Chapter 34. Talent (5)

I watched the beautiful scene of the parents and child embracing for a short while.

When I discreetly turned my head, I saw the villagers looking at us with expressions full of wariness.

Thinking there might be a misunderstanding, I pointed at the lecher with my sword.

“That bastard is the lecher. There were children who fell victim to him in Huaihua as well, so we have been pursuing him from Huaihua.”

However, the villagers did not easily believe my words.

Fortunately, the girl, who had shed many tears, came to our rescue.

“Th-those oppas s-saved me.”

The girl was covered in Nam Geon’s top like a blanket. The wife was hugging the child to reassure her, and the husband rose and approached us.

He bowed his head deeply and said.

“Thank you so much for saving our daughter. I will repay this kindness even if it costs me my life.”

“We didn’t do it to receive anything. Please live happily.”

“R-right. We just, d-did it because we wanted to.”

We only took the lecher’s head and then turned our backs and walked towards Huaihua.

I couldn’t care less about the head of a filthy lecher, but I had to deliver the news of the lecher’s death to the people of Huaihua as well.

***

At dawn.

A time when only darkness should prevail.

Lights were lit throughout Huaihua, and the sound of wailing echoed continuously.

If the tears I saw just a while ago were tears of relief, the tears seen here were filled only with sorrow.

Immediately after confirming the lecher’s death, funerals began all over Huaihua.

At the sound of wailing coming from everywhere, my fists clenched without me realizing it.

Next to me, Nam Geon’s eyes were not just red; water was constantly streaming from his eyes and nose.

“Nam Geon.”

“Sniffle. Uh, okay, Big Brother.”

“You asked why we were traveling so diligently. This is why. If we had arrived just two days—no, just a day and a half earlier, we could have saved people.”

Nam Geon’s shoulders slumped.

“We d-didn’t know there was a bad guy here. A-and we, r-ran very hard. I-I almost died from exhaustion. Is, is it still our fault, Big Brother?”

As he seemed to have understood that all of this was his fault, I gently patted his back and said.

“You’re right. At the very least, if you can tell yourself that you did your best, risking your life, then it’s okay.”

It was impossible to find and kill every villain in these vast Central Plains. I only had one body.

“Feel guilt. But don’t despair. If you’ve tried hard enough to be proud of yourself, you’ll be able to overcome it.”

“Bi-big brother’s words are t-too difficult. B-but, I-I think I understand a little.”

“Yes. That’s enough for now.”

Around the time I finished my conversation with Nam Geon.

Someone approached us with a torch at their back.

It was the Yangui Sect Leader, who was visiting the village as a mourner.

The two disciples who died at the hands of the lecher were also the sons of the residents here before they were his disciples.

I willingly clasped my hands in a fist and palm salute to the approaching Yangui Sect Leader.

“I apologize for my earlier actions. I was in a hurry and ended up being rude.”

As soon as I showed my respects, the Yangui Sect Leader, who had flinched slightly, returned the salute.

“There is no need to apologize, young warrior. I thought about it on my way back, and all of your words were right.”

He turned his head and looked towards the source of the wailing.

“I had grown accustomed to peace. If I had trained a little harder, something like this would not have happened. Also, as the young warrior said, if I had studied tracking, I could have reduced the damage even a little.”

The darkness of dawn. The flickering torches. The shadows mingled on the Yangui Sect Leader’s face, which was full of regret.

He turned his head again and looked at me with a determined face.

“Thank you for teaching a foolish man like me.”

“It is because of the Sect Leader’s great magnanimity that you consider it a lesson.”

“Hahaha.”

With a bitter laugh tinged with various emotions, the Sect Leader asked.

“Come to think of it, we haven’t even properly introduced ourselves yet. By any chance, could you tell me your name or alias?”

“My surname is Jin, and my name is Yuseong.”

“I-I am Nam Geon.”

The Yangui Sect Leader drew the character for ‘heaven’ on his forehead as if trying to recall a memory and stroked his beard.

Soon, as if he had remembered something, his eyes widened.

“Ghost Sword Young Master! So the young warrior was the Ghost Sword Young Master!”

It seemed my alias had already spread to this area.

After that, I talked with the Yangui Sect Leader for a short while. The Yangui Sect Leader asked.

“Since it’s late, how about spending the night at our Yangui Sect?”

“I am only grateful for the Sect Leader’s consideration.”

Since I couldn't leave this place until the hammer was turned into a sword anyway, there was no reason to refuse the offer.

