Chapter 05
If there was one fortunate thing, the wound was not very deep.
That was because Cloudie had been in the exact spot where Yang Jahan stabbed.
“Cloudie!”
Thanks to the little cloud spirit Baek Unjin left behind taking the hit for me, the blade only slightly cut my skin instead of causing a serious injury.
But a large slash now marked Cloudie’s body.
Holding Cloudie in my arms, I staggered back to my feet.
Only then did Yang Jahan recognize the cloud spirit. Holding the bloodstained dagger, he slowly raised his head.
“Tch. So there was a guardian spirit.”
It wasn’t my guardian spirit, though.
But obviously this was not the time to explain something like that.
I tucked the limp Cloudie inside my clothes for the moment and tightly gripped my sword with both hands.
Even though Cloudie had blocked most of the attack, blood was still leaking from the wound on my stomach.
“Why did you stab me? We were childhood friends!”
The two of them had been orphaned children from the streets who entered the Honghwa Sect together as childhood friends.
Even the memories Yoo Yeonseo left behind told me that much.
‘Then why?’
The situation was as confusing as the pain from my wound.
Yang Jahan put away the dagger and rested his hand on the sword at his waist.
“How are you still alive?”
“What?”
“You’re someone who should not be alive.”
Yang Jahan’s voice was terrifyingly calm.
A chill ran down my spine at his words.
‘Did he realize I’m not the real Yoo Yeonseo?’
No.
He didn’t seem suspicious in that way.
“How can you say something like that? Between you and me…”
“That’s exactly why I’m saying it.”
“Why shouldn’t I be alive?”
“Because you were supposed to die.”
The hand gripping my sword tightened.
Who exactly was he saying that to?
“So you’re trying to kill me because of that?”
“If you stay alive, many people will die.”
“And what are you basing that on?”
“You can only say that because you know nothing.”
Yang Jahan adjusted his grip on his sword and instantly closed the distance.
‘So fast!’
In the blink of an eye, Yang Jahan’s shadow was already right in front of me.
This was my first real fight.
I quickly raised my inner energy exactly as I had been taught.
Blue currents wrapped around my blade and blocked Yang Jahan’s incoming attack.
Clang!
But the difference in strength and skill between us was far too obvious.
“Ugh!”
My wrist twisted painfully under Yang Jahan’s powerful strike.
I nearly dropped my sword.
‘He’s already this strong?’
Even if he’s the protagonist, this is ridiculous!
I pulled my sword closer to my body and focused entirely on defense.
Yang Jahan kicked off the ground and rushed toward me. He lowered his body sharply and spun from below.
I hurriedly used my footwork to widen the distance.
At that exact moment, Yang Jahan quickly formed a hand seal with his free hand.
The Heavenly Gravity Art.
It felt like my feet should have touched the ground, but instead my body suddenly sank downward.
At the beginning of the story, Yang Jahan mainly cultivated gravity-based techniques within Mugeuk Hyeonmun.
I had stayed alert because I suspected he might use them, but I never expected him to use one at that exact moment.
My body was dragged downward, destroying my balance.
Yang Jahan matched my falling height, and his sword approached my heart.
Boom!
Azure Flame Technique.
Keeping one hand hidden inside my sleeve, I quickly formed a hand seal and activated the Azure Flame Technique.
Blue energy burst out from my body and forcefully pushed away Yang Jahan’s attack.
But because we had been too close, my own body was also blown backward.
Screeech.
I scraped the ground with my sword and barely managed to land on my feet again.
As expected, the moment Yang Jahan saw the Azure Flame Technique, his eyes shook violently.
“How do you know a cultivation technique from the Cheongwoo Immortal Sect?”
Yang Jahan didn’t know I had become part of the Cheongwoo Immortal Sect.
This was exactly why I hadn’t wanted to use the technique.
“I survived because a cultivator from the Cheongwoo Immortal Sect saved me.”
“That’s impossible.”
“How is it impossible? I’m standing right here alive!”
Yang Jahan spoke as though I absolutely had to die.
Yang Jahan adjusted his posture and rushed toward me again.
The moment our swords clashed, I felt my body being dragged downward by gravity.
I somehow endured while maintaining the Azure Flame Technique, but even that was reaching its limit.
