Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Grandmaster of Swiftness
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“Who’s this kid? Haven’t seen him around.”
At the man’s question, Geol-wang answered in a low voice.
“He’s the one who was just chosen as a Sip-ma-jeon-in.”
“A Sip-ma-jeon-in… I see.”
The bearded man gave Bu Eun-seol a peculiar smile.
*Zing.*
In that instant, a strange sensation washed over Bu Eun-seol, and he felt the illusion of a colossal chunk of iron crushing his body.
*‘Formless Energy….’*
Bu Eun-seol had already experienced the Formless Energy of the Sword Demon, Wi Hyeok-gun.
He immediately identified this suffocating pressure as the powerful Formless Energy unleashed by the bearded man.
*Woong.*
At that moment, a brilliant light bloomed in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
Simultaneously, an aura like a whirlwind erupted from his body and began to push back the pressure bearing down on him.
The Ban-geuk-sim-beop.
This incredible internal energy art continuously circulated his true energy, protecting the area around his body.
“Hoh.”
The bearded man let out a sound of admiration.
“You’ve built up considerable internal energy. To think you’d block my aura with it.”
Though he felt a pain like a mountain crashing down on him, Bu Eun-seol straightened his back.
“Stop with your pointless tests.”
Geol-wang spoke then, his face creased in a frown.
“He’s only been here for two months. Besides, the Pavilion Master brought him here himself.”
“Don’t worry. He doesn’t seem to be at a level worth testing yet.”
The bearded man looked down at Bu Eun-seol and chuckled.
“He’s only grasped the basics of internal energy and hasn’t learned anything else.”
“…”
“I wanted to see if he’d dodge, but he just stood there blankly and tried to resist.”
*‘He wanted to see me dodge?’*
As Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow, the man turned away, looking bored.
“If he’s a Sip-ma-jeon-in, we’ll be seeing each other again anyway.”
After muttering the strange words, he waved a hand at Geol-wang and said.
“Just make sure you fix my sword properly. I’ll be back in three days.”
“Three days won’t be enough. Come back in four.”
In response to Geol-wang’s words, the man simply waved again as he trudged away.
“Who is that man?”
Bu Eun-seol displayed an uncharacteristic curiosity.
The Formless Energy the bearded man had unleashed was in no way inferior to that of Wi Hyeok-gun, the Sword Demon.
“You don’t need to know.”
Normally, Geol-wang would answer even unasked questions.
But for some reason, he avoided answering this time.
“It’s getting late.”
Muttering under his breath, Geol-wang picked up the greatsword from the table and disappeared into the back of the smithy.
***
Standing tall at the edge of a sheer cliff, Hyeol-geum-gang frowned as he listened to Bu Eun-seol’s story.
“A master from the Chang-sin-dae who wields a greatsword.”
Bu Eun-seol was recounting his encounter with the bearded man before climbing Cheol-jang-bong.
“Didn’t he have a face full of bristly whiskers?”
“He did.”
“His name is So Jeon, and his title is the Swift Plunderer. He earned it because he wields his massive greatsword with such speed and agility.”
Hyeol-geum-gang’s eyes narrowed.
“He is the leader of the Chang-sin-dae.”
“I see.”
Masters capable of wielding Formless Energy were rare even in the martial world.
Bu Eun-seol had already suspected he was the leader of the Chang-sin-dae. What was strange, however, was Geol-wang’s attitude.
*‘The position of Chang-sin-dae’s leader isn’t that remarkable. Why did he say I didn’t need to know?’*
“From now on, pay him no mind.”
Fortunately, Hyeol-geum-gang immediately explained why.
“So Jeon is not only powerful in martial arts, but also has a very eccentric personality. Not only that…”
He paused for a moment before shaking his head.
“He holds the strange conviction that everyone in Nang-ya-gak must be a superhuman.”
“Superhuman… you say.”
“Indeed.”
Hyeol-geum-gang’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
“In the past, he beat several young disciples who joined Nang-ya-gak to death, claiming they lacked the strength or talent befitting the organization.”
“I see.”
