Chapter 75
Chapter 75
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Subduing Demon Hall
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My wounds had fully healed two days later.
When I opened my eyes, a female physician from one of Guanzhong's six great families was at my side. Soon after, having received word, the physician Kang Son-mu arrived.
He checked my pulse now that I was conscious and said.
"Good. You're all healed. You can go now."
"The treatment fee..."
"Jin So-cheong covered it all. Head straight to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall without delay."
"Thank you."
I offered a fist salute and left the Kang family residence.
Glancing back at the Kang family plaque, I thought to myself.
'Lee Gwang's influence in Guanzhong is considerable. Normally, you'd have to wait days for treatment from a physician of their caliber, yet I got seen right away...'
Regardless of the severity, to receive care from the head of a renowned medical family like the Kangs required immense connections.
And Lee Gwang was precisely the sort of man who possessed them.
I headed straight to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall.
This time, Bang Il and his brother were on guard duty, but upon seeing me, they waved me in without a word.
They must have been informed ahead of time.
As I walked further inside, I encountered Jin So-cheong in front of the Crouching Dragon Hall.
"Baek Woong, junior brother. You've come."
"......"
"Haha. You're on your guard, eh? Can't blame you."
Jin So-cheong gave a wry smile and said.
"From today, I'm Jin So-cheong, your senior brother. I serve as chief instructor of this Azure Dragon Martial Hall and was the first to initiate into the Thunder God Style. Looking forward to training with you."
Hearing Jin So-cheong's introduction left me feeling strangely adrift. I'd heard it many times before, but the dissonance came from the fact that the Jin So-cheong who'd once raided the Zhongnan Sect with me now stood before me as a total stranger.
Shaking it off, I offered a fist salute.
"Pleased to meet you, senior brother."
"Come along then. Master is waiting."
"Master is?"
Had he healed me just to beat me again?
Wary, I followed Jin So-cheong inside.
Sure enough, Lee Gwang sat in a chair, waiting for me.
His solemn demeanor—unlike before—put me on edge instantly.
He fixed his gaze on me and spoke.
"I've confirmed your aptitude. In my master's stead, I, Lee Gwang, vow to impart the essence of the Thunder God Style to you, Baek Woong, with all my effort."
The atmosphere felt entirely different.
'Huh?'
Previously, there'd been no such solemn oath; it was always more like, "I'll teach, so watch and learn."
As I tilted my head in confusion, Lee Gwang questioned me.
"Before we begin training, I must confirm what you know. How much of the Thunder God Style's techniques are you familiar with? Confess everything you know."
I thought for a moment, then recalled and answered.
"For spear, the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms; for sword, the Heavenly Thunder Blade from the Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship; for fist, I've mastered the Thunder Cloud Mighty Fist and Thunder Cloud Palm. I know that upon advancing in fists, the Thunder God Fist realm exists, and I've currently learned the Thunder Shadow Step: Heaven's Execution as a secret technique via manual. Additionally, I've cultivated Thunder Spirit qi as my internal art."
"I see. Understood."
Lee Gwang pondered my response briefly before speaking.
"You've learned it in such a haphazard way. Normally, one masters the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms to enter the Heavenly Thunder Limitless Spear, advancing toward the realm of intent. In that process, you'd naturally awaken to the Thunder Spirit realm as well. Yet you started with Thunder Spirit, then made a relatively weaker swordsmanship your main focus, and received a movement secret technique...?"
"Ah..."
"What in the world was your master thinking?"
His tone carried clear disbelief.
I was equally stunned and couldn't respond for a while.
'No, you were the one who taught me!!!'
But in this ninth life, this was our first meeting.
I couldn't very well reveal my past life secrets, so after hemming and hawing, I shared my guess.
"I decided sword would be my forte, as it's the pinnacle of self-defense. I assume that's why the techniques were passed accordingly. Moreover, mastering the Thunder Shadow Step: Heaven's Execution took considerable time."
"Hmm... Something's off. The teaching order... it's like he's holding back..."
"......?"
Hearing Lee Gwang mutter, a sudden realization hit me.
'No way?'
To Lee Gwang, I was just another disciple of a rival Thunder God Style branch—someone he had to teach, but not with full commitment.
He'd passed a secret technique, but without much enthusiasm.
Even in close guidance, it seemed more like long-term disciple drilling than true passion.
Holding back.
Perhaps in past lives, seeing my suspiciously immense internal energy, he'd adjusted the secret technique sequence to keep me in check?
The Thunder Shadow Step: Heaven's Execution was undoubtedly excellent, but from Lee Gwang's words now, the pace and process deviated from standard transmission.
As I mulled over these inferences, Lee Gwang said.
"Very well, let's do this. From today, I'll teach spear as the primary focus."
"Yes? But the next stage of Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship..."
"Your sword already possesses illusion and transformation. Skipping straight to the next stage won't greatly affect your power level. The key is properly learning the spear techniques you've neglected thus far, to swiftly approach the Thunder God Style's pinnacle."
"Isn't it said that a lifetime isn't enough to master even one weapon type?"
Lee Gwang tilted his head, as if baffled that a Thunder God Style heir like me would ask such a thing.
