0056 : Demon Subduing Hall
“Hah… Hah.”
I let out a faint breath.
‘How many times has it been now?’
I couldn’t remember clearly. I felt like I had counted up to 8,000, but now it was slipping from my mind. I was aware I was supposed to complete 92,000 more repetitions, but thinking about that made my spirit feel utterly drained, so I forcibly avoided the thought.
Beside me, Master Yun Guang observed with eagle-like eyes. He struck my calf with a wooden sword and shouted,
“Focus! Your footwork is incorrect.”
“……!!”
I felt like I might collapse. My body could recover almost immediately thanks to my boundless internal energy, but my mental strength felt almost depleted. It was no wonder; I had been practicing the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique non-stop for two days and three nights without a single break. I never anticipated I’d have to endure such intense training from the very start.
‘I want to rest.’
I felt sleepy. My stamina shouldn’t be an issue, yet I kept wanting to doze off. If I could just stop this madness for even a moment to lie down and recuperate, I would feel blissful. As I swayed, Master Yun Guang chuckled.
“I hear a new master came in, and I thought something interesting would happen, but it seems you’re just here to be kicked around? Hahaha.”
“What did you say…?”
“I’ve been a master for over several years, but I’ve never seen such a crazy training method. You might as well give up now.”
Master Yun Guang was said to be a first-class expert well-known in the vicinity. However, in his youth, he had suddenly lost to Lee Kwang and, inspired by him, decided to give up all martial activities and live as a master of the Thunder Spirit Sect. Being an established expert, his tone was laced with arrogance and frivolity.
‘But that guy’s skills are definitely solid…’
I inwardly grumbled.
The two masters propping up the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School along with Master Jin So-cheong—Yun Guang and Ji Pyeong. Both were initially first-class experts in the vicinity and were known as late-stage masters, which meant they were quite strong as masters of the Thunder Spirit Sect. They must certainly qualify as peak masters, at least in the eyes of the world.
Even I wasn’t confident I could take down Yun Guang within 100 seconds. I clenched my teeth.
“I won’t give up! Just shut up and watch!”
“Hmph, the little brat has some guts. Continue then.”
Master Yun Guang smirked and resumed monitoring my posture. Jin So-cheong, Yun Guang, and Ji Pyeong would strike me with their wooden swords the moment my ‘form’ deviated even slightly. It seemed they had received orders from Lee Kwang to do so.
Swish.
I motivated myself again and reached 10,000 repetitions.
“Time for a switch, Ji Pyeong.”
“Mm.”
At that moment, the third day was coming to an end, and Yun Guang switched with Master Ji Pyeong. Unlike the somewhat frivolous Yun Guang, Ji Pyeong was a steadfast man with a sturdy build, who merely observed me with a silent gaze. He didn’t seem inclined to strike up a conversation.
Thwack!
“Ugh.”
In the silence, Ji Pyeong watched and struck me each time my posture faltered. Even though I had hastily defended with my internal energy, I still felt immense pain. After all, an average adult man would have likely succumbed to a blow from Ji Pyeong.
‘Is this guy trying to kill me?’
Yet Ji Pyeong, with his steady and unwavering demeanor, was unreadable. I had to bear the strain even more so than before. My hands felt as if they would blister from repeating the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, but I persevered and continued to swing my sword.
I felt my head grow blank. I was truly at my limit now. I desperately wanted to collapse and sleep. No, even if I couldn’t sleep, I wanted to lie down for just a moment. My body was crying out in protest. I couldn’t even remember how many times I had performed the technique by now. The thought of dying felt more appealing than enduring this agony.
At that moment, Ji Pyeong spoke up.
“If you want to give up, just say so at any time.”
“……?”
“A hundred thousand times is impossible. At this rate, you’ll either tear your ligaments or completely rupture your muscles and won’t be able to live as a martial artist anymore. You should take it easy.”
This was the first time I had seen Ji Pyeong speak so much. However, I quickly realized it was because he genuinely cared. From his perspective, this training method was nothing but a life-shortening exercise for martial artists, making it seem futile, hence his pitying advice. My mind cleared up, and I replied firmly.
“I will do it!”
“… Alright, then continue.”
Ji Pyeong shut his mouth once more and kept watching me.
Even when I felt like I might lose my mind, my body moved instinctively, and I sensed my distractions fading away more and more. Once the difficulty exceeded a certain level, it was as if my mind floated away, leaving me devoid of any thoughts.
Soon Ji Pyeong’s shift ended, and Master Jin So-cheong took over in the early dawn. Watching me standing in a puddle of sweat, he said,
“Wait a moment.”
Splash!
