Chapter 72
“One!”
“Stamina is!”
“Two!”
“Life!”
“One!”
“From a strong!”
“Two!”
“Body!”
“One!”
“A strong!”
“Two!”
“Mind is imbued!”
“Today’s training is over.”
“Waaaaah!”
“Phew…! I almost died.”
“But we’re holding up pretty well now, aren’t we?”
The ‘hell instructor’s’ training, in which all the students of the Human Division participated for the first time in a while.
The result was very satisfactory.
‘Everyone has worked hard even when the academy was empty. You brats, haha.’
So-ah was also very proud.
Because in all the extreme training he had conducted so far, the students had never followed him so well as they did today.
“Ahem! Now you can act like martial artists, you guys.”
At times like this, you have to give a word of praise.
The students also opened their mouths towards the smiling So-ah.
“By remodeling my body, I was able to achieve my family’s martial arts more easily.”
“I feel like my internal energy has also increased.”
“I wonder if I’m not going to become a peak master at this rate? Uhaha!”
An indescribable sense of elation arose, and their whole bodies tingled.
The reason they had endured the hellish training so far without giving up was solely due to their own strong will.
It seemed that today, they could be completely intoxicated with self-admiration.
As expected,
“Of course you have to become a peak master. What’s a peak? You have to experience all the things like the Five Qis Returning to the Origin, the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, and Bone and Marrow Cleansing.”
So-ah encouraged such students.
For a moment, the students’ eyes flashed.
‘The Five Qis Returning to the Origin and the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown… Bone and Marrow Cleansing…’
‘Can such a day come?’
A story that was so far away, so distant that it seemed to exist only in a fantasy.
But the students hoped that someday, such a dream-like thing would unfold.
“Instructor Jin!”
“Yes, Han Baek.”
“You’ve experienced things like the Five Qis Returning to the Origin and the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, right?”
At Han Baek’s question, a streak of curiosity appeared on the students’ faces.
So-ah answered with a smirk.
“Was it when I was fifteen? I was training the Great Whale Heart Law while looking at the sun. Five rings and three flowers unfolded like a mirage above my head and then disappeared.”
“Yes?!”
“You… you achieved the Five Qis Returning to the Origin and the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown when you were fifteen?”
The students were dumbfounded.
But the surprise was only the beginning.
“Moreover, since I recently went through Bone and Marrow Cleansing, I’ve experienced all the strange phenomena of the realm of creation. To put it in one word, should I say I’ve reached the peak of the realm of creation?”
‘My goodness…’
It was closer to astonishment and fear than shock and surprise.
To have achieved the realm of creation at the age of majority was already a heaven-shaking feat, but to have experienced all the strange phenomena of the realm of creation?
In a word, what So-ah was saying was no different from saying that his current realm was at least at the level of a respected leader of the Nine Great Sects.
But,
“But that’s not something to be happy about. I’m still lacking a lot.”
So-ah was not just being humble, but spitting out deceit.
At that, Han Baek glared at him and expressed his dissatisfaction.
“You’re lacking a lot? Are you kidding me? At this rate, you’ll not only be the best in the Orthodox Path, but also the number one in the world.”
“That’s because you don’t know anything.”
“Yes?”
“You might be happy now because your achievements are fast. But do you know how hard it is to achieve the realm beyond the realm of creation? Going to the profound realm is not just a matter of effort, but requires heavenly luck and inspiration. If you’re not careful, you might not be able to develop any further.”
“Such…”
“Let me tell you a fun story. As far as you guys know, who is the person with the highest realm in the Orthodox Path right now?”
“That’s of course… Master Yong-gak of the Jongnam Sect and Grand Master Gong-seung of Shaolin, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. They are the ones who achieved the profound realm the fastest in the Orthodox Path a long time ago. But who was the one who actually became the number one in the Orthodox Path? My grandfather, right?”
“Aha…”
“Realm and enlightenment come suddenly and without a sound. Right now, I’m the strongest among my peers in the Orthodox Path, but in the future, I might be pushed back by Namgung Mun or Brother Il-gi. Even you, Han Baek.”
“Ah…!”
At those words, Han Baek’s mouth hung open.
‘I could surpass that monster?’
A moment when his heart fluttered just by imagining it.
But that excitement did not last long.
“Of course, it’s just a theory, and in reality, such a thing would never happen. Absolutely.not.”
