"Impossible."
To freely alter the foundational forms of a sword technique passed down for generations—that was something only martial arts masters of the highest caliber could do. If Bu Eunseol, who had just started learning swordsmanship, had deliberately modified the forms, then he would be a sword genius on par with Jeok Hwa-un, the founder of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect.
'No way… don’t tell me he’s mastered Beast Blade already.' Jingak, who had briefly indulged a strange thought, shook his head.
“That can’t be.” Even a once-in-a-generation talent could never master Beast Blade in just half a month.
What he didn’t know was that Bu Eunseol had a deep understanding of the human body and a terrifying sense of focus.
Swoosh.
Meanwhile, Bu Eunseol’s sword forms were becoming even sharper.
Whirl.
Even in a movement where the sword should’ve been simply withdrawn, the blade twisted once more and unleashed deadly power, though it was still a basic form.
‘Unbelievable.’
Jingak, watching the display, couldn’t help but part his lips in shock.
‘Such a cruel technique… You’d only use that against the enemy who killed your master or your parents.’
Each time Bu Eunseol's wrist rotated, the forms became more brutal and more vicious.
‘The original sword technique is said to represent the righteous path within the demonic arts.’
If the Hwa Wu Sword’s forms were truly this ruthless, then even if they were the pinnacle of demonic swordsmanship, they would never have been accepted into the ten great sects of the Demonic Way. But the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms that Bu Eunseol was executing looked far closer to a blood-stained killer’s blade.
“Hmm.”
Bu Eunseol himself was no less surprised.
‘It feels like my instincts are altering the forms on their own.’
He was clearly trying to perform the Hwa Wu Thirteen Forms correctly, but his hands instinctively altered the sword paths.
‘It’s because of the Beast Way.’
The more he repeated the Hwa Wu Thirteen Forms, the more vivid his Beast Way instincts became. It was like a wolf, who once only fought by instinct with its fangs and claws, now applying trained and refined tactics like a human.
‘The instincts of the Beast Way are aligning with the sword paths of Hwa Wu Sword?’
Bu Eunseol felt a strange sensation. What if he merged the instinctive feel of the Beast Way with the calm, composed sword paths of Hwa Wu?
‘I’d be disqualified.’
Altering a traditional sword form passed down through generations was forbidden. So Bu Eunseol did his best to suppress the Beast Blade's instincts and proceeded with the forms.
But by the sixth form—
―Hehehe.
A dark shadow appeared before Bu Eunseol’s eyes. It was the very monster that had killed his grandfather. Seeing a real enemy within an imaginary battle caused a murderous glow to radiate from Bu Eunseol’s eyes. And at the same time, he unleashed the seventh form of the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms: Flood of the Doomed.
Ssshhk.
A form meant to unfold smoothly now sliced through the air like lightning. But the shadow easily dodged the form.
“Strong.”
Bu Eunseol had inspected countless corpses of martial artists in his time. But he had never once seen a cut surface so smooth it looked like glass.
‘He’s using an incredibly fast sword technique based on extreme flexibility.’
Swoosh!
Just then, the black shadow in front of Bu Eunseol unleashed a lightning-fast strike.
“Tch!”
He threw his body back with all his might, but the strike followed his forehead like it had a will of its own. Bu Eunseol twisted his body sideways and spun like a top.
Whirl.
The quick blade grazed his forehead, and he tried to execute the eighth form: Threefold Clash of Heaven.
‘This won’t do!’ That form was too gentle and smooth—hardly suitable for a counterattack. At that moment, Bu Eunseol instinctively twisted his wrist and executed the form anyway.
Swa-swa-swa-swa!
The tip of his sword rotated fiercely, and like a bolt of lightning, struck at the shadow’s side.
―Heh.
The shadow let out a low chuckle and lightly spun his sword to deflect the attack. Then he lowered the blade before slashing upward from the ground. It was the same exact move that had cruelly severed his grandfather’s arms.
Flash!
Bu Eunseol instinctively unleashed the remaining five forms of the Hwa Wu Thirteen in one fluid motion.
Fwaaah!
The consecutive sword forms clashed with the shadow’s descending strike.
Piiiing!
But two sword energies that rose from the ground moved like twin dragons, piercing through Bu Eunseol’s sword forms and coiling around his forearms.
Clatter.
In the end, Bu Eunseol’s arms were severed, and he dropped his steel sword. At that moment, the dark shadow before his eyes vanished like mist.
“…….”
A heavy silence fell inside the training hall. Jingak, who had been watching Bu Eunseol for some time, couldn’t hide his admiration.
“You have extraordinary focus.”
He could tell what had just happened. Bu Eunseol had fought fiercely with an imagined enemy—and had lost.
“You pass.”
“…Pass?”
Bu Eunseol, staring down at the sword he had dropped, shook his head.
“I lost.”
“As you should have. The Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms is a basic sword art. It’s not meant for actual combat.” Jingak smiled dryly.
“What we’re evaluating here is whether you understand the basics of swordsmanship and whether you can execute the Hwa Wu Thirteen in a real situation.”
Clack.
He picked up Bu Eunseol’s fallen sword.
“And you’ve demonstrated both perfectly.”
Clack.
He slid the sword back into its sheath and patted Bu Eunseol on the shoulder.
“It was an outstanding demonstration. If you wish, you can proceed directly to the intermediate hall.” Just like the other instructors, Jingak had guided him thoroughly.
Had he skimped on explanations or not demonstrated the forms properly, Bu Eunseol would never have mastered the Hwa Wu Thirteen in just four days.
“What you’ve learned here is just the foundation. If you become one of the Ten Demon Successors, you’ll learn the deeper mysteries.” Jingak nodded to Bu Eunseol. “I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thank you.” Bu Eunseol bowed deeply with both hands joined.
