351. Escape
What is martial arts? The process of mental training to attain enlightenment inevitably wears down the flesh. Though one yearns for the realm of sudden enlightenment, humans are ultimately trapped in their mortal bodies until then. This is the origin of Buddhist martial arts.
What began as techniques for self-defense and health gradually evolved over time, and now they are revered as one of the three great powers alongside money and authority.
The Shaolin Temple still views martial arts as a path to enlightenment. But considering how martial monks monopolize more support and positions within the temple than scholarly ones, their words and actions don't align.
This was no different for the Wudang Sect, which opened the gate to Daoist martial schools starting with Zhang Sanfeng. Now, there are black path sects that pursue power through training as their outright goal, and even the unorthodox sects claim to be a branch of martial arts.
Perhaps martial arts have devolved into something that becomes a nose ring if hung on the nose, an earring if hung on the ear.
But...
'Can this even be called martial arts?'
Ilgak let out a groan as he gazed at the being before him.
Kuhahaha!
A long snout. Furry all over, with eyes darting wildly that didn't look human at all. No matter how generously one looked, it was nothing but a bipedal monster.
"Not bad, baldy!"
No, perhaps it looked like a talking exotic animal. The opponent was claiming that what it displayed was "martial arts."
"...Amitabha."
Ilgak tried to widen the distance using the Paewangju, but this bipedal beast... no, furry human... well, whatever it was, it closed in with uncanny four-limbed steps.
"Hmm, a revolting stench piercing my nose. But the tastier the food, the fouler the smell, right? Heh heh."
Crunch crunch. It gnashed its teeth as if ready to chew something right then.
This sparked fundamental disgust in Ilgak.
"Could it be..."
"Curious about something?"
A sharp claw lunged at him, stirring an unpleasant curiosity. But the mere thought of voicing it felt like it would corrupt him, so he suppressed it firmly.
Kuhahahaha!
Suddenly, it burst into wild laughter. It was just laughter, nothing more.
Yet his head shook violently, and his heart pounded wildly.
"You monk bastards are all so damn cowardly. Kuhe. What, scared of being eaten?"
"...!"
Was it the laughter? He tried to summon unmoving mind for calm, but his heart wouldn't settle.
His heart raced, breath quickened, and his hands clenched involuntarily.
Clang! Clang! The aftermath of his fist strikes against the air pushed the beast back.
Though outmatched in power, the beast didn't hide its glee.
"Kuhahaha. Baldies all react the same."
Its fragmented words conjured dark imaginings. Screams of agony. The horror of watching one's own flesh torn away. Fear of the inhuman moving.
All sorts of frail sufferings violently shook his unmoving mind.
Even with his mind broken, his body knew exactly what to do. Naham Fist, Dragon Spirit Fist, Dragon King Flowing Fist.
Not comparable to his master's, but Ilgak had mastered plenty of Shaolin techniques.
"Amitabha."
With a serene face, elegant fist shadows shot out.
The beast's movements shifted oddly. From crouching charges like a beast, it now moved human-like, retracting its instinctive bites to use long claws in techniques.
Papapapapapak!
Exchanging fists and claw strikes unleashed powerful shockwaves. Naham Eighteen Palms, Iron Chain Palms, Great Power Diamond Palms.
Space folded as palm force shot from Ilgak's hands. The beast, defending with claws, faltered as its limbs tangled, retreating step by step.
One Finger Thrust, Diamond Finger, Lotus Finger.
Squeeeak! The finger technique pierced a gap, targeting the foe's weakest acupoint.
Whoosh!
"Peekaboo!"
The beast vanished cleanly before his eyes, reappearing three zhang away to bare its massive fangs.
Kwajik.
"Gaaak!"
The academy student's nape half-torn, he died without any defense.
The beast-like inhuman rolled the flesh in its mouth.
Chew chew.
Ptoo.
"Tastes awful."
"!!!"
"This one loved booze in life! A Daoist, no less. Kehhehe."
Like discarding a rotten apple, it tossed the corpse and turned for its next prey.
Ilgak's body trembled beyond limit.
"I- Ilgak Monk...!"
Before Nam Hwaseong, fighting alongside, could stop him.
Ilgak's form became a streak of light.
The beast, idly picking its teeth, gleamed in its eyes.
"Heh, finally serious?"
Even facing Ilgak's golden glow, it showed no tension, casually flicking a finger.
Thud! Thud!
Two wounds burst on Ilgak's left shoulder, his eyes widening.
He'd clearly dodged.
"Tch, think Unmoving Diamond Art is an invincible shield?"
As the beast said, even Unmoving Diamond Art was pierced.
Ilgak shook his hands, recalled Dragon Flower Fist, and unleashed Anti-Demon Ten Palms.
Very agile and swift for a sudden attack.
Boom boom boom!
But the beast had predicted it, shifting position instantly.
"I was prepping to hunt a Little Buddha. Think I'd fall to some half-baked art? Kuhaha."
Then, in a bizarre stance, its hand moved too fast to see.
A beat slower, Ilgak's fist shadows covered its body fully.
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!
Ilgak thought himself inured to pain, but this was different. Not just skin-deep; bones ached to break. Trails of punches left numbing paralysis.
'If I take this as is, disaster awaits.'
Ilgak desperately gathered his remaining inner energy.
But.
"...!"
Before expelling it, warning signs hit. Internals twisted violently, blood surged to his throat.
"Keuk—cough—."
Shaolin's arts are incomparable in tranquility. Ilgak could hardly believe his internal injuries.
No time to hesitate.
