Chapter 62 : Chapter 62

Chapter 62: The One Who Moves Forward

A familiar voice was heard.

"You!"

It was a voice I hadn't heard in a long time, but it pierced my ears sharply, as if I had heard it just yesterday.

Of course, I knew its owner.

The second daughter of the Yang Clan, a talented woman who had surpassed all her siblings last year to become the Branch Lord.

One of the Five Flowers of Anhui, possessing both intelligence and beauty.

That’s right.

It was Yang Su-rin.

"It's been a while."

That was all the impression I had upon facing her.

Unlike my calm demeanor, Yang Su-rin approached with a fuming expression.

Her beauty mixed with an angry expression would be aptly described as a cat-like face in a fit of pique.

"Isn't this too much?"

"What is?"

"How could you not send a single message after that?"

"Hmm."

Honestly, this time I admit my mistake.

It was because I had received her care for a long month when I reached the Fourth Stage.

But it was true that I had been out of touch since then, so the expression 'ungrateful' would be appropriate.

"I thought you would be busy after becoming the Branch Lord."

In fact, this was not a hastily made-up excuse.

Leaving aside the fact that I didn't seek her out, wasn't the reason she hadn't been able to visit the Dancheon Clan for nearly a year all due to her changed status?

"Are you saying you were being considerate of me?"

"You could see it that way."

At my answer, the pique on Yang Su-rin's face lessened slightly.

"Well, I'll let it slide this time."

I wasn't sure what she was letting slide, but I didn't bother to ask because it seemed like it would be a hassle.

"More importantly, is it true?"

"What is?"

How would I know if she asked without a subject? It's not like I'm a mind reader. It could be called one of Yang Su-rin's bad habits.

"There's a rumor that you didn't become the Young Clan Head."

"It's true."

If I were to be picky, I would have to distinguish between 'couldn't' and 'didn't', but I knew that getting caught up in such details in a conversation with her would become troublesome.

"So it was true."

After saying that, she continued with an unidentifiable smile.

"I heard information that you've become a kite with its string cut."

"Hmm."

It would be right to describe it as a total mess.

Information, by its nature, should have objectivity and consistency as its core, but from the very beginning, nothing about the information she was talking about was right.

As someone who had lived the life of an information broker, it was unacceptable, but I couldn't easily open my mouth. Wasn't a total mess called that because it couldn't be solved with just a word or two?

Regardless of my impression, confidence filled Yang Su-rin's expression.

Her chin was slightly raised, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it arrogance.

"Well, if the second son of the Dancheon Clan, who has become a kite with its string cut, has nowhere to go, I'll grant you a special favor."

"……?"

Even with my brilliant insight, I couldn't find the right words to answer, so Yang Su-rin continued.

"Well, I mean I'll take you in specially. Oh, don't misunderstand. I'm not saying we should get engaged again or anything like that. How about working under me for a start?"

I was going to ignore it and move on, but I knew I couldn't.

So I asked her.

"Where did you get that information?"

At my question, her shoulders seemed to rise slightly.

I was sure that if the word 'smug' were to be personified, it would look like that.

"Wouldn't the Branch Lord of the Yang Clan have her own secret line? Oh, you might not know since you haven't been a Young Clan Head."

I admit that her beauty combined with her smiling eyes was alluring, but I had to correct what needed to be corrected.

The reason was that she was one of the seeds I had planted.

I spoke with all my heart.

"That secret line, throw it away immediately."

It was the best favor for her, and a sincere piece of advice.

-Well, it doesn't seem like it this time, but if you need help, feel free to ask anytime. We're colleagues, aren't we?

-……I understand.

After ending that conversation and sending Yang Su-rin away, I visited my older brother Dancheon Hak's quarters for the first time in a while.

There was a reason why the person who would have come to tease me as soon as he heard I was back hadn't shown up yet, and I was also curious about my brother's achievements during that time.

Using my heightened realm, I made no presence and went to Dancheon Hak's quarters, where I saw him swinging his sword in the training ground.

Whoosh-

With Dancheon Hak's light and swift movements, the sword danced in the air.

