Yoo Baekjun wiped away the sweat trickling down.
He looked around and saw that the noisy people who had been watching him for a while were now gone.
'It must be because it's dawn and they went to rest.'
That's what the time suggested.
It wasn't that the trainees here were slacking off on training or anything like that.
Training always requires an equal amount of rest.
'It's this body, running wild due to the Heavenly Martial Physique and the effects of the elixir, that's strange.'
Yoo Baekjun looked at Han Seonga.
As she approached, she quietly offered him a towel and some water. He wiped his sweat with the towel and asked,
"What do you mean by, 'will it be okay'?"
"I was talking about Lord Yoo Kangho. He's someone who has trained under the grand masters of the family for a long time."
"Hmm, so what?"
Han Seonga hesitated, unable to continue her sentence. Yoo Baekjun let out a small laugh at her hesitation.
"You're wondering if there's any point in fighting when I'm just going to get beaten up anyway, right? Why embarrass myself?"
"Ah, no. That's not …..."
"It's not, is it? Right?"
Han Seonga cleared her throat, and Yoo Baekjun gulped down the water.
"Do you really think I challenged him without a plan? I have my reasons."
"That reason ... is it martial arts?"
There was deep curiosity in Han Seonga's eyes. But what was it she was curious about?
'Han Seonga is a bit unusual for an instructor of the Sword Saint Clan.'
Normally, members of the Sword Saint Clan show no interest in anything outside of swordsmanship.
But Han Seonga was different.
She was interested in other forms of combat besides swordsmanship and wanted to become stronger by using them.
'For example, magic.'
But because of her position as an instructor, she had to suppress that interest.
And then, the successor of the family appeared, openly practicing martial arts other than swordsmanship.
Of course her curiosity would be piqued.
"This is the Sword Saint Clan. Anything other than swordsmanship should not be learned, nor should one try to learn it. Why do you insist on using martial arts...?"
"And who decided that?"
"Excuse me?"
Yoo Baekjun scoffed.
"They say the Martial God of the past mastered swordsmanship, martial arts, spearmanship, and archery. So why does the clan he founded only allow the sword?"
"That's …..."
Han Seonga had no reply.
The Sword Saint Clan had a strange contradiction. The Martial God had practiced all forms of martial arts, yet his descendants stubbornly clung only to swordsmanship.
'Well, it's not like there's no reason for it.'
It was simple.
The only thing the Martial God left behind was his swordsmanship. He passed on the sword techniques he used, but left nothing related to other weapons.
That sword technique was the Heaven-Surging Sword Technique.
'Using martial arts circulating in the world probably didn't sit well. So they chose to only use what the Martial God left behind, like his swordsmanship or movement techniques.'
That's how the current Sword Saint Clan came to be.
No one knows why the Martial God made that choice. He never appeared directly in the game, either.
But—
"I don't intend to follow that path."
He had no intention of clinging to swordsmanship.
"Instructor Han Seonga. I'm a greedy man."
Yoo Baekjun looked at her and said,
"If it helps me get stronger, I'll learn anything and use anything. As the successor of the Sword Saint—no, the Martial God, it's only right."
"Even if it's something other than the sword?"
"Yeah. Didn't the Martial God do the same? Swordsmanship, martial arts, spearmanship, archery… he trained in all of them and used them to grow stronger."
Yoo Baekjun shrugged.
"So why can't we do the same?"
At those words, Han Seonga had a look of realization and sank into deep thought for a while.
Yoo Baekjun patiently waited for her.
"… I see. That's a perspective only someone unbound by the clan's training methods could have, young master."
Snapping out of her thoughts, Han Seonga nodded. Then she looked at Yoo Baekjun and made a suggestion.
"Well, it might not be much, but if you need help, I can assist with your training."
Yoo Baekjun's eyes gleamed.
She offered to help train him. That was the first reason he chose to train in the public space where others could see.
'A free skill!'
It was an event called
If you train with a skill other than swordsmanship, Han Seonga will approach and talk to you.
But the conditions were a bit strict.
'Train with a skill that's not swordsmanship. Use words that spark her curiosity.'
And finally, possess outstanding talent.
Even if you're training with something other than swordsmanship, if your talent seems lacking, she'll just walk away.
But with the Heavenly Martial Physique—
'I'm the cream of the crop when it comes to talent. You think you can just pass me by? Huh?'
Moreover, if you build enough rapport during training, she can become your direct instructor.
Yoo Baekjun suppressed a laugh.
"You know, right? I'm someone who's looked down on by the family. If you teach me, you'll be …..."
"I'm already an outsider in the clan anyway. We're both in the same boat, so does it really matter?"
Han Seonga tilted her head.
Other instructors would make excuses and run if Yoo Baekjun asked them to teach him.
Right now, the only one who could teach him a skill was her. The only one who didn't care about others' opinions—Han Seonga, who marched to the beat of her own drum.
Yoo Baekjun nodded.
"If you'll teach me, I'd welcome it any time. What do you plan to teach me?"
"Fist technique... I don't know much myself. But if it's a cultivation method, I think I can help."
"A cultivation method, huh. Sounds perfect."
This clan had many individuals with great talent in fields outside of swordsmanship.
Though their talents had yet to bloom.
'Han Seonga has immense talent for magic.'
She had Traits related to magic.
She had the qualities of a Hunter who could become a magic swordsman like Yoon Song-ha.
Maybe that's why—she was good at handling mana and was a specialist in cultivation techniques.
'A Trait, huh... Once things settle, I need to go find that item.'
