The God of Martial Arts is Not Fair
The God of Martial Arts is not fair. He neither knows the word "equality" nor has any desire to learn it. He delights in favoring some while despising others just as much. Having walked this path my entire life and witnessed countless individuals, this old man can say it with certainty. One must never assume that effort will be rewarded in the end. For every person who gains something after running themselves ragged, there are countless others who obtain nothing and sink into the mire—enough to fill a swamp.
The reason I bring this up is because of Enri. She is someone the God of Martial Arts does not even spare a glance. I have been teaching Enri for quite some time now. That fellow has glaring strengths and weaknesses. She loves to boast that she is good at everything, yet in most things she shows a truly miserable performance. Whenever I mention this, she raises her voice and claims that while her highs may be low, her lows are high—but to my eyes, both ends look equally like the abyss.
It is the same with martial arts. Enri's talent for martial arts is pitiful. So pitiful that one would not even think to approach it in the first place. In a way, that is fortunate. Having mediocre talent is the worst case of all. Those whom the God of Martial Arts has decided to torment. He lets them advance for a while, then suddenly slams a wall in front of them and declares that they can go no further. Those fellows, unwilling to deny the dreams they have built their whole lives, struggle desperately, but most cannot overcome that wall and become broken wrecks. I have seen many such people.
If this were Murim, I would not have taught Enri. It is obvious she would soon face that wall, fall into despair, and break. Why bother teaching her? I would have advised her to find another path rather than devote her life to something destined to fail. But this is not Murim. Moreover, Enri is not staking her life on martial arts—she simply wants to enjoy it as a hobby. She might feel sad when blocked by a wall, but she will not despair to the point of being unable to rise again.
Haa. Thinking about it is giving me a headache. Having to teach martial arts to someone who is no different from a rock when it comes to talent. Some might call this a new challenge, but this old man does not enjoy such challenges. What I like are problems I can solve with my own hands, not helping others surpass their limits.
"Hey. Hwaryeong. Why are you sighing while looking at someone's face?"
Enri narrowed her eyes, apparently bothered by the sigh directed at her.
"Because you are the source of the problem."
"What did I even do?! I don't think I've done anything except gossip a little..."
"You have crossed the line, Enri. You were bad too."
"Eh?! Baru-nim! You were gossiping with me just a moment ago! Are you dumping it all on me now?!"
"Oh my. The food has arrived."
"Baru-nim?!"
Let us see. For now, let us not even consider the orthodox method. If I did that, she would still be stuck in the same place even after ten years, not one or two. If I give it my all for about twenty years, perhaps First-class or Peak Realm... hmm. Would reaching the Peak Realm even be possible? It is ambiguous. In any case, such grueling training is not what Enri or her viewers desire. It would be far too frustrating. So let us use an unorthodox method. One that is possible precisely because this is a game and Enri is an outsider.
Normally, I would have to teach her a cultivation method before anything else, but I will set that aside for later. Even without it, she will be able to accumulate internal energy in countless ways. It will be more than enough to have her learn a suitable cultivation method in game format and then utilize the correction function. Now, as for the martial art she will use—
"Enri."
"Yes?"
"There are a few things I need to ask. First. Yes. Will you make use of corrections?"
If she accepts the game's assistance, I will teach her accordingly.
"At first, I want to try without corrections. You said that way I could properly handle real martial arts, right?"
"That is true, but..."
Well, fine. If that is what you want, then I shall accommodate your wishes.
"Will you continue using the spear as your weapon?"
Personally, I would recommend it. Learning will progress faster if she uses the weapon she has been handling all along.
"Yes! That's the plan. I did consider fighting with my fists like you, Hwaryeong, but it seemed impossible so I gave up."
"Good. Even I think that fist techniques would be impossible for you."
"...Did you really have to say it was impossible so bluntly?!"
Let us limit the scope to spearmanship and think. First, I must not teach her anything containing complex principles or profound mysteries. Divine techniques or supreme martial arts certainly possess power worthy of their names. However, that only holds true under the assumption that one has perfectly understood and accepted what those arts pursue. Usually, highly renowned martial arts contain equally profound and complex meanings. An absolute beginner who tries to learn such a manual would be blocked from the very first sentence, unable to comprehend it.
