Moonless Void Sword, Moon-Facing Defeat Sword The moment the moves were imprinted, Mok Gyeong-un saw in his mind someone with a pale face, looking like a scholar, holding a sword and performing the moves. -Swishswishswishswishswish! A sword path reminiscent of a full moon. The moment he saw it, Mok Gyeong-un felt goosebumps all over his body.
After entering the Corpse Blood Valley's treasure vault, he had experienced a state of total absorption by imprinting the sword arts Blue Spirit had told him to memorize, but this sword move sent a thrill through him that was incomparable to the others. Mok Gyeong-un stared blankly at the move with dazed eyes.
Watching Mok Gyeong-un so engrossed, Blue Spirit thought to herself.
‘I may have set the stage, but to enter a state of total absorption immediately upon seeing it...’
His concentration is incredible. Seeing his pupils tremble, it seems the mortal boy is quite surprised by a sword move on a completely different level from what he has seen so far.
I understand.
How much I, too, marveled when I saw this in my lifetime. Moonless Void Sword, Moon-Facing Defeat Sword. It was the sword art of a peerless swordsman who was among the top five under the heavens during the era of the old martial world, said to have been the most fiercely contested.
Although it was all damaged and only two sword moves remained, seeing this gave her so many realizations that she was able to complete the unfinished sword forms of the Moon.
‘If you can realize even a fraction of the true value contained in the strokes, your eye for the sword will improve by leaps and bounds, regardless of how long you've trained.’
Though it was impossible to know how much Mok Gyeong-un could discern at his level. But, unlike before, his state of total absorption was lasting for quite a long time. With most of the other manuals, he would finish in about thirty breaths, but he was still staring at that move. -Chak chak!
‘There are no wasted movements.’
Mok Gyeong-un repeatedly uttered words of admiration as he watched the middle-aged man perform the move. The sword art moves he had seen until now had more unnecessary movements or sword paths than he expected, but this sword art had none of that. Each trajectory was beautiful, yet thoroughly focused on killing the opponent.
‘Ahhh...’
It was like looking at a work of art. It had a charm that made him keep staring at it intently. For Mok Gyeong-un, this sword art literally possessed the aesthetics of the sword and death. -Seuk!
Mok Gyeong-un, becoming one with the scholarly middle-aged man, began to perform the sword move with him. At that moment, -Swaaaaaah! An aura of death, the energy of death, flowed from Mok Gyeong-un's body. -What?
It would be invisible to the eyes of an ordinary person, but it was clearly visible to Blue Spirit's spirit eyes. The billowing aura of death was instantly spreading to the surroundings. -You... Blue Spirit, who was about to call out to Mok Gyeong-un, stopped.
On second thought, the aura of death wasn't something living beings could sense, and looking at Mok Gyeong-un's current state, it seemed he had realized something beyond a state of total absorption.
‘What on earth did you realize for the aura of death to flow out of your body and take form?’
I'm curious.
The aura of death that flowed out wavered and rippled like waves. Seeing this, Blue Spirit couldn't hide her inner astonishment. It looked like a simple ripple, but in the eyes of those like her, who had surpassed the wall and had depth in the martial way, it looked just like a sword seal.
‘This kid... could it be?’
Is he synchronizing with the strokes written in the sword move and materializing the moves in his mind? Blue Spirit was dumbfounded. It was something absolutely impossible at Mok Gyeong-un's level.
Only upon reaching the Supreme Realm could one look at characters or sword marks and create a mental image in their mind. But Mok Gyeong-un, who hadn't even reached the Peak Realm, was doing this?
‘... How many times are you going to surprise me in a single day?’
Creating a mental image through a sword move and gaining enlightenment. Something she had not expected in the slightest at this boy's level was happening. As Blue Spirit was waiting, -Deureuk!
Deureuk!
At the far end of the third floor where the bookshelves were displayed, there was a cave-like entrance carved into a hollow space. A red line was drawn there, and one of the bookshelves inside began to rattle and make a noise.
However, the sound was not very loud, and neither Blue Spirit inside the wooden doll nor Mok Gyeong-un, who was in a state of total absorption, heard it.
“Hoo.”
Gwak Mun-gi, a senior guard of the Corpse Blood Valley, let out a sigh with a face full of irritation. The only ones in the Corpse Blood Valley who knew this location were the Valley Master, Lee Ji-yeom, and himself, so he had no choice but to guide them personally instead of sending his subordinates.
