novelraw Chapter 7 : Chapter 7
Chapter 7 : Chapter 7
Chapter 07 - Is There a Need to Exchange Words?
“First off…… should I try Flying Eagle Steps.”
The martial art that symbolizes the Diancang Sect is, without a doubt, the ‘Quick Sword’.
What is most needed to use the fast and powerful attacks of the Quick Sword?
Flashy techniques?
Immense internal energy?
No.
‘Feet.’
That is, ‘footwork’.
Biyoung sent a little of the energy gathered in his dantian to his lower body.
-Pabababak
Biyoung's legs moved nimbly and dynamically.
Flying Eagle Steps is the footwork that disciples who have just entered the Diancang Sect learn first.
However, befitting a sect renowned for its Quick Sword, even the basic footwork of Flying Eagle Steps contained numerous profound secrets.
So much so that there was a saying in Jianghu, ‘just by properly mastering Flying Eagle Steps, you can make a fool of any decent second-rate master.’
Flying Eagle Steps was the cornerstone leading to the ultimate technique of the Diancang Sect, the Vast Sky Eagle Body Method, and could be said to be the foundation of the sect.
“Hmm…… good, good.”
Biyoung, who was performing Flying Eagle Steps, whistled continuously.
Biyoung's original body was already sturdy, but with the addition of the dantian's power, his movements became incomparably lighter.
It felt like his old senses were finally coming back to life a little.
Of course, it was still a long way off compared to the ‘World's Fastest Sword’ of the past.
“Next is……”
Pababat-
He held a cut piece of bamboo in his hand and busily moved his hand.
If the foundation of the Diancang Sect's movement techniques was Flying Eagle Steps, then for swordsmanship, there was the ‘Eagle Talon Twelve Swords’.
Compared to the swordsmanship of other sects, it was a relatively simple sword style, but its power was considerable.
In the first place, what was the reason for imbuing the sword with powerful energy or mixing in various variations?
“In the end, it's to have the attack land before the opponent's.”
The swordsmanship of ‘Eagle Talon Twelve Swords’ was a style that emphasized ‘stabbing’ as much as ‘slashing’.
Since the speed of the sword was emphasized, it was a martial art that was not easy for the opponent to face despite its simple techniques.
Paang-
A sound of splitting the air, unbelievable to be caused by a bamboo, spread out.
It was an object without a hilt or a blade, yet there was no problem in executing the techniques.
For the genius who had become the greatest master of the Diancang Sect before even reaching his forties, what weapon he held in his hand was not important.
“Huu.”
Flying Eagle Steps and Eagle Talon Twelve Swords.
These were all the martial arts that the current Biyoung could utilize.
Considering Biyoung's current body, if he were to use a stronger martial art, his body would not be able to withstand it.
“Hell is about to unfold from now on.”
A spirited smile spread on Biyoung's lips.
Since he had created a dantian even purer than the one in his previous life, his internal energy would grow by leaps and bounds from now on.
However, one cannot become the greatest swordsman with internal energy alone.
Only by creating the best body to match the internal energy, and further polishing his external arts, would he be able to unleash the secret techniques of the Diancang Sect.
Biyoung knew well how to create the best body from his past experience.
“You just have to roll.”
Physical strength, including muscular strength, is naturally resolved when you roll hard (?).
Biyoung drew in his mind the daily routine he would have to repeat from now on, and he called it ‘hell’.
“It starts right nowwwwwwwwww!”
Biyoung began to sprint through the mountains like a madman.
Because of the densely packed trees, it seemed like a dizzying situation could occur at any moment.
However, Biyoung passed through the bushes like a flying squirrel and ran towards the summit.
“Huck…… huck……!”
The clothes that had been soaked when he made his dantian became damp again.
“I haven't even climbed halfway up the summit…… I guess this is my limit.”
However, contrary to his words, Biyoung's face was exceptionally bright.
Did ‘Yeongbi’, who had become the greatest master of the Diancang Sect in his thirties, have no regrets in his martial studies?
Not at all.
He definitely had regrets about his past training.
If only he had laid the foundation a little more firmly.
If only he had increased his internal energy a little more before learning Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art.
If all those assumptions had become reality, ‘Yeongbi’ might have become not the ‘World's Fastest Sword’ but the ‘World's Best Sword’.
A frame once established can never be changed over time.
Because time and youth are things that cannot be bought with anything.
But Biyoung had obtained that ‘time’ which others could not.
