Chapter 87

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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**

“If it is Young Hero Yeon, he could lead a mission alone.”

These were the words of the heroine, the Moon-Breaking Rakshasa, who had appeared after cutting off the head of the Daywalker. Since it was a Daywalker who had fled after even bouncing off her Heaven-Pressing Axe.

Even Senior Martial Uncle Mang-won acknowledged me.

“Monster and Spirit, since your achievements are rising day by day. Even if not alone, if the three of you are together, there is no need to worry.”

A master who had reached the Unity of Body and Sword.

After being dispatched to the Guizhou Branch of the Murim Alliance, having slain the most Daywalkers was what brought Senior Martial Uncle Mang-won’s acknowledgement.

“Haha.”

Looking proud, he smiled and stroked my head.

If my frame had been as short as before, he looked ready to even give me a shoulder ride.

Such words were a bit awkward.

‘I am still lacking.’

It was because I fell short of the standard I had set.

‘If I had achieved the Unity of Body and Sword… I would have been able to cut off the Daywalker’s head even without the help of the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm.’

Ultimately, the regret toward myself for failing to do so brushed aside the praises around me. And what remained was the contemplation of the past time.

‘The purity of my true qi is fine. The density is still the problem.’

The density of the true qi infused into the sword blade was insufficient.

Only when the density is sufficient can the sword qi be forged more sharply. It was a natural property.

And this was a problem of true qi operation rather than the amount of qi accumulation.

‘The speed of releasing and receiving internal energy must become faster and more delicate.’

I had already secured the rotational force of internal energy through the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art. I supplied internal energy as much as it was consumed. Insufficient internal energy could be secured through the middle dantian’s inner core.

On calculations, it was so.

However, ultimately, I did not reach it.

‘Even if I compress the internal energy into the sword blade, basically, true qi has a strong property to disperse. This is the law of heaven.’

Therefore, the sword qi is maintained only when internal energy is supplied to the sword blade faster than the amount of dispersing internal energy. Ultimately, the speed at which internal energy was supplied from the dantian to the sword blade was the problem.

It was as if a homework assignment that must be solved had been given.

‘Would it be solved if I reach the Nascent Soul Stage?’

Actually, I had intended to reach the Nascent Soul Stage by completing the sword qi.

But now, it was a situation that seemed rather reversed.

I was confused about whether the chicken or the egg came first.

‘In times like this, there is no choice but to work hard on both.’

Because there were things you only knew after clashing against them.

Still, what was encouraging was.

‘That I quickly grasped the characteristics of the Vajra Bloodline.’

Of course, it was not an achievement of sword arts, but the insight to grasp the opponent’s weakness was to the extent of being thought of as rather more important than the achievement of sword arts in real combat.

I felt that the strange ‘precognitive ability’ that had been passing before my eyes once in a while since some time ago might have manifested from this kind of ability.

I evaluated myself that modifying the hard outer skin that the Vajra Bloodline boasted of through lightning qi was a job well done. Therefore, the thought that naturally arose was.

‘If I could perform two kinds of martial arts at once, it would indeed be effective.’

After making a scratch on the shield that was like the Vajra Indestructible Body through the True Formula of Thunder of the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm, I cut off the head.

What if I had been able to utilize two kinds of martial arts simultaneously? Senior Brother Myeong-jin’s shoulder flesh would not have been torn off, nor would Senior Brother Myeong-hun have suffered internal injuries.

My master’s secret technique.

The Two Polarities Patterned Sword came to mind.

Because it was a supreme sword art of loading two opposing true qis onto the sword by operating them simultaneously.

‘Could there be some clue in the Two Polarities Patterned Sword?’

Such a thought naturally arose.

Even if they were not opposing properties, the Four Symbols Flowing Sword and the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm.

They were martial arts with strictly different force-release formulas.

The Four Symbols Flowing Sword mainly utilizes sword waves through the thumb and ring finger, the Shaoshang acupoint and the Shaoze acupoint.

On the other hand, the Four Symbols Wind and Thunder Palm mainly utilizes the Daling acupoint of the palm center.

The sections of the fine meridians utilized are also different.

It was difficult to utilize two kinds of martial arts simultaneously, which was the reason why I had laid down the sword to defeat the Daywalker.

That was not all.

What if I simultaneously operate the Tai Chi Chuan and the sword techniques of the Tai Chi Sword Manual?

I would be able to easily deal with enemies who close in closer than the reach of the sword or fist. In addition to that, I could even cause confusion to the opponent. Winning the tactical battle is a bonus.

Naturally, a wind rose above the middle dantian.

‘If I can utilize two kinds of martial arts at once.’

Perhaps I could even achieve an effect similar to launching a pincer attack with one person’s body, which was the calculation I reached.

However.

“What do you mean by that!”

“No matter if it is you, Monster and Spirit, that is not allowed.”

“It is dangerous. If you make a mistake, your energy channels might get twisted.”

Everyone, from Immortal Mang-won to Senior Brother Myeong-hun, stopped me.

