CRS Chapter 6

He thought it would be easy. The martial art was already close to completion.

However, he learned that human desire is endless.

Just when he thought it was complete, another flaw would appear.

As he kept adding and modifying as needed, five years had passed before he knew it.

The unexpected thing was that the master was truly helpful. He was a bit strange but a good person.

If he ever meets a friendly immortal or netherworld being later, he should tell them to take good care of him in a nice place.

And so, in the exact year he turned twenty.

Eunho’s martial art (武) was completed.

“This might be the last time.”

Namgoong Cheong’s voice was tinged with wistfulness as he faced Eunho.

“Yes, I suppose so.”

The two drew their swords.

A terrifying aura began to emanate from Namgoong Cheong’s entire body.

The aura released at full power by a martial artist who had reached the transcendent realm was truly remarkable.

The wind created by the energy violently shook the surrounding bushes.

The strange thing was that only silence surrounded Eunho.

The fierce wind couldn’t even move a single strand of Eunho’s hair.

“…Do it properly.”

Namgoong Cheong flinched.

He felt regret after casually mentioning it might be the last time.

“Ahem.”

Soon, pure white sword energy began to envelop Namgoong Cheong’s blade, starting from its tip.

Woong- Woong-!

A deep sword hum, identical to its owner, flowed from his sword.

The realm of unity between sword and person.

If ordinary people saw this, they wouldn’t be able to contain their surprise.

Unity between sword and person meant becoming one with the sword, signifying the ultimate in swordsmanship.

It was known that only the Twenty-Four Martial Arts Masters had achieved this,

So Namgoong Cheong had also grown during the five years with Eunho.

It was unbelievable for a man approaching his hundredth year.

“Here I come.”

Namgoong Cheong’s body disappeared from view.

Eunho’s eyes narrowed for a moment before returning to normal.

Boom-!

A strike as if thrust from empty air.

Though it was just swords clashing, the sound was like thunder.

Namgoong Cheong’s aura changed as he briefly distanced himself.

Sword energy gathered again at his sword tip.

Although Namgoong Cheong originally preferred heavy swords, this time he swung lightly, imbuing extreme speed into his sword strike.

The sword’s speed created afterimages as its trajectory couldn’t keep up.

The sword energy concentrated at the tip shot out like lightning.

As the sword energy approached right before his eyes.

Eunho’s pupils contracted for an instant, and the muscles in his arm and shoulder holding the sword tightened like a drawn bowstring.

Swoosh-!

His sword, burning through the air, made contact with the sword energy.

Given that the sword energy was condensed with all of Namgoong Cheong’s will and inner power, it should have caused a massive explosion.

However,

“…”

There was nothing.

As if he had swung his sword at empty air, there was no explosion of light, no tremendous boom.

Silence dominated the two of them and their surroundings.

“Haah…”

Namgoong Cheong’s breath burst out.

His chest and shoulders heaved greatly.

Having focused all his nerves into that single strike, even his breathing, which could be called instinctive, had stopped.

“How many times did you strike?”

“A thousand (千).”

“Heaven (天)… Truly an arrogant martial art.”

“It’s complete.”

Namgoong Cheong nodded.

His own level of transcendent realm, the transformation realm that the Twenty-Four Martial Arts Masters were said to have reached.

And his disciple’s level seemed to be far beyond the transformation realm, to a point he couldn’t even measure.

The Twenty-Four Martial Arts Masters? The strongest in the world? Such things were nothing before his disciple.

Could one argue he was the best of all time?

It was mere curiosity.

But he thought that perhaps it might be possible.

The best of all time…

Namgoong Cheong naturally recalled the names of two people.

“If you had been in the era of Immortal Jang Sambong^[1] and the first Heavenly Demon, you would have contended for the title of best of all time alongside them.”

Ah, I remember.

Jang Sambong.

The name of the guy who came with Bodhidharma was Jang Sambong.

“Are they considered the best of all time?”

“That’s right.”

Bodhidharma created martial arts, and Jang Sambong and the first Heavenly Demon perfected it.

Their martial prowess was said to split the sky and tear the sea with a single strike, so they could indeed be called the best of all time.

Eunho nodded.

He knew Jang Sambong’s martial prowess better than anyone. After all, he had fought him directly.

There’s no need to tell the master everything.

Five years to create and perfect a new martial art.

At last, he had truly become the strongest.

At first, he wielded the sword for a purpose, but before he knew it, the sword itself had become the purpose.

His desire for strength and his instincts had brought Eunho this far.

“Now I can close my eyes in peace.”

“Yes, I think you can rest easy now.”

“You rascal, if only that nasty way of speaking…”

“Before that.”

Eunho and Namgoong Cheong’s gazes met.

Their eyes had changed a lot since the beginning.

The eyes of a master and disciple who fully acknowledged each other.

“Please name it. The technique.”

“Huh?”

Namgoong Cheong was greatly surprised by these unexpected words.

