LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 114
Learning something new and fully embodying it. I eliminate the mismatched parts and carve out a new path just for me.
To me, that’s what learning means.
That’s why it brought me immense joy.
“What extraordinary talent…”
“Indeed, brother Red Wind…”
“But did Uncle Red Wind come to find Ran? I haven’t seen him since then.”
The members of the Blood Dragon House occasionally came to watch me from a distance before leaving. They seemed to want to approach and speak, yet they didn’t dare come closer as I was fully immersed in my training, swinging my sword all day long.
Did I mention I didn’t want to disturb my training?
Either way, it was good for me. I spent today swinging my sword, wishing to feel that sensation once again.
As the sun set and the twilight began to paint the sky, I set my sword down and started concentrating mana at my feet. Perhaps it was because I had been in the form of a dragon warrior for so long?
Flashes of inspiration continually sparked within my mind. Disparate memories wove together naturally. The inspiration that spread like wildfire revealed the path I should take.
I imbued the elements of wind, mana, and fire with the arrogance of a dragon in my steps. I recalled Wendy from the airship and the serene yet fierce presence of Ch’eong-bin and Ch’aeng-a beside Nightmare.
Swish—
I took a step forward as an experiment.
It was a task of reclaiming what I had eliminated. It wasn’t cumbersome. It felt comfortable, as if it was a perfect fit for my body, like a garment made just for me.
Whoosh—!
Mana that started from a rotating circle spread out from my feet. My basic physical enhancements were in place. However, the picture I desired was not being drawn. The moment I stepped on the wind, it erupted into a scorching draft, scattering in all directions.
Naturally, my brows furrowed.
I should be gliding forward while stepping on the wind. This method was incorrect. The brilliantly shining inspiration of the dragon flickered in my mind, shifting my path.
I couldn’t accomplish everything in one go. Among the dozens of paths laid out before me, I simply had to choose the correct one and move forward. One step forward, then another. With each failure, the flames of the circle spread like wildfire.
The dragon’s mana was violent and arrogant. That was its nature. Even if it was absorbed completely by me, its essence wouldn’t disappear. With each failure, the wrath of the dragon began to naturally settle in my mind.
Then it happened. It felt as if a gentle warm breeze was blowing from afar, and the next moment, a man was sitting on the wall.
His long red hair glimmered in the twilight. The impressive sight of blackened fingerprints on his tall horns was striking.
“Red Wind…?”
“Hmm…”
The person sitting on the wall, looking down at me with an uncomfortable expression, was Red Wind. What was he doing here?
“What’s the matter?”
“Well, it’s just…”
Red Wind mumbled as he let out a long sigh. The heat carried in his breath raised vapors in the air.
Glancing at Red Wind, I turned my head. He didn’t seem inclined to come closer, just fidgeting.
I began moving again. Just as I repeated my failures, Red Wind’s voice echoed.
“Don’t try to stomp on the wind.”
“Huh?”
“‘Remember that the world is beneath the Dragon’s Blood.’ It means to reign over all things naturally. Didn’t you learn that from Lyn?”
As I frowned at Red Wind’s sudden comment, he continued talking. He rambled on about the Kwanghwa Dragon Island Style Art of War as if he wanted to tell me something.
However, that was a method I had already discarded. His advice was of no particular help.
“Please be quiet.”
“Oh, um…”
Red Wind, looking embarrassed at my response, stared at me uneasily. Ignoring him, I altered the properties of mana. The scorching flames cooled down, replaced by a pure white starlight.
I chose harmony over domination and oppression. The shine of the stars filled the space left by the dragon’s arrogance. As the starlight mana, beginning from the circle, spread through my entire being, the wind started to follow suit.
Whoosh—!
This was the answer. The spirit that held Kalbain’s Mana and exhaled hot winds now released a refreshingly cool breeze.
The area of my feet touching the ground shrank. The burden on my body noticeably lessened, and directional changes became smooth. The movements of my muscles minimized, and the efficiency of my mana amplified in an instant.
Whoosh—!
The refreshing wind burst forth, causing my wide-sleeved red clothing to flutter madly. Under the twilight pouring down from beyond the wall, the golden dragon embroidered on my attire shone brilliantly.
A smile crept onto my face. How could I not be happy now that what I had imagined was becoming a reality? I danced through the air, riding the wind.
The fixation on creating the red blade of scorching mana momentarily faded. Right now, I simply wanted to joyfully soar through the wind.
Of course, the expression of “soaring” was a bit misleading. I didn’t fly in the literal sense; it was more like I freely bounded atop the wind.
Walking and running methods. What I desired had been completed. Then, this magnificent technique needed a name. I paused briefly atop the wind and crossed my arms.
My body, which had been lightly floating, began to lower naturally. With no movement, the flow of mana ceased. The gentle breeze that had been amplified by the mana gradually settled.
