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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Learning the Sword (1)
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Although he had won his duel against Gye Buil, Jinmyeong's worries only deepened.
'I need a finishing blow.'
The Heaven-Embroidering Sword Control Arts were undoubtedly powerful.
But that was only true when he could execute the sword control arts properly.
He could do nothing more than have his sword fly around and stab at things.
'Against weaker opponents, it might work...'
But against a warrior at the pinnacle of martial arts, it was always blocked.
'Of course, I could use the Heavenly Demon's Finger appropriately...'
But I can't be tied down by a single enemy forever.
'It's not like I'll always be fighting one-on-one.'
What if multiple enemies attack me at once? And what if they are all warriors of similar skill?
'I'd be at a definite disadvantage.'
Especially since he couldn't use footwork techniques.
'One thing's for sure—I can't just stand still and attack my enemies.'
He needed to learn footwork to evade enemy attacks, and he also needed a decisive martial art to fight opponents of a similar level.
'First, the footwork...'
He had already given up on it.
Every time he tried to perform the footwork, his feet would get tangled, and he would fall.
'I have a few footwork techniques in my head, but...'
Jinmyeong recalled the simplest one among them.
A linear movement.
An incredibly simple trajectory.
Jinmyeong struggled to remember such a footwork technique.
'Is this the simplest one I know?'
A footwork technique whose name he didn't even know came to mind.
It wasn't a technique that moved in a perfectly straight line.
Rather, it was a technique that moved in a gentle curve.
'But it's fast, a technique that allows me to slip behind an enemy.'
It was simple yet useful.
Because it traced such a gentle curve that it almost looked like a straight line, it had very little variation.
'Let's try moving first.'
Footprints formed in his mind.
Jinmyeong began to slowly follow those exact footprints.
"Huh?"
Previously, he should have fallen.
Indeed, when he was training in the cave, he couldn't even perform a technique this simple without falling over.
'Is it because it's not exactly the same? Is this an even simpler technique?'
Jinmyeong quietly looked at the path he had walked.
He had intentionally stepped with force, so his footprints were left behind.
'It matches what's in my head.'
Jinmyeong could tell that he had executed the footwork perfectly.
'What on earth is the reason for this?'
He could now perform the footwork he couldn't in the cave.
'Could it be because my Governor and Conception Vessels were opened?'
That was the only thing that had changed since his training in the cave.
When his vessels were opened, he had already given up on learning martial arts with his body, so he hadn't even thought to check.
'In other novels, it's an event on the level of a complete rebirth.'
He wondered if that might be the case in this novel as well.
'I have to try it.'
If it was true, he might be able to learn martial arts.
With a smile full of anticipation, Jinmyeong slowly began to move his feet.
But it didn't take long for that smile to vanish.
Thud!
Lying face down on the ground, Jinmyeong sighed deeply and got up.
He could now perform the footwork.
However, when he tried to use it along with his swordsmanship, even the footwork he had performed skillfully got his feet tangled.
'My expectations were completely off.'
Jinmyeong got up and brushed the dirt off his clothes.
"Huu. I guess there's no other way."
Jinmyeong sighed and picked up his fallen sword.
"Where are you going?"
As he suddenly tried to leave the estate, Yang Jeon hurriedly approached and asked.
"To the Vice Cult Leader."
"Pardon?"
Yang Jeon looked dumbfounded at Jinmyeong's abrupt declaration that he was going to see the Vice Cult Leader.
"I mean, do you have an appointment with the Vice Cult Leader?"
"No."
"Then did you inform him in advance that you would be visiting?"
"Behind your back?"
Right.
That couldn't be.
If Jinmyeong had wanted to say something to the Vice Cult Leader, he would have done it through Yang Jeon.
"Do you think you can see the Vice Cult Leader that easily?"
"So it won't work?"
"Yes. You'll be lucky if you don't get thrown out."
Yang Jeon said firmly.
Even for the Cult Leader's disciples, meeting the Vice Cult Leader was no easy task.
"If he says no, I'll just make an appointment and come back."
"Pardon?"
Yang Jeon looked bewildered by Jinmyeong's confident words.
"Are you really the Young Master?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
The old Jinmyeong would not have said such a thing.
If the Heavenly Demon's disciple visited in person and was refused a meeting, it would be a blow to his pride.
Before, he would never have visited without an appointment in the first place.
Jinmyeong hated being ignored by others, so he would have avoided creating such a situation.
"But why do you suddenly want to see the Vice Cult Leader?"
"Because he's the strongest person I know."
At Jinmyeong's words, Yang Jeon blinked his eyes.
"Isn't the Cult Leader here?"
In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the strongest person was, without a doubt, the Cult Leader, the Heavenly Demon.
And Jinmyeong was his disciple.
Naturally, the strongest person Jinmyeong knew had to be the Heavenly Demon.
"We only met so briefly."
Even though he was the Heavenly Demon's disciple, he wasn't sure if he could just go and ask for help.
But the Vice Cult Leader had promised to help him, so he thought it would be fine.
"But do you know the way?"
"Mm. Lead the way."
At Jinmyeong's confident command, Yang Jeon sighed.
Then, he began to lead Jinmyeong from the front.
"Why do you suddenly want to see the Vice Cult Leader?"
"Didn't I tell you? Because he's strong."
"That's what I mean. Why are you looking for someone strong?"
