Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Everything Was Inside Me
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#047: Everything Was Inside Me
*Smack!*
As always, another exciting sparring session began.
“Ugh!”
I barely blocked Bukgung Baek's fist and immediately unleashed an attack from the Dragon-Slaying Thirteen Strikes.
*Tap, tap.*
I had poured all my strength into it with perfect timing, but he deflected my attack with absurd ease.
‘I thought that would work.’
Damn it.
I barely swallowed the curse rising in my throat and looked ahead to see Bukgung Baek with one corner of his mouth twisted into a smirk.
“You've improved a little.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Did you have some kind of epiphany?”
“...As expected of the Hall Master. You're right. I've had a small epiphany recently.”
Epiphany, my ass.
I was so busy sleeping after training that I never even thought about reviewing my sessions, let alone reflecting on them.
The reason such a lie came out automatically was…
“So, I'd like to stop sparring for a while. I think I'll need some time to fully absorb what I've realized.”
...because I wanted to quit this goddamn sparring.
But he was crazier than I thought.
“Is that so? Then I'll have to beat you even more. To help you forge that realization into something solid.”
What, am I some kind of iron ore?
Getting harder the more I'm beaten.
With that, Bukgung Baek's figure shot forward.
*Boom!*
I unleashed the Explosive Death Force against his hand that tore through the air.
I somehow managed to block it, but it was too early to let my guard down.
It was obvious a second and third strike would follow immediately.
Just as I expected, Bukgung Baek's fists exploded forward.
I had used up all the internal energy I'd summoned for the Explosive Death Force just moments ago.
‘I can't block it.’
I gave up on defending and quickly bent my upper body back to dodge the fist.
*Swoosh!*
A chilling sound accompanied the wind pressure that slammed into my face.
I immediately used the War King Step to put distance between us, but…
*Whoosh.*
…his leg, having already caught up, flew toward my torso.
“Shit.”
*Bang!*
A leg like steel sent me flying over ten meters away.
As I stomped my foot to barely stop myself, I saw Bukgung Baek's hand, now shrouded in a black aura.
It was on a completely different level from before.
‘He's actually trying to kill me!’
Facing a move I could neither dodge nor block, I unconsciously threw a punch.
And then.
*KABOOM!*
With a sound like an 81mm mortar shell exploding, the air detonated, and dust billowed around us.
“...?”
“...?”
Bukgung Baek looked at me with confusion, and I, just as puzzled, looked down at my hand.
“Huh?”
To think the Explosive Death Force had shot out from a punch I threw in desperation.
And I hadn't even summoned my internal energy.
‘What was that?’
*Swish.*
I tried throwing another punch in the same stance as before.
There was only the sound of cutting wind; it contained no force at all.
As I threw a few more punches to try and replicate it, Bukgung Baek's voice reached me.
“When a heavy rain falls, water carves paths across the mountain and flows.”
“...?”
Wondering what this sudden nonsense was about, I looked at him and saw he had a very serious expression.
“A path where water has passed tens, hundreds of times becomes a stream, and when it holds even more water, it becomes a river.”
“...”
Bukgung Baek's words instantly brought the mantra of the War King Arts to mind.
The more you move, the stronger you become; the more you fight, the stronger you become.
The mantra that you grow stronger the more you fight.
I had never once thought about the principle behind it, but…
‘Performing a technique becomes a form of energy circulation. Why?’
With Bukgung Baek's single remark, I began to delve into the mantra.
‘If I've performed the Explosive Death Force hundreds of times, that means I've also circulated my energy hundreds of times. So, is there really a need to consciously summon my internal energy?’
Starting with that small doubt…
‘I never needed to separate them in the first place. The War King Arts is a martial art with no distinction between internal and external techniques.’
I realized my error.
At the same time, the words of the Wise Sword I heard in my dream came to mind.
‘I see. Everything was inside me.’
A sudden epiphany.
I released all the internal energy I had accumulated in my Sea of Qi, also known as the Cinnabar Field.
*Crackle.*
My internal energy raged like a mad beast.
Normally, I would have tried to calm it down, but not now.
