Chapter 7
Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Millennium Snow Ginseng
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, after breakfast, I went to see Chief Instructor Jin So-cheong.
He sat me down and began his explanation.
"The martial arts taught at the Azure Dragon Martial Hall are divided into three main categories.
Weapon techniques, heart methods, and body lightening arts. You know what these are, right?"
"Yes."
Weapon techniques were methods of using weapons, heart methods were ways to cultivate internal energy, and body lightening arts encompassed all skills to make the body agile and light, including footwork. As I nodded, Jin So-cheong continued.
"Among these three, which do you think is the most important?"
"The heart method."
"And why is that?"
"Weapon techniques can be mastered in real combat, but heart methods for internal energy are hard to obtain even for a thousand gold."
"You understand well."
Jin So-cheong spoke as if impressed. It might seem obvious after decades as an escort warrior, but it was a truth hard for children to grasp. In their eyes, flashy weapon techniques and body lightening arts seemed far more impressive.
"Indeed. Because the heart method is the most important and holds the deepest secrets, we teach it last. If the cultivation of the heart method goes wrong, it can easily cause irreparable internal injuries. That's why it's standard to impart it only after at least a year as a first-line disciple."
Then, Jin So-cheong placed his hand on my shoulder.
"But for you, we've decided to teach the heart method first."
"Why is that?"
"Because now is the perfect time to spread the internal energy of the Three Talents Heart Method throughout your meridians."
"......?"
It was hard to understand at first. As I tilted my head, Jin So-cheong chuckled softly.
"You have an incredibly condensed amount of Three Talents Heart Method internal energy for a child. However, because it's compressed and stuck in your lower dantian, the speed at which it circulates through your body is slow. That's why you're always a beat behind in fights against other experts. That's the flaw of the Three Talents Heart Method."
"Ugh...!!"
The speed is slow!
I was shocked to hear this fatal flaw of the Three Talents Heart Method for the first time. As an escort warrior, I never delved deeply into internal arts, and day-to-day survival left no room for such thoughts. Turns out the Three Talents Heart Method was one with slow internal energy transmission.
"Fortunately, your body is still that of a child, and fire energy hasn't deeply penetrated it, making it easy to change the nature of your internal energy. Starting today, as you begin cultivating the Azure Dragon Martial Hall's secret heart method, the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art, the condensed energy will start to melt, allowing you to achieve very rapid internal energy cultivation."
"By 'very rapid,' how much do you mean?"
"Hmm... If you're fully successful in melting it, you could secure at least twenty years' worth of internal energy in a short time. An achievement even prodigies of great sects struggle to obtain."
"......!!"
Melt the Three Talents Heart Method power with the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art!
If fully melted, twenty years of internal energy guaranteed, at the level of a great sect's later-generation prodigy!
Realizing in that brief moment that I'd seized an incredible opportunity, my body trembled with thrill. The resentment of a lifetime as a low-grade escort warrior in my past life might finally be resolved—I felt excitement building.
Jin So-cheong spoke in a subdued voice.
"Today, I'll teach you three cultivation methods. Repeat these three for the next month."
"Yes."
"The first is seated meditation. It builds internal energy through sitting in meditation— the most efficient posture. The second is walking cultivation, training to circulate internal energy throughout the body through light movements in daily life."
Up to there, Jin So-cheong crossed his arms and said,
"The last is sparring."
"Spar... sparring?"
I panicked at the sudden word. I'd thought learning the heart method first meant less physical movement, but sparring? It was obvious I'd get beaten senseless by Jin So-cheong, and fear flashed in my eyes.
But Jin So-cheong said calmly,
"Your Six Harmonies Swordsmanship carries intense killing intent. It has a sharpness honed in real combat. But ultimately, it includes the nature of street brawls and wild swinging. That's a fatal flaw as one approaches expert level."
"......"
Jin So-cheong phrased it elegantly, but I knew exactly what he meant, and my face burned.
He was right.
The Six Harmonies Swordsmanship I'd cultivated as an escort warrior was for dogfights and killing bandits.
In scraps between low-level escort warriors and bandits swinging blades, you'd inevitably end up rolling on the ground, trading punches and kicks. If an opening appeared, you'd throw dirt or sand to blind them and stab. After decades of such fights with no fairness whatsoever, I'd grown too accustomed to brawls, making it hard to maintain proper distance from opponents.
Jin So-cheong said sternly,
"Do you know why an expert is called an expert? Because they are a 'superior hand.' In proper combat, you must not allow even an inch of opening to inferiors, gradually raising the level with precise distance control. I want you to become an expert, so I've decided to personally guide you."
"......"
"But keep this in mind. For a month, I'll spar with you continuously to correct those habits, but if it doesn't work..."
Gulp.
As I swallowed, Jin So-cheong's eyes sharpened.
