Martial Arts Reign Supreme
The Nine Dragons Eight Phoenixes were the most celebrated young talents in the current righteous Murim world.
When three of them appeared alongside the young heir of the Sacheon Dang Clan, the crowd went wild.
But as the training began, people could only blink in confusion.
Dang O-gun and Dang Ye-ji were lecturing on poisons and hidden weapons, but their explanations were so arcane and convoluted it was maddening.
Jeong Gwang, watching from the side, finally cut in.
"Keep it simple, like we talked about."
"Little brother, we're doing that already."
"We've been explaining it as simply as possible."
Genius didn't always mean a good teacher.
In fact, geniuses often made the worst ones.
They mastered things effortlessly and assumed everyone else could too.
But Jeong Gwang was a genius among geniuses, so he knew exactly how to make things efficient.
"Just tell them the precautions and basic first aid for if they get hit."
"That alone will take forever."
"This isn't something you wrap up in a few days."
Jeong Gwang grinned.
"Let them experience it firsthand. It'll stick faster. Use the mildest stuff."
"Ah!"
Moments later, screams erupted from all directions.
"Ack! My tongue's gone numb!"
"Urk... m-my stomach... cough!"
They weren't lethal poisons—just ones that temporarily numbed senses or upset the gut.
But for ordinary martial artists, that was more than enough, and for those from named sects, it was a valuable lesson.
"Hm. Perfect."
Jeong Gwang looked deeply satisfied.
Dang O-gun diligently scattered poisons and flung hidden weapons, while Dang Ye-ji treated those he'd hit. Both were impressive.
She skipped the antidotes to save the expensive stuff—nothing too potent anyway, so time would fix it.
Jeong Gwang immediately sent a transmission.
-Dang young hero! Dang young lady! Right now!
The Tang siblings explained poisons and hidden weapons to the suffering crowd—simple precautions and first aid. People scribbled notes frantically through the pain.
Why?
Forget it once, and it'd happen again.
The brief but agonizing session ended, and Fist Phoenix Eon Ui-jin and Righteous Dragon Yu Jeong-pung stepped up.
After introducing them, Jeong Gwang scanned the crowd.
"Say your weapon snaps mid-fight. An enemy's blade is flying at your throat. What do you do?"
Martial artists wielded weapons because they killed more effectively than bare hands.
Most focused on weapon arts, treating fist, palm, finger, and kick techniques as childhood basics—many were weak in them.
"Panicking and dying would be embarrassing, right?"
No kidding.
But the funny part? It happened all the time.
"That's why body techniques matter. Every martial artist needs solid fist and palm basics."
Everyone knew it but ignored it for various reasons.
Now, with this chance, they'd revisit it properly.
And that wasn't all.
"Picture yourself on the battlefield. Your weapon's broken. What now?"
As minds turned to fist techniques, Jeong Gwang gave a different answer.
"Battlefields are littered with dropped weapons. Grab one and fight. Unfamiliar? That's why you learn staff techniques."
The staff was humanity's primal weapon—all others derived from it.
Like fists, most sects taught it to beginners, but only in passing, with no sustained practice.
"Sama-ryeon, the Heavenly... Demon Cult—they're not here for duels. It'll be war. The staff is the mother of all weapons. Learn it, no excuses."
Thus, Eon Ui-jin taught body techniques, Yu Jeong-pung staff arts.
Perfect choices: Jinju Eon Clan famed for punches, Beggars' Sect for clubs.
Plus, these weren't their own insights—they were Jeong Gwang's.
When he'd passed them on, both had been stunned.
'...This isn't ordinary body technique. Why share it?'
'Little brother, same for staff arts. Simple on the surface, profound underneath. Where'd you get it? Don't tell me...?'
Jeong Gwang's smile confirmed it. Shock rippled through them.
'Master it fast first. Then teach others.'
'...What do you want?'
'...Be straight with us.'
Jeong Gwang had replied simply.
'Once you've mastered it properly, ask again. I'll tell you.'
Quick gains came easy, but true mastery was tough.
Even Nine Dragons Eight Phoenixes-level talent might manage, but...
It left a nagging thirst for what lay beneath.
Inevitably, Eon Ui-jin and Yu Jeong-pung would end up beholden to Jeong Gwang someday.
A thought bubbled up naturally.
'Wonder how I'll use them then?'
But that was far off.
Jeong Gwang focused on the present.
In other words, lounging and watching.
'They're not keeping up as well as I thought.'
Eon Ui-jin and Yu Jeong-pung demonstrated with full passion.
They were still mastering them too—teaching deepened their own insight.
But these arts, refined subtler than Jeong Gwang expected, proved tough for average martial artists.
'No choice. Time to use that.'
He'd saved it for real crises.
But using it now might be better—no big deal.
Gathering inner energy, Jeong Gwang unleashed a lion's roar.
"Your instructors are disappointed! Is this all you've got?!"
"...!"
The men ignored head instructor Jeong Gwang, eyeing the instructors.
