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On the Verge of Spring (4)

In the early hours, with the moonlight still lingering, I was running along the lakeside.

The daily training was finally showing its effects. My body had visibly transformed, and I felt the change even more profoundly.

The reason most people fail in their training is that they can’t overcome the hurdles. These hurdles come often.

In my past life, I faced many such challenges in my martial arts training. There were countless times when I wanted to give up because it was too hard. Looking back, I wonder how I managed to get through those tough times.

Some hurdles come from physical exhaustion, but there are others. There were times when I felt so lethargic and listless that I didn’t want to do anything. It would have been easier if there was a reason, but everything just felt bothersome and annoying. This mental block was harder to overcome than physical fatigue.

Having experienced various hurdles, the current training didn’t feel difficult at all. In fact, I looked forward to the training sessions.

I knew that Biryudan would face hurdles too, but I was confident he would overcome them.

I stopped running and gazed at the lake. The misty dawn added a touch of mystery.

With a kick infused with inner strength, I sent a small log lying by the lakeside flying into the air.

Splash.

The log landed in the lake.

I leaped towards the log.

Lightly stepping on it, I propelled myself into the air. My sword sliced through the air below.

Swish.

The water split apart. Though it quickly returned to its original state, a keen observer would have noticed the water had been cut in a tilted cross shape. This was the first form, the Instant Slash.

Whoosh.

The water began to swirl, forming a vortex.

This was the second form, the True Name Slash.

Even after executing the first and second forms in succession, I remained suspended in the air.

Before I fell, I unleashed the third form, the Infinite Slash.

Boom!

A column of water shot up as if a thunderous explosion had occurred.

The third form, the Infinite Slash, was a technique that could obliterate an entire space.

With a push off the log, I soared into the air once more.

I executed the three forms continuously until I exhausted my twenty years of inner strength.

The purpose of this repetitive training was singular: to become accustomed to it. The techniques should come as naturally as breathing. People don’t feel any awkwardness when they breathe.

The same should be true for martial techniques.

They should emerge naturally, not consciously, like breathing.

That’s why the techniques of true masters are faster than conscious thought.

After expending all my inner strength, I stood atop the log.

Losing balance would mean a plunge into the cold water.

But I maintained perfect balance. Standing there, I began to circulate my energy. I could do this in any posture, in any situation.

After circulating my energy once, a third of my inner strength was restored. Twice, and half was restored. Thrice, and two-thirds. By the fourth circulation, my twenty years of inner strength were fully restored.

Restoring inner strength isn’t difficult. The challenge lies in increasing its total capacity.

That’s why I continue to train diligently.

My inner strength was growing nine times faster than that of ordinary people, increasing day by day.

Alongside, I dedicated a significant amount of time to physical training. As my inner strength gathered, my body was becoming equally robust.

I needed to become stronger.

After finishing my training, I returned home.

When I returned to my room after washing up, Gwangdu was waiting for me.

“I heard Song Jangju and Song Sojeo visited yesterday?”

“They did.”

“Did you have a drink with Song Sojeo?”

“No. We parted ways immediately.”

Gwangdu looked disappointed.

“You should have had a drink. Caught up on things. You scored a lot of points this time.”

“I didn’t score those points for her.”

“Same difference. Ah, it seems it’s time for some special education for you, young master. Let me teach you how to handle women!”

“Before the lesson, let’s confirm something. Have you ever held a girl’s hand?”

Gwangdu flinched at my sudden question.

“Isn’t that a bit dismissive of me?”

“What about a kiss? Excluding anything before you were ten.”

Gwangdu flinched again.

“Of course, I have. I’m quite good at it… Should I even be saying this? If I set my mind to it, women just…”

This guy’s a virgin!

As I gave him a knowing smile, Gwangdu shook his head vehemently, denying it.

I laughed and threw open the window.

The clothes of the passersby had become lighter, and the garden was sprouting with spring greens. The biting cold had finally begun to relent.

“Looks like spring is on its way.”

”…No, really, it’s not.”

“Hahaha.”

The long winter had passed, and spring was swiftly approaching.

The Byuk Clan was becoming more vibrant.

With the debt issue resolved, we could finally breathe.

Yang Sobang’s new leader, Jeongyeo, convinced his father that the debt couldn’t be collected, and his father eventually accepted this. He agreed to pay for the former leader’s attempt to annihilate the Byuk Clan.

The only weakness of the Byuk Clan had been me, and now that weakness was gone.

With Byuk Lidan regaining his senses and the debt resolved, everything started falling into place.

New opportunities and support from various places began to flow in, improving our situation.

Additionally, we recruited more swordsmen.

With the money I provided last time, we recruited twenty new swordsmen, and this time, we added thirty more.

When we recruited thirty swordsmen, two hundred people showed up. It was a testament to the respect the martial artists had for my father and Seojung.

I heard that my father and Seojung drank together all night on the day of the recruitment. It had been a long time since they did that, which showed how moved they were.

My mother was still busy boasting about her children.

The rumor that I had turned over a new leaf was all thanks to her. She talked about my transformation and praised me to everyone she met. She was willing to be a fool for my sake.

I was happy.

