Chapter: 303
Training at Shinryonggwan takes on various forms.
Most individuals don’t practice more than four sessions a day.
Since everyone is a martial artist in their own right, they not only need time for sword training but also require personal time to hone their own martial arts.
Thus, the teaching tends to lack intensity.
Haven’t I always said that? People come to Shinryonggwan for its reputation.
What I mentioned back then relates exactly to these aspects.
The education is practically solid, but there’s plenty that can be taught in various sects; hence, one doesn’t strictly need to attend.
Even if I say it a hundred times, it’s not like it’s going to make a difference.
I won’t talk about this elsewhere though.
If I share something they already know, how is that going to change anything?
It’s been four days since Shinryonggwan opened.
Some say it’s short, while others wonder how it could have happened so quickly.
For me, those days felt fleeting, but during that brief time, several incidents occurred at Shinryonggwan.
One of them is the rumor that a new trainee defeated their instructor.
Oh, yes. That’s my story.
‘Rumors travel faster than a fireball!’
This rumor originated because I won a bet against Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh.
Winning means winning the bet, but it doesn’t mean I actually defeated the instructor.
The rumor spread as if I had bested him in a duel.
Honestly, people love to exaggerate things.
‘It would’ve been tough if it were real.’
Knowing just a little about Cheol Hwan-oh, that situation was somewhat forced.
If Cheol Hwan-oh had actually taken the bait and engaged in a one-on-one duel, it wouldn’t have been easy.
‘Even with my injuries healed, he’d still be a tough nut to crack.’
Yicheoncheongkwon, after all, is on the verge of reaching full mastery, just like me.
As I recall, before turning to a demon in my past life, I was a martial artist who touched the realm of the living.
This life should also see me reaching that realm one day.
Even if not at this moment, attaining that state signifies having significant potential.
No one knows what would happen in full health, let alone in a weakened state.
‘Oof, that stings…’
I gently patted my lower abdomen.
The sting still lingers.
This was exacerbated because I had attempted to use Yeomok again the other day.
Though I didn’t explode it and managed to recover, it still left a mark.
Even so, it’s still quite taxing.
‘Well, somehow it worked out.’
As predicted, Cheol Hwan-oh challenged me, and I seized victory using Yeomok as a cover.
If my plans had gone awry and I had crossed swords, I’d have wasted all my enthusiasm.
‘If that had happened, handling my injuries alone would have taken at least a month.’
Just thinking about it makes my head swim.
But it’s all good since it was successful.
Thanks to that, I could save time this morning.
‘It’s time to run and roll, and I’ll be okay, right?’
With my senses somewhat tuned in, I wandered around searching for a less populated area.
My goal? To find the hidden entrance to the secret vault somewhere underground.
‘The limit is about one hour a day.’
True, my training time exceeds that slightly, but to be safe, that’s the extent.
The only issue here is,
‘I know absolutely nothing about formations.’
If it’s a vault entrance, it’s probably layered in some intricate formations.
Actually, what’s currently beneath Shinryonggwan may be unknown even to those allied with the Martial Realm.
I have nearly zero knowledge in that regard.
‘If I sense a formation, I’d just tear it apart and charge in.’
That’s how I’ve instinctively operated until now.
But as it is, I can’t afford to do that anymore.
‘Not sensing anything is a clear sign that they’ve hidden it pretty well.’
How did Cheonma figure it out?
If you ask me, I bet he just smashed his way through and stumbled upon it.
He doesn’t care about formations, so he could’ve easily found it and ripped it apart.
‘That’s the more probable scenario.’
The vital point is that I know for certain there’s a secret vault right under here.
I need to locate it within half a year.
That’s essential for my plan.
‘Finding it is priority number one, or nothing else matters.’
It’s already been days.
I’ve been waking up and scouting around since morning.
‘Tsk.’
Time is slowly slipping away.
Looking at this, it seems like today will also be a bust.
I pulled out a piece of paper from my pocket.
Thud.
I made a small cut at my fingertip to release a drop of blood.
Then, I dampened a spot on the paper.
This marks the regions nearby that I’ve searched.
No matter how vast Shinryonggwan is, I’ve invested several days wandering around.
