Six Harmonies Fist and Audition Chaos
The next day, Suhyeon rose at dawn, sat in a formal seiza position in the living room, completed a round of Qi Circulation Breathing, and then sank into thought.
Body Purification is only about halfway done now. At this rate, it'll take at least another three months... In my previous life, it took just one month, but now it's dragging on for seven. The qi in this world is definitely only about one-seventh as dense as before.
Suhyeon let out a deep sigh, as if to shake off his frustration, and calculated his future schedule.
Finishing Body Purification and reaching the second stage, Meridian Washing, will take at least eleven months at the fastest. Then, opening the meridians for Microcosmic Orbit and consolidating will take another one or two months... So, it'll be at least a full year before Microcosmic Orbit is possible. Sigh. It's slow—too damn slow. I need to find a way to speed this up. This world doesn't even support formations; it's driving me insane...
Having organized his thoughts, Suhyeon stood to practice fist techniques. He stretched lightly, assumed a stance, and steeled his resolve. After sensing that unexpected refined killing intent the day before, he'd become deeply wary. From today, he'd train his new body in fist techniques, starting with the foundational Six Harmonies Fist.
He took the starting form of the Six Harmonies Fist, the first technique taught in his previous life's Jeon family, regulated his breathing, and recalled learning it from the family's fist instructor.
"When young, one learns the Six Harmonies to aid the growth of muscles and bones and correct posture. Once the foundation is solid, they advance to the Eight Trigrams. Only after mastering the Eight Trigrams do they proceed to the family's secret Heavenly Mechanism Bewildering Fist."
"First, let's examine the Six Harmonies Fist. The 'six harmonies' refer to the four cardinal directions—front, back, left, right—combined with up and down, centered on oneself."
"Using these six directions as the basic orientations, one trains resounding stomping steps and vigorous punches to master the 'breaking' power that shatters an enemy's bones with a single strike. At higher realms, it penetrates thick armor to rupture internal organs—the 'meridian-piercing' principle."
"Thus, the Six Harmonies Fist is the fist of the warrior on the battlefield."
Moments later, Suhyeon moved fluidly through the forms of the foundational Six Harmonies Fist from his past life's Jeon family, extending his limbs sharply and stepping through the directions without pause. He practiced until his clothes were soaked with sweat dripping from his body, then showered.
After a brief rest, Suhyeon boarded the van driven by his manager and headed to the YK Building. In the car, he sorted through his thoughts from that morning's practice.
I know the forms and principles of the Six Harmonies Fist inside out, but embodying them in this body is a whole different challenge. It'll take one or two weeks of steady practice before I can move to the Eight Trigrams Fist... At this rate, mastering the core mud-step of the Eight Trigrams will take considerable time. I really need internal energy for this. To achieve Microcosmic Orbit faster... It's all because the qi in this world is so scarce. Sigh...
Frustrated, Suhyeon muttered softly.
"It's not 'all roads lead to Rome'... it's 'all problems lead to qi'... Damn it."
Hearing Suhyeon's irritated grumble, the manager asked worriedly,
"Suhyeon-ah, did you not memorize the script? Or are you feeling unwell?"
"Nah, nothing like that. Just some issue that's not going smoothly..."
"What issue? Tell your hyung."
"Hahaha, it's nothing. I just feel like my qi is a bit deficient lately."
"Oh? Then why not hit up a herbal clinic and get some tonic?"
"I've thought of that... but I'm worried if this world even has proper tonics."
"What are you saying? It's still better than nothing, right? After the audition, let's go together. Get a month's worth of the expensive stuff—it'll help a ton. You're not short on cash anyway."
"Yeah, sure. I've been too busy with other things till now, but I'll make time."
Arriving at the YK Building, Suhyeon pulled out his script in the practice room and reviewed it again.
Hmm, Left Sword Yi Tae-min... Not a bad character. Seems better than the other supporting role, Right Sword Song Hae-seop. Loyal, values righteousness, throws his life away like a mere weed for his lord... Trained in Joseon swordsmanship from youth, a sword master—especially agile, leaping over a three-meter wall with a single stomp...
"That's some serious exaggeration. I know Joseon warriors were good with bows, but jumping three meters in one go? You'd need mastery of inner qi arts for that... And Joseon neigong wasn't at that level, was it? Well, it's a movie, after all..."
