At Cheonyeong's suggestion, Lee Cheongik stared with a blank expression.

He might be of help with something that hadn't been solved...

Perhaps.

Sometimes, a master's single word can bring great enlightenment.

It was also a fact that he had heard that Tang Cheonyeong's martial prowess was considerable.

But it was not an easy task.

To teach others, one must know how to see.

It was also a task that required much more training and enlightenment.

Unless Tang Cheonyeong was a warrior who had reached the absolute realm.

Lee Cheongik, knowing that his words were out of concern for him, politely refused.

"Ha ha, Family Head. It seems I have had too much to drink. Seeing how you, the Family Head, have treated me so comfortably, the frustration in my heart has flowed out with the alcohol. I am immeasurably happy just with your thoughtful heart."

"..."

"Now, please receive a cup of my alcohol."

Lee Cheongik holds the wine bottle with both hands and politely fills Cheonyeong's cup.

But.

"Please try it once."

"...Pardon?"

"Is there anything to lose? If you don't even try because the possibility is small, you won't gain anything. Isn't that a waste? If it helps even a little, isn't it much more profitable to try?"

At the repeated recommendation, Lee Cheongik pondered for a moment.

If you don't try anything, you won't gain anything...

"I see. My thoughts were short. Then, I ask of you."

"Yes."

As Lee Cheongik stood up from his seat and bowed, Cheonyeong followed him and commanded.

"Clear the training ground!"

"Yes!"

As the night deepened, the modest drinking party suddenly turned into a demonstration stage for the Clear Wind Red Haze Sword.

The members of the Tang family, who had gathered in a crowd, became an audience and looked at Lee Cheongik, who was standing alone in the center of the training ground.

"Hoo..."

Although it was a sudden suggestion, and he had to perform a demonstration like the main character of an opera in front of everyone, Lee Cheongik's expression was calm.

He closes his eyes and faces the wind, as if to cool the flushed alcohol.

Hwii-ing...

As the cold air brushes past his sideburns and scatters, a smile appears on Lee Cheongik's lips.

"Family Head. I will begin."

"Yes. I will watch carefully."

Cheonyeong looked at Lee Cheongik with a more focused gaze than ever before.

And next to him, he said to Yongcheon.

"Yongcheon."

"Yes, Family Head."

"Watch carefully."

"...Yes."

Yongcheon nodded and focused.

It was not to steal and learn the martial arts of the Lee family like with the Welcoming Wind Fist.

It was so as not to miss anything.

Since Yongcheon could see what he couldn't, wouldn't he be able to gain something through him?

Also, the Clear Wind Red Haze Sword.

If it was a sword art of the same kind as the Cheongseong Sect's Blue Cloud Red Haze Sword, he had already seen it, and he had also pondered its counter-method.

Perhaps that was why he might be able to find the answer to the thirteenth change that Lee Cheongik so desired.

Sreureung.

Lee Cheongik's movement began.

The quietly drawn sword was lowered towards the floor.

The swordsman standing under the moonlight gave off a truly noble feeling.

Not everyone can create such an atmosphere.

The night, the moonlight, and the training ground.

What made all of that harmonize was Lee Cheongik's own realm.

The crowd fell silent as if holding their breath at the unique atmosphere exuded by the swordsman who had trained for a long time, yearning for enlightenment.

Seuseut!

The foot goes first, and the sword follows.

Although it moved late, it went ahead and cut the space horizontally.

Then, the gracefully moved sword cut in six directions.

The first sword path.

Starting with that, every time Lee Cheongik's foot made a footprint in various places, the sword reflected the moonlight and completed a sword dance.

"Ah..."

The faces of Lee Wonik, Jinrip, and the Lee family warriors who were watching together were filled with pride.

"Heo-eo..."

Was that all?

The members of the Tang family, who had witnessed the advanced sword principle for the first time in their lives, were captivated by Lee Cheongik's movements with their mouths agape.

Every time the sword flowed, exclamations overflowed.

Sa-a-a!

Entering the second sword path, the atmosphere of the sword changes.

If the first had contained gentleness, the second was like a chilly wind.

And Cheonyeong realized.

Why the sword of the Lee family used the name Clear Wind, not Blue Cloud.

The clouds of the Cheongseong Sect, which he recalled from his faint memory, suited it very well.

Sometimes it was like a piece of cloud floating in the sky, and at other times it had the power of a gloomy dark cloud that pressed down on the world.

But Lee Cheongik's sword was different from theirs.

Conciseness and speed.

Then there was a freedom as if flowing on the wind.

The shape that the sword drew was like that.

As the sword paths were added, the speed of drawing the trajectory became faster, and Lee Cheongik's sword began to rage like a storm.

Hwii-ing!

The gently blowing wind touched the sword in Lee Cheongik's hand, changed violently, and spread in all directions.

Pa-ga-ga-gak!

The floor of the training ground, unable to withstand the energy contained in the sword, was gouged and broken.

The surprise of those watching grew, and the sound of swallowing saliva could be heard from all sides.

"Hmph."

But Cheonyeong's brow deepened like a furrow as he added more forms.

It was indeed a good sword.

The long hours of training were melted into it.

Free.

But why... did it feel like he was constantly missing something?

As he only moved quickly to create a change, the tip of the sword felt chaotic.

It leaves a trace in a place that doesn't seem to be the trajectory it should have originally drawn.

So it is a distortion.

Although he searched his past memories as if ruminating, Lee Cheongik's sword seemed to be a regressed form rather than a developed form of the Blue Cloud Red Haze Sword.

The Seventy-Two Wave Sword?

No way.

If he only focused on the thirteenth change and gained enlightenment, and obtained the Seventy-Two Wave Sword at the Assembly of Elders...

