Chapter 50: Counter-Proposal (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 50: Counter-Proposal (1)
Swish. Swish.
Hyeok-jin was cleaning Seok Myeong’s room, tidying away the traces left behind by the physician who had visited earlier that day.
This was all he could do for now.
He lacked any medical knowledge, nor did he possess any innate healing arts.
“Brother…”
Having finished tidying the room, Hyeok-jin looked down at Seok Myeong with a sorrowful expression.
This young man had appeared out of nowhere. He had come seeking a duel with Hyeok-jin’s master, and in the process, he had granted Hyeok-jin a profound realization.
Suddenly, he found himself curious about Seok Myeong’s age.
‘He looks to be about my age, so how can he possess such dauntlessness?’
The greatest rising star of the Central Plains. The way Seok Myeong had fought on equal footing against Cheol Gun of the Golden Martial Association proved he was more than worthy of being called "Brother."
To stand tall and emerge victorious in the heart of enemy territory—a place more dangerous than a tiger’s den, contested by the greatest of the Unorthodox Faction—was nothing short of incredible.
‘What kind of place is the Qingcheng Sect?’
From what he had heard, the people of Qingcheng were notoriously stubborn, never bending when they believed they were in the right.
Among the Nine Great Sects, which usually stood as silent as great mountains, Qingcheng was the one sect where incidents and accidents never seemed to cease.
Interpretations of this reputation varied.
Some pointed to Qingcheng’s bellicose nature, arguing they lacked the qualifications to be one of the Nine Great Sects leading the Jianghu.
On the other hand, some praised them as a place of true men, possessing a stronger righteous spirit and higher pride than the other eight sects, who often did little more than maintain a dignified facade.
Some called it ambition; others called it recklessness.
But as of today, Hyeok-jin had learned one thing.
To push forward even while knowing the opponent’s strength.
To achieve one's goal even if it meant lowering oneself.
As long as one had the skill to back it up, dauntlessness could always be transformed into courage, or even chivalry.
Thinking back, Qingcheng’s standards were clear.
Even if a small or medium-sized sect rebelled against a prestigious Orthodox sect or a Great Family, Qingcheng would take their side and push through if they believed it was the right thing to do.
They didn't care if it was Shaolin, Wudang, or even the Beggar Sect.
“Phew…”
“Could you step aside for a moment?”
While Hyeok-jin was lost in thought, an old man dressed in blue robes approached and looked down at him.
“Who… what brings you here?”
Hyeok-jin scrambled to his feet and bowed his head.
“I need to check Seok Myeong’s condition. It is distracting to have an outsider present.”
“Oh…”
Hyeok-jin hesitated for a moment before bowing again. He felt a strange sense of unease, but the man before him was Seok Myeong’s martial uncle—an elder of the Qingcheng Sect.
“Yes, I will return in a while.”
A great sect was bound to have its own secret healing arts. Though he and Seok Myeong were close, there was no reason for him to stay and make things uncomfortable.
Slide. Thud.
As Hyeok-jin left, Song Hak’s gaze followed the door. Though it had been a brief encounter, Song Hak was quite surprised by the energy Hyeok-jin possessed.
‘Look at this lad.’
The internal energy within his body wasn't vast, but it was remarkably pure. He also sensed a stillness akin to a deep river.
‘A heart method that is both pure and still.’
Among the Orthodox martial arts, there were countless techniques that were pure. The same went for stillness.
However, there were few heart methods that pursued both purity and stillness simultaneously. This was because the stiller the mind, the slower the progress.
As the saying goes, 'The Way rises by a foot, but the Demon rises by a yard.'
Compared to Orthodox martial arts, the Heterodox and Demonic arts were intense. They were easy to learn and yielded quick results.
However, if one looked toward the ultimate heights—the Absolute Realm or the Realm of Entering the Divine—the answer was always Orthodox martial arts.
This was a truth known to all who were truly enlightened.
“To think there is still someone practicing such a heart method these days. He’s no fool.”
Hyeok-jin’s internal energy didn't belong to any sect Song Hak recognized. Yet, it possessed such purity and stillness.
Ssh.
Song Hak turned his gaze back down to Seok Myeong. With a face clouded by a mix of love and hate, he muttered:
“You’ve grown strong. Your martial prowess was truly astonishing. So much so that I doubted my own eyes.”