I liked that my reincarnation brought new meaning and hope to someone.

Gwangdu was engrossed in his martial arts training.

They say that when you learn martial arts late, you don’t notice the nights passing by, and he was investing almost all his time in training.

“Let’s spar today.”

Gwangdu was startled by the word “spar.”

“Why all of a sudden? Is something bothering you?”

“Hehehe.”

“Don’t laugh like that!”

“Come on, draw your sword.”

Gwangdu was taken aback by my words.

“With real swords?”

“Did you think we’d use wooden swords?”

“Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?”

I looked at him with a serious gaze and said,

“If you promise never to draw that sword outside these walls, then we can do that.”

Gwangdu understood what I meant. It was a process he had to go through to become a true martial artist.

In these peaceful times, there aren’t many opportunities to experience real combat.

In ordinary martial arts schools or academies, real sword sparring is prohibited unless you’ve trained for a long time. Mistakes are a concern, but there’s also the risk of harming your opponent in the heat of the moment. The importance of real combat experience is emphasized more than ever these days.

Gwangdu’s hand trembled as he drew his sword.

“I’m scared, young master.”

“Of course, you should be scared. You’re drawing a sword and pointing it at someone. It’s natural to be afraid.”

“Yes!”

“But because you’re afraid, you mustn’t falter.”

I wasn’t sure how Gwangdu would take it, but each word carried my insights into martial arts.

While teaching Gwangdu, I found myself learning and feeling more.

Conveying these words made me reflect on their meaning once again.

Even the words I just said.

When I hold a sword, I feel a sense of calm and reassurance.

But now, it’s time to remember the trembling I felt the first time I drew a sword and pointed it at someone. My journey is an effort to walk a different path than before.

“I’m afraid I’ll hurt you, young master.”

“Don’t worry and think of me as your enemy.”

“Yes!”

Gwangdu unleashed his first form. He couldn’t fully exert its power, worried about hurting me.

“Properly! Keep your eyes open!”

Gwangdu gathered his strength and swung his sword again.

I deliberately countered his form with just enough force to clash with him.

It was to give him the maximum sense of real combat.

Clang! Clang, clang, clang!

As the sword and blade clashed several times, Gwangdu’s movements crumbled. He closed his eyes.

“Keep your eyes open! If you close them, you’ll die! Mind your stance!”

“Yes!”

Gwangdu gritted his teeth and unleashed his form again.

The sword and blade clashed, creating a lively sound.

Six forms passed like that.

I deflected the final form and sent my sword flying towards Gwangdu’s face.

“Gasp!”

My sharp blade stopped just in front of Gwangdu’s nose.

“This is what real fighting feels like.”

”…Yes, young master.”

Gwangdu’s voice trembled. This first real combat experience would undoubtedly be an unforgettable moment for him.

As I withdrew my sword, Gwangdu collapsed onto the spot.

I sat down beside him.

“Gwangdu.”

“Yes.”

“If you’re scared, it’s okay to stop learning. There’s no need to push yourself.”

A moment of silence passed. Gwangdu calmly shared his thoughts.

“Young master, I want to see this through to the end. I enjoy learning martial arts. It was terrifying earlier, but on the other hand, I was happy. I was happy to be fighting.”

It was a rare moment of seriousness from Gwangdu.

Yes, if giving up easily is a habit, then not giving up is a talent.

“Then you should see it through to the end.”

“Yes. I will. Young master, don’t abandon me!”

“Let’s see how you do.”

“There you go again.”

Just then.

Thud, thud, thud.

“Huh?”

Raindrops began to fall from the sky, soon turning into a steady spring rain.

“It’s raining! It’s the spring rain!”

Gwangdu looked up at the sky with a face full of awe.

“Does this mean spring is truly on its way?”

Standing beside him, feeling the rain on my skin, I was filled with an inexplicable joy.

I hadn’t felt anything when I saw the first snow, but this spring rain made my heart flutter.

I found myself eagerly anticipating spring, curious about what the future held for me.

“Yes, it seems spring is finally here.”

A few days later, a piece of news arrived on the spring breeze.

“The new leader has been announced!”

The news we’d all been waiting for had finally come.

“Who is it?”

“The new leader is the head of Cheondo.”

“What?”

I was genuinely shocked. In all my past lives, I could count on one hand the times I’d been this surprised.

“That’s nonsense!”

When I burst out in anger, Gwangdu flinched.

“Why?”

Why? Because it’s Ma Bong-gi. I had never, not even once, considered Ma Bong-gi for the position of the new leader.

Ma Bong-gi was the very head of Cheondo who had once disguised himself as Ma Yeong-chung. His relationships with women were not just complicated—they were downright scandalous.

If it were only his issues with women, that might be one thing, but he was the kind of person who fit the saying, “If you see one, you know ten.” He was greedy for money and power, with a sinister and cruel nature.

And now this man had become the leader of the martial alliance? To succeed me?

“Are you sure you heard correctly?”

“Yes, the whole marketplace is abuzz with the news.”

There’s no way Galsaryang would have chosen Ma Bong-gi. Nor would he have failed to prevent his selection.

I looked toward the distant martial alliance headquarters.

“Something’s not right here.”