Chapter 489
“Who’s the best martial artist in the world?”
Well, a few names popped into my head. I stared at Mangnyang, and he held up three fingers.
“The Master of the White Lotus Sect, Miyamoto Musashi, and Master of the Twelve Joules. They’re the three strongest martial artists of this era and represent the Central Plains, Dongyoung, and Goryeo, respectively. If you’re not at their level, you’re not getting help from them.”
“……”
“However, you won’t be able to contact the Master of the White Lotus Sect. It would be easy to get in touch with him to elevate the White Lotus Sect, but you know better than anyone why that’s not going to happen.”
“I know.”
The Master of the White Lotus Sect goes to any lengths for his obsessive goal of True Martial Home. Getting involved with him could lead to a massive tragedy, which I had already experienced. Plus, I’d even heard from the Fire Spirit Techniques’ Han Baek-ryeong to take care of the Master.
Then Mangnyang continued, “And as for Miyamoto Musashi, he has promised to help you for ten years, so you can get martial arts advice from him. As for the Master of the Twelve Joules, he owes you a favor and won’t show hostility for a while.”
“So it’s just enough to learn from Musashi?”
“For now, that’s probably the safest route…”
Mangnyang smiled sweetly.
“But I think Musashi might not actually be very helpful for your martial arts advancement.”
“Why’s that?”
“Just look at the Book of Five Relationships. He’s an absolute genius and an exceptional martial artist. He could easily be called the strongest martial artist in Dongyoung history, but he wouldn’t understand the feelings of someone lacking talent. I doubt he’ll be good at teaching.”
“Hmm… that makes sense.”
“Even if you try sparring, the skill gap is just too big to even practice.”
“You’re probably right…”
I nodded along with Mangnyang’s words.
Geniuses often don’t have great teaching skills. They’re so far ahead in their abilities that they struggle to empathize with the average talent. Every now and then, you might find a genius who is also capable of teaching, but that’s a rare breed. I learned that the hard way from Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong. Let alone someone like Musashi, whose exceptional talent practically ensures that you can’t expect him to teach you well.
“But learning from the Master of the Twelve Joules would be a dangerous gamble. Besides, didn’t he say you can’t discuss martial arts with you, Baek Woong?”
“He did.”
“The martial arts of the Master of the Twelve Joules are likely strange and unorthodox. Learning from him may not be an option either.”
“Mangnyang, what are you trying to say?”
“Not all top martial artists are necessarily top teachers.”
With that, Mangnyang raised three fingers again.
“Now let’s look at the second-best options: Dokgo Seong, the Sword Demon, and Jin So-cheong.”
“……”
“As you know, Dokgo Seong might be the best teacher for your problems. He’s the top expert in the Thunder God Lineage and a master of the Thunder God Sword Dance, so he can resonate with you and research alongside you. Honestly, I would have recommended him without hesitation.”
“… Is there a reason that wouldn’t work?”
Mangnyang nodded.
“Because the one-cut you made when you dealt with the Sea God is beyond unprecedented!”
“……?”
“Dokgo Seong has been training in the Thunder God Sword Dance for decades, yet he hasn’t reached the level you achieved with that one cut. According to Baek Woong, it may take him fifty years to reach that level, but certainly not now. You know that the technique you used to decapitate the Sea God wasn’t just the Thunder Sword?”
“That’s true.”
“In that moment, you reached a level that can’t be defined by the bounds of the Thunder God Lineage or the Thunder God Sword Dance. It’s a realm that can’t be classified by humans. Therefore, even Dokgo Seong may not be able to provide an answer to your problem. Unless you offer him obsidian to convince him, he may dismiss your words as nonsense.”
“Hmm.”
“No matter how much of a master Dokgo Seong is within human limits, he can’t explain a god’s strategy.”
That made sense. Still, it felt uncomfortable to offer Dokgo Seong obsidian just for one issue. As Zhuge Sa had warned before, Dokgo Seong was anything but the type to help others easily and had a selfish side. I found myself hesitating, especially if there was a chance of betrayal.
“Next, the Sword Demon. He’s currently learning the Twin Sword Technique from Han Baek-ryeong. He’s likely the strongest candidate to break the peak wall and enter the Absolute Realm soon. Plus, he’s very close and trustworthy, so there’s a way to gain his advice.”
“That sounds good.”
“Finally, Jin So-cheong.”
“I don’t understand why he’s included here…”
I scratched my head. The five people mentioned so far had valid reasons for being discussed, but I couldn’t grasp why Jin So-cheong was included. Mangnyang smiled.
“Of course, compared to you now, Jin So-cheong is still just a puppy. But if you make up your mind to nurture him, you know he will become an incredible martial artist in no time, right?”
