Celestial Realm
We immediately pressured the servant, compelling him to answer.
“We must see Lord of Jangryeong Valley, Byeok Ji-sang. Please guide us.”
Although the Sword Demon spoke politely, there was an underlying aura that suppressed the servant’s mental state. Naturally, an ordinary servant wouldn’t withstand the Sword Demon’s presence, and in no time, the man’s face had turned pale as he bowed his head.
“Of course, right away!”
We followed the trembling servant deeper inside. After walking for about a hundred or so steps, we arrived at a mansion exuding an elegant atmosphere. It seemed overly spacious for a single occupant, but reasonably sized for a wealthy person. The servant entered the mansion and rang a small bell, announcing,
“Master, guests have arrived.”
After a brief pause, a woman’s voice came from within.
“Let them in.”
“Yes!”
We followed the servant into a room. Inside, a woman dressed in noble attire was waiting in a chair. As I laid eyes on her, I let out a sound of contemplation.
“Hmm…”
It was undoubtedly Tao King Byeok Ji-sang. Though her expression was rather sharp, she possessed an extraordinary beauty rarely seen. If she were to smile, it seemed effortlessly easy for her to captivate several men.
The Sword Demon, noticing this too, gazed intently at her before speaking.
“I am delighted to meet you, Lord of Jangryeong Valley. I am Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong, and this is our Dharma Protector, Baek Woong.”
Tao King Byeok Ji-sang replied without any visible change in her expression,
“What brings the greatest expert of the heretical faction to this remote area?”
“I came seeking the wisdom and skills of the former Lord of Jangryeong Valley to recruit him into the Shadowless Gate. However, I am saddened to hear he has passed away in recent years.”
“Everyone has their destiny to fulfill. He couldn’t escape his fate.”
Her tone was devoid of any rises or falls, borderline morose. Anyone hearing her voice for the first time might feel bewildered. However, having heard her speak before, I knew this was simply her unique façon de parler. As a result, the Sword Demon seemed not to take great offense and continued.
“However, I understand you were renowned as the Tao King in Sichuan, gaining fame through gambling. How come you now hold dominion over Jangryeong Valley?”
The Sword Demon dove directly into the matter at hand. With a teacup in hand, Byeok Ji-sang replied,
“The title of Tao King is merely a shameful moniker from my past. I had a friendship with the former Lord of Jangryeong Valley and took over management of the valley at his request.”
The Sword Demon subtly prodded her intentions.
“Does that mean you will no longer traverse the Jianghu as a Tao King?”
“You may think so if you wish. I find life here quite to my liking.”
Byeok Ji-sang’s calm response caused the Sword Demon to let out another sound of contemplation. While she spoke nonchalantly, it was hard to decipher her emotional state, as she expressed no highs or lows, making it difficult for a battle-hardened Sword Demon to read her psyche.
Unable to hold back, I directed a question at Byeok Ji-sang.
“How did you become so acquainted? I’ve heard that Zhuge Sa was quite eccentric and had very few friends.”
Byeok Ji-sang turned to me and replied flatly,
“That is true. Zhuge Sa was insular and lived for his own vanity. However, he was an amusing character, and I often engaged with him.”
“Amusing, you say?”
“I can answer as a friend, but that would be lacking in respect for the deceased.”
Suddenly cutting off the conversation with a notion of decorum, Byeok Ji-sang left no room for further inquiry.
“……”
After such a curt response, I found myself at a loss for words, unable to proceed as I had nothing to argue against. Sensing this, the Sword Demon sent me a silent message.
[This person is a master of psychological warfare. If you ask questions recklessly, she’ll only read our intentions. Stay quiet.]
[Understood.]
Clearing his throat, the Sword Demon then asked,
“Hmm. What specifically was the cause of his death?”
“It was suicide.”
“How did he do it?”
“Poisoning, apparently. There was no chance to intervene.”
“Poison? Is there no possibility of foul play?”
Byeok Ji-sang responded firmly.
