novelraw Chapter 154 : Chapter 154
Chapter 154 : Chapter 154
Chapter 154 - What Kind of People are Up There?
“Heok…… heok……!!”
He had thought the saying that the sky was yellow was just an exaggeration.
But at this very moment.
Sedong, lying on the ground, was truly looking at a yellow sky.
‘Is this really human training……?’
The reason for training was, of course, to become stronger.
But at this rate, it felt like all his bones and flesh would separate before he could get stronger.
What was even more ridiculous was that,
“Haap!”
“Hap! Hap!”
“Keuoooooo!”
The other swordsmen were repeating this crazy act once again.
“Kiyoooot!”
Even the much younger Hyeokri Hong!
At this point, he felt lazy for having collapsed after just one round of training.
“Keuung……”
He wanted to get up right away and swing his sword like the other younger generation disciples.
But right now, Sedong truly didn't have the strength to move a single finger.
“Alright. We move on to the next stage in one quarter-hour.”
“Huuu……”
Only after Biyoung’s declaration of rest did the younger generation disciples flop down and gasp for breath.
Sedong was looking at them with fresh eyes.
Seeing the younger generation disciples whose skills improved by leaps and bounds every time he met them, he had briefly had such a thought.
Wasn't there a special secret to their growth?
But now that he saw it, there was no such thing as a special secret.
They just.
Rolled around like crazy.
Didn't they say that in training, there was no royal road better than ‘diligence’?
To the point where he was ashamed of himself for thinking there might be a special secret method, the younger generation disciples silently and tenaciously swung their swords.
“Are you okay?”
Biyoung approached Sedong, who was sprawled out.
Sedong managed to raise his upper body and force a smile.
“Keuung…… I want to say I'm fine…… but look at me.”
“You did well for that much. Honestly, it’s beyond my expectations.”
“Hehe. You don’t have to comfort me like that. I’ll adapt to this training volume as quickly as possible. Just wait a little.”
It's not a comfort.
Biyoung thought so and chuckled.
In the first place, training on par with the other younger generation disciples was absurd.
They were swordsmen who had been rolled and rolled for nearly a year, to an extent that no other sect could touch.
When it came to training volume, they had enough pride to stick out their bellies endlessly.
If the younger generation disciples had read Biyoung’s thoughts, they would have foamed at the mouth, saying, ‘Is that something to be proud of?’
‘Rather, it’s amazing that he managed this much.’
That thought was not held by Biyoung alone.
Including Eung Gajin and Uma, most of the swordsmen were quite surprised by Sedong’s grit.
Because when they first started training, they had gone to the brink of fainting.
‘He has grit, unlike how he looks.’
‘He also has mental strength and muscle.’
‘His internal energy seems quite developed too?’
In fact, what allowed Sedong to endure the harsh training was the tonic that Biyoung had consistently told him to take.
The energy of the Three-Eyed Snake Soup accumulated in his body had made Sedong’s body and mind solid, and had also infused him with internal energy.
However, Biyoung had no intention of being satisfied with that.
“You crazy bastard! I’m dying of exhaustion as it is, and you want me to make another one?”
“We have one more swordsman, so what do you expect? We can’t just split it with a knife and eat it.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit! Then you should just give him what you’re supposed to eat!”
“Hah. Are you questioning the entry that the Sect Leader himself decided on?”
“I said bullshit. Should I say it one more time?”
“Don’t be like that and let’s put in a little more effort, grandpa. Just think of it as adding one more spoon to the dinner table, won't you?”
“This…… you damn brat who knows jack shit about elixirs…… just because you have a mouth……!!”
“I talk because it’s open. Does it make sense if it’s closed?”
“Kyaak!”
Biyoung chuckled and ended the conversation with the man he called grandpa.
He may talk tough, but he would end up making it.
That grandpa, Hyeokri Chong, was quite fond of Sedong.
“Biyoung. Why is Elder Hyeokri Chong so angry?”
“It’s nothing. I just asked him to increase the workload a little starting today.”
From far away, a roar of anger was heard.
“A little? A liiiiiittttttle?”
Sedong flinched his shoulders once and cautiously asked.
