Soul Summoning Sword Spirit

Chapter 8: Training the Sword Spirit (3)

Sss!

Gugwi moved silently in the darkness.

Yeon Sohye had told him about a place suited for secret training.

Behind the Soul Hall were cave dwellings. They were places where Soul-Summoners of the Cold Wolf Sect trained away from outside eyes. Once inside, the entrance could be sealed, cutting off all connection with the world.

It was a structure where one could practice the Soul-Summoning Arts without interference from anyone.

Of course, initial initiates were not allowed to use it. Independent training was strictly forbidden to them.

He cautiously moved his feet.

Moonlight shone through gaps in the rocks, drawing white lines. The light seemed to guide him.

He saw many cave dwellings.

‘Where should I go?’

His eyes were drawn to a small hole between the rocks. It gave off a strange sense of familiarity.

He crouched down and entered through the gap.

Inside, darkness was thick. As he touched the wall with his hand, he felt the damp texture of the stone.

Gugwi used Shadow Step.

He had thought it was just a hunting skill… Was it actually a martial technique?

He didn’t even know the name of the form… but he muted his footsteps and glided through the darkness.

The cave wasn’t deep. But it was spacious enough for one person to train.

Drip. Drip.

Drops of water fell from the ceiling deep inside the cave, echoing softly through the silence.

He steadied his breath and sat down.

He summoned the warm energy his father had given him and placed it between his brows. Then he softly whispered the Illusory Name Command.

The connection with the Realm of the Threshold opened, and his heart began to pound.

A warm energy enveloped his body.

Inside the Realm of the Threshold, he felt peace. It was as if he had returned home. There was no hint of the fear he had felt using the Cold Wolf Sect’s method.

Gugwi felt the difference keenly.

It was for this—to refine such abilities—that he had begun this secret training.

Gugwi closed his eyes and sought traces of his father.

At the edge of the Realm of the Threshold, a faint energy brushed his fingertips. Then a low, deep voice pierced his ears.

“There is a vessel within you that can house a thousand souls…”

Gugwi held his breath.

His body stiffened, and his heart pounded.

The voice echoed again.

“Whether it becomes a blessing or a curse depends on your choice.”

It sounded like his father’s voice, but also like that of an unfamiliar presence. The voice carried the weight of something rising from the bottom of a deep sea.

At that moment, the energy wavered. His head spun, and he felt his balance collapse as if falling through the air. His vision blurred, and the sensation of floating broke.

He hastily severed the connection.

Breathing hard, he clutched his chest with trembling hands.

“A thousand souls… What does that mean?”

In the darkness, he sank into deep thought.

The next morning, Jin Hoon came looking for him.

Just as he was stretching after a short nap, he saw Jin Hoon standing at the doorway with a relaxed smile.

“Our little initiate, how about showing me what you’ve got?”

Gugwi narrowed his eyes slightly at his voice.

“Jin Hoon, I know you’re from the Murim Alliance… but why are you acting like this toward me since yesterday?”

Gugwi waved his hand dismissively, clearly annoyed.

Jin Hoon’s smile turned cold.

“Seems like you don’t know.”

He stepped closer, speaking in a low voice.

“We monitor your Soul-Summoners. If needed, we can execute you on the spot with the Sect Leader’s approval.”

A sharp killing intent flickered in his eyes.

“I’m here to figure out what kind of bastard you are. Let’s make it simple. Shut up and follow me.”

Gugwi sensed a chilling hostility in Jin Hoon’s gaze.

Within those eyes swirled a deep hatred like an abyss. It wasn’t directed at other Soul-Summoners—only at him. Why was he so antagonistic?

His chest grew heavy.

He didn’t want to follow Jin Hoon. But knowing the tense relationship between the Murim Alliance and the Cold Wolf Sect, refusal could be dangerous.

‘I must never reveal my true ability. But if I look too weak, he might torment me even more…’

Gugwi closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought.

Finally, he made up his mind.

‘I’ll only show what I learned from the Cold Wolf Sect.’

He looked at Jin Hoon.

“So where and what exactly do you want to do?”

Once his mind was made up, his voice came out calm and even.

