Even the Sword God Needs Paternity Leave

Chapter 6: Money, I’m Going to Get It

The path to growing martial arts is manifold.

One is insight, a realization of the heart.

With a body and skills sufficiently prepared, gaining insight can break through limits in an instant.

Like what just happened to me.

Why?

Why does a realization of the heart make one stronger?

Not from training muscles, accumulating inner energy, or practicing techniques.

I once asked my master out of curiosity.

He gave a kind smile.

- Hahahaha, curious about that?

- Yes.

- Hahahaha, don’t be so presumptuous. Do a hundred more push-ups.

Wise words.

Still, I kept asking, curious.

- Is it because the vessel holding martial arts is a person?

- …I don’t quite understand.

- Hahahaha, a hundred more push-ups.

I asked again after some time.

- Does a blockage in the heart mean a blockage in martial arts?

- Keep going.

- If the heart is clouded, doesn’t even pure martial arts turn demonic at some point?

- And?

- Then, what if a person’s heart becomes pure?

- Hm, good. You’ve grasped about seventy percent.

- Won’t you explain the rest?

- Pu—

- —sh-ups, a hundred more.

I did a lot of push-ups. With those trained muscles, I’d blown off enemies’ heads, thinking,

- Master’s grace is like the heavens…

I didn’t fully understand insight.

But just now, I merged the ‘me from ten years ahead’ with the ‘me here now.’

Unity—there’s a reason for that term. As my divided self became one, my martial arts purified, strengthened, and found peace.

Like still water in a calm vessel.

Because the leaks in the ‘me’ vessel holding my martial arts had lessened.

“Then I should achieve something right away.”

I headed straight to the training room in the basement and began the breathing exercise for Eight Trigram Unity Technique.

My inner energy is Eight Trigram Unity Technique, my swordsmanship is Eight Trigram Unity Sword.

The inner energy includes eight trigram techniques handling natural energies corresponding to the Eight Trigrams, and the swordsmanship consists of eight sword forms mirroring the Eight Trigrams’ properties.

Mastery of all Eight Trigrams leads to unity.

In my past life, I never reached it.

Each stage’s progress was painfully slow and difficult.

But each stage’s mastery significantly boosts prowess.

The second stage is about becoming a vessel for the Eight Trigrams’ energies,

and from the third stage, one handles the natural energy of a single trigram.

I chose the Tui Trigram, the energy of swamps, at the third stage.

Tui Trigram Technique expanded the limit of natural energy I could hold.

And the next trigram technique I aimed for after the third stage was Xun Trigram Technique, the energy of wind.

My choice remains the same.

In my past life, after the third stage, I trained the Li Trigram Technique of fire, but upon learning of Yeom Ja-yeong’s pregnancy, I focused on Xun Trigram Technique.

I deemed Xun’s abilities more necessary.

“Huu.”

After finishing the breathing exercise, I tested the technique.

First, I slightly opened the training room door and focused on the wind’s natural energy.

‘I can feel it.’

I sensed the subtle air currents.

I could feel the wind’s energy more clearly.

But the ‘Eight Sensations,’ a heightened sensitivity to natural energy, came with each trigram.

Xun Trigram’s ability was,

‘Light, and fast.’

I felt it the moment I stood and stepped into the Eight Trigram Sword’s footwork.

The wind’s natural energy flowed through me.

My body felt light.

My steps—planting, retracting, extending, bending—were all faster.

Xun Trigram’s ability: an advancement in footwork and lightness skill.

In my past life, after learning of Yeom Ja-yeong’s pregnancy, I trained Xun Trigram Technique to move quickly between home and elsewhere.

Having a child shifts your priorities. Even martial arts choices consider the child, not just myself.

The reason from my past life hadn’t vanished.

In this life, planning to gather elixirs myself, Xun Trigram Technique was even more essential.

And to gain insight like this.

“Lucky.”

I opened the training room door and stepped out.

I had reached the fourth stage of Eight Trigram Unity Technique.

* * *

Having mastered Xun Trigram Technique, I wanted to feel the autumn breeze again, so I returned to the courtyard.

A world of difference from when I stepped out earlier with a heavy heart.