“Workload?”
“That grandpa may not know about other things, but his skill in making elixirs is amazing. There’s an elixir called the Cradle-to-Grave Pill that we take periodically. From now on, you’ll be taking it every week too.”
So there is one special secret method after all.
Sedong thought so to himself.
“But will it be okay? As far as I know, taking too many different elixirs can have adverse effects……”
“Hoh. You really know the world of Murim well.”
After saying that, Biyoung slightly turned his head.
At the end of his gaze, a truly beautiful woman was smiling like a flower.
“Don’t worry, Junior Brother.”
It was a strange thing.
Even though beads of sweat were dripping down her chin and her martial uniform was soaked in sweat, her unique bright atmosphere remained the same.
It was a sight that would make many women cry out that it was cheating if they saw it.
“I also took various elixirs in the past. To the point where their energies clumped together and wouldn't budge.”
“So that happened.”
“I took Elder Hyeokri Chong’s elixir in addition, but no harm came of it. It was absorbed well without conflicting with my existing internal energy. It made me think that he is indeed Elder Hyeokri Chong.”
“That’s truly amazing……”
Sedong was genuinely impressed.
Originally, elixirs were bound to lose their effectiveness if other energies remained.
His own Three-Eyed Snake Soup would be the same, and it seemed Jeong-i had been in the same situation in the past.
However, the internal energy Jeong-i showed during training was powerful enough to make Sedong’s eyes pop open.
And that was only showing a very small part of it.
“Would you like to check for yourself?”
Jeong-i took out a small pill from her bosom.
The black elixir, sparkling in the light of the sunset, looked high-quality at a glance.
“This is……?”
“This is Elder Hyeokri Chong’s Cradle-to-Grave Pill. It will be more effective if you take it when your body is out of energy like now.”
Sedong shook his head vigorously.
“I cannot accept it, Senior Sister. Isn’t this something the sect made especially for you?”
“It’s okay to skip once. For what it’s worth, my internal strength is quite strong among our fellow disciples.”
Since Jeong-i went that far, Sedong could no longer refuse.
Sedong swallowed hard and carefully picked up the Cradle-to-Grave Pill.
‘This is the divine pill created by the legendary Medicine Saint…….’
Although he had eaten all sorts of fine foods at the Yi Family Clan, he had never been this excited before.
Sedong swallowed the elixir in one gulp.
Soon, a warm energy began to spread within his body.
“You have to circulate your energy.”
“Oh, right……!”
At Biyoung’s words, Sedong immediately sat in a cross-legged position.
The brilliant Sedong had not forgotten the energy circulation method Biyoung had taught him in the past.
That too was a basic martial art of the Diancang Sect, so there was no problem in absorbing the elixir’s energy.
Ssssss…….
After some time had passed.
Sedong, who had closed his eyes, snapped them open.
At the same time, a satisfied smile appeared on Biyoung’s lips.
“……The effect is good.”
Although he hadn't confirmed his movements yet, he could easily guess just by looking at the light shining from his pupils.
Like the younger generation disciples until now, it seemed Sedong had also perfectly absorbed the energy of the Cradle-to-Grave Pill.
“Truly……”
Sedong looked down at his own body and trembled slightly.
“This is amazing.”
Only that one thought filled Sedong’s mind.
Not only was the fatigue in his body relieved, but he also felt a heavy energy in his dantian that he had never felt before.
Was such a change possible with just one dose?
Then.
What results awaited him if he continued to take this regularly?
With such anticipation and excitement, Sedong had to tremble for a long time.
“I should get going now.”
The sunset that had dyed the mountain golden had disappeared behind the curtain of the dark night.
It was time to return not as a martial artist of the Diancang Sect, but as the Young Family Head of the Yi Family Manor.
Danseol approached Sedong’s side and asked.
“How about sleeping here for the night and going down tomorrow? Diancang Mountain after sunset is several times harder than during the day. Besides, today is your first day of training.”
“It’s alright, Senior Brother. After taking the Cradle-to-Grave Pill just now, I feel more refreshed than this morning.”
“I know that feeling too.”
Danseol grinned and lightly patted Sedong’s shoulder.
