Chapter 64

Chapter 64
Throughout the Murim Alliance, the sudden harmony established between Baek So-cheon and Ak So-gun became the single topic on everyone’s lips.

No matter who crossed paths, the conversation inevitably drifted there. Previously, strict secrecy had confined Baek So-cheon’s very name to the upper echelons of the key units, but now the entire fortress buzzed with rumors about him.

“Is it true the Lord and Captain Baek settled their feud?”

“Not only did he hand back the seized blade, but witnesses saw them strolling shoulder to shoulder.”

“What a tremendous relief.”

“What could have caused such bad blood between them in the first place?”

“Whispers say it was all a dreadful error in understanding, which has now been fully set right.”

“Whatever the cause, isn’t this an incredible blessing for our Alliance?”

Every reaction carried a positive tone. Even Chung Yang had refrained from flying into an outrage, leaving the general mood thoroughly uplifted.

Naturally, those holding the closest ties to Baek So-cheon felt the greatest joy—most of all Beon Saeng and Im Choong.

“Hyung-nim reconciling with the Lord has turned the whole Alliance upside down with excitement.”

Im Choong chuckled warmly alongside Beon Saeng, whose spirits were buoyant enough to make him seem afloat.

“It truly is a stroke of fortune.”

“Do you still recall it? That afternoon big hyung-nim strode right into the Mun-seong branch, casually declaring, ‘I’m the newcomer, Baek So-cheon’?”

“Could anyone possibly wipe that from memory? The simpleton who marched out to put a recruit in his place came walking back as his devoted younger sibling.”

“Hahaha! That preposterous turn of events brought us all this way.”

“Too true, entirely true.”

Both men indulged in the fond recollection, laughing over the absurd past.

“Destiny is truly impossible to foresee. Just a few months back, could I ever have pictured myself bowing in greeting to the Murim Alliance Lord at daybreak?”

“My situation is no different. The martial artists of Bi-gak now sleep and dine according to my word. Could anyone have dreamed of such a thing?”

After all, he handled every facet of Hyun-cheon-dae’s administration—ranging from their uniforms to their supplies, each allocated solely under his directive.

Yet both possessed keen minds and understood the reality behind their fortune.

“Hyung-nim, this Murim world may well be far more perilous now than before.”

Was that the reason behind such dizzying shifts in fortune?

Im Choong gave an introspective nod. Within an existence where no one could predict what lay an inch ahead, a man had only one proper path: to live each fleeting moment with sincerity. True happiness was never about attaining a prize, but about uncovering what already existed.

“Drop by my quarters tonight. We should share a meal.”

“Haha, much obliged.”

“Think nothing of it. I’ll simply have Chan pester you into teaching him a stance or two of martial arts.”

“Haha, how could I refuse the boy? Whose child is he, after all? I’ll make sure to earn my portion of the food.”

As the world around them shifted, the bond between them grew only firmer.

At that very moment, while Im Choong and Beon Saeng sat down to dine, Ak So-gun and Je-gal Hyeon were sharing cups of liquor within the Lord’s private quarters.

The divide that had plagued Ak So-gun had not touched Baek So-cheon alone. Its bitter wake had strained his connection with Je-gal Hyeon as well.

“You must have suffered immense distress and resentment on my account.”

“Not in the least, my Lord. If anyone should seek forgiveness, it ought to be me.”

“What could you possibly need to apologize for?”

“Is it not my foremost responsibility to see through and dismantle such treacherous schemes?”

“We stood in the thick of war when the Go Clan sprang their trap—locked in its bitterest, most desperate hour. Do you recall? Did we possess even a single day of unclouded clarity? How could anyone expect you to foil enemies who weaponized that chaos against us?”

“Your generous understanding humbles me.”

“Beside So-cheon, no one has earned greater distinction than yourself. Come, finish this cup.”

Both men drained their vessels in unison.

A deep sense of relief washed over Je-gal Hyeon. How much time had slipped away since he last spoke with Ak So-gun with such unburdened sincerity?

As their conversation settled into an easy rhythm, Je-gal Hyeon brought up the topic of Baek So-cheon.

“Throughout these past three years, Captain Baek had to bear an agonizing weight upon his shoulders.”

The Lord was not the only one who had suffered; Baek So-cheon had weathered an equally torturous period.

“I have no doubt of it.”

“If the prey targeted by the Go Clan had been anyone other than yourself and Captain Baek, matters would never have resolved like this.”

These were not idle words of flattery. Had the thread of affection snapped on either side, total devastation would have been the only outcome.

Just then, On Byeok-hwa stepped into the room.

“What has brought such cheer to the two of you?”

“Come, join our table. Share a cup with us.”