Blue Moon Courtyard—another training ground for Soul-Summoners.

Only those who had reached the Spiritual Sensitivity stage—able to communicate freely with spirits among the Soul-Summoning levels of Initial Contact, Spiritual Sensitivity, Resonance, and Dark Control—could enter. In terms of martial sects, they were equivalent to vice leaders.

Perhaps for that reason, it was sparsely populated, always quiet.

Blue Moon Courtyard was surrounded by dense trees and rugged stones.

Whish.

The wind rustled the leaves, whispering softly.

Sunlight spilled through the branches, scattering light and shadow across the ground.

A few Soul-Summoners stood aside, watching the two.

They had reached Spiritual Sensitivity.

Their pupils were as deep as black pearls, with a faint blue glow quivering in their depths. Their gazes were eerie. A unique chill exuded from those who had long been in contact with spirits.

A dangerous aura lingered around them.

Jin Hoon loosened his hands and slowly stepped forward.

“Let’s see your skill here. A spar. I’ll use martial arts, you use Soul-Summoning or whatever.”

He raised one corner of his mouth.

“Let’s keep it light.”

As Jin Hoon raised his hand, the air subtly trembled.

Twang!

A faint wave swept over Gugwi’s body.

‘Is this the Nameless Sound Disruption?’

But then… Gugwi was struck by a sudden agony, as if his soul were being torn apart. It felt like invisible blades were shredding his insides. His senses connected to the Realm of the Threshold were crushed.

“Ugh!”

The pain was worse than flesh being cut. It felt as though every joint in his body was shattering.

Startled, Gugwi retreated quickly.

His foot scraped the ground, scattering pebbles.

“What… what is this!”

Gugwi widened his eyes and glared at Jin Hoon.

But unexpectedly, the Soul-Summoners observing murmured in low voices.

“For an initiate, his resistance is impressive.”

Their whispers seemed to wound Jin Hoon’s pride. Jealousy and hurt sharpened his gaze.

Suddenly, he drew forth a surge of energy.

The wave of Nameless Sound Disruption transformed into a blade-sharp force, crashing toward Gugwi.

Gugwi was breathless.

It felt like an invisible hand was crushing his soul, a torment that crushed him from within.

The energy connecting to the Realm of the Threshold shattered to pieces.

Just as his true self was about to float into the Realm, he was engulfed by a feeling of being torn apart and scattered.

‘I can’t… enter the Realm of the Threshold!’

He had to overcome this with his own martial arts. But what he had was just some boar-hunting skills—how could he take this man on…

While he faltered, the attack intensified. His vision blurred, and a low ringing echoed in his ears.

He reached out blindly into the air, but his body staggered and lost balance.

He felt the raw power of Nameless Sound Disruption to his bones.

Then, survival instinct kicked in. A desperate sense that his soul could not be annihilated like this…

Gugwi instinctively whispered the Illusory Name Command.

“Guun!”

He called his father’s name.

The only spirits he could summon were his father, General Madal, and one whose name he didn’t know.

If he called General Madal, the Flying Swallow Slash would strike Jin Hoon with devastating force.

But… with his father's spirit, he might maintain a delicate balance.

A blue glow swirled around Gugwi like mist. Though it had not yet taken form, its presence was undeniable. His father… The surrounding shadows twisted, dancing as if alive.

The air turned cold, and his breath came out white.

Martial Arts of the Mountain Spirit!

The trees of Blue Moon Courtyard swayed as though groaning.

Boom!

Spirit and true energy clashed. The Martial Arts of the Mountain Spirit, released by the spirit, collided with Jin Hoon’s Nameless Sound Disruption. The result: Nameless Sound Disruption dissolved into the vast, encompassing darkness.

Jin Hoon’s eyes widened.

“What the hell? What did you do!”

He looked at him in shock.

Just then, Yeon Sohye burst into Blue Moon Courtyard.

“Sparring is over!”

She shouted sharply and stepped between them.

“Jin Hoon, what the hell are you doing!”

Yeon Sohye’s voice was edged with fury.

Gugwi dropped to his knees, breathing hard as though drained.

