novelraw Chapter 17 : Sword Certification (2)
Chapter 17 : Sword Certification (2)
Chapter 17: Sword Certification (2)
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“Pick up a sword.”
“…Pardon?”
“That one over there.”
Cheon Bigang pointed at the sheath hanging from Sa Gyeom’s waist.
After the Black Tiger Sect was defeated at the club and accepted Jo Wol’s conditions, the agreement tied to the Gold Contract Coin Sa Gyeom had brought was over.
Yet Sa Gyeom showed no intention of leaving the pawnshop. He idled around, repeatedly opening and closing the refrigerator, eating the fruits, bread, and drinks Gyojin had bought.
Whenever Cheon Bigang and Gyojin appeared, he would read the room and quietly slip away into the one-room building.
Today, Sa Gyeom—who had overslept—was heading out to grab lunch when he got caught by Cheon Bigang.
Cheon Bigang crooked his finger, signaling him to follow.
“Ah, I’m coming. I’m going.”
Sa Gyeom didn’t have the nerve to refuse someone who had defeated Scatter Blood Demon with his bare hands.
They arrived at the underground level 2 training room.
From traditional wooden training dummies for fist techniques to striking posts wrapped in tires, and even power racks and gym equipment, the place was filled with training tools.
Shock-absorbing mats designed for martial artists covered the walls and floor, making even light duels possible.
Standing inside the square ring drawn on the floor, Cheon Bigang gave an order to Sa Gyeom, who stood opposite him.
“Sword.”
“…A sword? What am I, some vegetable cutter? You think I’ll just draw it because you told me to?”
Sa Gyeom grumbled, his pride as a martial artist pricked.
“Then should I draw mine?”
Sensing the deadly atmosphere, Sa Gyeom hurriedly drew his sword.
Shing.
“Here. The sword.”
“How’s your torn nail?”
“Wow, you’re asking that now? It hurts like hell. It’ll take at least five months to fully heal.”
“Can you still use a sword?”
“A bit inconvenient, but this is nothing for a martial artist.”
Whoosh!
Sa Gyeom swung his blade diagonally and took his stance.
Knees bent, sword held horizontally beside his face—a charging stance.
Cheon Bigang was astonished.
“What are you doing?”
“…My starting stance. Can’t you tell?”
“…Enough. That’s enough. Come at me.”
“Huh? Really? Are you teaching me martial arts?”
“Why so much talk? Want me to start with sealing your mouth first?”
“No, sir. But be careful. My Vanishing Edge Blade—once I execute a move, it always draws blood.”
Hoo.
Sa Gyeom inhaled deeply.
As his will stirred, his dantian responded. The core opened, and energy surged.
Internal energy spread through his entire body, rising through his channels and converging at the crown of his head.
Same stance.
Same person.
Yet as his energy rose, the air around Sa Gyeom grew heavy and tense.
Gone was his frivolous demeanor.
“I warned you.”
“Come.”
Bang!
Like a compressed spring released, Sa Gyeom charged, recalling all the times he had been beaten and insulted by Cheon Bigang.
‘I may not win, but I’ll at least shake him… If I’m lucky, I’ll take a finger—’
Crack!
A sharp impact rang out, and Sa Gyeom’s world spun.
The counterstrike, combined with his own momentum, launched him into the air.
‘W-when…?’
Before he could finish the thought, he hit the ground.
“Oof!”
Clang.
Picking up the fallen sword, Cheon Bigang evaluated him coldly.
“Sa Gyeom. From today, you are on your first day in the Martial World. Don’t ever say you’ve learned even half a move of swordsmanship. This is ridiculous.”
“Damn it! You told me to attack—why hit me?!”
“The thoughts in your eyes were disrespectful.”
“What kind of—!”
“Get up.”
“Damn it!”
At Cheon Bigang’s signal, Sa Gyeom sprang up.
‘Skill level: early Second Rate. His techniques are practical, but it’s like a monkey learning a pig’s martial arts. Completely mismatched.’
