Book 24 Chapter 20

The Past of Chilshangheun

- Profound Secret vs. Profound Secret!

I remember that day as perhaps the first time I was able to unleash all the techniques of the Heaven-Rending Blood Shadow Saber Technique, the Twelve Streams of Blood. On a sweltering summer day, I finally executed all twelve techniques of the Twelve Streams of Blood in succession without depleting my internal energy, drawing out two blades.

"Quite good."

This was high praise coming from my master.

'I finally did it!'

A sense of proud accomplishment filled my body, which had been drained of energy like a receding tide. Though my junior disciple had been called a prodigy since childhood, there was an age gap, and he was still young and struggling with the final two techniques after the tenth. Even a petty sense of victory was welcome. Given my age and position as the eldest disciple, I couldn't possibly lose to my junior disciple who was still so young. Not even if that prodigy junior disciple was the grandson of the one he admired, the one who was like the heavens, a god to me, and revered as a demon god throughout the martial world.

That day, for the first time, I was permitted to enter the 'Hall of Gods and Demons.' What I saw inside was a heaven beyond heaven. Master had already moved beyond the twelve techniques and was seeking a new one. The countless swordsmanship and saber manuals piled in the Hall of Gods and Demons, and the ink lines scrawled on the enormous papers affixed to the walls, were all traces of the path he had taken. Just looking at them made me feel as though swords were closing in from all sides, suffocating me. And I became curious. So I asked.

"Why does my master, who is invincible, need these things? Haven't you already reached the realm of a Saber God without learning more?"

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't understand.

"I have never heard that learning has an end. This is true for both literature and martial arts. Why do I do this troublesome, bothersome, and brain-aching work? It's because I am aware of the shortcomings of the twelve techniques that I created. Do you think twelve techniques are enough for you yet? If so, strive even harder. Until they are no longer enough to fill your capacity."

Master's words struck my soul like a massive hammer.

"Then what kind of technique is the thirteenth?"

"When you feel the twelve techniques are insufficient, you will naturally know. The final technique will be a technique that is also not a technique. For now, watch carefully as I demonstrate the twelve techniques. Whatever you gain from watching them will be your fortune."

And I watched. And I understood.

On that day, I realized how much the same technique could change. Depending on the depth of the practitioner. I realized that I had been learning the twelve cuts superficially. And I knew there was a heaven beyond heaven. That the path of learning had no end.

Another technique beyond the twelve!

Now, I could faintly understand Master's words. The thirteenth technique. It was a technique that, by merely obtaining it, one became free from the twelve techniques. It was a classification of a realm. To a disciple who, having just learned to execute the techniques without pause, had become arrogant as if he were the world's greatest master, the heavens-like master had a clear message to convey.

Heaven beyond Heaven!

There is a heaven beyond heaven, and learning has no end, so do not cease your diligent self-cultivation. This was a stern teaching. I had vowed with tears not to forget that teaching for even a moment.

But what cheap tears and what vain vows they were!

Those vows were torn to shreds and scattered as if they had never existed with a single gesture from one person.

Since then, he had been running. But now, he didn't want to run anymore. He was sick of it.

* * *

"I won't run anymore!"

Chilshangheun shouted spasmodically and threw his left saber. The blade, flying with the ferocity of a storm, was about to sever Yeonbi's neck. Caught off guard by the surprise attack, Yeonbi hurriedly bent backward.

*Crack!*

The flying saber narrowly grazed Yeonbi's chest. Had the reaction been even a moment slower, their head would have been separated from their body by now.

"Could it be this technique!"

Yeonbi had witnessed a similar technique once before. If memory served, the technique just displayed by Chilshangheun was definitely the one seen on Mount Wudang.

"Spinning Cross Slash!"

Yeonbi knew more than just the name. They knew the blade would return, spinning.

"Don't be ridiculous."

Waiting for the opportune moment, Yeonbi dodged the returning blade. Chilshangheun exclaimed in surprise.

"How do you know this technique?"

"We have a bit of a connection. Though it's not a pleasant memory."

Yeonbi replied. Chilshangheun's brow furrowed.

"Don't think that knowing this technique means you can stop it!"

Galhyobong's Blood Flow Slash ended here. But Chilshangheun's techniques did not end here. Before receiving the other saber, he unleashed another. This time, it was far more powerful than before. The rotating blade, like a windmill, spat out blood energy in all directions. The range of attack was significantly widened by the unleashed blade energy, forcing Yeonbi to struggle to dodge. This consecutive attack was repeated three or four times. However, Yeonbi dodged them all. There were no more threatening attacks after the first and second surprise assaults. So, Yeonbi's guard was slightly lowered.

