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“The Golden Eagle Guards? And the White Lotus Sect?”

This sounds like a polite way of saying, “What the heck is happening?” The White Lotus Sect has been around since the Southern Song, but honestly, I was so clueless that I didn’t even bat an eye.

There seemed to be a whole bunch of messy, tangled drama surrounding it, but right now my biggest concern was that the White Lotus Sect had some serious clout in the martial arts world.

While it might have lost its footing as a religion, it’s still a heavyweight in the martial arts arena!

The current martial arts pecking order had classified the White Lotus Sect somewhere in the gray area between good and evil. More specifically, they’ve been minding their own business so much that it’s hard to tell which side they’re playing for. But boy, everyone knew their martial arts skills were nothing to scoff at!

They’ve even got tales about how emperors tried to squash them during the Hongwu era, but the sect leader and their top fighters were just too scary to tackle directly. Unlike the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, the White Lotus Sect was considered the undisputed shadow champion.

‘Crap… What kind of misunderstanding is going on here?’

As I pondered, the words of Lee Kwang, the Azure Dragon’s top expert, hit me like a lightning bolt.

‘If they’re from the White Lotus Sect, is it possible for a kid like me to be a peak expert?’

Lee Kwang was just making the most sound deduction within his realm of knowledge, and I could see that his subsequent words confirmed that.

“If you’re a White Lotus, you ain’t stepping foot in our school!”

I quickly replied, “I’m not a White Lotus!”

Lee Kwang didn’t flinch; his face remained as steely as ever—no icy glare, just a blank stare that felt like a vacuum sucking me in. It was bizarre, but for a moment, I felt lost in those penetrating eyes.

“No one who hasn’t consumed the Sacred Lotus can reach such a level of skill at your age.”

“Sacred Lotus? What’s that?”

“Playing coy, are we?”

Suddenly, Lee Kwang grabbed his spear resting beside the table. In that instant, every cell in my body screamed danger, as if a sharp line had been drawn from my crown to my gut, prickling like crazy. It felt like my whole self had been split in two, and I barely held back a scream as I stepped back three paces.

Thud!

But there he was, Lee Kwang, still gripping his spear, not even moving an inch. I wiped the sweat from my brow and swallowed hard.

‘Wh—what the heck was that? Killing intent? But it felt more than that…’

It had been unnervingly real!

I’d thought for a moment that my body had literally been cleaved in two, yet somehow I was still alive, just trying to process what had just happened.

Lee Kwang stroked his neatly trimmed beard, saying, “You don’t seem to be a mere Sacred Lotus user. The fact that you can grasp the concept of Formless Qi… impressive.”

“Formless Qi…?”

“It’s beyond just understanding your weapon; it’s about realizing its essence, merging your mind with it. Only then can you harness Formless Qi.”

Though Lee Kwang laid it out as a kindly explanation, there was a chilling aloofness laced in his tone that made my teeth chatter. I sensed that if he swung that spear once, I’d be reduced to a mere pile of dust.

‘This level of understanding, I can’t even begin to process! It’s fundamentally different from sword energy or flames!’

At this rate, I’m toast.

Lee Kwang was thinking I was completely part of the White Lotus, and he clearly had no qualms about taking out a kid.

Gritting my teeth, I shouted, “Wait! I really am not a White Lotus! I can prove it!!”

“Prove it? And how do you plan to do that?”

“Well…”

I froze up, struggling to figure out how to convince Lee Kwang.

If I busted out Thunder Spirit Eight Forms or Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, he’d probably think I was leaking my powers like a leaky faucet. Facing the cold, hard wall of reality turned my spine to ice.

But I had decided to face this danger when I came to the Azure Dragon School.

Even if it meant being sliced here and now, I had to muster my courage!

“… You’ll understand if you see my martial arts demonstration.”

I didn’t even know why I said that. Guess I was just throwing caution to the wind.

“A demonstration, you say…?”

“It’s cramped in here. Let me show you outside instead.”

I didn’t even wait for his response and kicked open the door to Waryong Hall before racing out into the expansive training ground. This space was where the masters and disciples would typically show off their training progress to Lee Kwang.

With a whoosh, I snatched a spear from where it was mounted and positioned myself in the center. Lee Kwang stood at the door, watching me with curiosity.

‘Watch closely.’

I focused my mind, recalling those times I’d trained with Master Hyuncheon, eliminating my weaknesses step by step as I started to unleash the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms. My primary skill was swordplay, yet the ultimate spear technique, Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, had always been my unattainable dream.

Swish, swish, swoosh!