It was because it went against the fundamental principles of martial studies.

So, I brought up our sect’s Two Polarities Patterned Sword as an example, but.

“But the Two Polarities Patterned Sword… utilizes two opposing true qis simultaneously, does it not?”

“That is a single martial art, is it not?”

“Utilizing various true qis in a single martial art is different from utilizing different martial arts simultaneously!”

“There is a reason why the Two Polarities Patterned Sword is the most mysterious among the Five Great Sword Studies of the Wudang Sect.”

“Unless one is born for it, it cannot be learned. Of course, if it is you, Junior Brother, you might be able to learn it… but still, what you said is too dangerous!”

At the words of my senior brothers and senior martial uncle who repeatedly stopped me, I nodded my head slightly.

However, my senior brothers knew me too well.

“You still haven’t given up.”

“As your frame gradually grew longer, your gaze changed.”

At such a sight of me, Senior Brother Myeong-jin let out a small sigh and continued.

“If you really cannot give up… fine. It would be worth trying at least after you reach the Nascent Soul Stage.”

“The Nascent Soul Stage?”

“Yes.”

When I expressed a question with my eyes at Senior Brother Myeong-jin’s words, Senior Brother smiled slightly and replied.

“I realized it after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage. The Unification of the Three Dantians. Once achieved, the energy channels will not get twisted by ordinary matters. Unless you fall into a heart demon, falling into a deviation into heresy during martial arts training will be extremely rare.”

It was as if another reason to reach the Nascent Soul Stage had been added.

“I understand.”

So, for now, I folded away the thought of performing two kinds of martial arts at once.

Because now it was time to handle the immediate task first.

**

A man wearing a bamboo hat pressed deep down stopped the people coming down from the mountain.

“Who are you?”

“I am merely a curious passing traveler, so you do not need to be so wary.”

With those words, a silver piece appeared in the man’s hand, and.

“You can have it if you just answer my questions.”

At those words, the wariness in the eyes of the man standing at the front disappeared like falling leaves scattering.

Confirming this, the man wearing the bamboo hat began to ask about the things he was curious about, and.

“I did not see it closely, so I do not know well, but…”

Behind the man who said he did not know, a child raised his hand high and stepped forward.

“I, I saw it! A flash of lightning sparkled from his hand! Then, rumble! A thunderous sound rang out! And that person’s skin burned black, and then his head went swish! It flew away!”

The man wearing the bamboo hat squeezed the silver piece into the child’s hand.

Thus, those who had come down from the mountain went on their way in high spirits, and.

The man drew his sword after the people disappeared from sight.

“The shields of the Vajra Bloodline blood ghouls are weak against lightning qi. It is good information.”

Then, the man swung his sword while chewing over what the child had said. Already, in front of the eyes of the man wearing the bamboo hat, there was a boy scattering lightning qi from the center of his palm.

**

After cutting down the Daywalker.

Under the permission of the Moon-Breaking Rakshasa and Immortal Mang-won.

My senior brothers and I set out on the mission, leading the warriors of the Murim Alliance. It was to manage the personnel efficiently.

Thanks to that, the collapse of the Blood Cult branches gained speed, and.

The edge infused into the sword qi also became sharper. I could feel that the speed of receiving and releasing internal energy gradually accelerated, and I felt that the fine meridians extending from the sword body to the tip of the blade were forming inside the sword body.

The realm of handling objects outside the body as if they were my own body.

I felt that the realm of the Unity of Body and Sword had come right before my eyes.

It was around the time when autumn transitioned into winter, and.

More than half of the Blood Cult branches in the Guizhou region were blown away.

While I was delighted by the achievements in martial arts.

Only then did I realize.

That a large number of commoners lived in Guizhou as well.

I had originally thought that people living on this barren land with the cloudy sky on their backs were hard to see, but it was not so.

Although there were sometimes those with whom words did not communicate, the generally simple-hearted people revealed themselves and showed goodwill to us.

Still, the reason why they had not been seen until now.

Was because they were hidden deep in the mountains.

They were those who had to flee, abandoning the homes where they originally lived, due to the stirrings of the Blood Cult.

“Thanks to the great heroes, we were able to come down from the mountain.”

“As for those leech cultists, their stronghold will appear if you go ten li further north.”

Thanks to that, we unexpectedly came into contact with a lot of information, and.

The cleanup of the Blood Cult branches gained even more speed.

In the process, there was an additional fact that we came to know.

“My wife, who went out saying she was going to dig up medicinal herbs in the mountain, has not shown a single hair even though nine days have passed. Could you perhaps find her?”

“Please save our child! Since the red-eyed Blood Cultists took him, he has not returned!”

“I saw it at night. The entire family next door disappeared all at once. Since that day, we abandoned our house and went into the mountain.”

The circumstance that there were many Blood Cultists kidnapping non-believers.

In addition, circumstances that those kidnapped could never return were being revealed one after another.

We diverted the personnel who had been focused on destroying the branches and entered a large-scale search.

