0057 : Demon Subduing Hall
Starting the next day, I began one-on-one lessons with Samjeol Lee Kwang to relearn the advanced applications and combat techniques of the Thunder Spirit Sect. Although so far, what I had learned was indeed part of the Thunder Spirit Sect, according to Lee Kwang’s words, advancing to a deeper level would grant me the secret techniques of the sect along with new fighting styles. I felt a bit misty-eyed at the thought that I had finally gotten on the right track.
“Show me the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique again.”
“Yes.”
Standing in the morning training ground, I assumed a middle stance because I heard Lee Kwang’s command. Since this was something I had done a hundred thousand times up to yesterday, I executed it naturally without much thought. As the initial movements concluded, he seemed satisfied and said,
“You’ve shed the excess. Don’t you think you’re a bit faster now?”
“Uh…”
Now that I thought about it, the breath that used to get stuck between the movements was flowing seamlessly. Although I hadn’t consciously focused on it, it definitely felt like my sword speed had increased. As I stood there, astonished, Lee Kwang continued.
“Finally, you have achieved the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique. This also signifies that it is time for you to learn the advanced applications of the sword technique.”
“……!!”
“Your sword technique had only collected the initial movements, but your control of internal energy and breath allocation was quite clumsy. Although it was a masked flaw due to your high internal energy, it would have appeared full of openings to an expert just slightly better than you. However, by entering a state of forgetfulness, you unconsciously eliminated all unnecessary movements and flaws, allowing you to imprint that directly into your body. Thus, you can move on to the next stage.”
I was able to understand Lee Kwang’s words.
Unnecessary movements and flaws! For one hundred thousand times, I had been instructed to correct my posture and execute the sword technique quickly and accurately, and as a result, my concentration had intensified tremendously by shedding distracting thoughts, leading to an elevation in my swordsmanship.
When I looked down at my hands in amazement, I saw bruises like cherry blossoms etched into my skin. It was only natural after swinging with enough force to ignite my palms. Lee Kwang then said,
“However, I have something to ask.”
“Yes, please do.”
“As a disciple of the Thunder Spirit Sect, you must know that the spear is much stronger. Why do you stubbornly cling to the sword style? You would have excelled had you focused on the spear.”
Lee Kwang’s words were not merely expressions of regret; he genuinely believed that the martial arts of the spear were far superior to those of the sword. Given Lee Kwang’s level of martial prowess, that statement held truth. I pondered for a moment before answering his inquiry.
“Because I want to attain the utmost in self-defense.”
“Self-defense, indeed…”
My words cleverly interpreted Lee Kwang’s earlier teachings about weaponry. His logic was that the spear represented the pinnacle of combat skills while the sword represented the pinnacle of self-defense techniques. I had indirectly expressed that achieving the utmost in self-defense was sufficient for me. Lee Kwang smiled slightly, pleased.
“Very well. It’s good to have a martial artist like you around. Perhaps it’s beneficial to have someone walking a different path than Jin So-cheong.”
With that, he pointed his wooden sword forward and continued,
“Originally, our Thunder Spirit Sect played the role of guardians protecting the rituals of the White Lotus Sect and would sometimes perform the rites in place of the high priest. During those times, the power of Thunder Energy would guide the sword path, transforming it into a blade of light, which ultimately became the foundational principle of the Thunder Spirit Sect.”
“I’ve never heard of that before.”
“Of course. This is a secret only revealed to those who have mastered the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique to a certain level.”
It was not strange that I was only now hearing about the history of the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique. My previous level of swordsmanship was incredibly rudimentary by Lee Kwang’s standards, so he had never considered me worthy of being a successor and naturally hadn’t imparted all the knowledge of the technique.
“In other words, I have been recognized by Lee Kwang at least regarding the sword technique.”
Samjeol Lee Kwang’s wooden sword slowly moved.
Crack!
His wooden sword suddenly generated a vivid Thunder Spirit Energy, a phenomenon that occurred when I raised the Thunder Spirit Technique while executing the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique. As Lee Kwang, who was gazing at the wooden sword imbued with Thunder Energy, suddenly shouted,
“Combine!”
Bang!
“Ugh..!!”
It was astonishing. The pulsating energy of the thunder suddenly converged into one, forming a blade of pure thunder, blue as the sky. It was a sword qi that seemed as if it had been overlayed with thunder, sharp yet beautiful. After demonstrating this, Lee Kwang stated,
“This is the pinnacle of the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, the Thunder Blade. The method you’ve been using to unleash the Thunder Spirit Energy in your sword is very energy-consuming and too slow. To compete equally with peak experts, you must create the Thunder Blade.”
“I see.”
“First, activate the Thunder Spirit, gather the dispersed Thunder Energy, and naturally overlay it from the tip of the sword while envisioning the blade’s shape. This will yield the refined Thunder Blade without wastage.”