Most areas should have been covered already.
Still, not finding it suggests that either
‘My senses didn’t catch anything, or the entrance is outside Shinryonggwan.’
Tough luck.
I assumed it wouldn’t be easy, but indeed, it’s challenging.
‘If it’s outside Shinryonggwan, that complicates things.’
Surrounding Shinryonggwan is an energy barrier.
They probably erected some form of barrier using spirits.
With the noble bloodlines congregated here, a raid would be disastrous, hence the protective measures.
Because of that, I can’t simply go out recklessly.
‘Tsk.’
What should I do?
If it is indeed outside, I’d have to wait for one of those non-training summer days when we can all briefly head back to our sects.
That would be such a colossal waste of time and resources.
‘… Well, I should start heading back…’
Given the time of day, I ought to think while heading back.
Just as I planned to take a step toward my lodgings.
Crisp.
I sensed some presence rustling in the grass behind me.
Simultaneously, my hair stood on end.
‘What’s happening?’
With my senses heightened, if someone’s grabbing my back, it means that person is pretty skilled at hiding their presence.
Moreover, they’re likely at a level I can’t sense.
‘Who the hell is it?’
No hesitation—my instincts kicked in, and I raised the stakes.
Wrapping my body in warmth, I swung around in the direction of the sound.
‘Let’s assess the situation… Huh?’
Thump!
While trying to funnel my energy into attack
As soon as I laid eyes on the figure that appeared behind me, my body went rigid.
“Huh…?”
The other person flinched at the sight of me as well.
They—no, she—was getting ready to draw her sword.
A woman who seemed to be just over thirty.
She had a captivating aura about her.
Dressed in pure white martial attire with a light blue outer robe symbolizing her role as an instructor at Shinryonggwan.
The plum blossom patterns peeking through the fabric caught my attention.
“Why…”
The renowned heroine of the volcano, inheritor of the current “Sword Current,” the Plum Blossom Swordswoman.
She was looking at me as she spoke.
“Is it you here?”
The words she stumbled out reflected my own feelings.
‘Why are you here?’
Behind the Shinryonggwan building lies a small forest.
It’s within the premises, and it seems they’ve built a walking trail.
Only a handful of folks use it.
It’s hard to blame them; people are crunched for time with all the teachings from Shinryonggwan and the hours spent training.
How much leisure time does one really get to enjoy a walk?
“Why are you here?”
In that light, encountering her was quite unexpected.
The Swordswoman regarded the figure in front of her.
By now, I should’ve been busy with morning training.
The trainee who had recently begun garnering a lot of attention from instructors was right there.
“… Hello?”
I offered a shaky greeting. She looked somewhat familiar.
“Isn’t it morning practice time? Why are you here…”
“… Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh kindly allowed me to skip this morning’s training.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
‘So that was the crux of the matter.’
The Swordswoman grasped it immediately.
Having heard the rumors that Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh was defeated by “that trainee,” she connected the dots quickly.
I heard he even got scolded by the sect leader for it….
“Aside from that, you should be in your room. Why are you actually here?”
“I came out for a walk. I had heard this trail was nice.”
That was a fib.
The Swordswoman picked up on it right away.
“Really…?”
“What about you, Instructor? What are you doing here?”
“…”
“Isn’t this training time for the students?”
Her words made the Swordswoman momentarily reconsider.
“… I’m responsible for afternoon training.”
“Oh, I see. So then why are you here…?”
“… I’m… taking a walk.”
“Ah, yes.”
The dialogue hung abruptly.
The atmosphere became peculiar, filled with sideways glances.
Even Guyangcheon knew.
He realized that the Swordswoman was privy to the lie the moment she uttered it.
On top of that, the Swordswoman was aware he didn’t believe her.
A fleeting silence passed between them.
‘What is going on?’
Guyangcheon pondered as he regarded the Swordswoman.
‘What is she hiding?’
From her demeanor, it seemed like something was afoot.
The fact she was now an instructor at Shinryonggwan suggested she had some ulterior motive.
However, seeing her now, it appeared that she was also after something else.
‘Could it be, is she looking for the secret vault?’
The Swordswoman’s suspicious behavior definitely hinted she was hunting for the vault, just like I was.