"Baek Woong, I'll revoke your Thunder Dragon One Qi Art and expel you. It's too wasteful to give it to someone who can't become an expert."
"......!!"
Only then did I realize Jin So-cheong was no pushover.
He'd accepted me after thorough calculation!
Spotting my Three Talents Heart Method internal energy, he'd planned to raise me to later-generation prodigy level. But my crude Six Harmonies Swordsmanship habits were a hindrance, so he'd decided to fix them as much as possible—or waste my energy and kick me out if failed. Heart method secrets were as vital as a sect's lifeblood.
But unconvinced, I said,
"Even if I can't become an expert, couldn't I stay as a disciple? Expulsion seems too harsh. Besides, other disciples like Senior Brother Bang Il are learning the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art too!"
"What those kids are learning isn't the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art."
"Pardon?"
"It's the Clear Cloud Heart Method, the basic heart method of the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art. They cultivate it and other arts until third-line disciple, and only a few with exceptional talent receive the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art."
"......"
I realized I'd misunderstood.
'I see. The Thunder Dragon One Qi Art is the true ultimate art of the Azure Dragon Martial Hall. Only the hall master, the chief instructor before me, and two instructors have learned it.'
They gathered disciples for expansion and profit, testing them with the inferior Clear Cloud Heart Method without rashly imparting the ultimate art. Some might train for decades and end up no better than escort warriors.
Sorting it out in my head, I said calmly,
"You're imparting the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art instead of the Clear Cloud Heart Method because higher arts melt the Three Talents Heart Method energy more easily, right?"
"Yes. Disciples learning the Clear Cloud Heart Method go through a similar process. It's much easier to absorb since its circulation method matches the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art."
"But giving me just a month... With year-long training, I could improve. Why rush?"
As I protested strongly, Jin So-cheong's face twisted oddly. Then he burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha!! You're truly an amusing one. Talking to you feels like conversing with a crafty veteran of decades, not a child."
"......"
"Because if those habits don't correct after dozens or hundreds of spars with me, it means you weren't talented from the start."
If not talented, no point teaching.
It meant he was dealing with me through strict calculation.
Swish.
Jin So-cheong turned away, as if done talking, and began preparing for training.
Soon after, I understood what he meant.
For about two hours, Jin So-cheong taught me the heart method and walking cultivation of the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art. Then he immediately started sparring with me. Sparring in name only—it was outright assault, approaching my sloppy openings and beating my legs with his wooden sword until they nearly broke.
Crack!
"Ugh."
A hard strike to my thigh made my vision blur. Intense pain like being clubbed surged from my lower body. Staggering as my sight darkened, Jin So-cheong's cold voice rang out.
"Get your head in the game? Where'd you learn such vulgar movements? Think you can just charge in for a brawl and luckily stab their throat?"
Thud!
"Argh!"
His kick sent me flying a zhang. My chest felt crushed, breath choked. Astonishingly, despite the beating, my consciousness clung on—not due to my mental fortitude, but his precise control. He was hitting as hard as possible without knocking me out.
"Cough... cough..."
"Don't underestimate martial arts. True experts never tolerate such sloppy openings! Lucky wins don't happen even once in ten thousand times. Never!"
Crack!
Crunch!
Boom!
He pummeled me until my mind reeled. I counted roughly a hundred strikes, but lost track after. Sprawled in the training hall corner, a hollow laugh escaped me amid the mess.
Even after this thrashing, no internal bleeding or major bruises.
Jin So-cheong was a master at beating without crippling.
He rested his wooden sword on his shoulder and grinned.
"Still, you've got grit. I'll do my best to fix your habits. Tomorrow, same as today: two hours cultivating, then sparring."
Better to just kill me.
That day, limping back to my quarters after the thorough beating from Jin So-cheong—
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, a hand shot out from between buildings, grabbing my collar. Dragged into a narrow alley, three boys already stood there.
'Second-line disciples?'
Their uniforms bore two silk threads. One with prominent cheekbones sneered.
"You're the one getting personal lessons from the chief instructor?"
Seeing blood trickling from my lips, one paled.
"Ew... look at him. Got beaten bad."
"By the instructor?"
Puhahaha!
They laughed at my battered state. They'd probably waited to rough me up, but I was already trashed—absurd. Collar still gripped, I stared straight at them and said,
"Excuse me, seniors. I don't have time for this. Need to eat and rest."
"This punk can't read the room?"
"What room?"
"The one where you get beat...!!"
A fist flew fast. Trained at least two years, faster than street thugs. But even with swollen eyes from Jin So-cheong's sword, I saw it clearly.
"Yeah?"
I dodged lightly and kneed the collar-grabber's solar plexus.
Thud!
"Guh..."
