Chapter 15
Five 2-hour periods before Hong Gukyul came looking for Jaseong.
'Even if I die, drowning in this swamp, it's fine. As long as I can comprehend the true meaning of Heaven Evading Phantom Step.'
Jaseong trained with that resolve in his heart.
His feet, having risen then sunk repeatedly above the swamp, were already crisscrossed with dozens of wounds.
All of the wounds were made to relieve the cramping in his soles.
With a resolve of "Certain Death, only then Life", Jaseong devoted himself so fervently that a change came over him.
Before, he'd unconsciously tense his feet for fear of sinking into the swamp.
But, thinking it didn't matter even if he drowned, all that tension vanished completely.
Then, floating above the swamp using only the energy circulating beneath his soles—
'卍'
At that moment, Jaseong instinctively understood.
This, right now, was the very first step of Heaven Evading Phantom Step—the lightest step under the heavens.
Even if one understands it a hundred times with the mind, it's a level hard to accomplish in the flesh.
Facing the cauldron of death called the swamp, one had to suppress the instinct for survival and leave no strength at all in one's feet.
That was why Hong Gukyul had just thrown Jaseong into the swamp and merely watched.
'... Because to realize the true meaning of Heaven Evading Phantom Step, one must be driven to the very limit. But to think he grasped it in only a single day...!
Has there ever been, among executioners of Heaven's Mandate throughout history, one who managed to walk atop the swamp in only a day...!'
Watching Jaseong stride atop the swamp in the pouring rain, Hong Gukyul's back tingled with chills.
Whoosh—
The next moment, Hong Gukyul tossed away the wine bottle in his hand.
It was more enjoyable to witness Jaseong's astounding talent than to satisfy the hunger stoked over hundreds of years.
'... All right. In the last time granted to me, I'll try to draw out all of this boy's potential.'
After that, Hong Gukyul stuck close by Jaseong's side and began to impart the form and movements of Heaven Evading Phantom Step.
Jaseong immersed himself in training like a man possessed.
With overwhelming talent mixed with a fierce determination, his mastery of Heaven Evading Phantom Step advanced with each passing day.
Sasak! Sasa-sak!
Jaseong's movements were now so much lighter and swifter they could not even be compared to before.
'... He's already mastered Heaven Evading Phantom Step well enough to use it in real combat.'
But as for the level where illusions are created, that was still far off for Jaseong.
"I told you before. What's important isn't creating an illusion."
"Then what is?"
"Creating an illusion is only possible when you've thoroughly mastered Heaven Evading Phantom Step. Right now, you've just begun to learn its form and routine."
"......."
"What you need to focus on is the true meaning of Heaven Evading Phantom Step that you realized the other day."
The true meaning of Heaven Evading Phantom Step.
Jaseong now understood it fully as well.
"Heaven Evading Phantom Step is the lightest footwork under the heavens. Focus solely on that lightness of step. Then no one will be able to reach you, and eventually you'll make illusions as well."
"... Understood."
"With this, I've taught you all I can. For the rest, you'll manage well enough studying by yourself from the Heaven Evading Way manual."
With these words, light once again burst before Jaseong's eyes as the air split.
Hong Gukyul's sixteen day-and-night cycles had ended.
"It's time for me to return now."
"Thank you for everything until now."
"You worked hard too. The drink you bought me was the best I've had in five hundred years."
Hong Gukyul spoke with a smile on his lips.
Then, fixing him with an abrupt, serious gaze, he continued.
"Lastly,"
"?"
"All Streams Return to the Source."
"... All Streams Return to the Source? What's that?"
"It means all flows return to their source. There are countless fighting arts in the world, but when they reach the extreme, they're all resolved by a single, fundamental principle."
"... I see. But why say that so suddenly...."
"Heaven Evading Way began from the enlightenment of All Streams Return to the Source, uniting all martial arts under heaven into one. So, successor, here's my advice: Whether it's the arts of Heaven Evading Way or any martial art of the martial world—if it seems useful to you, learn them all."
"......!"
"The understanding of martial arts you gain in the world will help you attain the realizations of Heaven Evading Way as well...."
Jaseong instinctively sensed this was an extremely important teaching.
He engraved Hong Gukyul's final words in his mind.
'... From now on, I'll have to seek out and learn the martial arts of the martial world too. If luck allows and I happen across a reclusive master....'
After that, Hong Gukyul's figure slowly began to fade.
Finishing his brief stroll in the world, he was returning to the darkness of eternity.
Jaseong looked for a while at where Hong Gukyul had stood, then respectfully cupped his fists in salute.
He'd grumbled at first about some drunken old man turning up, but in the end, he'd grown rather fond of him.
'... Now, let's return to Ansun's Red Light District.'
Having trained Heaven Evading Phantom Step almost without sleep, an intense fatigue overwhelmed him.
His body felt leaden, but Jaseong's steps were lighter than ever.
He had now learned moving techniques, in addition to internal arts and sword arts.
He wondered just what martial art he'd learn at the next session of Heaven's Mandate.
Jaseong's eyes brimmed with deep anticipation.
* * *
Seven days and nights later.
When Jaseong returned to the Ansun Red Light District, the streets had recovered much of their former vitality.
Splendid red lanterns brightened the way, and laughter filled the alleys.
At Moon Castle Pavilion, the courtesans were changing into their finest garb.
Among them, Hyang-I stood out.
Her eyes, upturned like a cat's, and her softly contoured face sparkled in the moonlight.
"Hyang-I."
Jaseong called out to her at the Moon Castle Pavilion's entrance, and Hyang-I hurried over, her face filled with joy.
