Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Imitation and Brute Force
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“Elder Jin San.”
“Hm? What is it?”
After everyone else had returned to their quarters, Neung Un-bi, who had remained at the table, quietly addressed Jin San.
Perhaps because he had already grown quite fond of him, Jin San’s tone was much gentler than before.
“May I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“The martial art that Woong-hyeon used—was it not Shooting the Sun?”
“Hm? Hoho, you saw that, did you?”
“…”
It was impossible not to see. Wasn't it obvious to anyone that it was the Shooting the Sun Sword Art?
The Piercing the Sun Spear and the Shooting the Sun Sword.
Who in the world didn't know these two were the signature martial arts of the Diancang Sect?
Neung Un-bi also knew very well that Jin San had taken that art by force.
He asked anyway, to set up his next question.
“How is a disciple of Zhongnan using Shooting the Sun? I was under the impression it was an exclusive art of the Diancang Sect, not to be taught to outsiders.”
“Hoho, Young Master Neung, you continue to surprise me.”
“You flatter me.”
“However, you are half right and half wrong.”
“Pardon?”
“As you saw, what Hyeon used was indeed Diancang’s Shooting the Sun. But it is also Zhongnan’s Shooting the Sun.”
“What does that…?”
“Haha. There was a time in my foolish youth when I acted as if I owned the heavens.”
“…”
“I obtained it from Diancang back then. I mastered it, and I developed it in a different direction from Diancang’s.”
“Is that possible? I can’t imagine the Diancang Sect would have stood for it.”
“Ah, that… haha, hahaha. Well, there were circumstances that made it unavoidable. It’s all a story from my younger days.”
Jin San wore an expression that suggested it was no big deal.
*Circumstances that made it unavoidable?*
*What a joke. I know full well you won a fight and then threw a tantrum until you took it.*
A dry laugh almost escaped him, but Neung Un-bi forced himself to nod along, doing his best to humor Jin San.
“I see. There must have been a reason. If you say so, Elder Jin San, then it must be so. So you passed Shooting the Sun down in the Zhongnan Sect.”
“No. I did not. I never taught it to Hyeon, either.”
At Neung Un-bi’s question, Jin San smiled and shook his head.
“What? What do you mean? Woong-hyeon’s sword was…”
“He copied it.”
“…Copied it?”
“Indeed. No matter how much Diancang turns a blind eye, I am not so shameless as to recklessly teach the martial art of another sect.”
“…”
Neung Un-bi stared blankly.
*Not shameless?*
*Then why did you steal it in the first place?*
*And he copied it? Are you saying he perfectly replicated—no, performed a far more advanced version of the Shooting the Sun Sword Art just by mimicking it?*
*…Is this old geezer trying to pull a fast one on me?*
*So that fat glutton has the talent to perfectly imitate a profound martial art just by seeing it once?*
“Did you not sense something odd about it?”
“…”
Far from odd, it had looked incredible. He never dreamed someone could use Shooting the Sun so relentlessly.
If there was one flaw…
“Well, it seemed like he was using a bit too much force…”
“Exactly. The Shooting the Sun that boy uses is neither Diancang’s nor mine. It is his own.”
“…”
“He manifested what I showed him through sheer power.”
“Po-power?”
“Yes. Good heavens, to match speed with strength… When I first saw it, I thought my heart would stop.”
“Is… is that even possible?”
“Apparently so. That boy… he was born with herculean strength. No, divine strength.”
It was absurd.
To think he could forcibly replicate speed with power.
And on top of that, to have the talent to copy something just by seeing it… Wasn’t that the very definition of a monster?
“Hyeon is a good kid in every way, but he just can’t seem to hold back his strength. So I just left him be.”
“Mm, perhaps… did he learn the footwork he showed in the same way?”
“Footwork? Ah! You mean that?”
“Yes.”
“My, my, I find myself seeing you in a new light again and again. Have you already surpassed the stage of discernment?”
“Ah… yes. It just sort of happened.”
“I suppose so. That must be how you were able to manifest such authority.”
Jin San nodded and drained his cup.
