The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 27

"Haak! Haak! Heok!"

My breathing was so ragged that my lungs felt like they were on fire, and my clothes were soaked with so much sweat that they were incredibly heavy.

My legs had lost all feeling a long time ago, and my eyeballs felt like they were going to fall out.

'This crazy man!'

I had forgotten for a moment what kind of person Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang was.

I only now remembered that ten senior brothers had run away, unable to endure the Martial Uncle's training, before he met me.

'How much further are we going to run? We've already been running for over three hours...!'

Curses rose to the tip of my tongue.

Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang doesn't seem to know what moderation is.

At first, it seemed like we were definitely moving forward using footwork, but now it's just running.

My internal energy had been depleted a long time ago, and my stamina was also at its bottom.

I'm running on pure grit and determination, but I want to stop right now.

'By any chance... the senior brothers didn't put him up to this, did they?'

After running for a long time with even such ridiculous thoughts, Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang finally slowed down and then stopped.

"Uwaaa—"

I let out a sound that was hard to believe was human and collapsed on the floor.

I barely managed to roll my eyes and look at the Martial Uncle, and he also seemed a little tired as he was calming his slightly ragged breath.

"Get up."

"Pardon?"

"Quickly get up, sit in a cross-legged position, and circulate your qi. You know very well that if you do qi circulation now when your body's energy is completely empty, the effect will be several times better."

I swallowed a sigh inwardly, pushed myself up from the ground, barely managed to sit in a cross-legged position, and started qi circulation.

What he had just said was also what I always told my senior brothers.

As they say, you only know after you've experienced it. I suddenly feel sorry for having been so harsh to my senior brothers.

'I'll have to be really nice to them when I get back. Sob.'

As I was about to cry, I felt something warm touch my back.

"I'll help you, so don't think about anything else and concentrate."

What touched my back was Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang's palm.

Thanks to the Martial Uncle, who placed his palm firmly on the Myeongmun acupoint, one of the most important acupoints in the eight extraordinary meridians, and infused warm energy, I suddenly feel my whole body relax.

I, feeling that warm energy, fell into a state of selflessness.

***

I woke up about an hour after I started qi circulation, when the sun was setting.

I had run until my legs were trembling, but right now, I feel quite refreshed.

It was the effect of qi circulation done immediately after consuming all my internal energy and stamina.

As I greeted this refreshing moment, I felt that it was worth pushing my body to the brink of collapse earlier.

"You're awake."

"Yes, Martial Uncle."

Looking to the side, the Martial Uncle had cleared the area right next to where I was, creating a small open space, and had even started a fire.

"If you go around that big tree and go down a little, there's a small stream. For now, go there, wash your body, and wash your clothes. You seem to have packed a spare set of clothes."

At the Martial Uncle's words, I naturally lowered my head and looked at my body, no, to be precise, the clothes I was wearing.

The gray martial arts uniform was stained in places, and a foul odor was rising from the stains.

"Ugh, this doesn't seem to be just the smell of sweat. Have I been like this the whole time?"

"Yes. I had you do a heavenly cycle while I was examining your acupoints. Actually, you're the smallest among the third-generation disciples, and your bones are thin, so I was a little worried... but there was no need for that."

"Why?"

"Seeing you today, it seems you were also born with a good physique."

"My body?"

I was so surprised that I forgot about the foul smell coming from my body and asked back.

I know this body well.

It's a little questionable whether I can call it my body, but since it's the body I'm using, wouldn't I naturally think so?

'It's not bad, but it's not particularly outstanding either.'

This was the conclusion I had come to about this body.

Of course, I wasn't disappointed that it wasn't outstanding.

I'm just grateful that it's not a constitution that can't even learn martial arts, like the Nine Yin Severed Meridians or the Yin-Yang Severed Meridians.

I thought I could fill the rest with effort, grit, and training.

"Yes. Actually, I also only found out today while examining your body. Because I've never pushed you to your limits like today, and I've never examined your acupoints for so long like today."

