Chapter 40

“Did you really think there’d be no one crazier than you in the martial world?”

“Not exactly.”

Dan Woo-sung sat down on the floor and continued speaking while staring at the dazed Cheol Myeong-ho.

“You worthless bastard, you scum. You’re only a scumbag in this town. In the martial world, no one even knows who you are. After I kill you, no one will even care to know your name.”

That was the reality. Cheolmyeongho retorted.

“Why do you have to dig into people’s hearts while spouting the truth?”

“Since you’ve achieved it a hundred thousand times, I’m just telling you what comes next.”

Cheolmyeongho nodded.

“Ah, thank you. You bastard.”

“I have no intention of teaching you difficult sword techniques.”

Cheol Myeong-ho replied timidly.

“Then wouldn’t it be difficult to become stronger? As you said, it means there are many martial artists who learned the sword techniques created by great sects before me, and with more dedication.”

Dan Wooseong said in a calm tone.

“Myeongho.”

“Go on.”

“Joining a prestigious sect to learn renowned sword techniques and receiving instruction from an excellent master isn’t the whole story. Becoming stronger is a more fundamental issue than that.”

Cheol Myeong-ho listened intently to Dan Woo-seong’s words. His expression was utterly serious.

Dan Wooseong continued.

“It depends on who lives more earnestly.”

“It’s a phrase that feels both familiar and unfamiliar.”

“If those who love to talk were to name the most outstanding sword technique since the beginning of this martial world, nine out of ten would name the legendary Dokgo Gukgeom.”

“I’ve heard of the Solitary Nine Swords too. Most ordinary fellows swung sticks around as kids shouting ‘Solitary Nine Swords!’”

“Martial artists also hold the Dugu Nine Swords in the highest regard. But those same martial artists unanimously say that only one man’s sword technique surpassed the Dugu Nine Swords. I have no disagreement on this point.”

Cheolmyeongho swallowed hard and asked.

“What is it?”

Danwooseong replied.

“The sword-obsessed man, Lord Jin Sohwan’s martial arts.”

“First time hearing that name? Jin Shaohuan? What’s his alias?”

“His nicknames are too numerous to know. This man wasn’t from any martial sect. Even in his youth, not much older than us, he was already called the unbeatable man, the greatest under heaven. If you intend to set your sights on the martial world, you must first know this man’s story.”

“Tell me.”

“He held a sword from the moment he learned to walk and danced with it until his early teens.”

“Why sword dances?”

“Because he came from a troupe of performers.”

“Ah, you mean that lewd sword dance where you use the blade to strip your opponent’s clothes?”

“Exactly.”

Cheol Myeong-ho blurted out the joke, then jumped in surprise.

“What? Seriously?”

“He trained in it for over ten years. He danced with the sword every single day without fail. He probably didn’t know if he’d ever step into the martial world or spend his whole life dancing there, but the important thing is he trained in that sword dance more seriously than anyone else. Why would he do that?”

“It couldn’t have been for money.”

“No. It’s because mistakes would hurt others. Reading his biography, it says he mainly practiced sword dances with the sisters who raised him. What must that child have felt? Practicing sword dances to avoid hurting the sisters who took in an orphaned child.”

“He must have been serious.”

“Then what significance did that sword dance hold as a martial art?”

“Well… It probably wasn’t a formal martial art…”

“I wielded my sword for over ten years just to avoid cutting down my opponent. You, on the other hand, swung it roughly a hundred thousand times for a mere sixty days before appearing before me. Jinxiao Gong wielded his for ten years. Solely to avoid cutting down his opponent.”

“So, you weren’t mad? From what I saw, you seemed pretty mad to me.”

“I don’t know about that. What matters is the next part. This man met masters and formally learned the Way. A man who wielded his sword for ten years to avoid killing others now learned the Way to kill. You can imagine his enlightenment about the sword must have exploded. He must have had a great awakening.”

“That’s insane.”

“Xiao Han unified the Black Path, dismantled the Demon Path, and defeated the masters of the White Path one after another to become the world’s greatest. Of course, he had a master, but he undoubtedly refined his martial arts alone. That man’s martial arts surpassed even the peerless Dugu Jiugan, who was hailed as the world’s greatest. That’s why he’s still talked about today. In the long, long history of martial arts, a man who wields a sword better than Xiao Han will never appear again.”

“Hmm, that’s quite something.”

Cheol Myeong-ho nodded.

Dan Woo-sung spoke.

“That’s why I’m telling you this. The excellence of sword techniques, tradition, or sects—none of that matters. The question of how strong you’ll become thus returns to square one. Will you live like a rat, or will you live like a poisonous dragon? That’s the only question.”

Cheolmyeongho agreed.

“It’s just that simple, then.”

“You only need to train enough to become strong enough to be a fierce warrior. After that, leave it to fate. I can’t know what will become of you either. Now, what will you do?”

Cheolmyeongho met Danwooseong’s gaze directly and replied.

“Tell me what comes next.”

“Regret.”

“None.”

Dan Woosung rose, gripped the black iron umbrella once more, and unleashed horizontal slashes and thrusts. He had only imparted the commonly known Three Talents Sword Technique. Yet it was no simple matter. The black iron umbrella was far heavier than a long sword.

Handing back the black iron umbrella, Dan Woosung asked.

“Do you remember?”

“Am I an idiot? Of course I remember. Not ten thousand times, but a million times I’ll swing it for you.”

“Come here.”

