Chapter 171: Chapter 171
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s eyes shook greatly.
No, it was not just his eyes.
His heart was also fluctuating.
“Do you know the left-handed sword art…?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know that?”
“It was in the Dark Fragrance Secret Cave.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s eyes widened.
The Dark Fragrance Secret Cave was a treasure trove of martial arts manuals hidden deep within the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion.
Even he had only heard of it and had never seen it, yet Cheon-hwi was casually mentioning it.
‘I heard that Senior Martial Brother Hyeon-cheong favored Cheon-hwi, but to think he would even let him into the Dark Fragrance Secret Cave…’
A strange light shone in his eyes.
The instances of Hyeon-cheong, the Ten Thousand Scenery Pavilion Lord, opening the Dark Fragrance Secret Cave could be counted on one hand.
It was a moment that showed how much Hyeon-cheong believed in and trusted Cheon-hwi.
Cheon-hwi stared at the Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s eyes, which were fluctuating like waves, and opened his mouth.
“If you are thinking of using a left-handed sword, it is better to learn it properly. The operation of internal energy itself will be different.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord harbored doubts.
“Can’t you just perform the sword art with your left hand?”
“If it were that easy, why would left-handed sword arts be rare? Left-handed swords are fundamentally different from general sword arts.”
Cheon-hwi stared at the Martial Training Pavilion Lord.
“Didn’t you feel it yourself? It might be fine to swing the sword, but every time you try to perform a sword art, something must have felt blocked.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord bit his lip.
It was just as he said.
Swinging the sword with his left hand was uncomfortable, and when he tried to perform a left-handed sword art, which was no different from an unknown territory…
The flow was continuously cut off.
As if it had been forcefully severed.
‘I thought it was because I was not used to performing sword arts with my left hand, but was that not the case?’
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s expression became complicated.
Cheon-hwi, who was watching his change in expression, shrugged his shoulders and said.
“If you really can’t believe it, do you want to see how the left-handed sword art is different?”
Cheon-hwi drew his sword.
And he held it with his left hand.
His appearance was so natural, as if he were used to the left-handed sword.
“Have you learned a left-handed sword art…?”
As the Martial Training Pavilion Lord asked with his eyes wide open, Cheon-hwi let out a smirk.
Of course, he had learned a left-handed sword art.
It was not in this life, but in his previous life.
“A long time ago.”
Along with his words, Cheon-hwi’s sword moved.
“Just watch for now. You won’t be able to learn it right away.”
Internal energy was loaded into Cheon-hwi’s sword.
Beautiful plum blossoms bloomed from the tip of the sword, and a thick scent of plum blossoms spread in all directions.
“This is what was in the Dark Fragrance Secret Cave… The Mount Hua Sect’s only left-handed sword art, the Chaotic Flower Wind Flow Sword (亂).”
The moment those words ended.
Swoosh…
Following the sword, plum blossoms bloomed in the empty air, and they flowed along, mixing with a light wind.
Chaotic flowers and flowing wind.
Just like the name of the martial art, it was a beautiful sight that stole one’s eyes.
However, a heterogeneous feeling could be felt.
The footwork stepped and the starting stance, everything was performed with the left and right reversed, so a strange sense of heterogeneity dominated the eyes.
The swiftness and illusion unfolded by the left hand.
A sword art that far exceeded expectations had appeared in front of him.
‘…Did such a sword art exist?’
It was a flashy and beautiful sword art to the point that it unknowingly stole one’s gaze.
As if it were a sword dance rather than a sword art.
However, that was only the outward appearance.
Gulp…
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord, who was looking directly at the sword art, had his Adam’s apple twitch greatly.
Every single blooming plum blossom contained an intense energy that made his body tremble slightly just by looking at it.
‘If I were to face this…’
The image of blood splattering immediately came to mind.
‘It is a terrifying sword art.’
His skin stung from the sharpness hidden within the flashiness and beauty.
‘The sword art is this outstanding, and on top of that, it is harmonized with the left hand…’
Did about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea pass like that?
Swoosh…
Eventually, Cheon-hwi’s sword stopped.
“Huu… “
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord, who hadn’t even blinked in order not to miss a single moment of the sword art Cheon-hwi was performing, let out a deep breath.
“How is it? It’s fine, right?”
As Cheon-hwi asked while resting the sword on his shoulder.
“…It is amazing.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord could not help but admire.
To be exact, he admired two things.
The first was that the sword art called the Chaotic Flower Wind Flow Sword was surprisingly outstanding.
The second was Cheon-hwi’s skill in easily performing such a left-handed sword art.
Cheon-hwi, who was staring at the seemingly surprised Martial Training Pavilion Lord, asked as if urging him.
