Chapter 156 Auto Hunt
In any wuxia world, the concept of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements is bound to come up without fail.
It's like the truth that constitutes all things in creation and embodies the laws of the world.
Of course, it's a bit detached from real-world physics, but whatever. This is the martial world, after all.
"You're saying the two energies were originally one?"
"That's right. I'm not explaining in detail because my head hurts—not because I'm some Mundang shaman. I just sensed it intuitively. Sword Dragon, you can explain it better than me, no?"
Yeah, that made sense.
[Is it something like this?]
I recited Pa Cheon's speculation verbatim.
"Originally, no matter how extreme an energy becomes, a Taiji of yin and yang forms within it. Even something as scorching as the sun harbors yin inside, and even eternal ice as cold as the abyss contains yang."
"Exactly."
"So even a pure bolt of thunder energy is actually a intertwining of yin thunder and yang thunder."
"That's precisely what I meant. That's why I thought the energy I've cultivated and yours were originally one and the same."
"How could such a thing be possible?"
Paeng Yu-gun, gripping his massive saber as if stretching his wrists, spoke up.
"It was common even a hundred years ago for martial arts lineages to split based on interpretations. As natural as hitting a fork in the road and parting ways. Even our Paeng Family had a powerful branch family break off a few hundred years back."
"Was their surname Do by any chance?"
"Huh? No idea. I don't remember trivial details like that."
"Then what changed that trend in just a hundred years?"
"The Heavenly Demon Blood Pact. They realized uniting as one was far stronger than scattering in all directions."
That was Paeng Yu-gun's explanation, but I had a different hunch.
It wasn't that lineages split due to differing interpretations—maybe Yakseon and Three Joys Saber Castle originated from the same person to begin with.
[That's a leap too far— No, scratch that.]
'Right? Doesn't even feel like a leap anymore, does it?'
Not some "Everything is the Heavenly Demon" nonsense.
Yakseon's true identity being the First Heavenly Demon.
The First Heavenly Demon wasn't some curly-haired little sister from a drama, so why so many nicknames for a single name?
Based on the inscriptions on the Demonless Wall, the First Heavenly Demon had already earned various epithets before claiming the title of Heavenly Demon. Maybe the alt-account shenanigans came after retiring as Heavenly Demon.
'Plus, according to Hyeok Mun, the First Heavenly Demon made some pact with the evil dragon, the Red Dragon. So yeah, they might've actually wielded thunder energy.'
[True enough. We're Heavenly Demon Divine Cult members in truth, yet in the martial world, we're the Eastern Sword Dragon, Yakseon's descendants, and even the Tang Clan's sealed lord.]
'Gotta make my own Demonless Wall someday.'
[Don't talk nonsense.]
Paeng Yu-gun continued.
"Even if the origins are the same, sorting out master-disciple ties after centuries is pointless. But if they truly share a root, you could probably master Noe Yeong-do in a month."
"A whole month?"
"That's generous, considering you already handle thunder energy. Noe Yeong-do is no easy art."
Paeng Yu-gun stopped twirling his saber and pointed the tip straight at me.
He'd been chuckling like a goofy old man moments ago, but now he radiated the aura of a grandmaster.
I knew he had no intent to kill, yet with that blade aimed at me, my mouth went dry as dust.
"Noe Yeong-do isn't a saber art with fixed forms."
"No forms at all?"
"None."
Paeng Yu-gun nodded.
"Noe Yeong-do builds on the Three Fundamentals Sword Method. You know what that is."
"Pressing the Top of Mount Tai, Sweeping Across Thousand Armies, Thrusting Forward on the Finger Road, right?"
"Correct. All swordplay starts with those three."
He explained that Noe Yeong-do began by infusing thunder energy into those three motions.
"You've handled thunder energy, so you know—perfect control is impossible. It bounces everywhere."
[Spot on.]
I relayed Pa Cheon's words. Paeng Yu-gun nodded with a "Precisely" and went on.
"Noe Yeong-do takes that into account. Thunder energy can't be controlled; it zigzags wildly. But that doesn't just apply to you."
Pazzzzt—!
Scarlet thunder surged along Paeng Yu-gun's saber again. He swung lightly.
Slash—
I hadn't sensed a thing, yet a scorch mark now scarred the training hall floor.
It mimicked the jagged shape of a lightning bolt.
"You let the uncontrollable nature of thunder flow into your blade. Even the same slash becomes infused with profound, unpredictable changes."
[……!]
"So those simple three motions hold infinite variations."
[Impossible.]
As soon as Paeng Yu-gun finished, Pa Cheon muttered.
