Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Martial Arts (1)
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Just as people have appearance and inner nature, martial arts have form and essence.
What is shown outwardly is form.
What is stored inwardly is essence.
Form manifests as techniques.
Essence accumulates as internal energy.
Techniques and internal energy form a clear dichotomy. It is also a simple and convenient distinction.
So, which of the two is more important?
Martial arts are much like people.
Choosing between someone with outstanding looks and someone with fine character can be a foolish question and yet a difficult dilemma.
For some, the answer is very easy.
Others must ponder long and hard.
Inner nature is the safe choice. Many place greater weight on heart over face. When emphasizing cultivation, the counterpart is often external appearance. Confucian thought is thus.
But must dazzling beauty always rank below a warm disposition?
The frequency of preference does not determine superiority between the two values.
The right answer can change depending on the situation, the object.
The same goes for technique and power.
Masters of technique and masters of internal energy do not stand on equal footing. That is the common perception.
One who has only honed technique cannot defeat one with deep internal energy. This holds true in most cases.
But martial arts have no absolute answers.
Even one with deep internal energy can lose to one with shallow power.
Even one lacking in technique can defeat one with perfect form.
The reversal of differences can occur due to internal energy, technique, physique, mind, experience, terrain, time, circumstances—any reason at all.
Both are necessary.
No, whether two, three, or four—there are no unimportant elements.
That is why perfecting martial arts is so arduous.
The pursuit itself holds meaning.
Perfection is nowhere near, invincibility far away.
…Excerpted…
From *Hanbaek's Martial Forest Annals*, Hanbaek's Diary, Martial Arts Section.
"We need to buy that land."
"Last time it was stonemasons, now land?"
A map of the Songgang Branch lay spread across the desk in Branch Chief Paeng Jun-ui's office.
Ignoring Oho's grumbling, Paeng Jun-ui pointed at the map with his finger.
"Here, here. Especially this one's tricky."
Oho raised an eyebrow but peered closely at the spots Paeng Jun-ui indicated.
"Isn't the first one just a matter of throwing money at it?"
"They're asking too much."
"And the second—that's an estate owned by an official with rank."
"What's this? Did you actually read the book?"
"Read the book" meant thoroughly reviewing the reports.
They didn't just hole up in the branch office.
Like anyone else, they went to teahouses and had drinks. So they couldn't always talk about reports. Jianghu folk were always interested in others' stories, and they had to hide their identities. Thus, they often substituted with everyday phrases. "Read the book" was a prime example.
"Even so, this much is basic."
"Good. Handle it that way."
"But you're buying that estate too?"
"Of course."
"Off to Nanjing?"
"You catch on quick."
"No, leaving the busy guy."
"What busy? You're not giving me much work."
"Yes, yes. I'll take care of it and report back."
It had been two months since arriving at the Songgang Branch. Full spring had arrived.
They had handled all sorts of odd jobs.
Stone, stonemasons, timber, laborers—people gathered.
They were settling in the Songgang Branch. On a large plot.
That was it. Paeng Jun-ui said no more, and Oho didn't ask. He'd find out in time. That's what he thought. He had thought.
"Oh, right. When you get back, the third one's on you too."
"There's Danmun."
"With Danmun."
"That guy's enough on his own."
"I'm worried about bodies piling up."
"That guy's not that thoughtless."
"The Shanghai Guild guys are manageable. It's the Haewu Sect that's trouble. Those kids have no manners. If they draw swords and charge, you think Danmun will stand there?"
"If they come at us to die, we kill them."
"This is Songgang Branch. Handle it quietly."
"No, why show mercy to that trash."
"That's why. Unleash Danmun? There?"
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, can't do that. Got it. I'll sort it out after I get back."
Oho stood from his seat.
"Oh, and one more thing."
As he turned to leave, Paeng Jun-ui called him back.
"Cheonwi, that guy?"
"He's fine. Doing the work from above."
"Unnamed Blade?"
It was the first time Paeng Jun-ui mentioned the Unnamed Blade. Oho was quite surprised. The Chief Spymaster's confidant was a confidant indeed. He realized anew not to let his guard down just because the conversation flowed easily.
"I know you and Danmun are playing along with Cheonwi's schemes. Keep it moderate. The Unnamed Blade isn't a toy for fun. Spend time fitting his aptitude instead."
"Yes. I'll keep it in mind."