For the time being, Sedong would be going through a harder time than anyone else.
When the day breaks in the morning, he climbs Diancang Mountain to train, and when the sun sets, he descends the mountain to perform his duties as the Young Family Head.
It was a grueling march that an ordinary person could not even imagine, but the Young Family Head of the Yi Family Clan would keep his word no matter what.
That way, his father, Yi Gwon-su, would have nothing to say.
Just.
He could only cheer for him to do well.
“I’ll be back.”
Sedong bowed to his senior brothers and leaped over the mountain gate using the technique of Flying Eagle Steps.
His senior brothers watched his back with lingering eyes.
He was a kid who had set aside the warm and comfortable position of the Yi Family Clan to enter the Diancang Sect.
So how could they not look upon him fondly?
However.
Unfortunately, their lingering feelings did not last very long.
“Alright. Then shall we do the training we missed?”
At Biyoung’s remark, the faces of the younger generation disciples crumpled.
“What do you mean, missed training? The sun has already completely set!”
Eung Gajin protested, but Biyoung wagged his index finger.
“No. Did you think I forgot that you all pretended not to notice and rested while Sedong was circulating his energy earlier?”
“You……!!”
You demonic bastard.
You mean you didn't forget that and are deliberately bringing it up to do additional training?
All the younger generation disciples were glaring with angry eyes, cursing him with their gazes.
However, Biyoung rather liked that look in their eyes.
“Good! Martial artists of the Diancang Sect should have that kind of fighting spirit! Of course!”
It's not fighting spirit.
It's cursing.
It's killing intent.
You damn brat!
***
“Amitabha. It is indeed a rugged mountain.”
Mount Song was by no means an easy mountain range, but Diancang Mountain was so steep and rough that it truly made one speechless.
Dark yellow robes with a black waist sash.
Below a cleanly shaven head, the bulging temporal arteries, instead of hair, freely displayed their presence.
The man was dressed in an attire that anyone who had set foot in the Murim would never fail to recognize.
Shaolin.
The young monk Gye-yeong was climbing Diancang Mountain under the orders of Shaolin.
‘Why did the Abbot give me such an order?’
The martial arts tournament for the younger generation.
The petitions containing that information were distributed at the same time on the same day through the monks of Shaolin.
However, for the Diancang Sect alone, Gye-yeong, who attended to the Abbot, was ordered to go in person.
Along with the words to observe the sect's appearance well.
He didn't know the exact reason, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they were keeping a close eye on the Diancang Sect.
“Amitabha. My distracting thoughts are many.”
Although he had a youthful appearance due to his lack of hair, Gye-yeong’s age was approaching his late twenties.
He soon collected himself and stepped onto the mountain path with the technique of Arhat Steps.
It could be asserted that among those climbing Diancang Mountain for the first time, no one could keep up with Gye-yeong.
That was how fluidly natural and refreshingly light the movement technique of Shaolin was.
But all martial arts are relative.
Gye-yeong’s heart was shaken once again even before he reached the mountain gate of the Diancang Sect.
“Excuse me, coming through!”
Swish—
“?!”
The nimble footwork that made the speed of his once brisk Arhat Steps feel like a snail's pace.
It brushed past Gye-yeong.
“Oh……”
A man of small stature in dark blue robes climbed the steep mountain path as well as a mountain squirrel.
‘If it’s a dark blue martial uniform…….’
“W-wait!”
Gye-yeong called out urgently, but the mountain squirrel had already disappeared from his sight.
At a glance, it might look like the difference in speed between a martial artist and an ordinary person.
But he, the one left behind, had also been using the Arhat Steps.
“……How can this be.”
Gye-yeong’s bewildered eyes turned towards the steep mountain above.
That person was definitely a martial artist of the Diancang Sect.
He didn’t know why he was climbing the mountain so early in the morning, but one thing was certain: that person’s movement technique was several levels above his own.
“Indeed, it is the sect of the quick sword. Amitabha.”
What kind of people are living up there?
From his very first encounter with the Diancang Sect, Gye-yeong received a powerful impression.
Swallowing once, Gye-yeong ran up the mountain path with all his might.