[If the Saber King speaks true, the variations are truly endless. But even the wielder couldn't predict their own strikes. That would—]
"Think it ruins the foundation of martial arts? Since even you can't control your own attacks?"
Paeng Yu-gun cut in, as if reading Pa Cheon's mind.
"……Yes. Exactly."
"That's why it's hard. Especially for someone like you, who's forged your own path to Super Peak. Your head's too rigid."
"Not easy, then."
"There's a way."
Paeng Yu-gun grinned wickedly, lips curling ominously.
"Wh-what is it?"
"Martial arts aren't for bookworms, Sword Dragon. You use your body."
"……Pardon?"
"Don't understand the changes? Doesn't matter. Hammer it into your body, and it'll come naturally."
……I'd forgotten.
The Paeng Family believed that if your brain was no good, grow your body instead—a pack of crazy machos.
The problem was.
'Body-to-body, and my cover's blown for sure.'
I'm hopelessly clumsy.
I can mimic forms if I focus on acting, but it's just mimicry. A supposed Super Peak expert can't show jerky, awkward moves.
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you—"
Before he finished, Pa Cheon activated the Time Wheel Jade.
The Saber King was already upon me, saber swinging.
He wasn't slashing in earnest—more like demonstrating the art—so it wasn't his full terrifying speed from before.
Still absurdly fast, even in slowed time.
'Fuck, finish talking before swinging. Impatient geezer.'
[What now?]
'What do you mean? Backing out now would look weirder.'
[Fair point.]
'One way: stick to the concept.'
[Con…… what?]
'Your role's key.'
I blinked back with Flicker Step.
Paeng Yu-gun's brow twitched.
"Sword Dragon. Dodging won't teach you. Clash blades."
"You're right, elder. However."
I sat cross-legged right there.
"……What're you doing?"
"Training."
Paeng Yu-gun looked dumbfounded.
"True training means moving your feet and swinging your arms yourself."
"Do you know why I use Flying Sword?"
"'Cause it looks cool? Flying Sword's always weaker than hands-on."
"……No."
"Then what?"
"It's training for Formless Sword Gang."
Pure bullshit.
But with my all-in acting, Paeng Yu-gun bought it hook, line, and sinker.
"I see! Strengthening qi control via Flying Sword?"
"Something like that."
"Right. Mixing Formless Sword Gang with thunder in Flying Sword mode? That's no ordinary feat. Most can't even muster sword qi with Flying Sword."
Suddenly, Paeng Yu-gun pitied me.
"To reach that realm, your dantian and meridians must've torn thousands, tens of thousands of times in agony. Yet you stick to it?"
"To grow stronger, I must."
"I acknowledge you, Sword Dragon. I was arrogant. You're a true man!"
Red energy rose from Paeng Yu-gun, like boiling crimson steam. Then, in a flash, it turned to thunder.
His already massive frame swelled even larger, like pumped iron.
"Since you're sincere, I'll match it. Come—dance blades with Flying Sword!"
[……Even half-sincere would do.]
Still cross-legged, I told Pa Cheon.
'Fighting spirit.'
[Fight…… what?]
'Do your best.'
[Ugh. If I had hands, I'd grab your collar.]
'It's your body.'
[Shut it.]
Chit-chat ended.
True-mode Paeng Yu-gun charged, saber flashing.
Boom!
Not blades clashing—more like a bomb blast.
[Guh! Crazy old bastard!]
Pa Cheon, resisting Paeng Yu-gun's immense power, was slowly pushed back.
"What're you doing? Ignite your thunder!"
[Hup!]
Pa Cheon drew on purified Red Dragon thunder, clashing with the saber.
"Good! More!"
Paeng Yu-gun met it with greater force and speed, as if waiting.
Pa Cheon kept getting pushed.
I trusted it. The cutting-edge wuxia AI, Pa Cheon.
Trapped by the Absolute Meridian curse, it'd endlessly delved into theory.
No warrior I'd met matched its theoretical depth.
And now, freed from fleshly limits, it could apply theory in combat.
[I see. So that's it? Even if my thunder is yin-dominant, it splits into yin and yang within. Motion is yang, stillness yin. Yin seeks yang, so accumulating yin builds a bolt—]
There it went.
[Got it. Noe Yeong-do isn't random. Trajectories are calculable. Hah!]
Pa Cheon roared. Lightning-wrapped, it zigzagged at blinding speed.
"?!"
Paeng Yu-gun's eyes widened.
Saber met Pa Cheon.
Their paths were eerily similar.
"What in the world?"
Paeng Yu-gun muttered in shock.
What else?
Auto-hunt OP as hell.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon