The Art of Transference

Just as Elder Hae was about to reach out to save him, Ak Hong-hyang dove into the water with the grace of a mermaid and pulled Bukjin to safety. A moment later, Bukjin surfaced, clinging to her back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like a limp squid. His legs were wrapped tightly around her waist, and his hands were firmly planted on her shapely chest...

Han Bul-bu’s eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight. By the time they hauled Bukjin onto the deck, he was bloated with seawater. He looked utterly exhausted, resembling a mother who had just endured a grueling labor. Ak Hong-hyang’s face, meanwhile, was flushed a deeper shade of red than ever before.

It took a long while for Bukjin to finally come to his senses. It was then that a voice called out from the distance.

"Hahaha! Watching Im Bukjin perform his little underwater dance has certainly broadened my horizons!"

Another boat was approaching. Standing on its deck were Dong Bang-jeon, Mo U-chon, and Jeong Seok. It was a meeting of enemies on a narrow bridge. Dong Bang-jeon laughed uproariously, as if he had just discovered a new continent.

"Truly shocking! Who knew Im Bukjin possessed such peerless martial prowess that he could even dance beneath the waves? Well, I suppose the victory in the team match is already in the bag for us!"

Bukjin struggled to stand, intending to unleash a torrent of curses at Dong Bang-jeon, but a sudden wave of nausea hit him. Instead of insults, he ended up retching seawater all over the deck. By the time he finished vomiting and was ready to retaliate, Dong Bang-jeon’s boat had already sailed past them, leaving only the sting of humiliation behind.

For the next half-hour, everyone tried various methods to help Bukjin overcome his fear of deep water. They offered encouragement, shared swimming techniques, and even gave live demonstrations, but Bukjin remained paralyzed by his phobia.

"I'll... I'll try to handle this on my own," Bukjin said weakly.

"Dean Hae, and the rest of the teachers... you can head back first. I feel too much pressure with everyone watching. I keep getting this irrational anxiety that someone is going to push me back in..."

Elder Hae and the instructors, left with nothing more to say, lowered a small boat and departed. Left alone on the deck with his teammates, Bukjin felt a wave of shame wash over him.

There goes my image of being a cool, aloof genius.

"Everyone, feel free to take a break. I have something important to take care of..."

With those words, Bukjin retreated to a corner and discreetly activated his smartphone’s Wi-Fi function. He began scanning for signals. Soon, a list appeared on the screen.

Ak Hong-hyang and Han Bul-bu are at full bars, as expected. But Mi Yeo-yeon is also at five bars? That’s surprising. We’ve only known each other for two days—why does she trust me so much?

Even more surprising was Baek Geum-un. Her signal was only at three bars.

Huh? Is that little brat wary of me for some reason?

He shot a suspicious glance at Baek Geum-un, a pang of guilt hitting him. Wait, did she find out I pocketed the 1,400 taels I told Elder Hae I was using for 'training fees'?

"Listen up. I'm about to tell you something incredibly important, so pay close attention."

Before connecting the Wi-Fi signals, Bukjin decided he needed a plausible excuse. This was the real reason he had sent the teachers away; older, more experienced martial artists were much harder to fool.

"Wait. Can I say something first?" Baek Geum-un asked, raising her hand.

"No," Bukjin shot her down immediately.

"As the team leader, you just need to listen to me. I am about to reveal a massive secret. The reason my father, the War God Im Geun-nam, was able to remain undefeated on the battlefield wasn't just due to his absolute strength and tactical genius. He possessed a secret technique that defies the heavens. Its name is... The Art of Transference (Gae-ui-sin-gong). It is a divine skill that allows one to share their power with a select few comrades."

Bukjin began weaving a complex web of lies, trying his best to explain his mysterious power in a way that sounded logical within the context of this world.

"I've heard of that before," Mi Yeo-yeon interjected.

"I've heard that the Imperial Army possesses such secret techniques. They go by many names—some call it the Mystic Link Art, others the Chain Link Secret Art, or even the Oil-Filling Grand Array Art. It's a type of formation that allows a group to share their strength for a short period. But I heard the requirements for the caster's cultivation and skill are incredibly high..."

Wait... what? You're telling me techniques like this actually exist in this world? Then what was the point of all that explaining I just did?

Mi Yeo-yeon continued, "However, I've never heard the name 'Art of Transference' before."

Of course you haven't, I just made it up...

"That's because it's a secret technique exclusive to my family," Bukjin said with a bright, confident smile. "Our version doesn't have such high requirements for the caster. I happen to have mastered a portion of it—though ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's not perfect yet. I'll demonstrate it now, so feel the change in your power."

With a few taps on his smartphone, Bukjin connected to the four Wi-Fi signals. At that exact moment, all four of them let out a simultaneous gasp.

"We are the only three who witnessed this," Dong Bang-jeon said, his voice full of certainty.

"Im Bukjin nearly drowned in the sea. He swallowed a massive amount of water before Ak Hong-hyang pulled him out," Mo U-chon added.

"We secretly recorded the whole thing with a Recording Stone. Senior Jo, you'll see for yourself once you watch this."

