Chapter 74
I had sparred with Lee Kwang more times than I could count. After years of intense training, he often made me fight to correct my posture and quickly teach me the tricks of the trade. Of course, I always got my butt kicked, so memories of that still sting.
But right now, my past losses didn’t matter. The murderous intent swirling around Lee Kwang was all too real, as if he was waiting for the perfect moment to slice me in half. This was fundamentally different from sparring meant to teach a successor.
I gulped and said, “Wait a second!”
“What?”
“Why do you dislike the Fire Spirit Techniques?”
“……”
Lee Kwang paused, clearly surprised by my unexpected question. Even his usually stoic expression changed, showing just how bewildered he was.
With a slight flick of his spear, a sound like a gunshot echoed as a few strands of my hair were sliced away. At my current skill level, I couldn’t even perceive what he did. I was way beyond the point where techniques like “basic moves” mattered. Stiff with fear, Lee Kwang commented, “You’ve got guts. Most people wouldn’t dare ask that when facing death.”
Whether that was a compliment or mockery was hard to tell. I managed a weak smile and said, “…Let’s know the reason before we die.”
“Hmph.”
Lee Kwang’s killing intent seemed to recede a little at that. Lowering his spear to the ground, he slowly continued, “You know that the Thunder God lineage was purged by the White Lotus Sect, right? That was led by those Wind Spirit guys, and many Thunder God experts lost their lives in the process. The surviving masters went into hiding in the Central Plains.”
“I know that. But the Fire Spirit Techniques didn’t directly involve themselves in that, did they?”
“They didn’t. Han Baek-ryeong’s group watched idly. That’s what angers me.”
“Why?”
“My master and Han Baek-ryeong were close friends. But when the Thunder God lineage was wronged, she did nothing to help or defend them. Just sat back, afraid that the flames would touch her own group. Could you trust someone like that?”
“……”
The spear’s tip was once again pointed at me. The momentum felt like it could pierce my heart at any moment. He was using Formless Qi offensively, as if he wanted to kill me before we even began fighting. This was a battle tactic only a master with advanced intention could deploy.
“Baek Woong. I don’t know how you managed to charm Han Baek-ryeong enough to get her to recommend you, but your incredible inner strength that rivals the Heavenly Spirit Pill is impressive. Still, that doesn’t give me a reason to carry the Thunder God lineage’s legacy.”
Formless Qi weighed heavily on me, like I was carrying a mountain. This stuff disregards your levels of inner strength, and you have to overcome it purely with willpower. I struggled to counter, “What do you want me to do?”
“I told you from the beginning.”
Lee Kwang’s eyes sparkled to life. “Prove your talent and will to me—with your skills!”
Bang!
“……!!”
In the next moment, I felt my body being flung through the air. I had managed to use my inner strength just in time to evade a direct hit, but Lee Kwang’s spear slammed right into me. It looked like a simple thrust to the front, but it was the strongest blow I had ever faced from any expert.
“Cough!”
I ended up spitting blood, amazed that my body was launched four feet into the air. I realized Lee Kwang had held back; the problem was that even with him holding back, I still couldn’t block or dodge a basic thrust.
‘What the hell is this level difference…?’
Lee Kwang didn’t wait for me to fall gently. He was already whipping his spear around faster than I could see, and I gritted my teeth, swinging my Yongyeon Sword to deflect his strikes. But each thrust came in from angles I couldn’t even begin to understand, striking my vital points with every move.
Bang!
“Aaah…”
Before I knew it, I was slammed into the ground, the stones bouncing me as I flew to the far end of the training ground. My entire body felt numb, and it seemed like I was losing consciousness, but I quickly summoned a divine technique to revert back to my original state.
“That’s more like it.”
Lee Kwang’s voice, laced with killing intent, drifted into my ears. “If you stay down, I’ll burst your heart open.”
Thump, thump.
I suddenly felt the insides of my body tearing apart. Lee Kwang just sped past me, pummeling my abdomen with his Thunder God Fist, hitting me dozens of times. The pain felt like my insides were on fire, and I momentarily lost my grip on consciousness.
When I came to, a significant amount of time had passed, and I heard Lee Kwang’s voice. “Wipe the blood from your mouth.”
