I Obtained Guan Yu's Martial Arts - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Obtaining Guan Yu’s Martial Arts — Episode 051
Ak Jinseong (1)
-You’ve endured much hardship.
“Not at all, sir.”
Guan Hui, susceptible to praise, scratched the bridge of his nose.
Guan Hui suddenly looked up at the sky.
The moon, veiled in cloud, was slowly sinking, while the sun rose between the mountain ridges.
As Guan Hui watched the sun and moon exchange places beneath the violet glow, he asked:
“General, what should I do going forward?”
-I wish I could tell you, but I cannot. As I’ve said—the eyes of Heaven forbid it.
“I see.”
-Continue as you are now. If you keep training with this same devotion and grow steadily stronger, the day will come when you break free from Heaven’s gaze, and we can speak again.
“Understood. Then it seems such meetings will be difficult for some time.”
His conversations with Guan Yu grew harder with each passing day.
A spirit from the celestial realm meeting a mortal of the earthly realm was nearly impossible to begin with.
The fact that he had received a Secret Manual and gained instruction was itself little short of a miracle.
-It will be difficult for a while. When the day comes that the moon veils the sun, we shall speak again then.
“Yes, General. I shall continue my training until that day.
-Practice the latter half of the Secret Manual steadily. With your talent, you should reach the Peak Realm in no time.
“Yes, General. Do not be too shocked later on.”
-…? Why would I be shocked?
Guan Hui smiled faintly.
“Because I will have grown so very strong.”
-…I look forward to it.
Guan Yu’s voice rose slightly in his reply.
Hearing that voice—uncertain when he would hear it again—Guan Hui smiled softly.
Though he could not see, he sensed that Guan Yu, too, was smiling in the celestial realm.
.
.
.
“Phew.”
Guan Hui rested his glaive—heavy as lead against his palms—on the ground for a moment.
After hours of wielding the glaive without rest, every bone in his body ached.
It was because he had recently increased the glaive’s weight to seventy-five kilograms for his training.
Even for one with a Heavenly Martial Body, wielding seventy-five kilograms without Internal Energy was no simple feat.
“I’m beginning to understand now.”
The reason Guan Hui had come to the Bamboo Forest was to achieve Body Integration.
The insights gained from his recent battle needed not merely to be understood in the mind, but embodied through practice.
‘The mystery of Pulling Force and Repelling Force—it all came down to Qi, ultimately.’
The entire process of drawing an opponent closer and pushing them away was, in essence, Qi.
Even sorcery, when examined, aligned with the principles of Martial Arts.
This was something a martial artist or Daoist who had trained only in one path could never understand in a lifetime.
For one so young as Guan Hui to grasp this principle was an extraordinary Chance Encounter.
His meeting with Zhang Chuoshan had proven invaluable in retrospect.
‘And timing—what I lack most is Internal Energy.’
For a martial artist to reach the higher realms, all three aspects—heart, qi, and body—must achieve refinement.
Qi, symbolizing Internal Energy; Body, symbolizing the flesh; and Heart, symbolizing enlightenment.
In Daoism, these three—called Heaven-Earth-Human—are termed the Three Talents and form the foundation of all Sword Technique.
Guan Hui had already mastered the Crimson Transformation Radiant Martial Arts, an external technique ranking among the highest in the Central Plains, so his body had already reached the Peak Realm.
His enlightenment was likewise.
In grasping the principles of Pulling Force and Repelling Force, Guan Hui’s enlightenment had already touched the realm of the Peak.
Though his Heavenly Martial Body granted him natural talent in Martial Arts, his endless life-and-death struggles had elevated his grade still further.
Only one element remained: Internal Energy.
In all his years, he had consumed but a single Tai Qing Elixir, so his Internal Energy was hardly abundant.
In truth, compared to other young masters receiving generous financial support from the great families, his stores were quite limited.
Even Zhang Cheng, eldest son of the Anmun Zhang Family, had consumed no small number of Spiritual Elixirs over the years and possessed roughly twice Guan Hui’s Internal Energy.
‘The problem is that Spiritual Elixirs are far too rare.’
Internal Energy admits no shortcuts in cultivation.
The work of accumulating the great universe’s Qi within a mortal body ultimately demands honest, patient time.
The only way to abbreviate that time is Spiritual Elixirs—things so precious they are scarcely obtainable for any price.
Of course, the Guan Family Estate’s circumstances had improved considerably, so procuring lower-grade spiritual elixirs might be possible.
But the real problem was a lack of suppliers.
“Most spiritual elixirs can’t be obtained even if you have the money.”
The majority of spiritual elixirs circulating on the market fall under the control of the Heavenly Dynasty Five Families, which holds the greatest influence in the Central Plains.
The highest and superior-grade elixirs are monopolized entirely by them, while mid-grade and lower spiritual elixirs can only be obtained through families and sects connected to the Heavenly Dynasty Five Families.
