Chapter 105 Sword Saint – Part 2

Chapter 105: Sword Saint – Part 2

I sat there for a long while, as if lost in a trance.

I had once heard rumors of martial arts that allowed one to enter dreams for training.

That martial art is said to be a mysterious technique that allows one to continuously relive desired memories within a dream space, or even create an opponent they once fought to spar with.

Of course, I couldn’t use that martial art.

But I could do something slightly similar.

That was precisely this: using my most outstanding talent, my memory, to replay scenes I had witnessed in reality exactly as they were.

In meditation, I recalled the marvelous sword strike I had witnessed just moments before.

Then the scene from earlier, the figure of the sword saint, and that transcendent sword strike began unfolding vividly once more within my mind’s eye.

‘Truthfully, it was thanks to this method that I could internalize what I learned from Mookrang so quickly. The application of Divine Response, the Emptiness is Form principle.’

Especially with Moolang, it wasn’t just seeing the movements—my own body had moved. Being able to recall even the sensations and feelings from that time had been an immense help.

That’s why even now, I continued to watch and repeat the sword master’s cuts and thrusts over and over in my mind’s eye.

That breath, that movement, that feeling—let them all be etched into my soul.

After meditating like that for quite some time, I slowly opened my eyes, feeling a little regretful.

I had a dinner appointment later that evening, so I couldn’t continue my practice.

‘What a pity. I wanted to see it at least a thousand times.’

But as I opened my eyes with that thought, I was startled by what I saw before me.

Right before me, the venerable Sword Saint had been waiting patiently until my meditation ended.

And he was looking at me with a warm smile, watching me intently.

“Hey, Master Sword Saint?!”

I was so flustered I couldn’t even think of what to say.

But then, Master Sword Spirit spoke to me first.

“I was worried you might be late for the dinner gathering, but you woke up just in time. Come, let’s go together.”

Today was the day for our Seventh Division’s dinner gathering.

It was a farewell banquet for me and Miss Qingyan, combined with a welcome banquet for Ma Mengyun and Miss Yawunxiang.

Although it felt a bit awkward since Lady Na hadn’t returned yet, we decided to go ahead with those present since we didn’t know when she would arrive.

Master Sword must have been waiting to take me away.

“If I’d known you were here, I would have gotten up sooner. I’m sorry.”

As I sincerely apologized to the Sword Saint, he laughed heartily and shook his head.

“Hahaha! I enjoyed watching you so focused. If I had distracted you from your training, wouldn’t I be the one to apologize? So there’s absolutely no need for you to feel sorry.”

“Still, haven’t you wasted too much time on my account? You could have spent that time with Lady Cheongyeon instead.”

He glanced around cautiously before whispering softly.

“I love our daughter more than anything in the world, but that doesn’t mean I want to be with Cheongyeon all the time. I need some life of my own, don’t I? Of course, what I’m saying now is absolutely secret from Cheongyeon.”

His playful wink as he spoke drew a faint smile from me.

How quickly he could put someone at ease like this—it made me think, “He truly is the Sword Saint.”

Suddenly, I asked him.

“Why do you bestow such generous teachings upon us, who are completely unrelated to you? We are neither your disciples nor fellow disciples.”

For a martial artist, martial arts skills and insights were the greatest treasure, incomparable to any material wealth.

Therefore, it was extremely rare for a martial artist to impart teachings to outsiders who were neither disciples nor fellow disciples.

Moreover, the growth of disciples from other sects could potentially become a threat to one’s own sect in the future, couldn’t it?

But the Sword Saint seemed entirely free of such thoughts.

He had not taught his Seongra Sword Technique, but he had generously imparted his teachings to every warrior of the Flying Dragon Corps whenever the opportunity arose.

At first, we wondered if his kindness stemmed from our being Qingyan’s companions.

But later we learned that wasn’t the case either.

He taught other Dragonfly Squad members just as he taught us.

So while his actions were undoubtedly deeply appreciated, it was also true that they raised questions.

Then, the swordsman fell into thought for a moment before smiling faintly and suddenly began to speak.

“In my youth, my dream was to become the greatest hero under heaven and create a world where righteousness prevailed.”

His somewhat unexpected words made me nod in quiet admiration.

“Ah, I see.”

It was a story that couldn’t help but inspire admiration.

He had truly become the greatest hero under heaven, just as he had dreamed in his youth.

A life where dreams come true—it was admirable and enviable.

But the old master of the sword spoke next with a strangely bitter expression.

“Now, shamefully enough, I am called the greatest hero under heaven. In that regard, I suppose I can say I’ve achieved my dream to some extent. But you see. Even after I gained that title, a world where humanity truly thrived never came to pass. No matter how many vicious bandits I slew or villains I punished, the world remained a harsh place for the weak. In fact, after gaining that empty fame, it became harder to deal with them. They started avoiding me like cockroaches, you see.”

The old swordsman, having spoken thus far, suddenly let out a wry chuckle. It was a laugh tinged with self-mockery.

Then he said bitterly,

“I was arrogant. I thought I could change the world with my strength alone.”

