Chapter 59

Chapter 59, Goeui's Gift

Ten years of internal power might not sound like much.

However, before someone reached the level of a first-rate master, it was an enormous amount.

Ten years of power alone could determine whether someone remained third-rate or stepped into second-rate.

Ha Seonbaek had possessed around thirty years of internal power.

After gaining another ten, his entire appearance changed as though he had undergone a transformation.

His skin seemed to glow.

His gaze became stable and clear.

No one would have guessed he had once spent years bedridden with illness.

Instead of looking like the head of a small countryside martial school, he now gave off the presence of an elite warrior from a major sect.

Perhaps Ha Seonbaek had remained stuck at around thirty years of internal power for too long, and the new ten years finally allowed him to break through a wall.

For martial artists already above first-rate, ten years of power might not create such dramatic effects.

For someone still at the second-rate level, however, it could sometimes produce results comparable to a Great Restoration Pill.

Han Seol had diligently trained until she accumulated around ten years of internal energy.

Now she gained another ten years and finally entered the ranks of second-rate martial artists.

At first, she had assumed another ten years would not make that much difference.

Then she felt the new vitality inside her body and realized the change was enormous.

If ten years feels this different, what would sixty years of internal power feel like?

She could finally understand why first-rate martial artists often walked around with such confidence.

At that level, weaker fighters probably did not even look like proper martial artists anymore.

Jo Unryong had possessed internal power similar to Han Seol.

After gaining another ten years, he also felt a dramatic change in his body.

Because he was the youngest, Jo Unryong felt the increase in power even more strongly than the others.

So Rihyang also finished circulating her qi.

Her internal injuries seemed to have improved greatly.

Her presence was now calm and stable.

A bright light appeared in Ha Yeon's eyes as well, showing that she too had gained around ten years of internal power.

Goeui looked at Ha Yeon and muttered,

"She gained internal power too quickly and can't properly contain it yet. It's leaking outward. She'll need time to become used to it."

Suddenly obtaining a large amount of energy made it difficult to control.

So Rihyang spoke.

"Now it's your turn. We'll stand guard."

"Ho, let's go inside."

Goeui and Jaha entered the room.

So Rihyang watched them and said,

"Young Hero Byeok will probably gain even more than we did. A rare genius always gains differently."

Ha Seonbaek smiled at those words.

Then he looked at Han Seol and Jo Unryong.

"I'll stay here and protect this place. You two should go test the internal power you just gained."

Ha Seonbaek had noticed both disciples were eager to spar and experience their new strength.

"Can we really?"

Han Seol asked, pretending reluctance.

"Don't go far. Stay somewhere you can hear me if I shout."

Jo Unryong answered loudly,

"Understood, Master."

Han Seol and Jo Unryong immediately ran toward the rear courtyard.

So Rihyang looked at Ha Yeon.

"You should go too."

Ha Yeon also looked excited after gaining new internal power.

"Yes, Master."

She followed them toward the rear courtyard without refusing.

So Rihyang had noticed Ha Yeon seemed somewhat interested in Jo Unryong.

That was why she sent her along.

Jaha sat cross-legged.

Goeui spoke before he began.

"Before you consume the medicine, listen carefully. Right now, your internal power is around twenty years, correct?"

"That's right."

"Even if you consume this medicine and refine it perfectly, you still won't reach sixty years. If you miss this opportunity, who knows when you'll ever be able to reach that level. However, if you consume the medicine and this old man adds one more method, you can obtain sixty years of internal power."

"Is that really possible?"

For Jaha, this was something he would welcome with both hands.

Then he quickly asked,

"To make up the missing amount, Senior would need to transfer some of your true qi to me. Is there some other method?"

"You're right. I intend to use External Transmission of Internal Power."

"That..."

Jaha was about to refuse.

Then he thought inwardly.

Wait. Why am I refusing? He's giving me a wonderful opportunity. I think Byeok Ho has infected me too much with righteous thinking.

Still, immediately saying yes would make him look shameless.

So Jaha gave a polite refusal.

He already knew Goeui would probably insist anyway.

"If Senior uses External Transmission of Internal Power, it will harm you greatly."