Only then could Bu Eun-seol understand Geol-wang’s behavior.
*‘He was worried I’d be beaten to death by that man.’*
Remembering the sneer of the bearded man, So Jeon, Bu Eun-seol felt something hot surge in his chest.
*‘Did he think he could kill someone like me whenever he pleased?’*
Bu Eun-seol clenched his fists.
Since entering the martial world, the type of person he despised most was exactly like So Jeon.
*‘Drunk on their own power, they think they can preside over the fates of others.’*
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes were as cold as the chill emanating from an ice cave.
“Venerable One.”
Having made a decision, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
“Is there no way to dodge an unseen aura?”
“You mean Formless Energy?”
“Yes.”
After learning the Ya-su-do, Bu Eun-seol had become capable of dodging surprise attacks and predicting incoming techniques.
But he was utterly helpless against Formless Energy, which was unleashed without any prior movement.
“Formless Energy is, as the name implies, just an aura. The only ways to counter it are to emit an equally powerful aura or to create a protective barrier with your internal energy.”
Hyeol-geum-gang’s expression grew subtle as he met Bu Eun-seol’s gaze.
“Don’t tell me you intend to fight So Jeon.”
“Even if I don’t want to, he will certainly come for me.”
A flash of light sparked in Bu Eun-seol’s dry eyes.
“Under the pretext of a test.”
Hyeol-geum-gang let out a sigh.
“The leader of the Chang-sin-dae is a man who stands shoulder to shoulder with the greatest masters in the world. I acknowledge your exceptional talent, but it’s impossible for you to face him in such a short time.”
“I do not intend to face him.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes were now burning like fire.
“If someone tests me, then I shall test them as well.”
It was a statement that went beyond arrogance to sheer audacity.
If anyone else had said it, Hyeol-geum-gang would have scoffed.
*‘But this kid… I feel like he’d actually do it.’*
Bu Eun-seol’s tenacity always had a way of making others’ hearts race. Hyeol-geum-gang was no exception.
“If that’s what you think, then we can’t afford to leisurely focus only on your energy art.”
Having made up his mind, Hyeol-geum-gang spoke with a look of relief.
“Seeing your current progress, reaching the third stage won’t be too far off. That means we need to start using your time a little more wisely.”
He then stared intently at Bu Eun-seol and said.
“From now on, you’ll spend half the day learning the energy art from me. The rest of the time, you must train your movement and footwork techniques.”
“Movement and footwork techniques…”
“That’s right. If you master those two, at the very least, you won’t be killed at the hands of another.”
Hyeol-geum-gang paused for a moment and looked at the distant sky.
“To be honest, I was planning to teach you movement and footwork techniques myself soon. Mastering the ones I know would allow you to attain a deeper understanding of the Ban-geuk-sim-gong…”
His voice trailed off as he turned back to Bu Eun-seol and shook his head.
“But what you need right now isn’t to master the Ban-geuk-sim-beop. You must complete the foundation of your True Martial Arts as quickly as possible.”
Though there was not a breath of wind, the hem of Hyeol-geum-gang’s robes fluttered.
His spiritual resonance was causing his internal energy to manifest naturally.
“Venerable One.”
Bu Eun-seol bowed his head.
Though they hadn’t formed a master-disciple bond, Hyeol-geum-gang always considered and worried about his future.
It was a kindness that could not be bought with all the gold in the world.
“If you go to the edge of the Nang-ya-gak’s western garden, you’ll find a path leading up to Cheongmyeongdae.”
“Cheongmyeongdae…”
“Yes. There, you’ll find a place called Cheongmyeongdaru, a teahouse.”
Gazing at the distant sky, Hyeol-geum-gang said in a low voice.
“From today, you are to go there and train your movement techniques. We’ll resume your energy art training after you’ve mastered them.”
Bu Eun-seol asked with a puzzled expression.
“Go to a teahouse… to learn movement techniques?”
“That’s right. Normally, only a master of movement can reach Cheongmyeongdae… but in this situation, we have no choice.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“You’ll understand when you get there.”
