NOVEL NEXT Chapter 802
Chapter 802: True Martial Home
From that day on, I began to practice Tai Chi. Unfolding the 24 forms of Tai Chi wasn’t anything special; it was just a matter of executing the 24 movements, so it hardly took any time at all. After smoothly unfolding the first form, I glanced at Jang Sam-bong’s apparition, but he didn’t say a word.
‘My posture was correct. I didn’t slack off.’
I even tried to be a little careless on purpose. However, even though I didn’t perform it perfectly, Jang Sam-bong didn’t say anything, and silence lingered.
“…….”
Is it okay to be half-hearted?
On the first day, it took me about ten minutes to unfold it a thousand times. I still had some conscience left, so I focused on maintaining a proper posture. By the end of the day, I had about two minutes left, and that’s when Jang Sam-bong finally spoke up.
[Baek Woong, there’s no need to keep looking at me. In this training, I won’t supervise you, and how you unfold Tai Chi is entirely your own mind’s doing.]
“What do you mean? If Grand Master Jang isn’t watching my progress, how can this be considered training?”
[This training isn’t about the posture of Tai Chi or trying to achieve some form. You should know yourself that you’re beyond the stage of merely acquiring forms.]
Jang Sam-bong continued.
[If you want to ask questions, don’t ask others—ask yourself.]
“What… why should I do that?”
[I hope you’ll save that question, too. Just remember not to forget that you need to perform it a thousand times each day.]
There were no further exchanges. The Grand Master was truly just observing, without a hint of wanting to dictate my training. Instead, his passive attitude made me restless.
‘Ask myself?’
Why should I do that?
I couldn’t understand why. This experience was so foreign to me, but as I took a short break, dawn arrived. Bathed in the morning sun, I began to unfold the forms of Tai Chi once more.
‘Tch! If it doesn’t matter how well I do it, I guess I can finish this task quickly and use the remaining time for advanced techniques training.’
Time is precious!
Swoosh swoosh
Even though Tai Chi is a fundamental martial art, executing the 24 movements really matters when it comes to maintaining a proper posture rather than being careless. Channeling my internal power to unfold Tai Chi continuously like a peak master, I managed to exceed a hundred replications in just a meal’s time, and after reaching what felt like around two hundred, I took a moment to refine my practice of the Seven Great Techniques.
‘As expected, Jang Sam-bong stays quiet….’
Looks like he’s really just observing. Since I performed it so quickly, even though my movements were fast, many of the forms weren’t executed correctly. I felt somewhat reassured and decided to fine-tune a few lacking aspects of the Seven Great Techniques I had learned. However, after spending quite some time refining, I suddenly realized that several minutes had passed, and there wasn’t much time left until the end of the day.
“Ah!”
Damn, no choice now! I have to unfold quickly!!
Swoosh swoosh
With the remaining time, I desperately unfolded the forms of Tai Chi. As I hastily performed, I soon realized I had surpassed a thousand repetitions. Once again, I glanced over at Jang Sam-bong, wondering if he would comment on my carelessness, but he showed no reaction.
So, this means I can just quickly do a thousand forms at the start of each day!
Then, I can use the leftover time for other practices!
Swoosh swoosh!
Wanting to make my time even more efficient, I focused entirely on quickly unfolding Tai Chi a thousand times. In doing so, it took less than a single meal time to finish, and I discovered that all the remaining time was mine to use as I pleased.
But after about three days passed, Mangnyang said to me.
“Baek Woong, that doesn’t seem right.”
Mangnyang had been practicing Tai Chi with me before heading off to the Peak Lands as he said. While I was hurrying through my forms out of urgency, Mangnyang was carefully keeping a proper posture while steadily performing a thousand repetitions. I turned to Mangnyang.
“Grand Master Jang said I could do it my way. There’s no need to maintain strict postures, is there?”
“…Baek Woong.”
Mangnyang sighed, seemingly exasperated, and replied.
“Originally, this training seems to be about self-awareness, but you’re right—time is short. At this rate, it’ll take far too long. So, I’ll bother you as a companion and say this.”
“Are you saying I’m doing something wrong?”
“That’s right.”
“What do you mean, Grand Master Jang didn’t say anything about my posture….”
