< Chapter 52 - An Unexpected Encounter >
Chapter 52 – An Unexpected Encounter
It’s the morning of the second day since I started training with Landius.
Uther and Landius sat across from each other and talked.
It was to finally organize what I had learned and experienced through my body over the past few days, and what I had come to realize.
“My nine heavens and nine earths and your nine heavens and nine earths.”
To be exact, it is the difference between the nine heavenly gates that a non-Cheonmujiche trains through force, and the nine heavenly gates that a Cheonmujiche trains through, an incarnation of martial arts chosen by heaven.
“First of all, the existence of the fairy.”
At first, the fairy was only visible as a silhouette, as if drawn with ink, but not anymore.
When I opened the door.
Yuder could clearly see the fairy’s face.
Black hair and white face.
An elegant and beautiful woman.
‘But Cordelia is prettier.’
No matter what anyone says, that’s how it looked to Yuder.
I’m not just saying this, I mean it.
“Disciple?”
“Yes, Master.”
Although Yuder flinched, he answered almost immediately. Landius tilted his head slightly, but soon continued speaking.
“I also saw the fairy. When I opened the fifth gate, I first saw her back, and when I opened the seventh gate, she finally turned to me.”
However, when Yuder opened the Sammun, he not only encountered the fairy, but also learned her skills.
Now that I’ve opened the door, I can even hear the voice.
‘Cordelia’s voice is also prettier.’
Yuder nodded alone and soon shook his head to shake off his distracting thoughts.
Now was the time to focus more on the conversation with Landius.
‘I guess I’ve been having a hard time lately.’
It was all thanks to Cordelia that I was able to endure the hellish days.
To Uther, Cordelia was already a true angel and an oasis in his heart.
“Anyway… both of them saw fairies. So it seems that there is a deep connection between the Nine Heavenly Gate and fairies. The Nine Heavenly Gate is not just a simple martial art, but a superhuman technique that leads practitioners to higher places… Maybe they are past practitioners who ascended to the heavens and became transcendent beings.”
If that were really the case, there were a few more possible cases.
One is that she is the founder of the Nine Heavenly Gates.
The other is that he is an ancient sage who fought the overlord of hell.
The last one is that it is not both, but it is a previous practitioner.
“Nine heavens and nine worlds. The true meaning of the nine heavens and nine worlds.”
Even though Landius had already reached the Seven Gates, he still couldn’t immediately understand what was being said.
But I had a vague idea.
‘Is the problem that you can’t explain it?’
There were many parts that were lacking in expressing it in words.
I felt like I needed more training.
“Anyway, it’s not bad. If the fairy is with you, it means that you and I are both going well.”
Of course, Landius himself and Uder were different.
While Uther was on the right path, Landius himself was being forced to go down a somewhat twisted path.
‘But what’s important is that we’re moving forward.’
Landius, who had calmed down, continued speaking.
“There is a difference in the Ultimate Sun Divine Art as well.”
Although Yuder had only been training for a short time, he had already become one with the Nine Heavens and Nine Gates’ Ultimate Sun Technique, so it was possible to compare it to Landius’s.
“My conclusion is… it is not the correct answer. To be more precise, it is a correct answer only for the disciple.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
The new Ultimate Sun God Art, which was created by mixing the nine heavenly gates and nine heavenly gates, was not the answer for everyone.
It was a martial art specialized for Yuder, and could only be said to be correct for Yuder.
“The Ultimate Sun Divine Art originally used the middle dantian among the three dantians: the upper, middle, and lower. Therefore, I had already developed the middle dantian before I opened the gate of the Nine Heavens and Nine Gates. However, disciple, you said that you developed the middle dantian when you opened the Five Gates this time, right?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Then… I guess my prediction that if you master the Nine Heavenly Gate, you will be able to utilize all three danjeons, the upper, middle, and lower ones, is correct.”
It wasn’t just about increasing the number of Danjeon. They could create a synergistic effect through their interaction with each other, so if you used all three Danjeon, you could see not just a three-fold effect, but a five-fold effect, or maybe even more.
