Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Captivated by True Martial Prowess
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I didn't know exactly what martial arts were.
Only that they glittered in a startling way.
That was everything Na-rin knew about martial arts.
She had simply wanted to feel a sense of belonging. There was no deeper reason.
Learning martial arts just to belong somewhere.
To Na-rin, martial arts were merely a means to an end. Not a goal, but an excuse to stand beside someone equal to her or worthy of admiration.
But that perception shattered.
Because of the man before her eyes.
---Kuuuung!!!!
Everything shook. The overwhelming pressure from his fingertips crushed the giant, who let out a howl.
A kick came flying. But even that shattered. Without hesitation, it collided with an identical kick, splintering his bones to pieces.
His movements weren't particularly fluid.
What shone within them was simply time.
The time invested to maintain even that one stance...
How much must he have poured in?
Na-rin couldn't know. But in that brief moment, she was utterly captivated.
She heard the pounding of Gwang-yang's heart. Turning her head, she saw his face chasing after the back of one man.
What a foolish expression.
But Na-rin realized it.
That she wore the exact same look.
An unwavering stubbornness that one couldn't help but be drawn to. A karma so heavy it dared not be peered into.
Blood wafted from Jeok-un's body.
Not from others, but the scent of the blood he had shed countless times for a single swing.
"This... is martial arts..."
She had heard that a true martial artist yearns for strength.
Then, wasn't she now...
Stepping into that world?
...
He tossed the unorthodox martial artist with broken limbs to the ground.
Na-rin and Gwang-yang rushed over.
"Ma-Master! So cool! Really... really awesome! C-Can I become like you someday, Master?!"
"Y-You're the best, Master! Unbelievable...! Not just swordsmanship, but those movement techniques...!"
Their excitement was palpable.
First, they bound the knocked-out unorthodox martial artist. Using nearby tree bark and vines, they hoisted him over a shoulder.
"Master, isn't he heavy?"
"It's fine. No training for a while. Stick close to me-we don't know what's out there."
The silver lining was that Qingcheng wasn't far off.
Follow the path, and Qingcheng Mountain would appear. As dusk fell, the sun set.
While preparing a campfire for camp, the giant opened his eyes.
"Kuhuhuhuk?!"
Full of energy, huh.
I added wood to the fire.
"What happened at Qingcheng?"
"Wh-Who the hell are you... Who dares treat the Invincible Overlord like this...!"
"Doesn't seem like a nickname someone else gave you. Self-proclaimed? Then I recommend dropping it. It doesn't suit you."
Na-rin burst out laughing. Gwang-yang stifled a cough.
The self-proclaimed Invincible Overlord bellowed in rage.
"You're the weird one! Give me your nickname! If you're that strong, you must have one! I need to know the name of the one who defeated me!"
"Big voice for someone captured."
---Thwack!
"Kek!"
The Invincible Overlord winced, eyes squeezing shut.
His tone grew polite.
"Wh-What do you plan to do with me?"
"Answer my question first."
"Q-Qingcheng? Well... Some guys like me showed up. Here and there."
"Why?"
"Someone released the Divine Power Heavenly Tyrant."
"Divine Power Heavenly Tyrant?"
".......? You don't know him? The most notorious villain among Qingcheng's prisoners! The Divine Power Heavenly Tyrant, Ya Hul-pae!"
A name that rang a vague bell.
"And?"
"What 'and'? When Divine Power Heavenly Tyrant Ya Hul-pae broke free and caused chaos, part of the prison collapsed. That's how guys like me escaped in droves."
"Prisoners broke out?"
"Not all of them, of course. Just those imprisoned with him. I hid out and slipped away when the chance came..."
The Invincible Overlord sighed.
"Didn't expect to run into someone like you. Sorry about the threats earlier. Can't let me go? I'll repay the favor somehow."
"Think I will?"
"Yeah, didn't think so. Heading to Qingcheng?"
"Yes."
"Sigh, talk about bad luck."
The Invincible Overlord glanced at his dangling limbs.
"You really smashed them good. What, are my limbs made of steel? Didn't even use qi or anything-how are they so tough?"
A cracking sound came from his grumbling limbs. Writhing muscles forcibly realigned the shattered bones.
Impressive martial art. Not full recovery, but restoring the shape.
"Is that why they call you Invincible Overlord?"
"Hmph. Obviously. My durability is unmatched. No one can keep up."
"Possible without internal energy?"
"You think?"
His incredulous retort prompted me to place a hand on him.
I memorized the muscle movements. And scanned his internals.
Dantian. Present. Internal energy flowing. But something...
Odd. The flow itself was bizarre.
Like breathing through the muscles. Yet gaps everywhere between.
Should be full, but it's empty.
This doesn't seem like how this martial art is supposed to work.
"What's your sect?"
"I'm a genius-self-taught."
"Genius, my ass. It's patchy. Stolen manual?"
"...Did I say that in my sleep?"
"There's an original."
"...There is, but a prisoner wouldn't carry it. No way I'd stuff a manual in there..."
"......."
"Eh, check behind my pants."
I pulled a book wedged between the obedient Invincible Overlord's cheeks. So soiled, some characters were illegible.
How many times read? Must've trial-and-errored plenty. That's how he reached this point.
Even with a manual, few master it properly. That's why masters exist.
In that sense, this was...
"You learned it wrong."
"What?"
"This isn't a dantian-based art. It's one where internal energy embeds in the muscles. Accumulating in the dantian is a mistake."
"For real?!"
Martial artists accumulate in the dantian for a reason.
It's the core, and no other space.
But per this theory, you create 'chambers' in muscles. Breathe through muscles, store energy without dantian.
The body strengthens overall, eventually reaching unbreakable adamantite. Unknown if true, but...
If this manual's Formless Adamantite Skill was real, it suited Na-rin perfectly.
