Chapter 104
Everything at Nagajang had been resolved smoothly.
Mamengun, who arrived with Bisa-yeong, truly demonstrated the medical skills befitting the son of the elder of Goeui.
He treated the wounded and my father, and especially with my father, he shared hopeful news that his health would soon be fully restored.
Mrs. Min and her son Naseohwang, who had fled to avoid the Iron Ghosts, did not return.
Of course, since I had orchestrated things that way, it was only natural they couldn’t come back. But the people of Nagajang, unaware of the full truth, speculated that perhaps they simply had too much pride to return.
I chose to remain silent.
“Well then, see you all in a few days. Please travel safely.”
After Mamengun’s confident declaration that the Nagajang Lord’s health would be completely restored with proper rest, all of us except for Na Sojeo finally decided to return to the front lines.
It had been five days since we arrived here.
Na Sojeo, however, stayed behind to continue nursing the Lord. She still had over three weeks of leave left, after all.
Being able to take this time was all thanks to the Sword Saint elder.
“Na Sojeo, spend plenty of time with the Lord and come back slowly,” I said.
“Exactly, Na Sojeo. Take this chance to be filial,” added Bisa-yeong.
Na Sojeo smiled warmly at our words.
“Thank you. I will.”
Her gaze then shifted to Chief Seolpung.
It was a look different from when she looked at us—deep and meaningful.
“Chief, please be careful on your way back. Thank you for coming.”
Seolpung returned her gaze with his usual awkward expression.
“I will. You too, Sojeo, take care on your return.”
If this had been before, I might have thought it a perfectly normal exchange. But now, knowing their feelings, watching them was almost painful.
All of this was, regrettably, because my last plan had failed.
Originally, I intended for Chief Seolpung to hear about Na Sojeo’s marriage talks, become anxious, and then go to her father to ask for her hand.
“Hmm, even if not that far, maybe I could have gotten him to confess to Sojeo not to marry anyone else…”
But then, by sheer bad luck, Seolpung ran into Na Sojeo as she was leaving the Nagajang Lord’s room, and my plan fell apart.
Seolpung hurriedly asked if she really had to marry, and Sojeo smiled brightly and said no.
Seolpung just muttered that it was good and left.
Hearing that, I could only give a bitter laugh.
“They say success depends on the heavens and the strategist, but it’s not so easy after all.”
Getting Seolpung to make a proper confession seemed to be a task of the highest difficulty.
It felt almost comparable to breaking the blood bond.
I resolved to plan more thoroughly next time.
And I forced down the relief rising in my heart.
It was time to cleanly sort out my feelings.
It wasn’t going well yet, but they say nothing is impossible.
“We’re almost there. Just about half a sijin more and we’ll be back at the Thirteenth Division.”
“Yeah. I was too anxious on the way here to notice, but it really was quick.”
“Right? It’s surprisingly close.”
As Seolpung, I, and Bisa-yeong spoke in turn, Mamengun, who was being carried by Seolpung, groaned.
“Ugh, you three’s divine arts are just too fast. It’s not close at all!”
The trip back didn’t take long.
For the three of us—each possessing the Thirteenth Division’s finest divine arts—the distance to Heungui was just a short stroll of a few sijin.
Even though Seolpung and I took turns carrying the still-weak Mamengun, it was still quick.
Then, suddenly, I remembered that before heading to Nagajang, I had planned to talk with Cheongyeon Sojeo.
“Oh, I didn’t even ask for her understanding before rushing off. Damn…”
Of course, given the urgency, she would understand, but I still felt I should apologize properly.
“And this time, I want to have a proper conversation.”
Thinking back, Cheongyeon Sojeo had always been by my side, doing so much for me, yet I felt I had done nothing for her.
Even though she was visibly troubled, I hadn’t been able to help—a failure as a friend.
So this time, it was my turn to help her.
I wanted to do something for her, no matter what.
Just then, as we returned to Biryong Thirteenth Division, the first person to greet us was someone completely unexpected.
“Welcome back! You caught three Iron Ghosts without even the Fire Bone Mountain? As expected of the finest talents I’ve been watching! Hahaha!”
The man greeting us with a bright, hearty laugh was none other than Cheongyeon Sojeo’s father, Heavenly Sword Saint Hae Unbaek.
He had come to the Thirteenth Division while we were away.
Startled, we hurriedly bowed and greeted him.
“Greetings, Sword Saint elder!”
Mamengun looked at him in surprise.
“Eek?! You’re the Sword Saint?!”
The elder laughed heartily again and came over to pat our shoulders.
“Hahaha! Why so formal between us? Such stiff greetings make me feel a bit hurt.”
I wasn’t sure what kind of relationship we had, but he definitely knew how to put others at ease.
Thanks to his easygoing manner, we could look at him more comfortably.
Then the Sword Saint looked at Mamengun.