Eight basic techniques followed fluidly from Thunder Spirit Piercing Sky to Thunder Spirit Lonely Turn, threaded together like pearls on a string. I dared to glance at Lee Kwang, but his expression remained unchanged.

So, I quickly sheathed the spear and drew out my sword, launching into the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique with even faster movements. This was my specialty, and I felt much more confident.

Just when the technique blossomed halfway, I caught a flicker of change in Lee Kwang’s countenance.

Boom!

With the final move, Thunder Cloud Palm unleashed a flurry of thunder energy that pulsed through the training ground. I finished my movements, bringing it all together.

This was my grand showcase!

“……”

Silence hung in the air. There was only Lee Kwang and me in this space. He stood, arms crossed, and deep in thought, looking oddly vulnerable. Yet I felt paralyzed by the pressure of that formless qi he radiated; I couldn’t make a move or run.

After what felt like an eternity, Lee Kwang finally spoke.

“Who are you really?”

This wasn’t the same courteous tone as before; his voice charged with anger and darkness was far more intense. If a regular person were in my shoes, they’d probably turn as white as a ghost, expecting him to charge in like a madman. God help me, especially since it was him!

I replied calmly, “As you can see, I’m clearly no White Lotus.”

“Seems like it, indeed. Those who eat the Sacred Lotus shouldn’t be capable of achieving what you have.”

Lee Kwang spat those words out and fell silent, seemingly calming his raging emotions. Then he turned on his heel and sent me a cryptic message.

[If you are truly confident in your honesty, follow me.]

This wasn’t just an invitation to confess; it carried the weight of something significant. I nodded slightly and followed him into the building. Maintaining a distance of about a foot behind him, I began to discern something.

Lee Kwang was not your average guy.

He was fundamentally different from any peak experts I had encountered before.

As we moved, a hollow thud echoed, leading us to a different part, not the room I had seen him in earlier. When he opened the door, the cold, dim atmosphere hit me like a brick wall. Lee Kwang tossed in a few sticks of kindling into the fireplace, as if trying to thaw the room out, and then gestured for me to take a seat.

“Sit down.”

I hesitated, wondering if this was some kind of trick, but ultimately dismissed the doubt and sat down.

‘The difference in capability is just too vast.’

Lee Kwang, validated through that formless qi, wasn’t just a cut above me; the gap felt more like the vastness between heaven and earth compared to my earlier encounter with the top elder of Iron Blood Gate. I felt certain that facing Lee Kwang head-on would guarantee my demise, so any schemes would hold no ground.

The crackle of flames filled the quiet as the fire began to warm the room. Lee Kwang propped his chin on his hand and scrutinized me.

“Let’s hear more about how you learned the Thunder God Lineage.”

What?

My head spun at the unexpected word. I had assumed he’d go off on a rant about how I’d stolen his school’s secrets, but suddenly this “Thunder God Lineage” I’d never heard of popped up!

‘Wait, are you telling me this isn’t your creation?! Is it a separate lineage entirely from what you’re teaching here?’

Or perhaps Lee Kwang called his own technique the Thunder God Lineage? I was at a loss as I tried to respond.

“The one who taught me this martial art has passed away. Before he died, he told me to seek you out.”

“He died? How?”

“He suffered from an illness.”

This was a gamble. I thought it was too risky to lay bare the truth behind my reincarnation as it sounded too wild to be true. No martial artist would ever impart a true secret technique to someone like me! I’d rather dance with danger by bluffing him at this point.

“What was his name?”

Success!

Lee Kwang’s technique wasn’t an isolated creation; it was derived from the Thunder God Lineage! I wanted to leap up in joy but kept my composure.

“He never revealed the entirety of it.”

“That could very well be.”

Lee Kwang muttered bitterly.

“Then how did you achieve your current power?”

“After my master passed, I wandered the world and stumbled upon the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng in Mount Huang.”

“Show me your wrist.”

With a swift motion, Lee Kwang gripped my wrist and took my pulse, eyes closed, sensing the intense internal power coursing through my being. After a moment, he let go and spoke.

“It’s true. There’s an extreme cold energy flowing within you, yet it cooperates with Yang energy… What gives?”

“Actually, I took another spiritual pill alongside it, which helped me survive.”

“So that’s how it happened.”

Lee Kwang remained still for a while, contemplating. Then, he finally spoke.

“Your master was undoubtedly one of the inheritors of the Thunder God Lineage, but tragically, he must have succumbed to illness before he could achieve mastery.”

“……”

“So you and I are from the same school. If you’re willing to take me as your master, perform the Nine Prostrations before me.”

