Mancheon Asks His Master (3)
I bowed to a person whose identity I couldn't even know, showing the respect due to a master. Unlike modern folks with the mindset of just paying for whatever good stuff catches their eye, this was a sight that Murim folk—who treat master-disciple bonds as equal to father-son relations—would click their tongues at. But whatever. Old man, kid, woman, man, unknown identity—didn't matter a bit. In this boring Murim world, it was a rare thrill. If there's something I want to learn, I'll learn it.
Whether he knew my inner thoughts or not, the nameless master accepted my bow and the ritual gifts, taking me as his disciple. We were officially master and disciple now.
"Good. Before I teach you the Dog-Beating Stick Technique properly, I'll first pass on an inner cultivation method."
I'd heard about inner cultivation methods from Jang Sambung. For now, I figured it was like a breathing technique to create a mana storage inside your body.
"The inner cultivation method I'll teach you is the Quanzhen Orthodox Inner Cultivation Method. It's a traditional Daoist method, mainly practiced by the Quanzhen Sect, so it's also called the Quanzhen Heart Method."
Quanzhen Orthodox Inner Cultivation Method… Sounds impressive. Usually, the longer the name, the either ridiculously OP or trash-tier technique. Hope it's the former since I'm learning it anyway.
"The Quanzhen Heart Method accumulates inner energy slower than the ascending methods practiced by famous unorthodox or orthodox sects."
I wasn't planning to become the world's best with it anyway—just something to fend off dogs for self-defense—but the slow accumulation part bugged me anyway.
"Uh… Might as well learn a fast one if we're doing this. Got anything else?"
"Hoho~ You think I'd teach my disciple a method full of only drawbacks? Hear me out to the end."
The master just chuckled good-naturedly at my complaint—"Hoho~"—and continued.
"The Quanzhen Heart Method's strength is its steadiness. The first ten years are slow, but after that, your inner energy grows exponentially."
Hmm~ A coin technique. Total hodl meta martial art. In a world without games or the internet, time's all I've got anyway. Ten years of hard grinding? Fine.
"Plus, as a Daoist method, it purifies your body's qi. No minor illnesses, slowed aging. And above all, it's the safest way to build inner energy—no risk of qi deviation."
Purifies body qi, prevents illness, slows aging. Safest accumulation—no qi deviation risk.
The master stretched out his long arm, pressing and prodding the acupoints on my right leg. It tickled.
"That's why I'm teaching you the Quanzhen Heart Method. It'll greatly improve your leg's condition—make it much easier to move."
Improving this damn right leg that always trips me up in a pinch? My eyes went wide in shock.
"Learning martial arts heals disabilities?! Damn! Should've started way earlier! Lost ten years of my life!!"
"Hoho~ Be grateful you didn't rush into it. Everyone has a constitution. Learn a clashing art, and you could fall into qi deviation and die."
Anyway, it's good for the body. No reason to refuse. Classic Korean—can't resist anything "healthy."
I shut my mouth to not interrupt, focusing hard, engraving every word of the Quanzhen Heart Method's formula into my brain.
Fix the mind, forget fixation.
Empty the body, gather qi.
Dead mind revives the spirit.
Full yang extinguishes yin.
⟨ Quanzhen Oral Formula ⟩
Sit cross-legged, endlessly repeat the four lines while breathing. Keep the mind clear, banish stray thoughts. Continue until enlightenment comes unbidden.
Learning the Quanzhen Orthodox Inner Cultivation Method definitely changed my life. Before, I'd ignore barking mutts and snatch candy from kids when bored. Now, I try to keep some dignity. Just now, instead of taking a poor kid's whole bag to teach him life's harshness, I only took half.
Used to waddle slower than a duckling. Now my leg's better—faster than a duck. And no matter how shitty the day, staring at my reflection in the bath and muttering, "Quanzhen Orthodox Inner Cultivation Method user Sima Mancheon," makes me grin and feel better.
