Chapter 104
Chapter 104
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Jeok-cheon-mak-ji
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After leaving the Sa-cheon-dang-ga, Bu Eun-seol headed south without a destination.
During the carriage ride, Bu Eun-seol diligently studied the Flying Dagger Compendium that Dang Pae had given him.
The hidden weapon techniques described in this manual weren't particularly remarkable. However, it contained a detailed account of the Art of the Flying Dagger, the very foundation of all hidden weapon arts.
‘I see now why the Art of the Flying Dagger is called the foundation of all hidden weapons.’
According to the compendium, the Art of the Flying Dagger didn't rely solely on speed and technique. Instead, it pursued the caster's spiritual fortitude when launching a dagger.
This was consistent with the martial principle of Geom-ui-hap-il—the unity of sword and intent—where exceptional swordsmen synchronized their blade with their spirit.
‘Truly, the Sa-cheon-dang-ga.’
The clans and prestigious families that had been passed down for generations in the martial world all had their reasons for their renown.
Even Dang Pae, who had seemed merely fierce and cold, was a grandmaster of hidden weapons, fully capable of leading the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Furthermore, the techniques of flying daggers and fist arts had much in common.
Namely, the stable distribution of power.
To throw a powerful punch, one needed a solid stance and a flow of power connecting the waist to the fist. The same conditions were required to swiftly throw a flying dagger.
All streams return to one.
Martial arts may seem to diverge into many paths, but in the end, their flow and core principles all converge into a single truth.
‘But… he left out the true essence of the art.’
To reach the pinnacle of the Art of the Flying Dagger, one needed the method of Ji-gyeon-gak-mun, which maximized the sensitivity of the fingertips.
Masters of hidden weapons were said to see, hear, and feel everything with their fingertips.
But that secret was passed down as a hidden art, and the Tang Clan was no exception.
‘A shame, but it can't be helped.’
In the meantime, the carriage had arrived in Nanjing.
Upon entering the capital, Bu Eun-seol stopped the carriage and took up lodging with Heuk-pyo in a special room at a nearby inn.
Heuk-pyo, who had been following Bu Eun-seol in silence, could no longer contain his curiosity and spoke up.
“Young Master. Are you perhaps looking for something?”
He looked at Bu Eun-seol, who was sitting properly and gazing out the window, and asked again.
“It seems you have a specific reason for coming here.”
After a moment of silence, Bu Eun-seol slowly began to speak.
“The reason I came to the martial world this time was to further develop the practical martial arts of our sect.”
“Even more than now?”
“Yes. But wandering aimlessly will only waste time.”
After his experience with the Sa-cheon-dang-ga, Bu Eun-seol had realized two things.
If he continued his journey through the martial world like this, his identity and true nature could one day be exposed.
And that even if he roamed the martial world without a destination, opportunities to fight strong opponents were rarer than he thought.
“I don't quite understand what you mean.”
“I can't just go around picking fights with strong warriors, can I?”
“Ah.”
Heuk-pyo let out a sound of understanding.
He was well aware that Bu Eun-seol thirsted for battles with the strong.
But there was a problem.
Bu Eun-seol's skills were at the highest level among the younger generation. It was therefore difficult to find a master who could properly cross swords with him.
“But as far as I know, there are no masters in Nanjing who can match you, Young Master.”
At that, Bu Eun-seol gave an uncharacteristic grin.
“But Jeok-cheon-mak-ji is here, isn't it?”
Jeok-cheon-mak-ji.
The largest ronin market in Shaanxi, its scale was three to four times that of Dong-pyo-seo-rang in Guizhou.
Unlike Dong-pyo-seo-rang, which mainly received jobs from outside the Central Plains or from the merchant world, Jeok-cheon-mak-ji attracted work from all corners of the Central Plains' martial world.
“Are you saying you intend to become a ronin, Young Master?”
“Not that I'll become a ronin, but that I intend to find strong opponents easily.”
“But to become a ronin, you would have to completely change your identity.”
Since winning the Dong-pyo-seo-rang Sword Tournament, Bu Eun-seol's name had been well-known throughout the martial world.
To suddenly cast aside the fame he had built and live as a ronin was almost unthinkable.
“I know. I'll have to change my appearance entirely.”
“So you've also mastered the art of disguise, Young Master.”
Ignoring Heuk-pyo's admiration, Bu Eun-seol activated his Face-Changing Bone-Altering Art.
His face seemed to twist slightly, and his sharp jawline became blunt.
*Crack.*
Because his internal energy had grown considerably, he could alter his facial bone structure with great ease.
As his bones widened, his large eyes narrowed slightly, and the bridge of his nose lowered.
Finally, he roughly tied up his long hair, transforming into the image of a common ronin warrior one could see anywhere.
“You can… change your face at will?”
As Heuk-pyo gaped, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“I've only shifted my facial muscles and bones a little.”
“Ah, I see.”
Heuk-pyo was an intelligence ronin who primarily took on jobs that required digging up sensitive information.
As such, he had learned techniques similar to the Face-Changing Bone-Altering Art that Bu Eun-seol was using.
“Then I'll change my face as well.”
*Ttok, ttok.*
However, Heuk-pyo's internal energy wasn't very high, so he couldn't alter his bone structure significantly.
Nevertheless, with the change in the shape of his eyes and the added flesh to his cheeks, he looked like a different person.
“How is it, Young Master?”
“You've changed your features well enough, but there's still an overall awkwardness. The sharp impression is still there, too.”
“Pardon?”
“Disguise isn't just about changing your face. You have to become a completely different person.”
“A different person…”
“That's right. To do that, you must also change the items you carry and your clothes. Most importantly, your voice, your gaze. And even your thoughts.”
