Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Chengdu Sichuan Tang Family Training Ground (3)
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What should I do?
To satisfy that curious, passion-filled man, what should I show him?
Before stepping into the spar, I stood still for a moment, lost in thought.
So many eyes on me. Expressions brimming with anticipation. A hint of doubt.
Those who hadn't personally felt the aura I emitted at the entrance that day probably couldn't easily believe the rumors.
That's why those skeptical glances. I understood.
So, I wanted to make all those looks vanish completely.
I wanted them to gaze at me in awe. To ensure this moment was etched in their memories forever.
Fine if they call me an exhibitionist. Vanity? I don't care.
If I can become someone's goal, plant a dream in someone's heart, wouldn't that be worthwhile?
Some might find it childish, grandiose, pathetic. But to others, it could be pure romance.
So, the choice and judgment are up to the beholders.
I'll just show them.
"Hoho. Pavilion Lord. So you're here."
As I pondered, the Tang Family Head's voice rang out.
Turning my head, I saw the Tang Family Head, Tang Cheol, and Elder Tang Gyu-so weaving through the crowd toward us.
"Training Hall Master. What now? The most skilled one is coming."
"Haha. Pavilion Lord! There's no such thing! You said you'd spar with me, didn't you!?"
The suddenly flustered Training Hall Master, Tang Ma-jeong.
Seeing him like that made me chuckle involuntarily. He'd been looking forward to it so much.
"Ma-jeong. Sparring, you say? Pavilion Lord, you plan to spar with Ma-jeong?"
The Tang Family Head asking that wasn't acting like the family head.
Poison King. Right now, that man was the Poison King, Tang Mun-jeong.
Eyes flickering with competitive spirit. Greed subtly rising as he eyed an opportunity.
"Well, that was the plan, but I've changed my mind. A simple spar won't cut it."
My words brought puzzled looks not just from Tang Ma-jeong, but from the Poison King and the other Tang retainers too.
But the moment the Poison King arrived, I'd made up my mind.
I knew exactly what I needed to do. What I had to show. The deliberation was over; certainty had taken hold.
"You there. Those are practice hidden weapons, right? Iron seeds?"
"Yes, Pavilion Lord."
When I pointed and asked, one of the Tang youths replied politely.
"Mind if I use them?"
"These? O-Of course! Please, go ahead!"
I nodded, then used Air Grasp to pull the tub full of iron seeds toward me through the air.
The tub flew smoothly from afar, landing perfectly in my hand.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock at the sight. Except for the Poison King and Tang Cheol.
Nothing beats Air Grasp for showmanship. It's just so damn cool.
With that, I extracted the entire bundle of iron seeds from the tub and slowly walked to the center of the training ground, holding them.
Dozens of gazes followed my every step.
The old me from long ago would've felt burdened, but now? Not in the least.
That's why having real power matters. It breeds confidence.
"For a long time, I've held the Sichuan Tang Family in high regard. The reason might sound a bit silly, but it's because of Full Sky Flower Rain."
Full Sky Flower Rain.
A hidden weapon technique where countless projectiles fill the sky, resembling a floral downpour over the world.
Some say it belongs to the Beggars' Sect, others to the Tang Family, but here, it's undoubtedly the Tangs' art.
The pinnacle technique only family heads can perform. The signature feat representing the Tang Family.
"My own talents aren't exceptional, but I've always admired Full Sky Flower Rain. So, I tried creating something similar in my own way. After investing quite some time, I managed a decent imitation. But there was one problem. I'd never actually seen Full Sky Flower Rain in person."
Puzzled expressions popped up here and there.
Faces wondering what on earth I was talking about.
Even Yeonhwa looked the same.
Seolha, as always, gazed at me with boundless trust, but Yeonhwa stared with a 'What the hell does that mean?' reaction.
"What I'll show you now can't be called Full Sky Flower Rain. It's my imagined version. So, I've named it Flying Iron Strike Annihilation."
With those words, I scattered the handful of iron seeds into the sky.
All eyes followed the flung seeds, which hovered without falling, spinning gently as they took position overhead.
Enraptured stares. Eyes unblinking, wide open.
Air Grasp is the basic inner energy control for Sword Control from Afar.
Projecting inner energy outside the body to exert physical force—that's qi.
Coat it on a sword, and it becomes sword qi. On a blade, blade qi.
Twist that qi thin and strong, and you get threads.
Sword threads. Blade threads.
Gather sword threads into an unbreakable density, and it becomes steel essence.
Sword steel. Blade steel.
The realm every martial artist with inner energy dreams of reaching at least once.
Qi, threads, and steel essence all possess physical force.
Being able to coat them on a sword means you can shape qi.
That's what enables Air Grasp.
Ejecting qi from the body to exert force and retrieve objects.
Nothing complicated. Just basic principles.
Of course... it's only possible once you can handle steel essence qi.
Then there's Sword Control from Afar.
A technique—or feat—where you levitate a sword in the air and control it at will.
It's steel essence qi too. Moving the sword with steel essence to your command.
