Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Second Stage
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A wind, sharp as a blade, was blowing.
Geommi Mountain, Cheoljang Peak.
At the edge of a cliff on this desolate mountain peak, a figure stood precariously with eyes closed.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
*Kwoosh!*
Just then, with a whoosh, a fist-sized stone shot toward Bu Eun-seol's back.
The stone, imbued with powerful internal energy, struck as if to pierce right through his body.
*Crack.*
But the moment it touched Bu Eun-seol's back, the stone crumbled to dust and scattered to the ground.
*Crash!*
This time, with a thunderous roar, a large boulder flew toward Bu Eun-seol's back.
*Crack. Whoosh.*
Astonishingly, the boulder disintegrated into dust and scattered before it even reached his body.
“As of today, you have reached the first stage.”
A large man had walked up behind Bu Eun-seol without him noticing.
The man, dressed in monk's robes, had skin completely covered in scars. He was Hyeol-geum-gang, a demonic monk formerly of the Cheon-ryong Temple in Dali, Yunnan, who had turned to the demonic path.
“Elder.”
As Hyeol-geum-gang approached, Bu Eun-seol slowly turned around.
And as he politely bowed his head with his hands clasped,
*Piiing!*
Hyeol-geum-gang suddenly extended his fingers, unleashing a fierce finger wind.
*Th-th-thump.*
The three streams of finger wind all struck the major acupoints on Bu Eun-seol's chest.
But he stood tall, as if he had felt nothing.
“It's certain.”
Hyeol-geum-gang withdrew his hand and nodded.
“When you reach the first stage, true energy overflows in your eight extraordinary meridians, making your body as hard as if you'd mastered an external art.”
He continued calmly.
“Your foundation in internal energy is very strong. Moreover, the life-nurturing secret art you are learning is in harmony with the Ban-geuk-sim-beop... That is how you've achieved this.”
His eyes were filled with a look of pride.
But Bu Eun-seol shook his head, his gaze somber.
“I apologize.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“Because I am dull, I have been training for two months and am still stuck at the first stage.”
“What are you talking about? This humble monk...”
Hyeol-geum-gang trailed off and shut his mouth.
The Ban-geuk-sim-beop was an art that someone without talent could not master even after ten years of training.
Even he, who had been called the greatest prodigy in the history of the Cheon-ryong Temple, had taken a full two years to reach the first stage of the Ban-geuk-sim-beop.
Yet Bu Eun-seol, who had achieved it ten times faster than him, was berating himself for being dull.
‘How absurd.’
“Ahem.”
Clearing his throat, Hyeol-geum-gang patted Bu Eun-seol's shoulder and said.
“Your life is just beginning. If you continue to strive diligently, you will achieve great things.”
“Thank you.”
“Come to think of it, two months have already passed.”
Hyeol-geum-gang sighed deeply as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
The once scrawny Bu Eun-seol had transformed, gaining a sturdy physique in just two months.
By learning an internal energy art and spreading the accumulated true energy throughout his eight extraordinary meridians, his body had become remarkably healthier.
*Whoooosh.*
Just then, a sharp whirlwind blew around Cheoljang Peak.
“It's already that time.”
Bu Eun-seol also looked up at the distant sky.
For two months, Bu Eun-seol had learned the basics of the Ban-geuk-sim-beop from Hyeol-geum-gang.
The pain and suffering he endured during that time were beyond what words could describe.
“Then let's begin your training.”
“Yes.”
At Hyeol-geum-gang's words, Bu Eun-seol climbed onto the wooden bench in front of the thatched hut and sat properly.
Having mastered the Muscle and Marrow Cleansing Sutra, he could circulate his energy in any position, but he sat cross-legged on Hyeol-geum-gang's advice.
—From now on, even when you are alone, you must always sit cross-legged to circulate your energy. If you circulate it in any other posture, it might reveal that you have learned the Muscle Cleansing Sutra.