No wonder they say martial arts make the man.
"Your inner energy's accumulating bit by bit. Now I'll teach you the Dog-Beating Stick Technique and Celestial North Dipper Formation."
I was cultivating the Quanzhen Heart Method in front of the master when he pulled out new arts, satisfied with my progress.
Right— I'd come as his disciple to learn the Dog-Beating Stick Technique. Got so into the heart method, I'd totally forgotten.
But… what's the Celestial North Dipper Formation? Sounds like an ultimate killer move just from the name.
"Master, what's the Celestial North Dipper Formation?"
I shot my hand up like a kid in class. The master drew the Big Dipper on the dirt with a twig and explained.
"The Celestial North Dipper Formation is a formation developed by Quanzhen founder Wang Chongyang, applying the principles of the Big Dipper."
Tian Shu - Tian Xuan - Tian Ji - Tian Quan - Yu Heng - Kai Yang - Yao Guang
"It's a profound formation, but simply put: seven warriors trained in the Quanzhen Heart Method occupy the Big Dipper stars and deploy as a unified group tactic."
The master pointed his twig at the Big Dipper's bowl-and-handle shape, specifically Tian Quan.
"The one at Tian Quan acts as commander of the Big Dipper, directing the others. It drives enemies into traps, amplifying techniques with formation power—an excellent linked battle array."
Tian Quan: party leader. Celestial North Dipper Formation: group buff ultimate combining seven people's power.
"Quanzhen masters deploying it can even-match the world's top expert."
"Uh… 7v1 ganging up and only tying? Kinda sus already. That good?"
"Hoho… Against the world's best. Master the formation's mysteries deeply, and you'll comprehend array principles—never disadvantaged even 1vMany."
To fight a formation, master formations? Sounds right… but also nah? Whatever—can't hurt to learn. Time's plentiful.
"Not a Murim guy anyway—no fights or team-ups with them. But if you're teaching? No reason to refuse. Grateful to learn."
"Good. But both Dog-Beating Stick Technique and Celestial North Dipper Formation are extremely hard. Slack off, and you'll master neither. Prepared?"
To the master's question, I steeled my baby-fat cheeks like they were calluses and replied.
"Master, I'm Sima Mancheon, genius who deceives even heaven. Teach away—no worries."
…Two hours later.
Tweeng~ The Dog-Beating Stick Technique's way too hard tho~!! This is such bullshit~!!
Fierce Dog Blocking the Road — When a savage dog bars the path, somehow deal with it.
Ugyaaaaah!! Kieeeeeek!! Wuukiiiik!!
What do you mean "somehow"!! Why learn Dog-Beating Stick if I could already!! Teach me how to efficiently whack mutts!!
Just learned one stance, and my head's already splitting—can't grasp it.
Master's demo looked legit. Mine? Just flailing the staff—whish whish.
At this point, it's not Dog-Beating—it's Manager-Beating Stick Technique.
Manager-Beating Stick! Pbbbt~ Stray dogs are dead meat already~ Flip your belly in submission right now tho~!!
A real sigh escaped me.
…Sigh, fuck. Shouldn't have bragged about deceiving heaven—embarrassed enough to crawl into a rat hole.
But pride wouldn't let me quit now. I racked my brain, twisted my body every way, desperately trying to execute Fierce Dog Blocking the Road.
Imagine a snarling dog in front, swing the staff. Wild swings, fencing thrusts, laundry-bat smashes, broom sweeps—tried it all. Finally snapped from stress, gnawed the staff, rolled on the ground.
Watching me from start to finish, the master stroked his long goatee with a satisfied face.
"You're doing well."
"…Pardon?"
If it'd been sarcasm, I wouldn't be baffled. But it was genuine praise—no mockery.
To my stunned reply, the master smiled kindly as always and instructed me.
"Don't overthink it. The Dog-Beating Stick Technique was made by a beggar. You're doing perfectly right now."