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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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The disciples gathered. Unlike last time, they weren’t caught off guard and were prepared, having warmed up beforehand.
A slight tension filled the air in front of the hidden area. The Sword Saint looked at her disciples and said,
“You all understand, right?”
“Yes!!”
“We do!”
This hidden area, too, had been discovered thanks to Sayun’s “Mister.”
So, they all readily agreed with the Sword Saint’s suggestion that any rewards found within should belong to Sayun.
Overwhelmed by their response, Sayun lowered her head, and Yu-hee, her close friend, squeezed her hand.
“‘Mister’ must have a reason for telling you about this hidden area. So don’t feel too bad about it.”
“Okay… Senior Disciple. Sniff.”
The other disciples also offered words of encouragement to the emotional Sayun, genuinely wishing for their youngest member’s growth.
The Sword Saint, watching them, felt a shiver run down her spine.
“They’re all such good children…”
“Let’s go in,”
Hyeon-hwi said, wiping his eyes discreetly, and the Sword Saint nodded. She still questioned her ability to lead them effectively, but this wasn’t a matter of capability. It was a duty.
“I’ll enter first, so follow carefully. Hong-ryeon, could you take the rear with Ryu-hyeon?”
“Understood.”
“Is everyone ready?”
“Yes!!”
“Good. I like your spirited response. Now, shall we?”
And so, the Hong Seong-mun disciples began their exploration of the hidden area.
Upon entering, a heavy tension weighed upon them.
As they reacted to this unfamiliar sensation, absent from the previous hidden area, the Sword Saint studied the passage ahead.
A red aura emanated from within, stimulating their Hong Seong Divine Art.
“Circulate your internal energy.”
Some hidden areas reacted to internal energy, suppressing one’s abilities. Talismans created by Taoists were typically used to counter this, but they were unlikely to have any on hand.
The Sword Saint instructed her disciples to circulate their Hong Seong Divine Art, and some of them tilted their heads in confusion.
“Master, the Hong Seong Divine Art is reacting more strongly.”
“The energy within the hidden area is stimulating it. Be careful not to let your internal energy be swayed by it.”
“Understood.”
While she was confident that her presence would prevent any major issues, some disciples had achieved enlightenment in the previous hidden area. It was best to avoid interfering if possible.
The Sword Saint walked forward and spotted some mechanisms in the passage.
“…Meteor Steps, I see. Hmm…”
“Does that mean we need to control our internal energy so the Hong Seong Divine Art doesn’t react to the energy here, while using the movement technique?”
“Indeed,”
the Sword Saint nodded in response to Sayun’s question.
“This hidden area can be seen as a training ground for controlling both internal energy and the divine art. Focusing on both simultaneously won’t be easy, but it’s a crucial aspect of martial arts training. Once your martial arts reach a certain level, the flow of your internal energy must become natural. Just as you don’t consciously think about breathing, mastering the control and flow of internal energy will greatly reduce the difficulty of executing techniques.”
This was second nature to the Sword Saint, but some of her disciples still struggled, especially Sayun, whose mastery of the Hong Seong Divine Art was relatively low.
The Sword Saint stroked Sayun’s hair and moved forward gracefully.
“Wow…”
As if to prove that at least in martial arts, she was beyond reproach, the Sword Saint’s movements were flawless.
Executing the Meteor Steps fluidly, she cleared the passage and raised her hand, ready to intervene if necessary.
She observed her disciples, and Hyeon-hwi nudged Sayun.
“Want to go first? Or should we send the others ahead?”
“Oh, can I go first?”
“It doesn’t matter who goes first. You’ll all have to try it eventually.”
“Yes! Then, Sayun, disciple of Hong Seong-mun, will go first!”
Sayun declared energetically and took a deep breath. The Hong Seong Divine Art surged within her, reacting to the red aura within the hidden area.
She needed to control it while simultaneously executing the Meteor Steps, a technique based on the Hong Seong Divine Art. It wouldn’t be easy for the still-inexperienced Sa-yun.
Nevertheless, she stepped forward. Her experience at Changun Temple had given her much to think about.
The concept of “chivalry,” which she had only vaguely understood before, now resonated within her.
What was required for chivalrous deeds? A righteous heart was essential, but so was the power to act on it.
I have to do this. She had received so much from so many people. So many people were supporting her. Their expectations didn’t feel like a burden. It was simply something she had to do.
“Oh…”
Controlling the turbulent Hong Seong Divine Art, she executed the Meteor Steps, her feet gliding across the floor.
As her left foot landed on a designated spot, a soft light emanated from the pattern on the floor, as if blessing her steps. She moved to the next, and the next, and the next.
Like stars traversing the night sky, Sayun’s movements became faster and more intricate. Faster, more precise, and more stable.
As she focused on these three elements while performing the Meteor Steps, a single thought filled her mind: I have to succeed.
And as she focused, controlling the rampant Hong Seong Divine Art became as natural as breathing. Suddenly, Sayun realized she was in someone’s arms.
