NOVEL NEXT Chapter 252
Chapter 252: Youth
In the end, the first day’s martial arts exchange ended in disaster.
The argument that followed was embarrassingly cringeworthy.
Masters who had reached the absolute realm, like Hyeongyeong, only knew how to squabble over petty things.
I couldn’t believe it.
The serious martial arts exchange began on the second day.
From that day, we began to pass around our desperate hand-copied secret texts like diary entries during our individual training sessions.
It was also on that day that I first encountered the Heavenly Demon Technique across my past and present lives.
‘So this is the Heavenly Demon Technique.’
I flipped through the secret text of the Heavenly Demon Technique.
When it comes to martial arts, isn’t it all about the Heavenly Demon (天魔)?
Even outside martial arts novels, like in hunter-themed web novels, the Heavenly Demon Technique was always popping up.
And here it was, right in front of me.
How could my curiosity not spike?
The Heavenly Demon Technique of this medieval martial arts world was based on the first Heavenly Demon’s unique martial arts, which laid the foundation for the sect established by the Heavenly Horse Church. Every generation of Heavenly Demons had slowly improved upon it, adding their own techniques and insights.
With each new Heavenly Demon, it became more powerful, like a real-time updated skill. Sometimes, depending on the Heavenly Demon’s abilities, the skills of previous and subsequent Heavenly Demons could transform entirely into different martial arts.
That fact is likely why the Heavenly Demon didn’t feel huge resistance to sharing techniques.
I thought about this as I unfolded the secret text.
It contained famous techniques like the Heavenly Horse Dominance Step, Heavenly Demon Technique, and Heavenly Horse Divine Power — you could say they were household names in martial arts.
I invoked the Purple Lightning Demon Technique and displayed the form of the Heavenly Horse Divine Power with my right hand.
Shhhht!
Fwoooosh!
I merely mimicked the form, not even executing it correctly, but an overwhelming magical energy surged into the heavens. If I had used the authentic power of the Heavenly Demon Technique, the strength would have been even more formidable.
There was no question why it was called the Heavenly Demon Technique.
“How do you like my martial arts? Goeryong.”
“Impressive.”
I could see the Heavenly Demon holding the secret text for IHAP Sin-gong. The Heavenly Demon nodded.
“I find it impressive too. I’ve never encountered such a peculiar way to manipulate power.”
“Uh… even the Flame King Senior’s unique martial arts, Yeombusi Wanggong, is quite advanced.”
I heard the voice of my disciple nearby.
Yes.
This is how a martial arts exchange should be.
I smiled in satisfaction inwardly. The previous day’s event was not an exchange of martial arts. Now it felt like a gathering of masters.
I closed the secret text of the Heavenly Demon Technique and handed it to Sinseung. Sinseung flinched.
“Amitabha.”
He carefully turned a page of the Heavenly Demon Technique while exclaiming his distaste.
“Hmm. The techniques of the Martial World are quite useful.”
The towering figure, a muscular man with a long beard resembling a divine general, nodded while holding a small-sized secret text, which seemed ill-suited for his giant hands.
The secret text in Cheonranggaek’s hands was the Sosu Demon Art.
Nearby, Geumhu and Jeoksawol were engaged in conversation.
“Hmph. So this is the Moon Maiden Sword you’ve mastered. This is indeed the Hangshan Sect’s Supreme Absorption Technique that has been passed down since the Sword Pavilion era.”
“So this is the Gongdong Sect’s Supreme Technique that your master crafted…”
Geumhu was blushing while passing over the Demon Sword Technique.
Wait, why was Geumhu turning red while looking at the Demon Sword Technique secret text?
Before I could process that, Jeoksawol leaned closer to Geumhu.
“It’s Gaga’s martial arts. Hmph, I’ll take a look too.”
“I shall see my father’s techniques as well!”
Sosumahu, who had been sitting next to me, sprang to her feet, flapping her arms as she dashed toward the secret text of the Demon Sword Technique.
Sosumahu, Geumhu, Jeoksawol
The three masters of Hyeongyeong were squabbling over my secret text.
I couldn’t make sense of it.
I sighed inwardly as I picked up the secret text of the Nine Petal Lotus.
At that moment.
Whoosh.
My disciple came closer to me. A gentle wildflower scent wafted from her body.
She was holding the secret text of the Heavenly Wolf’s Moonlit Technique in her hands.
“Disciple, have you seen all the secret texts?”
“Yeah. It was similar to what I presumed.”
My disciple nodded at my question.
As expected, when it comes to talent, she’s on another level.
She took my hand.
Flinch.
My body trembled. Ever since that day I hugged her, I couldn’t look directly at her face anymore.
I felt inexplicably shy.
“Master, I’ve memorized all the formulas.”
She said to me.
It seemed she had memorized all the unique martial art texts that were here.
“So, I’m free from now on.”
Free, huh?
So what does that mean?
Just then, in my confusion, she whispered hotly in my ear.
“Master, your inability to meet my eyes is adorable. I want to train with you together, just the two of us, because we are siblings.”
Her warm breath tickled my ear. My body shivered lightly at that moment.
“Uncle! What are you doing with Dad!”
Sosumahu, who had acquired the secret text of the Demon Sword Technique, pointed over here. At her words, the gazes of Geumhu and Jeoksawol shifted in this direction too.
