The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

"Rest well before you go up."

At O Yoran's advice, Jin Sohyun rested to his heart's content.

Of course, for Jin Sohyun, a sufficient rest meant lying around and lazing about for about five days.

This time, he spent a whopping week lazing around with minimal movement.

Nevertheless, the two masters did not rush Jin Sohyun, and even Kang Cheon, who was supposed to be waiting in front of the peak, did not look for Jin Sohyun.

"This feels strange."

The great Jin Sohyun got up from his bed on his own and came out of the hut.

"By now, Master Kang should be shouting at me, asking why I'm not coming..."

Something was strange.

Kang Cheon did not come, and O Yoran and Bieunggaek didn't even pay attention to Jin Sohyun so that he could rest as much as he wanted.

Thanks to that, he was able to rest well for a week, but one side of his chest felt stuffy and uncomfortable, as if it were blocked.

"Have you rested enough?"

As Jin Sohyun, who had become one with his bed, finally came out, Bieunggaek approached him.

"I've rested, though it was insufficient."

"I see."

Bieunggaek, who should have shouted, "How can you say it's insufficient when you've been lying around and lazing for a week!", was smiling gently.

Only then did Jin Sohyun realize that something was wrong.

"Um... Master Bi?"

"Yes?"

"Am I... going to die soon?"

"..."

Bieunggaek, who would have asked what nonsense he was spouting so early in the morning, was silent.

Jin Sohyun's face, who had gotten his answer from his silence, turned pale.

"I-Is Master Kang planning to kill me?"

"That... probably not."

Feeling Bieunggaek's voice tremble, Jin Sohyun turned his body and moved busily to go down the mountain.

Since there was no luggage to pack separately, he put the daegeum he had received as a gift from O Yoran and the small pouch containing Bieunggaek's gift in his bosom and then clasped his fists to his two masters.

"I will never forget the teachings of my two masters. And please give my regards to Master Kang..."

"Wouldn't it be better to deliver it yourself?"

At the sound of Kang Cheon's voice from behind him, Jin Sohyun's neck shrank.

"M-Master Kang."

"I was waiting and waiting, but you didn't come, so I came to see... where are you going?"

"Haha... I heard there's a big problem at the family estate, so I was just about to check. May I go for a moment? I'll be back within the day."

"Haha! No."

"..."

"From now on, do not say a single word and follow me."

At Kang Cheon's cold voice, as if he had a blade in his mouth, Jin Sohyun walked with his shoulders and head slumped like a livestock being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

In the meantime, he sent a pleading gaze to his two masters, but O Yoran and Bieunggaek, who had already been told by Kang Cheon not to interfere at all, had to ignore their disciple's desperate gaze.

As Jin Sohyun was dragged away by Kang Cheon, O Yoran said with a deep sigh.

"We agreed not to interfere with each other's teachings, so I'll turn a blind eye this time, but if Sohyun gets hurt... I won't stand by then."

At O Yoran's warning, Bieunggaek shrugged.

"You should say that to Kang Cheon, not me."

"Hoo... are you sure? That Elder Kang won't hurt Sohyun?"

"He won't kill him."

"What!?"

"Even while being tested on your sound art and my movement technique, Sohyun faced several crises. He was actually hurt in mind and body. How much more so with the martial arts he learned from Kang Cheon, which are for killing people."

Bieunggaek said with a serious expression for the first time.

"In a place where killing martial arts are being tested... do you really believe he won't get hurt?"

"..."

At O Yoran's silence, Bieunggaek let out a deep sigh.

"We can only... believe in Sohyun's talent."

***

In front of the last peak, Kang Cheon handed Jin Sohyun ten flying swords.

They were real swords with sharp blades.

"Do you remember the teachings so far?"

"Yes. I remember."

"I'll say it only once. You will have to use all of the Flying Heaven Ten Swords you have learned."

Having said this, Kang Cheon took his share of nine flying swords and turned his back.

"I will throw nine flying swords at you. If you block all of them and aim the last flying sword at me... you win."

Having finished his explanation, Kang Cheon moved away from Jin Sohyun by a distance of thirty jang.

Kang Cheon, who had widened the distance, took the first flying sword in his hand.

