CHAPTER 6

For about two hours, Master Jin So-cheong taught me the mental methods and practical techniques of Thunder Dragon Unified Qi . Immediately afterward, he began sparring with me.

During the sparring, while I was performing the Yukhap Sword Technique, he would suddenly come close and strike the weak points, ruthlessly aiming for vital areas like my neck or trying to break my legs. It was nothing short of violent abuse.

Whack!

He struck me hard on the thigh, and my mind nearly went blank. It felt like I was being beaten with a club — an intense pain surged from my lower body. My vision went dark, and as I staggered, I heard Jin So-cheong's cold, stern voice.

"Get your head on straight. Where did you learn such crude movements? You think if you just recklessly charge in and swing your sword around, you might get lucky and stab your opponent in the neck?"

"Ugh!"

I went flying from one of Jin So-cheong's kicks. It felt like my chest was being crushed, and I could hardly breathe. What was unbelievable was that even after being hit so hard, I was still conscious — not because of my own willpower, but because Jin So-cheong was carefully controlling his strength. He was hitting me as hard as he could without making me pass out.

"Cough… cough…"

"Don't disrespect martial arts. Real masters will never tolerate such sloppy weaknesses! Don't ever think there's even a one-in-a-million chance you'll win by luck. Never!"

Crack.

Smack.

He beat me until I was nearly unconscious. I counted up to about a hundred hits, but after that, I lost track. I was a complete wreck, lying in a heap in the corner of the training hall, groaning in pain.

And yet, despite all that, there was no internal bleeding, and I barely had any bruises. Jin So-cheong was truly a master at beating people.

With a slight smile, Jin So-cheong rested his wooden sword on his shoulder.

"You've got some grit, at least. I'll do my best to fix your bad habits. Tomorrow, we'll train internal energy for another two hours and then spar again."

I honestly wished he'd just beat me to death already.

That day, after getting thoroughly beaten by Jin So-cheong, I was trudging back to my lodging when it happened.

"Hey!"

Suddenly, a hand shot out from the alley beside the road and grabbed me by the collar. I was dragged into a narrow alley where three boys were already waiting.

'Second-tier disciples?'

I could tell from the two lines embroidered on their uniforms. One of them, with prominent cheekbones, sneered and said,

"So it's you? The guy getting private lessons from Master Chung?"

When one of them saw the blood still trickling from my mouth, he recoiled a little.

"Ugh… Look at this guy. He got the crap beaten out of him."

"Looks like the master really worked him over."

Puhahaha!

Seeing the state I was in, the second-tier disciples burst out laughing. They had probably been waiting here to rough me up, but seeing how badly I was already beaten, there was no real fun in it. Still held by the collar, I looked them straight in the eye and said,

"Hey, seniors, I don't have time for this. I need to eat and get some rest."

"You little punk—can't you read the room?"

"What kind of room?"

"The kind where you get beat down…!!"

A fist came flying at me. The punch was faster than what you'd expect from street thugs—probably because they'd been training for at least two years. But even with my swollen eyes, still aching from Jin So-cheong's wooden sword, I could clearly see it coming.

"That so?"

Right then, I slipped the punch and drove my elbow straight into the solar plexus of the guy who had grabbed my collar.

"Guh—!"

With one of them taken out, I turned expressionless toward the other two and charged. They were caught off guard by my counterattack, but quickly shouted and began throwing punches and kicks, this time focusing their internal energy into the strikes.

Admittedly, dodging everything in such a narrow alley wasn't easy.

Whack.

"You little… bastard…!"

But as I covered my head and shifted my posture to mislead them, most of the hits didn't land cleanly. They clearly weren't used to real fights. When I blocked their attacks with my forearms, they started to panic. I grabbed their collars, broke their stance, and threw punches straight into their faces.

A solid thud echoed as my fist, charged with proper energy, landed perfectly. With a single blow, one of them crumpled to the ground.

Both of them collapsed at once with a dull thud. Looking down at the so-called "senior" disciples, I muttered,

"Idiots. Did you think I was some pampered young master who's never been through a scrap?"

I used to live as a servant, then got tossed to the bottom rung of a trading escort group, constantly fighting for my life against bandits.

Not only was I well-versed in back-alley brawls, but I was also seasoned in bloody battles where it was kill or be killed. I knew how to survive in harsh terrain like rivers, swamps, and forests, and how to ambush people while lying in wait. Living as an escort wasn't easy at all.

"Well, I guess that's exactly why Jin So-cheong is trying so hard to fix my bad habits…"

A bitter feeling crept in.

