Trouble Brewing

"Only one more question, Master. How did you get the nickname, 'Vanquisher of Sects'?"

"Ahhhh, for you see, Myeol Mang. I have no such nickname. That nickname was my son's nickname during his time as 'Myeol Mang'."

"Wait, wait, wait. So your nickname isn't the Vanquisher of Sects?!"

"No, it is not. Never in my life did I seek the complete destruction of martial sects like my son did. But I don't blame him for gaining that nickname. After All, he experienced a truly horrible life as me."

"So the first dream that I had, the one where Myeol Mang is killed by Demonic Cult members. That wasn't you?"

"Use your head, Myeol Mang. If I had been the one to die in that memory, how would my mind become a part of the Transcendental Path?"

"Oh… Right, that wouldn't make sense. So, what nicknames did you have, Master?"

"I had numerous nicknames, though only one stuck with me the entire time. Demon Culler."

"Demon Culler?"

"Yes, Demon Culler. I will explain that story another time, but for now I must leave. I will come back when you wake up in the morning."

"Oh okay, I'll see you tomorrow then Master."

After watching his Master's appearance fade from the room, Myeol Mang looked out the window and sighed.

'Well, I got some answers to my questions, but now things aren't making sense again. Mom and Grandpa obviously didn't know about Myeol Mang being able to take a physical form, otherwise they wouldn't have tried to fight him. And they also didn't know that the starting dream wasn't the original Myeol Mang's death. Are they hiding information from me because I'm young? Or do they truly not know?'

Shrugging his shoulders as he sighed once more, Myeol Mang walked out of his room.

'Well, I might as well go find Master Tang so I can find out about my blacksmith training.' Myeol Mang thought as he began walking towards the training hall.

Yet as he arrived in front of the training hall, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Hey, Myeol Mang! Come here for a second."

---

After wiping the blood off the beheaded man's clothes, Jin Tang began to unchain the man's body.

'Still no information about when they're going to raid, though if I continue to kill the spies they send it'll prolong the raid.'

Click!

'But since the Demonic Cult keeps sending spies to watch Myeol Mang and Sung Ho, they must be related to the raid from three years ago. Although Myeol Mang doesn't seem to remember much about his past, Sung Ho seems to know what happened, maybe I can get him to clue me in on the events of that night.'

Click!

Fwiiip!

"Well, I've been down here for long enough. Sung Ho and Myeol Mang might be looking for me. And I still need to talk with Seo Jun or Mi Yeon…. Sigh…. Today has been a long day."

After walking up the stairs leading outside the palace walls, Jin Tang imbued internal energy into the wall, making it close off the hidden chamber.

However.

"Cough, cough… Fuck, I was beggining to think he'd never leave…. Cough…."

A masked man with a punctured chest then rose out of the pile of crimson stained corpses.

'I need to get out of here fast, I barely have any internal energy left and I'm severely wounded. But if I can make it to a watchpoint I'll be given treatment for the sake of my mission….'

---

"Oh, Seok Hwan. How are you?" Myeol Mang asked as he turned around.

"I'm doing good, but I saw that light coming out of yours and Sung Ho's room, I assume you had another realization?"

"Yeah, I did. Oh, do you know where Master Tang is? I was hoping to discuss when I would start blacksmithing training."

"Well congratulations on the realization, and no, I haven't seen Master Tang since this morning."

"Dang, well thanks anyways Seok Hwan."

"Oh wait, before you leave, I should probably say that the forgery is in the back left side of the palace. So when Master Tang gives you the approval to begin your training you'll know where to go."

"Oh, thanks Seok Hwan, I'll keep that in mind for when I start the training. Anyways, I'll see you later."

"Later Myeol Mang." Seok Hwan replied as he watched Myeol Mang enter the training hall.

"Agghhhhhhhhh!"

"Woah, that's a pretty nice grunt you've got, Sung Ho." Myeol Mang said as Sung Ho stopped doing pushups.

"Tch, why are you here Myeol Mang?"

"What's with the hostile attitude man? Aren't we training buddies, and more importantly best friends?"

"Yeah, but the rate of how fast you're progressing is pissing me off. Hell, you had another realization one week after your first one."

"I can't control the pace of which I have realizations, Sung Ho. They come when they want to come and when your mind is ready for them."

"I know that and it's still pissing me off. But what's pissing me off the most is that I'm still here trying to catch up to you in terms of physical strength while you're getting further and further ahead in terms of internal energy."