“It’s not about the posture.”
Mangnyang spoke firmly.
“Grand Master Jang said he wouldn’t supervise, and he wouldn’t nitpick your posture. Do you think that just gives you the freedom to train? That’s neither freedom nor negligence. What do you think he wants to observe in you?”
“……?”
“Think about the reason you should ask yourself questions. Seriously reflect on that. If you keep going like this, whether it’s four years or a hundred years, Grand Master Jang will never tell you to stop.”
After Mangnyang finished speaking, he resumed his silent practice of Tai Chi.
Listening to Mangnyang’s words threw me into confusion.
‘What? What am I doing wrong?’
I thought it was perfectly fine to perform Tai Chi a thousand times and then practice advanced techniques with any time left over! He hadn’t criticized me for practicing improperly. This experience felt completely different from anything I had done before, and I found myself deeply troubled.
… I don’t get it.
What’s going wrong?
What am I supposed to ask myself?
‘Alright! Let’s practice a thousand times while maintaining proper posture like Mangnyang.’
It’s gotta be about form, right?
I came to that conclusion and focused my mind on achieving the perfect posture with each practice. Striving for perfection in my posture took so much longer than before that I ended up with far less time than on the first day. The fatigue I had anticipated hit me like a brick wall.
‘Damn it! Even if the Tai Chi movements are easy, maintaining the correct posture makes it tough… and that’s a thousand times.’
In martial arts, proper posture consumes a significant amount of physical strength, concentration, and mental fortitude simultaneously. Thus, it’s common for training to require the use of proper posture as a form of punishment. This made me deeply ponder whether or not to use a proper stance, but given Mangnyang’s warning, I felt I had no choice.
I said to Mangnyang, “Isn’t this tiring for you?”
“Not at all… this sort of training is nothing to me.”
“For an ordinary person, it would exhaust them to the point of collapse just halfway through, and yet you’re impressive.”
Mangnyang shook his head.
“It’s not that. Right now, I don’t have a concept of physical strength.”
“Hmm?”
“Baek Woong, feel my arm.”
I touched Mangnyang’s arm. It felt perfectly normal until suddenly, his arm seemed to dissipate into smoke and vanished.
Puff!
I looked back at Mangnyang in surprise as he reformed his arm and said, “Becoming an Earth Immortal means this. I possess a body made of flesh and blood, but at the same time, I’m in a special body known as the Immortal Body. The moment I entered the enrollment path, I obtained a spiritual body that transcends an ordinary human, and if I wish, I can turn my entire body into vapor. Since I exist partly in a spiritual form, the stamina of a regular human doesn’t apply to me.”
“Impressive.”
“If I were to ascend in rank to an Upper Immortal or Great Immortal, I would completely shed my human body and transform into a spiritual body. At that point, I would possess power on a level far beyond now, but it would also come with substantial limitations.”
I understood Mangnyang’s words.
“Being able to attain greatly for a Great Immortal means I must rely on a human body.”
“Right. You could say it’s a benefit of being at a lower rank. Since I haven’t completely shed my human form, I can more easily mingle with the affairs of the world compared to a Great Immortal. Although, it’s more conspicuous for me…”
Continuing, Mangnyang added, “Baek Woong, there’s no need to blindly follow my training. I only maintain proper posture because I want to keep the promise I made to you; so, that isn’t the only correct approach.”
“But Grand Master Jang has said nothing….”
“Why are you so concerned about him? From the start, he’s said nothing about what you do.”
“…….”
I truly felt lost.
“No, if maintaining proper posture isn’t correct training, then what exactly is the right way?”
“Still don’t understand? Considering that question is part of the training.”
“……?”
“Baek Woong, calm down. Focus on shedding the worries and anxieties in your heart.”
Though I still didn’t fully understand, I felt I had somewhat grasped the situation.
‘Is it crucial for me to think with my own mind…?’
I might not be the brightest, but it seemed I had gleaned something. At any rate, it felt like it wouldn’t do to just follow what others were doing or act on my whim right now.
So what should I do?
If neither working hard nor being careless would suffice, then what should I do?
“Hmm….”
