In the now empty space, the two stood quietly facing each other for a moment. A trickle of blood seeped from Namgoong Sang's forearm, escaping his sleeve.
"Oh no, blood!"
Jin Ryeong exclaimed in shock.
"It's nothing. Just a small scratch."
Namgoong Sang tried to downplay it, wanting to appear strong in front of the woman he admired.
"It's not nothing. Let me see your wound."
Jin Ryeong gently but firmly turned Namgoong Sang around with her delicate hands.
Despite saying, 'It's fine…', Namgoong Sang reluctantly turned his back, his face showing a mix of emotion and excitement.
"Oh my!"
Jin Ryeong gasped upon seeing Namgoong Sang's back. There were four long gashes from the tiger's claws, continuously bleeding. Contrary to what he had said, it was certainly not a minor injury. It was a wound he had sustained while protecting her from the White Tiger's second attack. The fact that he had borne such a serious injury without a groan, especially one incurred while protecting her, created ripples in Jin Ryeong's heart.
"How can you say this is fine… This is definitely not okay. Look, I'll treat your wound."
Jin Ryeong spoke with concern and began to carefully treat the injury. She first helped Namgoong Sang remove his upper clothing and then applied a healing ointment she had with her. However, Namgoong Sang was so taken by her touch that he barely felt the pain.
'Miss Jin's touch is so gentle…'
The thrill was far greater than the pain, overwhelming him completely.
In their now secluded space, Jin Ryeong quickly applied some gold wound ointment to Namgoong Sang's wounds, but they had no bandages at hand. Her face showed disappointment at this realization. Without bandages, she couldn't properly dress his wounds, which made her worry. However, deciding quickly, Jin Ryeong stood up and ripped her skirt without a moment's hesitation.
"Miss Jin, you shouldn't rip your dress!"
Namgoong Sang exclaimed in shock. The glimpse of her alluring legs through the torn skirt further confused his already dizzy senses.
"It's okay. Lord Namgoong saved my life; this dress is nothing in comparison."
The dress Jin Ryeong was wearing was one of only two sets given to her after Bi Ryu-yeon confiscated her original clothing on the first day of training. Namgoong Sang felt terribly guilty for causing one of her only two dresses to be torn.
"Still, I feel so indebted… This is too much for me…"
Namgoong Sang trailed off, unable to continue. He was overwhelmed.
Jin Ryeong began to wrap the bandage she made from her skirt around Namgoong Sang's wound. Naturally, Namgoong Sang, being a man, had a broader chest and shoulders than Jin Ryeong, a woman, especially since he trained in martial arts. As Jin Ryeong tried to wrap the bandage around him, his size made it seem like she was embracing him from behind.
Again, Namgoong Sang's mind went blank. The soft, warm sensation transmitted through his back was like a bolt of lightning striking his head. He might have decided to cherish this moment forever or lost his senses in the process, but he impulsively grabbed Jin Ryeong's hands as she was wrapping the bandage around him. It was likely an unconscious act, for Namgoong Sang, who usually had no other talent than sulking, couldn't have done this deliberately.
At that moment, Jin Ryeong's body jolted. Having her hand suddenly grasped while she was wrapping the bandage around Namgoong Sang's chest, she found herself unable to pull away, maintaining the embrace from behind. Yet, for some reason, Jin Ryeong stayed quiet, her face flushing red, as a long, eternal-like silence ensued.
Namgoong Sang, as if snapping back to reality, hastily let go of her hand. Something seemed stuck in their throats, and they sat in silence without speaking. Whether due to the evening sunset or another reason, both their faces appeared flushed. Time seemed to stand still, enveloping them in its illusion.
After what felt like an eternity, Namgoong Sang broke the silence. His face, no longer flushed with embarrassment, looked determined. He stood up and, with a sense of resolve, extended his right hand to Jin Ryeong.
"Shall we go then, Miss?"
The extended hand was an invitation, a request for a decision. To extend this hand, Namgoong Sang had to muster extraordinary patience and mountainous courage. And there she was, the girl at the crossroads of choice. After a brief moment of contemplation, she responded with a silent gesture. The ripples in her heart had grown, now strong enough to shake and break down the walls erected around her emotions.
"Yes."
She gently offered her left hand, smiling. Her smile, reflected in her jade-like beauty, was dazzling. Overwhelmed by her smile, Namgoong Sang carefully, as if not to break it, grasped her delicate hand. It was a moment filled with warmth and refreshment, as radiant beams of light shone and shattered around them.
***
Floating on the Water's Surface
Under the floating sun above the water's surface,
a man was practicing his swordsmanship.
His movements, slow and seemingly burdened as if someone was holding him back,
appeared endless and tedious. His name was Hyun-woon.
