Chapter 113 – Clue (3)

Despite various incidents along the way, everything went smoothly with the Mo San faction.

If there was any progress, it was agreed that I would send a letter to the main house of the Paeng family in Ha Buk and make my way down from Mo San.

The old stories of my master that I heard during the drinking session with Myeong Wol Jin keep popping up in my mind, causing me great turmoil.

“No matter how much I think about it, it seems like my master’s nickname wasn’t just because of his appearance…”

“Why? Wouldn’t it make me happy to hear Jin Ga say, ‘Let’s live like fresh beings, awakening to the principles of yin and yang together’? It’s quite a poetic phrase.”

“That’s because we already have a liking for each other! How many people would feel good hearing that from someone they’ve only known for three days?”

“Liking… hehe… I like Jin Ga too!”

In the midst of this, Paeng So So, who heard the confession, blushed.

…Could it be that she did this on purpose, aiming for this?

Paeng So So, who has a surprisingly wicked side, makes it a possibility.

By the way, I think I know why my master only told me a small part of his story.

The stories I heard from Myeong Wol Jin about my master were like a shameful black history that made me embarrassed.

Of course, there is no one without a black history. Even I had various things in my past life.

However, that doesn’t mean there are many people who want to flaunt their black history.

It’s clear that my master only told the stories that were relatively okay, leaving out the embarrassing ones from his past…

As I let out a deep sigh, Hong Yeon Hwa patted my shoulder, giving me some comfort.

“But still, didn’t you hear a lot of good stories? Don’t be so down.”

“Well… that’s true.”

The stories I could hear from Myeong Wol Jin were not just about my master’s embarrassing past.

For example, his extraordinary swordsmanship, his surpassing strength, his sense of justice, and so on.

Apart from his relationships with women, my master was truly someone to be respected, whether as a martial artist or as a human being.

If he hadn’t suddenly cut ties with the secular world and disappeared, his name would surely have been passed down to this day.

The more I learned about my master, the more questions arose.

I thought Myeong Wol Jin was the successor of the legendary martial arts faction that my master first appeared in. He must have been an incredible martial artist.

But when I asked my master about his martial arts when I was young, he said he had created them himself.

If my master wasn’t bragging to me, then as Hong Yeon Hwa said, my master must have been an unparalleled genius.

Why did such an extraordinary person suddenly go into hiding at a young age? What could have possibly happened?

If I could learn it there, it was the name of my master’s secret martial arts technique that he promised to tell me when the time came.

Due to my lack of talent, I couldn’t even leave behind his name and disappeared with my master. But when I think about it, it’s strange.

He revealed the secret of the martial arts technique, but why did he keep the name a secret?

The first thought that comes to mind is that it was hidden because the name itself would reveal his identity, as he was such a famous martial artist.

But then again, my master went into hiding early on and wasn’t that well-known.

Assuming that my master didn’t lie to me, there is only one way to explain all of this.

He must have left his name in the martial arts world under a different name, not as Man Nyeon Dong Jeong.

Perhaps he hid it because it had a notorious reputation… No, it doesn’t really matter now.

I believe that my master was a good person, despite his shortcomings in romantic relationships. That’s enough for me.

However… there is one problem that I simply can’t overlook.

Muryeong Sin Gong.

The martial arts technique that I inherited from my master, whose name I don’t know.

At first, I couldn’t even grasp what kind of martial arts it was, so I just faithfully trained, believing that I would find out when the time came.

After meeting Hong Yeon Hwa and awakening its power, I thought about how I could use it better and swung my sword.

But going through the Yong Bong Ji Hui made me deeply contemplate what martial arts really are and why my master left behind Muryeong Sin Gong.

By the time I reached Mo San Pa, it was just a vague memory, but I experienced the extent of Muryeong Sin Gong’s capabilities during the trials of the movie.

At this point, it’s only natural to have doubts.

What is Muryeong Sin Gong? Can any martial arts technique be capable of such things, no matter how divine it is?

It’s hard to believe.

There are quite a few martial arts techniques known as Sin Gong Jeol Hak. At least one for each of the Five Great Clans and the Nine Schools of the Martial Arts Alliance, making it a total of 15.

If you add the New Outer Martial Arts and various secret martial arts from the past that are no longer practiced, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were more than 20.

Naturally, as exceptional martial arts techniques, they have various records and rumors associated with them.

For example, the Honwon Yeokryeok Sin Gong is said to possess an incredible power that makes the Ho Shin Gangi look insignificant.