A sigh escaped me.

His confession resonated deeply with me even now.

Wasn’t I, too, aiming to change the future with my own strength?

But if even that Sword Saint couldn’t do it, was my own thinking arrogant too?

My mind was growing complicated.

Then he grinned and said to me.

So I pondered it for a long time. And I came to my own conclusion. My conclusion was this: To create a world where humanity thrives, relying solely on my own strength was absolutely impossible. Then, it was utterly impossible. Even among the weak, there are villains, and even among third-rate warriors, there are villains, aren’t there? But the only ones I could handle were the famous masters who had become renowned.

Then, suddenly, he continued with a mischievous expression.

“So I thought to myself. Though it may be difficult alone, wouldn’t it be possible if I increased the number of people joining me? Among ordinary people, if there are villains, I could strengthen the good ones. Among third-rate warriors, if there are villains, I could strengthen the good ones. That sort of thing. If people with humanity and righteousness increase within each group, wouldn’t a world where humanity and righteousness thrive eventually come to pass?”

His eyes burned with such intense fervor as he spoke. Like a youth brimming with passion, like a conqueror harboring ambitions to dominate the world.

“Did you just say you were imparting teachings to outsiders who have nothing to do with me? That can’t be. That statement is profoundly wrong. They absolutely do have something to do with me. Aren’t you all comrades who will help me realize my dream?”

My heart surged, and I couldn’t utter a word.

I was overwhelmed by his boyish smile and passion, by the sheer magnitude of his vision that saw everyone as comrades.

He truly could be none other than the greatest swordsman under heaven.

“Of course, your reasons for being on the front lines vary. But even so, I believe this: those of you who sacrifice your precious youth to fight the Blood Cult deserve to be called true heroes. So isn’t it only natural that I help you grow stronger?”

He asked this, gazing at me with a warm look.

It was a gaze so warm, unlike any I’d ever received from an adult before.

Then, as if something occurred to him, he exclaimed, “Ah!” and spoke again.

“Of course, there are still those like Mayu-gyeom from last time on the front lines. But didn’t you, who received my teachings, stop him? Isn’t this proof that my dream is being realized? Hahahaha!”

My throat tightened for a moment, but I managed to laugh and speak.

“I see. You truly are fulfilling a grand dream, Elder.”

Then he smiled broadly and said.

“You get it! You really understand! Honestly, when I tell my friends stories like this, they just scold me for being so old and still not having grown up, ha ha ha ha! You’re my… Anyway, thanks, ha ha ha ha!”

After laughing heartily for a while, he suddenly asked me.

“But then, I’m curious about you too. Might I ask what your dream is?”

At his question, I smiled awkwardly and shook my head.

“It’s a small goal, nothing compared to your dream. I’m too embarrassed to even mention it.”

He chuckled and shook his head.

Don’t do that. If there’s one thing I’ve learned at my age, it’s that every person is a different being. Those who cannot accept that, when they become powerful in martial arts, often become a scourge upon the world.

Those who cannot accept others different from themselves become a menace when they gain power.

His words struck a deep chord within me.

He continued speaking.

So don’t be ashamed. What if your dream is to become the greatest under heaven and dominate the world? What if it’s to build a happy family and live contentedly? They’re all your own dreams. As long as it’s not a dream of exploiting the weak to survive, isn’t that enough? Don’t be ashamed of your dreams. In my opinion, that would be an insult to the dream itself. Ah, but of course, this is just my own opinion.”

I couldn’t help but marvel at his final words once more.

I’ve seen many masters proclaiming this is justice and truth, but I’ve never seen a master who would say, “This is just my opinion.”

How can one grow old like this person, with such generosity and consideration—acknowledging differences with others and not imposing one’s own views?

He was a person I couldn’t help but deeply respect.

In that moment, I felt an overwhelming urge to tell him about my dream.

Because I was certain he would cheer me on and offer his support.

I cautiously opened my mouth.

“My dream is to eradicate the Blood Cult from this world. So that no one around me dies because of them anymore. That is my dream now.”

Then, with a pleased look on his face, he patted my shoulder and said.

“I knew it! I recognized you as a true hero long ago! Yes, I hope you achieve that dream. I’ll help you as much as I can!”

It was an incredibly reassuring thing to hear.

Filled with pride, I bowed my head sincerely in gratitude.

“Thank you. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

Then he paused as if pondering something, before suddenly speaking again.

“But you know what? I’m not sure if it’s just my imagination, but somehow you don’t appear in your own dreams. Where is your place in those dreams?”

“…Huh?”

His question left me momentarily flustered.

Me absent from my own dream?

It was a question I had never considered.

“You erase the Blood Sect. Thus, you save the people around you. A most admirable dream indeed. But in that world where the Blood Sect no longer exists, what are you doing?”

After a moment’s thought, I finally understood what he was saying.

His dream was to become the world’s greatest swordsman and create a world where righteousness prevailed.

Therefore, living as the world’s greatest swordsman himself was part of that dream.