“This is a left-handed sword art.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord let out a groan.
“It is definitely different…”
“What will you do?”
“…”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord silently looked at his right hand, which could not move even when he applied strength.
There was nothing to worry about.
Where else would there be a better opportunity for him, who could not use his right hand.
“I will learn it.”
“Good. But it might be a little difficult. That much is fine, right?”
“Isn’t that much obviously something I must endure?”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord spoke calmly.
“Since I am learning martial arts entirely anew from the beginning.”
“Your mindset is good.”
A smile hovered around the corners of Cheon-hwi’s mouth.
As expected, he liked it.
How could it not be good when he was burning with enthusiasm instead of despairing, even though he had lost everything he had built up.
“However, keep one thing in mind. You cannot learn the Chaotic Flower Wind Flow Sword yet.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord nodded his head up and down as if he already knew, and spoke.
“I know. How can I learn a sword art when I cannot even swing a sword properly.”
“In that case, let’s first build up the muscle strength in your left hand and train to get used to the sword.”
“‘Getting the left hand used to the sword’…”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord smiled bitterly.
He knew it would take a long time for that to become natural.
“It might take a considerably long time to properly learn the Chaotic Flower Wind Flow Sword.”
“No.”
In an instant, Cheon-hwi’s lips thinned.
It was a smile overflowing with confidence.
“If you do as I instruct, it won’t take long.”
“Is that true…?”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s expression brightened.
Cheon-hwi, who was looking at his expression, twisted the corners of his mouth and whispered softly.
“Yes. Instead, brace yourself. Because it will be quite hard.”
* * *
“…Hup!”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s expression distorted as he lifted the scabbard, which was tightly bound to a rock.
A rock the size of the Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s torso was tied to the end of the sword tip, adding weight.
‘Was a rock this heavy?’
Veins bulged on the Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s forehead.
In fact, if he just aroused his internal energy, he could lift a rock of this level at any time.
But he could not do so right now.
‘Since Cheon-hwi told me to lift it using only physical strength…’
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord gripped the sword tightly.
And.
Grind!
Grinding his teeth, he applied strength again.
Then, the rock dangling at the end of the sword tip barely wobbled and lifted.
“Keuk!”
At the same time, a groan leaked out.
Sweat was pouring down from his forehead, and his back was already in a damp state.
He wanted to let go of his hand immediately.
However.
“Lift it a little higher.”
From the side, Cheon-hwi did not tolerate it.
“Trembling at just that level, when will you be able to swing a left-handed sword.”
If someone had only heard it, they would have thought it was a teasing remark, but if they saw Cheon-hwi’s appearance, those words would completely disappear.
That was because he was speaking while lightly holding a scabbard with a rock tied to the sword tip with his left hand.
“You just have to lift it this high and swing it. You can’t even do this easy thing.”
Cheon-hwi lifted the sword high.
The large rock the size of a torso easily rose and came up to Cheon-hwi’s chest.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Rough sounds of wind were heard.
Drip…
A streak of sweat flowed down the forehead of the Martial Training Pavilion Lord, who watched Cheon-hwi swinging the scabbard with a rock attached to it as if it were a tree branch.
“…I will try.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord, who spoke with difficulty, took a deep breath, and then.
“Hap!”
He lifted the sword with a rough shout.
His muscles twisted, and the dampness felt on his left palm made it seem as if his skin had torn and blood was seeping out.
But he did not stop.
Swoosh!
The sword and the rock were swung greatly.
“Good. You’ve done one now.”
Cheon-hwi was finally satisfied.
“Let’s do just a thousand of these a day.”
“A th… A thousand you say?”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s voice trembled.
It was hard to swing it just once right now, but telling him to swing it a thousand times.
“Is it too little? Then let’s go with ten thousand…”
“N-No. A thousand would be good.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord hastily replied.
If it were ten thousand a day, he could not guarantee that he could finish it even if he did it all day long.
“Let’s start with a thousand a day for now, and move on to the next when it gets a little better.”
Cheon-hwi turned his body along with his words.
“Then I’ll get going first.”
Cheon-hwi, who had taught the Martial Training Pavilion Lord a light training method, left the Martial Training Pavilion.
‘First build up physical strength and leave dealing with it in detail for a little later…’
While walking and thinking of a training method suitable for the Martial Training Pavilion Lord to do later.
“Cheon-hwi!”
“Senior Martial Brother!”
Two women hurriedly ran over.
It was Hyeon-ryeo and Danmok Rin.
The two, who came close panting with haggard appearances, soon made a fuss.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Is your body okay?”
Cheon-hwi looked at them strangely, but from their perspective, it was understandable.
