Chapter 163
163
When I opened my eyes again, it was a dim dawn. As I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and habitually reached for my Hidden Weapons, I let out a hollow laugh.
To naturally prepare for training from the hour of the hare… I’ve become a Martial Artist to the bone.
Realizing this anew, I prepared to go out, and the wooden case containing the Golden Needles caught my eye.
After a moment of hesitation, I took a Golden Needle from the case and slipped it into my sleeve.
Even if the Old man’s intentions were suspicious, it wouldn’t be right to waste such good Hidden Weapons; it would be disrespectful to the Master Craftsman who poured his heart and soul into making them.
Since I got them, I should at least try using them once.
…No. If they’re good, I’ll keep using them.
Humming, I left my room and began to look around the hut.
I couldn’t just run around in the yard and risk damaging the Formation, so I was looking for a decent open space.
Lightly leaping from tree to tree, I searched through the forest and saw Yeon-ryang training at dawn.
Just as I was about to hurriedly avoid him, Yeon-ryang, alerted by the sound, lowered his sword and turned towards me. I quickly waved my hand.
“Sorry, Brother. I wasn’t trying to spy.”
As I made excuses, watching his reaction, Yeon-ryang chuckled and gestured for me to come over.
“You can watch. You might be curious about your brother’s sword.”
“Huh? You’re saying I can?”
“Sure. Why not? It’s not some great Exceptional technique, just a mishmash.”
Before, he had been so displeased at showing me even two or three Martial art moves that he threatened to Slaughter the Entire Family.
I swallowed hard at his unfamiliar reaction, and Yeon-ryang shrugged, winking.
“It’s really okay. It’s not like you’re a stranger.”
“St, still…”
“In the first place, my sword doesn’t have anything you could call Martial art moves. It’s a sword without roots.”
Yeon-ryang waved his hand as if telling me not to worry and continued his training as if to show me. It was as good as permission to watch comfortably.
I tried to hide my excitement and held my breath. It wasn’t often that one could see another Martial Artist’s training.
Even Grandfather, who had taught me personally, never showed me his personal training, as it was such a private matter.
Sitting on a tree branch, I stared intently at Yeon-ryang’s sword.
Perhaps my eye had improved, because I saw things I hadn’t noticed before.
Yeon-ryang’s sword was a Killing sword specialized for instant kills.
He was the type to deal with enemies with improvisation rather than being bound by Martial art moves.
And… he had always fought alone.
My heart grew heavy at the sight of his movements, which never exposed his back.
A life is reflected even in a sword.
Seeing my dark expression, Yeon-ryang chuckled playfully.
“It’s unimpressive, isn’t it?”
“Unimpressive? It’s cool.”
At my answer, Yeon-ryang smiled and swung his arm around, then pointed the tip of his sword at me.
“Now that you mention it, how about my sister and I spar for once?”
“Huh? Out of the blue?”
“Don’t use Inner Energy / Internal Qi, though. Here, take this.”
“Eep?”
Yeon-ryang closed in instantly, and a scream burst out of me involuntarily. Caught off guard, I jumped down from the tree in shock.
“Eek! Wait! You said not to use Inner Energy / Internal Qi!”
“I didn’t.”
“Then why are you so rough? Ugh! Brother. Wait, wait!”
“There’s no ‘wait’ in a real fight, So-hye.”
“Didn’t you think about your sword’s length? I use Hidden Weapons, you know? It’s disadvantageous for me if you get this close!”
“There’s no Swordmaster who will take your circumstances into account in a real fight. You need to get used to close combat, too.”
Yeon-ryang, answering calmly as he aimed his sword, had a very different atmosphere from usual. I quickly took out a Flying Dagger and took a stance.
“No, why all of a sudden? You’re acting like Beopgong Monk right now!”
“Hmm, is that so? I should be better than a Buddhist monk.”
Yeon-ryang scratched his cheek, then changed his expression and exuded a fierce Killing intent. It was the first time he had aimed his Killing sword at me.
As I stiffened in panic, Yeon-ryang gave me serious advice.
“I know it’s an unpleasant Qi / Energy Flow, but you need to get used to it. The Orthodox Faction scholars might not use a sword like this, but the Wanderers are different. If you’re not used to it, you can be overwhelmed by the Qi / Energy Flow and lose your breath.”
“I, I know that! But it’s too sudden, ack!”
“In urgent situations, a moment’s choice determines life and death. That’s closer to instinct than choice… and that’s hard to learn.”
“Wa, wait! I haven’t even stretched my muscles yet, Brother!”
“But you can compensate to some extent by gaining experience.”
“Are you listening to me? I said I haven’t stretched my muscles!”
Screaming, I dodged Yeon-ryang’s attack and hid among the trees, throwing Flying Daggers.
“You need to throw them properly.”
Yeon-ryang lightly deflected the Flying Daggers and swung his sword down with a displeased tone.
I hurriedly twisted my body, and the tree that had been hiding me split in two and fell to either side.
“You said you weren’t using Inner Energy / Internal Qi! Liar!”
“I didn’t. You can tear trees with your strength too, you know.”
I couldn’t find any of his usual kindness in Yeon-ryang, who was attacking relentlessly.
I was sweating profusely, trying to read Yeon-ryang’s Sword path.
