Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Martial God (73)
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"Have you never considered that 'Muyoo' might mean creating something from nothing?"
It was still dimly lit outside.
Despite drinking so much, it seemed he had woken up at his usual time.
"Looks like I'm not the type to sleep in."
He looked around and headed to the rear garden.
"Wow!"
The true value of the World Subduing Heaven Rak Clan lay in the rear garden.
The garden, with its lake and pavilion, was bursting with flowers. Not a single one was familiar to Ak Muyoo. Inhaling the floral scent, he climbed onto the pavilion right by the lake.
"Nice."
Grinning, he immediately began loosening up.
He stretched his wrists, ankles, knees, waist, and neck in sequence before starting his full workout. He began with one-arm push-ups, alternating between right and left, then switched straight to single-leg squats. Less than a shichen had passed before sweat poured down. The sweat carried the smell of alcohol.
He stripped off his upper garments and continued.
The bare-bodied stretches lasted half a shichen. Once done, he swung his fists and feet in earnest. But his movements were unique.
He used not just fists and feet, but elbows, knees, and even shoulders. His elbow and knee strikes were especially remarkable, enough to make one think the air itself was shattering.
—This is called Ramui. When deploying Ramui, the arms are spears, the hands are axes, and the elbows are swords. It's a martial art that turns every part of the body into a weapon.
It was a martial art taught to him by a comrade from the Southern Barbarians.
That comrade distinguished between martial arts and wugong based on internal energy: wugong if powered by internal energy, martial arts if relying solely on physical strength.
Bang! Bang-bang! Bang-bang!
Each slash through the air by fist, elbow, shoulder, foot, or knee exploded with noise. His movements grew faster and faster. At one point, he seemed to lose balance, collapsing only to rise again, repeating the motion. Even then, his two feet, two knees, two fists, two elbows, and two shoulders relentlessly battered the air without pause.
Ak Muyoo was blending Ramui with Mad Thousand Blood Steps. A faint smile played on his lips.
In truth, this was a new experiment: deploying Mad Thousand Blood Steps—a technique meant for a nonstop thousand paces—in a confined space. And while performing Ramui at the same time.
It had seemed impossible to do both simultaneously, but it came more easily than expected.
He completed the thousand paces and started over from the beginning. The second round was even faster.
As he circulated Beast Blood Demon Art and Black Demon Diamond Body together, a peculiar energy emanated from his entire body. The sounds of striking the air grew louder still.
After walking another thousand paces, he steadied his breathing.
"Impressive."
Turning at the voice from the side, he saw Arak Jangha standing there with a tray holding a large cup.
"When did you arrive?"
"A shichen ago. I saw you leave your quarters as well."
"No taste for dawn naps, I see."
"Age seems to steal away sleep."
"What's that?"
"You drank heavily yesterday. It's honey water."
Arak Jangha offered the cup.
The honey water was refreshingly cool.
"Nice."
Ak Muyoo smiled faintly.
"Do you do that every day?"
"Only on mornings when I have no duties."
"I see."
Arak Jangha nodded, then continued.
"Do you know the origins of our Chacha Kingdom?"
"I heard that the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga Clan settled first, followed by the other families."
"Then where did the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga Clan come from?"
"How would I know?"
"I do."
Arak Jangha pointed toward the Heavenly Mountains.
"Geukrak Country?"
"Yes."
"..."
"In the past, Geukrak Country wasn't just the six clans. There were many vassal families following them. Some followed the six clans to the Central Plains, but the second-in-command families stayed behind."
"Why?"
"I can only speculate since I don't know the circumstances, but perhaps because they were second-in-command."
"They feared rebellion, you mean."
"That could be. In any case, those who remained in Geukrak Country eventually came down here and settled, forming the Chacha Kingdom."
"I see."
Ak Muyoo nodded.
"What do you think fate is, Father-in-Law?"
"For some, it might be a burden; for others, a stroke of fortune. For yet others, nothing at all."
"I believe it's karma from a past life."
"...Then did I save a kingdom in my past life? Or sell one out?"
"You saved it."
"Pfft!"
Ak Muyoo chuckled.
"Otherwise, how could you have two flower-like beauties as wives?"
"A stroke of fortune?"
"Indeed. A stroke of fortune."
"...Let's head back."
Ak Muyoo picked up his clothes and stood.
Luha and Arak Siru had risen and finished dressing.
"Where have you been?"
Luha asked.
"Worked off the alcohol."
"I've prepared breakfast."
"I'll wash up first. But..."
"Yes?"
"Never mind."
He had almost asked if she knew what happened last night but stopped himself. He went upstairs to the bathroom. His clothes lay folded in one corner. He stripped and doused himself in cold water. As the sweat washed away, he felt invigorated.
After bathing, he descended to the first floor. Breakfast was laid out in the dining room.
—Do you remember last night?
As he ate, Arak Siru's transmission reached him.
Ak Muyoo looked at Arak Siru.