You rejected me when I said that, and now you’re asking? Didn’t you say you didn’t want that?

“J-Just give me a moment…”

“Right now.”

Namgoong Cheong’s mind raced.

Right, with all the years I’ve lived, this should be easy.

He thought of Eunho and his martial art, and what stood out most strongly was…

“…”

Arrogance.

His disciple’s sword was truly arrogant.

“Ah, hurry up. If you don’t say anything by the count of three, this martial art will remain nameless. One.”

Namgoong Cheong’s mind spun like a top.

‘The Emperor’s Sword Form? No, that’s Namgoong’s secret technique. The Imperial Sword? No, that’s perfect for being branded a traitor.’

He frantically thought, trying to come up with words fitting the arrogance.

“Twoo, thr-“

As Eunho pressed him, Namgoong Cheong hurriedly shouted.

“H-Heavens-Shattering Sword Form!”

Namgoong Cheong’s expression wrinkled.

He had just blurted it out in a hurry, but it wasn’t great.

Heavens-Shattering Sword Form^[2].

A sword that destroys the heavens, doesn’t it imply defying the heavens?

It does fit the arrogance, but…

“That’s good.”

“Huh?”

“I like it. It suits me well.”

In Eunho’s mind, he thought of those beings above the sky.

What a great name, implying breaking them.

He couldn’t help but smile.

Master unexpectedly has talent for this.

“Are you going back now?”

“Yes, it seems I don’t have much time left, despite how I look.”

“You do look that way.”

“Haha, you never give an inch till the end. I’ve wandered to my heart’s content, so now I’m planning to return to the clan. But do you really like the name?”

“I absolutely love it. Take care on your way back. I won’t see you off far.”

What a consistent disciple he was.

But now, he seemed to understand a little.

Because he could sense plenty of regret and concern in his grumbling.

“Visit from time to time.”

A benevolent smile spread across Namgoong Cheong’s face.

“Yes… well.”

As Eunho was about to turn away.

“Oh, right.”

Namgoong Cheong stopped him.

“What is it?”

“What are you going to do from now on?”

“I plan to live ordinarily, as was my original goal.”

“That’s a truly difficult yet admirable goal.”

Namgoong Cheong mumbled, his lips moving.

He seems to have something more to say.

“Do you have something else to say?”

“I don’t care what my disciple does. It’s your life, after all. However, try not to spill too much blood…”

The Eunho he had observed for five years was an upright person.

The problem was that the standard for this uprightness wasn’t based on common morality, but on his own beliefs.

If he believed something was right, it was right; if he believed it was wrong, it was wrong.

In other words, he was self-willed.

It would be fine if those who offended his disciple, who was certainly the strongest in the world now, were distant barbarians or treasonous rebels aiming for the emperor’s throne.

But he worried that if a fellow member of the righteous faction accidentally crossed him, his disciple might end up with titles containing words like “Blood” or “Demon.”

“Master, I belong to the righteous faction.”

Having learned martial arts from a member of the Namgoong clan, he could certainly be considered part of the righteous faction.

But what was this unease?

“Yes, try to resolve things with words when dealing with fellow members of the righteous faction. Especially our kids…”

Eunho’s eyes narrowed.

By “our kids,” he clearly meant the Namgoong clan.

Ah, so this is what he wanted to say.

What could he do when it was his master’s request?

As Eunho nodded, Namgoong Cheong’s face brightened.

“Good, stay healthy, and when you visit next time, make sure to bring Somi. If it weren’t for that child, I would have left this place long ago.”

Somi, the daughter of the Cheonha Merchant Guild Lord, had been the driving force that helped Eunho endure his own capriciousness and sensitivity.

Unlike her brother, she was full of aegyo and so affectionate.

If he had a granddaughter like Somi, he might never have left the clan to wander the world.

“I’ll do that.”

With those words, Eunho turned away.

Their meeting had been like a sudden shower from the beginning.

Of course, no one could have predicted that this shower would later return as a typhoon.

***

After the master’s departure, peaceful days repeated.

He would train when he woke up, eat when it was mealtime.

Then he would train again, and eat again.

“Yawn, what a boring and ordinary daily life. I love it.”

Standing in front of the door, Eunho wore a satisfied smile as he knocked.

“Father, it’s me.”

Eunho’s gaze moved here and there in the air.

From the moment he reached his new level, the concept of ‘walls’ had become vague.

He could vividly sense the energy of everything inside the room, which was no different from seeing with his eyes.

Eunho’s gaze moved from far to near, and just as it reached right in front of him.

Creak.

The door opened, and Ha Jin-wi’s face appeared.

“Yes, come in.”

The father and son sat facing each other across a tea table.

“Do you have any plans for today?”

“I’m going to train.”

“I see. If you’re free, go pick up Somi.”

“No, I’m going to train…”

“Go pick her up.”

“Yes.”

He said yes, but a strange rebelliousness welled up inside him.

I’ll go pick her up. It’s not a difficult task, and I can train anytime.

