Chapter 20

By the time I came to, the duel was nearing its end.

“...You must have used sorcery. Therefore, in the name of Namgung, I will execute you.”

Hearing Namgung Seong spew [N O V E L I G H T] that bullshit snapped me fully awake.

At the old man’s taunt, Namgung Seong drew sword force.

‘Well, damn... sword force.’

To have that be the first thing I see on waking—refreshing.

First time seeing it. So that’s sword force? Even on a first look, I knew.

‘Gorgeous...’

Fierce and immaculate. And deep.

I’d seen sword qi now and then, but this was nothing like that.

The sense it could cut anything. Exactly that. Dazzled by the brilliance, my eyes were pulled in—

‘...Wait, why am I awake?’

Only belatedly did I realize I’d gotten my mind back.

‘Huh?’

But something felt off. I had my mind, but not sovereignty over my body.

My body was still in the old man Yoo Cheongil’s hands.

Namgung Seong moved. Sword force poured out. It was like a landslide breaking loose right in front of my nose.

‘Uh, fuck. If this goes wrong, I’m dead, aren’t I?’

How do you block that? Is this really okay? Doubt rose up.

Then—

“Good.”

The damned old man saw sword force and still ran his mouth. Looked like I was screwed.

But—

‘Huh?’

Every thought vanished in an instant.

The moment I—no, Yoo Cheongil—moved the body, that happened.

Power into the hands. A swing as-is. Namgung Seong’s blade was already near. Keep this pace and I’d be late.

I knew it perfectly well, but instead of fear, I focused on the moment.

Energy rising from the dantian—the inner energy center (단전). The things that had been quiet till now went off like firecrackers.

The toes stepping one pace. The waist, easing instead of bracing. The chest thrown open, the arm unfurled to draw a circle.

And the wooden sword carrying energy.

With all that gathered in one place, a nameless rapture welled up.

What is this? I didn’t know. Only—

‘...I want to try it.’

That thought flickered up and—

“Ah.”

The instant it did, I took full control of my body back.

As if Yoo Cheongil had been flung out, my body fell entirely under my command.

Up front, sword force still poured.

Instinct told me. If I stopped or faltered here, I’d die.

So I just did it.

I held the breath I was exhaling, traced the flow of energy, and used the muscles as I felt them.

It wasn’t that hard. I just memorized how the body moved and followed it.

That was all.

And then—

A moon unfolded from my hand.

[...So, you just did it, and it worked?]

“Yes.”

After I laid out what happened, Yoo Cheongil wore a somewhat blank face.

“That really is all. I caught the thread that was about to snap and continued it.”

I was honestly aggrieved.

“I mean, I barely stitched up a situation that could’ve gotten me killed. Why grill me like this?”

[...]

Even then, Yoo Cheongil gave no answer. Not that he had nothing to say—more like he wasn’t listening, lost in some other thought.

“Old man. Can you hear me?”

[...]

“Seriously can’t hear me?”

[...]

“Hey.”

[What, you little shit?]

“Wow... beautiful weather today.”

I averted my eyes at the glare that hit me.

Damn old man—if you hear me, answer.

I tried to dodge his gaze, but Yoo Cheongil kept staring like he had no intention of letting it slide.

So I had no choice but to speak.

“Then why don’t you answer?”

[I had things to think about.]

“Then say you need to think and don’t talk to me.”

[People don’t announce every little thought— No, you brat? Getting cheeky, are we? Did you forget whose hand your life hangs in?]

“Wow.”

I let out a breath of awe at that.

“You’re really petty. Losing a war of words so you jump to threats. At your age, isn’t that a bit cheap?”

[...And why are you getting ready to kneel?]

“Because I have things to say, but I’m fond of my life.”

[...]

This time he really shut his mouth, like he’d run out of words.

Before long, he shook his head and spoke again.

[No matter how I look, you don’t seem right in the head...]

“...Excuse me?”

Who is calling who what? I was about to snap again, even on my knees, when—

[And yet, no matter how I look—you are the one.]

“...”

I froze at Yoo Cheongil’s face.

He was smiling radiant-bright as he looked at me.

It looked like the smile of a child who’d found a fun new toy, and that, perversely, terrified me.

****

A day passed.

When I opened my eyes, it was roughly dawn. I always wake at the same hour, yet the ceiling still felt unfamiliar.

I sat up. The surroundings were quiet.

Normally, I’d hear snoring on both sides. Now there was no one.

Is this okay? I wondered for a moment, but didn’t dwell on it.

‘Whether it’s okay or not, I’ll enjoy it for now.’

If it’s not, so what. That’s a problem for later.

I dressed and stepped out. Dawn air brushed the tip of my nose. I moved, taking it in.

A short walk and I saw people already up.

One of the few who trained at dawn at the Anhui Branch.

Eyes immediately fixed on me.

—It’s Young Master Bang.

—Young Master Bang.

“...”

At the words that came straight at me, I scratched my cheek.

Yeah, I’m Young Master Bang, you clowns. I said what they shouldn’t hear, under my breath.

Maybe because dawn was quiet, it carried too well.

—The one who beat Little Azure Sword...

—Not just beat him. I heard he shattered the groin...

—...Ugh...

“...”

Looks like this isn’t the place for me anymore. I’d expected it, but it felt like too much had changed in a single day. I felt it keenly.

I turned my steps elsewhere.

[Why not just do it? Why move around?]

That was Yoo Cheongil following behind.

“...If I stay, they can’t focus. I can’t either. Why force it?”

They’d just now stopped what they were doing to watch me; better I be the one to step away.

