Chapter 82
Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Precious Martial Arts
Martial arts are precious.
Third-rate techniques that only deal with forms can be bought even in the marketplace, but proper martial arts that handle qi aren't accessible to just anyone.
'Sect aren't around for no reason.'
They never teach them to anyone outside of disciples or family.
This wasn't just out of greed.
At the end of the day, martial arts are techniques designed to kill opponents.
But what if your enemy knows all your forms?
Your attacks would all be blocked, and they might unleash some bizarre counter that kills you.
In other words, it was a matter of life and death.
For these reasons, martial arts had been passed down in secrecy—and now, that secrecy had become common sense.
Of course, I'd casually taught martial arts to that Jang punk...
'I've got plenty more besides that.'
Besides the Heavenly Extreme Sword Technique I'd taught him, I had all those supreme arts I'd picked up during my Lecherous Demon days, so it was possible.
In any case, martial artists never teach their arts to just anyone.
As a result, ordinary commoners who wanted to learn had no way to do so.
Even if they luckily got their hands on a real martial arts manual, that was still a problem.
Unlike limbs people had been moving since birth, the concept of internal energy was far too alien for regular folk.
Talent was required, too.
No matter how smart someone was, without talent, sensing qi on their own was next to impossible.
'That's not all.'
Even if they luckily got a real manual, were smart enough to understand it from the text alone, and had the talent to boot...
If they weren't young anymore, becoming a master would be incredibly difficult.
The human body accumulates waste daily, and its channels narrow with age.
Martial artists circulate qi every day to fend that off, but that's only possible after they've built up internal energy.
In short, for ordinary people, martial arts were an unattainable object of longing.
"...That's when one of those Red Serpent Sect bastards snuck up from behind with his sword, but Lord Heavenly Warrior didn't even turn around..."
So it wasn't all that surprising that Baek Rihyeon was reacting like this.
'Actually, it is surprising. This kid becomes the Sword Emperor later on.'
This little brat would grow stronger than me someday.
Of course, I'd be even stronger by then, but the point was he'd become a peerless master.
"Once about ten of them were down, someone who looked like their leader stepped forward..."
The kid was chattering away excitedly, but I was starting to get annoyed.
'How long do I have to listen to this?'
Even if the entire Red Serpent Sect ganged up on Cheon Woojin, they wouldn't stand a chance.
And here he was making a fuss over a mere thirty...
"Whoa, really?"
But Moyong Hui, with her generous heart, was not only listening but even responding encouragingly.
Thanks to her, I had to stick around against my will.
After a long ramble, the kid's story predictably ended with "Cheon Woojin took them all down."
"That it?"
I asked flatly, but Baek Rihyeon ignored me and kept looking at Moyong Hui.
Then his eyes suddenly sparkled as he asked,
"Hui-nee. You're super strong too, right? Who would win between you and Lord Heavenly Warrior?"
Moyong Hui froze for a moment at the question.
"Uh?"
As she struggled to respond, Baek Rihyeon turned to Cheon Woojin this time.
"Who's stronger between the two of you?"
But Cheon Woojin couldn't answer either and just glanced around awkwardly.
Then he suddenly looked at me.
As Cheon Woojin—who'd gotten the question—turned to me, the other two naturally followed suit.
As if telling me to decide.
'Who's stronger?'
Not long ago, it would've been a landslide victory for Cheon Woojin.
No matter that Moyong Hui was one of the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes, she was still far behind Cheon Woojin, who was already at the peak of peak-level.
But now, with my internal energy boosted by the Blissful Creation Art?
'Hmm... Hui might win...'
Moyong Hui's internal energy was several times greater than Cheon Woojin's.
If she could drag it out into a prolonged fight, she'd definitely win...
'Can she, though?'
Surprisingly, I'd never actually seen her demonstrate her martial arts.
Sparring with words she could do anytime while walking.
But actual combat or displaying techniques required setting aside time.
'We barely have enough time for hot nights as it is.'
For that reason, I didn't know her true skills all that well.
As I pondered, Cheon Woojin swallowed hard.
As if my words were gospel truth.
Moyong Hui was pretending not to care, but her anticipation was obvious.
After much deliberation, my conclusion was,
"I'm the strongest."
An undeniable truth no one could refute.
The two who'd been waiting for my answer looked utterly baffled.