“The lower, middle, and upper trances each have different roles. Therefore, when you utilize them, what you can do also changes.”
This was part of what I learned in class during this period.
When Yuder nodded, Landius moved on to the next step instead of repeating the specific explanation.
“The black dragon you command… I wonder if that isn’t the result of the power of the Nine Heavenly Gate being tailored to you, rather than the original power of the Nine Heavenly Gate.”
Landius couldn’t command the black dragon.
However, I didn’t think that I was forcing myself to practice the Nine Heavenly Gates without any hesitation.
‘This is also just a feeling.’
A feeling that only those who have actually practiced can feel.
Landius’s Nine Heavenly Gate strengthened the power of the sun, which was the foundation of Landius, instead of the energy of the Black Dragon.
If Yuder’s Heavenly Gate was the Black Dragon, then Landius’ Heavenly Gate was the Sun.
“But since you too have begun to master the power of the sun, the Nine Heavens and Nine Gates may change once again. It’s a shame that I don’t have time to observe them carefully.”
I tried to teach him as little time as possible, but it only lasted two days – or to be exact, six days.
Even for Yudar, who was born with the Heavenly Martial Arts ability, it was impossible to master the Ultimate Sun God Art in just a few days.
‘Still, it’s Cheonmujiche. It’s really amazing.’
Landius taught the Ultimate Sun God Art through a thorough and ignorant spoon-fed education.
Since time was limited, the idea was to first imprint it on the body.
And Uther actually did the difficult thing.
Of course, it was a bit difficult to the point of going crazy, but the important thing was that I did it.
‘He’s not just a genius. He’s also a very intelligent guy.’
As martial arts reach a certain level, the Five Stars are bound to open, so Landius himself had an incredible memory, but Yuder was not at a level that could be simply evaluated as amazing.
Should I say that it is truly amazing?
‘I never imagined that I could inject more than eight times as much in just six days.’
The Ultimate Sun God Art was not simply a method of thought.
It contained many technologies, and Landius was able to inject about eighty percent of them into Yuder’s spirit and body.
‘Once I reach the level, I’ll be able to use them properly one by one.’
And the next time we meet, I will teach you the secret techniques of the Ultimate Sun God Art.
‘Of course, there will be more difficult training ahead than what we have now.’
But that wasn’t a problem.
If it’s the disciple in front of you, he will be able to endure it.
“Hoo hoo hoo.”
Landius smiled happily, but Uder flinched for a moment and broke out in a cold sweat.
Because I had a strange, ominous feeling.
“Anyway, disciple.”
“Yes, Master.”
“You got strong too quickly.”
At Landius’s words, Yuder nodded again.
Because Yuder himself knew very well what those words meant.
“I can’t say that growing up fast is a bad thing. It shows how talented you are. But even if it’s fast, it’s too fast. The speed of your growth is so fast that it’s scary at times.”
In just two months, we reached the nine heavenly gates and the five gates.
When we first met, a child who could barely fight a low-level mine was now able to subdue a mid-level mine.
In just a couple of months.
“It’s too fast. That’s why I’m worried.”
Let’s hope this growth doesn’t become a runaway.
Don’t let things get so bad that you miss them because you’re running too fast.
“Disciple, let me be honest. I have been called a genius since I was young. The rumor was very good.”
Landius, who had said that, suddenly coughed in vain. It was because he felt embarrassed even saying it himself.
‘But it’s true.’
It really was.
Landius himself was objectively a genius.
“Kamael is a genius too. Lena is a genius too. I am a genius myself, and I have seen many geniuses throughout my life. But among them, you are the best.”
The Thousand and One Body.
Truly the incarnation of the heavenly being.
In fact, the original Cheonmujiche wasn’t at this level.
But as Yuder himself thought, the current Yuder and Cordelia were not the original two people.
In his previous life, Jin-ho Kang was a genius boxer.
The genius of Kang Jin-ho was combined with the genius of Yuder.
