Chapter 66
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Phantom of the Drunken Eight Immortals Steps
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“Su, su, su…….”
“…….”
Yu Hyun, who had returned from the Thunder Dungeon, shot a glare at Ge Dusin, who was stuttering for dear life right beside him.
No, what was so hard about calling him “Uncle” that the guy had been spamming that “su-su-su” noise nonstop?
“Su, su…….”
*Smack!*
“Guh!”
Finally losing his patience, Yu Hyun smashed the back of Ge Dusin’s head.
“You’re getting on my nerves, so just spit out whatever you have to say!”
“……Yes, sir.”
At Yu Hyun’s words, Ge Dusin made a miserable face and nodded.
This was really weird.
Why couldn’t he dodge it?
It felt like he’d just swung normally, yet it was as if some profound technique was hidden in it—he couldn’t predict the direction at all.
Was it that whenever he tried to dodge, the fist was already there?
Come to think of it, he’d heard that the final ultimate technique of the staff method, Invincible Under Heaven, which he himself hadn’t fully grasped yet, was like that……
“Un-Uncle.”
“What!”
“H-Have you ever learned the Beggars’ Sect’s martial arts?”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
Yu Hyun stared blankly at the hemming and hawing Ge Dusin, then chuckled and turned his head away.
“How would I know the beggars’ martial arts?”
“R-Right…… yeah?”
Ge Dusin, hearing the answer he wanted, brightened up and nodded vigorously.
Yeah, that made sense. He’d overthought it.
No matter how insanely talented the guy was at mimicking after seeing once, Invincible Under Heaven was something even he hadn’t demonstrated……
Meanwhile, Yu Hyun felt a twinge of guilt inside.
It was only partial, but he’d unconsciously mixed in Invincible Under Heaven into that punch just now.
However, his own martial arts were based on the Righteous Six Saints’ techniques.
From the Beggars’ Sect to Wudang, Shaolin, Tang Clan, Zhuge, and Nangong.
Those who had dominated the murim in the distant future had chopped up their own martial arts and forcibly packed them into his body. Like a comprehensive gift package, you could say?
He’d just bullshitted about being able to mimic after seeing once because he was too lazy to explain, and somehow it had become his “talent.”
No way this guy had noticed……
Anyway, he had to be careful.
If he got caught, it’d be a hassle, and he’d have to come up with all sorts of excuses again.
“That all you wanted to say?”
“N-No, that’s not it. Since we’ve formed this bond, how about we go out and grab a meal……?”
“A meal? Not booze?”
When Yu Hyun asked with wide eyes, Ge Dusin scratched his head awkwardly and opened his mouth.
“Booze is…….”
“He can’t drink.”
“…….”
As Ge Dusin trailed off, Nangong Seong answered in his place.
What did he just say?
Who? Drunken Fire?
The guy who chugged so much he never got drunk, earning the nickname Drunken Fire?
As far as Yu Hyun remembered, Drunken Fire was beyond a heavy drinker—practically a booze master.
And he…… can’t drink?
“Yes. He can’t. For some reason, just the smell of alcohol gives him headaches…….”
“…….”
As Ge Dusin scratched his head with an embarrassed look, Yu Hyun stared at him in bewilderment, blinking.
No, what the hell……
Why were there so many differences from the future he remembered?
Nangong Seong, the personality wreck who flipped moods a dozen times a day, had become a gentleman saint who was even kind-hearted, and the booze ghost couldn’t handle liquor?
What was with all these changes?
“Un-Uncle, if you want, I’ll plug my nose and join the drinking anyway!”
“…….”
Yu Hyun sighed and shook his head at Ge Dusin, who pounded his chest with tremendous resolve.
If Drunken Fire couldn’t drink, was he even Drunken Fire?
Damn, not only had one guy’s personality been completely overhauled, now he’d have to teach the other how to drink too.
At least they both kept up the polite speech without fail, so maybe it was a relief they still honored their words once spoken, just like he remembered?
Anyway, bonding over a meal like he suggested wasn’t a bad idea, but right now, food or booze weren’t the priority.
“You two go eat.”
“Yes? Just us?”
“Why?”
“Well, we already meet up plenty on our own, so no need for a separate meal…….”
“Then train or something.”
“Train?”
“Yeah.”
“…….”
Ge Dusin sneaked a glance at Nangong Seong.
