Chapter 11: Baek Family Escort Agency (3)
[Indeed, a self-perfection that is not bound by the martial arts of others is exactly what it is.]
As if satisfied with the martial arts shown against the escort warriors, Master Zhang Sanfeng raised his voice in an excited tone.
The martial arts of the Orthodox Path place the highest importance on self-perfection.
The meaning of those words came home to me once again.
Become complete on your own.
If I am complete, I do not need to target others’ weaknesses.
When a complete thing and an incomplete thing collide, the one that breaks is always the incomplete side.
Just as the result is clear when a hard stone and a soft egg collide.
The one that needs to worry about the hard stone is the egg, not the stone.
In fact, I had never launched a preemptive attack.
I merely redirected all the attacks coming toward me.
If I say that I ran wild like a beast unleashed from its leash and drove twelve escort warriors, but did not attack, people might say what kind of nonsense that is, but it was actually the case.
The moment the opponent attacks, I read their movement, and find a loophole in the read movement to penetrate it.
Reading with Listening Force, and neutralizing/redirecting with Neutralizing Force.
I enter. I penetrate and slide through the gap.
Everything I did was not a preemptive attack, but a counterattack.
A thorough strategy of striking second but arriving first, excluding preemptive attacks.
I stepped forward and narrowed the distance, but did not launch an attack. The moment the distance closed and the opponent attacked, only then did I strike back.
With only defense and counterattacks, I disrupted their formation.
It was true that this was not a spectacle seen commonly.
Therefore, most of the people watching had surprised faces.
At the very least, it was not the Wudang Sect’s martial arts that the majority of people ‘knew’.
The Wudang Sect’s martial arts known to the world were not this extreme form of striking second but arriving first. It was not a martial art that defeated the opponent by protecting oneself.
Not anymore.
Although the subtle principle of reading with Listening Force and neutralizing with Neutralizing Force was the same, the Wudang Sect’s martial arts known currently aimed for the integration of offense and defense.
Wielding offensive forms is the current state of Wudang’s martial arts.
[Tsk tsk. If one puts in effort, they grow. Because they cannot overcome their impatience, they look for shortcuts.]
Master Zhang Sanfeng’s voice was full of regret. Looking at the way I displayed martial arts with curiosity, he seemed to realize the current situation of Wudang’s altered martial arts even more acutely.
Hearing Master Zhang Sanfeng’s voice, I suddenly felt like I knew the path I had to walk.
Let’s turn it back to the right path.
Where someone walks, a path is created. On the path that the person ahead worked hard to make, someone else will eventually walk.
Just as my masters did.
Let me also become such a person.
The problem was that places like the Wudang Sect or Shaolin could not be corrected with ordinary authority.
The ideal is grand, but the reality is difficult.
To achieve it?
‘Would it only be possible if I became the Chief of the Martial Alliance?’
I must become a person who can make a voice that works for everyone.
A person whose voice even the Nine Great Sects cannot ignore.
Thinking about it coolly, it was an absurdly large goal.
‘But what’s stopping me?’
It is not impossible as long as I properly take in the teachings that my masters will bestow.
I found the path I should walk forward in an unexpected place.
I clenched my fist once, as if making a resolution.
“Is there anyone who dissents?”
Amidst this, Mister Baek Jin-seong’s voice quietly spread around. And at those words, no one was seen shaking their head.
“What is your opinion?”
“At this rate, we should be the ones begging him to join. Besides, there are bad rumors about this escort mission. It’s a good thing to have a reliable colleague.”
When Mister Baek Jin-seong quietly asked Escort Leader Jeong Il-sang for his opinion, he gave a review close to high praise.
If Mister Baek Jin-seong rubbed the loser’s feelings the wrong way like that, Escort Leader Jeong Il-sang lifted the winner’s prestige. In the end, it ended up rubbing the loser’s feelings even more, but he blurted it out without hesitation.
It was Baek Mu-ho who recommended Yeon Cheong-un. To harbor dissatisfaction with that went beyond doubting Baek Mu-ho’s discernment, it meant thinking the Baek Family Escort would give a spot to an unqualified person solely through connections, which was equivalent to doubting the system of the Baek Family Escort.
Escort Leader Jeong Il-sang’s words carried resentment toward that. The faces of the twelve rookie escort warriors, who could not raise their bodies while lying on the floor, darkened.
“I’m the one who brought him.”
“I didn’t ask you, you rascal.”
Contrary to them, Baek Mu-ho was delighted. Then, Mister Baek Jin-seong smacked the head of the putting-on-airs Baek Mu-ho.
And he made the final decision.
“Then, I will consider that Cheong-un is also participating in the escort mission.”
I showed that I had the skill and proved it.
There was no way any other words would come out regarding that decision.
“Also, Cheong-un, come see me for a moment.”
