Do-Hyun walked toward the training grounds, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted to his newly enhanced mana flow. Though his wounds had healed, he understood that true mastery required more than just power.
He had to refine his control.
As he began his drills, he repeated the fundamental techniques he had learned from Han So-Yeon, moving fluidly through his stances. But something felt different.
The movements he once thought were correct now felt incomplete.
Then, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Your stance is good—but something's missing," Yoon Seol-Hwa observed.
He turned to her, intrigued. "Missing? What do you mean?"
She approached him with a knowing smile. "Footwork isn't just about how you move. It's about how your energy flows."
She demonstrated, moving with effortless grace. "If your stance is strong but your energy doesn't flow properly, your movement will still be inefficient. You need to sense the flow of your own energy—and direct it intentionally."
Her words struck him deeply.
Taking a deep breath, he resumed his stance, this time focusing on the internal flow of energy rather than just the movements themselves.
And for the first time—he felt it.
The balance. The power. The seamless connection between movement and energy.
He smiled. "I think… I understand now."
Seol-Hwa smirked. "Then let's refine it further. You've only just scratched the surface."
The next stage of his journey had begun.
********
Lee Do-Hyun's Lightness Technique (Gyeonggong)
Lee Do-Hyun watched as Yoon Seol-Hwa moved effortlessly through the trees, her lightness technique (Gyeonggong)unlike anything he had ever seen. It was not just about speed; it was as if she was floating through the air, moving from tree to tree with grace and power.
"So this is what they call Gyeonggong in Murim..." he thought to himself.
Do-Hyun had heard of such techniques but had never witnessed them firsthand. The way she moved—leaping, dodging, and gliding through the air—resembled a bird soaring through the sky rather than a human moving on foot.
For the first time, he felt an intense desire to learn Gyeonggong.
But he also realized something crucial—Gyeonggong was not just about footwork or agility. It required an intricate control over one's internal energy. While Seol-Hwa relied on her internal Qi, Do-Hyun knew that his mana functioned differently.
Her Qi flowed in a controlled cycle within her body, while his mana connected externally, drawing power from nature itself. The fundamental difference in energy type meant that he couldn't simply copy her technique.
"It won't be that easy..." Do-Hyun sighed.
The realization frustrated him. Even if he could mimic her movements, his mana did not naturally circulate within his body like Qi did. This meant that simply practicing her Gyeonggong technique would not yield the same results.
But that didn't mean he would give up.
"There must be a way..." he told himself.
Instead of blindly following her method, he needed to find a way to adapt Gyeonggong to his own power source—to fuse mana and movement into something new.
Focusing, he attempted to leap onto a tree branch, trying to control his mana as he moved. His body felt lighter, but it wasn't enough. As soon as he landed, he could feel gravity pulling him down again.
"Mana behaves differently… So how do I make it work?"
For the first time, Do-Hyun encountered a wall in his training—a moment where his abilities alone weren't enough. His previous skills had been based on direct power and combat efficiency, but Gyeonggong required a balance of energy and movement.
Still, he wasn't discouraged.
"I'll figure this out."
He turned his gaze back to Yoon Seol-Hwa, watching every detail of her movements.
Seeing his determination, she finally spoke.
"Using mana for Gyeonggong will feel different from using Qi," she said with a small smile. "But if you follow the flow of mana, you can create your own version of it."
Do-Hyun nodded, setting a new goal. He would not just learn Gyeonggong—he would develop his own method, one that merged mana and movement into a seamless whole.
********
The Will of the Sword and the Teachings of the Sword Mage
As he pondered how to refine his technique, Do-Hyun found himself lost in thought. The gap between mana and Qiseemed too vast to bridge.
Then, suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
"You seem troubled."
The voice belonged to the will of his sword—the lingering consciousness of its previous master.
Do-Hyun closed his eyes, focusing on the presence within the blade.
"So, you're here again."
The sword's voice carried a deep, knowing tone, as if it understood his struggles.
"Your power does not rely on Qi, but mana," the sword spirit said. "Gyeonggong may not be the best path for you—but there is another way."
"Another way?" Do-Hyun asked.
"Enhancement magic—an ability that increases both speed and strength. That is the key."
The suggestion caught him off guard. Enhancement magic? The idea of combining magic and martial arts was something he had only seen in fantasy settings, not in the Murim world.
"Magic in a martial world… is that even possible?"
The sword spirit chuckled softly.
"You're forgetting something, Do-Hyun. I was not just a swordsman—I was a sword mage."
Do-Hyun's eyes widened.
"A sword mage?"
The spirit continued.
"To the people of Murim, I appeared as a powerful swordmaster. But in truth, I combined magic and swordsmanship, enhancing my strikes with mana-infused techniques. That is what truly made me strong."
The revelation sparked an idea in Do-Hyun's mind.
If he could not use Qi like Seol-Hwa, then why not use mana in a completely different way?
"So you're saying I can use magic to enhance my swordsmanship?"
"Exactly," the spirit confirmed. "Your mana does not circulate within your body like Qi, but that is an advantage. Instead of relying on internal energy, you can directly enhance your sword's speed, power, and agility using external mana."
Do-Hyun's mind raced with possibilities.
"By channeling mana into my blade, I could increase its sharpness… If I use enhancement magic on myself, I could increase my speed… I could even develop my own form of movement that mimics Gyeonggong!"
The sword spirit nodded approvingly.
"Now you're thinking. Your mana gives you unique advantages. You do not need to imitate the techniques of others—you must create your own path."
"Then… where do I start?"
"Begin with the fundamentals. Channel mana into your sword, feel its flow, and then… direct that energy into your movements."
Though it sounded simple, Do-Hyun knew this would take time.
"It won't be easy," the spirit warned. "But if you succeed, you will not just be a swordsman—you will be something more."
"A sword mage," Do-Hyun murmured.
The idea excited him. This was not just about strength—it was about refining his own style, something that was uniquely his.
He would no longer be just a martial artist or a warrior.
He would carve a new path.
"Thank you," Do-Hyun said, his voice filled with conviction.
"Then let us begin," the sword spirit whispered.
And with that, a new training arc had begun—one where Do-Hyun would combine magic and martial arts to become something Murim had never seen before.