The old man's routine was simple. He slept for 2 hours a day, swung his sword slowly at a constant speed for 12 hours, and walked aimlessly for the remaining 10 hours. He didn't drink elixir like others, and didn't go into dungeons and catch monsters either. In the eyes of others, it was a process that was no different from needless shoveling, but funny enough, the person who did this nonsense beca the strongest of mankind.
Whoo!
Such was a sword that seed to wield no power, but still continued on its smooth flow. A hunter practicing swordsmanship would see it as if he had enjoyed it, but he didn't have much to do with it, so he took out a cigarette and asked.
"I'm sorry….”
It was a daily routine that seed to go on without a single second of deviation. He wondered if it was a curse, but there was no one who could put a curse on that human, so he was probably keeping the pattern thoroughly himself.
‘It's nice that I don't miss anything, but….’
However, it soon beca far too boring to watch. While he was carefully shaking off cigarette ash with a bored expression so as not to splash it on the surrounding grass…
“Co out.” The old man who had been swinging the sword, the Baekcheon Swordmaster stopped his movents.
At that call, a man with his whole body tightly wrapped ca out from the right side of the area. Just by looking at their behavior and appearance, they could be identified as a Mine.
Sure enough, his full form was revealed. His clothes were torn and his body was mutated.
Wood deok! Kwadeuk!
Unlike his height of 3m, his body stretched out long and thin like a can of sorghum. It was ridiculous to look at, but if one were to analyze him, it appeared that he was close to a complete mutation. It was the highest level, slightly below the calamity level.
[I am Hao Shen, the 18th rank of the Fighting Spirit Branch Association. Hundred Thousand Sword Masters. I'm here to take your head.]
A thin yet unpleasant voice resounded, and the Baekcheon master indifferently looked up at Hao Shen. “You walked the wrong road.”
[Where is the right and wrong in becoming strong! Whoever kills the enemy and survives is right!]
Kaang!
Hao Shen made a loud noise, almost as if he had been stabbed, and began to pull out white swords, presumably made of bones, from both palms. And the mont he was about to run straight toward the Baekcheon Sword Master…
"That's right." The elegant sword na (劍鳴) resounded from the tip of the teeing sword. Hao Shen looked at it as if possessed by that mysterious tone.
“And so, you are wrong.” The body split in half and fell backwards. Cooong! As the corpse was scattered on the floor, blood began to flow from the wound a step later, and the Baekcheon Sword Master looked at it with a dry expression.
Since the marriage had ended at a glance, the old man probably only felt it necessary to get rid of the bugs that interfered with his training. ‘It's strong, but it's filthy….’
It was probably because his indifferent attitude was continuously supported by that kind of strength. He looked up at the clear sky, all as the smoke from his mouth flowed out at the sight of Baekcheon Sword Master, who seed comfortable again.
From there, he could feel a gaze so clear, even despite his dull senses. The Sword Master looked at the scene indifferently and pointed at the corpse of Hao, alongside with sothing like a wink. “Clean it up.”
It was a condition set in order to follow the strongest human beings who tended to live comfortably in the world. He rembered his role as a chore attendant. “Fuck this.”
From there, he got up from his seat.
* * *
“….”
Kang Yoo-sik recalled his mories of the Baekcheon Sword Master. After hearing that Zhao Xinku was his teacher, his words suddenly decreased and he beca completely stern in thought. It was the exact opposite of how he had hidden his emotional agitation as much as possible. It probably ant that the existence of the Sword Master would be great for Zao Shinku.
‘If this is the case, I'll have to take care of it myself.'
There was nothing good about waiting too long. Kang Yoo-sik, who had had enough of thinking in his head, imdiately asked Zhao Xinku. “Can I ask you a few questions too?”
"Yes? Ah yes. Please speak freely.”
“I understand that Liang Jin’s disciple is the imdiate disciple of Lord Cheonmu … Then, was the sword technique used in Dalian passed down by the Lord of Cheonmu himself?”
Zhao Xinku put on a puzzled expression when he pointed out exactly the subject he wanted to avoid, but found that he had no choice but to respond either way. "You're right. To be precise, it is a sword thod passed down from the master who is the creator of the sword thod.”
Seeing Zhao Xinku accepting it more easily than he thought, Kang Yoo-sik smiled slightly and put a wedge into it. “Then, did that master by any chance carry a sword with the words Baekcheon (白天)?”
“… Yes. you're right." Resignation lingered in Zao Xinku’s expression as he answered. He hoped it wasn't the case, but as he guessed at the existence of his beloved sword, he admitted that Kang Yoo-sik was a being that had been taught by the sa teacher as himself.
Kang Yoo-sik, who finally held his leash in his hand, smiled inwardly and stood up from his seat to bow. “This cadet will now greet you!"
In response to Kang Yoo-sik’s respectful greeting, Zhao Xinku waved his hand with a complicated expression on his face. “You don't have to be so polite. He said that if Master hadn't revealed his na, it would an he didn't want that kind of relationship….”
