768 – 9. Not a single day goes by without this (17)
Let’s talk about the instructors.
It’s already been a few days since we started training at Heavenly Sword Mountain. It meant that it was time to break away from mental infancy, when everything in sight was new.
The rules of the ‘sword circle’ were complex yet simple. Although it appears horizontal at first glance, there was a clear hierarchy according to the time of initiation, and a priestly relationship existed above that.
Among them, those who played the role of ‘master’ were ‘instructors.’
‘Heo (虛)’ representing the crown of weight.
‘Nothingness’ represents the view of change.
‘Emptiness’ represents the view of pleasure.
The authority of these three was such that they stood out among ordinary practitioners. So much so that even the gray-haired old man bowed his head to the twenty-year-old Seria without hesitation.
However, a subtle hierarchical relationship existed between these three.
“Instructor Gong is the latest.”
These were the words spoken by Master Heo, who suddenly came to see me before dinner.
As I was preparing to go see the Great Beom, I couldn’t help but have doubts in my eyes. ‘Instructor Gong’, why is Seria coming to see me?
However, to Master Heo, this seemed to be quite an important fact.
“It means that it is the latest time to join…” I recently became an instructor. “The potential is greater than anyone else’s, but there is still some immaturity.”
“Yes, well…” Okay.”
Seria’s run away from home occurred at most a few months ago. Considering the timing, she probably had no choice but to do that. Or rather, I should say that she was even more shocked by the fact that she had already risen to the position of instructor.
Indeed, he was a gem worthy of being called a shining talent even at the Academy.
I wanted to leave a message saying, ‘I am a proud junior.’ But this was Heavenly Sword Mountain, and all worldly ties had to be cut off.
In the end, I had no choice but to give an ambiguous response.
The good news is that Master Heo is also not looking for admiration or recognition from me.
“So don’t be cocky. “You are still lacking in technical aspects.”
It was only then that I was able to sense Master Heo’s true intentions.
In other words, Master Gong is the weakest among us, so don’t fuss just because you won once.
Actually, I had no desire to do that either. It was a victory based on physical superiority rather than swordsmanship, and furthermore, wasn’t it a real battle with a true sword?
In any case, Seria stood across from me for her educational guidance.
At least, it was like that when I started.
So it wasn’t difficult to listen obediently. If you say you will work hard in the future and show an appropriate greeting, Master Heo will leave satisfied.
However, there was one expression that stuck in my mind.
From Noble mtl dot com
The point out that there were shortcomings in the technical aspect was clearly advice given to me by the ‘Great Master’ the other day.
So I had to ask out of pure curiosity.
“For example?”
Master Heo’s hollow eyes turned towards me. He has the appearance of a boy, but anyone can’t help but realize this the moment they meet his gaze.
The existence of an old monster trapped in that shell.
The corner of the boy’s mouth, who had been looking at me in silence for some time, curved into a smirk.
“Stretch out his hand.”
These were words and actions whose intent is still difficult to guess. Nevertheless, I decided to hold out my hand.
If I could find some clue, why not?
Master Heo took the hand I held out without hesitation. As it is, he doesn’t mean to shake hands.
As I looked at him with puzzled eyes, the boy made a suggestion.
“Give me strength.”
“How much?”
“With all my might.”
After hearing those words, I immediately tightened my grip. My physical strength was dangerous enough even without the use of magical power, but my opponent was a skilled person who may have spent several years at Heavenly Sword Mountain.
I guess they ordered it because they at least had some confidence in it.
It didn’t take long for my trust to be repaid.
Wood-duk!
My arm was twisted strangely, with a sound like a log being torn apart. While I was saying, “Oh,” I was kneeling with my arms bent in the opposite direction.
It was so fleeting that it made me lose my senses.
The hand of Master Heo, who was probably the one who twisted my arm, fell away from me. He was frowning slightly, probably because it was a bit too much for him.
“He’s like a monster… “I tried to turn it over and overturn it.”
“…… “What did you just say?”
In response to the question uttered with his eyes wide open, Master Heo slapped his hand away and made a sour expression.
“The direction of force has been twisted.”
“No, I just tightened my grip?”
“That’s the interesting thing about this technology… It is one of the three great principles of the ‘Sword Circle’. ‘Extreme lightning,’ ‘half heaven,’ and ‘detonation.'”
These were names I had heard of before.
‘Geolroe’ and ‘Bancheon’ were visions that I had already learned from ‘I’ who came from the future. In that case, the name of the technique I suffered would naturally be ‘exploitation’.
The feeling of empty pieces finally fitting together.
When I discovered the clue, I inadvertently raised my voice.
“Can I learn too? This misconception of ‘violence’…… !”
“Once you become proficient in one of the five, you will be qualified to challenge for the position of ‘instructor.'”
My body stopped for a moment at Master Heo’s explanation. It was my first time hearing this, and it seemed to resolve one of my doubts.
“And when you become proficient in all the five principles, you will be qualified to challenge for the position of ‘Great Master’…” “Only then will we have the opportunity to learn the ultimate wisdom left behind by our ancestors.”
“Choi Jong Oh? Isn’t it ‘Heavenly Sword’?”
“I don’t know the details either. It’s a story close to a legend… However, I have seen the great swordsman perform swordsmanship once a long time ago.”