Muttering to himself, Suhyeon dove back into the script. Time flew, and as the audition approached, he headed to Dream Pictures in Myeongdong.
Upon arriving at the film company, Suhyeon was guided to the audition waiting room. Contrary to expectations of a crowd, only one man sat there.
Huh? Why so few auditioning?
He exchanged names with Lee Min-woo, a rookie actor from the mid-tier Prius Entertainment—lively-looking with a sturdy build—and chatted.
"Not many here for the audition today. Any idea why?"
"We're the last batch. I heard they've already seen several rounds. Not hundreds like before, but about twenty so far. Auditions end today."
"Ah, got it. Thanks."
Nice personality, clear eyes... Seems like a good guy.
Suddenly, shouting erupted from the audition room. After about five minutes, the door opened, and a heavyset middle-aged man with a bushy beard stormed out, breathing heavily. Calming himself, he eyed the two and spoke.
"You two are the last for Left Sword Yi Tae-min today, right?"
They nodded.
"Whew. I'm Jang Jin-seok, director of Moonlight Escort... Sorry, but today's auditions are canceled. The actor set for Right Sword suddenly wants Left Sword instead. Thought the right arm was obviously better, but now he claims he forgot the Left State Councilor outranked the Right back then... Ha. Is this even words or just hot air?"
The self-introduced director muttered lowly, audible yet not.
"Script handed over ages ago, and now... That shit-for-brains..."
With an apologetic look at the two, Jang continued.
"So, practice Right Sword lines by tomorrow. I know it's sudden... But!! Originally, we'd pick three from first round for action tests, but by my authority, you're both in. Memorize Right Sword tomorrow and head straight to the action test room—not here. Final auditions tomorrow with you two and two others."
Suhyeon, about to say he could audition for Right Sword right now, glanced aside and saw Lee Min-woo's flustered face.
Hmm. No point saying I've memorized it anyway. This isn't the final pick... Decision tomorrow, so better stay quiet.
Jang gave tomorrow's location.
"You all know the famous action director Jeong Do-hong? Heard he just opened Jeong Do-hong Martial Arts Center in Heyri Art Village, Paju? Action tests there—be there by 10 a.m. Only a day to practice Right Sword lines, so we'll account for that. Straight to action tests. Ha... What am I even doing?"
Suhyeon smirked at the sighing director, irritated by the situation.
Brats like that exist in every world. Guess there's another besides my old self...
The next day, Suhyeon arrived at the Martial Arts Center in Heyri just before 10 with his manager. Originally the Seoul Action School in Seoul, it had closed and reopened in Heyri with a new building—state-of-the-art facilities befitting it. Larger than a typical gym, with high ceilings strung with training ropes and wire setups everywhere. Airbags under a high platform for falls, mats crowded with sparring trainees. Notably, a large frame on one wall read (Martial).
Surveying the facilities, Suhyeon felt an odd vibe.
Heard it's a stuntman academy... but it feels less like a school and more like stepping into a renowned martial hall. Hmm. Not just anyone could create this atmosphere. Premonition that this Jeong Do-hong is a director who's truly mastered martial arts...
As Suhyeon stood quietly on the entrance platform, a lithe young woman in workout clothes approached, asking if he was auditioning. Confirming, she handed him a small earpiece receiver and body mic.
Action test with directions via this, observing performance, huh.
Suddenly, a sharp aura crackled from inside the action school. Startled, Suhyeon looked up to see a man in his early fifties, not tall, approaching.
Whoa, a true expert... Definitely above my current level. If we clashed, thirty seconds? My head would fly off easy...
Suhyeon scanned the middle-aged man with piercing eyes.
External arts at a high level. Internal energy hovering at Body Purification—not quite past it. No Meridian Washing... In this qi-poor world, reaching that means a lifetime devoted to martial arts. But...
Suhyeon focused on the man's lower body.
An expert with unstable gait... Injury, probably. Right knee... Lacking internal energy, overtaxed the body training external arts.
Jeong Do-hong, the martial arts director, had come to the action school for today's auditions—his first time here in about a week instead of his Seoul office. Heading to the practice hall as start time neared, he suddenly felt chills all over.
What the...? Haven't felt this kind of gaze in ages...
Feeling a predator sizing prey, Jeong halted, scanning around. Spotting the young man at the entrance, he tilted his head.
No way? That kid?
Jeong Do-hong strode quickly toward the young man at the entrance.