Thanks to that, he was stuck waiting here for two hours. He was filled with dissatisfaction, as he disliked having to do this for a hostage from the righteous path, a boy he didn't particularly care for.
‘I don't get it. The Lord is one thing, but why is the Valley Master acting like this?’
The Lord's whims were not a new thing, so that was understandable, but Valley Master Lee Ji-yeom did not particularly like the Lord, even if he didn't show it openly. But he couldn't understand why she was showing favor, unlike her usual self, to someone who could become an arrow aimed at her.
‘What is she thinking?’
His mind was filled with doubt when it happened. -Rustle!
‘!?’
At the sound of rustling bushes from somewhere, Gwak Mun-gi flinched and turned his head. At that moment, his eyes widened. Somehow, behind him, stood someone with a slender build wearing a bamboo hat with a veil hanging down, and a handsome young man who looked to have just come of age, carrying a large long blade on his back.
‘Who dares?’
This was the Corpse Blood Valley. Who on earth were these people to have invaded this place? Gwak Mun-gi was about to move his hand to the hilt of the sword at his waist.
It was at that very moment. -Pak!
‘What?’
Before he could even draw his sword, the young man was gently pressing down on the back of his hand.
“You...”
“Judging by your sash, you must be a guard of the Corpse Blood Valley. Calm down.”
At the young man's words, Senior Guard Gwak Mun-gi frowned. This young man knew his identity. His extraordinary light body technique that stopped him before he could draw his sword, and all things considered, he seemed to be someone from the Society.
Thus, Gwak Mun-gi asked, “Who are you?” At that, the young man took a token from his robes and held it up.
‘!!!!!’
Seeing it, Gwak Mun-gi's eyes went wide. The insignia engraved on the token was none other than the mark of the Underworld Blade King.
Yang Mu-won, the Division Master and guardian of the treasure vault, who had been staring intently at the incense stick while sitting in a chair, let out a huge yawn. Then he tilted his head down, turning his gaze away from the incense stick to somewhere else. It was the inside of the treasure vault, filled with secret manuals.
‘Hmm.’
The person he was looking at was Mok Gyeong-un, who was holding a book and staring at it intently. Until now, he seemed to have just been skimming through the secret manuals. But unlike the other secret manuals, he was holding this one and concentrating so hard, it seemed he had finally found the right one.
‘Good.’
He might even come out before the two hours were up. It was then. He, who had been watching Mok Gyeong-un, flinched and got up from his seat to look behind him.
‘What is it?’
He felt someone's presence. It didn't seem to be the senior guard Gwak Mun-gi. The person who had just entered was a master of a much higher level than Gwak Mun-gi.
At this level, it was safe to say he was at the Division Master rank.
‘Who is it?’
If it wasn't Gwak Mun-gi, who had come inside? -Step, step! As he raised his guard, he heard the sound of footsteps. Into his field of vision came someone with a slender build wearing a bamboo hat with a veil, and a handsome young man walking slightly behind him.
At this, Division Master Yang Mu-won opened his mouth in a voice loud enough for them to hear.
“Who are you?”
First of all, the fact that they knew the location of this place meant there was a high probability they came from the main headquarters. However, even if they were from the main headquarters, they couldn't enter this place without permission. Then the handsome young man took something out from his robes.
And showing it, he cupped his fists and said, “Are you the one in charge of the treasure vault? I am Yeop Wi-seon, of the Underworld Blade King's household.”
‘A disciple of the Underworld Blade King?’
A strange light gleamed in Division Master Yang Mu-won's eyes. A disciple of the Underworld Blade King, one of the Five Kings who lead the Heaven and Earth Society, had come here. What on earth was going on?
‘To be at this level at such a young age.’
It was surprising. The rumor that most of the disciples of the Five Kings were masters at or above the Division Master rank was no exaggeration. He seemed so strong that just based on spiritual sense, he couldn't guarantee victory.
But who was the person next to him?
‘... Despite being so close, their presence is barely detectable. Even with my spiritual sense, I can't even judge what level they've reached.’
A master.
And higher than himself, who was at the Peak Realm. Thus, Division Master Yang Mu-won was about to ask who the person next to the Underworld Blade King's disciple was.
“I am Division Master Yang Mu-won, the guardian of the treasure vault. The person next to you...”
