Bu Eunseol raised an eyebrow at Woo Hak’s words. “How can you block a sword move without understanding it?”
“Of course, under normal circumstances, you’d need to analyze the move to counter it,” Woo Hak said with a faint smile. “But there’s a way to block it even without knowing how the move unfolds.”
Pausing briefly, he cleared his throat and continued. “If there were a sword technique that reacts solely to killing intent, wouldn’t it counter any sword move?”
Killing intent. It was easily spoken of but neither visible nor a clear concept.
After a moment of deep thought, Bu Eunseol shook his head. “Wouldn’t it be better to create an ultimate swift sword technique instead?” If the opponent’s swordsmanship was too formidable to counter, why not kill them before they could even unleash their move?
“That’s not a bad idea,” Woo Hak replied. “But swift sword techniques have a fatal flaw.”
“What flaw?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“Experienced martial artists are always wary of sudden swift sword techniques,” Woo Hak explained. “Moreover, if a swift sword move fails, it leaves you vulnerable to a devastating counterattack.”
He was right. Swift sword techniques pursued extreme speed, imperceptible even to masters with honed reflexes. Since they required full commitment to a single strike, a failed move exposed significant vulnerabilities. Even the Unmatched Thunderbolt of Cheon Ungwang, a killing sword technique using the Supreme Swift Strike, could result in losing a finger during training.
“I assure you, if you master the sword technique we teach, you’ll be able to defend against any sword move,” Woo Hak said.
“What’s the use of only defending?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“It’s useful,” Woo Hak replied, his eyes blazing with conviction. “If you can endure tenaciously, opportunities to seize victory will arise.” Bu Eunseol’s expression grew complex.
Woo Hak was essentially saying he’d teach a sword technique to survive against a superior opponent without dying.
What an absurd sword technique.
Bu Eunseol had assumed they sought someone with innate killing intent to teach a devastating killing sword. But a defensive sword technique?
As if reading his thoughts, Woo Hak gave a bitter smile. “To master this technique, you must first sense and control the killing intent within you. That’s why we sought those with abundant innate killing intent.”
“Can killing intent be controlled?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“Of course,” Woo Hak said firmly. “Killing intent is tied to human emotions. Like an inner energy technique, it can be freely regulated through specific methods.”
His voice carried strength. “When a person harbors killing intent, their body gains greater strength. When a sword technique is performed in that state, the move changes.”
“But when the body is dominated by killing intent, doesn’t it cause unnecessary tension and slow you down?” Bu Eunseol countered.
“A keen observation,” Woo Hak said. “But by mastering the secret we’ve created, you can channel that emotion into lightning-fast reflexes.”
“The secret?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“I call it the Storm Harmony Secret,” Woo Hak said.
As Woo Hak explained, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened. The Storm Harmony, named after the unpredictable changes of wind and clouds, contained the profound method of taming the uncontrollable force of killing intent. Winds could push clouds to clear the sky or cover it in darkness.
“I’ll recite the formula now. Memorize it,” Woo Hak said in a low voice. “Once you master this secret, you’ll soon be able to freely control the killing intent within you.”
The Storm Harmony Secret consisted of only 1,500 characters, but its contents introduced a revolutionary concept that broke the mold of traditional martial arts.
“I’ll recite it again. Listen carefully,” Woo Hak said.
“No need. I’ve memorized it,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“You memorized it all in one go?” Woo Hak asked, unable to hide his astonishment.
Bu Eunseol nodded, and Woo Hak’s expression turned subtle.
An unparalleled prodigy. Tapping the ground with his right foot, Woo Hak caused a small door to appear in the wall with a rumble.
“Go through there, and you’ll reach Elder Seok. He’ll teach you the sword technique.”
“Understood,” Bu Eunseol said, turning to leave.
Woo Hak’s expression darkened. “I hope we’re not making the same mistake.”
Narrowing his eyes at the spot Bu Eunseol had left, he muttered, “He has the same talent as that demon.” The demon had exceptional memory and unmatched talent in swordsmanship. Bu Eunseol possessed that same terrifying potential.
Bu Eunseol walked slowly toward the open door. After navigating a winding path, he heard the sound of water and saw light in the distance. At the end of the path was an artificial cavern with a small waterfall cascading from the high ceiling. Seok Song sat calmly on a rock far from the water.
“Why are you here so soon?” Seok Song asked, frowning.
“I was told to come,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“You’ve already memorized the formula?” Seok Song’s eyes flashed as Bu Eunseol nodded.
