Chapter 293: I’m Not Buying It. (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 293: I’m Not Buying It. (1)
He was one of the Three Heavenly Venerables, a man infamous as the Dishonored Venerable, who had reached the absolute pinnacle of close-quarters combat. Born into the prestigious Bi Clan, he had nevertheless chosen the life of a martial artist over one bound by the chains of his family’s honor.
The Dishonored Venerable, Bijuu.
If one word could describe him, it would be ‘Madness’. He was a fanatic, utterly consumed by the pursuit of martial perfection.
As a man, he had set a singular goal for his life: to attain the legendary Transcendence realm. With unwavering focus, he forged a single path toward that destination, never once looking back.
From the moment he was born, Bijuu was different. As soon as he was old enough to clench his fists, he effortlessly trounced all his older relatives. His prodigious talent led the Clan Lord and Elders to believe he was destined to restore the clan’s fading glory.
But then…
I’m not doing such a thing.
One day, the Dishonored Venerable vanished, leaving behind nothing but a letter. At fifteen, he severed all ties with the clan and walked away.
In other words, he ran away.
His reason for fleeing such a noble clan was nothing grand. He simply wished to see the world, to seek his own enlightenment, and to create a martial art that was uniquely his.
The Bi Clan’s ultimate treasure, the Divine Art known as the Fangs of Flawlessness—reserved solely for direct descendants—held no interest for him.
But it’s not fun.
Bijuu found no joy in it. Prestigious though it was, he craved something more. He wanted to carve his own path, and so his journey began.
It started with duels.
Wherever he went, he sought out masters and challenged them. Some refused; others nearly killed him. Yet, Bijuu pressed on, undeterred even by the specter of death. After years of victories and defeats, he finally ascended to the Peak Realm.
But was that truly his starting point?
-It’s pointless.
He had left the clan to escape their arts, yet he found himself relying on them anyway. Realizing this, Bijuu resolved to seek a new path, one that would truly satisfy him. The young prodigy then spent ten years in seclusion on a nameless mountain, abandoning the clan and its expectations entirely.
Ten years.
It was a long time, yet far too short to create an entirely new martial art from nothing.
Furthermore, the clan’s foundational Mind Arts were already deeply ingrained in his body. Even if he developed a new style, it would be useless if it failed to harmonize with that core foundation.
So, he made a drastic decision: he would erase the Mind Arts etched into his very being.
It meant sacrificing all the power he had accumulated, but Bijuu did not hesitate. It took him an entire year to purge the Mind Arts completely without shattering his Dantian or crippling his meridians.
That was only the beginning. To discover more efficient movements and create a martial art capable of surpassing his old one, he embarked on an arduous path. But nothing could stop Bijuu.
The movements he envisioned already existed in his mind. To realize them, he had first spent a year erasing the clan’s legacy from his body.
Now, all he had to do was move as he desired.
Others might have found the process torturous, but Bijuu, to his own amusement, made it seem effortless.
He shattered his own preconceptions and goals, for in martial arts, limits existed only to be broken.
Countless days and nights were spent crafting a path that allowed for perfect, efficient movement and optimal Qi flow. This second journey took him another ten years.
Crack-
Kwoaaah!
A massive boulder behind the mountain exploded into dust, and the very ground trembled as Bijuu watched.
-I think it’s time to go down now.
He felt it was time to return to the Central Plains. Bijuu was a little over thirty years old then.
After a decade of isolation, he returned to a world that had changed dramatically.
The Azure Dragon had ascended to lead the Namgung Clan, and the Five Sword Masters were rising to fame.
As the middle-aged Wind Sword began to make a name for himself, Bijuu resumed his challenges.
Before bestowing a name upon his own creation, he sought out masters across the land for duels. He faced three of the Five Sword Masters and even crossed paths with the era’s Zenith, Cheolhyeol Buseon.
Bijuu didn’t care if his opponents were from the Orthodox or Unorthodox Factions; he fought them all.
Even with his own martial arts, he continued to suffer defeats. Many were still stronger than him, but that never deterred him.
He simply rose after each fall, and he was never content with a single victory.
The Namgung Clan’s Azure Dragon wielded a blade of unparalleled sharpness. The Wind Sword possessed overwhelming power. The newcomer from Mount Hua, the Celestial Plum Blossom, was blindingly fast. And the greatest prodigy of the Kunlun Sect brandished a devastatingly heavy saber.
Bijuu could not defeat any of them with his newly forged art. Yet, time passed…
-Not bad.
Bijuu smiled, lying on the ground with blood trickling from his lips.
He felt no hesitation. He was certain his martial art would one day become an undefeated Divine Art.
So, he felt no disappointment.