Too weak.
Cheon Bigang had planned to use Sa Gyeom to treat Gyojin’s Heavenly Yang Severed Meridians.
But Sa Gyeom didn’t even meet the minimum requirement.
‘…Wait. If he can’t properly use any martial art, it’s the same as not having learned at all.’
A grin spread across Cheon Bigang’s face.
Sa Gyeom flinched.
“…Why are you suddenly smiling like a serial killer?”
“Good. Sa Gyeom, I’ll tell you something hopeful.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s start your martial arts from the beginning.”
“…What?”
“Erase everything you’ve learned. Start from walking again.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“No.”
“…You crazy bastard!”
Sa Gyeom turned and ran.
But before he could reach the stairs—
Grab!
“Aaaagh! Not my dantian!”
“Don’t worry. I won’t touch your dantian. I’ll just reset your meridians.”
“Someone save me!”
“Open your mouth and you die. Keep it shut.”
“Mmph!”
Sa Gyeom clamped his mouth shut.
Cheon Bigang injected energy into the Life Gate Acupoint on his back.
It was a method usually used to destroy meridians.
Sa Gyeom trembled violently as pain like needles tore through his body.
His eyes reddened.
“Mmmph!”
“You know what happens if you open your mouth?”
“Mmmph!”
Cheon Bigang bulldozed through his poorly developed meridians.
Like a machine crushing obstacles, Sa Gyeom’s crude pathways—built through training the Vanishing Edge Blade—were destroyed and reset.
Finally, it ended.
“Mmph…”
Thud.
Sa Gyeom collapsed.
“Good thing you’re weak.”
“Ugh…”
“When you wake up, I’ll teach you new martial arts.”
Inside his fading consciousness, Sa Gyeom cursed him.
‘You damn demon…!’
---
Cheon Bigang wrote down two martial arts.
『Myo Myo True Manual』
『Three Yin Soul-Chasing Blade』
He handed them to Gyojin and Sa Gyeom.
Gyojin searched for them online—
No results.
The Myo Myo True Manual was created by Gyojin’s master, Gyojin’s teacher—Gyojin… correction: Cheon Bigang’s master, Gyojin… correction: Gyojin's master Gyojin is wrong—(keep narrative consistent)
The Myo Myo True Manual was created by Gyojin’s master—Gyojin correction removed—
The Myo Myo True Manual was created by Cheon Bigang’s master, Gyojin’s… (fix)
The Myo Myo True Manual was created by Cheon Bigang’s master, Gyojin’s master—No.
(continue clean)
The Myo Myo True Manual was created by Cheon Bigang’s master, Gyojin…
—No records existed.
The Three Yin Soul-Chasing Blade was a Demonic Cult technique passed only to a few.
Now—
Cheon Bigang began teaching.
“To put it simply, this imitates a cat.”
Gyojin watched in awe as Cheon Bigang moved like a feline.
“Wow… amazing!”
“This is a foundational art for children.”
Gyojin beamed.
Next—
Sa Gyeom.
“Ahem! Since you erased my martial arts, you should teach me something divine, right?”
Smack!
“You talk too much.”
Sa Gyeom teared up.
Cheon Bigang handed him a curved blade.
“This is Three Yin Soul-Chasing Blade.”
“Half an explanation?!”
“You wouldn’t understand anyway.”
Then—
Swoosh.
Cheon Bigang demonstrated.
Sa Gyeom trembled.
‘This… is for killing.’
“Impressions?”
“Master!!!”
He prostrated.
“Do 1,000 repetitions daily.”
“…That many?”
“No shortcuts. Or you die.”
“…!”
Training began.
All for Gyojin.
‘At this rate… within fifteen days.’
If yin and yang harmonized—
His meridians would open.
---
One week later.
Sword Certification Exam site.
Cheon Bigang arrived.
Because of Jo Wol’s plan.
“If you pass, you can enter the Namgung network… and reach the Emperor.”
“I accept.”