Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 107. Stage of Upheaval (1)

“Whew.”

The dawn air was frighteningly cold.

Namgung Gwan, who had been swinging his sword alone in the deserted Juru Rear Garden, sat in lotus position on the spot.

Wooooong.

Majestic energy wrapped around his entire body.

As his sweat cooled, white haze rose from his whole body. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel the movement of that haze.

‘Is it still too much for me after all?’

The Vast Sky Limitless Heart Method that he first learned at nineteen.

It was one of the top three secret techniques of the Namgung Clan and a legendary supreme art that made the Namgung name known throughout the world.

Being such a famous martial art, its difficulty was on another level. Its cultivation speed was slower than any other martial art he had learned so far.

Namgung Gwan tried hard to remain calm.

‘Why is the Vast Sky Limitless Heart Method called the Vast Sky Limitless Heart Method?’

‘Pardon?’

‘Why is the Heavenly Wind Sword called the Heavenly Wind Sword? What about Heavenly Thunder Energy? Why must the Lonely Soul Single Sword be called the Lonely Soul Single Sword?’

‘…?’

‘Study and study again. If you observe the martial arts you have learned, the gateway to true enlightenment will open.’

Father’s words were overly abstract.

Usually he wasn’t like that, but when it came to martial arts specifically, there were many zen dialogues.

Namgung Gwan knew this was Father’s own teaching method. In fact, Elder Brother and Younger Brother had all received such teachings.

‘Father, this son is slow-witted and has not yet properly understood even one out of ten of your words.’

Father’s laughter sounded like an auditory hallucination.

“The answer is always right before your eyes. But even knowing there is an answer, for it to become the right answer for you requires that much cultivation.”

Namgung Gwan smiled.

‘Yes. I will first build up more cultivation.’

Whoooong!

Thanks to the intense training, his energy cultivation was fast.

After several heavenly circuits, Namgung Gwan stood up from his spot.

“The sun hasn’t risen yet.”

Perhaps because it was winter, the night was particularly long.

“That was good training.”

Even though he hadn’t expelled the alcohol energy through cultivation, he was fine when he woke up. It was because his internal energy flow was unobstructed, making detoxification quick.

Moreover, swinging his sword for half a hour until he sweated made his mind and body refreshed.

“I should slowly go in and wash… Hm?”

Namgung Gwan turned his head.

‘What is this?’

Whoosh.

A wind that blew from somewhere seemed to sweep low across his lower body.

A momentary feeling of strength leaving his legs. His spine felt chilly and goosebumps rose on both arms.

Namgung Gwan, who had been looking at the bushes, cautiously gripped his sword.

After a moment.

Rustle.

Parting the bushes, a young man appeared.

“Oh? Moyong Sohyeop!”

“Hm?”

Moyong Bi’s eyes widened.

“What? How long have you been there?”

“I’ve been here since about an hour ago… No, more importantly, why do you look like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s blood splattered on your clothes.”

Even though it was black martial uniform, he could see the blood had turned brown. His eyesight was excellent.

Moyong Bi let out a bitter smile and brushed off his clothes.

Thinly hardened blood scabs fell with a pattering sound.

“I caught a beast.”

“A beast?”

“That’s right.”

“You went hunting? There wouldn’t have been many animals worth catching in this weather, would there?”

“That wasn’t the case.”

Moyong Bi looked up at the sky.

Above the sky where both moon and stars had lost their power, the fiercely blowing wind left claw marks.

“Rather, isn’t it true that the colder the winter, the more vicious beasts run rampant?”

“Haha, is that so.”

Namgung Gwan found himself watching Moyong Bi’s mood for some reason.

Why was that? He didn’t seem like his usual self.

Somehow his mood seemed to have completely sunk. It was an atmosphere where it was hard to carelessly strike up conversation.

Namgung Gwan cleared his throat and said.

“You said you suddenly realized something while drinking and went out – how did it go, did your training go well?”

