Chapter 28: Should I Kill This (2)
Chapter 27 – Should I Kill This (2)
Although the Ghost King Eatery was only a small restaurant, it was located right beneath the hill, so it had a fairly spacious backyard.
In that backyard, there was a large rock that the ghost servers had sweated heavily to move, and right on top of it, Namgung Cheon was sitting cross-legged, practicing his energy circulation.
Whooooosh!
As a whirlwind blew around the upright-seated Namgung Cheon, the fallen leaves in the vicinity lightly lifted themselves.
Whoooosh.
The sight of the faded maple leaves and fallen leaves rotating around Namgung Cheon looked almost wondrous at a glance.
At some point, the fallen leaves did not seem to be blowing in the wind, but rather floating and flowing leisurely in midair.
The azure energy emanating from Namgung Cheon’s entire body made the scene even more mysterious.
Regardless of all that, Namgung Cheon was now solely focused on circulating his qi.
Boundless Sky Great Expansion Divine Art.
It was the foundational divine art of the Namgung Clan and their most important cultivation method.
It was no exaggeration to say that all martial arts of the Namgung Clan originated from the Boundless Sky Great Expansion Divine Art.
After finishing the minor and major heavenly cycles of the energy that arose from his dantian, Namgung Cheon gradually began to change his cultivation method.
It was the Heavenly Lightning Sovereign Divine Art, which was said to be passed down only to the Young Patriarch of the Namgung Clan.
The weight of the energy was definitely different compared to the Boundless Sky Great Expansion Divine Art.
If the Boundless Sky Great Expansion Divine Art moved lightly and briskly, the Heavenly Lightning Sovereign Divine Art felt heavy and strong, making it difficult to control.
This was likely because the sword arts of the Namgung Clan generally placed equal weight on both fast and heavy swords.
The reason why Namgung Cheon, who was not even the Young Patriarch, knew this Heavenly Lightning Sovereign Divine Art was thanks to Namgung Seon.
Despite being a woman, she, who was revered as the number one dragon of the land, had early on inherited the qualification of the Young Patriarch.
Well, until she met me, that is.
In any case, thanks to that, Namgung Seon had learned not only the Heavenly Lightning Sovereign Divine Art but all the family’s ultimate techniques.
‘And she showed all of them to me.’
While circulating his energy, Namgung Cheon briefly lost himself in old memories.
Those days when just thinking about them brought a smile to his face for no reason.
The days when they laughed the most, even while running for their lives day after day.
Namgung Cheon’s consciousness flew back to one of those days, and he became Jin Cheon-rang.
Before his eyes, a sword blade filled with azure energy fiercely cut through the air.
Shhht! Shik-shik-shik! Shweeeek.
His skin stung even though he was merely watching from the side.
Perhaps it was because the sword art she was performing now contained the energy of ‘Heavenly Lightning.’
Namgung Seon, who was ceaselessly showing off brilliant sword forms, finally withdrew her sword and took a deep breath.
She, whose very hair settling in the wind felt beautiful.
Namgung Seon suddenly turned around and smiled brightly.
“How is it?”
“Amazing.”
“Is that all?”
“Originally, when something is too amazing, words fail you.”
“That expression just now wasn’t bad.”
Namgung Seon laughed brightly.
Saying a flower bloomed on a person’s face was probably referring to a sight like that.
Jin Cheon-rang continued, suppressing his racing heart.
“Why are you showing me this?”
“Because I wanted you to see it.”
“Why?”
“To see what kind of problems our family’s sword art has.”
“Mmm.”
“How is it? Do you know?”
Jin Cheon-rang nodded.
“I think I know.”
“Really? As expected of the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes!”
“But I’m not confident I can fix it right away, though.”
“Why? Wasn’t the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes capable of destroying all martial arts?”
“Just because a blacksmith knows where a treasured sword is broken doesn’t mean they can fix it, right?”
“Ah…”
“Originally, it is easy to point out mistakes, but it is difficult for me to fix them and make something. That’s why the more you know, the less you point things out carelessly.”
“The riper the rice, the lower it bows its head?”
“A similar concept.”
Namgung Seon suddenly burst into laughter, causing Jin Cheon-rang to tilt his head.
“What’s so funny?”
“Just because. Speaking about things like this somehow doesn’t suit you.”
