EP. 20
It is definitely named Titanoboa.
The same name, the same species as the master of the Snake Fist I had hunted.
However, the size was incomparable.
According to the information deduced by wild instincts, that species can grow up to 15 meters. But that creature far exceeded even that size.
The term Imugi, which seems to belong only to legends, felt perfectly fitting.
“Saaah!”
It was staring at us while flicking its tongue.
My entire body trembles.
That creature is even more dangerous than the Cayman.
Moreover, since we weren’t by the water, there was no possibility of escaping from it.
“The martial arts you used on that small snake are from Shaolin.”
Baek Yeon-Young started explaining as if everything were fine.
It was a clichéd explanation I had heard multiple times.
This was not the time or situation to be listening to that.
If we stayed still, we would be eaten by that snake in no time.
I grabbed Baek Yeon-Young’s finger and tugged at it.
“Gek…!”
What are you doing, you idiot?
This is not a situation where we can afford to dawdle.
“Are you worried about me? How quaint.”
Baek Yeon-Young patted my head once.
And she started walking.
Not in the direction we needed to go, but towards the Imugi.
Her steps were natural.
She wasn’t doing anything other than just walking.
However.
Kugugoo!
The ground began to tremble.
The air was being crushed.
A profound internal energy tingled through my body.
I felt a sense of overwhelming power that I had never experienced before in my life.
…Is this the power of Baek Yeon-Young?
“If all of Shaolin’s martial arts were based on the principle of not killing, I wouldn’t even glance at it.”
Baek Yeon-Young caressed a mural.
That was where the martial arts I had seen and mimicked were illustrated.
“It may be from Shaolin, but it’s also a martial art that deals with conflict.”
Baek Yeon-Young assumed a stance.
The Imugi, overwhelmed by her aura, regained its senses and let out an aggressive sound.
“Saaah!”
“Do you know what that means?”
The massive jaw of the snake was rapidly approaching Baek Yeon-Young.
She merely stood there, fingers poised, waiting.
She wasn’t even looking at the snake.
“The martial arts of Shaolin are about drawing curves. The martial arts of a monk are not meant to kill people.”
Kwagagak!
“This is why I dislike the teachings of Shaolin.”
The snake’s fangs were flying towards her, intent on swallowing her.
Baek Yeon-Young was looking at me.
Her lips slowly started moving.
“But the Dragon Claw Technique is an exception.”
Her white fingertips moved.
From point to point.
As a distinguished painter would swiftly draw a line with a brush, her fingertips met the snake’s open jaws.
Zzzzzz!
Countless teeth of the snake shattered on impact.
“It’s martial arts akin to a dragon’s claws. The arrogant monks draw straight lines.”
Baek Yeon-Young retracted her penetrating hand.
Zzzzzz!
Simultaneously, she slammed the snake’s head down to the ground.
“Each of the thirty-six techniques is a lethal strike.”
Zzzzzz!
The overwhelming force split the cave floor.
“I don’t know how much longer it can endure, but take a good look.”
The Imugi shook its head and rose again.
Despite its teeth being shattered and its head slammed into the ground, it still had some fight left.
The snake lunged once more, attempting to bite with its remaining teeth.
“Do you know the difference between Su and Jang?”
Zzeng!
She struck the snake’s jaw with her palm.
“When you use a spear, it’s Su; when you use your palm, it’s Jang. It’s been misinterpreted, but that’s not the case.”
Zzzzzz!
A flurry of seemingly invisible punches flew towards it.
Zzzzzzz!
“Su actually encompasses Jang, Ji, and Gyeon altogether.”
They were straight lines.
Each was imbued with a lethal intent to kill the enemy.
Crack!
It was far too brutal to be considered Shaolin techniques.
Boom!
The Imugi’s blood splattered everywhere.
Yet, not a single drop of blood stained Baek Yeon-Young’s body.
She was looking at me.
“How about that? Though it’s from Shaolin, it truly embodies combat, doesn’t it?”
The large white snake now resembled a crimson one.
Its body was riddled with holes, and all of its sharp teeth had been knocked out.
“If you were to choose a martial art suited for your body, the Dragon Claw Technique would fit perfectly. You knew that, which is why you used it on that small snake, didn’t you?”
I didn’t know that at all.
I just followed along because it was a martial art executed through hand movements.
Blood dripped steadily from the Imugi’s body.
“How about it? Did you engrave it in your eyes well?”
I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming or just seeing things.
She definitely didn’t appear to be that strong.
I thought she was at best a third-rate warrior.
Her teaching me martial arts had felt really awkward.
