Chapter 46: Master and Disciple
The next day, I got up a little later than usual.
The Event Hall was unusually quiet.
When I stepped into the courtyard, there was no one else around.
“Looks like everyone went out to work.”
Thanks to that, the wide courtyard was entirely mine.
“Maybe I should loosen up for the first time in a while.”
I steadied my breathing and slowly rolled my shoulders.
Little by little, I felt the stiffness in my muscles and joints loosen throughout my body.
I picked up the sword I had prepared beforehand.
Then I moved according to the posture I had pictured in my head.
Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword, Second Form.
Mirror Flower Straight Flash.
Shhhhhk!
The longsword in my right hand sliced through the air.
For a moment, it felt as though the very texture of the air had been cut apart.
The trajectory drawn by the sword tip appeared clearly before my eyes.
I stopped and steadied my breathing before looking down at the sword in my hand.
“...It’s definitely improved.”
Compared to when I first began training Mirror Flower Straight Flash, my mastery had risen considerably.
My strength no longer broke midway through the technique like before.
The sword path connected far more naturally.
I could now perform Mirror Flower Straight Flash without forcing it.
But...
“...It’s still not enough.”
The final strike I had unleashed against the Thousand Poisons Old Demon...
that Mirror Flower Straight Flash had been on a completely different level.
My survival instinct on the verge of death and an explosive level of concentration had come together at once.
And because of that...
I had unleashed the true Mirror Flower Straight Flash.
Even thinking back on it, the strike had been close to a miracle.
In that moment...
I had infused the Flow shown by True Immortal Cheongun’s embodiment into the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword.
It had only lasted for an instant shorter than a hair’s breadth.
But I remembered it clearly.
That Flow...
I need to be able to reproduce it even under normal circumstances.
I settled back into position.
Then I recalled Black Spirit Valley and performed Mirror Flower Straight Flash again.
Shhhhhk!
The sword shot forward faster than before.
Its trajectory became even clearer.
But I still wasn’t satisfied.
The place I wanted to reach was far higher.
Twice.
Three times.
Four times.
...
...
...
I continued swinging without rest.
Until the second form of the Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword was completely engraved into my body.
Only after a long time did I finally stop.
I had pushed myself almost to exhaustion.
I dropped onto the ground and wiped the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve.
“Haa... haa....”
While catching my breath, I raised my head.
A peaceful, beautiful blue sky spread above me.
I almost... never got to see that sky again.
Black Spirit Valley.
My flesh being torn apart.
The Thousand Poisons Old Demon’s venom invading my organs.
And then...
Don’t worry... this old man is here....
Jin Gwangung’s voice surfaced in my mind.
If it hadn’t been for him...
I might have died in Black Spirit Valley.
I stared at the sky for a moment and chuckled.
“...Wonder what Master is doing right now.”
I hadn’t seen his face even once for several days.
Apparently, when I had been unconscious, he had visited the infirmary constantly.
Yet the moment I recovered...
he stopped showing his face entirely.
That was somehow very like Jin Gwangung.
“Maybe I should... go see him.”
I left the Event Hall behind and quietly headed toward the Abandoned Martial Hall.
The Abandoned Martial Hall looked the same as always.
Silent.
Old.
Only its worn buildings waited for me.
Maybe he’s taking a nap.
I headed toward Jin Gwangung’s quarters.
But as I approached...
I noticed something unfamiliar.
...Incense?
I wasn’t sure whether it was because my internal energy had increased...
or because I had learned to perceive Flow.
But my five senses had become far sharper than before.
And now...
my sensitive nose caught the scent of burning incense.
More importantly...
it was coming from Jin Gwangung’s quarters.
My pace quickened.
But when I reached the door...
I stopped.
Something Jin Gwangung had once told me suddenly came to mind.
Don’t come anywhere near my room.
If you disturb me while I’m doing wall-facing cultivation, I’ll kill you.
Jin Gwangung hated people approaching his quarters.
And since I had been busy studying the martial arts manuals of the Abandoned Martial Hall...
I had never gone anywhere near his room either.
“...Am I allowed to go in?”
While I hesitated in front of the door...
Click.
Something was set down inside.
Then...
“What are you doing outside like some thief?”
A low, rough voice came through the door.
It was Jin Gwangung.
“...Master?”
“If you’re going to hover out there like a ghost, just come in.”
I scratched the side of my head.
“Are you sure I can come in?”
“I told you to come in.”
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
His curt tone made it hard to tell whether it was permission or annoyance.
I reached out and slowly pushed the door open.
Creak.
As the door opened...
the heavy scent of incense rolled out.
And the inside of Jin Gwangung’s room slowly came into view.
Then...
I saw something completely unexpected.
...
The room looked nothing like I had imagined.
Against one wall stood a wide wooden table with an incense burner on it.
On both sides of the burner...
wooden tablets were arranged neatly.
There looked to be around twenty of them.
Each one bore a different name.
Memorial tablets.
A thin layer of old ash had gathered around the incense burner.
It was obvious someone had repeatedly burned incense here.
And Jin Gwangung stood there with a stiff expression, staring at the smoke.
The room was silent.
The air felt heavy.
“Master... what is this...?”
Jin Gwangung didn’t answer immediately.
He simply watched the smoke rising from the incense burner.
After a while...
he slowly spoke.
“My disciples.”
His voice carried an unfamiliar sadness.
After a brief pause, he continued.
