Chapter 216
“After the recommendation from the Sword Demon, I was appointed as the Dharma Protector of the Shadowless Gate, and my training started the very next day.”
The Sword Demon seemed determined to teach me one-on-one in the tranquil sparring arena, far removed from prying eyes.
He stared at me with an intense gaze before speaking. “After you left, I thought about it for a few days and realized the order was all wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you can’t hold onto your spirit amid the limits of your physical strength and energy during hell training, it means your enlightenment isn’t that high. High chances are you could try the same method for a month, or even a year, or ten years, and still not succeed.”
Enlightenment!
Hearing that word gave me a terrible feeling. It represented the pinnacle of martial talent, something I sorely lacked. The Sword Demon continued.
“But it’s not that you can’t use your spirit at all. In fact, you’re using it unconsciously.”
“Using it?”
“The ultimate moves and secret techniques you employ are mostly things that, even with enhanced energy, can’t be materialized by a human body. The fact that you can use them just fine means you’re unconsciously strengthening your body with spirit.”
“Oh…!!”
“What you’re really lacking is the technique to consciously harness your spirit itself.”
I started to get it.
I couldn’t use my spirit in a conscious technique form, but I clearly grasped the moves when sparring with Jin So-cheong. That insight combined concentration and spirit. The Sword Demon added, “Maybe seated meditation would suit you better.”
“Seated meditation?”
“Does your sect practice it?”
I recalled the Thunder God lineage’s training methods and answered, “We did it very occasionally.”
The basic training in the Thunder God lineage was about honing spear techniques and physical training, while energy cultivation was handled separately, so actual seated meditation was rarely a focus—mostly because my lack of talent meant I had to put all my efforts into learning techniques, which took up all my time.
The Sword Demon, as if understanding, smiled slightly. “You’re no beginner. You’re a master who has reached a considerable level in martial arts. The time for learning purely through physical means has passed for you.”
“How do I do seated meditation?”
“Just sit still. But that’s surprisingly hard.”
After explaining that, the Sword Demon picked up a wooden sword.
“I’ll explain seated meditation in detail later. First, let’s start with the sword form.”
“The sword form? Are you talking about the sword techniques of the Shadowless Gate?”
The term ‘sword form’ referred to the general foundational techniques of swordplay, meaning I had to learn the movements.
“Well, you’ve entered as the Dharma Protector of our sect, after all.” He said that as if it were obvious.
He extended the wooden sword forward and said, “Watch closely. This is the secret technique of the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword.”
A moment later, the Sword Demon moved gracefully and fluidly. His movements were slow enough for even a child to see, yet each technique was precise without the slightest waste—a testament to years of practice that felt as if he had performed those moves thousands, even millions, of times.
Swoosh…
The Sword Demon completed the demonstration of the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword Technique.
“So, what do you think?”
“I saw it well.”
The Sword Demon laughed heartily at my answer. “Hahaha, is that all? Don’t you have any deeper thoughts?”
“Um…”
I felt confused. It seemed the Sword Demon expected me to feel something more from the demonstration.
I desperately wracked my brain, recalling countless times I had witnessed Seo Mun-hye fight and how her swordplay compared to that of the Sword Demon. “I think I see a shadow-like figure.”
“Yes, exactly. That’s the hallmark of the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword.”
He answered with satisfaction, and I sighed inwardly, relieved to have finally arrived at the right answer.
“Actually, this is two martial arts combined. The Shadowless Sword Technique and the Soul-Removing Sword Technique are both executed simultaneously—that’s why it’s called the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword.”
“Huh? Then, could it be that…”
“Exactly. The sword shadow you saw was actually the Soul-Removing Sword Technique.”
“……!!”
“While the opponent perceives it as just a sword shadow, what actually unfolds behind the scenes is the Soul-Removing Sword Technique, secretly aiming for the opponent’s neck. That’s the essence of the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword.”
I couldn’t help but be left speechless in astonishment.
Two sword techniques applied simultaneously!
Such a concept was something I’d never heard of before.
If what he said was true, blocking the Shadowless Sword would leave me open to the Soul-Removing Sword, and blocking the Soul-Removing Sword would leave me exposed to the Shadowless Sword, right? However, I had only witnessed the swordplay being demonstrated once, and there hadn’t been any sign of the second technique being deployed. When I looked confused, the Sword Demon chuckled softly.
“Seeing it with your own eyes is better than hearing it a hundred times. Let’s have a spar now.”
“Alright.”
Moments later, I picked up the wooden sword and began to duel with the Sword Demon. Having sparred with him many times before, I couldn’t help but wonder what the difference would be this time.
But just a few seconds into our bout—
Swish!
“Gah!”
Out of nowhere, the Sword Demon unleashed the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword Technique, and as I tried to block it, I got hit unexpectedly from an entirely different angle, striking my shoulder. I realized just how terrifying this move was and trembled in fear.
‘Goodness… If it were real combat, my arm would have been chopped off!’
It was just a wooden sword without any qi, so I was fine!
