Chapter 61 It Was There, But Now It's Gone

"Snore~ Wheeze... Snore~ Wheeze..."

Lying sprawled on the bed, Heonwon Kang snored loudly.

His swollen face and the sight of a double nosebleed were truly a spectacle.

"At least he's not hurt anywhere."

One of Heonwon Kang's greatest talents was his naturally strong physique.

Even after undergoing grueling training that would leave others bedridden for days, he would shake it off and get up the next day.

It was truly an astonishing level of stamina.

"Mmm... Paeng Sahyuk... You bastard... Just wait a little..."

"A little? It's far off, you punk."

After checking Heonwon Kang's condition as he talked in his sleep, I moved to the next room.

In the adjacent room, Wee Ji Cheon was curled up like a shrimp, sleeping peacefully.

"Snore..."

Though he was fifteen, his sleeping face looked as innocent as a ten-year-old boy.

When we first met, he was a half-crazed sword demon, but now Wee Ji Cheon was a much purer boy than others his age.

"Well, even when he was caught in a demonic possession, he was pure."

Though with that pure face, he tore apart birds beside a grave and chewed on rabbits.

"Mom..."

Wee Ji Cheon murmured in his sleep, hugging the sword in his arms tightly.

I watched him quietly.

Unlike Heonwon Kang, Wee Ji Cheon had a small build with thin limbs.

He still had room to grow as he was in his growth phase, but at most, he would have an average physique.

"His bones and muscles aren't bad for handling a sword, but they're not exceptionally good either."

Wee Ji Cheon was a genius.

But his talent lay not in his physique, but in his understanding and insight.

Even though it was fake, he had mastered the difficult Mugeuk Sword to a considerable level on his own, showing remarkable comprehension and focus.

Above all, this boy loved the sword.

"A swordsman must love the sword."

"Isn't that obvious?"

"Do you think it's obvious? Most swordsmen see the sword as a tool for martial arts, a blade for killing. They use the sword, but they don't love it."

"What does it mean to love the sword? Is it advice on mindset?"

"A sword is a sword."

"Excuse me, Sword Master. I'm not trying to engage in a Zen dialogue here..."

"A sword is just a sword. If you want to understand the sword, look at it every day."

"Ah..."

I recalled the face of the Sword Master, who would quietly stroke his beloved sword after driving people crazy with Zen dialogues.

The beloved sword that the Sword Master cherished so much broke along with its owner when he died.

"Mom... Dad..."

Perhaps having a nightmare, Wee Ji Cheon flinched and hugged the sword in his arms tightly.

Cold sweat beaded on his pale forehead.

"Is he still suffering from the aftereffects of the demonic possession?"

In front of others, he pretended to be cheerful, but it hadn't even been a month since Wee Ji Cheon escaped the demonic possession.

Physically, he had almost recovered, but mentally, it would take a little more time.

"Ugh, ugh, I'm scared..."

I placed my hand on Wee Ji Cheon's forehead, which had turned pale from the nightmare.

As I infused a bit of internal energy to warm his body, Wee Ji Cheon's expression gradually relaxed.

"It's okay. It's okay."

"Dad... Don't go..."

"I'm not going anywhere. Dad's not going anywhere."

With one hand on his forehead and the other on his stomach, I gently stroked him, and Wee Ji Cheon slowly fell into a deep sleep.

"Well, it feels like I'm raising a child, something I never thought I'd do."

After confirming that Wee Ji Cheon was deeply asleep, I got up and went outside.

The moon was bright in the night sky.

As I walked around the manor, I was lost in various thoughts.

"Mad Demon and Sword Master. Heonwon Kang and Wee Ji Cheon."

Both possessed talents that could be called genius, but upon closer inspection, they were entirely different types.

Heonwon Kang had superior physical abilities, able to mimic most techniques after seeing them once, with good eyes and a body as tough as steel.

That's why the straightforward and destructive Surah Blood Heaven Sword was perfect for him.

