Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Historically, That Was the Medicine, Right? (2)
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As I cracked my knuckles and conveyed that I'd personally teach him not just one technique, but thirty or forty,
the first to voice concern from my master's position at my waist was a question laced with worry.
- But, my disciple. Looking at that Yin Ha-seong or whatever his name is, that scum, he seems solidly in the ranks of a true expert who can wield his qi properly. You sure about this?
Good grief, Master. Do you still not trust this disciple of yours?
I'm starting to feel a bit hurt here?
- You fool. My worry isn't the kind of thing you're imagining.
'Then what?'
- I'm worried you might straight-up kill that worthless scoundrel. Given the situation, wouldn't it be a problem if you actually took him out?
Ah, so that's the direction your concern was going?
"Straight-up kill" meaning sending him off to the afterlife, right?
- Exactly! You've got a sense of it too, don't you? The power of the Heaven-Splitting Divine Art I taught you?
I know.
I know it all too well.
No matter how miraculous the Manbak Heart-Protecting Pill is said to be, without the overwhelming aura produced by the Heaven-Splitting heart formula, it couldn't have straightened out my tangled internals.
If the Wudang Clan's foundational art stems from Taiji with its Four-Two Thousand Catty Force,
ours stems from Reverse Heaven—defying power—with Four-Two Thousand Catty Breaking Force, you could say?
It can unleash tremendous power even with a handful of inner energy.
For example, just as Master worries, if I release the inner energy settled in my dantian according to the heart formula, a guy like Yin Ha-seong in front of me—who can't yet wrap his body in protective aura—would get a hole punched through his torso.
So, I could understand Master's concern.
But Master's worry was nothing more than an old man's overcaution.
'That level's plenty handled with the Three Disasters Sword Technique, don't you think?'
- ???
I'd sliced Bang Cheon-deok—the leader whose name proudly adorned the rosters of the seventy-two Green Forest Bandit Lairs—using pseudo-sword qi with the efficiency of a leaky shit-fueled engine, back when my body was like a sandbag strapped all over compared to now. And that was without even counting past lives.
'And that was with sword forms equivalent to the Three Disasters Sword Technique, which you could buy for five coins in the marketplace by local standards.'
Of course, I'd used a bit of a cheat back then.
But even so, my body now—having undergone a full shed and rebirth—was worlds apart from then.
Plus, I could still pull that 'cheat' anytime if needed, and the opponent's quality had dropped sharply.
'Sure, Yin Ha-seong looks like he's got superior bone structure and inner energy compared to Bang Cheon-deok, raised on elixirs and the finest meals three times a day.'
Compared to Bang Cheon-deok, who seemed seasoned through plenty of real combat, Yin Ha-seong's emitted sword intent was as dull as his frivolous personality.
So, there was nothing to worry about.
A flower-in-a-greenhouse young master like that—even if a wagon-load came charging—I could deliver a proper schooling with appropriate force control, using just my current skill and bolstered inner energy.
Anyway.
While I was dealing with Master's overcaution and loosening my stiff body from sitting cross-legged all day before starting the lesson,
Yin Ha-seong's already crooked eyebrows twisted even more, until his mouth finally opened.
"Ha. What the hell is this punk doing?"
His tone carried the arrogance of "What the fuck do you think you're doing in front of me?" and the implication to know my place.
I'd caught the hidden meaning ages ago, but to irritate him further, I pretended ignorance and spoke up.
"You got dementia or something? Didn't you just ask with your own mouth if I was the owner of the platinum-fringed Gratitude Token? I said probably, and now you've forgotten already? Your big sis has a rep across the world for her sharp wits, but the little bro's a total dimwit, huh?"
"D-Dimwit?"
"Means your gourd's rotten. Something we toss around at idiots now and then. Oh, and the gourd's your head, FYI?"
"Ha. Hahaha!"
Provoked, Yin Ha-seong laughed like a maniac for a moment.
So, I laughed along.
"Hahaha."
Then, he abruptly stopped, grinding his teeth as he started sneering.
"What the fuck is this trash? Can't tell heaven from earth, got eyes that ate shit, looks like shit, loosening your fists like shit, mouth like an uneducated beggar—low-class as fuck. But no knot on the sash at your waist, so not a Beggars' Sect bum?"
Eh?
From "can't tell heaven from earth" to "eyes that ate shit"—isn't that just his self-introduction?
Having opened with sneers like that, Yin Ha-seong slowly scanned me up and down, judging me by his warped standards.
"Ah, I get it. That gigolo face—probably snuck in and out of someone's inner quarters, hiding in the sewers or some shit?"
His bullshit was so absurd I didn't even know where to start debunking, so I just gave up thinking, crossed my arms, and listened with a 'Let's see how your judgment ends up' attitude.
Yin Ha-seong's judgment of me wrapped up soon enough.
"Sis acts all high and mighty, but she's fallen for trash like you. I don't think much of her either, but for the Silver Radiance Family's honor, I'll remind you of the saying: Don't eye a tree you can't climb."
I'd half-expected it, but he'd slotted me into the category of people he could look down on.
