Finding Pearls in the Mud (2)
There were still martial arts manuals that no one recognized the true value of or that were undervalued.
Paat!
I hurriedly left the inner power heart method section and headed to where the footwork manuals were gathered.
Earlier, while sparring with Little Dragon Blade Peng Jincheon, I'd come to realize the importance of footwork.
'Unfortunately, this Cheonmu Library doesn't have any outstanding footwork or lightness skills.'
Still, there was one decent footwork technique available. No, it wasn't proper footwork but rather a mere trick consisting of a single pattern. Yet, when mastered correctly, it unleashed terrifying power in real combat.
"As expected, no one here knows its true worth."
Amid the footwork manuals thick with dust, I found one shabby-looking book. It was a manual called the Reverse Step Secret Manual.
'This Reverse Step, meaning to step backward, is an incredibly useful technique.'
Unlike formalized footwork with set movements, it simply involved stepping back—in game terms, a backstep. It was a method to swiftly retreat backward, allowing me not only to dodge an opponent's ambush depending on the situation but also to lure them into my territory. For someone like me who favored close-quarters combat, it was exactly what I needed.
'Martial artists dismissed this Reverse Step as just a stupid retreat backward.'
With no one properly appreciating it, no one bothered to learn it, naturally leading to its neglect. Even in this Cheonmu Academy, popular among young later-generation talents, no one practiced it, leaving it buried under layers of dust.
'Heh, don't worry—I'll make real use of this Reverse Step.'
Having mastered the Ox-Step Thousand-Li Heart Method followed by the Reverse Step, I was thrilled. Knowing in detail its effects and true power—something only I did—felt like unearthing buried treasure.
"One more to go."
Compared to the previous two, there was one more that was somewhat famous but still obscure and non-mainstream. I turned toward the fist-leg technique manuals.
What I planned to learn wasn't fist techniques or leg techniques. Not even foot techniques or kicking methods—it was a highly unique martial art.
'Known as the Half Dragon Knee.'
The Half Dragon Knee was a unique technique using the knee, and it was one of the martial arts I'd devised as a child. Back then, I loved stand-up striking arts, especially Muay Thai. So, inspired by Muay Thai's signature knee strikes, I'd created a technique and adapted that idea into proper murim style—that was the Half Dragon Knee.
'Because of its bizarre image of using the knee, the Half Dragon Knee is shunned as a non-mainstream, unpopular technique.'
A few Sapa warriors who valued practicality might have taken interest, but the mainstream Orthodox faction, obsessed with their supposed elegance, deemed it unsightly and avoided it. But I thought differently. If it contributed to victory, no matter how unrefined it looked, I welcomed it with open arms.
"I'll borrow these three manuals."
When I told the library keeper I wanted to check out the Ox-Step Thousand-Li Heart Method, Reverse Step Secret Manual, and Half Dragon Knee,
"Pfft!"
He didn't hold back his sneer. In his eyes, I must have looked like some clueless kid hitting puberty late, stubbornly borrowing only the techniques no one else touched—probably hilarious.
'But just watch.'
I was confident these three techniques would make me the top talent in Cheonmu Academy.
"Normally, the loan period is one month... but since no one ever borrows these three, make it two—no, three months. Just return them properly."
Despite the sneer, he'd given me a fair deal, so I was satisfied. All that remained was to master these three through grueling effort.
Life in the intermediate class of Cheonmu Academy was going smoothly. I'd achieved what the original protagonist Cheon Myeong dreamed of—learning the academy's martial arts and advancing steadily—but I hadn't managed the romance part. Excluding that, I was living the prime of youth in the martial world.
"Huff, huff... impressive. Your skills have shot up lately."
Today, as usual, after our friendly spar, a weary Peng Jincheon looked at me in astonishment. Beyond the academy's martial arts classes, we squeezed in one-on-one spars during free time—and incredibly, day by day, I was overwhelming Peng Jincheon, this world's top-tier prodigy.
'It's all thanks to the Ox-Step Thousand-Li Heart Method, Reverse Step, and Half Dragon Knee that everyone mocked.'
Peng Jincheon was impressed too; it even broke his stubborn insistence on only learning Northern Peng Clan techniques.
"Jincheon, I'll teach you, so learn the Reverse Step. It'll definitely help your blade arts too."
He'd been eyeing the Reverse Step most among the pearls I'd dug from the mud, so I lent him the manual without hesitation. Plenty of loan time left anyway—no worries.
