Invincible with Twin Swords

Chapter 8 : I Already Knew the Answer

"In essence, a 'saber' must be free. Don't restrain your power, but let your energy flow along the blade and play to its heart's content. If you think too much, you become bound."

Only those who have reached the summit can speak of the mountain.

He is a martial artist who has climbed the highest mountain.

I, too, was one who had held a saber and climbed to the summit of my own mountain.

But for a long time, I put down the saber and held a sword.

I had forgotten my own saber.

"Sometimes, crudeness overcomes sophistication. You shouldn't be captivated by the flashy variations or the precision as if measured with a ruler that those who wield swords unfold. Such things are just like pretty flowers or lush leaves. A saber master needs strong roots."

After finishing his words, he stood up to leave, but then turned back and added a word.

"You should take some away, not fill it up!"

Those are the words I passed on to Seok Nosam.

I already knew the answer!

* * *

I didn't leave my room for a whole day.

I sat in a cross-legged position all day, organizing the various martial principles that were jumbled in my head.

What I needed was not to fill, but to empty. A lot had been added while learning the sword.

I had to go back to the basics.

I obtained an elixir here at the Medicine King Hall, but I gained an even greater enlightenment from meeting the Saber Emperor.

Discovering a secret manual in a cave on a cliff is a story made up by storytellers.

What I obtained was a true fortuitous encounter.

I felt sorry for Seok Nosam, who was preparing various experiments, but the moment of enlightenment does not come easily.

Of course, for the next few days, I willingly became a subject for his human experiments.

Well, if he's doing something good for my body.

"I will definitely come back to see you when my work is done."

It's not an empty promise. When I find the Heavenly Demon and cut off his head, I will find my old friend and spend a long time with him.

Seok Nosam seemed very reluctant to let go of the experimental subject he had found with difficulty. Along with the words that I must come back, he packed a lot of top-grade wound medicine and pills that are good for treating internal injuries. When I asked for one more Medicine King Divine Pill, he jumped up and down. He said it was an elixir with a huge amount of precious ingredients, and it would take over a year to get the ingredients again and make it.

"I had prepared various exper... no, various arrangements for you, but it's a pity that you're leaving. Be sure to keep your promise."

Seok Nosam wasn't the only one who was disappointed.

There was a person who had been visiting since morning and circling around like a dog that needed to poop.

"Would you by any chance like to officially join the Solid Saber Pavilion? No, well, it's not that I covet you or anything, but I thought you'd become a decent saber master if I polished you up a bit. This kind of opportunity is not common."

The Solid Saber Pavilion is a sect founded by the Saber Emperor.

The goal of the Solid Saber Pavilion was not something like becoming the number one sect in the world.

Its only goal was to prove that the saber is better than the sword.

"With your talent, you only need to learn from me for exactly six months, no more, no less. Then next year, you'll be able to put the Sword Emperor's nose out of joint."

I heard a name I missed.

What the Saber Emperor is talking about now, about the Sword Emperor's nose next year, is probably the 'Yeon-Go' or 'Go-Yeon' Struggle.

The Sword Emperor and the Saber Emperor were rivals for life.

Sword and saber! They always growled at each other over which was stronger. To think that those two people joined forces and attacked the Heavenly Demon together.

In fact, the two people who stood at the summit would have understood each other better than anyone else. In the Valley of Abandoned Bugs, the Sword Emperor also sometimes talked about the Saber Emperor. Without hiding his longing for the one who had left first.

Anyway, to determine the superiority of the sword and the saber, the Sword Emperor's 'Yeon-geom' Sect and the Saber Emperor's 'Go-do' Pavilion regularly gathered at the Martial Alliance and competed through duels.

"Hey. You should send out your disciples for the Yeon-Go Struggle, why are you recruiting a mercenary? Are you abandoning your pride for the sake of victory?"

"You brat! You have to speak correctly. It's not 'Yeon-Go' Struggle, it's 'Go-Yeon' Struggle!"

"Anyway, when the Yeon-Go... no, the Go-Yeon Struggle is held next year, I'll stop by the Alliance to watch. I have someone to meet too. If I get blocked at the Alliance entrance, can I use your name?"

I wanted to meet the Sword Emperor.

I spent five years with him in the Valley of Abandoned Bugs. The Sword Emperor, whose two arms were cut off and who even had dementia, would not have survived without me.

But without him, I would not have survived there either.

"Aish. I get it, you brat! I'll be waiting at the Alliance. If you change your mind, come to the Solid Saber Pavilion anytime!"

"As soon as I finish what I'm doing now, I'll definitely go for a cup of tea."

I emphasized 'a cup of tea' in case he misunderstood that I was going as a disciple. Of course, I really plan to visit. I don't know when my plan will be finished, though.

"And don't forget! It's the roots, not the flowers! Look at the Mount Hua Sect over there. Aren't they always talking about plum blossoms and the scent of flowers? It's shameful for men..."

