Chapter 22. Swordsman Lee Byeok (1)

When Lee Byeok went out to the training ground, Jaegal Somi was there.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the two of them blinked as if on cue.

“Sajeo, good morning.”

Lee Byeok spoke first.

In the silence, a smile slowly spread across Jaegal Somi's lips.

“Little squirt. Did you sleep well?”

She nonchalantly accepted his greeting.

But in truth, it was the moment of their reunion, nearly three months after Lee Byeok had collapsed last autumn.

“Ah, wait a minute, squirt.”

Thud!

Suddenly, Jaegal Somi put down the water jug she was carrying on her head.

She walked over to the wall and picked up a broom that was leaning against it.

Jeobeok jeobeok!

She returned to Lee Byeok with a bright smile.

“Sajeo, why the broom—”

Ppeok!

She struck Lee Byeok's side.

“Keoheok.”

Ppeok! Ppeok, ppeok!

The inverted broom began to mercilessly pummel Lee Byeok's entire body. Lee Byeok tried to step back.

Deobseok!

But then, someone grabbed Lee Byeok from behind.

An arm was thrust under each of his shoulders, firmly pinning them.

“Hit him, hit him, Sajeo. Just kill him.”

“Oh, well done. Hold him tight, Griz.”

Hyuk Dae-woong spoke from behind.

Twetwe, Jaegal Somi spat on her hands. With a chilling smile, she gripped the broom tightly.

“Relax, little squirt. You’ll break a bone, you know?”

“W-wait, what on earth…”

Ppeok!

“Good morniiing~? Good morniiiiiing~? Do you have any idea how much trouble the entire village went through because of you, you little rat?!”

Ppeok, ppeok! Ppeok!

“Collapsing is one thing! If you woke up, you should have just stayed in bed and eaten your porridge! Why the hell did you crawl into a waterfall in the dead of winter? Are you crazy?!”

Ppeok! Ppeok!

It hurt. It felt like his whole body was shriveling up. Lee Byeok felt a vivid pain digging into his joints.

“What. Does it hurt? Aww, no way. Our brilliant little one, pretending to be in pain so his delicate Sajeo’s heart doesn’t break~?”

“Yeah, that's right, Byeok. Unlike us dullards, you can use inner energy when you're in danger, right? Use it, use your inner energy. Something like Body-Protecting Qi, hurry up.”

Ppeok, ppeok! Ppeok!

The helpless beating continued.

No matter how much he struggled, there was no way his frail body could overcome Hyuk Dae-woong's strength.

“W-wait, Sajeo, wait!”

The moment the thought that he might actually die crossed his mind, Lee Byeok shouted.

“What? Got something to say?”

The broom stopped abruptly.

In the brief silence, Lee Byeok desperately tried to think of something to say.

“…You just hit a bone.”

“Yeah, I was aiming for it.”

“……”

Ppeok! Ppeok, ppeok!

What on earth should I say? How can I get out of this situation?

But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't figure it out.

“I-I was wrong. Please stop now…”

Finally, a pitiful voice escaped Lee Byeok's lips. The broom stopped abruptly.

“Little squirt, what did you just say?”

“…I was wrong about everything.”

“Aww, that was close. Not enough sincerity yet, huh? But it looks like the rod of love is having some effect~”

Ppeok! Ppeok! Ppeok! Ppeok!

“I was wr-wrong— no, I was in the wrong!”

“That’s it! Almost there!”

Ppeok, ppeok, ppeok!

“Keok! I-I was wrong, Sajeo!”

* * *

Afterward, the three of them had a meal.

It had been quite a long time since they had all sat around the dining table together.

But what was given to Lee Byeok was just a single bowl of pale, watery porridge.

Of course, in his condition, having not eaten anything proper for several months, he couldn't complain about the food.

In the first place, if it weren't for Lee Jincheon's god-like medical skills, he would have struggled just to stay alive, and even if he had survived, rehabilitation would have taken a very long time.

“Alright, now tell us the whole story.”

After the meal, Jaegal Somi said as they sat around in the room. Hyuk Dae-woong also crossed his arms and nodded.

He knew what she meant.

In other words, she wanted an explanation for everything, from the circumstances of his collapse and loss of consciousness to his jumping into the waterfall as soon as he woke up.

It was quite a predicament.

In the end, the cause of everything was Lee Byeok's past, and even if he were to tell the story, he didn't know where or how to begin. But.

The two of them deserved to hear it.

“…I wasn’t trying to die.”

After much thought, Lee Byeok began to speak.

“It was the opposite. I wanted to escape from the memories of the past, and at that time, I could only think that pushing myself to the limit was the only way.”

“……”

A brief silence.

Jaegal Somi sighed.

“Hey, Lee Byeok.”

“…I'm listening.”

“As if it wasn’t enough to worry about my good-for-nothing junior brother getting stabbed to death somewhere, now I have to worry about you jumping off a cliff with a broken heart and dying? Do I have to worry about that too?”

