Chapter 90

"That's right... Is there a reason you're using this stance here?"

"It seems like you suddenly assumed a defensive stance, but I don't know why. Why?"

"It's to protect the person behind you."

"Wouldn't it be unnecessary if you just killed the person in front of you?"

"Ha ha..."

I'm strong now!

I won't be surprised or shaken by such remarks!

Ryeon laughed heartily.

"There are situations where you can't do that. For example, if you're facing an enemy you can't defeat, but you have to protect the person behind you..."

"Without running away?"

"You need to buy time for others to escape."

"No, if you can't win, you should run away first. If you can't even take care of yourself, how can you protect anyone?"

"Those who are weaker than me."

"Why?"

"Because I'm stronger than they are."

Hwaryun had a look of complete incomprehension.

Then Ryeon suddenly realized that it was now difficult to tell Hwaryun to protect others instead of running away first.

Who would want their family to die protecting someone else?

Ryeon's throat suddenly felt dry, and he paused for a moment before awkwardly laughing.

"But thinking about it, what you said makes sense too. It's foolish to try to protect others when you can't even protect yourself. Right?"

"Not a fool, maybe just a bit foolish?"

Ryeon shot Hwaryun a glance, then grabbed his hand tightly. Hwaryun, though awkward, did not pull away.

"Yeah, it's foolish to help others at the cost of your own body. Just... help others when you can."

"Idiot..."

"Why are you suddenly calling me an idiot?"

"Just muttering to myself!"

"No, you were definitely talking to me."

The two argued for a while. When Hwaryun finally raised his hands in a gesture of giving up, Ryeon returned to the original topic.

"Anyway, do you understand? Hwaryun, when you think you can't do it, just... run away. Got it?"

"...Why? Because I'm weak?"

"No. Because I will protect you."

"...Me?"

"Yes. Hwaryun is my younger brother."

"Even though I'm weak and useless?"

Despite having had this conversation many times, Hwaryun always asked as if it were the first time.

Ryeon looked down at Hwaryun's bright eyes and pinched his cheeks hard.

"Would you throw me away if I were weak and useless?"

"That's irrelevant. And as the eldest grandson of the Danmok family, how can you be useless?"

'Cold kid...'

"In situations like this, you just need to say you won't throw me away, Hwaryun..."

"Of course not. I'm a servant, so it's natural that you can't throw me away."

Ryeon, with his dry lips, decided to change the subject. Hwaryun's perspective was hard to understand.

"First, you're not weak, and people aren't just useful or not. I protect you because you're important to me."

"Me? To you?"

"If you weren't important, would I be here?"

Ryeon stretched Hwaryun's cheeks. Hwaryun screamed.

"It hurts!"

"Because you're important, I teach you sword techniques, we learn characters together, we share delicious food, and... even when you say 'Sister, you're wrong,' I find it cute!"

"Hmm."

Hwaryun, with his cheeks flushed red, covered them with his hands and pouted.

"How did I end up like this..."

Ryeon tousled Hwaryun's hair, which was already a mess.

He knew that what he was saying to him was almost a lie. Hwaryun couldn't live in reality with such naive thoughts forever.

As time passed, people would start to judge by usefulness. Even Ryeon himself had reached out to Hwaryun because he saw the potential for him to become the next leader of the Matian Sect.

'But if Hwaryun could just... a little...'

A person whose talent and era align doesn't need to prove themselves; the world will find them.

If such a Hwaryun could have the generosity to embrace even those who can't be on anyone's side...

'No, our Hwaryun is actually a good kid, despite his harsh words!'

Every time he said harsh things, it was Hwaryun who brought ice when Ryeon was overheated and sprawled out.

"Anyway, does that mean I did well with the stance just now?"

"Yeah, sure. Want to try it one more time?"

"Okay."

With that, Hwaryun immediately picked up the wooden sword and started moving.

Despite always saying he didn't want to learn martial arts, Hwaryun's face was now lit up with the joy of learning something new. The cold winter air couldn't dampen his enthusiasm.

The stance he had learned once was much more fluid the second time.

Ryeon wanted to show him a mirror and ask, 'Is this the face of someone who doesn't want to learn?'

'What else can I teach you? Maybe some footwork? Or some mental techniques?'

As Ryeon pondered the curriculum, he glanced at the fan and gasped.

Hwaryun

Trait: Heavenly Demon Sect's Successor / Partial synchronization failed.

Luo Cheng Twelve Swords: 2-star (New) / Partial synchronization failed.

Talent and Five Elements: Partial synchronization failed.

Concerns: Partial synchronization failed.

'No, wait, we haven't even practiced for an hour, and you're already 2-star? You really just learned a little bit just now?'

"What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"

There's no way, right? Hwaryun muttered. Ryeon closed his eyes tightly.

'Right. Where is there fairness in the world? Some people are born with such talent that they can reach 2-star after just one look... and my luck stat even increased by 3...'

Thinking about this, Ryeon suddenly realized he hadn't checked his own status in a while, having been busy looking at others'.

Trait: Infinite Source of Spirit Energy / Half-learned / Received the Lament of Evil / Greenhouse Flower

Harmony: 7-star - May not be noticeable.

Mind's Eye: 6-star - Can see strengths.

Purification: 3-star - Can purify morale.

Internal Energy: Unobtainable

Talent: Measurement Error

Spirit Energy: 55 / 120

Ryeon, feeling tense as if he were looking at a report card, squinted and looked beyond the fan.

Nothing had changed. His martial arts level was still not visible, and it still said he couldn't obtain internal energy, and his talent was the same.

'Huh? But why isn't there a warning when my spirit energy is at 55...?'

Ryeon was briefly happy to see that his maximum spirit energy capacity had increased, but then he felt a chill and closed his eyes.

He had noticed that his spirit energy was filling up faster lately.

It was because he no longer needed to go to the mountains to make the same amount of Qinglian water.

Instead, he sometimes saw a warning when his spirit energy exceeded half of his capacity. But since he could use it immediately for Qinglian water or Hei Qu Dan, he didn't pay much attention.

'Muscles grow when used, and spirit energy grows faster and has a larger capacity when used!'

It was fortunate that his capacity had increased, but the realization that his spirit energy was filling up faster made him feel heavy.

'How fast is it filling up? I've been busy making all sorts of things lately...'

If he didn't use his spirit energy immediately, his life would be on a countdown, but the faster he used it, the faster it filled up.

Just as Ryeon opened his eyes in despair, Hwaryun, who had thrown away the wooden sword, was right in front of him.

"Sister, are you okay?"

Hwaryun seemed startled and worried when Ryeon suddenly looked dizzy. Ryeon quickly shook his head and smiled.

"No, no, I'm fine. This time, you were faster than the last time. How did you do it?"

"Should I call a doctor? Or go to the pharmacy?"

Despite Ryeon's attempt to steer the conversation back to the Luo Cheng Twelve Swords, Hwaryun answered off-topic.

"No, really, I'm fine. I don't have a fever, and I'm not... bleeding! I'll tell you if I'm sick."

"That's right..."

Hwaryun, convinced by Ryeon's words, took a step back but kept his eyes on her face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"If you're sick, you'll tell someone, right?"

"Of course, I will. You can't stand my whining. Just say it's annoying."

Ryeon laughed. Hwaryun replied, "I understand," and picked up the wooden sword he had thrown away, dusting off the dirt.