Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
And thus, my life at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School began. It could have easily turned mundane or annoying, but instead, I found myself feeling rather pleased, as everything was progressing smoothly. I was confident that receiving the Destruction of the Soul Technique would elevate my abilities to the next level.
“So much motivation!”
The next day, after greeting Jin So-cheong, I started learning the Destruction of the Soul Technique from Geuk Ho. Of course, I had already memorized the essentials since I had not only heard them but also reiterated them while passing them on to the swordsmen of Dongyeong. Therefore, I had no worries about remembering them.
After passing on the key points, Geuk Ho scratched his head with a somewhat dubious expression and said,
“Um… Actually, no one else in the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School has mastered this technique yet, except me. So, it wouldn’t be strange if you can’t master it either.”
His tone was surprisingly cautious rather than his usual free-spirited and playful manner. It was probably because of my status within the Thunder God Lineage.
In Geuk Ho’s mind, it felt like he was giving away a massive secret of swordsmanship to someone while feeling uncomfortable due to the vague conditions of the Destruction of the Soul Technique. It made sense since the Destruction of the Soul Technique was a unique martial art that couldn’t be easily achieved through talent or effort.
I pretended to practice the technique as instructed and then asked,
“Geuk Ho, isn’t this technique related to the mind?”
I had already shown Geuk Ho how I had once fallen into my ego while reciting the core of the Destruction of the Soul Technique. His expression changed to one of realization as my question caught his attention. He then asked,
“What do you mean, Baek Woong?”
“Well… It’s like throwing oneself away, that destructive feeling I just couldn’t follow. Therefore, I couldn’t maintain my consciousness. Isn’t it related to one’s inherent character or temperament?”
“……!!”
“Is it possible that, unlike others, only you have a natural disposition that aligns with it, Geuk Ho?”
In an instant, Geuk Ho’s eyes lit up as if he had grasped something. After contemplating for a moment, he said,
“Wait for me a moment, disciple. I’ll go see Master Lee Kwang.”
Geuk Ho headed towards Waryong Hall, and he returned half a shichen later. The reason it took some time was likely because he had discussed the Destruction of the Soul Technique with Lee Kwang. With his face slightly flushed, Geuk Ho said,
“Master will be here soon.”
As expected, Lee Kwang followed him in, and along for the ride was Jin So-cheong as well. Lee Kwang glanced at me and said,
“Baek Woong, it seems your speculation is correct.”
“So…?”
“It seems that the innate disposition for this technique is only granted to those with a wanderer’s free-spirited and destructive nature. Through various methods I tested, I have confirmed it.”
I wasn’t sure what he had done, but it seemed Lee Kwang had conducted some experiments to gain assurance. Based on Jin So-cheong’s satisfied expression, it appeared that there was no doubt about this conclusion. As I stood there in a daze, Lee Kwang continued,
“If the condition of the Destruction of the Soul Technique is a wanderer’s mindset, there are indeed methods we can attempt to fulfill it. There are two ways to artificially acquire the technique.”
The swordsmen of Dongyeong could not come up with a solution at this stage. However, like the consummate master he was, Lee Kwang seemed to have a solution.
“What methods?”
“First, to control one’s Heart and Soul to fit the conditions for the Destruction of the Soul Technique. Of course, for this method, I must be at the level of a Generational Grandmaster in my training, and a great focus would be required. It would be best to create a separate mental method using Thunder Spirit to control it.”
“Hmm.”
Then Lee Kwang crossed his arms and continued,
“Second, you must learn Dual Mind Cultivation.”
“Dual Mind Cultivation?”
“It’s a mental method said to be exceedingly rare and uncommon in Jianghu. It separates one’s mind for simultaneous operation and is only secretly passed down among a select few sects. The most famous version is likely that of the Wudang Sect, but obtaining it would be like plucking a star from the sky.”
“……!!”
“The second method lacks practicality; hence, we will use the first method. It will take quite some time…”
Suddenly, a thought struck me.
‘Wait, Dual Mind Cultivation… wudang sect…?’
