Due to injuries from internal damage and a thigh wound, I was given a five-day rest period at the medical center.
“Well, you seem to be in good shape. That’s a relief.”
“Yeah, unless something unusual happens, I should be discharged today.”
“Right… I’ll see your face in class tomorrow then. I’m off now.”
Master Un-jong, who had been visiting me daily, left with a considerably lighter expression.
“Here are some fruits.”
“Okay.”
I took the fruits that Black Cat offered and stuffed them into my mouth. Black Cat maintained a courteous demeanor, fanning me gently. Even though summer was ending, the refreshing breeze was delightful regardless of the season.
“If you need anything, just let me know.”
“Ah, I’m thirsty.”
“Of course.”
Suddenly, Black Cat vanished like the wind, having deployed her lightness skill. Apparently, she and Hyeok Gi-rin were working on the phantom plan together. It felt like they timed their outing perfectly.
Hyeok Gi-rin and Black Cat treated me with utmost care after my injury. Hyeok Gi-rin was banned from the medical center after getting caught smuggling meat for the patient because he said, “Patients should eat meat!”
While Black Cat was away, I subtly rotated my internal energy.
Grrr…
Qi spun between my meridians, aligning and clearing the blocks. It was a narrow path, tough to connect, but it was undoubtedly a route where I could operate my Qi without obstruction from the knots.
Proof that I had pioneered my own path as a martial artist.
It wasn’t the knowledge of a seasoned expert or the life experience of a modern person, but the fruit of sheer sweat and effort from Ho Cheon-an, the martial artist. Although it was a fake, it was the result of all the thoughts and sweat I had accumulated in extreme situations.
“Heh heh heh…”
Is this what it feels like to be full without eating? The swirling masses of energy… I named this method “Spiral Technique.”
“Senior! You’re rotating your energy again!”
Suddenly, Black Cat appeared with water and scolded me, prompting me to quickly release my internal energy.
“Ahem. If you’ve brought water, hurry and give it to me.”
“For goodness’ sake, Senior! The doctor instructed you to stay still for five days, and here you are, unable to wait!”
Still grumbling, Black Cat cautiously handed me the water. I gulped it down in one go and said,
“I’m all healed now! I took the bandage off my leg yesterday. I’m completely fine!”
“Still! You need absolute rest today!”
“Tsk.”
Honestly, my body was itching to move. I wanted to operate the Spiral Technique right now and wield the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword freely.
My leg felt fine, and if I could just walk around a little, it would relieve my restlessness, but Black Cat wouldn’t even allow me to get out of bed, except for trips to the restroom.
While I was engaged in a battle of glares with Black Cat, the doctor entered.
“Hmm. The internal injuries have healed… and moving your leg a little should aid recovery.”
“Tch.”
Black Cat seemed to want to keep me more stable, but she couldn’t argue against the expert’s opinion.
“Practicing swordsmanship is fine, but refrain from running or deploying lightness skills for a few days.”
“Am I being discharged?”
The doctor nodded, and only then could I spring up from my seat.
Upon returning to the guest hall after a long time, Hyeok Gi-rin rushed over after being chased out of the medical center.
“Senior Ho! I’m sorry!”
“No, you can stop apologizing now. Black Cat, you can stop too.”
Despite some issues along the way, it was true that Master Un-jong pushed through and arranged the phantom plan for me to glean the Spiral Technique.
By the twisted logic of the martial world, I owed a debt to the Jeomchang Faction right now. What can I say? The investment I initially made in Jeomchang was substantial, so it was fair to call it a debt… but it shouldn’t result in everyone from the Jeomchang Faction constantly apologizing.
Master Un-jong, who visited every day, might have done something, but it felt burdensome for the other masters and Hyeok Gi-rin to feel sorry.
“I’m all better now. I’ve shaken off the injuries from the phantom plan, and I’ve only got the gains left from it.”
“…Understood.”
When I insisted, he nodded begrudgingly, although Hyeok Gi-rin’s expression was still cloudy.
“Then could you take a moment to check my martial skills? I need to assess how rusty I’ve gotten.”
“…! I’d be glad to!”
When I made the request, Hyeok Gi-rin’s face brightened instantly, reminding me of a puppy and making me chuckle.
Finally reaching the training hall of the guest house, I drew my sword.
