[The 'Youngcheon Style' trait has been unlocked.]
[Youngcheon Style Lv. 1]
[You can now use the Youngcheon Style.]
I immediately rose from my seat. My body felt like it weighed a ton, but the surging joy wouldn't let me stay still.
"Ugh..."
Ignoring my screaming muscles, I swung my sword.
The basic movements of the Youngcheon Style flowed smoothly.
Just moments ago, I had been stumbling through the transitions, but now it was completely different. The stances flowed together as smoothly as water.
Moreover, the sword tip barely grazed the wallpaper, never cutting through it. Unlike before, I now had perfect control over the sword's length, wielding it with flawless precision.
This is...
I finally understood why I had failed at the fundamentals and why Jin Seyoung had insisted I needed talent.
The Youngcheon Style required precise adjustments of force adding or subtracting strength within the brief instant of each sword swing. In other words, it demanded minute control over power during the fleeting moment of each strike.
The timing of releasing and applying force is crucial. This isn't something someone can teach.
It was pure talent, a matter of instinct and intuition.
This is fascinating!
I swung my sword until I was exhausted. Suddenly being able to master the Youngcheon Style, which I had never succeeded at before, filled me with exhilaration.
[Youngcheon Style Lv.1]
[You can now use the Youngcheon Style.]
Lying down, I examined the Youngcheon Style's attributes on the screen. Despite the simple description, the effects were astonishing.
"This is just Level 1. What would happen if I leveled it up further?"
[Upgrading to Level 2 required 3 points.]
My hand was already moving.
[Youngcheon Style Lv.2]
[You can now use the Youngcheon Style.]
"W-what's this? Something's entering my mind."
I shuddered. The information flooding my mind was about the Youngcheon Style how to use it effectively in various situations. Or rather, it wasn't just knowledge; it felt like the techniques had been etched into my very being.
"Level 2 is already this powerful. What would happen if the Youngcheon Style's level increased even further?"
[Level 3 required 5 points, and Level 4 needed 10 points.]
Perfect exactly the number of points I had.]
[Youngcheon Style Lv. 4]
[You can now use the Youngcheon Style.]
It would take a staggering 30 points to reach Level 5. I couldn't even imagine how many points would be required for Level 6.
Heh heh. Jin Seyoung will be amazed by my skills tomorrow, won't she? She might even grab my leg and beg me not to leave.
I was eagerly anticipating how Jin Seyoung would react tomorrow.
"Sis, spar with me."
I said to Jin Seyoung after arriving at Shadow Heaven Sword Hall.
"Spar?" Jin Seyoung looked surprised.
I had never asked her for a spar first before. Jin Seyoung's Spartan training regimen made no exceptions, even for sparring. It was common to end up with bruises and swelling after a spar.
"I achieved enlightenment yesterday. I'll be a bit different from how I've been until now."
"Enlightenment? Okay."
Jin Seyoung's expression showed little anticipation.
We maintained a distance from each other, wooden swords raised.
Jin Seyoung was a B-Rank Hunter. Even if she took a full-force attack from me head-on, it would feel like being hit by a child's fist. This allowed me to unleash my full power without worrying about the consequences.
"Huh?!"
Jin Seyoung's eyes widened in surprise as she witnessed my movements.
Her reaction was understandable. My movements were completely different from yesterday's. If I had been a caterpillar yesterday, today I was a butterfly.
I executed footwork hidden within the Youngcheon Style's basic stances, closing in on her blind spot and swinging my wooden sword.
Thwack!
Blocked again.
But I didn't stop. The Youngcheon Style was characterized by its speed and attacks from blind spots. Maintaining the offensive momentum by leveraging my speed was the most advantageous approach for me.
"Ugh...!"
Even the Seyoung from yesterday would have effortlessly parried my attacks. Now, she was forced to retreat, barely managing to block them.
Jin Seyoung's eyes grew even more focused. She was now fully engaged in the sparring match.
Youngcheon Style versus Youngcheon Style.
It was a battle of concentration. The first to lose focus or fail to keep up with the opponent's speed would lose.
The moment you lost sight of your opponent's sword, the match was decided.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Wooden swords clashed. We moved back and forth across the spacious training hall. The constant attempts to exploit each other's blind spots naturally led to more movement.
Physically, she had the advantage. However, I held a slight edge in the fundamentals of the Youngcheon Style. She had only mastered the basics minimally as a child before advancing to the next stage.
But my initial lead was soon lost.
My stamina reached its limit. The moment I lost sight of Jin Seyoung's wooden sword, it struck my left shoulder with a resounding thwack!
Thwack!
"Ugh!"
"Ah...?!"
As I clutched my shoulder and collapsed, it was Jin Seyoung who panicked. She immediately dropped her sword and rushed to my side, reaching out her hand.
Heh heh heh. Got her. Sensual Amplification.
[Sensual Amplification activated. Vitality will be continuously drained.]
Jin Seyoung's body twitched, but she couldn't bring herself to remove her hand from my shoulder. She stroked the crimson-flushed skin with her palm.
"I-I'm sorry, I got too carried away without realizing it. The wound is fine. It might swell a little, but it won't bruise. D-does it hurt a lot?"
"It hurts. But it feels better when you rub it. Sorry, but could you keep doing it?"
"Really? Wouldn't an ice pack be better?"
"I hate cold stuff. Just keep rubbing it with your palm."
"Ah, okay."
When I insisted, she reluctantly nodded.
If this had happened before yesterday, she wouldn't have listened to me so obediently. Today, by proving my talent to Jin Seyoung, I had elevated my own value.
Now the tables have turned. Instead of trying to get rid of me from the Shadow Heaven Sword Hall, she needs to keep me here.
The genius of the Youngcheon Style.