He would stop.

His sword, which had missed what he should have known first, would be established in a form that was neither this nor that.

He would become a mediocre swordsman without growing any further.

"Hoo..."

When Cheonyeong's brow had deepened as much as it could and could not be furrowed any further.

"Heok, heok."

Lee Cheongik's sword stops.

His face, smiling with a refreshing expression, was full of sweat.

Somehow, it was refreshing.

Although he had trained in the Clear Wind Red Haze Sword, he couldn't remember the last time he had done it so satisfactorily.

"Big Brother!"

"Alright."

"You are amazing. Truly amazing. This younger brother... this younger brother..."

The moment the demonstration ended, Lee Wonik ran towards his brother.

Lee Cheongik, who stroked the head of his younger brother who was whimpering with eyes full of pride, looked for Cheonyeong with a proud expression.

But why...

Lee Cheongik tilted his head at the sight of Cheonyeong, who seemed to be engulfed in thought with a deeply furrowed face.

"Family Head... Tang?"

Although Lee Cheongik called him, Cheonyeong did not answer.

He was deep in thought, even with his eyes closed.

After repeatedly talking seriously with Yongcheon, he said to Lee Cheongik in a chilly voice.

"Brother Lee."

"Yes?"

"Was that your best?"

"My best...? What do you mean?"

"If that was your best... you might have to put down your sword."

"Pardon?"

Lee Cheongik's eyes widened at the even cynical evaluation.

Of course, it was natural that Lee Wonik, who was next to him, was angry.

"What does that mean! How dare this person! What do you know to say such a thing!"

He was in a mood to fight right away.

It wasn't just Lee Wonik.

The Lee family warriors, including Jinrip, immediately showed a hostility full of killing intent towards Cheonyeong.

But Cheonyeong, without paying any attention to their reaction, only looked at Lee Cheongik.

"Wonik."

"Pardon?"

"Step aside."

"Big Brother! It's the evaluation of a country bumpkin who knows nothing."

"Ahem!"

Lee Cheongik's eyes hardened and he glared at Wonik's words.

"He is the family head of a family. He must have said it because he felt something, but how can you speak so carelessly!"

"...But, he was the one who said harsh words first."

Lee Wonik pouted and grumbled at Lee Cheongik's scolding.

Since he had belittled his proud brother, it was a natural reaction as a younger brother.

"Hoo, step back."

"...Yes."

Lee Cheongik pushes his younger brother away and faces Cheonyeong.

"Family Head Tang."

"...Yes."

"Why did you say such a thing? By any chance, could you explain the reason?"

Although Lee Cheongik's tone was as polite as before, a faint anger was underlying his voice.

He couldn't help but be angry that his sword, which he had been full of confidence in, had been criticized.

At his words, Cheonyeong pondered for a moment, then stepped forward as if he had decided something.

"I can't explain it with words."

"...Pardon?"

"If it's not a discourtesy, would you not cross swords with me?"

"Swords?"

"Yes."

Lee Cheongik nods at the sight of Cheonyeong, who has already drawn a sword and come out to the training ground.

He wanted to know.

Why he had said he might have to put down his sword.

And he wanted to prove it.

That his sword was at least this good, to a person named Tang Cheonyeong.

"Alright. I will."

Lee Cheongik takes a stance, lowering his sword towards the floor as he did at first.

But.

"Brother Lee."

"Please speak."

"Do not hold back your sword."

"...Pardon?"

"If you don't walk the line between life and death, you won't seem to understand what I mean."

The corners of Lee Cheongik's eyes twitch at Cheonyeong's words.

Although he knew he had to be polite, he was also a man, and a warrior.

He did not like Cheonyeong's words, which seemed to look down on his martial prowess.

"Please do not blame my sword for having no eyes."

A sword originally has no eyes.

But surely that's not what he meant?

It meant he would use killing moves.

Cheonyeong, who smiled faintly, takes the same stance as Lee Cheongik.

He recalled the method he had used to defeat the first-generation disciple of the Cheongseong Sect in the past, and was now trying to reproduce it.

"Hoo..."

Cheonyeong, who had lightly controlled his breath, opens his closed eyes.

It was a gloomy gaze.

One that felt no sympathy for life.

He was going to go back for a moment.

For the young swordsman who wanted to surpass the Cheongseong Sect, to a time as an assassin that he had wanted to forget.

"Then... shall we begin?"

Cheonyeong's voice spreads eerily.

Like that of a terrifying something on one side of a married couple.

And then.

"Umm."

Lee Cheongik's eyes frown at the killing intent that sticks to his body like glue.

This person... what is he?

The anger at his sword being criticized had already disappeared, and a burning tension made his heart pound.

Although he seemed to be just standing, he felt as if a sharp sword was hanging long and aiming for his neck like the fangs of a snake.

He couldn't move.

His feet wouldn't lift, as if his body had become several times heavier.

Although he knew he was strong, such a presence...

Wasn't it a level he couldn't handle?

But.

Kkadeuk!

Lee Cheongik grits his teeth and extends his foot.

Pa-ha-hak!

The sword shot out like a thrown spear along with the extended foot.

And the change that occurred at the end, as it wavered.

Until then, Cheonyeong just watched indifferently and did not move.

I've got him!

Lee Cheongik was sure of his victory.

But.

Ttaa-ang!

The moment the sword was about to reach, Cheonyeong's sword, which had been heard, was struck down hard towards the floor.

Heavy, and heavier.

Jjaeng-geu-rang, jja-reu-reu-reu.

Lee Cheongik's sword, which fell to the floor and made a loud noise.

And the tip of Cheonyeong's extended sword was touching Lee Cheongik's Adam's apple.

"Your sword... is too light."

(End of Chapter)