“You’re suggesting I give Jin So-cheong obsidian to nurture him?”
“You’ve done that frequently. Thanks to that, you restored the Three Treasure Technique and gained clues towards the next level.”
“……”
“I understand why you’re upset. His talent is terrifyingly incredible.”
I chewed my lips a few times, contemplating. Ultimately, I sighed, accepting Mangnyang’s words.
“Ha— I thought I had finally shaken off Jin So-cheong’s shadow and was feeling a bit happy, only to think I’d have to endure him surpassing me again…”
Indeed, Jin So-cheong’s talent was overwhelmingly frightening.
I didn’t find myself fearing otherworldly races or divine beings, but every time I experienced his absurd talent, I was left in shock. To others, it might just look like he was growing up too fast, but those who felt his talent up close had a different experience.
The absolute talent of a martial god!
That was the term that could be used to describe Jin So-cheong’s talent. All martial artists I encountered, no matter how skilled they were, expressed reverence towards Jin So-cheong’s abilities. Now that I finally had pride in skillfully using the Three Treasure Technique, I didn’t want to feel trampled by his talent again.
Just then, Zhuge Sa, who had been listening, chuckled.
“Hahaha. Hyun, you really have a bad personality. You must have something else you want to say, yet here you are roasting this foolish Baek Woong.”
“Haha…”
Mangnyang gave an awkward smile at that, while I tilted my head in confusion. Zhuge Sa looked at me and said, “Listen up. I have a pretty good idea, but the suggestions Hyun is about to make are the real ones.”
“Um-hm.”
Mangnyang cleared his throat and said, “The six previous suggestions can easily be accomplished just by traversing the continent. If you meet up and negotiate, it can work out fine. However, the two options I’m about to propose require special procedures, so listen carefully.”
“Two options?”
Mangnyang continued, “The first is to take the Black Card and resurrect Lee Cheong-un of the Thunder God Lineage.”
“……!!”
“Lee Cheong-un is the strongest martial artist in the history of the Thunder God Lineage, touching the Absolute Realm, and possessing both the Thunder God Sword Dance and the Thunder Spirit. Unlike Dokgo Seong, he has reached the Absolute Realm, so he might understand the profound meanings of the Thunder God Sword Dance. This is the best option that surpasses all six proposals mentioned earlier.”
He smirked and continued, “But there are two reasons why you should avoid choosing this.”
“What are they?”
“First, Jeon Wook foresaw that dangerous times were approaching you. Given it’s a divine warning, a crisis is certainly on the way, and the Black Card, capable of reversing that situation, will be a trump card. It would be a waste to use it just to resurrect Lee Cheong-un.”
“And the second reason?”
“As you know, the moment Lee Cheong-un is revived, the Heavenly Spirit Pill will fall under Won Yeong-shin’s scrutiny, so the Master of the White Lotus Sect will take a keen interest in our affairs. Moreover, Lee Cheong-un is no easy character either, so we can’t guarantee that he can be moved according to our wishes. Letting him loose in Jianghu for merely one martial insight makes it impossible to account for variables.”
That did make sense.
I concluded that resurrecting Lee Cheong-un this lifetime should be postponed. I pondered Mangnyang’s words before speaking up.
“I assume what you’re about to say next is the real proposal then.”
“It is.”
“What is it taking so long for you to get to?”
I complained, and Mangnyang said, “The final option is to meet a martial being of the absolute whom you’ve been aware of but have never faced properly. There’s a way to gain his teachings.”
“Someone like that exists?”
“That is…”
Mangnyang slowly uttered the name of that existence, and I was taken aback at hearing a name I never expected.
“What…? Is that even possible?”
It was completely out of the blue.
But more than that, it sounded intriguing. I felt a thrill of excitement in my chest.
“What could possibly be wrong? You’re already quite familiar with that being.”
“But I doubt Cheon Woo-jin will help me now.”
“Don’t worry, I will assist you.”
“Hmm…”
“This is a win-win scheme, so there’s no downside to trying it. Strike while the iron’s hot, let’s go right away.”
Mangnyang seemed to think this plan was the best. While I hesitated, Zhuge Sa added, “Take the Portrait Immortal as an offering. You should be able to fulfill your wish.”
“Zhuge Sa, are you sure? Isn’t that a bit too precious?”
Zhuge Sa had scraped together everything from his assets in Jangryeong Valley to provide those Portrait Immortals. It was unusual for him not to think twice, so when I cautiously asked, he chuckled.
“What’s precious about it? Even I can see Hyun’s proposal is reasonable. It’s far riskier to grapple with nurturing Jin So-cheong or getting Dokgo Seong involved, or relying on the Black Card, which is untried without attempting this.”