But for some reason, he wanted to object.

Sometime recently, his personality seemed to be changing to match that of the boy who was the original owner of this body.

When he looked at Ha Jin-wi, he felt like a real father, even feeling affectionate, and wanting to listen well and be filial.

To think that I, Ha Eunho, who ruled over ten million yokais with terror for over a thousand years, would feel filial piety.

Huh? No, I’m not Ha Eunho, I’m Eunho.

Eunho’s thick eyebrows twitched at the realization that he had referred to himself as Ha Eunho even in his thoughts.

Strangely, his pride was hurt and his rebelliousness grew even stronger.

“Father.”

“What is it?”

“Isn’t picking up Somi usually Chief Steward Jang’s job?”

Despite the somewhat unruly tone, Ha Jin-wi didn’t flinch.

He had long since perfectly adapted to his son’s unruliness.

“The Chief Steward’s mother’s condition has recently worsened, so I told him to take a few days off. We should also pay her a visit soon.”

Eunho nodded.

Well, if that’s the case, there’s no helping it.

***

Golden Institute Academy

It was an academy where children of notable merchant families gathered to learn how to manage money while also building connections.

Unlike him, Somi had been called a prodigy since childhood. She even stood out among the cream of the crop at the academy, which was truly admirable.

“They sure are passionate about their money games.”

All around the academy, lavishly decorated carriages adorned with jewels and ornaments lined up.

Surely the Chief Steward didn’t ride in such a gaudy carriage?

The thought alone was embarrassing.

Shaking his head, thinking it couldn’t be true, Eunho’s gaze fell upon one particular carriage.

Wow, that one is truly extraordinary. Is it perhaps a carriage sent by the emperor?

Of course, that wasn’t the case, but the carriage was that luxurious.

My, it’s blinding.

As Eunho frowned, a warrior standing next to the carriage suddenly addressed him.

“Hey, what are you looking at?”

It was a boisterous shout, but.

Unfortunately, Eunho’s attention was still fixed on the carriage.

What’s this? Gold plating wasn’t enough, so they embedded night-shining pearls too? Whew, how much did all that cost? The carriage is practically emitting light.

It was clearly the work of a nouveau riche.

For a place like Cheonha Merchant Guild, one of the Four Great Merchant Houses, there was no need to show off with such gaudiness.

Come to think of it, in his past life, it was always the moderately strong ones who would rush in.

Eunho smirked as he recalled some yokais.

“Are you laughing? Are you mocking me right now?”

In fact, it was the warrior who was truly disrespecting his opponent.

Seeing Eunho’s relatively simple attire, he probably thought Eunho came from some insignificant place.

Finally, Eunho’s brownish eyes turned towards the warrior, piercing through everything.

First-class at best? Hah…

It was ridiculous.

Eunho scrunched up his face as much as he could and placed his hand on his waist.

Seeing this, the warrior quickly prepared to draw his sword and said:

“Are you looking for a fight?”

If a fight were to break out, it needed to be ended as quickly as possible.

No parent would like to see a brawl in front of their children.

Moreover, weren’t there supposed to be two children from the Four Great Merchant Houses here, like Cheonha Merchant Guild for instance?

“Huh?”

Contrary to his expectation, what Eunho pulled from his waist wasn’t a sword, but a palm-sized golden plaque.

A golden plaque with a clear cloud pattern engraved on it.

There was only one thing this could mean.

Cheonha Merchant Guild, one of the four largest merchant houses in the Central Plains.

“Ahem.”

The warrior cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

Watching this, Eunho showed a satisfied smile.

Money really is the best. How efficient.

Meanwhile, the warrior’s mind raced.

Of all people, to have provoked someone from Cheonha Merchant Guild.

The only fortunate thing was that this guy’s appearance was shabby.

What could a mere guard do?

If rumors of this incident spread later, he’d sneak out at night and beat him up.

Just then, the academy doors opened and children began to come out one by one.

As everyone naturally headed towards their own carriages.

“Brother!”

Somi, upon spotting Eunho, ran at full speed and nestled into his arms.

Murmurs could be heard from the surroundings at this sight.

Regardless, Eunho gently patted his younger sister’s head and said:

“Somi, you’re sixteen now and can be considered a proper lady. Why do you still act like a child?”

Somi pouted at her brother’s soft reprimand.

“Hmph, I’ll keep acting like this for just one more year.”

With big eyes looking up at her brother, a straight nose, and lips as red as if a peony petal had been placed on them.

She took after her mother and was quite a beauty.

Though she still hadn’t completely shed her baby fat, giving her a childish appearance, it was rather suitable for bringing fond smiles to the faces of surrounding adults.

People everywhere looked at the affectionate siblings with warm expressions, but there was one person who couldn’t.

His face was filled with darkness, in stark contrast to his excessively lavish carriage.

1. Also known as Zhang Sanfeng. Creator of Tai Chi philosophy[↩]
2. 破天劍形[↩]