"Concentrate. The first move."

"Yes!"

At the same time as he answered, Jin Sohyun had to throw his first flying sword.

This was because Kang Cheon's flying sword, which had flown in the blink of an eye, was aimed precisely at his glabella.

Clang—!

The two flying swords collided in mid-air and were deflected.

'Master is serious...'

His heart pounded violently.

If his reaction had been even a little slower, his head would have been split by Kang Cheon's flying sword.

"Second move."

Kang Cheon's flying sword flew at the speed of the wind and this time aimed for Jin Sohyun's chest.

Jin Sohyun also did not back down and sent a flying sword flying.

Clang—!

Watching the two flying swords being deflected, Jin Sohyun swallowed dryly.

'It's getting closer.'

The speed was the same as the first move, but the power contained was different.

Kang Cheon's flying sword had flown closer than before, and Jin Sohyun's deflected flying sword had gone further.

"Third move."

The third flying sword flew in, creating a fierce gust of wind.

The realm of Wind Flow.

Towards the flying sword that was creating a wind, Jin Sohyun also imbued his flying sword with the power of Wind Flow and threw it.

The two flying swords, creating a gust of wind, collided in mid-air.

Kwa-ga-ga-gang—!

A gust of wind blew, and the two flying swords were deflected into the air.

This time too, Kang Cheon's flying sword came a little closer.

'At this rate, my master's flying sword will reach my body.'

There was no more room to control his power.

Jin Sohyun raised his internal energy without reservation and waited for the fourth move.

Finally, Kang Cheon raised his fourth flying sword.

"Fourth move."

Swoosh— Crackle!

Kang Cheon's flying sword, imbued with the power of Lightning Flash, flew in, emitting a blue light, and Jin Sohyun, who had been prepared in advance, also threw a flying sword.

Jin Sohyun's flying sword, also imbued with the power of Lightning Flash, collided with Kang Cheon's.

Bang!!

The condensed air exploded, and a gust of wind blew.

"Keuk!"

Jin Sohyun found it difficult to even keep his eyes open in the blowing wind pressure.

"Fifth move."

Without even a moment to catch his breath, Kang Cheon's fifth flying sword flew in, imbued with lightning.

Its speed was incomparably faster than before, and the power it contained was immense.

Jin Sohyun gritted his teeth and threw a flying sword, and the two's flying swords collided again.

Kwa-ga-gang—!!

Jin Sohyun's body staggered, and his waist bent backward.

'No!'

Instinctively realizing that the moment his posture broke, he would be killed by Kang Cheon's flying sword, Jin Sohyun used all his strength to correct his posture.

And he grabbed the sixth flying sword to face the sixth move.

"Sixth move."

The power contained in the sixth flying sword was terrifying.

With a roar of tearing air, the flying sword, imbued with lightning, was shot towards Jin Sohyun.

Jin Sohyun also threw a flying sword to match it.

Kwa-a-ang—!!

With a roar that could not be seen as a sound made by the collision of a flying sword and a flying sword, Jin Sohyun's figure staggered greatly.

"Cough!"

Blood that had flowed backward burst from his open mouth.

"Puh— Puu!"

A mixture of saliva and blood flowed from between his lips.

Without even a moment to wipe it, Jin Sohyun had to grab the seventh flying sword.

"Seventh move."

At the sight of Kang Cheon preparing the seventh flying sword, Jin Sohyun even felt a sense of wonder.

'Is he really planning to kill me?'

Even with the sixth move, Jin Sohyun was already reaching his limit.

And yet, there were three flying swords left.

Judging from his experience so far, it was clear that the remaining three moves would contain an energy that could not be described.

'If I don't realize it, I will die.'

Kang Cheon sent the seventh flying sword flying towards Jin Sohyun, who was looking at him with a bewildered face.

Jin Sohyun sent a flying sword flying towards the seventh flying sword that had flown in mercilessly.

Kwa-ang—!!

Jin Sohyun staggered and spewed blood.

And O Yoran, who was watching this secretly, could no longer bear it and was about to step forward, but Bieunggaek grabbed her shoulder and pressed her down.

—What are you doing! At this rate, Sohyun will die!