Looking down, my clothes were already soaked in blood, and I had blood gushing from my lips. I must have sustained some internal injuries. I wanted to drop to my knees and faint right then and there, but I forced myself to endure, using my sleeve to wipe my mouth.
‘Damn it. I’m really gonna die.’
Lee Kwang was holding back just enough to keep me alive. That just made the pain worse. If he’d decided to kill me for real, my head would’ve rolled in a matter of seconds instead of torturing me so much. As I cursed silently, Lee Kwang remarked, “You’re an odd one. You seem to use the Thunder Shadow Step properly, but your sword techniques are still at the beginner level. You can only use your overflowing inner strength with the Thunder Blade—that’s pathetic.”
This guy?
I felt heat rising in me. I had already resigned myself to possibly dying here, so I had the nerve to retort back. I spat out blood and said, “I know there’s a next level to the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique…”
The problem was that I met my demise at the hands of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path before I could learn it. Lee Kwang sneered at me.
“Then why didn’t you learn it? Where the hell is your master hiding that he didn’t teach you?”
“He died from illness. He couldn’t achieve the Thunder Spirit.”
“……”
“I have to get stronger. I need to get stronger to defeat my enemies.”
As I rallied my determination and spoke, something flickered in Lee Kwang’s eyes. “How can you talk about defeating enemies when you seem so young? Those enemies you speak of can’t be the ones who are your master’s enemies.”
“That’s right. But I must take that person’s head.”
“Why?”
Looking him straight in the eye, I replied, “That person killed my friend. Until I repay that debt, living would be no different than being dead.”
To my surprise, I realized I was speaking as if nothing mattered. My tone was far too calm. If someone else had heard me, they would have felt uncomfortable with my demeanor.
‘Hah, maybe for the tenth try, I should just practice my acting skills.’
I thought I was speaking sincerely, but if it didn’t resonate with the other person, it meant nothing. While I forced a wry smile inside, Lee Kwang’s killing blow didn’t come.
……
What’s going on?
I stood there for a long time in silence, the quiet stretched on. Glancing up at Lee Kwang, he finally spoke with a hard expression. “You’ve been through hell—this level of mental strength isn’t typical for someone your age.”
“……?”
“Jin So-cheong.”
Whoosh.
“Yes, Master.”
Out of nowhere, Jin So-cheong appeared in the training hall. As soon as she did, Lee Kwang handed her a package of silver coins and instructed, “Show this kid’s details to the physician Kang in the village. Once the treatment is done, bring him back.”
“Understood.”
After giving a formal bow, Jin So-cheong took me off to who knows where.
‘At least I’m still alive.’
But by the time Jin So-cheong grabbed me by the collar and moved, I was already out cold. It had been a short time, but I had taken too much of a beating to maintain any consciousness.
Jin So-cheong headed to the prominent Kang clan to hand over my care and the treatment fees after a quick trip. Kang Son-mu, the head of the Kang clan renowned as one of the best physicians in Guanzhong, examined my condition and gasped.
“He’s barely hanging on.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
Kang Son-mu replied, “Well… it’s unbelievable, but he’s healing naturally.”
“Huh?”
“Look here.”
His hand pressed against my chest, revealing a serious injury where the spear had pierced my flesh, showing white bone. It was a severe wound, yet I could see the flesh slowly regenerating. With disbelief, Kang Son-mu exclaimed, “I’ve heard that once your inner strength reaches its peak, you can utilize Qi for natural healing…but I’ve never seen it in person. Can a human really have this level of inner strength?”
“……”
“Nonetheless, I doubt I’ll have to do much to help. He should be back to normal in three to five days.”
“Please do.”
“But who did this to someone with that kind of inner strength?”
Jin So-cheong did not answer that question and stepped outside, lingering for a moment before returning to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.
Whoosh.
Her figure darted quickly to Waryong Hall inside the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, halting before Lee Kwang, who was sipping warm tea.
Next to him lay my Yongyeon Sword. Jin So-cheong glanced at it and spoke. “Master, you’ve mentioned that other Thunder God disciples are like brothers to us. Isn’t that right?”
Lee Kwang took a sip of tea, then responded, “That’s true.”
