Chapter 73: Learning Yet Another Thing Like This (2)
Chapter 72 – Learning Yet Another Thing Like This (2)
‘I, I’m in the semifinals…! The semifinals…?’
His heart pounded like crazy.
If Tang Wu-gi had really lost and that blank-looking Baek Mu-geuk rose as his next opponent in the duel…
‘Maybe… just maybe, I can even make it to the semifinals!’
Just imagining it brought a silly smirk to his face.
Namgung Cheon quietly watched Yun Jong-seung.
‘Right, smile as much as you can while you still can.’
In truth, he had lied about one thing.
The claim that Tang Wu-gi had lost due to a mistake.
Of course, most of the spectators would believe that Tang Wu-gi had lost by mistake.
However, experts with sharp eyes would immediately recognize that Tang Wu-gi had lost due to a difference in skill.
Baek Mu-geuk’s martial arts had a rather peculiar side. While overall close to standard orthodox style, the feints and variations he unleashed from time to time were ingenious enough to catch opponents completely off guard.
Yet, thinking about it carefully once more, those could not be considered incredibly miraculous moves.
Rather, because the saber techniques he silently executed were so close to standard orthodox style, even a slight twist made them feel like a massive difference.
‘More important than that is the flow of energy.’
While watching Baek Mu-geuk’s duel, Namgung Cheon had closely observed how he circulated his internal energy using the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes.
‘It was internal energy that moved as naturally as flowing water.’
It was truly internal force that flowed or stopped like the wind, like water, and sometimes like a rock.
The flow was so natural that, at a glance, it almost looked as if he was mindlessly swinging his saber rather than performing martial arts.
There was a sect that utilized this kind of qi flow best.
It was none other than the Wudang Sect.
The Wudang Sect, which pursued the ultimate truth of Daoism.
Due to their strong Daoist characteristics, they rarely interfered in the Alliance’s affairs and did not send disciples to any academy in Wuhan, but in terms of martial arts, they were called the Mount Tai and Northern Dipper of the martial world alongside the Shaolin Sect.
The Wudang Sect sought to harmonize the flow of energy with the body, keeping it as natural as possible. Like water, like wind, like a rock. Indeed, they pursued nature and non-action.
However, as the Wudang Sect’s martial arts grew increasingly powerful and fierce, artificiality was inevitably added to their flow of energy as well.
While that made them strong, it also became a task they ultimately had to resolve.
Yet…
‘It feels as if that fellow stripped away that artificial fierceness from the Wudang Sect’s method of internal energy circulation.’
Although it seemed like the Wudang Sect’s Taiji Divine Art at a glance, he moved with a completely different cultivation method that only shared a similar texture.
‘To think he came from some nameless local sect…’
Was the quality of martial arts determined by the person after all?
Was a mediocre cultivation method passed down in some local sect the perfect fit for Baek Mu-geuk? Or, perhaps, it had been improved even beyond that.
‘Either way, nothing is certain yet.’
The time had been too short to grasp Baek Mu-geuk’s martial arts in detail.
For it to end in a ring-out disqualification before even half a quarter-hour had passed.
“If only that idiot Tang Wu-gi had held out a bit longer… Tsk.”
“Huh? Tang Wu-gi holding out? What does that mean?”
“It is nothing.”
“What you’re saying makes it sound like Baek Mu-geuk is much stronger than Tang Wu-gi, you know?”
“No way.”
Namgung Cheon firmly shook his head.
Because there was no benefit in making Yun Jong-seung lose heart here.
What Yun Jong-seung needed right now was confidence. And the illusion that he could win.
‘Yes, I must plant that illusion in him properly.’
However, Yun Jong-seung was persistent.
“Hey, that’s not it. You clearly said, ‘If only Tang Wu-gi had held out a bit longer,’ didn’t you? As if Tang Wu-gi was bound to lose from the start.”
“It is just your imagination.”
“Huh? How can imagination be like that?”
“Now, what you need to do from this point on is diligently train for the semifinals.”
