Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 83

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

Chapter 83. Self-Control is in My Heart (3)

Crack!

The kick through empty air was graceful beyond measure.

“Last one!”

Thud!

Lightly kicking off the ground.

All ten members became one as they flew through the air.

Swoosh.

The heavy men landing on both feet moved with surprisingly smooth motion.

Legs stretched wide. Upper bodies without a tremor.

It was perfect form.

“At ease.”

Everyone straightened their bodies.

“Next is the Blunt Method Arc Form.”

As soon as the words ended, all squad members led by Gwan Hyeon slowly began their movements.

If Dragon Fighting Form emphasized flexibility and elasticity, then Blunt Method Arc Form focused on promoting recovery by regulating blood flow through slow movements.

When mastered, it would even help with blunt sword training, so in terms of depth it actually surpassed Dragon Fighting Form.

After a while, all squad members finished their movements.

Jin Gwang turned his head and asked.

“How was it?”

Moyong Bi, arms crossed, looked down at the squad members with careful eyes.

Tension fell over the squad members’ faces. Some even gulped nervously.

After a moment.

“Good.”

Moyong Bi nodded.

“This level means you’re roughly prepared.”

“Wooooh!”

The squad members cheered.

“We did it! We did it!”

“Kuhuk! Is this what they call seeing your life flash before your eyes…”

“The bruise in my groin still hasn’t healed.”

“Somehow we managed it.”

They looked ready to shed tears.

And rightfully so. This training, different from their previous physical conditioning, was actually ten times harder because it was slow and gentle.

Though it wasn’t a long period, they had endured hellish pain day after day to achieve this, so they couldn’t help but rejoice.

“Quiet.”

At the Squad Leader’s heavy voice, the squad members snapped back to attention.

Moyong Bi spoke with a wicked expression.

“Being prepared is just the beginning – you’re still far from done. You still need to train at least twice daily without fail.”

The squad members’ faces turned like worm-eaten fruit.

“If you don’t like it, quit. Give up and it’ll be easy.”

“No sir!”

The voices shouting through gritted teeth were vivid with anger.

Anger that couldn’t find a target. That anger seemed close to madness.

Moyong Bi grinned.

‘Jin Gwang was right – their fighting spirit is good.’

Certainly, though it was difficult, no one tried to give up. Most were actually showing improvement.

Among them, one particularly caught his eye.

“Jong Hweon.”

“Yes.”

“Come forward.”

“Understood.”

When Jong Hweon stood in the center of the training ground, the squad members naturally stepped back. They were perfectly in sync now.

Moyong Bi picked up two wooden short staffs from the ground.

“Catch one.”

The casually thrown short staff was caught in Jong Hweon’s hand.

‘Oh?’

Just from the gesture of catching the short staff, he could tell.

Like a hawk snatching prey with its talons, his wrist flexibility was considerable.

He probably had that level of flexibility originally, but what mattered was whether the natural movement came as easily as breathing.

His center didn’t waver either, and his eyes were steady and good.

“Twice.”

Spinning his wrist in circles, the short staff drew dizzy circles accordingly.

“I’ll swing twice. Don’t dodge – block them no matter what.”

“Yes.”

Jong Hweon carefully took his stance.

Surprisingly, there was none of that awkward posture from before. Though no one had taught him how to position himself, his center was well-balanced on its own.

Dragon Fighting Form had increased flexibility and elasticity, but without thinking for himself and correcting his posture, this would never have been possible.

Wasn’t this the guy with rock-bottom talent?

“Starting with the head.”

Moyong Bi stomped hard on the ground and swung his short staff powerfully.

Whoosh! Thunk!

Jong Hweon’s face instantly flushed red.

The squad members all gulped.

‘Incredible!’

A move from Moyong Bi they’d never seen before.

The strike delivered with natural, smooth motion drew a perfectly straight line without the slightest tremor.

It wasn’t a simple straight line.

While striking down, he slightly pulled to add a slicing flavor, with weight added on top. Even without internal energy, it was as heavy as a falling rock.