“Aren’t they taught under the sa teacher? Even if you act indifferent, you have taught a lot, so please allow to call you as such.”
“…Ah, yes. Do what is convenient for you."
Zhao Xinku, who swallowed a sigh inside him, cald his anxious heart and looked at Kang Yoo-sik. His sudden presence made him feel confused. It felt as if his head would explode, but there was one important thing he should take note of right now.
‘The existence of the heavenly army… The fact that I'm supporting them should never be known.'
Two things were needed to learn swordsmanship from the Baekcheon Sword Master. These were: a talent for martial arts and an oath not to covet extravagance. If those two things were t, the Baekcheon Sword Master would then pass on the secret sword thod he created to anyone.
However, even if the latter were to break the oath and it beca known, he would personally co and take his head! ‘Killing without getting back is… No, it's not an opponent that can do that. I won't be able to handle it, and I'll rather only attract the attention of my teacher.'
In the end, Shinku Zao had only one option left. He canceled all plans to scout Kang Yoo-sik as a researcher of Heaven's Army, end the exchange eting, and then sent him back to Korea. That was the only thing Zhao Xinku could do against Kang Yoo-sik.
“First of all, it was nice to et you, priest. I admit it is quite a sudden eting, and it's right after the disciple did sothing disgraceful, so I'll talk about the details later.”
"Yes. Okay. then….”
Kang Yoo-sik nodded and tried to leave without hesitation. The mont Zhao Xinku was about to breathe a sigh of relief…
"Ah. After all…” Kang Yoo-sik turned his head and looked at him. “The oath I made with Master. Do you rember?”
"Sure. Isn’t that the most important thing?”
Kang Yoo-sik put on a relieved expression at him, who answered calmly and seed even more intimidated. “I’m glad then.”
“… Did sothing happen?”
"Nope. It's no big deal, but… Before you left for the last ti, you said that you found traces of an affair in one of your students in China.”
Kang Yoo-sik’s response left a chill running down Zao Xinku’s throat, but he desperately held back the change. However, Kang Yoo-sik simply smiled brightly. “I am relieved to hear that the brother-in-law did not forget. Then I'll see you next ti." He then walked out.
There was a heavy silence in his room, and Zhao Xinku, who was still in his seat, looked down at his hands. He was trembling slightly. He must have been prepared and stepped in, but he was trembling just thinking that his master might be watching him.
‘Co now… There is no going back.’
In order to seize the power of this country, and furthermore, to achieve one’s long-cherished wish, one must maintain a relationship with the Heavenly Army. And if one were to truly obtain immortality, they wouldn’t have to fear the master's sword!
“Yes… … There is no turning back.” Zhao Xinku muttered as if brainwashing himself, and he couldn't stand up for a long ti.
* * *
After the second friendly match.
According to the agreent between the two sides, the unsavory incidents that occurred during Dalian did not spread outside. However, the news that Liang Jin, a disciple of Zhao Xinku, had entered Gyosim-dong could not be stopped, and rumors circulated that the elders must have made a mistake.
Even this alone gave Cheonmu Palace a negative image for being rude to guests, and from there another bad rumor circulated. “I heard Sai Yan went out of Gyosim-dong?”
“No. From what I've heard, he must have just left Cheonmu itself.”
“Huh. Then why did you join another guild?”
“Rumor has it that he is going to transfer to Seongjin… .”
Despite the fact that there had been an unsavory incident, Sai Yan, who was once a promising representative of Cheonmu Palace and was speculated to be the next S-class hunter, found that her interest in the incident skyrocketed. Regarding the rumor, Cheonmu Palace tried to gloss over that nothing special had happened, and Seong-jin had followed the schedule of the exchange eting without saying anything. Just when they thought that things were going to calm down…
“Accept as a disciple too!”
Bao Linsen had dropped out of Cheonmu Palace and ca to Kang Yoo-sik.
“Disciple?" Kang Yoo-sik, who was studying lion purification in the room assigned to Tao Fei, put down his paper to look at him.
“Why ?"
“Because I want to beco strong like that guy nad Lee Byung-ho!”
The way he said it was direct, but his look felt sincere. Seeing Bao Linsen's easy-to-understand appearance, Kang Yoo-sik raised the corner of his mouth and looked at him. “Then what can you give ?”
“What do you want?”
Kang Yoo-sik pondered for a while before he returned to his appearance, which was not much different from what he had heard through rumors, and then opened his mouth. “I will on one condition.”
“One condition?"
“Yes. Beat Byung-ho 3 tis until the exchange eting is over. Then I will give you a chance to beco as strong as you want.”
“What if I can’t?”
At Bao Linsen's question, Kang Yoo-sik shrugged. “Then you get a chance to beco a little stronger first.”
In response to Kang Yoo-sik's answer, Bao Linsen made a mysterious expression. “Then aren’t they both good in the end?”
Usually, when it was like this, one side was just a joke. Seeing Bao Linsen's incomprehensible appearance, Kang Yoo-sik smiled kindly. “We need to give this level of opportunity to those who dropped out and ca running.”
