Chapter 33: Obtaining a Martial Art and Sworn Siblings (2)
In his past life, when he led the merchant union, Yong Hwarin never drank any alcohol unless it was Golden Spring Clear.
Because of that, even now, he mostly drank Golden Spring Clear. Having acquired a taste for it, he couldn’t drink anything else.
The problem was that this liquor was so rare and expensive that it couldn’t be found just anywhere.
So whenever there was a place where he could get Golden Spring Clear, Yong Hwarin never missed the chance to drink it.
Now, after following Yong Hwarin around, even the Two Wook Sword Demons had developed a taste for it. If someone mentioned Golden Spring Clear, they would spring up from their sleep.
The mood was so good that Jong Seok, unable to resist, joined their conversation.
“Hahaha, that’s quite a dashing nickname as well.”
Jong Munhye hadn’t seen her brother laugh like that in a long time.
No, it felt like it had been years.
Though they weren’t blood-related, she had followed him like a real brother from long ago, and now, there was no real difference between them and actual siblings.
That was why she now used his surname and called him brother.
At first, it was to conceal her identity, but now she truly thought of herself as Jong Seok’s younger sister.
Seeing Yong Hwarin call such a brother a friend so casually and treat him with such ease made her feel incredibly grateful.
To her, Yong Hwarin was like a savior who had rescued them from a miserable existence.
When the Two Wook Sword Demons realized they were being pushed out of the conversation, they quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, where did Instructor Mo go?”
The moment he finished speaking, a two-horse carriage pulled up in front of them.
And from the driver’s seat, Mo Biyoung lightly jumped down.
“Huh? Aren’t those my horse and the Young Master’s horse pulling the carriage?”
She looked surprised and pointed it out.
“I just wanted to enjoy the trip a little more comfortably. I hope you’ll understand.”
The Two Wook Sword Demons didn’t complain, knowing it was for the sake of the ailing Jong Munhye. Instead, Namwook made a joke so she wouldn’t feel bad.
“Does this mean you’re telling me to become a coachman now that my horse is pulling a carriage?”
Yong Hwarin smiled as he looked at Namwook.
“Didn’t you say yesterday that if you could drink Golden Spring Clear, you’d be a coachman without regret? A man wouldn’t go back on his word, would he?”
Namwook looked at Yong Hwarin with a shocked expression, his hands trembling slightly.
“Don’t tell me you foresaw this situation and made me promise that yesterday? If so, you’re truly terrifying.”
Everyone burst out laughing at Namwook’s exaggerated reaction.
“Do I always have to be the coachman?”
Yong Hwarin shook his head.
“No. Whoever sits in the driver’s seat that day gets to drink Golden Spring Clear with me.”
“Then there’s no way I’m giving up the coachman seat.”
This time, Jungwook jumped in, ready to take the reins. Mo Biyoung let out a deep sigh, while Jong Munhye, watching their antics, turned to Jong Seok with a bright expression.
“I think you made the right choice, brother. Traveling with them, I feel like even my illness will be cured. It’s like seeing my old fellow disciples again.”
Seeing Jong Munhye gaze fondly at Yong Hwarin and the Two Wook Sword Demons, Jong Seok felt a pang in his chest.
‘Young Lady, forgive me.’
But seeing the Two Wook Sword Demons bicker over who’d sit in the driver’s seat, he smiled with his teeth showing.
They were truly delightful people.
*
They had long since left Fengliang Prefecture behind.
At first, the carriage had difficulty moving.
The horses Yong Hwarin and Namwook rode weren’t used to pulling a carriage and couldn’t manage it well.
But after about half a double-hour, the horses seemed to have adjusted slightly and started picking up speed. Inside the carriage rode Yong Hwarin and the Jong siblings, while Mo Biyoung and Jungwook flanked them on horseback, guarding them.
“You have fine escorts.”
“They’re a bit chatty, but they’re good people.”
Jong Seok asked a question that had been on his mind.
“But Young Master Yong, you’re the Young Master of a sect. Why do you treat your escorts so courteously? Most people would look down on them, wouldn’t they? Besides, they don’t seem like outsiders but inner disciples.”
“They may be disciples of the sect, but they’re also my father the clan head’s men. How could I look down on them? Besides, I’m also learning from them, so I treat them with the respect due to a teacher.”
Jong Seok nodded.
Though Yong Hwarin seemed carefree, it was clear he had proper manners.
“Seeing you makes me wonder what kind of place the Heavenly Central Sect is.”
Yong Hwarin seized the chance as soon as Jong Seok said that.
“Brother Jong, you’ve signed a one-year contract with me, so you’ll be staying at my house for at least a year.”
“Ah, so that’s why you paid so much money?”
“No, that was just the down payment. Once you return to my home, I’ll also have to pay you an escort fee.”
Seeing Jong Seok looking a bit flustered, Yong Hwarin pressed the point.
“Stay at my place until your sister is cured. After that, I won’t stop you from going anywhere.”
Jong Seok shook his head.
“It’s not that. I’m just concerned that, due to my personal circumstances, I might bring trouble to you or your clan.”
“I don’t know what your situation is, but while I may not offer a grand sanctuary, I can provide at least a modest fence.”
Jong Seok and Jong Munhye clasped their hands and bowed.
“Thank you for your generosity, Young Master Yong.”
Yong Hwarin already knew what they were worried about.
They were afraid that the Three Demonic Heavens, who had destroyed their family, might come after them again.
But having lived through the future, Yong Hwarin knew things wouldn’t unfold that way. Besides, more than the potential danger, Jong Seok’s power was what intrigued him more.
