[Long]
This was unexpected.. I didn’t even know that this man would come to find me, one of the Two Great Warriors in his Dual Martial Forces.
-Wasn’t he the one who killed your father before you came back?
Short Sword asked. At that, many thoughts went through my head. Could it be that he doubted my identity?
Perhaps the false identity created by Jin Song-baek, his real father, might bring me into trouble.
-Is this something to get things out of you?
It was said that there was a traditional warrior related technique which had gone unknown, the whereabouts untraceable. And it was said that it was a place where his maternal grandfather had made a name for himself.
And it wasn’t like there was something to be wary about warriors who come from an unknown place or their roots unknown, but maybe since someone as such came to be a successor to one of their sects, they might feel uneasy.
-What will you do?
There was no way to escape.
If I avoided it, it would make me even more suspicious. So I said to the middle-aged man who seemed surprised.
“It is an honor as a warrior to meet him.”
“I thought so. Please follow me.”
Satisfied with my response, the man guided me.
The number of warriors drastically decreased as we moved closer to another tower.
Most of them were warriors belonging to the Forces. Until this point, we had been walking without a word but when we arrived at the tower to the northwest, the man said.
“It’s late to greet. I am Gap Won-chun, the head of the fist martial arts.”
I was curious about his identity from the start, but contrary to my expectations he wasn’t under this sect.
Rather he was just a small clan’s leader in the Forces. To think that such a person would act like a guide to me.
‘But how did this man know that I would complete the test inside and be ready for this? How did it get relayed to the other side?’
This was questionable. I wondered if I should ask, so I looked around and talked.
“I thought you were a member of the Storm Shadow Eight Classes because you were within the tower.”
At my question he smiled.
“I am just an observer. All sects within the Forces cannot have their own actions without consulting the other sects.”
“Ahhh! I see.”
I answered casually but thanks to him I learned some good information. According to the Dual Martial Forces law, this man had just watched the tests here and looking at the current situation, he was more likely to be on the side of Martial Heavenly Sword.
-Seems to be to keep each other in check.
Right.
It seemed to be true that it was divided into two factions. For some reason, I thought that there was more to the meeting planned now.
Eventually, Gap Won-chun, who was giving directions pointed to a building.
“There.”
‘That is it…’
It wasn’t the tower but a tile roofed building and it looked more like a shrine with trees around. There weren’t many warriors around.
And as I approached the building which looked like a shrine, I felt a presence inside.
-You hear it too? Me too?
Like Short Sword said, the sound of a sword could be heard. Hearing that metal sound meant it was a Divine Sword.
However, the presence I felt was too clear to be called the Eight Great Warriors. I could never feel one person who was a Great Warrior till now.
While I was puzzled, he said.
“Go Inside.”
“You won’t come inside?”
“My work ends here. I have to enter the castle tower.”
Hmm.
It was just an excuse.
In the first place, to come in meant to have power and I just asked out of concern.
After staring at the shrine building, I opened the door to the building. When I opened the door, the inside was well lit with the lantern.
‘Shrine.’
The scent tickled the nostrils.
Inside, an altar was set up for a god, and in front of it stood a man in a white robe and hands behind the back.
And in front of him was a young man in late 20s with a clean appearance and eyes closed.
In front of the young man was the sword sheath which must have held that sound I heard from.
I seemed like the presence I heard from was the young man.
Kiiik!
After closing the door, I bowed to the man with arms behind his back.
“Warrior Huan greets the Great Senior.”
Despite the greeting, the man with hands behind his back didn’t even turn back, rather he burned the incense stick. It was like he was in the middle of an ancestral rite.
While I was watching with my arms crossed, I heard the voice.
“What is a sword?”
I was at a loss at his question. He asked to meet me and when I greeted him, he said this?
‘What is a sword?’
There seems to be some reason behind this. To answer hastily, I felt like I had to answer it but as I was thinking, the man added.
“Sword is the King of all Weapons.”
-That sounds right, Wonhwi.
Iron Sword agreed.
If it was someone who didn’t use a sword they would have other thoughts.
The gray haired man turned and he looked so mature with his strong features and neatly pulled hair.
The white face which made him look like he was in his early twenties. I knew the actual age was over an 80 for this man.
Flinch!
For a moment when my eyes met with his, I felt electricity pass through me. Those eyes were as sharp as a sword that would pierce me.
Was it Chun Mu-seong, the Martial Heavenly Sword, who was known to be the strongest?
Chun Mu-seong looked at me and replied.
“It is said that hundreds of swords, thousands of blades, and a single sword. Why is it that such trivial things are taught when walking the path of training for endless days?”
“Trivial?”
What was this man saying? Could it be that he was speaking about the 8 classes we had to cross now?
“Even if it isn’t enough to train, it is a sword that should be with one for the rest of their life. But why are you trying to take the path of having an affair? Can you not see the swords crying?”
“…”
-What is he saying now? Why will we cry?
-Hmm. My previous owner liked swords, but this man likes swords too much.
Iron Sword called this man to be a sword believer, but it was certain that this man was too proud of his sword.
I came in because they found me but he kept talking about swords. If I continued to listen, it felt like something dark would happen.
And with a moment’s hesitation I said.
“Senior. If it isn’t rude, may I ask why you are doing this?”
At that time the young man with eyes closed grabbed the sheath of the sword and said.
“Teacher, do I clash with him?”
‘Clash?’
What were they talking about? Fight with me?
At the question of the young man, Chun Mu-seong said.
“Mu-hyuk.”
“Yes, teacher.”