"Keuk!"
"Kuhk!"
As he faltered, brave academy students fell to the beast.
'Is that why even Squad Leader Jin couldn't stop?'
His back suddenly seemed more pained than imagined.
Ilgak wiped his mouth roughly and clasped hands.
Thankfully, his slowed left arm moved again after spitting blood.
"Namu Amitabha..."
He recited the Reverse Muscle Scripture formula, chanted countless times in wall-gazing meditation in selfless state.
His raging heart stilled as if stopped; troubling delusions shattered like windblown sand.
One hand unclasped slowly, followed by countless hand shadows.
"...Huh? Achieved Thousand Hands?"
Even the leisurely beast's eyes gleamed.
"Amitabha."
Each light gesture trailed dense hand shadows.
Clang!
Hundreds, thousands of golden palms besieged the beast from all sides.
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom.
Like a sun crashing to earth, blinding golden radiance. Overwhelming force to pulverize all, revealing Shaolin's true worth often forgotten due to his gentle nature.
But.
Twitch.
The wound? His left arm jerked instead of extending.
Ilgak gritted teeth, thrust it out, but the beast slipped through the Thousand Hands.
"Kuhahahaha! That's more like it!"
Though ragged, it laughed confidently, bleeding yet triumphant.
Bulge, bulge.
Its wounds healed, spilling blood; crushed fur regrew.
Incredible reality shook Ilgak's recovered unmoving mind again.
Back to pristine, the beast shook blood from its mane.
"Didn't expect this much from you."
Swoosh! Folding space, it reappeared before him.
"...!"
The beast punched with its grotesque face.
Ilgak hastily raised both hands, but it punched uncaringly.
As beast's fist met Ilgak's Reverse Muscle Scripture form.
Rumble!
Ilgak strained not to be pushed; beast doubled force to shatter.
Clashing powers blasted outward instead of clashing directly.
Boom boom boom!
Roaring winds hit with the explosion.
"Ugh..."
"Kek..."
Nearby fighters couldn't steady themselves.
"What in the..."
Baffled by the unbelievable sight.
Shwaaa—
As explosion subsided.
The two at center still faced off.
But.
"Ilgak Monk!"
Their states differed starkly. Ilgak vomited blood nonstop; the beast grinned in delight.
As it reared for another punch.
"Haaap!!"
Nam Hwaseong and others charged the beast.
"Tch, you small fries stay down!"
Grooo—
Casual hand flick unleashed claw qi.
Too dire to aid Ilgak or even protect themselves.
"Not bad, baldy."
"..."
Only overwhelming defeat loomed. Terror from its pressure and killing intent gave way to emptiness.
He'd thought tempering body and mind, enduring pain was the shortcut to strength. Restraining desires, withstanding trials—that was true martial arts.
Like black path arts rushing to ruin. Power without the righteous path crumbles to righteous power.
That was martial arts.
'But...'
What was this? Not enduring desires, but a being reveling in them, defying heaven's laws, overwhelming them.
Those lightly slain weren't half-hearted foes.
Yet... yet they fell powerless like reeds.
'...What is martial arts?'
All he'd known and absolutely believed shook violently. Buddha's words, once heavy as gold, felt light as wind.
That wind carried the beast's tearing roar.
"But that's the end."
Black smoke wreathed its withdrawn fist. Fist qi or aura? Unknown. But certain: no peaceful death.
"Die!"
As it thrust again.
Boom!
Kwakwakwakwa boom!
A deafening roar erupted afar, tearing eardrums.
Forgetting his crisis, Ilgak's gaze turned.
'Squad Leader Jin is there...'
Last seen, bizarre blue-red energies filled the area. He'd worried amid the massive qi burst but couldn't focus, busy with the beast.
Yet the surging energies vanished.
Kwakwakwa boom!
Boom!!
Ear-shattering noises echoed.
Then.
Peeeng—
Like signal arrow, a massive fireball flew through the explosion.
Normally, Ilgak or beast would ignore and continue, but not now. It headed their way.
"...Jegumhak?"
The beast scowled at the fireball.
As it turned.
"Huh?!"
Ilgak realized it was a human form.
hurtling in.
"You... fucking bastard!!!"
Cruder and viler voice than ever. Heat accompanied it.
"Baldy! Get the fuck outta the way!!!"
Unclear words, but clear speaker.
Squeeeak!
Ilgak unleashed full Lotus Escape without hesitation.
"How dare a white path brat...!"
Beast punched nonchalantly.
Blurred black fist shadows flew at falling Jin Sowoon.
Ilgak, who'd tasted them, knew the terror hidden in that hazy qi.
"Squad Leader Jin, careful..."
But as Ilgak spoke, looking.
"Die, you fucking bastard!!!"
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!
Dozens—no, hundreds of fireballs poured endlessly.
And.
Fwoooosh!
Burning the beast's hazy fists, instantly scorching its body.
"Gaaaaak!"
The pain-immune beast screamed most fittingly.
Ilgak's scalp burned; eyes widened.
...This.
'F-Fire rain?'
He'd seen dual qi practitioners spew flames. Temple had experts igniting Samadhi True Fire. Not shocking.
But heat like a kiln firing pottery... from a human?
...Could this truly be called martial arts?
"...Amitabha."
Ilgak grew ever more confused.
Then, a lion's roar snapped him awake.
"What're you doing, baldy!!! Not fighting?!"
His vulgar boss ignored his subordinate's wounds.
Still, no time for complaints.
"Amitabha."
Unrecited, yet his mind was calmer than ever.