I quickly covered the Saber Emperor's mouth.

"Mph... mph!"

"Oh my, old man! You can't do this here! Who are you trying to drag down to hell with you? If you're going, go alone."

"What is this? What's so great about that Mount Hua... mph... mph!"

"You don't know the mood, the reputation of the Mount Hua Sect is so high these days. I like the Mount Hua Sect. I also like plum blossoms the most among flowers. Whether it's 'raining' or 'clear', I always like it!"

If I keep talking to this man, I'll fall into hell. I should leave quickly.

As I hurriedly turned around, the Saber Emperor grabbed my shoulder.

"By the way, you're a saber user, so why are you wearing a sword?"

Your observation skills are good.

"Ah... I had a pretty good saber, but I lost it while fighting some nasty fellow a long time ago. I haven't found a saber I like since then."

It's not a lie.

My beloved Iron Flying Saber left me along with my right arm.

It wasn't a famous saber, but the center of gravity was just right and it was comfortable in my hand, so it was perfect.

I wasn't the type to be obsessed with weapons, but the Iron Flying Saber was made for me by a fairly famous craftsman.

"Have you ever seen such a thoughtless fellow? A saber user loses his saber?"

Old man! If your right arm is cut off, you lose what you were holding in your right hand.

You don't know because you haven't had it cut off.

"Hmm... You, run an errand for me on your way. If you go down to Yunxian, there's a place called the Iron Skill Gang. Go there, hand them this letter, and say you've come to pick up the item I left in my name, and they'll give you a saber. Keep it well. If you need it on the way, use it or not..."

He could have just said he'd give me a decent saber, but he makes it so complicated.

As they say, you should gratefully receive gifts from your elders.

"I understand. If I happen to use it a little, it will be for a good cause, so you don't have to worry. Haha!"

After Jin Danyeong left, only Seok Nosam and the Saber Emperor remained at the main gate of the Medicine King Hall.

He suddenly came, ate the Medicine King Divine Pill, and even received a small teaching from the Saber Emperor.

To swallow such a fortuitous encounter and leave just like that. What a rascal.

"If it's the item you left at the Iron Skill Gang, are you by any chance talking about that?"

Seok Nosam asked, looking at the fellow who had suddenly come, gobbled up a Medicine King Divine Pill, and was now leaving in the distance.

"Isn't that the only thing I left at the Iron Skill Gang?"

"Is it okay to just give it away, no, lend it? To a guy you just met a few days ago?"

"Then why did you give that elixir to a guy you just met? And it was an elixir you had been researching your whole life... You should have given it to me, you rotten fellow!"

"Saber Emperor, even if you take an elixir now, the effect won't be much. An elixir should be taken by a fresh young fellow for its effect to be proper. Besides, if it wasn't for that guy, I wouldn't have been able to make the Medicine King Divine Pill. I'll make you a proper one that will make your urine stream amazing."

In fact, the Saber Emperor didn't seem very disappointed.

He felt excited to have met a decent fellow after a long time.

"By the way. It was definitely a guy I'd never seen before, but for some reason, it felt like I had known him for a long time. It felt like I could trust him. It felt like I should do something to help him. Of course, thanks to him, I also achieved my lifelong wish."

Anyone who heard this would say he was scammed, but strangely, the Saber Emperor also felt the same way.

"Isn't he still young? I've never seen a guy like that. I wanted to take him in, but I didn't hold on to him because I thought he would grow bigger if I left him alone."

He muttered, looking at the back of the corpse-like fellow leaving in the distance.

"Besides, that guy... he definitely learned the sword too. And it was a pretty high-level swordsmanship."

"A sword?"

"It was mixed in when he was swinging the saber. I can't let a guy like that just swing a sword, so I'm trying to put 'that' in his hand. If he gets his hands on that, he probably won't even think about a sword. If he can handle it properly, that is. Haha!"

I thought I felt the aura of the Sword Emperor in the sword that guy was swinging, but how could that be? I just had a feeling that I would soon hear that guy's name here and there.

* * *

I decided to stop by Yunxian first.

If it's something the Saber Emperor is giving, it will be a pretty good saber. It's also true that weapons don't matter once you reach a certain level, but this is the conclusion I came to after rolling around the battlefields and using all sorts of things.

"If it's good, it's good!"

I walked along the main road for a long time. It would be quick if I used lightness skill, but I needed time to organize my thoughts while walking.

Fortunately, I returned before the revelation. Thanks to that, I bought time to prepare. But what I know about the Demonic Cult and the Heavenly Demon is not enough. I need more and more accurate information. And I need companions to join me, reliable ones.

...It's going to be tight.

As the main road began to get a little crowded with people, it seemed I was almost there.

