Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Foundation of Practical Combat
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Dang Cheong blinked several times.
He couldn't quite comprehend what Baek Yeon had said in such a short time.
“Trust this child? What do you mean?”
Baek Yeon replied calmly to Dang Cheong's question.
“This child's talent is truly peerless. At this level, he will surely pass the test required by the Martial Hall.”
“Putting the Hwau Sword Sect aside, do you really think that man, Kang Yang-cheon, a man as venomous as a scorpion, will conduct things fairly?”
Dang Cheong waved his hand dismissively, as if the idea wasn't even worth considering.
“He'll undoubtedly resort to dirty tricks to kill this child.”
“Of course.”
Baek Yeon's expression remained unchanged as he responded.
“Because the Martial Hall is well aware that their demands are unreasonable, they have set the testing ground within their own walls.”
“Whether it's the Martial Hall or the Baekma Temple, what difference does the location make?”
“The Martial Hall's only goal is to save face for the Baekma Temple's master, who is grieving the death of his grandson. If they truly intended to kill this child, they wouldn't have summoned him to the Martial Hall.”
“Impossible.”
Dang Cheong said with a stern expression.
“No matter how great this child's talent may be, he is still just a fledgling. I will absolutely not send him to the Martial Hall.”
“Vice Pavilion Master.”
Baek Yeon said with an utmost serious expression.
“If you refuse this offer, our Pavilion will face a series of troublesome events, so much so that the Pavilion Master himself will have to intervene.
“Let them do as they please. And you, stay out of it.”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward.
“I will go to the Martial Hall.”
“This is not the time for you to be reckless.”
“It's not recklessness.”
Glancing at Baek Yeon out of the corner of his eye, Bu Eun-seol continued.
“If the Martial Hall had agreed to harm me, they wouldn't have bothered to relay the message through Elder Baek.”
“So, you're saying you'll go to the Martial Hall and take that sham of a test?”
Bu Eun-seol calmly replied to Dang Cheong's sigh-laden words.
“What they want is to save face. They'll realize that killing a novice like me would only bring them dishonor.”
“Hmm.”
Dang Cheong let out a low hum.
Perhaps, as the boy said, the Martial Hall had summoned him merely to save face.
But he didn't want Bu Eun-seol to take such a risk because of the unreasonable demands of the Hwau Sword Sect and the Baekma Temple.
“It was bound to happen sooner or later.”
At that moment, Baek Yeon spoke again.
“They are not the type to give up just because we refuse this offer. It would be best to grant their request while they're being unreasonable, and in doing so, ensure they can never find fault with us again.”
“And what if something happens to the boy?”
After a brief pause to collect his breath at Dang Cheong's words, Baek Yeon spoke again.
“It is your duty, Vice Pavilion Master, to look at the bigger picture, not to judge emotionally.”
A brief silence fell over Cheongmyeongdae.
In truth, Nang-ya-gak had no ambition to produce exceptional successors or to kill great masters. They had always lived like flowing water, simply dedicating themselves to martial arts.
But they had chosen Bu Eun-seol, a peerless genius, as the successor of Nang-ya-gak, not as one of the Sip-ma-jeon-in. Because of this, it was impossible not to feel a personal attachment.
“I, too….”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward.
“I, too, am a disciple of Nang-ya-gak.”
These were the words Dang Cheong had spoken earlier.
But when Bu Eun-seol said them, Dang Cheong felt an indescribable sense of pride.
*'This boy... he really seems like he can overcome anything.'*
Letting out a low sigh, Dang Cheong looked at Baek Yeon.
“Is a test all they want?”
“Yes.”
“Then relay this message. If he passes the test, the matter with the Baekma Temple's master will be dropped. And they are to withdraw the Hwau Sword Sect's unreasonable demands as well.”
As Dang Cheong continued, a dignity powerful enough to split a great mountain erupted from his eyes.
“If even one of these two conditions is not met, the entire deal is off.”
***
Cheongpungjae.
This was the residence of Dang Cheong, the Vice Pavilion Master of Nang-ya-gak.
Built alongside a winding stream, Cheongpungjae was surrounded by large trees scattered here and there.
The relaxed yet tranquil atmosphere was a perfect reflection of Dang Cheong's characteristic languor.
“Although our Pavilion is not too far from the Martial Hall, it will take a carrier pigeon four days to arrive.”
Walking on the path in front of Cheongpungjae, Dang Cheong spoke to Bu Eun-seol, who was following him.
“During that time, you have something to do.”
“Am I to learn a martial art?”
“You could say that, and you could also say that's not it.”