Here, by practicing the Nine Heavenly Gates and opening the Five Stars, the current Yuder has become the owner of talents that are far more outstanding than the original Yuder.
‘The same goes for Cordelia.’
In fact, in Uther’s opinion, the real genius was Cordelia.
The ability to reach a result without a process could not be described in any other way than genius.
For Uther himself did not simply see, but inferred through calculations.
“Disciple, that’s why I feel both excited and worried whenever I see you.”
Since it was a talent I had never seen before, I had no idea how it would develop.
The pace of development was so fast that if you went down the wrong path, you could end up going too far before you had time to catch up.
“So, disciple, don’t be in such a hurry. You are already too fast. Instead of being impatient, be a little more patient. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Yes, Master. I will keep that in mind.”
In fact, Landius’s worries were somewhat excessive.
‘I think leveling up was also my talent.’
The reason why Yuder was able to become so strong so quickly was because his body also became stronger quickly through leveling up.
Of course, everyone in Pleiades has a level, and as they level up, their abilities get stronger, but it felt a little different.
In the case of Uther and Cordelia, it felt like their abilities went up because their levels went up, but for others, it felt like their abilities went up because they reached a certain level.
At first glance, they seemed the same, but there was a clear difference between the two.
‘Anyway, it’s an overestimation, so it’s a bit of an overstatement, but… it’s something to keep in mind. For both me and Cordelia.’
No, to Cordelia rather than to Uther himself.
“Well, I’ve said everything I had to say. I think this concludes my summary of this training.”
Landius, who had said that, was about to get up from his seat. So Yuder quickly raised his hand and said.
“Master! I have something to ask you.”
“What is it, disciple?”
“I would like to ask you about Belkian and Fran.”
Where are the two people now?
Is there any way to contact you?
At Yuder’s question, Landius narrowed his eyes and smiled bitterly as he spoke.
“If it’s Mr. Belkian… I don’t know. After fighting the Demon Prince, he disappeared, saying he would do personal research. In the first place, he didn’t have much time left, so I couldn’t catch him… Disciple. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. It’s just… I find it interesting.”
Belkian Sirani.
There’s honorifics there.
‘Well, Landius is now forty.’
On the other hand, Belkian was already in his 70s at the time of the first episode.
It was a natural thing.
“Hey, you’re so useless. Anyway… I don’t know about Fran either. We were in contact with him until about five years ago, but he’s been missing since then. Still, since he’s a Druid, I wonder if he’s doing well somewhere. Maybe he’s hibernating or something.”
Even for a druid, hibernation seemed a bit much, but Yuder nodded anyway.
‘Since you say you don’t know, I guess I’ll have to find them one by one.’
First, let’s catch a Belkian that can be fished with bait.
“Hmm, that’s a rather sinister smile, disciple.”
“Ahem.”
“You cheeky bastard. Are you thinking of a girl?”
When Landius asked with a sly smile, Yuder felt a sense of injustice for a moment.
No, what’s the connection between the sinister expression and Cordelia?
How pure was the heart of Uther himself towards Cordelia······.
“Ahem.”
Yuder, who had been thinking, suddenly coughed again.
Because I felt embarrassed even thinking about it myself.
“You seem to have a conscience.”
Landius said that, whether or not he knew what Uther was thinking, and Uther coughed again in embarrassment.
And about an hour later.
Uther, Cordelia, and Landius stood facing each other at the entrance to the Temple of Life.
Because now it was time for each of us to go our separate ways.
“Master, when you are finished with your work, please be sure to stop by the royal capital.”
The incident in the south that Landius, Kamael, and even Lena had to step in to solve.
Although he was frustrated because he had asked several times but received no proper answer, Yuder decided to understand Landius.
‘There must be a reason.’
Something that is not necessarily said.
Maybe I was embarking on something really dangerous.
‘I just hope you’re safe.’
I can’t completely grasp the flow of events since it wasn’t described exactly in the original, but now was not the time for Landius to die.