I saw a group of several people coming from afar. They were wearing black martial arts uniforms with a red dragon embroidered on the left chest, and they were wearing weapons on their waists, so they seemed to be from some underworld sect.

A red dragon? Red Dragon Sect? Blood Dragon Gang?

Most of the underworld guys are so simple that you can guess their names with a pretty high probability just by looking at the pattern on their martial arts uniforms.

"Ugh. Don't the ghosts take those Blood Dragon Sect bastards?"

A person who was resting for a moment in the shade under a tree muttered to himself.

I was close.

Six blood-soaked dragons rushed into an inn.

To find an inn with good food in a place you've never been to before, you should go to a place frequented by locals.

After those guys appeared, I heard the Blood Dragon Sect being cursed six times in that short moment. There's no way those guys would pay to eat, and if they're eating for free, they would naturally eat at a delicious place.

I followed them in without hesitation.

"Bring plenty of boiled pork and dumplings here. And three or four bottles of white liquor."

They're ordering as if they've left it in their keep, those crazy bastards.

"Give me the same as that side. And give me Shaoxing wine for the drink."

This place is good.

Pork is not boiled in water. You slice a lot of onions and put the pork on top. Of course, you also add some spices to get rid of the smell. And if you close the lid and cook it over a low fire for a very long time, the pork becomes tender with just the moisture from the onions.

It seems like a simple method, but it's not easy to find a place that cooks it properly.

I should remember this and come again.

Unfortunately, the Shaoxing wine is just so-so. For Shaoxing wine, Yuehua Pavilion in Zhejiang is the real deal.

Seven out of ten sword fights start in an inn, but fortunately, those guys over there seemed to have just come to eat.

Usually, they would pick a fight saying they've never seen me before, but only those with some strength go around picking fights.

Those guys were all third-rate. Although they were a bit noisy.

"So the sect leader is determined to climb Mount Dubang? With all the disciples?"

Mount Dubang is a small mountain located between Yunxian and Fengdu. It's not that big, but the mountain terrain is quite rough.

"He's determined to let the world know on this occasion that the nickname 'Blood Dragon' cannot be used by just anyone."

"Of all things, why is a mere mountain bandit using the same nickname as our sect leader? Don't we get misunderstood because of guys like that? What kind of nickname for a mere mountain bandit is Blood Dragon? How childish."

They're spitting while lying down. Your name is also the Blood Dragon Sect.

"The name of the mountain stronghold is the Nine Dragons Stronghold, and they say the stronghold leader's build is like a mountain and his strength is immense. Moreover, he uses a large axe, and his martial prowess is said to be unusual, so his notoriety is widespread."

"Don't worry. Don't you know what kind of person our sect leader is? Even if the Heavenly Demon of the Hundred Thousand Mountains were to descend again, our sect leader would be a match for him. There's a widespread rumor that he will soon occupy one of the top ten master positions."

These guys are crossing the line.

If your sect leader was a match for the Heavenly Demon, I wouldn't be going through this life-threatening ordeal right now.

By the way, was there a master in the Yunxian area who used the nickname Blood Dragon that I didn't know about?

"Don't be surprised. This is something the sect leader told me never to tell anyone."

Originally, the words 'don't tell anyone' are the same as 'please spread it far and wide'.

"Do you guys know who the person was who single-handedly jumped in when the Black Killing Sect and the five hundred members of the Dark Soul Pursuit Unit were fighting and wiped out both sides with a single strike?"

The Black Killing Sect and the Dark Soul Pursuit Unit fought?

Hey guys! The Dark Soul Pursuit Unit was part of the Black Killing Sect.

"It was our sect leader. In just one night, both forces disappeared from this Central Plains without a trace. It's a story that everyone who knows in the Central Plains knows."

So the story of the Black Killing Sect's Dark Soul Pursuit Unit can be adapted like this as it gets passed around.

Hey guys, that's the Saber Emperor's story.

If that old man finds out what your sect leader is doing, you guys are in big trouble. Your Blood Dragon Sect doesn't even need a whole night. In one shichen, not even dust will remain.

"Oh, so the sect leader is stepping up himself this time?"

"Originally, he could have just gone alone as if taking a walk, but he's thinking of taking everyone along as a training camp to strengthen the disciples' unity on this occasion."

"I'll finally get to see the sect leader's unique ultimate skill, the Annihilation Calamity Thunder Sword, with my own eyes. I'm looking forward to this."

I'm looking forward to it too. The Annihilation Calamity Thunder Sword!

The tongue goes up and down, so kids with a lisp wouldn't even be able to learn it because the pronunciation is difficult.

By the way, if it's the guy who uses an axe on Mount Dubang, it seems like the guy I know.

His childhood nickname was Blood Dragon? No wonder he didn't tell me.

He's the person I was looking for.

I miss him.

The first team leader of the Azure Blade Unit.

Mad Wind Blood Axe, Han Deoksam

(End of Chapter)