Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Millennium Snow Ginseng
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After that day, I continued to receive personal instruction from Instructor Jin So-cheong. Unlike what I had expected to last only a month, it seemed Jin So-cheong intended to teach me with great enthusiasm. Of course, since I knew there was a thorough ulterior motive hidden behind it, I didn’t put any faith in something like the bond between master and disciple.
Two months passed like that.
Kuuuuu...
My entire body’s skin ached. I felt as if the round, pill-like mass of qi accumulated in my dantian was burning black and melting away. Sweat poured down from my forehead and back, leaving a sticky dampness where I sat.
Finally, when I had completely melted the qi, I opened my eyes.
Jin So-cheong chuckled and said,
“You’ve fully melted the inner power of the Three Talents Heart Method. Exactly two months to get this far?”
“Yes. I diligently practiced the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art for two months.”
For those two months, all I had learned was the circulation method of the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art. I hadn’t learned a single martial technique or lightness skill.
Jin So-cheong no longer insisted on sparring. Instead, he even skimped on mealtime to make me cultivate the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art. The reason was that the faster I melted the qi of the Three Talents Heart Method, the greater the benefit. Because of that, I had repeated seated meditation and qi circulation like a madman for seven hours a day.
And as the inner power of the Three Talents Heart Method fully melted away, I felt a tremendous power spreading through all the meridians of my body. If until now I had been staggering along on a powerless old donkey, now it felt like I was riding a fine steed and charging forward vigorously. Moreover, the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art was an outstanding first-class internal art, so the inner power I had built up was considerable.
Whirlic!
Suddenly, Jin So-cheong swung the wooden sword in his hand and held it right in front of my eyes. It was so fast that the wind brushed my nose tip. As I stared blankly at the sword tip, Instructor Jin So-cheong said,
“How is it? Can you see my sword a little better now?”
I answered honestly.
“Yes. It’s clearer than before.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration; it was the truth. Before, when Jin So-cheong swung his sword, all I could see was a hazy afterimage, but now I could somewhat make out the sword’s outline and trajectory. I felt like I could dodge it if I moved well.
“As your inner power level rose, your eyesight naturally improved. Eyesight is extremely important in martial arts, so it’s fair to say your martial prowess has advanced.”
I could feel my dynamic vision, stamina, strength, and recovery power all increasing overall. I grinned.
“That’s a relief.”
“From today, I should teach you martial techniques... but I suppose I’ll start with the spear.”
“The spear?”
I had trained in swordsmanship for decades. Even though it was an escort warrior’s martial art and I had to start over from scratch, I still had my own proficiency in using a sword. And now he was telling me to pick up a spear all of a sudden!
Jin So-cheong said,
“Of course the spear is stronger.”
“What do you mean...”
Jin So-cheong said confidently,
“Most martial artists use swords or sabers, and those who use spears are in the minority. Why do you think that is?”
“......”
“Naturally, because the spear is an extremely powerful weapon. One who has properly mastered the spear won’t lose to anyone. The authorities dislike people carrying spears around, so they reluctantly choose the next best options like swords or sabers, but fundamentally, the spear is the foundation and pinnacle of all weapons.”
“I see.”
Somehow, I felt like I understood.
Even if villagers were powerless peasants, if dozens of them armed with wooden spears or iron spears gathered, they were by no means to be taken lightly. I had seen a second-rate expert get skewered by such peasant militia, his whole body turned into a pincushion. Though it was one against a group, it was proof that the spear was a weapon powerful enough to easily close the gap in martial skill.
“But isn’t the Chief Instructor using a sword proficiently right now?”
“My sword skills are very mediocre. I have no choice since my specialty is the spear.”
Whiriric!
As he said that, Jin So-cheong lightly tossed the sword, and it flew exactly five zhang to accurately sheath itself in its scabbard. It was something even an ordinary person couldn’t imitate, clearly showing he was an expert.
“Don’t be disappointed. Once you master the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, I’ll teach you swordsmanship too.”
“Thunder Spirit Eight Forms?”
“That’s the name of the spear art I’ll teach you.”
Swoosh.
Jin So-cheong handed me a practice wooden spear. I only knew the basics of how to hold it, so I gripped it awkwardly, imitating him. He said,
“Baek Woong. I know you have no particular talent. But spear arts are a martial art that anyone can reach the peak with grit and effort! I’ll draw out your potential to its limit.”
