Chapter 11
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Sparring the Master
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“Si…… No, Master. The truth is, I’ve already grasped the principles of the Six Combinations Fist completely? So how about we skip the basic training now…….”
“What?”
Dam Cheon-u snorted at the words spat out with a sigh.
“Heh heh, listen here, disciple.”
“…….”
“Jokes should have their limits. What do you mean you understand? You talk like you’re some prodigy who comprehends ten things from one lesson. To your eyes, used to an easy life, the Six Combinations might seem like child’s play, but it’s not that simple. Even the simplest movements are infused with the principles of all creation, so this is…….”
“Shall I show you?”
“……Huh?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I just told you…… How about a spar?”
“What?”
Is this old man hard of hearing?
Yu Hyun chuckled and kindly repeated himself.
“A match, let’s have a match.”
“…….”
“You and me, pitting Six Combinations Fist against each other. Let’s see—will the master faithful to the basics prevail, or will the disciple who’s already grasped the essence?”
“…….”
Dam Cheon-u blinked in a daze at those confident words, then burst into laughter.
“Heh heh, ha ha ha ha!”
“…….”
“A match with me? After just ten days of training? Ha ha ha!”
“…….”
“The funniest joke I’ve heard in my life. Heh heh!”
Now he was doubling over, clutching his stomach and rolling around.
Damn, did a ghost who choked on laughter possess him or something?
He’s gonna cry from laughing so hard.
“What’s wrong? Scared? Worried you’ll lose to me? Then don’t do it.”
Dam Cheon-u finally stifled his laughter at Yu Hyun’s words and stared for a long moment before asking,
“……You’re serious?”
“Would I joke? If you don’t use internal energy, I think I can win.”
Dam Cheon-u’s face twisted oddly as Yu Hyun winked with his plump eyes.
“Heh…… Brother-in-law.”
“Disciple.”
“Fine, but you seem to be under some delusion. You don’t know how profound martial arts are.”
“…….”
“Internal energy is merely a tool to amplify martial arts. No matter how much you have, without enlightenment to back it up, it’s useless.”
“……That’s what I’m saying.”
Yu Hyun grinned, and Dam Cheon-u’s expression gradually turned icy.
“Listen, brother-in-law. Though I now serve at Yu Clan Manor, I was once known as one of Hubei Province’s Seven Dragons. Even after that, I pondered the martial way as deeply as you’ve lived your life, seeking the realm of vigor qi. And you want to spar with me?”
What’s with this guy’s martial world—dragons and phoenixes at every turn.
Even if it were the Heavenly Dragons, maybe, but Hubei’s Seven Dragons?
Ugh, how impressive.
“You won’t know until you try, right?”
“You don’t eat shit to know if it’s dung or bean paste.”
“Sounds like you’re scared.”
“What?”
“Your tongue’s waggling more than it should.”
“What? My tongue?”
“If you’re not up for it, forget it. They do say flashy talkers are never the real deal. Surprising that my brother-in-law fits the bill, though…….”
Dam Cheon-u’s face crumpled as Yu Hyun scratched at his pride like baiting a fish.
“You damned brother-in-law!”
Paak!
Dam Cheon-u bellowed, sealing his own acupoints to block his internal energy flow.
“Fine! Let’s go! Spar!”
“…….”
Yes! Match on.
Yu Hyun grinned widely at the fuming Dam Cheon-u.
Time to end the basic training.
And shake off this leech of a master obsessed with fundamentals……
“One! How could I spar you on equal terms just by not using internal energy? That’s not enough!”
“……?”
Dam Cheon-u roughly yanked at the sash around his waist, barely containing his rage.
Flutter.
His neatly fastened outer robe came undone in an instant, flapping in the wind.
Yu Hyun’s eyes widened at the sudden action.
Why’s he taking off his clothes? It’s not even hot? Not cool-looking either……?
“Here, tie it.”
“……Pardon?”
“Not only will I refrain from internal energy, I’ll tie up my right arm too.”
“…….”
Yu Hyun blankly stared at the boastful Dam Cheon-u.
