My entire body was enveloped in radiant blue streaks of lightning.
This was the state of Naegi's synchronization.
In the case of Naegeom Cheondun, it could be said to be the union of the sword and naegi, but Naebyeok Cheondun is fundamentally about accepting naegi within oneself—if the body cannot endure it, learning it is impossible.
Yet, because of something that entered my mind, it became possible.
My gaze naturally turned toward Cheondun, held by the Sword Immortal.
That voice I had heard in my head.
No matter how much I thought about it, it couldn't have been anyone other than Cheondun.
And yet, the Sword Immortal's gaze was also not on me—but on Cheondun.
I was about to call him, but—
"Still dwelling in the past, I see."
"What do you mean by that?"
To my question, the Sword Immortal shook his head.
"It's nothing."
I was curious what he meant, but didn't ask further.
But one thing was clear: the voice I heard—Cheondun was definitely the source.
Being a beopgu (spiritual weapon), it was indeed different from ordinary swords.
—Ignoring me? That's hurtful, you know.
You know I didn't mean it that way.
Like other yogums (mystic swords), its power couldn't be measured just from its appearance.
I hadn't even held its hilt in my hand, and yet, after hearing that voice, I was able to control naegi.
As if it had granted me permission to wield its power.
If I get the chance, I want to ask Cheondun why it stayed silent all this time and only spoke now.
But now doesn't seem to be the right moment.
The Sword Immortal approached and spoke in a calm voice.
"You are finally ready to learn Naebyeok Cheondun."
He grabbed Cheondun's hilt in reverse and drove the blade into the ground.
In that moment, naegi burst out like blue flames across the floor.
—Crackle-crackle-hiss!
Simultaneously, the ground ignited and lightning shot upward like a bolt reversed.
It looked like a dragon of thunder ascending to the heavens.
"Ahh!"
It was a truly magnificent sight.
"This is the first style of Naebyeok Cheondun. Let us begin."
I gulped without realizing.
Only three days remained.
Would I be able to learn it in time?
---
Three days had already passed.
To master Naebyeok Cheondun, I had barely slept for two days.
I had just now managed to get a bit more than an hour of deep rest.
It wasn't long, but enough to circulate energy and recover physically.
This was the top floor of Jeongyangjeon.
Seven seats were empty—only the head seat was occupied by Jeongyang Jin-in.
With a large fan in hand, Jeongyang Jin-in spoke.
"Time truly flies. Feels like you only just arrived."
I couldn't help but agree.
At first, I thought this time would never pass.
But after receiving guidance from many masters, three years and eight months had flown by.
Learning something beyond my limits had been truly enjoyable.
Maybe that's why I felt a subtle sense of regret.
Not regret in a bad way—just a quiet wish that I could have studied more if only I had the time.
—You must be born to be a do-in. Why not just become a monk while you're at it?
Not quite.
Someone like me, with worldly desires, ambition, and attachment to the secular world—it's not for me.
The do-ins of Dohwaseon have all let go of such things.
I can't do that.
Besides, I have to return.
"There were times when it felt short, and times it felt long. Above all, I'm deeply grateful to all the masters and especially to you, Jeongyang Jin-in."
You opened my eyes to a new world.
While training at Dohwaseon, I learned just as much about my shortcomings as I did martial arts.
I had been so busy facing countless challenges that I overlooked many things—this place gave me the chance to reflect.
"You've grown spiritually as well, I see. Hohoho."
"...Your words humble me."
Even while speaking kindly, sometimes it felt like he could see right through me.
Jeongyang Jin-in was the leader of the eight do-ins here, and master of the other seven.
Maybe that's why he sometimes felt more formidable than the rest.
"Then, before you leave Dohwaseon, there's one last thing to check."
"Yes, sir."
At his words, I composed myself.
Then slowly opened my middle dantian and circulated my innate true energy throughout my body.
As I gradually raised my power, Jeongyang Jin-in focused on my face.
More precisely—my eyes.
—Still no change.
Somdamgeom spoke to me.
If it was right, even though I opened the middle dantian, there was still no change in my left eye.
Normally, upon activation, the left eye should glow golden.
But now, it didn't.
That was thanks to Jeongyang Jin-in's efforts over the past three years in untying the tangled internal energy within me and treating my body with mystical medicine.
He was the most skilled in alchemy within Dohwaseon, so it was only possible because of him.
He spoke again.
"Try drawing more energy."
Up to 6-star power, it was still stable.
Then I could probably push it to 7-star without issue.