Beautiful Dang Ye-ji and Eon Ui-jin, whose nicknames included "phoenix."
'Oh no! Those eyes!'
'Ugh, how pathetic do we look?'
The women thought nothing of it, but the men imagined disappointment.
'Focus! Focus!'
'Can't grasp it with your head? Etch it into your body!'
Not just the men—women fired up too.
'Oh! Young Master Dang's face hardened!'
Dang O-gun, the refined young lord, always looked like a wooden log, resembling his father Dang Yeong-jung.
'Ahh, Young Hero Yu's gone fierce. He's mad at us!'
Yu Jeong-pung, beggar or not, brimmed with righteousness and rugged handsomeness—or rather, a fierce face that looked even rougher now.
And above all, the world's handsomest man, Jeong Gwang.
His roar ignited venomous determination in the women's eyes.
They wouldn't disappoint him again.
This misunderstanding stemmed from their inferiority complex over lagging behind...
"Haaap!"
"Let's gooo!"
But it yielded great results.
Everyone united, throwing themselves into training with fervor.
The heat was so intense, even fools would've hit Ten Supremes level soon.
As time ended, they collapsed.
Jeong Gwang clapped, praising their passion.
"Great job, everyone! See you tomorrow!"
They shuddered at "tomorrow" but beamed with pride.
Dragging themselves up, they thanked Jeong Gwang and the instructors.
One youth asked the Tang siblings,
"Thanks for the poison and hidden weapon experience. But... is this okay for your clan?"
Poisons and hidden weapons thrived on secrecy and surprise.
Exposing them like this—didn't it hurt the Tang Clan?
Silent, stoic Dang O-gun let Dang Ye-ji answer calmly.
"The Tang Clan's poisons and hidden weapons lie far beyond this."
"...!"
Eon Ui-jin, Yu Jeong-pung—even Paeng Clan warriors nodded.
The Nine Great Sects One Gang and Seven Great Clans held vast, profound arts.
Jeong Gwang went without saying.
"Well done, all. It's nothing fancy, but take this to recover."
Paeng Su-won and Paeng warriors offered bowls.
Tang medicine to disperse blood stasis and boost energy.
'Whoa, even this?'
'Paeng Clan's sincerity is impressive.'
Not spirit pills—just pricey apothecary stuff. But the thoughtfulness touched them.
With the mood set, Paeng Clan head Pang Su-gwan appeared for a brief speech.
"Not everyone can become a master, but effort will improve you! This training lays the foundation for your path. For the jianghu, for the world—give it your all!"
"Woooah!"
The first day ended amid roaring cheers.
No one noticed Jeong Gwang hadn't taught a thing himself.
The day after the training ended, until it resumed...
Much happened across the Murim Alliance.
First, warriors from Sacheon Dang, Beggars' Sect, and Shandong Yue—who'd allied with Kunlun to back Paeng Clan—joined the training.
They were in the same boat anyway.
Plus, a chance to rebuild foundations.
Originally, just youths were planned.
"Basics are never enough. No quick gains now, but it'll support you lifelong."
"Then why not join, Master?"
"...".
"Might as well all go."
Thus, even elders reluctantly participated.
The winds of change blew through the Six Clans Seven Groups Three Manors too.
Some who'd joined raved about it.
Namgung supporters couldn't, but Paeng sympathizers and neutrals trickled in.
The event swelled.
Praise for hosts Paeng Clan and allies grew louder.
Jeong Gwang and instructors bonded closer.
Baek Seung-mu, quietly fond of Eon Ui-jin, edged in.
'Nothing confesses better than praise for a woman.'
Squeezing lifetime courage, he spoke.
"Young Lady Eon, your face is beautiful, and your calluses so prettily formed. Honored to meet a warrior who sacrificed her hands for martial arts."
"...".
Eon Ui-jin learned who'd taught Jeong Gwang that nonsense.
"Yaaawn. Shall we start?"
Jeong Gwang stretched; all nodded.
Training began.
Participants joined gladly.
And learned more about Jeong Gwang, stunned.
Rumors had spread since his Central Plains arrival.
"Jade Dragon torched Akneung Stronghold of Yellow River Waterways Alliance!"
"And took heads of the Qinghai Four Evils demon heads!"
"Reclaimed land, cleared landslide paths—saved the common folk!"
"Whoa, beat a Kongtong elder? Hard to believe."
Even skeptics half-believed it.
Kongtong Taoists passed with grim faces—proof enough.
Faith in Jeong Gwang swelled.
Namgung Hwa-in's rage grew with it.
Bam!
Namgung Hwa-in shattered the table, roaring.
"What have you all been doing while it reaches this?!"
"...".
"Stop gaping—give me solutions! Now!"
Namgung Singeon, Namgung Ryeok, everyone sighed inwardly.
Nothing outranked martial arts for warriors.
How to sway hearts?
Beard trembling in fury, Namgung Hwa-in suddenly smirked coldly.
He had ways—just no need before.