"That foolish boy."

The observing old master muttered.

*Crash!*

At that moment, Chilshangheun leaped forward with all his might. Then, with his right saber, he fiercely struck down at the returning saber filled with blood energy. The right saber also flickered with blood energy.

Heaven-Rending Blood Shadow Saber Technique (轟天血影刀法) Blood Flow Twelve Cuts (血流十二刀).

Fatal Profound Secret (必殺奧義).

Heaven-Rending Blood Flow Hegemon Cross Slash (轟天血流覇王十字刃).

Blood Cross (血十字).

*Boom!*

As the left saber, flying horizontally, met the right saber striking vertically, a giant red cross pillar surged upwards, and a powerful gust of energy swirled around. Most of its might seemed deliberately aimed at Yeonbi.

Faced with the true power of the Blood Flow Slash, Yeonbi hastily raised their internal energy to counter. They dodged the most critical cross-energy, but couldn't evade the subsequent wind. Having no choice but to evade, Yeonbi could only endure. The immense power, capable of carving up the ground within a three-zhang radius, required a vast amount of internal energy just to block. However, such excessive use of internal energy was more fatal than anything else to Yeonbi.

As their whole body shook, it felt as though the qi and blood within were becoming entangled. It was a sign of qi deviation. The sound of a crack forming in the dam holding back the massive internal energy echoed in their ears like 'boom, crackle!'

'Oh, this is really dangerous…'

I felt blood sloshing in my throat.

'Wow, this is a new feeling. It's slippery… and a bit fishy…'

It was as far apart as heaven and earth from a cheerful feeling.

"You're lucky to have dodged the direct hit."

Even for Yeonbi, they would not have been unharmed if they had taken that attack head-on. It felt like seeing a part of Chilshangheun's true form.

Indeed, this person was strong.

My body felt heavy. It was as if a mountain weighing ten thousand pounds was pressing down on my head. Had my body ever been so unwilling to follow my will?

Perhaps this was the first time.

'I was overconfident.'

I never thought my body would betray me so easily. I always thought my body followed my mind's commands… There was a slight time lag in my body reflecting my mind. In a battlefield where life and death intersect in an instant, that could be a turning point that decides life or death. And just now, Yeonbi had come back from the brink of that turning point. Yeonbi had to admit it now.

That they had been beautifully defeated!

Yeonbi tried to prevent the blood in their mouth from spitting out. However, they couldn't stop a thin trickle of blood from flowing down their lips. Their control, forcibly suppressing the surging power, was nearing its limit.

"Looking at you, your physical condition doesn't seem normal either. Your internal energy was unstable from the beginning, and it seems to have worsened now. Did I see wrong?"

"No, you saw correctly. It's amazing that my blood vessels aren't bursting right now. Hmm… to put it in one word, it feels like lava is boiling inside me?"

"Power that cannot be controlled is not only useless but also harmful."

It seemed Chilshangheun had some inkling of the cause. But Yeonbi didn't care whether the opponent knew or not.

"It's definitely harmful, even up to now."

"But it would be a problem if you collapsed yet. Now it's my turn to show you the thirteenth technique I've obtained. It will likely be the last sight you see."

His words were filled with deep confidence. The kind of confidence shown by someone who has honed their blade for a long time. He intended to put everything he had into his next move. Yeonbi did not refuse.

"Please make it a beautiful sight. Although it won't be as beautiful as the many sights I will see in my life."

"You have great guts for a girl!"

It wasn't true, but I didn't feel the need to respond.

"You made a mistake with that remark."

However, Yeonbi felt inexplicably very displeased.

"Well, I wonder which one of us made a mistake?"

"This is troubling."

"Are you asking if I will surrender or not?"

"No, that's impossible. The question is whether I can take it off or not."

"T-take it off? Even if you try a honey trap, it won't work!"

Chilshangheun shouted fiercely, his face slightly flushed.

"You pervert. You really are a pervert."

"I am not a pervert!"

Ignoring Chilshangheun, who was raging, Yeonbi rolled up their sleeve and looked at the golden 'Phoenix Ring' on their wrist. Originally, there were two, but now only one remained. This was a temporary item, thinly plated with gold and carved with phoenixes because the Dark Dragon Ring was too conspicuous. Therefore, its weight remained unchanged at a hundred pounds.

However, there was a dilemma. It was due to a casual remark from their master.