—Woke up in the morning and you'd vanished?
Ak Muyoo shook his head, meaning he hadn't fled.
—Why'd you undress me then?
'Me?'
Ak Muyoo pointed at himself.
—Do you have a habit of stripping others when drunk?
'No way...'
—Anyway, it was nice.
'Gah!'
Ak Muyoo's face twisted.
—What are you doing right now?
Luha, noticing Arak Siru's transmission to Ak Muyoo, asked.
—Teasing him.
—Teasing?
—Should I just let the groom off easy on our wedding night?
—Hee!
Luha laughed softly.
Ak Muyoo shoveled food into his mouth hastily, unsure if it went in his mouth or nose, then bolted outside like a fugitive.
Ageukta's group was resting in the garden.
"Time to go?"
As Ak Muyoo approached, Ageukta said.
"Come here a moment."
"What's up..."
Ageukta followed Ak Muyoo.
"I've got a question."
"Out with it."
"It's just..."
"What's got you hemming and hawing like this? Not like you."
Ageukta eyed Ak Muyoo curiously.
"Even dead drunk, you could still do it?"
"Do what?"
"You know, man and woman stuff."
"So you're wondering if you actually did something last night?"
"Put simply, yes. I remember nothing."
"What was the situation?"
"Well..."
"You woke up naked? Her too?"
Ak Muyoo nodded.
"Ever gotten as drunk as yesterday in your life?"
"Never even been tipsy once."
"First time fully blackout drunk, huh."
"Yeah."
"No ordinary person could drink like you and still function."
"I'm ordinary. No internal energy."
"The issue is the Transparent Viscera."
"How do you know about that?"
"Muk Busung told me. Said you ate it raw."
"Well..."
"Whatever the reason, Transparent Viscera is pure yang essence. Its blood holds the most yang energy, and you ate every bit without leaving any. You're the strongest in the world."
"So what's your conclusion?"
"My conclusion: even blackout drunk, someone who's eaten Transparent Viscera can do it."
"But I remember nothing."
"You really remember absolutely nothing?"
"Yeah."
"Ha!"
Ageukta chuckled.
"I'm serious."
"But..."
"Yeah?"
"The women don't appeal to you? No telling what you'll become later, but right now, they seem too good for you."
"That's the problem with them being too good."
"..."
"It's not about later—I've peaked now. I'm Muyoo now, and Muyoo forever."
"I see it differently."
"How so?"
"Not 'only having nothing,' but 'create something from nothing'—that's what Muyoo means, don't you think?"
"That's why they say interpretations beat dreams."
"You're positive about others but harsh on yourself."
"Am I?"
"You can ease up a bit."
"What is there to ease up on?"
"If nothing else, set down the burden on your mind."
"...I'll try."
"Good thinking. And so what if you did or didn't? They're both your wives anyway."
Ageukta clapped Ak Muyoo's shoulder.
"You're the scarecrow keeping the birds from the rice fields."
"Mok Woo and the others were waiting anxiously. Let's head up."
"Right. But how do you think they'll react?"
"Who?"
"Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven."
"From Parap's view, a major rival's gone—so nothing better."
"Clearly good for Parap. The question is whether he'll sit idle thinking, 'I'm top dog now; that's enough.'"
"You mean he'll seek revenge on Red Flame Heaven and the fallen soldiers to win Feng Country's people's support?"
"Moreover, as Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven's Lord, doing nothing might make people mock them."
"Probably."
Ageukta nodded.
"If you were Parap, what would you do?"
"Take revenge."
Ageukta answered without hesitation.
"..."
"To be recognized as Feng Country's sole king by the people, he must avenge Red Flame Heaven."
"So their target becomes Chacha Kingdom? Especially with me as son-in-law..."
"Likely."
"What's Feng Country's strength?"
"Feng Country has about fifty thousand people. But numbers mean nothing. They're one of the Eight Desolation Whirl Heavens—if they mobilize, Chacha Kingdom falls in a night."
"Ugh!"
Ak Muyoo grimaced.
Mountains beyond mountains—that described his situation perfectly.
"Let's think more while preparing for Western Pure Land."
The two returned to the group.
The group mounted up to prepare for departure. They planned to ready themselves at the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga Clan residence.
"See you off safely."
Arak Siru came out with Haru to bid them farewell.
"I think spreading a rumor would be best."
Ak Muyoo said, gripping the reins.
"What rumor?"
"The ancient ruins of Absolute Six Heavens have been found."
"Then every force in the Border Wastelands will swarm here?"
"Better than Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven coming alone, no?"
"You think they'll come?"
"According to Elder, their odds are ten to one."
"Divert their attention to the Absolute Six Heavens ruins so they ignore us."
"That's the hope."
"Got it."
Arak Siru nodded.
"We'll be off."
Ak Muyoo bowed his head, then mounted.
Moments later, Ak Muyoo's group headed for the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga Clan residence.