“Actually, unlike Shooting the Sun, I taught him that art myself.”
“You… taught him, Elder Jin San?”
“That’s right.”
His mind grew complicated.
Shooting the Sun was one thing, but there was no way Jin San could know the Three Nothings Footwork…
“Hmm, it’s a long story… but a long time ago, there was a rather remarkable fellow in this world.”
“A remarkable fellow?”
“Yes, though he met a tragic end…”
“…”
*Tragic, huh… Is that how he thought of my death?*
Then again, that was just like Jin San.
Unlike the others, he was someone who had shown a slight measure of sympathy for his ideals.
“I don’t know his name, either.”
Of course not.
In their few encounters, they had crossed swords as if to kill each other, but he had never revealed his name. Back then, he had to hide everything.
“He was younger than me, but he was a truly incredible man.”
“…”
A faint smile touched Jin San’s lips as he lost himself in reminiscence.
“His personality was a bit twisted, but he shouldn’t have gone down that path.”
At that, Neung Un-bi felt a flash of indignation.
*Twisted? You think you were any better in your youth?*
“The footwork you saw Hyeon use—I learned it from him.”
“You… learned it?”
Neung Un-bi’s eyebrows furrowed into a strange shape.
*Learned it? I never taught him.*
“No, perhaps I should say I stole it?”
“…”
“His sword was magnificent, but his footwork, which allowed him to close the distance with an explosive burst of speed, was truly something else. In that regard, it could be called the best under heaven. But tragically, after he died, I never saw anyone else use that footwork. Its lineage was severed. Such a precious art.”
Neung Un-bi’s eyes narrowed.
For a moment, he had misunderstood. Knowing the Three Nothings Footwork, he wondered if Jin San had a connection to ‘him.’
That he had taught him, or that his identity had been exposed.
Hadn’t Shin Ye-rang said contact had been lost for the past ten years?
But it seemed neither was the case, and a sense of relief washed over him.
“But what do you mean, you stole it?”
“I studied it.”
“…?”
“I couldn’t let such footwork disappear. So I replayed all the moments I fought him in my mind.”
“You mean you recreated it by reviewing the match?”
“Haha, how could I possibly remember all those swift movements by myself?”
“Then…?”
“Cheong Jin of Mount Hua, Jeong Hwa of Shaolin. I met with those who knew him, shared my intentions, and we worked on it together.”
“What?”
“Have you not heard of them? The Sword Saint of Mount Hua and the Divine Monk of Shaolin.”
“…”
For a moment, his mind went blank.
The Divine Monk of Shaolin was one thing, but Cheong Jin was the Sword Saint of Mount Hua?
Did that mean Un Hak was the disciple of that damn Cheong Jin?
*Damn it all… So that’s how it was.*
Then again, who else at Mount Hua was worthy of becoming the Sword Saint?
“Hah, damn it. I should have tormented him instead of being nice…”
“Hm? Tormented who?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Neung Un-bi managed a smile and brushed it off.
“Ahem, anyway, that’s incredible. To think you could recreate footwork just from memory.”
“No, we failed.”
“Pardon?”
“It was impossible.”
“…”
“So, thinking I had nothing to lose, I just tried teaching it once.”
“To Woong-hyeon?”
“Yes.”
“…”
“And what do you know, the boy pulled it off.”
He had seen it.
It wasn't exactly the same, but what he had performed was undoubtedly the Three Nothings Footwork.
“Could it be that he also did it with strength…?”
“Precisely. He did it with the power in his legs, can you believe it? Hah, the original master’s version was incredibly light, yet Hyeon managed it with sheer force. You saw it too, didn’t you?”
*No wonder…*
The steps of the Three Nothings Footwork, which should have been as light as a feather, had practically shaken the ground.
*That crazy glutton.*
To think he could imitate not only the Shooting the Sun Sword Art but also the Three Nothings Footwork with pure strength.
Just how strong was he?
“But it’s only half-complete.”
“…”
“The Shooting the Sun Sword Art, the footwork… even the martial arts of Zhongnan are all half-baked.”