The cool breeze brushing against me felt vivid.

It’s possible.

I’m certain.

I can grow stronger faster.

Tae-bok’s treatment won’t take ten years.

I’ll gather the elixirs for the Eight Trigrams myself.

And find the final great technique.

Yes, for now, the illness in fifty days warned by the Divine Physician.

- The baby will face another illness in fifty days. I’ll find medicinal herbs to prevent it and contact you.

The Divine Physician liked me this time too.

Perhaps it’s the bond between those who work like oxen—our conversations were very comfortable.

Even without helping Tae-bok, I felt we could be friends.

‘Then Namgung Jeheon and Zhuge Sheng should be fine too.’

I never doubted.

Even traveling back in time, I believed I’d befriend those two again.

My relationship with the Divine Physician confirmed my hunch.

“Good, all good. But one thing bothers me.”

I deliberately spoke aloud.

“Who’s clinging to our house wall?”

There was no one earlier.

Whoosh, a startled presence fled outside.

I couldn’t let it go.

I leaped onto the wall.

I was about to shout “stop,” but held back. I couldn’t alarm the family inside. What if Tae-bok, sleeping peacefully, woke up startled?

- Stttooop.

As quietly as possible, I projected my voice forward to the fleeing figure.

He flinched mid-run, glancing back.

I raised a finger to my lips, signaling silence.

But.

Crash, he tripped over something, making a loud noise.

Worse, he wasn’t running away from the house but along the wall, away from me—closer to Tae-bok’s room.

- Waaa.

A small cry escaped.

- Oh my, did our Tae-bok get a shock? No, no, it’s just noise from outside. Go back to sleep. Hush, hush.

I heard Yeom Ja-yeong soothing Tae-bok.

“I’ll kill you.”

I immediately used the newly gained Xun Trigram Technique.

The fastest lightness skill I’d ever performed.

Just moving along the modest house wall, a typhoon-like roar filled my ears.

Even fighting the Demonic Cult, I wasn’t this fast.

“I’ll kill you.”

I’d never spoken so harshly.

Yet killing intent flowed naturally.

“Hiiiik, hii. No! Don’t kill me! I’m an Alliance member!”

The fool shouted his introduction loudly.

Tae-bok, who’d stirred and tried to sleep again, finally,

- Waaaaaaah!

Burst into a full cry.

Have you heard a baby cry?

“Waa” isn’t just a word. They really cry “waa.” And in that sound, a baby pours out everything.

Parents gradually learn a baby’s mood and needs from those simple cries.

“Our child was truly startled.”

I gritted my teeth, keeping my voice low.

“If you weren’t an Alliance member, I’d have beheaded you. Get up and head to that alley.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I—”

“I know who you are. The Alliance member who hit his head on the door.”

One of the Deputy Branch Leader’s lackeys trying to enter.

He’d been knocked over by the door I slammed.

“Just go.”

The Murim Alliance is a great organization. Just being a member protected this fool. Otherwise, I’d—

I pushed him into the alley and glared for a while.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have kids, so I didn’t expect this situation.”

“Then what did you expect?”

“Huh?”

“You were surveilling our house. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“No, but I just got close… How did you…”

He looked shocked, confident in his stealth.

The enhanced Eight Sensations, detecting natural energy, made this possible.

Of course, I didn’t tell the Alliance member.

He needed to explain now.

“Why was an Alliance member surveilling our house? Speak.”

Prompted, the member regained his senses.

“The Deputy Branch Leader ordered me to just check his presence.”

“The Deputy Branch Leader?”

“No, it’s partly because of Ink Sword Hero.”

“What?”

“Saying nonsense like paternity leave…”

Drip. Drop. Drip.

A few more drops fell into my barely contained anger.

My hand rose instinctively.

But hitting an Alliance member felt wrong.

‘Don’t hit. Patience, patience, patience.’

It wasn’t working. My hand moved. I’d end up striking.

‘I’m a father. Father, father, father.’

Ah, it worked. My breathing steadied a bit.

“Huuu, so Alliance member, why is paternity leave nonsense—huh?”

Was it because I raised and lowered my hand in front of him?