"Your response is too meek?"
"No. I'll really do it."
"Not Unnamed Blade—aptitude."
"Yes. Yes."
"I'll trust you. Go."
Paeng Jun-ui smiled.
This man was oddly off when smiling. Other expressions were fine, but his smile clearly wasn't genuine.
'Bullshit trust.'
Oho left the branch chief's office.
'Not that it isn't—we're really just digging into aptitude.'
Paeng Jun-ui had misjudged.
They weren't practicing the Unnamed Blade right now.
The prerequisite Cheonwi mentioned was Tempered Blood Energy refinement.
He called the Unnamed Blade a miscellany text, but its level was too high.
Most experts wielding the Unnamed Blade's techniques were at least Iron Blood Energy refiners. Not even Tempered Blood—true Iron Blood. Wielding experts' swords without Tempered Blood was absurd. Drawing the Shadow Execution Blade was no exaggeration as the bare minimum for entry.
'The Unnamed Blade itself is problematic.'
Not just high level—it was poorly organized.
Martial arts didn't strengthen you by mastering one hard technique. For martial arts to be proper martial arts, techniques had to link into solid forms.
Cheonwi was linking them.
Meanwhile, Oho and Danmun drew Shadow Execution Blades.
That was their agreement.
'Will a year do it?'
Even slaving away at martial training, improvement wasn't easy.
The aptitude refinement already bastardized in the spy squad style was a headache. Reverting to orthodox study wasn't simple. Oho managed somewhat. Danmun's was far worse—unrecognizable from the original.
"Huuuuh."
Oho sighed aloud as he walked.
Drawing Tempered Blood was tough for both, plus spy squad chores.
The Songgang Branch had grown a lot.
At least double the size from arrival.
Buying surrounding land, expanding buildings. Not clan headquarters level, but the walls were now among Songgang's widest.
The Six Great Clans setting branches in central plain major cities wasn't even a public secret. They did it openly.
But this wasn't a major city.
Strong official presence, commerce not very active.
Great sects and clans don't root anywhere.
Needed lots of money flowing, lots of people.
But here was a blank spot.
A few dojos taught basic health exercises, not even jianghu level. Martial artists numbered three: the dockside gangs. Even they just managed manpower for sea transport laborers and fishermen, gripped profits from a few gambling dens and taverns. Of course, their protection fees rivaled vicious unorthodox sects. Better organized large forces handled things cleanly even if unorthodox. The unlearned were scarier to commoners.
Anyway, no threat to the Paeng Clan. Reason they'd left them be till now. But the land by the docks the Paeng wanted was the issue.
Clean them up. Tedious, but doable.
'Why go this far...'
What he'd assumed he'd learn in time now bred doubt.
Oho shook off stray thoughts, hand on sword hilt.
He headed for Cheonwi's lodgings.
Danmun had been sharpening his blade there since morning.
Today was sparring day with Danmun.
* * *
Cheonwi's days and nights had flipped.
Nights for medical texts and organizing Unnamed Blade.
His mind always cluttered.
His life had two major tasks.
Why was he different from others?
That was first.
He had unprecedented talent yet couldn't become a proper martial artist. Needed the reason. Only then could he solve it. If unsolvable, abandon.
Second extended from first.
Prove his ability to the clan.
Born to a martial house.
Even son of high-status lady in giant Paeng Clan.
In jianghu martial houses, incompetence was sin-like. To live as clan member, prove usefulness to all.
His brain was exceptional.
In a world symbolized by "Do-sam Sword Forest, Ruthless Jianghu" eight characters, born to great Paeng Clan—he realized early how immense the luck.
Knew life unfair from birth, accepted world's laws riddled with injustice easily.
Thus, he did what he was good at.
No grand ambition.
His body had issues, limits clear.
Compromising with reality wasn't always easy.
Child prodigy outshining all, unaccustomed to falling behind. Then many kids overtook him.
He wandered.
Often gave in to impulses, broke house rules many times.
But his ability to grasp any martial art's essence at a glance was real.
Youngsters obsessed with immediate power missed his value. Didn't try to see. Oho and Danmun exceptions.
Elders differed.
Peak experts knew how precious Cheonwi's talent.
Decided to meet expectations, adapt ordinarily.
Living that way wasn't bad.
No need to be the best.
Learned to enjoy given tasks somewhat.