I handed the manual to Na-rin.
"Na-rin, keep it safe."
"...This? Master, it stinks."
"Important manual. It'll be the core of your martial arts. With it, you'll wield internal energy too."
"R-Really?! Master?! Kyaa!!"
"Big sis!!!"
I stared at the Invincible Overlord.
"Thanks for the manual."
"...I half-gave up on it anyway... But... mind if I ask one thing? What do you think I should do next?"
"Discard what you've built."
"What?"
"Told you. Should've stopped at muscle chambers. Pushing further ruined it. Formless Adamantite Skill forbids dantian accumulation. Spread energy throughout, don't condense. The more you condense, the smaller the chambers. Trying to form a dantian on top twists everything."
"...Damn! Now that you say it... Felt like I was regressing instead of growing!"
Like enlightenment struck, the bound Invincible Overlord shot up.
"Felt suffocated, but you cleared it! Haha! Hey, brother. How about a deal, no offense?"
"Deal?"
"I've trained this over ten years. Memorized the whole thing. But one day, it stalled. Probably when I got greedy. Who knew? Thought I was just dumb and missed parts."
"......."
"So, you seem strong-fix me. In return, I'll guide your girl through the basics. Tough entry-level art; as a senior, I'll lay the foundation. Even share my mistakes."
"Not freeing you."
"Eh, wouldn't ask that much. Grateful you're not killing me. Truth is... I want to disperse this clumped energy. Body weakening isn't all-feels like qi deviation incoming... That's why I bolted. Think I'd escape with sentence almost up? In Qingcheng, qi deviation for a prisoner is begging to die. So help me scatter it. Yeah?"
His severed chains rattled.
"Someone your level can shatter my dantian without side effects... Right?"
Spot on.
I pondered, then lifted Black Wine.
Gripped the sheath tight and pierced near his dantian.
"Kuhuk?!"
Detonated energy inside pierced his unresisting body.
Shuddering, the Invincible Overlord opened his eyes.
"...Yes! That's it! Kiyaa! Brother! Perfect technique! Already feels different! Divine healer! Divine healer!"
"Keep your promise."
"Kuhuhu! Of course! But... brother, one more favor? Walked out on my feet, walk back in... Something like that."
"Not that far."
"Uratcha! Hey, miss! I'll teach you Formless Adamantite Skill! No need for master-just buy me a meal if we meet outside later!"
...
Invincible Overlord.
He kept his word. No lies in the formulas or forms he taught freely.
Seemed like he gained insights too. Retracted words after pondering.
"Looking at it... Why'd I do that? This way's more efficient... Oh ho...!"
Slowed our pace a bit.
For Na-rin.
I asked the so-called Invincible Overlord why he ended up in Qingcheng.
Simple answer.
"Got tangled with Jongnam. Buddy asked for help, turned out Jongnam martial artist. Causing trouble at a shop, so I beat him. Then more came. Beat them too."
"......?"
"Then one I couldn't beat showed up. Got thrashed. Said no killing, sent me to Qingcheng. End of story."
"...That's it? Someone jailed at Qingcheng must've committed a major crime..."
"Eh, what nonsense. Old-fashioned talk? Charges are easy to fabricate. Qingcheng's perfect for locking up undesirables. Qingcheng upright, but sending sects? Not so much. How many like me?"
"......."
"Might makes right in the jianghu. No grudges... But calling that orthodox behavior? Stretch. Not my place as unorthodox, though! Haha!"
Na-rin learned faster than expected. Minus innate dantian lack, her talent shone; soon formed muscle 'chambers'.
Invincible Overlord marveled.
"Formless Adamantite Skill seems made for you, miss. Our meeting? Fate, not chance."
"Who'd you steal the manual from?"
"Bookshop. No big reason. Owner called me thief for nothing. Had no interest in books, but kept accusing, hit me-so one day stole one. This was it."
"You read?"
"Hell no! Grabbed someone who could, asked. Still can't read it. Haha! Learned from bits heard and pictures!"
Hence the sloppiness.
I supplemented what he missed for Na-rin. She diligently learned 'muscle breathing'.
Dazzling progress. Gwang-yang watched enviously from behind. I shook my head at him.
"Wait, Gwang-yang. I'll find yours too."
"Understood, Master."
Despite slow pace, Qingcheng Mountain bustled upon arrival. Ran into patrolling warriors.
"This area's dangerous... Huh?! Invincible Overlord?!"
"Long time. Got some fresh air."
"Y-You escaped, we heard..."
"Eh, just fresh air. Sentence not done-escape? Come on, cuff me quick."
"D-Down! Now!"
Bound Invincible Overlord grinned at me.
"Hey, brother. Was fun. After I pay my dues, let's chat openly."
"No escaping this time."
"Naturally. Kuhaha!"
Impressive, laughing even captured. Qingcheng warrior eyed me.
Polite tone. Because I brought the Overlord?
"May I have your name?"
"Murim Alliance warrior, Jeok-un. This is Na-rin, next to her Gwang-yang. My group."
"Murim Alliance warrior! Doing good work."
I looked around.
"What happened at Qingcheng?"
"Well..."
The warrior spoke awkwardly.
"Several prisoners escaped. Divine Power Heavenly Tyrant among them. Infamous killer. Key point... Most fled to Sichuan Province."
"Sichuan Province?"
"Yes. So..."
The warrior sighed.
"Tang Family already tense with us, now blaming. Situation tricky; we offered full cooperation... But they said dream on entering Sichuan."
"......"
"Advise caution if entering Sichuan, hero Jeok. Divine Power Heavenly Tyrant hiding there is extremely dangerous. Vicious temper, dozens of crimes... Avoid fighting if met. No light opponent. Not even comparable to Invincible Overlord."