At the same time, I realized just how lenient the Sword Demon had been during our previous sparring sessions. He could have effortlessly taken my head within fifty moves just by relying on basic sword techniques. While I was frozen in shock, the Sword Demon withdrew his wooden sword and said,
“You grasped the path of the Shadowless Sword but failed to perceive the path of the Soul-Removing Sword that was moving secretly. Even for a peak expert like you, it’s quite hard to discern the real from the false.”
“……!!”
“While each technique alone may not possess immense power, the synergy created when combining the two techniques with your spirit is truly remarkable.”
“I see.”
Now I understood why the Sword Demon could dominate the Heretical Martial Realm.
‘If the Sword Demon fully unleashed the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword and the Invincible Sword, who on earth could ever hope to face him?’
If the Shadowless Sword became widely known, it might be different, but it seemed likely that the secrets of the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword were kept hidden from the world. Though the Eight Demons of Martial Daos had a high reputation, the actual techniques remained a mystery. And the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword had a fearsome potential to deliver lethal blows to unsuspecting opponents.
‘Wait. Could my techniques also be deployed simultaneously like the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword?’
Just as I had that thought, the Sword Demon seemed to read my mind. “You’re wondering how to blend other sword techniques like the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword, aren’t you?”
“Ugh… I’m sorry.”
He laughed heartily. “Haha, that’s a common thought for those who encounter the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword. However, blending two techniques to attain maximum synergy is a daunting task. It’s an endeavor only genius-level practitioners, over generations, can research and develop.”
Laughter still lingering, the Sword Demon said, “From today onward, I’ll teach you the sword form of the Shadowless Soul-Removing Sword. In the meantime, practice seated meditation. I believe this is the best method for your training.”
“Understood.”
Thus, I stepped into proper training. Filled with excitement about becoming stronger, I clenched my fist tightly. Then a thought crossed my mind, and I said to the Sword Demon, “Oh, by the way, there’s something I’d like to show you…”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Here it is.”
I took out the Book of Five Relationships from my robes and handed it to the Sword Demon. He glanced through it and muttered, “This is a martial arts secret manual. Where did you get it?”
“My brother obtained it from Dongyoung. However, I’ve been struggling with the lack of clear training methods.”
What I said was true.
The Book of Five Relationships was a martial arts secret manual containing something resembling sword techniques or internal energy training methods. However, a lot of it felt vague and disconnected, with no clear instructions at all. Practicing martial arts the way it suggested would likely lead to ‘walking fire entering demon’ and a swift end.
……
Flip. Flip.
Whether or not he heard my words, the Sword Demon focused intently on the pages of the Book of Five Relationships, turning each one slowly. I stood by, staring blankly at the Sword Demon as he read.
After about half a moment of silence, the Sword Demon finally closed the book and let out a deep sigh.
“The one who wrote this is truly an incredible master!”
“Huh?”
“This is some terrifying martial arts… However, I have no confidence in mastering it.”
What did he mean?
I looked at him expectantly, hoping for an explanation.
“It seems not to be martial arts of the Central Plains, but it’s truly extraordinary martial art. Nevertheless, I doubt either of us can master it.”
“What do you mean? Is this really that remarkable a martial arts secret manual?”
“Absolutely. If you grasp the martial arts in this Book of Five Relationships, you could reign supreme over the world.”
“But to say we can’t master it?”
I expressed my confusion.
Even if I couldn’t, the Sword Demon was a remarkable genius and master of the sword. It was hard to believe that he could praise it as extraordinary yet conclude he couldn’t learn it himself. The Sword Demon continued, “The martial arts written in this Book of Five Relationships involve dual swords, using the Reverse Dual Sword technique, not the regular Dual Sword technique.”
I had heard about the Fire Spirit Technique’s dual sword from Mangnyang, so I already knew how to differentiate them.
The posture between the two swords is divided based on the placement of the great and small swords, distinguishing the Regular Dual Sword from the Reverse Dual Sword, and based on foot positioning identifying between the Forward and Rear Stance. In the Regular Dual Sword, the small sword is held in the left hand, and the great sword in the right; in the Reverse Dual Sword, it’s the opposite, and if the foot on the side holding the great sword steps forward, that’s a Forward Stance, while if the foot on the small sword side steps forward, that’s a Rear Stance.
“The Reverse Dual Sword requires extraordinary martial talent and reflexes. Moreover, the martial art itself progresses under the premise that it’s practiced by an overwhelmingly talented genius. It’s a top-secret art that only permits entry for those with extreme proficiency in sword techniques. There are probably only two or three people in the world capable of mastering it.”
“……!!”
“I’ve trained and wielded swords for too long, and I can’t adapt my extreme techniques to the demands of this Book of Five Relationships. To learn it would require me to completely discard everything I’ve learned thus far, and that’s why I said I couldn’t master it.”
So, the martial arts in the Book of Five Relationships were like that?
It required someone with exceptional talent, capable of rejecting mere talent, while also embodying a cutting-edge martial aptitude!
The Sword Demon continued speaking, his gaze thoughtful. “The issue is, I encountered the martial arts from this Book of Five Relationships once before.”
“Huh?”