“… Fine.”
I took a deep breath as I stuffed the Portrait Immortals into the Wooden Armor and headed with Mangnyang to the village where Master Mangnyang resided. After asking about the Heavenly Secret, we moved to the village, but sure enough, moments later, Cheon Woo-jin blocked our path, unveiling an Illusion Fog.
Cheon Woo-jin glared at me with fierce eyes.
“How did you interpret what I said? I clearly mentioned I’d absolve you of all grudges and grace!”
He seemed thoroughly annoyed just by looking at me. Given how often we had interacted this lifetime, it was understandable. Then Mangnyang, standing beside me, spoke to Cheon Woo-jin.
“Don’t worry, Abbot. We’re just here to borrow an altar, so we don’t require your assistance today.”
Cheon Woo-jin growled at Mangnyang.
“Older Brother, don’t be absurd. There are countless sacred mountains and islands in heaven and earth. Must you perform the ceremony here? Don’t bother the Master any further.”
“Hmm… I suppose it wouldn’t hurt, but I think the Master would want to hear our discussion.”
“What basis do you have for that?”
Mangnyang pointed to the sky with his finger.
“Not long ago, the Heavenly Secret was greatly disturbed, and as an Abbot, you must be aware of that. Do you know what caused it?”
“Well, obviously a great being has fallen. I don’t know the details, but I know the heaven and earth were turned upside down.”
“Haha. An issue of that magnitude arose, and you’re not concerned with outer matters? Truly an Abbot.”
“It isn’t my issue, so why would I bow my head to inquire about it? Anyway, if you have something to say, spit it out already.”
Mangnyang spoke calmly. “The Sea God has fallen.”
“……!!”
“The one who defeated the ancient ruler, the Sea God, for the first time in history is the very Baek Woong standing before you.”
“Gah…”
Cheon Woo-jin lost his composure, gaping at me. Following that, in a frantic state, he started using some technique, only to grow even more surprised. He broke out in a cold sweat as he said, “N-no way. Even if you’re the master of the Seven Luminaries, how could a human… defeat a god…”
“It’s true. Didn’t the Abbot just ask the Master a question to verify the facts?”
“……”
“This is a duty. We have an obligation to report the outcome to you, the protector of Central Plains Taoism, Master. And we’ve come to perform a ceremony along the way, so step aside.”
Cheon Woo-jin reluctantly nodded.
“… I understand.”
We stepped into the village. Then, we arrived in front of Yeodong-bin’s shrine.
Suddenly feeling a wave of sadness, I gently touched the pillars of Yeodong-bin’s shrine.
‘Yeodong-bin is still battling against the Sea God.’
While sealing the Sea God’s immense power with his own, he must have been on the brink of self-destruction. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Yeodong-bin’s sacrifice, I too would have died right there. Although my joy in defeating the Sea God had momentarily overshadowed it, Yeodong-bin was truly the one who had defeated the Sea God.
At that moment.
‘… again…’
Something dark enveloped me. I slowly drifted into slumber, as if responding to Mangnyang’s call.
[You’re here again.]
It was the first thing Mangnyang said. He walked along the path towards me, then leaped onto a low stone wall. The Black Cat strolled gracefully atop the wall and gazed at me.
[So you’ve built up some karma by defeating the Sea God.]
“……?”
Karma? As I looked suspiciously at Mangnyang, he casually flicked his tail and said, [That coincidence was inevitable, and what you thought was inevitable has turned into coincidence. The Law of Cause and Effect is the greatest law in the world.]
“What do you mean by building karma?”
[I’ll tell you later when you build up more karma.]
“Are you messing with me?!”
Was this cat out to toy with me from the start? As I was about to lose my cool, Mangnyang casually turned his head away.
[The Master of the Twelve Joules left a message for me. He wishes to make a contract with you through me as the mediator.]
“What?”
[Looks like you made quite an impression on him. He’s not the type to trust anyone other than himself.]
“A contract? Why would I want to make a contract with him?”
I was taken aback. The Master of the Twelve Joules was one of the most untrustworthy figures I had ever encountered, right up there with Lee Kwang. Receiving a dubious offer for a contract through Mangnyang wasn’t going to get a friendly reaction from me.
Mangnyang raised his front paw, looking annoyed. [Talk it out with him directly.]
Suddenly, space opened up, and someone appeared wearing a dog costume. Of course, it was the Master of the Twelve Joules, and since I never expected to see him enter the realm of my dream, my eyes widened.
The Master of the Twelve Joules glanced around briefly before focusing on me.
“Hey, nice to see you, Baek Woong.”