The destroyed Blood Cult branches were the targets.

Beneath the ground dug up like that, many human bones came out.

The majority of them were dried corpses like mummies.

They were corpses with all the blood in their entire bodies drained.

Among them, there were not a few corpses that seemed to have been young children.

I had never seen such a wide variety of corpses.

“Damn it.”

Senior Brother Myeong-jin ground his teeth.

His gaze shook as if some bad memory had come to mind.

Suddenly, the gaze of Won-tae, who had been the sub-branch leader of the Hao Sect’s evil path, overlapped with Senior Brother Myeong-jin’s.

I realized once again that the devastation caused by the Six Great Evils was not far away.

“Wonshianjin.”

Because there were too many corpses, we had to hold a funeral for them all at once.

The Taoists of the Emei Sect, our Wudang Sect, and the Qingcheng Sect stepped forward to conduct the funeral.

The tears of a mother who lost her child weighed heavily on my mind.

On the night we excavated the corpses from the ground.

I dreamed.

My martial nephews like Gye-yang and Bo-yang.

While practicing with Hwan-yang, whom we had saved from the fire-field farmers’ village, and others at the Prince Slope, the Daywalkers revealed themselves, stepping on blue roof tiles.

I shouted to run away at the numbers that were too many to deal with alone, but the sound of footsteps could not be heard.

When I looked back, all of them had become like mummies and were collapsed on the floor.

And I opened my eyes.

Cold sweat had soaked the bedding.

**

“You look tired.”

“I tossed and turned a bit last night.”

Senior Brother Myeong-jin nodded.

“It seems like you’ve been tossing and turning quite frequently lately.”

“Ah, is that so?”

‘Indeed.’

Even if it wasn’t for the nightmare last night, it was not just once or twice that I suddenly woke up from sleep.

“It seems my nerves are overly sensitive.”

“How about resting from practicing the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition for the time being?”

“It is not easy to let go because there is something that comes to mind.”

The past, present, and future that I saw in the eyes of the blood pouches.

The trajectories read at the moment of dealing with the Daywalker, and so forth.

I was repeatedly seeing something ahead of time.

Things that had not happened yet were repeatedly drawn in my head.

That was also why last night’s dream felt uncomfortable.

“You probably saw something like that for the first time?”

“…Yes.”

Although it was not the first time I had seen a large number of corpses.

The scale was different.

And the depth of grief expressed by the people was also different.

It was incomparable to when the specters of the Ghost Immortal Valley made a mess, or when we swept away the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest bandits.

“As you carry out missions, you will often experience such things. That is why we must be wary of the Six Great Evils.”

“It is the reason why we practice martial studies.”

I nodded at the words of my senior brothers.

Anew, the moment I saved people in my first mission was felt as precious. Even if we resolve the incident belatedly, those who crossed the river will not return.

Since the tip of my sword seemed to shine even more sharply because of that.

I decided to take it as a comfort, at least.

As the fire-level of my martial arts deepened.

And so, the more often I set out on missions.

The sacrifice of commoners who do not belong to the Jianghu would decrease.

No.

I intended to make it decrease.

Like that, on that day as well, we found one sub-branch based on the testimonies of those who had come down from the mountain, and.

Puhwak-!

Surrounded and wiped it out.

In the process, one thing I realized was.

“These guys. Doesn’t it seem like they aren’t sharing information?”

“Indeed, that is true.”

If they suffered to this extent, it was about time their strategy or tactics changed, but the blood ghouls still showed off heretical martial arts that relied on their hard outer skins.

Thanks to that, it was a bonus that the damage to the Murim Alliance warriors, who had learned the coping method, decreased sharply.

“Let us retreat now.”

“I will inform the other Alliance members.”

Senior Brother Myeong-jin briefly left his spot to call those who had formed the encirclement.

In the meantime, Senior Brother Myeong-hun and I took out whetstones from our bosoms.

“You are skillful now.”

“How many times has it been already?”

“Since the edge didn’t get damaged, you shouldn’t have been able to get skilled in maintenance, right?”

“That is a compliment, right?”

“Of course.”

Because the sharper the sword qi became, the less the blade got damaged, meaning that tending to the sword was rare, but still, since it must not be skipped.

I carefully ground down the dulled part of the blade with a whetstone.

Meanwhile.

‘Hmm?’

Just as I was about to put the whetstone in my bosom and take out the oil.

A sensation of the air flow reversing approaches my back chillingly.

A premonition rushing in with a time lag composes a human figure.

A bamboo hat pressed down deeply.

A straight sword lightly tied to the waist.

And it was felt.

That the killing intent, which had held its breath in the deep forests of Guizhou, was rising like bamboo shoots sprouting the day after rain.

Just as that premonition.

A man trudged out from under the shadow of the forest full of killing intent.

“It has been a long time.”

“Young Spirit Slayer…!”

The Guangxi region.

It was a reunion with the Killing Star whom I had met in the deep valley.