Master (3)
"What a funny guy. How dare he in front of me."
Tugui's lips curled up.
Jeong Yeon-shin continued walking without paying any attention.
He did not stop advancing.
He had heard of Tugui before.
They said he was a master of the Golden Silk Technique.
His nickname did not mean he fought like he was possessed.
It was because he stole like a ghost, hence the name Tugui.
"Do you know the meaning of my nickname?" Tugui asked with a smile.
A guy who likes to brag, Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
The distance between them closed without a word, but Tugui's chatter did not stop.
"They call me Tugui because I take anything. I even took your senior brother's foolish eyes."
"Senior brother?"
The guy laughed loudly at Jeong Yeon-shin's question.
"Not a senior brother, I suppose. Isn't Ip Hwang-seong a sect without roots? You can't even call your master a master. Ma Gwang-ik, who must have taught you, is the same. That fool must be wandering aimlessly in the mountains."
"What is your purpose? Didn't you take the Jasodan?"
Jeong Yeon-shin, who had stopped for a moment, asked.
Now the distance was just a few steps away.
He could even see the calluses on Tugui's hands that opened and closed repeatedly.
With one leap, he could split the guy's body and still have strength left.
"The one you can't call senior brother. It's the head of Cheong An-ma Sword."
From the empty end of Tugui's left sleeve, a strange energy flowed out.
It was a thought Jeong Yeon-shin could not comprehend.
"Are you risking the wrath of the Hwasan Sword Sect and the Great Master?"
"You don't understand the meaning of a warrior's hand. Enough. I thought I'd entertain you since they said you were promising, but you are no different from the foolish ones."
This time, Tugui took a step forward.
It was as if he was saying he couldn't give up the head of Cheongmyeong in the inn to anyone else.
The aura he exuded was unusual.
He could exchange a few moves with a blue-level master.
Buzz!
Jeong Yeon-shin already focused his mind on the Jeong Family's internal energy technique.
From his head, the formula of the Gwanghwa Sword Style unraveled.
At the same time, an energy sprouted from his grip like the sun rising.
There was no need to wait.
Jeong Yeon-shin immediately raised the Ip Hwang Sword and struck.
A faint light followed the blade.
Swish-!
The sword strike missed.
It was the first time since the creation of the sword technique.
Tugui's movement technique was truly ghostly, just like his nickname.
As he twisted his body, his attacking movement was tremendous.
The hand that followed twisted like a snake along with the eerie energy flowing down.
It seemed as if it would coil around Jeong Yeon-shin's hand holding the sword.
"Golden Silk Technique. Quite exquisite."
Jeong Yeon-shin captured Tugui's technique with his eyes.
The history of the Golden Silk Technique, which infused internal energy, was long.
It was originally said to be a martial art created by a general of a fallen kingdom.
It was a method of boasting martial prowess in the military, passed down to soldiers, then to the Golden Guards, and finally to the martial world.
All the study was in subduing the opponent's arm to leave them defenseless.
Even now, with the development of energy manipulation methods, its essence had not changed.
Thud!
He twisted his body, lowered it, and pushed forward.
It was a common technique seen even in back alleys.
A move that struck with the body.
A short gust of wind swirled from his entire body.
The spiral energy in his movement shattered any chance of being caught from behind.
The technique of the Spiral of the Shihwa Mugeuk Fist, combined with Cheongmyeong's teachings.
Tugui's eyes narrowed as he retreated greatly.
"A technique of the Ming family? No, it's a new martial art that resembles it but is different from the start."
"Too much talk."
"I looked into you."
Tugui continued speaking immediately.
"The Blood Flame Sect is a terrifying force. They respond appropriately to any sprout that could become a great enemy. They send assassins, of course, and they also dig into the past. They uncovered everything. Even that you are from the Jeong family of Shin Yae-hyeon in Hanam, which was annihilated. The Hao Clan suffered and spilled the information."
"······."
"Child of the Jeong family. They say you buried your family members in the back mountain. What do you think happened to that place by now? You have greatly antagonized the Blood Flame Sect."
"What?"
"You took the head of the Sect's Sword? Do you think they left your hometown alone? They dug up the mountain and eventually burned it down."
Jeong Yeon-shin gripped the sword handle tightly.
He remembered the servant who called him for breakfast every morning.
His father, who acknowledged him at the end of his life, was also there.
The family members who had distanced themselves from him came to him with mixed feelings.
