novelraw Chapter 95 : Ten Swords
Chapter 95 : Ten Swords
"You want me to help with the education of the next-generation talents?"
"Yes. Even if it's just for one day, I beg of you."
As Gwak Myeong bowed his head and pleaded, it was difficult for Kang Cheon to be cold-hearted.
Moreover, in front of him, he could see the instructors who were busy repairing the broken main gate.
Due to their clumsy skills, the instructors were hitting their hands with hammers or driving nails into the wrong places.
"I told you to drive it in the side, not there!"
"This is the right place. If you're not happy, you do it."
"Oh, oh! It's falling! Get out of the way!"
"Ack!"
As the poorly erected pillar finally collapsed, the instructors ran away in all directions.
'Did I use too much force?'
It was his fault for using too much force because it was a reunion after a long time.
Unbeknownst to him, a hint of resentment would flash in the eyes of the instructors towards Kang Cheon.
"Let's set it up again... we have to set up the pillar before the sun sets."
The instructors who were struggling to set up the collapsed pillar again.
Kang Cheon, who was watching this with a pitiful expression, asked with an awkward face.
"Why are you using the instructors instead of professional repairmen?"
"We couldn't let outsiders in when we don't know how far the hands of the Heretic's Path Alliance have reached. So the instructors are having a hard time. I wonder if it will be done today..."
"Tsk!"
Perhaps because of the sin he had committed, his footsteps to leave the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple were heavy.
"Alright. I'll look after the next-generation talents for just one day. Instead, don't interfere with my teachings."
"Of course. The children will also be very happy with the Elder's teachings."
A short while later, the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple gathered on a relatively small training ground instead of the large training ground that had been shattered by the last sparring match.
The thirty officials, excluding Jin Sohyun, were looking at Kang Cheon with sparkling pupils.
'This is a strange feeling.'
The gazes directed at him were quite different.
His first disciple, Jin Sohyun, had always looked at him with the eyes of a dead pollack.
Jin Sohyun was always bored and was lazy whenever he had a chance.
There was no courtesy or respect for his master.
But the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple were different.
Respect was felt in their gazes towards Kang Cheon, one of the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Hyeok'ugun, a disciple of Huashan. On behalf of the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, I thank Elder Kang. It is a great honor to receive the teachings of the Flying Sword Hero."
"Hehehe... hehehehehe..."
"Elder?"
"Hehehehahahaha!!"
A mad laugh burst from Kang Cheon's mouth.
'This is a disciple! This is a proper disciple! Not some unlucky brats who look at me with bored eyes, despise my teachings, are arrogant, and even though they are lazy, they inherit the talent of heaven and master martial arts while lazing around!'
Kang Cheon, who had been active as a seasoned master of the martial world for decades.
He had finally obtained true disciples in his later years.
And so, Kang Cheon, who had become the one-day master of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, wiped the tears that were welling up around his eyes and shouted.
"This Kang Cheon will bestow my teachings upon you!"
"Waaaah—!"
The teachings of one of the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains.
There was no next-generation talent who would refuse.
Only one person.
'Ugh...! I thought I wouldn't have to learn any more martial arts from Master Kang! How can I get out of this?'
Except for the lazy bum of Shanxi, Jin Sohyun.
Looking at Kang Cheon, who was overflowing with motivation, Jin Sohyun's pupils shook rapidly.
His lazy brain also spun busily and sent him a warning.
To think of a way out.
***
"Hah... hah... is this training?"
"This is just... torture!"
The thirty officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple who had been happy at the thought of receiving the teachings of one of the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains.
One koku of time was enough for their joy to turn into despair.
"Aing! Tsk! You can't even do this much?"
"That's what I'm saying."
Jin Sohyun was already standing by Kang Cheon's side, massaging his shoulders or bringing him water.
"Why are the kids these days so weak... isn't that so, Sohyun?"
"It's because they all grew up being coddled."