"Ah, I warn you, never take off the remaining Dark Dragon Ring!"

"Why?"

"You will die."

Yeonbi recalled the warning their master gave after taking off the Dark Dragon Ring and stimulating their internal energy. In their current state, where their power was already raging, releasing another dragon was not a wise choice. Their body was already struggling to handle one dragon.

'But…'

If they stayed like this, they might lose. If the rampaging power collided with the thirteenth technique, the best they could hope for was a mutual destruction. They didn't have the confidence to receive Chilshangheun's saber with their body in such a mess afterward.

"Well, it's time to finish this."

The stance Chilshangheun took was unusual in its atmosphere. With Yeonbi's level of skill, one could sense the power of the upcoming technique from the opponent's ki alone. It was a kind of instinct. Chilshangheun's entire being seemed to be submerged in silence. Greater movements emerge from greater silence. They had to gauge the power of the technique held within that silent stillness. If they sensed it after it was unleashed, it would be too late. Doing what everyone else could do would lead to defeat without achieving anything. New landscapes do not reveal themselves to just anyone. Only those who walk a step ahead of others can see different landscapes.

'Should I take it off?'

In this situation? Another Dark Dragon Ring?

At any other time, Yeonbi would have taken off the Dark Dragon Ring without hesitation, but now they were hesitant. Fortunately, Na Yerin was resting in the waiting room. If they took it off subtly, no one would suspect their true identity.

But they doubted if they could handle that power in their current state. They lacked confidence. That meant it was a gamble. And even if they could use that power safely, there was no guarantee they would be unharmed after using it. It was a gamble for their life.

The most important things in a gamble were timing and luck.

Yeonbi surrendered to the flow of heaven and earth, waiting for the opportune moment. The moment to pour out everything they had.

The body moves as the heart desires.

For others, it might have been a realm to aspire to even in their dreams, but for Bi Ryu-yeon, it had been as natural as breathing, until meeting their master again.

Now, it was almost laughable. They felt they couldn't bear it without ridiculing someone thoroughly. That someone was themselves.

Although the suppressed power had awakened, it was power that had always been latent deep within them, not power received from someone else. Yet, the fact that they couldn't control it, did it make sense?

Of course, it made sense. The body, if it loses concentration for even a moment, likes to act on its own, regardless of the mind, thoughts, or plans. That is why constant self-cultivation and training are necessary to gain freedom by cultivating self-control. These training methods were apparently called 'Gyeong (敬)' in ancient times.

At first glance, it seems difficult, but the concept is simple. Day after day, remind yourself who you are and what you want to become, and dedicate yourself to that goal. In short, it is strict self-management. It sounds easy to say, but it is very difficult to do. Let's just remember that the moment you lose yourself, you become nothing. Even if you remember, nothing worse will happen than forgetting. An unbridled body only moves according to endless desires and instincts, and a spirit without a body loses its light and decays.

'Trying to defeat others without being able to handle one's own body…'

In this state, they would have no defense even if they received their master's annoying ridicule. That was not good. They had to do something.

'How?'

That was the problem.

"If you want to be complacent, be complacent. How comfortable and good it is to be complacent in a warm cradle. That is the shortest path to failure in life. If you want to fail properly, there is no more effective method than this."

A remark their master made in passing suddenly came to mind.

"You think if you stop self-cultivation and stand still, you'll maintain your current state? But you're wrong. If you stop while climbing a mountain, decay begins at that moment. That's the moment you start falling behind. If you stop while climbing, it's a fall. What happens if everyone else is climbing and you just stand still? If you stop, the gap will only widen. Someone with the will to climb never stops. So there are only two paths. Either climb up or go down. Which you choose is up to you. So remember this one thing. There is no in-between."

On the naked path, there are only two choices. Either climb up or go down. Complacency is impossible. If you sit down in that spot, you will only fall behind.

'I can't fall behind at this point!'

I don't know where the summit is, but I will definitely reach it. Surely that summit will be beyond Master's peak. Although it is hidden by Master's shadow now, I will definitely step on it someday! It would be so joyous to look down on Master's crown from there. So, I couldn't afford to be complacent and lose here.

'I will definitely win!'

Even if it becomes a gamble for my life.

*Clack!* Yeonbi's hand rested on the tip of the umbrella handle of the Black Heaven Scale.

*Swoosh!*

It was drawn from the umbrella handle with a clear sound, a sword with a dark, ink-like light like the night sky, on which fine silver threads were intricately engraved, drawing elaborate patterns.

It felt like an elegant work of art, and it was a 'sword.'