Swish!
As Lee Kwang lightly swung his Thunder Blade horizontally, it shot forth from the wooden sword and struck the wall ten paces away with a cutting blow. To project sword qi at such a distance was indeed advanced technique.
“Once you can use the Thunder Blade naturally, you won’t fear those who wield ranged weapons. There’s also another wonderful application, but I’ll teach you that once you’ve mastered the Thunder Blade.”
“Yes!”
Following Lee Kwang’s instructions, I spent the entire day practicing to summon and form the Thunder Blade. Miraculously, within about three hours, I was able to create a blade-like effect resembling the Thunder Blade, and I felt it was quite a fast pace. It was even enjoyable to gather the stirring energy of thunder at the tip of the sword.
“You’ve already grasped the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique to a mature level. If you practice diligently, you’ll be able to master the Thunder Blade in less than a month.”
I raised my hand.
“I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“I understand that the Thunder Blade technique stabilizes sword qi containing the energy of the five elements. But how does it differ from sword flame or sword strength? Can these be accomplished with the Thunder Blade as well?”
In response to my question, Lee Kwang sat back in his chair and answered.
“What do you think sword flame and sword strength are?”
“I believe sword flame is a swirling stage prior to achieving sword strength, and sword strength is the utmost realm reachable by a swordsman.”
This was not merely my opinion; it was a martial discussion I had heard from the legendary Hyun Cheon-do-in. I wanted to clarify this with the stories of peak experts from the Wudang Sect. Lee Kwang smiled wryly.
“That’s somewhat of a clumsy definition. Though, that’s how most people think.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Then let me ask again. Sword qi possesses the power to make a weapon sharp and resilient like a renowned sword. But why do peak experts expend their inner strength to deliberately generate sword flames in battle, even though it doesn’t necessarily increase their physical power?”
“……”
I hadn’t thought about that. I had witnessed Hyun Cheon-do-in and the ghostly swordsman using sword flames in combat, yet honestly, I had only dealt with it thanks to the boost from my internal energy, making it hard to feel the difference between sword qi and sword flame. As I hesitated to answer, Lee Kwang said,
“Listen carefully. Sword flame is a technique created to break the opponent’s sword qi.”
“A technique…!!”
“Surprisingly, many in this world are capable of wielding sword qi. Even those who aren’t peak experts, forcing their energy to mold sword qi forms is not uncommon. Consequently, combat techniques utilizing sword qi have developed. Sword flame can be considered a fighting technique designed to easily defeat those who possess weaker sword qis.”
Continuing from his explanation, Lee Kwang said,
“It goes without saying that there is a world of difference between the true mastery of sword qi and the level you described. The definition you provided is something only those who don’t truly understand sword strength would say.”
“……”
I inwardly clicked my tongue. This was the doctrine and martial philosophy shared by Hyun Cheon-do-in, yet Lee Kwang casually dismissed it. If Hyun Cheon-do-in heard this, he would certainly be furious, throwing a fit. However, I didn’t voice that concern and continued to ask questions.
“Then what exactly is true sword strength? What kind of power does it possess?”
“There are very few who have reached the realm of true strength. Furthermore, those individuals usually conceal their power, making it rare for their true abilities to be revealed. Those who have attained such a level tend to withdraw from the hectic affairs of the world, dedicating themselves solely to their training.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“There’s no need for you to ponder this right now. You must first master the Thunder Blade and enter the realm of secret techniques to continue with this discussion.”
I had no room to ask further questions as, from that day on, I woke up at dawn and focused solely on creating the Thunder Blade for the majority of my twelve hours in the training hall. Thanks to my tremendous internal energy, I could expel thunder energy almost effortlessly, but concentrating it to form a blade was a completely different challenge.
It was a battle of focus and perseverance!
After about a month and six weeks of wrestling with it, I finally managed to create the Thunder Blade properly. The duration took much longer than Lee Kwang had anticipated, likely due to my lack of talent.
Woom—
“Oooh…”
The glow of the Thunder Blade hovering lightly above my wooden sword was dazzling. Lee Kwang, watching from the side, gruffly remarked,
“The light is too intense. That means you haven’t controlled the thunder energy sufficiently.”
“Understood.”
“Create it so that it is endlessly subtle, neither too visible nor too faint. The more refined it is, the stronger the Thunder Blade will become.”
I barely wiped the sweat from my brow. My efforts were paying off, and I could now finally create proper sword qi. If I had attempted to master this on my own, it would have taken at least a decade, making me feel hopeless at the thought. There was no quicker path than receiving direct teachings from an esteemed master at a renowned martial arts school.
“Now, wrap the Thunder Blade around your sword and practice moving without breaking the flow of energy. Additionally, practice directing the energy according to your will and releasing it externally. If you can accomplish this, your Thunder Shadow Sword Technique will reach a whole new level.”
