Soul Summoning Sword Spirit

Chapter 10: Training the Sword Spirit (5)

Three months had passed in the secret underground training hall.

Every night, Gugwi quietly knelt before the grave.

The grave he had chosen belonged to an unknown martial artist with no name or title. He wasn’t someone from an orthodox clan or prestigious household. Even in death, the spirit never revealed his true identity.

The only clue was the martial arts.

But those who saw Gugwi's sword techniques in the training hall tilted their heads in confusion.

No one in the Cold Wolf Sect recognized those movements.

Even martial artists renowned for their vast knowledge of the martial world couldn’t identify his martial art.

The deeper Gugwi immersed himself in training, the more mysterious the unknown martial artist’s sword technique became.

"Of all the graves, you picked this one."

Yeon Sohye muttered darkly.

"Is there something wrong with it?"

Gugwi asked cautiously.

"Sometimes tombs from grave robberies aren’t those of martial artists. They might look like it on the surface, but they could belong to hunters or thieves."

She continued.

"If the Soul-Summoning Arts misidentify the owner, that kind of thing can happen."

"Then who could the real owner of this grave be?"

"No idea. They say if the communion is sincere, the spirit may reveal their name or title."

‘I like you. I like your martial arts too.’

A soft ripple of blue light shimmered at the tip of Gugwi’s finger.

The glow flowed like a dance, wrapping around the grave. Murky herbal smoke filled the training hall heavily. The pungent scent burned in his lungs, drawing his mind into a fog.

From within that haze, a dark shadow rose like a dream.

Shhh—

A silver sword sliced through the air, causing the torches to flicker.

The shadow conjured sword light at its fingertips, a glow both faint and distinct, like moonlight reflected on water.

"Power is not something you use, but something that uses you."

The spirit grasped Gugwi's wrist and guided him. The blade danced in an arc.

"An attack isn’t something you execute. It’s something that forms itself."

The spirit's whisper pierced his ear.

"Make your sword like a shadow, like mist, like wind."

Gugwi surrendered himself to that voice.

The whispers flowed through his veins, awakening his inner energy. The breathing technique heated his body, stirring his vitality. But his gaze remained as cold as ice. He observed everything with a sharp mind.

“Hoo!”

Gugwi inhaled and unleashed a technique.

Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit, the martial art of the nameless spirit.

The first form tore through the air.

Gugwi’s body moved like a shadow. A chilling sword light flashed.

His sword drifted like it was slicing through formless mist. To onlookers, it seemed awkward and flimsy.

But within Gugwi, it was a different story.

His joints twisted and muscles strained taut. His organs solidified, and energy surged upward.

The second form swirled like the wind.

The sword wind brushed against the stone walls, leaving a sharp resonance.

His senses sharpened like a blade, capturing every sound.

Pahng!

Blue light burst from the blade, splitting the darkness.

The flash swept through the training hall like a storm, rattling the torches wildly.

Cold air grazed his sweat-drenched forehead, sending shivers down his spine. Gugwi’s eyes were sharp as blades.

His body was becoming the sword.

By day, he trained in sword techniques at the training ground.

Shhhht—

Gugwi’s sword brushed through the air.

Limp, sluggish... His movements looked slow and weak. Like a spiritless child forcing himself to move.

The other trainees frowned at his swordplay.

“What kind of sword art is that?”

Their whispers echoed across the dirt floor.

“Doesn’t look like a sword. More like flailing a noodle strand.”

“Still, I heard the Sect Leader recognized him as being at the Initial Contact stage…”

On the surface, Gugwi appeared flimsy and fragile. As if he would collapse in an actual fight. But internally, it was a different story. The spirit’s energy permeated each of his movements.

Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit cleansed his entire body from head to toe.

His bones and muscles underwent new training, creaking from the strain.

The process was slow and painful. That’s why his movements seemed sluggish on the outside.

Gugwi’s body wasn’t yet ready to fully contain the depth of the sword technique. For now, he was building his body… Once the spirit’s demanded strength was achieved, his sword would soar like a storm.

He had no doubt about it.

The blazing sun evaporated the sweat on the training ground.

Gugwi tightened his grip and repeated the form. The tip of his blade skimmed the dirt, kicking up dust.

His body gradually merged with the sword.

The Spiritual Heart Protection Technique passed down by his father laid the foundation. It was the breathing method at the root of Cloud Flow Tracking, a secret of the Cloud Flow Sect.

As he inhaled, cold energy seeped into his veins. Once he began circulating energy, a snake was born in his meridians. Like a thread-thin serpent, the energy slithered through his bloodstream.

That force charged his entire body, pulling his muscles taut.

His organs solidified, and internal energy surged.

Gugwi had yet to grasp the full essence of the Spiritual Heart Protection Technique. He only followed his father’s teachings—breathe and circulate energy. Yet, his inner power was already abundant.

Amid the dust of the training ground, his gaze glinted like a spear.

The dirt floor glowed with the heat of the sun.

Gugwi stood facing Yeon Sohye.

The sword in his hand radiated blue light.

Yeon Sohye smiled as she drew her sword.

"Ready?"

Her voice was sharp.

Gugwi nodded.

"Then let’s begin!"

The duel commenced.

Gugwi wielded the Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit. His sword drifted sluggishly through the air. Like a lifeless child barely managing to move.

The trainees murmured among themselves.

"He's really going to fight like that? Isn’t he just asking to be killed?"

But inside, Gugwi was different.

His bones twisted, his organs solidified. His senses sharpened like the tip of a blade.

Yeon Sohye unleashed the Soul Phantom Technique.

Her body moved like an apparition, appearing and vanishing within the mist.

Shweee!

Her sword struck toward Gugwi like lightning falling from the sky. To her, someone like Gugwi, moving so sluggishly, seemed easy to bring down.