“You are indeed the one in charge of the treasure vault. Then, there is a secret manual we are looking for inside. May we enter?”
Before he could ask, the question of whether they could enter the vault was posed, and Division Master Yang Mu-won shook his head and replied.
“I apologize, but no one can enter here without permission, according to the rules.”
“Rules? The Corpse Blood Valley's...”
“No. It is a rule of the Society. I do not know how the disciple of the Underworld Blade King found out the location of this place, but according to the rules, this place is not opened except in special cases. If there is something you are looking for, go to the treasure vault at the main headquarters...”
“We came because we need the original copy.”
“...”
At the words of the Underworld Blade King's disciple, Yeop Wi-seon, Division Master Yang Mu-won's eyes narrowed. He didn't know where they had heard this information, but they knew the secret of this treasure vault. Who told them this fact?
Wondering about this, Division Master Yang Mu-won shook his head again. Even if they knew that this was the treasure vault where the real original copies were kept, he could not let them in according to the rules.
“I am sorry. Even for a disciple of the Five Kings, you cannot enter this place, so please return...”
“Hah. I really didn't want to say this, but Division Master Yang. Do you know who this person before you is?”
How could he know when their face was covered? As he was wondering, the person in the veiled bamboo hat lifted the hem of their robe at their waist and showed a round token made of jade.
‘!!!!!!’ -Pak!
The moment he saw it, Yang Mu-won dropped to one knee. Then he cupped his hands and spoke respectfully, “Division Master Yang Mu-won greets the...”
“Shh. Quiet.”
The person in the bamboo hat revealed their voice. The voice was not that of a man, but a woman. At the command of the person in the bamboo hat, Division Master Yang Mu-won swallowed the rest of his words.
‘Why is she here?’
Division Master Yang Mu-won tried his best not to show it, but he was inwardly astounded. Was this woman that famous person? He had heard rumors, but it was quite surprising.
‘Was she at this level?’
His spiritual sense could not even begin to fathom her level, so the rumors he had heard were true. Emboldened by the authority of the woman in the bamboo hat, the Underworld Blade King's disciple, Yeop Wi-seon, spoke.
“Then, may we enter?”
With those words, he tried to enter with the person in the bamboo hat, but, -Pak! Division Master Yang Mu-won hastily stood up and blocked them.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“I apologize. But inside right now...”
“I know. The trainee who obtained the top rank token at the Corpse Blood Valley gate has gone in to receive a martial arts secret manual, correct?”
“How did you know that?”
“I heard it from the senior guard of the Corpse Blood Valley at the bottom of the cliff.”
They had already heard it from the senior guard, Gwak Mun-gi. At this, Division Master Yang Mu-won said with a troubled expression, “If you already know, could you please wait a little? Inside the treasure vault, only one person at a time...”
“We will just quietly find what this person is looking for and leave. Surely, the Division Master is not telling this person to wait for a mere trainee to choose a secret manual?”
“That's...”
Division Master Yang Mu-won was in a difficult position. According to the rules, if someone was inside the treasure vault, the next person to enter had to wait. But Yang Mu-won could not stop the woman in the bamboo hat before him.
She possessed that much authority.
“... I understand. Please enter. However, since there are rules, please quietly find only what you are looking for and come out. And...”
And try not to disturb the trainee choosing the secret manual. He was about to say this but didn't. He judged that people of their stature wouldn't bother a trainee who had come to receive a reward after getting a top rank token at the Corpse Blood Valley.
“Fufufu. I understand. Please, go ahead.”
Thus, they finally entered the treasure vault. They paid no mind to Division Master Yang Mu-won's anxious state. Having come inside, the Underworld Blade King's disciple, Yeop Wi-seon, spoke to the person in the bamboo hat as if in amazement.
“Hah. It's really similar.”
“Indeed.”
The woman in the bamboo hat also nodded her head as if in agreement. She had heard that it was made following the structure of the main headquarters' treasure vault, but it felt almost like an exact replica. After looking around, they headed to the upper floor of the treasure vault.
The secret manual they were looking for was on the second floor.
“That kid up there must be the trainee who received three top rank tokens.”
At that, the gaze of the woman in the bamboo hat, who was climbing to the second floor, also turned towards Mok Gyeong-un on the third floor. Looking at Mok Gyeong-un, who was concentrating on something, the woman in the bamboo hat opened her mouth.
“Three top rank tokens from the Corpse Blood Valley, that's impressive.”