The recent duel.
Cheol Gun of the Golden Martial Association truly deserved to be called the strongest of the rising stars. It wasn't simply because he could manifest Sword Bullets, a higher stage of Sword Aura.
Everything has its proper level.
Cheol Gun’s movements in offense, defense, and swordsmanship were flawless, befitting one who could wield Sword Bullets.
Perhaps that was why.
The shock of seeing Seok Myeong refuse to back down an inch against such an opponent was even more pronounced.
‘To think he actually gave advice to an opponent wielding such swordsmanship.’
Like an instructor guiding his disciples.
Furthermore, his timing in the application of his swordsmanship had moved beyond impressive—it was bordering on the divine.
Even Song Hak couldn't say for certain that he could have easily withstood the offensive Cheol Gun unleashed in his final ultimate move.
This realization made Song Hak anxious.
‘If this continues, Seok Myeong will surpass Seok Jun. No, he might have already surpassed him…’
This was no longer a matter of whether he would become a Qingcheng swordsman or not.
If things went wrong, a situation could arise where Seok Jun was crushed by Seok Myeong.
That would become a major obstacle to Song Hak himself becoming the next Sect Leader.
‘However.’
Ssh.
Song Hak’s eyes scanned the surroundings. Unlike his usual coldness, his gaze was now somewhat sinister.
Sensing no one nearby, Song Hak looked at Seok Myeong. He carefully moved his hand over the young man’s chest.
“…”
After another quick look around, Song Hak’s hand began to move.
Tap.
He pressed near the solar plexus with his index finger, lingered for a moment at the lower Dantian, and then suddenly began striking the acupoints.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The acupoints were struck in a circular pattern, as if drawing the Five Elements.
After striking five locations in this manner, he spread his palm wide and struck the abdomen with force.
Pang!
“Puh-hugh!”
Saliva sprayed from the unconscious Seok Myeong’s mouth as his body convulsed. After three violent tremors, he fell still once more.
“…Hmm.”
With a relaxed expression, Song Hak picked up a cloth sitting nearby. He slowly brought it to Seok Myeong’s mouth and wiped away the discharge.
The Five Elements Four Changes Formation.
This was the sealing technique he had just performed.
It was one of the Five Elements Restraint Formations known as high-level martial studies, a technique used to suppress internal energy for a long period.
Originally, this procedure was a life-restoring method used for Taoists with physical ailments.
When a martial artist suddenly glimpses a higher realm, they risk falling into Qi Deviation, causing their meridians to flow backward or leading to madness. This happens because too much content is poured into a vessel that is too small.
The Five Elements Four Changes Formation was a very beneficial martial art that healed the body from its roots by scattering such excessive internal strength into the minor meridians throughout the body.
But for the current Seok Myeong…
‘With this, it will take him at least several years just to recover from his injuries.’
Song Hak smiled with satisfaction.
Seok Myeong was currently suffering from internal injuries so severe that his inner qi could not circulate. In this state, sending internal strength into the minor meridians meant one thing:
The Small and Great Heavenly Circuits—the primary flows of cultivation—would be disrupted. His internal energy would fail to gather in the Dantian, which should serve as the foundation of his power.
‘Seok Myeong. The Azure Wind Origin Heart Method you practiced is different from the Azure Origin Heart Method. It will take at least five years for the energy scattered into your minor meridians to return to your Dantian.’
No matter how much potential Seok Myeong had, Seok Jun wouldn't be idling away those five years.
Even if Seok Myeong devoted himself to martial arts again after five years, could he ever catch up to Seok Jun, who would have sprinted far ahead in the meantime?
Well, if he could overturn even such an impossible disadvantage…
“Then I shall acknowledge you. Even if it is you.”
For the first time in a long while, Song Hak’s face looked warm.
He stared at Seok Myeong with a strange gaze for a long time before finally leaving the room.
*
Chirp, chirp.
It was a bright morning, filled with the singing of birds.
The sunlight, which naturally brought a smile to one's face, beautifully illuminated the gardens of the Golden Martial Association.
Seok Myeong still lay unconscious, surrounded by various nameless medicinal herbs.