His limbs were intact, his eyes unharmed.
He was lucky. It was surprising, really, as he had expected to lose them one by one on this journey of his.
-This really isn’t bad at all.
He continued to move forward, finding his flaws through each defeat. This was the essence of martial arts—an endless pursuit of improvement.
-A little more.
The path ahead was rough and untrodden. It was a grueling journey, but…
-This is fun!
Bijuu found nothing more enjoyable than paving his own way.
Wiping the blood from his lips, Bijuu stood up. Before him lay three martial artists, their lifeblood seeping into the earth.
Who were they? Supposedly, they were renowned figures within the Unorthodox Factions, but Bijuu hadn’t even bothered to learn their names.
After inspecting their bodies, a final, dying whisper echoed in his memory.
-Your fist… it destroys… the heavens.
The one who had uttered those words had ‘Heaven’ in his title. The Monster of False Heaven, or something equally pompous.
-Destroying the heaven, huh?
He wasn’t worthy of a title containing ‘Heaven’, judging by the fact that Bijuu couldn’t even recall his face. Just another nobody.
The word heaven brought to mind his fight against the Wind Sword—that blade, so pristine it seemed to hold the moon itself, was far more deserving of such a concept. Now, that man could cut through heaven.
Bijuu smiled, reminiscing about that fight. It was one that lingered in his memory, though it had nearly cost him his life.
-Heaven, huh? Not bad.
To destroy the heavens—it had a nice ring to it.
-That settles it. This martial art will be named Destruction of the Heavens.
The Fist that Destroys Heaven.
This marked the beginning of Bijuu’s rise as one of the true Masters of the Central Plains, a reputation cemented by slaying three of the legendary Four Emperors and Eight Kings.
But Bijuu cared nothing for such trifling rumors. Perfecting his martial art was far more important than any gossip.
Time flowed on.
The Wind Sword became the Leader of the Murim Alliance without Bijuu even noticing, and the era’s Zenith, Cheolhyeol Buseon, succumbed to a chronic illness.
The new prodigy of Mount Hua ascended to lead his sect, and the top disciple of the Kunlun Sect also rose to leadership.
Yet Bijuu remained simply Bijuu.
He was content to be called a martial artist. That was enough. Only later did he realize others referred to him as one of the Heavenly Venerables.
Again, Bijuu found that perfecting his martial art was all that mattered. It was, after all, his lifelong goal.
Then, one day…
-Oh.
Bijuu experienced a sudden enlightenment during his routine training.
-How problematic.
He realized that he himself might not be capable of perfecting his own creation. While his profound skill had preserved his youthfulness, his body was still aging, and his meridians were deteriorating.
It wasn’t that his martial art had weakened—he was still incredibly powerful—but the crucial problem was that he could no longer advance.
He was just one step away from perfection.
-Damn it!
He let out a bitter laugh.
The immense power he had gained through countless battles had become his own cage.
-Hahahahahahahaha
Only in his old age did he recognize the greatest obstacle. With an aging body, it was impossible to reach the ultimate pinnacle of the Destruction of Heaven.
Despite his youthful appearance, he could no longer attain the final mastery of his art.
Turning back was not an option, even with miraculous medicines or divine intervention—his body had aged beyond recovery.
On a cold winter day, as the sky wept snow, Bijuu, as usual, did not hesitate for long.
If the problem was a lack of time and a failing body, then the solution was clear: he needed to turn back the clock.
Eternal Youth.
Bijuu yearned for Eternal Youth.
He was well aware of the side effects, but he believed that even if his body grew weaker, he could simply expand his vessel anew.
It wasn’t an impossible task, even if it required immense effort. With a young body again, he could build upon his enlightenment and experience to finally reach the peak.
To Bijuu, perfecting his martial art was more important than any honor or fame he had earned as the Dishonored Venerable.
Thus, Bijuu returned to his clan and began preparing for the ritual of Eternal Youth.
Though he had left to forge his own path, he was grateful for the foundation they had given him, so he sent all the wealth he had accumulated back to them.
The Clan Lord welcomed his return—after all, the Dishonored Venerable was still one of their own, and his presence brought immense prestige.
Upon returning, Bijuu saw that his cousin now held the title of Lord. It truly made him feel the weight of passing years.
The Lord was concerned when Bijuu revealed his plan to undergo Eternal Youth, but Bijuu’s mind was already made up.
That night, Bijuu discarded everything he had built and reverted to a younger body…
-Fuhh… damn me.
Yet, he couldn’t help but curse aloud upon realizing that his meridians were in a more miserable state than he had ever imagined.
It was far worse than he had anticipated—so bad, in fact, that it seemed impossible for him to even practice martial arts.