“Training, you say.”

He had deliberately left Namgung Gwan and Namgung So So by Moyong Su Hyang’s side. Jin Gwang and Jong Hweon were trustworthy too, but they didn’t yet have the skill to face the real ones.

Indeed, listening to those guys’ conversation made him think he needed to be careful going forward.

“It went reasonably well.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Somehow it was hard to continue the conversation.

Namgung Gwan, who had been fidgeting awkwardly, soon bowed his head.

“Then I’ll see you again later.”

“You trained?”

“Pardon? Ah! Yes, that’s right.”

“Good.”

“You mean me?”

“The aura emanating along with your heat has a well-sharpened edge. You look the most spirited I’ve ever seen you.”

Namgung Gwan’s face brightened.

“Is, is that so?”

“While martial arts may benefit greatly from innate talent, ultimately achieving vastly different accomplishments depending on how you handle it is also martial arts. That’s why martial arts are closely related to life.”

“Ah…”

“Did something good happen recently?”

“I’m not sure about that, but I have been spending these past few days enjoyably.”

Moyong Bi nodded.

“If such a life suits you, then it’s good to live that way.”

Namgung Gwan unconsciously flinched.

Those words from Moyong Bi strangely stirred his heart.

“I’ll see you later.”

“Wa, wait!”

“Do you have more to say?”

There was always plenty to say.

But now was different from usual. Not just himself, but Moyong Bi was also giving off a particularly stiff and unapproachable atmosphere.

To put it simply, it was as if he had suddenly become a much older adult.

Usually he had a playful yet brotherly feeling, but now he seemed like a life senior who had lived for half a century.

After countless internal conflicts in that brief moment, Namgung Gwan carefully asked.

“By any chance, Young Master Moyong, could you spare me some time? It won’t take very long.”

Considering his characteristic nature of not wanting to trouble others, this was quite courageous of him.

Moyong Bi pointed toward the wall of the tavern with his chin.

“Let’s go to the roadside.”

“Yes!”

Shortly after, the two walked along the wide main road.

“Young Master Moyong, do you happen to know about our main family’s martial arts?”

“Are you treating me like someone who stole the Namgung Clan’s secret martial arts?”

“Th-that can’t be!”

“Well, if it’s just the names, I know them. Changung Muae Sword, Cheonpung Heart Method, Cheonroe Sword Technique, and so on?”

The Namgung Clan’s secret martial arts were as famous as the supreme techniques of the Nine Sects and One Gang.

It wasn’t just the Namgung Clan. The martial arts of all six great clans, as well as sects with considerable reputation in their regions, spread throughout the Central Plains through rumors and word of mouth.

“You know them.”

“As much as others do.”

Of course, he knew more than others. The Namgung Clan had also fought bloody battles against Seongheolgung as a member of the Martial Alliance.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder if that gentleman is still in good health?’

The head of the Namgung Clan who was the family leader at that time came to mind.

‘Thinking about it that way, this fellow would be that gentleman’s grandson.’

Though he thought such connections existed in the world, Moyong Bi tried not to dwell on the past.

Right now, he was simply Moyong Bi. Though it had been just over a month, he had somewhat separated himself from his past self.

The fact that he didn’t think of that gentleman when he first saw Namgung Gwan showed that he was indeed keeping an appropriate distance from his self during the Moyong Cheon era.

“Since it’s Father’s teaching, I’m a bit cautious about sharing it with outsiders… but I still haven’t grasped the meaning of a conversation I had with Father a few years ago.”

“What did your father say?”

Namgung Gwan relayed the conversation with his father exactly as it happened.

Moyong Bi nodded.

“He gave you very fundamental yet direct teaching.”

“Pardon?”

Namgung Gwan’s face filled with bewilderment.

“Fundamental yet… direct?”

“That’s right.”

Which part of those words was direct? Wasn’t it closer to a Zen dialogue?

