Return of the Heavenly Sword

Chapter 66. The Path of a Mortal (3)

The time for training continued to flow.

In addition to training my own martial arts, I taught Nam Geon and Junior Sister Baek Hyang.

To Nam Geon, I slowly taught the internal energy principles of all the forms, starting from the first form of the Mighty Sword Art.

To Junior Sister Baek Hyang, in addition to the Nine Palace Chain Sword and the Great Swallow Nest Building Divine Art, I taught the Flying Swallow Sword Art and the Eight Trigrams Flying Stream Steps.

Like that, another three months passed, and about half a year after coming to Mount Heng, on a certain day when both Nam Geon and Junior Sister had learned what I had taught them to some extent.

“I have a place to go for a while, so you two continue your training.”

After saying that to Nam Geon and Junior Sister Baek Hyang, I left the thatched house and headed into the grounds of the Mount Heng Sect.

I asked the Mount Heng Sect Taoists and climbed the peak where the Sect Leader was said to reside. The Sect Leader, who had been sitting cross-legged on a rock with his eyes closed, snapped his eyes open and asked.

“So. Have you finally made a decision?”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Have you decided to descend the mountain after all?”

“That is correct.”

It seemed the Sect Leader had known from the beginning that I intended to refuse.

Then why did he accept us into Mount Heng?

The Sect Leader, still seated cross-legged, stared at my face for a moment and asked.

“I had vaguely sensed that you held a deep resentment and anger. I have no intention of asking about the details, but if that is the case, shouldn’t you remain here all the more? Descending the mountain with your current skills is a foolish thought.”

Hearing the Sect Leader’s words, I thought I could roughly understand.

He seemed to have hoped that my thoughts would change even a little while staying at Mount Heng.

It was a little apologetic to the Sect Leader, but that would not happen.

“I cannot turn a blind eye to the screams of the countless common people suffering in the secular world and plan for the future forever. Furthermore, with my humble talent, I cannot reach my goal even if I lock myself in the mountains and train.”

At my stubborn answer, for some reason, the Sect Leader let out a hollow laugh.

“Hahaha. To have reached such a level at your age and still call your talent humble. If others heard, they would probably be greatly angered.”

“...I have only been lucky so far.”

“Alright. Let’s say you were lucky. Let’s say your talent is humble. Then put down your greed now. It is the way of things that a sparrow’s legs will tear if it tries to learn a stork's walk.”

It was a familiar saying, so a faint smile appeared on my face.

Because it was similar to the advice the Poison Immortal had given me as I was becoming a cripple.

Then and now, my answer was similar.

- Even if my legs tear, I must kill the trash.

“Even if my legs tear and my wings are plucked, if I can chase the stork, I will gladly do so.”

The words were similar, but it was strictly different from that time.

Because it wasn't just me being stubborn; I had a way.

The secret grotto of the Sun Moon Divine Sword elder.

The problem was that countless traps lay in wait there.

But I had no regrets.

For a mortal to chase a genius, it was not enough to simply work harder than the genius.

“Ninety-nine out of a hundred may die, but won’t about one undergo a complete transformation?”

To overcome the damn difference in talent decided by the heavens, shouldn't I at least risk my life?

The reason I spent half a year here was not just for Nam Geon and Junior Sister Baek Hyang.

In my past life, I had obtained the elder's secret manual thanks to the experience I had accumulated over more than ten years, the deadly poison the Poison Immortal had given me as a final gift, and finally, a stroke of heavenly luck.

There was no guarantee that heavenly luck would follow me this time, so I had to make at least minimal preparations.

That was why I had devoted myself to training at Mount Heng for the past half year.

And now, half a year later.

I had no confidence that I could break through the secret grotto, but at least this one thing was certain.

I had surpassed the me of my past life.

It didn't just mean my enlightenment about the sword.

Even in external and internal energy. I could confidently say I had surpassed myself in every aspect.

Although the me of my past life had trained for thirty-eight years, at the time I went to the secret grotto, I was close to a cripple.

Bones that had broken and set incorrectly. Muscles and ligaments that were stretched and twisted here and there.

The years of training may have been long, but my body had more problems than my current, not-yet-fully-grown body.

The same was true for my internal energy.