“I understand!”
To implement the additional applications Lee Kwang had described, I spent several more months. Throughout that time, Lee Kwang never commented on whether my progress was fast or slow. In fact, during one moment of impatience on my part, I asked if I was progressing too slowly, to which he coolly replied every time,
“You’re doing very well.”
With Lee Kwang’s assurance, I had no choice but to trust his words. I devoted myself daily to mastering the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique flawlessly. It wasn’t until about half a year later that my efforts finally bore fruit.
Crash!
The Thunder Blade shot forth from my wooden sword, leaving a significant mark on the wall. I had finally gained the ability to attack from a distance using the Thunder Blade. Panting heavily from fatigue, Lee Kwang said,
“Now, once you refine the Thunder Shadow Steps, you will have eliminated the majority of your shortcomings, Baek Woong.”
“Thunder… Thunder Shadow Steps?”
“One Eye, Two Feet, Three Courage, Four Strength.”
Reciting a saying passed down through martial artists, Lee Kwang suddenly shifted his stance. It was as if another clear illusion, nearly tangible, had appeared alongside him.
“Now that you have mastered the power of executing sword techniques and can think critically, you should learn footwork as well.”
What I witnessed was the pinnacle of footwork I had never seen before.
‘This is the manifestation of the illusory form?’
However, I realized that this was not the manifestation of the illusory form. The density of the movements was vastly different, and they were intertwined as if a chain was being pulled. Additionally, the movements were lively like a koi fish, with no wasted motion, making it feel almost like a dance.
Pabababhat
The shadows scattered like flower petals.
Lee Kwang had moved a total of seven steps. However, hidden within those seven steps was extraordinary footwork. After securing the final step, Lee Kwang said,
“Thunder Shadow Steps, ultimate technique: Heavenly Pillar Kill! Master this, and I’ll grant you the qualification of a successor of the Thunder Spirit Sect.”
“… Really?!”
I exclaimed with joy.
The qualification of a successor!
Even now, Lee Kwang half-acknowledged me as a successor, imparting various secret techniques and applications, but formal recognition was a different matter altogether. Once I obtained that qualification, I would finally be able to receive Lee Kwang’s teachings at an equal footing with Jin So-cheong. In other words, this trial itself was nearing the final test presented by Lee Kwang.
Nodding, Lee Kwang continued,
“The time frame is three years. Within that period, master the Heavenly Pillar Kill.”
“Three years?”
“Yes.”
Considering that it had taken nearly a year to master the Thunder Blade, being given three times that duration suggested the Heavenly Pillar Kill was indeed a challenging technique. And given that Lee Kwang had mentioned three years, it was highly likely that it would take ten years or more to master.
Lee Kwang continued,
“In addition, I’ll assign you another task. While mastering the Heavenly Pillar Kill, you are to challenge other sects with Jin So-cheong.”
“Challenging other sects?”
“That’s right.”
“Well…
I felt quite taken aback.
Challenging other sects!
‘Damn it. I could die.’
The words sounded easy, but I knew all too well how dangerous it was. When I had recklessly challenged the leader of the Shuangwen Temple in Luoyang before, I had managed to bring down the head, but an elder had appeared and executed me on the pretext of sparring.
In the martial world, honor was more important than life itself, and even prestigious sects would often gang up and kill intruders. Challenging other sects was a perilous endeavor that required the challenger to be prepared for death.
I soon steeled myself and boldly declared,
“Let’s give it a go!”
“Good. Go ahead and try it.”
The remaining time was spent under guidance for the Thunder Shadow Steps. He once again pointed out that my movements were too awkward and taught me how to move quickly with the correct posture.
Until that moment, I thought my training routine would continue smoothly and without any problems. After all, it was simply a matter of learning as he instructed, along with the added challenge of confronting other sects.
However, the next morning, upon waking up from my lodging and heading toward the training hall, there was no sign of my master, Lee Kwang. Instead, a surprising figure was waiting for me. He was already packed and waved at me.
“Have you come, Senior Brother?”
“Jin So-cheong? What brings you here…”
Jin So-cheong chuckled.
“Well, we need to go challenge other sects today. We have to reach Zhenguo before dawn, so let’s hurry.”
“Uh… This is a bit sudden.”
Even as I grumbled, I gathered the training weapons from the hall. After all, I wasn’t particularly hungry, so I didn’t need to prepare extra supplies. As I secured a decent sword to my waist, I suddenly felt something was off.
“Wait, Senior Brother. You said Zhenguo? That place…”
“Yes, that’s right, Junior Brother.”
The expression on my face twisted at Jin So-cheong’s next words.
“It’s the village at the entrance of Zhongnan Mountain.”
