"Not bad."
Though he spoke calmly, Sa Woo was so shocked that his eyes nearly popped out. To think that Bu Eunseol had dodged a sword thrust developed in complete silence after just three days? Even a prodigy with natural-born talent in supreme martial arts shouldn’t be able to do such a thing.
"Try dodging one more time." Bu Eunseol’s senses—except for his sight—had become razor-sharp.
On top of that, from working with Bu Zhanyang in cleaning corpses, he had gained a thorough understanding of human anatomy, almost rivaling that of the Medicine Hall.
Because of this, even from the flow of air, he could somewhat grasp Sa Woo’s stance and the trajectory of the incoming sword strikes.
Whoosh.
Once again, the sheathed sword sliced through the air, and Sa Woo curled his lips into a strange smile.
"That won't cut it." Unlike before, he began to unleash sword strikes one after another. "What kind of martial arts master only uses a single move?"
Thwack. Thwack.
Bu Eunseol began taking the blows from the torrent of strikes raining down on him.
‘I can feel them… but I can’t dodge them.’ Sa Woo’s swordsmanship was far more refined and deadly than that of Neung Ungang from before—it carried a much denser killing intent. Bu Eunseol had no choice but to endure being struck for an hour.
Thud…
Covered in blood, Bu Eunseol finally collapsed to the ground, and unlike at the beginning, Sa Woo withdrew his sword. Then, he pulled a leather pouch from inside his robes and tossed it in front of Bu Eunseol.
"Drink it." Bu Eunseol immediately picked up the leather pouch that had fallen at his feet and drank from it.
It wasn't water—it was a very thick, sticky liquid.
"Until you’ve mastered the Beast’s Way, you must not eat food or the heightened senses you’ve worked so hard to refine will just become dull again." With no other choice, Bu Eunseol swallowed the sticky liquid.
It had no scent, but as it touched his throat, it passed down in a thick, gluey form—neither liquid nor solid. As it went down his throat, a burning heat—like drinking strong liquor—spread through his stomach.
"Is this okay?" For the first time, Bu Eunseol asked a question.
‘He never asked a thing while training in the Beast’s Way.’ Sa Woo let out a quiet, ironic laugh and shook his head.
"You don’t need to know."
"Understood."
"We’ll resume in a quarter-hour."
Shrring—
Drawing his sword from its sheath, Sa Woo spoke in a cold, flat voice.
"From here on out, you’ll truly have to stake your life."
***
Shraaak! Shhhh-shh-shh-shh!
Sharp sounds of air being torn echoed all around.
Papat-papapap!
Each time the keen edge of the sword grazed him, blood splattered from Bu Eunseol’s body.
"Don’t think with your head!" Sa Woo shouted in a stern voice. "If you analyze the first move and then dodge, it’s already too late. The moment the attack begins, you must react instantly!"
Swish swish—
As deadly killing blows aimed for his throat, Bu Eunseol had no choice but to roll across the ground.
Clatter-clatter-clatter—
At that moment, Sa Woo's sword fanned out like the ribs of a folding fan, stabbing toward Bu Eunseol’s body lying on the ground. Dozens of blade-like strikes swept across his body.
“Kghhh—”
“In the martial world, being outnumbered is common. You don’t actually believe all fights are fair and honorable duels, do you?”
Whoosh—!
Sa Woo’s sword curved like a whip and pierced toward a vital point. But as if he had anticipated the attack, Bu Eunseol leapt up like a carp and spun his body to the side.
“Your lucky to still be alive.”
“Haa… haa…”
Though the sword had missed his heart and lungs, the wound Bu Eunseol received was far from shallow. Still, even while panting heavily, he gripped his sword tightly with one hand.
‘Even without being told, he never lets his guard down.’ Once again, Sa Woo tossed the leather pouch from his robe.
“Drink. We’ll resume soon.”
“…Understood.” Even though he couldn’t see, Bu Eunseol accurately picked up the pouch from the ground.
Gulp, gulp.