Hyeol-geum-gang was always worried about Bu Eun-seol's future and took great care of him.
Just like now.
*Vrrrrr.*
Bu Eun-seol's body trembled lightly as he began to circulate his energy.
At the same time, a black mist began to rise from around his Baihui acupoint,
*Crackle.*
and a light cracking sound started to echo from his entire body.
‘What?’
Hyeol-geum-gang's eyes widened as he watched.
This phenomenon was characteristic of reaching the second stage of the Ban-geuk-sim-beop.
‘Has he already reached the second stage, the state of Geun-gol-bul-yeom (Immaculate Muscles and Bones)?’
Upon reaching the second stage of the Ban-geuk-sim-beop, the bones and muscles begin to realign into an optimal state for exerting the body's maximum strength.
As if to prove he had reached the state of Geun-gol-bul-yeom, his muscles and bones were constantly shifting.
*Vrrrrr.*
Then, Bu Eun-seol's body began to shake violently, as if in an earthquake.
“Oh no.”
A gasp escaped Hyeol-geum-gang's lips.
Having suddenly reached the second stage of the Ban-geuk-sim-beop, he was now unable to control the overflowing, powerful true energy.
*Drip.*
Blood trickled from the corner of Bu Eun-seol's mouth.
If he failed to control the true energy flowing through his qi and blood, he would end up with fatal internal injuries.
“Clear your mind and focus.”
*Thud.*
Just then, Hyeol-geum-gang placed his palm on Bu Eun-seol's back, over his Mingmen acupoint.
And he began to infuse his own powerful Ban-geuk true energy.
*Vrrr.*
As Hyeol-geum-gang began the True Energy Guidance, Bu Eun-seol's violent trembling started to subside.
Conversely, however, Hyeol-geum-gang's complexion began to turn deathly pale.
He was infusing his own origin essence true energy to control Bu Eun-seol's rampaging energy.
‘Ugh.’
As Hyeol-geum-gang poured his immense true energy into the Mingmen acupoint, Bu Eun-seol, who had been circulating his energy in a state of selflessness, slowly opened his eyes.
*Flash!*
His eyes shone like the sun, and only then did he slowly regain his senses.
“That's better.”
Once Bu Eun-seol had stabilized, Hyeol-geum-gang removed his hand from the Mingmen acupoint, his face weary.
*Stagger.*
In that moment, Hyeol-geum-gang's body swayed. He had used too much of his true energy to correct Bu Eun-seol's qi and blood.
“Elder.”
Bu Eun-seol knelt before Hyeol-geum-gang.
“Why do you bestow such a grace upon me?”
Not only had his chaotic qi and blood stabilized, but his eight extraordinary meridians were now filled with a powerful Ban-geuk true energy that he could not have cultivated at his current level.
This was because Hyeol-geum-gang had unsparingly infused his own Origin Essence True Energy.
To a martial artist, internal energy was more important than life itself. What Hyeol-geum-gang had done was no different from carving out his own flesh and blood to protect Bu Eun-seol.
“Hmph. If you don't master the Ban-geuk-sim-beop properly, this humble monk can't leave Nang-ya-gak, can he?”
“Elder.”
Waving his hand, he said with a nonchalant expression.
“Don't worry about it.”
Bu Eun-seol could only bow his head in silence.
‘His speech and appearance are rough, but he's a very warm-hearted person.’
After spending two months with him, he realized that while Hyeol-geum-gang's appearance was fearsome, he was actually very kind-hearted.
And that fact weighed heavily on Bu Eun-seol's mind.
“I will never forget the grace you have shown me.”
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Hyeol-geum-gang's eyes wavered for the first time.
“Forget it.”
He sighed, stared intently into Bu Eun-seol's eyes, and said.
“Forgetting that a humble monk like me ever existed is the way to repay my grace.”
In that moment, the last words Sa-woo had said to him came to mind.