Or lack of learning?

He turned and fled again.

“What a fool, walking into the tiger’s den.”

I didn’t chase.

He’d leaped toward an alley where Pao, the dumpling vendor, stood.

“Stop, dumpling man! Move!”

“Eek!”

The member reached to shove the stall.

Pao screamed, throwing soft dumplings at him.

Naturally, the member didn’t care, taking them with his head.

Crack.

A breaking sound.

“…Huh?”

With a puzzled grunt, the member collapsed.

I walked slowly to Pao.

“Those iron dumplings are as good as ever.”

“Oh, Ink Sword Hero, I’m embarrassed by your praise.”

Pao’s signature move, Iron Dumpling.

Simple in principle—embedding a stone in a snowball, like hiding iron in a dumpling.

Hard to execute. It requires handling iron with dumpling-like lightness.

I’d seen Pao’s iron dumplings fly over thirty times, striking a Black Path foe’s head.

“No need for Ink Sword Hero to step in. I was just watching since he’s an Alliance member. Did I let him get too close to the house?”

“I figured you would. But with a child now, I’m more sensitive. And my wife just gave birth.”

“Hm, then I’ll ensure no one gets near the house from now on.”

“Thank you.”

I looked around, clasping my hands in gratitude.

“Thank you all.”

No response came, but they were watching.

That’s why our house is safe.

Thanks to the Rogues’ Guild masters.

“How’s the lady?”

“She’s struggling post-birth. She needs rest.”

“Hm, I’ll visit at an appropriate time.”

Unknown to the Alliance, my wife Yeom Ja-yeong was an Iron Bead master of the Rogues’ Guild.

And the younger sister of the current Rogues’ Guild Leader.

‘If her brother hadn’t been killed, I might not have relied on the Murim Alliance.’

Upon learning of her pregnancy, Yeom Ja-yeong’s brother, the Guild Leader, sent guards.

Of course, the Rogues’ Guild couldn’t spare its elite casually. Not a martial-focused faction, it had few masters.

Injured or resting masters were stationed near our house.

Close allies of her brother gladly took the guard duty. Pao was one.

After the Guild Leader’s murder, the Rogues’ Guild fell into chaos, entangling masters like Pao.

For safety, we moved into the Alliance.

Our search for elixirs became dependent on them.

‘Was her brother killed by the Demonic Cult?’

This time would be different.

I’d save the Guild Leader and use the Rogues’ Guild’s intel.

“Stay healthy, Pao.”

“I’m always healthy. Haha.”

Pao glanced at the fallen member.

“I’ll handle him. He hit his head, so he won’t remember. Heh.”

“If needed, say he got hit from behind by me. He won’t argue.”

* * *

“Darling, what was that commotion?”

“It was nothing. Did Tae-bok fall back asleep?”

Yeom Ja-yeong nodded.

“He’s sleeping well.”

On her lap lay her unique weapon, a steel abacus.

I reached out and moved it aside.

“A sick person… Pao was watching. Others too. Let’s use the abacus later.”

“Alright.”

She didn’t ask for it back.

“By the way. Her brother must’ve heard about the birth. He might come soon?”

“Probably? But he might be too busy with guild matters.”

“Hm.”

Yes.

I’d think about her brother when I met him.

“Wife. But…”

“?”

I needed to prepare, step by step, to gather elixirs confidently.

The first step.

“How much money do we have left?”

“…….”

Funds.

I’d submitted my leave to the Alliance.

That meant no monthly stipend.

“About ten months? You earned a tael from a bounty recently, so we can stretch it.”

“You considered Tae-bok too?”

“Hm.”

I understood without her saying.

“Got it. I’ll need to get some money.”

“Huh? Where?”

“Anywhere… No, I have a plan.”

Fortunately, some incidents were happening around this time.

Some could turn a profit.

“You’re not skilled at earning money…”

Yeom Ja-yeong hit the nail on the head.

“Don’t worry. I thought this through before taking leave.”

“Really?”

Of course.

But for some reason, I wanted to step into the courtyard and feel the breeze again.

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

I faced unpaid leave.

Time to secure living expenses.