Chapter 25. Learning a Horrifying Martial Art
Goeui stared into the empty air as though recalling the past.
“That is exactly why this old man challenged the Demonic Cult Leader Jagang and lost. With joints that could move at unpredictable angles and my martial arts, I managed to corner him for a short while. But in the end, I could not overcome the limitation that I could only attack accurately within my field of vision, and I was defeated.”
Goeui turned his gaze back toward Jaha and continued.
“That is why this old man even considered putting an eye on the back of my head. If I could do that, my martial art would be complete, and I could become the strongest under heaven.”
Jaha couldn't laugh at those words.
At first, he thought it was a joke.
But when he saw Goeui speaking more seriously than ever, he realized the old man meant every word.
“The weakness of my martial art is that I have no eyes to control what lies outside my field of vision. If I can overcome that one weakness, then there is nothing in the world today that can defeat my martial art.”
It sounded arrogant, but after thinking about it, Jaha realized that he was right.
And then Jaha suddenly felt such a powerful thrill that he almost sprang to his feet.
A way to overcome the weakness Goeui had mentioned had suddenly come to mind.
That's right. Come to think of it, Baekryeong of Byeokho once sensed Chuyeongja's dagger and blocked it. If Baekryeong of Byeokho handles the attacks I can't see, Goeui's martial art will become much stronger.
The more he thought about it, the more Jaha felt as if Goeui's martial art had been created specifically for him.
Jaha spoke to Goeui.
“Elder, I will definitely complete your martial art.”
Goeui smiled faintly at Jaha's passionate tone.
The more he looked at this brat, the more pleased he became with him.
In truth, the procedure required to twist one's joints freely came with pain that was almost impossible for a human being to endure.
It was already admirable that Jaha could withstand it.
Yet now he was even saying that he would complete Goeui's martial art.
How could Goeui not grow fond of him?
“Good. First, let us finish creating the Flexible Joints.”
Flexible Joints was the name Goeui had given to joints that could rotate freely.
When Jaha saw Goeui taking out another large needle, he asked,
“Wait a moment. Wasn't the procedure already finished?”
“What are you talking about? We've only finished the first procedure.”
“The first? Then how many procedures are there?”
“At least ten.”
“Damn it! That's ridiculous!”
Jaha muttered several incomprehensible words to himself before finally looking at Goeui with resigned eyes.
“Please be gentle.”
Seeing that, Goeui grinned.
Perhaps this time, the martial art he had envisioned might truly be completed.
“You cannot freely move your joints like that all the time. Only by circulating the mental cultivation method created by this old man can you achieve the true Flexible Joints.”
Those were the first words Jaha heard from Goeui after waking up from an entire day of procedures.
He had suffered so much pain that he desperately wanted to rest, but Goeui refused to leave him alone.
Thankfully, after taking the medicine Goeui gave him, much of the pain had faded.
“When you circulate the mental cultivation method, true qi gathers in your joints. That true qi then turns into a liquid-like state and protects the joints. This old man's own joints were nearly ruined while creating this cultivation method. You must always use the Flexible Joints while circulating this method. Otherwise, all of your joints will eventually wear away.”
Goeui then taught him a mnemonic chant.
It allowed protective qi to form around the joints used by the Flexible Joints, protecting them with true qi.
Goeui called the mental cultivation method the Revolving Joint Art.
Jaha found it somewhat surprising that it didn't have a grander name.
In truth, however, this kind of cultivation method was extremely rare and impossible to find anywhere else.
“Defense and attack happen without warning, so you must always be prepared beforehand. If you circulate the Revolving Joint Art before fighting, your joints will be protected. Train continuously until you can activate it once and keep it running for a long period of time.”
It took Jaha exactly three days to properly perform the Revolving Joint Art, gather true qi around his joints, and form protective qi.
During that time, Goeui focused on treating Ha Seonbaek.
Ha Seonbaek had been bedridden for a long time, so his physical strength and vitality had greatly weakened.
To restore his energy, Goeui freely used the precious medicinal herbs and medical knowledge he possessed.
Even for Goeui, it was the first time in his life that he had ever done such a thing.
Consider it your reward for not running away and accepting my teachings.
Goeui looked at Jaha, who was still sitting cross-legged in meditation, and couldn't help feeling impressed.
Jaha possessed talent and physical aptitude far beyond what Goeui had expected.
Goeui had believed that even if Jaha was fast, it would take at least half a year for him to properly learn the Revolving Joint Art.
Yet Jaha had mastered the difficult mnemonic chant in only three days.
Goeui could only marvel at him.
However, Goeui was surprised only because he did not know Jaha's true identity.
Jaha had already trained in and learned all kinds of qi cultivation techniques within the Demonic Cult.
Although the Revolving Joint Art was unfamiliar to him, it did not feel completely foreign.
If someone from the younger generation of the Orthodox Martial Alliance had attempted to learn it, they might have failed even after an entire year.
That was because the principles behind the Revolving Joint Art were far removed from the martial philosophy pursued by orthodox sects.
In fact, the Revolving Joint Art was much closer to demonic cultivation.
On the fifth day of living in the abandoned house, Han Seol returned carrying food.
Since they had remained here for so long, their supplies had begun running low, so she had gone down to the village to buy ingredients for cooking.
Han Seol and Jo Unryong moved around as quietly as possible so they wouldn't disturb their senior brother's training.
The penetrating wound in Jaha's shoulder had also healed enough that it no longer interfered with his movements, thanks to Goeui's treatment at Inui Manor and here at the abandoned house.
Jaha had no idea what medicinal herbs or decoctions Goeui was using, but his recovery was several times faster than when he had been treated by ordinary physicians.
And thanks to Goeui carefully treating Ha Seonbaek over the past five days, Ha Seonbaek had regained enough strength to sit up and eat his meals.
He had even recovered enough to come out into the courtyard and take short walks.
Because of that, Jo Unryong had no choice but to suppress his curiosity about what kind of martial art his senior brother was learning.
He knew very well that now was the time to devotedly care for his master.
Han Seol looked at her youngest junior brother with approval.
Then she saw her master standing quietly in the courtyard, enjoying the sunlight.
Tears almost filled her eyes.
Senior Brother, are you watching? Master has recovered.
If only you could have seen him like this too.
A tear rolled from Han Seol's eye.
“Seol-ah, why are you crying? Are you hurt somewhere?”
Jaha had been walking over when he noticed the tears running down Han Seol's face and quickly asked.
“Ah? You're here. Ahem.”
Han Seol hurriedly wiped her tears with her sleeve.
“It's just... seeing Master healthy again like this makes me emotional.”
Jaha looked toward Ha Seonbaek and nodded.
“That's right. You've suffered a lot emotionally all this time, haven't you?”
For a moment, Jaha wasn't sure whether those words had come from himself or from Baekryeong of Byeokho.
Well, what does it matter which one of us said it?
Han Seol asked,
“By the way, how is your martial arts training going?”
