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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Business Trip (1)
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As I had expected, the task Master wanted me to handle was connected to the banquet from before.
However, it wasn't a blind order to just create some system and reporting format.
"Your opinion was quite excellent, but it was also one given without fully grasping the realities of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Therefore, first, let's have you understand our cult's situation."
With those words, Master instructed me to investigate the state of the regions governed by the cult.
In other words, it meant I had to go on a business trip.
And our ever-so-kind Master, who ground his teeth in generosity, graciously gave me two days' grace instead of making me leave immediately.
"You should say goodbye to that child as well. If you disappear suddenly, she might get quite anxious."
Those were Master's final words, and for some reason, he looked at me with eyes full of interest.
I couldn't fathom what that gaze meant, but thanks to Master's consideration, the next day I was able to bid farewell to Seon-a.
"You can't not go...?"
"Ugh...."
My heart ached at the little one's earnest upward gaze.
But the saddest part wasn't her cuteness.
'I don't want to go either!!!'
It stung twice as much realizing this wasn't a trip I wanted to take.
Of course, I couldn't just bluntly explain that I was being dragged along.
"Seon-a, your big brother is a disciple of the exalted one."
I couldn't badmouth Master in front of Jin Ha-yeon, who was watching me with cold eyes from the side.
"Because I'm a disciple of the great Heavenly Demon, I have to handle all sorts of tasks. So even when big brother's away, you have to study and train hard every day, okay?"
"Why...?"
"Probably because I'll get even busier? Playing with Seon-a is fun, but if you get smarter and your martial arts improve, we can do work together instead of just playing, right? Then we can be together all the time."
"Ah!"
As if gaining enlightenment, her already large eyes grew even bigger, and she nodded vigorously.
I stroked her cute head and extended my pinky finger to her again.
"I'll bring back a gift from this trip, so you study hard too. Got it?"
"Yes!! I'll become an amazing person and work together with big brother!"
After that brief farewell with Seon-a, it was back to training time with Master.
"You've learned the forms for all the initial stances of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, so today, let's learn the footwork and lightness skill forms."
With those words, Master strolled lightly around the inside of Wind Rock Hall, but surprisingly, deep footprints were left everywhere he stepped.
"Follow these footprints and perform the movements I demonstrated."
For about an hour, I dashed around wildly, twisting my body like a dance under Master's instructions and guidance.
By the time the lightness skill and footwork movements had somewhat settled into my body, the training session ended.
And the next day, early in the morning.
"Yawn."
Packed and ready, I yawned lazily as I headed somewhere with Jin Ha-yeon.
On her back was a bundle containing books for my studies, ink, brushes, and the like.
Following her lead with the bundle, we walked through the cult's interior for a short while.
Soon, we arrived at a place where a large carriage was parked.
"Hahaha. Come on up."
And in the carriage was Master, who had arrived first—someone who slept little in the mornings due to age.
Surprisingly, this business trip included Master as well.
Once Jin Ha-yeon and I boarded, the man serving as escort and coachman began driving the carriage.
Passing the cult's estates and entering the forest path, lush greenery beyond the carriage window caught my eye.
'With Master here, it feels leisurely.'
It felt less like a business trip and more like a relaxed outing.
We enjoyed the forest air from inside the carriage for quite some time that early morning.
Clunk.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and Master looked at me as he spoke.
"Get off now."
"???"
No village in sight nearby, and he tells me to get off?
Though puzzled, I followed Master's order and got down, only to see an even stranger sight.
'Why am I the only one getting off?'
As if reading my expression, Master spoke from inside the carriage.
"Run from now on."
"!?"
Before I could even respond in shock, the carriage started moving forward again.
'Crazy!?'
Startled, I hurriedly chased after the carriage. Strangely, it moved at a leisurely pace, as if adjusting to my running speed.
When I finally caught up to the side of the carriage, Master spoke.
"Oh my. Have you forgotten the lightness skill I taught you yesterday? This is part of your training as well. No matter the situation, when running, move according to the lightness skill forms. Until those movements are completely ingrained in your body."
Only then did I fully grasp the situation.
The two days' grace Master gave wasn't just for saying goodbye to Seon-a.
It was time needed to teach me the lightness skill forms.
'No, maybe he didn't call me right after the banquet for that reason too.'
Master had it all planned out. A plan to make efficient use of me.
Then, Master's stern command rang out.
"Oh my! Your form is off. Focus. In a real battle, do you think the enemy's sword will miss because your stamina is low? No matter how tough the situation, your form must not break."
The business trip started off on a hellish note right from the beginning.
* * *
"Oh my. Your waist angle is off."
"I'm sorry. It's because this lowly girl's external martial training was insufficient."
How long had we been running amid Master's nagging and Jin Ha-yeon's supportive words from the side?