I had previously learned the key technique of the Wudang Sect’s Heavenly Rebirth Technique and had evolved it into my own Baek Woong Style by maximizing its capabilities through my internal powers. I was aware that even though it belonged to the Heavenly Rebirth Technique, it certainly had elements of Dual Mind Cultivation. I hurriedly said to Lee Kwang,
“Could this work?”
“Hmm?”
Then I revealed my Baek Woong Style to the gathered Thunder God Lineage experts. As I shared the key points, their faces turned pale with shock. Especially, Jin So-cheong, who was next to me, grabbed my shoulder and shook me in excitement.
“Amazing, master! How did you know something like this? If we combine it with Thunder Spirit, we could perfectly integrate it with the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage!”
“Haha…”
Just as I suspected, Lee Kwang couldn’t hide his joy and said,
“Hmm, we need to study further, but this undoubtedly possesses the effects of Dual Mind Cultivation. If we can isolate the effects of this mind technique, developing a key technique suited for the Destruction of the Soul Technique will be much easier. It will be several times faster than creating it from scratch!”
“Wow…”
“But how did you come to know of this?”
I told Lee Kwang,
“I learned this from a gifted individual in the Wudang Sect. Back then, I merely utilized it to assist in understanding techniques, but it’s helping me quite a bit now.”
“Hmm… Do you remember their name or appearance?”
“I’m sorry. As part of the agreement I made in return for training, I swore on the honor of the Thunder God Lineage not to disclose that information.”
“Hmm.”
When I mentioned the honor of the Thunder God Lineage, Lee Kwang’s expression turned mixed. He was somewhat uneasy about my words, but with all of his disciples present, questioning it could lead to him revealing too much. So, he dismissively said,
“It doesn’t matter. I figured someone as skilled as you would know a legendary master.”
Well, that’s obvious, isn’t it? After all, it’s not just any master; it’s Jang Sam-bong!
“Yes…”
I nodded slightly and then asked Lee Kwang,
“However, the Destruction of the Soul Technique seems to be a rather strange martial art. Unlike the other techniques of the Thunder God Lineage, it feels like it just popped up out of nowhere…”
“The history of the Thunder God Lineage is very old. Throughout, many masters have researched and redefined it, and the Destruction of the Soul Technique likely emerged during one of those experiments. However, it was interrupted when the White Lotus Sect caused trouble, leading to the training process getting disrupted.”
“Oh…”
“It’s likely that there were naturally connecting techniques or arts to the Destruction of the Soul Technique. However, with the current successors scattered, it remains a mystery…”
Lee Kwang’s words carried a sigh. Implicit in his words was that even he did not know everything about the Thunder God Lineage’s martial arts. Listening to Lee Kwang, I thought,
‘Finding the other successors would be challenging. At the very least, I should strive until the Thunder God Lineage rises again, so that others may gather under its banner.’
I continued to practice the Destruction of the Soul Technique in front of Geuk Ho but confirmed that I was making no progress by the end of the day. The Thunder God Lineage experts listened to my Baek Woong Style multiple times before heading into their personal training. It felt like I was the only one losing something, but since researching the Destruction of the Soul Technique would take time, there was nothing I could do about it.
“Tch, well then, I should practice Jang Sam-bong’s insights more.”
I began to painstakingly practice every insight of Jang Sam-bong that had been passed down to me. Currently, I could only confidently share insights like the Earth-shattering Palm and Heaven-revealing Sword, and I would need a significant period to re-establish the other insights. Especially since I wasn’t particularly gifted, I would need a long training time.
At least while Yeong Dong-bin was engaging in battles against Demon Beasts, he had given me the feeling of perfectly executing the Earthly Principles, so I felt that experience would shorten my training time. I needed to create an environment where I could summon Yeong Dong-bin more often.
Then, the next day, Miho disguised herself as a young innocent girl and came to visit the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. Complaining like a child, she begged me to admit her. I casually mentioned whether it might not be a good idea, and Lee Kwang ended up assigning her as a Three Line Trainee.
That night, Miho sneaked into my chamber and giggled softly.
“Hehe, learning human martial arts might be fun.”
“Stop joking. You don’t really need or care for it.”
