0075 ———————————————-
Fallen Demon Hall
It was two days later that all my wounds healed completely. When I opened my eyes, I found Guanzhong’s female doctor beside me, and soon after, I received a visit from the physician, Kang Son-mu. He checked my condition through pulse diagnosis and said,
“Good. You’re all healed. You can go now.”
“What about the treatment fee…”
“Jin So-cheong covered everything. You just need to head to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School without delay.”
“Thank you.”
I performed a martial authority and left the Kang Clan. Glancing back at the sign of the Kang Clan, I thought,
‘Lee Kwang’s influence in Guanzhong is quite significant. Typically, one would have to wait several days to see a physician, yet I was treated immediately…’
Regardless of the severity of the situation, receiving treatment from one of the most skilled head doctors of the Kang Clan requires substantial connections. Lee Kwang is indeed a person of that caliber.
I headed straight for the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. This time, I found the Bangil brothers on guard, but upon recognizing me, they silently gestured for me to enter. They must have discussed my arrival in advance. As I walked deeper inside, I found Jin So-cheong waiting in front of the Dragon War Hall.
“Baek Woong, you’ve arrived.”
“……”
“Haha, you seem quite wary. It’s not unwarranted.”
Jin So-cheong smiled wryly and continued,
“From today, I will be your senior brother, Jin So-cheong. I am in charge of the head instructor role here at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School and have also entered the Thunder God Sect first. I look forward to working with you.”
Hearing Jin So-cheong introduce himself felt surreal. I had heard various stories about him already, but it felt strange to see someone I had previously gone to tear down the Jongnam Sect’s sign now standing before me as a complete stranger. However, I quickly composed myself and performed a martial authority.
“I look forward to working with you, senior brother.”
“Then follow me. The Master is waiting for you.”
“The Master?”
After the treatment, could he possibly want to strike me again?
I followed Jin So-cheong in worry. As he indicated, Lee Kwang sat waiting for me. The solemn atmosphere made me instinctively tense. Lee Kwang, locking eyes with me, said,
“I have assessed your talent. I, Lee Kwang, pledge to do my best to pass on the essence of the Thunder God techniques to you, Baek Woong.”
The mood felt different.
‘Huh?’
Previously, such solemn vows were nonexistent; the atmosphere had been more like, “I will teach you, just watch and learn.” When I tilted my head in confusion, Lee Kwang asked,
“Before we start your training, I want to know what you already know. How much of the Thunder God techniques do you understand? Speak frankly about all that you know.”
After a moment of contemplation to recall my memories, I answered,
“With the spear, I know the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms; with the sword, the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique and the Thunder Blade; with the fist, the Thunder Cloud Fist and the Thunder Palm. I’m aware there’s the Thunder God Fist as an advanced technique once my martial arts elevate, and as a secret technique, I’ve mastered the Heavenly Pillar Kill. Additionally, I have reached the Thunder Spirit level with my internal energy.”
“I see. Well done.”
Listening to my response, Lee Kwang pondered for a moment and then said,
“You’ve learned things in a rather roundabout way. Ordinarily, one should master the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms before proceeding to the Heaven Thunder Infinite Spear, aiming for the realm of intention. Meanwhile, one would naturally come to understand the Thunder Spirit level as well. Yet here you are, starting with the Thunder Spirit, and then opting for a relatively weaker sword technique to learn secret techniques?”
“Oh…”
“What on earth was your master thinking?”
His tone was laced with incredulity. However, I too felt a mix of confusion, leaving me momentarily speechless.
‘I mean, you taught me!!!’
But in this current life of mine, it was our first encounter. It was impossible to divulge the secrets of my past life, so I struggled to express my thoughts to Lee Kwang, finally revealing a hint.
“The sword technique is essential for self-defense, so I decided to adopt it as my primary technique. Thus, I assumed you would teach me martial arts accordingly. Moreover, it took quite some time for me to master the Heavenly Pillar Kill.”
“Hmm… something feels off. The order of teaching… It seems almost like a form of restraint…”
“……?”
I was struck by a sudden realization at Lee Kwang’s mutterings.
‘Could it be?’
In Lee Kwang’s eyes, I was merely another disciple of the Thunder God Sect. I had to teach him, yet he wasn’t someone I could put my all into instructing. While I had passed on secret techniques, the enthusiasm was lacking. Even if I were beside him to teach, the mindset of rigorously training an instructor did not fully show.