Ak So-gun shifted his gaze toward Je-gal Hyeon.

“I sent for her to come here. You do not mind, do you?”

“Not at all.”

Je-gal Hyeon offered her an accommodating smile.

“Please, make yourself comfortable.”

“Then I shall intrude upon your pleasant gathering for a short while.”

On Byeok-hwa took her place among them.

Once another round of liquor had been poured and shared, Ak So-gun turned his attention directly to Je-gal Hyeon.

“There is a matter I wish to share with you.”

“I am listening, Lord.”

He had already anticipated as much. There would be no reason to bring the master of Bi-gak into an intimate gathering of reconciliation without a clear purpose.

“The truth is, the two of us harbor deep affections for one another.”

Je-gal Hyeon was visibly taken aback. While he had sensed an undercurrent of familiarity between them and On Byeok-hwa, he had not anticipated a declaration of romance.

Collecting himself swiftly, he clasped his hands together in a formal show of respect.

“Allow me to offer my heartfelt congratulations.”

“I am not entirely certain it warrants congratulations.”

“Why should it not? Both of you are unwed, are you not? It is nothing short of a joyous occasion for the whole Alliance.”

“It brings me relief to hear you view it in that light. Though I suspect others may not be so kind.”

“I believe I grasp your hesitation, my Lord. Yet I know you draw an absolute boundary between public obligations and private feelings. If I might venture to ask: will this in any way compromise her duties as the head of Bi-gak?”

“It will not. My feelings for her only took root long after she assumed the seat of the clan.”

“Then my faith in you remains absolute, Lord. If you proclaim it so, the realm will accept it. Those determined to whisper malice would do so regardless of how flawlessly you conduct your duties.”

“Your reassurance means a great deal to me.”

“I merely appreciate your willingness to be so forthright.”

“For now, let us keep this between ourselves. Ah, though I intend to deliver the news to So-cheon with my own mouth.”

“Understood.”

The three companions continued drinking in great spirits. A profound weight felt lifted from Ak So-gun’s chest. Je-gal Hyeon was someone who deserved to know the truth before almost anyone else. Had the ordeal with Baek So-cheon not consumed his attention, he would have confided in him far earlier.

As their casual dialogue resumed, Je-gal Hyeon inquired,

“Where might Captain Baek be at present?”

“I granted him a period of rest.”

“A period of rest?”

Ak So-gun broke into an amused chuckle.

“He is enjoying a magnificent respite in an exceptional sanctuary.”

Submerged within the waters of the Dragon Spring, Baek So-cheon methodically guided his inner energy along its meridians.

A full ten days had drifted by since he first stepped into this realm.

His days were spent entirely in relaxed cultivation amid the thermal pool, refining the Thousand-Handed Asura God Sword.

The chaos of the outside world had vanished from his thoughts. With Ak So-gun restored to his right mind, there was nothing left to fret over. Should a dire crisis emerge, someone would come knocking—allowing him to unwind completely.

He structured his regimen into three deliberate fractions: one, three, and six.

A single measure was dedicated to the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists.

Though he intended to push the discipline to its ultimate boundary, it served merely as a complementary skill, meaning a minimal investment of time was sufficient.

Three measures were directed toward the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method.

The mystical pool continuously gathered an immense ocean of internal power—and beyond simply expanding his reserves, it served to elevate his cultivation stage.

At present, he lingered at the three-star stage.

This advancement had not stemmed from any sudden martial epiphany, but rather emerged naturally through persistent, uninterrupted cycles of circulation.

Reaching greater mastery made the flow of qi effortless, expanded its volume, and refined its raw quality into absolute purity.

Cultivation arts always advanced rapidly during their early stages before hitting a stubborn wall.

His intention before departing this place was to break through to the four-star threshold.

Lastly, six full measures were devoted entirely to the Thousand-Handed Asura God Sword.

He aimed to forge this technique into his ultimate signature art. Far eclipsing any martial craft he had previously wielded, its impossible swiftness ignited his desire to conquer the unattainable—a feat that resonated perfectly with his inner temperament.

With his energy circulation complete, Baek So-cheon stepped out of the water.

Emerging from the thermal spring, his frame felt as buoyant as down, as if he might take flight at any second.

He took his sustenance directly from the preserved jar.

Though utterly isolated, he felt no sting of loneliness. He could easily endure a year, or even two, enclosed within this solitude without complaint.

Even the most brutal, exhausting drills brought a deep tranquility to his heart.

It was absolute proof that he was born to live by the blade.

Having finished his practice with the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists prior to entering the spring, the remaining hours belonged entirely to the sword.

Baek So-cheon channeled his supreme energy into the Ghost Shadow Sword.

