Another Peerless Martial Art Manual of All Ages (1)
An old man was tending his field under the scorching sun.
It was the kind of weather where sweat poured even if you just stood still, but the old man didn't seem bothered by the heat as he diligently pulled weeds.
Though he looked over seventy, his back was straight and sturdy. He bent and straightened with fluid ease, barely breaking a sweat.
Then someone approached and spoke to him.
"Not hot out here?"
The man walking along the narrow path beside the field was Baek So-cheon.
The old man replied without straightening up.
"What's the point of being a farmer if you skip work because it's hot?"
"Real farmers don't work in this blazing sun."
The old man's hands paused for a moment before resuming.
"You've got a good eye. I'm still a novice farmer."
"What did you do before?"
"Young folks these days don't care about others' business, but you've got a lot of curiosity about strangers."
"We're not strangers."
The old man stopped his weeding. He finally straightened his back and looked at Baek So-cheon.
"Do I know you?"
"First time meeting. But we know plenty about each other. Gwang-sal."
This was the very Gwang-sal that Baek So-cheon had asked Cheon-geuk to arrange a meeting with.
Gwang-sal had been one of the top assassins in the assassin world. His skills were exceptional, and his instincts for kills were so sharp he succeeded even in missions beyond his capabilities.
He was highly regarded among assassins not just for his skill, but for another reason.
He was the historic assassin who had gathered his juniors and formally retired, washing his hands in a golden basin.
Afterward, he vanished from the martial world to a place unknown to all. Only the leader of the Sal-su Yeon-maeng knew his whereabouts.
"Who are you?"
"Baek So-cheon."
Gwang-sal tilted his head.
"Baek So-cheon? There must be hundreds or thousands in the jianghu with that name..."
The next instant, Gwang-sal flinched in surprise. There were countless Baek So-cheons in the world, but the most famous one he knew sprang to mind.
"The War God?"
"That's right. Me."
"You can't possibly be this young. Did you achieve reversal of age and youth?"
"Just baby-faced."
Gwang-sal found it hard to believe, and his grip tightened on the sickle.
"Who told you I was here?"
At that moment, Cheon-geuk appeared out of nowhere behind him.
"Me."
"Alliance Lord?"
"It's been a long time, Elder."
Cheon-geuk bowed politely to him.
Gwang-sal had retired before Cheon-geuk became the alliance lord.
He had cherished her like a granddaughter, as she was the successor to the previous lord.
After retiring, he heard of the previous lord's death and that Cheon-geuk had taken over. He hadn't liked the previous lord much, so he stayed hidden. But if Cheon-geuk had died, he would have emerged for revenge.
"I'm sorry. Personal circumstances forced me to tell him."
"It's fine."
"Treat me comfortably like before."
"Now that you're the alliance lord, I can't."
Gwang-sal's gaze shifted back to Baek So-cheon.
"Then you're definitely the War God."
Gwang-sal recalled the old days.
"If I hadn't retired, I would've come after you myself."
The Black Heaven Alliance's three-million-nyang bounty had come after his retirement.
"Then this field would've been overgrown with weeds."
Gwang-sal let out a cold laugh.
"Blade-for-hire life is scary indeed. Over ten years retired, and my blood still stirs. So, why are you here?"
"To retrieve what you stole."
Gwang-sal flinched again.
"Stole? What are you talking about?"
"Several things stolen? I know of just one."
Gwang-sal's expression hardened.
"I don't steal during assassinations."
"Except once."
Gwang-sal might have been a master assassin, but he wasn't a skilled liar. His agitation was plain.
He glanced at Cheon-geuk standing beside Baek So-cheon.
"I've never heard this story."
She was flustered too. She had no idea Baek So-cheon would track down Gwang-sal to confront him about theft.
Gwang-sal sighed and asked.
"How did you find out?"
He didn't want to lie in front of Cheon-geuk.
"Back then... I knew everything."
"Why do you need it?"
"I'm going to learn it."
Cheon-geuk, listening, grew curious.
'Learn it? Then it's a martial arts manual? What manual did Elder Gwang-sal steal?'
Gwang-sal pondered briefly before heading into his house.
"Wait a moment."
"Sure."
What Gwang-sal brought out was a single manual.
The unique martial art of Fist King Yi Su-hyeon, who swept through the Central Plains three hundred years ago.
It had been called the Peerless Fist Art of All Ages.
Unfortunately, its glory didn't endure to later generations. No one achieved great success with it, and it faded into oblivion.
There were various tales: only geniuses could learn it, or the manual was incomplete...
In his lifetime of assassinations, Gwang-sal had touched a victim's possession just once—this Beon-cheon Gu-gwon.
"How did you know?"
"Happenstance."
In truth, the previous Assassin King, whom he had killed, had revealed it while begging for his life. He didn't know how that king knew, but he'd sold out his retired senior to save his skin.
Baek So-cheon saw no need to mention it.
Cheon-geuk was his disciple, Gwang-sal his senior. No point disappointing the living with such truths.
"Why does a man without inner power need this manual?"