I figured more idiots like those guys would keep coming at me, but with my current skills, I wouldn't be in any real danger unless a whole group came at me at once. I made up my mind — for the next month, I would focus intensely on mastering Thunder Dragon Unified Qi Technique and fix my habits just as Jin So-cheong wanted.

Even after getting into a fight, I'd calmly eat in the dining hall. Some of the disciples were so disturbed by this that they started avoiding me altogether.

About four days later, I started to notice changes in my body. More precisely, those unconscious habits that had been drilled into me through years of survival were beginning to correct themselves, almost reflexively. Even as Jin So-cheong kept hitting me relentlessly, I made a sincere effort to change.

"Take this!!"

"You bastard! I'll kill you!!"

"You morons, you think this is gonna kill me? Hah-hah-hah!!"

I laughed while knocking one guy over with a single kick.

I kept fighting with other disciples too. That fat lump Bang Il-mi never once tried to protect me — he'd just pretend not to see whenever I was getting into brutal fights in the back alleys. But even so, I never lost a single one of those messy scraps.

And then, after a month—

I sat across from Jin So-cheong in the training hall in silence.

After a long pause, Jin So-cheong finally spoke.

"You pass."

"Really?"

"Yes. I think we've fixed your bad habits enough for now."

I gave a faint smile, my face still swollen from countless beatings.

"Starting tomorrow, your training will take a different form. Go rest early today, and tend to your injuries."

"Yes, sir."

It felt like I had finally cleared the first hurdle.

And ironically, that night when I returned to my lodging and ate in the dining hall, for the first time—no one came to pick a fight.

I felt a bit uneasy about it, but I quietly lay down and tried to sleep to recover my strength. Starting tomorrow, I would officially begin learning true first-rate martial arts.

At that time, Chief Instructor Jin So-cheong made his way to Waryongjeon, the most secluded building in the Cheongryong Martial House. It was the private residence of Samjeol Lee Gwang , the master of the Cheongryong Martial House. As his personal sanctuary, no one was allowed to enter—except for Jin So-cheong. He was Lee Gwang's direct disciple and had been raised like his own son.

"Master, your disciple Jin So-cheong has arrived."

"Come in."

Click.

Jin So-cheong opened the door and stepped inside. There, a middle-aged man with refined features sat at a table, gently handling a teacup. He wasn't particularly large and had the appearance of a quiet scholar, but in truth, he was one of the five greatest masters in the entire Guanzhong region: Samjeol, Lee Gwang, the head of Cheongryong Martial House.

As soon as he saw Jin So-cheong, he spoke.

"So, how did your test of that boy named Baek Mong go?"

"To be honest," Jin So-cheong replied, "his natural martial aptitude isn't remarkable. It's almost puzzling how he managed to build up any internal energy at all—he's that ordinary."

Lee Gwang raised his brows, surprised.

"Then did you discard him and cripple his martial arts?"

"No. I decided to withhold judgment for now, as he's in the process of unlearning some bad habits that were deeply ingrained in him."

"Hm… So, his insight is low, but he's full of fierce spirit . That boy… he has the makings of someone from the evil sects."

Lee Gwang muttered with displeasure.

Someone like Baek Mong wasn't all that rare. He wasn't naturally gifted, but made up for it through sheer tenacity and an innate viciousness. That type often showed up among self-made masters from the unorthodox or "evil" schools (sapa). But Lee Gwang, a former instructor of the royal guards and a master of the orthodox martial arts, was hesitant to raise someone with that kind of disposition.

Jin So-cheong added,

"But if trained properly, I believe he could reach the level of a late-stage disciple of the Nine Great Sects. If he fully refines his internal energy, it's entirely possible."

Lee Gwang nodded.

"Well, if you say so, then I trust it. Take care in guiding Baek Mong well."

"Yes, Master."

"And stop moving like an amateur in front of the others."

Flinch!

Jin So-cheong's face twisted in embarrassment.

"So… you noticed."

"Anyway, someone like him, with that much venomous spirit (dokgi), won't break easily from minor setbacks. Try testing his grit too carelessly, and you might end up poking a snake's head for no reason."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Then go."

"Yes, sir."

Creak.

As Jin So-cheong stepped out, he wore a conflicted expression.

'Did he read my thoughts?'

In truth, the constant fights Baek Mong kept getting into with other disciples after training weren't coincidental. Jin So-cheong had secretly ordered a few second-tier disciples to provoke and fight him. His thinking was that by feeding Baek Mong's fierce spirit, it would drive him to focus harder on his training.