“So this young man is the son of Goeui, huh? As I heard, quite handsome. I envy you. If I’d looked half as good when I was young, I wouldn’t have failed my first love, haha!”
Mamengun didn’t like comments about his appearance—he was self-conscious about his delicate, almost feminine looks.
But he didn’t seem offended by the elder’s words.
As I had felt before, the way the elder casually tossed out words with a cheerful tone that never offended was truly impressive.
It was, in a way, the aura of a respectable elder you want to emulate—not just in martial arts, but in character.
For me, who had never had a proper conversation with my own father, he was the first truly good adult I had ever met.
The Sword Saint glanced around, then added with a sly smile.
“Oh, by the way, the story about my first love is a secret from Cheongyeon. Please keep it quiet.”
We all chuckled, and I asked him.
“Did you come to see Cheongyeon Sojeo, elder?”
“Yes. I heard you had returned from your mission and came right away. But…”
He glanced at me and asked.
“Did you know Cheongyeon had already gone to the Fourth Division as deputy chief?”
His question surprised us.
“What? Cheongyeon Sojeo is already deputy chief of the Fourth Division? Already?”
“Hmm, judging by your reaction, you didn’t know. When I arrived yesterday, she was already using the Fourth Division’s quarters.”
It was quite a shock.
Of course, both Cheongyeon and I had expected to be assigned to different divisions eventually, but we never imagined she would move before we even returned.
I wondered if that was the source of her worries.
I deeply regretted not having talked with her.
I asked the elder again.
“Have you heard anything from her about this?”
He just shrugged.
“I asked, but she only said it was something that had to be done. I didn’t hear anything else.”
Apparently, she hadn’t fully confided even in her father.
I decided I’d have to ask her directly when I got the chance.
We went to the Thirteenth Division headquarters to report our return to the Grand Lord, then headed back to the Seventh Division’s quarters.
There, three people were waiting for us.
Before we left, only Bae Jonggwan, Cheongyeon Sojeo, and Cheon Jueun Sojeo had remained in the Seventh Division’s quarters.
But now, even after Cheongyeon Sojeo had left, three people were still there.
That was because a new member had joined the Seventh Division.
And that person was a beautiful woman with a languid expression and a dreamy aura.
She looked at the chief and said,
“So you’ve finally returned, Seolpung.”
As Bae Jonggwan and Cheon Jueun Sojeo greeted her warmly, Bisa-yeong and I were caught in an indescribable strange feeling.
Her voice seemed to tint the surrounding air with a sticky, drowsy color.
Her presence transformed the atmosphere into a haze—something I had only ever felt before from the enigmatic Lady Yeongsaeng Son Hansang.
Seolpung looked slightly embarrassed and replied,
“Ah, Ya Unhyang Sojeo. You were already here in the quarters?”
She smiled faintly.
“That’s why I came here. You kept me waiting too long.”
A strange tension hung between them.
Bisa-yeong and I exchanged glances, then immediately asked Bae Jonggwan and Cheon Sojeo via telepathic message what was going on.
Cheon Sojeo’s reply came through.
Startled, I asked again.
Then, the answer that Cheon Joo-eun Sojeo gave was truly beyond words.
“Maybe she just fell in love with the squad leader at first sight? It doesn’t seem like she came here out of any grudge.”
“…What?!”
I let out a hollow laugh.
A woman who applied to the Biryong Corps because she was smitten with the squad leader, who can barely even talk to women?
And on top of that, the woman was such a beauty.
No, it wasn’t just her looks that were astonishing.
I had a feeling her martial prowess was nothing short of extraordinary.
For some reason, my chest felt tight.
It seemed that a smooth future between Sojeo Na and the squad leader was not going to come easily.
Later, through introductions, we learned that she was Yeomjak Hyeolpyeonseo-si Ya Unhyang, a famous female swordsman from Heukdo. Her identity was truly jaw-dropping.
Cheon Joo-eun Sojeo sighed deeply, saying that while she didn’t seem like a bad person, she was as peculiar as Cheongyeon Sojeo.
Apparently, the Chil Jo-en had some way of attracting unusual people.
“Haap!”
Swish!
My new technique, Cheonpung Hwayeop, scattered like fluttering petals in all directions.
It was the perfect sword method to confuse the opponent’s gaze. The opponent looked around in admiration.
At that moment, I moved swiftly behind him and drew my sword.
Seonwoo Thirteen Swords, Thirteen Seconds.
Hwangeomgyeong.
Whoosh!
My sword multiplied into dozens, then hundreds, surrounding him like a cage.
I closed my eyes and recalled the fantastic sword technique Mukrang had once shown me.
The sword form I had longed for even in my dreams.
I opened my eyes with a flash and shouted.
“Haap!”
In that instant, hundreds of phantom swords materialized and rained down on my opponent.
Shuak!
Seonwoo Thirteen Swords, Fifteen Seconds.
