Chapter 36
Dan Cheong blinked several times.
It was because, in that short span of time, he simply could not comprehend what Baek Yeon had said.
"When you say let us trust this child—what exactly do you mean by that?"
At Dan Cheong's question, Baek Yeon replied calmly.
"This child's talent can only be described as peerless. At this level, he will be more than capable of passing the exam that the Demon Hall demands."
"Even if we grant that for the Fire Rain Sword Sect, do you truly believe that Gang Yang-cheon—that viper of a man—will conduct matters fairly?"
Dan Cheong waved his hand as if the idea was not even worth considering.
"He will most certainly resort to dirty tricks to kill this child."
"Of course."
Baek Yeon's expression as he accepted the words did not change in the slightest.
"It is precisely because they know their demands are unreasonable that the Demon Hall has set the exam location within the Demon Hall itself."
"Whether it is the Demon Hall or the White Horse Temple—what difference does the location make?"
"The Demon Hall's purpose is merely to save face for the White Horse Temple Master, who is grieving over his grandson's death. If they truly intended to kill this child, there would be no reason to summon him to the Demon Hall."
"Unacceptable."
Dan Cheong spoke with a stern expression.
"No matter how extraordinary this child's talent may be, right now he is nothing more than a fledgling. I absolutely cannot send him to the Demon Hall."
"Deputy Pavilion Lord."
Baek Yeon spoke with an expression of utmost seriousness.
"If we refuse this proposal, troublesome matters will arise one after another—enough that the Pavilion Lord himself will have to step forward."
"Let them do as they please. And you, stop concerning yourself with it."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward.
"I will go to the Demon Hall."
"This is not a situation for you to be acting on reckless bravado."
"It is not reckless bravado."
Bu Eun-seol, who had glanced sideways at Baek Yeon, continued speaking.
"If they had agreed to harming me at the Demon Hall, they would not have bothered to relay the message through Brigade Leader Baek."
"So, you mean to say that you will go to the Demon Hall and take that absurd exam?"
At Dan Cheong's words, tinged with a sigh, Bu Eun-seol replied composedly.
"What they want, in any case, is face. They will think that killing a greenhorn like me would only cause them to lose face."
"Hm."
Dan Cheong let out a low hum.
Perhaps, as he said, the Demon Hall had summoned him merely for the sake of appearances.
But he did not want Bu Eun-seol to take on danger because of the unreasonable demands of the Fire Rain Sword Sect and the White Horse Temple.
"It is something that will happen once, regardless."
At that moment, Baek Yeon stepped in again.
"They are not the sort to give up if we refuse this offer. Rather, the best solution would be to grant their demands while they are making unreasonable requests, so that they can never find fault again."
"And if that child comes to harm?"
At Dan Cheong's words, Baek Yeon steadied his breath for a moment before speaking again.
"It is the Deputy Pavilion Lord's duty not to judge emotionally, but to look at the greater picture."
A brief silence hung over the Clear Sky Terrace.
In truth, Langya Pavilion had neither an outstanding Ten Demonic Heir nor any desire to kill the Great Righteous Experts. They had simply lived like flowing water, always devoting themselves to martial arts.
But they had marked Bu Eun-seol—this peerless prodigy—not as a Ten Demonic Heir, but as the successor of Langya Pavilion. And so, their hearts going out to him was something they simply could not help.
"I, too..."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward.
"I, too, am a disciple of Langya Pavilion."
These were the words Dan Cheong had spoken earlier.
But when Bu Eun-seol said the same words, Dan Cheong felt an indescribable sense of pride.
'If it is this boy, he truly seems capable of overcoming everything.'
Dan Cheong, who had let out a low sigh of admiration, looked at Baek Yeon.
"Is the exam all they want?"
"That is correct."
"Then relay this. If he passes the exam, the matter of the White Horse Temple Master will be dropped. And tell them to withdraw the unreasonable demands of the Fire Rain Sword Sect as well."
As Dan Cheong continued speaking, an authority that seemed capable of splitting Mount Tai burst forth from his eyes.
"If either of these two conditions is not accepted, then the entire matter will be treated as if it never happened."
Clear Breeze Studio.
This was the residence of Dan Cheong, the Deputy Pavilion Lord of Langya Pavilion.
Around the Clear Breeze Studio, built alongside a winding stream, large trees stood scattered here and there.
The leisurely yet tranquil atmosphere bore a striking resemblance to Dan Cheong's characteristic languor.
"They say the Main Pavilion is not far from the Demon Hall, but it will take four days for the messenger pigeon to arrive."
Walking along the narrow path in front of the Clear Breeze Studio, Dan Cheong spoke toward Bu Eun-seol, who was following behind him.
"During that time, there is something you must do."
"Is it learning martial arts?"
