Chapter 278: Chapter 278

“It’s special training, special training!”

“No, are you really doing this?”

“Then would I do it as a lie? We have to show those people a lesson!”

Puffing, Zhuge Yeon held her sword and glared at the two men. She had known all along that they lacked motivation, but it was frustrating to see it not being felt to this extent.

At her sharp gaze, Gwon Mu-jin let out a small sigh.

“Aiming for victory, you say… It is a good idea, but in the first place, there is no one who can defeat us.”

“There you go being complacent again.”

Gwon Mu-jin seemed to believe that the moment they entered, they would already win.

It was the same for Ma Jang-gang, because the reputation of being a top hundred master was by no means a false rumor.

However, Zhuge Yeon’s thoughts seemed different.

“You must not ignore the people of the imperial court. Not to mention the Eastern Depot, among people like the Embroidered Uniform Guard, there are many talents who could easily enter the top hundred masters if they came out to the Martial World.”

At that moment, Gwon Mu-jin’s eyes flashed.

It was a bit different from the imperial court they had known.

They had only thought of the martial artists belonging to the imperial court as fools who became dogs of power because they couldn’t make a name for themselves in the Martial World.

“Of course there is no shortage of such trash, but to rise to a high position, one needs corresponding skills. You shouldn’t think that everyone in the imperial court is an idiot… And.”

Zhuge Yeon narrowed her eyes and glanced away.

Although no one was visible, it was the very place where Dan Woo-hyun had been sitting.

Would that gold-devil, who couldn’t resist money, give up so easily?

No.

He would try to get his hands on the prize money by any means necessary.

‘I will definitely win!’

Zhuge Yeon burned with fighting spirit for the first time in a while.

She wanted to humble that lofty and arrogant Dan Woo-hyun.

‘How dare he mess with whom?!’

Biting her thumb nail tightly, Zhuge Yeon made up her mind.

This time, she would absolutely not be toyed with in Dan Woo-hyun’s hands.

In order to do it more perfectly, she definitely needed someone to help.

The one she brought for that reason was none other than.

“Hahaha, are you all doing well?”

It was Namgung Cheon.

Zhuge Yeon welcomed Namgung Cheon with a strange smile.

“Really… did the Sword Emperor…? For us…?”

Gwon Mu-jin’s eyes sparkled.

Until now, Namgung Cheon had never given advice to anyone except Namgung So-hye.

But for Namgung Cheon to be here for them?

Considering his reputation, there could be no greater fortuitous encounter.

“It’s not grand teaching… Haha, I’m just here to give a little advice, so don’t worry about it.”

Even as he laughed heartily, Namgung Cheon was reading the energy of the two.

‘Indeed, Yeon’s words are correct.’

The one who must take responsibility and lead the Namgung Clan in the future was none other than Namgung So-hye.

It was also a time when stimulation was needed to raise that child’s skills further.

Therefore, he intended to use these three people, and since he and Zhuge Yeon shared the same interest, he had accepted.

Namgung Cheon slowly entered the training ground.

“Come to think of it, Guard Gwon, did you not fight Master Dan a few days ago?”

“…Rather than a fight, I was unilaterally beaten.”

Gwon Mu-jin was able to realize the greatness of Dan Woo-hyun anew that day.

No attack worked, and no move had any meaning in front of him.

He acknowledged from the bottom of his heart that he was the truly number one under heaven, whom even the Sword Emperor or the Demon Emperor would defer to.

Whether he noticed that thought, Namgung Cheon slightly stretched out his hand.

A wooden sword prepared on one side quickly flew in and was caught in his hand.

“Then let’s start with you. Come at me with all your strength.”

* * *

“…….”

“……Excuse me.”

Namgung So-hye stood side by side with Jang Sam-tae, looking at the person in front of them.

On one side was Sa Do-hak, and on the other side, Dan Woo-hyun could be seen sitting silently.

Having not uttered a single word, as if deep in thought, he slowly raised his head and looked at Namgung So-hye.

“Everyone has arrived.”

“We’ve been here for a while…?”

This was not the clan residence, but an empty lot quite far away.

It was a place she used when she first trained in the Blue Sky Illusory Bird Sword, so it had been a very long time since she came here.

She felt a strange anxiety toward Dan Woo-hyun, who had called her and Jang Sam-tae to such a place.

Even Sa Do-hak was by his side, so how could she not be anxious?

She looked at Dan Woo-hyun with a lukewarm expression.

“He is the master who will teach you from today.”

“I am called the Heavenly Demon Lord!”

Sa Do-hak, wearing a black mask, raised his voice loudly.

“Elder Sa… what are you doing?”

“Sigh……”

“You rascals! Did I not say I am the Heavenly Demon Lord?!”

Boom!

Without caring about Namgung So-hye sighing or Jang Sam-tae looking on in dismay, Sa Do-hak bellowed and struck the ground with his sword.

Boom!

A huge crater was dug, and debris scattered.

Namgung So-hye and Jang Sam-tae looked at each other, breaking out in a cold sweat.

This was no joke.

It did not seem like they were called just to be made fun of.

“About this competition.”