As the sticky liquid entered his mouth, a sharp clarity returned to his mind, and it felt as if the lost blood and strength in his body were being restored. And yet, even then, he kept his head from tilting too far back, lowered his shoulders and legs—ready to dodge at any moment.
‘He’s not especially strong in physique, but… he has a natural aptitude for martial arts.’ Watching him, Sa Woo stroked his chin.
Originally, he’d only intended to teach just to pass the time. And yet now—he had even given him the Geukcheon Spirit Water, which he had deemed too precious to drink himself.
‘Damn it. How could anyone not teach a guy like that properly?’ Bu Eunseol possessed a desperate persistence and a burning determination that made a person’s heart race. Those were qualities of a peerless martial arts prodigy—something that could hardly be found even if one searched all of the martial world.
***
Two weeks later.
In front of Sa Woo’s secluded cottage, the metallic clang of weapons colliding rang out without end.
“Take this again!” With a thunderous shout, Sa Woo’s sword shone with dazzling light.
Flash!
A bolt-like sword strike pierced toward Bu Eunseol’s neck.
Swish—
But Bu Eunseol twisted his body, and instead of his neck, the sharp blade grazed past his shoulder.
“You’re too quick to lower your guard.”
Whoosh—
The sword that had grazed his shoulder whirled violently in the air and then shot toward Bu Eunseol’s myeongmun-hyeol (a vital acupoint).
Clang!
But once again, as if he had predicted the strike, Bu Eunseol blocked it with his iron sword behind his back. Keeping his body low, Bu Eunseol braced himself for the next wave of techniques.
Yet no further attacks came.
“Heh heh heh…” Staring at Bu Eunseol, Sa Woo suddenly burst into a roaring laugh. “Bwahahaha! Wahahahaha!”
His laughter, imbued with inner strength, echoed like the roar of a Shaolin lion.
‘To think the very prodigy I searched for until my boots wore thin was right here in front of me!’
The Beast Way.
To master this bizarre and brutal foundational martial art, even a genius of unparalleled talent must risk their life for at least a hundred days. And yet, he had completely mastered it in just half a month?
‘With talent like his, he could restore the prestige of this fallen sect and make its martial arts shine throughout the entire martial world!’
Cutting off his laughter, Sa Woo snapped his fingers.
Pop pop pop.
As a burst of energy brushed against Bu Eunseol’s Seung-eum-hyeol (a key acupuncture point near the eyes), the whole world suddenly turned bright. His sealed optic nerves had been opened again.
“Ugh…”
As the world around him came back into focus, Bu Eunseol felt a wave of dizziness. To see again—
It was an overwhelming sensation, flooding him with endless information. And at the same time, it sparked a surge of distracting thoughts and mental noise.
“You’ll adjust quickly.” Sa Woo spoke calmly.
“As you grow more accustomed to the Beast’s Way, your senses will surpass your sight. You’ll come to feel far more than you can see.”
“Thank you.” When Bu Eunseol bowed his head, Sa Woo slowly approached.
“Number One.” With a sharp gleam in his eyes, he declared: “Quit the Ten Demon Warrior Selection right now and become my official disciple.”
“…What?”
“If you become my official disciple, I’ll make you one of the top masters of the Demon Realm within ten years!” Though they had barely spoken more than a few words during those two weeks, Bu Eunseol could tell Sa Woo was not one to say empty things.
And any promise he made, he would uphold. If he said he’d make him a master, then it would surely happen.
But…
‘To kill the man who murdered my grandfather… the martial arts of Nangyang alone won’t be enough.’
'Couldn’t I still manage with just Nangyang’s martial arts?'
But—
If even Nangyang’s martial arts couldn’t kill that man...
Grit.
Bu Eunseol clenched his teeth hard. Even considering such a calculation meant he had already lost his will for revenge. Wasn’t that the same as failing?
“I will learn the martial arts of all the Ten Demonic Sects.”
“You want to master the martial arts of all the Ten Demonic Sects?” Sa Woo snorted. “Let me be honest with you. Even if you were a supreme grandmaster like the Heavenly Demon Emperor himself, it would be impossible to master all the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects. This isn't me underestimating you, it's simply the truth.”