The infusion of over a century’s worth of refined power provoked a sharp, spectral wail—the unmistakable resonance of the blade. On the bloody field of war, that sound alone struck sheer horror into the hearts of men.

He immediately reigned the surge back in. For simple training, such excessive force had no place.

“Hah!”

First Form: Heavenly Pivot Style cast out more than ten radiant sword-trajectories into the empty air.

He was far from finished. Before those shimmering arcs could fade, an entirely new pattern of light sprang to life.

Second Form: Heavenly Spinner Style.

It required fewer strokes than the first—four piercing strikes darting east, west, south, and north, interlocking seamlessly to strike down encircling adversaries.

Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak!

The moment the second pattern concluded, Baek So-cheon let out a spirited shout.

“I have done it.”

The entire sequence of the second form had reached completion before the trails of the first could dissipate into nothingness.

It was a triumph forged across ten days of unbroken effort—an achievement reachable by no one but him.

Yet that flash of contentment was fleeting; the third technique immediately brought frustration, and ultimately, a burst of wry laughter.

Third Form: Heavenly Jewel Style required fourteen distinct swings of the blade.

“To maintain the trails of light all the way through the seventh stroke? Hahaha.”

The sheer impossibility of the requirement drew a disbelieving laugh from his throat.

It bordered on the absurd.

Even so, he refused to turn back. Once his resolve was fixed, he was determined to gaze upon the ultimate vision promised by this supreme art.

“Once more!”

Tightening his grip upon the hilt, he plunged back into the pattern.

Another ten days swept by.

He had now spent a total of twenty days enclosed within the cavern.

Baek So-cheon became entirely consumed by a trance of cultivation—the most relentless dedication he had ever shown in his life.

The initial harvest of this labor arrived: the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method crossed into the four-star realm. This was not the fruit of a complex martial revelation; mental techniques were inextricably tied to the practitioner’s inner state of tranquility.

No mind could possibly be more serene and unburdened than his was at this moment.

Reaching four stars felt like the natural reward granted by that profound peace.

The higher stage significantly accelerated his energy accumulation and deepened its refinement.

Any lingering concern that the diverse internal energies within his physical vessel might obstruct him was dispelled as his development surged forward without a single hitch.

Meanwhile, he had mastered the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists up through the Fifth Fist: Moonlit Starfall. Its destructive potential was terrifying when unleashed with his full internal reserves—it was almost a pity he could not display its complete force here, lest the cavern collapse upon his head.

Regardless, the fifth strike had been thoroughly absorbed into his muscle and bone.

Yet his primary obsession remained the Thousand-Handed Asura God Sword.

Baek So-cheon found himself utterly mesmerized by its blistering velocity.

The deeper his comprehension grew, the more demanding the execution became. Had he attempted to grasp this art in his earlier days, he would never have unlocked its secrets—nor would he have fallen so deeply under its spell.

Shik! Shik! Shik! Shik! Shik! Shik! Shik! Shik!

The Third Form painted the air with fourteen blinding slashes of steel.

However, the initial arcs of the first pattern had already dissolved; only the final trace of the second lingered briefly before dissolving away, followed in turn by all fourteen arcs of the third.

“Whew. This is no simple feat.”

While he had not yet attained the preternatural speed needed to preserve every stroke simultaneously, his advancement was nothing short of miraculous.

The execution of the third form now unfolded with fluid grace.

Even the ancient master who had conceived this style would find it impossible to believe that a man could unleash the third form cleanly within a mere twenty-one days.

Of course, that creator could never have anticipated that the reigning supreme master of the entire realm would be the one practicing it.

Drained to his limits by the unending sword forms, he slipped once more into the waters of the Dragon Spring to mend his fatigued body.

As the soothing energy revived him, Baek So-cheon let out an amused chuckle to the empty stone chamber.

For the first time since stepping inside, a faint longing stirred within his chest—not for the Alliance Lord, nor Je-gal Hyeon, nor Beon Saeng, nor Im Choong.

Entirely without warning, his thoughts had wandered to Cheon-geuk.

He caught himself wishing she were standing right beside him—bantering, teasing, and sharing her dry wit.

What in the world am I dwelling on!

Splash.

Shaking the idle daydream from his thoughts, he dipped beneath the surface, then broke through the water once more.

His silhouette instantly blurred into a flurry of motion.

Heavenly Pivot, Heavenly Spinner, Heavenly Jewel!

All three styles erupted in sequence, carving blinding tracks of light through the air.

He could not view the patterns he carved with his own eyes—yet any spectator watching from afar would have caught fleeting, brilliant glimpses of the majestic portrait flashing into being before dissolving away.

“Haaaaap!”

His powerful, resonant shout reverberated across the cavern, claiming the solitary time and space that belonged solely to him.