However... Yeon Sohye suddenly halted.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“What is this?”

She muttered.

“Why can’t I land a hit?”

Tilting her head in confusion, Yeon Sohye lunged forward again.

With renewed resolve, her sword stabbed sharply. Then Gugwi’s body shifted. His limp movements instantly turned solid like an iron wall. Just as her sword was about to touch him, Gugwi’s energy repelled her blade, aiming for an opening to counter.

His sluggish posture hadn’t changed... but something else had.

Just as Yeon Sohye’s sword was about to connect, her instincts screamed. If she continued, a deadly gap would open!

It was like dipping your hand into water only to suddenly sense an abyss.

Startled, she withdrew.

“Unbelievable!”

Yeon Sohye gasped in admiration.

“This martial art is incredible! You called it the Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit? I couldn’t even create an opening with the Soul Phantom Technique. That’s impressive!”

Gugwi’s sword remained slow. Yet it was now imbued with the spirit’s energy.

To spar against Yeon Sohye after only three months—

By murim standards, such an achievement was impossible.

Three months wouldn’t be enough for an ordinary martial artist to complete the basics.

The growth of a Soul-Summoner defied logic.

Such was the strength of the spirit’s aid.

Gugwi didn’t know the grave owner’s name.

Without knowing the name, he couldn’t use the Illusory Name Command within the Realm of the Threshold.

He could only commune with the grave’s owner through the Soul Resonance Technique.

‘Who are you?’

Gugwi muttered as he gazed at the grave.

“I lived as a nameless shadow, but my sword technique deserves a name. So I called it the Flowing Sword of the Manifest Spirit… I only thought of it after I died.”

A faint answer echoed in his mind.

Occasionally… the grave’s owner would speak to him this way. From some point onward.

“Gugwi.”

Yun Seoha called him.

Gugwi looked up from in front of the grave.

“Advance to the third stage of Initial Contact. This stage is complete enough.”

Yun Seoha’s voice gently resonated.

‘Finally, the third stage!’

Gugwi’s eyes flashed.

The third stage involved a deeper spirit communion. It was the gateway from Initial Contact to Spiritual Sensitivity.

Yun Seoha continued.

“In the third stage, you’ll start using techniques stronger than the Soul Resonance Technique.”

Gugwi held his breath.

Reaching the third stage had been a goal even in his dreams.

“You know, right? You’ll get a private audience with the Sect Leader. It’s a special honor for those who reach this stage, so make good use of it.”

Yun Seoha said softly.

‘A private audience with the Sect Leader.’

Gugwi’s mind grew complicated.

During a private audience, one could say anything they wished. One could express a desire, request a reward, or even ask a truth. Only one thing, but anything.

Gugwi steeled himself.

His father’s death, the secrets of the Heavenly Sound Cult.

Questions filled his heart. Why had the Heavenly Sound Cult killed his father? What was the Gatekeeper’s bloodline? Why did the Cold Wolf Sect never doubt his genius?

‘Yes. I’ll ask about Father.’

His resolve solidified.

Gugwi was summoned to Sect Leader Un Hojin’s training chamber.

The Sect Leader sat deep inside the chamber. His shadow stretched long beneath the lamp’s glow.

Moonlight spilling through the window slit reflected in his sharp eyes.

Gugwi carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

The chamber was quiet, the air pressing down heavily.

Step. Step.

His footsteps echoed low on the stone floor.

Un Hojin raised his head to look at him.

“Sit.”

His voice spread deeply.

Gugwi took his seat, calming his breath. His palms were already drenched in sweat.

“First, congratulations. To reach this stage so quickly… It’s the fastest in the history of the Cold Wolf Sect.”

“Thank you.”

Gugwi brought his hands together in a clasped-hands salute.

“You want to know the truth about the Heavenly Sound Cult and your father?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, Un Hojin’s expression stiffened. Deep concern passed through his eyes.

“I’ve been expecting that question.”

He exhaled a heavy sigh.

“Shall I start with the Heavenly Sound Cult? You know what kind of group they are… They’re powerful now.”

He spoke in a low, heavy tone.

“They’ve grown especially strong lately. It’s as if they’re ready for all-out war with the Murim Alliance. But they still fear the Nameless Sound Disruption. That’s why they want to revive the ‘King of Spirits.’ A forbidden being recorded in ancient texts.”

He continued while staring into the darkness outside the window.

“According to the records, the King of Spirits has the power to throw the Three Realms—this world, the Realm of the Threshold, and the Spirit Realm—into chaos.”

Gugwi’s brow furrowed deeply.

‘King of Spirits?’

He clenched his fist.

Un Hojin slowly looked at him.

“That’s why… they’re searching for Soul-Summoners of a special bloodline. The Gatekeeper’s bloodline.”

Gasp!

Gugwi felt as though he had stopped breathing.

“Your father was of the Gatekeeper’s bloodline, but he wasn’t enough to revive the ‘King of Spirits.’”

Un Hojin’s voice was heavy.

“Guun, one of the Eight Generals, defected from the Heavenly Sound Cult to stop their resurrection plan, and was eventually killed.”

A searing pain tore through Gugwi’s chest.

This was the truth hidden behind his father’s death.

At the same time, his heart felt choked.

‘I’m of the Gatekeeper’s bloodline. So am I what the Heavenly Sound Cult seeks? No… they were desperate to kill me.’

His hand trembled.

Un Hojin looked at Gugwi meaningfully and continued. His gaze pierced through Gugwi.

“Does that answer your question?”

“Yes.”

Gugwi bowed deeply.

Un Hojin rose from his seat.

“The Heavenly Sound Cult will soon start a war. Prepare diligently.”

The lantern light in the office swayed with his shadow.