Moreover, since Lena, who would not have been with them originally, is also with them, things are more likely to go well than in the original, and the chances of things going wrong are low.
“Yes, Lord Landius. I will also be waiting in the royal capital.”
Cordelia added nicely, and Landius nodded, laughing heartily.
“Yes, I will. If possible, I would like to see you two at the National Foundation Day Ball.”
The 300th anniversary ball of the founding of the nation.
As it was a place where many people from all over the world gathered, it would be full of good-looking men and women, but Landius was confident.
He said that the ones who would shine the brightest on that day would be Uther and Cordelia.
“Anyway, I think it’s time to go now. The disciple’s level is higher than I thought, so I ended up delaying things for too long.”
“Thank you very much, Master.”
Yuder answered slightly awkwardly to Landius, who was speaking slightly mischievously, and Landius laughed out loud again.
“Disciple, I look forward to our next meeting. Until then, train hard. Build more muscle. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Master.”
In just a few days, Uther’s face turned pale due to the trauma engraved on him, but fortunately, Cordelia was by his side.
Cordelia supported the staggering Yuder with one arm and spoke to Landius.
“Okay, see you next time. May your muscles always be with you.”
At Cordelia’s greeting, Landius opened his eyes wide and laughed heartily as he kicked the ground.
“Stop crying tears of muscle loss! Your muscles will always be with you!”
A golden glow exploded from Landius’s entire body as he soared high into the sky.
It was so dazzlingly bright that it seemed as if another sun had risen in the sky.
“See you again! Disciple! Girl! May your muscles always be with you!”
Hahahahahaha!
Landius burst into a hearty laugh and flew south at a terrifying speed, kicking the air, while Cordelia, with her usual blank expression, spoke.
“It’s always amazing to see.”
Why isn’t that magic?
How on earth do they fly like that?
“You too, Yudera?”
Cordelia unconsciously let go of Uther, who was holding her in one arm, and stepped back. It was understandable, because Uther was shaking and bursting into muffled laughter.
“Kekekeke… Kekekeke… It’s liberation. It’s liberation!”
The training for the past six days.
Those hellish days!
“You like it that much?”
“I like it that way!”
Uther, who was laughing brightly, grabbed Cordelia’s waist as if expressing his joy and lifted her up high.
“Wow! This is exciting!”
Just going round and round.
Cordelia was startled by his madman-like laughter, but soon spoke with a face full of sympathy.
“I’ll give you a lap pillow today too.”
“Sob sob! Thank you, ma’am!”
“Yes, yes, our Dolsoe.”
After spinning around a few more times, Uther finally put Cordelia down on the floor.
&
The next afternoon.
The headquarters of the Devil’s Hand, located in Minette.
Solusia, the high-ranking mine in charge of the northern part of the Kingdom of Seilun, burst into rage after enduring it for a long time.
“What on earth is going on!”
Intelligence received a few days ago.
Information that Uther and Cordelia are joining forces with the Holy Cross Guardians to attack the headquarters of the Devil’s Hand located in Minette – more precisely, the branch of Solusia that governs the entire North.
It was a story that couldn’t just be passed over.
All branches of the Devil’s Hand operated in secret.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that few people knew of its natural location.
But you pointed out Minette specifically.
‘Furthermore, he defeated three intermediate mines without anyone knowing.’
It was highly unlikely that just Uther and Cordelia could have accomplished something like that.
It was clear that the Holy Cross Defenders were deeply involved.
‘Kamael.’
The strongest force of the Holy Cross Guardians.
There was a high possibility that his clone was involved in this incident as well.
No, maybe he didn’t even know he was coming.
He must know that his clone alone cannot defeat Solusia herself.
That’s why Soluzia was on the defensive.
After gathering all of the northern forces to launch a counterattack against those who invaded the headquarters, we dug a trap and waited.
And one day.
Two more days.
Three days, four days.
Finally, to Yeodre!
“Why don’t you come?”
Soluzia didn’t just sit there stupidly.
Several times, informants were sent outside to monitor the movements of the Holy Cross Defenders.