Instead, I moved my body to make the energy rage even more fiercely.
The thought even occurred to me that perhaps this wildly rampaging energy was what suited the War King Arts.
*Thump. Crack.*
The forceful step I took shattered the training ground floor.
*Crash.*
A casually thrown punch unleashed a burst of force.
For the time it takes to eat a meal, I moved around the training ground, striking with my hands and feet.
Despite unleashing a considerable number of techniques, my internal energy quickly replenished itself.
I had realized the true nature of the War King Arts.
“Hoo.”
Just as I was catching my breath, Bukgung Baek's voice reached me.
“You understood perfectly.”
“Ah!”
I immediately bowed my head to Bukgung Baek, who had imparted his teaching.
“Thank you for your guidance.”
“I merely gave you a push up a single step.”
He said, as if it were nothing.
“Your internal energy is running wild. However, it seems natural, so there's no need to try and restrain it.”
He accurately assessed my condition and gave me advice.
“...I will keep that in mind.”
Bukgung Baek suddenly said something out of the blue.
“How about calling it War King Energy?”
“Pardon?”
“Now that your techniques and internal energy have become one, it should have a name, shouldn't it?”
“Ah, I see. I understand. I will call it War King Energy.”
*Pfft.*
He smirked with a satisfied expression, then once again took a ready stance.
“Come at me.”
“...It will be different from before.”
“A newborn pup worrying about a tiger.”
With that, I shot toward Bukgung Baek.
***
I got beaten like a dog.
Well, Bukgung Baek was known to have reached the pinnacle of the Transcendent Realm. Unless I had somehow broken through to the Profound Realm in one go, there was no way I could have beaten him.
Still, unlike yesterday, it wasn't a completely one-sided beating.
I was able to land a solid hit, even if it was a shallow one.
I looked down at my right hand, the one that had sent Bukgung Baek's jaw spinning.
‘...I did it.’
To think I smacked that damn face of his.
*Shudder.*
A thrill ran through me from head to toe.
‘If I could just hit him one more time…’
I felt like I could sell my soul to the devil.
But Bukgung Baek isn't my immediate target.
I'd need at least ten years of hard training to beat him.
‘This should be enough.’
Now that I've moved past the initial stage of the Peak Realm and reached the midpoint.
I could even hold my own against Dan Un.
Maybe I could even beat him to a pulp.
“Puhahaha.”
Imagining Dan Un with black eyes, I couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
Just as I was about to go to bed in such a good mood…
‘Wait.’
A question popped into my head.
‘War King Energy?’
The name Bukgung Baek gave my internal energy.
Since it originated from the War King Arts, it was a name anyone would nod in agreement with, but…
‘Have I ever told that guy the name of the War King Arts?’
No matter how much I wracked my brain, I couldn't remember ever mentioning a single word of 'War King Arts' to him.
After a moment of thought, I came to a conclusion.
‘I must have blabbed about it while drunk again.’
Drinking too much is never a good thing.
***
The next day, I went to see Bukgung Baek again.
I couldn't forget the thrill of smacking his jaw the day before.
“That's enough now.”
Unexpectedly, Bukgung Baek ordered me to stop coming.
“So suddenly?”
What, you're just going to end it after you had your turn beating me up?
“Further sparring is meaningless. Focus on meditation for a while. You'll see results.”
As I stared at him with a bewildered expression, he gave a faint smile and said,
“Your martial arts have gotten stronger, so you think you've gotten stronger too?”
“Of course...?”
I was at a loss for words at the sudden Zen-like question.
As I pondered, Bukgung Baek's voice reached me.
“The martial art you've learned can train both Essence and Qi simultaneously. It can be called a divine art, one not easily found anywhere in the world.”
He raised a finger, pointed to my head, and continued.
“But it cannot train your Spirit.”
“...?”
“It seems you don't understand.”
Bukgung Baek stood up and walked over to me.
Then he suddenly reached out with his hand.
“Hup!”
*Thud.*
I reflexively used the War King Step to escape his attack range.
Immediately, Bukgung Baek's voice followed.
“See? Even though you've climbed a step, you're still moving the same way as before.”