It was truly a light Stepping on Clouds Gait, and a flawless Dancheon Sword Art.

It was a passage that indirectly showed how much Dancheon Hak had been trying.

One hour.

For that long time, Dancheon Hak's Stepping on Clouds Gait kicked the ground, and his swordplay embroidered the air.

His martial arts were elegant, so I too did not feel bored and watched him in hiding.

As time passed, Dancheon Hak, who had caught his breath, was finishing his techniques.

Step.

I let out a slight presence.

"You're here?"

"It's been a while."

Even though it was a small presence, he immediately caught it, so I also knew that his senses were sharply honed.

"……You've changed again."

Dancheon Hak, who had me in his eyes, said so.

This time, I also had the same thought. The him I met after a long time had changed a lot.

"You've changed too, brother."

I couldn't bring myself to ask, ‘Have you been training hard in the meantime?’

It was because a cloth was wrapped around the hand holding the sword hilt, and a reddish aura was soaking the cloth.

Nevertheless, Dancheon Hak's hand held the sword hilt firmly, as if it had forgotten the pain.

A martial artist who had reached the Transcendent Peak Realm had swung his sword until his palm was torn, so I could guess at the intensity of his efforts.

"You've become stronger."

He seemed to have become quite a bit stronger.

The spoiled child of a prestigious family was gone.

"Hmph."

However, Dancheon Hak's thoughts seemed a little different.

"Even after taking the Immaculate Pomegranate, I still haven't reached the State of Harmony."

It was a very different appearance from Dancheon Hak, who was always full of confidence.

-When I return, my sword will not be easy.

It was also a very different appearance from the words Dancheon Hak had left me when I was leaving for my Jianghu journey to achieve the Fifth Stage.

I knew that expression.

The expression of a martial artist blocked by a huge wall, that was what had seeped into Dancheon Hak.

The difference would be that, nevertheless, Dancheon Hak had not despaired and was still struggling with himself.

I would say that he was indeed the legitimate son of the prestigious Dancheon Clan.

In fact, nine out of nine-tenths of martial artists end their lives without stepping over the threshold of the State of Harmony. It wouldn't be wrong to add nine-tenths of a tenth to this.

I just couldn't express it further because I had neglected my studies while polishing my martial arts, but I knew that the probability was actually much lower than that.

I had heard through rumors that only one in a million people entered the State of Harmony, so it couldn't be said that not reaching the State of Harmony was a proof of inadequacy.

But the life of the legitimate son of a prestigious martial family was different, so I could guess at Dancheon Hak's troubles.

I knew that his worries were premature since he was still far from reaching thirty, but I also understood that he couldn't help but feel impatient since his younger brother, me, had reached the State of Harmony.

I remained silent and examined Dancheon Hak's potential.

The State of Harmony was a realm reached through the unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, so it was the same as saying that I had examined Dancheon Hak's Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

Thanks to reaching the realm of handling intention, I was able to know many things.

I saw Dancheon Hak's sturdy body.

It wasn't brawny, but there was no part that wasn't trained. I would describe it as optimal for swinging a sword.

He had won the Dragon and Phoenix with his own strength and was talented enough to reach the Transcendent Peak Realm on his own at a little over twenty years of age.

He had added bone-crushing efforts to his innate talent, which meant that he had built up a body that was not lacking to reach the State of Harmony.

His Qi should have been insufficient since he was still young, but this too had been resolved.

It was because I had given him the Immaculate Pomegranate.

A martial artist who had reached the Transcendent Peak on his own had taken the Immaculate Pomegranate, a supreme elixir, so he had secured enough Qi to reach the State of Harmony.

So, in the end, the problem was the Spirit.

His Essence and Qi were full, but he hadn't been able to reach the Three Flowers Realm because his Spirit had not blossomed.

Therefore, there might not be anything I could do to help him right away.

The reason was that each person's Spirit was different.

If there were a hundred martial artists, there were a hundred Spirits.

Unless one was a great immortal, there was no way to know how to make that Spirit blossom.

