Chapter 61

## Chapter 61. It Was There, But It's Gone

“Snore~ Pheeew… Snore~ Pheeew….”

Xianyuan Gang, sprawled out on the bed, snored loudly.

His puffy face and bleeding nose were a sight to behold.

‘At least he’s not hurt anywhere else.’

One of Xianyuan Gang’s greatest talents is his innate toughness.

While others would suffer from body aches for days after such brutal training, he would shake it off and get up the next day.

It was truly an incredible physical strength.

“Mmm… Peng Shixue… You little… Just wait a bit more….”

“A bit? You’re far off, you bastard.”

After checking on Xianyuan Gang’s condition, I moved to the next room.

In the adjacent room, Wizhi Qian was curled up like a shrimp, sleeping soundly and peacefully.

“Snore…”

Though he’s fifteen, his sleeping face looked as innocent as a ten-year-old boy’s.

When I first met him, he was a half-crazed sword demon, but now, Wizhi Qian is a much purer boy than his peers.

‘Well, he was pure even when he was in the midst of madness.’

Despite his pure face, he had torn apart a mountain bird and chewed on a rabbit by the grave.

“Mom….”

Wizhi Qian mumbled in his sleep, hugging the sword in his arms tightly.

I watched him silently.

Unlike Xianyuan Gang, Wizhi Qian is small and has thin limbs.

He’s still in his growth period, so he could grow more, but he probably won’t be much taller than average.

‘Not a bad build for handling a sword, but not the best either.’

Wizhi Qian is a genius.

However, his talent lies not in his physical body but in his insight and focus.

He has an outstanding ability to understand and master difficult martial arts, like the Wuji Sword Technique, which he learned to a high level on his own, even though it was fake.

- A swordsman must love his sword.

- Isn’t that obvious?

- Do you think it’s obvious? Most swordsmen see their swords as mere tools for displaying martial arts or as weapons for killing. They use the sword, but they don’t love it.

- What exactly does it mean to love a sword? Is it a matter of mindset?

- A sword is a sword.

- Master Jianzun, I’m not asking for a Zen riddle…

- A sword is just a sword. If you want to understand it, look at it every day.

- No, I…

I recalled Master Jianzun’s face as he quietly stroked his cherished sword after making me feel like my clothes were about to tear from his Zen riddles.

Master Jianzun’s cherished sword broke when its owner died.

“Mom… Dad….”

It seemed Wizhi Qian was having a nightmare. He shuddered and hugged the sword in his arms tightly. Cold sweat beaded on his pale forehead.

‘Maybe the aftereffects of the madness are still lingering.’

In front of others, he pretends to be cheerful, but it’s been less than a month since Wizhi Qian recovered from the madness.

Physically, he’s almost fully recovered, but mentally, it will take more time.

“Ugh, ugh, I’m scared….”

I placed my hand on Wizhi Qian’s forehead, which had turned pale from the nightmare.

As I infused a bit of my internal energy to warm his body, his expression gradually relaxed.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

“Dad… Don’t go….”

“I won’t go. Dad won’t go anywhere.”

I placed one hand on his forehead and the other on his stomach, gently stroking them, and Wizhi Qian slowly fell into a deeper sleep.

‘Well, this feels like raising a child I wasn’t supposed to have.’

After confirming that Wizhi Qian was deeply asleep, I got up and went outside.

The moon was shining brightly in the night.

I walked around the courtyard, lost in thought.

‘Guangma and Jianzun. Xianyuan Gang and Wizhi Qian.’

Both of them have talents that could be called genius, but upon closer inspection, they are completely different types.

Xianyuan Gang has superior physical abilities, good eyesight, and a steel-like constitution, allowing him to follow most techniques he sees.

That’s why the direct and destructive Sura Blood Heaven Dao is perfect for him.

On the other hand, Wizhi Qian excels in understanding and mastering difficult martial arts, his focus, and his immersion in the sword.

That’s why the profound but difficult Wuji Sword Technique suits him well.

‘Right now, Wizhi Qian is stronger.’

For now, Wizhi Qian is stronger, but once Xianyuan Gang starts learning the Sura Blood Heaven Dao seriously, the gap will close quickly.

The half-learned Zhen Tian Dao he has mastered will serve as an excellent foundation for the Sura Blood Heaven Dao, and with his determination and physical strength, he will progress at an incredible speed.

Plus, the existence of Wizhi Qian as a competitor.

It will undoubtedly have a significant positive effect on his training.

Of course, the same applies to Wizhi Qian.

“Just how strong will they become… I can’t even imagine.”

A joyful smile formed on my lips.

The thought of my disciples, whom I have raised, dominating the martial arts world was exhilarating.

Of course, I plan to push them to the brink to make this imagination a reality.

That’s my role as their master.

‘To do that, I need to become stronger too.’

To properly teach these two geniuses, I need to become even stronger than I am now.

I continued to walk and think.

‘My external martial arts are fine since I practice the Luolin Eighteen Forms every day. The problem is still improving the Reversing Heaven Art…’

The Reversing Heaven Art is divided into three stages of mastery: Minor Success, Major Success, and Great Success.

Currently, I have achieved the third stage, reaching complete Minor Success, and I am at the threshold of Major Success.

“…I need to acquire more spirit medicines.”

Once I surpass the fourth stage and enter the initial phase of Major Success, I can do much more.

But it will require a significant amount of spirit medicines.

At the very least, I will need spirit medicines until the end of the Major Success stage.

‘This will cost a fortune. I need to meet Fuman Chun soon.’