Jin Sohyun, who had spent more than half of his six months of Daoist temple life lazing around, clicked his tongue.
At his appearance, the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, who were already having a hard time, felt a fire burst from within.
Was it any wonder that even Moyong Susu, Peng Xiaofeng, Zhuge Ming, and Oh Seolhwa, who had been favorable to Jin Sohyun, were glaring at him with annoyed faces?
Especially the two eyes of Jong Ryeo'ak, which were directed at Jin Sohyun, seemed to be those of a demonic head.
But our lazy bum, Jin Sohyun.
If he were to succumb to a gaze of this level, he could not have become a lazy bum in the first place.
Jin Sohyun, who had cleanly ignored the annoyed and sharp gazes of the officials, smiled and said.
"Master! Do the refreshments suit your taste?"
"Hehe... they are very sweet and good."
'Damn it! To think he would be so openly biased!'
'Money is the best, after all! Even the great Flying Sword Hero can't do anything about Jin Sohyun!'
'Five Great Masters of the Central Plains, my ass!'
As the faces of the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple became filled with poison, Jin Sohyun whispered softly.
"The expressions of my fellow students are not very good. It seems they are not pleased with your teachings, Master."
"Hoho... they are not pleased with the teachings of this Kang Cheon?"
"If that weren't the case, would they be able to glare at you with such ax-like eyes?"
"Now that I see it, that's right."
As Kang Cheon got up, the faces of the officials turned pale.
It was not just one or two officials who had been hit by Kang Cheon and had fainted, as it was a kind of training.
Kang Cheon lightly loosened his arms and legs.
Crack— Crack—!
"My whole body aches because I'm old. So, you're not pleased with my teachings?"
"N-Not at all."
Hyeok'ugun was startled and got up.
"The Elder's teachings are so great that we cannot dare to follow..."
"Is... that... so?"
At the face of Kang Cheon, who was right in front of him, Hyeok'ugun almost lost his mind.
"Hiccup—!"
While the surprised Hyeok'ugun was hiccuping, Kang Cheon laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! I'm very glad that you all like it. Then, since the warm-up is over, shall we start the real training!?"
"W-Was that... just a warm-up... you say?"
Zhuge Ming stuttered with a face of disbelief.
"Of course. You wouldn't have thought that the teachings of this Kang Cheon were just such a boring physical training, right?"
The faces of the officials, who had been doing physical training with iron blocks tied to their whole bodies for a whopping two shichen, had now turned from blue to white.
"You, you said you were Hyeok'ugun."
"Yes!"
The face of Hyeok'ugun, which had been pale, brightened a little.
'The Flying Sword Hero remembered my name!'
For a next-generation talent, there was no greater honor than to be remembered by a hero of the orthodox faction.
Hyeok'ugun, who had brightened up, ran in front of him at Kang Cheon's gesture.
"You seem to be the smartest one here, so I'll ask you. Think carefully and answer."
"Y-Yes, I understand!"
'A question from the Flying Sword Hero! This is a kind of test. I must... I must be acknowledged!'
If he could give the answer that Kang Cheon wanted here, he could receive the acknowledgment of a hero.
"Thirty martial artists from different sects and families have gathered. They have learned different martial arts and internal arts. If you have to teach them something in one day, what should you teach them?"
Hyeok'ugun immediately noticed that this question was asking about their current situation.
'I have to choose the right answer!'
The brain of the already clever Hyeok'ugun spun rapidly.
And soon, Hyeok'ugun, who had organized his thoughts, answered.
"It is the subtleties and advice on the realm of ascension that we have not yet reached. The experiences and enlightenments that have melted into the decades of the Elder's life will become a shining milestone that will illuminate the path ahead for us, the juniors of the martial arts."
At Hyeok'ugun's answer, which was like flowing water, Kang Cheon nodded his head as if satisfied.
"An excellent answer."
"Th-Thank... kwak!"
"But! That's not the answer to my question."