“......”
As I stared blankly at Jin So-cheong, he asked curiously,
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s just... I was wondering why you’re investing so much in me.”
I still hadn’t eaten the Millennium Snow Ginseng. I hadn’t taken any spirit medicine at all.
However, I knew that this very situation of receiving one-on-one instruction from Jin So-cheong was itself a fortuitous encounter. Even a wealthy man offering gold ingots wouldn’t enjoy such luxury. That’s why I was curious about what Jin So-cheong was thinking, pouring his time into me like this.
“You’re really honest.”
“The Hall Master Lee Gwang or the Chief Instructor—neither of you are lacking anywhere. I don’t see why you’d be so obsessed with a junior like me.”
The reason I pointed it out so directly was because I was now convinced I was in the same boat as Jin So-cheong. If he was teaching me not just the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art but even a secret spear art like the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, it meant he fully accepted me as part of the same sect. So I figured even if I pierced straight to the heart of the matter, Jin So-cheong wouldn’t just cast me out.
Jin So-cheong smiled bitterly.
“A reason, huh... I’ll tell you when you can pull your weight as one person. You can’t even run yet you want to fly—what an arrogant punk.”
“I see.”
“Baek Woong. For now, shut up and learn.”
What followed from Jin So-cheong became a maxim I would ponder for the rest of my life.
“You can worry about reasons after you get strong.”
Time passed.
A year flew by.
With nowhere to go back to, I made this place my home, repeating days of eating, sleeping, and training.
In the second year, I felt a bit lonely.
My body had grown, becoming a young man, so it seemed like puberty was approaching.
By the third year, I could last twenty exchanges in spars with Jin So-cheong.
Kaaang!!
My iron spear rang out loudly as it was knocked away. Jin So-cheong lightly withdrew his wooden sword and chided me.
“When will the day come that I have to use my spear against you, Baek Woong?”
“I don’t think it’ll happen in my lifetime.”
I grumbled as I plopped down.
It had already been three years since I became something like Jin So-cheong’s direct disciple at the Azure Dragon Martial Hall and received his teachings, but I still hadn’t drawn out his true skill. Even now, when facing me, he only used a wooden sword and had never used his real specialty, the spear.
I had grown quite a bit from a child’s body into a young man, and my height had increased too. But I was still hopelessly outmatched by Jin So-cheong’s skill. As I sulked and muttered, Jin So-cheong said,
“You’ve learned all of our Azure Dragon Martial Hall’s Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship, and Thunder Shadow Step—why so many complaints? If you’ve properly mastered all of them, you could defeat me.”
“I’m not a genius.”
I knew it.
I probably could never catch up to Jin So-cheong until I died.
As Jin So-cheong said, in these three years, I had mastered the Azure Dragon Martial Hall’s secret ultimate arts to a considerable degree. I had freely practiced the spear art Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, the Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship, and the Thunder Shadow Step. Especially the Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship suited my aptitude perfectly, reaching a full fifty percent proficiency. On top of that, by steadily refining the Thunder Dragon One Qi Art, my inner power was absolutely not inferior to my peers among the juniors.
However, Jin So-cheong had grown even stronger beyond my growth over these three years. Since I couldn’t even glimpse his limits, I was at a loss for words.
‘As expected, one of the future Ten Great Masters of the World, the Central Plains’ Greatest Spear...’
Jin So-cheong rested his wooden sword on his shoulder, scratched his belly, and said,
“Has it really been three years since you came to our hall?”
“By the calendar, yes.”
“Go back to your hometown once.”
At Jin So-cheong’s sudden suggestion, I flinched and trembled.
“Yes? Hometown?”
“Yeah. You should at least let your village know if you’re alive or dead, right?”
“......”
Was that place even worth calling a hometown?
A place where I shoveled cow dung every day and slept in the stable.
A place where all the villagers looked down on me and I occasionally got beaten by boys my age.
A place with not a single person on my side, forcing me to flee to the escort agency like an escape.
There wasn’t a single good memory, even if I washed my eyes and searched.
“I can guess from the fact you haven’t even sent a single letter, but still, a hometown is a hometown. You’ll get busier from now on, so it’s not a bad idea to go once and sort out your feelings.”