The Yangui Sect Leader provided us with bathwater and even prepared a simple late-night snack.

On the way to our room after bathing.

Something came to mind, and I said to Nam Geon.

“Still, it’s a relief. I was disappointed that we couldn't train the Iron Blood Golden Skin Art without the hammer, but thanks to that lecher bastard earlier, it must have been some good training.”

For some reason, Nam Geon looked at me with a strange expression.

“Fi-fighting is hard. I c-can't recite the m-mnemonic while being hit.”

My face crumpled on its own.

“Then, you just wasted that great opportunity! This won’t do. Since we can’t train the Iron Blood Golden Skin Art, we must train something else before sleeping.”

“Heek……”

Nam Geon’s face turned pale.

The Yangui Sect Leader, who was guiding us from the front, shook his head.

“Heo. I think I understand why the young warrior’s martial arts are so formidable.”

It was clearly a compliment, but I didn't know why he was shaking his head.

***

The next day.

After waking up and performing my breathing exercises, I quickly finished the meal prepared by the Yangui Sect.

Then, we went to the forge again.

“Thank you so much for killing that lecher.”

The blacksmith said with a bitter smile and held out a huge sword.

The weight seemed considerable, as the blacksmith's arms, accustomed to handling iron, were trembling.

Nam Geon bowed his head to the blacksmith and accepted the greatsword.

“Th-thank you.”

“Huu. Still, it is a sword made with great care. As I heard then, wasn’t it your mother’s memento? So how about giving it a name?”

“A n-name? I-I don’t know w-words well.”

“Haha. Then, tell me what you think of when you look at that sword.”

“Umm. It r-reminds me of Mom.”

I, who had been listening quietly, added a word.

“Then you can call it the Mother’s Affection Sword.”

“Hehe. M-my mom’s memento has a name now.”

Nam Geon smiled, seeming to like it.

For some reason, the blacksmith just let out a dry cough.

“Ahem.”

When I looked at the blacksmith with a puzzled expression, he quickly opened his mouth.

“Come to think of it, would you draw your sword as well?”

“My sword?”

When I drew my sword, the blacksmith looked it over.

“My, the blade is quite damaged. I happen to have a spare sword, so take it in exchange. You said you wouldn't take money, so please accept at least this small token of my sincerity.”

Having said that, the blacksmith held out a sword that was nearby, as if he had prepared it.

It wasn't to the level of being called a famous sword or a divine sword, but at a glance, it was sharply forged.

And above all.

“I’m sure I didn’t see this sword yesterday.”

It was a sword that didn't exist when I had visited the forge.

“Ahem. Y-you must be mistaken.”

A faint smile emerged.

It seemed that he had made this sword after making the Mother’s Affection Sword, to repay the favor of catching the lecher.

I thought about refusing, but I changed my mind.

I thought that killing more trash with that sword would be another way of repaying him.

“Take care.”

“You two, travel safely.”

Having each obtained a sword, we exchanged farewells and left the forge.

***

On the road to Guizhou after leaving Huaihua.

I held out my hand to Nam Geon.

“Give me the sword.”

“O-okay.”

I took the Mother’s Affection Sword from Nam Geon and swung it in the air a few times.

A heavy weight. Its size itself was extraordinary. It was almost as big as my own body.

One wrong move and it would be the sword swinging me, not the other way around.

I swung it a few more times to get used to the weight and the center of gravity. Once I got a feel for it, I said.

“Let’s start the Iron Blood Golden Skin Art training we couldn’t do yesterday.”

“R-right now?”

“Yes. And from now on, train the Iron Blood Golden Skin Art every time you fight. Not a single moment should be wasted.”

“...…I-I’ll try my best, Big Brother.”

I nodded at his answer and added.

“Recite the mnemonic of the Iron Blood Golden Skin Art and watch carefully how I swing the sword. This is the Mighty Sword Art you will learn from now on.”

“I-I can’t d-do two things at o-once.”

“You’ll get better with practice. Just try it for now.”

Before he could say anything more, I swung the sword with a shout.

“Now! Concentrate!!”

Clang!!

As soon as I struck his body, a tingling sensation shot through my fingertips.

Enjoying that pain, I demonstrated the Mighty Sword Art that I had been training by striking Nam Geon.

It could be called the loving whip delivered by the Mother’s Affection Sword.

After I had done my best to strike Nam Geon for his growth, for who knows how long.

“Hoo. Hoo.”