Hyeok'ugun, who had been hit by Kang Cheon, flew across the training ground and was thrown to the ground.
At Kang Cheon's sudden attack, it was not just Hyeok'ugun who was flustered.
The gazes of the thirty officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple were all focused on Kang Cheon.
At that moment, Kang Cheon raised his fist.
"The one thing I learned while fighting, killing, and surviving for decades is this."
A mad smile spread across Kang Cheon's face.
"That there is nothing that makes me grow as much as a fight with a strong person. I have always fought with the strong, and I have survived. And I have become stronger."
At the strong qi that had shot up in an instant, Kang Cheon's upper garment was torn to shreds and burst.
From between them, ten flying swords were revealed.
"The rule is simple. If you leave even a small scratch on my body, it's your victory. But if you all collapse before that, it's my victory."
At Kang Cheon's gesture, the ten flying swords floated up into the sky.
A sense of despair was cast over the faces of the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.
"Let's begin. Kahahaha!"
***
The fight between the Flying Sword Hero, Kang Cheon, and the thirty officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple flowed one-sidedly.
Within half a koku of the start of the fight, nearly half of the officials had collapsed.
"Tsk! You can't even use half of the movement technique you have. Your left foot can't keep up with the speed of your right foot, so your movement technique is getting tangled."
Kang Cheon kicked Go Durim's side.
As a bonus, he also kicked the martial artist of the same Kongtong Sect.
"Kek!"
At one nagging from Kang Cheon, one official was sent flying.
"Ahem! The most important thing in a fight is to see. You have to read the opponent's movements to be able to prepare and to be able to counterattack! If you close your eyes one more time, I'll make it so you don't have to open your eyes for the rest of your life."
"Hic!"
The martial artist from the Moyong Family, who had received a threat that was not a threat, opened his eyes wide.
Thwack—!
"Eok!"
Thanks to that, the young official named Moyong Cheol was hit with his eyes open and fainted.
"Well done."
Although it was the praise of one of the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains, Moyong Cheol could not hear it.
After this, Kang Cheon's teachings continued.
"The saber technique of the Peng family is not a saber technique that is used only with strength."
"Mmm, then how do you use it?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
"...What?"
Peng Xiaofeng coughed, having been hit in the abdomen.
"The reason you can't leap to a level beyond what you are now is because you lack flexibility. Since you swing your saber with a stiff body, the transmission of power is not done properly. Cultivate flexibility."
"I... I understand..."
"If you understand, then get lost!"
"Keok!"
The huge Peng Xiaofeng floated up and flew away.
'As expected of the Flying Sword Hero. I can't even fight him without him using his flying sword.'
Hyeok'ugun was sweating profusely on his forehead.
No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed impossible to leave a scratch on Kang Cheon's body.
He could not keep up with Kang Cheon in speed, strength, or anything else.
"Are you just watching?"
At Kang Cheon's scolding, Hyeok'ugun flinched.
Hyeok'ugun, who had been hesitating, took a fist and palm salute and said.
"Hyeok'ugun of Huashan requests the teachings of the Flying Sword Hero."
After finishing his greeting, Hyeok'ugun took a ready stance.
"The Plum Blossom Sword of Huashan... it's been a while since I've seen it. Come. I will watch with my own body how fragrant your plum blossoms are."
"It is an honor."
Next to Hyeok'ugun, who was taking a ready stance, Oh Seolhwa came and stood.
"I will join in too! Senior brother!"
"Oh, junior sister."
The two swordsmen of the Huashan Sect, who had exchanged glances, stepped forward without anyone going first.
The two, as befitting of swordsmen with outstanding talent, each bloomed several plum blossoms and pressured Kang Cheon.
At the offensive of the two swordsmen, who had an ever-changing illusionary sword, Kang Cheon smiled pleasantly.
"This is the reason why a prestigious sect is called a prestigious sect."
The martial arts of a prestigious sect, which had been created by the blood and sweat of countless martial artists for an immeasurably long time, had a significant meaning in itself.