At first, Jong Munhye had been uncomfortable sharing the same carriage with Yong Hwarin, who still felt like a stranger. But after three or four days, they had grown familiar enough that the cramped space didn’t bother her anymore.
“By the way, may I ask something I’ve been curious about? It’s about martial arts…”
Jong Seok cautiously brought up the question that had been stuck in his mind.
At that, Yong Hwarin smiled inwardly.
‘I deliberately showed him some of my skills, so he must’ve been dying of curiosity all this time.’
To make Jong Seok truly his, he needed the right trigger.
“The martial arts you showed while fighting Gocheok… was that your family’s secret technique?”
Jong Munhye frowned slightly at her brother’s sudden question about someone else’s martial arts. In the martial world, asking such a thing could easily lead to drawn swords or lifelong grudges.
“Yes, it’s a family technique. I heard that our ancestor once learned it from someone, long ago. But unfortunately, even our clan doesn’t know who that person was.”
Jong Seok hadn’t seen it personally, but he had once heard that one of the now-lost techniques of the Hidden Saint Cult resembled the one Yong Hwarin used.
One of the cult’s Protectors had suddenly gone into seclusion, and his martial arts remained incomplete within the Hidden Saint Cult.
The technique Yong Hwarin used had a formation similar to that, so it was no surprise Jong Seok was taken aback.
And now, Yong Hwarin had said that even the origin of the martial art wasn’t clearly known.
If so, though it might be an excessive leap, Yong Seok couldn't help but wonder if the Heavenly Central Sect’s family martial arts had been passed down by a Protector of the Hidden Saint Cult.
"Young Master Yong, your martial arts are quite astonishing. I've always wanted to witness them firsthand someday."
"Is that so? I, too, was deeply impressed after seeing yours, Brother Jong. I’ve never seen such powerful techniques. In that case, shall we have a friendly duel after dinner?"
Yong Hwarin saying exactly what he had wanted to say made Jong Seok feel grateful.
"I’d be happy to."
As he spoke, Yong Hwarin felt a new desire begin to sprout.
He already knew that Jong Seok was a descendant of the Hidden Saint Cult, and that the sword techniques of his own clan all originated from that same cult.
He wondered—just maybe—if he could coax him a bit, he might be able to acquire one of the Hidden Saint Cult’s internal arts.
In truth, using demonic cultivation techniques recklessly was dangerous. If they weren’t compatible with one’s body, it could lead to Qi Deviation.
That said, training in demonic arts didn’t automatically make one a criminal of the martial world, nor did it turn them into a target of orthodox sects.
If a technique too obviously belonged to the demonic path, then action might be taken. But even orthodox factions didn’t openly reject demonic methods—especially for the sake of maintaining balance in the martial world or advancing martial arts knowledge.
However, when prestigious sects attacked or went to war with another sect, they usually used the origin of their martial arts as justification.
The Heavenly Central Sect would later be dragged into such a conflict, and that exact justification would be used by other sects to attack them.
But ultimately, all of that was just an excuse. The real reason was always the same—the sect was simply too weak.
In martial clans, because they had fewer advanced techniques than the Nine Great Sects, they often went out of their way to accept high-level demonic martial arts.
They would revise and supplement demonic techniques and develop them into their own unique clan arts.
No one dared to say anything about that.
Because the martial clans were powerful.
That evening, the two of them purposely stayed at an inn on the outskirts of a village, and then left, each carrying a sword, heading to a place devoid of people.
As he drew his sword, Yong Hwarin said,
"As I said before, I didn’t believe you gave it your all when fighting Gocheok. Please show me that power now."
"Hahaha, if you want to see my hidden strength, you’ll have to push me into a corner."
Jong Seok didn’t deny it.
Just as Yong Hwarin had said, he hadn’t gone all out.
There had been too many watching eyes back then.
If he had used his true inner techniques, there was a risk that those tracking the Hidden Saint Cult might have identified him.
So instead, he had fought Gocheok using techniques unrelated to the cult.
"Then I’ll begin."
Jong Seok, eager to see Yong Hwarin’s martial arts, made the first move.
Yong Hwarin had nothing to hide and responded with the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword.
Clang!
Sparks burst from their clashing swords, lighting up the darkening evening in a brilliant display.
Though it was a duel, both had come with the intent to observe and study each other’s martial arts, so they refrained from launching reckless strong attacks.
‘As expected, Young Master Yong’s martial arts are familiar. Martial Uncle No. 3 once explained this sword art and demonstrated a few moves—it’s slightly different in form, but the foundation is the same.’
"May I ask the name of your sword art?"
"It’s called the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword."
Jong Seok nodded and fell into thought, while Yong Hwarin smiled faintly.
‘As I thought, there's no doubt about it. Yong Hwarin’s Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword is a modified version of the Demonic Dragon Emperor Sword. But this is strange… The Demonic Dragon Emperor Sword I saw Martial Uncle No. 3 use was incredibly powerful—easily one of the top-tier arts among the Protectors. So what’s the issue here?’
It was something Jong Seok couldn’t understand.
He didn’t know that the founder of the Heavenly Central Sect had discarded the internal arts and kept only the sword techniques.
The more they dueled, the more convinced Jong Seok became that Yong Hwarin’s swordplay originated from the Hidden Saint Cult.
And the more he realized it, the more regret he felt.
Why had the power of the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword been reduced to the level of an ordinary Hidden Saint Cult martial artist?
But it wasn’t something he could just confess to Yong Hwarin, so the thoughts only added to his troubles.
Yong Hwarin, fully aware of what was going through Jong Seok’s mind, pretended not to notice.