While thinking about future plans, I sensed someone approaching quietly from behind and turned around.

“Elder? It’s late.”

“Haha. I was trying to surprise you from behind… But I guess you noticed.”

Wizhi Ye scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.

The head of the Wizhi family, one of the eight major families of the Blood Sect, which had been destroyed.

But now, he’s just a kind and large old man.

I could still feel the heat that hadn’t fully dissipated from his body.

“Were you at the forge?”

“Haha. Lately, I’ve been practically living there. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked with metal in a proper forge, so I can’t help myself.”

After entering the city with the false identity arranged by Qing Tian, Wizhi Ye has been working at one of my businesses, a forge, under the name of Xu Tian.

“Take it easy. You’re getting on in years.”

“I’ll try. How’s Tianyi?”

“He’s tired and went to sleep early. He spent the whole day sparring with the kid I brought.”

“Oh, it’s the day the senior from Qinglong Academy was supposed to visit. They should get along well….”

“Don’t worry. At first, Tianyi was the one sticking to him, but later, the senior was the one who couldn’t get enough.”

We laughed and chatted about our recent lives for a while.

Wizhi Ye’s face looked much brighter than the last time I saw him.

“Lately, I’ve been really happy. It’s all thanks to you.”

Since I cured Wizhi Qian’s madness, Wizhi Ye has regarded me as his lifelong benefactor.

“Not only did you save my only grandson, but you also gave us a new identity. And you even helped me fulfill my lifelong dream… The favor you’ve done for me is something I can never repay, even if I live forever.”

“You should live a long life then. That way, you can repay me for a long time.”

My half-joking, sincere words made Wizhi Ye burst into laughter and pat my shoulder.

“Haha! That’s true! Yes! I’ll have to live a very long life for your sake!”

“Y-Yes.”

“Hahaha!”

Thump, thump, thump!

His hand, patting my shoulder in a friendly manner, was surprisingly painful.

What’s with this old man’s palm, which is as big as a pot lid….

To avoid not being able to move my shoulder the next morning, I slipped my shoulder away and asked about something that had just come to mind.

“By the way, how’s the progress on making a sword that surpasses the Blood Demon Sword?”

“…”

At that moment, Wizhi Ye’s hand stopped as if by magic.

He looked at me with a troubled expression.

“Hmm. Actually, I have something to say about that.”

I sighed, thinking it wasn’t a big deal, and asked.

“How much do you need?”

“I’ve already prepared a list of what’s needed. There are quite a few pieces of equipment and materials.”

Wizhi Ye searched his robe and handed me a list of items and their prices.

…It’s not a small amount.

“D-Do you need this much? What’s so expensive?”

“…Just the Yun Iron alone isn’t enough to make a sword. The quantity is insufficient, and to increase the sword’s strength, it needs to be an alloy of Yun Iron, Xian Iron, and other types of iron. And to handle various types of iron, we need multiple pieces of equipment….”

“Elder, you’re the best blacksmith of the Blood Sect, right? A master who can forge famous swords in a shabby forge….”

Wizhi Ye looked at me with a baffled expression.

“Master? Do you think I can make a sword with my bare hands? To make the best sword, you need the best materials and environment. The better the master, the more particular they are about their equipment!”

“…”

“Trust me. If you get me these things, I will definitely forge a treasured sword that surpasses the Blood Demon Sword….”

“…”

As I only sighed without answering, Wizhi Ye’s expression turned gloomy.

“Is it too much…? I understand. I’ll remove a few items… Just the essentials….”

“No, it’s fine. If we’re going to do it, let’s do it right.”

I shook my head at his diminished appearance.

I agreed that to create the best, you need the best materials and environment.

“I’ll get everything on this list for you.”

“T-Thank you! And I’m sorry….”

I smiled and said.

“There’s no need to apologize. I’m rich, after all.”

I knew.

At this point, I still thought I was rich.

* * *

The next day, I put on a mask and went to see Fuman Chun.

“Master. Welcome.”

“Manager Fuman. It’s been a while.”

Fuman Chun, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, looked much heavier than before.

Whereas he used to have a fierce and rugged appearance, like a true wandering swordsman, he now just looked like a middle-aged man with a stern face and a big belly.

Noticing my gaze, Fuman Chun cleared his throat and made an excuse, hurriedly covering his belly.

“Lately, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to exercise….”

For a martial artist to say he hasn’t had time to exercise is a bit concerning.

I had a fleeting thought, but since Fuman Chun is my manager, not my bodyguard, it wasn’t something I needed to worry about.

I handed him the list of items I received from Wizhi Ye.

“I’d like to ask you to get these things.”

Fuman Chun’s expression darkened instantly as he read the list of items and their prices.

“They’re all expensive items.”

“I’d like to expand the forge a bit. As you know, the new old man is very skilled.”

“Ah, yes… Can it take a bit of time?”

“The sooner, the better.”

Although Fuman Chun’s expression wasn’t good, I didn’t pay much attention and brought up the next matter.

“And please look into getting some spirit medicines like before. This time, a larger quantity….”

“Master, I need to be honest with you.”

Fuman Chun suddenly pulled out a ledger and placed it in front of me, his expression serious.

“Why the ledger all of a sudden….”

“We don’t have any money.”

“…What do you mean?”

I inherited the wealth of Old Man Xu, who was one of the top ten usurers in Nanchang.

So what do you mean by no money?

“To be precise, we had it, but it’s gone.”

Fuman Chun spread the ledger in front of me and explained.