Just as my mind began to blur.
Clunk.
The carriage running alongside stopped.
"Get on now."
"Huff. Huff."
With breath up to my throat, I staggered onto the carriage and took the gourd Jin Ha-yeon offered, gulping down water.
"Perform Qi Circulation and Breath Adjustment to steady your breathing. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but nothing beats it for recovering a fatigued body and stabilizing your breath."
Following Master's instruction, who exuded a stricter atmosphere than usual, I sighed inwardly and sat cross-legged on the carriage.
"Sip. Hoo."
I drew in a deep breath, guiding the energy mixed in the air deep into my lungs.
Then, controlling that energy, I circulated it through my meridians according to the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword's mental method, gradually converting it to demonic energy.
'Crazy.'
I nearly flinched without realizing.
Whether from oxygen shortage due to excessive exercise or the carriage's vibrations.
The energy rampaged more wildly than usual, bringing a strange pain each time it passed through my meridians.
Thinking back now, what I was cultivating was a demonic art.
Unlike the orthodox factions' stable mental methods, it was an unstable one where a single mistake could lead to Demonic Deviation.
Even careful cultivation brought side effects like mental illness, so what more could be said.
But abruptly stopping the ongoing mental method operation now would be even more dangerous.
With the mindset of walking on thin ice, I cautiously circulated my internal energy.
"Siiiip.... Hoo...."
Repeating breaths as deeply and slowly as possible, I focused my mind.
After several minor heavenly cycles, the rampaging demonic energy gradually stabilized, and I seized the chance to store it in my dantian.
'With such intense focus, the energy increased more than usual.'
Confirming the noticeable growth, I opened my eyes with one final deep breath.
Amid the chilling sensation of sweat—whether from the recent sprint or cold sweat from overconcentration—trickling down my back.
"Hahaha. As expected, I thought Il-mok you could do it."
Master's voice pierced my ears.
"...You deliberately made me do Qi Circulation and Breath Adjustment in such a dangerous state?"
Unable to help my curt tone as I asked back, the crazy old man smiled warmly, stroking his beard.
"As a martial artist, situations where you must perform Qi Circulation and Breath Adjustment with an unstable body or mind will come up often."
"...Was there a need to practice it right now?"
To my question implying it should be done after reaching a certain level, Master shook his head.
"Think the opposite. Once you become a master, even the slightest issue becomes unmanageable. Between a small stream overflowing and a massive river flooding, which is more dangerous?"
"So, since my internal energy is still shallow, you're having me practice this dangerous circulation now?"
"Hahaha. Indeed, you understand this old man's intent well. Moreover, even if a problem arose, your internal energy isn't that great yet, so this old man could immediately intervene. That's why I instructed it. If you had even the sixth level of internal energy accumulated, even I couldn't guarantee safety easily."
As expected, Master had it all planned.
'I wish he'd just share those plans.'
As that regret crossed my mind, the carriage suddenly clunked to a halt.
Seeing my puzzled expression, Master stared blankly at me before speaking.
"What are you doing? Not getting off?"
"We've arrived already?"
"You've rested enough, so shouldn't we resume lightness skill training?"
"..."
At a loss for words, I alternated glances between Master and Jin Ha-yeon for a moment.
With a sigh, I got off the carriage.
'Fuck.'
That word kept lingering at the tip of my tongue.
* * *
Fortunately or unfortunately, the village wasn't far.
By the third lightness skill training session, the destination was visible in the distance.
"Let's end this training session once we reach that village."
With the goal in sight, I dashed toward the village like someone in the desert spotting an oasis.
Amusingly, just as Master intended, the lightness skill forms had completely ingrained into my body.
Whether from desperately running while performing them or this body's absurd talent, honestly, I didn't know.
No more of Master's nagging reached my ears, and even as I ran with my mind adrift, my body automatically moved according to the forms.
How long had I run blindly toward the distant village?
The small village gradually grew larger, and eventually, the carriage and I arrived near it.
"Giddyup."
Neigh!
Upon reaching the village outskirts, the carriage stopped, and Master and Jin Ha-yeon—who had sneakily ridden the whole way—calmly stepped down.
Drenched in sweat and half out of my mind, I entered the village with them.
"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurray!!"
Thunderous cheers erupted from everywhere, snapping my wandering mind awake.
Quickly looking around, the villagers were prostrating themselves on the ground without exception, shouting.
"Heavenly Demon!!"
"Save us!!"
"Keep us from falling into evil!!"
The sight sent chills down my spine.
'Feels like they're welcoming an actual god?'
In the Heavenly Myriad Mountains, the cult's headquarters, I shrugged it off as a cult thing.
But to see such fervent reactions even in a village of ordinary folk.
'The power of a cult?'
It was truly a fearsome spectacle.