Level Difference (2)
Dan Jin recoiled in shock as he spoke. He had almost no prior information on me, so his surprise was only natural.
"I learned a move from Gabul."
I grinned and followed up with the next motion. Taeryeok Cheolgang Gong, the external art Gabul had personally devised—while it lacked the profound aura of Buddhist profundity, it was still detectable enough for a Shaolin disciple.
Gabul's personally devised external art.
"From Elder Gabul?!"
Dan Jin seemed more shocked by that fact than by my fist and leg techniques, his momentum waverering from the very start.
"The Buddha guided me here."
Wasn't this what they meant by Buddhist karma in the temple? As I said that, I settled into a focused duel.
Dan Jin was no pushover. But luckily for me, he was shaken by external factors.
I can't miss this golden opportunity.
"Haaap!"
With that thought, I unleashed the forms of Tu Gye Jin Kwon without mercy.
Pabababang!
My all-out assault instantly dominated the space around Dan Jin, forcing him to stagger back.
Subduing demons stance.
Even as his balance crumbled and chaos reigned, Dan Jin displayed extraordinary skill. The technique he was using was none other than Bokma Kwon, one of Shaolin's signature arts and part of the Seventy-Two Arts—a fist method said to flatten even the myriad demons.
Kwaaaang!
Despite the disadvantage, Dan Jin executed Bokma Kwon to nullify my attack.
Pububuk!
In that brief gap, he struck my side, but I didn't flinch.
My attainment in Taeryeok Cheolgang Gong has already surpassed the third star, enough to withstand attacks infused with internal energy.
I felt no impact at all. Instead, by offering my side, I successfully kicked Dan Jin's peach bone.
Thuk!
With a dull thud, Dan Jin felt electricity course through his body, his foot rooted to the spot.
From my memory, Dan Jin wasn't a particularly memorable character among Shaolin's Dan-generation disciples.
Yet his skills were so refined and powerful—it was astonishing in the face of Shaolin's thousand-year legacy.
Waaaaah!
The spectators and even the instructors erupted in cheers at the sight of me matching, then overwhelming, Shaolin's second-generation disciple Dan Jin.
We traded solid blows, but while I perfectly blocked his side strike with absolute defenseTaeryeok Cheolgang Gong, Dan Jin's peach bone took the full brunt. Tit for tat, but mine hit harder.
"Ugh!"
A pained groan escaped Dan Jin, a Shaolin disciple taught to endure as a virtue. Anyone who's taken a hit to the peach bone knows it's no ordinary vital point.
I respect Shaolin, but I have no choice.
I must advance to the upper class and seize every advantage and perk in Cheonmu Academy.
Tuuk, tuk!
I lightly thrust a straight fist to dazzle and lure his eyes.
Diamond Step footwork.
As expected, Dan Jin seized the opening with his footwork, sliding up beside me. Pride wouldn't let him back down now—he wanted to prove he was the strongest fist-and-leg master in the mid-class.
A feint!
But what now? As I said before, my attack was just bait.
Reverse Step from Cheonmu Library.
The one technique from the three I acquired at Cheonmu Library that I hadn't used yet. Time for Ban Bo.
Pa-aaang!
Irritated, I backstepped perfectly with Ban Bo, leaving Dan Jin exposed just as planned.
Now's the moment!
I sensed this was the perfect chance. The normally cautious and steady Dan Jin wouldn't fall for such a crude lure otherwise. This was my one shot.
"Hap!"
Time to end it. I unleashed Tu Gye Jin Kwon forms relentlessly at his unguarded back.
Fighting Cock Wind Wave form.
Pubububuk!
Compared to Shaolin's great arts, Tu Gye Jin Kwon was less than a drop of bird's blood. But victory hinges not on technique level, but on perfect placement.
And Tu Gye Pung Pa proved it, smashing splendidly into Dan Jin's back!
"Eugh!"
Dan Jin groaned, his stance crumbling.
Kuung!
He dropped to one knee but barely avoided collapsing. The meaning was clear.
"Ooh, oooh!"
With the verdict in, mid-class instructor Yagul Daehwi—who'd harbored doubts about me—roared first, forgetting even to declare the winner in his immersion.