“I stake my name on this. I investigated over the course of half a year and found no possibility of murder. He undoubtedly took his own life.”
“Ah, I see.”
“If there were some foul play, I would have sought vengeance on behalf of my friend, but since there wasn’t, I have chosen to manage Jangryeong Valley according to his will. There is no issue here.”
Byeok Ji-sang subtly conveyed with her gaze that she hoped we would leave. However, at the mention of Zhuge Sa’s suicide, her expression had shifted to one of strong dislike. The fact that she could control her emotions so overtly suggested a strong desire to oust unexpected intruders, even if it meant revealing her feelings.
The Sword Demon said,
“I apologize for my rudeness today. Zhuge Sa was a remarkably capable individual, and I was truly concerned for his welfare.”
“Don’t mention it… Would you care to have a meal before you leave?”
“No, that’s fine. We’ll meet again another time.”
“Take care.”
We took our leave from Lord Byeok Ji-sang and exited Jangryeong Valley. Upon leaving, I found it all rather strange and asked the Sword Demon,
“That was odd. Shouldn’t we have dug deeper?”
“……”
“Master!”
The Sword Demon sat down on a bench beneath a nearby tree and said,
“Did you not feel something?”
“What?”
“There was something off. I can’t put it into words, but my martial instincts… no, rather a heightened intuition was warning me. If we had pressed further, it might have turned dangerous.”
“……?”
A warning?
I had no idea what he was referring to. Though Tao King Byeok Ji-sang was of a pinnacle-level martial artist, I questioned if she could even compete with the current Sword Demon. Even if there were hidden masters lurking around, there was really no reason to be fearful. Yet the Sword Demon treated the situation with utmost caution, wary of Byeok Ji-sang.
He chuckled wryly.
“Haha, I can’t explain it well. Maybe this is part of the divine intuition mentioned by the Bright Dragon. My instincts were telling me that staying put is the wrong move.”
“Hmm… I’m not quite sure I understand.”
“It can’t be helped. Even I am unsure.”
“Regardless, I trust your judgment, Master.”
“Thank you.”
Nodding at his words, the Sword Demon looked up at the sky from beneath the cool shade of a tree and continued,
“As suspicious as Tao King Byeok Ji-sang seems now, I believe probing directly is too risky. It would be better to think things over until we meet Dokgo Seong tomorrow. Crossing the bridge of death can wait until the end.”
“The bridge of death? Is it that serious?”
I asked incredulously.
“The skill level of Byeok Ji-sang isn’t that high. There were no traps or ambushes nearby, and I sensed nothing foul. I don’t think she would be capable of ensnaring us.”
“That would be the case under normal circumstances. I contemplated using my ultimate technique on her multiple times at that moment. But have you considered this?”
The Sword Demon crossed his arms and spoke.
“If Zhuge Sa was a genius on par with renowned figures, he wouldn’t have handed over his Jangryeong Valley to just anyone. This means Byeok Ji-sang must possess formidable skills worthy of Zhuge Sa’s recognition. When a genius acknowledges another, there’s always a reason behind it.”
“……!!”
“I’ve only felt something akin to this once. When I faced the Dharma Protector.”
Muttering this, the Sword Demon looked at me.
“Bear this in mind. Currently, Byeok Ji-sang has become a dangerous presence for you to investigate hastily. Exercise caution and restraint.”
Only then did I realize the gravity of my situation.
‘So this is it. I know absolutely nothing about Byeok Ji-sang.’
Not knowing anything meant I had no understanding of her intentions or her potential methods. And there was no greater danger than the absence of information. My previous misplacement of trust, bolstered by the Sword Demon’s prowess, had dulled my vigilance.
“Understood.”
As I gathered my wits and steeled my resolve, the Sword Demon spoke.
“By the way, didn’t you receive the final technique of swordsmanship from the Thunder God Lineage? You didn’t showcase it earlier.”
“Huh?”