The Guan Family Estate, having no connections whatsoever with the Heavenly Dynasty Five Families, couldn’t purchase them even at inflated prices.
“Then the only option left is the Black Market.”
The Black Market—where everything from explosives banned by the government to spiritual elixirs and even human trafficking are conducted.
But the Family Head of the Path of White couldn’t possibly purchase spiritual elixirs from the Black Market.
One misstep would not only drag the Guan Family Estate’s reputation to the depths but also make obtaining genuine spiritual elixirs from the Black Market as difficult as plucking stars from the sky.
“This won’t be easy, then.”
No mountains of money on hand, no connections to the Heavenly Dynasty Five Families either.
Without wealth or connections, all that remained was to wait for fortune to arrive.
“Don’t be impatient.”
Guan Hui released a long breath, expelling regret and attachment, then settled his expression into perfect calm.
Obsession and haste only cultivated the Heart Demon.
When effort alone couldn’t overcome a situation, the answer lay in emptying the mind instead.
Then, someday, fortune would come seeking him of its own accord.
“Brother! Broooooother!”
The moment his contemplation ended, Zhu Hu’s voice rang out.
A gentle breeze swept across the landscape, stirring the bamboo leaves in its wake.
Guan Hui smiled faintly as the crisp air touched his face.
“I smell the scent of fortune on the wind.”

* * *
Before the main gate of the Guan Family Estate.
A middle-aged man with an imposing frame and corded muscles stood with black hair covering the backs of his hands and his brows drawn down in an angry scowl.
The burly figure, resembling a massive black bear, glared down at the servants within the compound as if ready to devour them, and bellowed.
“Fetch your Family Head at once!”
The middle-aged man’s face, half-obscured by an unkempt tangle of whiskers, began to radiate a menacing aura.
The Family Head of the Shandong Ak Family—Ak Jinseong, the Divine Tiger Subduer.
True to his status as a master whose martial prowess had reached the Peak Realm, the energy wave he emitted set the surrounding atmosphere trembling and drained the color from the Guan Clan servants’ faces.
He seemed poised at any moment to storm into the compound, destroy and obliterate everything his hands could reach.
Yet despite that ferocious momentum, he hadn’t moved a single step beyond the gate.
Even while radiating his fury through his aura, he maintained the courtesy owed by an uninvited guest.
“H-he will arrive shortly. P-please wait patiently, Master.”
“An hour has already passed since I demanded to see the Family Head of the Guan Clan! Are you mocking Ak Jinseong!?”
The oppressive force from Ak Jinseong’s wide-open eyes grew even more savage.
The sheer momentum of his aura was enough to rattle the hinges and shake the gate itself.
“Bring your Family Head here this instant!”
Ak Jinseong bared his canines and growled like a wild beast.
And in that same moment.
Crack—
Unable to withstand Ak Jinseong’s aura, the gate separated from its hinges and crashed to the ground.
“……!”
The Guan Clan martial artists’ jaws dropped at the feat of destroying the gate with mere emitted energy.
“……!!”
Ak Jinseong’s own eyes widened in shock.
He had inadvertently committed a grave rudeness as a guest and was caught off guard.
For a man who prized courtesy above all else, smashing another family’s gate constituted an enormous breach of etiquette.
“…….”
The aura of the disconcerted Ak Jinseong diminished somewhat.
With his unsavory features and lower lip protruding, Ak Jinseong’s face twisted into an awkward expression as he hurriedly thrust a hand into his robe.
“……Take this.”
Without crossing the threshold, Ak Jinseong produced a money pouch and handed it over.
It contained three Silver Notes.
“I’ve been discourteous. Accept my apology. Use this to repair the gate.”
“M-master. This is far too much money.”
Two Silver Notes would be more than enough not merely to rebuild the gate but to tear down the entire perimeter wall and construct a sturdier one in its place.
“That’s settled. I’ve committed a rudeness, so I must pay the fuller price. Now then, when will the Family Head of the Guan Clan arrive?”
Ak Jinseong, who had answered curtly before, now asked more gently.
Though his forbidding features still made him appear threatening.
“He should arrive soon…… Ah! There, there he is!”
Guan Shi’s face brightened as he waved at Guan Hui.
Perhaps it was because his mental reserves had been depleted from confronting the most terrifying-looking man he’d ever seen in his life.
The sight of Guan Hui felt as welcome as rain after a long drought.
“Here……! Here, sir!”
“Mm.”
Guan Hui gave Guan Shi’s shoulder a light pat as the younger man waved in greeting, then stood before the main gate.
“Ho.”
A glint of something remarkable flashed across Ak Jinseong’s eyes as he beheld Guan Hui.
An imposing frame and a gravity of bearing that belied his youth.
But what seized his gaze even more powerfully was the long beard that fell all the way to Guan Hui’s throat.
‘This bastard. A beard……?’