"That's for other schools. In the Thunder God Style, the spear, sword, and fist harmonize for synergistic effects. Didn't your master teach you that?"
"I've heard of it, but that mastering even one properly is fine..."
His face twisted at my answer.
"Your master is a real piece of work. How could a Thunder God Style heir say such nonsense? The Heavenly Thunder Limitless Spear, Ten Thousand Soaring Sword Arts, and Thunder God Fist are organically linked—one deficiency means none are attained."
"Urk."
I nearly burst out laughing at Lee Gwang inadvertently dissing himself.
'You idiot, you taught me that!'
But the next moment, confirming my suspicion made my heart sink.
'This is serious.'
As Lee Gwang said—in past lives, he'd never taught me with full effort.
Our personal sessions were long, but he'd never intended to show me the Thunder God Style's true essence.
To a suspicious rival branch disciple like me, he had no intention of teaching sincerely—especially with my mediocre talent.
Likely, he'd planned to give mere tastes in movement secrets, sword, and fists.
Even that would surpass instructor level and suffice for fame in the jianghu.
But that meant even if I'd survived past lives and diligently trained lifelong, attaining the Thunder God Style's essence would have been impossible.
Even mastering the next stage, Ten Thousand Soaring Sword Arts, I'd likely have floundered, stuck at a blocked martial boundary.
As I stood dazed, Lee Gwang said.
"First, I need to gauge your comprehension properly. Head to the training ground and demonstrate all the Thunder God Style techniques you know, in sequence."
"Yes."
I'd done this countless times, so it was effortless.
Unfurling all my known techniques in order, I felt my movements far more fluid thanks to the Thunder Shadow Step: Heaven's Execution.
After the final form, Lee Gwang evaluated.
"You've mastered the Thunder Shadow Step: Heaven's Execution properly. Did you develop the swordsmanship yourself?"
"I received a strong inspiration once."
"Hm, good. As expected, with your crude spearwork, rapid growth is possible in short order."
From that day, Lee Gwang began intensely personally instructing me in spear techniques—more rigorously and passionately than in past lives' focused sessions.
I even doubted if this was the same man.
Kakang!
Kkaang!
I swung the wooden spear relentlessly, chaining the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms.
Per Lee Gwang's orders, I infused variations of the Thunder Shadow Step: Heaven's Execution, practicing the eight forms continuously in varying directions.
Three hours in, my body dripped sweat, yet Lee Gwang bellowed nonstop.
"Keep thinking, keep swinging! The spear is the supreme weapon! It will grant you power beyond your devotion. Combine all Thunder Spirit Eight Forms to forge the optimal attack path!"
"Yes!"
Kkakakang!
That day, I swung the spear all day, stopping only after seven hours.
Fatigue-wise, not comparable to a hundred thousand cuts, but constantly executing ultimate techniques—not mindless swings—exhausted me mentally fast.
Gasping, collapsed on the ground, Lee Gwang spoke.
"People think the spear's wide, long reach is countered by closing in close, where it loses power. A common delusion of swordsmen and Taoists, because they rarely encounter true spear experts in the jianghu."
Swaeek!
Lee Gwang's spear thrust forward.
An extraordinary aura emanated from its tip.
Glaring as if an enemy stood before him, he said.
"Nonsense. The spear dominates even at close range. Its true nature ignores all counters as the ultimate warrior! You've only known the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms' stances—now, you'll refine the spear's subtle, powerful fundamentals."
"Fundamentals?"
"Indeed. You'll master three fundamentals, each a secret technique in its own right. That's the profundity of spear arts."
A strange feeling washed over me.
'I never learned this during Lee Gwang's guidance?'
Whenever I said I wanted sword as my specialty, he'd simply obliged and taught it.
Never had he insisted so fiercely on spear's importance or pushed fundamentals like this.
"Lan, Na, Chul!"
"Y-Yes?! Aren't those just real basics?"
I blurted in disbelief.
These three fundamentals were ones I'd already learned.
You couldn't even execute Thunder Spirit Eight Forms without them first.
Lan was an outward deflection; Na, an inward pulling defense. Chul was simply thrusting forward.
I'd spent about three months familiarizing with lan-na-chul as the foundation for Thunder Spirit Eight Forms.
It was basic enough—talent aside, anyone could pick it up with practice.
But as I retorted, sparks flew from Lee Gwang's eyes.
"You brat! What do you know to spout such drivel?! Do you even understand what lan-na-chul are?"
Thudoom!
In that instant, Lee Gwang's wooden spear blurred like light, shattering the wall behind me in a two-zhang-wide crater.
Frozen stiff, he said.
"I just used lan-na-chul techniques. No secret arts. Did you see what I did in that one stance?"
"N-No..."
"Fundamentals you could train a lifetime and still lack—yet you dare belittle them!"
Raging fiercely, Lee Gwang declared.
"Jin So-cheong has mastered even the Heavenly Thunder Limitless Spear secrets, yet he repeats only lan-na-chul daily, deeming himself deficient. I won't forgive you mocking what you can't grasp."
"......"