—Forget. That is the way of the Murim. Be it grace or grudges... if you can forget, that is for the best.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes clouded over.
Why did all his benefactors, who had shown him such kindness, tell him to forget all debts of gratitude and resentment? Why did they wish to be forgotten?
“Is there no other way to repay your kindness?”
Bu Eun-seol asked persistently, his voice filled with emotion.
“If there is something you were unable to achieve or finish... I will do it.”
For Hyeol-geum-gang to expend his life-like origin essence true energy meant he no longer had any lingering attachments to life.
So, he thought, perhaps there was an unfulfilled wish.
“The Ban-geuk-sim-beop is the great ancestor of all internal energy arts under heaven.”
For a moment, points of light slowly appeared around Hyeol-geum-gang's pupils.
“But this humble monk lacked the talent and could only reach the very edge of the fifth stage.”
And a gentle smile, like that of the Buddha, bloomed on his lips.
“In the future, attain enlightenment and reach the eighth stage, the State of the Great Origin. That will be the way to repay this humble monk's grace.”
Hyeol-geum-gang seemed to have already transcended worldly desires.
Bu Eun-seol bowed his head, his voice choked as if something was caught in his throat.
“I understand, Elder.”
The next morning.
After resting comfortably in his quarters, Bu Eun-seol stepped outside to head to Cheoljang Peak.
*Murmur, murmur.*
Just then, he heard unfamiliar voices from a distance.
When he went out, he saw about twenty men entering Nang-ya-gak.
They looked as if they had returned from a punitive expedition, with signs of fierce battle all over their bodies and a slightly exhausted appearance.
Just then, the iron-fisted Wang Geol, who was hammering steel in the smithy, muttered.
“The Vanguard Squad has returned.”
“What is the Vanguard Squad?”
He glanced at Bu Eun-seol and continued in a low voice.
“The Vanguard Squad is a combat unit that specializes in dealing with factions that oppose our pavilion.”
“Factions that oppose... you say.”
“That's right. This time, they've come back from wiping out the Cheong-ryong Bang.”
The Cheong-ryong Bang.
Although not part of the Demonic Convention, it was a faction that dominated the Yellow River, with over five thousand members.
Yet Nang-ya-gak, with just twenty men, had wiped out the Cheong-ryong Bang, a member of the Great Faction Alliance.
However, Bu Eun-seol, unaware of this fact, nodded nonchalantly.
“Why did they deal with this Cheong-ryong Bang?”
“Because they touched a disciple of our pavilion.”
Wang Geol's calm eyes sharpened.
“Anyone who touches a disciple of our pavilion dies. Any faction that invades our territory is annihilated.”
Wang Geol turned his gaze back to his workbench and said in a low voice.
“That is the creed of our pavilion.”
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand once more why Nang-ya-gak belonged to the Ten Demonic Sects.
‘Nang-ya-gak is Nang-ya-gak. They show no mercy, even to fellow members of the demonic path.’
Nang-ya-gak was like a pack of wild beasts.
They did not forgive those who invaded their territory. If provoked, they would exact bloody revenge.
‘I actually like that.’
Decisive revenge over half-hearted mercy.
Bu Eun-seol found the creed of Nang-ya-gak to his liking.
“...”
Just then, from the gathered group, a man with a massive build and a spiky beard like a hedgehog's quills strode over to Wang Geol's smithy.
*Clang.*
The bearded man set the greatsword from his back down on the table and grinned.
“Master Cheol. Could you take a look at this sword?”
“Hmm.”
Wang Geol picked up the greatsword and scowled.
“Not just the edge, the entire blade is damaged. Haven't I told you time and again to just use a mace or something if you're going to do this?”
“Hahaha. If I were to use a mace, who could tell if I'm a man or a gorilla?”
The bearded man, who was laughing heartily, tilted his head.
“Huh?”
Only then did he notice Bu Eun-seol standing there blankly.