Chapter 6: Family Specialty Martial Arts (3)
"Ah, I suppose that could be the case."
By now, there was no one within the sect who didn't know that I, Yong Hwarin, had taken all kinds of elixirs.
Some even whispered that feeding me those elixirs was like pouring water into a bottomless jar, given that there'd been no improvement in my condition.
"I’ve probably taken more elixirs than the descendants of most noble clans. And over time, I believe my internal energy will become stronger. I still feel a lot of dormant medicinal energy inside me."
"That’s truly fortunate. If that’s the case, this setback may well turn into a blessing in disguise."
Mo Biyoung believed my words completely. She didn't even consider that I might be lying. But the truth was, I was only half honest with her.
There was indeed some lingering energy from the elixirs. But what I truly felt was something far more alien surging into my dantian whenever my internal energy reached its limits during training.
It was something different—something darker, colder, and sharper than the warm, spring-like energy of elixirs.
Yet I couldn’t confide this to Mo Biyoung. To do so would mean explaining who I truly was.
What kind of reaction would she have if I told her that I had lived for fifty years and then returned to the past?
‘Would she understand?’
I shook my head fiercely.
No, there was no way. This was a mystery I had to solve on my own.
At first, I thought it might be qi deviation. But the more I mulled it over, the more it seemed like something else entirely.
And then it hit me—maybe that eerie energy came from the monstrous old man I fought in my final moments before death.
If not for that, there was no reason such a strange power should have entered my body.
That had to be it.
It was thanks to that Demonic Master’s energy residing within me that I could wield my family’s martial arts as though I had trained for years.
If the Demonic Master’s power had leaned more toward orthodox martial arts, I probably wouldn't have gained this kind of effect.
But his internal energy was more aligned with demonic techniques, and since both the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword and Azure Bamboo Sword were also founded on demonic martial arts principles, they harmonized well with the Demonic Master’s energy and the martial arts of the Heavenly Central Sect.
That’s why I had no trouble mastering the family martial arts.
However, his power hadn't fully fused with my body. It remained dormant somewhere deep within me, which meant I still couldn’t fully grasp the state of my own body.
Mo Biyoung, unaware of these facts, had to draw her own conclusions.
‘So the elixirs he’s taken, combined with a naturally gifted martial aptitude, are bringing out such amazing results.’
She had no choice but to believe that.
Otherwise, there was no way to explain how I had surpassed years of training in such a short time.
*
"Starting today, we’ll move on to actual combat."
Mo Biyoung had decided to change her approach, thinking it would be difficult to conduct proper training while traveling to the Jaegal Clan.
I had no experience in sparring, as I’d originally lived in the Upper World doing trade.
"Understood. I’m in your hands."
"We’ll spar as if it’s real combat. But do you know why sparring is so important?"
"Isn’t it to eliminate hesitation or clumsiness during actual combat?"
I gave her a look, as if to say the question was too basic, even for someone like me who lacked knowledge of martial arts.
"That’s correct. And when you spar, you begin to understand how to channel internal energy and use techniques most effectively. Each technique has a different path for transmitting internal energy. That’s why advanced martial arts are complex. Even a single technique contains dozens, even hundreds of motions, each with different energy paths and intensities. That’s why one person can’t learn countless martial arts. If it weren’t that way, then the monks of Shaolin would have mastered all seventy-two techniques of their sect. Learning only the motions is meaningless—whether it’s seventy-two or even a hundred techniques, it wouldn’t be difficult if that’s all there was to it."
It was a valid point, even to my ears. I began to understand why Father had sent Mo Biyoung to be my instructor.
‘She might be the one who understands our family’s martial arts the best.’
Father had been right. Mo Biyoung not only had deep insight into our family’s martial techniques but also into martial arts as a whole—and the ability to teach them clearly.
"Even a martial art composed of just three techniques can contain hundreds of motions. A martial art with twelve techniques might have thousands. To truly understand the energy flow in each of those motions, one must train thousands of times until the body reacts instinctively. People often say that you must perform *Sweeping Across the Heavens* a hundred or even a thousand times before you understand it. That’s because you need to make the internal energy path embedded in that motion your own. If mastering just the motions made you a master, then who wouldn’t be one by now?"
Every word rang true. I began to feel ashamed for having thought martial arts were too easy.
Because of the Demonic Master’s energy, I had learned my clan’s martial arts quickly—but I had failed to realize why.