Among those who returned after recently finishing the operation, those who were uninjured could be counted on one hand.
Although most had light injuries…
There were also occasionally those who suffered major injuries like Jeok-geom, so how could they not worry about Cheon-hwi, whose return was delayed.
“Yes. I am perfectly fine.”
Cheon-hwi spoke shortly.
“That’s a relief.”
“I kept… worrying.”
By the time the worried two were relieved, Cheon-hwi’s gaze turned to the left.
The Sect Leader was there.
“It is a relief that you came back uninjured.”
“Your appearance is a mess.”
At Cheon-hwi’s words, he smiled silently.
‘It looks like he suffered quite a bit?’
The Sect Leader’s appearance was a mess.
The shadows that had settled beneath his eyes were cast so darkly that they seemed to reach below his chin.
On top of that, his usually neat beard had its ends split and turned into something like a mane, perhaps because he had suffered severely from emotional distress.
“By the way, I heard the operation failed?”
“Cheon-hwi!”
Hyeon-ryeo hurriedly called Cheon-hwi, but.
“That’s right.”
The Sect Leader gestured for Hyeon-ryeo to step back and answered softly.
“It was my mistake. Their combat power was superior to what was known.”
The Sect Leader tried hard to speak calmly, but his chest ached.
Just how many disciples had been injured due to the failure of the operation?
Around the time he smiled bitterly.
“No. It is my mistake.”
A soft voice interjected.
Was it because of the commotion?
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord, who was training in the Martial Training Pavilion, wiped his sweat and approached.
“If I had been stronger, the operation would not have failed.”
“No. You did your best.”
The Sect Leader shook his head.
His gaze was directed at the Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s right arm, which was resting in a splint.
“If only I had properly grasped the opponent’s hidden combat power…”
The Sect Leader choked up as he spoke.
He tried to endure it somehow, but seeing the right arm made his pent-up frustration well up.
“I am sorry.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord’s expression became bitter.
It must have been because the Sect Leader’s gaze, looking at him with pity, felt more painful to him than anything else in the world.
“Please do not mind my arm.”
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord smiled.
“Fortunately, Cheon-hwi decided to teach me a sword art.”
“A left-handed sword art…?”
The Sect Leader looked at Cheon-hwi in surprise.
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
At Cheon-hwi’s answer, the Sect Leader made an expression showing he had let go of his worries.
“That’s a relief. It really is a relief.”
Amidst his laughter, moisture gathered in his eyes.
The Martial Training Pavilion Lord, perhaps having seen those tears, suppressed the welling emotion inside him and spoke.
“…Therefore, there is no need for you to feel guilty.”
“How could I do that? Even if you learn a left-handed sword, everything you have built up has completely disappeared…”
The Sect Leader spoke stubbornly.
Cheon-hwi looked at him like that and asked.
“By the way, what are you going to do now? Are you going to stay still after suffering like that?”
The Sect Leader shook his head side to side.
“How could I stay still? When the disciples of our sect have been injured…!”
The light in his eyes shone coldly.
His usually benevolent atmosphere changed, and a subtle anger began to flow out.
“And since we carried out a joint operation with the Zhongnan Sect, we cannot exist under the same sky as them, who are of the Unorthodox Faction.”
At the Sect Leader’s words, everyone swallowed their breath.
Those words were an expression of his will to annihilate the opponent by risking the sect’s existence.
Cheon-hwi looked at the Sect Leader, who was exploding with anger, and nodded his head up and down with a very satisfied expression.
‘Right, right. Of course you should do that. You even know how to speak words befitting a Sect Leader.’
If you suffer, you pay it back double!
Was that not the providence and law of the Jianghu?
At that time, the Sect Leader added his words.
“However, it is not right now.”
He quickly calmed his excitement.
If it were up to his thoughts, he wanted to execute the operation again right away, but currently there were many injured and there were also many things lacking.
If they moved like this, they would ultimately just repeat the same thing.
“Rather than moving hastily, we will take our time and prepare thoroughly to completely uproot them.”
‘Hmm, he thought cool-headedly.’
Cheon-hwi looked at him with satisfaction.
If they had only failed, it would have been a painful mistake, but if it turned out like this, the story would be different.
Since they had grown through failure.
However, there was something a bit regretful.
‘The Evil Ghost Gang Leader or whatever, I want to deal with that bastard right away…’
Cheon-hwi’s lips twitched.
It was because he hated the fact that bastard would be perfectly fine for a long time after seeing the appearances of Jeok-geom and the Martial Training Pavilion Lord.
It felt like his feelings would only be relieved if he suffered at least the same state as Jeok-geom and the Martial Training Pavilion Lord, no, even more miserably than that.
‘…I’ll have to secretly go and beat him up.’
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