And not just him.
"As expected! That's my friend!"
Peng Jincheon clenched his fist and shook it triumphantly before the spectators who'd hoped for my defeat. For the usually solemn Peng Jincheon, it was an unusually passionate reaction that drew a chuckle from me.
Peng Jincheon had this side to him?
Wuwaaaah!
The young spectators and instructors echoed the amazement. They'd expected a razor-thin, grueling win either way, so this stunned them. Sure, minor conditions favored me, but it proved I was stronger and superior to Dan Jin.
"Huu. Good work."
I extended a hand to Dan Jin, kneeling and tasting bitter defeat.
"Amitabha."
He grasped it with eyes acknowledging everything.
"I never imagined you'd have ties to Elder Gabul."
I smiled belatedly at his words.
"'Elder'? Gabul would've smacked you for that."
One thing clear: Dan Jin knew Gabul well enough to know they weren't close.
"Well-deserved. I see why Elder Gabul taught you a move."
Pain of defeat aside momentarily, Dan Jin was young and promising. He'd grow stronger from this loss.
"Cheon Myeong's victory!"
Only after our friendly reconciliation did Yagul Daehwi declare my win.
Yes!
Not yet officially mid-class reps, but I clenched my fist. The instructors' and students' gazes had shifted.
Many believed my streak was luck or favoritism from Vice Head Dan Ri-cheong, due to my lowly servant origins and lack of prestigious backing.
And I shattered those prejudices spectacularly.
I proved the level gap against Jeong Gu-jin of Jeomchangpa and Dan Jin of Shaolin, who'd underestimated me.
"Anyone else want to challenge or participate?"
Yagul Daehwi, unusually emotional today, scanned the kids.
"…."
Naturally, no mid-class students stepped up. They'd realized: in Cheonmu Academy's mid-class at least, Peng Jincheon and I were on another level.
"Good. Then Cheon Myeong and Peng Jincheon are our mid-class reps!"
With Yagul Daehwi's shout, we'd finally qualified for the upper-class promotion duel.
"Congratulations. Impressive."
Dan Ri-cheong summoned us immediately upon hearing, praising lavishly.
And more.
"The promotion duel is end of year, so plenty of time left. Thus… I'll grant you free time and vacation."
Dan Ri-cheong dropped a bombshell. Vacation outside scheduled holidays? Huge reward.
"Yes?"
"For real?"
Peng Jincheon and I exchanged stunned glances.
Wholly unexpected.
"Yes, but no slacking on training or causing trouble. Got it?"
Dan Ri-cheong smiled. He knew we weren't the type.
"Yes."
"Yep!"
In unison, we left his office. Our steps back to the dorms were so light, I found myself humming.
Cheonmu Academy life was great, save one regret: stingy on outings and overnights.
"Cheon Myeong, with vacation, wanna visit my Northern Peng Clan in Hebei?"
Peng Jincheon made a tempting offer. He'd said similar before; I'd assumed jokes to be nice. As direct heir, bringing a servant like me would draw eyes.
But he was serious.
"Sorry, can't. Got something important."
I clasped hands apologetically. Regrettable, but necessary.
"Aw, too bad. Next time for sure."
Peng Jincheon yielded, soon heading home to not waste his rare vacation.
Now alone after he left.
Reason I declined Northern Peng Clan: simple.
Time to harvest spirit herbs.
I knew this world inside out, most fortuitous encounters mapped. With my arts leveled, prime time for spirit herbs.
Obviously, low skill or comprehension turns even top herbs useless.
Without capacity to absorb, they're just fancy fertilizer.
With Shin Hwa Sim Beop attainment rising and other arts advancing, I needed more internal energy. Nothing beats spirit herbs for that. Realms growing—perfect timing.
"Currently, first year of Jincheon Era, autumn."
Early world timeline. No revealed spots near Hebei's Cheonmu Academy? I pondered, then:
"Yes! That's perfect."
I recalled it quickly. A place revealed only in Jincheon Era year 5!
Unknown to all now, even its owners unaware of the spirit herb!
There, pristine, untouched spirit herbs awaited me.
Harvest there.
Then consume to raise my realm.