Come to think of it, isn't this basically telekinesis?
Just powered by inner energy instead of something else.
Mana, chakra, psychic energy—doesn't matter. All paths lead to the same truth.
To some, the sun is the sun. To others, it is Taiyang (太陽).
The countless iron seeds, enveloped in my steel essence qi, neatly filled the space around me.
Sword Control from Afar isn't anything special. Do what I'm doing with a sword, and that's it.
Though handling this many swords wouldn't be easy.
To be precise, this is more like Hidden Weapon Control from Afar.
The problem is controlling or firing this many hidden weapons individually or simultaneously—it's incredibly difficult.
No matter the talent, no matter transcending human limits, it wouldn't be simple.
That's why I evened out the steel essence qi gripping the iron seeds, compressed it, then detonated it.
Inner energy compression, then explosion.
No different from Ink Sword Flash Step.
Just the difference between exploding it underfoot to propel yourself versus detonating it mid-air to launch the seeds.
The iron needles shot outward via the recoil, embedding densely in every direction.
Me, standing in the center of the training ground. Iron seeds packed thickly around me, filling the area.
This is Flying Iron Strike Annihilation. Projectiles flying to shred and obliterate all around.
Truth be told, the inspiration for this technique is the M18A1 Claymore mine.
What the military calls the Claymore. A device that, once you see it detonate, inspires both awe and terror.
What I did was essentially trigger one mid-air downward.
With the demonstration over, I surveyed my surroundings.
Satisfactory.
The faces looking at me were filled with shock.
Those still novices were stunned by the spectacle.
Those with some mastery, by the sheer power.
Ones like the Poison King, that elder, and Tang Cheol, who'd reached profound realms, were astonished by the depth.
That's the kind of technique it is. Feat.
Seeing their stunned expressions left me quite pleased.
Exactly the reaction I'd hoped for. Admiration and awe. Or respect, aspiration.
"My skills are lacking, so this Flying Iron Strike Annihilation is still quite crude. Thus, I entrust its perfection to you all. If it's the Sichuan Tang Family of the world, surely you can refine it beyond what I've shown. Isn't that right?"
As my words ended, everyone in the training ground erupted in cheers with a resounding "Wah!"
They just shouted. Yelling at each other, roaring at the top of their lungs.
And seeing it, I instantly understood why.
They'd been suppressed.
Pride in being the Sichuan Tang Family remained, but they'd been cowering, confined to this Tang Family stronghold.
These weren't such people. Sichuan was their land, their domain.
Having lost it all and gnashing their teeth in this cramped fort—obvious what their hearts held.
Frustrated, they'd felt wronged, indignant.
My demonstration of Flying Iron Strike Annihilation had touched that part of them. Stimulated it.
Me, displaying astonishing prowess, praising the Tang Family, and entrusting the future to them.
Of course their self-esteem and drive would blaze to life.
With the training ground event concluded, the Tang Family's hospitality grew even more lavish.
No. The hospitality itself was the same. It was how the retainers treated me that intensified.
Before, it was just as a distinguished guest.
The kind of courtesy you'd get in an expensive inn.
But now? Their gazes held respect and reverence.
Indeed, for martial artists, nothing beats showing your prowess.
What could be simpler?
That evening.
In Tang Qing Pavilion, as I pondered how to explore Seolha and Yeonhwa's bodies.
I sensed presences approaching from afar outside.
Familiar ones. The Tang Family Head and Tang Myeong-un.
What now? If there was something to say, he could've mentioned it over dinner earlier.
"Seolha. Yeonhwa. Get dressed. The Tang Family Head is coming."
Hearing me, the two hurriedly rose and dressed.
By the time they finished, the Tang Family Head stood at the door with Tang Myeong-un, clearing his throat with a "Ahem."
"Pavilion Lord. May I have a moment?"
"Come in."
The door opened, and the Tang Family Head entered. Poison King Tang Mun-jeong followed, quietly closing the door behind him.
"What urgent matter brings you here separately like this? Especially you, the family head. I'm just a guest—should've just summoned me."
"Hoho. How could I, when I'm the one with a favor to ask? It's only proper I come in person."
"A favor? What is it that's got you so grave?"
At that, the Tang Family Head looked at me with a solemn expression, his voice heavy as he spoke.
"I know the favors you've granted us already tower like mountains. Yet this is a grave matter, so shamelessly, I ask once more. Please... can you save this Tang Family's future?"
His words carried a sense of grim resolve.
And the end of that sentence grated particularly.
The Tang Family's future? Save it?
Hearing that, I had a good idea what he meant.
Probably about the young mistress who came with him, Tang Myeong-un.
"Alright. I was curious anyway. You're saying this because of that child, right? The one acting like a man despite being a woman?"
"As expected, you knew. Well, how could we hide from the Pavilion Lord's eyes? It must be as clear as palm-reading."
The Tang Family Head gave a wry smile. Seolha and Yeonhwa's eyes widened in confusion, not grasping the meaning.
See? I was right. Of course. I couldn't be wrong.
It's so obvious. Now, let's hear the story behind it.