Seeing Namgung Gwan’s puzzled expression, Moyong Bi spoke bluntly.

“It’s normal to think difficult things are difficult. It’s rewarding to consider easy things from multiple angles.”

“…?”

“But thinking easy things are only difficult is wrong.”

“Wh-what…?”

“Well, since your father wants you to realize it yourself, I won’t tell you outright either. As your father said, even if you’re given the answer, it’s meaningless if you’re not prepared.”

Moyong Bi pointed at Namgung Gwan’s belt with his finger.

“That’s a sword. Right?”

“…That’s correct.”

“The specifications of swords are all different by region, craftsman, and organization. But even though the length, width, and form may differ, anyone can tell that a sword is a sword.”

“That’s right.”

“A sword has two edges, right?”

“Of course.”

“Is it a sword without a handle?”

“Pardon? That depends on… whether you’re looking at a completed sword or interpreting it based on the sword’s form…”

“Why is a sword more suitable for thrusting than cutting?”

The question was strange.

Obvious and easy questions were flying at him randomly. Namgung Gwan was flustered, but answered sincerely.

“Because it has two sharp edges and a pointed tip, making it more suitable for thrusting.”

“Why does a scabbard exist?”

“Of course… to sheathe the sword.”

“Can’t a sword cut?”

“It can cut.”

The conversation was getting increasingly strange.

If one lacked patience, they might grumble about why he kept asking useless questions.

But Namgung Gwan listened patiently and answered. No, he thought there was a reason why he was asking these questions, so he listened seriously and answered even the obvious questions.

Moyong Bi nodded.

“In the end, bringing all those meanings together creates a sword.”

“That’s right.”

“And that’s why we call a sword a sword?”

“…Pardon?”

“Why is the Changung Muae Heart Method called the Changung Muae Heart Method?”

“…!!”

Moyong Bi shrugged his shoulders and turned around.

“I have no way of knowing that. From now on, that’s for the smooth-talking young master to figure out.”

Namgung Gwan’s expression changed completely.

Though Moyong Bi, who was walking away leisurely, soon disappeared from sight, his contemplation continued.

‘Why a sword is a sword… two edges and pointed… as the most rational weapon…’

There are countless reasons why a sword is a sword.

A sword is born from the harmonious combination of all those many reasons.

Then why is the Changung Muae Heart Method called the Changung Muae Heart Method?

What about the Cheonroe Sword? Why was the Cheonpung Heart Method given that name?

Where lies the true meaning of martial arts?

“…!!”

Goosebumps rose all over his body.

Above his gaping head, an invisible light was falling vertically.

It was the light of enlightenment.

Not an enlightenment that would immediately increase his internal energy or make him stronger, but a milestone that would serve as a guide for his martial artist life that still had decades remaining.

Namgung Gwan began to create the gateway to true enlightenment.

Far in the distance, the eastern sky was brightening.

* * *

Walking back to the tavern, Moyong Bi unconsciously muttered.

“Why is a sword a sword?”

A sword is a sword.

There’s no other reason.

“But within that obviousness lies the principle of all things in the world.”

Moyong Bi’s eyes turned cold.

He recalled Yeong Geom Jin In, who couldn’t even get angry and only begged for his life while paralyzed with fear.

And also his own appearance, like an evil spirit, reflected in those fear-filled eyes.

“Vermin-like bastards.”

Yeong Geom Jin In had told him many things.

He thought the man would have pride second to none, but he was wrong. His mental state was such that his mind wavered and he couldn’t properly utilize even his internal energy. The man had spilled information about the Martial Arts Sect with pathetic ease.

“Even a young man younger and less experienced than you doesn’t forget his father’s teachings and continues to pursue them, yet you so-called practitioners abandon your masters’ teachings and go mad over immediate gains?”

But it seemed not all Taoist priests of the Martial Arts Sect were like that.

Moyong Bi let out a sigh.

“I need to have a drink.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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