"You. You have black hair but don't look like a cultist. Are you a heretic?"
"You think every martial artist of the Blood Flame Sect learns Blood Energy? You truly are a novice in the martial world."
"Yes."
No matter what martial art a dying man learned.
Jeong Yeon-shin muttered.
He raised his energy once more.
The energy circulating in the meridians and eight channels of his body.
With the Si-geuk-gyeong, which operated with the mystery of overlapping, the intensity of the energy began to fluctuate.
The senses of warriors facing life-and-death decisions go beyond the general category.
They say they feel the opponent's mind closer than a lover's.
Tugui's lips twisted upward.
"A youngster wants to kill me? I'll bury you with the remaining eye of the Cheong An-ma Sword."
The moment the guy mentioned Cheongmyeong's eye, Jeong Yeon-shin's thoughts stepped into another realm.
"When do martial artists and warriors despair?"
The first would be when the master or senior brothers of their sect, or themselves, face death.
The second would be when they become unable to learn martial arts.
Then, what would cause martial artists obsessed with martial arts to receive a shock equivalent to the previous two?
Cutting off limbs was not enough.
Revenge.
The emotion that comes right after the desire for survival.
"Hup!"
Tugui let out a short breath.
At the same time, his mysterious movement technique unfolded again.
The hand that claimed to steal everything in the world unraveled the exquisite mystery of the Golden Silk Technique.
Jeong Yeon-shin took a step forward and moved his right hand holding the sword handle.
Like lightning extinguishing, the Ip Hwang Sword hid its body in the scabbard.
At the same time, he faced the enemy with completely bare hands.
He extended his right hand.
It was the Golden Silk Technique that looked exactly like the opponent's.
Tugui's face, which accepted it with arrogance, was obscured by a faint smile.
Jeong Yeon-shin's hand shadow created a mysterious afterimage.
It was a small movement.
With a single gesture, he deflected Tugui's Golden Silk Technique.
"······!"
The trajectory was clearly in the realm of advanced martial arts.
The technique itself was on a different level.
After the fact, Jeong Yeon-shin's hand, which was slower, grabbed the opponent's wrist first.
At the same time, the monstrous strength of the Jeong Family's internal energy technique exerted its power.
It had been a long time.
The crushing grip alone completely restrained the opponent's movement.
There was no need for acupoint sealing.
"You, how could you!"
Sweat formed on Tugui's face.
He seemed unable to even think of kicking.
It was hard to believe he had been so relaxed before.
"This way seems better. Your technique wasn't that exquisite."
Jeong Yeon-shin spoke indifferently.
Tugui's face was close to panic.
It seemed to be filled with fear.
He witnessed the unique martial art he had lost in an instant blooming in the enemy's hands.
"Shall I tell you the formula?"
When he asked softly, Tugui's head flinched.
This time, Jeong Yeon-shin laughed.
Of course, he wouldn't tell.
The guy soon realized it too, and his face gradually changed.
From longing to despair.
Jeong Yeon-shin stole and shattered the guy's life.
"This is it."
He realized his own method of bringing martial artists of the demonic path to ruin.
The martial arts of warriors were also called accumulated effort.
It meant a life built with effort over a long time.
It was enough to deny that.
All he had to do was unfold the opponent's martial art in a better form.
Right in front of their eyes, while exchanging moves.
The wrist of Tugui, caught in his right hand, was crushed.
Screech.
Listening to the guy's scream, Jeong Yeon-shin drew the Ip Hwang Sword in reverse with his left hand from his waist.
He entered the inn holding Tugui's head.
There were masters of the Blood Flame Sect who had attacked the inn with Tugui.
But it was already after they had been dealt with.
Ma Jin had returned and, along with the masters of the Hwasan Sect, defeated the Blood Flame Sect group.
Ma Gwang-ik and all others, except for Jeong Yeon-shin, also responded.
Ma Jin said he watched Jeong Yeon-shin's fight while sitting by the window.
"You are······."
The scar crossing Ma Jin's face twitched repeatedly.
He opened his mouth several times as if he had seen something he shouldn't have, then sighed.
Jeong Yeon-shin did not care about his uncle's complex expression.
"I have accumulated many merits. Please record them properly."
He said, holding out Tugui's head.
In his other hand, he held a wooden box taken from the guy's belongings.
Inside the small box was an elixir with an unfamiliar energy.
Jasodan.
In terms of grade, it would be the highest merit.
Ma Jin opened his mouth, showing a bewildered expression.