“Ah...!”
He untied the gourd from his waist, poured its contents into his mouth, and continued.
“Go and review everything you have. It will help you balance your Essence, Qi, and Spirit.”
Advice worth a thousand gold pieces.
I hurriedly bowed my head.
“Thank you.”
“Having a slow subordinate is costing me quite a bit.”
“I will never forget this kindness.”
“If you're really grateful, buy me a few jars of bamboo leaf liquor from the place in front of your house. You can bring some of Lady Myo's Dongpo pork, too.”
He turned, waved his hand, and left.
Watching his retreating back, I thought.
He's so damn cool.
‘North Pole Baek?’
*Puhuhu.*
***
From that day on, I holed myself up in my room and began to meditate.
I tried to review everything, from the breathing exercises I learned on my first day at the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion to my most recent epiphany, and inspect my martial arts, but…
“...I can't concentrate.”
It had been nearly ten years since I'd last sat cross-legged, so I made no progress at all.
The protagonists in martial arts novels enter a state of selflessness at the drop of a hat…
I guess reality is different from fiction.
“Umm….”
But I couldn't just give up.
Wouldn't this struggle save my life in the war that was about to break out?
I sat on my bed and kept racking my brain, but…
‘Three Talents Heart Art… Clear Sky Sword… First Wind Fist…’
*Grumble.*
“Ah, screw it.”
The thunderous roar from my stomach made me get up.
What could I do?
“Sis, food!”
I'll eat first and try again later.
Coincidentally, it was dinnertime, so we all sat down and began to eat.
*Shovel, shovel.*
I was so hungry that I practically inhaled my food, prompting scolding from Myo Hyang and Cheong So-so.
“Eat a little slower. You'll get indigestion.”
“That's right. Anyone would think someone's trying to steal your food.”
“*Gulp.* I haven't eaten anything all day...”
“I told you to eat before you went. Do you want more rice?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Only after scraping clean my third bowl did I realize Yong Ma-san was staring intently at me.
“What? You got something to say?”
“Hmm… It's just that you seem to have changed somehow.”
As expected, does it take a master to recognize another master?
“Hahaha, you noticed. That I have surpassed a 'wall'.”
“...I don't know if it warrants being called a 'wall', but you certainly seem to have grown.”
“If you know that, then treat me better. Who knows? Maybe I'll be the one to save you when the Red Dragon Hall comes to kill you.”
“I'm not counting on it. Besides, the Red Dragon Hall can't kill me in the first place.”
“Why not?”
“There are reasons.”
He just stops talking mid-sentence. How frustrating.
“Oh, right. Have you ever tried meditating?”
“Meditation, you say?”
“Yeah. I tried earlier, but it just wasn't working.”
“A master like Squad Leader Jin can't meditate?”
Yong Ma-san asked, his tone implying I was spouting nonsense.
“Strangely, I can't. I think I was good at it when I was younger...”
“That can't be. If you were such a blockhead that you couldn't even meditate, you'd never have become such a master.”
“This son of a bitch?”
“Then it must mean your constitution has changed because of your martial arts...”
Yong Ma-san ignored me and pondered something for a moment.
Just as the moonlight reflected off his head, he opened his mouth.
“I see.”
“What, what? What is it?”
“Five hundred years ago, there was an absolute master called the Western Hegemon. Like you, Squad Leader Jin, he was a warrior who reached his state by practicing dynamic arts.”
“Western Hegemon?”
I'd never heard the name before.
“In his later years, he said that he would often enter a state of selflessness while moving his body. Based on that, I think it might be right for a warrior who practices dynamic arts to meditate while moving rather than sitting still... What do you think?”
“That makes sense. I thought you were completely useless, but you can be helpful sometimes, huh?”
“...”
The information network of the Beggars' Sect Leader, as expected.
I thought I should make use of him more often in the future.
And so, I found my own way to meditate and was able to reorganize all the martial arts I possessed.
A few days later, seeing Ha Jin-hyeong come to find me, I had a premonition that war was not far off.
“Squad Leader! The Vice Hall Master is looking for you!”