Chapter 284 : Master
Chapter 284: Master
A world where every visible place was filled with blades.
Small and thin blades collided in the blowing wind, producing metallic ringing sounds. The clear chimes softened much of the bleakness carried by the space itself.
“Fortunately, your strength increased even though there was little time remaining.”
Warmth filled Lü Dongbin’s gently smiling eyes.
“It took longer than expected.”
Normally, even if someone entered the Beginning and End Cave, they could not remain there for so long. Lü Dongbin forcibly extended the time because there was so much he wanted to teach.
He did not know exactly how much time had passed.
However, a considerable amount of time had likely passed in the real world as well.
Having exhausted all his strength, Lü Dongbin’s body was gradually becoming transparent.
“Are you disappearing now?”
“I suppose so. I was only remaining in this world through the Heavenly Escape Sword Art.”
Had he not overexerted himself, he probably could have remained in the world longer as a projection.
But Lü Dongbin never chose that option. Even if it consumed all his power, he wanted to teach Jang Woo-hyun as much as possible.
“Woo-hyun.”
“Yes, Sword Immortal Elder.”
“Your talent is special. Greater than even I imagined.”
It was a talent that could not be described with a mere word like genius.
“You probably would have advanced forward even without my teachings.”
It might have taken longer, but Jang Woo-hyun would eventually have reached the Realm of Wish or even the Immortal Realm through his own methods.
However, there was also a chance he might have strayed onto a different path.
Now that he had taught him, Lü Dongbin understood why Zhang Sanfeng had engraved the words ‘You are not a sword’ into Jang Woo-hyun.
If Jang Woo-hyun had grown while walking the wrong path, it would have become a massive disaster extending beyond the Central Heavens Martial Realm and across the entire Middle Realm.
“Because your talent is not ordinary, you may experience many things in the future. So always be careful.”
“Yes, I understand. Um… Sword Immortal.”
Jang Woo-hyun carefully continued speaking.
“There’s one thing I wish to ask.”
Lü Dongbin nodded with a smile.
“Could you perhaps tell me how you left this world?”
“Heh heh, are you trying to avenge me or something?”
“If someone harmed you, then I—”
“That’s enough. No one harmed me.”
Lü Dongbin’s gaze passed beyond Jang Woo-hyun and drifted into the distance.
“Long ago, there were people I called close friends.”
They had been good martial artists.
And people who worked hard.
However, not everything could be solved through effort alone.
“My friends stepped onto the wrong path. In the Lower Realm, there are martial arts that steal the life force of others, but for some reason, those who cultivate such arts cannot ascend. Did you know this?”
“I think I’ve heard something about it.”
“Whether one walks the demonic path or the unorthodox path, only martial artists who grow strong purely through their own strength can come to the Central Heavens Martial Realm. But even if one cannot ascend from the Lower Realm, it does not mean such forbidden arts or demonic arts do not exist in the Central Heavens.”
Jang Woo-hyun himself had already experienced much of it.
The Ascension Cult and its cultivators, sorcerers like Hyeon Wol, and even the Twin-Winged Lotus.
Even if those who walked evil or twisted paths could not ascend, the Central Heavens Realm already contained many sinister forbidden arts.
“Those who reach their limits sometimes lay hands upon twisted forbidden arts or horrifying demonic arts. They begin walking the path of heretics and demons. They stray from the path of martial artists.”
Lü Dongbin paused briefly, loneliness flickering across his face as he remembered the old friends who had fallen onto the wrong path.
“Among them, some eventually fall completely and become ghosts.”
“By ghosts, do you mean those from the Blood Corpse Realm?”
At Jang Woo-hyun’s question, Lü Dongbin shook his head.
“There is a world of ghosts. A place called the Asura Realm or the Ghost King Realm. It has little connection to the Central Heavens, but it frequently clashes with a world known as the Tathagata Realm.”
The Tathagata Realm was where those who walked the Buddhist path became Living Buddhas. Jang Woo-hyun had heard of it before.
The Tathagata Realm and the Asura Realm.
They were other Middle Realms Jang Woo-hyun had never visited.
“I went there to find my friends who had fallen after choosing the wrong path. And that became my end.”
Within the Asura Realm, he slew with his own hands the friends who had proclaimed themselves kings and met his final end there.
From the beginning, there had never been anyone left for Lü Dongbin to avenge. He had already ended everything with his own hands.
“It was an ending fitting for me. And I finished everything I needed to do.”
“…….”
“So do not think about avenging me. Worry about your own future instead.”
The road ahead would not be easy.
The heavens would never bestow such talent without reason.
“Zhang also told you this, didn’t he? That there must be a reason you possess such talent.”
“Yes.”
“I think so as well. I do not know what you will face in the future, but it will not be easy. Whenever that time comes, remember the connections around you.”
“The connections around me?”
“Yes. The connections that helped you come this far. The people who stayed beside you. And remember one more thing.”
Jang Woo-hyun’s expression stiffened at Lü Dongbin’s serious face. It felt as though something important was coming.
“Always think, ‘I’m the best!’ No matter what hardship comes or what enemy you face.”
“……Pardon?”
“Repeat after me. I’m the best!”
“…….”
“Hurry.”
“I’m…… the best.”
“Again. I’m the best! Louder.”
“I’M THE BEST!”
Though reluctant at first, Jang Woo-hyun eventually burst into laughter.
“What? Does it sound childish?”
“No. It just reminded me of a friend I know. He says something similar.”
“What does he say?”
“He always says that if he fights seriously, he’ll always win.”
At Jang Woo-hyun’s answer, Lü Dongbin narrowed his eyes.
“That monkey monster? You’re friends with that lunatic?”
“Huh? Sword Immortal Elder, you know him too?”
“Of course I do. Just what kind of person are you, becoming friends with that crazy bastard?”
“Huh? Well… somehow we got involved together and ended up fighting side by side, and somehow it just turned out that way.”
Seeing Jang Woo-hyun awkwardly glance around like a child being scolded by his parents, Lü Dongbin snorted with laughter.
“To think you even formed a connection with someone like that. Your life truly will not be ordinary. So remember what I told you.”
“Yes. I’ll remember the connections I’ve made.”
“No, not that.”
“Then what……?”
“I’m the best.”
“…….”
“Again. I’m the best. Are you not going to say it?”
“I’m…… the best.”
“Again.”
At Lü Dongbin’s insistence, Jang Woo-hyun repeatedly shouted, “I’m the best!”
“That’s right. Think you are the best, and cut down those who block your path with your sword. Since you learned the sword from me, you can certainly do it.”
“Yes.”
After pausing briefly, Lü Dongbin looked around and spoke.
“It is finally ending.”
The surrounding space slowly began collapsing.
Even Jang Woo-hyun could not stop it. This place had been both Jang Woo-hyun’s inner world and a world formed by the influence of the Heavenly Escape Sword Art.
The power of the Heavenly Escape Sword Art was fading and reaching its end.
“You should go now. Just walk through that white passage.”
Jang Woo-hyun looked toward the direction Lü Dongbin pointed before turning his head back.
Then, with exaggerated seriousness, he straightened himself and slowly bowed.
“What are you doing?”
Jang Woo-hyun slowly lowered himself before placing his knees upon the ground and pressing both hands to the floor.
For the very first time, he bowed before another person.
In a firm voice, he addressed Lü Dongbin differently than before.
Not as Sword Immortal Elder.
“Thank you! Master!”
Rising again, he shouted loudly once more.
“I learned far too much from you. I will never forget this grace and these teachings for the rest of my life.”
To Jang Woo-hyun, Lü Dongbin had been his first master.
He wanted to learn more and spend more time together, but the time permitted to them was now ending.
Once more, he lowered himself and bowed.
Looking upon his final disciple, a smile bloomed across Lü Dongbin’s face while faint sorrow lingered in his eyes.
Jang Woo-hyun rose after completing the second bow.
As he prepared to bow again, he suddenly lifted his head slightly.
“But Master, how many times am I supposed to do this? Nine times?”
Smack!
“Ugh!”
At the idiotic question, a finger flick struck Jang Woo-hyun squarely on the head.
“That’s enough, you brat!”
Rubbing his head, Jang Woo-hyun looked at Lü Dongbin with a wronged expression. He truly did not know because no one had ever taught him these things.
“It was my mistake expecting anything from you.”
“Ow, but why does this hurt so much? This isn’t even the real world.”
Smack!
“Ugh!”
Jang Woo-hyun clutched his head and stumbled backward as another invisible finger flick struck him.
Within the collapsing world, the two found their situation amusing and laughed together for a long time.
And thus, the Sword Immortal and his disciple, the Sword Hero, parted ways.
---
Jin Ha-un was someone who trusted Jang Woo-hyun’s strength more than anyone.
He never doubted that Jang Woo-hyun would emerge from the Beginning and End Cave on his own, and at first, he was not too worried.
But after one month passed, then two, and eventually eight months, it became impossible not to worry.
Perhaps the Heavenly Escape Sword Art itself was abnormal.
Perhaps something had happened to the Beginning and End Cave.
Perhaps the cave had suddenly collapsed and injured his older brother.
Anxiety-filled thoughts constantly surfaced.
Yong Seo-hee was equally anxious, so the two of them visited the Beginning and End Cave several times every day. Sometimes they stayed for only a short while, other times for an entire shijin.
“What are you, some kid waiting for his mom to come back— hm. Hm.”
Jin Ha-un stood before the Beginning and End Cave, forgetting even to spar.
Gun Yu-hye had been about to mock him, but immediately shut her mouth when Yong Seo-hee glared at her.
Since Jin Ha-un, Yong Seo-hee, and Gun Yu-hye were always together, they naturally became close. Moreover, Yong Seo-hee herself was bright and kindhearted, so Gun Yu-hye had begun following her around and calling her older sister.
“Hye-ya, stop saying things like that. Young Master Jin is only worried.”
“No, Sister. Even so, this is too much. A grown man comes here every single day just to stare blankly at the cave entrance. At this rate, he’s gonna start bawling soon.”
“Yu-hye.”
“Didn’t the Former Master Brewer say nothing was wrong? And Master came to check personally not long ago too. Both of them said it would just take time, so what exactly is he doing? He should just wait patiently. And you’re the same, Sister. Stop coming here and go rest comfortably already. Why are you here every single time I come?”
“……Because I’m worried about Oppa.”
“I’m saying that worry is pointless. Everyone says nothing will happen, so why are only you two acting like this? Especially that idiot over there. He doesn’t even spar with me anymore, so what exactly is he doing?”
“Hm? Wait. Was that what you were actually upset about?”
At Gun Yu-hye’s reaction, Yong Seo-hee narrowed her eyes while looking at her.
“Huh? N-No, that’s not it. Ahem. I think I should spar today.”
Startled, Gun Yu-hye awkwardly approached Jin Ha-un.
Watching her from behind, Yong Seo-hee smiled before suddenly freezing.
“Huh?”
“Big…… Brother?”
At the same time, Jin Ha-un reacted as well.
Both of them had seen it.
The mist covering the entrance to the Beginning and End Cave had suddenly rippled.
Neither thought they had imagined it. Yong Seo-hee immediately kicked off the ground.
By the time she reached the cave entrance—
The mist rippled once more, and someone walked out from within.
“Oppa!”
“Huh? Seo-hee? Were you waiting for me?”
Jang Woo-hyun was startled by the sudden sight of Yong Seo-hee running toward him. He never expected to see her the moment he came out.
“Huh? Why are you suddenly crying? Did someone bully you again? Is there someone like that even in the Nine Islands? Or did someone come?”
As Jang Woo-hyun grasped Dragon King’s Scale and asked, Yong Seo-hee smiled and quickly shook her head.
How could someone remain so unchanged?
He always tried to protect her.
He always thought of his companions first.
“That’s not it.”
Wiping away her falling tears, she welcomed Jang Woo-hyun back.
“It’s just because it’s been far too long since I saw you.”
“A long time? How long was I inside there?”
“It’s been eight months since you entered.”
“What? That long?”
He had expected the flow of time inside the inner world to differ from reality. Since he had spent a great deal of time within, he thought perhaps three or four months had passed.
But far more time had passed than Jang Woo-hyun expected.
“We waited here because we were worried. Young Master Jin is here too. Young Master Jin?”
He should have already rushed over, yet Jin Ha-un remained frozen in place.
Seeing that, Yong Seo-hee tilted her head in confusion. No one had waited for Jang Woo-hyun more anxiously than him, so why was he acting like that?
“Big…… Brother……?”
Jin Ha-un’s eyes trembled violently as he stared at Jang Woo-hyun.