Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 50



Only Krnovel

50. Kick the torch (1)

The vomit in the long room was prevented from spreading outside thanks to Cheong-ui’s compassionate heart. Instead, Cheong-hwa cleaned up the vomit neatly.

Cheonghwa asked me why I vomited, but I didn’t have a proper answer, so I just said that I felt sick. It’s not right to say that I overreacted because I was in charge of the spirit energy that was in conflict with the demon energy.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a case of a drug addiction. It was simply my body’s immune response. If I had taken Taecheongdan without knowing it, I would have probably collapsed and vomited blood.

Anyway, this was a problem I had to solve. Either change the Taecheongdan’s spirit energy into magic, or change my constitution. If that doesn’t work, sell it. There were many options.

“Euuuuuu.”

I stretched. It was a peaceful day after a long time.

Since I got back, I’ve only done my daily training and nothing special has happened.

As I was sitting upright, the door flew open.

“Priest.”

“I told you to knock on the door and come in.”

“I’m on death row, so do I have to be polite?”

“Okay. What brought you here in such a hurry?”

I looked at Myeong-gyeong while yawning deeply. Myeong-gyeong pointed behind me with her thumb and said.

“The teacher is looking for you.”

“Master?”

What a big deal. Yesterday, the master came back after looking at my Five Element Sword.

“Where are you?”

“They are waiting for you at Sambonggak.”

“Is this Sambonggak?”

Only then did I realize why Myeonggyeong was making such a fuss. Sambonggak, named after Jang Sambong, a shamanist. It was a place that shamans’ disciples desperately wanted to visit. That was because it was where all the shamans’ martial arts books were gathered. When the master called him from Sambonggwan, it meant that the master was teaching him new martial arts.

“Okay. So hurry up and go! Before the Master changes his mind. I’m going to practice!”

Myung-kyung ran out without even closing the door she had opened. I dressed neatly and went to Sambong-gwan.

My heart started pounding for no reason. Could it be that I will now be able to learn the martial arts of ascension?

Actually, the Five Element Sword and the Three Talent Sword were such basic swordsmanship that I didn’t even bother going to Sambonggwan. I just learned them from the Mingja Bae-bun brothers. In that sense, I was going to learn the proper ascending martial arts of the Mudangpa for the first time.

Because Sambong-gwan was an important place where martial arts books were gathered, it was located in a corner of Mt. Mudang and was also hidden by the formation.

When I was working as a messenger, I had been to Sambonggwan several times, so I knew its location, but I had never been inside the formation. I just passed the message to the officer on duty outside the formation every time.

“Master.”

As soon as I arrived at Sambong-gwan, I saw Cheong-hwa looking back. Cheong-hwa turned around as soon as I called her name.

“Are you here?”

“yes.”

“You know why I called you here, right?”

“This is the moment when a master who will shake up the world of martial arts is born.”

“Tsk, how can you be called a Taoist if you don’t know humility?”

“I am not a Taoist. I am a merchant who has reached the top.”

“Okay. If I talk to you about this topic, my mouth will hurt. Come with me.”

Cheonghwa went straight into the manor where Sambong-gwan was. There was a hazy fog inside the manor, but it felt familiar. I soon realized where I had felt it.

“It seems to be the exact same formation as the one used by the Zhuge Liang clan.”

“It would be natural for Zhuge Liang to do so since it was installed by people.”

“Oh, I see.”

Since the Zhuge Liang family excelled in formation techniques, it seemed that they also supported formation techniques to other sects. The Gupaeilbang and Odae Liang families had a strangely competitive relationship, but they also had a cooperative relationship within the same sect.

It would have been unfamiliar if I had seen it for the first time, but since I had already seen the formation once, I was able to look at it leisurely this time. Unlike the natural state where energy flows everywhere, the formation seemed to draw a closed curve to confine the energy. Since it was a formation that deliberately distorted energy to induce illusions, perhaps it was natural.

As I passed through the gate, a strange building without a single window came into view. This was the Sambong Hall, a secret place containing the true teachings of the shamanist faction.

“Books are sensitive to climate change, so they need to be stored in as constant an environment as possible. That’s why we removed the windows.”

“okay.”

“Let’s go in.”

As we entered Sambong-gwan, the first thing that caught our eye was the statue of Jang Sambong that looked to be ten jang (丈) tall. Wooden bookshelves formed a circle around the statue.