“Mhm, she’s right.”

Hyuk Dae-woong nodded his head.

“After we saved you with all our might, I’d be so proud if you were found as a dead body that committed suicide in a valley. Right?”

“Mhm, that’s a betrayal, that is.”

“……”

Even with ten mouths, he had nothing to say.

Lee Byeok had resolved to protect those around him. It was likely not much different for the two of them.

In a relationship, someone's death does not end with just that one person.

Therefore, Lee Byeok would not give up his life under any circumstances.

He had to give them a reason to be at ease.

“…I’m alright now.”

“What do you mean, alright? Says who? You think you can just draw your own conclusions and move on to the next step? Is it because you haven't been beaten enough—"

“I had an enlightenment.”

Lee Byeok looked back at the two of them.

“I think I’ve obtained the Jincheon Falling Sword Divine Art.”

“…What?”

Silence fell once again.

The expressions of the two, who had been sternly frowning, slowly turned complex.

“Wait, Byeok, what does that mean? You, you got your inner energy back? Not temporarily, but for real?”

Hook, Hyuk Dae-woong's face drew closer.

Strictly speaking, it was a slightly different concept, but it wasn't wrong.

“……”

Soon, a flame began to flicker in the eyes of the two.

He knew what they wanted without them having to say it.

Lee Byeok stood up from his seat.

The two of them also shot up as if it were a matter of course, and the three of them went out to the training ground together.

Lee Byeok picked up a wooden sword.

After standing in the center of the training ground, he closed his eyes and looked into his heart.

The handful of power residing there was called the ‘Innate’.

Soon, the power of the Innate began to move.

It unraveled itself and wrapped around the acupoints along the path of the Azure River Flowing Leaf Art.

It tied a knot and created a circulation.

It was all done in a single breath.

Amidst the fullness that filled his body, Lee Byeok opened his eyes.

Woooong, the wooden sword vibrated lightly.

It was the clear sign of inner energy.

Lee Byeok turned his gaze to his martial siblings. A look of astonishment appeared on Hyuk Dae-woong's and Jaegal Somi's faces.

Their mouths hung open.

After a long silence, the two looked at each other.

“What… for real……?”

“…This is absurd.”

“Heh heh heh, what’s so absurd about it?”

Just then, a familiar voice cut in.

In the distance, Lee Jincheon was approaching with his hands behind his back and a brisk pace.

“Ahem! There was teaching and there was learning, so it’s a natural result. Ahem! Did you think I’ve been scamming you all this time?”

“……”

His eyes met Lee Byeok’s.

The moment he saw the smile on Lee Jincheon's face, Lee Byeok felt a smile forming on his own face as well.

Heart-to-heart communication.

What cannot be conveyed with words is conveyed through the eyes.

Having removed the stone from his heart, he was now finally able to look at the moon his master's finger was pointing at, not just the finger itself.

Lee Jincheon opened his mouth.

“Hey, it actually works.”

“…Pardon?”

“No, honestly, I did pass down the Jincheon Falling Sword Divine Art to you three. But this is the first time I’ve seen someone other than myself achieve it……”

Fiddle, fiddle.

Lee Jincheon's hands groped at Lee Byeok.

“Well now, the more I look, the more amazing it is. How did this happen? To master it so quickly, it’s a little scary……”

“……”

Ahem, Lee Jincheon cleared his throat.

He stroked his chin as if lost in thought, then faced Lee Byeok and opened his mouth.

“Lee Byeok, how about a match with me?”

* * *

Gulp, Lee Byeok swallowed his saliva.

On the other hand, Lee Jincheon simply tilted his head with a carefree posture, the wooden sword resting on his shoulder.

“Go on, little one, do everything you can. But don't overdo it.”

“……”

Amidst the tension, Lee Byeok felt a surge of exhilaration. The martial artist's competitive spirit reared its head for the first time in a long while.

The power he had regained… no, he wanted to test the extent of this newly acquired power.

And Lee Jincheon, the Sect Leader, was an absolute master whom he could never surpass, no matter what he did.

Lee Byeok bowed his head.

And he infused the sword with his momentum.

Woooong!

Soon, the refined energy seeped into the wooden sword. The sensation was no different from before he lost his Qi Center.

Taat, Lee Byeok kicked off the ground.

Tang! Taang!

The Azure River Sword Style embroidered the air.

Several clashes came and went in a flash. It couldn't even be compared to movements without inner energy.

As if the time he had been bedridden was a lie, his breathing was stable, and the wooden sword was as nimble as if it had wings.

The inner energy contained in each and every sword strike stretched out in streams.

“Oooh. Scary.”

Lee Jincheon continuously stepped back.

Lee Byeok followed the path of the Lotus Leaf Footwork.

He pursued the retreating Lee Jincheon and took an advantageous position.

This was the footwork of the Seonwoo Clan, which compensated for the weakness of the Azure River Sword Style's specific sequence of drawing and withdrawing the sword through distance control.