But that wasn’t the case.
She was someone who had reached a realm I couldn’t even dare to think about.
No wonder she couldn’t teach me. A genius doesn’t teach others.
“I worry that I’m not good at using the Dragon Claw Technique and that I may have made a mistake.”
Not good at using it?
Worried about making a mistake?
After bringing that massive snake to such a state?
Even if she had made a mistake, who would dare say so?
“…Gek gek.”
I wouldn’t say a word even if I touched my stomach.
“Gek…”
That was when it happened.
Guuuuuuuu!
A strong flash of light erupted from the Imugi’s body.
Crack.
Crackle.
A large, egg-like membrane formed.
I instinctively realized what it was.
Evolution.
“Gaek!”
I hurriedly tried to inform Baek Yeon-Young.
If that level of creature evolves, who knows what will emerge?
We have to smash it.
…I can’t smash it, so you do it.
“It was worth the effort. Can you show me more?”
What?
Baek Yeon-Young waited for the white snake with a calm expression.
Zzzzzz.
The egg started to crack.
Kwaaaaaang!
With a tremendous roar, it began to hatch.
It was a gigantic white snake with five heads.
[An entity that cannot be evaluated.]
The same phrase came to mind as when I saw this woman.
If I were to make a judgment based on my limited knowledge, that creature seemed like a Hydra from mythology or perhaps a Yamata-no-Orochi. The enormous five heads proved that.
And if what I know about that creature is correct, I also understand that simply severing its heads won’t be the end of it.
No matter how strong this woman is, fighting that creature without a countermeasure would be a dangerous endeavor.
“Gek gek!”
Since it’s already too late, escaping would be the best option.
If it’s this woman, she will be able to flee safely.
…Of course, she would take me with her.
I bit Baek Yeon-Young’s finger.
“Little lizard.”
After pulling her finger away, Baek Yeon-Young patted my head once more.
“There’s a saying that to properly harness martial arts, one must learn the corresponding mind techniques.”
This wasn’t the time for such an explanation.
I either needed to attack while it was still stationary or find a way to escape entirely.
“Currently, the martial world considers this a given. Without the appropriate mind technique, your martial arts are half-baked, and there are rumors you may fall into madness.”
She stopped stroking my head.
Her gaze focused on the snake emerging from the egg.
“However, that’s not entirely true.”
She walked slowly.
Thud.
Kuuuuuuung.
Thud.
Kwaaaaaang!
An immense energy spread throughout the space, dominating it.
“There exists a martial art called the Nine Yin Divine Claw.”
However, the white snake lifted its head arrogantly, as if the idea was beneath it.
It had become immensely stronger than before.
“Strengthen your five fingers and grasp the opponent’s head.”
Baek Yeon-Young stretched out her hand.
“People say this is the correct mantra.”
Thud.
Kwaaaaaang!
She took another step.
“But you see, I’ve never read the Nine Yin Manual.”
Thud.
Kwaaaaaang!
The five heads charged toward Baek Yeon-Young.
Each of them was more powerful than the Imugi I had faced earlier.
No matter how capable that woman was, it seemed difficult for her to withstand a combined assault from five creatures.
With fluid movements, Baek Yeon-Young skillfully evaded the attacks from the five snakes.
“I had no formal education. As the daughter of a humble worker, what could I read or learn?”
Thud.
Another step.
Kwaaaaaang!
“By chance, I found a book that said it was the Nine Yin Manual, but no matter how much I examined it, it appeared to be a copy.”
Thud.
Kwaaaaaang!
“Corpses litter the ground. A neighbor’s child died for touching the Five Great Seka. I am hungry. I am thirsty. It resembled a diary filled with lamentations.”
Finally, Baek Yeon-Young reached the front of the white snake.
“I believed it to be the Nine Yin Manual.”
The snake seized the opportunity. All five heads lunged at her simultaneously.
Each one posed a deadly threat, capable of claiming her life.
“And I interpreted it differently.”
There was truly no escape; it was a four-cornered trap.
“Crush the enemy’s head with five fingers.”
Thdukk.
Lethal intent was packed into each segment of her fingers. Her hand took on the shape of a dragon’s claw.
Baek Yeon-Young swung her hand like that.
Yes.
She merely swung it.
Paaaaaan!
At that moment, all five heads of the snake burst apart.
A rain of blood began to fall.
“This is my Nine Yin Divine Claw.”
Once more, she emerged unscathed by the blood.
The image of her standing gracefully amid the blood fountain was more beautiful than anything I had ever witnessed.
“No, it is the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.”
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