“…Hmph. I heard everything. Just the two of you want to train? Shouldn’t we all train together to defeat the Demon?”
“Senior Flame King is right. Young Master Yujinhwi, now is the time for all of us to join in.”
Jeoksawol’s red gaze and Geumhu’s silver gaze were directed at Yujinhwi. Whoosh.
My disciple interlocked her arm with mine.
Her soft touch brushed against my arm. She smiled as she spoke.
“I was not referring to group training. I meant personal training. My disciple and I belong to the same sect. We can train together, even if it’s personal training.”
Her smile broadened. She was right.
It was a principle of the martial world not to carelessly observe others’ training. But within the same sect, especially among siblings, it was different. The term “others” specifically referred to outsiders.
After interpreting her words, she implied that since I wasn’t an outsider, we could train together personally, but they could not.
Jeoksawol chuckled at those words.
She said, “Young Master Yujinhwi, it seems you’ve forgotten something. The moment we shared our martial arts, the eight of us were no longer outsiders. We’re a shared destiny now. Now, invoking the sibling relationship and claiming exclusive personal training with Gaga could be seen as null from the moment we exchanged techniques.”
Jeoksawol’s words were met with a nod from Geumhu.
“That’s right, Young Master Yujinhwi. The moment you displayed the girl’s techniques, and the girl witnessed your techniques, you two are tied by the red thread. Hoohoohoo. As the future model wife for you, she has every right to train personally with you.”
“That also goes for Jiyagi! She also wants to train with Daddy!”
Sosumahu interjected, raising her hand.
Upon hearing that, my disciple bit her lip. She spoke.
“However, the first joint training shall be mine.”
Whoosh.
Her arm tightened around mine.
“Master, you’ll do it, right?”
With everyone’s gaze focused on me, it felt slightly overwhelming, but not excessively so.
After all, she was my disciple.
Morally, it was only right for her to be first.
I nodded and said, “Uh, yeah. You go first, disciple.”
Hearing my response, my disciple smiled.
A brief moment of silence passed.
Jeoksawol broke the silence first.
She said, “Hmph. Then it’s only natural for this girl to claim the second spot.”
“Senior Flame King, who decided you can claim the second spot? Naturally, it’s my turn next.”
“No! Jiyagi is second! After Uncle, it’s the daughter! Right, Daddy?”
Now they were bickering over who gets to be second — Jeoksawol, Geumhu, and Sosumahu.
An invisible wave of energy surged from their bodies.
Observing them, Cheonranggaek laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! Truly, there’s no lack of youthful vigor here! I envy you, Goeryong Lee Cheol-soo!”
Youthful vigor?
What on earth is this old man rambling about?
“…This doesn’t seem like youthful vigor to me…”
The Heavenly Demon muttered in disbelief.
Indeed.
The Heavenly Demon was right.
‘I’m not exactly youthful here. Just where do they see youth?’
If you combined Sosumahu, Geumhu, and Jeoksawol’s ages, it would easily surpass two centuries, making the notion of youth laughable.
“Fine. Let’s settle it; the winner of the duel gets to train second.”
Thwack.
Jeoksawol stood confidently in the center of the Grand Martial Arts Venue and drew her weapon.
Seeing this, Geumhu stepped up and drew her sword.
“If we do it in order of winning, it should be fair.”
Geumhu smiled warmly at me.
Then, Sosumahu raised her hands. White energy settled in her palms.
Just for the sake of deciding the order of joint training, they wanted to duel now? Of course, a duel wasn’t a bad method of training, but…
Was this really necessary?
“Hahaha. Amitabha.”
“…Despite the ridiculous reason, a duel among the masters of Hyeongyeong is something rarely seen. How interesting. Next time, I shall duel with the Heavenly Body.”
“I’ll be watching too.”
Sinseung, the Heavenly Demon, and Cheonranggaek settled into their seats like spectators.
They didn’t seem interested in stopping this.
Anyway, the masters of Hyeongyeong were all quite insane.
In the meantime, the Heavenly Demon still had a competitive spirit toward the Heavenly Body disciple.
I shook my head and took a seat.
Whoosh.
My disciple intertwined her arms with mine again. She whispered into my ear.
“Master, thank you.”
I felt my face redden once more as I sighed inwardly.
Boom—Boom!
Shhhht—!
The duel had already commenced. As I watched the scene unfolding with energy surging and explosions occurring, I sighed.
It seemed that today’s proper exchange would also be a bust.
*
After that day.
The eight masters of Hyeongyeong, including myself, continued to practice and exchange martial arts.
I collaborated with my disciple, Geumhu, Jeoksawol, and Sosumahu, as well as the Heavenly Demon, Sinseung, and Cheonranggaek.
By the time our intense training came to an end, we had become so familiar with each other’s martial arts that there was nothing unknown between us.
As I had said, we had reached a point where we could anticipate each other’s next moves with mere gestures.
Our coordination started to refine perfectly.
Of course, I didn’t forget to alternate training partners daily with Geumhu, Jeoksawol, Sosumahu, and my disciple during personal training.
As the days of eating and training began to dwindle, finally, the night before we had to leave for the Central South Sea arrived.
All that was left was to board a ship, head towards Joseon, and then conquer the Demon at Baekdusan.