"Is there any special reason? I'm just going to ask for help because I'm stuck on a part of my martial arts."
Jinmyeong replied casually, but Yang Jeon had to stop dead in his tracks.
"Wait, then shouldn't you really not go to the Vice Cult Leader?"
After all, Jinmyeong was the Cult Leader's disciple.
Doesn't that mean he's going to ask the Vice Cult Leader about the martial arts taught by the Cult Leader?
"It's not like that, so it's fine. To be honest, I don't even know what martial arts that man taught me."
There might have been martial arts taught by the Heavenly Demon in his mind.
But he didn't know what they were.
And in his current state, he couldn't learn them anyway.
"Actually, going to the Vice Cult Leader won't necessarily solve this."
Still, unlike him, the Vice Cult Leader was someone who had seen countless martial arts.
He thought that perhaps the man might know something Jinmyeong didn't.
"Hm. What is your business?"
When Jinmyeong arrived at the Vice Cult Leader's residence, the guard at the main gate hurriedly asked his purpose.
Unlike before, he seemed to recognize Jinmyeong's face.
"Ahem. Young Master Jinmyeong has come to see the Vice Cult Leader."
"Is there an appointment?"
Hearing Yang Jeon, the guard asked Jinmyeong.
When Jinmyeong shook his head at the question, the guard looked flustered.
"Well... if there's no appointment, I can't really..."
Seeing the guard in a predicament, Yang Jeon sighed.
"Could you go ask the chief steward if he can see us, and tell him his son is here?"
"Ah, I understand."
At Yang Jeon's words, the guard's face brightened.
He hurried inside before Yang Jeon could change his mind.
"P-Please, come in."
The guard, who had rushed back out, opened the main gate to the residence.
He just wanted to get Jinmyeong inside quickly before he changed his mind.
"It's not like anyone's going to eat me."
Watching the guard, Jinmyeong clicked his tongue and went inside.
"He won't eat you, but a single mistake could cost you your head."
The one who replied to Jinmyeong was Yang Geumun, the chief steward of the Vice Cult Leader's residence, who was waiting inside.
Chief Steward Yang gave Jinmyeong a simple greeting and then looked at Yang Jeon.
"What brings you here? Without any prior notice."
"The Young Master was so insistent on seeing the Vice Cult Leader that I had no choice."
"Huu."
As Yang Jeon blamed Jinmyeong, Yang Geumun let out a small sigh.
"Young Master. Even if you are the Cult Leader's disciple..."
"I can't just meet the Vice Cult Leader whenever I want. I've already heard enough from this guy."
"Then why..."
His expression was one of reproach, asking why he had come unannounced even after hearing that.
Jinmyeong chuckled and looked at Yang Geumun.
"Just go and tell the Vice Cult Leader. If he agrees to see me, I'll see him. If he says no, I'll just say I'll come back when he has time."
At Jinmyeong's casual response, Yang Geumun stared at him blankly, then looked at his son.
And Yang Jeon, meeting his father's gaze, sighed and nodded.
"He's changed a lot."
"I'm not sure if it's for the better."
"Well. I think it's better than before."
Yang Geumun said, looking at Jinmyeong.
"Then I will go inform the Vice Cult Leader. Could you please wait a moment?"
"Of course."
"Please don't get angry like last time."
Jinmyeong burst out laughing at Yang Geumun's words.
"That was because he had that attitude even though we had an appointment."
Now, he had come unannounced, so there was no need to be angry.
At Jinmyeong's words, Yang Geumun nodded and called a maid to guide Jinmyeong and Yang Jeon.
"This place again."
"Indeed."
They ended up waiting in the same place as before.
But unlike last time, Chief Steward Yang returned much sooner.
"The Vice Cult Leader has agreed to see you."
Jinmyeong was able to meet the Vice Cult Leader once again.
"What brings you here? So suddenly."
The Mad Demon did not seem pleased by Jinmyeong's sudden visit.
Nevertheless, it was strange that he had agreed to a meeting.
"If it's for some trivial reason, I plan to throw you out."
"Ah, actually, I came to ask for some advice."
"Advice? Did you just say advice?"
At Jinmyeong's words, the Mad Demon's face hardened.
To come unannounced and then say he was only seeking advice...
'Ugh.'
The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
At the same time, Jinmyeong's back began to grow damp with sweat.
'Did I take this too lightly?'
Still, the Vice Cult Leader was the one who had promised to help him.
That was why he had come, but he wondered if he had been too naive about the situation.
"Since you went to the trouble of coming all this way, I'll let it slide this once."
The atmosphere felt as if he might cut off Jinmyeong's head at any moment, but the Vice Cult Leader spoke unexpectedly.
'It must be because he can't have me being weak, right?'
His anger was one thing, but the Vice Cult Leader surely wanted Jinmyeong to become stronger.
"But this will be the last time."
"Yes. I understand."
"If you pull a stunt like this one more time, I will cut off your head."
He didn't know why asking for help was considered a stunt, but Jinmyeong could only nod.
'This pressure is unbelievable.'
It was different from when they had met before.
The aura emanating from his body felt like it was tearing him to shreds.
Gye Buil?
Compared to the Mad Demon before him now, he was like a child.
His body trembled on its own, and his legs shook so much that he felt like collapsing on the spot.
"Let's go to the training ground."
Jinmyeong bit his lip, struggling to shake off the Mad Demon's aura, and followed him to the training ground.