Baek Rihyeon, who asked the question, stared at me with half-lidded eyes like he couldn't believe it.
But I stood tall with confidence.
I'd already decided how to claim Yang Hajeong.
'Use martial arts as bait.'
I didn't know how Yang Hajeong—who'd been chased out of her clan—thought about martial arts, but at least Baek Rihyeon was full of admiration for martial artists.
If her beloved son desperately wanted it, wouldn't she try to make his wish come true? That was the core of my plan.
'It's actually good for Yang Hajeong, too.'
The reason I wanted her was solely because of the Blissful Creation Art.
And when we practiced the Blissful Creation Art, she'd gain far more benefits than I would.
'She'd be healthy right away, and never have to worry about chronic illnesses for the rest of her life.'
That wasn't all.
I, Mok Jimyeong,
was the kind of man who couldn't tolerate a woman I'd shared intimacy with living in hardship.
'Gotta bring her to the Eun Merchant Group.'
I could ask Eun Garyeon for living expenses, or arrange a suitable job within the Eun Merchant Group.
Either way, it'd be far better than rotting away in this rundown thatched hut.
In the end, taking Yang Hajeong wasn't just to satisfy my desires.
'Yeah, exactly.'
In any case, to persuade her, there was one thing I had to do first.
Stuff full of hot air into Baek Rihyeon.
"Bro, you're really the strongest?"
"What, you don't believe me?"
"Yeah."
Baek Rihyeon answered matter-of-factly.
I didn't bother arguing and just nodded.
"Fine, don't believe me then."
Truth reveals itself eventually, no matter how you try to hide it.
And conveniently, there was a perfect opportunity.
"Woojin, let's pay a visit to the Red Serpent Sect."
"The Red Serpent Sect, sir?"
Cheon Woojin tilted his head, as if wondering if it was necessary.
But I answered as if it was obvious.
"Yeah. They came looking for us, so this time we should return the favor."
The incident at Cheonseung Restaurant alone was a bit short on justification, but they'd given us the perfect excuse by coming for revenge.
So it was only polite to storm right in.
It probably reminded her of the Black Tiger Gang incident, because Moyong Hui nodded readily too.
"Hubby, shall we head out right away then?"
Moyong Hui, ready to tag along as if it went without saying.
Sadly, I had no intention of bringing her this time.
'With Hui around, I can't do things my way.'
I liked Moyong Hui, but traveling with her came with inconveniences.
For starters, I'd let those Red Serpent Sect goons off easy at Cheonseung Restaurant because of her.
And luckily, there was a good excuse.
"Hui, just in case, stay here."
"Huh?"
"Lady Yang is ill, and leaving her alone feels wrong. Can't leave Woojin behind either."
"...True."
She puffed her cheeks slightly, clearly displeased.
But she soon relented with a deep sigh.
"Sigh... Alright. Be careful out there. Hyeon, come with sis to check on your mom."
Moyong Hui, naturally assuming she'd take Baek Rihyeon along.
But once again, I had to stop her.
"Hui, I'm taking the kid too."
"What?!"
She looked more shocked than when I said I'd leave her behind.
Baek Rihyeon next to her was equally stunned.
"Can I really come too?"
His face full of eager anticipation.
Cheon Woojin's fight against the Red Serpent Sect thugs must've left a deep impression.
'Of course.'
I planned to show him exactly how great martial arts were and what you could do if you were strong in them.
That way, he'd get all kinds of delusions.
"Yeah. You know where the Red Serpent Sect is, right?"
I knew the location well enough myself, but this was my excuse to bring him along.
After all, he was the only local from Seungdeok here.
But Moyong Hui shrieked as if that was absolutely out of the question.
"Hubby, it's too dangerous for Hyeon!"
'Dangerous from the likes of the Red Serpent Sect?'
Well, I could understand her reaction.
Baek Rihyeon was just an eight-year-old kid, after all.
Several persuasion tactics came to mind, but I went with the easiest one.
"Hui, you don't trust me?"
Moyong Hui hesitated, unlike before.
"It's not that, but..."
She opposed the kid coming along, but couldn't say she didn't trust me.
I pulled her into my arms as she wavered and whispered in her ear.
"Then I'll be back."
In the end, Moyong Hui wrapped her arms tightly around me.
"...Be careful."
And so, Cheon Woojin, Baek Rihyeon, and I set off for the Red Serpent Sect.