Heuk-pyo couldn't hide his surprise.
“I understand what you're saying, but… I don't know how I'm supposed to change.”
‘Gyemyeonggudosul isn't an art exclusive to our sect, is it?’
After a moment of thought, Bu Eun-seol passed on the principles of Gyemyeonggudosul.
After hearing the full explanation of the principles, Heuk-pyo's eyes widened in admiration.
“I see. I always wondered why my disguises felt lacking and awkward, even when I changed my face well.”
Heuk-pyo was exceptionally bright; teach him one thing, and he would understand ten.
As Heuk-pyo instantly grasped the essence of Gyemyeonggudosul and began to change his face and gaze once more, Bu Eun-seol felt a sense of satisfaction.
‘So this is what it feels like.’
He suddenly recalled the look in his master's eyes back in Hell, watching him with satisfaction.
Passing on a remarkable secret art you know to a remarkable person.
It created a strange and marvelous feeling, as if he were creating another version of himself.
“But what do you plan to do about the Muk-geom?”
The Muk-geom was very conspicuous, as not only its blade but also its scabbard emanated a mysterious, inky light.
“I've already prepared for that.”
Bu Eun-seol then mixed several chemicals from a box and began applying the mixture to the surface of the Muk-geom.
The shimmering, ink-black Muk-geom soon transformed into an ordinary, rusted longsword.
“Young Master, won't that make the sword unusable?”
No matter how carefully it was painted, the divine sword would not absorb the color.
If it clashed with another weapon while infused with true energy, the paint would surely flake off easily.
“I won't be using it for a while.”
Bu Eun-seol looked down at his own hands.
During his time as a ronin, he intended to use the fist arts of Gwonma, not Mu-sang-cheon-ryu.
“You mean to use fist arts?”
“Yes.”
Heuk-pyo looked puzzled.
Nang-ya-gak had produced outstanding masters for generations, but all of them used the sword. Not a single one had made a name for themselves with fist arts.
‘Nang-ya-gak had fist arts?’
Swallowing hard, Heuk-pyo spoke cautiously.
“Still, shouldn't you have a weapon?”
“I plan on using flying daggers, at least.”
Bu Eun-seol lifted his sleeve, and a sharp flying dagger appeared between his fingers.
On the way to Nanjing, Bu Eun-seol had completely memorized the Flying Dagger Compendium from Dang Pae. Today, he had visited not only shops but also a blacksmith to buy several daggers.
“To seal away your true ultimate techniques just to hide your identity… isn't that too dangerous?”
“Of course, if a situation arises where I must draw my sword, I will.”
Bu Eun-seol flexed his hands, a faint smile on his lips.
“That's why I'm going to the ronin market.”
“…I see.”
Heuk-pyo swallowed hard.
If anyone else had said such a thing, Heuk-pyo would have scoffed inwardly.
A battle between masters was one where a moment's carelessness could cost a life. Fighting in a real battle while concealing one's true techniques was tantamount to toying with death.
But when Bu Eun-seol said it, it didn't sound ridiculous or arrogant at all.
‘Just how many ultimate arts has the Young Master learned?’
On the contrary, the thought that Bu Eun-seol had mastered not only swordsmanship but also various other formidable arts sent a chill down his spine.
“What are you staring at?”
“Huh? Ah, it's nothing.”
Coming to his senses, Heuk-pyo changed his gaze, his manner of speaking, and even his clothes.
The sharp, glittering impression vanished, replaced by a somewhat duller aura.
“How is it, Young Master?”
“It's passable.”
“Oh. But there is something else I'm worried about.”
“What is it?”
“Jeok-cheon-mak-ji has its share of ordinary ronin, but it's also a place with many criminals and ruffians in hiding.”
Unlike Dong-pyo-seo-rang, which maintained a strict system of order under the command of the Rang-ju, Jeok-cheon-mak-ji was a place where anything could be taken care of for the right price.
Therefore, many criminals in hiding gathered there, and it was a place where bloody battles often broke out between ronin.
“I'm worried that going there might lead to something that displeases you, Young Master.”
“All the better.”
Bu Eun-seol smiled, revealing his white teeth.
“I hope there are plenty of strong scoundrels.”
The next day.
Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo left in the carriage, passed through the main road, and stopped in front of a large building on the outskirts of Nanjing.
The large, fortress-like main gate was painted with red lacquer, and a gleaming plaque was mounted above it.
Jeok-cheon-mak-ji.
The ronin market where mercenaries from not only Shaanxi but also Hunan and Hubei received their jobs. Its exterior was built like the manor of a wealthy tycoon.
“Young Master. This way.”
As countless ronin came and went, there were no guards, and the gates of Jeok-cheon-mak-ji were wide open.
Stepping inside, they saw a hall with a sign that read 'Mission Hall', where numerous martial artists were milling about.
Upon entering, the first thing they saw was a large wooden board inscribed with the words 'Open Contracts Board'.
Papers covered in dense writing were posted on it, and ronin were gathered in small groups.
It appeared to be a notice board where ronin could find work.
“It's huge.”
Bu Eun-seol was impressed.
He had heard it was larger than Dong-pyo-seo-rang in Guizhou, but he hadn't expected it to be as elegantly decorated as a respectable major sect.
In one corner of the luxuriously decorated Mission Hall, dozens of partitions were set up, with counters placed in front of them.
And the ronin were either talking with the personnel of the Mission Hall seated at the counters or exchanging something with them.
It seemed to be a place for discreetly receiving jobs or getting paid for completed ones.
“I hope there are plenty of jobs that will let me fight strong opponents.”
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Heuk-pyo said in a low voice,
“Young Master. To receive a job, you must first register as a ronin.”