“T-That’s right. The semifinals!”
Yun Jong-seung felt like he was being glossed over, but intoxicated by the dreamlike word ‘semifinals,’ he did not press any further.
“But will I really advance to the semifinals no matter what if I do as you say?”
“Where in the world is there a ‘no matter what’? There is only the will to do so ‘by all means.’ Work hard and make sure you advance by all means.”
“Yeah, got it. By all means!”
“Good, that is the spirit. Then let us begin.”
“W-Wait a minute!”
“What is it now?”
“M-My weapon? You’re fighting with a saber… and I…?”
“Did I not tell you? Being a fist fighter suits you well.”
“Of course, fighting with fists is good, but if someone is swinging a saber in front of me, how am I supposed to block that with bare flesh?”
“If you cannot block it, you must dodge.”
“Ah, but…”
“I heard your clan has benefited quite a bit from the downfall of the Main Clan recently. Why don’t you buy at least a pair of leather bracers? A fist fighter should wear at least that much.”
“Hmm. Leather bracers… like the ones Hwangbo Seung wears?”
“Yes.”
Of course, not all fist fighters wore such things.
In particular, higher-level experts tended to find bracers cumbersome. A true expert could sufficiently protect their body with internal energy alone.
‘Or perhaps they do not wear them out of vanity.’
However, since Yun Jong-seung’s skill was absolutely not at a level to boast to others, it would be better for him to wear bracers like a beginner.
Yun Jong-seung nodded with a serious expression.
“I should talk to my father.”
“Handle that on your own later. First, attack me. I will only face you with the back of my blade.”
“A-All right.”
Yun Jong-seung nodded and slowly took a starting stance.
Although it was a bit strange to suddenly start training, since he did not know when Namgung Cheon’s mind would change again, it was best to comply immediately.
“Here I come! Yaaah!”
Yun Jong-seung let out a shout, kicked off the ground, and dashed forward.
In that instant, Namgung Cheon imitated Baek Mu-geuk’s energy circulation method exactly as he had seen it at the Grand Martial Arena.
As the energy flowing from his dantian rushed along his meridians, his body moved naturally.
Like wind, like water, and sometimes like a rock.
‘Moving like this myself certainly feels strange.’
It was a completely orthodox method.
Yet, to Namgung Cheon, it somehow felt like wearing clothes that did not fit.
He had lived his entire life as a runaway with no roots.
On top of that, thanks to the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes, he had learned a mixture of various miscellaneous martial arts.
As a result, such an honest martial art felt somewhat awkward.
Furthermore, this orthodox method…
‘For some reason, it feels as if energy is being wasted.’
It felt like it could become a more refined and superior martial art with a bit of polishing, but bizarrely, energy was being wasted.
*Pabat! Pak! Pak!*
Yun Jong-seung fiercely rushed at Namgung Cheon.
‘What? This is more doable than I thought?’
A hint of confidence began to dwell in Yun Jong-seung’s eyes.
When Namgung Cheon said he would spar with him, he had braced himself to be beaten black and blue again, but surprisingly, he had some breathing room.
‘Then, at this point, the Red Lotus Palm!’
Just as he thought Namgung Cheon’s movements were somewhat sluggish, Yun Jong-seung firmly supported his right foot and quickly circulated his internal energy.
*Pabat!*
The energy arising from Yun Jong-seung’s dantian rushed fiercely along the Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian.
However, Namgung Cheon did not watch that process with his eyes.
For now, Namgung Cheon was acting thoroughly like Baek Mu-geuk.
*Shoooook!*
The moment Yun Jong-seung’s palm strike flew rapidly toward his flank, Namgung Cheon twisted his body and drew his saber diagonally.
*Sheeeet!*
Which one would be faster?
Naturally, the palm technique thrust from a close distance should be faster. At least, that was what Yun Jong-seung thought.
However, the moment he met Namgung Cheon’s eyes, his mind shook strangely.
“……!”
How should it be described?