The Nine Prostrations!?

I flinched at that. While it might sound like an ordinary ceremony for accepting a disciple, it was anything but. The Azure Dragon School didn’t force this ritual upon just anyone. In fact, even the other masters had never performed it for Lee Kwang. Only Jin So-cheong was known to have formally done it.

Thus, the Nine Prostrations meant something far more profound. Instead of just accepting another disciple for profit, it was a sign of choosing the one true inheritor of his true secrets. The fact that Jin So-cheong had done this ritual only emphasized its significance.

Of course, I didn’t hesitate a second to perform the ritual. After bowing down nine times, Lee Kwang spoke.

“Rise. From now on, I shall be your master, and I will complete your transmission of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“Yes.”

He had no hint of doubt in his expression. After all, the one who had imparted his true secrets to Lee Kwang was Jin So-cheong, who had then spent three years training me in closed surroundings. If the Thunder God Lineage was indeed a separate faction, he’d have no reason to suspect me.

“Baek Woong. You have likely heard this from your master, but the Thunder God Lineage is multiple lineage transmission and an awe-inspiring martial gate. You have great potential ahead of you, so dedicate yourself to hard training and work towards reaching the highest level of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“Understood.”

Multiple lineage transmission and an awe-inspiring martial gate? This was all brand-new to me, but I couldn’t afford to ask what it meant. If it was a traditional sect, then it would be totally understandable for a master not to disclose the full history. Not knowing this could raise some red flags.

But then I shifted my approach and decided to risk it.

“Excuse me… I have a hard time remembering the history of the sect. Could I get a refresher?”

“Hmm… You’re young; it’s understandable.”

No matter how adept my skills seemed, I still looked like a child in my early to mid-teens. Saying I was too young to remember would get me off the hook easily. Instead of digging into martial arts, showing an interest in the history of the sect made Lee Kwang more than willing to enlighten me.

“How much do you know about the White Lotus Sect?”

“My master didn’t talk much about it. Honestly, today is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Really? He must have had no interest in the grievances with the White Lotus.”

“Grievances?”

It almost slipped through my lips in disbelief!

“You see, although we were once disciples of the White Lotus Sect and warriors of the martial world, we were purged and driven out to the Central Plains half a century ago. We must remain discreet to avoid drawing attention to our whereabouts, but our roots still lie with the White Lotus.”

“……!!”

“Of course, I only heard this from my master, so I hold no personal grudges myself. However, keep in mind that they utilized the warriors of the Thunder God Lineage and betrayed us—make sure you remember that history.”

Thunder God Lineage! It was once a martial arts sect that transmitted the protective martial arts of the White Lotus Sect.

And they had been driven out by internal strife, opting to scatter and hide instead of forming a faction for survival. I barely managed to contain my excitement and asked, “If you wanted revenge, wouldn’t it be better to come together and form a big sect?”

“I’ve heard the power of the White Lotus Master is beyond imagination. It would be like throwing eggs against a rock; the previous elders preferred to practice martial arts quietly in seclusion instead.”

Now that I thought about it, Master Hyuncheon had mentioned the White Lotus Master in the same breath. When he saw my powers, he remarked that only the White Lotus Master could rival me.

Given that my superhuman power was grounded in the use of the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, it made sense that the White Lotus Master had unmatched martial skills.

“How powerful is the White Lotus Master?”

“The White Lotus Master has not been defeated for over 200 years. The role of the master has been passed down through generations, and each Grandmaster has always overwhelmed the top martial artists of the righteous factions. It is widely accepted that the arts of the White Lotus are the best in the world.”

“Yikes…”

So he really was that powerful! Master Hyuncheon wasn’t just talking nonsense!

Lee Kwang’s signature deadpan expression was back. “I tend to mull over our predecessors’ grudges deeply. If it were ensured you were a White Lotus disciple, I would have cut you down on the spot back there.”

“So, what does it mean if I achieved the Thunder Spirit?”

“When one reaches the peak of the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique, they gain the ability to resist all ailments and extend their lifespan, saturating their body with thunder energy. This state is called Thunder Spirit, and you most likely reached it after consuming the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”

“Ah…”

So this was the phenomenon where the thunder energy constantly surged after mastering the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique. That’s what it meant to be at the Thunder Spirit level.

“Those who consume the Sacred Lotus can gain remarkable internal power, but they cannot achieve the Thunder Spirit level, so I had reason to believe your words.”

It seemed that the Sacred Lotus must be some sort of herbal remedy provided by the White Lotus. As I juggled my newly acquired knowledge, I noticed an odd expression pass over Lee Kwang’s face.