The past two months.
The spirit energy gathered via the Spirit Heart Core Method had built up to rival a vigor qi warrior’s.
Of course, it wasn’t master-level in quantity, and since it pooled in his heart, he still looked like an ordinary fatty on the outside.
But Yu Hyun had grown familiar with the Righteous Six Saints’ teachings dubbed formless through training.
He’d lost weight in the process and gotten used to the remaining flab. No more worrying about his double chin.
Dam Cheon-u’s internal energy was beyond him still, but without it? Child’s play.
And tying his right arm too?
He’s betting double without knowing my hand, this cute master of mine.
“You sure that’s okay?”
“Of course! More than okay!”
“…….”
Yu Hyun shook his head at Dam Cheon-u’s snort and snort, then tightened the strap around his right arm.
Kwaaak.
The right arm fixed immobile to his body.
Probably overconfidence.
Well, he asked for it himself.
“No take-backs later.”
“Take-backs? Ha!”
Dam Cheon-u snorted at Yu Hyun’s words.
“Hmm, you’re definitely gonna regret this…….”
“Regret? Ha!”
Dam Cheon-u kept snorting nonstop.
He couldn’t help being dumbfounded.
Is this why they say you can’t fix people?
He’d followed the ten days of training decently well.
Lately, no bullying the underlings, so he thought he’d changed.
His speech was polite throughout, which was secretly touching.
But now, he was exactly the same as before.
Stubborn as a mule, ears plugged like stakes to others’ words.
Fresh to martial arts and he claims he understands the Six Combinations?
Spar with me?
He’d held back for his father-in-law and wife’s sake until now, but he couldn’t tolerate this disciple belittling martial arts.
Ignorance is forgivable if untaught, but as one who sought teachings, how dare he mock its profundity?
In skill, Yu Hyun was a child to his adult, a firefly to the full moon.
Even with both legs, no chance—but he’d tie one arm to thoroughly thrash the bad habits out of him.
Father-in-law and wife’s eyes?
He’d already warned during training that hands might be necessary, and gotten approval.
“Hmm, no matter how I think, it seems too disadvantageous for you…….”
“Shu-tup!”
“There’s a thing called weight class. Untie the arm now? Not using internal energy is plenty for me.”
“Weight class? You dolt. Does a mouse worry for the cat? To one enlightened in the martial way, body size means nothing.”
“Hmm…… Sigh, if you insist.”
Yu Hyun smacked his lips helplessly at Dam Cheon-u’s rigid attitude.
What can you do, he’s a boomer. Warnings given.
“Shall we start then?”
“Come at me!”
“…….”
Unlike Yu Hyun, who stepped back, clenched his fists, and assumed a stance, Dam Cheon-u stood casually like some ancient absolute, extending just one hand.
“……Not even taking a stance?”
“No need. Assuming a formal stance against you…….”
“…….”
Tsk tsk, confidence piercing the heavens.
Even a tiger stalks a rabbit in silence, striking with full power……
“Well, fine. If you say so. Let’s start with Bird-Dragon Probes Sea.”
“Hmph! Let’s see whose tongue is long. Come on!”
“Yes, yes.”
Yu Hyun chuckled, spread his arms like wings, lifted one leg high, and thrust forward, stomping the ground.
The opening move of Bird-Dragon Probes Sea.
Paak!
“……!”
Dam Cheon-u’s eyes widened.
The movement flowed straight from the opening.
Leg up, then stomp and push—his stance dropped sharply.
“Huh? Huh?”
Because of his massive build?
With arms spread, closing distance, Yu Hyun resembled a massive roc spotting prey, wings unfurled in flight.
A move perfectly suiting the name Bird-Dragon Probes Sea.
But…… fast.
He stepped back to retreat, but was caught in an instant.
And suddenly the technique changes.
Not to the second form Wind-Cloud Sudden Qi, but straight to the sixth: Five Dragons Probe Sea?
All jumbled, yet so natural. Like one who mastered the Six Combinations Fist, flowing freely……
“Wh-what is this?”
