Chapter 236
Sichuan Province, Dechang—The Guangjian Tomb.

The resting place of the Absolute Master, Guang Xie Jian Gui, Zheng Minggang, who had passed away over fifty years ago, had remained hidden and unknown to anyone for more than forty years—until Sun Woojin and Dang Ye-eun entered.

During those decades of solitude, Guangjian Zheng Minggang endured the crushing loneliness alone, confined to that place where no one dared to enter.

It was a sacrifice he willingly made, a price paid for his decision to forgo peace even in death, all to pass down the Moonlight Sword Dance to future generations.

To be honest, it was incredibly difficult.

Those years were unbearably harsh.

Though he had already reached the pinnacle of mastery in life and existed only as a conscious spirit in death, even he found the forty years of isolation a torment beyond endurance.

Countless times, lost in the endless flow of time, he had contemplated giving up and finally resting.

At least, that was true until recently.

Until just a short while ago, when more than ten people entered the Guangjian Tomb all at once.

“Ah, come on! Teach me already!”

“Teach you? What are you talking about? You won’t even join the sect, and you want me to share our secret techniques?!”

“But you taught our lord without hesitation!”

“Are you the same as him? Hey, get lost! I want to train in peace!”

“That’s so unfair! Seriously! You act like that, and you think I’ll just give up? No way!”

“Ugh, damn it! Are you a leech or what?!”

Guangjian felt as if his ears were about to bleed from the noisy bickering happening right beside him.

Even though, of course, he no longer had actual ears.

Right now, standing next to him was Jeok Ha-yeon, the younger sister of Jeok Ma-hyeok, a deadly assassin from the Sichuan Assassins sect. She was pestering Bi Sa-yeong, begging her to teach the Heavenly Wind Divine Technique.

But Bi Sa-yeong firmly refused, saying she could no longer teach the Heavenly Wind Divine Technique to anyone outside the Bi clan.

Still, Jeok Ha-yeon, along with her twin brother Jeok Ha-gun, trailed after Bi Sa-yeong with eyes full of admiration.

Guangjian nodded quietly to himself as he watched them.

‘Those kids have every reason to be like that. Even I’m amazed by how she’s been lately.’

Indeed, Bi Sa-yeong’s recent growth was dazzling.

Her already overwhelming talent for divine techniques shone even brighter as her martial arts level rose, and her mastery of the Yellow Dragon Boundless Strength Technique deepened day by day, to the point where she forgot to eat or sleep.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without Guangjian’s guidance and advice.

The Yellow Dragon Boundless Strength Technique was no easy feat—it was impossible to master alone without an exceptional teacher.

But even considering that, her relentless effort and progress astonished Guangjian at every turn.

And her hard work was already bearing fruit.

Among everyone here, Bi Sa-yeong’s martial prowess was overwhelmingly superior.

Neither Sa-gun-il, the top talent of the Bi-Dragon Thirteen Generations, nor Hyeolpyeon Seosi Ya Unhyang, one of the most skilled young masters of the Sapa faction, could match her.

Yet, what Guangjian admired most about Bi Sa-yeong wasn’t just her skill.

‘More impressive than her talent and rapid progress is her unwavering dedication. At her level, she could easily become arrogant, but she never lets up.’

Despite her astonishing growth, Bi Sa-yeong was far from satisfied.

She still burned with hunger, pushing herself harder and harder in training.

And Guangjian, who could read the hearts of those inside the Guangjian Tomb, knew exactly what fueled her passion.

Because in the depths of her heart, he saw only one thing.

‘The determination to be a strength for her friend, Sun Woojin. The resolve to give her all for a friend who once saved her.’

Guangjian couldn’t help but admire her.

The Bi Sa-yeong he saw was a perfect talent, both in skill and character.

In some ways, she even surpassed Sun Woojin, whom he had mentored before.

So it was no surprise that the twin siblings, Jeok Ha-yeon and Jeok Ha-gun, who had just met her, followed her around in awe.

At that moment, when Bi Sa-yeong continued to avoid her, Jeok Ha-yeon ran over to Guangjian and complained.

“Master Guangjian! Bi Sa-yeong oppa called me a leech! How could he say that to someone as pretty and cute as me?! Please scold him, Master!”

Her twin brother, Jeok Ha-gun, standing nearby with his arms crossed and a look of disdain, muttered.

“If she were really pretty and cute, Sa-yeong hyung wouldn’t have said that.”

“What did you just say?!”

“Hmm? I said Ya Unhyang noona is the beautiful one, and Cheon Joo-eun noona is the cute one.”

“That’s not true!”

Guangjian watched the twins bicker with a warm, fond gaze, as he always did.

Cheon Joo-eun’s charm and these two kids made him feel more like a grandfather than a master.

A grandchild he never had in life.

And these grandchildren he gained in death were not just adorable—they were talented and diligent, growing stronger by the day.

Seeing them rise from mere second-rate fighters when they first arrived at the Guangjian Tomb to now becoming top-tier warriors filled Guangjian with a deep sense of pride, as if nurturing young sprouts growing rapidly.

After watching the adorable twins for a moment, Guangjian turned his gaze toward the others.

There, six people were paired off, sparring two by two.

They were Gyeon Joong, an assassin from the Sichuan Assassins; Sa-gun-il, the leader of the Bi-Dragon Thirteen Generations; Jeok Ma-hyeok, the seventh assassin of the Sichuan Assassins and direct subordinate of Sun Woojin; Kwe Do-myorang and Cheon Joo-eun from the Thirteen Generations; and Na Seo-yu, deputy leader of the Thirteen Generations, alongside Hyeolpyeon Seosi Ya Unhyang, one of the Five Beauties of the Sapa faction.

