Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 83

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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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#083

Gangho Yeonmujeon .

This was the name of the martial arts tournament hosted by the Five Great Clans.

Initially created for harmony among the Five Great Clans, its scope expanded throughout history.

The gathering of the Five Great Clans evolved into an orthodox martial arts tournament, and now it had developed into a competition for the entire Gangho without distinguishing between orthodox and demonic sects.

This was something the Five Great Clans had intentionally designed to showcase their influence.

Eventually, the Gangho Yeonmujeon became the largest martial arts tournament, hosted by the Five Great Clans in rotation every four years.

This particular Gangho Yeonmujeon was receiving special attention because the Hwangbo Clan had declared seclusion and been expelled from the Five Great Clans.

“New Five Great Clans will be selected at this martial arts tournament.”

“Is that so important?”

“Very important.”

Ja-gang-cheon simply accepted it with an “Ah, I see.”

The current Five Great Clans were the Namgung Clan, Zhuge Clan, Sichuan Tang Family, and Hebei Peng Family.

“The places being discussed to replace the Hwangbo Clan are the Guangdong Jin Family and Xinchang Yang Family. The Guangdong Jin Family is the origin of Taiji Quan and has mastered medicine as well, while the Xinchang Yang Family is famous for their Yang Family Spear Technique.”

“Ah, I’ve heard of them too.”

“The Guangdong Jin Family is favored, but being far from the Central Plains is their weakness.”

The Guangdong Jin Family, located in Guangdong Province, was positioned at the southernmost point.

“Why is that a weakness?”

“Because of the Moyong Family. No one in the Central Plains knew they were colluding with the Evil Sect while they were in Liaoning Province. The Five Great Clans almost disbanded because of the Moyong Family. The remaining clans suffered great damage while actively fighting the Evil Sect to restore their honor.”

“So the southernmost region is considered dangerous?”

“Nanman is over there. The current Nanman forces are evaluated as the strongest in history. Normally, they would select the Guangdong Jin Family to keep them in check, but remembering the Moyong Family’s betrayal makes them reluctant.”

There were complex circumstances unique to them.

“Anyway, the Five Great Clans need to maintain that name to exert power between the orthodox and demonic sects. So the fall of the Hwangbo Clan must be bewildering.”

Ja-gang-cheon looked at the invitation in his hand again.

“Is there a need to attend such a complicated gathering?”

“It’s because of reputation. The more people we have, the more we need reputation.”

When Ja-gang-cheon nodded, Pan Seok-i, who had been listening, asked.

“Hyeongnim, what’s good about having that reputation? Isn’t it just becoming famous? What if people pick fights because our name becomes known?”

Cheon-gu kindly explained again.

“When the Hwangbo Clan was intact, no bandits touched their goods. And no merchants tried to deceive them. That’s reputation.”

“Ah! Then we definitely need it!”

Pan Seok-i’s gaze turned to Ja-gang-cheon. Then another person added their words.

“You can gain various connections and experiences there.”

It was Song Ja-in’s explanation.

“In Gangho, connections and friendships are as necessary as reputation. And the exchange of martial arts cannot be overlooked either. The reason the Lord keeps the Martial Arts Demon at the manor is also for martial arts exchange.”

“That’s right. Exchanging martial arts with various people is definitely a great help.”

“That’s exactly the purpose of martial arts tournaments. Of course, it has become quite corrupted now.”

Mugyeong, who had been quietly listening, muttered as if talking to himself.

“Like forgetting the essence of martial combat and leaving only competition.”

When everyone’s gaze turned to him, Mugyeong waved his hand and coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem. Please continue. I won’t interrupt.”

Hearing those words, Ja-gang-cheon pondered repeatedly, when Cheon-gu spoke.

“Reputation is absolutely necessary for your sake too.”

“For my sake?”

“Like with Hao-mun and the Beggar’s Sect, we need to drag out the situation where both orthodox and demonic sects want you as long as possible. During that time, you need to rise to a level that cannot be ignored.”