‘Of course, that’s right. Making people excited for no reason, damn it.’
Whether he knew Han Baek’s feelings or not, So-ah continued to speak with a detached air.
“So what I’m saying is, no one should be satisfied with themselves. Even I, whom you guys worship like a god, can’t be sure that I’m the best among my peers.”
‘Who worships you like a god?’
‘If you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile…’
‘Leaving everything else aside, can’t you usually not say such things about yourself?’
Although it was an absurd statement, the students only cursed inwardly and did not say it out loud.
It was because it was clear that So-ah’s martial arts were strong, and they wanted to hear more about martial arts.
“Hey! Instructor. I really can’t accept that. You can’t be sure that you’re the strongest among your peers. Aren’t you being too humble?”
“It’s true. Han Baek, you don’t know Brother Chan, do you?”
“Brother Chan?”
“The Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
Gulp.
All the students, including Han Baek, swallowed dryly.
Because they had not expected the name of the evil cult, the Young Cult Leader, to come out of So-ah’s mouth.
“Do you know the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?”
“Of course. We’re close friends. But I’m not confident that I can beat Brother Chan. When I was twelve, Brother Chan could use not only sword ki, but also sword gang. Now he can probably use at least the Sword Control Technique.”
At those words, the students’ faces turned pale.
The Sword Control Technique.
They had heard of it, but had never seen it.
A realm that they could not even properly grasp.
A strong curiosity about Wi-ji Chan arose, and at the same time, the students were also afraid at the thought that the evil cult, the young master, was such a powerful person.
Just then.
“The Sword Control Technique… haha…”
Namgung Mun let out a low laugh.
It was a smile that seemed bitter and at the same time, empty.
So-ah asked such a Namgung Mun.
“Why? Does the fact that the best swordsman of the Unorthodox Path uses the Sword Control Technique arouse your fighting spirit?”
“Fighting spirit… I wonder if I have the right to that.”
“Someday, you’ll have to go too, Brother Namgung.”
“…”
“To the path of the Sword Control Technique.”
“Can I do that?”
“Of course. You can.”
“The Sword Control Technique is truly a dream-like realm.”
“Didn’t you enter the Human Division to achieve that dream?”
“Instructor Jin…”
“Me too. Brother Namgung too. And all of us. We just have to go. Because that’s the only way.”
Suddenly, a seriousness was imbued in So-ah’s voice.
The students’ gazes also sank heavily.
“The path of martial arts is endless. Every time you develop, another wall will block your way, and you will face numerous problems and get tired and break.”
“…”
“But let’s go together. Since we’ve decided to eat sword rice, let’s do it properly. You all know what I mean, right?”
“Yes!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Even if I die, I’m going!”
In an instant, the light playfulness was gone.
It was a moment when the single shouts of the young martial artists, full of spirit, filled Manhwa Peak.
***
A few days later.
Recently, So-ah had been pushing the students to a level that was different from before.
Fortunately, they also had a firm resolve, so they endured well, and thanks to that, So-ah was also able to finish his work and return to the instructor’s residence only when the hour of the Rat came.
Just then.
“Huh?!”
Coincidentally, a welcome figure greeted So-ah with a smiling face in front of the residence door.
“So-ah. You’re finally here!”
The figure was none other than Gu-yang Seon.
“Brother! You seem to have changed a lot. Right?”
“You ghost-like brat. You have good eyes. As you said, I have achieved considerable enlightenment and have made progress in my magical power and techniques. But the one who has really improved seems to be you. In the time I haven’t seen you, your complexion has become brighter and the light in your eyes is sparkling, have you gone through Bone and Marrow Cleansing or something?”
“Huh? What? Wow! A Taoist is definitely a Taoist. How did you know that?”
“Haha, and you, you’re not a Taoist, so how did you notice the improvement in my studies?”
“I can just tell by looking.”
“I can also just tell by looking, you brat.”
“Haha. Come in, brother.”
So-ah, with a pleased look, guided Gu-yang Seon into the residence.
A little later…
“Have a drink.”
“Cheers!”
The two, who were drinking together for the first time in a while.
So-ah, for his part, and Gu-yang Seon, for his part, admired each other, so it was a pleasant drinking party.
“By the way, tell me about the Bone and Marrow Cleansing.”
