The Heavenly Demon Enters the Fray (14)
“Come on. Even with nine people, we should be able to manage, right?”
Someone answered Yi Sun, and voices erupted from every direction. Opinions flew in all directions. Those who had never faced me claimed that I was still human and that numbers always prevailed. Those who had experienced my strength firsthand, or who knew their own limits, insisted it was impossible.
How curious that such a discussion is even taking place. In the murim, none of those who came to capture me were inferior to any of you. Yet here I stand. That alone settles the matter. No matter how many of you band together, you cannot defeat me. So stop your pointless chatter and listen to what I have to say. I have plenty to tell you after watching you fight today. How is it that not a single one of you understands the principles? Even Yi Sun, who performed the best, is no exception. His movements are decent, but he cannot wield his martial arts properly at all.
I will use this interview to point out your shortcomings. Reflect on them carefully and treat my advice as an opportunity for growth.
“Instead of just talking, let’s actually try it!”
As the discussion grew heated, Decay shouted from the center.
“Apis allows a maximum of ten players per map. So excluding Hwa-ryeong, let’s pick nine people and do a one-versus-nine. Hwa-ryeong, you’re fine with that, right?”
“I have no objections.”
“Permission granted. Then let’s form the team right away. Everyone!”
The group gathered around Decay began arguing loudly about who should participate and who should not. If they truly wish to be tormented so badly, I will not stop them. But have you all forgotten something? What about my interview? I carefully prepared remarks to enlighten you, yet no one seems interested in hearing my thoughts. I even prepared content that would genuinely help you! Listen to me! What kind of tournament treats its champion this way?!
My hollow cries reached no one. What insolent brats.
In the murim, one had to risk their life just to hear my teachings. Each word I spoke was a fortuitous encounter that could change a martial artist’s entire life. I intended to personally grant you enlightenment because I disliked what I saw, yet you treat me with such disregard. I looked at those selected, pipe in mouth. As I had roughly expected, the nine chosen were Decay, Gwon-jon, Yi Sun, Ha-rin, and others who had shown some talent among the tournament participants. They now stood opposite me. It was strange that Whip Master Love was absent, but given that I had not touched them, it was not particularly surprising.
Haa. Very well. Teaching does not have to happen while seated anyway. The tournament is already over. From now on, I will do as I please.
“Shall we begin?”
“Yes! Shall we go right away?”
The battlefield they chose was the arena. They must have thought that overwhelming me with sheer numbers, with no variables, would bring me down.
“Let us.”
The moment I declared the start, the nine moved to their positions. They had clearly discussed some strategy while talking earlier. At least they were not relying solely on numbers and had devised a way to win. That, I can appreciate.
“First, let me say this: none of you have mastered even the basics of handling martial arts. How is it that not one of you embodies the principles of martial arts?”
The first to charge was Ha-rin. She had been chosen to draw my attention by rushing forward first. Among them, her movements were the fastest, so the role suited her. Still, step aside for now. I have far too much to say to the others. I can teach you another time, so withdraw for the moment.
I grabbed Ha-rin’s wrist with my bare hand and flung her far away before continuing.
“Handling qi is different from handling mana. Martial arts are the embodiment of the world’s principles through one’s own body. Because one follows the principles, martial arts naturally unfold. It is not that the principles follow after the martial arts.”
Next came Yi Sun. He intended to hold my attention with his illusory sword. Among them, his sword was indeed the strongest means of applying pressure. I will play along for a moment.
“Yi Sun. Your sword is like a gaping maw that draws the opponent in and devours them. You seem to understand that principle to some degree, but you are so focused on swinging the sword that you neglect to actually manifest the principle.”
I lightly snatched the sword he swung. Then I demonstrated the illusory sword right before his eyes. Perhaps because the sword’s body was engraved only with attacks, he thought of nothing but offense. If you wish to draw the opponent into your mouth, you must sometimes pretend to retreat. Had you known how to follow the principles, you would have thought to mix in defense long ago. I have shown you everything I can. Study it well. Your fundamentals are not bad, so you will make progress.
After sending Yi Sun flying, I saw attacks coming from both sides—Gwon-jon and Dang So-il. They were attempting a pincer attack. Their coordination suggested they had practiced this more than once or twice. I dodged the barrage of fists and spoke.