He stared directly into Bu Eunseol’s now clear, focused eyes.
“For example—if you want to learn the White Horse Strike of the White Horse Temple, you first need to master the Demonic Iron Finger Force, which hardens the joints of your fingers and knuckles to the strength of steel. But once that’s done, your hands will no longer be suited for sword or saber techniques.” Seeing that Bu Eunseol’s gaze didn’t waver in the slightest, Sa Woo continued: “No matter how gifted you are, at most you can learn two or three martial arts from the Ten Demonic Sects. It’s far wiser to devote yourself fully to mastering one style—that’s the fastest path to becoming the strongest in the Demonic Realm.”
He wasn’t wrong. Learning multiple martial arts doesn’t guarantee strength. In fact, learning too many different ultimate techniques only scatters your focus and dilutes your inner strength.
“I understand.” Bowing deeply, Bu Eunseol looked Sa Woo straight in the eyes. “But I still want to challenge myself with the other martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects.”
His gaze was unshakable, like steel forged and tempered hundreds of times.
“…You leave me no choice.” Seeing that resolute expression, Sa Woo smacked his lips.
A master could be begged to take in a disciple, but a disciple couldn’t be dragged in by force.
“Fine. Then from now on, you’ll begin learning other martial arts.” As Sa Woo turned away, Bu Eunseol looked puzzled.
"But I’ve only learned the foundational martial arts. I haven’t learned Nangyang’s true techniques yet—"
"The martial arts of our sect are not taught through formulas or manuals," Sa Woo said with a serious expression. "If it had been another master instead of me, he would have taught you the Beast’s Way slightly differently, though similar in form." He looked Bu Eunseol in the eye and continued, "And haven’t you already learned this old man's martial arts?"
"What do you mean—" Instead of answering, Sa Woo suddenly drew the sword at his waist and thrust it at Bu Eunseol’s neck.
Clang.
But Bu Eunseol, having anticipated the incoming strike, instinctively blocked it with his iron sword.
"You’ve already mastered the Beast’s Way of this sect. There’s no way you wouldn’t remember all the sword strikes I’ve unleashed over the past fifteen days."
Only then did Bu Eunseol’s eyes widen in realization. All those attacks Sa Woo had rained down on him—They weren’t just random strikes. They were, in fact, demonstrations of combat techniques by a master of real martial combat.
‘Nangyang doesn’t just have this old man—there are many other experts in real combat. If I enter the main sect, I’ll be able to learn directly from them through real sparring.’
With a calm smile, Sa Woo added: "You managed to survive all my techniques without your vision. That alone means you won’t be dying to just any sword or spear now."
"Thank you, Elder Sa."
"I told you there’s no need to thank me. I only taught you under orders from Majeon."
"But Elder Sa, you still gave me your precious elixirs." Bu Eunseol knew it well.
Everything Sa Woo had given him so far was an elixir of such value it couldn’t be measured in money. Every time he drank from that leather pouch, his deep wounds would heal rapidly, and his senses would become even sharper.
"I will never forget the grace you’ve shown me, Master," Bu Eunseol bowed deeply to express his gratitude.
Sa Woo gave a faint, bitter smile.
"Forget it."
"Pardon?"
"That’s how the martial world is. Whether it’s grace… or resentment… If you can forget it, that’s for the best." There was a deep, unspoken story behind Sa Woo’s words.
Bu Eunseol quietly reflected on what he’d heard, then bowed again.
"Then, I’ll take my leave now." Without hesitation, he turned and walked away.
Step. Step.
Unlike when he first arrived at the hut, Bu Eunseol now walked with stable, firm steps—carrying the presence of a true warrior. The frail, skinny boy from fifteen days ago was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did such a monster come from…" Sa Woo chuckled with a sigh, watching Bu Eunseol walk away against the setting sun.
"I thought he was a mere wyrm… but he was a sleeping dragon." He recalled the children he had seen descending into Hell Island and his sharp eyes gleamed.
There were prodigies there whose innate potential far surpassed even Bu Eunseol’s formidable talent.
"A bloody storm is going to blow on Hell Island…"
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