The Sword Saint's Three Questions
Namgung Sim from Murim Rebirth had really thrown me two koans: intent and imagery. The two crucial elements I was sorely lacking.
Yeah, that's spot on. But to embody any kind of imagery, don't you need to have actually learned martial arts properly first? I knew intent and imagery were key in martial arts.
I've devoured how many wuxia novels? But wasn't that stuff like "charging in with the ferocity of a tiger!" or "I'll kill you no matter what!"? And I figured the incantations were there to back that up.
Same deal here. No one's ever whispered incantations in my ear. I didn't know any incantations. I'd just roughly mimicked the forms and freestyled the chants on the fly.
"Now that I think about it, this pisses me off."
Couldn't hit 100% implementation rate, so he couldn't tell me? Fine, I get that. But to straight-up slam me with "Your martial arts? That's third-rate trash"?
The nerve? Unforgivable.
I flopped right back down to catch some sleep.
"Milady. Again?"
"Can't forgive him."
"Sleeping that much during the day means you won't sleep at night."
I ignored Bella's nagging and surrendered to slumber.
"Thou hast arrived swiftly, o' lady."
This guy. I didn't even summon him, and here he is on his own. Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, all arrogant-like.
"A skill acting all high and mighty."
"Indeed. This one is naught but an illusion forged by thy technique. I am cognizant of that."
"Then why so cocky?"
"Doth that not make it all the more alluring? To tame and master one's own unruly power, thereby attaining even greater strength."
The Black Flame Dragon was pure fantasy fuel. Speaking of which, Namgung Sim had some serious chuunibyou vibes.
"I've been mulling over what you said."
"Took thee quite some time, did it not? Scarce half a gak hath passed."
"Wanna watch your mouth?"
This jerk kept needling me.
"But no matter how I think about it, it's because I've never had proper martial arts instruction."
"Hm. There be merit in thy words. Without learning, one's common knowledge must needs be deficient."
This guy's speech. Ugh. Fine. I tried my best to ignore it and pressed on.
"...So. I want you to teach me martial arts."
"Mm. I shall decline."
"Argh, you're driving me insane."
My skill won't listen. I barely held back from smashing his head in. Not like I'd win in a fight anyway.
"Why not?"
"To teach clan martial arts to one not of the sect? Preposterous."
"The world I live in is different from yours."
"I am aware."
"Then no problem, right?"
"...Truth be told, I simply dislike it."
This madman. But I couldn't back down here.
That single swing Namgung Sim unleashed earlier. It was beautiful. No flash, no fancy techniques. Just a pure, fundamentals-driven slash. Yet more beautiful than any sword I'd ever seen.
The gap between 99.8% and 100% implementation. That must be the presence or absence of the intent and imagery he mentioned.
At 99.8%, his body was fully realized, but no true ego. He was closer to a combat puppet that charged when ordered. But at 100%, self-awareness emerged. He could infuse martial arts with intent and imagery.
I wanted to learn. No—I had to.
"...How can I make you."
"Hm?"
"What'll it take for you to teach me martial arts?"
"Oh ho. Playing it that way, art thou?"
Namgung Sim stroked his chin while seated. He pondered deeply for a moment, then spoke.
"Truth be told, this one doth not particularly fancy thee."
"Why?"
"Is it not obvious? Recall how many times this young master hath fallen to thee thus far."
"Well, that's..."
They were illusions from my skill anyway, so I killed them.
But you've killed me plenty too.
I trailed off, but he grinned as if he knew what came next.
"Of course, I comprehend. Mere illusions. For training's sake, what matter if they take human form? Slaying phantoms is no great deed."
"...Right."
"Yet this young master hath a rather narrow heart."
Was this his character? In Murim Rebirth, he came off cooler, more dashing. Not some petty grudge-holder.
"Thou didst ask what it would take."
"Yeah."
"Then this young master shall pose three questions. Attain a passing mark, and I shall impart martial arts."
Quiz time out of nowhere?