"What do I do to repay you? I haven't done anything for you."
"What do you mean? Friends help each other."
Just exchanging friendship with my favorite character Peng Jincheon was joy enough. In the original story, he walked a different path from the protagonist Cheon Myeong, becoming a symbol of the established Orthodox powers, forcing them into opposition.
'This must be the remake direction my maternal uncle wanted.'
Not just monopolizing fortuitous encounters and martial arts, but activating protagonist Cheon Myeong's connections and enjoying them—that was a key point of the remake too.
"When vacation comes, I'll formally invite you to our Northern Peng Clan. Come relax without worry."
And unexpectedly, I'd forged deep ties with a central figure of one of the prestigious families—killing two birds with one stone.
"Thanks for the kind words."
As we built camaraderie, news arrived.
"Intermediate class students Cheon Myeong and Peng Jincheon, don your neat training uniforms and prepare to meet Vice Academy Head Dan Ri-cheong."
Out of nowhere, Dan Ri-cheong had summoned us? Swish! Wondering what it was about, Peng Jincheon and I exchanged glances. No matter how I thought, there was no reason to call us. No incidents, no clue why.
"You called for us?"
Putting aside our thoughts, we went to Dan Ri-cheong, who greeted us with his signature eccentric smile.
"Oho, it's been a while."
Dan Ri-cheong liked us both, especially me—a vice head showing interest in intermediate students was unprecedented, astonishing those around.
"Must've been a surprise. Anyway, at year's end, we're selecting talents to challenge the advanced class promotion exam."
"...!!"
"Pardon?"
Peng Jincheon and I were shocked again. We'd just entered intermediate class months ago—advanced promotion already?
"We'll gather top intermediate talents to spar with the lowest advanced class students. Sound fun?"
Fun? Maybe, but intermediate or advanced, someone was getting crushed.
"First, we need to check who's strongest in intermediate. So, an internal evaluation. We'll select two representatives."
Two—we both sighed in relief. With Dan Ri-cheong's quirky nature, we'd feared he'd pit best friends like us against each other for one spot.
"You know I have high expectations for you two? For this vice head's sake, make the cut."
To sum up: select two to face advanced class bottom-feeders. Win, promote; lose, stay intermediate.
"Not just for my amusement—it's an opportunity for you."
Dan Ri-cheong's eyes turned serious. I fully agreed. Lately, Cheonmu Academy's reputation had dipped. Sects and families held back true talents; internal competitiveness weakened. So, he was pushing us fully by arranging this.
"Promote to advanced, and you'll break the record for fastest from beginner to advanced."
A huge honor for us, achievement for him, chance to make a martial name before graduation.
"What do you say? In?"
No need for words—we shouted in unison.
"Yes!"
With advanced promotion on the line, a massive frenzy swept the intermediate class. Even bottom-rankers joined, everyone vying for the two rep spots.
"...Thus, honoring Vice Head Dan Ri-cheong's will, we're giving two intermediate students a shot. It must be fair."
Intermediate instructor from Yagul Clan, Hero Road Sword Guest Yagul Daehwi, boomed.
"Since advanced promotion is one-on-one duels, rather than grades, we'll pick duel specialists."
With full participation, fairness was key.
"I'll be frank: leadership nominated Peng Jincheon and Cheon Myeong. Anyone doubting their qualifications and wants to challenge?"
Yagul Daehwi didn't hide it. Guys naturally rank themselves anyway.
Then—
"I accept Peng Jincheon. But..."
A hand shot up, glaring at me.
"I can't accept that servant-born Cheon Myeong."
He was Jeong Gu-jin, Fast Eagle Sword from Jeomchang Sect—one of the typical petty bullies in intermediate.
Jeong Gu-jin never shone in the original either—decent sword skills, but narrow-minded. His bigotry sparked a major incident fueling the Orthodox-Evil war via factionalism.
'Same as a kid or adult.'
That event was over a decade away, but the seeds showed now.
"Challenging Cheon Myeong?"
Yagul Daehwi asked. Jeong Gu-jin jumped.
"Of course."
He seemed confident. I got his angle.
'If he uses Jeomchang Sect arts over academy ones, he thinks he'll win.'
But here's the thing? I hadn't been twiddling thumbs either. Now, I had the chance to prove these treasure-like neglected techniques in combat. And show my skills to the arrogant later-gen talents from Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families who still undervalued me.