"Beon-cheon Gu-gwon centers on using or redirecting the opponent's power."
"Even so, without inner power, it'll be tough."
"I'll handle that."
"You're serious!"
Baek So-cheon nodded gravely.
His reason for learning Beon-cheon Gu-gwon wasn't just to grow stronger with fists.
He wanted to grasp new martial principles through mastering an art hailed as peerless of all ages.
"Then why come now?"
"Didn't need it then..."
When he killed the Assassin King, war raged, and he was the supreme under heaven. Fist arts—especially non-sword ones—were beneath notice.
"Need it now."
The manuals Baek So-cheon usually studied bore the same "peerless of all ages" title.
A manual he'd acquired at his peak. He'd studied it hoping to restore his dantian and inner power, but no effect yet.
Meeting Cheon-geuk again reminded him of Beon-cheon Gu-gwon with Gwang-sal.
He'd joked about ditching the sword, enjoyed punching Black Water assassins.
Reuniting with Cheon-geuk brought Gwang-sal to mind.
A chain of coincidences, but he'd call it fate. His drive to grow stronger remained.
No sudden bone transformation in sleep, so he'd bet on peerless arts. Wandering their depths might reveal dantian revival.
"You want this?"
"Yes."
"Why should I give it?"
Baek So-cheon glanced at Cheon-geuk.
"Not for me—for your alliance lord here."
Cheon-geuk yelped in surprise.
"Why drag me into this!"
"Who else?"
"What?"
"You're all I trust right now. Give it for her sake."
As Cheon-geuk opened her mouth again, Gwang-sal spoke.
"Fine, I'll give it to you."
"Thanks."
Cheon-geuk exclaimed in shock.
"No! Don't give it because of me."
But the manual was already in Baek So-cheon's hands.
Of the four peerless arts of the era—three manuals, one embodied— he'd secured two manuals and knew the others' locations. Not easy, but he'd pursue them all.
Gwang-sal handed it over readily for a reason.
He'd long agonized over this priceless manual.
Stolen in a moment of weakness, disposal was the issue.
Too late to learn, selling would bring fortune but end his peaceful retirement—word of him peddling a peerless manual would draw hordes.
Too valuable to bury, no successor to pass it to. Plus the shame of his sole stain in a flawless career—it was a cursed burden.
Then Baek So-cheon appeared. Alone, no way he'd yield it.
But with Cheon-geuk, he could.
"Two requests instead."
Post-handover, they were favors, not conditions.
"Speak."
"Memorize it, then burn it."
Likely to erase his sole shame.
"Easy enough. Next?"
"Take good care of our alliance lord."
Cheon-geuk was surprised and grateful he would say that.
Baek So-cheon nodded.
"She's still the one looking after me. But I hear your request."
"Thanks. With the War God holding this manual, jianghu tales will be thrilling. Haha!"
Gwang-sal laughed heartily, relieved.
Cheon-geuk bid farewell.
"I'm sorry, Elder."
"No. You've lifted a lifelong burden."
"Stay well and healthy."
"You too, Alliance Lord—take care."
Baek So-cheon and Cheon-geuk departed.
On the returning carriage, Cheon-geuk asked.
"Really planning to learn a fist art?"
"Yeah."
"Can't imagine using fists without inner power. Sword's better, no?"
"Swordsmanship has limits."
Black Water or Cheon Yang-ho level? Manageable without inner power. But peak experts and above? Life-or-death tightropes.
"Fists too? Limits clearer even."
"Maybe."
"Why then?"
"Haven't tried yet."
"...!"
Seemed trivial, but profound—especially from a master like him. A new attempt carried weight.
She felt anticipation.
The once-supreme learning a peerless fist art. What form would Beon-cheon Gu-gwon take?
Gazing out the carriage window, Cheon-geuk finally voiced what she'd held back.
"Since becoming Assassin King, I've followed your news."
"..."
"Knew you'd overcome it. Handle the Bi-gak lord role without inner power, like you did me."
After a pause, Baek So-cheon replied.
"What could I do?"
"Something happened, right?"
"Nothing. Just... power gone, everything annoyed and tiring."
"Not that."
"Stop overrating me. Pressures people."
Signaling no more talk, Baek So-cheon began reading the manual.
Cheon-geuk, about to speak, turned to the opposite window.
'Overrate anyone? Only you.'
When the carriage reached Mun-seong, Baek So-cheon handed her the manual upon alighting.
"Why?"
"Burn it with Sam-mae Jin-hwa."
She was stunned.
"Already memorized?"
He nodded. Even with great memory, ordinary books wouldn't stick this fast.
Like chess masters reviewing boards post-game—possible because it was a martial manual.
"How'd you know I could use Sam-mae Jin-hwa?"
"Your lightness skill shows it. Hurry and burn. Or I'll sell it."
Amazed at his memory and insight, she summoned Sam-mae Jin-hwa.
Whoosh!
The manual blazed in her hand. He'd kept the promise to Gwang-sal before her eyes.
Cheon-geuk added to her earlier overrating rationale.
'This smart—how not to?'