Chapter 181

“Huh? A sword?”

“Yeah. A sword. Like I said before, you never know when you might have to grab one lying on the ground and start swinging. I’d rather you learn while you have the chance.”

“Hmm. I already failed pretty spectacularly at that once.”

“Things are different now. You’ve gotten much better, little sister. If you pick up a sword again, you’ll probably notice things you couldn’t before. And once you get used to handling one, it’ll be easier to understand how to fight swordsmen.”

He had a point on several counts, but I still wasn’t thrilled by the idea of holding a sword.

The memory of that time I’d unconsciously hurled one like a throwing knife was still painfully vivid.

Besides, Wudang was already feeding me and giving me a place to stay. Asking them to teach me swordsmanship on top of that seemed a bit...

“Still, I can’t ask Daoist Jinseong. I’m from another sect. That would be rude. I’ll learn °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° from you later.”

When I shook my head, Yeon Ryang answered as though it were no big deal.

“Don’t make it into something grand. Just ask him to correct your posture. You’re not asking him to teach you one of Wudang’s secret techniques, so I doubt he’ll refuse.”

“You think...?”

Wouldn’t that still be presumptuous?

As I rubbed my chin, thinking it over, Yeon Ryang added,

“It’ll be fine. That young Daoist can dodge a flying sword easily enough.”

Good grief. This man.

“Brother. I feel like you’re having some very bad thoughts.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. That bastard won’t die from something like that.”

What part of that is fine?

This man actually wants me to stab Jinseong.

I let out a disbelieving laugh and shot Yeon Ryang a sideways glare. He winked at me with shameless good humor.

“I’m joking. Joking. Anyway, I’m hopeless at teaching people, so I gave up quickly, but that young Daoist has grand-disciples trailing after him by the dozen. He’s taught plenty of people. He must know how to do it. There’s nothing to lose by asking. He’s patient, too, so he probably won’t give up on you easily.”

“Okay. I’ll ask.”

I nodded slowly.

Like Yeon Ryang said, if I could learn to use a sword, it would definitely be useful.

...But how was I supposed to bring it up?

I remembered Jinseong’s face as he stared at me, speechless with surprise, and clicked my tongue awkwardly.

Maybe I really had said something unnecessary back there.

*****

We chatted quietly, and before I knew it, an hour had flown by.

Only when the Taiji Sword Immortal approached with a deliberate cough did I realize how much time had passed. I jolted upright.

“Did you two have enough time to catch up?”

“Yes. Thank you for taking such good care of everything, Elder.”

I bowed politely, and the Taiji Sword Immortal gave me a kindly smile.

“Nothing has been troubling you during your stay, has it? Don’t endure anything alone. Tell Jinseong immediately if there is. This old Daoist will keep an eye on things as well.”

“No, nothing at all. Thanks to your consideration, I’ve been very comfortable here.”

He smiled, then turned toward Yeon Ryang and snorted.

“Hah. Look at that bastard, grinning away. You were drooping around like a sick chicken, and now that you’ve seen your sister, you suddenly feel alive again?”

“Old man, you really do have a vicious tongue. When exactly was I ever ‘drooping around’?”

“The vicious thing here is your mouth. A Demonic Sect bastard talking back to me at every turn.”

The Taiji Sword Immortal smacked Yeon Ryang across the back of the head, then looked between the two of us.

“To think a young lady pretty as a flower came from the same womb as you. There are miracles in this world after all.”

“Your eyes are the problem, old man. Do you have any idea how much Sohae looks like me?”

I blinked, bewildered, as the two bickered without the slightest restraint.

To anyone who didn’t know them, Yeon Ryang and the Taiji Sword Immortal looked close enough to be mistaken for master and disciple.

Catching the strange look in my eyes, the Taiji Sword Immortal burst into hearty laughter.

“You should head back now, young lady. If you stay any longer, people may start getting the wrong idea.”

“Yes, Elder. Thank you again for everything.”

I said my goodbyes, but I couldn’t quite make myself leave Yeon Ryang.

When I kept staring at him, the Taiji Sword Immortal laughed and waved a hand.

“No need to look so miserable. I’ll summon you again soon.”

“That’s right, Sohae. It’s late. You should go. I’m fine, so don’t worry about me. Take it easy, all right?”

“Yeah. I’m going, Brother. I’ll take my leave, Elder.”

“Watch your step in the dark.”

I forced a smile, mumbled my farewell, and made myself turn away.

It hurt to see Yeon Ryang trying so hard to reassure me until the very end.

How could a swordsman possibly be fine after having his sword taken away and being forbidden even to circulate his inner force?