Watching me, Yoo Cheongil made a curious face and said:

[I’ve wondered since yesterday. May I ask?]

“No.”

[How do you look like you feel nothing at all?]

“...Didn’t I just tell you not to ask?”

[Did it feel like you had a choice?]

“...”

Rotten.

I let out a long sigh. What a mess for a morning.

“What feeling?”

[Well, you drew eyes and your treatment changed. I wondered how you could look like you felt nothing.]

So that was it. I snorted at the foolishness.

“...Do I need to feel something?”

[It wouldn’t hurt.]

“Right. It wouldn’t hurt. It wouldn’t—but...”

You have to measure it against the situation. For me, especially.

“I didn’t achieve it with my own hands. It sits wrong; I don’t even want to enjoy it.”

[Oh?]

“If anything, I’m uneasy. Feels like I’m standing on a stick with the open sea below.”

[For that, you don’t even look uneasy.]

“That’s just an act. Saying I’m uneasy won’t make anything better.”

A life where even in anxiety you can’t say you’re anxious. Live that way long enough and you get good at it.

Not showing myself—that was my greatest skill.

[Hmm. Is that so?]

He laughed oddly at that. He’d been doing that since yesterday.

Why does he keep laughing like that?

It was unbearably awkward.

‘This is why I avoid tangling with vile spirits.’

Damn it. Of all things, I had to tangle with this kind of vile spirit.

[Stop cursing me in your head.]

“...I wasn’t.”

As I said before, the vile spirit was quick on the uptake. Very.

So what now? Looked like dawn training was a bust anyway.

‘With the muscle ache, I couldn’t have lasted long.’

It still felt wrong to skip what I always did.

If I can’t train at dawn, what should I do? There wasn’t much time left until morning drills anyway.

While I was thinking that, someone approached from a distance. An annoyingly handsome face for this early in the day.

“Ah, Young Master Bang. You were here.”

It was Cheon Eujin.

“Good morning. Were you looking for me?”

“Ah, yes... I went to your quarters and heard you weren’t in...”

I’d just stepped out, and we’d crossed paths somewhere.

“What is it?”

“If you have a moment... there’s something I’d like to show you.”

I hesitated a moment at Cheon Eujin’s words. I had time to spare, so it seemed fine.

“Sure. Lead the way. Where to?”

****

We went to Cheon Eujin’s quarters. Not as large as mine, but still quite luxurious.

Two teacups came onto the table, and tea poured in a gentle stream.

“...I apologize; I have nothing else to offer.”

“No need. We’ll be eating soon anyway.”

I wasn’t much for tea to begin with.

“By the way, no attendants?”

For the size, it really seemed like Cheon Eujin alone used the place. Tea, everything—he’d prepared it himself.

“Yes. I have to move with my name hidden... and most other matters are left to the guards...”

He trailed off. Sounded like the bodyguard—that bastard—was the reason.

He forced a smile and went on.

“I’ve sent word; someone should arrive soon.”

Someone—from the Blue Moon Sect? Probably.

‘The Sect Master’s direct line was threatened with assassination...’

More than that—

‘There’s me.’

With the Sword Saint’s inheritor here, they were bound to move.

“So, what is it?”

“Heh...”

As if the last topic meant nothing, I cut to the chase, and Cheon Eujin smiled sheepishly.

I apologized at that.

“Sorry. I’m just like this.”

“N-no, I’m the one imposing on you at dawn.”

For him to call me here this early, it had to be important. It wasn’t to share a cup of tea.

“What I wanted, Young Master, was simply this.”

As if to satisfy my curiosity, he went to a box set to one side. It had been there since we entered.

“...I thought it right that you see this first.”

“...What?”

Just as I wondered what he meant to show, he drew out something wrapped in cloth.

[Hmm.]

Seeing it, Yoo Cheongil let out a low breath. At that reaction, I knit my brows.

‘So he knows what it is.’

The old man seemed to know. What the hell was it?

Cheon Eujin handled it like a treasure. He carefully unwrapped the cloth, and—

“...Huh?”

At what finally came into view, I let out a somewhat stupid sound.

It couldn’t be helped.

What Cheon Eujin showed was a sword. Or rather, what had been a sword.

So many years must have passed the edge was gone, and it looked like it had once been a great saber—half of it was lopped clean off, with only a bit of blade clinging near the hilt.

What is that?

Why show me this piece of junk?

“Young Master Bang... you know what this is, don’t you?”

“...How would I know some worn-out antique...”

[It’s my sword.]

“...Of course I know. The Sword Saint’s beloved blade.”

[You lunatic...]

Who’s the real lunatic here?

Good thing I changed my words fast. Who would take one look at that and think it was the Sword Saint’s weapon?

But—

‘...Wait. The old man’s weapon?’

Once I knew, a chill ran through my head.

‘The Sword Saint’s beloved blade. Cheon Eujin. Blue Moon Sect... Anhui...’

I fitted the pieces together.

“The reason I wanted to show you, Young Master, is none other than...”

I reached the conclusion at once.

“That’s right.”

“...Pardon?”

“I mean you’re thinking right, Young Master Cheon. I also came to Anhui to find this. Because that was the Sword Saint’s last wish.”

[...Huh?]

At my words, Yoo Cheongil reacted like he had no idea what I was talking about. A face that said, what kind of nonsense is that.

However—

“...As I thought...!”

Cheon Eujin’s eyes widened, as if his expectations had been confirmed, and looking between that ridiculous ‘sword’ and Cheon Eujin, I felt certainty.

This, no matter how you cut it—

‘I can use it.’

Handled well, it could tilt things in my favor.