My current realm was only First Star Qi Refinement, meaning I had only just stepped into the cultivation system.
Compared to me, Yang Jahan was clearly at least one level higher.
Clang!
Yang Jahan’s attacks came nonstop.
The attacks themselves were dangerous, but the worst part was how my body became heavier every time our swords collided.
Grinding my teeth, I glared at Yang Jahan.
After everything I went through to survive—
“You think I’m going to die to someone like you?!”
Forget childhood friends and all that nonsense.
As I pushed the Azure Flame Technique to its absolute limit, the surrounding heavenly energy trembled violently.
Seeing that, Yang Jahan’s eyes turned cold.
He sheathed his sword and formed another hand seal.
Gravity gathered at his fingertips, creating black spheres that floated in the air.
I could physically feel my strength being sucked toward them.
Dark Void.
The spheres that devoured everything around them slowly approached me.
The closer they got, the harder it became to move because of the gravity, and it felt like my body was being crushed inward.
BOOM!
Thinking I was about to die, I tightly shut my eyes.
At that moment, the sphere before me exploded against what felt like a wall and instantly scattered into ashes.
When I opened my eyes again, Baek Unjin’s robes came into view.
Maybe because the tension left my body, I unconsciously dropped my sword and collapsed to the ground.
“……”
“Master.”
“Are you alright?”
Baek Unjin’s gaze landed on the wound on my body.
Realizing too late, I quickly covered the injury with my hand and gave a small nod.
“It’s not a serious wound.”
Instead of answering, he only let out a short sigh.
Judging by his expression, it looked like he had a lot to say but was holding himself back for now.
He turned and looked toward Yang Jahan.
Yang Jahan quickly sheathed his sword, clasped his hands respectfully, and bowed.
“I am Yang Jahan of Mugeuk Hyeonmun. Greetings, Senior.”
The world of cultivators had a much stricter hierarchy than expected.
Yang Jahan instinctively understood that Baek Unjin was far above him and behaved respectfully.
‘Why is this so annoying?’
Just moments ago he had attacked me like he wanted to kill me, but the second my master appeared, he completely changed his attitude as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, I had almost actually died because of him!
“Mugeuk Hyeonmun, hm. You seem to still be a young disciple. Why did a cultivator from Mugeuk Hyeonmun attack my disciple?”
“……”
“You would be wise to answer honestly.”
Baek Unjin’s expression turned cold, and killing intent flowed out from him.
The pressure was so intense that even I, who was protected by him, felt chills running down my back.
‘No matter how talented Yang Jahan is right now, there’s no way he can beat Baek Unjin.’
Honestly, that was only natural.
Still, this was the first time I had ever seen Baek Unjin this angry, so I couldn’t help feeling a little shaken.
At the very least, the expression he showed Yang Jahan was one he had never shown me before.
Swallowing nervously, Yang Jahan slowly raised his head.
“Before I answer, may I ask one thing first?”
“……”
“You said that child is your disciple, but I cannot understand why someone like you would take in a mere miscellaneous spiritual root holder like her.”
“I have no idea what nonsense you are talking about.”
“Yoo Yeonseo is—!”
“Do not make me ask twice.”
Baek Unjin cut Yang Jahan off completely.
His voice did not rise, but it was obvious from his eyes that he was suppressing his anger.
“Depending on your answer, I may kill you here.”
Perhaps realizing he had been cornered, Yang Jahan’s expression stiffened.
Whoooosh.
But then, wind suddenly blew between Yang Jahan and Baek Unjin, and a middle-aged man wearing pale amber robes appeared.
His appearance was so sudden it happened in less than a blink.
“Well now, you disappeared so suddenly during our conversation that I wondered what happened. I never imagined you had a disciple.”
“Haa. So this is your disciple?”
“Heh heh, indeed. Judging from the situation, it seems my disciple caused trouble for your child.”
The man laughed heartily with his hands clasped behind his back.
Baek Unjin frowned, clearly displeased even by that.
“How do you intend to take respons—”
“Ten years.”
“……”
“I’ll lock him in closed-door seclusion for ten years and make him reflect on his actions. I don’t know why he caused such trouble, but this once, please overlook it for my sake.”
“I refuse.”