The moment he faced those eyes, which were close to a state of selflessness, his firmly built resolve seemed to crumble like a sandcastle.
“Ah!”
Yun Jong-seung gasped and quickly regained his senses.
Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon took advantage of the instant Yun Jong-seung hesitated to slightly alter the flow of his energy.
As Namgung Cheon’s gaze, Yun Jong-seung’s hesitation, and Namgung Cheon’s change in energy circulation aligned, a tiny difference instantly twisted the flow.
Namgung Cheon’s movements, which had been solely orthodox like a stubborn man, suddenly looked like an even more brilliant variation because of the contrast.
*Sheeeet, thud!*
“Argh!”
Yun Jong-seung retreated as he felt a heavy pain spreading from his flank.
*Pababat!*
“Hah, hah, hah!”
He barely managed to balance himself and stop, but he felt nauseous and wanted to throw up.
Namgung Cheon tapped his own shoulder with the back of his blade and praised him.
“You’re doing well right now. That’s how you should get hit. As expected, only those who have been beaten know the taste of it.”
“Hah, hah…! Then is it the same strategy this time too?”
“There is one more thing.”
“What is it…?”
“Do not look at his eyes.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it drains your energy.”
“Ah…”
Yun Jong-seung nodded, somehow finding it convincing.
Indeed, Baek Mu-geuk had an expression that made onlookers feel drained.
An expression that naturally released tension.
Come to think of it, did Namgung Cheon not have those same eyes just moments ago?
‘What? Namgung Cheon, can you even imitate things like that?’
The moment their eyes met, it had felt as if all the strength in his body was being drained away.
As if his energy was being sucked out by the Great Art of Absorbing Stars.
‘No way…’
Yun Jong-seung flinched and looked at Namgung Cheon.
Yes, the Great Art of Absorbing Stars. It must be an exaggeration.
Yun Jong-seung shook his head and clenched his fists again, taking a starting stance.
Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon had a similar thought to Yun Jong-seung’s earlier one.
‘Indeed, if I circulate energy the way that fellow did…’
‘I will be able to shake the opponent’s energy, even if only temporarily.’
The Great Art of Absorbing Stars? It was nothing like that.
It was a martial art Namgung Cheon was seeing for the first time as well. No, he did not even know if it could be classified as martial arts.
‘Is it a special ability? Like the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes…?’
Yet, that did not seem to be it either.
The First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes was like an innate physical constitution. Just as absolute pitch could not be achieved through effort alone.
However, what shook Yun Jong-seung’s mind just now was clearly an effect achieved through energy circulation.
‘In that case, should I view it as a martial art after all?’
But was it possible to scatter the opponent’s energy with just a gaze?
It was not even a sonic technique.
Wait…?
‘If it causes a visual illusion along with the energy… is it an illusion art?’
There was a possibility.
If it were an illusion art that made someone see complete illusions, it would require quite deep energy, but if it only slightly scattered the opponent’s energy…!
‘No wonder there felt like some energy was being wasted! What I used just now was an illusion art!’
It felt as if he had been struck on the back of the head.
An illusion art. He had never even thought of that.
Was Baek Mu-geuk’s sect skilled in illusion arts?
In any case, the important thing was that Baek Mu-geuk possessed a weapon called an illusion art, and that the illusion art was activated through the eyes.
‘And that I have learned that illusion art as well.’
It was an unexpected harvest.
Unlike other martial arts, the illusion art he learned this time carried little risk of being detected by a third party. The victim did not even know the reason, which said it all.
‘Even I, who used it, did not know if it was an illusion art or what.’
Although it might seem like nothing in a way, as one ascended to the realm of an expert, such minor illusion arts could prove helpful.
The corners of Namgung Cheon’s mouth curled up slightly.
‘I really am always open-minded when it comes to learning.’
And thus, he learned yet another thing.
And once one learned?
‘One must review and put it to use with a joyful heart.’
Namgung Cheon spoke with a bright smile.
“Now, attack.”