Since they too now understood what true flexibility was, they could somewhat grasp how high-level Moyong Bi’s movements and sword path were.

Whoosh.

A bit of dust rose above Jong Hweon’s feet.

The weight of the slashing attack had spread through the short staff down to his toes.

Even after blocking it, Jong Hweon’s posture wasn’t greatly disturbed. Not only his muscles but his joint flexibility had increased, dispersing the impact from the strike throughout his entire body.

Moyong Bi withdrew his short staff.

“Right to left.”

Whoooosh!

The speed of the wooden staff swinging horizontally was even faster than before.

Crack!

“Kuk!”

Though he blocked with his short staff, Jong Hweon was pushed three or four steps to the side.

“Not bad?”

It was a move with higher impact transmission than the first vertical strike.

If he’d blocked relying only on strength, he wouldn’t have been pushed back, but his insides would have churned and he’d have retched.

Yet Jong Hweon dispersed the impact while being pushed back. It meant his body had become accustomed to dispersing force.

“It’s not just that your physical condition improved. Normally your body would stiffen when tense, but even after taking the first strike, you scattered the second impact?”

Moyong Bi nodded.

“You really worked hard.”

It was praise he’d given to no one else.

Jong Hweon bowed his head deeply.

There were no words of thanks.

Not because he wasn’t truly grateful, but because he wasn’t satisfied with himself.

Moyong Bi sensitively read Jong Hweon’s heart. Having commanded countless warriors and even fought wars, there was no way he couldn’t read Jong Hweon’s feelings.

“Everyone, look.”

Moyong Bi’s face was full of smiles as he pointed at Jong Hweon with his club.

“Remember when Jong Hweon used to use the Duck Butt Sword Technique? He was probably the worst among you in skill.”

“…”

“But how is it that now he seems to have trained the best among you? If it were you facing the club work I just demonstrated, do you think you could have blocked it as well as this guy?”

Even if they had confidence, it wasn’t an easy situation to say yes to, but in reality, the squad members lacked confidence.

The fact that they could recognize this showed their insight had improved, proving this training was definitely worthwhile.

“Jong Hweon didn’t just do repetitive training. I bet he focused all his nerves on relaxing his body when eating, when taking a dump, even when sleeping.”

Jong Hweon’s eyes wavered.

The Young Master had amazingly recognized and acknowledged the time he had spent focusing on himself without even talking to his comrades.

“This is why they say determination is more important than talent. When determination reaches its peak, you start applying martial arts to your life. Why? Because even resting time feels precious.”

“…”

“Anyone can learn martial arts if someone teaches them. But to become truly strong, you need to use your head. The difference between someone who thinks about how to improve and get stronger and someone who doesn’t is this significant.”

Moyong Bi looked back at Jong Hweon.

“In terms of immersion, Jong Hweon overwhelmed all of you. Jong Hweon, good work.”

“Th-thank you.”

Being praised to that extent, he couldn’t help but express his gratitude. Only then did Jong Hweon’s face flush with emotion.

“That doesn’t mean you guys did poorly. The world is full of idiots who can’t handle what they’re given and blame others, but you’re at a decent level. It was fine.”

After such overwhelming praise, these words didn’t have much impact.

Of course, Moyong Bi didn’t care about such trivial things.

If they’re dissatisfied, they’ll work harder.

“By the way, do you guys know?”

“…?”

“They’re holding a Hubei Late-Stage Expert tournament?”

Gwan Hyeon spoke up.

“I heard it’s being held near Wuhan.”

“I’m thinking of entering.”

Not only the squad members but even Jin Gwang were shocked.

“Y-Young Master?”

“The prize money is over one hundred thousand nyang.”

Looking at his expression with the corners of his mouth reaching up to his eyes, it was hard to tell if this was a human face or a ghost’s face.

“I can’t let that ownerless one hundred thousand nyang fall into someone else’s hands, can I?”