The total amount of internal energy was greater then, but I lived with qi deviation due to excessive training, and it was routine to suffer internal injuries thanks to excessive life-and-death battles and duels.

Thanks to that, there were more than one or two blocked meridians.

It wasn't for nothing that the Poison Immortal had called my body a cripple.

The Mount Heng Sect Leader, who had been observing my gaze for a moment, nodded.

“Since your will seems firm, I will not hold you back any longer. Be careful on your way.”

“Thank you for everything, Sect Leader. And one last request. This time, I am leaving alone, so please let Nam Geon and Junior Sister Baek Hyang stay here.”

“My answer is the same as last time, so do not worry.”

“Thank you. I will not forget this kindness.”

When I showed my respect to the Mount Heng Sect Leader by clasping my hands in a final salute, the Mount Heng Sect Leader laughed cheerfully.

“Hahaha. Half a year ago, you were spouting curses, but now you speak of kindness. It seems the time you spent at Mount Heng was not in vain.”

“Yes. Thanks to that, I believe I can repay the kindness.”

“Hoo. There is no need for that. We wish not to be entangled in the world. Being bound by the name of kindness is also not very welcome, so do not mind it.”

“I will do so.”

I replied with a faint smile and turned my body to descend the peak.

A smile still hung on my lips.

It was an apologetic thing to say, but I intended to repay the kindness one way or another.

The Mount Heng Sect had prevented the Black Market bastards from killing us.

There was no way those trash-like bastards would just let it go.

For some reason, they were being docile now, but they were bastards who would surely strike the Mount Heng Sect at some point.

Above all, a time will come within at least the next ten years when the power of the Mount Heng Sect will weaken.

The day the Sect Leader changes and the old Taoists of the 'Mok' generation ascend or go into seclusion.

Originally, the Mount Heng Sect would not have been attacked by the Black Market bastards just because they had weakened, but the future had changed because of me.

If that's the case, shouldn't I clean them up before they strike the Mount Heng Sect?

That was why I kept smiling.

The act of repaying a kindness was to kill all the trash, so how could I not be happy?

Thanks to the journey so far, I was able to let go of my inferiority complex, guilt, and impatience to some extent.

But there was one illness that just wouldn't be cured.

“This damn mysophobia shows no sign of healing.”

***

After bidding farewell to the Mount Heng Sect Leader, I returned to the thatched house.

I had to at least tell the two of them before I left.

“I have a place to go for about two months, so continue your training here.”

“S-Senior Brother. Y-you’re going for two months?”

“B-brother. T-that’s too long. T-then let’s go together.”

I shook my head.

“I’m planning to go to a dangerous place, so you two stay here.”

I said it out of consideration, but for some reason, tears welled up in Nam Geon’s eyes.

“B-brother. Did I do something wrong? I-I’ll fix what I did wrong. D-don’t abandon me.”

It seemed there was a big misunderstanding.

Come to think of it, this fellow had memories of being abandoned as a child. It was something he was bound to be sensitive about.

Even Junior Sister Baek Hyang had a face like a puppy that needed to poop.

Because of her mature personality for her age, she couldn't say it, but it seemed she was secretly thinking the same thing as Nam Geon.

“Haa. Do I look like someone who would deceive others with lies and abandon them?”

“T-that’s not it. B-but.”

“...That wasn't my intention, Senior Brother.”

Now the two of them were bowing their heads with apologetic faces again.

“I’m really going to a dangerous place, so I’m going alone. I’ll be back in two months at the latest, so don’t worry.”

“O-okay, brother.”

“I’ll do my best to train every single day.”

I nodded at their answers and added.

“Also, if I don’t return within two months, it means I’m dead, so stay here and devote yourselves to training.”

“S-Senior Brother? D-dead?”

“N-no. Brother. I-if that’s the case, then let’s, let’s go together.”

“If it’s enough to kill me, it means you two would die too. Where are you going to go together?”

“S-still, I can’t let my b-brother die alone.”

“It's the same for me, Senior Brother.”

Their desperate expressions weighed on my mind, but I absolutely could not yield on this matter.

“Nam Geon. Are you not going to avenge your mother? The same goes for you, Junior Sister. Are you going to leave your mother alone in Heavenly Sun Village?”

“T-that’s…”

Nam Geon made a dizzy face as if his head had reached its limit.