As I drew more power, Jeongyang Jin-in watched carefully.
Still no problem.
I moved on to 8-star.
And then—
—It changed. Still...
"If we had more time, it would be better, but we'll have to be satisfied with this."
Jeongyang Jin-in smiled at me.
Honestly, this alone was something to be grateful for.
In the past, even opening the middle dantian meant I had to fight with one eye closed, but now I could use up to 7-star power without any change, and use innate true energy with peace of mind.
I bowed and expressed my thanks.
"This is all thanks to you, Master."
"It would be best if we could completely stabilize it, but what can we do? If you change your mind, I can still give you the Dragon-Tiger Gold Pill."
To that, I frantically waved my hands.
"No, I could never accept that!"
The Yongho Geumdan (Dragon-Tiger Gold Pill).
Made from countless mystical ingredients, it was said to greatly extend one's life.
In other words, it was the elixir of longevity.
Receiving it would be equivalent to committing to the path of the do-in.
"Hohoho."
As expected, he had only offered it as a joke, knowing I'd decline.
The other do-ins had also suggested I renounce the secular world and become their disciple—but each time, I could only respond awkwardly.
"I ask your understanding that such a path is not for me."
"I understand. But if you ever change your mind, let me know."
"I will."
"Well then, shall we get going? Come here."
"Pardon?"
Jeongyang Jin-in beckoned me to come closer.
Thinking he had more to say, I approached.
He gently placed his hand on my shoulder.
In that moment, the surroundings blurred, and in the next instant, I found myself before the gathered do-ins.
They hadn't appeared—we had been transported.
'Ah!'
It was chukji (instant travel).
Said to be the deepest in Dao, Jeongyang Jin-in didn't need to travel alone like the others—he could bring me along just by touching me.
This was the southern gate of Dohwaseon.
Jeongyang Jin-in looked around at the do-ins.
"You've come without delay."
To that, Master Jo, holding the Yin-Yang Board, replied.
"I was originally going to deliver the final invocation, but Senior Brother Jang insisted on doing it."
"I thought he'd grown attached to the boy through all that teaching, but this is unexpected."
"He asked me to deliver this message to Woonhwi on his behalf."
"To me?"
Jo Master smiled and said to me, who was looking puzzled.
"When you return, they said they'll check if you've been slacking on your spear training. Such an insincere person, don't you think?"
That made me chuckle.
He was the type who acted bluntly but took care of you in subtle ways.
Unlike people in the secular world, the eight masters here were mostly pure-hearted.
So many of them were honest with their emotions.
You could tell just by looking at Master Ha, holding a lotus flower and avoiding eye contact with me.
—That woman cultivator really just doesn't like you.
If she really disliked me, she wouldn't have taught me in the first place.
She just has a lot of pride.
You can tell by the way she keeps glancing sideways.
She's pretending not to care because of what she once said.
Swordmaster approached me and said,
"It's time now."
"I feel a bit regretful."
"I feel the same. But if you bring that child back to Dohwa-seon as a fuse, we'll meet again. It's not a permanent farewell, is it?"
"That's true."
"If you go to the secular world, do not forget my advice."
"I will keep it in mind."
The advice Swordmaster gave me after our training was about the Great Hidden Sword Technique (대도천둔검법).
Unless I was in a life-threatening situation, I was not to use it.
Especially, I was told to never use it against ordinary people.
I completely agree.
Although most of what I learned at Dohwa-seon was powerful, this sword technique was on another level.
It was a power that should not be used recklessly.
"That's enough."
"Then I'll go right away and bring back Ja Gyeong-jeong, who betrayed your will."
"Wait a moment."
Just as I saluted the masters and was about to depart, one of them, the one holding a bamboo flute, called out to me.
"What is it?"
"I have something to give you before you go, Woon-hwi."
"Me?"
Master Han pulled out something like a blue lucky pouch from his robe.
I looked at it curiously, and he handed it to me.
As I took the pouch, I felt a slight tingling sensation.
"I imprinted it with a spell to recognize you as its owner. It's a precious item, so I made sure it won't be lost."
'Imprinted me as the owner?'
"What is this?"
"It's a pouch that can store anything."
I raised an eyebrow and asked,
"...This little thing?"
It was barely the size of my palm—what could possibly fit in here?
Then, Master Han stuck his hand into the pouch.
And his arm went in up to the elbow.
My eyes widened in shock.
"Hahaha! Didn't I tell you? It can store anything."
—Whoosh!
When he pulled his hand out, he took out a bamboo flute identical to the one hanging at his waist.
