The morning rays peeking from the slits of the worn-down walls of the hut greeted me as I opened my eyes. The warmth caressed my face. The chirpings of the birds were music to my ears.
I lay on the bed, unmoving. I needed some time to gather my thoughts.
Unbearable pain had clutched my head before Master made me pass out. Eyes… there were lots of them that surrounded me.
'I was right…'
They came to haunt me.
"Uuu…"
The headache was coming back to me.
"Huu… it's fine. Don't think about it."
Things were not looking so good. This might pose a massive problem for me in the future.
"Haa…"
I sighed aloud and looked around.
The swords… there were lesser swords than before. Where did the others go?
"Ugh… my head hurts…"
I slowly got out of my bed. My head was dizzy and reality seemed a little warped.
"Shit… I feel like throwing up."
I opened the door and a soft breeze brushed my ears and the pink plums greeted me at the doorstep.
"Yeah, this never gets old."
The mesmerising beauty never failed to amaze me. The pink scenery that filled my eyes was nothing less than beautiful and the sight of my Master standing in the middle of the plums, dancing with his sword filled my heart with overflowing admiration.
I walked up to him and stared at his dance silently, waiting for him to finish.
"Huu…"
Master slowly sheathed his sword and stood still, letting his mind calm down, and his body relax. During the three years, I learned the importance of that practice. The Demonic Fists Formations, or rather, the Demonic Dragon Formations were martial arts that can rip out one's body if not used with extreme focus and precision, and that naturally puts a lot of toll on the body and mind. For someone like Master, it's also the soul.
If he didn't let everything relax after performing a sword dance, he would burst into shatters.
'Well, that's a big downside though.'
"How are you feeling?"
Master asked me with a concerned look. It honestly moved my heart a bit. It was a good sensation.
"A lot better." I gave him my best smile.
"Hmm… fine."
He paused for a moment and looked at the numerous sun hung up in the sky.
"Can you perform the Song of the Sword Saint?"
His voice sounded sour and grim.
"..."
"Can you?"
His eyes were staring at me now. There was something dangerous in his eyes, urging me to speak up.
"...I can."
My body and mind, surprisingly, remembered the dance. Every single movement was engraved in my mind and I could perform all of them.
"But I don't know if my body can handle it."
The Song of the Sword Saint I knew was the peak. And my body, I had no idea how, but it tried to imitate the peak. My stats were nowhere near the point to perform the best of Song of the Sword Saint. My body somehow held on the last time, but there was no guarantee it would hold on this time too.
"Hmm…"
Killing intent flickered in his sharp eyes.
"You will stay here for another year and then, start climbing Tower. You will have one year to reach the 30th floor and conquer the Thunder Valley."
"Thunder Valley?" I asked.
"The 30th floor is the Murim realm, where all martial artists gather. The realm that is my home and the realm to which I belong. The Heavenly Demonic Cult— that's where you will find the Thunder Valley and succeed me as the next Heavenly Demon."
I couldn't understand him. Heavenly Demon? What was that? And what would happen after that?
"Once you are done, come back here. You wanted to know about the Sabertooth Tigers, right? I'll make sure you know everything about them… and we will annihilate them."
He turned his back on me and simply stared off into the distance.
His figure was close, yet felt so far. An unknown sense of sadness overcame my heart. He, too, had something to long for.
I didn't ask any questions and bowed my head.
'The Crimson Eyes have to wait. I am not strong enough to take on a den of Sabertooth Tigers yet, not even with Master.'
The dark clouds covered the sky. The wind stood still, and all the plums spiralling around us fell.
Master and I stood in silence.
***
A year passed.
I learned the other skills Master had in his store for me. Most of them, if not, all of them were essential to master the Song of the Sword Saint.
"Hup!"
"Be smoother."
KLANG—
"Too slow."
"Haa!"
Our swords clashed and incited raging sparks.
KONG—
Distance formed between us.
SCREECH—
Our swords skidded the earth as the force from our clash threw us away from each other.
"Lightning Dance."
Thunderous adrenaline rushed through my veins. My vision expanded to an extreme degree and time seemed to slow down.
Blue dance.
Intrigued sparks of current in the air.
Soft and instantaneous steps.
A beautiful dance.
My sword swayed through the air and so did Master's.
"Haha… I can't believe how you've grown."
Master was smiling. His eyes were proud of me.
"Well then, I won't hold back anymore."
Our blades clashed with each other. Our swords reflected the smiles on our faces.
KLANG—
KLANG—
'Yes!'
I could see it.
A moment, a chance.
An opportunity to solidify my win.
"Song of the Sword Saint."
I knew it was still weak.
'But if timed right…'
I could win.
"First Formation."
A red helix engulfed my sword. A grace that I had never seen, but felt too familiar flowed through my blade.
"Soft Falling Thunder."
BOOM—
Destruction reigned.
The place became a wreck.
And everything was dyed white.
"Fuu… haa… haa…"
Was that the end?
'I am certain I felt my sword cutting him…'
"Ugh…!"
The aftermath of using the skill struck me.
My vision was slowly fading away.
My body gave up and I fell to my knees, panting and enduring the throbbing pain.
I was struggling to keep my consciousness awake. Then, I heard it.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The sound of someone clapping.
"...I am proud of you, disciple."
He was standing before me, unscathed and unfazed.
But there was a smile on his face.
He was complimenting me.
"Haha… I did well…"
I blacked out.
***