Countermeasure.
Perhaps in the previous life, Lee Kwang had adjusted the order of passing down secret techniques to control me within reasonable limits, observing my astonishing internal energy. While the Heavenly Pillar Kill was undoubtedly an excellent secret technique, based on what Lee Kwang said, the speed and process of imparting techniques seemed to diverge from those of a typical instructor.
As I pondered various possibilities, Lee Kwang spoke up.
“Let’s do this. From today, I will primarily teach you the spear technique.”
“What? Isn’t the next step after the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique…?”
“Your swordsmanship already embodies the concepts of illusion and transformation. Moving to the next level won’t make a significant difference in combat power. The important thing is to properly learn the spear techniques you have neglected so far to quickly approach the pinnacle of the Thunder God techniques.”
“They say it takes a lifetime to master a single weapon type, does it not?”
Lee Kwang tilted his head, as if he found it hard to understand that I, a practitioner of the Thunder God Sect, would ask such a question.
“That only applies to other schools. The Thunder God techniques harmonize the spear, sword, and fist, creating a synergistic effect. Didn’t your master teach you that?”
“I’ve heard something along those lines, but I was told it wouldn’t matter if I fully mastered just one of them…”
As I replied, Lee Kwang’s expression contorted in disbelief.
“Your master is truly a fool. How can a practitioner of the Thunder God techniques say such a thing? The Heaven Thunder Infinite Spear, the Ten Thousand Ascensions Sword Technique, and the Thunder God Fist are all interrelated; if one lacks understanding in any, they will gain nothing.”
“Ugh.”
I nearly burst out laughing at how Lee Kwang was berating himself.
‘Come on, you taught me!’
But in the next moment, I realized my suspicions were correct, and my heart sank.
‘This is serious.’
According to Lee Kwang, in all my past lives, he had never fully dedicated himself to teaching me. Although the individual instruction lasted long, he had no intention of showing me the essence of the Thunder God techniques.
Lee Kwang didn’t plan to sincerely teach someone like me—suspicious as I was, he likely thought of me as a soy-trained disciple of the Thunder God Sect. Moreover, given my limited talent, he probably intended to showcase only the basics in spear and fist techniques, inclusive of footwork secret techniques. In fact, that level of instruction would be more than sufficient for someone to become renowned in the martial world.
However, such a narrative suggests that even if I endured and successfully trained in martial arts throughout my life in the previous cycle, attaining the pinnacle of the Thunder God techniques would be impossible. Even if I managed to grasp the next step of the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique, known as the Ten Thousand Ascensions Sword Technique, I would likely lose my way due to the newly encountered bottleneck in my martial enlightenment.
As I stood there in a daze, Lee Kwang spoke again.
“First, I need to clearly assess your understanding. Go to the training hall and demonstrate the Thunder God techniques you know, in order.”
“Yes.”
It was a task I had done many times, so I executed it without hesitation. As I laid out all the techniques I knew in sequence, I felt that my movements had become much more fluid, likely due to my mastery of the Heavenly Pillar Kill. By the time I finished the last technique, Lee Kwang evaluated my performance.
“You’ve properly learned the Heavenly Pillar Kill. Did you develop the swordsmanship on your own?”
“I drew strong inspiration in its development.”
“Hmm, good. We can quickly enhance even the clumsy spear techniques with the right practice.”
After that day, Lee Kwang began giving me private lessons in spear techniques with a fervor and rigor that surpassed even the intense training I received in my previous life, causing me to doubt whether he was truly the same person.
Clang!
Clang!
I continuously swung the spear while executing the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms. By Lee Kwang’s instructions, I incorporated variations of the Heavenly Pillar Kill, practicing the eight forms in different directions. After already swinging for three cycles, my entire body was drenched in sweat, yet Lee Kwang kept shouting at me.
“Keep thinking and keep swinging! The spear is the strongest weapon! It will bestow power upon you far beyond your efforts. Combine all forms of the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms to create the optimal attack path!”
“Yes!”