Well, it wouldn't be human if his judgment process—treating people like third-rate thugs—didn't twist his discernment, but I welcomed his conclusion itself.
'To sum it up neatly: Both Yin Ha-seong and I see each other as fair game to beat the shit out of.'
I grinned and shot back.
"Talk about delusions. Your imagination's pretty wild, though—why don't you stop eyeing the Southern Jiang Merchant King spot you can't reach and try writing pulp novels instead?"
"What?"
"Nah, scratch that. Don't write. Your imagination's decent, but it's so lowbrow it'd insult the bamboo in the scrolls or the mulberry paper."
I'd thrown back the same "Don't eye a tree you can't climb" proverb, but while he'd missed the mark entirely, I'd perfectly parodied his situation and flung his own words right back at him.
Shing!
The Silver Radiance young master, used only to sycophants groveling before him, couldn't hold back anymore and drew his sword from his waist.
He charged at me like a mad bull.
"Let's see if you can spout that shit after I lop off one arm!"
For an instant, sword intent poured out.
Despite his looks, he'd solidly broken through to first-class, so my arm tingled faintly, but inwardly, I tsked in disappointment rather than alarm.
'Why even say crap like that if that's where you're aiming?'
Immature. So immature.
Thanks to Yin Ha-seong's immaturity, I bought a split-second and flicked my gaze to Escort Leader Eun Jeong-gil.
'He drew first, right? Escort Leader Eun, you're my witness?'
Even in this pinch, it was pretty urgent.
But I had to nail this down.
To ensure the upcoming lesson's aftermath was ironclad self-defense, I spent that split-second securing it.
Screeeeech!!!
By then, Yin Ha-seong was right in my face, swinging his sword down at my left arm with all his might.
But since my left arm had been tingling from the start, his sword path was no surprise—zero threat.
So, even as the sharp blade whistled down, I had a bit of leisure.
'Master, pardon the rudeness.'
Of course, leisure only up to here.
With a quick backward lean, I gripped the hilt of Regret at my left waist, channeled inner energy, and drew with full force.
Clang!!!!
That alone perfectly blocked Yin Ha-seong's strike.
The two nearby were startled by my move.
"?!"
One was naturally Yin Ha-seong, who'd pegged me as street-thug level.
- A kid from a fist-art family who hasn't properly learned sword forms, saying Three Disasters is enough, acting chill even after the opponent draws—watching to see what you'd do, and damn, that's efficient movement!
The other was Master, reduced to holding the sheath in my hand.
- Exactly! Giving up close range is risky, but it naturally limits the angles they can thrust from! Looks like on top of your medicine tongue and dodging tricks, you actually know how to fight?! Now I'm even more excited to see the Heaven-Splitting Sword from your hands!
...But there's some weird stuff mixed in there—is that praise, Master?
Anyway.
As Master said, I didn't know proper footwork or sword forms yet.
So if Yin Ha-seong seriously widened the distance, things could get a tad annoying.
'This exchange has him wary now, so dragging him in the same way won't work anymore?'
No more time to waste.
I let Master's voice flow in one ear and out the other, pouring more inner energy into Regret in my hand.
The two blades locked in opposition.
My suddenly intensifying energy transmitted over.
"Ha! Don't know where you crawled from, but you've got a trick or two."
Thinking I'd initiated an inner energy clash, Yin Ha-seong poured his own thickly into his sword, feigning composure.
Not incomprehensible.
His mom probably stuffed him with elixirs and pills bought with money, so his inner energy was impressive for his age.
But that was exactly what I'd targeted.
'Young masters always assume the opponent will fight on their comfy terms.'
In that instant.
I tsked inwardly and lightly circulated the Heaven-Splitting heart formula, viciously spiking the momentum of the inner energy I'd pushed into my sword.
"?!"
As Yin Ha-seong panicked at my suddenly ferocious sword energy,
I swiftly stepped forward and firmly stomped his left foot.
"Wh-What the hell?!"
"Kinda funny asking that mid-clash, but since I said I'd teach you thirty or forty moves, here: Truth is, I'm not confident against someone who just flops around dodging yet."
At my words, Yin Ha-seong grimaced and tried yanking his foot free.
"What?"
But how could he shake off my deliberate Heaven-Splitting energy pinning it?
Can't pull free?
Then take the hit.
Bonk. Bonk.
Without delay, I headbutted his face.
Baaaam!!!!!!!
With a crisp sound, the recoil from my headbutt nearly snapped his head back.
But I didn't let it.
I quickly spun Master around, stabbed him into the ground, grabbed Yin Ha-seong's collars with both hands,
and headbutted again.
Crack!!!!
Blood sprayed from Yin Ha-seong's nose.
"Agh! Aaagh!! My nose!! My nooose!!!!"
True to a flower-in-a-greenhouse young master, no pain tolerance—he dropped his sword, clutched his nose, and screamed like a banshee.
I grinned viciously at him.
"Sniff. Hands down. Hands down, Ha-seong. Struggling makes it hurt more?"
If I were ending here, I wouldn't have started.
Plenty of remedial lessons left.
So keep your wits sharp and grit those teeth.