NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40
It has been over ten days since I began to bond with Mo Yongseol, but just because we entered the Sword Sanctuary doesn’t mean we’re always together.
Most of the time, Mo Yongseol tries to stick with me, but after going through various experiences, she now spends certain times honing her skills.
**Boom.**
The sharp sound of blades echoes in the backyard of the Sword Sanctuary.
To me, the continuous clashing of swords sounds like a distant wish—wondering when I might reach that level—echoing like droplets falling from a stalactite.
**Bang, bang, boom.**
In the Martial World, there’s one taboo.
That is, one should never casually observe the training of someone honing their martial arts.
However, I can watch Mo Yongseol train.
Most martial artists, even married couples, don’t let each other see them practice, but Mo Yongseol said she doesn’t mind if I watch her train.
But right now, I’m not observing her martial arts.
As a result, the sounds of her swordplay ring sharper, but does that mean I did something wrong? Not really.
If I’m not watching her, it just means I have something else to busy myself with, or perhaps someone else has visited the Sword Sanctuary to meet and chat with her.
The former usually means I’m cleaning the room, doing laundry, or cooking.
And while it’s quite rare, this is the latter case.
“Physician Seok.”
The only person allowed to come and go freely at the Sword Sanctuary, Sword Saint Mo Yongcheon, has paid a visit.
“I sent a letter to the Emperor asking the Mo Yong Family to come.”
“You sent a letter to the Emperor?”
Surprised at the Sword Saint’s words while carrying food into the Sword Sanctuary, I couldn’t help but ask again.
“Yeah. Why, do you think there’s something lacking in the preparations?”
“No. I just thought you would go yourself.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
The Sword Saint tilted his head, as if it was a strange question, but I know better than anyone his “speed.”
“Isn’t it possible to reach from Yodong Province to Sicheon within a day?”
“It’s not impossible.”
From the northeast to the southwest of the Central Plains in just one day.
For an ordinary human, it would be an utterly impossible feat; even on horseback, it wouldn’t be feasible.
A martial artist?
Even if they are a master of movement techniques or have mastered the Invisible Sky Step, wouldn’t it at least take them about a week?
But the Sword Saint can do it.
Others might not know, but I have a piece of secret information from my master.
“Hey, Lord.”
“What is it?”
“Are you really saying it’s possible?”
“…Heh.”
For the first time, the Sword Saint let out a small laugh directed at me.
“You’re a man, too.”
“…Before being a man, isn’t it natural for any person to be curious? It’s a matter that transcends human limits.”
“…”
“Why do you look at me like that?”
“No. It’s just that it’s a bit absurd to hear such words from someone who creates miracles.”
The Sword Saint chuckled and stood up.
“Seol-ah. I’ve practiced the basic moves of the Dual Red Tide Sword well enough. Now come and see this.”
Although he was practicing behind the building, how did he know what basic moves I was working on?
Indeed, the perception of the world’s strongest is beyond human understanding.
“Father, what are you trying to show me?”
“I originally had no intention to show you, but since Physician Seok is so curious, I have no choice but to show him directly.”
“Physician Seok?”
“Uh, something like that.”
To be honest, I am curious.
“When the Heavenly Demon demonstrated overwhelming might against the righteous factions of the Southern Valley.”
There’s a saying among the Martial World enthusiasts.
“At that moment, the Sword Saint walked down from the sky with his arms crossed.”
The day the Heavenly Demon was defeated, and the Sword Saint became the star and hero of the Martial World.
Many said they clearly witnessed the “descent” of the Sword Saint.
“It wasn’t the sky. He simply walked down from the peak of a volcano where the Heavenly Demon had been.”
The Sword Saint corrected the rumor nonchalantly but didn’t deny the words that should have changed according to common sense.
“And he wasn’t really crossing his arms. One hand was already drawing the sword while the other was just resting behind him.”
The Sword Saint stood up and posed as if the Heavenly Demon were looking up at him from below, arrogantly.
And then—
“The technique of walking on air is simply walking on the wind instead of the ground.”
With perfect fluidity, he began stepping on the air as if he were climbing stairs.
“Will you walk with nature or dominate it as you stomp upwards?”
“Is that the difference between the White Path and the Black Path?”
“It doesn’t matter which side. The important thing is to realize the principles of nature and act upon them in this world.”
The Sword Saint continued walking up toward a tree, and even though there were no ladders or stairs, he plucked a single leaf and turned to us, holding it between his index and middle fingers.
“This is the technique of walking on air.”
“Wow…”
I couldn’t help but marvel at this technique, but Mo Yongseol seemed rather unimpressed.
“Seol-ah. Why are you like this? The Sword Saint just showed the technique of walking on air.”
“I’ve seen it often since I was young, so I’m not that impressed.”