‘Mu-hyuk?’
I knew this man.
Kang Mu-hyuk.
The disciple to this old man who would later represent the sect of Chun Mu-seong. He was often compared to Lee Jung-gyeom who represented the Murim Alliance.
The aura he had was definitely of the skilled warriors and even more than Jin Young.
-So you are saying he is as strong as Lee Jung-gyeom?
Not that.
While the capacity of Lee Jung-gyeom was difficult to even understand, Kang Mu-hyuk was someone whose strength could be grasped.
I could feel the man’s eyes on me. This guy had similar skills to mine with lower dantian open.
With a warrior with similar skills ahead, was there any warrior who wouldn’t want to fight?
However, Chun Mu-seong’s answer didn’t meet my expectations.
“Too much.”
“Uh?”
“I thought it would be a tiger but it turned out to be a dragon.”
“Teacher!”
Kang Mu-hyuk was surprised as he jumped up from the place at the words which hurt his pride. It seemed that he wanted to prove that he could fight me.
At this, Chun Mu-seong snarled.
“Enough!”
“Kuak!”
The roar of a lion which made me frown.
Kang Mu-hyuk, who was nearby, was at a loss for what to do with his teacher’s strong reaction.
Chun Mu-seong said to him.
“A guy who hasn’t even finished training yet is competing with a guy who opened up the top dantian too.”
‘Ah!’
I was shocked that this man felt it.
Like Sima Chak noticed, he figured out that I touched the innate qi. They weren’t called Great Warriors for nothing.
Chun Mu-seong looked at me.
“It is surprising to see someone who made such a progress.”
I wasn’t sure what to answer. I couldn’t fake it, if he was clear about me using innate qi.
‘Just step down.’
It was unreasonable to lie with this man, thinking so I bowed my head and said.
“That is an exaggeration. This junior isn’t sure what to do after the praise from the senior.”
“If you have reached that level at that age, you deserve the praise.”
It seemed like something was coming to an end but the words which came up were shocking.
“Give up on the second test tomorrow.”
“Uh? What do you mean?”
“What you need isn’t a teacher who will teach you something new but what you need is someone who will take you to a higher road in the path of sword.”
I was speechless for a moment, he didn’t directly say it, but this man wanted me as his disciple.
-What is this?
That was what I wanted to ask. I thought he called me because I was suspicious.
If I hadn’t come to see my father this would have never happened and if I didn’t have a purpose for this and he asked me I would have loved this.
From the information that Lower District sect provided, I already knew that this man was in a conflict with my father.
And if I were his disciple it would be a conflict between me and my father.
“Senior. If I give up on the test, I need to be a guest and train for 3 years.”
I said no and Chun Mu-seong walked to the altar before he replied.
“Do you think you can win against Lee Jung-gyeom?”
“Shouldn’t I come to know it by testing it out?”
“You seem to be spirited. But there is something you don’t realize.”
“Uh?”
“That man isn’t trying to select a disciple or a successor. Even if you do pass the test, you will eventually fail and be kept as a second class person serving the sect.”
“You mean I will fail somehow?”
“You think, does it make sense to put up a test like this? None of the warriors who came to the test have passed.”
“…”
This was the part I worried about. But I had a reason to meet him.
Chun Mu-seong touched the tablet placed on the side of the altar.
“That man is just trying to increase the power he has. If you want to become my disciple, I will protect you from him.”
“From using me?”
“Yes.”
Was he saying this with pure intentions? If that was the case, I should refuse.
But thinking of his pride, I paused before saying.
“I sincerely thank you for the kindness being shown. However, I am already taking the second test, the second one on the 8th floor. Since there is such a thing called faith, how could I just give up halfway?”
“Are you going to refuse the favor the old man wants to show?”
“Because of me, I do not want to bring in a conflict between you two.”
I thought this much should be enough for him to understand. I would not be forced to become a disciple to this man but I would not offend him either.
Chun Mu-seong shook his head and said.
“You are such a stubborn one.”
“Sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter,”
“I will not forget the kindness shown…”
“There is no need for that”
“Uh?”
“I will give you time to think.”
It seemed that this old man was also a person who didn’t know when to give up. Did he not know that it was him being stubborn here!
At that time, Chun Mu-seong said something.
“If you get into a situation where you need my favor, then it will change your mind. Take a break for a few days and think about it.”
“What do you mean?”
It was that moment.
Bang!
“Kuak!”
The floor under my feet disappeared. It happened so fast that I fell straight in.
As So Wonhwi fell, Chun Mu-seong left the ancestral tablet he was holding.
Grrr!
Came the mechanical sound, and the floor that had been turned into a half was pulled up again.
Chun Mu-seong shook his head.
“Those who want to be used are so stubborn.”
At his words the disciple said.
“Looking at what you say, it is true he is stubborn. How much time will it take to convince him?”
“It doesn’t matter, if he cannot take the test by tomorrow, he will have to serve for 3 years and in such a situation do you think he will still not talk to us?”
Kang Mu-hyuk nodded at the words, and asked.
“Teacher. But what if he comes out saying he will only side with the other side?”
“Then we will have to keep him locked up until he loses that stubbornness.”
“I understand, if you do so, as soon as the sleeping incense wears off, we can put him in prison.”
“I will leave it to you.”
With those words, Chun Mu-seong and his disciple went outside the shrine.
The other side of the floor of the shrine sank down. There, something like a thin silver thread was tied to a small hole under the floor.
Going down the thread was someone hanging down like a spider, it was So Wonhwi.
