Hao Sect (2)
Hao Sect (2)
To capture the Hao Sect Leader, I had to reach at least the first-rate realm.
For that purpose, I devoted myself to training with Sannyeo for a while, and Sannyeo brought out a terrifying secret manual she had hidden away. The moment I saw that secret art, my tremendous martial talent awakened, and in the blink of an eye I surpassed first-rate and became a peak master.
"....Isn't there some way to rise through the realms nice and easy together?"
Of course, no such thing happened.
I began training to reach the first-rate realm, but the results were sluggish. Whether I closed my eyes and opened them, or stared desperately at Sannyeo, I was still second-rate. Sannyeo, indifferent to my agitation, spoke the orthodox truth.
"Rushing won't make your realm rise. Enlightenment never comes when you're impatient. Empty your mind, Docheol. You're already growing at an incredibly fast pace."
According to her explanation, learning only a single basic cultivation method and then surpassing second-rate to set one's sights on first-rate in just a few years was truly an astonishing growth rate. But I couldn't be satisfied even with this speed.
In the eyes of the world it was very fast, but it was far too slow to jump into the operation to hijack the Hao Sect.
"Tch...."
I sucked in a breath and bit my nails in frustration. I knew I shouldn't be anxious, but I just couldn't empty my mind.
To have any chance against the Hao Sect Leader, I had to reach at least the first-rate realm. At the second-rate level, even if I ambushed him, I couldn't even scratch him.
If I couldn't reach first-rate, I would have to watch the Hao Sect be smashed to pieces before my eyes and do nothing. Having lost the chance to establish a foothold, I'd have to keep serving as the Zhuge family's lackey, and I wouldn't have the capacity to destroy Mount Hua Sect and the Beggars' Sect. On top of that, the chance to bed the Princess would vanish too.
"So, are you going to keep whining like that?"
"No."
Sannyeo cast a sharp look at me. I spat out the nail from between my teeth and got up. When it came to training, Sannyeo was always right. She was right now, too. If I kept dwelling on bad thoughts, nothing good would ever happen.
If I wanted a good future, I had to move in a positive direction. I stretched and walked back out to the training ground. Sannyeo had already taken her stance and was watching me.
I drew my axe, but Sannyeo didn't even assume a fighting posture, just fixed her gaze on me.
We weren't sparring today. I was in the middle of testing and challenging myself to see if I could satisfy the minimum conditions for first-rate. I raised my axe forward and spoke.
"Can you explain it one more time?"
If I was aiming high, the more explanations I heard, the better. Sannyeo laughed breezily and nodded.
"To tell you once more...."
Sannyeo stretched out both hands. She spread them in the shape of a lotus pedestal and wiggled her fingers in front of me. As I scrutinized her fingers, a blue energy flickered at their tips, and like playing cat's cradle, the blue energy shimmered between her fingers. She demonstrated her inner energy and spoke.
"To pierce a master's protective Steel Qi, you must know how to draw your qi outward. You pull the power from within yourself and clothe the outside with it."
"Is it different from when I load my axe with inner power and swing it?"
"Very different."
Sannyeo stepped over to the storage shed. She rummaged through the clutter and pulled out a small coin purse. The leather coin purse dangled from Sannyeo's hand like a loose bull's scrotum. She swung the purse lazily and said.
"Simply loading inner power and striking is like filling this purse with dirt or stones and hitting someone with it. The force is heavy, but it's not enough to truly harm someone who's on guard."
"And drawing inner energy outward?"
Sannyeo gripped the purse tightly. Its shape warped until it resembled a hand axe.
"The purse itself becomes a sharp chunk of metal. Even if they're prepared, if you strike a gap, it becomes a weapon that can kill your opponent."
Roughly, it meant that wrapping the outside with inner energy made a weapon stronger. But even hearing that, there were many parts I didn't understand. The fact that I had loaded inner power into my axe—in other words, didn't that mean I had already sent my inner energy outside my body?
So hadn't I already achieved the condition for first-rate?
"No. As I just explained, the two are vastly different."
Sannyeo shook her head. Then she looked at her own fingers again and spoke.