Guangjian’s eyes settled on the pair engaged in the most intense sparring: Gyeon Joong and Sa-gun-il.

“Four-Stage Sword Technique, Ninth Form.”

“Descendant’s Four-Stage One.”

Swoosh!

Sa-gun-il’s sword unleashed six simultaneous strikes of the One-Stage Four-Strike technique in a single move.

After years stuck at five strikes, he had finally broken through the barrier.

Gyeon Joong looked at the threatening attack and laughed with exhilaration.

“Uhhahaha!”

Then, recklessly, he charged headlong into the six strikes.

“Hup!”

Ttittittit!

His blade, sharp as a needle, managed to deflect four of the six strikes.

But not the remaining two.

He had to take those two thrusts into his body.

Thud!

Guangjian frowned and muttered with concern.

“Damn…”

But he knew well that Gyeon Joong hadn’t been struck because he failed to defend.

He had deliberately ignored some of Sa-gun-il’s attacks, using his remaining strength to find an opening to counterattack.

He knew that if he only defended Sa-gun-il’s Four-Stage Sword Technique, the sparring would drag on endlessly.

So, risking his body as if fighting for life and death, he sought a chance to strike back.

Proving this, with his left arm and abdomen pierced, Gyeon Joong gritted his teeth and swung his blade toward Sa-gun-il’s shoulder—the opening he had found.

A move that could sacrifice flesh to take a life.

Shing!

In an instant, Gyeon Joong’s deadly counterattack swept over Sa-gun-il like a beam of light.

Not long ago, Sa-gun-il would never have been able to withstand such a strike.

But unfortunately for Gyeon Joong, Sa-gun-il was no longer the man he had been.

Having broken through the barrier, he continued to grow stronger at a terrifying pace.

Thanks to that, even after using the Descendant’s Four-Stage One, Sa-gun-il’s defense remained unshaken.

His sword spun like a windmill, blocking Gyeon Joong’s blade.

Whirrrrr!

Clang!

This was the Forty-Eight Sword Dance of the Whirlwind Style, the ultimate defensive sword technique Sa-gun-il had been honing under Guangjian’s recent guidance.

In the end, Gyeon Joong’s sacrificial counterattack was rendered useless.

Sa-gun-il immediately stepped back, signaling the end of the match.

Gyeon Joong’s injuries made it impossible to continue.

He pressed his blood points to stop the bleeding and clicked his tongue, muttering.

“Tch, what a shame. I thought I could land a hit this time.”

Sa-gun-il replied solemnly.

“A reckless move. But… it was threatening.”

Guangjian clicked his tongue as he watched them.

In many ways, these two were alike.

Their recklessness—willing to risk their bodies for a single decisive move even in mere sparring—and their reluctance to seek guidance first, despite eagerly wanting his advice.

Guangjian appeared beside them in an instant.

“You’re hurt again. Even though wounds heal quickly here, I’ve told you countless times to take care of your bodies.”

Both bowed their heads quickly.

“Sorry, Master.”

“Sorry, Master.”

Guangjian sighed.

He knew better than anyone that their apologies and deep respect were sincere.

‘But knowing them, the moment they face off again, they’ll recklessly burn their bodies once more.’

It was all because the two of them were so alike.

They were warriors who found more joy than anything else in risking everything on a single moment of battle.

Look at them now.

Even wounded as they are, both of them are radiating happiness as if they own the world.

The simple fact that they faced off against a worthy opponent in a magnificent duel was enough to fill them with such joy.

From Gwanggeom’s perspective, these two were probably the happiest trainees here, fully immersed in their practice.

Seeing right through their hearts as if reading an open palm, Gwanggeom finally gave up on scolding them.

He sighed and spoke in a softer, more relaxed tone.

“Sit down and focus on your breathing.”

“Yes, Master!”

“Yes, Master!”

Without hesitation, the two sank down and immediately began their breathing exercises.

Just knowing they could receive guidance from him made them so happy that Gwanggeom couldn’t help but chuckle.

They were troublesome disciples, but all the more endearing for it.

“Gunil, you must have felt how focusing on cutting and defense has helped you find balance in your body. Your growth, which had stagnated from overemphasizing thrusts, has now resumed. From here on, you need to learn how to maintain this sense of balance. As for Jung…”

Gwanggeom offered advice to Gunil and then to Jung, while also keeping an eye on the others.

He noticed Naseoyu and Yaunhyang, their competitive fire fueling each other’s rapid growth.

He saw Cheon Joo-eun, who had recently reached a peak but was now more focused on savoring the moment than chasing progress.

He spotted Jeok Ma-hyeok, who, after hearing from Maeng Un—the son of Saengsa Gwae-ui—that reaching a certain level might fix his disfigured face, was training with desperate hope.

And there was Bae Jong-gwan, who, though a bit frustrating in his single-minded obsession with the possibility of becoming invincible through the Hwangryong Musang technique, was nonetheless admirable for his diligence.

Watching them all, Gwanggeom smiled warmly.

They were all his precious disciples.

Talented and virtuous individuals, each one capable of learning the Wolha Hwangeommu without issue.

Even Maeng Un and Do Mun-seung, whose skills still lagged behind, had character qualities that surpassed any young men Gwanggeom had seen in his lifetime.

He thought to himself,

“How strange it is. When I was alive, no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find worthy successors. Yet after death, they all appear at once.”

At last, Gwanggeom understood.

He had finally freed himself from the loneliness and regret that had tormented him for so long.

His decision to maintain consciousness after death to find successors had been the right one.

His thoughts turned to two who were not here.

The successors who had brought him such happiness—Seon Woo-jin and Dang Yeo-eun.

They were living fiercely in far more dangerous places, each carving out their own path.

And yet, their presence filled him with a quiet, profound joy.