"What was I born with?"

I asked with sparkling eyes.

Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang wasn't the type to joke about something like this, and I thought there must be something really special.

Then, the Martial Uncle let out a small laugh.

He must have found the emotion I was so openly displaying cute.

He slowly opened his mouth.

"You don't have the innate divine strength like people who are said to be born with a good physique, nor will you grow tall or big and become a so-called 'strongman'."

"I know that well. I'm eating hard, but I don't know why I'm not growing taller."

"But, your body seems to be naturally good at removing waste and toxins."

"Really? Then the things on my clothes right now...?"

"Yes. They are the waste and toxins that came out of your body."

I looked at my clothes with a curious expression, but the smell that was slowly rising was so foul that I ended up gagging.

"Ugh. I haven't eaten anything, so only bitter water is coming up. So, what's good about removing waste and toxins well?"

I asked, quickly taking off my shirt.

Because I thought my skin might rot if I wore this any longer.

"Of course, it means that the qi and blood move smoothly, so the control of internal energy is smooth, and you can accumulate cleaner energy in your dantian during the accumulation process."

I stared at the Martial Uncle, wondering if he was joking with me right now.

Even setting aside the fact that I had lived a past life, I am now a disciple of a sect who is officially receiving martial arts education in Wudang.

There's no way I wouldn't know something so obvious.

"No, Martial Uncle. I know that, of course. But actually, the waste in the body doesn't have any effect until it accumulates to a certain level, right? And it's also impossible to completely remove it."

When I spoke in a sullen voice, the Martial Uncle laughed out loud as if he had been waiting for this.

"Hahaha! It was a joke. Don't be so serious about just one joke."

Even while saying this, he laughed for a long time and then continued.

"Your ability can be said to be the most blessed ability in our Wudang in a way."

"A blessing?"

"Yes. It has a much greater effect than you think."

"What is it?"

"I'll tell you after you wash up. And wash your clothes cleanly too."

As my body became younger, my mind also seemed to follow suit, and my lips pouted without my knowledge.

"Can't you just tell me?"

"I could, but it seems it would be more fun to tell you later."

"Haa..."

I didn't hide the sigh that escaped me.

And I picked up the clothes I had taken off and thrown far away with my fingertips and started walking towards the stream the Martial Uncle had told me about.

"Alright. I'll be back, so you have to tell me later, okay?"

"Yes. Go quickly. I've been holding it in, but the smell is quite strong."

"Tsk. Alright."

As the Martial Uncle said, after walking a little, a stream with clear water flowing came out, and for now, I put my clothes in the water and washed them.

Fortunately, the dirt washed away quickly, as if it hadn't hardened yet.

After hanging the washed clothes on a tree branch, I found a slightly deeper pool, took off my clothes, and jumped in.

Splash—

I completely submerged myself up to my head and washed off the sweat I had shed all day and the dust I was covered in, and a feeling of refreshment washed over me.

"Then the Martial Uncle hasn't even rested yet and has been examining my acupoints for an hour? I'm grateful, but... he's really amazing."

Examining acupoints requires more internal energy than one might think.

It requires more concentration than one might think to carefully push one's own energy into the opponent without burdening them, and moving the energy that has entered the opponent's body consumes a considerable amount of internal energy.

"To think he has the energy for that even after running at full speed for three hours. How much internal energy does he have?"

Even while saying this, in my heart, my gratitude is much greater.

I, who would be sad if I were second in terms of the amount of training, know well.

Even if it's not to the point of exhaustion, if you've unfolded your footwork to that extent, you'll want to lie down and rest right away.

But, Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang had given up his rest for my growth.

'Why didn't I know such a strong and benevolent martial artist in my past life?'

And a thought that naturally comes to mind.

Even so, I was a martial artist who had made a name for myself in my past life, and thanks to being close with Un Gwang, I had met the masters of Wudang at least once.

In fact, the future appearances of several Martial Uncles, including Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong, are clear.

But, I have no memory of Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang.