The story of an unparalleled martial artist who could even block Kang Ki-jo’s attacks with his bare body. Well, those are just rumors.

The power of Sin Gong spread widely, not only among martial artists but also among the common people.

But no matter which one you look at, none of them were as remarkable as Muryeong Sin Gong.

Sure, it had its own power and mysterious principles, but it didn’t enable me to defeat opponents I couldn’t defeat before.

I could just brush it off and say that good is good enough. But after experiencing various martial arts in Mo San Pa, I couldn’t just let it go.

Every martial art has a fundamental concept. No matter how great or insignificant it may be, there is a concept that it aims for.

Even the Samjae Swordsmanship, which can hardly be called a martial art, was the same.

So, what is the concept of Muryeong Sin Gong? What was this martial art created for?

According to my master, it is a martial art that gives you the power you need when you need it. But what kind of concept is it?

Muryeong Sin Gong… it’s too alien.

It doesn’t change when compared to any other martial art.

Could Muryeong Sin Gong even be called a martial art in the first place?

I don’t know. I can’t even guess what my master created.

…Of course, there is not absolutely no way.

As your enlightenment increases, you see more things. That’s how it works, right?

In fact, I understand Muryeong Sin Gong more deeply than before.

When I reach a higher level of enlightenment, I will know and be able to do more.

By gradually advancing, I will eventually be able to embody the ultimate goal of Muryeong Sin Gong.

To see the end of a martial art…

It would be daunting if I were alone, but I am not alone.

I lightly held Hong Yeon Hwa’s hand, walking beside her.

Her hand was smooth and soft, without a single callus.

It couldn’t be considered the hand of an ordinary person, but that doesn’t change the fact that Hong Yeon Hwa is an extraordinary martial artist.

“Hmm? If you’re going to hold it, hold it properly. So that I can feel you better, like this.”

“You’re quite demanding.”

As I said that, I held her hand a little tighter, just as Hong Yeon Hwa wanted.

“You know, do you remember what you said before?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That someday I would become strong enough to stand beside you. When do you think that will be possible?”

“Hmm…”

As if she couldn’t believe it, Hong Yeon Hwa pressed her thumb against the back of my hand and spoke.

“You’re really ambitious. Don’t you know? You’ve just crossed the threshold, and it hasn’t even been a year since you met me. Do you know how much stronger you’ve become in that time?”

“It’s nice to have met a young man, isn’t it?”

“Hey! That’s not what you said, is it? You’ve already reached the pinnacle of perfection in such a short time. You’re already fast enough, so why are you being so greedy?”

“So, you don’t like it?”

“Of course I do!”

I chuckled as I lightly kissed Hong Yeon Hwa’s cheek, which had puffed up in a slight pout.

“Relax. I just said that the intermediate rounds will open a little faster this time, just like how you were drawn to the upper rounds. I’m just curious to see how much faster it will be.”

“Ugh… Actually, this is the first time I’ve seen someone like you, so I don’t really know. But, compared to the ordinary warriors who follow the usual order, you will definitely be faster in opening the intermediate rounds. Don’t be too impatient. I’ll say it again, you’re doing well, even better than I expected.”

“Really? Well, that’s good to hear.”

As always, the task at hand remained unchanged.

If I continued to train diligently day by day, someday…

“Oops! Are you two just going to hold hands and leave me out?!”

Peng Soso’s voice interrupted our reverie.

“I want to hold hands too. I want to!”

And then, Peng Soso clung to the other side and intertwined her hand with Hong Yeon Hwa’s.

With a smirk, I firmly held Peng Soso’s hand a little more forcefully, just as I had done for Hong Yeon Hwa.

***

Peng Soso, who had asked me to hold her hand, seemed to get bored and let go of my hand, instead grabbing Hong Yeon Hwa’s empty hand.

Then, as if playing with a child, we lifted Hong Yeon Hwa up from both sides and played for a while.

Seemingly enjoying it, Hong Yeon Hwa bounced up and down, asking for another round. So, as we descended, I gave her a ride on the swing all the way down to the lower village of Mo San Pa.

It had been about a month since we last came down, so the carriage we rode in and the coachman must still be waiting somewhere in this village.

We would meet up with them and return to the main house of the Peng family in Ha Buk, as we had discussed beforehand.

After that, we would wait for news from Mo San Pa and continue with our daily lives as usual.

That’s what I had thought.

Until a woman I had never seen before suddenly pretended to know me.

“Ah-ha! So you were here, just as I expected? I didn’t think it would take this long, though.”

…Who are you?