"Sung Ho, me and you have been friends for how many years now?"

"Twelve years, Myeol Mang, twelve years."

"And during the time since our parents died during the incident, we stuck together to protect each other right?"

"Yeah, that's how we managed to get here, by sticking with each other."

"Then think of it like this, right now if somebody were to attack us, me and you would fight together to beat them right?"

"Yeah, but what does this have to do with me being angry about your progress?"

"If you think about it Sung Ho, my hasty progress means that whoever is fighting us, would think of me as the main threat. Not knowing you're able to compete with me physically. You would be the ultimate trump card right now. And that would only make us better when you gain access to internal energy."

"....."

"Think about it Sung Ho, if me and you are always together, we can never lose! I'll be the distraction to make them lower their guard against you, then when they drop their guard you can go in for the finishing blow!"

"..... You do have a point..."

"And the good thing is, strategy will only work until you catch up to me. Because let's face it Sung Ho, at some point my progress is going to slow down dramatically because of the requirements to enter the higher realms. So when that time comes me and you will be equally strong friends fighting our way through Jianghu to make a name for ourselves!"

"You know what, you're right Myeol Mang. Let's strive to be equals on both the battlefield and in fame!"

"You two have good ambitions. I'm glad I made you two my apprentices."

Swiftly turning towards the training hall doors as he heard Jin Tang's voice, Myeol Mang and Sung Ho then bowed.

"Master Tang, it's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too, Myeol Mang. Now Sung Ho, continue with the workout, I need to have a little talk with Myeol Mang."

"Yes, Master Tang!" Sung Ho exclaimed as he dropped back down to the floor and continued his pushups.

"Myeol Mang, come with me." Jin Tang said as he began to walk out of the training hall.

Quickly following Jin Tang out of the training hall, Myeol Mang then asked.

"So, Master Tang. What did you want to talk about?"

"Well, Myeol Mang. I think it's about time you start your blacksmith training. Now, who would you rather teach you how to forge a blade? Mi Yeon or Seo Jun? Keep in mind that whoever you pick to teach you blacksmithing, the other one will teach you how to perform sword martial arts."

"Hmmmmmm, how about I learn blacksmithing from Seo Jun for now, then when I'm done with forging my own sword I can learn from both of them?"

"That seems like a rather good idea, Myeol Mang. Now, your training will begin tomorrow at sunrise. Do you need directions on how to get to the forgery?"

"No I don't, Master Tang. Seok Hwan was nice enough to tell me where it was."

"Alright, well that is all I needed to talk to you about. You can return to whatever you were going to do."

THUD!!

Noticing the echo of a wall being smashed in the direction of the hidden chamber entrance, Jin Tang dashed towards the hidden entrance with Myeol Mang running behind him.

However, when they arrived at the outskirts of the wall where the hidden entrance was located, a two meter tall hole with stairs leading into the earth was visible.

"Uhmmm, Master Tang. What do those stairs lead to?....."

"Shit, Myeol Mang, now isn't the time for questions. So I'm going to break the truth to you since you've seen the hidden chamber. There is going to be a Demonic Cult raid soon."

"A Demonic Cult raid!? Like the raid that took mine and Sung Ho's families?!"

"Yes, I was able to postpone it until now, but since I was sloppy and didn't kill one of the spies they sent to watch you and Sung Ho. They now have the information they need to start the raid."

"Then this isn't the time to be messing around, we need to get everyone prepared so we can fight them! Sung Ho needs to learn internal energy and how to forge a spear! How long do you think we have until the raid?"

"I'd say a month, since the spy who managed to get out is severely injured. And they'll need time to get the message then send the raiding party. Shit, I didn't want to do this but I'll have to give Sung Ho an internal energy pill after he forms his dantian."

"Will I be getting one too Master?"

"No, with your recent realization you've reached the Realm of Acceptance, so as long as you don't fight any high ranking cult members you'll be fine. But Sung Ho will be taking a Shaolin Temple Pill to get himself to the Realm of Attainment."

"Alright, but we'd also need to learn martial arts within that time as well, right Master Tang?"

"Yes you would, but since you're learning the sword and Sung Ho is learning the spear. Both of you can train simultaneously."

"We should inform everyone of what's happened. So they'll know what's coming and can prepare for it too."

"Yes. You tell Sung Ho, I'll tell Seok Hwan and the others. Now go!"