But what was more important was its practicality.
Although the martial arts of a prestigious sect took different forms and appearances as their roots were different, the strength they held was the same.
This was also the case for the Huashan Sect.
Their sword technique, which was said to have been created by watching the plum blossom petals of a plum blossom tree in full bloom, was beautiful and deadly.
Dozens, hundreds of plum blossom petals created by a single sword.
And the sharpness contained within them.
Kang Cheon smiled brightly.
"The sword of Huashan is difficult to deal with and the form of the sword technique is flexible, so it is a sword of offense and defense that can deal with any situation. But it is not without its weaknesses."
There is no perfect martial art in this world.
This was also the case for the Plum Blossom Sword of the Huashan Sect.
"Just as a branch is needed to bloom a flower, the sword of Huashan is the same. If you cut the branch..."
Kang Cheon drew his flying sword for the first time and sent it flying to both sides.
"Heup!"
"Ack!"
The two flying swords, which contained the power of the wind, strongly hit the swords of Hyeok'ugun and Oh Seolhwa, respectively.
At that, the plum blossom petals that had surrounded Kang Cheon scattered in vain.
"The plum blossoms also fall."
'He cut the pulse again!'
Hyeok'ugun's mouth went dry.
As Kang Cheon had said, the Plum Blossom Sword of Huashan had a flexibility of offense and defense, so it was a sword technique that could deal with any opponent.
But the pulse was cut.
The branch that had to bloom the plum blossoms was cut.
'It's the same as when I lost to Young Lady Cheon.'
Kang Cheon appeared in front of the bewildered Hyeok'ugun.
"The sword of Huashan is not made only with sword techniques."
"What?"
"Empty your head and think for a moment. About the martial arts of Huashan that you have learned."
Thwack!
Hyeok'ugun, who had been hit on the head with the side of the sword blade, collapsed.
Following that, the startled Oh Seolhwa was also hit on the head and collapsed.
"Hoo! Hoo!"
While his fellow officials were collapsing one after another, Zhuge Ming was moving his head busily.
'No matter how much I think about it, I can't think of a way!'
There was no method to deal with a master of the peak in the art of war books he had read.
In the first place, his family, the Zhuge Family, had taught that at least five martial artists of the peak level were needed to deal with a martial artist of the peak.
If that wasn't possible, then at least a hundred first-rate martial artists were needed.
'There aren't even a hundred first-rate martial artists, let alone the peak!'
Zhuge Ming, who was biting his lip, quietly sat down and collapsed.
'Let's just be quiet for now.'
While Zhuge Ming was pretending to have fainted, Kang Cheon turned his body to find the remaining officials.
'Now, are those brats the only ones left?'
Kang Cheon, who was sweeping his gaze over the faces of the remaining officials, felt a strong interest.
'The children of the Cheon family are more outstanding than I thought.'
Cheon Gaseong and Cheon Yerang.
As befitting of the children of the White Moon Divine Lord, Cheon Yushin, the aura that the two swordsmen were emitting was unusual.
Soon, next to the two, Moyong Susu and Jong Ryeo'ak came and raised their swords together.
The number of remaining officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple was four.
"Now, then, let's play properly."
At Kang Cheon's gesture, the ten flying swords floated up into the sky.
"Huh?"
Jin Sohyun's face hardened.
The power of the Heavenly Hands that Kang Cheon was showing now was a technique that Jin Sohyun had not seen in the days when he had received his teachings under him.
Was that why?
Sweat flowed down Jin Sohyun's face.
A master showing a new martial art?
The disciple has an obligation to learn it.
And Jin Sohyun?
"Ah... I don't want to learn..."
The ten swords paired up in threes and then fell like meteors.
At this, the surprised four officials ran around in all directions.
Even in that situation, Jin Sohyun let out a deep sigh with a blank face.
"Sigh, I don't want to do it."
(End of Chapter)