“That… the one held in Changsha? The one Lord Hong talked about…?”

“Yes, that one.”

Dan Woo-hyun nodded with a satisfied expression.

“No matter how much I think about it, we have our reputation, and since we decided to participate, shouldn’t we win?”

“…I think we can just leave that to Yeon… no?”

“We have to be more certain than that…”

Seeing Dan Woo-hyun slightly trailing off, Namgung So-hye narrowed her eyes.

In the end, Dan Woo-hyun wanted Jang Sam-tae or Namgung So-hye to win.

“Excuse me… Master, if we win, is that money…?”

“I will share some with you.”

“Alright!”

Jang Sam-tae clenched his fist and cheered.

A fighting spirit to definitely go out and win this competition could even be felt.

However, neither Sa Do-hak nor Dan Woo-hyun had any particular expectations for Jang Sam-tae.

‘That’s why he said he’d share it.’

Since they knew he couldn’t win anyway, they made the promise casually.

“Excuse me… if I win, isn’t the prize money my money?”

Namgung So-hye argued as if it were natural and glared at Dan Woo-hyun.

However, Dan Woo-hyun wore an expression that asked what she was talking about.

“The price for curing your grandfather…”

“Sigh… Alright, alright. Truly like a miser.”

Only then did Namgung So-hye understand why she and Jang Sam-tae were in this place.

Jang Sam-tae’s share was practically entirely Dan Woo-hyun’s anyway, and since Namgung So-hye owed him a debt for curing Namgung Cheon, he was trying to order her around like a slave.

‘Really, that person…’

Namgung So-hye held her head and let out a sigh.

“So what do I need to do?”

“You will learn the Blue Sky Illusory Bird Sword in earnest.”

“Then, was what I learned until now fake?”

“That was… just practice.”

Dan Woo-hyun let out a smirk.

It was as if he was telling her not to look down on the martial arts of the Three Heavens.

Namgung So-hye could not hide her embarrassment, but since she realized that such an opportunity would rarely come, she quickly nodded.

“Then… what do I do?”

At the sudden words, Dan Woo-hyun looked at Jang Sam-tae.

In his steady gaze, there was an expression full of anticipation.

After watching Jang Sam-tae for a moment, Dan Woo-hyun scratched his head.

“You…”

“Yes! Just say the word! This Jang Sam-tae will learn with all his dying strength.”

“…….”

Dan Woo-hyun slightly looked at Sa Do-hak.

Sa Do-hak shrugged with a troubled expression.

In truth, no one had any particular expectations for Jang Sam-tae. They just needed him to not drag Namgung So-hye down, and focus on consuming the stamina of others.

But seeing that gaze full of expectation, they couldn’t bring themselves to turn away.

Just then, Dan Woo-hyun smiled as he looked at something that had quietly approached.

“Of course there is also a master to teach you.”

“Is that true?!”

“Yes, of course.”

Jang Sam-tae looked at Sa Do-hak.

Thinking that he could receive training from him after a long time, he felt worried but also full of expectation that he could become a little stronger.

“Who is it? The master who will teach me! Shouldn’t I greet them first!”

Jang Sam-tae’s passionate gaze looked back and forth between Dan Woo-hyun and Sa Do-hak.

Since there were only two people here, it had to be one of them.

Since Dan Woo-hyun seemed likely to teach Namgung So-hye, it was highly probable that it would be Sa Do-hak.

However, Sa Do-hak stepped back slightly.

And something stepped forward slightly.

“…….”

“…….”

Jang Sam-tae tilted his head in wonder.

Hoping it wasn’t that, he looked at Dan Woo-hyun with an anxious expression.

“Who… is it?”

“…….”

“…It’s a person, right?”

At the counterquestion, Dan Woo-hyun turned his head.

That meant it was not a person.

Furthermore, it was much smaller than Jang Sam-tae.

Meow.

A small cry was heard.

The white cat, which had been rubbing its body against Dan Woo-hyun’s leg, slithered in front of Jang Sam-tae and raised its tail high.

Whether it meant it was amused or to just trust it, Jang Sam-tae felt a pang in his heart at the short cry whose meaning he couldn’t understand.

“Are… are you serious?”

“To teach you, there is nothing better than this fellow.”

Dan Woo-hyun looked up at the sky.

Whether it was awkward or funny, seeing a small smile on his lips, it seemed to be the latter.

“No, what do I learn from a creature like this?!”

“It is enough.”

Meow.

The white cat let out a low meow.

It was as if it was nodding in agreement with Dan Woo-hyun’s words.

From those round, sparkling eyes looking up, a determination to trust only it was conveyed.

Jang Sam-tae looked like he was about to cry, but Dan Woo-hyun had no intention of changing his mind at all.

“Serve it well. Since it will be your master from now on…”

“You might as well tell me to die.”

Jang Sam-tae wore a miserable expression.

He received a huge shock at the fact that he had to learn something from a spiritual beast, not even a human.

After a moment, having sorted out his mind, he ground his teeth, resolving that he would definitely not lose to this fellow.

Jang Sam-tae’s fighting spirit blazed hot.

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