Ja-gang-cheon understood those words.

‘I can’t choose either side.’

Probably everyone who met him would tell him to choose one.

To endure that, he needed to become someone no one could treat carelessly.

“Good. Let’s go. We’ll make Deungmyeong Manor known to everyone.”

The date was the first day of May.

There were 100 days left until then.

***

Sometimes a clear goal can change one’s mindset.

“What? I’m going too?”

“Yes. Cheon-gu and hyeong are coming too. I’m not the only one at Deungmyeong Manor.”

“Train without regrets during the remaining time. I’ll help you.”

Song Ja-in volunteered to help, and Mugyeong also slipped in.

“As a special instructor, I’ll take responsibility for everyone’s growth.”

But Cheon-gu and Pan Seok-i exceeded expectations of simply working hard.

They truly entered training with deadly determination.

They actively utilized the completed internal energy training room and devoted themselves to training while reducing sleep.

Like people entering closed-door training, they devoted themselves only to martial arts training from the moment they opened their eyes until they fell asleep.

The person who felt the results most greatly was Mugyeong.

‘How can this be possible?’

The first month showed no major changes.

Martial arts training wasn’t easy enough to achieve great growth in just one month.

But after a month passed, like energy that had been crouched down bursting forth, visible progress was made day by day.

‘Setting a clear goal was good.’

With limited time, Cheon-gu focused only on swordsmanship while Pan Seok-i learned staff techniques.

Cheon-gu’s ever-changing sword techniques gained weight as internal energy was added, while Pan Seok-i’s staff techniques developed into unique characteristics as his peculiar strength was displayed.

While Cheon-gu’s Moonlight Sword Technique followed orthodox principles, the Jinак Staff Technique that Pan Seok-i learned walked its own path.

The Jinак Staff Technique was a simple and destructive staff technique befitting its name of “shaking mountains.”

‘This is the Jinак Staff Technique.’

The Jinак Staff Technique was one of the most common staff techniques in Gangho. It was common enough that anyone could learn it if they set their mind to it.

A hundred years ago, the Jinак Sect, famous for staff techniques in the Shaanxi region, was destroyed in a dispute with Nok-rim.

At that time, the son of Nok-rim’s chief escort died at the hands of the Jinак Sect, so revenge continued even after the fight ended.

The most representative example was revealing the Jinак Staff Technique, which had been an exclusive martial art, to the world.

The exclusive martial art was no longer exclusive, and the Jinак Staff Technique fell to become the most common martial art.

Even now, one could obtain a manual of the Jinак Staff Technique at the market if they set their mind to it.

But the Jinак Staff Technique that Pan Seok-i displayed was not the staff technique that anyone commonly learned.

‘Martial arts results differ according to interpretation, but this is a much more developed form.’

That was natural since it was the result of research by Cheongheo Jinrin Ja-un-hak, who was called the future of Wudang.

His research on the Jinак Staff Technique began long before coming to Gwigokdo, and the reason was simple.

-Wudang Sect has no excellent staff techniques.

Believing that all martial arts complement each other, he researched the publicly revealed Jinак Staff Technique.

The reason Ja-gang-cheon learned various martial arts and mastered their advantages was because of Ja-un-hak’s philosophy.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

While briefly lost in other thoughts, Mugyeong’s sword and Pan Seok-i’s staff collided.

Surprisingly, it was Mugyeong who stepped back.

‘I absolutely must not let weapons clash.’

Especially when blocking with a sword, the impact spread throughout his entire hand. If he hadn’t infused internal energy, he would have definitely dropped his sword.

‘He swings that heavy iron staff like a wooden sword.’

What made Pan Seok-i’s staff technique unique was fundamentally due to his build and natural strength.

Even though Pan Seok-i held a silver staff much longer and heavier than a sword, from a distance it created the illusion of holding a wooden stick.