Known as a future leader of the renowned swordsmanship family of the Wudang Sect,
dubbed as the 'First Sword of the Divine Province',
he was laden with expectations.
His skills were recognized in the martial arts community when he was admitted to Heavenly Martial Academy in one attempt,
a feat every martial artist aspires to achieve.
In Heavenly Martial Academy, he stood out among the talents from the Nine Great Martial Sects and One union, the Five Major Families, and various other schools, becoming one of the esteemed Nine Dragons, the object of envy for all aspiring young martial artists. He was even passed down the Tai Chi Sword, a secret technique rarely shared by the Wudang Sect. This Tai Chi Sword, known for its elusive and untouchable nature like clouds, earned him the title of Gentle Flowing Sword. But now, his movements were awkward and strained. His face was flushed, and his eyes seemed to express suffocation, as if he was enduring great pain.
'This is no joke!'
Hyun-woon was currently enduring a tough battle against the bone-chilling coldness and the immense pressure of the water's weight. The resistance of the water hindered the path of his sword. He was reaching his limit. Despite utilizing his internal strength to endure, he was already at the brink. Having entered the cold stream half a 'gak' (~14 mins) ago, continuing to move his sword as if swimming through the water was becoming impossible. He felt suffocating sensations from his lungs and a bursting pressure in his heart. His entire body was crying out in pain.
'Is this really my limit?'
Despite his efforts, Hyun-woon's sword refused to move as intended following the path of the Tai Chi Sword. It felt like he was swinging a thousand catties heavy sword. His master had said that only when he could swing the sword effortlessly and without hesitation in the water, would the training be considered complete. But reaching that level seemed far away. He took some solace in knowing this was the final training, but he was reaching his limits.
"Phew!"
"Huff, huff, huff."
A face burst through the water surface, splashing droplets everywhere. The figure gasped for air, breathing heavily and irregularly, a sign of immense strain. The air, though just half a 'gak' in absence, felt incredibly pure and refreshing to Hyun-woon, as if it was the first breath after a hundred years. Didn't someone say you only realize the importance of air when it's gone?
Recalling these words, Hyun-woon breathed deeply, grateful for the air and the ability to breathe. But then…
"No, no, don't do this. I'm falling. Don't, please. Ahh, I can't. Oh no, no."
Arms flailing, waist wobbling, legs trembling, body tilting. Despite desperate attempts to maintain balance, all efforts proved futile. He plunged back into the water with a noisy splash, along with his blabbering mouth.
"Splash!"
The water churned violently, creating high waves.
"Aaah, no! This can't be happening, no. Ahh, splash!"
"Oh my, oh my, splash!"
"Mommy, splash!"
"Daddy, splash!"
"Mother, splash!"
"Lady Yeonsu, splash!"
"…, splash!"
"Blah blah, blah blah, splash!"
Different people screamed different cries as they jumped into the water of the valley. It wasn't that they were despairing or had lost the will to live; on the contrary, their will to survive was exceptionally strong and intense.
When Jin Ryeong threw herself into the water, the surface of the water began to churn, as per the principle that if you put an object in a full bathtub, the water displaces by the volume of that object. Similarly, throwing a stone into a pond creates ripples equal to its weight. Consequently, as Jin Ryeong plunged in, those who were barely managing to stand on the water's surface lost their balance and fell in too.
But how were they standing on water in the first place? Had they somehow developed miraculous abilities? Actually, their ability to stand on water was thanks to two small wooden planks. These planks were slightly longer and wider than an average person's foot, allowing them to precariously float on water.
Using such small planks to stand on water was no ordinary feat; it was something not just anyone could do. The technique involved placing a plank under each foot and balancing on the water. The most crucial aspect was maintaining balance, followed by using 'Qi' to lighten the body, a skill known as 'light body technique'. Since the planks were separate, keeping them underfoot required significant skill.
Without any strings attached, everything depended on one's Qi and physical senses. The constantly changing nature of flowing water added to the challenge, making it easy to fall in with just a moment of inattention.
Simply standing on water did not mean the training was complete. If the ability to stand on water is termed 'Water Surface Standing', the next level is 'Water Surface Stepping' or 'Water Surface Walking'. This stage involves literally walking or moving on water by relying on two planks. It's akin to sliding on ice, where one must be able to glide over the water's surface. This stage involves moving forward in a straight line.
The final third stage was the most crucial and intricate technique. Bi Ryu-yeon, demonstrating this complex skill, stood on the wooden planks with natural ease, as stable as if on solid ground.
"Watch closely."
Bi Ryu-yeon's right foot gracefully slid forward in a semi-circle towards his left foot, while simultaneously, his left foot moved backward in a semi-circle towards his right foot. This motion naturally resulted in him turning half a circle. He repeated this process continuously, his body spinning elegantly on the water's surface. Gradually, his spinning speed increased until he was whirling like a top. Then, something remarkable happened. The water in the valley seemed to snake up and coil around Bi Ryu-yeon's body.