"This old man has more than one hundred and twenty years of internal power. Giving you a little won't cause serious damage. Combined with the spiritual medicine, it will be enough for you to reach sixty years."

"If you want to live up to the name Heavenly Demon Defying Sword, you need at least sixty years of internal power. Then you'll be able to deal with people like the Crow Sword and Saber when they attack you. Otherwise, even against martial artists of that level, you can't guarantee victory with your current power."

Watching Jaha fight the Crow Sword and Saber at Willow Flower Water Garden had made Goeui think deeply.

Jaha defeated them because of his intelligence and the Ghost Spirit Traceless Steps.

Had the fight taken place on solid ground, Jaha might have been the one in danger.

That was why Goeui had already given Jaha his own share of the spiritual medicine.

Now even that did not feel enough.

So he decided to use External Transmission of Internal Power as well.

"If you reach sixty years, then you have to support this old man until the day I die."

Jaha replied with something pleasant to hear.

"Senior is already like a master to me. Of course I would."

"This old man gives you a little internal power and gains somewhere to rely on for the rest of his life. How could that be a bad trade? So, will you accept my External Transmission of Internal Power?"

Jaha looked at Goeui.

"I won't refuse."

Meanwhile, Han Seol and Jo Unryong became completely absorbed in sparring.

Their movements were faster than before.

Their techniques also became more stable and powerful.

Only now did they understand why so many martial artists desperately tried to increase their internal energy.

They finally understood with their bodies that the power of techniques changed according to internal strength.

Understanding something vaguely in the mind and experiencing it directly were completely different things.

From a distance, Ha Seonbaek watched his disciples spar with a satisfied expression.

So Rihyang spoke beside him.

"Master Ha."

"Yes, old madam."

Ha Seonbaek answered politely.

So Rihyang smiled.

"Please don't misunderstand what I'm about to say. Looking at your disciples, their fundamentals are very solid. However, their lower bodies don't properly support them, so their swordsmanship cannot display its full power."

Unexpectedly, Ha Seonbaek nodded and agreed.

"The old madam is correct. What I learned was the Azure Cloud Sword. I always felt its footwork was lacking, so after learning several different things, I created a footwork called Cloud Movement Steps. As you can see, it's a poor technique."

"No. I didn't mean that. Cloud Movement Steps are actually quite good on their own. I only meant they fail to fully bring out the flowing nature of the Azure Cloud Sword."

"Does the old madam have some advice?"

So Rihyang had been waiting for Ha Seonbaek to ask that.

"I heard that after Young Hero Byeok learned our Ghost Spirit Traceless Steps, the Azure Cloud Sword became much stronger. So I wanted to ask something. Since we can no longer truly call ourselves strangers, would you allow me to teach the Ghost Spirit Traceless Steps to your other disciples?"

In the martial world, teaching one's ultimate techniques to another person's disciples was considered taboo.

There were even cases where disciples were expelled from their sects simply for learning another sect's martial arts.

However, Ha Seonbaek did not belong to some ancient sect bound by strict traditions.

He was simply a second-rate martial artist who had founded his own small martial school and taught children.

He was not petty enough to deprive his disciples of a chance to learn a great expert's ultimate art merely because of pride.

Ha Seonbaek immediately stood and cupped his fists.

"If Senior is willing to teach such a precious technique, how could an inadequate master like me refuse? I can only be grateful. I personally watched Ho fight Hwancheonma at Willow Flower Water Garden. His movement art and footwork were unlike anything I had ever seen in this world. I believe the reason Ho could fight Hwancheonma evenly was largely because of your sect's footwork. If anything, I should be bowing and begging you to teach them."

Hearing this, So Rihyang nodded.

Ha Seonbaek was stubborn enough to risk his life for righteousness.

But he was not someone who would ruin something important because of useless pride.

So Rihyang liked that about him.

"Seol, Unryong, come here."

Han Seol and Jo Unryong were resting after sparring when their master called.

They immediately approached.

"Did you call us, Master?"

"From now on, the old madam will teach you an ultimate technique. Do not take her teachings lightly."

Jo Unryong's eyes widened.

"What technique?"

"She will teach you the Ghost Spirit Traceless Steps your senior brother learned."

"Oh!"