It was a reasonable point.
I had no affection left for my hometown village—not a damn bit—but I agreed that I needed to sort out my feelings. Of course, how I did it would be up to me.
I smiled brightly.
“Alright, then I’ll go.”
“I’ve spoken to the Hall Master, so he’ll give you some travel money and three months’ time. Breathe in as much hometown air as you want during that time.”
“Yes.”
Hometown air.
What would that feel like?
One thing was certain: I wouldn’t leave that air alone.
The next morning, I packed my bags and left the Azure Dragon Martial Hall. Having been cooped up like a prisoner for three years, even the streets of Guanzhong felt new. On the way, I considered renting a horse at a post station, but I gave up since it seemed a waste of money.
‘The reason for telling me to sort out my feelings... is it because they want to put me in the Embroidered Uniform Guard after all?’
Embroidered Uniform Guard!
The imperial family’s secret force, a martial organization teeming with outstanding experts. Whenever I occasionally met with Hall Master Lee Gwang to drink tea and talk, he showed a strong obsession with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Even Lee Gwang, a former imperial army instructor and a righteous faction expert, seemed to miss his days working in the Embroidered Uniform Guard more.
And Jin So-cheong subtly brought up the Embroidered Uniform Guard often too. I had no choice but to see their intentions as related to it. But they were running the Azure Dragon Martial Hall smoothly, living well—what good would associating with the Embroidered Uniform Guard do? Such an organization didn’t offer favors to former officials and instead viewed those connected to organizational secrets dimly, so I couldn’t understand.
In any case, from the way they talked, it was clear they planned to use me for something soon.
‘If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just run away.’
Even if there’s a conspiracy, if I’m not involved, that’s that.
For two days, I followed the official road, stopping at inns or farmhouses along the way. Unlike when I first came to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall, I was traveling leisurely and comfortably.
That was when it happened.
“Crack up!! Where are you off to~?”
Five bandits emerged from the grass by the roadside. I checked their attire—they seemed to be from a proper bandit stronghold. They would have basic martial arts, making them a nuisance. I calmly looked them over and said,
“I have no money. I’ll give you everything I have, so please leave.”
“Oh? No money?”
The bearded bandit at the front smirked and shouted in a phlegmy voice. A strong murderous intent echoed out.
“Then I’ll have to cut off your belly skin!!”
Shick!
Two bandits charged at me without hesitation, slashing with their swords. I used Thunder Shadow Step to dodge swiftly, without even a scratch. Three years ago, I would have been desperate just to evade, but now it was no problem to dodge leisurely.
‘They’re the type that shut up and just kill travelers.’
There were two types of bandits.
Those who just robbed, or those who killed and robbed.
People thought the latter was most common, but it was the opposite. The more people they killed and the greater their infamy grew, the easier it was for the authorities to dispatch a subjugation force. So most bandit strongholds usually just stripped people of their possessions and let them go. Escort agencies and bandits even had an unwritten contract relationship, paying “tribute.”
But the ones I encountered now seemed to be the minority: the type that killed everyone, took everything, and wandered aimlessly as vagrants. They were a particularly low-quality bunch, shunned even among other bandits.
If I had met these guys three years ago, this would have been my grave. But I gave a cold smile.
“I may not be able to beat Jin So-cheong.”
“Huh?!”
Shuck!
The moment I drew my sword from my waist, the initial form of Thunder Shadow Single Thread cleanly severed the necks of two bandits, sending their heads flying. Before the remaining bandits could react, I spun around and struck one in the chest with my palm.
With a thud, his chest caved in deeply as he vomited blood. His ribs were crushed—he couldn’t possibly survive.
“Hii, hiik.”
“T-that guy’s a martial artist...”
The remaining two bandits sensed something was wrong and turned to flee, but I chased after their backs and sliced their necks one by one. The sensation of flesh chunks being cut off thud thud was something I hadn’t felt in a while. It had been years since my last kill, so I felt tense at first, but I soon regained my composure.
I wiped the blood from my sword with a cloth I was carrying and muttered,
“Just a bit further and the village will come into view.”
My eyes gleamed slightly.
“Shall I pay a visit to the Village Chief’s house?”