"······The blue level is not far off. You can request the promotion test soon. It will be the shortest period. Naturally, the youngest."
"Promotion test··· I've heard of it. Please tell me in detail next time. It seems there is something more urgent now."
"Yes. The Hwasan Sect has suffered."
Following Ma Jin, he headed to another guest room.
The inn was almost half-destroyed.
However, the innkeeper's complexion was rather good.
He had been promised compensation in the name of Ip Hwang-seong and the Hwasan Sect.
"Hmm."
Jeong Yeon-shin let out a low sound.
The face of the boy lying on the bed as if dead was familiar.
Yoo Hyun, the head disciple of the Hwasan Sect.
He was the bold friend who said he would visit Ip Hwang-seong after exchanging hands with Jeong Yeon-shin.
"He used all the energy he had. To protect his senior brother."
Cheonju, who was standing by the bedside, said, glancing at Jeong Yeon-shin.
The sharp impression of the one called the Sword Master of Hwasan was softened.
Jeong Yeon-shin knew the reason.
The dantian is not like an empty vessel.
It is an organ that inherently contains a small amount of energy.
They say it gets damaged if completely emptied.
Some even called that minimal energy innate true energy.
He remembered hearing that its nature is no different from internal energy, so it can be replenished.
Jeong Yeon-shin cautiously spoke.
"If it's energy depletion, can't it be replenished? I know it's a common thing."
"You are right. The disciples with the same symptoms have already gotten up."
"Then Yoo Hyun's internal energy······."
"Hyun can't be helped by us. As the head disciple of the sect leader, he learned the Jaha Divine Art. Not all martial arts of the Hwasan Sect are the same. The internal energy study is different."
Cheonju spoke gravely.
Even after seeing the Jasodan that came from Jeong Yeon-shin's hand, his reaction did not change.
He said a master was needed to melt the energy and pass it on in place of the unconscious Yoo Hyun.
"What you have retrieved is indeed a grace. The energy of the Jasodan could substitute for the Jaha Divine Art. However, the process of melting the elixir's energy must be done delicately. The remaining half a shichen for Hyun is far from enough······"
Cheonju's words were cut off.
Ma Jin, standing beside him, was moving his lips.
It seemed he was sending a sound transmission.
Cheonju's eyes widened as he looked at Jeong Yeon-shin.
"Did you get permission for me to do it?"
Ma Jin nodded at Jeong Yeon-shin's question.
"Yes. Swallow it now. This will also be your merit."
He did not ask about the content.
It was already something he could guess.
It was when Jeong Yeon-shin won against the warrior of Changcheon University.
He had absorbed the supply elixir of Ip Hwang-seong at an astonishing speed.
It was over before Ma Jin could even place his hand on the Mingmen Acupoint at the center of his waist to help.
They said Ma Gwang-ik was a rival of the Hwasan Sword Master.
Do they have a trust like that between them?
Cheonju, who immediately allowed it, also seemed to have remarkable generosity.
"Then."
He laid Yoo Hyun face down.
After placing his hands neatly, he sat cross-legged beside him.
Jeong Yeon-shin took out the pure white elixir and swallowed it under Cheonju's permission.
With a fragrant scent, the Jasodan fell into his body.
'Is there really an elixir that melts as soon as you eat it?'
It was a fleeting thought.
He moved the energy from the Seokmun Acupoint, where the lower dantian is located.
In the major circulation that circulates through the upper body acupoints, the Jasodan crumbled, and the corresponding energy began to rise.
The moment he increased his strength, he realized.
The Jasodan was an elixir specialized for a certain energy manipulation method.
He had heard that elixir manufacturing techniques, like martial arts, grow by consuming history.
He remembered the year.
The time it would take for someone who hadn't studied the internal energy of the Hwasan Sect to settle the energy of the Jasodan in their body.
Extracting energy and refining it with true energy were separate matters.
The higher the grade of the elixir, the greater the gap, they said.
'If I don't do a year of closed-door training······ it would be no different from the energy of someone else's martial art with added weight.'
That's why the Blood Flame Sect group and Tugui didn't take it immediately.
'In that time, it would be better to learn my martial art.
Still, I can use it while sending energy to Yoo Hyun.'
It was a fortuitous encounter.
It seemed it was time to fully open the slightly opened middle dantian.
He recalled Baek Mi-ryeo's words.
He had to contain a vast amount of energy in his body.
The Jasodan would be more than sufficient.