I spent yet another day diligently maintaining proper posture while unfolding Tai Chi a thousand times. With about an hour left in the day, without engaging in separate practice, I sat cross-legged on a cliffside rock.
I wasn’t sitting to cultivate my internal power.
I simply wanted to meditate since my mind was muddled.
“…….”
Practicing Tai Chi a thousand times each day. Is this really the answer?
Even so, I had no choice but to accept the current situation, and perhaps that was the reason I was secretly shivering. The nightmares from my first life, where I lost everything clinging only to the Three Talents Sword Technique, made it worse. I had witnessed firsthand that no matter how hard I practiced basic martial arts, I would never become a master.
But shouldn’t I believe?
Rather than wander aimlessly and panic, maybe it’d be better to jump into the darkness where the future is uncertain?
I thought and thought again. I hadn’t really practiced yet, just kept thinking. And as my worries deepened, I felt myself sinking internally, eventually leading to a barrage of pointless thoughts and concerns flooding forth.
It felt like the inner voice was rhythmically pounding at my ear. As I dazedly sat there, I suddenly heard Mangnyang’s voice beside me.
“Baek Woong. The sun is rising.”
“…….”
Looks like it’s time to practice Tai Chi again….
With no other option, I stood up and began to unfold Tai Chi once more. This time, unlike the first day, as I repeatedly practiced Tai Chi, I felt a whirlwind of thoughts encompassing everything I had lived through, my experiences, and my dread for the future.
‘Why is this so tough….’
It felt like something sticky was wrapping around my limbs, making my fingertips feel increasingly numb.
And then the next day.
And the next.
And the next….
Before I knew it, over thirty days had passed, and I realized the day of Mangnyang’s departure was nearing. After finishing that day’s Tai Chi practice, he called out to me in the early morning.
“Baek Woong, hang in there for the remaining four years. I must now fulfill my mission as an Earth Immortal.”
“…….”
Will I really be able to last four years?
Just one month in, and I already felt this exhausted and depleted?
I could sense the first day’s confidence had completely withered. I felt almost dazed from the deprivation of not having gained anything over the month. Seeing this, Mangnyang chuckled.
“I was somewhat worried at first, but with you now, I believe you’ll be fine.”
“I’ve experienced tough training before, but I’ve never felt this mentally drained.”
Mangnyang laughed heartily.
“Hmm! In my experience practicing techniques in the heavens, you strike me as a rather contradictory individual.”
“Eh?”
“Considering the difficulties and hardships you’ve faced throughout your adventures, this training shouldn’t be anything. And yet, you respond more deeply to the struggles of humanity than to chaos and despair.”
“…….”
“Well, we’ll see each other later.”
With that, Mangnyang left. Even after he had gone, I spent day after day pondering and wrestling with uncertainties in silence. How to practice Tai Chi was secondary while my mind swirled with inner turmoil.
Ah!
I don’t want to live!
But I don’t want to die either!
‘Am I kidding!!’
Once again, I dove into another three months of training, feeling utterly absurd. Despite wanting to give up and not wanting to live anymore, I still had no desire to die. Dialogue with my own inner self flowed endlessly, spawning an array of nonsensical chatter.
Before long, I found myself talking to myself.
“Ah, I want to become powerful.”
If I could just strengthen myself, I wouldn’t have to go through all this hardship…
But even while thinking that, I simultaneously felt disgusted with myself. No matter how much I uttered such lines, reality wouldn’t shift, so wasn’t I merely continuing my training out of inertia? And even while feeling that disgust, I soon found my determination cooling, reverting to silently practicing Tai Chi a thousand times a day.
Thud thud thud
Thud thud
Six more months passed. Before I knew it, I could perform Tai Chi instinctively without any thought. Some might call it a state of enlightenment, but bizarrely, I began to delve deeper into the concept of ‘self’ I had once been fixated upon.
What is ‘self’?
What is ‘self’ doing?
What is ‘self’ wishing for?
No matter how much I trained or practiced, I couldn’t forget about myself. The more I tried to forget, the more intense my own image surfaced from my subconscious. My sense of ‘self’ sprouted turmoil within my thoughts, accelerating my mental struggle. I kept feeling like my anxiety stemmed from being unable to let go of that anguish, yet I could not shake off the fundamental essence of my suffering.