Gu-yang Seon said with a face that looked like he was dying of curiosity.
At that, the corners of So-ah’s mouth curled up slightly.
“Do you want to? Do you really want to hear the great epic of that exploit?”
At So-ah’s pleasantry, Gu-yang Seon swallowed dryly.
Because he knew well that his chatter divine art had reached the realm of the divine.
‘Haha, it will be at least two hours.’
But Gu-yang Seon didn’t mind.
Why?
Because he himself was second to none in chattering.
As they say, birds of a feather flock together.
There was a good reason why the two were close.
“So, once upon a time…”
In this way, So-ah’s solemn voice began to flow out.
As expected, the chatter continued endlessly.
If it hadn’t been for Gu-yang Seon, he might have bled from his ears and chopped off So-ah’s mouth with an axe.
Fortunately, Gu-yang Seon was so interested that every time the story continued, his eyes widened like lanterns and he showed a fun reaction, and So-ah, encouraged by that, added embellishments like a Beijing opera actor and comically unfolded his exploits.
“Ah! I felt it when I heard it before, but the treasure of the Ghost Valley Mountain Manor. It’s really amazing. I can’t even imagine what kind of outstanding magical power one must have to design such a marvelous device.”
“That’s right. I was also dumbfounded.”
“By the way, the Heavenly Demon who handed over such a precious thing without any compensation is also amazing. If his descendants knew, their blood would boil.”
“No. Brother Chan, the grandson of the Heavenly Demon Grandpa, was rather happy. And the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is such a great organization that they probably have many things much more valuable than the <Map of the Ghost Valley Mountain Manor>. They’re not people who would regret giving something to someone else in the first place.”
“Hmm… but I’m still not convinced.”
“About what?”
“That’s, it’s a bit long to explain… now I’ll tell you my story. Once upon a time…”
In that moment,
“Ah! Brother. That’s enough. I’m tired, so please leave now.”
So-ah suddenly changed his attitude and issued a guest expulsion order.
He had been listening to him talk for about two hours, but to tell him to leave out of the blue!
Gu-yang Seon was dumbfounded.
“Hey! Isn’t that too much?”
“Hahaha! I’m just kidding.”
“Then I’ll start again. Once upon a time…”
In that moment when the offense and defense were switched.
Thanks to that, So-ah had to greet the dawn without a wink of sleep.
***
“Now! Are you all prepared?”
On the day of the mission departure.
So-ah asked the students gathered in the training ground with a loud voice.
“Of course!”
“We’re fully prepared. But, instructor, you have to keep your promise.”
“I’m serious! You can’t just stir things up for no reason.”
The students, with anxious eyes, kept asking So-ah as if they wanted to get some kind of confirmation.
It was about the mission assigned to the Human Division.
The matter related to the Green Forest Demon Emperor, Jang Beon-pal.
“Alright, alright. Am I a madman? To stir up the mountain bandit fortress where the Ten Great Masters of the Unorthodox Path reside? I’m good at talking, you know. As they say, what’s good is good. I’ll try to negotiate, so don’t worry. But! Since there’s always a ‘just in case,’ be prepared.”
‘No… he’s not going to try to negotiate.’
‘I feel like he’s going to pull out the Green Forest Demon Emperor’s beard as soon as he sees him.’
‘Is this really going to be a disaster?’
The students, seeing So-ah’s smiling face, felt their anxiety amplify.
“Instructor! Let me ask you one thing.”
“What is it?”
“That ‘just in case’. What kind of situation are you talking about specifically?”
“Hmm… for example, if the old man Jang Beon-pal gets on my nerves… or, if he, a thief, talks about an agreement. Or if the thieves just look unlucky? Well… in any case.”
“…”
“There’s no negotiation.”
“…”
“In that case, I’ll become a gangster too.”
Only then did the students realize that things were going seriously wrong.
Abbess Hong-ryeon and the Beggars’ Sect Chief, Hong In-geol, who were watching from a distance, had worried expressions for a moment, but soon burst into an empty laugh inwardly.
‘So-ah has become completely uncontrollable… Esteemed God of War. Are you watching? Hohoho.’
‘Well… since he was a strong-hearted person who could face the Twin Demon Geezers at the age of fifteen, such confidence is not unreasonable. Keke! The old man Jang Beon-pal will probably be greatly flustered.’
(End of Chapter)