“What is like me then?”
“Well… what is like you? Ah! The way you rushed at me spitting curses and saying you would kill me was definitely like you.”
“Forget it. I don’t want to die twice.”
“Yap!”
Suddenly, Namgung Seon clung tightly to Jin Cheon-rang’s shoulders.
She spoke as if whispering in Jin Cheon-rang’s ear.
“But you’ll promise me, right? To try and fix… the flawed parts.”
Those words sounded very peculiar.
The flawed parts.
Because it felt like she could be talking about this world, his own fate, or the martial arts of the Namgung Clan.
Jin Cheon-rang thought as he held Namgung Seon’s fair and gentle hand.
That it was foul play for such an outstanding martial arts expert to have hands this beautiful.
With a faint smile on his lips, Jin Cheon-rang opened his mouth.
“I promise. To try and fix it.”
But in the end, Jin Cheon-rang was unable to fix anything until she left.
Not the world, not his own fate, nor her martial arts.
A single tear rolled down the cheek of Namgung Cheon, who was sitting cross-legged.
Breaking free from his longing, Namgung Cheon focused his mind again on the internal energy flowing along his meridians.
The internal energy, having completed one cycle, now rushed forward with even more power.
It felt as if all the senses of his entire body were awakening.
This was the sensation of the Heavenly Lightning’s energy awakening.
When one achieved great completion of the Heavenly Lightning Sovereign Divine Art, they would form Heavenly Lightning Qi, which could be used to manipulate astral qi.
Of course, since his current internal energy was lacking, it was a difficult stage to realize.
How much time had passed?
The internal energy, which had finished three cycles, entered the fourth cycle.
As he began to harbor even a small amount of the Heavenly Lightning’s energy, all his senses became as sharp as a blade, and Namgung Cheon’s hair strands rose lightly one by one, swaying in the air.
As Namgung Cheon opened his eyes wide after finishing the final major heavenly cycle, the Ghost King and the ghost servers standing in the six directions shouted sharply.
“Preparation complete!”
“Come!”
Pabababat!
The moment Namgung Cheon soared into the air, the Ghost King and the ghost servers threw something all at once.
Shh-shh-shh-
Parararara!
Namgung Cheon spun his body like a whirlwind and rapidly thrust his sword.
Sword qi exploded in all directions, delicately slicing through the things rushing toward him.
Shik! Shi-shi-shi-shik.
Namgung Cheon was truly like a gust of wind blowing in the sky, like a cloud floating leisurely, and like a flashing bolt of lightning.
“Wow…”
“That’s killer…”
The Ghost King and the ghost servers stared blankly at Namgung Cheon.
Finally, the things that had rushed toward Namgung Cheon were sliced by the delicate sword qi and rained down in all directions.
Chwaaa! Click.
Namgung Cheon, having sliced the last of it, sheathed his Emerald Silk Sword and corrected his posture.
Thud.
What was sliced by the final sword form was a raw chicken.
The finely sliced raw chicken fell into a pot, signaling the end of the brilliant sword dance.
The dazed Ghost King and ghost servers clapped in unison.
Clap clap clap clap…
The Ghost King ran over in a hurry and looked at the ingredients contained in the surrounding plates and pots.
“My lord, it is perfect! The sword qi has even coated all the ingredients, ensuring their freshness is absolutely maintained! This will make the taste exquisite!”
“You are truly amazing! The cucumbers, onions, and green onions are cut so evenly!”
The ghost servers also came forward holding plates and pots, showering him with endless praise.
What they had thrown at Namgung Cheon all at once were indeed the ingredients to be used for the chicken dish.
Namgung Cheon scanned the ingredients with a serious expression and sighed lightly.
“Stop making a fuss and take them. I still have a long way to go.”
“Making a fuss? You are truly amazing…!”
“Enough. You’re spitting on the ingredients I painstakingly prepared. Just take them.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Ghost King and the ghost servers answered in unison and withdrew with the ingredients.
Namgung Cheon quietly watched their retreating figures and fell into thought.
‘The thickness of the ginger was slightly different.’
Meaning, his swordplay was not perfect.
He had mixed the Boundless Sky Great Expansion Sword Art and the Boundless Sky Limitless Sword Art, but it was not perfect.