They handed the stone to Jo Pacheon. The footage inside clearly showed Bukjin flailing pathetically in the water, screaming for help, and later retching seawater on the deck. Jo Pacheon had been skeptical when he first heard the news, but seeing the evidence with his own eyes made him a believer.

"To think that Im Bukjin’s weakness was a fear of the ocean," Jo Pacheon remarked, sounding incredulous. "I never would have imagined it. Heh, what a pathetic wretch. To have a phobia of water while fighting a naval battle... Hahaha! He has only his own fate to blame."

Jeong Seok, a student who had been ranking in the upper-middle tier of the competition, spoke up. "Senior Jo, we can build our entire strategy around this weakness! When we face them, if we just manage to knock Im Bukjin into the water, he'll destroy himself without us even having to lift a finger."

Jeong Seok was thrilled to be on Jo Pacheon’s team. Desperate to get into the genius's good graces, he had already developed a murderous intent toward Bukjin.

Jo Pacheon nodded silently. He produced a bottle of wine and four bowls. The liquid inside was a beautiful, translucent jade-green. As he poured the wine, a crisp, ethereal fragrance filled the air. Just smelling it made Dong Bang-jeon feel his Hyeongi surge and his vision clear. He immediately realized the true nature of the drink.

A moment later, Im Yeok arrived in a hurry.

"Senior Jo," Im Yeok said, bowing respectfully. "A family matter came up, so I'm a bit late. My apologies."

Jo Pacheon was quite fond of Im Yeok. Aside from himself, Im Yeok was the strongest member of the team. Jo Pacheon intended to keep him as a close confidant if he performed well in this battle. If things went according to plan, he might even take Im Yeok back to White Cloud City with him.

With these thoughts in mind, Jo Pacheon smiled. "It's fine. Come, everyone, gather around. Tomorrow's battle is of the utmost importance. I won't say much else. Let us share this wine and celebrate our victory in advance."

Jo Pacheon raised his bowl, and the others followed suit, draining them in a single gulp. As the wine slid down their throats, a refreshing energy spread through their bodies. That coolness soon turned into a burning heat, stimulating their blood and causing their Hyeongi to erupt with power.

What is this?

Joy flooded the faces of the team members. Cultivation-boosting wine? To increase our power this much in such a short time! This is a literal treasure!

Jo Pacheon wasn't a disciple of White Cloud City for nothing; his resources were vast enough to share such precious medicinal wine with his teammates. They felt incredibly lucky to be under his leadership.

"It is the honor of a lifetime to fight alongside you, Senior Jo!" Jeong Seok exclaimed, unable to contain his loyalty. "I will give my all for you in tomorrow's battle. From now on, I will never refuse any command you give me!"

"Haha! Just thinking about the miserable state Im Bukjin will be in tomorrow makes me feel like a decade's worth of stress has vanished!" Mo U-chon added.

"We will surely win tomorrow," Im Yeok said with an arrogant smirk. "Except for Mi Yeo-yeon, the rest of Im Bukjin’s teammates are nothing but trash. Tomorrow, he will learn the price of betraying the Im family."

Jo Pacheon gave a calm smile. "Our team is, quite literally, a dream team. Hahaha! I have prepared a sword technique for us today. It is called the Five-Star Rotation (O-seong-seon). It is a combined martial art perfectly suited for the five of us. Tonight, we shall enjoy this wine and master this technique! No one leaves until they are drunk on power!"

The team members beamed, eagerly anticipating more of that jade-green wine.

Back on Bukjin’s boat.

"Hahaha! We're definitely going to win tomorrow!" Baek Geum-un laughed, hoisting her greatsword toward the sky.

"The Art of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Transference is incredible," Ak Hong-hyang said, her face full of wonder. "Even if it's only temporary, to think we can exert the power of a 2nd-grade Master Rank! It's almost frightening!"

Han Bul-bu was also struggling to contain his overwhelming joy. "Tomorrow, we win!"

Mi Yeo-yeon looked as if she were in a dream. "I never imagined a secret technique like the military's Mystic Link could be this effective. My cultivation just reached the 3rd-grade Master Rank! Senior Im, your Art of Transference is truly profound beyond measure! To think this is only a partial version... it's staggering!"

Bukjin laughed shamelessly. "Didn't I tell you? Our Space Conquest Team will rule the sea of stars! Those short-sighted fools who didn't join my team probably think ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they're so clever. Hahaha! In tomorrow's team match, we have only one goal: Victory! I have many more secret techniques prepared that I haven't even shown you yet. Tomorrow, we'll give everyone the shock of their lives!"

Wait...

The team name changed again?

When did we become the 'Space Conquest Team'...?

He changes the name way too fast...

Despite their internal confusion, the teammates couldn't help but agree with Bukjin. With the power of the Art of Transference he had shown them today, they felt tomorrow's battle would be a breeze. Even if they ran into Jo Pacheon’s team, they now had the confidence to crush them in a head-on collision. Bukjin had instilled in them a profound sense of absolute belief.