"Leader, you returned safely."
Hyang-I spoke with a look of relief.
"I heard from Gaeyang's informant. The leader showed up at Fierce Sky Faction's gambling hall and swept away all their money."
"Word really does travel a thousand leagues without legs."
"The Hao Sect shares information constantly."
"Then shouldn't we go back to speaking informally, like in the old days?"
"No way."
"Why not?"
"If I start talking informally, I might just end up whacking you on the back of the head like before."
"... Huh?"
"Do you know how worried I was? You went into that scary Fierce Sky Faction gambling den by yourself and made a mess! What if the Fierce Sky Faction Leader had tried to harm you...!"
... If she heard I'd actually crossed swords with the Fierce Sky Faction Leader, she might truly faint.
Seeing the concern on Hyang-I's face, Jaseong let slip a small, wry smile.
Then he pulled a hefty money pouch from his sleeve and handed it over.
"Here. With this, you should be able to hire skilled guards, right?"
"Whoa... You really did sweep all the money from Fierce Sky Faction... Just how much is this?"
Receiving the plump pouch, Hyang-I's previously angry face instantly brightened with sparkling eyes.
"I can't just take anyone, so hiring the guards will probably take some time."
"How will you recruit them?"
"I'm thinking of hiring from Wandering Warrior Village."
"Wandering Warrior Village?"
"Yes. It's a village beyond the northern river where wandering warriors gather. It's not well-known, but in that place, you'll find descendants of destroyed orthodox clans and skilled members of the Evil Faction. True hidden gems."
Jaseong had also seen Wandering Warrior Village a few times while on escort journeys.
With wanted criminals hiding out there, security was obviously poor.
"Skill is important, but can we trust those wandering warriors from Wandering Warrior Village?"
"Of course. I'm only sorting out trustworthy swordsmen. Elder Jang happens to ferry boats to and from there and knows their personalities well. Once we've checked their backgrounds, I'll report everything to you."
"All right. When the swordsmen to be recruited are picked out, let's take a trip to Wandering Warrior Village."
"Oh, and there's good news."
"Good news?"
"We got permission to use Moon Castle Pavilion as our Hao Sect's Ansun branch base."
"What...?"
Jaseong was taken aback.
Moon Castle Pavilion was where Hyang-I worked, and the largest courtesan house in Ansun.
How had Hyang-I managed to win over such a place...?
"When Iron Ring Fortress bandits invaded the Red Light District, the Pavilion Mistress fled to the capital. She couldn't stand their cruelty."
"......."
"Now that a branch manager of the Hao Sect took care of those Iron Ring Fortress bandits, her feelings have changed. She agreed to become a supporter of our Ansun branch."
"... What a stroke of luck."
"Of course, you deserve some thanks too."
"Thanks to me?"
"You alone took down a dozen Iron Ring Fortress bandits. The Pavilion Mistress was convinced by your might."
It was a moment for Jaseong's hard-won fame to shine.
In fact, the Mistress's decision was only logical.
If more members of the Dark Path ever invaded the Red Light District, the courtesan houses would be threatened again.
But with Hao Sect's martial artists stationed at Moon Castle Pavilion, it would be safe.
By providing free room and board and some operational funds, they could continue business without worry.
'... This is the way of the backstreets. The reason why one has to build up a reputation... But Hyang-I's a lot more capable than I thought. No wonder the Black Blood Hall Master came personally to visit the Ansun branch.'
Jaseong briefly recalled his childhood memories with Hyang-I.
They were childhood friends, having grown up together in the Red Light District, running and playing in the fields.
Back then, Hyang-I had just been an ordinary girl.
But one day, she suddenly changed.
She'd matured unexpectedly quickly.
It turned out the reason was that she'd become a member of the Hao Sect.
Anyway, with the cornerstone for expanding their influence now laid, Jaseong focused solely on martial arts training.
His daily routine became incredibly regular.
At dawn, he cultivated internal energy with the Heaven Evading Breathing Technique.
Since this was the cultivation art of the sword immortal, his ki-gathering speed was outrageous.
As a result, his martial power grew stronger by the day.
Once he finished his internal energy cultivation, he'd eat lunch and then move on to Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique practice.
Jaseong immersed himself in the sword arts like a madman.
He focused so intently, he wouldn't even notice the sun rising to its zenith or sinking below the horizon.
When dusk fell and red lanterns lit the streets, he'd devote himself to Heaven Evading Phantom Step training.
With the mysterious subtleties of Heaven Evading Phantom Step, he moved faster with each passing day.
Apart from the hours he slept, Jaseong spent all his time training in martial arts.
And so, he made another realization.
"... Martial arts really is fascinating."
Training all day like a madman, Jaseong's body changed so much it was unrecognizable compared to before.
He'd always been big for his age, and grown lean muscles from labor, but serious martial training made his body solid as stone all over.
Anyone could now tell he was a martial artist.
Three months passed like this.
'... I wonder how effective my martial arts will be in the martial world now.'
When Jaseong murmured this to himself, his dantian held more than twice the golden true ki it had before.
It was about time to re-challenge the Fierce Sky Faction Leader in the "hundred-moves wager".
'... Guess I'll head to Fierce Sky Faction. There's no training like real combat.'
It was then that Jaseong muttered this—
—Student. Fulfill Heaven's Mandate.
Suddenly, Lü Dongbin's voice resounded in Jaseong's mind.
Next,
Flap— Flutter—
A translucent slip of paper fluttered down before Jaseong's eyes.
On it were written the following words:
[The Third Heaven's Mandate — Remove the Little Evil]
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Is it the Mocheon Sect?
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】