I replied bluntly. In fact, based on my previous experience when Miho had joined the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, she seemed to enthusiastically practice for about a month or two, but then lost interest and ultimately gave up because the martial arts practice was so labor-intensive. Miho chuckled and said,
“Haha… What would I gain from learning martial arts anyway?”
“If you use the Thunder God Lineage martial arts to fight, wouldn’t you be even stronger?”
Miho had nestled herself into bed with me, whispering softly.
“Not a chance. Both martial arts and sorcery ultimately require reaching a higher realm to make use of them. For me, martial arts are just a burden, so I see no reason to waste time on them. Instead, I’d rather refine my sorcery during this time.”
“Hm.”
“So, how’s your training going?”
I nodded from under the covers.
“Just endure for five years. I want to show some results in that time.”
“Hmm… I’m bored.”
Suddenly, Miho wagged her tail enticingly and pressed her alluring figure against me, making it awkward for me to decide where to place my hands. I shook my head vigorously.
“Please. Do you realize what would happen if we got caught here? Everything would go wrong.”
Given her half-hearted consent, I could have indeed attacked Miho and moved forward, but such a loud commotion wouldn’t go unnoticed by Lee Kwang or Jin So-cheong. Even if I wanted, this was not a situation I could act upon.
“I’m so bored…”
Miho said with a giggle.
“Should I go seduce the trainees for fun?”
“Eugh… Please hold off.”
Visions of mischief danced on Miho’s face, sending chills down my spine. Miho could genuinely lure innocent trainees and make fun of them. Without even using charm magic, her inherent allure and beauty would easily drew attention. If that were to happen, I would find myself in an extremely tricky situation.
Miho burst into laughter and said,
“I’m just joking. I might stick around for a bit longer since this place seems a tad dull. I think I’ll head to Jinrang Valley soon.”
“To help Mangnyang?”
“Honestly, I worry that if I stay here too long, my identity might be uncovered. While Lee Kwang is one thing, Jin So-cheong seems to have an extremely acute sense.”
“Hm… Understood.”
I sensed that Miho’s true intention was to pretend to be a low-ranking trainee at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School and observe me secretly. However, sensing Jin So-cheong as a potential threat, she likely had come to warn me before leaving. I instinctively felt that Jin So-cheong was a surprisingly dangerous individual.
‘Jin So-cheong is also hiding quite a lot.’
Like Lee Kwang, she had a personality that never fully revealed herself to those ranked beneath her. She only used minimal strength to repel lower ranks while concealing her true thoughts as effectively as possible. For someone in Jianghu, that could be seen as top-notch behavior, but truly, individuals like Jin So-cheong—who hide their abilities so thoroughly—were incredibly rare in Jianghu.
Two days later, Miho took her leave. She claimed it was due to the arduousness of training, and nobody cared that she was leaving. Just a few trainees who had tried to woo her were left disappointed.
Meanwhile, my training and instruction continued. I diligently honed Jang Sam-bong’s insights through personal training daily, while occasionally engaging in discussions about martial arts with the visiting Thunder God Lineage experts. Most of the conversations revolved around how to integrate the profound mysteries hidden within the Heaven-revealing Sword and Earth-shattering Palm into the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage.
“Huh?”
Surprisingly, I thought I’d have to bow out of these discussions quickly, but unexpectedly I found myself participating for two or three months without a hitch. In fact, I often felt that the discussion couldn’t continue smoothly without my input. Considering the company included talents like Lee Kwang, Jin So-cheong, and Geuk Ho, this was truly astonishing.
Moreover, I realized that the reason I was able to contribute continuously was due to the positive feedback loop generated by the experiences I had accumulated while training. My initial dismissal of my lack of talent didn’t do justice to the fact that I had gained real-world experience through encounters involving swordsmen and high-level masters. The fluid martial arts that had taken root within me were alive and kicking.
“I’m learning!”
“This is fun!”
Half a year flew by in the blink of an eye. Strangely enough, I found joy in mastering martial arts like never before. Though I hadn’t progressed significantly in my martial skills yet, the sheer fun of discussing with the experts from the Thunder God Lineage delighted me. It was exhilarating to share insights that I had kept to myself and see their talents firsthand.