“I assumed Lee Kwang would have shared with you the ultimate technique beyond the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique.”
I gave a vague expression. Of course, I had stored that knowledge deep in my mind and had not forgotten it. However, there was a reason I hadn’t brought it up or demonstrated it so far.
“Yes, I did learn it.”
“Then why not show it?”
“Well… you didn’t view it as a memory from the Obsidian Stone, did you?”
“Your memory flickered by so briefly, it felt as if you were trying to hide it, and it was unclear. So I am asking.”
“Ah…”
I realized the memory from the Obsidian did not come across perfectly unchanged. If I unconsciously tried to conceal or bypass certain memories, they could get omitted or passed over briefly. It was a built-in feature for user convenience, in a way.
I responded to the Sword Demon.
“The Thunder God Lineage’s techniques begin with the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique to the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, after which I learn various skills of the Thunder God Lineage. When the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique is sublimated to the 10th level, I transition to the Thunder Dragon Sword.”
“The Thunder Dragon Sword! That’s the final technique of swordsmanship, right?”
I shook my head.
“No… According to Lee Kwang, the Thunder Dragon Sword and the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique are actually equivalent. It seems to just be a matter of the order in which they are learned. Mastering the Thunder Dragon Sword up to the 10th level, along with perfecting both techniques, is when the true final technique of the Thunder God Lineage emerges.”
“Ohhh…!! What is it?!”
The Sword Demon seemed excited. For someone of his caliber, hearing about such excellent sword techniques was simply exhilarating. I hesitated and finally spoke.
“… I don’t know.”
“Huh? You don’t know?”
Feeling miserable, I concluded,
“I haven’t mastered the Thunder Dragon Sword. That’s because the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique hasn’t reached the 10th level.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Due to having a slow progression, Lee Kwang eventually gave up and told me to focus on the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique. So…”
“I see.”
I refrained from saying more, but the Sword Demon seemed to understand.
Indeed, back when I transmitted the Wudang School techniques to the Thunder God Lineage, Lee Kwang was thrilled and assured me he would teach me the final techniques of the Thunder God Lineage. It seemed that he expected me to quickly learn the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique and soon transition to mastering the Thunder Dragon Sword.
However, my lack of talent had become apparent. Lee Kwang, seeing the sluggish pace at which I learned the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique, must have decided to withhold the Thunder Dragon Sword for now and shifted focus to studying Wudang School techniques.
It was a difficult situation in which I couldn’t blame Lee Kwang. After all, the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique was also an elevating style of swordsmanship, so I couldn’t be sure I genuinely reached the 10th level yet. Hence, it wasn’t fair to express criticism towards Lee Kwang for not being patient for what could potentially be decades of perfecting my swordsmanship.
I felt embarrassed by my inadequate talent, likely leading me to suppress memories I wished to forget. As my face flushed with shame, the Sword Demon spoke.
“You don’t need to feel ashamed. What matters now is whether you’ve achieved the 10th level of the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique.”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. The Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique embodies transformations and illusions at their extremes…”
As I trailed off, the Sword Demon chuckled softly.
“I’ve been practicing martial arts with you for almost seven years. I’ve seen the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique countless times. To cut to the chase, you have completely mastered it.”
“Really?!”
“Of course. Because you have surpassed the basics of the Shadowless Gate’s techniques and mastered beyond level five.”
The Sword Demon continued,
“With that said, you could grasp the Thunder Dragon Sword immediately at this point.”
That was incredibly uplifting news.
Does this mean reaching the peak of the Thunder God Lineage sword techniques isn’t far away? I momentarily forgot my previous dejection and grinned widely, but the Sword Demon soon said,
“The real issue lies with the sheer power of the final techniques.”
“Wouldn’t they be amazing?”
Why was the Sword Demon doubting the might of the ultimate techniques?
“……”
He had a rather reluctant expression on his face. Then he spoke.
“I believe we should meet Dokgo Seong tomorrow.”
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