He suddenly brought a bucket of cold water and doused me with it. As I looked at him, astonished, Master Jin So-cheong spoke flatly.
“How many times have you done it so far?”
“About 26,000 times…”
“You’re moving too slowly. If you don’t pick up the pace, your disciple will die from this training.”
“What…?”
Master Jin So-cheong said while tearing open the bag of dried fruit he had brought.
“This training comes from the master’s own conviction. However, it’s half a gamble. The master believes in his disciple’s potential and trusts that he’ll overcome this challenge to grow to the next stage. So don’t doubt it.”
“That doesn’t matter. I’ve decided to go through with it, so I will see it through to the end.”
“Remember well. The key to this training is ‘accuracy and speed.’”
It seemed like Master Jin So-cheong was giving me some sort of hint.
‘Could it be that he has done this training before?’
A horrifying thought crossed my mind, but I shook my head. If that were true, then Master Jin So-cheong must be an incarnation born for martial prowess, able to endure such grueling training with boundless internal energy. How could an ordinary human endure such rigors?
But I resolved to accept his advice honestly. I focused on executing the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique accurately and swiftly. My concentration had already surpassed all limits, though it felt as if something were crawling into my mind.
For a brief moment, my vision dimmed.
I was so exhausted that I seemed to have briefly lost consciousness. I snapped back to my senses and resumed swinging the wooden sword.
As I surpassed 35,000 repetitions, the fourth day was nearly over.
I was now in such a depleted state that I could hardly tell who was observing me. I could only feel a dark figure screaming as it struck at me. My eyes blinked as shapes blurred and drifted away from my memory.
“Hey, get a grip!”
Splash!
Yun Guang doused me with cold water. It seemed I had momentarily zoned out. As the cold water hit me, I mechanically resumed swinging the sword. I could hear Yun Guang mumbling in disbelief from the side.
“Crazy guy… You’re still going after all of this? Insane…”
Am I a crazy person?
I pondered over Yun Guang’s single remark as I continued to swing the sword. The trajectory of the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique faded from memory, and my fingertips felt as if they had become one with the sword. In that strange sensation, memories from the past surfaced momentarily.
Death. Bloodshed. Defeat. Powerlessness.
I had felt these things so many times over the decades.
And then, Mangnyang died.
He died because of my foolish choice and because of my helplessness.
If I remained weak, the same fate would inevitably repeat itself.
‘I am weak.’
I had never considered why I was weak. From the moment I was born, I had been positioned as a natural underdog. I had lived a hopeless life for decades, constantly being beaten and tossed around. Over that time, the feeling of powerlessness had dominated me.
That’s why I endure.
I don’t want to let go.
I was already tired of a comfortably decaying life. And every time, I felt my limits painfully. I had come to understand the harsh truth of the world: nothing can be gained without sacrificing something.
What I can give up now is just my laziness.
If I give up on this training halfway, the three great masters, Lee Kwang, would find me a nuisance and drop me. If that happened, the vow I made to Mangnyang would be meaningless, and I would be trapped in a stagnant cycle of no growth. I would continue living as if nothing happened, just as I had until now.
I don’t want that. I refuse to let go.
I have come to a position where I must hold on.
And I need to hold on desperately, risking my life to do so.
Thus, I entered the fifth day. By now, Ji Pyeong came over, looking at me with concern. The typically stony-faced man displayed such an expression, which must have meant I looked terribly pitiful. Yet, with no time to spare for such thoughts, I was counting the repetitions in my mind in a state of numbness.
‘55321… 55322…’
I had now reached exactly halfway.
‘Wait… halfway…? It’s only half?’
In that moment, I felt my spirit waver. After all this, I still had to do it two more times. I had to repeat it all over again just like before. It seemed utterly inhuman. Yet regardless, I gritted my teeth and pressed on.
I couldn’t remember any reason to endure anymore.
I was just enduring.
It felt as if the sword was growing from my hand. Time seemed to slow as my body adjusted to the languid pace. Mesmerized by the flickering edge of the blade in the darkness, I continued through the motions, executing the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique for the 55623rd time.
‘I will not give up.
I won’t give up.
I will never give up.’
I kept murmuring this like a chant.
Because I am…
“Master, this seems like madness.”
On the morning of the 11th day, Master Jin So-cheong finally expressed his opinion.
As he ate breakfast, Master Lee Kwang of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School glanced at him. His disciple, Jin So-cheong’s face had hardened, and he no longer moved his chopsticks. Master Lee Kwang, who had been enjoying stir-fried vegetables, said,
“It is madness. But why?”
“That child will die.”
Master Jin So-cheong sighed in exasperation.
That’s right.