A little more than ten years had passed since Bijuu underwent Eternal Youth. He had discarded his former name and now lived as a blood relative of the Bi Clan, under the name Bi Eejin.
Slowly, painstakingly, he had managed to rebuild his body to an average level—a feat that had seemed utterly impossible immediately after the ritual.
This achievement was only possible because he had once been a Heavenly Venerable, aided by the miraculous medicines stored in the Dishonored Venerable’s vault.
What do I do?
Bi Eejin lay basking in the sunlight, lost in thought. He wondered how he could possibly succeed—how he could master it.
The Destruction of the Heavens.
Even he admitted that this martial art was nearly impossible to perfect. This truth had become starkly clear after his rebirth.
He now knew precisely how his joints needed to pivot, how much strength his muscles must exert, and how his Qi should flow.
This Divine Art could only be performed after mastering all these intricacies. Because it was an art of pure, unadulterated destruction, even the slightest deviation rendered it useless.
And the body was the most critical component.
How regretful.
His body, ravaged by the Eternal Youth process, could not fully execute the art he had created. His flesh simply could not keep up with his mind.
…Was I too greedy?
Just how many miracles would it take to restore the body he had once possessed as Bijuu?
No.
It needs to be more than that.
After experiencing his body’s degradation, he realized his martial art required a near-perfect vessel. It demanded a body capable of reaching the Peak realm before the age of twenty, provided it possessed sufficient Qi.
…Sigh.
A heavy sigh of resignation escaped Bi Eejin’s lips. He hadn’t realized just how rare such a body was, even if one scoured the entire Central Plains.
What should I do?
It was impossible to reach the pinnacle with his current body. He had taken Eternal Youth far too lightly…
If he had known this would happen, he would have waited until he had gathered every miraculous medicine in the world.
So, I can’t reach the pinnacle like this?
He had believed that after Eternal Youth, he could simply rebuild everything from scratch. That had always been his way. But his situation was far worse than anticipated. It was so bad that merely reaching his previous level felt like an insurmountable struggle.
I need to find a way.
He couldn’t afford to end things here. As always, he needed to search for a solution. He could no longer afford to be reckless with his body.
A different solution… I need to find a different method.
“Brother!”
Uh oh.
Lost in thought, Bi Eejin had forgotten he was supposed to be hiding. He quickly tried to conceal himself, but it was too late. Someone had found him.
“Hmm? Again! What are you doing hiding here!?”
“…Tsk.”
It was none other than Bibi, a child of the clan’s direct line.
To everyone but the Lord, she was known as Bi Eejin’s little sister, though in truth, she was more like a granddaughter to him.
Ironically, she was also the reason the Dishonored Venerable hadn’t ended his life despite his failure to reach the pinnacle.
“Seriously… Why do you keep hiding from me?”
“Hmph! You keep bothering me like this, so what else can I do?”
“How am I bothering you…?!”
“Tch. Anyway… What do you want?”
Bi Eejin sighed deeply as he asked. She was probably going to pester him to eat or train with her again. That’s how it always was.
But Bibi surprised him by bringing up a completely unexpected topic.
“Brother, did you hear about this year’s Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament?”
“…No?”
The Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament, huh?
What a cumbersome name.
Actually, ‘Bi Eejin’ also had a title, something grand like ‘The Dragon Warrior’ or similar. He had no desire to attract any attention until he regained his strength, but…
-Please! If you come with me this time, I won’t bother you for half a year!
In the end, after days of Bibi’s relentless begging, he had no choice but to go.
Well, he would just take it easy, avoid any hassle, but…
Hah… Kids these days are way too weak…
He had overestimated the so-called Young Prodigies.
People called this the Meteor Generation, claiming it was filled with unparalleled talent, but these youngsters were far, far weaker than those from his era.
Of course, there was a gem among them, but even that one was still unpolished.
“So, what about it?”
Bi Eejin asked with a sour expression. Was she going to nag him again because he hadn’t attended this year?
“A dragon! A new dragon was born at this year’s tournament!”
Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“A dragon?”
A dragon, huh? Was she referring to the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes or whatever they were called? Sigh… People were still playing with titles, just like in the old days.
“That’s right…! He’s called the True Dragon!”
The True Dragon.
It meant he was the real deal among all the others. What a grand title.
“So? What’s that got to do with me?”
It was nothing new for more dragons to appear. The Murim Alliance bestowed those titles on a whim, after all. He had lost all respect for the Alliance ever since that old man, the Sword Emperor, had stepped down.
Bi Eejin’s lukewarm reaction seemed to irritate Bibi.
“It’s! It’s because the True Dragon is rumored to be the disciple of that man…!!”
