ISS-Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Generally, internal energy doesn’t really possess attributes.

In fact, it’s only natural. Just because the sun shines on the ground during the day doesn’t mean only yang energy gathers, and training at night doesn’t mean only yin energy gathers.

If anything, general internal energy is like a union with various attributes intricately intertwined. 

However, there were those who tried to separate this internal energy into yin energy and yang energy to see some effect. Those who made efforts to filter refined internal energy once more to get closer to the ‘origin.’

People called their internal energy this:

Yin Cold Energy, or Blazing Yang Energy.

“Was that Yin Cold Energy just now?”

“How could that be…… A child who’s only learned for one month, what Yin Cold Energy.”

“But the cold energy……”

At the voices heard around them, Iryang blinked his eyes before clearing his throat and tapping my back. Then my consciousness instantly returned.

“Shouldn’t you go?”

Surprised at the sight of Seohwa grimacing while holding her hand, I quickly leaped onto the training ground. Then a Baekgeommun referee blocked my way.

“You cannot come onto the competition stage during a match!”

“Move aside.”

“What’s not allowed is not allowed. Don’t be unreasonable and…….”

“……During a match? Do you not see that the outcome of this match has been decided?”

At my question pointing to Jingwang knocked far away, the referee involuntarily stepped back before gritting his teeth and blocking me again.

“He hasn’t left the boundary. He hasn’t lost consciousness either. If he just gets up…….”

Looking at the referee spouting nonsense, I let out an empty laugh and placed my hand on my sword hilt. If he won’t move, I’ll just make him move.

“This is your final warning. Move.”

“That’s not possi……!”

When I was about to apply force to the hand gripping my sword.

“Stop right there.”

So Yeohwang, who had been observing the situation from afar, walked onto the competition stage.

“How much more are you going to disgrace Baekgeommun’s name, you fool?”

“M-Munjunim……”

“Who was defeated is clear. Jingwang was defeated, and the victor is Uicheonmun’s disciple. Don’t shame me any further.”

At So Yeohwang’s low words, after hesitating briefly, the referee stepped aside and declared the victor.

“The victor of this match is Uicheonmun’s disciple, Seohwa!”

At the loudly resonating voice, the crowd murmured once more. They had seen Jingwang’s defeat with their own eyes, but now that it was officially declared, it seemed to hit home.

But that’s not what’s important right now. I immediately went forward and checked Seohwa’s condition.

“Are you alright?”

“……Huh? Ah, yes. It hurts a bit but not unbearably.”

“Show me your hand.”

“Like this?”

I grabbed the wrist of Seohwa, who carefully extended her hand, and examined the inside by infusing internal energy. Sure enough, yin energy was pooled inside.

“……Hmm.”

Even though I had somewhat alleviated the Extreme Yin Body with the manor’s power, the Extreme Yin Body itself hadn’t disappeared. That’s why I had spread the remaining yin energy after absorption throughout Seohwa’s body to improve the situation.

However, Seohwa had arbitrarily gathered that yin energy and processed it into the form of Yin Cold Energy. If it had been yin energy converted to internal energy it would be one thing, but it’s strange that her body isn’t strained.

“Bear with it a little.”

“Yes.”

I processed the internal energy concentrated in my body into the form of yang energy and soothed Seohwa’s interior. The yin energy that had been almost crystallizing began to neutralize upon meeting yang energy.

‘Fortunately, it’s not a serious symptom.’

It would have been dangerous if she hadn’t absorbed it as internal energy through the mental cultivation method. Perhaps because the total amount had decreased, Seohwa’s condition didn’t seem to have much impact.

Soon after confirming that the clustered yin energy had mostly dispersed and spread throughout her body, I exhaled and released Seohwa’s arm.

“……Munjunim?”

Looking at Seohwa cautiously watching my expression, I frowned and opened my mouth.

“You foolish girl.”

“Huh? But I won…… You asked me to win, so I worked hard!”

“What use is winning if you don’t take care of your body? You foolish thing.”

Ttak!

“Ahuk!”

When I lightly clenched my hand and flicked her forehead, Seohwa covered her forehead with her now-free hand.

“Don’t do such reckless things from now on. Understand?”

“……Yes. I’m sorry.”

“Good. And…….”

Looking at the dejected Seohwa, I chuckled and ruffled her hair. Then Seohwa’s eyes widened as she looked at me.

“Thank you. For fulfilling my request to win.”

“……Huh? Ah, yes!”

I heard that traits require a trigger to manifest. And in this situation, what became the material for Seohwa’s trait was ‘Responsibility.’

With the sense of responsibility that she must fulfill my request, Seohwa awakened her trait. How could I not be grateful?