While I hadn’t named the swordsmanship I received from the dwarf, this was altogether my own technique. Therefore, I wished to give it a name.
Since I was moving with wind wrapped around me, it was only fitting that the name include something related to the wind.
Dozens of plausible names like “Divine Wind” or “Fresh Breeze” flickered in and out of my mind. Ultimately, what remained was the name that I felt was the most splendid.
Divine Dragon Wind Technique.
It meant that the sacred dragon beautifully nested within the winds. While it was a bit embarrassing to say this to others, I didn’t plan on sharing it anyway.
*
A considerable amount of time passed. It had been a futile passage of time, as I still hadn’t grasped the method of creating the red blade.
Red Wind continued to visit me consistently. Each time he came, he offered advice as if he wanted to help, but it was merely useless talk to me.
After around three days of similar situations, he approached me with a different strategy. Instead of advice, he started bringing me tasty food.
At first, he seemed to bring various dishes to grasp my taste. After about two days, the range of food he brought narrowed down.
I received desserts that were sweet enough to make my tongue tingle. Loads of candies made from honey and hardened sugar. Still, my distance from Red Wind had not shrunk.
Then one day, while I was swinging my sword in the yard, Ch’eong-bin came to visit.
“It’s been a while, Red Ice.”
“It’s Seris… what brings you here?”
“Is a special reason needed? Between us.”
“What kind of relationship do we have…?”
“Dragon’s Blood. Descendants of the great dragons’ bloodline.”
I gazed at him with a strange look while storing my sword. There was an unmistakable warmth in his eyes. It was the familiar gaze I used to receive from the hometown boys when they looked at me.
I wiped the sweat from my cheek and chuckled lightly.
“I see.”
“Um…”
That was just right. I had already exhausted all I could gain from the Blood Dragon House, so my progress had plateaued. At just the right moment, fresh prey had approached.
In my eyes, Ch’eong-bin didn’t look all that different from the clueless boys I used to encounter back home.
I felt no guilt. Even if I told them the truth, they wouldn’t believe me, so what could I do? They treated me as Dragon’s Blood, so I simply utilized that situation.
Maintaining a precarious distance, I sought what I desired. It was something I had repeatedly done back in my hometown. It felt too familiar. I bit down on my revulsion and moved slightly closer to Ch’eong-bin.
“Ch’eong-bin.”
“Why?”
“Do you happen to know anything about Kwanghwa Dragon Island Style Art of War?”
“I know it. It’s the secret technique of the Blood Dragon House.”
“Is there something similar in the Blue Dragon House?”
“Why ask something obvious… Of course, there is. It’s called the Blue Dragon Frost Technique.”
“Wow… what a magnificent name.”
“You seem to know a thing or two…”
“Is there a chance I could learn this Blue Dragon Frost Technique?”
“It wouldn’t be of any help to you…”
“Still, I’m curious. I want to know all about Dragon’s Blood.”
“Um…”
At my words, Ch’eong-bin began to contemplate seriously with a grave expression. He then cautiously replied.
“I don’t think it’s possible to share it… The Kwanghwa Dragon Island Style Art of War and the Blue Dragon Frost Technique are secret techniques of the Dragon’s Blood that don’t share the same knowledge.”
“So I can’t learn it…”
I took a step back with a disappointed expression. Then, Ch’eong-bin hurriedly continued.
“It’s not that there’s absolutely no way… It’s just…”
“Just what?”
“Um… The Blue Dragon Frost Technique is a secret known only to those of the Blue Dragon House. Therefore, to learn the Blue Dragon Frost Technique…”
“I need to become a member of the Blue Dragon House?”
“That’s one way to look at it…”
“Then I’ll do it.”
“What…?”
“I’ll become a member of the Blue Dragon House, so can’t you tell me first?”
“Is that really true?”
“Yes.”
“Alright…! Just wait a moment!”
At my answer, Ch’eong-bin beamed with a bright smile. He hurriedly left the Blood Dragon House, almost tripping over himself. How much time passed? It was only when evening fell that Ch’eong-bin returned, holding a soft book wrapped in silk.
“It’s a copy… I got a bit delayed while hastily transcribing it.”
“Wow~”
I raised the book titled “Blue Dragon Frost Technique” that Ch’eong-bin handed me, smiling brightly.
*
About a week later, I was able to fully embody the chill of Kashpa swirling around my heart, thanks to the Blue Dragon Frost Technique given by Ch’eong-bin.
The circle that had been revolving with starlight began to rotate in reverse. Shortly afterward, a blue frost settled upon the white star, as a freezing cold mixed with the breath flowing from my mouth.
Chh—!
The ground I stood on froze. Immediately, a change occurred within my body. The red scales covering my left hand began turning blue.
At that moment, my gaze met with Red Wind, who had come to visit me, just as he always did over the wall. With a light smile, I waved my discolored left hand slightly, causing Red Wind to drop the basket he was holding. Candies spilled from the fallen basket onto the ground.