When my mouth tasted metallic, and my arm reached its limit, and I no longer had the strength to lift the Mother’s Affection Sword, I squeezed out my last bit of strength and handed the sword to Nam Geon.

“Here.”

“I-it hurts, Big Brother.”

He took the Mother’s Affection Sword with a tearful face.

“The Iron Blood Golden Skin Art training is over, so let’s train the Mighty Sword Art now. You saw how I swung it, so slowly follow along as you remember.”

He had a tearful face for a moment, but soon, with an uncharacteristically determined face, he took a starting stance.

“Haat!”

With a spirited shout, he lifted the Mother’s Affection Sword and brought it down as if to tear an opponent apart.

It was the first form I had shown him while hitting him.

However, it wasn't perfect, perhaps because he hadn't seen it clearly while reciting the Iron Blood Golden Skin Art mnemonic.

“Spread your legs a little wider. You must use the strength of your entire body when you strike down. You shouldn't swing with just your arm strength.”

I went to his side and meticulously pointed out his mistakes each time he swung.

“You need to put your weight into it, so lean your upper body slightly forward in time with the downward strike.”

As expected, he was a quick learner when it came to physical skills, and he quickly corrected his posture.

“Hehe. Big Brother. Y-you explain well. Ev-even I can understand.”

A small laugh escaped me at his words.

“I know because I’ve done it.”

It wasn't just about the Mighty Sword Art.

I had no talent.

Every time I trained with the sword, I had to go through countless trials and errors.

The grip of my fingers on the sword, my stance, the subtle movements of my shoulders and wrists, down to every minute muscle movement—I had trained endlessly, correcting all of these things every time.

That's why I could tell at a glance what was wrong with Nam Geon's posture, even the smallest of differences.

At my answer, Nam Geon opened his mouth.

“S-still, you teach well. Big Brother. You have a talent for it.”

I was about to let out a chuckle at his nonsense when a certain memory surfaced.

The young Taoist who had brought me the greatest despair in my life before regression.

When I had asked him for guidance on the sword, the young Taoist had answered.

That he had simply swung it as he felt.

If such a genius were to grow old and teach a disciple, how would he teach?

- You just need to swing it.

- No. Why can’t you do something so simple?

Such a picture automatically formed in my mind.

“Hahahahahaha.”

I burst out laughing like a madman without realizing it.

Is that so.

Did I have a talent too?

No. It wasn’t something I was born with, so it was ambiguous to call it a talent.

The countless trials and errors I had experienced. They had become the nutrients for teaching someone.

“Hahahahaha.”

I laughed so hard that tears welled up in my eyes.

Why didn’t I think of teaching someone in my past life?

Why did I always struggle alone, roaming the various parts of the Central Plains? Even though I knew full well that it was impossible to kill every villain alone.

It was an inferiority complex.

How could someone of my meager skill teach anyone?

Unconsciously, such a thought had taken root deep in my heart.

Once I realized that emotion I hadn't even been aware of, my heart suddenly felt much lighter.

“Huu.”

The laughter that seemed like it would never stop calmed down a little.

I smiled lightly at Nam Geon, who was looking at me strangely, and said.

“Thank you.”

“F-for what?”

He was still looking at me strangely.

Well, that wasn't what was important right now.

“Now. Since you seem to have gotten used to the form of the first move, swing it a thousand more times from now on.”

He furrowed his brow.

“A th-thousand times? I don’t know numbers well.”

If anyone else had said it, it would have sounded like an excuse, but somehow, I felt this guy was being genuine.

“Then how high can you count?”

“Hehe. I can still count up to a hundred.”

I replied to the proud boy.

“One hundred times, ten times. That's a thousand times.”

He furrowed his brow and wiggled his fingers.

The sight of him wiggling his fingers without any sign of difficulty even while holding that ridiculously large Mother’s Affection Sword was truly surreal.

Just then, Nam Geon’s face, which had been busy folding his fingers, turned pale.

“A th-thousand times. That’s too many.”

“You have to do that much for the posture to completely sink into your body. Ah. And since you might forget, you have to train a thousand times in the afternoon and a thousand times in the evening, for a total of three thousand times.”

Nam Geon sighed, readjusted his grip on the Mother’s Affection Sword, and said.

“I-I misspoke. Big Brother, you shouldn’t teach other people. I’m okay because I’m sturdy. But other people will die from exhaustion if they learn from you.”

“Don't worry. People don't die that easily. I know from experience.”

Nam Geon pouted and began to swing the Mother’s Affection Sword in the air.

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