Of course, there was no magic in the water to actually wrap around him. To the onlookers, it appeared that way. In reality, it was the kinetic force generated around Bi Ryu-yeon creating an invisible column, causing the water to spiral upwards. It seemed as if the water was climbing up his body due to the force of his rotation pulling the water from the surface.
Soon, a column of water formed above the surface. Everyone watched, utterly transfixed by the spectacle. The always eccentric master had shown them a remarkable feat, leaving no one unastonished.
"Hap!"
A sharp shout came from within the water column.
"Boom."
Suddenly, the water column exploded, scattering water in all directions. Naturally, those who had been watching intently without moving were drenched by the unexpected shower.
"You see that? Now you try!"
Astonishingly, not a single drop of water clung to Bi Ryu-yeon's body. Everyone was speechless, mesmerized by the spectacle they had just witnessed. The phenomenon of the water column, which occurred when the water was drawn up by the kinetic energy, was a result of performing the Phoenix Dance at its utmost intensity. The higher the skill of the Dance of the Phoenix, the larger the water column, which served as a measure of the technique's effect area. The Water Surface Standing and Water Surface Stepping were foundational training methods that Bi Ryu-yeon had learned while mastering the secret Phoenix Dance technique from his master at Biroe-Moon*. He was now passing this training to his disciples, essentially sharing the pain he had endured during his learning process.
The next stage was practicing swordplay in the water. This was not limited to swords; those who wielded sabers practiced with sabers, those with spears practiced with spears, and those who specialized in hidden weapons practiced with their respective armaments. These two training stages were the final phases of their practice. This would be the last training Bi Ryu-yeon would provide them.
"Hyunwoon, you're too fast. Way too fast!"
A stern voice, undoubtedly the master's, echoed loudly. Hyun-woon's brief moment of relief from being able to breathe air again was short-lived as the time of misfortune returned.
"Hey, how could you come out so soon? At the very least, you should be able to endure for a full 'gak'. Do you plan to fight for just a 'gak' and then drop your sword? After a 'gak', will you just die by someone else's blade? Do you want to die like that?"
[TL/N: 1 gak = 14.4 minutes]
"No."
Hyun-woon replied with a disheartened face.
"Then get back in there."
"Yes."
Without energy, Hyun-woon obediently submerged himself back into the water, not emerging for a considerable time.
"Next, you! Tang San (Three)."
Bi Ryu-yeon pointed his finger at Tang Cheol-yeong, known for his nimble fingers and mastery of poison, the third son of the Tang family. Originally, his name wasn't Tang San; it was a name Bi Ryu-yeon whimsically gave him, implying he was the third child of the Tang family. The Tang family, a prestigious clan among the five great families of the martial world, wouldn't normally name their children in a mundane manner, like numbering them in the order of their birth. Bi Ryu-yeon simply started calling Tang Cheol-yeong 'Tang San' because he found it bothersome to say his full name. For Tang Cheol-yeong, now referred to as Tang San, it was undoubtedly an irksome matter, but he had to swallow his pride and endure the slight.
"Me?"
Tang Cheol-yeong, surprised and pointing to himself, asked for confirmation, as if to say, "Are you sure you're pointing at me?"
"Yes, you. Do we have another Tang San here? Stop pretending and get in the water."
"Yes…"
With a face as gloomy as a cow being led to the slaughterhouse, Tang Cheol-yeong weakly agreed and entered the water. This process of immersing each disciple one by one into the cold valley waters was repeated several times. There were no exceptions, even for women; everyone, regardless of gender, had to undergo the same training. This was Bi Ryu-yeon's philosophy and teaching method: to pass on the hardships he had endured under his master to his disciples. In his mind, since he had suffered such treatment from his master, his disciples should also experience the same trials he had endured.
To put it simply, it was like taking out one's frustration on an innocent person, akin to someone slapped on Mount Hua taking their anger out on Mount Soong. As each of his disciples disappeared into the water one by one, the malicious master Bi Ryu-yeon smiled contentedly. Behind him, Namgoong Sang lay collapsed as if dead. His body was limp like a water-soaked blanket, making it unclear whether he was alive or dead. He had collapsed from exhaustion after overexerting himself in the rigorous training earlier.
The sun was still high in the sky, indicating there was plenty of time left. Until the sun hidden above the sky disappeared beyond the western mountains, they had to keep going in and out of the water. If they fell while practicing standing on the water, they had to practice swinging their weapons underwater. The focus was on strengthening the lower body while on the water and the upper body while under it. They had to continually move back and forth between the chilly water depths and the precarious water surface.