Sweat soaked his forehead and trickled down. His lips were parched, and thirst clawed at his throat.

After the spar, Yeon Sohye visited Gugwi in his room.

Her eyes were a mix of agitation and concern.

“What the hell did you do?”

Gugwi lowered his head and remained silent.

“Nameless Sound Disruption… Ha! It felt like my soul was being ripped apart. I thought my true self would scatter to pieces if I stayed still. Truly, it’s a natural enemy to Soul-Summoners. What I did earlier—it was purely instinct.”

Yeon Sohye sighed and grabbed his shoulder.

“I told you to hide your ability.”

Her voice trembled.

Gugwi cautiously opened his mouth.

“It was really dangerous. Nameless Sound Disruption… You haven’t experienced it either, have you?”

Sohye looked down.

“I have. There’s no Soul-Summoner who hasn’t been struck by it at least once. They deliberately cast it to crush our spirit. That pain… can’t be put into words.”

Her gaze darkened.

“Ugh, Jin Hoon suspects something. You have to be even more careful from now on. Be serious, understand?”

She spoke firmly.

Gugwi nodded.

“But… why is he so obsessed with taking me down? Did I do something wrong?”

Yeon Sohye gave a wry smile.

“Jin Hoon likes me. One-sidedly.”

She added with an awkward laugh.

“He treats anyone I show kindness to badly. Unfortunately, this time, that person was you.”

“Then I’m really just caught in the crossfire?”

Gugwi let out a dry laugh and exhaled.

“Don’t think that’s all. Jin Hoon sees something inside you.”

From that day, Jin Hoon watched Gugwi with sharper eyes.

Even in the training grounds, he could feel the weight of his gaze.

Jin Hoon squinted from a distance, watching Gugwi practice the Illusory Name Command. His gaze was like that of a viper, ready to strike when the time was right.

Even when Gugwi deliberately fumbled during training, Jin Hoon’s eyes pierced through him without a flicker.

He approached the disciples and asked in a low voice.

“Do you know anything about that guy Gugwi?”

His voice was edged.

“Does it make sense that he only hunted in the mountains? He’s hiding something.”

Jin Hoon dug relentlessly into Gugwi’s past.

After training, he casually brought up Gugwi during drinks with other disciples.

“That guy, wasn’t his father a high-ranking official in the Heavenly Sound Cult?”

When the disciples hesitated, he smirked.

His hand always hovered near his sword hilt.

He also wrote a scathing monthly report.

“Abnormal Soul-Summoning response detected from new disciple Gugwi. Suspected of posing as an initiate. Further investigation required.”

As he folded the report, a cold smile curled his lips.

“Eight Generals. A child of the Heavenly Sound Cult entering the Cold Wolf Sect? This isn’t just betrayal. There’s something more…”

Yun Seoha also kept a close eye on Gugwi.

During training, she called to him in a sharp voice.

“Gugwi, here’s a special task. Summon a spirit from the Realm of the Threshold.”

Her eyes looked as though they pierced into his soul.

Gugwi felt his chest sink.

A Soul-Summoner could summon only one spirit in a lifetime. That spirit became their lifelong companion. But Gugwi was different. The Gatekeeper’s bloodline possessed the potential to command multiple spirits.

The problem was, assuming he was an ordinary Soul-Summoner, he had not yet reached the stage of Spirit Contact.

This task was all but impossible for an initiate.

Gugwi cautiously closed his eyes.

He had to suppress the Illusory Name Command and act like a beginner.

He first recalled the other disciples. During training, he had observed them failing to summon spirits. One panted heavily with sweat, another’s hands trembled before giving up.

Gugwi mimicked their clumsiness.

With his eyes closed, he drew only a faint energy. At the edge of the Realm of the Threshold, he sensed a slight tremor, but cut it off immediately. It matched the level of an average Soul-Summoner.

“Ah! I can’t do it.”

He muttered quietly and exhaled.

His voice carried hesitation.

Yun Seoha’s lips curled with a subtle smile. As if she knew his secret.

She propped her chin and watched him inquisitively.

“You’ll succeed soon. You’ve been diligent.”