So wasn't he able to smile with satisfaction even while panting on the mountainside?
The sight of Biyoung smiling broadly with a flushed face was enough to melt the heart of even an iron-blooded empress.
But then,
Hwakkeun!
“Huh?”
After utilizing a few techniques of Eagle Talon Twelve Swords, Biyoung's eyes widened.
“I’m sure…… I used it with Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art?”
An energy that should not have remained in Biyoung's body was stirring.
The elixir that his grandfather had described as a ‘poison’.
The energy of that elixir was still alive and breathing.
“How can this be……”
Biyoung gently caressed his stomach with round eyes.
Although the energy had decreased a lot compared to before, he could clearly feel the energy of the elixir.
To operate Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art, a massive amount of internal energy is required.
With an ordinary low-grade elixir, it would be extinguished before even completing one cycle.
But this elixir, despite having been circulated countless times, was still peeking its head out.
“This…… it seems I ate something truly tremendous.”
While it was fascinating, at the same time, his cheekbones were soaring on their own.
If the energy of the elixir still remains, doesn't that mean I can continue to circulate ‘Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art’ instead of ‘Supreme Unity True Energy’ in the future?
Supreme Unity True Energy was not a shabby cultivation method, but it could not compare to the purity and profundity of Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art.
I don't know how long the energy of the elixir will last.
It might be extinguished during the very next circulation.
But at least for the time he circulates Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art, he can achieve several times the growth of others.
“I feel empty. Am I hungry?”
But then.
It seems there are side effects to that extent.
The dantian was craving something as if it were a living creature.
At first, I thought I was thirsty and gulped down water, but it seemed that wasn't what the elixir wanted.
I made the dantian as I wanted, so where is this deficiency coming from?
“You rascal. What is it that you want.”
I looked down and asked, but of course, there was no answer.
A strange sensation of being hungry and thirsty at the same time.
The dantian was perfectly made, but the energy of the elixir and a strange deficiency were subtly maintained.
“I can't stand it anymore. I have to ask him directly.”
Biyoung's grandfather hadn't told him the name of the elixir.
He had only said that its components were as strong as a poison, and that it contained the energy of ‘extreme Yang’.
Biyoung had thought so at first, but now the situation was different.
To help the Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art of someone without internal energy and still have its energy survive?
It was surely no ordinary thing.
“Grandpa! I don't know where you are, but come quickly!”
Shouting words unimaginable for a swordsman of a Taoist sect, Biyoung once again ran down the mountain path.
***
The grandpa returned home two days later than promised.
It wasn't particularly surprising that he was late for the promised date.
Isn't that always the case when old people say they're going on a long trip?
What horrified Biyoung was for a different reason.
“Ke-ek…… kek.”
Biyoung's grandfather returned, dragging his leg.
It wasn't that he was dragging his foot because he was a cripple.
He was being dragged by the collar by a man as big as a mountain.
“If there's a guy named Biyoung here, come on out!”
When Biyoung, who was circulating his energy in his room as usual, came outside, sparks immediately flew from his eyes.
Three or four burly men as big as mountains.
A young brat with his face wrapped in cotton cloth (bandages).
And Biyoung's grandfather.
The lantern-jawed burly man who was holding the old man's collar spotted Biyoung and grinned.
“So you were in your room? I was worried you might have run off and escaped.”
The lantern-jawed burly man swung his arm, and the grandfather who had been held by the collar rolled on the ground.
“…….”
Biyoung's face hardened as if coated with a layer of ice.
His gaze moved from his grandfather to the young brat.
It was hard to recognize his face with all the cotton cloth wrapped around it, but his characteristic flat nose was still pointing up at the sky.
“Hongchil……?”
I think that was his name.
When Biyoung called his name, Hongchil flinched, then soon raised his voice.
“Ha! Did you think you could get away with it after making a person like this? Several times what I suffered……!!”
Paaaaaak!!!
Once again.
The sound of splitting firewood was heard from the flat-nosed boy's body.
This time, the target was the flat nose peeking out from under the bandages.
“Uwaaaaaaaaargh!!”
Spraying blood from his shattered nose, the flat-nosed Hongchil was sent flying two zhang away.
“!”
It was something that happened in the blink of an eye.
Something flew by with a whish, the flat-nosed boy's body disappeared, and the boy called Biyoung was next to them.
The burly men who had been standing arrogantly were startled and took a step back.
Even to them, adults, it was a murderous blow.
“Th… this bastard sneak-attacked us!”