On the other hand, Wee Ji Cheon had excellent understanding and focus, able to comprehend and master difficult martial arts.

His immersion in the sword was outstanding.

The complex yet profound Mugeuk Sword suited Wee Ji Cheon well.

"Right now, Wee Ji Cheon is stronger."

For now, Wee Ji Cheon was stronger, but once Heonwon Kang seriously learned the Surah Blood Heaven Sword, the gap would quickly narrow.

The half-learned Jincheon Sword that Heonwon Kang had mastered would serve as an excellent foundation for learning the Surah Blood Heaven Sword, and considering his determination and stamina, he would develop at an incredible speed.

Moreover, the presence of a rival like Wee Ji Cheon would undoubtedly bring tremendous synergy to their training.

Of course, the same could be said for Wee Ji Cheon.

"I can't even imagine how strong they'll become..."

Before I knew it, a joyful smile appeared on my lips.

Just imagining my disciples, whom I had raised with my own hands, stirring up the martial world was thrilling.

Of course, I planned to push them to the brink to make this imagination a reality.

That was my role as their master.

"To do that, I must become stronger too."

To properly teach these two geniuses, I needed to become stronger than I was now.

As I walked slowly, I continued to think.

"My external skills are fine since I practice the Green Forest Eighteen Techniques daily. The problem is raising the level of the Reverse Heaven Divine Art..."

The Reverse Heaven Divine Art is divided into small success, medium success, and great success based on achievement.

Currently, I had achieved the third level of the Reverse Heaven Divine Art, reaching complete small success, and was at the threshold of moving to medium success.

"... I need to acquire more spiritual medicine."

Once I surpassed the fourth level and entered the early stage of medium success in the Reverse Heaven Divine Art, I would be able to do much more.

However, it required a large amount of spiritual medicine.

The Reverse Heaven Divine Art required continuous spiritual medicine at least until the end of medium success.

"It'll cost a fortune. I'll have to meet Bok Manchun soon."

While I was thinking about my future plans, I sensed someone stealthily approaching from behind and turned around.

"Elder? You're late."

"Hehe. I was trying to surprise you from behind... But you noticed."

Wee Ji Yeol scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.

He was the head of the Wee family, one of the eight great families of the now-destroyed Blood Sect.

But now, he was just a kind, large old man.

I could still feel the warmth from Wee Ji Yeol's body, which hadn't completely cooled down.

"Are you coming from the forge?"

"Hehe. I've been practically living there lately. It's been a while since I've worked with metal in a proper forge, and I can't help myself."

After entering this city with the false identity provided by Cheongcheon, Wee Ji Yeol had been working at one of my (under the name Heo Cheon's) businesses, a forge.

"Take it easy. You're not young anymore."

"I'll try. How's Cheon?"

"He fell asleep early, probably because he was tired. He sparred all day with the kid I brought."

"Ah, today was the day the senior from Cheongryong Academy was coming. I hope they get along without fighting..."

"Don't worry. At first, Cheon clung to him, but later, the senior clung to him like it was creepy."

We laughed and shared updates on each other's lives.

It had been a while since I saw Wee Ji Yeol, and his face looked very bright.

"These days, I'm really happy. It's all thanks to you."

Since I cured Wee Ji Cheon's demonic possession, Wee Ji Yeol had regarded me as a lifelong benefactor.

"Not only did you save my only grandson, but you also gave us new identities. And you even helped me fulfill my lifelong wish... The grace you've shown me is something I can't repay even if I live until I die."

"Then you'll have to live a long time. That way, you can repay the grace for a long time, right?"

At my sincere joke, Wee Ji Yeol burst into hearty laughter and patted my shoulder.

"Hahaha! That's true! Yes! I'll have to live a very long time for your sake!"

"Yes, that's right."

"Hahahaha!"

Thump, thump, thump!

The friendly pats on my shoulder were quite strong.

His hands were as big as pot lids...

If I didn't change the subject quickly, I might not be able to move my shoulder tomorrow morning, so I subtly shifted the topic and asked something that came to mind.