"...Shoot."
"First question. For what dost thou seek to wield the sword? What wouldst thou cleave?"
What must be cut. Simple. The answer was set.
Otherworld deities. And their fanatic worshippers.
"The trash trying to devour the world."
"Indeed. Thou speakest of the demonic cults."
"Close enough."
A bit stronger, actually.
"Second question. After swinging that sword, what thinkest thou shall remain?"
A question I'd never considered. What would be left after wielding this sword.
If the day comes I set down my sword, only two possibilities.
I die, or I cleave all that must be cleaved.
If I die, nothing remains. If I cleave all that deserves it...
"The world."
"...So it be."
Namgung Sim continued with an inscrutable expression.
"Final question."
"Go on."
"Why dost thou seek to learn martial arts?"
Vague. Seemed like the first, but deeper... more fundamental.
Why martial arts? There was magic, knightly aura, all that. Good teachers for those would've made powering up easier.
But...
"'Cause it's badass as hell."
This was huge. Sword Master? Lame. Sword Saint? Way cooler. Grand Master? Nah, Martial God wins. Techniques drip style. Spouting flowery move names mid-fight? Cringe but epic.
But with all that cool martial arts, what did I want to do? Slay outer gods and save the world? Great. Become a vigilante smiting villains? Also good.
But no. Honestly... I just loved martial arts. Half-assed scraps learned over my shoulder were already that fun. So I wanted more.
Not stopping at Namgung Sim. Surpass everyone summoned in Fantasy World, even those I hadn't dared summon.
Even from the outer existences.
I wanted to know every martial principle in the world. See, learn, break every technique under heaven.
"I'm gonna be the strongest in the world."
If I truly became the world's greatest, no one stronger than me. The world saves itself naturally.
Namgung Sim stared into my eyes after my final answer, as if peering into my soul. The reflection of a tense demon girl flickered in his blue gaze.
After a long moment, he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! I see!"
"What?"
"Thou seekest to shoulder a burden vaster than the heavens themselves!"
The otherworld deities?
"...Not trying to shoulder it."
"Yet shoulder it thou shalt. To achieve thy aims, inevitably."
Namgung Sim rose from his cross-legged seat. His eye level, once lower, now towered. I had to crane my neck.
"A most arduous path. To bear alone what exceeds even the heavens."
"I know."
"Even the greatest across ages might falter!"
"...Maybe."
Otherworld deities were overwhelmingly strong. Centuries of demon and human wars couldn't handle even fragments.
To triumph over them, I'd need to surpass anyone this world had ever seen.
"Verily! Then thou must become a Martial God!"
"Martial God...?"
"At the least, a god of martial arts from the immortal realms, to bear such weight."
His sword was already drawn—the famed treasure I knew well. Namgung clan's Cheon-geuk Sword.
"To be the first martial arts master of a future Martial God? Quite the thrilling tale!"
"No way?"
The sword tip snapped toward me!
"Aye! Very well! This young master shall personally instruct thee!"
"Ooh... Ooooh!"
Finally!
"Milady, you sure you're okay?"
"Fiiine..."
Bella asked worriedly. She even pressed her hand to my forehead to check for fever.
"Bella's hand feels so cool and nice..."
"What do I do... She's not okay..."
Exactly one week since starting martial arts under Namgung Sim.
This ain't humanly possible.
Insanely grueling. Not just tough training...
["I hear thy world hath little time. Best to hasten, no?"]
["'Tis a space where death holds no sting, aye?"]
I'd died a ridiculous number of times. Too many to count, rendering the tally pointless. Mental strain piled up sky-high.
"Meeeow..."
Total Lena meltdown mode.
But results were solid. Grasping basic martial arts knowledge boosted overall understanding daily. Even just correcting misconceptions made strength gains tangible.
"...Heh heh."
"Milady?"
"I'm getting stronger every moment."
Bella eyed me oddly. Then quietly stood.
"Guess we need a doctor after all."
Don't.