"Left Guardian."

"Yes, Master."

"Are you seriously planning to teach her the Jade Ice Technique?"

The Lecher, who was beside me, answered.

"Yes. I don’t see any particular reason not to. I’d been planning to teach it to a female disciple anyway. It’s just a little early, is all."

"Because there’s a risk the technique might disappear?"

The Lecher nodded.

"It would be a shame for it to vanish."

The Sword Demon continued.

"There’s no need to teach Yoran martial arts in earnest just yet. But since we don’t know what might happen to us, it’s better if she memorizes techniques that might vanish with us."

"Understood."

Listening to the exchange between master and disciple, I realized Jang Deuk-soo had been right. We were all people who lived while thinking about death. Even the Lecher, like the Sword Demon, lived with the thought of his end in mind.

The Sword Demon’s suggestion was akin to how ancient scholars compiled the martial techniques of the Hundred Schools—he wanted Yoran to become a living archive of our martial arts.

The Drunk agreed.

"Not a bad idea."

The Sword Demon, keeping his eyes ahead, spoke.

"At the very least, the four of our martial arts will be passed down through Yoran. From what I’ve observed, she’s more than clever enough. For now, we’ll make her memorize everything. Later, if we survive after killing all our enemies, we can teach her at leisure. I won’t force it—just something to think about."

I added my opinion.

"For now, it’s best she only learns the Jade Ice Technique. I’ll teach her light footwork, but the other techniques are too ambiguous. I haven’t even organized or completed them myself."

If Yoran were to learn the Golden Nine Free-Wandering Manual or Zaha Divine Technique, there’s a high chance she’d fall into internal deviation. Even I can fall into internal deviation using those techniques.

I’ve always believed that martial arts should be passed on only when fate allows. And I just don’t get the feeling Yoran is the disciple destined to inherit the Zaha Divine Technique.