"It could be said to be that, and it could also be said not to be."
It was a puzzling statement.
But Bu Eun-seol did not press for an answer. As always, he tried to find the answer himself.
"Then it might not be about learning a new martial art, but rather further developing the ones I have already learned."
"Heh heh. Something like that."
Dan Cheong, who had let out a satisfied laugh, soon wore a bitter expression.
"Because the Main Pavilion's martial arts pursue real combat, they have not yet been systematically established. Strictly speaking, they could be called incomplete martial arts."
His voice, expounding upon the principles of martial arts, was solemn.
"Nevertheless, the Main Pavilion's martial arts can be expressed with a single character: 'enlightenment.' It is because they can develop infinitely according to one's realization."
Dan Cheong, looking down at Bu Eun-seol, let out a sigh.
"But there is a paradox in these words as well. No matter how outstanding one's talent is, one cannot completely ignore or leap over the stages of martial arts."
As much as he had accepted the unreasonable demand, Dan Cheong had demanded a definite reward from the Demon Hall.
And during the time it took for a reply to arrive, he intended to pass on martial arts to Bu Eun-seol.
"Then, is there a martial art that can be completed in four days?"
"Of course not."
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Dan Cheong firmly shook his head.
"The Main Pavilion's authentic martial arts are as deep and boundless as Shaolin's. No matter how much of a prodigy under heaven you are, there is nothing you can master in a short period of time."
In the meantime, Dan Cheong and Bu Eun-seol had emerged from the forest path and arrived at a wide reed field.
"Then what should I learn?"
"It is not learning, but seeing."
Around the time they were exchanging words that sounded like a Zen dialogue,
Swish swish swish.
There were two shadows dashing toward the bamboo grove.
The two people running, brushing past the reed leaves, were both wearing distinctive martial uniforms with their forearms completely exposed.
And one held a sword in his right hand, while the other held a great blade.
Clang!
As the weapons of the two men, who had charged at full speed, collided in midair, sparks flew in all directions.
Clang! Clang clang clang!
The sword and the blade spread out like the ribs of a folding fan, tangling chaotically.
"In battles between masters, it is rare for weapons to clash."
Dan Cheong spoke while watching the two men fighting with all their might.
"Even so, do you understand why their weapons are clashing?"
Clang!
Bu Eun-seol, who had been watching the weapons clash once again, answered calmly.
"It is because the distance is too close."
Just as he said, the two men had only drawn their weapons, and were wielding the sword and blade in short movements, locked in a desperate struggle at close range.
"Is there nothing else?"
At Dan Cheong's words, Bu Eun-seol once again observed the fierce fight.
Whish! Whap!
Every time the weapons grazed past, blood sprayed from their entire bodies.
From the weapons the two men swung, sharp and brutal killing moves were pouring out.
"And it is because it is not a practice bout... but because they are fighting in earnest."
"Exactly."
Dan Cheong, with his arms crossed, spoke heavily.
"This reed field, and the bamboo grove spread out over there, are places where the Main Pavilion's masters polish their practical combat martial arts."
"Practical combat martial arts..."
"That's right. They do not develop their techniques through sloppy practice, but by actually fighting."
Dan Cheong stared intently into Bu Eun-seol's eyes, which had lost their focus.
"From now on, for four days, you are to remain in this reed field and bamboo grove, and observe the duels of the Main Pavilion's masters."
"You mean I should only watch?"
Bu Eun-seol wore an expression of incomprehension.
No one knew what kind of incident would occur at the Demon Hall in four days. Yet he was being told to leisurely spectate the masters' bloody battles.
"In order to learn practical combat martial arts, you must reach a realm where you can grasp and gauge the enemy's momentum and techniques through observation alone."
"You mean to grasp the enemy's momentum and techniques just by watching with my eyes?"
"That is correct."
Dan Cheong pointed again at the two people fighting in the reed field.
"Earlier, you said their duel was a life-or-death fight, but in truth, that is only half correct. What they are doing is, to the very end, a practice bout. However, because they gauge all of the opponent's techniques and deploy killing moves in accordance with them, it merely looks as though they are waging a bloody battle."
Dan Cheong continued his explanation.
"Practical combat martial arts does not mean fighting recklessly. Rather, before that, one must personally witness countless fierce battles."
Toward Bu Eun-seol, who was listening with concentration, he spoke clearly, enunciating each and every word.
"To possess eyes that can rapidly grasp the enemy's information through observation alone. That is the foundation of practical combat martial arts."
"Eyes that grasp the enemy's information..."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
Because he had not yet seriously learned Langya Pavilion's martial arts, he had been thinking of the concept of practical combat martial arts somewhat lightly.
