Chapter 144

Tang Nan-ah looked at Qing and began to harbor suspicions of physical and emotional abuse regarding the Disciple of the Divine Maiden Sect.

Especially since she had been brought up delicately, the sight was shocking enough to cause her cultural shock.

A thin piece of fabric, so sheer it was practically transparent, was draped over her shoulders with two shoulder straps, one of which had frayed and was tied haphazardly, leaving it unbalanced.

However, it became clear quite quickly that this was a misunderstanding.

“Ah, Master Sasook, you’re wearing that again? Wow, you look as lovely as ever. I’m really jealous.”

“Why, do you want to try it on too?”

“Maybe when it’s hotter. But now it’s way too cold. Can’t you put it on me when we’re alone on a warm day?”

“Stop dreaming. When it gets hot, do you think I’d give this up? If you’re not changing into something else, then there’s no point.”

And then, passing by was a lady, or rather, the number one disciple.

“Sasook, I’ve sewn two blankets together and stuffed them generously, so feel free to use them. Oh, just looking at you makes me feel cold.”

“Wow, thank you so much. You really are my life-saver.”

“If you’re grateful, don’t just say it. Next time, when you’re out in the Martial World, make sure to remember this.”

“Understood. I’ll repay you fully, so expect it.”

And then came the three little chicks.

“Master Taesasook! Flute! Flute! Flute!”

“Did you leave the flute, or do I look like a flute to you?”

“Come on, hurry! We’ve just been waiting for Master Taesasook to arrive! Is there no new song this time?”

“Let me see…”

As Qing casually plagiarized some of the immortal masterpieces to sing a few songs, everyone went wild with delight.

It was a scene where no one seemed to even consider criticizing Qing’s attire, despite the commotion of ‘how pretty’ she looked.

After all, everyone had grown accustomed to this from last year, and over time, the threshold for stimulation tends to heighten.

Last winter, everyone had been quite passionate about it, but by that spring, it seemed people paid more attention to the flute concert than the attire.

At this point, Tang Nan-ah was utterly confused.

What’s going on? Am I the weird one?

Isn’t it totally embarrassing to wear something so sheer out in public?

Is Qing also not feeling embarrassed?

However, despite the chilly weather, Qing flitted about not showing a hint of shame, merely fidgeting her arms and legs.

I don’t get it.

If no one else cares, why should I?

But why does my throat go dry every time I see her?

Thus, Tang Nan-ah was diligently swallowing her saliva while watching.

That said, she couldn’t just keep following Qing around because the Divine Maiden Sect’s disciples had been utilizing the physicians that rolled in quite shrewdly.

At this point, it was hard to tell whether they were retainers or invited physicians, given that the industrious people of the Divine Maiden Sect usually preferred to be self-sufficient.

Even the youngest disciple of the Sect Leader Hanryeol, who had rolled in later, was busy meditating all day long wrapped in a thin piece of fabric.

—-

After about half a day of scribbling, Qing felt things were shaping up quite nicely.

Surprisingly, there seemed to be plenty of time.

The written texts from the Central Plain contained surprisingly fewer words than Qing had expected.

Moreover, with her stamina, concentration, and basic dexterity being leagues above those common folk who didn’t know martial arts, she churned out work at an incredible speed.

At this rate, she figured she could kind of just finish it by the end of winter and be ready to venture out into the Martial World again come spring.

Feeling reassured, she was devouring the not-so-fancy but clean, deep-flavored, and infinitely served lunch from the Divine Maiden Sect in the midst of her inky battle.

One of the top disciples asked with a worried look, “Sasook, are you unwell?”

“Huh? No, I’m fine.”

“Master Taesang is concerned since you didn’t show up for training this morning. Are you just slacking off?”

“What?”

That’s when it clicked for Qing.

It wasn’t a training issue but an assignment!

And then came a wave of questions.

Even if the scribbling was a bit lax, it was enough content for a whole winter’s worth of work.

If she had to go visit Master in the morning and afternoon…

Would there even be any time left?

Wait, then when would I sleep…?

However, for Seomun Sulin, the book she handed Qing was merely basic knowledge for learning.

Would she really have to devote extra time just to catch up on such fundamental background knowledge?

This concept was simply lost on cold-hearted people like her.

“Why would you be busy when you’re not begging to come from the Central Plain? Take your time finishing it; it’s better to learn it properly before stepping out, right? If you can’t make it in spring, will you just die? Tch. Why does it seem you’re only full of thoughts about leaving?”

“Uh, it’s not like that…”

It wasn’t entirely wrong, so Qing’s response came up short.

In the end, if she had to accept it anyway, might as well agree cheerfully.

Qing decided.

“Hehe. I don’t know. Sleep is something I could do after I’m dead.”

“Excellent, excellent. I was pondering how my disciple would achieve success, but it seems my disciple understands martial arts easily but does not contemplate it deeply, which slows down progress.”

She could only comprehend enough to grasp the basics explained to her, but when it came to carving out her own martial arts, the progress was hopelessly slow.

That was a fair assessment.

However, it also meant that learning through tricks like directly imprinting in her head using the Martial Arts Inventory was bound to take even longer.

“Didn’t I mention before that your Moon Lady Sword Technique follows the principle of the Nine Thousand? From the very beginning, it’s an advanced swordsmanship that encompasses all the intricacies, so it’s only natural to be wandering around now.”

Seomun Sulin began to formally teach.

“Moderation does not exceed one thing, so it encompasses all four basic intricacies of martial arts. This arises from the harmonies of Chen, Dun, Huan, and Zhong, embodying celestial and earthly yin and yang.”

The swift sword represents quickness, while the dull sword represents sluggishness.