"Qi flows anywhere. If you release it into water, it scatters with the waves; if you send it into the sky, it stirs the wind. And if you load it into a weapon, having no way out inside, it spreads through the weapon and slowly dissipates. Loading inner power into a weapon is, in other words, simply releasing your inner energy outward. It's not you controlling the qi."
It seemed like I understood, and yet I didn't. Sannyeo continued her explanation.
"First-rate martial artists are those who can control their qi to some degree. Gathering inner energy and enveloping a weapon with it is both the act that proves that ability, and a powerful weapon that only first-rate masters and above can use."
"Is that sword energy?"
I asked, imagining the sight of blue energy shimmering over a blade. She made a subtle expression.
"No. At the first-rate level, the energy isn't visibly distinct enough to be called sword energy. More than that. I've just explained it. So try to imagine it. Think of drawing the energy from within you and wrapping your weapon with it. Close your eyes and concentrate."
I closed my eyes as she instructed. I held the axe out before me, took a deep breath, and imagined the energy within. I was alone in an empty world. I drew the energy flickering in my dantian, channeling it into my hands, and from my hands spread that energy outward.
I felt the energy extend from my fingertips to the axe, and power surged into the handle.
"....No. Not spreading it. You have to blanket the axe with the energy."
And then Sannyeo's voice rang out. I opened my eyes and stared at the axe.
I couldn't grasp what the sensation of enveloping the axe she described actually was, but I could at least tell that what I had just done wasn't it. Sannyeo stroked her face as she spoke. Even though she must have seen me being slow, she showed no sign of anger.
"Docheol, don't worry. There's no need to be too discouraged. It's originally hard to understand."
"...Tch."
I kept getting greedy. Wouldn't it work if I tried a few more times? Even if not today, if I kept at it, couldn't I make it in time?
"Hmm...."
Had she read my thoughts? When I raised my head, Sannyeo was glaring at me while rubbing her chin. It was the look of someone deep in serious thought, yet also carried a hint of disapproval.
What the hell? What intention was behind that expression?
"...What?"
I asked, my body stiff as I looked at her. Sannyeo firmly shook her head and said,
"Let's stop for today. Drawing out inner power while you're agitated could cause an accident. No, not just today. For the time being, don't even think about the matter, and training is forbidden."
"What?"
When I frowned, Sannyeo spoke in a calmer tone.
"Right now, you can't empty your head. Because an important opportunity is right in front of you. You're too anxious, aren't you? Thinking you can train in that state is arrogance. Do you understand? This is an order as your teacher. So this time, listen to me."
I had nothing to say. Because she was right. An important opportunity had come, but the thought that I had to go from second-rate to first-rate overlapped with it, and even if my mind told me to be calm, my body wasn't. This wasn't something I could control.
"Even if you tell me to empty my head, saying that just makes me think about the matter more. I'm not someone who trained in mental cultivation, so when an opportunity like this appears, it's hard to bear."
If I could gain an advantage by waiting, I could wait indefinitely. But thinking that if I didn't achieve it in time I'd suffer a loss, I instantly grew impatient.
Sannyeo looked at my complicated expression and spoke.
"You like indulging in pleasure, don't you? Take a trip to Sichuan for sightseeing, or go visit a brothel or something. Have a good time, and then start training again with a clear mind. Or spend the night fooling around with Seon-go or something."
But no ordinary woman caught my eye, and in this situation, I couldn't just leave for Sichuan either.
"...So, what could I do with Seon-go?"
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to take Sannyeo's advice and enjoy some very intense entertainment with Seon-go for a while.
"What counts as something intensely stimulating?"
What was the most lewd, mind-melting thing I could do with Seon-go?
While I was rubbing my chin and pondering, suddenly the sound of someone pounding on the door came from somewhere.
Kung!
Kung!
Kung!
Sannyeo tilted her head.
I frowned and ordered a servant.
"Go see who it is."
And before the servant could even open the door, a voice rang out from the other side.
"Th-the Kirin of Hengshan... I-Im Seo-ryeon is here...! Q-quickly, send out the Crimson Ring Sect's Sect Leader Docheol... to show his face...!"
"Oh."
Oh.