Chapter 44 Short Break (2)

Chapter 44 Short Break (2)

Song Mok noticed Gu Yangjeok among the disciples.

Suddenly, his eyes deepened.

Amidst these busy days.

He had heard news that Gu Yangji was training his body to an almost brutal degree.

But even Song Muk didn’t view all of Gu Yangji’s actions favorably.

‘To openly declare he’s targeting the Black Dragon Sect…’

That was undoubtedly his primary objective.

But one couldn’t say there were no other intentions behind it.

Perhaps he was trying to coordinate the training of the Huashan Sect itself?

Or to make it known to the outside world that he still coveted the Black Dragon Sect?

Thinking it through, Song Mu suddenly chuckled.

‘Seems I’ve been overestimating that Gu Yang fellow.’

No matter how deep Gu Yangjeok’s schemes ran, or how brilliant his intellect, he couldn’t possibly be that calculating.

As Song Mok passed by with this thought, Gu Yangjeok’s gaze flicked in his direction.

“Master, is something wrong?”

“No.”

At Ik-hyeon’s words, Gu Yangjeok turned his attention back to him.

His brow furrowed slightly.

“Twist your waist more to put power behind it!”

“Thank you!”

It was his disciple who had steadfastly followed him through that arduous path.

Even though the master he served and the martial arts he learned were different.

As long as Ik-hyeon showed this kind of effort, Gu Yang-jeok could only repay it.

“…Aren’t you ashamed at your age?”

Eok-hyeon’s shoulders flinched at the words that reached him from somewhere.

He was already twenty-three this year.

Yet, even after being scolded by Ha Jin-ak for showing no improvement in his skills, he remained stuck at the second-rate level.

In such a situation, it couldn’t look good for him to be learning from Gu Yang-jeok, the direct disciple of the Sect Leader, an eighteen-year-old private tutor.

‘Like this, I can’t even show my face to the sickbed of Senior Brother Ha…’

“Don’t be so dismissive, Yi Xizhi.”

“…?”

Gu Yangjie spoke in a disinterested tone.

“There’s nothing more pathetic than using age as an excuse to scold others. If the senior master had seen it, he would have struck you.”

So you weren’t wrong.

When Gu Yangjie said this, Yi Xian’s face brightened.

“I am only grateful that my senior brother would say such a thing.”

“No, it shouldn’t end there.”

Immediately after saying that.

Gu Yangjeok swiftly pushed through the crowd of people engrossed in their training and approached a certain Daoist.

Seemingly not expecting him to come out like this, the goose bumps on the back of his hand looked rather unsettling.

A subtle smile appeared on Gu Yangjeok’s face.

“I was wondering who it was… Young Sa-jil, or rather… Young Mo-yun, was it?”

At those words, the young Taoist hurriedly bowed his head.

“My name is Young Mo-yeon.”

“Well, the name isn’t that important.”

Gu Yangjeok shrugged lightly.

He acted as if he didn’t know much, but in truth, he already had the entire roster of Hwasan clearly memorized in his mind.

‘I heard both are disciples of disciples taken in by Elder Cheol…’

Seeing them squabble like this and still being left unchecked, it was clear their master was no good.

Recalling Cheolgeumsan’s somewhat sinister demeanor, Gu Yangjeok turned to look at Ik Hyeon.

“Why not spar with Young Sa-jil now, Ik Sa-jil?”

“Sa… Sa-jil!”

At those words, Ik Hyeon gasped in shock, his speech faltering. Yet, with so many eyes watching, he dared not wave him off.

Who was Young Mo-yeon?

From the moment he began learning martial arts, his innate talent was outstanding, making him stand out among countless disciples.

Because of that, he occasionally received direct martial arts instruction from Cheolgimsan himself.

His innate talent and martial prowess were worlds apart from Ik-hyeon’s.

While Ik-hyeon’s eyes still wavered, Yeong Mo-yeon answered swiftly.

“I will follow my senior disciple’s command.”

“Good!”

Whistling softly, Gu Yangjie patted Ikhyeon’s shoulder and asked.

“Why? Lacking confidence?”

“That… honestly, yes.”

“Why?”

Ikhyeon muttered, making sure only Gu Yangjie could hear.

“Because I’ve always lost to my senior sister.”

“Is that so?”

Gu Yangjie gave a sly smile, then infused his voice with a pinch of inner strength.

“Then just win this time!”

At that voice, even the cultivators practicing nearby paused momentarily and looked over.

The disciples of Yu Zhangming and the other elders were no exception.

Losing here would mean public humiliation.

The future flashed through his mind—a future so humiliating he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up again.

-Have confidence.

At that telepathic message, Yi-hyeon’s eyes widened in surprise.

Gu Yang-jeok was smiling.