The boy’s expression became hazy as he closed his eyelids while recalling the past. I could tell just by looking at the faint smile on his lips.
Perhaps he is having a pleasant dream.
“Should I say it feels as if hundreds of swords are aiming at me…? “I couldn’t see any way to destroy it.”
Just hearing those words, a scene suddenly came to mind.
How could I forget? That cool fear, as if an amorphous fog were gathering in.
Ghost sword.
The swordsmanship used by another woman he met in the man’s memory resembled his.
“Anyway, it means that the road is inherently difficult. It is a requirement to become an ‘instructor’, one of only three in Heavenly Sword Mountain… “Hmph, more than anything, you still lack the will for swordsmanship.”
“Me? No way… ….”
“It’s not swordsmanship, it’s because I’m preoccupied with something else.”
Master Heo didn’t even listen to my counterargument. He simply left on his own accord, just as he did when he appeared.
Should we take comfort in the fact that he gave us his final greeting?
“I’ll be waiting for you in the heavy coffin.”
The boy left, waving his hands like that.
Master Heo was playing the role of an adult in name and reality. He occasionally gives advice, and is an exemplary swordsman whose only interest is the sword.
From what I heard, the other two instructors also showed utmost respect for Instructor Heo’s authority.
On the other hand, there were many mysteries about ‘Master Mu’.
First of all, his facial features were questionable. He always wore a bamboo hat with a cotton thread attached, so much so that even people who had trained with him at Cheongeomsan Mountain for several years said they had never seen him look like that before.
However, there was an inference based on Master Mu’s distorted voice.
“It looks like you got burned a long time ago.”
This was what Shien told me with a sullen expression. After dinner, when we had a chance to walk alone for the first time in a while, my lover suddenly brought up the topic.
“Did your vocal cords taste bad because you inhaled the smoke? That’s why they live their lives deliberately hiding their crushed faces. “Some people say that my introduction to the sword was the result of training my senses of energy to replace my five damaged senses.”
“What’s going on?”
Despite my question, Shien just tilted her head. There seemed to be a slight sense of displeasure in that expression, something that seemed to be irritating.
“Did something happen with Master Mu? Suddenly prying on other people’s backs…….”
“You’re prying around! Ugh, how could you do something so insidious… “I just happened to hear a rumor!”
He straightened his fur and denied it for a moment.
She must have realized that there was no need to deceive me anyway, and Shien let out a deep sigh and dropped her shoulders. Would it be an illusion to see a glimpse of the personality of the past on that tired face?
“Actually, she came to visit me…” ….”
“You? Why?”
“I don’t know. I’m interested in dragon blood… But she looked at me and clicked her tongue once! I won’t go!”
Although she sometimes forgets, Shien was one of the imperial family’s forbidden jade leaves. Naturally, she was not used to being insulted or rude by others.
Even now, look. Isn’t her body shaking with anger?
“No matter how much of a wizard you are, it is basic to learn the path through which magical power flows. This is wrong, so stop talking and get off the mountain…” Ugh!”
It was a sight that was difficult for me to imagine. She was a quiet woman who only heard a few words at most.
However, the effect seemed certain.
“At best, it’s about a loser who ran away because he couldn’t withstand the pressure of the world…… !”
In the end, I had to hug Shien and comfort her for a while. Should I say that she is fortunate that she at least has the motivation to do so?
We can look forward to Sien’s development in the future.
And I don’t think there’s any need to mention Master Gong, or Seria, since I’ll be meeting him later that night.
I was finally offered a test by the ‘Great Master’ I visited.
“This is the ‘Grave of the Sword’… “Countless instructors have broken their swords here.”
Numerous sword statues carved into the sheer cliffs.
It is one of the processes to challenge the position of ‘Great Master’, the ‘Great Master’ said.
“Now, this is Master Gong’s sword image.”
1.7Cm.
At Cheongeomsan Mountain, there is a special rock that suppresses magical power. That was the material used in the restraints that restricted the group except me.
1.7Cm scar on such material.
It was quite a feat. This means that it left such a mark on the rock without any force.
The introduction continues.
“This is Master Mu.”
2.4Cm.
“This is Master Heo.”
3.1Cm.
“This is me.”
81.6Cm.
The gradually lengthening marks were proof of his skills. I burst out laughing at this point.
“Then do I have to surpass Master Daebum? 81.6Cm… I don’t know if it will work, but… ….”
“No.”
The old woman laughed as she said that. The slightly distorted expression revealed complex emotions.
Eventually, we walked and walked to a certain point.
In front of it, there was a gap that split the cliff in half.
“That man.”
21M.
The unit has changed. A man who, like a skilled stonemason, could have carved out the very edge of a very high cliff.
I just burst out laughing.
“Let’s give it a try…” Until you truly realize the path of the sword.”
“Without magic power?”
“Yes.”
In the end, I burst out laughing.
“No, what the f*ck is this…” ….”
“Sometimes, it seems like you know our recluse’s sword better than I do.”
At the old woman’s words, I kept my mouth shut.
“I’m sure you have a good teacher. As far as I know… There is only one man. “If you put that much effort into learning something, you should follow in your teacher’s footsteps.”
It was a wrong understanding. Because I had another teacher.
I had to follow the man’s learning. There is only one way to do that.
“I will try harder.”
I decided to look back on the future.
More details, for whatever.
It was just before I saw Seria.