After swinging the spear all day, I was finally able to stop after the seventh cycle. Though it wasn’t comparable to the fatigue from ten thousand swings, I was mentally exhausted from continually performing the techniques instead of mindlessly swinging. As I collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath, Lee Kwang said,
“People in the world often think that because the spear has a wide and long range, it can’t exert power when engaging at close quarters. This is a common misconception held by swordsmen and martial artists alike; it stems from their lack of encounters with seasoned masters who properly train in spear techniques.”
Crack!
Lee Kwang’s spear thrust forward, exuding a formidable essence. He stared ahead as if there were an enemy before him and said,
“That’s nonsense. The spear is powerful even at close range. The true form of spear technique is the ultimate combat style that disregards all matchups! Until now, you’ve only known the forms of the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, but from now on, you will refine the subtle yet powerful fundamentals that exist within spear techniques.”
“Fundamentals?”
“Yes. You will train in a total of three fundamentals, and all of them can be considered secret techniques. That is the marvel of spear technique.”
A peculiar feeling washed over me.
‘I never learned anything like this during my training with Lee Kwang before!’
Whenever I expressed a desire to specialize in swordsmanship, Lee Kwang would simply nod and teach me sword techniques. He had never fervently emphasized the importance of spear techniques or sought to instill the fundamentals in me.
“Lan (蘭), Na (拿), Chal (剎)!”
“What?! Aren’t those the basics?”
I retorted in disbelief. The three fundamentals Lee Kwang mentioned were things I had already learned. Without mastering them, I couldn’t even perform the forms of the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms.
Lan referred to the outward deflection technique, Na was the inward gripping defensive technique, and Chal was simply the forward thrust. I had spent about three months becoming familiar with Lan, Na, and Chal as the foundations of executing the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms. They were basics that could be learned with minimal talent after just a little practice.
However, the moment I questioned him, sparks erupted from Lee Kwang’s eyes.
“Brat! What do you know to talk back?! Do you even understand what Lan, Na, and Chal are?!”
Thud!
In that instant, Lee Kwang’s spear moved like a beam of light, smashing a hole the size of two walls behind me. Stiff with shock, I was unable to move as he spoke.
“I just used the techniques of Lan and Na. I didn’t employ any secret techniques. Did you see what I did in a single form?”
“U-uh… no.”
“Basic skills are something that can take a lifetime to master, and yet you dare to say such things!”
Fuming with irritation, Lee Kwang continued.
“Jin So-cheong has already mastered even the secret techniques of the Heaven Thunder Infinite Spear, but instead of practicing secret techniques, he keeps repeating Lan and Na, thinking himself inadequate. I cannot condone you mocking someone when you haven’t even grasped the basics.”
“…”
I had no choice but to diligently practice the forms of Lan, Na, and Chal every day. Contrary to the thought of it being a tedious repetition, Lee Kwang continuously taught me applications of the basic techniques, as well as unexpected nuances that only someone who had lived for decades wielding a spear could impart.
About half a year later, I found myself training obsessively all day long at the training ground, collapsing and falling asleep. In my dream, a celestial figure approached me, walking on a bridge of clouds. Pointing at the spear I held, he spoke.
“I am Tai Xu Tian Zun. The cost of that weapon has been settled today.”
“W-what?”
“Your fortune will return to its original state. Farewell.”
I shouted in disbelief,
“Wait a minute!”
“Why?”
“I gave you thousands of years’ worth of fortune; is it over already?”
The celestial figure narrowed his brow.
“I have granted you fortunes exceeding those of several lifetimes.”
“Is that true?!”
“It is indeed true.”
With that, Tai Xu Tian Zun turned and gracefully retreated across the bridge of clouds.
“Be satisfied with the last bit of luck you possess.”
“…”
I awoke, drooling.
Wiping the spit away with my sleeve, I pondered,
‘What was that? Does it mean everything so far was a streak of good luck? What could the last bit of luck be?’
The meaning of Tai Xu Tian Zun’s words became clear the very next day. While practicing the basics of Lan, Na, and Chal as usual, a sudden realization struck my mind as I attempted to combine the forms of the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms with the Heavenly Pillar Kill. It felt as though it might work, despite being my first attempt.
‘Something has come!’
Bam bam bam!
“Haah…”
It was astounding. By simply applying the basics and enhancing my training, and merging the footwork secret techniques, the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms I executed transformed into a form of spear technique that was vibrant and formidable, incomparable to anything I had previously experienced. Energy that had previously required forceful internal energy infusion was now gathering at the tip of my spear like dew, appearing completely naturally.
