Chapter 002: Martial Arts Initiation (1)
After the consultation, memories of why he'd given up on martial arts back then came flooding back vividly.
Pay off one debt just to rack up another?
He was utterly sick of debt by now.
A person should live within their means.
Was it really worth piling on tens of millions of won in debt just to learn martial arts?
With that vague promise to think it over, Kim Sun-woo left the consultation office and turned to the internet.
More precisely, he searched for reviews of the Huashan Sect's martial arts initiation courses.
Kim Sun-woo's vision swam as he closed the browser.
If he'd fallen for the consultant's sweet talk and signed the contract, he'd have ended up a debtor all over again.
Just to be safe, he checked other sects, but as the reviews said, they all seemed much the same.
"The big sects push success stories for their main draws, but everything else is just a merchant mindset out to squeeze money?"
They'd advised going to mid- or small-sized sects if you wanted real training, but those carried the risk of black sect ties—getting physically robbed long-term, or worse.
"Why is everything so damn complicated?"
Kim Sun-woo let out a sigh.
He'd been in the hunter industry, seen plenty of mages and martial artists. Had they all overcome these hurdles through sheer training?
"...Self-study it is, then?"
Magic was heavy on math and theory—impossible to self-teach.
Martial arts had theory too, but less so. Maybe doable compared to magic.
Back as a rookie hunter, he'd taken practical hunter swordsmanship and combat courses.
He'd even tried free martial arts lectures.
But no time back then, and he hadn't understood a word, so he quit fast.
"Skip Huashan for now..."
He ignored lectures from big names like Huashan or the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families.
His gaze naturally shifted to mid- and small sects... but.
"Hmm."
Even these reeked of money-grubbing desperation.
Reviews warning "they'll show up at your house after one lecture" topped the recommendations.
Stroking his chin while browsing, something in the corner caught his eye.
Authentic Martial Arts Initiation
Views: a measly 3. No reviews.
But the image of a white-haired elder thrusting his bearded face at the camera left a strong impression on Kim Sun-woo.
"I-is this how it's done?"
The start felt a bit clumsy.
The footage jerked around, and mic issues meant lots of noise.
"That's why it feels even more like a true master?"
Like an old hermit fresh from mountain seclusion, clumsy with modern tech.
Kim Sun-woo straightened up and focused on the lecture.
"Hrm. Let us begin the lecture."
The white-haired elder finally faced the camera.
"This old man once went to the Central Plains and returned to Earth as a returnee. My sect is the Azure Sword Sect, and in Hubei, I was called Baek Ryuk Geom. A nickname from the White Flow Sword Technique I created."
"Ooh..."
Despite the awkward look, the intro was solid.
"The Azure Sword Sect is a one-lineage orthodox sword sect with ancient traditions. Not widely known in the martial world, but most successors became renowned masters. After perfecting the White Flow Sword Technique, this old man roamed the world with a single blade..."
It started with anecdotes—what he'd done in the martial world, who he'd met, his feats.
Entertaining, but too rambling, so he skipped ahead.
"...But the Earth I returned to had changed greatly. Many returnees like me had settled, building a Central Plains here. I trained again but couldn't recover half my old realm. Thus, no disciples for Azure Sword Sect."
Baek Ryuk Geom gazed bitterly at the camera.
"Thus, I record this for posterity. Please carry on the Azure Sword Sect's legacy."
"...I wasn't planning to dive that deep into martial arts."
Kim Sun-woo muttered awkwardly.
He just wanted basic initiation to boost his hunter rank.
Inheriting a sect's legacy? Not his goal.
Still, it was free and open to all, so gratitude it was.
If he succeeded later, find someone worthy and pass on the White Flow Sword Technique.
"Now, the true initiation process. Memorize this chart."
Flutter.
Baek Ryuk Geom unfurled a scroll before the camera.
Too small text, poor quality—barely visible.
"Simple enough. Memorize the Twelve Principal Meridians, Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and key acupoints. Essential for martial initiation."
"Twelve Principal Meridians, Eight Extraordinary Meridians."
Familiar from wuxia novels.
Major acupoints, apparently. Search turned up detailed charts.
"Lucky... But why so many?"
Dozens? Hundreds?
Did every martial artist memorize them all?
"The ones I've seen didn't look that smart."
As he chewed his lip, the lecture continued.
"First, form the Dantian. If you sense natural earthly ki—mana here on Earth—it'll be easier. Focus mind and mana in your lower abdomen, like building a house. Sit cross-legged, breathe slowly, visualize strongly."
"Build a house?"
Finally, actual instruction.
Kim Sun-woo paused, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes.
"Hoo."
Deep inhale, deep exhale, focus on breath.
Then sense mana in body, tense lower abdomen.
Inhale!
Would this work?
Tried as instructed, but would it really...?
Swish.
Suddenly, scattered mana throughout his body began to stir.
Like pulled by a string, wriggling toward his lower abdomen.
"Ooh!"
Definite bite—he poured in more focus amid awe.
How much time passed?
A pinky-nail-sized clump formed near his lower abdomen, clear as day.
Dantian? Maybe not, but it gathered—success?
Opening his eyes slowly, he glanced at the clock and jolted.
"Three hours passed?!"
Felt like thirty minutes. When did time fly?
Talent for martial arts over magic?
Thrilled, he resumed the video...
"Repeat a month to get the feel. Dantian forms naturally. No rushing—meetings and partings are fluid. If earthly ki fades, no regrets. Circulation is nature's way."
"...A month?"
He froze.
Done in three hours.
Talent?
As if reading his mind, Baek Ryuk Geom chuckled.
"If you sense mana, it'll form faster. Hardest is first true qi sense; forming Dantian isn't so tough."
"...Ah, yeah, makes sense."
Shoulders slumped.
"With Dantian formed, next is circulation via breathing—Tonap method. Woven into martial arts as White Flow Heart Method, paired with White Flow Sword Technique. Acupoint order: From Dantian, draw internal energy to Wa-ryong acupoint, Tae-eul acupoint..."
"Hmm."
Kim Sun-woo frowned.
Acupoints still fuzzy.
Danger spots—strike to mute, knock out, kill. Got that.
But directing internal energy through meridians to acupoints? Too vague.
"Only one path anyway—rough direction should suffice, right?"
Words that'd earn a scolding from any martial artist, said casually. He sat cross-legged again.
Remembered Baek Ryuk Geom's directions.
Guide energy that way, full circuit = circulation done.
Swish.
Drew from Dantian, led as instructed.
Not hard.
Energy rose from abdomen, through belly, chest, throat, face, crown.
Down naturally.
But different path.
Spine.
From crown, nape, neck, back, hips, back to Dantian.
Eyes open...
"Huh?!"
Insane refreshment—he gasped in shock.
One circulation, body feather-light, euphoric high.
"Effect's no joke? Martial artists feel this daily?"
Tingling fingertips bliss—then a stench hit his nose. Frown.
"Ugh, what smell?"
Sudden. Neighbor's dump?
Source: himself. Jumped.
"Huh?"
Checked body frantically. Clothes soaked sticky. Skin rubbed—black grime, filth.
"What the..."
Huashan consultant's words flashed. Frown deepened.
"They charged tens of millions for one circulation?"