“Now you should rest well. Iryang Sangdanju is down there, so go down and rest.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Seohwa, who had been arranging her disheveled hair with her fingers, smiled broadly and went down below the competition stage. And So Yeohwang stared at that sight.

“……It went as you thought. I’ve been thoroughly beaten this time.”

“It’s not entirely my ability.”

“You’re not wrong. But a disciple’s ability is also the sect master’s ability. It was you who accepted that girl as a disciple, so there’s no room for denial—this is my defeat.”

At So Yeohwang looking at me with sunken eyes and acknowledging, I nodded. Unexpectedly, he didn’t seem to have any intention of disparaging my victory.

Well, having already announced Uicheonmun’s victory, if he showed an appearance of trying to diminish my victory, he’d only be criticized for being petty. If there’s nothing to gain, shouldn’t you at least not lose?

“The Small Clarity Pill is yours. The silk…… that’s unfortunate. Do you have any thought of selling it to me?”

“None.”

“……That’s quite unfortunate.”

Looking at So Yeohwang grinding his teeth as he answered, I burst into a snicker. It’s not incomprehensible. Certainly, from So Yeohwang’s position, it’s something to be frustrated about.

He held the Bimuje to obtain Hwangryongjangju’s silk. Despite that, he lost the Small Clarity Pill without even obtaining the silk. Not only that?

All of Uicheonmun’s First Sword Disciples were defeated by a disciple who had only learned for one month. Seohwa’s specialness would of course spread, but more than that, Baekgeommun would be chewing on today’s humiliation for a long time.

“Regarding that matter, I’d like to make one proposal.”

“……A proposal?”

A Bimuje that ended with only losses. The Baekgeommun Sect Master would want to somehow make up for his losses. Then naturally, I should exploit that gap.

“It won’t be a loss. For your sect or for me.”

I approached So Yeohwang with a slight smile.

Baekgeommun’s designated seats, steeped in silence.

When everyone was silent at the scene of what shouldn’t have happened, Wangpal was maintaining silence for a different reason.

‘What…… did I just see?’

He thought she couldn’t win. Naturally, he thought she would be defeated.

Anyone would think so. No matter how much of a genius, no one would think that someone who had learned martial arts for only one month could defeat Jingwang, one of Baekgeommun’s First Sword Disciples with outstanding skill. 

‘However, those were eyes that didn’t even consider losing.’

Seohwa was not like that.

The chances of victory were slim. From the moment the initial strike missed, Seohwa’s win rate dropped exponentially. In Wangpal’s judgment, from that point, Seohwa should have dropped her sword.

But she didn’t let go. Even when the initial strike failed, even when the combo failed and she suffered deep damage, Seohwa didn’t give up. Why?

‘Even though she must have known best that the chances of winning were slim.’

Because she’s a martial artist.

Inefficient and irrational—that was precisely being a martial artist.

While grinding away her own body, knowing it was inefficient.

She fought against it.

‘Have I ever fought like that?’

No. I’ve never fought so desperately for victory.

Wasn’t it the same just yesterday? I didn’t think I would win. While being hit foolishly and repeatedly, I didn’t seriously try to devise a plan for victory.

It was natural. The gap between myself and Baek Riyun was enormous. It was obvious I’d lose all hundred times if I fought a hundred times. So I didn’t seriously think about winning. Naturally.

Since when did that become natural?

“……Pal, Wangpal!”

“Sahyeong, he’s calling you.”

“Huh? Oh, yes!”

Startled by the sudden call, Wangpal stood up from his seat and turned his head. Then a Second Sword Disciple approached Wangpal.

“Munjunim is looking for you.”

“……Munjunim, for me……?”

At the sudden mention that So Yeohwang was looking for him, Wangpal blinked and asked back.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes. Hurry to the reception hall.”

Watching the Second Sword Disciple who delivered the message and disappeared, Wangpal came to his senses and hurried to the reception hall. And when he arrived in front of the reception hall.

“I’ll be direct.”

Wangpal couldn’t help but be flustered at the sight of Baek Riyun and So Yeohwang sitting face to face. And for good reason.

“Wangpal. I’m thinking of asking for you to become a disciple of Uicheonmun.”

“……Pardon?”

Because completely incomprehensible words came out of Baek Riyun’s mouth.

“I’m thinking of asking for you to become a disciple of Uicheonmun.”

“……Pardon?”

I smiled at Wangpal looking at me with a dazed expression. And at that sight, So Yeohwang cleared his throat displeased and opened his mouth.

“Sit.”

“……Yes!”

Confirming that Wangpal, who answered hurriedly, sat down, So Yeohwang opened his mouth.