As one sank, I expressionlessly charged the remaining two. They cursed and unleashed kicks and punches laced with energy. Dodging both fists and feet in such a tight alley was tough.
Crack!
"Hey, you bastard..."
But as I blocked my head and crouched, no real hits landed. Unfamiliar with such fights, they panicked at my arm blocks. I yanked their collars to unbalance them, then punched their faces. Solid energy-infused blows thudded, dropping them in one hit each.
Thump. Two collapsed simultaneously. Glancing at my 'seniors,' I muttered,
"Idiots. Thought I was some pampered young master?"
I'd slaved as a servant, rolled in the escort world's bottom, fought bandits nonstop.
Back-alley brawls, mutual slaughter, marching through rivers, swamps, forests, ambushes—I knew it all. Surviving as an escort wasn't easy.
'Of course, that's why it's ingrained, and Jin So-cheong wants to fix it...'
A bitter feeling rose.
Anyway, more fools would come, but unless ten at once, I wouldn't lose. I resolved to monopolize the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art the next month and fix my habits as Jin So-cheong wanted.
After the scrap, eating calmly at the mess hall, some disciples edged away, spooked.
Three days later, I felt my body loosening bit by bit. Unconscious habits were reflexively correcting. Beaten relentlessly by Jin So-cheong, I still strove to change.
"Ugh!!"
"You bastard! I'll kill you!!"
Thud!
"Idiots, think that'll kill me? Ha ha ha!!"
I laughed, toppling the frontmost with one kick.
Fights with disciples continued. Bang Il the chubby one ignored me, pretending not to see my bloody alley brawls. Of course, I never lost a single brawl.
And on the thirtieth day—
"......"
From morning, I sat facing Jin So-cheong in the training hall, silent.
Much later, he spoke.
"Passed."
"Really?"
"Yes. Your habits seem sufficiently corrected."
Swollen-faced from beatings, I smirked.
"Good."
"Tomorrow, we start a different training method. Go back early today, treat your injuries, and rest."
"Yes."
I'd finally cleared one hurdle.
Oddly, that day returning to quarters and eating, no one bothered me.
It felt a bit awkward, but I lay down quietly to recover stamina with sleep. Tomorrow, true first-class martial arts instruction begins.
Around then, Chief Instructor Jin So-cheong headed to the Crouching Dragon Hall, the deepest building in the Azure Dragon Martial Hall. There lived Triple Excellence Lee Gwang, master of the hall. No one entered the hall master's private space without permission—except Jin So-cheong. He was Lee Gwang's direct disciple, raised like a son.
"Hall Master. Disciple Jin So-cheong has arrived."
"Enter."
Creak.
Opening the door, a refined middle-aged man toyed with a teacup at the table. Not burly, he seemed an ordinary scholar at a glance—but truly a peak expert, one of Guanzhong's top five: Azure Dragon Martial Hall Master, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang.
Seeing his beloved disciple, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang immediately asked,
"What was the result of testing that Baek Woong boy?"
"To be honest, his martial talent isn't outstanding. Bafflingly ordinary, considering how he accumulated that internal energy."
Surprised, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang asked,
"Then you crippled his arts and expelled him?"
"No. He corrected his ingrained bad habits. I'm holding judgment for now."
"Hmm... Low comprehension but brimming with viciousness. The boy has the makings of an evil faction."
Triple Excellence Lee Gwang muttered displeased.
Cases like Baek Woong weren't rare. Lacking talent but compensating with innate grit to grow—common among self-made evil faction experts. But as a former imperial guard instructor and righteous faction expert, Lee Gwang balked at nurturing such talent.
Jin So-cheong said,
"But with proper training, he can surely reach later-generation prodigy level of the Nine Great Sects and One Region. Fully melting his internal energy makes it possible."
Lee Gwang nodded.
"Yes, if you say so, it must be. Let's raise that Baek Woong boy well from now on."
"Yes, Master."
"And stop clumsily siccing the kids on him."
Flinch!
Jin So-cheong looked flustered.
"You knew."
"Boys full of viciousness like that don't break easily. Testing his grit might just rouse a snake."
"I'll remember."
"Then go."
"Yes."
Creak.
Emerging, Jin So-cheong wore a complex expression.
'Was I wrong?'
Truth was, Baek Woong's post-training fights with disciples weren't coincidence. Jin So-cheong had secretly ordered some third-line disciples to provoke him. He'd thought stoking viciousness would focus Baek Woong on training.
Baek Woong passed the test. But his master knew the scheme and called it pointless. It merely needlessly provoked Baek Woong.
In other words, Master Lee Gwang understood Baek Woong's nature better than he—and surprisingly rated him highly. Curiosity stirred; Jin So-cheong smiled.
"Good. Baek Woong, let's see how much you learn at the Azure Dragon Martial Hall."