I’d thought, ‘If martial arts are this easy, why did I ever bother suffering in the Upper World?’
But after hearing Mo Biyoung, I finally realized that mastering even a single martial art required a lifetime of discipline.
"That’s why people say being proficient in one martial art is better than learning many superficially."
Mo Biyoung seemed to sense that I had been taking martial arts a bit lightly, so she emphasized the need for vigilance.
She had seen many gifted disciples fail to progress due to this very trap. Even in the Heavenly Central Sect, she had taught many talented students.
But most of them grew complacent, relying only on their natural talent, neglecting rigorous training, and failing to grasp the deeper meanings of martial arts.
If mastering martial arts were a matter of muscles alone, then the Pang Clan of Hebei would have long since conquered the martial world.
"Only when you understand every energy path hidden in each of a technique’s many motions can you be considered a top-tier martial artist."
"I understand what you’re saying, Master Mo. Please, let’s begin."
Mo Biyoung offered a final word to my increasingly eager self.
"That’s why martial arts require patience. Intelligence and physical strength alone won’t make you a master. What you need is patience—patience to repeat the same thing tens of thousands of times without losing focus or becoming irritated."
I nodded before I realized it.
The Jaegal Clan had never led the martial world despite their brilliance, and the Pang Clan of Hebei, with their heavenly physiques, had never stood at the top either.
Instead, it was the Tang Clan of Sichuan and the Namgung Clan, both known for their rigorous discipline, who led the martial world.
Only now did I let go of my pride—that I knew more than Mo Biyoung simply because I had lived a longer life.
Though I had lived for about fifty years in my past life, I had never lived as a martial artist.
There had always been a subtle sense of looking down on Mo Biyoung, but from this moment on, I cast that aside. I decided to truly follow her teachings.
That was why I called her “Master Mo.”
Mo Biyoung began sharing everything she had come to understand about martial arts with me.
To her, that was the best method of teaching someone with an insatiable capacity like mine.
And she was right.
‘His eyes and posture have changed.’
The way I looked at her was more respectful, and my gaze burned with fighting spirit.
‘He’s a joy to teach.’
Until now, no one from the Heavenly Central Sect had ever truly satisfied her as a student.
Even those famed for their talent turned out lacking once she started teaching them. But I absorbed martial arts at a terrifying pace, sometimes even surpassing her expectations.
Mo Biyoung handed me one of the two swords hanging from her saddle.
It was a dull-edged, blunt sword—specially made for training purposes.
Hers was the same.
When I first grabbed the sword, I almost dropped it.
The weight was vastly different from that of a normal sword.
It felt like holding ten swords at once.
"Too much muscle can hinder the elegance of a technique, but the right amount of muscle greatly helps in executing martial arts."
"If it’s Master Mo’s instruction, I’ll follow it no matter what."
"Good. Strength training is necessary, but many shy away from it, so I hesitated to bring it up."
After that, before sparring, I practiced the War Dragon Combat Fist, a technique passed down through the Heavenly Central Sect, to develop underused muscles.
The technique involved intricate movements that stimulated even the smallest muscles.
Then I would spar with the heavy training sword, focusing on understanding the internal energy pathways of each technique. Afterward, I practiced War Dragon Combat Fist again to relax my muscles.
Mo Biyoung trained alongside me every step of the way. Eventually, even the Two Wook Sword Demons joined in.
My passion for martial arts was so intense that it infected those around me.
Eventually, I not only sparred with Mo Biyoung but also with the Two Wook Sword Demons, who had extensive combat experience. Through them, I realized how to vary my energy control depending on my opponent.
I also learned to adjust how I channeled energy based on the martial art I was using. Even on days when we stayed at inns, I trained in the courtyard without rest.
The five days it was supposed to take to reach Mount Dabie felt too short. I wished we had another ten days—I was that immersed in martial arts.
From their expressions, I could tell Mo Biyoung and the Two Wook Sword Demons felt the same.
They, too, gained new insights into martial arts while traveling with me. A good teacher often learns while teaching.
That’s what made a true master.
If you have nothing more to learn, it only means you’ve hit the ceiling of your ability and growth.
We were so immersed in training that we barely noticed when we arrived before Mount Dabie.
"This is Mount Dabie."
The four of us paused, taking in the majestic scenery that unfolded before us.