“You… He was a better guy than I thought.” Kang Yoo-sik laughed at Bao Linsen's appearance. “How are you? Anyway, since that's the condition, go to Byung-ho. The opportunity to challenge him would be twice a day.”
“Great. I'll finish it by tomorrow, so wait for !"
With that, Kang Yoo-sik found himself smiling.
‘Even if I die and wake up, I won’t be able to win.’
He knew Bao Linsen was talented, so he might be able to recognize the weakness of the Thunder God and win, but the situation was different now. He was convinced that Bao Linsen would co to find him, because Kang Yoo-sik had inford Lee Byung-ho of his weakness in advance!
‘Because they are weaknesses that were found by adding Lao Chang’s advice to Percival’s arithtic.’
However, since he possessed a natural talent, his weaknesses would be compensated and he would beco stronger than before after sparring with Byung-ho a couple of tis. ‘Kids who simply want to beco stronger just need to make themselves stronger, so this is really convenient.'
Kang Yoo-sik, who had simply solved the problem with Bao Linsen, looked at the scenery outside. After Dalian, he was gradually getting to know Han Moo-jin, who was also interested in him. Zhao Xinku was so much quieter than he had previously thought. ‘
I was wondering if the other side would move first… You seem to have shrunk more than I thought.’
He had been caught trying to organize himself clumsily for the best thing, but he seed to have chosen to spend his ti quietly. If possible, it would be better to pressure Zhao Xinku together with Tao Fei, who would have the facts or evidence that Zhao Xinku had cooperated with the Heavenly Army
‘It's still not enough to pressure him properly…’
This was because, from Tao Fei’s point of view, a wrongdoing could endanger not only his life but also the lives of everyone he had cooperated with.
‘You have to have a clear card that you can pull in.’ And for Tao Fei, there was only one that held that value.
Kang Yoo-sik, who lifted up the paper he put down on his desk, slightly frowned as he looked at the spell written on it. ‘I think I understand, but I don’t know why.’
He, who had been struggling for several days, looked at the spell written down for a long ti, then crumpled it and burned it. ‘This isn’t it.’
Most people started formulating formulas after concluding ideas and calculations in order to create new magic. However, he didn’t feel the need to do that.
‘For now, I’ll do it my way.’
Kang Yoo-sik took out a new piece of paper, decided on a direction, and then thought of the effect of lion purification. ‘The key is to nullify the magic applied to the opponent.’
The problem was that the effect must have strong interference power that could work even with a magic technique powerful enough to make a human immortal. As he recalled that point, a formula naturally flowed from Kang Yoo-sik's head.
‘Black lotus bloom.’ There was nothing comparable to this when it ca to interference with reality. As a new arrangent of the black lotus blooming spell, letters were engraved on the blank paper, and Kang Yoo-sik reflexively moved the ballpoint pen.
After about 2 hours like that, the 32 pages of the spell were completed. The effect was almost as intended, but Kang Yoo-sik imdiately crumpled and burned them and took out the paper again. ‘More efficiently, so that others can use it.’
As more and more detailed goals were set, the structure of the formula was compressed, and the amount of paper used was reduced. Kang Yoo-sik moved the ballpoint pen while squeezing his hair nonstop, feeling that it worked better than grunting for the past few days. “Kang Yoo-sik….”
When it was ti to go back, Lao Chang opened the door and found Kang Yoo-sik was concentrating for a long ti, and stopped walking. The mont he moved even one more step, he realized that he could break Kang Yoo-sik's concentration.
‘That kind of concentration at that age… After watching Kang Yoo-sik for a while, Lao Chang closed the door again and went out to guard the entrance so that others would not interfere. As ti goes by, the sun sets, the night deepens, and the dawn begins to brighten again.’
Kang Yoo-sik, who was moving his ballpoint pen without even losing his sense of ti, wrote down his last value and then raised his head. “Whoa….”
There was a total of 8 spells that had been compressed, all from white lotus dream and black lotus bloom. And the concepts that made up the core of magic were jumbled together. Though he couldn't recognize the original form, but it still felt good.
‘It can be triggered… All that remains is whether the desired effect has been achieved?’
‘What… … What's going on this early…?’ Ban Hye-young's voice subsided, as if she hadn't woken up yet.
Kang Yoo-sik imdiately looked at the paper in his hand. “There is a new recipe I made this ti. I was wondering if you could take a look.”
-Ah? Umm… … I'm a bit sleepy right now… … I'll take a look at it once, so go ahead and send it.
"I know." Kang Yoo-sik imdiately applied a code that only Ban Hye-yeong could understand to the calculation formula and sent it by fax. ‘Since she said she would be looking at it, it must be hard to hear the answer right off the bat.’
Kang Yoo-sik decided to sigh for the first ti, took the paper with the recipe written on it, and went back to the hotel. And the mont he just lay down on the bed after washing his body…
[Debtor ‘Ban Hye-yeong’s debt increases.]
“…Well?"
A notification popped up suddenly.
[Hey, hey, you madman, what did you make!!] Ban Hye-young's cry resonated alongside the fairy's whisper.
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