It was a cryptic statement.
But Bu Eun-seol did not press for an answer. As always, he tried to find the answer himself.
“In that case, perhaps it is not about learning a new martial art, but further developing the ones I have already learned.”
“Huhu. Close enough.”
After letting out a satisfied laugh, Dang Cheong's expression turned bittersweet.
“Because our Pavilion's martial studies pursue practical application, they have not yet been systematically established. Strictly speaking, you could call them incomplete.”
His voice was solemn as he expounded on the principles of martial arts.
“Nevertheless, our Pavilion's martial arts can be expressed with the single character for 'enlightenment.' This is because they can develop infinitely depending on one's understanding.”
Looking down at Bu Eun-seol, Dang Cheong sighed.
“But there is a paradox to this. No matter how outstanding one's talent is, one cannot completely ignore or skip the stages of martial learning.”
Having accepted their unreasonable demand, Dang Cheong had in turn demanded clear compensation from the Martial Hall.
And in the time it would take for a reply to arrive, he intended to pass on his martial teachings to Bu Eun-seol.
“Then, is there a martial art that can be mastered in four days?”
“Of course not.”
Dang Cheong shook his head firmly at Bu Eun-seol's question.
“Our Pavilion's true martial arts are as profound and vast as those of Shaolin. No matter what kind of prodigy you are, there is nothing you can master in such a short time.”
Meanwhile, Dang Cheong and Bu Eun-seol had left the path and arrived at a wide field of reeds.
“Then what am I supposed to learn?”
“You are not to learn, but to watch.”
As they exchanged this Zen-like dialogue,
*Rustle, rustle.*
two figures came running through the reeds.
The two people running, brushing past the reed leaves, were both wearing unique martial arts uniforms that exposed their forearms.
One held a sword in his right hand, and the other wielded a great saber.
*Clang!*
As the weapons of the two men, who had charged at full speed, clashed in mid-air, sparks flew in all directions.
*Clang! Sh-sh-sh-clang!*
The sword and saber fanned out like the ribs of a fan, tangling chaotically.
“In a fight between masters, it is rare for their weapons to clash.”
Dang Cheong said, watching the two men fighting with all their might.
“And yet, do you know why their weapons are clashing?”
*Clang!*
Watching the weapons clash once more, Bu Eun-seol answered calmly.
“Because the distance is too close.”
Just as he said, the two men were only holding their weapons; they were wielding the sword and saber in short, quick movements, engaged in a desperate struggle at close range.
“Is there nothing else?”
At Dang Cheong's words, Bu Eun-seol once again watched the fierce battle.
*Swish! Pshat!*
Every time a weapon grazed past, blood spurted from their bodies.
The weapons wielded by the two men unleashed a torrent of sharp and brutal killing moves.
“And because... they are not sparring. They are fighting for real.”
“Exactly.”
Dang Cheong crossed his arms and spoke gravely.
“This reed field, and the bamboo forest over there, are where our Pavilion's masters hone their practical combat arts.”
“Practical combat arts...”
“That's right. They develop their techniques not through sloppy sparring, but by actually fighting.”
Dang Cheong stared intently at Bu Eun-seol's unfocused eyes.
“From now on, for four days, you are to stay in this reed field and bamboo forest and watch the duels of our Pavilion's masters.”
“You mean I am only to watch?”
Bu Eun-seol wore a look of incomprehension.
In four days, anything could happen at the Martial Hall. And yet, he was being told to leisurely observe the bloody battles of masters.
“To learn practical combat, you must reach a state where you can grasp and comprehend the enemy's momentum and techniques just by watching.”
“To grasp their momentum and techniques just by seeing with my eyes?”
“Yes.”
Dang Cheong once again pointed to the two men fighting in the reed field.
“Earlier, you said their duel was a life-or-death battle, but that's only half true. What they are doing is, in the end, a spar. It only looks like a bloody battle because they are fully comprehending their opponent's moves and deploying killing techniques in response.”
Dang Cheong continued to explain.
“Practical combat doesn't mean you just fight recklessly. On the contrary, before that, you must first witness numerous intense battles.”
He spoke each word clearly to the intently listening Bu Eun-seol.
“To gain an eye that can quickly grasp information about the enemy just by watching. That is the foundation of practical combat.”
“An eye that can grasp information about the enemy...”
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
Having not yet formally learned Nang-ya-gak's martial arts, he had been thinking of the concept of practical combat a bit too simply.