—Believe in Sohyun! He's not a guy who will break so easily.

The two, while exchanging telepathic messages, stared at Jin Sohyun, who was finally getting up, with worried eyes.

And Jin Sohyun, who had barely gotten up, took the eighth flying sword in his trembling hand.

—Do you know the saying, 'He who strikes first, wins'?

—It means that the one who attacks first will surely win.

—That's right. The same goes for martial arts. That's why a master yields the first move to a lower-level practitioner. Then do you know why the first move is important?

—Hmm... because the one who attacks first can continue the fight according to their own flow.

—Haha! Correct! For once, you're saying something right. It's the same for all martial arts, but in the Flying Sword Technique, it's especially important to take the first move. We are those who have a martial art of 'one move, certain death'. You must have the mindset to kill the opponent with each and every move. Otherwise...

"I... will die."

Jin Sohyun recalled Kang Cheon's teachings and glared at him.

The moment he saw him take the flying sword in his hand, Jin Sohyun sent a flying sword flying first.

As the flying sword, imbued with the power of Lightning Flash, approached at lightning speed, Kang Cheon smiled.

"Finally... it took you long enough, you foolish disciple."

It was the moment Kang Cheon's sent flying sword struck Jin Sohyun's flying sword.

Jin Sohyun, who had taken two flying swords from his spot, threw his body.

Jin Sohyun, who had kicked off and flown into the air, took the ninth flying sword in his hand and aimed for the sky.

"Flying Heaven Ten Swords Thousand Hands Heavenly Drill."

The Heavenly Drill, the ultimate technique of the Flying Heaven Ten Swords imbued with the power of Thousand Hands, was manifested at Jin Sohyun's fingertips.

The one flying sword that had soared into the sky changed its direction and fell towards Kang Cheon, and its appearance was like a giant drill falling from the sky.

Kang Cheon, who was watching this, smiled as if he were enjoying it.

"Cunning brat!"

The reason why Jin Sohyun had specifically chosen the Heavenly Drill among the ultimate techniques of the Flying Heaven Ten Swords was clear.

To block the flying sword falling from the sky, Kang Cheon had to use his last ninth flying sword, and after using it, he would not be able to block his tenth sword.

'The weakness of the Flying Sword Technique.'

An attack that took advantage of the fact that there were no more means of attack after using all ten flying swords. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Kang Cheon was pleased with his disciple's intelligence and took three steps back, then took his last ninth flying sword in his hand.

"This is my last teaching, my disciple."

Kang Cheon sent the ninth flying sword flying into the sky, and his flying sword pierced through Jin Sohyun's flying sword, which was imbued with the power of the Heavenly Drill.

Kwa-ang—!

Kang Cheon's flying sword, which had soared into the sky, changed its direction.

The sword control technique imbued with the power of Thousand Hands.

"Ten Thousand Heavens Sword Rain."

All of the two's flying swords that had been used so far soared into the sky, and those flying swords followed Kang Cheon's ninth flying sword and poured down on Jin Sohyun.

"Ugh! You didn't teach me this!!"

The startled Jin Sohyun used his flying sword as a shield and held it above his head.

Startled by this sight, O Yoran and Bieunggaek rushed out, but Kang Cheon's sword was already pouring down on Jin Sohyun's head like a heavy rain.

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang—!!

"You crazy bastard!!"

Bieunggaek ran to Kang Cheon and grabbed him by the collar.

"You son of a bitch! Did you finally kill Sohyun!!"

"Are you blind now?"

"What!?"

Bieunggaek, who had turned around, found Jin Sohyun standing blankly among the swords embedded in the ground.

"You scared me!"

Bieunggaek got angry at Kang Cheon and then ran to Jin Sohyun.

Kang Cheon, who was left alone, looked down at his empty hands and smiled lightly.

"You've finally come this far."

Amidst many conflicting emotions, Jin Sohyun, who was receiving the encouragement and concern of his masters, slowly walked in front of Kang Cheon.

"Master."

At his call, Kang Cheon raised his head with his hands behind his back.

"Yes."

"Then now..."

Kang Cheon smiled and said.

"I permit you to descend the mountain."

(End of Chapter)