Junior Sister Baek Hyang seemed to be contemplating something, then cautiously opened her mouth.

“T-then can’t you just not go, Senior Brother? We won’t go, and you don’t have to go either.”

I shook my head.

“It is a place I must go, even to make up for my lacking talent. Unlike me, you two are talented, so there is no need to seek out a dangerous place; just devote yourselves to training here.”

Nam Geon, uncharacteristically, also refuted with some logic.

“I-I’m stupid. B-brother is smarter. B-brother should stay here. I-I should go there.”

“You are more outstanding, Nam Geon. I could die and be reborn and still never learn the Iron Blood Golden Skin Art that you have learned.”

This time, Junior Sister Baek Hyang made a request with a tearful face instead of logical words.

“Y-you don’t have to get strong in such a dangerous way. Can’t you just train with us?”

“If I were the type of person who could do that, I wouldn't have saved you in the first place, Junior Sister.”

After my answer, she opened and closed her mouth a few times as if trying to say something.

With a complicated expression that was hard to tell if it was acceptance or resignation, Junior Sister Baek Hyang opened her mouth.

“...Please wait a moment, Senior Brother.”

After saying that, Junior Sister got up and went somewhere.

In her hands were a set of black martial arts clothes and a pouch.

“Clothes to change into and money for travel expenses, Senior Brother.”

When I took the pouch she handed me, it was quite heavy.

It seemed to be the money she had been saving.

Considering the considerable amount of money spent on Nam Geon’s food during our past journey, it was surprising that this much money was still left.

“Thank you.”

After saying that to Junior Sister, I got up.

It didn't seem necessary to pack anything else. The things Junior Sister had packed were more than enough. I had originally planned to leave with only the Restoring Name Sword.

Soon, Nam Geon, who had been silent, opened his mouth with a face full of worry.

“M-make one promise, brother.”

“I’ll decide after hearing it.”

“P-promise you’ll come back alive.”

“...Alright. I’ll try my best.”

“T-trying isn’t good enough. Y-you have to come back alive. If you b-break the promise, I-I’ll go and scold you.”

Scolding a dead guy.

A laugh escaped me without me realizing it.

Nam Geon’s face was quite solemn. He looked as if he was ready to negotiate with the King of Hell.

“Alright. I promise.”

“Y-you promised, brother. You must.”

“Please be careful, Senior Brother.”

It felt like we would be repeating our goodbyes for a while, so I nodded and turned my back.

Leaving the voices of Junior Sister and Nam Geon behind me once more, I descended Mount Heng.

It was time to look forward, not back.

***

Starting from Mount Heng, I ran without rest.

To travel the shortest distance to the secret grotto, I often traveled through the mountains instead of the paved roads.

From time to time, I would also stop by villages.

I also encountered a familiar gaze after a long time.

A look as if seeing a beggar.

After sleeping outdoors in the forests and mountains for a few days, I had become a sight that would make even a beggar take a step back.

It was a look I had forgotten thanks to being with Junior Sister.

After continuing like that for a few more days.

A small village I happened to stop by while traveling through the forests and mountains again.

Some underworld thugs had made their nest there.

“Tsk.”

I lightly clicked my tongue and fell into thought.

The reason for traveling the shortest distance was not just because of the promise with the two.

There was also the reason of getting to the secret grotto before the Black Market bastards found me.

But my contemplation was brief.

I realized it belatedly.

While my head was contemplating, my body was already walking towards that underworld sect.

“A dog quits eating shit. This damn mysophobia.”

A deep smile had also appeared on my lips.

The thought of cleaning up trash naturally lifted my spirits.

The murmuring of the villagers pierced my ears.

“That beggar must have gone mad from begging.”

“What’s so great that he’s grinning like that.”

Suddenly, a very excellent idea came to me.

I smashed the main gate of the underworld gang with the Restoring Name Sword and shouted.

“In the name of the Beggar’s Gang, I will not forgive you!!”

***

I ran through forests and mountains, occasionally stopping by villages, and whenever I found some underworld bastards, I would imitate the Beggar’s Gang a few times.

At the end of a journey that lasted over a fortnight, I was finally able to arrive at my destination safely.

A mountain located at the border of Yunnan, Guangxi, and Guizhou.

Yong'un Mountain, where the secret grotto of the Sun Moon Divine Sword elder was hidden.