“You hit a person while they’re talking?!”
At that, Biyoung gave a bitter smile.
At least in this moment, he had the exact same face as the ‘World's Fastest Sword’.
The man with the fastest quick sword in the martial world.
The reason Biyoung could receive such a title in the past was, of course, because his martial arts were outstanding.
But on the other hand, it was also because he had not a shred of hesitation in drawing his sword.
In a situation where they were pointing swords at each other, there was no need for unnecessary conversation.
“Is there a need to exchange words?”
At Biyoung's provocation, the burly men's eyes flashed.
“I was just going to make you half-crippled…… you're hastening your own death.”
At the waists of the burly men were the dog-beating staves and cudgels used by the beggars of the Beggars' Union.
‘These guys aren’t even martial artists.’
Judging by their appearance and speech, they seemed to be ruffians from the back alleys of the market.
They were likely people hired with money by the flat-nosed boy's father to get revenge, and their bodies all looked to be two or three times the size of Biyoung's.
The burly men rolled up their sleeves and approached Biyoung.
“You arrogant brat……!! Don't expect any mercy from my hands!”
“Today is the day you die!!”
The sight of grown adults rushing at a single boy was enough to make one frown.
Fists the size of Biyoung's head rained down on his entire body.
Woong!
However, only the sound of the empty wind was heard.
The fists thrown by the burly men didn't even graze a single thread of Biyoung's clothing.
No, far from grazing, for a moment, Biyoung disappeared from their sight.
“Grandfather. Are you okay?”
“Biyoung-ah……”
“……?!”
In a flash, Biyoung was supporting his fallen grandfather and seating him on the porch in front of the door.
The ruffians' mouths hung wide open at this strange scene.
‘What in the world is this ghostly trickery?’
‘How did that kid get there in that instant?’
‘Don't tell me he's the son of a prestigious sect or something……?’
But they couldn't just stand there in amazement.
They had been promised a hefty reward from the flat-nosed boy, so they had to break at least a few of that little brat's bones.
However, seeing Biyoung's mysterious movements, none of them readily stepped forward.
“What are you doing? We need to finish him off quickly and go back!”
“But…… that kid doesn't seem to be an ordinary person.”
“Who cares if he's ordinary or not, is there a master who can stand against numbers?”
The lantern-jawed burly man shouted so and took something out from his waist.
Seuk.
It was a long, cylindrical cudgel.
The other burly men also took out short dog-beating staves.
Not only were three burly men ganging up on him, but they even had weapons.
It was truly a face-reddening situation, but having come this far, there was no shame left to have.
“Uryaaap!”
Once again, the three burly men charged at Biyoung.
As the big guys rushed in, they blocked the sun, creating a shadow.
Biyoung silently waited for them to approach with a cold gaze.
Woong!
The square-jawed burly man's cudgel flew towards Biyoung's shoulder.
Biyoung used the footwork of Flying Eagle Steps to rotate his body to the side, then grabbed the cudgel that had cut through the air and spun it around once.
Ppeok!!!
“Uuup!!!”
The lantern-jaw's own cudgel was fiercely driven into his mouth, and soon teeth and blood scattered in all directions.
Before the cudgel he had dropped while clutching his mouth could even hit the ground, Biyoung lightly tapped the cudgel with his foot and then swung it at his target.
Ppak!!!!!
“Ugh…… u-eoeo……!!”
Unfortunately, this time the target was the groin of the burly man on the left.
With a scream that was horrifying just to hear, the burly man's body collapsed.
“You brat!!”
The remaining burly man used his long arm to deeply extend his dog-beating staff.
If this continued, it would surely have been embedded in Biyoung's solar plexus.
Just as a smile of satisfaction was about to appear on the burly man's lips, Biyoung, instead of dodging, bent his waist to the side and jumped over the dog-beating staff and the burly man's arm as if doing a somersault.
“?!”
Biyoung's body was completely upside down, and with his head pointing downwards, a fierce kick struck the crown of the burly man's head.
Kwang!!!!
“…………!”
The burly man couldn't even scream as he collapsed forward, foaming at the mouth.
All of this had happened in just a few seconds.
The only martial art he had used was Flying Eagle Steps.
He had personally put into practice the saying, ‘just by properly mastering Flying Eagle Steps, you can make a fool of a second-rate master.’
“These dog-like bastards……”
The Mad Wolf of Diancang.
Biyoung walked step by step towards the lantern-jawed burly man.
While massaging his neck with one hand.