Mister Baek Jin-seong, who wrapped up the situation like that, called me.
***
“Under whom did you study martial arts?”
As if he was quite curious, Mister Baek Jin-seong asked that first as soon as a seat was arranged.
“Haha…”
At his question, my throat felt stuffed.
The answer is simple. Master Zhang Sanfeng and Master Bodhidharma.
But if I said I studied under the two of them, I would be treated exactly like a madman.
[Try telling him you learned from me.]
‘Are you telling me to be called a madman right now?’
Thanks to Master Zhang Sanfeng speaking playfully, I let out a shallow groan and made a troubled face.
I thought I should prepare for this part. Since there would be many people asking like this in the future.
“It seems you received an instruction not to reveal their name carelessly.”
Fortunately, Mister Baek Jin-seong came up with a plausible answer on his own.
All kinds of people live in the Martial World. Among them, eccentric and extraordinary figures were also abundant. Thus, there were indeed cases where one could not reveal their master’s name carelessly.
‘No. The master himself is telling me to reveal it, but I’m keeping my mouth shut for fear of being called a madman.’
Of course, my case was different.
“Since your martial arts have quite a different part compared to the Wudang Sect’s martial arts. Different things are sometimes rejected, so it’s not strange even if there are parts you hide.”
“Haha…”
‘No, this is the orthodox one.’
Was it because other words kept trying to pop out of my chest? I felt like I kept making a vague smile to blur the flow of the conversation.
However, whether he caught that I was unable to pull out the words inside my heart, Mister Baek Jin-seong chuckled and nodded his head.
“Understood. Although I am curious, I won’t ask any further. Because I am an adult.”
If I felt that his voice got particularly louder in a specific part, was it just my illusion?
It didn’t seem to be an illusion.
Because Baek Mu-ho, who was listening quietly, let out a ‘pfft!’ and sneered.
“Adult, my foot. Anyway, this household has no proper person… Ouch! Ouch! I surrender!”
Mister Baek Jin-seong grabbed the face of Baek Mu-ho, who was pouring out words full of sneers, with one hand.
Whether it hurt enough to bring out tears, Baek Mu-ho immediately shouted surrender.
“Ahem!”
Whether he thought he showed an unsightly scene, Mister Baek Jin-seong, who accepted Baek Mu-ho’s surrender, coughed lightly and corrected his expression.
“Well, originally, there is no pretense between family members.”
Feeling it once again, his voice got particularly louder in a specific part.
Goodness.
Seeing his voice get louder at the word family, it sounded like he thought of me as family.
“You mean you’re disappointed, right?”
“Hahaha! No way. Even if I were truly disappointed, would I, an adult, show it?”
You are showing it.
And very clearly at that.
Whether Mister Baek Jin-seong’s answer was funny, Baek Mu-ho also snickered.
Perhaps because he learned with his body, he didn’t blabber his mouth like earlier.
“Ouch! Ouch! Why!”
“What’s the use of not opening your mouth? Your face tells everything.”
“This face is the one Dad gave me!”
“That’s why I’m feeling the responsibility and trying ‘like this!’ and ‘with all my might!’ so that you can grow in the right direction.”
“Ouch! Where is such a thing… I said it hurts!”
“Right here, you rascal.”
They were truly an unreserved father and son.
From a watching perspective, it was a fairly amusing comedy show.
And also slightly uneasy. Considering what Mister Baek Jin-seong said about family members having no pretense.
Would it be going too far to imagine that that claw attack might grab my face too?
…Probably not?
Anxiety crept up.
But the next words were something I didn’t think of.
“Actually, I was worried when you said you were going to the Wudang Sect. Well, since you were going through your grandfather’s connections, it wasn’t my place to say anything, but the Hall Leader of Wise Tao Hall who is in charge of lay disciples there is a real dog of a bastard.”
Mister Baek Jin-seong spat out curses without warning.
Although he was someone who didn’t care much for formalities, he rarely started by cursing at someone from the beginning, so I was slightly surprised.
Though he was indeed a guy who deserved to hear such words.
“Yes, I know well.”
“Must have been. If you didn’t leave the mountain voluntarily, that guy must have been involved.”
He spoke as if he had seen the events of that time in person.
Whether the memories of that time came back to mind, my fist quietly clenched.
“Do you know him?”
“We weren’t classmates, but he’s a guy of a similar age group, so I know him a bit. Shin Je-hyeon. He’s a guy who likes to rank people and likes to weigh backgrounds, so he’s someone you can’t look at favorably.”
He was exactly like those words.
The eyes that subtly scraped my inside while playing tricks. The contempt toward me nested beyond that could still be vividly recalled even now.
“Do well. The more you make a name for yourself, the more that guy will be screwed.”