“It seems you had a sparring match with the Uicheonmun Sect Master last night.”

“……Yes. I’m sorry!”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. If you refuse when a master offers guidance sparring, that would be more regrettable. However…….”

So Yeohwang, who had been staring at Wangpal for a moment, casually brought up the topic.

“It seems the Uicheonmun Sect Master has taken a liking to you. Judging by him making the absurd request for you to become a disciple of Uicheonmun.”

“……What does that…….”

Looking at Wangpal’s blank expression, I burst into a snicker. Certainly, it is absurd.

Usually, martial sects cripple the dantian of those expelled or who abandon the sect themselves. Because their sect’s martial arts mustn’t flow elsewhere. And Baekgeommun is the same.

For an ordinary Baekgeommun disciple to enter another sect, they would have to cripple their own dantian and sever the nerves in one arm. That’s why Baekgeommun disciples are essentially unable to transfer to other sects.

Right.

If it were an ordinary case. Wangpal’s case is not ordinary.

“What mental cultivation method did you learn?”

“Pardon? That’s…….”

“I’m not trying to interrogate you, so speak comfortably. What mental cultivation method did you learn?”

At my question, Wangpal answered sheepishly.

“Samjae Mental Cultivation Method…….”

Samjae Mental Cultivation Method.

It’s an excellent mental cultivation method as a basic technique, but it’s only a basic technique. It’s just a mental cultivation method so common it’s scattered throughout the marketplace. And that means this mental cultivation method isn’t Baekgeommun’s unique method.

“I heard that without the Baegun Mind Method learned after Samjae Mental Cultivation Method, you can’t even begin learning Baekgeommun’s sword techniques.”

“……That’s not wrong. All sword techniques are taught only after you can properly handle the Baegun Mind Method.”

“Then there would be no problem even if Wangpal transfers to Uicheonmun right now. Since he hasn’t learned any techniques.”

“In principle, that’s true.”

So Yeohwang, who looked at me with displeasure for a moment, turned his head and gave his attention to Wangpal.

“What do you think?”

“……Pardon?”

“If you want to follow, I won’t stop you. It’s true that Baekgeommun has done much for you, but it’s also true there’s no problem according to sect rules. However.”

So Yeohwang, who paused briefly, looked at Wangpal with a benevolent face.

“I hope you remain at Baekgeommun, Wangpal. You have talent.”

“……Talent, you say?”

“Yes. Don’t you have the talent of a martial artist? Of course, there is the problem of internal energy not accumulating well, but if you continue studying at Baekgeommun like this, you can become a martial artist everyone admires.”

Wangpal, who had been silent for a moment listening to So Yeohwang’s words, bit his lip. His eyes wavered as if reflecting Wangpal’s state of mind.

It must be complicated. Didn’t he say he’d been at Baekgeommun for eight years? Transferring to Uicheonmun is no different from a baby bird leaving its nest and gliding. Fear of the unknown, anxiety. Such things must be holding Wangpal back.

Even so, a baby bird that’s lost its mother bird must take one step and drop itself below the cliff to fly. Because only then can it advance into the world.

“May I ask one question to both of you?”

After a moment.

Wangpal, who had been contemplating, straightened his shoulders as if he’d made up his mind and threw a question at So Yeohwang and me.

“I want to become a martial artist. What is needed to become a martial artist?”

“Effort, and talent!”

So Yeohwang, who gave a definite answer as soon as the question fell, continued.

“If proper effort is added to your talent, becoming a martial artist isn’t difficult. It’s a simple matter.”

“……Is that so?”

“Yes. You need effort. Unlike the foolish effort you’ve made until now, effort with a clearly established direction!”

Looking at So Yeohwang passionately speaking, Wangpal, who had been silent for a moment, turned his gaze to me this time. And the question came.

“……What does the Uicheonmun Sect Master think I need to become a martial artist?”

What’s needed to become a martial artist.

Of course, there are many qualities a martial artist should possess. Talent, enlightenment, good physique—these are all extremely good for a martial artist.

But are these necessary to become a martial artist?

No.

“If you want to become one.”

When does a baby bird stop being a baby bird?

It’s simple.

From when it obtains its own food.

“You’re already a martial artist.”

At my answer, Wangpal, who had been silent for a moment, closed his eyes and turned his back to So Yeohwang.

“Until now…….”

Slowly.

Very slowly, Wangpal’s knees touched the ground.

“I’ve been in your debt, Munjunim. Please be well……in good health.”

Baek Riyun smiled and looked toward the medical hall where Seohwa would be, looking at So Yeohwang who couldn’t continue speaking.

Since I gained a junior disciple, Seohwa will be happy.