But in my dream of creating a world without the Blood Sect, my own place didn’t really exist.

It was a fact I had only just come to realize myself.

He spoke to me with a slightly serious expression.

Of course, this is just my personal opinion. But at least I believe that I myself should be as important as this world. People who value themselves more than the world might become villains, but I’ve seen many cases where those who value the world more than themselves ultimately fall into emptiness. That emptiness comes when the world you thought was more important than yourself turns out to be different from your expectations.

The world I thought was more important than myself turned out to be different from my expectations?

It was a statement that didn’t resonate easily.

Wasn’t the world always different from my expectations?

Then, as if reading my expression, the Sword Saint explained with an example.

“This might sound a bit extreme, but suppose you succeed in destroying the Blood Sect. What then, if the ones who come to rule the world in its place turn out to be villains just as wicked? What if those who survived thanks to you proceed to plunge the world into chaos just as the Blood Sect did?”

This time, it clicked.

Because the Martial Alliance immediately came to mind.

What if I destroyed the Blood Sect, only to have my precious people killed by the Martial Alliance, now unchecked?

Just thinking about it felt utterly futile.

I suddenly asked him.

“Have you ever felt that kind of emptiness, Master Sword Saint?”

Earlier, he had said he had seen such people, but somehow it didn’t feel like he was talking about others, so I asked.

He answered with a bitter smile.

“Well, the results of a journey together aren’t always beautiful, you see.”

I simply nodded at his answer.

His expression carried too much weight for me to ask more.

Instead, I asked something else.

“Then how did you overcome that emptiness?”

He grinned and replied.

“In my case, it was family.”

“Family?”

“Yes, family. I couldn’t change the whole world, but at least I could change the world my family lived in into one where humanity and righteousness thrived. And even if I failed, knowing there was a place to return to, a place where I could rest and start over, gave me tremendous strength.”

His expression as he spoke of family looked incredibly happy.

Somehow, just watching it made my heart feel happy too.

He continued speaking.

Some say that for a warrior, family is nothing but a weakness. But I don’t see it that way. Isn’t being a weakness proof of how important they are to me? For me, family has been the pillar supporting my life. Without them, I might have already given up on the world and abandoned my dreams. Look at me now. Haven’t I been betrayed by a close friend in the Martial Alliance, someone I’ve known and trusted for over a decade? If I didn’t have my family, how on earth would I have endured that?”

Suddenly, I nodded in admiration at his words.

I hadn’t given it much thought until now, but it was clear that Jegal Jikang’s betrayal must have been a huge shock to him.

If I had to compare it, wouldn’t it feel like being betrayed by someone like Bi Sa-yeong or Bae Jong-gwan?

The very thought was horrifying.

“Family…”

For me, family had never been a word that resonated with such warmth.

But if I could build a happy family like the Sword Saint did, it might just become a great source of strength for me.

As I was lost in such thoughts, the old master of the sword suddenly glanced at me and asked in a subtle voice.

“Now then, have you perhaps set your sights on a woman as a marriage partner?”

For some reason, his voice carried an oddly burdensome warmth.

I suddenly thought of Lady So, but quickly shook my head and replied with a smile.

“No, I haven’t thought about that yet. Just surviving is keeping me busy enough right now…”

At that, the Sword Saint nodded with a look that seemed somehow disappointed.

“Hmm, is that so?”

I felt strangely sorry.

You’ve been teaching me so diligently, yet I feel like I’ve disappointed you.

I felt like I’d done something terribly wrong.

So I hurriedly said,

“I’ll start searching diligently from now on. I’ve come to realize, just as you said, that my place must be in my dream.”

At that, his face immediately brightened. He patted my shoulder twice and said.

“Oh! I’m so glad you think that way! You really are my… Hmm, hmm, you’re just like me.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

It was a tremendous honor that the legendary swordsman regarded me, if not as a disciple, then at least as a worthy apprentice.

The Sword Saint cleared his throat briefly before speaking again in a subdued voice.

“Hmm, hmm, and one more thing. This is based on my experience, but the best woman is always the one right beside me. So keep your eyes open around you.”

Hearing his words, I thought of Lady Na again.

I felt a slight pang of bitterness, but I just smiled and nodded.

“Yes, that certainly seems to be the case.”

Then he burst into hearty laughter and patted my shoulder again, thump! thump!

…It hurt a little.

“Hahaha! So you were thinking that too, huh? I knew it. Stupid men always get fantasies about women they’ve just met, but isn’t that the most foolish thing imaginable? The most precious thing is always right beside me! Hahaha!”

“Yes, it really seems that way.”

“Hahahahaha! We really are on the same wavelength! You’re my soulmate… or rather, my kind of person! Hahahaha!”

Even after that, on the way to the dinner party, Sword Star and I were able to have all sorts of conversations.

From martial arts to life on the front lines, even stories of love with a woman in his youth.

Suddenly, I thought to myself:

If only someone like this had been my father.

I wish I could have shared moments like this with my own father.

It was a day when I found myself deeply envious of Lady Cheongyeon.