It was because some people blossomed their Spirit through meditation, some through life-and-death battles, some through training, and some even had a sudden enlightenment in the outhouse.

In particular, my case was a very special one where my Spirit was forcibly blossomed with the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, so it wouldn't be easy to even give him a Zen-like topic for contemplation.

However, not knowing the method didn't mean there was no way.

"Brother. Come at me."

"What?"

"Let's see your skills after a long time."

I knew that he was already exhausted from intense training, but that's why it was rather suitable.

My brother, who had gauged his condition, hesitated, so I added a provocation.

"What, are you scared?"

"Hmph!"

Before my words even finished, Dancheon Hak's sword was already rushing towards me.

I would say that this fighting spirit of Dancheon Hak's was pleasing. It was like proof that he was the talent who would lead the Dancheon Clan in the future.

Clang!

My sword lightly blocked Dancheon Hak's sword.

"Prepare yourself."

I wouldn't go easy on him today.

It was because I had gained new learning through my Jianghu journey.

Martial arts weren't learned by swinging a sword.

It was learned by getting hit.

It was a teaching that Grandmaster Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha had given me himself, and I had personally experienced that it was indeed effective.

Thwack!

"Ugh."

Dancheon Hak, who had been sprawled out, quickly got up.

"Good posture."

The fighting spirit was still alive in his eyes, so he would see good results.

Grin.

It was absolutely not just because I was pleased with the current opportunity to officially beat up my older brother Dancheon Hak.

***

I respect Dancheon Hak.

To put it a little differently, it wouldn't be a great exaggeration to say that I admire him.

The reason was that, unlike me who had grown with regression and the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, Dancheon Hak had reached the Transcendent Peak Realm at the young age of twenty-three solely with his own strength.

There was a time when I believed that Dancheon Hak's dazzling growth was due to his innate talent and his background as the eldest son of a prestigious martial family.

To be honest, it would be difficult to even say it was 'a time'.

It was because that thought had not changed throughout my past life, until the end of Myeong-gae's life.

But now I know.

Dancheon Hak's achievement was not due to his innate talent or the background of his family.

From the objective perspective of an information broker, it would be right to say that it was thanks to his noble pride.

For a commoner whose words precede their actions, noble pride might be a barrier that ignores reality, but for Dancheon Hak, whose actions precede his words, noble pride became a driving force for great achievement.

In the end, it meant that Dancheon Hak's achievements were accomplished with his own strength.

However, the path to reaching the top changes in countless ways.

It meant that the same method could not always be useful.

It wasn't something I knew from the beginning, but something I had recently learned after awakening my intention.

I examined Dancheon Hak again.

His body was well-developed but very tired. The accumulation of excessive fatigue would be the cause.

It wouldn't be strange if he had fainted if not for his persistent mental strength.

He was still a strong martial artist, but his overworked body was not able to show its full capabilities.

His Qi was also subtly wavering.

For convenience, it was divided into Essence, Qi, and Spirit, but Essence and Qi were ultimately connected.

It was because a clear Qi could not reside in a wavering Essence.

So, my diagnosis was this.

Dancheon Hak needed to rest now.

However, it was impossible to imagine Dancheon Hak obediently listening to me and saying 'I will' just because I said 'rest'.

Apart from the fact that our relationship was different from before, it was because Dancheon Hak was an individual who was fundamentally unable to do so by nature.

A kind Dancheon Hak who didn't grumble, that itself might be a disaster.

Clang!

"Ugh!"

It seemed difficult for him to block my sword, so he had already reached his limit.

It would be right to stop here for today.

It was time to give him a rest.

Goooo.

As a star cluster formed on the Dancheon Sword I held, a look of determination appeared in Dancheon Hak's eyes.

"Block it properly. If you slip up, you'll die."

"Come!"

Boom!

"Guh!"

Crash.

Dancheon Hak, who had been sent flying about thirty feet, rolled on the ground.

And he didn't get up again.

"Rest well."

He would sleep soundly for about two days.

Some might say that I beat him up until he fainted, but from my perspective, it would be right to say that I had provided him with an opportunity to rest.

When he woke up, he would be one step further than he was today.

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