“That man? Who?”
“Our granduncle…”
“…?”
Bi Eejin couldn’t help but frown. Bibi’s granduncle. The only person older than the current Clan Lord…
Huh? Me?
That was the Dishonored Venerable, Bijuu, himself.
“That is a false rumor,” Bi Eejin responded firmly.
I have never taken on any disciples. Instead of worrying about such nonsense, perfecting my martial arts is more impor—
Wait.
“Just listen…! The True Dragon supposedly came with a recommendation letter from our grandunc—“
A disciple?
Bibi kept talking, but her words no longer registered with Bi Eejin.
Disciple…Yes! A disciple!!
Bi Eejin’s lifelong goal was the perfection of his martial art. But if he couldn’t achieve it with his own body, then…
Isn’t it okay for someone else to perfect it for me?
Wouldn’t it still count as achieving my goal if I witness the pinnacle of my martial arts through another person—someone with enough talent and a capable body?
“Moreover, people say he might have reached the Peak realm, and he isn’t even twenty yet! Just how in hell is that possible?!”
“Hmm? Peak realm? Who?”
“…? The True Dragon? Wait, were you even listening?”
Bi Eejin’s eyes widened at Bibi’s words.
“Do you know that young man’s name?”
“Who? The True Dragon? Wait, answer my question first!”
“Yes, him.”
“Gu…? Yeah, it was Gu something… I don’t remember the details. But I did hear that he’s the younger brother of the Sword Phoenix.”
“…The younger brother of the Sword Phoenix.”
The Sword Phoenix.
Bi Eejin was familiar with the clan the Sword Phoenix hailed from. It was a place where many monsters hid their fangs, and it was also home to one of the very few people he considered a friend.
The son of that clan, huh?
Bi Eejin had heard about him a few times. He recalled Gu Ryoon inviting him to visit on several occasions, mentioning how the boy was growing more extraordinary by the day.
“…Peak realm, and a body that hasn’t yet reached the age of twenty.”
“Brother?”
“Hehe! I see… Is that so?”
“Brother? Hello?! Wha—? Where are you goi—Hey!”
Bibi shouted after him, but Bi Eejin ignored her and walked away. This was the moment the name Gu Yangcheon became etched into his mind.
Back to the present.
When Bi Eejin finally met Gu Yangcheon in person, the young man was far more impressive than he had anticipated.
It’s impressive.
Bi Eejin could hardly recall the last time he had laughed so much—perhaps it was when that sly raccoon from the Beggar’s Sect had approached him with Gu Yangcheon’s commission.
Do we share the same intention? It will work out better if that is the case.
“How about it?”
Here was a talent who had reached the Peak realm at such a tender age, possessing a body close to the absolute perfection he had long sought.
He had heard Gu Yangcheon was a close-combat specialist, so it was highly likely his movements had been trained in precisely the way Bi Eejin desired.
This meant…
This boy was born to master the Destruction of Heaven.
Everything about him was perfect.
Gu Yangcheon checked every box required to perfect Bi Eejin’s martial art.
It was to the point that Bi Eejin even wondered if Gu Yangcheon had undergone Eternal Youth himself. He was that remarkable.
Moreover, despite his lingering doubts, Bi Eejin was convinced the moment he grasped Gu Yangcheon’s neck. There was no way this young man could have such a pristine, formidable vessel without some exceptional circumstances.
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Bi Eejin spoke. “Our master happens to be looking for some disciples.”
He honestly felt a twinge of embarrassment at selling himself like this, but it was fine since Gu Yangcheon had no idea.
He had never leveraged his title as the Dishonored Venerable before, but now he had no choice—he knew the weight it carried.
There was no way Gu Yangcheon would refuse an offer to learn from a Heavenly Venerable.
Bi Eejin daydreamed as he stared intently at Gu Yangcheon, waiting for the inevitable agreement.
That body and that talent. If the boy gains my guidance on top of that…
Bi Eejin would be able to witness the peak of his martial art, the Destruction of the Heavens, finally perfected.
Now, hurry and answer. Then I shall…
The moment Gu Yangcheon accepted, a new page in history would be written. He would reach never-before-seen heights as a practitioner of the Destruction of the Heavens.
“I’m not buying it.”
“Humu! That’s good, then I shall—Wha?”
A flabbergasted expression hung on Bi Eejin’s face.
“Huh? What did you say?”
“No, it’s not that I don’t buy it. I’m just not going to do it.”
“I believe you may be misinformed. As I said, my master is—”
“Yes, I know already, but to reiterate: I’m not going to do it.”
Bi Eejin was at a complete loss for words, a feeling he hadn’t experienced since the day he was reborn.