“I see,” Seok Song said, rising calmly. “The sword technique I’ll teach you is called Radiant Sword Control. It can block any sword move imbued with killing intent.”
A glint of light shone in his eyes. “Even if it’s unleashed unconsciously.”
A sword technique that could defend against an unconscious killing sword? Had such a technique ever existed in the martial world? Seok Song and Woo Hak had created it to survive a formidable enemy’s attacks and achieve their revenge.
Clang.
Drawing his sword slowly from his waist, Seok Song said, “I’ll now teach you the Radiant Sword Control, which responds to killing intent and malice.”
A chilling aura of killing intent emanated from him. “By mastering the Storm Harmony Secret, you can control your inner killing intent like this.” Though he hadn’t been born with abundant killing intent, he used the secret to summon it, though in limited amounts.
“But the brilliance of this secret lies in sensing not only your own killing intent but also that of others,” Seok Song said, blindfolding himself with a long cloth and lowering his hands relaxedly. “Use the Storm Harmony Secret to summon killing intent, draw your sword, and attack me.”
“With a sword?” Bu Eunseol asked.
Smirking confidently, Seok Song said, “Strike with your most confident move, as suddenly as you can, as if I couldn’t possibly block it.”
“Understood.”
Bu Eunseol moved behind the blindfolded Seok Song, using the Storm Harmony Secret’s Containment of Wrath method to summon killing intent.
Flash!
With a brilliant burst of light, Bu Eunseol unleashed a lightning-fast sword strike at Seok Song’s back. The move was so swift and close that it seemed certain to pierce him.
Clang!
But with a clear metallic sound, Seok Song’s sword was already blocking his back. It wasn’t that Seok Song had moved—his sword seemed to react to the killing intent on its own.
“This is… Radiant Sword Control,” Bu Eunseol said in awe.
Removing the blindfold, Seok Song smiled with pride. “What do you think?”
“Magnificent,” Bu Eunseol said, his admiration genuine.
“I’ll now teach you Radiant Sword Control,” Seok Song said, sheathing his sword with a bloodthirsty tone. “Use it someday to slay that demon.”
***
Midway up Geumjeongsan, a hidden door began to move slowly.
Creak.
With a rusty metallic sound, the door opened, revealing a dark space within.
Step, step.
A low sound of footsteps echoed as a dark figure emerged. Tall, with striking features visible even from a distance, he carried a sword glinting with dark light on his back.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“That took quite a while,” he said. Even for someone with genius-level talent in swordsmanship, mastering Radiant Sword Control had taken a full month.
“Young Master!” a clear voice called as a black figure descended from a large tree. It was Black Leopard, dressed in dark attire.
His face, rushing toward Bu Eunseol, was drenched in sweat. He had been tirelessly practicing his movement techniques while waiting.
“Hmm,” Bu Eunseol said, nodding as he observed Black Leopard. His body had grown leaner, his eyes brimming with confidence.
“You’ve made progress,” Bu Eunseol noted.
Black Leopard’s presence was only detectable within thirty jang, despite Bu Eunseol’s Beast Way senses extending to fifty jang.
“Not satisfactory, but… about thirty percent mastery,” Black Leopard said.
“Thirty percent,” Bu Eunseol repeated.
The movement technique Bu Eunseol had taught Black Leopard was a stealth skill he’d developed over a year with the Nine Killers, fused with Swift Beyond Shadow. Though not as great as the Nangyang Pavilion’s supreme movement technique, its speed and stealth were world-class. To reach thirty percent mastery in less than three months was remarkable.
A bit faster than expected, Bu Eunseol thought, unsurprised. Black Leopard’s small, agile frame, long legs, and elastic muscles were ideal for extreme movement techniques. Recognizing his innate talent, Bu Eunseol had taught him the secret manual.
“Keep refining it,” Bu Eunseol said.
“Yes, sir!” Black Leopard replied.
“Have the Thousand Swords Society’s people all left?” Bu Eunseol asked, looking at the empty surroundings.
Black Leopard nodded. “Yes. A month ago, they started packing up and left somewhere.”
Excitedly, Black Leopard added, “They said you were the only one to receive the sword technique.”
Grinning widely, he lowered his voice. “As an heir of the Nangyang Pavilion, mastering the Thousand Swords Society’s legendary technique… you must be invincible!”
Bu Eunseol shook his head. “Martial arts don’t double in power by adding another.”