And what we found out as a result was that the Holy Cross Defenders were not making any significant moves.
At first I thought it was a trap.
I thought they were using numbers to create the perfect surprise attack.
But now.
Now that it’s been a while.
Now I know.
There is no attack.
Either the information itself was a lie from the beginning, or they canceled the operation midway, but in any case, the attack did not occur.
‘It doesn’t matter either way.’
The important thing was that they had wasted a lot of time and that the operation in the capital had been disrupted due to the hasty gathering of troops.
‘If the leader is more disappointed than this… and gives up on me…’
It was a terrible thing to even imagine.
Solusia, trembling with fear, covered her face with both hands and exhaled several times.
I would rather die than face a future where I am abandoned by the leader. That was not the way it should be.
“Find Uther and Cordelia.”
The root of all evil.
So that the leader will not be disappointed any longer. So that he can make up for the mistakes he has made so far.
“Find out where those two are! Quickly!”
The demon followers who had gathered at Minette in Solusia’s castle dispersed throughout the north and began searching.
They began to search all the major cities in the north, as well as the villages along the route to the royal capital.
But none of them could find any trace of Uther and Cordelia.
And it was so obvious.
Because in the first place, the two of them didn’t use the right path.
After leaving the Temple of Life, instead of heading towards the royal capital, we headed somewhere completely different.
The entrance in the center.
A village located in a place where nothing but mountains are visible.
There, Uther and Cordelia were seated.
&
As with all businesses, to make a business, you need to have customers.
In the case of an inn, there had to be someone to stay, and usually the guests at an inn were divided into two types.
One is a foreigner looking for a place to stay.
The other is an insider looking for a place to play with fire.
The Pink Pig Inn, the only inn in Hans’ village, catered primarily to out-of-town guests.
Because it was a small village where everyone knew the number of spoons in the neighboring houses, there were no fools who would stop by the inn to play with fire.
‘But there aren’t that many outsiders.’
Because it wasn’t really a tourist attraction or a street corner.
The reason there is an inn in the village is because at one time, many outsiders came to the village in search of work.
Mining industry.
An industry that digs the ground to extract minerals and other things.
‘It used to be good.’
It wasn’t that long ago. Just five years ago, the mining industry was so active that there were three inns in the village.
But now, most of the mines have been closed down, and it is a mining town that operates on a day-to-day basis.
‘That’s why it’s strange.’
How many years has it been since there were so many foreigners staying at the inn?
Hans, who was sitting at the counter, glanced around at the people sitting on the first floor, which was being used as a bar.
A couple sitting in the left corner.
They were both so handsome and pretty that I thought they weren’t human when I first saw them.
Especially on the women’s side, they find themselves saying ‘angel’ without even realizing it.
And again, a group of people sitting on the right.
Most of them were large men, but among them was a small girl.
‘That’s amazing.’
It’s rare for a tavern to be full, but the people who fill it up are all a bit unusual.
‘Still, I have to kill my curiosity.’
Because if you stick your head in there out of curiosity, you could get seriously hurt.
Except for one child, all of the travelers had swords on their waists or backs. Even the ‘angels’.
‘Let’s not even look at it.’
If you make eye contact for no reason, you might get into trouble.
Hans, having gathered his composure, turned his gaze into the distance, which was a wise move.
Hans didn’t realize it, but a silent battle had already begun inside the tavern.
The group the girl was in glared fiercely at the young couple sitting in the left corner – Uther and Cordelia, who exchanged glances.
‘Is that him?’
‘Oh, that’s him.’
A person I never imagined I would encounter in a place like this.
Uther and Cordelia exchanged glances again, then turned to the girl as if they had made a promise.
He was wearing a brown hood pulled down to his head, so more than half of his face was covered, but even so, his young face could not be completely hidden.
It was clear that Princess Daphne, who could be said to be the main character of the Wangdo chapter, and Princess Darien, the younger sister of Prince Dion.
&
< Chapter 52 - An Unexpected Encounter > End
