I Was Mistaken for a Coincidence Chapter 37

Chapter 37 – The Dagger in The Bag (8)

Early dawn, as I awoke from sleep, I inhaled the chilly air into my lungs and drew out my wooden sword. With my goal clear and resolute, I had no time to indulge in oversleeping.

First, my primary goal is to reach the level of Supreme Peak where I can use sword energy. Frankly, in recent martial arts novels, the supreme realm is no longer even considered a high-class stage.

Strictly speaking, the supreme realm is by no means a low stage. It takes at least forty years of non-stop cultivation without relying on external aids like elixirs.

It’s just that in recent martial arts stories, everyone starts at the supreme realm through spiritual connections. Therefore, even I, who reached the supreme realm at the age of thirty, could not neglect my training.

At least if I reach the Supreme Peak level where I can use sword energy, I won’t be easily swept away wherever I go. Soon, Sua, Seolhwa, and Namgung-yeon followed me out to the yard.

“Did you cough, Master?”

“Yes, did you all have a peaceful night?”

“Thanks to your deep grace, we were able to spend the night peacefully.”

Sua, who could be considered the chief disciple, offered greetings on behalf of Seolhwa and Namgung-yeon. Initially, it was somewhat burdensome, but now I’ve grown accustomed to it and simply accept it.

However, Seolhwa still seems weak in the morning, nodding off and dozing. While I would have liked to let her sleep more, Sua was unwilling to compromise on this matter.

[As a disciple, how could I possibly rest comfortably when my Master has coughed? That would be against etiquette.]

Even when we woke up earlier than usual, around 3 and 5 AM, Sua insisted on waking Seolhwa and coming out. It was then that I finally realized.

If nothing could stop something from happening,

It’s better to set and keep a time.

Anyway, I responded appropriately as usual and began practicing the Three Disasters Sword Technique with my wooden sword. I was still quite far from reaching the ultimate realm of the technique.

Vertical slash. 

Horizontal slash.

And thrusting.

Originally, the Three Disasters Sword Technique consists of basic moves that are difficult to even call initial forms. However, when one reaches its ultimate realm, its power would be unmatched by any martial art under heaven.

Honestly, it was merely because I couldn’t use other martial arts. I was simply training in the Three Disasters Sword Technique. Of course, I was also independently studying the Murong family’s martial arts…

But so far, I have not achieved any special results. In any case, my disciples also took out their wooden swords and began practicing the Three Disasters Sword Technique, except for one.

“Master, why do you only train in the Three Disasters Sword Technique?”

Namgung-yeon, a disciple who had recently joined, could not hide his puzzled expression. I understand. Having seen numerous incredible martial arts in the Namgung family, it was natural to be curious.

However, I could not directly tell him that I could only use the Three Disasters Sword Technique. Besides reputation, it would be no different from revealing my weakness.

Especially now, while dealing with the Evil sect, what good would it do to go around revealing my critical weakness that I can only use the Three Disasters Sword Technique?

Therefore, I used the same appropriate excuse I had used on Sua and looked at Namgung-yeon with the most solemn expression I could muster.

“The Three Disasters Sword Technique is the beginning of all sword techniques and ultimately the end point of all sword techniques. It can be said to be the very foundation of all sword techniques.”

“I… I don’t understand the meaning at all.”

Damn. It’s not working.

Originally, this explanation would have been enough for people to understand. But it seems it’s not working on Namgung-yeon. Slightly caught off guard by the unexpected situation, I improvised and continued.

“The basic moves of all sword techniques ultimately end with cutting and thrusting. If you sharpen these initial moves through the Three Disasters Sword Technique, other basic moves will naturally become more precise and sharper.”

“Oh, there was such a profound meaning!”

“No matter how strongly you build a castle on an unstable foundation, it will ultimately be nothing more than a castle in the air. If you do not solidify the basics, it will collapse.”

Fortunately, my words seemed to have some credibility. Namgung-yeon nodded, his eyes shining. At that sight, I quietly exhaled a sigh of relief.

Just as we had been continuously training in the Three Disasters Sword Technique without rest until breakfast, and as the sun was slowly rising, someone knocked on the gate.

“There are no visitors this early in the morning. Who could it be?”