At her words, the eyebrows of the Underworld Blade King's disciple, Yeop Wi-seon, twitched slightly. Then, he smiled brightly and said, “He seems quite capable. However, there is no one among the disciples of the Five Kings who could not do that much.
No, wouldn't they have obtained more than three?”
“...”
Yeop Wi-seon naturally spoke of the disciples of the Five Kings, indirectly including himself. The point was that if he, who was included among the disciples of the Five Kings, had participated in the Corpse Blood Valley, he would have obtained not just three top rank tokens, but all of them.
Even though she understood his intention, the woman in the bamboo hat did not show any particular reaction. Instead, she looked at Mok Gyeong-un and muttered.
“A trainee who could obtain three top rank tokens is likely to become the disciple of one of the executives.”
“That...”
That's probably what would happen. The moment he obtained three top rank tokens, he had a high probability of being the most outstanding among the trainees. At this rate, it was thought that he would pass the final gate without difficulty and be chosen by one of the executives.
However, Yeop Wi-seon, at her continued interest, answered thus.
“That would be so if his own abilities are outstanding. But the executives also have their own preferences, so one cannot know what will happen.”
“Still, with talent like that, it would be good to at least lightly get acquainted for the future.”
At her words, Yeop Wi-seon thought inwardly with displeasure. He had gone to the trouble of creating such an opportunity, but for her to show interest in a mere trainee who participated in the Corpse Blood Valley, he did not feel very good about it. Yeop Wi-seon looked up at Mok Gyeong-un.
Seeing him concentrating on something, Yeop Wi-seon then said to the woman in the bamboo hat.
“Then, Young Miss, please wait a moment.”
“There is no need to...”
“For you to go directly to a mere trainee is beneath your station. I will bring him.”
“... Alright.”
Having said that, Yeop Wi-seon went up to the third floor where the bookshelves were. Having come up, Yeop Wi-seon snorted. He had a suspicion, and upon coming up, he realized that this trainee was in a state of total absorption.
If not, he would have at least consciously looked at them on the floor below, but he hadn't given them a single glance. Yeop Wi-seon had found this strange.
‘What should I do?’
Yeop Wi-seon glanced at the woman in the bamboo hat waiting on the floor below. He was displeased that she was taking an interest in a mere trainee. So he was conflicted.
‘... Enlightenment, is it.’
The fact that he was looking at the book with such a blank expression, completely unaware that I've come right up to him, means he must be gaining some kind of enlightenment. It must be in progress right now.
Usually, in this situation, the right thing to do would be to not interfere, or if you were an acquaintance, to stand guard and protect them from being disturbed.
Because if you carelessly interfere while the enlightenment is in progress and it gets broken, it could all come to naught, or in severe cases, one could even suffer from qi deviation.
‘... Well. It's not my problem, is it?’
I am just trying to bring this guy to the Young Miss. It's not as if the Young Miss can wait for this fellow. The corners of Yeop Wi-seon's mouth twisted up.
‘Don't blame me. It's just that your luck ran out.’
If the Young Miss hadn't shown interest, I wouldn't have bothered interrupting his enlightenment. Thus, Yeop Wi-seon reached his hand towards Mok Gyeong-un.
‘Just a slight touch and that enlightenment will also...’
It was at that very moment. -Seuk! Mok Gyeong-un, who had been blankly focused on the secret manual, slowly turned only his head to the side, his upper body remaining still, and looked at him.
“What are you doing?”
‘Huh?’
Yeop Wi-seon, whose eyes met his in that instant, could not hide his bewilderment. Did this guy have to regain his senses at this very moment? This was extremely awkward.
He was just about to touch Mok Gyeong-un's head, what was he supposed to say? He had to make an excuse.
“Uh... this is...”
“Trying to interfere during a state of total absorption or mental imaging is an act of intentionally inducing a demonic path, is that correct?”
“...”
For a moment, he was at a loss for words. How was this guy, who had just come out of a mental image, so quick to grasp the situation? Like a thief caught in the act, Yeop Wi-seon was momentarily flustered, not knowing what to say, when, “So you knew what you were doing?”
“Hey. Trainee. You've misunderstood something...”
“No need for words.”
“What?” -Pak!
“Keuk!”
There was no time to block or do anything. In an instant, a hand blade struck his Adam's apple, and Yeop Wi-seon's head snapped back.