Gongjeuksi-saek.
It was the sword form I had never forgotten, not even in dreams, the one I had clung to every day.
This was the culmination of the insight I gained when facing the two Cheolgwi, finally blossoming into reality.
“Success!”
A burning joy filled my body and mind.
But then, the sword master, who was being bombarded by hundreds of sword energies, smiled wryly and muttered,
“Impressive.”
And finally, he drew his sword.
Shyaaak!
What he swung was a single sword.
Not with overwhelming force or lightning speed, just a simple, straightforward strike.
Yet, at the sight of that ordinary horizontal slash, I forgot all the joy I had just felt and could only stare blankly.
The sword wasn’t fast.
In fact, I couldn’t even tell if it was fast or not.
It simply cut through the air.
The world seemed to split apart.
And the sword energies surrounding him vanished instantly.
I couldn’t tell if these three events were causally linked or just coincidentally simultaneous.
It was like witnessing something beyond this world.
The moment I took it in, the joy that had filled me turned into a shiver.
As I was dazedly replaying his sword in my mind, the sword master spoke.
“Truly remarkable. Last time I saw you, you hadn’t even reached the level of Igiseonggang, and now you’ve broken through two walls in such a short time? And it doesn’t even seem like you’re at the very beginning of this breakthrough. Did you gain some kind of fortunate encounter?”
Snapping back to attention, I answered,
“Yes. I was fortunate enough to receive some guidance from a late master who chose not to reveal his identity.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Hah, what kind of late master could teach like that? I envy that ability. I’d love to receive such instruction myself.”
I gave an awkward smile.
He sighed once and said,
“You’ve broken through the peak realm and then quickly surpassed the next wall as well. Now you’re approaching yet another barrier. It’s truly astonishing progress, but if someone asked me, ‘Is all this truly desirable?’ I wouldn’t be able to answer easily. Do you know why?”
I thought for a moment and replied,
“Because it happened too fast.”
“Exactly. More precisely, because the process was incomplete. For a person, the moment of advancement is just as important as the moment of consolidation. If you keep chasing progress without solidifying it, everything could collapse in an instant. So, my advice is that from now on, you need to focus not on sword forms or techniques, but on the sword’s very essence—its spirit.”
I repeated his words to myself.
“The sword’s essence, not the forms or techniques.”
Suddenly, the shiver-inducing single strike the sword master had just shown me came to mind.
Somehow, I felt I truly understood what he meant.
Maybe that was why he had chosen that method to break through my sword.
Seeing my expression, the sword master smiled with satisfaction.
“Yes, I think you understand. It’s a joy to teach a talent like you. I even feel honored.”
I hurriedly shook my head.
“No, the honor is all mine. Thank you very much, sir.”
The sword master spent all his time teaching us except when he was with Cheongyeon Sojeo.
He had also trained other squad leaders before we arrived, and just moments ago, he had been sparring with Seolpung Squad Leader, offering him generous advice.
I had watched every moment of it.
Though the advice was for Seolpung, it was invaluable to me as well.
According to the sword master, Seolpung was now on the verge of reaching the ultra-peak realm.
He was amazed that someone so young had come this far and celebrated it as if it were his own achievement.
Then he advised the squad leader to fight as many worthy opponents as possible.
“The ultra-peak wall is different from the ones before. Until now, to qualify for the ultra-peak, you had to pursue perfection. But to break through it, you must build your own world. Each person has a different gateway. So, no one’s advice or teaching holds much meaning…”
I could somewhat understand the idea of pursuing perfection to reach the ultra-peak.
Seolpung said he had broken through by focusing on the subtlety of stillness and movement.
That was also the sword master’s advice.
So pursuing perfection probably meant filling in one’s weaknesses rather than building on strengths.
But the idea of building one’s own world didn’t quite resonate with me yet.
I figured it was advice only understood at that level.
The sword master continued.
“I don’t think there’s nothing I can teach you. You have the spirit of a warrior. Though you seem gentle on the surface, I see a raging fighting spirit inside you. So keep fighting endlessly. That will help you break through your walls.”
After that, the sword master sparred with the squad leader several times.
After each match, the squad leader would retreat to a quiet place to meditate.
Then it was my turn.
In the match that followed, despite successfully executing Gongjeuksi-saek for the first time, I was utterly captivated by a single strike.
The sword master said,
“Watch closely the sword spirit I’m about to show you. Trying to catch up with it will help you. If your sword can follow the trajectory of mine, you too will reach the ultra-peak like Seolpung. And when you finally create a sword that is yours and not mine, you will be able to break through even that wall.”
Then he demonstrated his swordsmanship once more.
The very slash that had erased my Gongjeuksi-saek in an instant, and an equally astonishing thrust.
After watching, I had no choice but to enter meditation immediately.
I wanted to engrave that magnificent sword spirit not in my mind, but in my soul.