“Phew.”
After five days of rest, my body was brimming with energy. Just to be safe, I checked my responsiveness. I gently put some weight on my injured leg, loosened up, and immediately began to operate the Spiral Technique to draw my energy.
I started with the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword.
Strong. Swift. Transformation flowed naturally and followed one after the other.
“Whoa…!”
“Wow.”
Hearing the gasps from Black Cat and Hyeok Gi-rin, I focused on the next technique.
As soon as the First Swing ended, I transitioned to the Azure Cloud Charge. While maintaining the flow of the Spiral Technique, I continued into the next technique and, despite my limbs feeling dizzy, I forced my way through.
If I’m going to wield the sword in real combat, I have to do this much.
The Spiral Technique, still unfamiliar, creaked a bit, but compared to before, the progress was astonishing. Following the Azure Cloud Charge, I couldn’t help but feel moved as I linked the next three techniques.
Unlike five days ago, each move flowed as I desired, embodying the nuances I aimed for.
Flowing through the Four Techniques into the Five Techniques with a seamless transition felt exhilarating.
There were times when the unfamiliar Spiral Technique wobbled, causing my techniques and nuances to falter, but the more I connected them, the more the flow stabilized.
Grrrr!
Delightful sounds filled my being as I executed the final Eleven Techniques, the Hundred Transformations.
Swoosh!
“Hmm…”
A sigh of regret escaped me. Was the Hundred Transformations too much? During the phantom plan, I managed to transform my technique three times when colliding with Chang-min’s sword… but perhaps that was just a scenario conjured in my head. Or was it due to being at a crossroads of life and death, awakening all my latent abilities?
I couldn’t say for sure.
All I knew was that at this moment, I hadn’t reached the Hundred Transformations.
“You’ve certainly… developed in leaps and bounds.”
Hyeok Gi-rin and Black Cat were taken aback by my rapid improvement in martial arts. Honestly, I was surprised too. Though I practiced the Spiral Technique in the phantom plan, it was merely a moment in time. I had swung my sword no more than five times and the changes in technique didn’t exceed ten.
So initially, when I held the sword, I thought successfully executing even one technique would be an achievement, but the excitement carried me to continuous execution of ten techniques in succession.
“At this rate, you can be considered a genuine master.”
“Thank goodness! Truly, thank goodness…”
Hyeok Gi-rin sighed in relief.
“I was worried that I had only harmed you… but you’ve achieved so much.”
Hyeok Gi-rin and Black Cat seemed to be feeling guilt for having hurt me, having only witnessed my injury.
Seeing that I had accomplished more than just getting hurt seemed to lift the weight of their guilt from their shoulders.
The cloudiness in Hyeok Gi-rin’s expression, which had been frowning since the phantom plan incident, cleared up. Black Cat appeared to have eased her conscience too.
Finally, I could relax a bit.
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“Where else? To the teachers’ quarters!”
Going in like a bull at a gate, I displayed my martial arts in front of the masters.
“I saw you from the back then, but I didn’t expect you to develop to this extent!”
“Indeed, indeed.”
The faces of the masters, who had come to visit me, broke into smiles. Even Master Un-jong, who seemed to have gone through a fair amount of mental anguish, looked the same.
“Now, you must have all seen how much I’ve progressed, right?”
The masters nodded.
“Now that you’ve fully recovered, just keep the good results and let go of the apologies; you should relax like you used to.”
“Hahaha…”
Master Un-jong burst into hearty laughter.
“Thank you.”
“I also appreciate it. I fully understand that you acted out of concern for me. Let’s stop the gratitude exchanges now. How long are we going to live in discomfort like this? We’ll be seeing each other regularly for the next few months.”
“Right… you’re right. We’ll be facing each other for several months, and we can’t keep doing this every time we meet.”
“You speak wisely. So, make sure to clear your afternoon schedule. After taking five days off, you’ll need to catch up quickly.”
“Ugh, I thought I could take it easy for a few days.”
“Hey, it’s trouble getting old while making life hard for oneself.”
I chuckled at Master Un-jong’s familiar complaints. Yes, this is the banter I look forward to when conversing with the masters.
With the new operational method of the Spiral Technique, I shook off the surrounding guilt and resumed my life in the Jeomchang Faction along with my afternoon classes.
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