an extension of my arm, and I could hardly feel its weight. The various techniques existing within Ten Thousand Success Sword flowed together effortlessly at my fingertips.

It flowed.

The Immortal Sword danced.

Before long, I was executing a sword dance. As I twirled, the essence of the world swirled around with me; the sword’s shadow lifted like flower petals, and techniques that had never connected began to link together. In that moment, I recognized that the flow of Heavenly Escape Sword Technique was gradually merging with Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique.

All the experiences I gained over the past decades from rigorous training, battles with formidable opponents, insights from Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, the fundamental teachings from the Sword Demon, and the wisdom born from countless life-and-death situations coalesced within me. I realized this was the moment to surpass the ‘wall’.

The final strike glanced through the void, resonating with the sound of a cutting wind.

I was covered in sweat, trying to absorb the deep sensations I just felt. I forgot entirely that I was demonstrating martial arts in front of Lee Kwang, consumed by my obsession with achieving greater heights.

A while later, once I managed to regain myself and looked up, I found Lee Kwang standing there, clearly moved.

“To grasp the nuances of Ten Thousand Success…!! What a rare sight!”

Before I could respond, he pulled a spear from the sparring arena with a technique that manipulated objects in the void and began showcasing his own martial arts in return. What in the world was happening? Yet, I instinctively understood why he was doing this.

The peak of martial arts.

Lee Kwang, consumed with joy as a pure martial artist, wanted to share his enlightenment with me. While my mind struggled to keep up, I was fixed on memorizing every small detail of his movements. I had seen something similar in the past when I was fervently learning from him, but then, I didn’t quite understand it at all.

This time was different. I felt that I could clearly understand his movements and the meaning behind them. Right after gaining insights into the sword, I found there were no obstacles to my comprehension.

Whoosh!

A gigantic flow rushed past.

Lee Kwang’s spear unleashed misty brilliance as it glided through strange moments in time. Although he appeared still, he was in motion. As he moved, he would seem to freeze, then move again—his spear didn’t unleash clones, nor was it particularly fast, yet it sought out a singular, precise motion as if the user and weapon were in perfect sync.

This was art.

Before I knew it, his movements had left me behind. Even the techniques were rendered insignificant as he executed precise strikes against an intangible foe. At that moment, I realized the realm of Thunder Spirit Eight Forms and Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear could no longer explain Lee Kwang’s level of mastery. His dazzling spear techniques divided the heavens and earth.

Simultaneously, I felt embarrassed. How foolish was I to think I could learn from someone of such excellence?

Oddly, it felt like all the resentment from my past experiences with Lee Kwang was melting away. I began to understand why he had been so incensed back then; it was a realization derived from the struggles of martial artists.

Clang!

With the final thrust, Lee Kwang concluded with a stab.

Looking at me, he said, “There’s another genius among us, rivaling my disciples… what extraordinary talent.”

“……”

Was that it? Just watching him grasp the truth left me overwhelmed, and I felt compelled to speak out. I didn’t want things to stay misguided.

“That’s not true.”

“Huh?”

I declared firmly, “I have no talent.”

This might sound strange.

It could seem ridiculous for a young guy who just broke through the peak of Thunder God Lineage martial arts to claim he has no talent, but I had to say it. If I didn’t, my soul would wither.

Initially, Lee Kwang had an incredulous expression, before eventually falling silent, as if contemplating what I had said.

“……”

I then spoke slowly, “Don’t oversimplify talent. That’s a reckless assertion.”

Lee Kwang.

You prideful human.

How many people do you think would be hurt by that one statement?

I felt it was alright if I didn’t enter the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

Even if I wasted more time, it was worth it.

‘ I have to say this.’

I no longer viewed Lee Kwang as the flawless paragon he appeared to be. He was someone who too had great anger, torment, and made mistakes. In order for humans to correct each other’s mistakes, one must summon the courage to speak out.

If one genuinely cares for another, it is more important to candidly share one’s thoughts rather than hiding behind deception. This had been my principle regarding ‘masters’ throughout my life.

It seemed Lee Kwang sensed something from my words.

With a serious expression, he replied, “Understood.”

If it were the usual Lee Kwang, he likely would have dismissed my words as nonsense, laughing or ignoring me. However, given that we were now discussing martial arts, it appeared he considered my words with genuine thought.

I couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Just a few words – there couldn’t possibly be any closure for the years of torture I endured, yet I felt a sense of healing. Although I had learned closely from him for years, we had both been closed off—until now, when it seemed a tiny door had finally cracked open.

“Why are you crying?”

He was right. I realized tears were streaming down my face, cleansing my heart of grievances. I was overcome by emotions that couldn’t be articulated.

“……”

“…No, I misspoke. My apologies.”

Lee Kwang fumbled, awkwardly admitting his mistake and apologizing—something I had never seen him do in all my years. Given his immense pride, I never thought he would stoop to this. Therefore, I could no longer hold onto my anguish and wiped my tears away.

“It’s fine.”

With that, I felt much of my lingering resentment dissipate.

It took time, but breaking through the peak with my sword resulted in my successful return to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.

 

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