Left? No, is it right?
I gripped my Hidden Weapons, rolling my eyes and hesitating, and Yeon-ryang said firmly.
“Don’t hesitate. If someone attacks you, you have to counterattack immediately. Even if it’s your brother, you have to cut him down without hesitation.”
Then he swung his sword fiercely.
“Brother, you know you’re really weird today, aack! Really!”
Yeon-ryang’s relentless sword was nothing more than simple Martial art moves of cutting, swinging, and stabbing.
But it was so fast that it was difficult to distinguish between Feint move and Real move.
Moreover, the way he cut off my flow and aimed for openings was so natural that I felt like my neck would be cut off if I hesitated even a little.
I wondered what had gotten into him, but I didn’t feel bad. After adapting to Yeon-ryang’s speed, I even enjoyed it a little.
At least for now, I felt that Yeon-ryang was treating me not as a child to be cared for, but as a Martial Artist.
When I bared my fangs and smiled, Yeon-ryang rubbed his forehead as if he couldn’t take it.
“Young Miss. When were you complaining, and now you’re enjoying it too much?”
“It’s fun!”
“The Buddhist monk is right. You’re a natural.”
Yeon-ryang muttered and twisted his trajectory, aiming for my lower body. I grumbled and dodged his attack, intending to make me lose my balance.
“I won’t fall for that twice.”
“You noticed already?”
I kept my distance from Yeon-ryang, who was chuckling, and scattered Hidden Weapons, then realized something was wrong. Yeon-ryang’s eyes, staring at me, were red.
“Brother, that’s cheating. You said you weren’t using Inner Energy / Internal Qi, but your eyes are red.”
“Oh, I really didn’t.”
Yeon-ryang, looking embarrassed at my accusation, hurriedly gathered his Qi / Energy Flow. His eyes, which had been as red as blood, gradually turned black.
He’s not the type to make a mistake like this.
I was puzzled, but I didn’t have time to think deeply. Blocking the sword in front of me came first.
Riding on the surging sword tip, I aimed for Yeon-ryang’s right arm, and he licked his lower lip and burst out laughing.
“Yes. You have to attack like that.”
Unlike his praise, Yeon-ryang mercilessly shook me off, stepped on my back, and held the blade to my neck.
The Killing intent was so strong that my skin tingled, and my back was soaked.
If it had been a real fight, it would have been a fatal blow.
Breathing heavily, I looked up at Yeon-ryang, who flinched and quickly took his sword away, then hurriedly helped me up.
“Oh, I was a bit too much. Are you okay?”
His face showed regret as he brushed the dirt off me. I blinked blankly.
What was that? I felt something just now.
When I didn’t answer, Yeon-ryang fidgeted and cupped my cheeks.
“So-hye, are you okay? Were you very surprised?”
“……”
“So-hye?”
Snapping out of it at Yeon-ryang’s worried call, I shook my head and opened my mouth.
“Brother. Can we try again?”
“Are you sure? Your fingertips are trembling.”
“I’m not trembling because I’m scared. I’m trembling because I’m excited.”
I answered and quietly looked down at my hands.
It was only for a moment, but it felt like the Hidden Weapons weren’t being thrown by calculating in my head, but were extending as part of my body.
What was it? How did I do it?
“Brother. Let’s try it one more time. Huh?”
“You have to eat breakfast. The sun’s up.”
“I want to do it more. I feel like I got something just now. Let’s do it again!”
When I grabbed Yeon-ryang’s sleeve and begged, he shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.
“Yang Clan Leader must have been stimulating. Well, there’s nothing more helpful for growth than competitiveness.”
Yeon-ryang muttered and drew his sword again. He strode back and created some distance, then gestured to me.
“Then come at me. Sister.”
\ \ *
After blocking the raging storm of swords all morning, I had no strength left.
Lying face down on the dirt, I gasped like a fish out of water.
When I didn’t move, completely exhausted, Ju-ryeong crept up and pressed his front paw on my nose, then released it.
“Hey. Don’t do that……”
“Kyoo.”
“I said don’t……”
“Kiee.”
This ferret is teasing me now. Ugh. I feel like I’m going to throw up.
I pushed Ju-ryeong away as I watched the drifting clouds, and Yeon-ryang smiled and looked down at me.
Unlike me, who was a mess, Yeon-ryang looked neat, as if he hadn’t even broken a sweat.
“Brother… I’m seeing stars…”
“You trained properly. Let’s wash up and eat. I already made all the dumplings. All we have to do is boil them.”
“When did you even do that? Do you have two bodies?”
My stamina has improved so much that it’s incomparable to when I was in the Tang Clan, but I can’t keep up with that guy at all.
I watched Yeon-ryang’s back as he helped me up and went to prepare breakfast, then groaned and headed for the well.
I felt a little better after washing my face with the cold well water.
I was about to put the bucket back into the well to fill the bathtub when I heard Yeon-ryang’s voice from the kitchen.
“So-hye. Can you come here for a second?”
“Huh? Why?”
“There’s something here.”
I put down the bucket at his slightly surprised voice and headed for the kitchen.
Yeon-ryang, seeing me, pointed to the rows of earthenware jars in the corner of the kitchen.
I staggered over and looked into the jars, and my eyes widened.
“…Huh? What is this?”