"By the way, is there any progress on making a sword that surpasses the Blood Demon Sword?"

"..."

At that moment, Wee Ji Yeol's hand stopped as if it were a lie.

He looked at me with a troubled expression.

"Um. I have something to say about that."

I had entrusted the Uncheol to Wee Ji Yeol, who was the best blacksmith of the Blood Sect, asking him to create a sword that surpassed the Blood Demon Sword, and he had started working on it.

"But why does he look troubled? Did something happen?"

Just a moment ago, Wee Ji Yeol's expression had been bright, but now he was glancing at me hesitantly.

"I'm sorry to say this... Ahem. It seems like it'll cost quite a bit."

Relieved that it was nothing serious, I let out a sigh of relief and asked.

"How much do you need?"

"I actually prepared a list to give you when you came. There are quite a few necessary equipment and materials."

Wee Ji Yeol rummaged through his pockets and handed me a list of the necessary items.

Inside, there was a list of required items and their prices.

...

It's not nothing.

"Do you really need this much? Why is everything so expensive?"

"... With just Uncheol, I can't make a sword. The quantity is insufficient, and I need to mix it with Hyuncheol and other metals to create an alloy to increase the sword's strength. And to handle various types of metals, I need several pieces of equipment..."

"Excuse me, Elder, aren't you the best blacksmith of the Blood Sect? A master who can create a famous sword even in a shabby forge..."

At my words, Wee Ji Yeol looked at me with an incredulous expression.

"Do you think a master makes swords with bare hands? To create the best sword, it's only natural to have the best materials and environment. In fact, the more of a master you are, the more particular you are about the equipment!"

"..."

"Trust me. If you get me these things, I'll definitely make a treasured sword that surpasses the Blood Demon Sword..."

"..."

When I didn't respond and just sighed, Wee Ji Yeol's expression turned sullen.

"Is it really too much...? Alright. Then I'll remove a few things from here... Just the essentials..."

"No, it's fine. Since we're making it anyway."

Seeing his diminished demeanor, I shook my head.

I agreed that to create the best, the best materials and environment were necessary.

"I'll get everything on this list for you."

"Th-thank you! And I'm sorry..."

I chuckled and said.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm rich, you know."

I thought so.

At least until then, I thought I was rich.

The next day, I put on the Infi Mask and went to see Bok Manchun.

"Young Master. Welcome."

"Director Bok. It's been a while."

Bok Manchun, whom I hadn't seen in a while, seemed to have gained quite a bit of weight.

Previously, he had a rough appearance with a sharp, wandering swordsman vibe, but now he just looked like a rough-looking, pot-bellied man.

Sensing my gaze, Bok Manchun cleared his throat and offered an excuse, hurriedly covering his belly with his hand.

"I've been so busy lately that I haven't been able to exercise..."

If a martial artist says they haven't been able to exercise, there must be quite a few problems.

I briefly thought that, but since Bok Manchun wasn't my bodyguard but the director managing various businesses and earning money for me, it wasn't something I needed to worry about.

I handed him the list of items I had received from Wee Ji Yeol.

"I'd like to ask for these."

Bok Manchun's expression darkened instantly as he looked at the list of items and their prices.

"They're all expensive items."

"I'd like to expand the forge this time. As you know, the old man who recently joined us is quite skilled, right?"

"Ah, yes... Would it be alright if it takes some time?"

"The sooner, the better."

Bok Manchun's expression wasn't very good, but I didn't pay much attention and brought up the next matter.

"And please look into acquiring more spiritual medicine like before. This time, I'd like a larger quantity..."

"Young Master, to be honest with you."

Bok Manchun suddenly pulled out a ledger and placed it in front of me with a serious expression.

"Why the ledger all of a sudden..."

"We have no money."

"... What do you mean by that?"

I had inherited the wealth of Heo, one of the top ten moneylenders in Namchang.

How could there be no money?

"To be precise, it was there, but now it's gone."

Bok Manchun said as he spread the ledger in front of me.