Neung Un-bi could guess why a shadow had fallen over Jin San’s face, so he simply nodded quietly.
Half-baked. Because he could perform any martial art he saw with his innate divine strength and talent, he would have never felt that anything was lacking.
And so, he remained stagnant. He had achieved it, but he would not have been able to attain any depth.
His talent and divine strength had become a poison.
“In the midst of that, you have been a great help. This incident will likely lead him to a great awakening.”
“…I truly hope so.”
“Hm?”
“What is it?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Jin San smiled warmly at Neung Un-bi.
*I truly hope so…*
From the look on Neung Un-bi’s face and the light in his eyes as he said those words, Jin San could read his sincerity.
A disciple of the Demonic Cult wishing for the future of the Orthodox Faction’s next generation.
What an interesting fellow he was.
For some reason, he had a feeling that if this man became the Cult Leader, the martial world would become a very interesting place.
“Here, have a drink. It seems you and I have much to talk about.”
“Pardon? It’s getting late, aren’t you going to sleep?”
“My good man. I’m someone who’s lived cooped up in the mountains. Having come down to the world of men for the first time in a while and met such a fine companion, wouldn’t it be a shame not to spend the night drinking?”
“…”
*For someone who hasn't been out in a while, you look awfully comfortable drinking…*
But Neung Un-bi smiled along with Jin San and raised his cup.
What was the harm in sharing a few drinks with him? Though they couldn't share memories, just sitting across from each other felt like being in a time gone by.
“If you insist.”
“Excellent! Of course, ahahaha!”
As they were emptying cup after cup, Jin San suddenly asked.
“By the way… who on earth is that child?”
“…”
Jin San’s gaze fell upon Hyang-i, who, despite having a mountain of empty plates before her, was busy clearing a new one.
Was it because of his gaze?
Hyang-i shot up from her seat and abruptly moved next to Neung Un-bi.
“Huh? Why?”
“The alcohol…”
“Alcohol?”
“Mine’s all gone. Everyone else went to bed, so there’s no one to order more.”
“Ah…”
*So it was about the alcohol.*
*Please don't say things like that with such a serious expression, you glutton!*
Neung Un-bi laughed awkwardly and handed her a bottle of wine.
“By the way… are you really going to investigate?”
“Hm?”
“Like I said before, I bet he’s the one who destroyed the brewery too. Why don’t you just call that Yeom Seong-in guy over, cut off a few parts, and he’ll start blabbing… Or better yet, just bring a few of his men and slit their throats. Hmm, I heard he has a son… maybe we could work him over…”
“Th-that’s enough!”
Neung Un-bi hastily cut off Hyang-i’s nonchalant words.
Jin San was right here…
And besides, their suspicions about the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild were still just speculation without any solid proof. Did she really have to put it like that?
“Hyang-i, how about you watch your words a little.”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“Because of this old man?”
“…”
Hyang-i shot a glare at Jin San.
*Hey, ‘this old man?’ There’s a fancy term for that kind of attitude: utter insolence.*
“Hoho, it’s quite all right. Don’t mind me.”
“…Who said I was minding you?”
As Hyang-i retorted sharply, Jin San, who had been waving his hands dismissively, looked abashed.
*Hah, I can’t just let this be.*
“Ha, Hyang-i. Why don’t you go get some sleep?”
“Already?”
“What do you mean, already? Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘beauty needs her sleep’?”
“What beauty…”
In his haste, Neung Un-bi had spouted nonsense, but Hyang-i, who seemed inwardly pleased, smiled and stood up.
*But why are your cheeks turning red?*
“Well then, you two have a good time. This beauty will be heading off to bed.”
“Huh? O-okay. Good night.”
Neung Un-bi waved until Hyang-i was long gone.
Her retreating figure looked quite cheerful.
Did she like being called a beauty that much?
“What a strange woman. She looks no older than fifteen or sixteen, yet she possesses such a powerful aura… Could she be an old master in disguise? Did she learn some kind of youth-retaining art? What on earth is she?”
To a very curious Jin San, Neung Un-bi smiled and said.
“She’s just… my… esteemed maid.”