-Didn’t you, Younger Brother, train by my side until the very end, even when other senior brothers and disciples gave up?

-But…

As Ik-hyeon’s telepathic voice faltered slightly, Gu Yang-jeok covered his mouth with his palm.

A sorrowful expression then appeared on Ik-hyeon’s face.

It clearly conveyed the meaning: What could he possibly do, unable to properly use telepathy and lacking talent?

Nevertheless, Gu Yang-jeok shook his head.

When he removed his hand, his face still held a smile.

-A person isn’t judged by innate talent alone.

“……?”

Frankly, he wanted to say aloud that he should just follow what he’d been taught.

But that wouldn’t allow Yi-hyeon to grow on his own. Knowing this, Gu Yang-jeok stopped his advice there.

Yi-hyeon listened to it earnestly.

He finally raised his sword.

“Understood, Master.”

Ik-hyeon scanned the blade with cold eyes.

His mind, boiling for an instant, became intensely focused, as if the entire world converged upon the sword’s edge.

Only then did he realize.

That the sword he had wielded until now had been nothing but form.

“I will return victorious.”

Along with words that seemed to solidify his resolve and will, Gu Yangjeok sensed a change in the aura emanating from Ik-hyeon.

Even Yoo Jang-myeong, who had been silently watching him, let out a brief gasp of surprise.

Yoo Jang-myeong sent a telepathic message to Gu Yangjeok.

-What did you say to him?

-Just something that seemed appropriate.

-What on earth could that have been…

Yu Jang-myeong watched Yi Hyeon leap up, kicking off the ground, and let out a hollow laugh.

-For that kind of thing, he’s changed too much, hasn’t he?

Gu Yang-jeok chuckled softly.

-When one’s mind is cluttered with distractions, it’s only natural to sweat it out. Also, look forward to what Yi Hyeon will show you.

If he can just properly execute what he’s been taught, he should be able to defeat Young Mo-yeon.

Gu Yang-jeok watched Yi Hyeon’s retreating back, silently cheering him on.

Clang!

The first clash of blades rang out.

Between the two swords, in the extremely brief moment of contact, sparks flew like plum blossoms.

A flicker of surprise crossed Young Mo-yeon’s face.

It was just a moment, yet it felt like he was a different person.

Then he quickly corrected his thought.

‘No, it’s an illusion.’

His thoughts were interrupted by the immediate strike that followed.

Ying Moyan looked at Yi Xian standing before him and was deeply impressed.

‘How is it possible…’

How had she become capable of wielding such a calm, single strike?

Crack!

As Ik-hyeon’s sword swept in a long curve, Yeong Mo-yeon’s body staggered.

But she wasn’t the type to end there.

Yeong Mo-yeon seemed to bend her knees for an instant, then instantly reversed her offense.

Sword and sword intertwined, sparks clinging to each other.

Ik-hyeon’s blade plunged downward, while Yeong Mo-yeon’s blade soared upward.

At that moment.

Ik-hyeon’s gaze briefly turned toward the past.

When he trained beside Gu Yang-jeok, the old man had said.

“A sword has dozens of variations and empty spaces, but for a commoner like you, that’s impossible. One is the limit.”

It was a painful remark.

It pierced the very limit of the warrior Ik-hyeon possessed, nearly making him choke back tears.

But Gu Yang-jeok’s words didn’t end there.

“But if you can master that one technique perfectly, you’ll possess a weapon that can defeat anyone. Do you understand?”

It was still a bitter truth, but Ik-hyeon understood.

If the vessel is insufficient, then one must simply increase the quality of what it holds.

From that day on, Ik-hyeon devoted himself entirely to one thing.

Only one.

The single transformation granted to Ik-hyeon was…

“Bending.”

As Gu Yangji spoke calmly, the sword Ik-hyeon held bent strangely.

It mirrored the life Ik-hyeon had awakened to while learning swordsmanship at Hwasan.

Swaying this way and that among the Daoists, begging for teachings as if he had no dignity left, just to be acknowledged somehow.

His reason for standing alone beside Gu Yangji was the same as the latter’s.

But now was the time to shed that stained inferiority.

Seeing confidence crystallize on Ikhyeon’s face, Gu Yangji turned his head.

“It’s over.”

* * *

After that day, followers began to gather around Gu Yangji, knowingly or unknowingly.

Just seven months prior.

Gu Yangjeok, who had been ignored and spoken ill of by all the cultivators, was now completely different.

He had transcended being just another cultivator of Huashan, establishing himself as a reliable late-stage cultivator whose very presence was reassuring.

As usual, cultivators following Gu Yangjeok were diligently pushing themselves in training at the practice grounds.

Among them, Gu Yangjeok was recalling events related to the sparring match from a few days prior.

‘Is he treating his brothers differently based on their martial prowess?’