If even I felt that way about myself, how much more must Jin Seyoung?
Sigh. This older Noona still smells so good. Her sweat smells like pure pheromones. Pheromones.
I wanted to pull her into an embrace and bury my nose in the nape of her neck right then and there.
Swish. Swish. Swish.
Each time Jin Seyoung stroked my shoulder, her breath grew slowly warmer.
"Noona, it's okay now."
"R-really? Maybe I should rub it a bit more? Or... should I put a pain patch on it?"
"I'm fine. I may not look like it, but I'm a Hunter too."
I couldn't get up immediately. I needed a moment to hide the slight erection I had.
"Ah. So I only have two more weeks here. It was nice while it lasted, though."
"W-wait! What do you mean? Two more weeks?"
"You said it yourself yesterday, Noona. That I don't have any talent."
"Th-that was just a mistake! You're a genius of the Youngcheon Style! So, won't you keep coming? I'll even let you use the private training room for free!"
Jin Seyoung grabbed my arm, her face frantic.
I chuckled inwardly but kept my expression neutral, feigning a slightly bewildered look.
In that moment, it became clear who held the upper hand.
"Hmm, maybe. Ah, but I'm going to be quite busy soon, so I won't be able to come every day like before."
"Why suddenly?"
"I'm still a university student, Sis. I need to study, and to raise my Hunter Rank, I have to consistently hunt in Dungeons."
To advance in rank, two things are required: skill and performance. Lacking either will prevent advancement.
"Yu Jinah, you've only mastered the fundamentals of the Youngcheon Style. To truly master it, you need to start practicing combat techniques soon."
"I'm not quitting, just... might be a bit less focused. And lately, something..."
I trailed off, glancing at her. Blue leggings and a pink tank top her figure was always captivating.
"Never mind. I want to train alone today. Is that okay?"
"Sure, but wouldn't it be better if I were there?"
"Sometimes training alone is better. Yesterday, I had a breakthrough while practicing at home."
"A breakthrough?"
"I can't really explain it, but it just came to me suddenly. That's why my skills improved so much today."
I deliberately created some distance between us.
Looking back, I realized I'd been letting Jin Seyoung lead me around too much. As her student, I had no choice. But things were different now.
Her body was flushed with arousal, and having witnessed my talent firsthand, her heart would surely be burning with desire as well.
I entered my personal training room, closed the door, and stripped completely naked, including my underwear. Standing before the mirrored wall, I smirked.
"Damn, my body looks amazing."
The past week of rigorous training had sculpted my physique into lean, well-defined muscles exactly the kind that looked good. If I kept training at Shadow Heaven Sword Hall for just two more months, I could probably become one of those ripped guys whose photos circulate online.
"And my dick still looks magnificent."
My massive, dangling cock was a source of pride. Even flaccid, it was thick enough to resemble a plump carrot.
"Time to start training in earnest."
Naked, I gripped the wooden sword and began practicing the basic movements of the Youngcheon Style.
The liberating sensation of my bare skin against the air felt almost addictive.
What if Yujin quits? I think I've been too cold to him lately...
Jin Seyoung paced anxiously around the training room. Her mind was consumed by the thought: What if Sung Yujin quits?
He had said he wouldn't quit, but the tone in his voice suggested he might leave in a few days.
Ah... I messed up. Why did I say those things yesterday?!
If she had known Sung Yujin would unlock his full potential today, she would have treated him with more kindness.
If he had ordinary talent, I wouldn't be so worried...
If Yujin's talent had only been enough to master the Youngcheon Style, she would have thought it didn't matter if he quit. After all, talent alone couldn't produce results without the will to cultivate it.
Yujin's talent is off the charts. Even in the basics, he's already slightly better than me.
His sudden surge in ability within a single day was a bit strange, but having encountered so many absurdities as a Hunter, she quickly accepted it.
And more importantly...
"Enlightenment..."
Jin Seyoung knew about enlightenment. Her father and grandfather had always emphasized its importance.
"Is there... is there any way to keep Yujin here?"
If providing a private training room wasn't enough, she could waive his membership fees entirely. The building belonged to her father, so operating costs wouldn't be an issue even without membership revenue.
"But that would make Shadow Heaven Sword Hall look too cheap."
As a B-Rank Hunter, Jin Seyoung understood the psychology of Hunters.
Hunters generally disliked anything free. Their high earnings led them to pursue luxury goods, and the mere mention of "free" would immediately make them suspicious of the item's quality.
For now, Yujin's Hunter rank is low, so he might appreciate the free lessons. But once he reaches D-Rank, he'll likely start avoiding anything free.
Jin Seyoung unconsciously imagined Sung Yujin abandoning the Youngcheon Style and seeking out another Hunter Academy.
With Sung Yujin's talent, any Hunter Academy would welcome him with open arms. He would undoubtedly rise through the ranks as a Hunter, and as he gained fame, the Hunter Academy he attended would naturally come under the spotlight.
Ugh.
The mere thought of it made her sick.
She desperately racked her brain, but no solution came to mind.
I can't keep this up. I need to talk to Yujin and find out what he really wants.
As she reached for the door to Sung Yujin's private training room, she paused. It had been so long since they'd had a guest at the Shadow Heaven Sword Hall that she'd forgotten to knock.
She was about to close the door and knock when she glimpsed Sung Yujin practicing the Youngcheon Style through the slightly ajar door.
Aaaah?!
Jin Seyoung nearly screamed in shock. Sung Yujin was practicing the Youngcheon Style's fundamentals completely naked.
His body, now visibly more muscular from recent training, was undeniably attractive. A large penis hung loosely between his legs.
Even in its flaccid state, it was noticeably larger than her ex-boyfriend's had been three years ago.