The bookshelf that covered half of the statue was packed with books. It was said that there were at least five bookshelves. How can I get the books on top? Is there a ladder?

In the meantime, Cheonghwa took out a book from the very bottom and showed it to me. Of all the books on the shelf, that book looked the most worn.

“Now, look. This is the secret of the Three Disasters Sword Technique.”

“There’s even a three-disaster sword method.”

“Is that all? The line at the very bottom here is all about the Samjae Sword Technique.”

Cheonghwa laughed. I was a little surprised by that too. Why are there so many versions of the Samjae Sword Technique, which is simply a horizontal cut, a vertical cut, and a diagonal cut?

“The scholars continued to study martial arts like this, and developed them by adding commentary. In that sense, the Samjae sword technique you learned is completely different from the Samjae sword technique that you see on the streets. There is no secret there, but there is a secret to the Samjae sword technique of a shaman.”

“okay.”

I looked at the bookshelf again. I felt like I was facing the great history of the Mudangpa. What I felt there was a kind of awe.

It was the first time since I saw the merchant’s safe full of gold when I was a child that something gave me goosebumps.

“Now, look. Isn’t it magnificent?”

“I hate to admit it because of the way I speak, but honestly, that’s true.”

“This is a shamanistic sect. If you are accepted as a disciple of the main temple, you should enter without asking any questions or being inquisitive, saying, ‘Thank you.’”

I guess he still has regrets about choosing to be a lay disciple. I just changed the subject.

“So, what martial arts should I learn?”

“Well, what should I learn?”

“I want to learn the martial arts that is at the top of this bookshelf.”

“Don’t even dream about it. The one at the top is a martial art that only the long-sleeved ones can learn. Just sniff it out.”

As expected, the higher you go, the more powerful your martial arts skills are. I looked up and smacked my lips.

“And anyway, just because you learn the martial arts above doesn’t mean you’ll become stronger right away. If your internal energy doesn’t reach a certain level, you won’t be able to even begin.”

“What if it’s above a certain level?”

“The martial arts that the elders have mastered must be at least three generations old.”

Usually, if your internal energy exceeds one gapja, you are considered a peak master, and if it exceeds two gapja, you are considered a super peak master. Three gapja is the realm of Hwagyeong. Those who are not Hwagyeong, are you saying not to touch them? How terrible and terrifying is this?

“Is there a martial art you would like to learn?”

Cheonghwa asked in a quiet voice. I thought hard. The only talent I have is in the divine law and swordsmanship. Although I have mastered the Gwangjukak with my indomitable talent, my achievements were insufficient because my talent did not support me.

“Oh, I didn’t ask you this. What kind of spiritual method are you learning?”

“yes?”

I was startled. I wondered if the magic had leaked out. But it seemed to have been a groundless worry.

“I’m talking about the mind method. The mind method. Did you take the elixir without the mind method? Then you wouldn’t have been able to properly digest the elixir’s energy.”

I hadn’t thought of this. Instead of using the mind method to accumulate energy in a normal way, I sucked in other people’s magic energy and accumulated it in my body. It was truly the method of the apostles among apostles.

“… … Um, uh.”

“Well, if you have unavoidable circumstances, you don’t have to say anything.”

“yes?”

Just before I could lie that the secret method was real, Cheonghwa saved me.

“It is taboo to ask deeply about the origins of martial arts. Even if I am your teacher.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“It’s a bit unfortunate, though. I don’t know what kind of mind technique and internal energy you’ve mastered, but a shaman’s sword technique can only be used to its full potential if supported by a shaman’s mind technique.”

Even I, who have no common sense in martial arts, know that. The internal energy and mind techniques of the Sapa are mostly unrefined and rough. In that sense, the Turo matches the rough Sapa martial arts.

On the other hand, the internal energy and mind method of the Jeongpa are calm and gentle. This is especially true of the Mudangpa, which is a Taoist sect.

Then something suddenly crossed my mind.

“ah.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“I have a martial art I want to learn.”

“What martial arts?”

“I want to learn the double-mindedness technique.”

“ok?”

Cheonghwa’s face was filled with confusion. As a shaman from a prestigious school, many of their martial arts skills are known throughout the world.