'Something must have happened in the middle.'

If something happened to a martial artist of the Wudang Sect, there are two possibilities.

The first is to be caught up in a fight or to die as a martial artist while carrying out a mission given by the Sect Leader.

The second is to sever all ties as a martial artist and live only as a Taoist who pursues the Tao.

'Whatever it is, it's definitely not a small matter.'

I poured cold water on my head and thought that I had to keep my mind straight.

So that whenever that happens, I can have at least a little influence on it.

Of course, it's also because if the Martial Uncle continues to be a martial artist of the Wudang Sect, he himself will be a great force, and more than anything, I want to see Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang for a longer time.

And Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang is the person who has seeped into my current life the most.

"Sigh! Aigoo, I should probably get out now."

Perhaps because I had been in the cold water for too long without even raising my internal energy, I sneezed automatically.

I held my shivering shoulders with both arms, came up to the shore, and raised my internal energy.

"I washed for too long because of that shocking smell earlier."

As I operated my internal energy until my body was sufficiently warmed up, the water that was on my body and hair naturally evaporated cleanly.

After putting on the washed clothes and changing into new clothes, I immediately started walking towards where Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang was.

Now, if I just go around that big tree, I'll see Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang right away...

Sniff, sniff—

A blissful smell coming from behind the tree.

I couldn't believe this smell that I was smelling for the first time in a long time.

"No, it can't be possible...!"

This very smell that is driving me crazy in this short moment.

"How can there be the smell of grilling meat?!"

The smell that was hitting my nose right now was the smell of meat.

I hadn't even seen meat for several months since I woke up again in Wudang.

No, I don't think I've ever had a proper meal.

Because my diet had always been raw grains, various kinds of grass and herbs that I didn't even want to know the names of, and Bigu Dan.

"Huh? Martial Uncle!"

The source of the smell was the fire the Martial Uncle had started a moment ago.

The Martial Uncle was grilling some meat, whether it was a rabbit or a bird, over the fire.

"What are you doing right now?"

"Are your eyes broken from running too much? Can't you see I'm grilling meat?"

"No, I can see it, but...!"

He smiled brightly as if to reassure me and said, "Isn't this a privilege of those who are out on a mission? It's well-cooked. Try it."

"Weren't the Taoists of Wudang not supposed to eat meat?"

"Well, there are some who don't."

"But you, Martial Uncle...?"

"I eat it from time to time. Do you know how much meat helps with muscle development?"

He spoke nonchalantly, then let out a small laugh and continued.

"Hwi-ya. Do you know why we are not allowed to eat meat in our Wudang?"

"I wonder. Why is that?"

I said honestly.

Because I had just thought that it should be that way because it's Wudang, and I had never thought about the reason separately.

"It's because of the martial arts we learn. Although our Wudang's martial arts are based on profound internal energy, we also accumulate 'immortal qi' in the upper dantian and use it in our martial arts to produce even greater power."

I nodded my head, as I was well aware of that.

"But immortal qi doesn't accumulate if there is turbid qi in the body. Because immortal qi and turbid qi are in a mutually exclusive relationship. What accumulates turbid qi? It's meat-eating and fire energy. But this grilled meat?"

He took a bite of the grilled meat and said, "It can be said to correspond to both of those."

"Then shouldn't you stop eating it?"

"A little is fine. A little. Didn't you say earlier? That turbid qi doesn't have any effect until it accumulates to a certain level in the body."

"I see."

The Martial Uncle, seeing me nod my head in light agreement, opened his mouth again.

"Hwi-ya. That's why you have a blessed body. Didn't I say earlier that you have a body that excretes waste and toxins, that is, turbid qi, well?"

"You did."

And the Martial Uncle's following words.

At those words, I almost let out a cheer without realizing it.

"What do you think that means? I will speak to the Sect Leader and have your meat-eating ban lifted. Eat a lot of meat or whatever, and then expel all that turbid qi out of your body through qi circulation. If you do that, your growth will be much faster than now."

(End of Chapter)