Seeing the blood-soaked chest, Yeophyeon panicked and shouted.
"Weren't we supposed to be training? Why are you actually attacking me? Shouldn't you at least teach me sword stances or sword energy first?"
The Celestial Woman spoke in a cold voice.
[You speak like an amateur. For a swordsman, the most excellent techniques are only gained when one kills the opponent! The shadow before you is both your enemy and your teacher.
You will learn the basic swordsmanship from it. Do not forget that wounds are the greatest lessons. Sword energy, sword stances—think of those only after you've mastered the basics!]
After a moment of silence, Yeophyeon nodded.
"Understood."
At that, he pushed off the ground and leaped into the air.
As time passed, Yeophyeon's body accumulated more and more wounds. But at the same time, he grew bolder.
Yeophyeon had never feared battle. As the heir of the Yeop family, he had experienced countless fights. He had risked his life for the family's interests. That he had managed to withstand a duel with the Grand Elder at the level of the Corrosion Technique was no accident.
His martial prowess had been forged not through training, but through the deaths of his opponents.
Slowly, Yeophyeon began to learn the shadow's sword stances. Every time he was struck, he understood why he was hit and how to defend against it.
Three days passed this way. Yeophyeon's wounds began to decrease gradually.
Although he still could not use sword stances, he had learned when to strike, when to withdraw, and how to block and evade. Naturally, he had paid for this learning with a significant amount of blood.
This kind of learning could be considered cruel, but it was also the most effective.
Two more days passed.
Yeophyeon began to counterattack. The shadow's defensive skill was no ordinary feat—it was clearly a level above Yeophyeon.
Its defense was literally flawless, leaving no gap for even a single drop of water. No matter which direction Yeophyeon thrust his sword, the shadow blocked perfectly. Yeophyeon slowly absorbed its defensive techniques.
He trained tirelessly, and over time, his strength, speed, and reflexes improved to an extent far beyond what they had been before. Realizing his own progress, Yeophyeon threw himself into training with even more zeal.
At the same time, in the Yeop residence, Yeop Go, a senior elder of the Yeop family, burst into the Grand Elder's chamber.
"Grand Elder, we've discovered what happened at Namsan! The assassins we sent were killed by Yeophyeon, but he himself suffered an injury that destroyed his dantian!"
The Grand Elder's eyes widened.
"Are you certain?"
Yeop Go nodded.
"Absolutely! I heard it directly from a survivor of the family. They said they saw the sword lodged in Yeophyeon's dantian with their own eyes."
"Even heaven has abandoned him. Hahaha!"
The Grand Elder's hearty laugh filled the room.
'His dantian is destroyed!'
Without a dantian, a person was called a warrior without power. Only with a dantian could one be a true martial artist.
Yeophyeon, with his dantian destroyed, was effectively a cripple. He might still have physical strength, but without the ability to manipulate internal energy, he could no longer be considered a martial artist.
The Grand Elder's laughter faded, replaced by a chilling voice.
"Yeop Go, gather the men. It's time to eliminate any future trouble!"
"No!"
Yeop Go shook his head.
"Grand Elder, Yeophyeon has achieved numerous merits. Killing him now will provoke resentment among many. Furthermore, Yeophyeon is set to face the Crown Prince Yeop Lang in the life-and-death arena. Eliminating him now would raise suspicion."
The Grand Elder raised an eyebrow.
"Then what do you propose?"
Yeop Go's lips curled into a cunning smile.
"Leave it to Yeop Lang. If Yeop Lang kills Yeophyeon in the arena, not even the clan chief could object. Moreover, this will spread Yeop Lang's name throughout Cheongseong, so it's two birds with one stone."
The Grand Elder nodded.
"That is true. In any case, with his dantian destroyed, he will no longer be a threat."
At that moment, the Grand Elder's eyes glinted coldly.
"Still, I do not wish to see him living comfortably. From today, cut off all money and food given to Yeophyeon and his sister. Revoke the privileges and rights he enjoyed as Crown Prince. He shall not set foot in the Martial Arts Pavilion nor leave the Yeop residence at will.
Stop all the medicine that was given to Yeophyeon's younger sister, Yeop Ryeong. Who knows how much has been spent on her? Even if she were useless, she should have been cast out long ago!"
Yeop Go chuckled softly.
"Do not worry. With his dantian destroyed, Yeophyeon is nothing but a cripple."
The Grand Elder nodded.
"And since Yeop Lang has only recently awakened, he will require many things. Give him whatever he asks for without hesitation. Open the Martial Arts Pavilion so he can see everything he desires."
"As you command. Or, since Yeop Ryeong is now of age, perhaps it is time to marry her off to one of the younger men?"
The Grand Elder closed his eyes, clearly annoyed.
"That is for you to decide."
Back at the Gyokok Tower.
Yeophyeon lay flat on the floor, gasping. His entire body was covered in sword wounds. After reaching the Qi Transformation stage, he could use spiritual energy to heal his injuries, though the pain from the wounds still persisted.