By normal standards, Baek Woong should be dead soon. A typical human would either be exhausted, bedridden from injuries leading to complications like tetanus or bruising, or die from dehydration. Alternatively, the muscles and ligaments would rupture, leaving the person unable to practice martial arts ever again.
In truth, Jin So-cheong believed in his master’s training method. He thought the master had a reason for imposing such a crazy regimen of swinging the sword one hundred thousand times without rest. However, as he switched places, he began to feel that this was not right. He could see Baek Woong’s face deteriorating in real-time amidst the mindless repetition.
Master Lee Kwang, who was savoring the remnants of breakfast, spoke up.
“He’s going to die. There’s no other option.”
“What?!”
“Baek Woong has a desperate determination. And I have realized that the root of that desperation lies in his lack of talent. It is puzzling that he has comprehended the Thunder Spirit Sect to this extent at his age, but his lack of insight renders him hopelessly inadequate in truly understanding and assimilating the Ascendant Martial Arts.”
“……!!”
“Perhaps he has reached this level despite his lack of insight due to his exceptionally powerful internal energy. However, since that energy acts as a poison, there’s no choice but to kill it off. The sooner, the better, before he develops worse habits.”
Kill him.
Understanding the implications of that statement, Jin So-cheong said with a trembling voice,
“You intend to force him into a state of forgetfulness?”
“If we don’t kill him this way, he’ll remain trapped at that stage for life.”
Jin So-cheong crossed his arms.
“Moreover, there’s something dubious about that child. I want to test his will through this training. Even taking that into account, I want to see if he can be accepted as a successor of the Thunder Spirit Sect.”
“But… but that’s too…”
“Enough. If you’re truly worried, let’s go see for ourselves.”
Having finished his breakfast, Master Lee Kwang headed to the training hall with Jin So-cheong. The place was infused with a rank odor, a smell emanating from the boy standing in the center of the training area, a space which only instructors were allowed to enter.
Rumble
Rumble—
Baek Woong was still swinging his sword. Yet, his gaze was already half-lifeless, and his movements were slow and mechanical. It was as if a living skeleton were brandishing a sword.
However, Jin So-cheong was surprised to notice Baek Woong’s movements.
‘He’s forgotten! And he’s drawing out his potential.’
Lee Kwang turned to Yun Guang, who was on guard nearby, and asked,
“How many more rounds is that?”
“There… There are 150 left.”
A moment of silence lingered.
“… Fine. Let’s observe.”
Jin So-cheong saw a flicker of movement in the usually expressionless eyes of his master. The twitching of his gaze indicated that, in truth, Master Lee Kwang was also slightly unsettled. This suggested that even the one who had commanded this challenge hadn’t expected it to turn out this way.
‘Master is truly pushing that child to the brink of death or survival.’
Was this a cautiousness towards the Thunder Spirit Sect?
What Jin So-cheong did not realize was that Lee Kwang harbored a deep concern due to Baek Woong’s overwhelming internal energy, akin to the Heavenly Spirit Pill. While not on par with a martial arts realm, Lee Kwang understood what the Heavenly Spirit Pill meant and was internally wary of Baek Woong’s strength.
It felt as though it would be fine even if he were to die.
No – perhaps there was a desire for him to perish?
Simultaneously, Jin So-cheong gazed at Baek Woong with awe.
‘He’s recovering his body infinitely with his internal energy while unleashing his potential to its maximum. His body’s instinct for self-preservation is utilizing the internal energy dispersed throughout the Eight Extraordinary Vessels for recovery, thereby increasing the total. That’s why, despite it being normal for most people to die, he’s managing to hold on.’
Where does such willpower originate?
Jin So-cheong had no confidence he could endure the same ordeal, even with the same internal energy. Of course, it was mainly because he had the talent that rendered such exertion unnecessary, but even attempting it would require a foolish amount of willpower.
Woo-woo-woo—
Just when there were about ten rounds left until the one hundred thousand, an astonishing light began to radiate from Baek Woong’s body, illuminating the training hall and revealing that he was instantaneously recovering. All the bruises, injuries, and the pain and ruptures in his ligaments and muscles vanished completely. The internal energy he’d absorbed from the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng burst forth, achieving an extraordinary level of regeneration.
“……!!”
An unparalleled amount of internal energy began to erupt from Baek Woong’s entire being, far exceeding anything witnessed before. Jin So-cheong could hardly believe it.
‘The internal energy up until now… was merely a fraction?’
He had thought Baek Woong’s internal energy surpassed that of a typical first-class expert by a hundredfold. However, as a child, Baek Woong had been so unskilled in managing his technique and intent that he could hardly utilize that power. Nevertheless, Jin So-cheong had considered Baek Woong’s internal energy to be prodigious and rank among the best in the world.