In a state of exhilaration, I executed the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms in 16 different variations. I was drenched in sweat, feeling a refreshing sensation I had never experienced before. I realized that I had entered a new realm of the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms.
“Excellent. I was disappointed at first due to your sluggishness, but you indeed possess remarkable talent.”
“Master.”
“For the sake of your goals, you need to grow to this extent.”
It seemed Lee Kwang had been watching all along.
He smiled broadly and said, “After much contemplation, I have decided. I will impart to you the Decisive Enlightenment, Thunder Call.”
Decisive Enlightenment?
This was the first time I had heard such a concept. How many things had Lee Kwang kept hidden while teaching me all this time? Given how endless my lack of talent had been, was he finally ready to share this after all these years? As I was inwardly feeling incredulous, Lee Kwang spoke again.
“Thunder Call is breath. You already know that the foundation of martial arts and internal energy lies in breathing, right?”
“Yes.”
“The breath of Thunder Call is the most critical secret among the Thunder God Sect’s techniques, so it is not passed on to anyone other than those whom I recognize as true successors. Fundamentally, it operates under the premise of a singular transmission, that which is the strongest seasonal technique.”
The strongest of all times!
Lee Kwang had never used such extravagant expressions when describing any of his techniques before, let alone using such language for breathing instead of something like the Heaven Thunder Infinite Spear.
As he spoke, Lee Kwang extended one hand forward, taking the stance of the Thunder Cloud Fist. He then inhaled slowly, as if gathering strength throughout his body. Holding that position, Lee Kwang said,
“To grasp this Thunder Call, you must understand the concept of Heart, Qi, Blood, and Essence. The lower dantian is the field of the heart, and the will directs the internal energy. The meridians are, in fact, regulated by human intent.
Thunder Call elevates the Heart, Qi, Blood, and Essence to the extreme, transforming your entire will into lightning in an instant. One breath can change everything.”
“You change your will into lightning?”
“Like this.”
Bang!
In an instant, Lee Kwang’s body vanished. When he reappeared, a massive punch had struck the wall with a thunderous sound. I realized that this was not merely the effect of strength and speed; something more profound was at play. I also recognized that if this great punch were aimed at me, there would be no way to dodge or block it.
Seeing my shocked expression, Lee Kwang remarked,
“It seems you understand.”
“Could it be that this breath…?”
“While the breath is sustained, all the techniques you execute from the Thunder God Sect will carry the potency of secret techniques. If your spear, sword, and fist are harmoniously developed, their power will be maximized. When using Thunder Call, even an outstanding master could be instantly killed; that’s why this breath is also referred to as ‘Heroic Kill.’”
“……!!”
I felt chills run down my spine.
‘What would happen if Lee Kwang fought using Thunder Call?’
Until now, Lee Kwang had never seemed inclined to use Thunder Call in our sparring sessions. The same went for Jin So-cheong during the assault on the Jongnam Sect. But if these already overwhelmingly powerful experts amplified their battle potential severalfold by invoking Thunder Call, what on earth would occur?
Lee Kwang chuckled softly.
“Of course, there’s another reason why this is Decisive Enlightenment. Because the internal energy depletes at an astonishing rate while sustaining Thunder Call, even I cannot maintain it for more than 30 seconds. Furthermore, after Thunder Call ends, my strength diminishes sharply for several moments, making it easy to fall into a crisis. That is why Thunder Call is a finishing move.”
“Are you saying it’s a technique that must (必) kill the enemy (殺) when unleashed?”
“Exactly. Keep that in mind.”
Lee Kwang’s eyes glimmered ominously.
“You, I, Jin So-cheong. If anyone outside of us uses Thunder Call, that person must be killed without exception! Otherwise, you will be the one to perish.”
I swallowed hard.
“I understand.”
“Then let us begin the impartation of Decisive Enlightenment, Thunder Call.”
I realized that this was the last bit of fortune granted to me by Tai Xu Tian Zun.
“Yes.”
Understanding in martial arts.
Moreover, the Decisive Enlightenment, Thunder Call, which I could never hope to learn no matter how many years I spent in the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School—thanks to the fortunate coincidence in Luoyang, and the significantly elevated evaluation from Lee Kwang, I had the chance to learn it.
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