Beside him sat Yeon-hui, looking down at him.
Judging by her haggard appearance, it seemed she had been nursing him all night.
Step, step.
Someone walked down the quiet hallway. Soon, they entered the grand hall and stood before Yeon-hui.
“Are you leaving?”
Hyeok-jin had just heard the news.
That Yeon-hui was leaving this morning.
“Yes.”
“Why are you leaving so soon?” Hyeok-jin asked, his voice full of regret.
“I am not in a position to be out like this. I didn't receive permission from the sect. My martial uncle also has many duties and cannot be away for long.”
“But Brother hasn't even regained consciousness yet.”
Hyeok-jin sighed, expressing his disappointment, but Yeon-hui had no choice.
Since quite some time had passed, the main sect would have realized she was missing. Now that she had been caught anyway, returning with Song Hak was the best course of action in many ways.
“He will wake up soon. The physician said he would recover in five or six months. Please take good care of him until then.”
She spoke with a smile. Despite her haggard face from nursing him all night, she looked dazzlingly beautiful to Hyeok-jin.
“Are you ready?”
Just then, someone approached.
It was Song Hak.
He had come to check if she was ready to depart.
Yeon-hui nodded.
“Let us go.”
“Yes, Martial Uncle.”
Yeon-hui stood up after those words. Hyeok-jin still looked regretful, but there was nothing he could do.
It was the third day since Seok Myeong had collapsed.
*
“There’s no one to see us off?”
At Yeon-hui’s remark, Song Hak replied coldly.
“We were never meant to associate with them in the first place.”
Qingcheng, one of the Nine Great Sects. The Golden Martial Association, a powerful organization of the Unorthodox Faction. Their natures were too different, and both were equally bellicose. It was a relief they hadn't drawn swords against each other.
Because of this, even though they were walking out the front gate with dignity, it felt as if they were fleeing in the middle of the night.
Clop, clop! Rumble!
Of course, while they ignored each other with cold indifference, the great Golden Martial Association was well aware of their departure.
Cheol Gun was currently watching them from atop a pavilion.
“What are you looking at?”
Ssh.
As the carriage disappeared from view, someone spoke from behind him.
“I was watching, just in case.”
Cheol Gun didn't need to look to know it was his father.
“Just in case of what?”
“…Well. Just because.”
When Cheol Gun gave a vague answer, Cheol Jung let out a short laugh.
His son was always full of inscrutable thoughts, but this time, he thought he understood.
Most likely, it was Seok Myeong. He probably wanted to confirm the departure of the man he had recognized as a rival for the first time.
“So, are you fit enough to move now?”
“The internal injuries remain, but I can walk. The physician treating me is quite capable, after all.”
“Huhu.”
Cheol Jung smiled at Cheol Gun.
It was good to see him thinking positively even after what had happened.
“As you know, this duel was effectively a draw. Therefore, you do not necessarily need to enter closed-door cultivation. If you wish, you can continue in your own way…”
“No. I will do it.”
Cheol Gun interrupted.
“Father, you said that if I trained for a year or two, I would be able to use the ultimate Iron Spirit True Qi, didn't you? However… I want to move that timeline forward. I realized through the duel with that fellow that I still lack the fundamentals.”
“Cheol Gun…”
“Once he recovers in six months, I want to settle the score once and for all, no matter what.”
“Have you told your… have you told your grandfather as well?”
“Yes.”
Cheol Jung looked into Cheol Gun’s eyes.
They didn't seem much different from before. He still looked optimistic and cheerful.
But he knew. The spark of ambition within him had grown larger than ever.
He was no longer content to wait slowly for his time; he wanted to seize the world much faster.
“Please open the Third Cave for me.”
“That place is…”
“I beg of you. Please do not spare any support the sect can provide. Since I’m already fired up, I want to do this properly.”
“Very well… give it your best shot.”
Cheol Jung nodded in approval.
His son, who had lacked motivation in everything because he was too naturally gifted, was now volunteering to enter the Third Cave—the most brutal closed-door cultivation site of the Golden Martial Association.
‘It seems this duel was a great gain. Should I perhaps thank those Taoists?’
He smiled warmly, imagining the day Cheol Gun, his son, would soar magnificently at the very center of the Central Plains.