But – that was a grave misunderstanding. What they had perceived of Baek Woong’s internal energy until now was only the tip of the iceberg.
Kugugugu
The entire training hall shook, and Master Lee Kwang’s expression turned grim as he felt the sword’s trajectory. He was also shaken by the immense internal energy. He never thought that Baek Woong’s true internal energy could be ten times greater than the superficially observable energy.
Koo-oh-oh—
The chi from Baek Woong’s body began to materialize and entwine around him. This phenomenon was a continuous release of chi aiming to stabilize his body. As Baek Woong encountered life-threatening situations multiple times, the power from six portions of Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng was being unleashed. Lee Kwang raised his hand to block that influence and murmured.
“He was a monster…”
Ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine.
… One hundred thousand.
Half-conscious and submerged in a state of forgetfulness, Baek Woong unleashed the final, one hundred thousandth Thunder Shadow Sword Technique.
In that instant, a tremendous power that Baek Woong had never wielded before—the dominance of heaven—was imbued into his sword, radiating brilliantly outward. Jin So-cheong, gazing at the vividly rising rainbow-colored star clusters, cried out in astonishment.
“Sword Qi!”
Though it wasn’t achieved through complete enlightenment, who would have thought he could form Sword Qi purely from internal energy! It was extraordinarily inefficient, yet undeniably beautiful. Forming Sword Qi in such a manner was considered impossible for a human. Jin So-cheong’s astonishment ran deep, as he hadn’t expected such an advanced technique to be forcibly woven together solely by someone’s internal energy.
Paaah—
The luminous waves of the Thunder Shadow Sword Qi flowed flawlessly along the trajectory dictated by the technique. Baek Woong’s performance after one hundred thousand swings was faster and more accurate than any before. The flowing spectacle of lightning was akin to a galaxy.
Suddenly, Lee Kwang shouted excitedly.
“Wonderful!”
Thunder Spirit Sect
Secret Technique
True Thunder Void Annihilation!
Lee Kwang’s spear tore through the fabric of extreme purity in time and space. The secret technique of the Thunder Spirit Sect, capable of slicing through even heavenly lightning, collided with Baek Woong’s Sword Qi, generating immense power. Although no sound reached the ears, the unseen high-frequency shockwaves created multiple impacts.
Kuguguguung
As the impacts subsided in the hall, Baek Woong lay standing, his eyes rolled back in faintness.
“……”
“……”
No one could help but feel solemn.
A seemingly insane training regimen deemed impossible for a human had been successfully endured by a mere teenage boy. Furthermore, the manifestation of the final Sword Qi seemed like a monumental achievement for a martial artist. Thus, even Yun Guang, who often acted flippantly, fell silent and stared at Baek Woong.
Master Lee Kwang approached Baek Woong and placed a hand on his shoulder. His energy flowed into him, stimulating Baek Woong’s meridians, and he would soon awaken.
“Uh, w-where am I?”
As Baek Woong struggled to gather his senses, Lee Kwang calmly stated.
“Congratulations. You have successfully completed one hundred thousand repetitions.”
“I see.”
“From now on, you should be able to achieve significant progress studying chi and intent.”
“Woah!”
Baek Woong’s face radiated uncontrollable joy. He thought he might die doing the exercises but was lucky enough to survive and considered that he had succeeded in his training. Of course, he had no memory of having unleashed Sword Qi.
Master Lee Kwang, observing Baek Woong quietly, asked,
“What is it?”
“Huh?”
He was losing his composure.
“What is it that drives you with such desperation? This is not the willpower of a child your age. Even heroic champions would find it difficult, yet your almost reckless determination leaves me wondering. What makes you long for power so fervently?”
Lee Kwang’s question was indeed justified.
Baek Woong’s willpower was beyond any normal understanding. Recognizing his lack of talent and insight, Lee Kwang had expected that Baek Woong’s grit and fierce spirit would remain at a mediocre level. Yet what he just witnessed was tantamount to a mindset of self-destruction, the resolve to train to the point of death.
Lee Kwang had seen a willpower like Baek Woong’s only once throughout his countless journeys—the High Monk Myung Ho, known as the Divine Monk, whose determination seemed detached from life itself.
Baek Woong hesitated momentarily.
Then he said,
“I don’t want to have regrets.”
Even now, he was silently shouting within.
The hell of having gone through eight past lives boiled within him.
I will not give up.
I will not give up.
I will never give up.
Because I…
Have resolved to die a hundred times over if I must.
So I have decided to live on, even in the cycle of reincarnation!
—————————= Author’s Note —————————=
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