In that moment, the thought crossed my mind.
‘If that’s the case, how does she know about it?’
That was information no one had known until Cheonma appeared.
It seemed odd that she would have that knowledge.
‘If she does, what’s our next move?’
Team up?
But then, what about the information I have?
‘This could get sticky.’
While it may not be an immediate problem, it’s evident that the Swordswoman has some objective.
This meeting is undoubtedly tied to that.
As Guyangcheon contemplated his next move, the Swordswoman broke the tense silence.
“I’ve… heard some news.”
“Please share.”
I wondered if she was talking about what happened. I couldn’t help but focus.
She must have thought it over carefully before speaking.
“The technique used during the exam room…”
“What? Wait, what? Out of the blue?”
Having thrust that unpredictable topic at me.
I panicked for a sec as I wondered why on Earth she was bringing that up now.
‘Is there a reason behind this?’
As those thoughts swirled, the Swordswoman continued.
“I heard that the martial technique you used back then didn’t even need to be detonated.”
“…”
That statement was so unforeseen that it set my mind racing in panic.
Oh… crap.
‘How did she… ugh.’
Wondering how she knew that made me recall my duel with Cheol Hwan-oh.
I must have somehow let that secret slip during our match.
Beads of sweat trickled down my back.
‘Oh, I’m toast?’
It was a fact I had almost forgotten while battling with Cheol Hwan-oh.
During my previous spar against the Swordswoman.
‘Ah, how could I overlook that, you idiot…’
Had I known all this would come back to bite me, I would’ve taken a different approach.
“Actually, I thought I should come see you regarding this…”
“Me? Why?”
“Um…”
Not giving me a reason felt even more frightening.
“Er, let’s just agree to skip that part.”
“Huh?”
The Swordswoman flashed a bright smile at me.
That refreshing demeanor felt even more menacing.
“Well, it appears we’ve now got some mutual secrets to keep. Let’s brush this aside.”
“…”
That was downright blunt.
The implication was clear: she’d overlook this incident if I stayed quiet too.
If I came out ahead, sure, but the weight in her gaze was unsettling.
It was a clear warning that I should keep my mouth shut.
“That, um, Swordswoman…”
“Yeah.”
“Is that really… okay? I mean, it’s not like…”
Guyangcheon hesitated to ask again.
No one could ignore that unsettling vibe.
A glimpse of anger loomed there, though she forced a smile.
In moments like these, running away fast was the best strategy.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way. Enjoy your walk.”
“Alright.”
Guyangcheon quickly took his leave from the Swordswoman and headed toward the dormitory.
Meanwhile, the Swordswoman gazed at his back with a mysterious look.
During the three days held at Shinryonggwan.
A series of big and small incidents unfolded.
One notable event involved Jinryong provoking the instructor.
It ultimately ended with him winning, and since there were numerous witnesses,
Adding fuel to the already fiery rumors surrounding him.
They say he smashed the instructor’s arms and legs,
Jumped on the instructor’s head when he lost consciousness, and insulted his parents.
Also, he reportedly did the same to a trainee who had been watching.
Amidst all this, even louder rumors began to circulate about Jinryong’s misconduct.
It was enough for people to start discussing whether Jinryong was the strongest among the Six Dragons and Three Peaks.
If he could defeat an instructor, it became hard to argue that he shared the same caliber.
Another tale emerged as well.
It’s said that several factions began forming among the students of Shinryonggwan.
They could be in units of dozens, perhaps even more extensive.
It was undeniable that factions had begun to emerge within Shinryonggwan.
Though it may seem sudden,
At least this was a clear rumor to Cheol Ji-seon.
“Hahaha, even the divine one knows, huh?”
“Of course. This was probably the first one made in Hanam, right?”
“Oh yes! And this triggers the topic of the craftsman who forged that sword…”
‘What a bunch of show-offs.’
Groups of martial artists congregated nearby and were engaged in casual banter.
Each held a crucial position in their own sect or clan.
They proudly bragged about their achievements, though I can’t tell if they’re speaking the truth or not.
The arrogance plastered across their faces is painfully apparent.