It's something that all veterans of Heroes' Road always make sure to get, no matter which route they take.
There's an item called the "Observer's Eye" that lets you see another person's Trait.
'I should head down to the secular world sometime soon.'
Yoo Baekjun looked at Han Seonga.
"It's the same Heaven-Surging Mind Technique used by the clan, but I've modified it in my own way. Would you like to sit down?"
"Mhm."
Yoo Baekjun sat on the ground.
Then Han Seonga placed her hand on his shoulder. Her mana began to flow into his body.
"You used the Tri-Mind Technique, right? Try moving your mana as if you were using that."
Yoo Baekjun did as she instructed.
As he moved his mana following the Tri-Mind Technique, Han Seonga's mana also began to flow.
"Hmm!"
Her mana grabbed onto Yoo Baekjun's and forcibly guided it. It began circulating through his body in a specific pattern, slowly.
'She's teaching me how to breathe and circulate energy.'
Yoo Baekjun felt the movement of her mana and memorized it completely.
Han Seonga removed her hand.
"This is how you should move it. It'll probably take some time, but if you stay patient, you'll gain a proper understanding."
"I'll try it right now."
"Yes, I'll assist you."
Han Seonga once again placed her hand on Yoo Baekjun.
Under her watchful gaze, Yoo Baekjun began to slowly operate the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique.
"Ssshh."
He drew in mana from the outside and set it into motion.
Slowly, recalling the movement just now.
Yoo Baekjun's body, with eyes closed, began to emit a faint blue light.
"...!"
Han Seonga's eyes widened.
She could feel through the touch of her hand exactly how his mana was moving.
'It's the same.'
He was operating the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique's breathing technique. After seeing it only once.
'Is this even possible?'
Han Seonga asked herself.
He had practically no guidance from the family. Since no instructors had taught him, he had even learned the Tri-Mind Technique on his own. In a way, he was pitiful.
So he shouldn't know the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique.
'But this flow of mana, the way it moves … it feels like someone who has trained in it for years.'
More accurately, he was perfectly mimicking Han Seonga's demonstration.
The mana circulating through his body moved toward Yoo Baekjun's lower dantian and began to settle.
'His dantian is huge! Is that why he could use the Mobility Technique all day long?'
The sheer size of it surprised her again.
It was far beyond what someone just learning a cultivation method should have.
And this perfect body—
"Like it was heaven-sent…"
"Fuuu!"
Just as Han Seonga muttered, Yoo Baekjun completed his cultivation and exhaled.
It was a breath tinged with blue mana.
"How was it, Instructor Han Seonga?"
"E-Excuse me?"
"My cultivation. I followed your instructions—what did you think?"
"Well …"
Han Seonga checked Yoo Baekjun's dantian.
The mana he had drawn in earlier was fully settled within his dantian. And due to the breathing technique, his body had even been activated.
He had perfectly executed the Heaven-Surging Mind Technique.
"… Wow. It's perfect."
"Yeah?"
That was all she could say.
Han Seonga looked at Yoo Baekjun in disbelief.
"Excuse me, young master … weren't you always considered talentless?"
"Yeah, that's what they said."
"Who said that about you?"
"My father."
Han Seonga shook her head.
'The clan head said someone with this level of talent was talentless? That makes no sense.'
Han Seonga's mind grew even more confused.
But there was one thing she was now certain of.
'Young master Yoo Baekjun possesses incredible talent. Maybe the most outstanding among the direct bloodline of the family.'
It was talent that could captivate anyone watching.
Han Seonga began to think she wanted to watch this talent grow from up close.
She even wanted to be the one to teach him.
"… For now, let's keep operating the cultivation method. It's best to continue until you're familiar with it."
"Alright. I think I can master it by tomorrow. After that, is there anything else I can learn?"
"Let's see. You've used the Mobility Technique—I know a lower-level skill version of that. It's called 'Swift Steps.' That should be helpful."
"Sounds good."
Yoo Baekjun nodded in satisfaction.
Han Seonga was the tree that would spare nothing to help him rise and surpass Joo Joongwon.
'A free skill!'
To prepare for the upcoming Martial God's Book advancement, he had to save as many points as possible.
Yoo Baekjun held back his laughter.
"Keep teaching me, Instructor Han Seonga. I may be clumsy since it's my first time, but I'll give it my best."
"C-Clumsy? No, yes. I understand. I'll do my best to teach you as well."
Han Seonga replied with a serious expression.
From that point on, Yoo Baekjun decided to receive focused training with Han Seonga's help.
On her way back, Han Seonga recalled the sight of Yoo Baekjun earlier.
'The youngest of the Sword Saint Clan is too weak.'
So he was unfit to be clan head.
That was always the perception of Yoo Baekjun and the general belief of the clan members.
"Hmm, well…"
A faint smile appeared on Han Seonga's lips.
The Sword Saint Clan was in the middle of a succession war. Whether they were great instructors or regular ones, everyone supported the heir they favored.
'At the top is Yoo Taerang. Then Yoo Jungyeon. Yoo Baekjun is…'
To be honest, he didn't stand a chance.
But with that kind of talent, in this clan that values survival of the fittest—maybe, just maybe.
"… I never thought I'd support an heir."
She used to scoff whenever other instructors mentioned which heir they supported.
But now, her mind has changed.
For the first time, she thought it might be worth supporting someone. Someone who thought like she did.
"If it's young master Yoo Baekjun…"
Not bad. That thought crossed her mind.
"...."
But that was still far off.
Han Seonga walked on, wondering what she should teach Yoo Baekjun tomorrow.