The gains he had achieved over the past few days were invaluable.
Originally, Yeophyeon was already one of the top young martial artists in Cheongseong. Now, his cultivation had advanced one level higher.
[How do you feel?]
When the Celestial Woman's voice reached him, a smile spread across Yeophyeon's face.
"It's exhilarating."
[You have only just taken your first steps. The path of the sword you walk will become increasingly perilous. Moreover, your dantian has been destroyed once, so this journey will be anything but easy.]
Yeophyeon closed his eyes slowly and replied.
"I am not afraid of hardship…"
Since childhood, he and his sister had relied on each other, facing every hardship together. Rising to the position of Crown Prince without any special background had only been possible because he had always risked his life. Now, with the hope of curing his sister's illness by entering the Qi Realm, he would welcome even greater suffering.
After resting briefly, Yeophyeon left Gyokok Tower.
Having abstained from food during training, he now needed to eat something.
When Yeophyeon returned to his room, Yeop Ryeong entered with her head bowed. In her small hands were two white dumplings.
"Oppa, are you done training? You must be hungry. Eat this."
"Ryeong, lift your head."
Yeop Ryeong slowly raised her head, and Yeophyeon's expression darkened. Red palm marks were clear on her face.
"What happened!?"
Yeophyeon's eyes grew icy for a moment.
"Nothing, I just bumped into something myself…"
Yeophyeon pulled her close, locking eyes with her.
"Tell me. Just say who it was, and I'll handle it."
Yeop Ryeong, unable to stop her tears, hastily wiped them away with her hands.
"This morning, it was long past the time to receive my meal, but no one came, so I went to the kitchen myself. The head cook, Chief Wang, gave me food fit for a dog. When I complained, he said you are no longer the Crown Prince, so all you get is dog food. If I wanted proper food, I would have to spend a night with him… So I cursed him, and then…"
A chill ran across Yeophyeon's face. He clenched his fist until his nails dug into his palms.
"After being dethroned, you dare treat me like a dog!"
Yeophyeon grabbed Yeop Ryeong's hand and charged to the kitchen.
On the way, he noticed several people pointing at them. These were the same people who had been extremely courteous to him when he was Crown Prince.
Since his dethronement, the attitude of the Yeop family had completely changed. They avoided him as much as possible.
Yeophyeon did not care at all. He believed it was human nature to treat people differently based on power.
Yeop Ryeong, clutching Yeophyeon's hand tightly, spoke in a trembling voice.
"Oppa! Let's just go back, okay? I'm not hurt at all. And… there are elders behind him. They'll surely try to harm you."
Yeophyeon stopped and looked at her.
"Whether it's an elder or the Crown Prince, if anyone touches you, I won't forgive them!"
Saying this, he quickened his pace again.
Finally, they reached the kitchen, where a fat man was just stepping out.
He was none other than Chief Wang, the culprit.
Seeing Yeophyeon, he froze briefly, then forced a smile onto his round face.
"Well, Crown Prince… what brings you to the kitchen? No, no, I mean… former Crown Prince. Or should I say, brother-in-law now? I assume the elders have already promised you my sister. Then we shall…"
At that moment, Yeophyeon's figure appeared in an instant before Chief Wang. Before he could react, Yeophyeon's foot struck precisely at Wang's groin.
"Ugh…ugh…argh…"
Wang's eyes rolled back, his face contorted in pain. Witnesses were left stunned.
Ignoring the crowd, Yeophyeon shouted fiercely.
"Since childhood… until now… you dared lay a hand on my sister, whom I've never even struck?"
He immediately slapped Chief Wang across the face.
Smack!
The sound reverberated through the room like thunder.
Chief Wang spat out a mouthful of blood, clutching his groin as he writhed on the floor.
His high-pitched screams filled the kitchen.
As Yeophyeon raised his hand again, a voice thundered from behind.
"Yeophyeon, you insolent brat!"
He turned to see Yeop Go standing there, flanked by a few guards of the Yeop residence.
Yeophyeon glanced at Yeop Go, then ruthlessly stomped on Wang's face. He turned back to Yeop Ryeong, who was watching with a pale face, and asked.
"Do you remember which hand hit you?"
Yeop Ryeong answered in a trembling voice.
"R-right hand… Oppa, that's enough…"
Before she could finish, Yeophyeon drew a dagger from his waist and swiftly drove it into Wang's right shoulder.
"Ahhhh!"
Blood spurted to the ceiling as his arm was severed.
The room fell deathly silent.
No one could speak. Yeop Go stared at Wang's detached arm in disbelief.
Wang, screaming, soon fainted.
Yeop Ryeong covered her mouth with her small hands.
After a moment, Yeop Go regained his composure and spoke in a furious voice.
"Yeophyeon, you… insolent… how dare you harm someone in front of an elder…"