“On the day your brother, Baek Woong, rescued my daughter, we happened to spar against a warrior from Dongyoung.”
He lowered his wooden sword.
“At that time, I was thoroughly impressed by that warrior’s exceptional Reverse Dual Sword technique, and I intended to take him as my disciple. However, he was stubborn, and I ended up taking his life instead. The martial arts in this Book of Five Relationships are remarkably similar to what that warrior practiced.”
“R-Really?”
The Sword Demon seemed lost in thought as he crossed his arms. “Hmm. There must be such a Reverse Dual Sword lineage in Dongyoung. It would likely be an elite group.”
He spoke casually, but my mind felt like it was shattering from the sudden revelation.
‘This is… the Book of Five Relationships written by Miyamoto Musashi. But if that’s the case…’
If the Sword Demon deemed the author an extraordinary master, then that means Miyamoto Musashi’s martial prowess must be at least on par with Lee Kwang or even higher. However, the actual Miyamoto Musashi had been killed while battling the Sword Demon. It defied logic! How could someone with such incredible martial arts prowess be killed while leaving behind an exceptional martial secret?
What on earth happened?
I dismissed the wild theories floating in my mind and cautiously asked the Sword Demon, “Is there any chance I could learn the Book of Five Relationships?”
“For you, it’s probably impossible. Let me reiterate: this martial book is incredibly unfriendly and only allows those with unparalleled genius to challenge it. It’s likely a flaw resulting from the author being a once-in-a-millennium genius.”
“Ugh… I see.”
“Well, there’s still room for research. Would you mind giving it to me?”
Should I hand over the Book of Five Relationships to the Sword Demon?
If I gave it to him, he might research it and perhaps discover ways to improve his techniques. Then he could share derived ultimate techniques back with me. But could I trust him enough to do that? After all, the Book of Five Relationships undoubtedly contained peerless martial arts secrets, so the outcome of handing it over could lead to unpredictable consequences.
As I hesitated, the Sword Demon chuckled softly.
“Hmph, I see my trust hasn’t quite been earned yet.”
“I apologize.”
“It’s alright. Feel free to consult me later if needed.”
The Sword Demon returned the Book of Five Relationships to me, and I felt a bit more trust towards him. Recognizing the exceptional nature of the martial arts secret manual, he could have easily taken it by force or kept it hidden, yet he chose to return it to me instead—this showed a level of generosity.
‘Maybe I could trust him a little more.’
And so, under the Sword Demon’s guidance, I started learning the sword form of the Shadowless Sword Technique and the Soul-Removing Sword Technique over the next three months. Learning the foundational techniques and movements wasn’t particularly difficult, and by the end of the three months, I managed to grasp the sword form.
During the training, I also practiced seated meditation, which helped stabilize my mental strength and calm my mind. I didn’t exactly feel I had grasped my spirit yet, but for some reason, it felt like I was beginning to find my way. According to the Sword Demon, seated meditation is a slow but reliable method of awakening one’s intent.
“Well, if you keep this up, you should be able to learn how to apply your spirit effectively within three years.”
Three years.
While it seemed lengthy, considering I had undergone reincarnation, it was hardly too long. Moreover, I wasn’t practicing seated meditation alone; the Sword Demon consistently guided me through the process of bringing forth my spirit. With determination, I trained diligently, aiming to maximize my potential.
It was at that moment the urgent messenger from Bancheon Alliance arrived.
“So Woong, I need you to move urgently!”
The messenger was a master affiliated with the Bancheon Alliance whom I had crossed paths with several times in the past life. His name was Kwan Jung, and he was originally a first-class expert but had risen to peak expert after receiving a spiritual pill from Mangnyang.
Kwan Jung, looking ghostly pale as if he had ridden for days, wiped the sweat from his brow. “The leader of Bancheon Alliance wishes to see you urgently.”
“Huh?!”
I was taken aback. “But three days ago, he said all was well.”
After my training at the Shadowless Gate, I would visit Jinrang Valley every seven days to check on Mangnyang. I had visited him just three days ago, updating him on my progress. Mangnyang had still seemed fine and advised me to concentrate on training. So, why was there suddenly an emergency?
Kwan Jung urged, “Please hurry! This matter is extremely urgent, and Bancheon Alliance’s leader sent me personally for you.”
“Okay… understood.”
He said we would meet at the usual place.
As soon as Kwan Jung finished, he hurriedly exited the Shadowless Gate.
The Sword Demon, who had overheard, said, “Looks like the leader of Bancheon Alliance is really in a hurry. You better go.”
“I’m sorry! I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
The Sword Demon chuckled. “Don’t worry. Feel free to return at any time.”
“Yes…”
Swish!
I dashed out of the Shadowless Gate to Bancheon Alliance.
When I arrived at Jinrang Valley, it seemed Mangnyang had already been waiting, fully dressed, standing by the Great Hall. The moment he saw me, he said, “Baek Woong! This is serious.”
“What’s happened?”
As Mangnyang continued, my mind felt blank.
“The Master of the White Lotus Sect has signed a Non-aggression Pact with the Emperor.”