"It's a gift. It's not a sacred tool, but it's made of spiritual jade, so even a decent sword wouldn't be able to cut it."
"Ah!"
"Each of the masters here has placed one item inside as a gift. I hope you find them useful."
"How could you give me something like this..."
"You're going through hardship as our representative. We're sorry this is all we can give you."
I looked at the masters with deep emotion.
Seven of the Taoist masters smiled gently at me.
—Well, technically six.
Just as Sodamgeom said, Master Ha, still holding her lotus flower, snorted and turned her head away when our eyes met.
That attitude only made me more curious about what she might have put inside.
"If you reach into it, you'll naturally understand how to retrieve the items. Ah! And you can even put that wooden case you're carrying on your back inside."
"It's too big…"
"Just try it."
Will it really work?
I took off the wooden case, opened the pouch wide, and held it close.
To my amazement, the part of the case near the pouch began to bend, and it was soon sucked in and disappeared.
—Whoa. That's amazing.
But the surprising part wasn't just that.
Even after the case was inside, the pouch still felt incredibly light.
—Seriously?
It's truly fascinating.
Though I had learned techniques from the Taoist masters, I hadn't learned such mysterious spells.
They said one had to cultivate spiritual energy to learn these things.
When I see this, I can only admire them.
'This is really useful.'
With this, I won't need to leave my sword with someone or stuff it in the case.
I can just hide it in here whenever needed.
"It's roughly the size of that small warehouse you see over there, so use it wisely."
"Thank you. I'll treasure it."
It seems like a perfect item to store clothes for Transformation Illusion Techniques too.
This is really an excellent gift.
—Why do I feel like you're already thinking of ways to scam people with it?
Scam? It's called strategy to fool enemies.
Anyway, this useful gift definitely lifted my mood.
"Now go. Become our representative and bring back the sacred artifact after capturing that foolish disciple of Yeosa Hyung."
"Understood. I'll return soon."
—Swish!
I once again saluted the masters and floated the Namcheon Iron Sword using the Jade Form, then stood atop the blade.
As Jeongyang True Person looked into the distance and nodded, the ground began to tremble, and a mist began to swirl at the southern entrance of Dohwa-seon.
—Creeping!
The mist quickly spread throughout the southern forest.
This was likely a phenomenon caused by Master Jang attaching the final boundary talisman in the central chamber of Dohwa-seon.
Dohwa-seon was now flowing again, hidden from the world.
I need to leave quickly.
I was told that Ja Gyeong-jeong had left not long ago.
Hopefully, not much time has passed.
—Whoosh!
I soared into the air and flew out of the misty forest.
As I passed through the fog, the view of Dohwa-seon behind me instantly vanished.
'Ah!'
But once I left, I bit my lip at the scenery unfolding around me.
The place that had been completely snow-covered like a tundra had now melted, and warm winds were blowing.
Even the barren branches were sprouting buds.
This shift from mid-winter to early spring meant at least a month or two had passed.
—...They've hidden themselves well.
This could be a problem.
I want to catch him quickly and return.
I pulled a small disc-like object from my robe.
This was a tracker disc designed to detect the sacred artifact.
I couldn't track Ja Gyeong-jeong blindly, so I was given this to locate the artifact's energy.
—Didn't they say it only works if the sacred artifact is being used?
Yeah.
That's the problem. The disc only reacts when the artifact is in use.
So until it activates, I have no choice but to—
—Woon-hwi!
—Whrrr!
Just then, the needle of the tracker began to spin rapidly.
He was definitely using the artifact.
And based on how violently it was spinning, he wasn't far away.
'Namcheon! Head northeast!'
—Got it!
The Namcheon Iron Sword darted toward the northeast.
If I'm lucky, I might be able to catch Ja Gyeong-jeong soon.
My nerves tensed.
I had trained like life or death in Dohwa-seon, but he had four sacred artifacts.
I needed to be fully prepared to subdue him.
—Vrrrr!
The tracker's needle trembled violently.
We'd arrive soon.
I lifted my head and looked straight ahead.
And in that moment, I couldn't help but fall silent at the sight before my eyes.
—What is that? Is that... an army?
About two li away, I saw what looked like tens of thousands of soldiers marching in formation toward this location.
It couldn't be just a coincidence.
—Vrrrr!
The tracker's needle pointed directly at the army.
'What is this…?'
The real problem was that it wasn't just any army.
On the tall pole at the front, a golden banner fluttered with the character Hwang (皇) emblazoned on it.
'...That's the Emperor's army.'