“I will go and check.”

“No, I will go this time.”

I had a bad feeling. Though unlikely, the Evil sect might be outside the gate. As I opened the gate with slight tension, what entered my eyes was…

“I’ve come from the Sunmoo Academy, Supreme Master.”

A visitor from an entirely unexpected place.

◇

Rumors are often much less substantial than their reputation suggests. How grand could rumors from the marketplace, the source of all kinds of idle gossip, really be?

However, recently, an unavoidable rumor had been circulating. It was that the renowned officials of the Summoo Academy had been defeated by a single person.

In Hanam, where the Righteous Martial Sect firmly held control, the Sunmoo Academy was so influential that they could almost shoot down flying birds. In such a place, a rumor unfavorable to the Sunmoo Academy was extremely rare, especially with rumors also spreading about the Sword Demon returning and establishing a new academy.

“The young masters of the Sunmoo Academy aren’t people who should be getting beaten up, right?”

“Oh my goodness! I saw them coming out like a rag with my own eyes!”

“I saw it from nearby too. They were definitely the young masters of the Sunmoo Academy!”

The reputation of the Sunmoo Academy was so high that even ordinary civilians who knew nothing about the martial world were aware of it. Yet they witnessed the academy’s officials being collectively beaten?

The rumor was bound to spread. However, that didn’t mean everyone believed it absolutely. In the martial world, the Sword Demon’s reputation was as high as the sky.

For ordinary civilians living day by day, the Sword Demon, a figure from decades ago, had long been forgotten. After all, he had never actually harmed ordinary people.

“I hear that this Sword Demon is quite a high-class master. It’s not strange that the young masters would be defeated, right?”

“No, this is real! Proper grown men were completely defeated by a single woman!”

“That’s quite a leap, brother.”

“No, it’s true! I saw it with my own eyes!!”

A rumor without legs travels a thousand miles. The rumor that started in the inn had already begun spreading throughout Hanam, ultimately putting the academy in an awkward position.

Originally, the academy had no intention of directly addressing it. If the academy stepped in, it would be tantamount to half-acknowledging the rumor. Moreover, they had many methods without direct intervention.

What’s needed to run an academy are money and numerous supplies. And these were already virtually in the hands of the Sunmoo Academy. Therefore, by cutting off the lifeline and slowly strangling them until they could no longer endure, was their plan.

However, due to some thoughtless officials, they could no longer ignore the situation.

“Not just one or two, but apparently ten went confidently and were defeated.”

“Moreover, they were defeated not by the master, but by a single disciple. If we let this go, the academy’s reputation will plummet.”

“Let’s just overwhelm them with force. We have the numerical advantage, so what reason is there to be afraid?”

Since Hanam was firmly controlled by the Righteous Martial Sect, it was natural for young instructors to speak boldly. However, the older instructors showed a more cautious response.

“If we also step forward and get defeated, then it will truly be the end.”

“Surely you don’t believe that rumor? There’s no way the opponent is actually the Sword Demon!”

“Can we simply dismiss this as a baseless rumor? The circumstances are too precise. We need to approach this matter more carefully.”

The name ‘Sword Demon’ is not something that can be taken lightly. Though highly improbable, if the opponent is truly the Sword Demon, even if everyone from the academy attacked, they would surely be unable to withstand it.

“…So, how about using this strategy?”

“What strategy are you talking about?”

“Ultimately, this is not a problem between academy officials. So let’s completely resolve the situation through a martial arts duel between the officials.”

“Not a bad idea.”

Through a martial arts duel between officials, they could clearly demonstrate the Sunmoo Academy’s superiority while also showing a gesture of reconciliation and covering up the officials’ shortcomings.

It could be considered a two birds with one stone approach. However, how nice would it be if everything went according to plan. The major drawback of this strategy was that they absolutely must win the duel.

“But what if we lose the duel?”

“That won’t happen. The only opponent to be cautious of is just one person, and the rest are just ordinary.”

“We’re worried for nothing. How could the excellent officials of our Sunmoo Academy possibly be defeated by unknown, rootless individuals?”

As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll be victorious in a hundred battles. Having already investigated and somewhat understood the opponent’s capabilities, they did not even consider the possibility of defeat.