Becoming an outstanding martial artist who achieved a high realm and becoming a famous martial artist who made a name for oneself were different things.
Since I prioritized self-perfection, the path of a martial artist I thought of before today was heavily tilted toward the former.
Not anymore, though.
“I was planning to do just that.”
“Oh?”
Was it something unlike my usual self? Mister Baek Jin-seong showed an unexpected reaction.
Should I say he looked proud that the kid had grown up a bit?
“Good. It’s a relief that at least you have matured.”
“Haha.”
“Right, then let’s stop the private talk here. We plan to leave for the escort mission tomorrow, so prepare well.”
“Tomorrow?”
It felt very rushed. Seeing them organizing the goods to be carried, I thought it would be soon, but this was too fast.
Honestly, hearing it was tomorrow, I suddenly felt like I was being dragged away by the collar.
But after making such a fuss, I couldn’t say I wouldn’t go now.
“Did you hear beforehand what this escort mission is about? Steel your heart. Considering it’s your first escort mission, it will be really tough.”
“…I haven’t heard, though?”
Hearing that, I felt like I was being slapped while being dragged by the collar.
Come to think of it, in my excitement about going on the escort mission together, I hadn’t heard the details.
“You haven’t heard?”
“Yes.”
Mister Baek Jin-seong and I, gradually grasping the situation, focused our gazes on one spot.
As the situation turned unfavorable, Baek Mu-ho, who was backing away slowly, threw his body hard toward the outside.
Crash!
Ah, that’s the sound of the window shattering to pieces as Baek Mu-ho threw himself.
“Bring that rascal back. Don’t beat him to death. You must bring him back alive, okay?”
Mister Baek Jin-seong said, watching him run out while breaking the window. The adult’s consideration, adding precautions in case of unforeseen situations, stood out.
“I will consider it.”
Clicking my tongue, when I came out, he had already disappeared far away. He was really fast, as if he had deployed a lightness skill.
“Tsk!”
Can I catch him? I haven’t learned a lightness skill.
Another martial art to ask my masters to teach me had increased.
[Do you want to learn the Cloud Ladder Stride?]
[Vajra Immovable Body Method is quite decent.]
Are you teasing me?
Just as I felt the need to learn a lightness skill, the martial arts the two of them mentioned were all things I couldn’t display right away.
[We’ll teach you.]
[Haha. If it’s you, you’ll be able to master it quickly.]
They were indeed teasing me.
Thank you so much, friend.
So even if I catch you, I won’t beat you to death.
I’ll only half-kill you.
***
After meeting Yeon Cheong-un, Baek Seol-ah did not return to her residence as usual. She moved her steps elsewhere outside the residence.
But her steps were extraordinary.
The moment she lightly stepped on the ground and moved, her body seemed to turn blurry, and then she stretched far away.
An amazing lightness skill.
It was a movement that told that Baek Seol-ah was not an ordinary person who didn’t know martial arts.
On the face of Baek Seol-ah, who was walking lightly (?) like that, a slight blush was visible.
“Even black hair… is it.”
The words Yeon Cheong-un said in passing lingered in Baek Seol-ah’s ears.
“I thought you had forgotten.”
Long ago, though only once, Yeon Cheong-un had told her she was beautiful.
Although herself back then was much different from now, because she didn’t like her past self very much, those words were deeply engraved in her heart like a brand.
Therefore.
“…I hope it is an unnecessary worry.”
Baek Seol-ah hoped that what she was doing now was over-worrying.
The place where her steps stopped was near a quiet and peaceful-looking manor.
It was the place where Yeon Cheong-un’s family settled.
The eyes of Baek Seol-ah, who looked at that place, were quietly sunk. Completely throwing away the slight blush that was visible on her face until a moment ago, winter’s coldness was raging on her face.
“I do not know if you are there, but if you are, junior Baek Seol-ah addresses the senior who will hear this voice!”
Under the quietly sunk eyes of Baek Seol-ah, a fiercely flashing emotion was nested.
It was because of what Baek Seol-ah felt when she touched Yeon Cheong-un’s body.
Yeon Cheong-un’s body was far from ordinary.
All kinds of unknown things were laid in that body to the point where an eternity could be felt.
When Baek Seol-ah saw it, it was full of arrangements that felt dangerous.
“If what you did to that child was a mere experiment!”
In the Martial World, there are also those who sacrifice their disciples to test their martial arts.
If the one who bestowed teachings on Yeon Cheong-un was of that sort!
“This Baek Seol-ah will definitely take your life!”
Baek Seol-ah’s hair instantly dyed pure white, and her cold voice stretched through the air.
The appearance that made Yeon Cheong-un harbor yearning for martial artists in the past.
Revealing her hair that shone in silver beyond white, Baek Seol-ah emitted a terrifying energy strand by strand.