Chapter 244 – The Heavenly Emperor’s Sword Technique

Thanks to Hong Yeon-hwa, the workload had decreased, but the cleaning wasn’t entirely finished. They still needed to do a thorough job at least once.

However, there was something they needed to do before that.

Coughing twice towards the three people who were sending strange looks as if they were seeing something incredibly bizarre, Jin Ga-ga said, “Ahem. I’ll go to my master’s grave for a moment before sunset. I’ll help with the cleaning when I come back.”

“Aww, don’t be so shy, Jin Ga-ga. What about today…?” Pung So-so’s pupils sparkled with interest as she spoke, and her lips slightly curled up, twitching.

Seeing her playful demeanor, Jin Ga-ga decided to run away before she could tease him any further.

“Okay then! If you need any help with the housework, just ask Yeon-hwa!”

As he was running away, he heard a small sound of her sticking out her tongue behind him.

Pung So-so… what a scary kid.

***

Jin Ga-ga arrived at his master’s grave after a long time, and strangely, there were almost no weeds growing.

Last time he came with Samamaeng, there were quite a few, so he had cleaned them up lightly.

Is this also because of the influence of the formation that Samamaeng installed around here?

Considering that the grass was lush everywhere else but the tomb area, it was highly likely.

But even if his master had given him permission, he couldn’t help but feel like he was doing something terribly wrong.

It was like the Confucian dragon inside him was roaring in all directions.

“Still, I have to do it.”

Ah, first things first, he should pay his respects.

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After managing to obtain the Heavenly Emperor’s Sword Technique, which he had buried with his master, Jin Ga-ga restored the tomb to its original state and came down from the mountain.

After helping the four people who were cleaning earlier, they finished their work together.

When they went down to the village to buy some bedding that could accommodate the increased number of people, it was already dark outside.

“It’s about the same level as before with this.”

“Yeah. But maybe it feels a bit different because there are more people.”

“Mm… still, isn’t this better?”

Hong Yeon-hwa spoke while nibbling on a dumpling.

The bedding was spread out widely enough to cover most of the room.

He hadn’t realized it until now, but with five people inside, the room looked small.

Although it was a bit cramped, being huddled together like this gave him a sense of stability.

As he watched them sit in a circle on the blanket, each holding a dumpling for dinner, a warm feeling spread in his chest.

“Yeah. Maybe this is better.”

Lost in thought, Jin Ga-ga was wandering around by himself when he suddenly remembered the secret book he had kept in his pocket.

“Oh, right. This.”

It looked like an ordinary book, except for the fact that it had no title. But its value was far from ordinary.

In fact, the atmosphere had suddenly changed, and even a sense of tension had started to flow, despite the fact that they had just been casually chatting and eating dumplings.

Of course, it was a natural reaction. This book was his master’s declaration of the Heavenly Emperor’s Sword Technique, the famous Tian Dun Sword Technique.

Didn’t his master tell him to bury it with him because it could be dangerous to keep it?

Now that he had become stronger and had Hong Yeon-hwa with him, he had said it was okay to dig it up again.

“Um…should we eat first and then read it?”

“That’s a good idea, Jin Ga-ga. If you open it now, we might all die,” Pung So-so said seriously.

“Yes, I agree,” added Samamaeng.

Although Samayeryeong didn’t say anything, she nodded her head vigorously, indicating that she felt the same way.

Only Hong Yeon-hwa, who had completed her martial arts training, was calmly eating her dumplings.

Oh, but wait, is that already her fifth one?

All those dumplings were already starting to show on the bottom of the plate.

Did she feel my gaze? Hong Yeon-hwa looked up at me and asked, “Munch…hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Thump.

Her king-sized dumpling wobbled slightly as she turned her head, even though she had only moved her neck a little.

Is that so? Did it all go to my heart?

Without realizing it, I smiled contentedly and patted Hong Yeon-hwa’s head.

“It’s nothing. Just eat more. Yeah.”

“It’s bland.”

She chuckled and resumed eating, while I put the Heavenly Emperor’s Sword Technique back in my pocket.

I should eat something too. At this rate, Hong Yeon-hwa will eat everything.

***

“Now that we’ve finished eating, let’s read it.”

“Um…Samamaeng, why don’t you…?”

“Uh, why me? Oh, don’t worry. I’ll read it for you.”

“Thank you.”

Samamaeng wiped his chest and smiled faintly.

Maybe it was because he had found out that I had even recovered my congenital energy, but he seemed to be showing more interest in martial arts lately.

It’s a good thing to regain the sense of improvement that a martial artist has lost.

I don’t know what’s written in this book, but I hope it will be helpful to Samamaeng.

I opened the book and read the first sentence out loud.

“Manlijujoyojeonggwangyo. Banryuilpyeonggongjunggyo.”