Silenced, I could only train lan, na, chul daily.
Contrary to thinking it dull repetition, Lee Gwang taught applications sporadically, plus ingenious uses unimaginable without decades wielding only spear.
Then, about half a year later.
That day too, I'd trained maniacally in the yard till collapse and sleep.
In the dream, some immortal appeared, crossing a cloud bridge toward me.
Pointing at my held Mooyeo, it said.
[ I am the Taihe Heavenly Lord. The price for that sword is paid in full today.]
[ Pardon?]
[ Your fate returns to normal. Farewell.]
Dumbfounded, I shouted.
[ Wait!]
[ Why?]
[ I gave you millennia of techniques—already done?]
The Taihe Heavenly Lord's brow furrowed.
[ I've granted you human lifetimes of great fortune several times over.]
[ For real?!]
[ Yes, really.]
With that, the Taihe Heavenly Lord briskly vanished across the cloud bridge.
[ Be content with this, your final blessing.]
"......"
Drooling, I awoke.
Wiping my mouth with my sleeve, I wondered.
'What? So everything until now was continuous great fortune? Then what's the final blessing?'
I learned the meaning the very next day.
Mid-executing lan-na-chul as usual, a sudden flash hit my mind.
I fused Thunder Shadow Step: Heaven's Execution with Thunder Spirit Eight Forms.
First time trying, but it felt right.
'What just came to me!'
Pabababat!
"Haah..."
Incredible.
Just enhancing fundamentals, training depth, and adding footwork secret—the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms I unleashed transformed into agile, powerful spearwork incomparable to before.
The qi I'd formerly forced with internal energy now formed naturally like dew at the spear tip.
Chaining Thunder Spirit Eight Forms sixteen times in varied forms from stillness, sweat poured, and an unprecedented refreshment filled me.
Standing still, I realized: I'd entered a new realm of Thunder Spirit Eight Forms.
"Excellent. I was disappointed by your initial sluggishness, but you truly possess fine aptitude."
"Master."
"To reach the goal, you must grow like this."
Lee Gwang had been watching unbeknownst.
Smiling faintly, he said.
"I've pondered long, but decided. I'll transmit to you the decisive battle enlightenment: Thunder Roar."
Decisive battle enlightenment?
A concept I'd never heard.
How much had Lee Gwang hoarded during past lives' teachings?
With my talent so lacking, only now, after over a decade, was he considering revealing it?
Amid my inner bewilderment, Lee Gwang spoke.
"Thunder Roar is breath. You know breath is the foundation of martial arts and internal arts, yes?"
"Yes."
"Thunder Roar breath is the Thunder God Style's gravest secret among secrets, imparted only to true heirs one personally recognizes. It's the ultimate absolute art premised on single-lineage transmission."
Ultimate supreme!
Lee Gwang had never used such hyperbolic praise for any technique.
Not even for pinnacle arts like Heavenly Thunder Limitless Spear—and for breath, no less.
With that, Lee Gwang extended one hand in Thunder Cloud Mighty Fist stance.
Slowly inhaling, he gathered power throughout his body.
Holding steady, he explained.
"To master Thunder Roar, grasp the concept of mind-qi-blood-essence. The dantian is the field of the mind; will guides internal energy. Even the eight extraordinary meridians are controllable by human will.
Thunder Roar elevates mind-qi-blood-essence to extremes, transforming one's entire will into lightning in a single breath. One breath changes everything."
"Transform will into lightning?"
"Like this."
Jjjeeeeng!
Lee Gwang's body vanished instantly.
Reappearing amid explosive aftershock, a massive single fist imprint cratered the wall.
I knew this wasn't mere power and speed—something more acted.
And if aimed at me, impossible to dodge or block.
Seeing my chill, Lee Gwang said.
"You've noticed."
"Surely this breath..."
"While the effect lasts, every Thunder God Style technique you use gains secret art power. With harmonized spear, sword, fist, the might maximizes. Thunder Roar can slay even grandmasters, hence also called豪殺 breath."
"......!!"
Goosebumps erupted across my skin.
'If Lee Gwang fought using Thunder Roar...?'
He'd shown no sign of using it against me thus far.
Nor Jin So-cheong at Zhongnan Sect.
But these already peak experts amplifying battle power manifold—what catastrophe?
Lee Gwang chuckled.
"Of course, it's decisive battle enlightenment for another reason. Internal energy depletes massively during sustain—even I can't hold Thunder Roar over thirty seconds. Post-expiration, weakness surges seconds, inviting peril. Thus, Thunder Roar is a sure-kill technique."
"A technique that must kill the foe upon use?"
"Precisely. Remember that."
Lee Gwang's eyes gleamed azure.
"You, I, Jin So-cheong—against any other human using Thunder Roar, kill without fail! Else, you'll die."
I swallowed hard.
"Understood."
"Then, transmission of decisive battle enlightenment Thunder Roar begins."
I knew this was the Taihe Heavenly Lord's final blessing upon me.
"Yes."
Martial enlightenment.
One I'd never learn in years or decades glued to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall otherwise—thanks to coincidences in Luoyang and Lee Gwang's exceedingly high evaluation.