Amidst this crowd of posturing individuals stood a particular figure.
The Holy Jang Seon-yeon.
He was part of the same group as Cheol Ji-seon.
While not among the Six Dragons and Three Peaks, he became renowned for his exceptional talent.
He was the only son of the current head of the Martial Alliance, Nakgeom Jangcheon.
Jang Seon-yeon was on Cheol Ji-seon’s list of individuals to approach,
Yet with the horde surrounding him, it would be hard to make a move.
“Hey, why aren’t you responding?”
Right now, Cheol Ji-seon couldn’t approach.
Bam!
“Ugh!”
Someone smacked him from behind, causing Cheol Ji-seon’s head to bow down involuntarily.
“Tch, I’ve called you over and over, and you’re just not answering.”
As he felt the pain throb at the back his head, he turned around,
Only to find a piece of trash standing nearby.
“What’s your problem?”
Even though he knew, Cheol Ji-seon held his tongue.
“I just called out to you; what, you feeling sensitive or something?”
Weaving laughter erupted from the onlookers.
‘Ugh…’
At such a scene, Cheol Ji-seon sighed inwardly.
Since I began struggling to keep up with my training,
I had to put up with these obnoxious taunts.
I never thought I’d have to deal with this nonsense even in the hallowed halls of Shinryonggwan.
‘I didn’t come here for this.’
Cheol Ji-seon clenched his fists atop his knees.
I didn’t show up to deal with this.
Feeling it would be tough, I didn’t expect to be greeted with such hostility from the get-go.
“What’s wrong? Are your eyes twitching? You must be in a bad mood. Hey, look, the great Hero Cheol Ji-seon seems a bit cranky!”
“Grumpy? What’s up? Were you all tensed up when you got stuck on your questions earlier?”
“…”
When Cheol Ji-seon stuttered while asking about the theory from his instructor, those guys drew attention.
The guys started playing with that fact.
“If you’re not happy, why not just duel it out?”
The bully puffed up his bulging muscles.
“Look at me; I’ve surpassed first-class status, and you can’t fight me.”
In the end, he remained quiet, just sulking in silence.
“Oh, that tail’s not working? It looks so fragile that I wonder if it doesn’t come with one!”
“Could be. Maybe it really is that small? Or perhaps he doesn’t have one at all!”
“Even still, with such good looks, he could probably make a living out of it. Maybe through male escorting?”
Crack.
Pressure tightened in Cheol Ji-seon’s clenched hand.
“Oh, but hey. Got a sister?”
Dread lanced through Cheol Ji-seon’s body, halted by those words.
“You got a sister who looks like you? That would be something! I’d love to have lots of concubines, so introduce me!”
‘Jinseon, you can’t use that strength.’
The voice of his sister tugged gently at his ears.
Yet, instinct mired his fingers.
One outburst might be okay.
“As if! Someone like me would ruin your life. It’s a golden opportunity, I swear!”
Cheol Ji-seon simmered as they poked at the most sensitive topic.
As he tried to rise and ready himself, a voice shattered his focus.
“Why isn’t this little guy giving us a response again…?”
Bang!
“Ugh!”
With an explosive sound, the obnoxious bully rolled along the ground, crashing into the wall.
Cheol Ji-seon’s eyes widened in shock.
Suddenly, the man, now dazed, clung to the wall, trembling violently.
Thud!
Blood trickled from his mouth, soaking the floor.
“What… what…”
Looking up, he found himself facing someone he’d never seen before, at least not from his group.
“Y–you! Who the hell are you?”
In a flustered state, he yelled.
The newcomer simply picked up a chair and flung it at him.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
“What, just some friend passing by!”
The grounded guy yelped again, confused and fear-stricken.
But the one acting seemed utterly unfazed.
The speaker’s fierce eyes glinted at him slightly as he wore a smirk amidst the chaos.
Seeing someone smile in this prickly atmosphere only made things eerier.
Cheol Ji-seon felt a chill as he recognized the unexpected face before him.
“Oh, I was thinking of grabbing a meal with my buddy and stumbled upon this loser!”
That rough-looking person scratched his head agitatedly.
‘No way.’
That was indeed the infamous Gu Yangcheon.
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