No, to be precise, it was identical to the one performed by Namgung Seon.
Since he had already performed it dozens of times, he had even grasped its profound truth.
However, there were somewhat regrettable parts in the sword art itself.
Although both sword arts possessed strong power, they lacked precision.
To fix this, he ultimately had to solve the shortcomings of the Heavenly Lightning Sovereign Divine Art, but…
That was no easy task.
In cases like this, it was one of two things.
Either the sword art had been biased toward one side from the beginning and possessed flaws, or it had gradually degenerated over the course of long ages.
Usually, it was the latter.
Of course, if anyone had known about Namgung Cheon’s current worries, they would have stood with their mouths wide open, unable to speak.
To complain about it being lacking even after freely using the two representative sword arts of the Namgung Clan?
Could there be any other luxury like this in the world?
‘Well, shall I stop here for today?’
Having practiced the Namgung Clan’s internal art and sword art after such a long time, his body felt significantly lighter.
Of course, he had no intention of ending his training today.
He planned to continue training in the future, supplementing the deficiencies and developing them further.
Since fixing and developing something was outside the influence of the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes, effort was required.
A person who does not stop putting in effort beyond the talent they possess, that is who I am.
He was about to return to his quarters after completing a rewarding day’s work when someone suddenly appeared in the backyard.
“Namgung Cheon!”
The person who let out a booming voice was none other than Paeng Su-hyeok.
He glared intently, then twisted the corners of his mouth and spoke.
“I request a duel.”
“Can we do it tomorrow?”
“Are you running away?”
“Not really. I’m sick and tired of running away.”
“Then follow me out.”
Sigh, why are there so many people telling me to follow them out?
Can’t we just do it here?
Ah, is he being considerate because this is a restaurant’s backyard?
Without even listening to Namgung Cheon’s words any further, Paeng Su-hyeok strode away and turned the corner.
What a funny guy.
Does he really think I’ll follow him out just because he left like that?
Of course I’m not going.
I plan to go to my quarters and just sleep.
First of all, I am not the type of person who does what others tell me to do.
Since I have a strong rebellious streak by nature, if I hear something that sounds like an order, I unconditionally act in the exact opposite way.
I fought a lot with Namgung Seon over this, too.
In any case, I have no intention of following him out.
Who does he think he is, ordering me around?
Namgung Cheon was moving toward the opposite corner when the back door of the eatery opened, and the Ghost King came out groaning while carrying a large iron pot.
“Huh? My lord, where are you going?”
“Why? What is it?”
As Namgung Cheon looked back with a lackluster expression, the Ghost King put down the pot and tilted his head.
“You should finish, shouldn’t you?”
“Finish what?”
“This… aren’t you going to do it?”
Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes and looked at the pot, which was filled with all sorts of ingredients.
With a bloodlust-filled smile, Namgung Cheon asked.
“Are you ordering me to work right now?”
“Ah, n-no. It’s not that… since you’re training anyway, if you could help us like earlier, the quality would go up and business would go well… Hahaha…!”
“It seems that pot is lacking a bit of meat. Since an old pig happens to be right in front of me, shall we pack in some ingredients?”
Sshiiing.
When Namgung Cheon drew the Emerald Silk Sword with a bleak face, the Ghost King’s face turned pale.
“Hahahat! I-I will trim them! While practicing martial arts, too! Please go safely!”
The Ghost King picked up the pot and hurriedly ran inside the eatery.
He collided with the ghost servers who were about to carry out pots, causing a huge racket as they fell with a crash.
Namgung Cheon sighed.
Ah… should I really kill them?
No, let’s not. I’ll end up becoming a real Great Killing Star at this rate.
* * *
‘Why isn’t this bastard coming out!’
Unable to wait any longer, Paeng Su-hyeok strode over and turned the corner of the eatery.
“What the hell are you doing that you’re not showing…!”
Paeng Su-hyeok stopped shouting and blinked his eyes in silence.
In the backyard, the Ghost King and the ghost servers had drawn knives in both hands and were exuding a threatening aura.
The Ghost King, holding knives in both hands, let out a chilling voice.
“Hmm? Are you here to help us trim the meat?”
“N-No!”
Having quickly finished his answer, Paeng Su-hyeok swiftly turned the corner and left.