“Ah.”
“You’ve grasped a thread of enlightenment.”
She’d been lost in the movement, executing the Meteor Steps unconsciously. Enlightenment? Sayun stared blankly as the Sword Saint looked down at her with warm eyes.
“What were you thinking?”
“Just… that I had to do it.”
“Yes. When you know what you must do and act on it, the Hong Seong Divine Art will follow your will. Remember that. Now rest and reflect on that feeling.”
As the other disciples prepared to attempt the movement technique, the Sword Saint had Sayun sit down in a meditative posture.
Sayun watched her senior disciples for a moment, then closed her eyes.
The feeling from just now… the sense of weightlessness, the surge of determination… If that was enlightenment, if that was the key to further strengthening the Hong Seong Divine Art…
Sayun smiled, replaying the Meteor Steps in her mind.
Mister, thank you. I’ve become stronger.
“Phew…”
Unlike previous hidden areas, this one was quite challenging. Not dangerous, but difficult.
Controlling the Hong Seong Divine Art, which kept reacting to the energy of the hidden area, while executing techniques, was no easy task. Yet, her disciples persevered, despite the difficulty.
“Are you alright?”
Ryu-hyeon approached Sayun, who was struggling more than the others.
“Yes. Hehe. I can’t call myself the Sword Saint’s disciple if I can’t even handle this, can I?”
Sayun smiled brightly, wiping away her sweat. Ryu-hyeon looked at her with concern, silently suggesting they stop and leave.
The Sword Saint shook her head and looked directly at Sayun, asking seriously,
“Can you do it?”
“Of course!”
“Good. Let’s keep going.”
“Master, are you sure this is alright?”
“Sayun is getting used to it,”
the Sword Saint replied, referring to both controlling the Hong Seong Divine Art and mastering her own movements.
Though struggling, Sayun knew her path. Their role was simply to support her, to prevent her from falling.
“It’s Master’s decision.”
When it came to martial arts, the Sword Saint’s judgment was never wrong. With even Hong-ryeon agreeing, Ryu-hyeon looked at Sayun with a worried expression.
They stumbled through the hidden area, and finally, they reached the last chamber, a large room where the guardian awaited. The Sword Saint smiled.
“Two this time.”
In the center of the room were two Lesser Yakshas. Unlike before, two of them snarled, baring their sharp claws, ready to tear apart any intruders.
“There’s no rule saying there can only be one guardian. You have to face them both at the same time… Sayun, can you do it?”
After a moment’s thought, Sayun nodded. It would be challenging, but not impossible. The Sword Saint smiled at her.
“Then try it.”
Sayun’s heart leaped at her master’s approval. Despite her initial fear, she was deemed capable of facing two Lesser Yakshas.
Her growth was evident. Sayun descended into the chamber with a surge of excitement, and the Yakshas roared at her approach.
-SCREEEECH!!
-ROOOOOAR!!
Their terrifying screams reminded her of the Jiangshi she’d encountered at Changun Temple. Back then, it took two of them to face one Jiangshi.
How would she fare now? She had learned from that encounter, and she’d grown stronger through training with her master.
Could she defeat two of them alone?
Sayun slowly drew her sword, and the Yakshas lunged. They were fast, but not invisible.
She deflected their claw attacks, aimed at her head and legs, with the Whirlwind and Thunderclap techniques of the Hong Seong Divine Art, then used the Meteor Steps to exploit the openings, dodging their attacks effortlessly.
“Haa!”
With a low shout, her sword flashed like lightning, severing a Yaksha’s arm. A pained scream and a furious attack followed, but Sayun felt no fear.
She had Mister’s light guiding her, and her master and senior disciples supporting her from behind.
“Phew…”
Exhaling shakily, Sayun glanced at her sword. She had wielded it without thinking.
And now, as the battle ended, a faint light emanated from the blade. It felt like praise from Mister, celebrating her growth, and Sayun smiled unconsciously.
“Well done.”
“Thank you!”
Facing two opponents without retreating was commendable. The Sword Saint patted Sayun’s shoulder and glanced back.
Some of the disciples wore thoughtful expressions, seemingly having gained insight from Sayun’s battle. Such excellent children. Growing stronger even under an inadequate master.
The Sword Saint addressed Hong-ryeon and Ryu-hyeon, who had followed her down.
“Let’s wrap things up… ah, right. Sayun, bring the reward. I’m curious what it is this time.”
“Okay!”
Sayun ran inside and returned with a small box. As everyone watched curiously, she opened it. The Sword Saint murmured gravely,
“…Nebula Iron.”
A piece of ore, emitting a faint light. Looking at this fragment of a fallen star, the Sword Saint sighed.
“It’s one of the main materials for the Cloudwalker Armor… one of the sacred treasures of Hong Seong-mun’s sect leader.”
The Sword Saint murmured softly, remembering the sacred treasure, now lost, destroyed by her Senior Disciple.
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