A beard that gleamed like a black waterfall, one worthy of a descendant of one known for a beautiful beard.
His own, rough and unkempt, could not compare, and he felt a pang of envy.
Had he looked in a mirror, he might have felt shame.
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Guan Hui, Family Head of the Guan Family Estate.”
Guan Hui bowed respectfully, clasping his fist in salute.
“Hmm. Why the formal speech?”
Ak Jinseong tilted his head in puzzlement.
Ordinarily, when the Family Heads of two houses conversed, whether on matters public or private, they did not use formal address.
They showed each other respect, but given their positions, it was customary to speak as equals.
“Before being a Family Head, I am first and foremost a martial artist. Having met a senior of Jianghu, it is only proper that I observe decorum.”
“Ho.”
Another flicker of interest crossed Ak Jinseong’s eyes.
“A junior who understands propriety.”
The corner of Ak Jinseong’s mouth, which had been drawn tight as a starving tiger’s, lifted slightly.
From the lustrous beard he cultivated to his observance of decorum.
He was beginning to take a genuine liking to this Family Head of the Guan Clan.
“Ahem! But I did not come to this place to make pleasant acquaintance.”
Ak Jinseong, who had been half-entranced, hastily came to his senses.
He had come to hold this Shanxi martial artist accountable for having, without permission, settled matters that belonged to Shandong Province.
No matter how much he was beginning to favor this junior, there were things that had to be addressed.
This incident had placed the Shandong Ak Family in a rather awkward position.
“The Shandong Ak Family, as the foremost house of Shandong Province, was granted autonomous authority by the imperial court. Yet you—— or rather, you, junior, resolved matters of Shandong Province arbitrarily, and now the situation has become difficult.”
Ak Jinseong’s voice swelled and diminished several times.
His original fury at bringing a stern rebuke was in conflict with his favorable impression of this courteous junior.
It was difficult to rage at a junior who prized propriety so highly and had even cultivated his beard with such care.
“Because of you, junior, my family’s honor and my own prestige have been diminished. Why did you disregard our house and act arbitrarily in Shandong Province?”
Ak Jinseong at last tempered his anger and posed the question gently.
It was a stark contrast to his earlier presence, when his mere momentum had been enough to splinter a door.
“Ak senior, I must apologize sincerely on that account.”
Guan Hui offered his apology before offering any explanation.
An apology first, the reasoning after——an ancient principle of propriety.
He was following the custom handed down through the ages.
“The venerable teacher who has a connection to this junior is, in truth, the master of the three cult masters of the Yellow Heaven. Yet those disciples attacked their master, stole his secret manual, and fled…….”
Guan Hui first explained the causal relationship concerning Zhang Jiao and Tian Jiao, the three brothers.
In this Jianghu, the most precious thing——debts of favor and grievance.
He was demonstrating that this matter was inevitable, unfolding according to such debts.
For in Jianghu, such debts were valued above all else.
“Ah……. So such a matter occurred.”
Arrogant disciples who had betrayed and fled their master.
With Guan Hui’s words of having volunteered to assist the venerable teacher in punishing those disciples, Ak Jinseong’s anger dissolved completely.
“In this Jianghu, debts of favor and grievance are more important than anything. I understand your situation, junior.”
A soft smile settled on Ak Jinseong’s lips as his anger entirely subsided.
“Now that I think of it, it makes perfect sense. One such as you, junior, who knows propriety and possesses such a fine beard, would not commit rudeness without cause. Hahahaha!”
Ak Jinseong laughed heartily, patting Guan Hui’s shoulder.
Though Guan Hui had considerable bulk, the larger hand of Ak Jinseong struck hard enough that his bones seemed to cry out.
Only because Guan Hui possessed the Heavenly Martial Body could he endure it.
Had it been anyone else, their shoulder blade would have dislocated long ago.
“Ha ha ha! My apologies. I’ve intruded and caused trouble—forgive me for that. Ah, the broken door is already paid for, so don’t worry about it. Ha ha ha!”
Ak Jinseong gazed at Guan Hui with an expansive smile.
Guan Hui’s lips curled upward in answer, mirroring that grin.
‘……This actually works.’
Guan Hui kept his bewilderment hidden as he glanced sideways at Zhu Hu.
The reason Guan Hui had been unusually formal just now was because of Zhu Hu.
During their journey from Bamboo Forest to this place, Zhu Hu—who had heard rumors about Ak Jinseong—had taught him how to handle the man.
‘Ha ha. As I told you, brother. Just do this and he’ll come around.’
‘……People say there are plenty of eccentrics in Jianghu. But really, there’s every breed of lunatic out there.’
Guan Hui hoped this unstable senior would leave quickly.
Being around a madman was draining his composure at an accelerating rate.
But the mad senior had no intention of departing gracefully.
“Junior. Men who wear beards have met—how about we share a cup of wine?”

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