*'So the foundation of practical combat isn't fighting, but quickly grasping information about the enemy and reacting to it.'*
After hearing Dang Cheong's explanation, Bu Eun-seol realized that practical combat contained a far more profound and deep logic than he had imagined.
“If you can reach such a state, you can gain immense benefits just by watching others fight, without having to fight yourself.”
Having finished his explanation, Dang Cheong turned around.
“As is the law of the Murim, secretly watching another's sparring or battle is forbidden even within Nang-ya-gak. This is because one can steal an opponent's weaknesses or insights just by watching.”
Dang Cheong, having turned his body, said in a solemn voice.
“However, given the circumstances, I will grant you special permission to observe.”
“Thank you.”
Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply.
Only now did he realize the incredible boon Dang Cheong was giving him.
“Work hard.”
Leaving behind those words, Dang Cheong slowly departed from the reed field.
***
From that day on, Bu Eun-seol constantly moved between the reed field and the bamboo forest near Cheongpungjae, observing the sparring sessions.
They were called sparring sessions, but they were battles reminiscent of real combat.
If it were a martial artist whose skills had reached their peak, they would have gained immense insight just by watching these bloody fights.
The fourth day.
As it was the final day, Dang Cheong also stood beside Bu Eun-seol, observing the sparring with him.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*
Today's sparring was taking place in the bamboo forest, where the bamboo grew densely.
*Clang! Papapapak!*
In the center of the bamboo forest, five martial artists were surrounding a single man.
The man standing in the center was, astonishingly, blocking the attacks of his five opponents using only his bare palms.
*Swoooosh.*
But then, the positions of the five martial artists subtly shifted.
Seeing this, Dang Cheong asked Bu Eun-seol.
“The next move?”
“It looks like they will use Heaven and Earth Sundering Strike.”
Simultaneous with Bu Eun-seol's low murmur as he watched the battle, five swords were raised to the sky.
They were about to unleash the first move of Heaven and Earth Sundering Strike.
*Shhring.*
At the same time, the man who had been fighting bare-handed drew a very short sword from behind his back.
It was a short sword favored by assassins.
“The next technique?”
“Judging by his stance, he will likely use All That Is Required to create a sword screen.”
*Whir, whir, whir!*
Just as Bu Eun-seol predicted, the man who drew the short sword swung it rapidly, creating a transparent screen of sword energy.
*'He's good.'*
Glancing at Bu Eun-seol's profile, Dang Cheong tilted his head in confusion.
*'But he's too fast.'*
To execute a sword technique, one must grip a sword; to execute a fist technique, one must make a fist.
Indeed, every technique has a starting point. Grasping that is the first step of practical combat.
But Bu Eun-seol was seeing through the techniques so easily, as if he had been practicing the fundamentals of practical combat for a long time.
*'Even a seasoned veteran of the martial world who has fought countless battles would need three months to learn how to predict techniques.'*
Dang Cheong couldn't even begin to fathom how Bu Eun-seol had learned to gauge techniques so quickly.
*'In any case, he's doing well. I should praise him.'*
“Impressive. It's rare to grasp the basics of practical combat this quickly.”
At Dang Cheong's praise, Bu Eun-seol shook his head with a gloomy expression.
“I only predicted their movements by observing their muscles. I haven't yet been able to predict techniques by comprehending the principles of the martial art itself.”
“Hm?”
“Don't true masters exhibit movements that transcend physical limits? In the end, it means I've only built half a foundation.”
Dang Cheong's mouth fell open in disbelief.
Predicting movements according to the principles of martial arts was something only a grandmaster like Dang Cheong could do.
Yet Bu Eun-seol, unaware of this, was berating himself for his own shortcomings.
*'I can't tell if he's being arrogant, or if it's because he's only just started learning martial arts.'*
Bu Eun-seol always surprised his teachers. And Dang Cheong was no exception.
*'I really have high hopes for his future.'*
Just as Dang Cheong was secretly smiling in satisfaction,
*Whoosh.*
a figure came rushing toward them at high speed, accompanied by the sound of parting air.
“Vice Pavilion Master.”
The figure who approached Dang Cheong was a young man.
And his uniform was a perfect match for the one Baek Yeon had worn before.
“I am Bi-un of the Pung-un Brigade.”
The man, bowing his head, took out a small letter from his robes.
“It is the reply from the Martial Hall.”
“Hmm.”
Dang Cheong nodded as he took and read the letter.
“I see.”
Then, he looked at Bu Eun-seol, his eyes flashing.
“The Martial Hall says they will accept all of our Pavilion's demands.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded, his eyes filled with grim determination.
The time had finally come to go to the Martial Hall.