"Min-ga."
While pondering with my arms crossed, I turned my head at Baru's voice.
"Eat first, then think. The food will get cold."
For Baru, who is greedy when it comes to food, waiting with steaming dishes right in front of her must have been close to torture. I chuckled at the sight of her unable to take her eyes off the food even while speaking, then shrugged my shoulders and picked up my chopsticks.
Yes. Let us eat first and talk later.
*
"Enri. What I will teach you is the Yukhap Daechang."
I had been thinking throughout the meal. What would suit you best? The result I arrived at is precisely this Yukhap Daechang.
"This spearmanship, one of the forms of the Bakuk Fist, is extremely simple."
Thrusting. Swinging clockwise. Swinging counterclockwise. These three movements are all that exist in the Yukhap Daechang. In other words, this spearmanship forms a complete martial art using only these three actions and the footwork of the Bakuk.
It may be nothing more than a technique taught in some rural village, neither flashy nor grand, but being simple while containing all the fundamentals of martial arts, it is clearly well-suited for you, Enri.
"Watch."
Though Yukhap Daechang is a spearmanship, its foundation ultimately originates from the Bakuk Fist. What the Bakuk Fist values above all else is the Jingak—using the power generated from stomping the ground to attack the opponent. While it differs greatly from the Jingak I pursue, this version will be far better for you, Enri. It will be easier to fix one method in place rather than changing its application depending on the situation.
I demonstrated the three fundamental movements of the art one by one. Receiving power from the Jingak and swinging the spear shaft as is. The reverse. And finally, thrusting—the most important part of spearmanship. After performing the movements slowly and leisurely for Enri to see, I returned the spear to her. Her expression had turned subtle. I know exactly what she is thinking.
"Disappointed?"
"...Huh? No. I mean. Well. Uh."
She rambles on but cannot bring herself to deny it. She clearly does not like it.
I accepted the spear from her once more and assumed my stance again.
"It is a part that people easily misunderstand, but complexity does not equal excellence, and simplicity does not equal worthlessness. There exist ultimate techniques that are simple yet cannot be matched by anything, while there also exist trash that is merely complicated for the sake of being complicated."
Having many flowery words attached is not always a good thing. There are more than one or two things that look splendid on the outside but are hollow within when you dig deeper.
"And this Yukhap Daechang belongs to the good side because it is simple."
What I am about to demonstrate this time is not something I intend to teach Enri. It is something I intend to show her. What kind of result can be achieved when simplicity reaches its extreme. Only then will Enri be able to thrust her spear while expecting her own improvement.
What the Jingak of the Bakuk Fist pursues is instantaneous explosive power. It delivers a powerful strike by instantly transmitting the force of stomping the ground to its end. Therefore, there is no need for a long preparation time.
I take a breath. In response, the internal energy circulating within my body begins to move fiercely. I execute the Jingak. In response, small cracks are carved into the floor. Receiving that power, I thrust the spear forward as is. Then the spear advances ahead of sound, piercing through the air, with sound following behind it and creating a shockwave.
"If I wanted to, producing even greater power than this would not be difficult, but doing so would exceed what the Bakuk Fist pursues."
When I returned the spear after finishing the demonstration meant only to show, Enri's expression was different from before. Surprise was etched across her face.
Haha. How honest. Be honest. With this, she should understand that Yukhap Daechang is not merely a simple martial art. She should also understand that if handled properly, it can produce that level of power.
However, we must not stop here. If we did, she would only end up pursuing raw power.
"Now, Enri. Do you remember the spearmanship you used in Apis before?"
"Huh? Yes. Of course I remember. I used it so many times."
"Good. Then use that. I will use the Yukhap Daechang."
"What? What do you mean—"
"To truly understand the greatness of something, experiencing it directly with your body is the fastest way."
You have done it plenty of times, so you know. Let us roll. Do not worry. Even if you become a flounder breathing with gills on land, I will gladly grab those scales and lift you up.