Finding the Clue (3)
Pa-bak! Pababababa-bak!
It's different. With every step, my legs shot forward ten jang at a stretch.
I could do this much even before. 'But I would've tired out quick.'
Even now, my breath was heaving, and my thighs felt like they might burst. But...
Huuu, haaa. Huuu, haaa.
I recalled yesterday's sensation and kept up the breathing. The rising breath settled back down. The thighs on the verge of exploding calmed again. A bit of vitality coursed through my body.
Long live the Honored Leader! Sorry for forgetting about you all this time, my lord. Once you get to know him, our Honored Leader is the real deal! Even if he only ever made one third-rate martial art, I'd buy him as the world's top master!
Might as well name this breathing technique while I'm at it. Too lazy for anything fancy. Samjae Simbeop it is.
I maintained the breathing and kicked off the ground. Then I looked ahead.
Shuk.
I saw I-gwon glancing back. He was grinning ear to ear.
Crazy bastard.
"Great! Amazing! You're the first to keep up this far! My first time—updated again today!"
"You crazy fuck..."
"But the world of competition is ruthless. Won't go easy even on you, Young Master."
Talking to himself, answering himself. I-gwon ramped up his speed and shot ahead. He laughed.
What he'd just said was sincere. He'd trained alone all this time.
As a kid, because he was too slow. Once grown a bit, because he was too fast.
When Namgung Daeso climbed the mountain in his waddling duck steps and joined the training, part of it was wanting Daeso to get strong quick for a real match. But mostly, he just wanted company.
He didn't need a crowd. Just one person to know what "together" felt like. One was enough...
I-gwon glanced back to see his three junior brothers climbing in a line.
'Incredible!'
All this change brought by Namgung Daeso.
'The Youngest Young Master is great!'
Things he'd failed at no matter his effort—Daeso made possible. So he wanted to feel it firsthand again.
But if they clashed like before, Daeso might shatter for real this time.
What I-gwon sought wasn't fleeting joy now. Someone who could take his full power. His warm gaze went out to that one person in the world. Get strong quick.
'Crazy bastard!'
How Namgung Daeso took it, I-gwon—who still wasn't used to mingling—couldn't guess.
'Can he keep up at this speed?'
Whatever. I-gwon raised his speed with anticipation.
Zuuu—uk.
His body stretched forward like taffy.
Watching I-gwon suddenly accelerate, I thought, damn, the world's full of monsters. Duck steps, sure—but it looked like he was sprinting full tilt. I'd thought all the freaks gathered at Namgung Clan, but I-gwon was scary in a whole other way.
And.
'So that wasn't even his full power till now.'
No way!
"Hey, iron head! You ain't cheating with inner energy, are ya?"
"Huh? Nah. Why? Can't keep up? Want me to slow down?"
Huuu, haaa. Huuu, haaa.
I readjusted my breathing. Then I said,
"Go easy and you're dead!"
Creeeak.
My thighs swelled. Huuuuuuu, haaaaaaaa.
The breaths deepened. 'I can do this.'
Power surged through my body. Boom!
I kicked off the ground. Fududududududuk.
"If I catch you today, you're dead! I warned you twice!"
Ihu had paused mid-climb, staring blankly upward.
"Senior Brother, you feeling okay?"
One of the juniors who'd kept pace with him asked worriedly.
"I'm fine."
"Then why'd you stop?"
Why? Ihu silently pointed ahead.
The junior looked. "Nothing there?"
They'd already vanished from sight.
Kuku, kukuku, kukukuku.
Ihu laughed like a madman. The junior thought, Senior Brother's finally lost it, and said so aloud. He waved fingers before Ihu's unfocused eyes.
Normally, Ihu would've crushed those fingers. But not now. He wasn't in his right mind.
Yeah, better not to see. Watching those two monsters up close would make all their efforts feel pointless, hollow.
Ihu figured he'd skip training today.
'Breathing! Breathing!'
I focused on my breath, giving it everything to catch I-gwon. When stamina hit empty... it'd recover some, then I'd push till empty again. Repeat.
'Fuck!'
I'd gotten faster, no doubt. Even I was shocked at how quick my duck steps had become.
But! The gap wasn't closing. No—since a bit ago, I-gwon's speed kept climbing, and now the distance was widening.
Maybe call it here today, build up steady from tomorrow. Weak thoughts crept in.
Hey, I'd found the clue now. Perfect excuse. Chase it, train, and I'd get faster than now. Rationalizing already.