“…”
“Until I was seven, I often ran through the air. I thought it was normal and asked uncles or warriors, ‘How fast can you run in the sky?’”
*Cough.*
The Sword Saint, who was higher than the roof of the Sword Sanctuary, cleared his throat and extended his sword to the side.
“Physician Seok, and you as well, what I want to show isn’t the technique of walking on air.”
“Not the technique of walking on air?”
“Right. I once showed it to the Witch Doctor when she asked. Two years ago, when Seol-i’s body temperature dropped severely, I showed it to go get the elixir that would relieve her pain.”
“Oh, are you talking about that… blood? The one that tasted like beast blood?”
“Yep. It was difficult to drink, but thanks to it, the pain stopped, right?”
I had spent the whole night trying to get her to eat that beast’s blood.
“Uh, Physician Seok? At that time, I…”
“Did you get hit with the blood of that spiritual beast and had to eat nine of the ten potions I made? And because it was the essence of the spiritual beast, your energy overflowed, and you had to stay in bed for a week?”
That was how it was then.
“Physician Seok… that…”
“How could a physician not understand a patient’s pain while prescribing and feeding them medicine? It’s hard to say it’s entirely my merit, but since I showed sincerity by understanding Seol-i’s pain, she was able to overcome that crisis.”
Seeing him suffer while encouraging me to eat that healing concoction made me want to turn over the dinner table.
“Honestly, thinking back now, I wonder if the reason you ended up taking that potion was because my words moved your heart.”
“What words… are you talking about?”
“That I went all the way to Ami Mountain to get that essence for you. It was your cue to eat the remaining one elixir. Thanks to that, the pain felt as if your body was being torn apart eventually stopped.”
“…Did that really happen?”
Mo Yongseol turned away, letting out a shallow laugh.
Perhaps the painful moment she experienced was so agonizing that she wouldn’t want to remember it much.
…Huh?
Is she embarrassed that she acted like a spoiled child, throwing tantrums?
If someone were to ask that, I would reply that it was merely the slander of those such as Yu Giyeon or other jealous women.
“Hmm…”
The Sword Saint, who had been quietly listening, also let out a hum without saying anything.
I wished he would say something, but it felt like the glance directed at me had become slightly lukewarm.
It wasn’t heated or boiling, but it got colder, akin to a biting chill that one could bear only when fully dressed.
“Ahem. Yes. I indeed went to retrieve the essence from the mountain lord of Ami Mountain in hopes to relieve Seol-i’s pains. It took exactly two days. Now, let me show you the techniques I employed during that two days… no, the one day I spent moving.”
One of the two days was surely spent traveling.
The other day was likely spent looking for the mountain lord and battling him.
“Honestly, it’s nothing special.”
The Sword Saint set aside the sword he had shaped with his energy, and the sword lay parallel to the ground.
“Submit your body to the Flowing Sword Technique, concentrate your thoughts on the sword, and invoke the Spirit-Sword Unity, and that’s it.”
The Sword Saint stepped on the sword he placed down and stood atop it.
“The rest is just controlling the sword to move.”
**Boom!**
As light surged from behind the blade, a gust of wind arose, and the Sword Saint began to move as if he were riding the sword.
“Wow.”
This time, a genuine exclamation escaped my lips.
Seeing a person riding a sword through the air is something not easily witnessed, and he seemed to be moving faster than any bird or flying creature.
“The Flying Heavenly Sword. It’s literally swordsmanship that flies in the sky.”
The Sword Saint leaped off the sword and landed smoothly on the ground, scattering the sword energy into stardust.
“What do you think, Seol-ah?”
“…Can one only attain it through enlightenment?”
The fierce light in Mo Yongseol’s eyes began to sparkle with intensity.
“Of course. Perhaps throughout the entire Martial World… only I can perform this technique. While it can’t just be categorized into a secret technique, I’ll do my best to organize my insights and convey them in writing.”
“Yes!”
Is this the power of a daughter?
To think that the enlightenment a high-level master achieved over decades could be so easily inherited.
“Physician Seok.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Well, um… don’t completely set aside the sword now. You have some talent.”
It felt rather strange for the Sword Saint to cough lightly and then look away while saying this.
“You think I have talent with the sword?”
“To some extent. Of course, Seol-i will reach my level faster—”
“Absolutely!”
Mo Yongseol, full of enthusiasm, clung to me.
“If I can fly in the sky using the Flying Heavenly Sword, I’ll take you with me and soar above!”
“…”
Is it just me or did the look in the Sword Saint’s eyes, which had been lukewarm, turn sharp and icy as if a winter breeze had returned?
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Right, Seol-ah. That’s—”
“I’ll be the one embracing you.”
“…”
I felt a sudden chill.