“……”

Lee Byeok was inwardly surprised.

Even using both swordsmanship and footwork together, he didn't feel strained at all.

The Innate power moved on its own, and with each movement, inner energy followed.

Just by inhaling and exhaling, the expended power was replenished.

It felt as if the Azure River Flowing Leaf Art was operating by itself within his body throughout the entire martial arts display.

Tang, taang, tang!

Lee Byeok continued to extend his sword without stopping.

Lee Jincheon focused on parrying and continuously retreated.

But Lee Byeok felt it.

It might seem as if he was cornering Lee Jincheon, but in reality, that was not the case at all.

The six forms of the Azure River Sword Style were being perfectly neutralized, one by one, by their opposing forms.

When their eyes met, Lee Jincheon grinned. It was as if he knew Lee Byeok's sword better than Lee Byeok himself.

“……”

Of course, what the current Lee Byeok had was not all that the Azure River Sword Style possessed.

The secret sword forms he had lost along with his inner energy had been returned to him with the attainment of the Jincheon Falling Sword Divine Art.

Azure River Flowing Leaf Sword Style.

First Form of the Sword-Drawing Style.

Straight Sword.

Swaek!

The next moment, Lee Byeok's sword extended toward a single point. With a sound of cutting through the air, it pierced through the shortest path.

“Ooh.”

Lee Jincheon took another step back with a feigned look of surprise.

The attack came to nothing, but a very slight opening was created.

That was enough.

Lee Byeok closed the distance again.

And the Azure River Sword Style continued.

He couldn't let the hard-won opening close. Clinging to the opportunity, Lee Byeok refined his techniques.

And.

Azure River Flowing Leaf Sword Style.

Second Form of the Sword-Drawing Style.

Fast Sword.

Taang!

Once again, the secret sword art flashed.

Finally, the tip of the sword passed Lee Jincheon's defense and dug in.

No, but it was a delusion.

Twoong!

Lee Byeok's Fast Sword was deflected again by Lee Jincheon's sword, which had moved lightly as if just placing it there.

“……”

Lee Jincheon shrugged.

It was surprising, but there was no time to be surprised.

Lee Byeok took a step back and composed his breathing. If this were a real battle, the victor would have been decided long ago.

But… he didn't want to end it yet.

Azure River Flowing Leaf Sword Style.

Second Form of the Sword-Withdrawal Style.

Variable Sword.

Lee Byeok charged.

He disregarded defense and drew back his extended sword. At that moment, the tip of Lee Byeok's sword began to hold countless variations.

It branched out in various ways, pressuring Lee Jincheon's front.

“Haha, so that’s how it is. I get the gist of it.”

Seuk, Lee Jincheon drew a single stroke.

No, but it wasn't a simple sword path. Lee Byeok knew instinctively.

That sword was not something that could be described as a single stroke.

It was a single sword strike of a level that the current Lee Byeok could not even begin to fathom.

Tuk, tuduk!

With just that, all the variations Lee Byeok's sword had been drawing lost their momentum and died out.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

“……”

A complex feeling swept over him.

Using the Azure River Flowing Leaf Sword Style, which should have been used as a decisive blow, recklessly had drained nearly half of his inner energy.

But even that expended inner energy was visibly recovering in real-time within his body.

Lee Byeok realized.

He was clearly stronger than in the past.

The Innate power, the Jincheon Falling Sword Divine Art, was an absurd power.

If he controlled it well, it seemed he would never run out of inner energy during a battle.

But at the same time, even that was completely ineffective against Lee Jincheon.

Not only was it ineffective, he couldn't even gauge the extent of the gap between them.

“Well, not bad. Now you won't go around getting beaten up by some fledgling prodigy.”

Tak tak, Lee Jincheon said, tapping his shoulder with the wooden sword. But a sense of regret lingered in Lee Byeok's heart.

He still hadn't used his full power.

He wanted to experience his own limits.

An un-depletable amount of inner energy was welling up inside him like a spring.

But it was meaningless if he had no means to utilize it.

Hoo-wook!

Lee Byeok gripped the wooden sword tightly.

He began to recklessly pour his inner energy into it.

Bureureu, the wooden sword, now filled to its limit with inner energy, trembled slightly. He felt a strong repulsive force in his palm.

If he forced any more energy into it, the wooden sword would explode on the spot.

But is this really all there is?

Lee Byeok asked himself.

Of course, there was no reason to be impatient.

As someone who had once lost everything, he should be more than happy to have gained this much power.

But Lee Jincheon was standing before him.

Only after regaining his power did he truly realize what an unbelievably formidable existence he was.

Above the clouds, so high he couldn't even look up.

Before being a Sect Leader and a disciple, as a fellow swordsman, he wanted to clash with everything he had.

Woooong!

And then, an answer came from an unexpected source.

From a corner of Lee Byeok's heart, the Innate power whispered.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.