Muttering inscrutably, Hyeol-geum-gang spoke in a calm yet solemn voice.
“There, you will find Nang-ya-gak’s greatest grandmaster of movement techniques, one whose skills are unparalleled in their unpredictability.”
***
The western garden of Nang-ya-gak.
After walking straight through a beautifully decorated flower garden, a small path leading into a deep forest came into view.
Bu Eun-seol walked along the path for a while before stopping with a frown.
“This is…”
The path had ended, and before him lay a vast lake that stretched out of sight.
“Am I supposed to cross this?”
Pieces of wood, as if intentionally thrown, were floating here and there across the lake.
But the wooden fragments on the water’s surface were moving erratically, and the distance between them was too great.
“Even if the pieces of wood were closer together, it would be impossible.”
To cross the lake by stepping on those pieces of wood, one would have to be a grandmaster of movement capable of at least skimming across the water’s surface.
“Hmm.”
Letting out a low hum, Bu Eun-seol looked around.
The water was deep, and there wasn’t a single boat in sight. To reach the teahouse, he had to cross this lake somehow.
“He probably doesn’t expect me to build a boat.”
After a moment of contemplation, Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
*Splash.*
Without hesitation, he entered the lake and began to swim.
“Phu. Paah.”
He had never properly learned to swim.
But thanks to his relentless martial arts training, which had strengthened his body, he managed to paddle forward.
“Huu. Huu.”
However, as time passed, Bu Eun-seol’s limbs grew heavier.
Swimming consumed more energy than he had expected. As he continuously pushed through the water without rest, he felt his breath growing short.
“Hah. Hah.”
The land on the other side seemed just within reach, yet no matter how much he swam, he couldn’t get there.
“Huu. Huu.”
When he reached a point where he could no longer move a single finger, Bu Eun-seol stopped.
“Hup.”
He took a long breath, and his abdomen began to expand.
Then, lying comfortably on his back in the water, he began to circulate his true energy through his four limbs and hundred meridians. Thanks to the energy circulation method of the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic he had mastered, he could circulate his energy in any posture.
*‘This is strange.’*
As he circulated his energy while lying in the water, he felt a peculiar sensation, as if his internal energy were deepening.
*‘Instead of getting more tired, it feels like new strength is welling up inside me.’*
Humans are beings whose body, qi, and spirit are separate.
Martial artists strive to unify these three through internal energy arts, a state known as the Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit.
Bu Eun-seol had focused his mind and pushed his body to its limits solely to cross the lake.
And as he began to circulate his energy in the tranquil water, his essence, qi, and spirit were gradually unifying into one.
*Flash!*
When he finished his energy circulation, a mystical light shone in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
*‘Has it been this long already?’*
He thought he had only been circulating his energy for a moment, but the sun was already beginning to set.
“I need to hurry.”
*Fwoosh.*
As he began to swim again, his body shot through the water as if slicing through it.
He was now naturally using his internal true energy as he moved his hands and feet to cut through the current.
*Fwoosh. Phu.*
Using his internal energy, Bu Eun-seol’s body moved several times faster than before. At last, he was able to reach the shore that had seemed impossibly far away.
“Moving the body must be unified not only with the spirit, but also with the flow of true energy.”
It was a profound and wondrous principle.
By a stroke of luck, Bu Eun-seol had grasped a practical method that only those who had trained in internal energy for decades could comprehend.
“I never knew internal energy arts could be this profound.”
He had swum at full strength for about an hour, but he wasn’t tired at all. At this rate, he felt he could swim for three days and nights without issue.
“This is…”
Bu Eun-seol’s steps came to a halt as he followed the path.
“A cliff this time?”
At the dead end stood a rock wall so high it seemed to pierce the sky.
A master of lightness skill might have been able to soar into the air and use the protruding parts of the rock as footholds to climb up.
But for Bu Eun-seol, who had never learned any movement techniques, there was no way to ascend.
—*Normally, only a master of movement can reach Cheongmyeongdae…*
Remembering Hyeol-geum-gang’s words, Bu Eun-seol sighed.
Only now did he understand what the man had meant.