And in the end, Baek Mong passed Jin So-cheong's trial.

But not only had his master, Lee Gwang, seen through all of this—he made it clear that it was unnecessary. Jin So-cheong's actions were nothing more than unnecessary provocation.

In other words, Master Lee Gwang understood Baek Mong's nature even better than Jin So-cheong did. And surprisingly, he seemed to hold Baek Mong in higher regard than expected. Feeling a strange curiosity, Jin So-cheong smirked slightly.

"Alright, Baek Mong. Let's see just how far you can go here in Cheongryong Martial House."

***

From that day forward, I continued to receive personal instruction from Jin So-cheong. Contrary to what I thought—that it would end after a month—he seemed determined to teach me indefinitely. Of course, he had his own agenda behind it, and I didn't believe in any kind of sentimental "bond between master and disciple."

And so, two more months passed.

Huuuuu…

Every inch of my skin was aching. The energy that had been accumulating in my danjeon felt like it was burning away—melting like a dark, compressed pill of qi.

Sweat poured from my body as if from a broken dam, and the spot where I sat was soaked with thick, sticky moisture.

When I finally finished dissolving all the energy, I opened my eyes.

Seeing this, Jin So-cheong smiled faintly and said,

"So, you've fully dissolved the Three Elemental Inner Arts qi. Took you exactly two months, huh?"

"Yes. I spent the last two months focusing solely on Thunder Dragon Unified Energy Art."

For those two months, that's all I learned—the method for circulating Thunder Dragon Unified Qi Technique. I hadn't been taught any weapon techniques or lightness techniques.

Jin So-cheong hadn't insisted on any more sparring. Instead, he even cut into meal times to ensure I concentrated entirely on refining this inner energy.

According to him, the faster I melted the Samjae Simbeop (Three Elemental Heart Technique) energy, the better the outcome. That's why I'd spent nearly seven hours a day, like a madman, repeating sitting meditation and movement-based energy circulation.

And now that I'd fully dissolved the inner energy, I felt a tremendous power flowing through all my meridians. If up until now I'd been like a worn-out mule limping along, it now felt like I was riding a strong, spirited warhorse—galloping with full force.

And beyond that, Thunder Dragon Unified Qi Technique itself was…

Because it was a top-tier internal energy art, the amount of energy I had accumulated by now was considerable.

Whirr—!

Suddenly, Jin So-cheong swung the wooden sword in his hand and brought it right in front of my face. It moved so quickly that the wind from its tip brushed past the tip of my nose. As I stared blankly at the sword's trajectory, Instructor Jin So-cheong spoke.

"How is it? Can you see my sword a little more clearly now?"

I answered honestly.

"Yes. I can see it more clearly than before."

I wasn't just saying it—it was true. Before, whenever Jin So-cheong swung his sword, all I could see were hazy afterimages. But now, even if just slightly, I could discern the shape and direction of the blade's movement. I even thought I might be able to dodge it if I moved well enough.

"As your internal energy level rises, your visual acuity improves naturally. Visual perception is extremely important in martial arts. You could say your martial arts have progressed just by that alone."

I could feel it too—my dynamic vision, physical strength, muscle power, and recovery rate had all clearly improved. I smiled slightly.

"That's a relief."

"From today, I should start teaching you weapons techniques… I suppose I'll start with the spear."

"Spear?" I repeated, surprised.

I had trained in sword techniques for decades. Granted, they were escort-style techniques and I'd have to relearn them from scratch, but still—I had confidence in my swordsmanship. And now he wanted me to use a spear?

Jin So-cheong explained,

"Simply put, the spear is stronger."

"What do you mean…?"

He spoke with confidence.

"In the martial world, most people use swords or sabers. Spear users are few. Do you think that's because the spear is less elegant?"

"No. It's because the spear is so powerful. A true master of the spear loses to no one. It's just that carrying a spear around in society is inconvenient, so people settle for swords or sabers instead. But make no mistake—the spear is both the foundation and the pinnacle of all weapons."

"I see," I said, beginning to understand.

Even peasants, weak and ignorant though they may be, became formidable when they armed themselves with bamboo spears or iron-tipped pikes and moved in groups. I had once seen even a high-level martial artist skewered by those peasant militias. Sure, it was one person against many, but it still showed just how terrifyingly effective spears could be—enough to close the gap in martial arts level.

"But right now, Master, you're using the sword quite well, aren't you?"

"My swordsmanship is quite lacking," Jin So-cheong replied. "The spear is my true specialty. I only use the sword out of necessity."

Whoosh—!