It happened a month later. Unable to bear it any longer, I spoke to Jang Sam-bong, who had been observing me.
“Grand Master Jang! How can I completely forget about myself?”
Absolute realm and nonsense, I simply feel tormented.
I wanted to stop the questions relentlessly plaguing me!
I expected Jang Sam-bong to say nothing, but he instead spoke as if he had been waiting.
[To learn is to gain more day by day; to understand the Dao is to lessen day by day… through subtraction and subtraction, one attains the state of non-action.]
“Non-action…?”
[Correct….”
Jang Sam-bong slowly approached and assumed the initial stance of Tai Chi. He began to slowly unfold the first form while adding,
[Doing nothing while doing nothing is nothing at all. Do you understand?]
“…I don’t get it.”
[That’s fine.]
After that, Jang Sam-bong spoke no more.
Nonetheless, I inexplicably felt a strong resonance with what he had said.
Non-action!
Hadn’t I been obsessively fixating on tangible things? Did I not believe that I had to produce visible results?
‘Now, I think I might just forget it all.’
I endlessly repeated the question-and-answer session with myself. My questioning and answering were neither willed by my own volition nor my own consciousness. Though I felt like I was going insane for not knowing the method to stop, the idea of non-action offered me a glimpse of a solution.
It’s okay if there’s no form.
I merely exist as myself, and the unconscious beyond my self merely exists.
Isn’t it more important to acknowledge that duality and dual-nature?
Whew
Before long, I was executing Tai Chi perfectly and swiftly without any thought, and beside me, Jang Sam-bong was mirroring my actions. It was a surreal sight, but I didn’t utter a word. I simply merged into a state of unity, plunging myself into a profound unconsciousness.
Boom!
One day, I surprisingly felt consciousness rapidly emerging from my subconscious. When I looked around, I found that the mountainous region had transformed into a vast white snowfield, and I had aged. As I stared blankly, Jang Sam-bong beside me spoke.
[What a pity. You were just one step away, but it seems that the burdens you’ve accumulated were deeper than I expected….]
“One step away?”
[Baek Woong, receive this initial form.]
With that, Jang Sam-bong suddenly attacked me.
Seven Great Techniques
Fusion Technique
Chaotic Destruction of Heaven
A palpable, overwhelming aura that felt like the embodiment of ‘strength’ surged like a tidal wave of energy crashing down upon me. No matter what protective energy techniques I tried to summon against that dark force, I found myself utterly unable to withstand it; even attempting to evade with the Soul Removal Technique met with failure—it was simply too late. Typically, I would try to diffuse such a situation with the Three Treasure Technique, but I felt that wouldn’t work this time either.
This was a peerless divine technique capable of cleaving mountains!
Is he trying to kill me?
Yet despite that panic, my hands moved instinctively. As I realized that my hand was unfolding the initial form of Tai Chi, the Tai Chi stance known as Tai Chi’s Beginning, I was taken aback even more.
No way!
Am I going to withstand that overwhelming Chaotic Destruction of Heaven with the Tai Chi Beginning stance?
As if blocking the Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram wasn’t enough?!
But following the flow of the Tai Chi stance, my right hand extended forward, and my left hand followed behind as support. The two hands stretched out like my body was pivoting to my legs, maintaining balance as a perfect harmony enveloped my limbs. With not a hint of excess or deficiency, I established the realm needed to slowly accept the powerful onslaught of Chaotic Destruction of Heaven.
Non-action transformation
The power gradually dissipates.
It felt as if the very concept of ‘power’ was being eaten away at.
I soon realized that the might of Chaotic Destruction of Heaven flowed through my body and exited from behind me as my body remained steady, upholding the balance of heaven and earth through my hands.
A subtle Tai Chi.
In that moment, I became the essence of Tai Chi, oscillating between the rise and fall of my sense of self. As my self began to gently return from the mental state of undulating, I finally regained consciousness, startled by what I had just experienced.
“This… this is!!”
[O Dharma Protector, how does it feel?]
“Could it be…!!”
As Jang Sam-bong slowly nodded, the realization hit me.
[That is the Peerless Technique. After three years of forgetting your sense of self, you have finally stepped into the threshold….]