'So the foundation of Practical Combat Martial Arts isn't fighting itself, but rapidly grasping and responding to the enemy's information.'
Hearing Dan Cheong's explanation, Bu Eun-seol realized that Practical Combat Martial Arts contained a far more profound and mysterious principle than he had thought.
"If you ever reach that realm, you will be able to gain tremendous benefit simply by observing the fights of others, without fighting yourself."
Having finished his explanation, Dan Cheong turned his body.
"As is the law of the murim, secretly watching another's training or fierce battle is forbidden within Langya Pavilion as well. For merely by watching, one can steal an opponent's weaknesses or insights."
Dan Cheong, now turned away, spoke in a solemn voice.
"However, given the current situation, I will specially permit you to observe."
"Thank you."
Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply.
Only now did he realize that Dan Cheong was granting him an indescribable favor.
"Do your best."
Leaving those words behind, Dan Cheong slowly departed from the reed field.
From that day onward, Bu Eun-seol constantly went back and forth between the reed field and the bamboo forest near Clear Breeze Studio, observing the training.
Though it was called training, the fights were vivid enough to be mistaken for real combat.
If a martial artist whose martial arts had reached the peak were to watch such bloody struggles, they would have gained tremendous insight from the spectacle alone.
The fourth day.
As today was the last day, Dan Cheong stood beside Bu Eun-seol, observing the training together with him.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Today's training was unfolding in a bamboo forest densely packed with bamboo.
Clang! Thud-thud-thud!
At the center of the bamboo forest, five warriors had surrounded a single man in a circle.
The man standing at the center was blocking the attacks unleashed by his five enemies with, astonishingly, only his bare palms.
Sssss.
But then, the positioning of the five warriors shifted subtly.
Seeing that, Dan Cheong asked Bu Eun-seol,
"The next form?"
"It seems they will use the Heaven Earth Dividing Strike."
Simultaneously with Bu Eun-seol's low murmur as he watched the fierce battle, five swords rose high into the sky.
They were about to execute the first movement of the Heaven Earth Dividing Strike.
Shing.
At the same time, the man who had been fighting barehanded drew a very short sword from behind his back.
It was a heavy sword used by assassins.
"The next form?"
"Judging by his posture, he will likely use Everything One Could Wish For to create a sword curtain."
Whiwhiwhik!
Just as Bu Eun-seol predicted, the man who had drawn the heavy sword swung it rapidly, creating a transparent sword curtain.
'He's good.'
Dan Cheong, who had been glancing at Bu Eun-seol's profile, tilted his head.
'But he's too fast.'
To execute a sword technique, one must grip a sword, and to execute a fist technique, one must clench a fist.
Indeed, every form has a starting point. Grasping that is the first step of Practical Combat Martial Arts.
But wasn't Bu Eun-seol reading the forms with ease, as if he had been laying the foundation of Practical Combat Martial Arts for a long time?
'Even a veteran of countless fierce battles would need three months to learn how to anticipate forms.'
Dan Cheong could not even begin to fathom how Bu Eun-seol had learned to gauge forms so quickly.
'In any case, he's doing well, so I should praise him.'
"Impressive. It is rare to grasp the fundamentals of Practical Combat Martial Arts this quickly."
At Dan Cheong's praise, Bu Eun-seol shook his head with a gloomy expression.
"I merely predicted the movements through the motion of the muscles. I have not yet predicted the forms by discerning the principles of martial arts."
"Hm?"
"Do not true masters display movements that transcend the limits of the physical body? In the end, I have only built half of the foundation."
Dan Cheong opened his mouth in disbelief.
Predicting movements according to the principles of martial arts was something only grandmasters of Dan Cheong's caliber could do.
Yet Bu Eun-seol, not even knowing that, was reproaching himself for his own inadequacy.
'I cannot tell whether he is arrogant, or whether it is simply because he has only just begun learning martial arts.'
Bu Eun-seol never failed to surprise those who taught him. And Dan Cheong, too, could not escape that category.
'I truly look forward to the future.'
Just as Dan Cheong was secretly drawing a satisfied smile,
Whiririk.
At that moment, accompanied by the sound of breaking air, a figure came rushing at great speed.
"Deputy Pavilion Lord."
The figure that approached Dan Cheong was a young man.
And his attire closely resembled the martial uniform Baek Yeon had worn previously.
"I am Bi-un of the Wind Cloud Brigade."
The man, having bowed his head, produced a small letter from within his robes.
"It is a reply from the Demon Hall."
"Mm."
Dan Cheong, having received and read the letter, nodded.
"Is that so."
Then, looking at Bu Eun-seol, his eyes flashed.
"The Demon Hall says they will accept all of the Main Pavilion's demands."
Bu Eun-seol nodded with a solemn expression.
The time had truly come to go to the Demon Hall.