“…….”
Dam Cheon-u panicked at the narrowing gap, unable to properly defend amid the flurry of changing forms, and Yu Hyun grinned.
Tsk tsk, did you slap your way to the vigor qi realm? So slow on the uptake.
Did you think moving with one arm tied is easy?
Not using free arms versus bound arms are worlds apart.
Restrain the arm that instinctively moves in crisis, and your balance disrupts, speed drops.
And internal energy.
Amplifying muscle power—with or without it makes huge differences in strength and speed.
That’s why all warriors cultivate daily at dawn and dusk, going mad for spirit herbs.
Dam Cheon-u surely knew this.
But he made a big mistake.
Underestimation and complacency.
Shuuuak!
“Heok!”
Dam Cheon-u hastily arched back from the massive fist rising ground-skimming.
Hard to dodge……
Not lying about pondering martial arts countless times for vigor qi realm.
But……
Kung!
Yu Hyun stomped hard, halting.
“Keup!”
Weight shifted suddenly, cratering the ground underfoot, overloading his knee.
Damn, stings like hell, this cursed flesh.
But Yu Hyun swiftly redirected force before shock peaked.
Chwiriik!
Shock rode the twist up, carrying weight to the new direction.
“Heok!”
As Yu Hyun’s body bent at right angles, Dam Cheon-u—center off from arching—hurriedly reached out……
“…….”
Idiot. That tied arm’s gonna move fine.
Yu Hyun smirked, charging his right side.
Hwaaak!
Fisted knuckles arced short-parabola toward Dam Cheon-u’s flank.
Jjeeoeoeok!
“Kuhuk!”
Grimace and deep groan from within.
Yet Dam Cheon-u twisted, mitigating impact.
Oho, Hubei’s Seven Dragons not dead yet?
Yu Hyun inwardly admired, grinning.
But oops. That was a feint.
What I’m really after is……
Flutter.
That robe hem.
Kwaak.
“……!”
Yu Hyun’s big hand seized the flapping hem, yanking hard.
Wobble.
“Th-this trickery!”
Dam Cheon-u’s panicked eyes, dragged helplessly, caught Yu Hyun’s chilling smile.
Trickery? This is application.
Paak!
Yanked the hem again, stomped hard—Yu Hyun soared airborne.
“Huh?”
Dam Cheon-u’s shock.
Then Yu Hyun’s knee slammed mercilessly into his unguarded face.
Kwa-jik!
“Kuaak!”
Whirrlik.
“…….”
Dam Cheon-u squeezed eyes shut at the nose-stinging shock as Yu Hyun agilely circled, hugging his back—waist bending supple as a horse’s hoof.
Hwoong.
Dam Cheon-u felt tossed into zero gravity.
“This is…….”
Huh? The sky?
Forcing eyes open against shock, cloudless azure sky filled his vision.
Clear……
Where’s brother-in-law?
Ah, behind. Hugging disgustingly tight……
And then, the sky spun.
Spin.
Everything blurred by, up becoming down.
F-fall? Why?
Shuuuk, kuwung!
Before questions cleared, massive shock to occiput—Dam Cheon-u gaped.
Eyes…… seem popped out……
Fading vision caught a massive shadow backlit by sun.
“Bro……ther-in-law……?”
“Call me disciple, Master.”
Shadowed, not clear, but he knew.
That thick fist raising.
There, stop.
I already lost the spar?
Faint eyes pleading desperately amid blurring consciousness……
Still alive?
Yu Hyun’s warm smile returned.
Heh heh, that heavy fist crashing down would kill me.
My masters taught to see fights through to the end. And I see things through even if not a fight.
……Huh, since when?
“Time to end it.”
“…….”
Like an ultimatum, Yu Hyun leaped high, blotting the sun.
Then plummeted vertically, fists clenched—one gripping the other’s wrist.
Kwa-ji-jik!
Kuh! That’s the stuff.
Yu Hyun smiled genuinely, brightly.
Ten years’ pent-up frustration melting away.
Utterly refreshing!