Representative swordsmanship is Taegeuk Hyegeom, swordsmanship is Jeunjong (梯雲縱), and fighting technique is Sipdan Geum (十段錦). And among the deep techniques, the most representative one would be Yangui Simgong.

“… … Uh, that’s difficult?”

“Why? Because it’s too difficult?”

“Why, why? It is such a difficult method that even within the shamanist faction, only a handful of people have succeeded in it.”

That makes sense. Yangsimgong is dividing one’s mind into two, and having two internal powers. It’s called splitting the mind in two. Just hearing it made it sound like it would be difficult and complicated. However, it was also a martial art that was absolutely necessary for me, who had somehow managed to contain demonic energy.

“I want to learn everything.”

“And there is no precedent for a lay disciple to learn Yang-ui-sim-gong. The same is probably true for Gi-myeong. Yang-ui-sim-gong is not a martial art that can be easily mastered, so it would not have been permitted for Gi-myeong’s lay disciples. In fact, it is one of the martial arts that requires the permission of the master when passing it on to a main disciple.”

“Then please allow me.”

“Do you think it’s as easy as it sounds? Yangsimgong is a martial art that can make you an idiot if you do it wrong. How can I easily allow such a martial art?”

“I can do it.”

I was more confident than other people, especially in the mental aspect.

Since I acquired the talent of indomitable, I have never rested because it was hard. That must mean my mental strength has grown stronger. However, I can’t show it off by taking out the martial arts shop. It was really ambiguous.

“… … First, let me tell you what Jang Moon-in said.”

Cheonghwa was eventually defeated by my passionate gaze. Desperation is the key.

In addition, I received a secret of the Soft Cloud Sword Technique. It was said to be a sword technique that further developed the water element of the Five Element Sword. It was a martial art that Cheonghwa chose because he thought my Five Element Sword was too rough and needed to be softened. I thought that perhaps the roughness was due to the demonic energy inside my body.

So the trip to Sambonggwan ended. It was now time for me to start learning the proper swordsmanship of a shaman.

***

Cheong-ui sighed as he closed the book he was reading, as if it was not worth reading. In front of him was his disciple, Cheong-hwa, who was sweating profusely.

“Why are you suddenly talking about sheepish feelings?”

“… … That’s right.”

“Talent for swordsmanship and mental training are completely different areas. If you think that Whi-young is good at swordsmanship and magic, he will also be good at mental training, you are mistaken. In addition, isn’t that kid a kid who has never properly trained his mind?”

“Every word of your words is so true, I have nothing to say.”

“Then go out and see.”

“Still, shouldn’t the teacher give his disciple what he wants?”

“If that’s too much, then you can’t do it.”

Cheong-ui thought it was absurd. Even among the most talented disciples, there were those who wanted to learn Yang-ui Sim-gong. Even those who had trained their minds for twenty years could not even get beyond the first level of this difficult martial art, and it was for the three great disciples to learn it, and for them to be a lay disciple at that. There was a limit to the absurdity.

“Can’t you give me just one chance, even if it’s just to see my face?”

“I’m not stopping that child. Whiyoung is also a valuable talent for our shaman. Can’t we just waste that child’s talent?”

“That’s true, but I somehow have a feeling that he can do it.”

Cheong-ui looked at Cheong-hwa. Cheong-hwa’s eyes were filled with longing.

‘We’ve become attached before we knew it.’

It is only natural that a teacher and student become close. However, that can also cause them to lose their sense of reason.

“Then, include him in the upcoming Taegeuk Inspection selection test. There, we’ll see how mentally disciplined he is.”

At Cheong-ui’s words, Cheong-hwa’s expression brightened and then darkened again.

“Then aren’t you saying that you won’t teach me? Isn’t the Taegeuk Swordsman selection test something that even the Jade Emperor would run away from, saying he couldn’t do it?”

“Do not insult the Jade Emperor.”

Cheonghwa seemed reluctant, but she still followed Cheongui’s words. It was an absurd probability, but it was true that she was given a chance to be recognized. That alone was a great consideration.

“Thank you for your consideration, Jang Moon-sa-hyeong.”

“Okay. It’s not going to work anyway.”

However, neither Cheong-ui, who gave the opportunity, nor Cheong-hwa, who received the opportunity, thought that Muk-hui-yeong would seize the opportunity.

Hell descending on the shamans. That was what the disciples called the Taegeuk Swordsman selection test.