“I believe this incident was excessive. If Baek Woong hadn’t had such strong inner strength, he would have died.”
“If he had died, that might have been good.”
“Huh?!”
Jin So-cheong exclaimed, utterly surprised. Such a response from Lee Kwang was unbelievable, based on what she knew about him. Ignoring Jin So-cheong’s shock, Lee Kwang picked up my Yongyeon Sword and said, “Isn’t this a famous sword? This must be the legendary Yongyeon, one of the finest swords in the world.”
Lee Kwang was well-versed in the art of divine weapons and swords. Given his knowledge, there was no doubt this sword was indeed Yongyeon. Curiosity sparked in Jin So-cheong’s eyes.
“It is…”
“This kid, at a young age, possesses inner strength close to the Heavenly Spirit Pill, has caught the eye of the Dharma Guardian of the White Lotus Sect, and has even received proposals from his bloodline. Yet, he rejected those offers and came to me with Yongyeon. His martial arts already lie at the threshold of the Peak Expert level.”
Lee Kwang mumbled that and then looked straight at Jin So-cheong, saying, “Even though the Central Plains are vast, do you think there’s even someone who can catch up to Baek Woong?”
Jin So-cheong shook her head. “Not likely. Maybe the Young Master of the White Lotus Sect.”
“Exactly. That child is extraordinary. But the scarier part isn’t what’s visible. I just realized that.”
“What is it?”
“An ironclad will.”
“A will?”
“The way he barked about his master felt off. I can’t confirm its authenticity, but the likelihood of it being a lie is high. Still, when I was about to kill that guy, he calmly told me about his desire for revenge for his friend. From that, I sensed the spirit of a warrior who has survived through decades of chaos.”
“……!!”
“Honestly, I was shocked. That kid possesses the mentality of an experienced warrior.”
Lee Kwang’s expression grew serious. His usual unshakeable demeanor seemed troubled for a change. He set my Yongyeon Sword back down and gazed out the window.
“Baek Woong is indeed the inheritor of the Thunder God lineage. The fact that I need to raise him is real. But I doubt I could control him once he’s gained his wings.”
“Are you seriously contemplating letting him die?”
Jin So-cheong’s question was pointed. Lee Kwang looked at his diligent disciple and chuckled.
“Hahaha… I don’t even know. I’ve never felt this way before. I have the desire to nurture him, but I also wrestle with the thought of killing him for your sake. It’s mind-boggling. So-cheong… what do you think I should do?”
Lee Kwang often wanted a specific answer when he asked a question. That was his signature style. But Jin So-cheong realized this question was different. He genuinely wanted her opinion.
Jin So-cheong pondered for a while before answering, “I want to accept Baek Woong as my disciple.”
“Are you saying that even if that kid might become your enemy in the future?”
“That’s not how I see it. Don’t you carry the grudges from many years, Master? If Baek Woong really is the great figure you think he is, he might create a big ripple in the world that could help lift the burdens of your long-held grievances.”
“……!!”
Lee Kwang gasped in surprise. This was because Jin So-cheong had thought ahead further than he had. It’s true; Lee Kwang had a deep-seated grudge that he had never confided to anyone else. Yet he had been quietly living with it, unable to find a way to resolve it, and here Jin So-cheong had brought it up unexpectedly.
Lee Kwang, deep in thought, finally said, “You think that kid can grow to that extent?”
“That’s something you need to determine, Master.”
“Huh…”
Lee Kwang gazed out the window with clear eyes. The annoyance he felt because Jin So-cheong was introduced by the Fire Spirit Sect had disappeared, and he began to analyze Baek Woong’s potential with complete composure.
After sorting out his thoughts for a while, Lee Kwang finally declared, “Alright. I believe that’s possible.”
A small spark flickered in Lee Kwang’s eyes. It was the festering resentment he had bottled up for decades.
“Let’s put in our utmost effort to raise him.”
In his mind was a vision of a giant.
Unsurpassed by any power, a force so overwhelming that even the Emperor of the Great Ming trembled before it! Lee Kwang had been sharpening his sword in preparation to face that being, something that had been impossible until now. But he had just found another glimmer of hope.