Radiant Sword Control was fundamentally different from other sword techniques in the martial world. In terms of function, it was closer to a mystical art like the Beast Way.
“What do you think of their sword technique, Young Master?” Black Leopard asked. Though uninterested in swordsmanship, he knew Bu Eunseol enjoyed discussing it.
“Hmm,” Bu Eunseol said, his eyes lighting up as expected. “If the Nangyang Pavilion pursues the ultimate path of martial arts, the Thousand Swords Society’s technique aims for survival against absolute masters. They share no common ground, so I can’t yet evaluate it.”
Through his martial world journey, Bu Eunseol was glimpsing new realms of martial arts. But, pursuing an unimaginably high level, he was unaware of his own growth.
“Let’s leave this place,” Bu Eunseol said, lightly kicking off the ground. “Follow me.”
Whoosh!
Unleashing his movement technique, his body stretched like elastic, shooting thirty jang in an instant.
“Wait, Young Master!” Black Leopard, flustered, used his full strength to follow.
Thud!
Black Leopard’s small, dark-clad body spun like an arrow, creating a vortex as he shot forward.
Whoosh!
Two silent shadows swiftly left Geumjeongsan.
What’s going on? Black Leopard thought, pushing his inner energy to the limit. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t catch up to Bu Eunseol’s distant silhouette.
I can’t even keep up at this speed? Having studied Bu Eunseol’s secret manual, Black Leopard could traverse a thousand li in half a day if he chose. Yet Bu Eunseol, not even using full effort, was outpacing him.
He’s not even trying. Far ahead, Bu Eunseol, hands behind his back, moved leisurely.
“Ugh,” Black Leopard groaned. After pushing his movement technique for about half an hour, his core felt like it was tearing.
“You mustn’t use full inner energy to execute a swift movement technique,” Bu Eunseol said. Without Black Leopard noticing, he was now beside him, despite having been far ahead moments ago.
“Young Master, when did you…” Black Leopard began, but speaking caused his inner energy to leak.
“Listen while moving,” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “The human body can’t fly like a bird. Movement techniques make it possible, but that creates great challenges.”
With a solemn expression, he continued, “Feathers Yet to Form. The human body executing a movement technique is like a fledgling bird without wings.” He explained the core principle calmly. “Instead of flapping like a bird, you must move fluidly and softly, like a fish slipping through a net.”
His voice, serene as an immortal’s, rang in Black Leopard’s ears as he shot forward. “Recall the inner energy method in the manual. Purity of the Six Roots, One Step Ten Thousand Li. If your body becomes as soft and pure as a child’s, you can traverse ten thousand li in a single step.”
Listening intently, Black Leopard’s eyes suddenly widened. Bu Eunseol was speaking calmly while keeping pace with him at full speed.
Thud.
Shocked, Black Leopard’s breath faltered, and he halted his technique, landing on the ground.
“Huff, huff,” he panted.
Bu Eunseol, standing before him, frowned. “Executing a movement technique is like circulating inner energy. How can you not keep your mind steady?”
“Well…” Black Leopard said, deflated. “How much inner energy did you use, Young Master?”
“Thirty percent,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“Thirty percent?” Black Leopard jumped as if scalded. The speed he’d just witnessed surpassed even that of peak masters.
How deep is his inner energy?
As Black Leopard blinked, about to speak—
“Wait,” Bu Eunseol said, placing a finger to his lips.
Ching!
A faint metallic sound echoed from the distant sky, so subtle it could be mistaken for an ant’s crawl. But with the Beast Way’s Wave Heart Vision, which extended his senses through vibrations, Bu Eunseol caught it clearly.
“There’s a fight,” he said.
“Where?” Black Leopard asked, hearing nothing.
“Follow me.”
Swish!
Bu Eunseol kicked off lightly, gliding dozens of jang with the supreme Swift Beyond Shadow.
“Wait!” Black Leopard shouted, kicking off with all his might, shooting forward like an arrow.
Though slightly slower than Bu Eunseol, his stable form rivaled any movement technique master.
Whoosh!
The two shadows reached a vast reed field beyond Geumjeongsan.
Rustle.
Bu Eunseol landed on a tree overlooking the reeds.
Clang! Pew! Pew! Pew!
Below, dozens of masters were unleashing hundreds of hidden weapons like a swarm of bees at a single man.
Poisoned needles?
The weapons blanketing the reed field were none other than the Tang Clan’s signature poisoned needles.