“Gwon-jon. Your powerful fist is certainly threatening, but you do not understand at all what principle produces that power. The origin of the fist always begins with planting your feet on the ground. Do you understand? A fist is not merely moving the arm. It is launched with the entire body.”
At the same time as I stepped with the true footwork, I suppressed the surroundings with my inner energy, halting Gwon-jon and Dang So-il’s movements. Then I launched a fist toward Gwon-jon. Words alone would not be remembered, so I would etch it into his mind by showing him directly.
After sending Gwon-jon flying, I turned my gaze to Dang So-il. Haa. This one has more than one or two things I need to teach. I would like to correct his mindset first, but that is not something that can be done in a day or two. For now, I will offer other advice.
“As someone who also wields the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, let me advise you: you worry about far too many things. You try to consider everything. The foundation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is tyranny. Instead of thinking about dodging or blocking, first consider how you can smash through head-on.”
I will make sure you cannot help but learn the principles of the divine art later, so do not worry. After crushing Dang So-il like that, I continued giving teachings one by one to those who charged at me. Watching you play at house, I thought long and hard about where to begin fixing you. It may sound somewhat harsh, but this is advice that will become flesh and blood. Reflect on it carefully and engrave it in your hearts.
After dealing with everyone else, the last one remaining was Decay. I had deliberately left him for last. There was something I absolutely wanted to say to him.
“Do you have anything to teach me too?”
“No. You brat. I already beat everything I had to teach into your body during the last Ten Virtues match.”
“You did?!”
“You did not know? If I were speaking in earnest, I might feel slightly offended.”
Seeing his troubled expression, it seemed he truly had not known. This is the problem with modern children. If one enjoys struggle, they should reflect on their defeat multiple times after losing and ponder the reasons. Yet here he was.
“I’ll check the recording later!”
“Do that.”
The one with the best foundation among them shows the least interest in martial arts. Well, that is a story for later. For now, let us set it aside.
“I ask just in case, but Decay, did you deliberately create this situation even while knowing you would lose?”
“…You knew?”
“How could I not?”
Among everyone here, he was the one who knew my strength best. Having been beaten by me multiple times, there was no way he could not have predicted the outcome.
“I do not know what your intention was, but do not drag others into your pranks.”
“…I will be careful.”
“And another thing. If there is a procedure, see it through to the end. Because of you, I was unable to deliver the lines I painstakingly prepared.”
“Ah. You mean the winner’s interview?”
“That is correct.”
If you became the tournament organizer, you should have seen the event through to the end. What do you think you are doing, abandoning it midway just because you felt like it?
“You were holding onto that?”
“Why else would I have left you until the very last?”
“I’m sorry?”
There was not a shred of sincerity in the apology. More importantly, it was already too late for apologies. When the hand of vengeance has already reached your doorstep, do you think an apology holds any meaning?
“Wait a second! Time out! Spare me!”
“I refuse.”
This is your karma. Accept it sweetly.
After reducing Decay to a miserable state and returning, applause erupted. This time it was different from when I had won the tournament. Each clap carried genuine feeling.
What? Why was the reaction better this time? All I did was settle a personal grudge. Ugh. Understanding the thoughts of these modern children is difficult.
While I stood bewildered by the sudden applause, those who had not been among the nine gathered around and began asking what they lacked. Since I had already thought it through, answering was not difficult. As I explained to each one, even those who had previously heard their shortcomings from me joined in with questions.
Enough! You brats! You are not baby birds begging for food, so why are you all chattering so noisily? Wait your turn! Can you not see that I have only one mouth?!
“Why are you hiding in the corner?”
Dang So-il, who had been watching from afar the crowd gathered around Hwa-ryeong, looked up at Nyangnyang’s voice.
“Everyone else will receive teachings later anyway, but the others will not.”
“You’re giving up your chance?”
“There are more than one or two things I want to ask too. Still, I should yield for now.”
The advice Hwa-ryeong had given during the nine-versus-one earlier had struck at the core of each person. Everyone here was called a top-tier Apis user, but in the end they were people who had hit the wall of professionals and remained ordinary. They were the ones who felt their own shortcomings more keenly than anyone. But feeling one’s shortcomings and knowing exactly where those shortcomings lie were two entirely different matters. Everyone knew they were blocked by a wall. Yet because they did not know how to overcome it through effort, they had remained stuck in place.
In such a situation, when a master appeared who could point them in the right direction for their efforts, how could they not want to ask even one more question? Right now, Hwa-ryeong had become their savior.