This was a man who used to swing a tree branch the moment he opened his eyes even when his back had been torn to shreds. Now he was trapped in a cave, unable to do anything.

He had to be going out of his mind.

I bit my lip as I went over his condition again.

I didn’t know what method the Taiji Sword Immortal was using, but if his recovery remained this slow, we might end up staying on Mount Wudang for the rest of the year.

Staying too long would be dangerous...

No.

Maybe this was actually for the best.

At least here, we could stay out of the Demonic Sect’s sight.

I remembered the Demonic Sect follower we had encountered at the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild and clenched my fist.

If we wanted to escape people sensitive enough to recognize each other’s energy even through a human-skin mask, then hiding somewhere no member of the Demonic Sect could approach was exactly what we needed.

In that sense, Mount Wudang was the perfect impregnable fortress for us.

No member of the Demonic Sect with any sense would even come near Jun County.

The taste of blood slowly spread across my tongue as I stepped outside and saw Jinseong standing quietly where I had left him.

He looked as though he had not moved an inch. Not even the edge of his robe was out of place.

“Thank you for waiting, Daoist Jinseong.”

“It was no trouble. We should hurry back, however. We need to return before the predawn hours if we don’t want to be noticed. This way, please.”

Jinseong answered gently and began guiding me back at a slightly quicker pace than before.

I followed through the darkness, staring at his back, then spoke in a low voice.

“Um, Daoist Jinseong.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I wanted to ask you. I’m worried I might phrase it badly and be rude, but... could I ask you something about swords?”

“Of course. I’m listening.”

His voice remained calm, without the slightest hint of displeasure.

Watching his reaction carefully, I continued.

“It’s embarrassing to admit, but I can’t use a sword at all. Whenever I try to swing one, I end up throwing it like a concealed weapon. If you don’t mind, could you give me some advice on how I’m supposed to use one?”

Jinseong paused and turned to look at me, then readily nodded.

“There is nothing embarrassing about that. A sword has almost the opposite characteristics of a concealed weapon. It is only natural for your body to find it unfamiliar. You have spent years training yourself to release what you are holding at precisely the right instant.”

...I couldn’t decide whether that was comforting or not.

Jinseong turned forward again and pushed through the undergrowth.

“If you consistently practice keeping the sword in your hand, you will improve.”

“Ahaha... So repetition really is the answer.”

“Yes. You must think of the sword as part of your body. Treat the blade as though it were an extension of your own arm.”

His advice sounded a lot like telling me that all I had to do was faithfully study the textbook and review every lesson.

It reminded me of something Yang Gyojin had once said.

‘How did you learn the sword, anyway? Your master must be quite something too.’

‘Huh? I don’t have a master. I just kept doing it until it worked.’

Geniuses...

I gave a hollow little laugh.

Jinseong seemed to think for a moment before adding more seriously,

“When using a sword, you should also remember that your sense of distance must be different from when you use concealed weapons. You may be throwing the sword because you instinctively aim for opponents at the same range you normally would.”

“Oh. That actually makes sense. Thank you for the advice, Daoist Jinseong. I’ll remember that.”

“And rather than trying to produce explosive power in a single instant...”

Jinseong continued explaining the differences between swords and concealed weapons all the way back.

He used my own habits with concealed weapons as examples, and to my surprise, his understanding of them was quite deep.

While I had been growing accustomed to the course of his sword techniques, it seemed he had been learning the patterns of my attacks as well.

“Daoist Jinseong, you know a lot about concealed weapons.”

When I asked in genuine surprise, he answered calmly.

“I studied them.”

“What?”

“You were learning to read my sword path very quickly.”

So he studied them because he didn’t want to lose?

Well, now I didn’t want to lose either.

A strange competitive spark flared inside me, and I found myself glaring at the back of Jinseong’s head.

Then he turned around.

I instantly relaxed my eyes and pretended I had been looking elsewhere.

Completely ignoring my ridiculous behavior, Jinseong quietly said,

“Once the sun rises, I’ll prepare a wooden sword for you.”

“A wooden sword?”

“Yes. Actually swinging one will be more useful than words alone. I’ll watch from beside you and correct what I can. After a few days, you should become accustomed to it.”

I had only been trying to ease into the subject. I hadn’t expected Jinseong himself to volunteer to teach me.

For a moment, I could only stare.

“Uh... Really? You must be busy, Daoist Jinseong. You don’t have to go that far. I’m already grateful for the advice. I can try practicing on my own.”

“It’s fine. It will help with my own training as well.”

I seriously doubted that.

Was this really okay?

Wasn’t I just getting in the way of his training?

But Jinseong’s expression was far too serious for me to refuse.

After an awkward moment of shifting my gaze around, I obediently nodded.