Chapter 22: Showdown (4)

‘Disciple?’

I was speechless for a moment at the words I heard. This was unexpected.

All I wanted was for this old man to keep his promise. I didn’t know that he would suddenly say such things.

-It has to be a trap. I cannot believe this old man.

-I agree with you too. Wonhwi.

Short Sword and Iron Sword had seen the old man all this time. All three of us agreed on this. To be honest, it felt like he was up to something.

“Why aren’t you answering me? Do you want to die as a disposable piece? Shouldn’t you be bowing down if I said I will take you in as a disciple?”

Hae Ack-chun made a frowning expression. Could I believe him?

“This is too sudden...”

I was not the only one thinking this way. Even Song Jwa-baek was clearly thinking the same, considering his puzzled expression.

It was a face that said, ‘Why are you talking about him so suddenly?’.

Hae Ack-chun continued to look at me and smiled.

“It is a waste to dispose of a healthy horse like this.”

“... That is an exaggeration.”

Was he complimenting me? There was a part of me that wanted to believe this.

“There are things called excellent qualities. If you teach them one thing, they understand more independently.”

“I am not that good.”

“Throw that humility away.”

“...”

“I only showed it to you four times, and you were able to learn the other things on your own?”

You taught me just four times while knowing no one could salvage it? If I couldn’t hear the voices of the swords, I would be dead by now.

-Hm.

“Well, if that is the only case, I wouldn’t take you in as a disciple. But you have the eyes that can see the truth of a sword technique. That kind of talent... hmm, no. Anyway, I have decided to take you in as a disciple.”

Now, this, I expected. Finding loopholes in techniques was a highly appreciated skill.

Though this wasn’t something I discovered myself, but something the South Heavenly Swordsman’s sword told me.

And if I could analyze the old man, I could grow up to the South Heavenly Swordsman’s level.

-The result is beyond our intention.

Short word said it. I was being considered as if I had great talent. And this hurt my conscience.

-That is also your talent, Wonhwi.

‘Uh?’

-Who in the world can listen to us? To swords?

His words made me feel better. Maybe it was a talent to compensate for this unhappy life of mine. Of course, it seemed like everything was still impossible to see even now.

-But it is Wonhwi. Didn’t that old man come out as crazy? But he still has a high position in the Blood Cult, right?

He was one of the Four Venerable Dignitaries, the absolute power in the Blood Cult.

-Then, if you become his disciple, we can reach the goal faster even if it calls for handling this man a little.

‘I didn’t think of that.’

-You can use the old man.

But the problem was elsewhere.

Even if it was my talent to figure out the loopholes in the sword techniques, there was a downside to covering it up.

And without that talent, I’m not sure if this man would really want me as his disciple, and there was a chance of me being disposed of after being used once or twice.

-Then, let’s think about it.

‘Let’s do that.’

“But Elder. Your martial arts, the...”

“True Blood Gold Body.”

“Yes. Didn’t you say that only people with special bodies who have high blood circulation like those twins are the only ones who can learn it?”

-Ah, right!

Unlike the twins, I was an average person. He did say he would take me, but it was unreasonable for me to learn the same thing.

“Kulkuk, I will not teach you that.”

“Uh?”

“You need to be grateful to me.”

“Kuahahah! You are amazing. Someone not much different from my rival. Hahaha. You are now my disciple. It is a victory for me!”

‘... Ha.’

This was his real intention. He was such an annoying man.

-This is a true mental victory.

-Wonhwi... I take back what I said. I am not going to help you if you go under him.

Crazy old man.

He was changing good things for me. I was sweating, trying to appease him. After a while, he stopped and said.

“Get up.”

I lifted my head up and got up.

“Kulkul, as long as you become my disciple, you must be prepared to become strong enough to not bring shame onto me.”

“I will keep that in mind. Teacher.”

It was already terrifying. I had been watching him for 6 months, so how could I not know him?

And then came a weak voice.

“... Elder.”

It was Song Jwa-baek, the older of the twins.

As the aftereffects had subsided, the boy was looking better than before. He seemed sad as he saw how I had been taken in as a disciple.

I frowned while looking at him.

‘No.’

The boy looked puzzled, and Hae Ack-chun said,

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“N-No, it isn’t...”

“Huh. I am not a fan of this, but I will accept both of you as disciples.”

“Uh?”

Song Jwa-baek’s eyes widened. And even his younger twin seemed shocked.

“I didn’t win the match...”

“But you have a lot of courage.”

Hae Ack-chun looked at Song Jwa-baek, and although he criticized him for being over-excited, he seemed to appreciate the desire to win to the point of self-sacrifice.

“Will you continue to stand still?”

When I smiled and nodded, Song Jwa-baek bowed.

“What are you doing? Follow me.”

“Uh.... Ah. Yes.”

Song Woo-hyun followed him to his knees and shouted.

“Long Live the Blood Cult! Song Jwa-baek bows to his teacher.”

“Long live the Blood Cult! Song Jwa-baek...”

‘...!’

“No. You should say your name!”

“Ah...”

“Not Ah.”

He was suffering for his brother.

“Disciple Song Woo-hyun bows to his teacher.”

Although there were mistakes, the twins pledged their loyalty to their new teacher.

“Kulkul.”

Hae Ack-chun looked at them with a satisfied expression. Regardless of the match’s outcome, I knew this old man would take the twins as his disciple.

It was natural for him to bring in the two who meet the special conditions of a body that was required to learn his martial arts.

“Get up!”

“Yes!”

Song Jwa-baek was full of smiles. And to him, I said.

“Congratulations, sajae (Junior Disciple).”

And the smiling face distorted.

Well, I indeed became a disciple before him. We should be following the hierarchy, right?