Qing raised her hand to ask, “Uh, so wouldn’t a fast sword be inherently better? After all, power comes from speed and weight, so wouldn’t a fast sword be stronger in the end…?”

“Dull doesn’t mean slow. ‘Dullness’ refers to not moving, thus it is static. ‘Quick’ refers to movement. Hence, the harmony between these two forms yin and yang, leading to all four aspects following that.”

“Uh…”

Qing’s eyes began to spin.

Seomun Sulin chuckled softly while explaining further.

“Quick and dull can be contrasted using the techniques of Jenchang and Wudang as examples.”

The martial arts of Jenchang are indeed the epitome of speed.

The Sun-piercing Sword Technique is a light beam that rushes towards the enemy’s heart like a bolt from the blue.

On the other hand, the martial arts of Wudang maintain a dignified stance.

Regardless of how vicious an attack may storm towards them, they simply return it using the principles of the Taiji, remaining as steady as a mountain.

“Uh, um, I think I get it…”

Seomun Sulin smiled brightly at that.

“If you understood it, you would have already reached a higher realm, so for now, simply remember it in your mind. Then there’s the intricacies of Huan and Zhong.”

Huan swordsmanship is also known as the transforming sword, whose style is disorienting and flashy, focusing on dazzling and bewildering the opponent.

In contrast, Zhong swordsmanship is sturdy and heavy, seeking a single decisive strike that leads to swift demise.

Using Hwasan and Shaolin as contrasts.

Hwasan’s martial arts are vibrant and full of life.

The sword dance depicting blooming plum blossom petals symbolizes that all the falling petals are an illusion and an endless transformation in itself.

Shaolin’s martial arts are steadfast.

The martial arts of the Shaolin monks, who protect the non-killing precept, do not embody lethal intensity, but carry the intention of suppressing the enemy with a single strike.

“The principle of moderation that embraces everything must encompass all these intricacies, and you must comprehend all the reasoning.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Seomun Sulin speak again.

“I find it hard to believe that my disciple seems talented enough to pick up martial arts somewhere, but I have a word of caution, so do engrave it in your heart.”

By this point, Seomun Sulin should have clearly understood.

Where in the world could she find such exceptional techniques as the Reverse Millseng and the Great Mentality Art?

Of course, given that she had found the Nengpa Mibo technique, one could tell that her circumstances were quite extraordinary, but those two divine skills were pushing the limits.

“Ah.”

“The Moon Lady Sword Technique alone makes it difficult to grasp the basic four principles. Since moderation causes one principle to stand out, the lack of emphasis on this makes it even harder to feel. Thus, learning a martial art that expresses an individual principle vigorously will help round it out, and you’ll understand it all.”

“Uh, what are you saying…”

“Swift. The fastest sword in the world, without a doubt represented by the Jenchang’s Sword Art.”

Dull. The most static sword in the world.

This was what the finest sword technique of the Namgung Family’s King Sword form aspired to achieve.

Transforming. The most changeable sword in the world.

This refers to the Taiji’s limitless transformations that transcend between heaven and earth, symbolizing the Taiji Hye sword.

Of course, there were those who wielded Hwasan’s plum blossom sword, but while vibrant and changeable, it could be said that the depth was shallow like the petals.

Heavy, the heaviest sword in the world.

“Well, achieving extreme weight in martial arts, there’s really nothing remarkable in sword techniques. If we’re speaking about the reign of the Pyeong family’s Hongwon Stronghold, that would arguably be the heaviest technique in the world.”

“Really?”

Seomun Sulin continued with laughter.

“Even if you don’t specifically speak of techniques, my disciple has already demonstrated the principles of Zhong in her hands, haven’t you?”

“Oh! So the Supreme Hand-to-Hand Combat is, ack!!”

Qing rolled across the ground again.

A moment later, she defended herself with tear-filled eyes.

“I was joking…”

“My disciple’s jokes sound nothing like jokes at all. And no matter how you joke, you shouldn’t carelessly use the names of Demonic Arts.”

“Yes, so the Buddha’s Physical Body…”

A technique imitating the Buddha’s palm, embodying the heaviest sentiment of all.

Qing’s lips puffed out like a toadfish, having made a hasty jest, only to suffer the consequences.

“So, which one should I prioritize learning first? It’ll take forever if I have to master three techniques.”

“Well then, I suppose it would be best to start with the Taiji Hye Sword that encompasses both Huan and Zhong. The principle of Quick could be left for later since it’s the most common in martial arts, and can be pushed off until the end.”

“Taiji Hye Sword, King Sword form, and then the Jenchang Sword Art.”

At this point, there was no thought of hiding anything.

However, Seomun Sulin had likely caught on but decided not to probe further.

Qing also felt free to ask.

“Well, if it’s going to take some time, it might be better to learn the King Sword form first. There’s something left by the Great Master Mucheondae at Jeolgeumbyeok, so it would probably be wise to learn the Namgung techniques before that of the other factions.”

“Then I guess I’ll go with the King Sword form, Taiji Hye Sword, and lastly the Jenchang Sword Art.”

“Yes. If possible, of course. But isn’t this akin to stealing from the techniques of other sects? You may not even be able to learn them, but if you do, you should never use them carelessly.”

What an embarrassing thing to say if anyone heard it.

A teacher advising her disciple to steal the techniques of others while giving an outright list of them?

But Seomun Sulin had already given up her humanity for her disciple since last year.

However, looking at how Qing was acting now, one might argue that she might as well have discarded humanity altogether without having gained anything.

Ultimately, even if one has to shed shame to quickly acquire an essential technique that would naturally be understood as one’s level increases, wouldn’t that seem like a significant loss in the grand scheme of things?

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