“Uh…”

“I already got permission from the Family Head. After all, it’s good to participate for the family’s honor, right?”

There was no honor that would fall from not participating. Rather, participating without skill and getting eliminated in the preliminaries would be more fatal.

However, if a martial force active in Wuhan didn’t participate in a tournament held in their front yard, they might face ridicule.

Gwan Hyeon asked carefully.

“Are you aiming for victory?”

“Are you kidding? If a man draws his sword, he should cut even a rock.”

“A rock… was it?”

“If I’m going to participate instead of not going at all, naturally I should aim for victory. One hundred thousand nyang isn’t some dog’s name.”

“Would that be possible?”

Moyong Bi snorted.

“The age limit is up to twenty-four, right?”

“That’s right?”

“It’s not forty-two, and if I can’t win against those snotty brats, shouldn’t I just die?”

It wasn’t something a nineteen-year-old veteran brat should say.

“Now that one hundred thousand nyang is as good as in our hands! You guys are suffering from training too, so shouldn’t you enjoy fancy feasts sometimes? With money, you can eat expensive things!”

The squad members’ faces brightened.

Others might find it laughable, but for warriors who overwork their bodies all day, nothing is more important than meals and sleeping quarters.

Of course, they weren’t eating poorly now, but if a fortune came in, their circumstances would improve, and when circumstances improve, wouldn’t the treatment change too?

“But there’s one condition.”

“A condition?”

Moyong Bi smacked his lips.

“I’m not some masterless wanderer, and I’m going under the family banner, so wouldn’t it feel awkward if I went alone and beat up those brats?”

Why would that feel awkward?

Setting that aside, the confidence that he could definitely beat up late-stage experts gathered from various places was scary.

‘But isn’t it a sparring match? Surely beating them up isn’t the purpose?’

Several squad members seriously pondered the low-grade cruelty they felt in Moyong Bi’s words.

Gwan Hyeon asked carefully.

“What do you mean, Young Master…?”

“I’m going to take some of you with me.”

“What?!”

“Of course, if I don’t like it, I’ll just take Team Leader Jin.”

“…!”

“Wouldn’t that be natural? Those arrogant bastards from prestigious families without hinges on their necks will appear in droves – can you guys walk around with your shoulders squared in front of those conceited ones?”

Just imagining it made them feel uncomfortable.

“Honestly, I was just going to go alone, but the Family Head gave me a special order. If I’m going to spread the Moyong name anyway, take the Fire Sword Group too. To broaden their perspective.”

“…”

“To broaden your perspective, you need qualifications, right?”

“What do you mean by qualifications?”

“Getting several times stronger in less than two weeks is impossible. But increasing your determination tenfold is possible!”

He meant to put them through hell training without even getting the Family Head’s permission.

The squad members’ faces turned pale. Imagining what kind of extraordinary training method would tear apart human bodies this time made them feel like their joints would fall off already.

Moyong Bi shouted like a demon lord.

“Whether it’s sword fighting or staring contests, momentum is half the battle! From today, you’re all eating and sleeping in the training ground with me!”

* * *

Ten days later.

“Wow!”

Admiration arose on the beautiful young girl’s face.

“It’s splendid, so splendid!”

Wuhan Market wasn’t just one place.

But this marketplace was the largest and longest in Wuhan, with tall buildings lined up in rows and countless people forming a sea of humanity.

“Brother. Isn’t this really amazing? Compared to here, where we live could just be called a country village.”

“Don’t act rashly, you fool.”

He gave a quiet warning, but the young man’s face was also quite flushed. He was overwhelmed by the marketplace’s vitality.

“Let’s eat first! I heard Hubei food is so delicious, and this is even Wuhan!”

The young man chuckled and nodded.

“Right, let’s eat first. I’m hungry too.”

Then, from far away, merchants’ cheers echoed.

Wowwww!

Even in the bustling marketplace, it was such a distinctive cheer that the young man and girl had to turn their heads.

A moment later.

Both of their mouths fell wide open.

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