Then, without hesitation, he opened the door and stepped into the intermediate hall beyond. As he watched Bu Eunseol leave, Jingak narrowed his eyes.
‘It seems he really did master the Beast Blade in just half a month.’ As a master swordsman, he recognized it immediately from the way Bu Eunseol moved.
‘He looked average, but turns out he’s a born martial prodigy.’ In truth, what enabled Bu Eunseol to master the Beast Way wasn’t talent alone—but an intense obsession with martial arts and a deep understanding of the human body.
But Jingak, unaware of this, simply believed the boy had extraordinary physique and talent.
‘This will be interesting.’ There were many other exceptional talents in the beginner hall—some even rivaling Bu Eunseol.
Jingak looked forward to what was to come.
***
After leaving the beginner hall, Bu Eunseol headed straight for the intermediate hall.
The intermediate hall stood apart from the beginner’s hall, built in a large open space. As the final step before the advanced hall, its structure was the grandest.
“Excuse me.”
Bu Eunseol opened the tall gates calmly. Immediately, dozens of sharp eyes turned to him.
“…….”
Inside, all the Ten Demon Successor trainees were taking a break after intense training.
“What is it?” A middle-aged man standing at the front with his arms crossed asked.
He wore blue robes and carried a sword on his back that was as wide as an adult’s forearm. He was Cheon Ungwang, instructor of the intermediate hall.
“I’m Bu Eunseol. I’ve just finished the beginner hall.”
“Beginner hall?” Cheon Ungwang looked baffled.
Everyone here had reached the intermediate hall within a day or two. Most had just completed training and were preparing for the final test.
And now, someone who just finished beginner level showed up?
“A slow learner.” Cheon Un-gwang muttered under his breath.
He assumed Bu Eunseol was someone who had fallen behind and only now barely managed to make it.
“If it took you over twenty days to learn the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms, you might want to rethink learning the main sword art.”
“I came from Nangyang Pavilion.”
“Nangyang Pavilion?” Cheon Un-gwang’s eyes widened.
Though called one of the Ten Demon Sects, Nangyang was infamous for its brutal methods—many disciples died in training. And he had gone there to learn martial arts?
“How long were you there?”
“For half a month.”
“Half a month…” Cheon Ungwang looked dumbfounded.
Just like the other instructors, he believed Bu Eunseol had wasted his time.
“There’ll be a test shortly to advance to the upper hall.”
Cheon Un-gwang gave a dry smile.
“You’ve passed beginner level, so take a seat. From tomorrow, you may end up training here alone.” Suddenly, mocking laughter broke out around them.
“Hahaha.” Several trainees sneered openly.
“Isn’t that the guy who passed out wearing robes on the boat?”
“Looks like he tried to learn Nangyang’s martial arts and failed.”
“How pathetic. And he’s supposed to be one of the Ten Demon Successors?” Despite the ridicule, Bu Eunseol’s eyes remained calm. He even looked at them with pity.
People who can only prove themselves by belittling others...
As an undertaker, he had seen many like them. They laughed at him for one reason only: because he had chosen a different path. Just like his grandfather had when he became an undertaker.
***
“We will now begin the test.” Cheon Ungwang swept his sharp gaze over the trainees.
“When your name is called, step forward and choose your opponent.”
“Is this a duel?” One of the boys standing at the front asked.
Cheon Un-gwang shook his head.
“We’ll be assessing how skillfully you can wield your sword in a real fight. That’s the whole reason you’ve been learning the Hwa Wu Sword.”
The Hwa Wu Lightning Sword.
As fierce as its name suggested, it was a sword technique composed of rapid, explosive movements. Because of that, if one didn’t wield the sword skillfully, the technique could end up harming the user instead.
“As you all know, the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms and the Thunder Sword are not techniques meant for actual combat where lives are at stake.”
Cheon Un-gwang spoke in a low voice.
“They’re merely a process to train you in skillful swordsmanship.” He paused for a moment and narrowed his eyes. “Up until now, all of you must have had the same question. Why is such an upright and merciful sword technique considered the number one demonic sword art?”
As silence fell, he continued.
“Let me say this again. What you’ve learned so far is merely basic swordsmanship. It is by no means the true Hwa Wu Sword.” The trainees gathered in the training hall were stunned.
Even here—where prodigies from all over the world had gathered—the Hwa Wu Lightning Sword had proven difficult to master. And yet they were being told it was merely a preparatory form?
“Instructor, I have a question.” At that moment, a boy standing in the front row cautiously raised a question.
"I don’t quite understand what you mean by using the sword skillfully. Most of us have been training in swordsmanship since childhood-"
"Your arm must be so attuned to the sword that there’s no distinction between the two." Cheon Ungwang coldly cut him off.
"To wield the Hwa Wu Sword, the arm hanging from your shoulder must become the sword. Do you understand what I’m saying?" Once again, silence fell inside the training hall.
To think they had to reach such a high level of mastery just to grasp the basics of swordsmanship.
"I’ll say it once more—this test is not about winning or losing. It’s to see how skillfully you can wield a sword." Only then did the boys begin to understand the true purpose of the test.
By crossing swords as if in real combat, their level of mastery would naturally be revealed.
"Byeok Hanseong. Step forward." At Cheon Ungwang’s command, a large, arrogant-looking boy among those seated stood up.
"Choose your opponent. The outcome doesn’t matter, so feel free to select anyone."
"Can I choose anyone I want?"
"Yes." Byeok Hanseong twitched his lips, then extended the wooden sword he held forward.
"Then I’ll choose him."
The person his wooden sword pointed at was none other than Bu Eunseol, who had been standing quietly in the corner.
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