“By the way, there’s a different flow I sense within you, oddly distinct from the Thunder Dragon technique—what’s that?”

I knew that at this point, attempting to weasel my way out would be futile. I decided to answer honestly.

“That’d be the Hyun Cheon Divine Art.”

“Hyun Cheon Divine Art? The one of the Five Divine Arts of the Wudang Sect?”

“Yep. I learned the True Qi Manipulation Technique while traveling, after crossing paths with a Wudang expert.”

I wasn’t spinning yarns.

“Hmm… If you had the Hyun Cheon Divine Art, you might have been able to become a core disciple of the Wudang Sect, yet you chose to seek me instead?”

“Yes. It was my master’s last wish.”

Lee Kwang seemed pleased at that. Given how prestigious the Azure Dragon School was, it was no match for the grandeur of the Wudang Sect. He was probably thrilled that I opted to train under him instead of being a core disciple of a sect renowned throughout history.

“Very well. From this day forward, you will be my direct disciple, and you shall treat Jin So-cheong as your senior brother. Based on your skills, I’m sure it won’t be long before you earn the title of master and learn one-on-one with me for a while.”

“Thank you.”

I was riding high on the waves of good fortune as everything fell into place. I had officially become a direct disciple of Lee Kwang!

‘…And to think, if I hadn’t crossed paths with that needless death!’

I regretted that foolishness from before; I could have deepened my understanding of the Azure Dragon School’s martial arts! After all the hardship I had endured to return here, I couldn’t help but lament my earlier choice.

As we wrapped things up, Lee Kwang began explaining the history of the White Lotus and the Thunder God Lineage. In this process, I learned a whole lot about the White Lotus.

The White Lotus was originally a righteous sect, playing a crucial role in the establishment of the Great Ming, and legend has it that even the Hongwu Emperor was once initiated into their teachings. However, after founding the empire, the Hongwu Emperor did a flip and started subtly persecuting the White Lotus.

While he didn’t directly slaughter its followers, he kept inventing excuses to throw them in prison or suppress their influence whenever they tried to expand.

Eventually, the White Lotus turned into a secret society and was driven to the southern regions of the continent. Since that area was inhabited by many minorities, it was beyond the grasp of the imperial family’s influence. There were whispers that the White Lotus had absorbed the remnants of Chen Youliang’s descendants, but that was just a rumor.

Lee Kwang remarked, “By the way, So-cheong mentioned she was going to meet a friend.”

I nearly burst out laughing. This stern and cold Lee Kwang was referring to Jin So-cheong in such an affectionate manner! Clearly, that meant their relationship went far deeper than those of the other disciples. I could see that he’d be the type to forsake the other disciples for So-cheong without a second thought.

“I’d also like to meet my senior brother in person.”

“Oh?”

After a moment of thought, Lee Kwang said, “Then you should go fetch him. He should be with Namgung Hwan by now.”

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry for stealing his personal time, but meeting the new disciple of the Thunder God Lineage is more pressing.”

Lee Kwang might have misunderstood my surprise for something else, but I wasn’t surprised about that. The fact that Namgung Hwan was with Jin So-cheong was the actual curveball!

That meant Jin So-cheong’s renowned buddy was none other than the Azure Dragon, Namgung Hwan!

Furthermore, wasn’t Namgung Hwan in Guanzhong with his fiancée, Mo Yong-yeon, which meant…?

Regardless, this was probably a golden opportunity to meet the Azure Dragon face to face. My eyes lit up.

“I’ll be sure to fetch my senior brother.”

“They should be at the Zhao Family, one of the Six Great Families of Guanzhong.”

The Six Great Families of Guanzhong referred to the six most influential trading, artistic, and martial clans in Guanzhong. Among them, the Zhao Family boasted impressive financial capabilities with their operations in the money market.

“Not the inn or dining hall?”

“I’m not sure. The last leads So-cheong provided pointed me towards the Zhao Family; go check there.”

“Yes!”

With a swift leap, I bolted out of the Azure Dragon School, employing my exceptional agility as I flew through the rooftops. Lee Kwang probably had an inkling of my abilities; he wouldn’t worry about my venture to summon Jin So-cheong. As I dashed across the rooftops, I thought to myself.

‘This is turning out great!’

Not only would I meet the Azure Dragon, but I’d also get to see his fiancée, Mo Yong-yeon! Feeling incredibly lucky today, a smile involuntarily crept onto my face. Little did I know, I was underestimating the challenge ahead for this supposedly simple errand.

 

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