Then even that monster I-gwon would be catchable. Had to be...
"Slow. Slug. Worm? Snail? Should I go easy?"
The problem? Every time he vanished from sight, then waited up ahead for me—his taunts grated like hell.
'Fine! All or nothing.'
Just yesterday, I'd resolved to take it slow. But yesterday, no mocking!
"Said go easy and you're dead! Won't spar again."
"Can't have that. Full power it is."
I-gwon shot ahead again. Up close, his speed was insane.
I-gwon was thrilled Daeso still followed. Too thrilled to know how to show it. Another first!
Best part: instant reactions to his words.
'Call him a slug again?'
He looked down. Too bad—Daeso was gone.
This back-and-forth repeated about five times. The summit loomed.
'Shame.'
I-gwon wished time would freeze. Slow down once, just to stretch it? He pondered. Any way to prolong this.
Then.
Chills ran up his spine. 'No way!'
I-gwon whipped around, eyes alight with expectation.
There!
'He's here!'
Thudududududu!
Namgung Daeso charged up like a maniac!
I-gwon grinned and waited one last time.
'Fucking bastard!'
I cursed every swear I knew inside. 'Iron head fuck! Iron dung beetle! Big-mouth scrap heap!'
Deep, steady breathing? Tossed it. My head held only one thought: catch that scrap heap somehow.
Tired mid-run? Unconsciously did Samjae Simbeop. Power returned? Full sprint. Repeat.
About three waits from him? Breath jammed in my throat. Even breathing was a chore. Heart pounding like it'd burst. Any second, something might actually blow.
Face bloated to explode. Eyes stung—blood vessels? Sweat? Whatever.
Here, I just wanted to collapse. 'Gotta hit the summit first!'
Drop midway? Embarrassing with the potsherd crew behind. What about our Je-cheon!
Then, presence ahead. I-gwon waiting again. That pissed me off too. Four times? Five? Lost count.
I passed him; he kicked off fresh. Unlike my utter exhaustion, he was spry as start.
'Scrap heap—don't you ever tire?'
Then.
Stagger.
Legs finally gave. No strength left. Vision blurred. Ears rang. Mind fogged—oxygen starvation.
'Ah... gotta catch that guy...'
Forced a deep breath. Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. Haaaaaaa.
Double the usual oxygen flooded in, but my body had zilch left to use. Still breathing, yet choked.
Vision full of black and white dots.
Still, I wouldn't stop Samjae Simbeop. Only thing I could lean on was our Honored Leader!
Step.
My foot hit something. Ground. Vision pitch black now. No sight.
No sound.
Step.
Yet I figured I hadn't fallen, was still advancing. From the feel underfoot.
Push forward. All I could do. Leaning harder on the ground than ever—then, a different texture. Firmer than surroundings.
I stepped on it. Less force, more distance.
Come to think... that scrap heap hadn't climbed straight; he'd zigzagged.
Sensations flooded from the ground. This soft earth. That with a big rock. This super firm.
Huuu, haaa. Huuu, haaa.
Breath unbroken. I picked only firm spots, advanced.
Burden eased; stamina recovered. Senses returned.
Sound first.
Shk! Shk! Shk!
Something whipping past fast. Then fuzzy sight.
I-gwon scrambling just ahead. Gap closing.
Miraculous. Finally, breath normalized; full senses back.
Flash!
Dunno when, but I was right on his tail—prime chance! Now I could feel firm ground by instinct.
I stepped boldly. Pa-bak!
Speed rose. Faster still.
I saw I-gwon's panicked glance back.
That instant, his eyes changed. 'Hiding something again!'
You scrap heap!
We both eyed the same spot. I eyed him. He eyed me.
We read intents. 'That ground!''First to claim it!'
'Wins!''Wins!'
Could I now? Felt like yes. No inner energy boost, but a martial art unfolded.
Geumgang Budong Sinbeop.
It!
I-gwon's body did the same.
Pa-bak! Pa-bak!
Both bodies leaped. Both kicked ground. Both hit summit.
Draw.
I flopped down in a spread-eagle position as soon as I arrived.
"Heokheokheokheokheok!"
All the held breath gushed out.
I-gwon dropped beside me. "Heokheokheokheokheok!"
He panted too.
Gazing skyward, I-gwon spoke. "As expected, Young Master—you're amazing!"
Yeah, I know.
"Great!"
That too.
"Utterly flawless!"
Flawless? Eh, not quite—close enough.
"Congratulations. You just comprehended Budong."
Huh? What'd you say?