Training meant that……
The insanely effective one where you could glimpse master realm in a short time…… the one where the madman grinned like a lunatic?
Like that?
As Ge Dusin kept peeking at Nangong Seong and frowning, Yu Hyun bellowed.
“Hey!”
“Yes?”
“That’s training only Seong does.”
“Ah, yes…….”
“…….”
Yu Hyun inwardly sighed at the massive relief in Ge Dusin’s response, mixed just right with air and voice, and shot him a pitiful look before suddenly grinning.
Well, since it came up……
It might be a bit early, but maybe he should teach Drunken Fire something too?
“Seed Bull.”
“Yes?”
“Show me Drunken Eight Immortals Steps.”
“……Drunken Eight Immortals Steps?”
Ge Dusin narrowed his eyes at the out-of-nowhere request.
He even subtly assumed a defensive stance, like a kid hugging his last candy, clearly hesitant that Yu Hyun might watch and steal it clean.
“Wanna get hit?”
“…….”
“Show me. I’ve got a reason.”
“…….”
At the voice thick with threat, Ge Dusin shakily stood and took position in the yard in front of the room.
“Uh, then first, the first form…….”
“Shut up and do it all at once. From first form to the end. At your top speed, with maximum variations.”
“Yes? You’re not gonna mimic the whole thing in one go, are you?”
“…….”
When Yu Hyun casually raised a fist without even deeming it worth answering, Ge Dusin reflexively shrank back and quickly stepped forward.
“Hah!”
*Pa-pa-pa-pak.*
In an instant, Ge Dusin’s Drunken Eight Immortals Steps filled the yard.
Named for the gait of drunken immortals, it was hailed as the pinnacle of footwork in the Central Plains for its variations.
Drunken Fire had once declared that at great completion, it could even evade Tang Sa-duk of the Tang Clan Dark Heaven Hand’s Myriad Petals Rain, denser than cherry blossoms in the wind.
He’d dodged the demonic cult leader’s all-out strike using that very footwork.
Moreover, unleashing the staff while using Drunken Eight Immortals Steps doubled—no, multiplied the power dozens of times.
Only by layering variations upon variations did the staff dye the world in enemies’ blood.
“Done…….”
“Again!”
“……Yes?”
“Faster! Harder!”
“Yes?”
“Run, you punk.”
“Yes!”
Startled by Yu Hyun’s menacing glare, Ge Dusin pushed even harder, stomping the ground vigorously.
How many times had the forms of Drunken Eight Immortals Steps repeated?
“Th-That’s enough!”
“Hahk, hahk…….”
Swept up in the mood, Ge Dusin had overdone it and collapsed on the ground, gasping with his breath up to his chin.
“Hmm…….”
What Yu Hyun was looking at were the footprints Ge Dusin had left with all his might.
Chaotic and messy.
The force wasn’t evenly distributed, depths varied……
Too focused on variations, he didn’t grasp how crucial each stepping motion was.
That wouldn’t do.
All power starts from the feet, and a solid foundation allows greater variations.
*Swoosh.*
After staring at the footprints for a while, Yu Hyun slowly stepped forward and stood in front of Ge Dusin.
“Move.”
“…….”
Pushing Ge Dusin aside, Yu Hyun regulated his breathing.
Slowly, calmly.
He filtered the inhaled breath inside, and exhaled the turbid qi with his out-breath.
After several cycles, as the accumulated breath inside turned clear and pure, Yu Hyun’s heartbeat quickened.
Spirit energy-infused blood surged out, spreading through his body, muscles beading with power.
Finally, he lightly stepped forward, pressing the ground.
*Grooo.*
The slow step connected to a second one.
Uniform speed, uniform depth.
Yu Hyun moved slowly, as if pouring his soul into each step.
“What’s th…….”
“…….”
Ge Dusin and Nangong Seong’s heads tilted in unison as they watched.
He was just walking. Nothing special.
Why the hell…… Huh?
Suddenly, a glint appeared in Ge Dusin’s eyes.
Looking closely at the tracks Yu Hyun left while walking slowly…… Drunken Eight Immortals Steps?
And perfectly based on the fundamentals……?
“Damn, mimicking after one look is real, huh.”
“…….”
Nangong Seong nodded with a smile at Ge Dusin’s admiring exclamation full of shock.
But soon, doubt reappeared in Ge Dusin’s eyes.
What was Uncle trying to show with that?