Despite not improving, I was enjoying martial arts for the first time in my life.
“Today, I shall make an important announcement.”
The gaze of Jin So-cheong, Geuk Ho, and me converged on Lee Kwang, who sat down in Waryong Hall. Slowly, he continued,
“I have completed the integration formula for the Destruction of the Soul Technique. From now on, we will learn using this formula, which shall be called the Split Heart Technique.”
“Split Heart Technique!”
“The sequence in which you will learn is, firstly, the Thunder Spirit Technique, then the Heavenly Pillar Kill, and based on that, you will reach the Destruction of the Soul Technique with the Split Heart Technique. This is the most natural progression.”
Lee Kwang’s words were true. It took all of us about seven weeks to fully grasp the Split Heart Technique, and once we did, everyone was able to activate the Destruction of the Soul Technique. Particularly, Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong bore expressions brimming with newfound confidence the moment they mastered the technique.
“I’ve basically given a tiger wings!”
Even Geuk Ho, who had been practicing the Destruction of the Soul Technique previously, seemed to gain new insights. With its control now more manageable, there’d be few in the realm who could keep pace with him and master the technique swiftly. Likewise, with my newfound ability to use the Destruction of the Soul Technique, I felt confident I could fill the gaps with practice.
Then, about three months later, Lee Kwang called for me and said,
“Baek Woong, it seems that Dongbang Mugeol has returned to the Central Plains.”
“……!!”
I sensed the inevitable occurrence. Up until now, I had been solely focused on my martial arts training, but the affairs related to Dongbang Mugeol were equally important. Lee Kwang likely had some intelligence channels connected to gain news about Dongbang Mugeol.
“He is currently in Henan,” Lee Kwang mentioned.
I told him,
“We must make contact. Learning information from Dongbang Mugeol is essential for our next steps.”
“I think so too. However, it seems Dongbang Mugeol’s martial arts are quite formidable, so we must approach with caution if we wish to capture him.”
“What are you planning?”
Lee Kwang pondered for a moment and replied,
“While it would be best for the Thunder God Lineage to mobilize, we cannot leave the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School unattended for long. So, Geuk Ho, you, and Jin So-cheong should go together.”
“Aren’t you coming along?”
“Jin So-cheong can subdue him alone if need be. You three must concentrate on encircling him.”
“Yes.”
As I turned to leave, Lee Kwang called out to me.
“Baek Woong.”
“Yes.”
When I turned back, Lee Kwang stared at me intently. He then said,
“You are a truly mysterious individual. It’s as if you harbor the talents of a great genius, while also displaying actions and demeanor built solely through effort. Sometimes it feels like I’m conversing with someone who has lived for centuries.”
“……”
“But even if I have my doubts about you, I will not seek to probe further. Your feelings for the Thunder God Lineage are genuine, and it’s a fact that the martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage have progressed due to your teachings. You are undoubtedly the future of the Thunder God Lineage.”
“Overly flattering.”
“Come back successfully.”
“Yes, I will definitely succeed.”
As I strode forward, I reflected,
‘That’s not like Lee Kwang at all.’
It was utterly impossible for someone like Lee Kwang to voice such inner thoughts. The fact that he expressed his suspicions toward me signified that he wanted to convey a desire to trust me. In other words, it seemed that he was in the process of gauging whether or not to trust me.
Hmm.
I paused for a moment to contemplate.
Was it truly correct to pass on all Jang Sam-bong’s insights to the Thunder God Lineage? If they grew too powerful, wouldn’t there be side effects?
“… That’s an unnecessary worry.”
I chuckled to myself. Given that there were more than enough masters and monsters in the world, my concerns were, in fact, just fears. After all, it wouldn’t be possible for Lee Kwang or Jin So-cheong to instantly become conquerors of the world just because they learned a few lines of Jang Sam-bong’s insights.
And thus, the operation to capture Dongbang Mugeol began.
I’ve got three more books to read before summer to avoid a hassle… Aaaah!
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