The particularly gloomy impression of Cheolgeum-san.

And Songmuk’s words opposing the gift of the Zhaosidan to him.

There was definitely something unsettling about Cheolgeum-san.

He had an unusually large number of disciples, and those disciples had also become masters at a young age.

Such a thing was rare not only in Huashan Sect but across the entire righteous faction.

‘Moreover, it’s hardly something befitting a Taoist. Rather…’

The heretical faction, which built strength in a short time.

The moment he thought it, Gu Yangjie dismissed the notion.

It was too far-fetched a conjecture.

Frowning, Gu Yangjie looked around.

Even excluding Yi Xian and Ling Moyan, whom he had sparred with before, there were quite a few disciples from the Iron Gold Mountain sect.

Then, Gu Yangji spotted Yi Xian, who was in the midst of training, and moved toward him.

“I have something to ask…”

“Just say it, Master!”

As Yi Xian’s eyes lit up, Gu Yangji smiled bitterly.

‘Am I exploiting that boy’s goodwill?’

The time was short, but the depth of his concern was deeper than that of Dong Jinghu. Perhaps Cheolgeum Mountain had already recruited Yi Xian long ago.

But he quickly composed himself and asked cautiously.

“Can you tell me in detail about the affairs of the Cheolgeum Mountain sect?”

At those words, Yixian nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

Gu Yangji couldn’t hide his sense of emptiness, feeling almost foolish for having worried at all.

“Heh heh. Well now.”

“……?”

“Nothing. Will you tell me?”

“Yes, Master!”

Yixian’s account continued for over an hour.

As if he hadn’t asked about any particularly important matter, Gu Yangjeok skillfully steered the conversation.

After parting ways with Ikhyeon, Gu Yangjeok sorted through the suspicious details.

‘Occasionally, he takes the top disciple to some place for training, and cautiously recommends something to prodigies like Yeongmo Yeon.’

As a second-generation disciple, Ik-hyeon hadn’t seen much and didn’t know much either.

But asking other disciples would quickly lead to suspicion.

Getting this much information was only possible because Ik-hyeon trusted him.

Even so.

‘Something feels off.’

Gu Yang-jeok couldn’t shake his suspicion.

There was an uneasy feeling that made it hard to simply accept it.

There was no decisive evidence or clue, yet it felt like grit was stuck in his mouth.

‘I’ll have to find out for sure through the Iron Wind Sect.’

Besides, they had only crushed a single branch of the Black Dragon Sect; the headquarters remained intact.

Gu Yangjeok turned his gaze toward Mount Zhongnan.

To completely destroy the Black Dragon Sect, not only must the martial arts of the entire Huashan Sect grow stronger, but they must also join forces with other sects.

The next morning.

Gu Yangji carefully accepted the letter from the leg of the messenger sitting by the window.

Rumors spreading below Huashan: None.

Communication with the Open Sect severed.

– By Baek Cheon, Head of the Golden Ring Trading Company.

Crunch!

Gu Yangjie crumpled the letter with an expressionless face.

“Those trashy beggars…”

So preserving their positions is what matters after all.

Gu Yangjie twisted his lips, recalling Cheolpunggae’s smirking face.

* * *

“County Princess! Why?! What on earth gives you the confidence to abandon Hwasan?! “

Despite Cheolpunggae’s outburst, the Drunken Beggar only craved more wine.

After belching once, he thrust his drunken nose forward.

”And what about your dictatorial distortion of that major incident? Heh heh.”

The Drunken Beggar’s mouth spat out greedy words.

“Did you two secretly conspire to stir trouble while the Master was away?”

“As if! What could a worthless beggar like Samgyeolgeja possibly accomplish?”

Unable to contain his rage, Cheolpoonggae bellowed.

“You drunken bastard!”

“Not entirely wrong, I suppose. ”

Gulp gulp-

“Kwaaah!”

The dog, stealing lukewarm wine with the back of its hand, narrowed its eyes.

“But you wouldn’t know. What true terror is… You might even thank me later.”

The dog’s eyes deepened, as if gazing into the distance.

He recalled being kidnapped near Dongjeong Lake about fourteen days ago.

How terrified he had been then.

Stripped completely naked and tortured, he’d been so disoriented he hadn’t even known where he was.

Then, long after, realizing he’d been poisoned, he’d been seized by terror.

Then he met Baek Un-hwan, the Black Dragon Sect Leader.

He too seemed to harbor intense hostility toward the man from Yao’an.

‘That bastard is probably consumed more by the fear of falling victim to that rotten-eyed scum than by the grief of losing his child, heh heh.’

The dog kept gulping down his liquor.

“The answer is simply to quietly conform to the times, you wretch.”

Gyeonjugae thought of Yoan’s man again and shuddered violently.