Shandong’s Finest (2)
The next morning, I dove headfirst into serious training.
First up was building stamina.
After running about five li, I felt like I was going to collapse. My legs were shaking, and the world spun around me.
I had never experienced such a pathetic level of fitness.
I resisted the urge to use my inner energy and forced myself to keep running. It’s only by pushing through these tough moments that true endurance is built.
I alternated between running and brisk walking, and only after covering ten more li did I finally collapse.
“Gasp, gasp, gasp!”
I lay sprawled on the ground, panting heavily. The cold earth beneath me seemed to mock the sorry state of my body.
But I refused to let despair take over. Instead, I found a flicker of hope in my ragged breaths, wondering how this body might transform.
After catching my breath, I got up and started running again.
Exhausted, I finally returned home.
To my surprise, someone was waiting for me at the entrance.
It was Song Hwarin. Even from a distance, I could tell it was her. She seemed to radiate a light of her own, making me understand the saying that some people shine.
She wore a different martial arts outfit than yesterday, and it completely changed her aura. With her beautiful face and figure, she could pull off anything.
If she wore a dress that accentuated her figure, she could outshine every woman in the world, I was sure of it.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not here because I want to be. My father sent me to apologize.”
She must have already apologized to my parents and was now waiting for me.
“I won’t misunderstand.”
She frowned slightly.
‘Who do you think you are to act so confident?’
Her expression seemed to say she was holding back the urge to lash out.
“You were drunk that day, right? Let’s see how long that pretty face lasts. You’ll be all wrinkled when you’re old, so don’t get too full of yourself.”
Ah, Byukridan, Byukridan. You’re quite the fool, aren’t you? Anyway, it’s something I can’t even remember.
“I apologize again for that day.”
“No, you’re right. Everyone praises my looks now, but in time, no one will even glance my way. It’s only natural.”
She was calm and had a clear grasp of reality.
“The more people praise my looks now, the greater the sense of loss will be later. That’s why I want to be known for my skills, not my appearance. I want to be valued for my abilities, not just my looks. That means I have to work hard. To be honest, I brought up breaking off the engagement because I don’t like you. I can’t stand spoiled brats who cause trouble just because they were born into a good family. But even if you were a good person, the result would be the same. I’m not interested in meeting anyone right now.”
She was confident, and I could tell her strength came from a place of sincerity. She truly wanted to succeed on her own merits.
I had thought she was just a pretty face, but she had more depth than I expected.
“I understand your point.”
When I agreed to back off, she seemed surprised.
“I’ve heard rumors about you.”
“What rumors?”
“That something changed after that day.”
“Yeah, getting hit by you knocked some sense into me.”
“They say people don’t change easily.”
I nodded in agreement. She was right. People are notoriously resistant to change. I’ve seen it countless times in my past life.
But I’ve also seen the opposite.
“Yet, there’s nothing as easily changed as a person.”
A single word, a small trigger, can completely alter someone’s life.
“Is this all because your pride was hurt?”
“Think what you want.”
Yes, these are the emotions that come and go at twenty.
Meeting and parting over pride. Laughing and crying.
Come to think of it, my own twenties were filled with blood and steel.
Back then, I roamed the martial world with a sword, hunting down villains, my youth painted in shades of gray and red, unlike her bright, vibrant blue.
“There won’t be anything to hinder your life from now on.”
With those parting words, I went inside.
Bang!
A moment later, I heard a kick against the door from behind.
Ten days had passed since I began training my body.
During that time, there was no news of my death. I decided not to worry about it. There was nothing I could change anyway.
I focused solely on my own tasks.
With relentless training, my body began to change.
Where I once struggled to run five li, I could now cover twenty li with ease. I increased both the distance and my speed.
Through training, I realized that Byukridan’s natural physique wasn’t bad. His strong meridians were proof of that.
If he had trained properly from a young age, he would have had an impressive body.
It’s late, but I have no choice. I must quickly shed the rust and dust accumulated on this body.
Alongside stamina training, I began practicing swordsmanship.
Swish.
The sword sliced through the air with speed.
Even with this inadequate body, I was still me.
The sword light that danced in the air was faint due to my lack of inner energy, but the path it carved was one that touched the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
It seemed simple, yet it was anything but. It was a path only I could walk, one that allowed no imitation.
If anyone who knew Byukridan saw me, they would be shocked by every gesture and step. But in the snow-covered mountains, there wasn’t a soul in sight, not even a curious deer.
What I needed to be cautious of wasn’t my weakness.
It was remembering the times when I was strong.
I must never forget that I am Byukridan, not Cheonhajin.
In my past life, I mastered the Chasing Soul Asura Sword Technique.
With it, I became the greatest swordsman, piercing the hearts of the thirteen leaders of the Black Path Alliance and beheading the Blood Heaven Sect’s leader.
Once, Do-gyeong, the sage of wisdom in the martial world, praised my martial arts as the best to emerge in a hundred years. Given his strict standards, I had every reason to be proud of my skills.
The Chasing Soul Asura Sword Technique consists of six forms, known as the Three Blades and Three Calamities:
First Form: Instant Blade
Second Form: Life-Ending Blade
Third Form: Infinite Blade
Fourth Form: Soul-Stealing Calamity
Fifth Form: Wheel of Calamity
Sixth Form: Great Annihilation Calamity
I can still use the first three forms. Of course, their power is nothing compared to before.
The last three forms require at least one level of inner energy.
The fourth form, Soul-Stealing Calamity, requires one level, the fifth form, Wheel of Calamity, requires two, and the final form, Great Annihilation Calamity, requires three.
The final form demands immense inner energy and is so complex that a small mistake could lead to my own death.
I rarely used it, only once in battle, to kill the sect leader.
Even if I can use the first three forms, I can’t reveal them openly. While most people wouldn’t recognize them, some martial arts masters might.
Until I can protect myself completely, it’s best to be cautious.
After training, I stood on a hill, looking down. Even with just five years of inner energy, I felt good wielding my unique technique again. Plus, the vitality of youth offered a freshness that no amount of inner energy could provide.
“Haah!”
With a loud shout, I felt even more invigorated.
“You fool, to have lived like trash with such a healthy body? Perhaps the heavens placed me in your body not just to give me a chance, but to give you one too. To live a new life splendidly.”