Dan Woo-sung gestured, then went to the window and threw it wide open. The streets were packed with people, anticipating the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Banquet about to begin.

And since they were staying at the most expensive inn, most of the people passing by were martial artists.

Even in the building across the street, on the street, and on the first floor, most people eating or drinking tea carried weapons.

Dan Wooseong and Cheol Myeongho stood side by side, watching the people outside the window.

Danwooseong pointed at a passing swordsman with his finger. He didn’t look particularly impressive.

“How many times do you think that man has swung his sword?”

Cheol Myeong-ho crossed his arms and replied.

“Hmm, fifty thousand to a hundred thousand times? Doesn’t exactly give off a strong vibe.”

“The man next to him…”

“Hard to say. Looks more like a master than a swordsman.”

Danwooseong nodded.

“You can see that?”

“It’s just a feeling.”

“Was that feeling there even before you swung it a hundred thousand times?”

Cheol Myeong-ho opened his mouth as if he’d realized something.

“Ah, probably not.”

“Gauging an opponent’s strength through your senses and experience is called reading their ki. The stronger you become, the more accurately you can discern their ki. Of course, ki can be concealed. That’s because combat is fundamentally a psychological battle.”

Cheol Myeong-ho suddenly felt those five senses awaken as he looked at Dan Woo-seong. When exactly had that forearm become so solid and thick? Cheol Myeong-ho realized this friend could easily kill him with a single swing of his hand. He felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason.

“······I think I understand.”

Dan Woosung replied.

“So watch your words and actions around martial artists. Save that filthy language for when you’re with me. You’ll likely get beaten to death otherwise.”

Cheol Myeong-ho swallowed hard.

“Understood.”

Cheol Myeong-ho said this while looking outside.

“By the way, the place is crawling with strong fighters. As you said, I don’t see anyone who looks like they’d be easy to beat.”

“It’s the Martial Alliance. Plus, the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Tournament, a late-stage competition, is about to begin. It’s no exaggeration to say all the young masters have gathered here.”

Cheol Myeong-ho was startled.

“What? You weren’t holed up here just to participate, were you?”

“Then why else would I be here?”

“Your goal?”

Dan Woosung smiled at the question, which was asking whether his goal was winning or just making it to the top four.

“You’ll see. And since it’s rare to witness the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Assembly in person, find lodging nearby and watch the entire thing. You’ll gain a lot. You’ve got nothing else to do anyway.”

Cheol Myeong-ho retorted while taking a stance.

“Yes, I have absolutely nothing to do. Thank you for your brutally honest and sharp insight. Then, please rest well. Dokjongho-ri will go find lodging.”

Dan Woo-sung nodded.

“Yeah. Get lost.”

Cheol Myeong-ho grabbed his black iron umbrella and exited Dan Woo-seong’s room. He paused, glancing around the wide hallway for a moment. His expression had grown somber.

Cheol Myeong-ho turned away and stared blankly at Dan Woo-seong’s door.

With a truly expressionless face, he knelt down and bowed once toward Danwooseong. Countless resolutions and various thoughts were swirling inside him. Then, rising again, Cheol Myeong-ho muttered as he walked down the hallway.

“I’m grateful you saved me, and I’ll repay the debt of your teachings. Because I am Dokjonghoori.”

Cheol Myeong-ho left Dan Woo-seong’s quarters, gripping the black iron umbrella tightly.

.

.

.

Despite Cheolmyeongho’s departure, Danwooseong kept watching out the window. What was about to happen? People were gathering steadily. The atmosphere felt like something was about to unfold. He hadn’t chosen this lodging to witness such a scene, but the view was truly perfect.

The event unfolding now was the festival known as the eve of the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Assembly.

Dan Wooseong didn’t know if it was official or unofficial. The martial artists staying at the lodging were all watching the street with their windows wide open, just like him.

Soon, people gathered densely, leaving only a circular stage-like space, and a man stood at its center. Waving his fan, he addressed the crowd.

“Do you know why I have come here?”

As answers poured out from all sides, the man nodded and replied.

“Indeed. You all speak wisely. For those who may not know, I shall add this: the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Tournament draws far too many participants. Countless souls exhaust themselves waiting for those damn preliminaries or fall victim to the curse of the tournament. Moreover, the chances of facing the opponent you truly wish to challenge in the tournament are exceedingly slim. Therefore, through this eve festival, we shall reduce the number of preliminary participants, allow those who have long desired to face each other to compete under the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Tournament rules, and above all, alleviate your boredom. And there is one crucial point. If you feel you fall short compared to the level of the duels held at the eve festival, do not set foot in the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Tournament at all. Your level is too low… We do not wish for the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Tournament to become tedious with the participation of all sorts of mediocre individuals.

People here and there responded to the man’s words. Danwooseong had never participated in the Yongbong Grand Festival. Yet the fervor of this eve celebration was no less than that of the festival itself.

The man pointed to several areas where spectators gathered and declared.

“The Wulin Alliance warriors will be watching this eve celebration. Any cowardly ambushes by comrades, anyone throwing hidden weapons, or anyone interfering with the contest will be summarily dealt with by the Alliance members. I don’t know how many are watching, so refrain from rash actions.”

What should one call this?

In a way, it was also an opportunity to spread his fame far and wide. Because the preliminary rounds were held in various locations, and the eve festival brought together all those interested to focus their attention.

Dan Woo-sung crossed his arms and smiled.

A martial world entirely different from the solitary one of his past life was unfolding.

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong

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