Jo Unryong looked between Ha Seonbaek and So Rihyang with excitement.

While watching Senior Brother Byeok fight Hwancheonma at Willow Flower Water Garden, he had been completely fascinated by that ghost-like footwork.

He had desperately wanted to ask Jaha to teach him.

However, Jo Unryong knew the rules of the martial world.

He could not casually ask someone to teach an ultimate technique belonging to another sect.

Now that he was being offered the chance, he was happier than anyone.

Han Seol smiled at her youngest junior brother.

Jo Unryong always trained harder than anyone.

She was excited to see how much he would improve after learning a great master's technique.

So Rihyang was impressed.

"They truly are outstanding disciples."

After teaching the Ghost Spirit Traceless Steps for two shichen, both disciples could already imitate its basic movements.

Jaha had memorized the mnemonic formula within half a shichen thanks to his extraordinary memory.

That had shocked So Rihyang.

Now she discovered that Han Seol and Jo Unryong also possessed excellent talent.

She was secretly amazed.

"They're far too talented for someone like me to be teaching."

Ha Seonbaek was happy to hear a famous senior of the martial world praise his disciples.

At the moment, Ha Yeon was demonstrating the Ghost Spirit Traceless Steps and correcting the two disciples' movements.

So Rihyang felt happier than anything else seeing Ha Yeon blend in so naturally with them.

Ha Yeon had always played alone and suffered from loneliness.

Thanks to the cheerful Han Seol and Jo Unryong, she was even smiling brightly enough to show her teeth.

That smile made her beauty shine even more.

Ha Seonbaek watched his disciples train.

Then he looked toward the room where Jaha was circulating his qi.

Two full shichen had passed.

There was still no sign Jaha would come out.

Ha Seonbaek began worrying.

So Rihyang noticed his expression.

"Don't worry. Goeui is beside him. Even if something goes wrong, he'll handle it."

"It's still taking too long."

"Great achievements require time. I believe when Young Hero Byeok finally comes out, he'll have gained more than any of us expect."

"Hearing the old madam say that puts my mind at ease."

Just as So Rihyang said, Goeui was beside Jaha.

Ha Seonbaek trusted that even if Jaha suffered qi deviation, Goeui could deal with it.

At that moment, a woman peeked through the moon gate into the courtyard.

Ha Seonbaek approached her.

"What is it?"

She did not look like someone spying on them.

She appeared to be a courtesan in her mid-twenties.

"Forgive me. Is there someone named Byeok Ho staying here?"

Seeing a courtesan asking for Jaha gave Ha Seonbaek a strange feeling.

He could not imagine Byeok Ho becoming romantically involved with a courtesan.

"Yes. Please come inside first."

The courtesan cautiously looked around.

"The manager doesn't know I came here. I heard Young Master Byeok Ho was staying here, so I secretly came to see him."

"Don't worry. Even if the manager comes, I'll handle it."

Only then did the courtesan ask,

"Forgive me, but may I ask your respected name?"

"I'm Ha Seonbaek."

"Ah! Then you are the master of the man named Byeok Ho."

Ha Seonbaek found it strange that she recognized his relationship to Byeok Ho simply from hearing his name.

Perhaps his own name had spread because of what happened at Willow Flower Water Garden.

Still, Ha Seonbaek knew that possibility was not especially high.

"That's right. I'm Byeok Ho's master."

"Then I came to the right place."

Ha Seonbaek asked,

"Did you come looking for Byeok Ho?"

The courtesan shook her head.

"Someone once mentioned Byeok Ho many times. I originally came because of that, but since his master is here, perhaps this is even better."

"Who spoke about Byeok Ho?"

The courtesan answered quietly.

"A person named Ha Yeom."

The moment Ha Seonbaek heard the name of his fourth disciple, his expression changed.

"Ha Yeom is my fourth disciple. Do you know where that child is?"

Ha Seonbaek had already wanted to die when he learned his disciples had scattered across the world to earn money.

Now, suddenly hearing news of one of them made his heart pound.

The courtesan spoke.

"There is something I need to tell you about her."

Unlike Ha Seonbaek's excited voice, the courtesan's tone remained low and heavy.

At that moment, unease entered Ha Seonbaek's heart.