Seokjichageomcheomsama sikchi jeonjam.

Geumjeunggungadanbeonnoeimajaduanjajok.

“…What the hell is this?”

“The first chapter of the secret book usually summarizes everything about the martial arts in a concise manner, so it throws the most difficult topic. Wait a moment, and I’ll interpret it for you,” Hong Yeon-hwa said calmly as she read the secret book again.

“Cut off the things that surround the ten thousand things with the sword of lightning. Walk through the air like a white dragon. You have already cut a horse with this sword a long time ago. Now it’s time to cut off your growing anxiety.”

Hong Yeon-hwa stopped there and shook her head as if she found it interesting.

“Indeed. This was such a martial art. Although I am the opposite of it, we are quite similar in the fundamental part.”

“Hong Unni! Please explain it to us instead of keeping it to yourself!”

“I was going to explain it now, so calm down.”

After clearing her throat, she spoke in a serious tone.

“Ahem. First of all, the first two lines talk about the characteristics of martial arts.”

“If it’s a characteristic… does it mean you use brain power since it said lightning?”

“This is not a mind technique but a sword technique, so it may mean a sword technique that is as fast and powerful as lightning, not really dealing with lightning. Of course, it would be better if you could handle real lightning.”

Hong Yeon-hwa glanced at Samamaeng and continued her explanation.

“Anyway, let’s get back to the point. Cut off the things that surround the ten thousand things with the sword of lightning. This means to wield a sharp weapon like lightning against the opponent’s energy and gain the upper hand.”

“Uh… when I fought Kang Shi before, the Bulgamugong of the Soryimsa, the Bokmagesword technique of the Gongdongpa, and various alcohol techniques of the Mosanpa were particularly effective against Kang Shi, right?”

“Correct. Actually, didn’t your master cross many worlds and fight with Yoma for a long time?”

“That’s right. Oh, is that why you and I don’t get along? Cheonmasingong deals with magic.”

“No, it’s not like that. Even though it can be ruthless and wicked, it is ultimately human. I’ll tell you why we are opposites later.”

Hong Yeon-hwa pointed to the second line.

“Next, walk through the air like a white dragon. Since the previous sentence was about swordsmanship, you might have guessed roughly, but this is about divine techniques.”

“Like the Unryudaepalsik, where you change direction in mid-air?”

I pretended to know because I had a rough idea from the explanation of the first sentence.

“If you interpret the secret book like that, you’ll be in trouble, Jin Ga-ga.”

“Jin So-so was right. I was too hasty just now.”

I received criticism from Pung So-so and Samayeryeong.

Why…?

Hong Yeon-hwa looked at me as if she was feeling unjust, and let out a deep sigh.

“Although it’s just a small step this time, you must have felt something beyond knowledge by stepping into the realm of Hwagyeong. That’s how important Sim Sang is in martial arts.”

“Well…”

“You. Do you know about Unryudaepalsik? Do you understand the Sim Sang that comes down through the mouth and the technique?”

No.

“I’m not sure about the name yet, but do you have confidence that this divine technique, which is paired with Cheondunggeombeop, contains the teachings of the Kongnyun?”

No, not really.

“However, the moment you think it’s similar to Unryudaepalsik, this divine technique will lose its original meaning and become a substandard version of Unryudaepalsik. At least until you gain a great enlightenment.”

“Ah.”

Finally, I understood what Hong Yeon-hwa was trying to say.

Since I was learning martial arts through a secret book and not from a master, I could be on the wrong path forever if I was trapped in a fixed mindset.

When I looked a little gloomy, Hong Yeon-hwa began to pat my shoulder urgently.

“Still, there must be some common ground between martial arts of the same school!”

“Really?”

“Really! Above all, isn’t there a big common ground between swordsmanship that surrounds lightning and divine techniques that walk through the air? Both are things that happen in the sky. That’s what your master meant when he said to put Sim Sang in the sky on purpose.”

Come to think of it, she was right.

“Just as lightning doesn’t strike in a clear sky, it’s only natural for you to think of Unryudaepalsik by recalling the clouds. It was a kind of trap, though.”

“Oops, oops…”

Hong Yeon-hwa couldn’t speak properly. She looked at me with pink eyes rolling around and raised the corners of her mouth.

“I was joking. Your master always told you to read Cheondunggeombeop with Yeon-hwa, didn’t he? He must have known that I would make a mistake. It’s okay, so explain the next part.”

“Um, okay, I got it.”

Hong Yeon-hwa, who realized that I really wasn’t depressed, pointed her finger with a relieved expression.

She pointed to the last two lines.

“You cut a horse with this sword a long time ago, so now it’s time to cut off your growing anxiety. In my opinion, the meaning of this phrase is…”