Mugyeong didn’t know it, but when the characteristics of the Mangа Staff that added to the impact were combined, its power overcame even the difference in internal energy.

‘Using staff techniques and hand-to-hand combat together.’

Since he could hold the staff with one hand, he used his free hand and body to deploy hand-to-hand combat techniques.

This was possible because he had learned Bicheon Shinbo unlike Bully, and all of this combined to become Pansuk’s unique martial art.

“That’s enough.”

Unfortunately, Pansuk, who had gained an opportunity by knocking away the weapon, made a mistake in the process of approaching.

As he stretched out his thick hand, he was struck at a pressure point near his wrist.

In the moment his body flinched from that pain, Mugyeong’s sword tip touched his chest.

“Ah!”

“You rushed in too eagerly at the opportunity.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Never let your guard down. If this were real combat, you wouldn’t have had the chance to apologize like that.”

Mugyeong repeatedly gave warnings and taught him each lacking aspect one by one.

“Thank you.”

Ja-gang-cheon, who had been watching their sparring, also lent support to Pansuk.

“Hyeong. When we return from the Martial Arts Competition, let’s learn ascending fist techniques. Then it will become a complete form.”

“Yes! Hyeongnim!”

Ja-gang-cheon thought about what martial art would make Pansuk the most difficult opponent to face.

That conclusion was rough hand-to-hand combat based on ascending fist techniques.

Satisfied with Pansuk’s growth, Ja-gang-cheon turned his gaze and saw Cheon-gu steadily practicing swordsmanship.

For three days now, he had been repeating only one technique hundreds of times.

“Cheon-gu would have done well as a blacksmith too.”

Cheon-gu pursued perfection to an obsessive degree.

It wasn’t just repetition, but a method of thinking each time and correcting what was lacking.

Repeating until he was satisfied felt like a blacksmith forging a famous sword.

‘Until he becomes a sword himself.’

Sword and self as one.

Human and sword united.

These were words Father had once said.

-A swordsman must forge himself into a single sword.

Ja-gang-cheon was certain that Cheon-gu was the person who best carried out those words.

Even Father, who was sincere about martial arts, hadn’t done as much repeated tempering as Cheon-gu was doing now.

As he was feeling pleased watching such Cheon-gu, he sensed a dangerous aura from somewhere.

When he quickly turned around at the intense aura that caused instinctive rejection, he saw a familiar face.

“Aunt.”

When their eyes met, Song Ja-in skillfully contained her aura.

“It seems you’ve finally achieved results.”

She subtly sent a telepathic message.

-It’s thanks to the internal energy training room.

At Song Ja-in’s level, steady growth was impossible. It was a stage where one had to overcome barriers in an instant and ascend to another realm.

She had been training steadily since coming to Deungmyeong Manor, and after obtaining the Poison King’s advancement, she faced a real barrier.

In the past, she wouldn’t have thought to overcome that barrier, but now it was different.

‘I must protect these young family members.’

She had staked everything to save her son. That way of life had now transferred to Deungmyeong Manor.

‘Even if not quite like a son, they’re at least like nephews I’ve taken under my wing.’

When such earnestness was combined with the internal energy training room, she finally overcame the barrier.

If even Ja-gang-cheon, who had steadily built poison resistance, felt a sense of crisis, it would be a nightmare for those who hadn’t.

“You know what I want, don’t you?”

“Not now. Lord is in danger too.”

Then she made one declaration.

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll train to build poison resistance. Lord should join us too.”

At her words, the three including Ja-gang-cheon showed tense expressions.

Because they had already experienced what that method entailed.

“We should eat deliciously today. We won’t be able to eat properly starting tomorrow.”

“This time will be a bit harder. Even if immunity to ten thousand poisons is too much, I’m thinking of creating immunity to a thousand poisons.”

Sensing killing intent in her benevolent smile was probably not a mistake, was it?

Ja-gang-cheon resolved to eat today’s meal without regrets.

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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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