He could do that much too…… Huh?
As he watched intently and realized something, his eyes widened.
It was different.
Others might not notice, but Ge Dusin, who’d trained Beggars’ Sect arts for years, could feel the difference.
The motion of the foot from contact to lift-off, in other words……
“See it?”
“Yes?”
“Didn’t see?”
“……I saw, but.”
“Then good. Watch closer.”
“…….”
Grinning, Yu Hyun started walking again.
Right next to his own footprints, identically…… but over twice as fast.
“Huh? Huh? H-Huhhh?”
Yu Hyun’s movements sped up, soon surpassing Ge Dusin’s.
Walking turned to running, and eventually, it looked like his feet barely touched the ground.
“Gasp!”
At one point, Ge Dusin swallowed hard.
Yu Hyun’s figure had vanished.
Just as it seemed his form scattered like mist, it bloomed in places, manifesting in multiple shapes, like……
“E-Eight Immortals!”
Ge Dusin clenched his fist and shot to his feet.
“What? What immortals?”
“…….”
Even to Nangong Seong’s question, Ge Dusin’s bulging eyes stayed glued to Yu Hyun.
“Ph-Phantom forms!?”
In an instant, the afterimages of Yu Hyun, scattering and regathering, clearly stood in eight places.
As if all eight were him……
Suddenly, Ge Dusin recalled his master, the Beggars’ Sect Leader’s words in his ear.
‘Those pursuing martial arts, upon reaching the pinnacle, attain the true essence of that art, gaining what others cannot.’
‘This is called the Dao—not a realm, but the domain of enlightenment.’
M-Master’s words, right before his eyes……
He could see it but couldn’t believe it.
Such enlightenment possible with mere talent?
Reaching that realm just by watching and mimicking?
As Ge Dusin stared blankly, Yu Hyun’s steps stopped.
“Fuu…….”
A faint smile bloomed on Yu Hyun’s lips with his long exhale.
He’d immersed himself for the first time in a while. But……
“Why’s that guy acting like that?”
Yu Hyun cocked his head at Ge Dusin, who gaped vacantly at him.
“Dunno. Eyes open, dreaming maybe.”
Unlike Ge Dusin, Nangong Seong—who’d felt nothing but the footwork—replied nonchalantly.
And Ge Dusin was still staring holes into the footprints Yu Hyun had left.
Identical depths, footprints as if stamped out.
“How…….”
“……?”
“How is that possible?”
“…….”
A glint flashed in Yu Hyun’s eyes as he gazed at the suddenly trembling Ge Dusin.
Ho, he’d seen something after all.
“Not fair!”
“…….”
Suddenly, Ge Dusin glared at Yu Hyun and yelled.
“How can you reach that realm with talent alone!”
“…….”
“This is too…….”
Ge Dusin, who’d been shouting, suddenly slumped his shoulders.
Watching him show a drastic mood swing like Nangong Seong, Yu Hyun chuckled.
Talent?
That’s what it looked like?
“Hey.”
“…….”
“They say to comprehend the sword, you must swing it ten thousand days. Think footwork’s different?”
“…….”
“To awaken a single walk, I walked ten thousand—no, hundreds of thousands of times.”
“……Really?”
Ge Dusin furrowed his brow at Yu Hyun’s murmur-like words.
He’d think what’s that about, since it was just mimicking after one look.
But this was what future you said while getting your ass kicked by me. And on top……
“Walk the same. Follow my footprints exactly. Depth, distance, force. Practice ten thousand or tens of thousands of times until perfect. That’s your first training.”
*Crunch.* Finally paying back in kind.
Let’s see you walk till your soles peel off.
So sore you can’t sleep……
“…….”
Ge Dusin still stared blankly, but Yu Hyun ignored it.
He’d shown it; now Ge Dusin had to learn.
If not? He’d teach him what rage feels like.
“Seong.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, cry then laugh. Repeat.”
“……Yes. But where are you going, Uncle?”
“Got somewhere to be.”
“Where?”
“Righteous Alliance archive.”
“…….”
“Can’t accept it. Reaching that realm with mere talent…… I won’t lose. Never…….”
Leaving behind Nangong Seong, who couldn’t hide his curiosity, and Ge Dusin, kneeling before the footprints muttering to himself, Yu Hyun headed to the Righteous Alliance archive.
To find the clue to the Millennium Purple Tablet slumbering in the history records.