The Evil Martial God Chronicles - Chapter 119
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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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Legend of the Evil Martial God
Chapter 119
The first to step forward was Ghost Calculator Jang Seokdam.
“If you can beat me in calculations, I’ll acknowledge you.”
“Good. What kind of calculation?”
“Do you know the Zhou Bi Suan Jing, which measures the way of heaven?”
“I know it. Isn’t it a mathematics text that rivals the Nine Chapters on Mathematical Art, one of the Thirteen Classics?”
“Have you read it?”
“Yes. I’ve read it.”
It wasn’t just read, but a text he had mastered.
It was one of the essential texts needed to calculate the Five Elements Incantation Method.
“Good. Then this will be easier to discuss. The method is simple. Whoever first correctly calculates the height of that pillar using only mathematics wins.”
“Simple enough.”
“Hmph! Let’s see about that.”
Ghost Calculator Jang Seokdam immediately spread out paper and began writing down inscriptions.
After writing for a while, he put down his brush and looked at Jeok Wigang.
“What are you doing? I clearly said this was a competition. I’ve finished my calculations.”
“I’m finished too.”
“Nonsense! You finished these complex inscriptions without even writing anything down?”
The inscriptions of the Five Elements Incantation Method made calculating the height of a pillar seem like child’s play.
If the Ghost Calculator heard even one inscription from the Five Elements Incantation Method, he would have immediately acknowledged Jeok Wigang on the spot.
“You go first.”
“Tsk! The height of that pillar is one jang and one cheok.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes! My calculations are never wrong.”
“How disappointing. I thought the Ghost Calculator would be an incredible talent.”
“What are you saying?”
Jeok Wigang approached the paper with the Ghost Calculator’s calculations, picked up the brush, and began correcting the numbers.
“Here, you should use this inscription instead of that one for more accuracy.”
“What are you doing!”
“There, done. The height of that pillar isn’t one jang and one cheok, but one jang and two cheok.”
“I cannot accept this!”
“Fine. Then let’s measure it directly.”
When the Ghost Calculator nodded, Hao Gate Master called someone to measure the pillar’s height.
“It’s one jang and two cheok.”
“Impossible! Measure it again!”
At the Ghost Calculator’s shout, they measured again.
“Even measuring again, it’s one jang and two cheok.”
The Ghost Calculator looked at the paper Jeok Wigang had recalculated with an expression of disbelief.
Then he realized.
That Jeok Wigang’s calculations were more accurate.
“Where did you obtain this inscription?”
The Ghost Calculator’s tone became respectful.
“I created that.”
He had asked because he saw an unfamiliar inscription, but the Ghost Calculator was shocked to hear that Jeok Wigang had created it.
“You, you really devised this inscription?”
“Yes. It’s a simple inscription.”
“This is…”
He couldn’t even fathom how it had come to be.
The Ghost Calculator bowed his head.
It was his complete defeat.
“I’ll teach you other inscriptions too.”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, the Ghost Calculator looked at him with sparkling eyes and then prostrated himself.
“Your subordinate, Ghost Calculator Jang Seokdam! I greet my Lord!”
He had gained the Ghost Calculator’s acknowledgment.
“Please take care of me from now on.”
“Loyalty!”
Jeok Wigang’s gaze turned to the Heavenly Craftsman.
“What must I do to gain your acknowledgment?”
“You seem quite skilled at mathematics. However, architecture isn’t something that can be done with mathematics alone. I haven’t liked this building from the start. Tell me the problems with this building and suggest improvements.”
“The window gaps are uneven, so water will seep in when wind and rain blow. To reinforce this, you need to fill the gaps, but not with simple mud – you should reinforce with a mixture of moisture-resistant wood and lime.”
The Heavenly Craftsman’s eyes softened slightly.
“Tell me more.”
“The pillars and ceiling aren’t properly joined. They’re just fitted together, so over time the load will concentrate and crack the wood. You need to deepen the mortise and tenon joints and add reinforcement above to distribute the load for safety.”
“You’ve observed well.”
“Also, the house ground is tilted. When it rains, water will pool on the ground, and then water will seep into the wood and rot it. You need to create proper drainage around the house to prevent water from entering. Overall, it would be better to rebuild this house entirely.”
“Correct! Very accurate. Do you know about architecture?”
“I’ve studied it a little.”
“Huh. Then, would you like to take a look at this?”
Rustle-.
A blueprint was unfolded.
“These are the blueprints for the new bridge we’re going to build.”
“It seems you haven’t found a way to distribute the load that will be placed here.”
“Th, that’s right!”
“If you build it like this, it will collapse before even a hundred years pass.”
“Exactly! If that happens, our descendants will be greatly harmed.”
“Have you ever closely observed the homes that bees build?”
“Beehives? No. Why would I bother looking at something made by such trivial creatures?”
“They’re not trivial. Beehives have a hexagonal structure where when external force is applied, the adjacent walls distribute the pressure. Because of this, they can withstand tremendous force while using minimal materials and maximizing space. If we apply this to bridges.”
Jeok Wigang picked up a brush and began modifying various parts of the blueprint.
“It becomes like this.”
The blueprint of a bridge made with hexagonal lattice structure entered the Heavenly Craftsman’s view.
“How… did you think to apply beehives?”
“Among martial arts, there are many that imitate the postures of animals or insects. Why would they imitate them? Because they’re excellent, that’s why they copy them. Isn’t architecture the same? Whether it’s insects or animals, if what they create has an excellent structure, we should reference it. In learning, everything in the world can become a teacher.”
The Heavenly Craftsman’s pupils trembled.
“I, I acknowledge you. Lord.”
He had even received the Heavenly Craftsman’s acknowledgment.
Snow Sword raised both hands and said with a smile.
“Hahaha. You’ve received acknowledgment from those two picky individuals, so what more could I add? I acknowledge you. Lord.”
Jeok Wigang looked at Black-White Heart Un-jeok.
“You can read others’ energy, right?”
“That’s correct. I also acknowledge you.”
Jeok Wigang, who had been looking into Un-jeok’s eyes, chuckled and said.
“You possess Bright Light Eyes.”
“How did you know?”
“I can tell by looking. How is it? What kind of energy do you sense from me?”
“It’s an energy I’ve never felt before. Unapproachable… It’s like the energy of the sky itself.”
Before he knew it, he was prostrating himself.
“Standing upright before someone with such energy feels like committing a sin against heaven. Lord.”
He had received acknowledgment from four of the Five Craftsmen.
Now only one person remained.
It was Insimdo.
Someone with outstanding ability to judge talent.
He was someone needed more than anyone right now and would be needed in the future as well.
“Let’s go to your house.”
Perhaps because he had seen four of the Five Craftsmen acknowledge him, unlike before, he showed a compliant attitude.
“I understand.”
Jeok Wigang said to the four craftsmen.
“While I’m away, select the talents you need.”
“Understood. But what work will we be doing?”
“Gate Master will explain it well.”
“Yes. Lord.”
When Jeok Wigang and Insimdo left, the four craftsmen’s gazes focused on Hao Gate Master.
Then Hao Gate Master made an embarrassed expression and said.
“Now you finally look at me.”
At this, the four people hardened their expressions and asked.
“Don’t joke around and tell us what work this is?”
“Tch! You blunt fellows. You must have been guessing, right? It’s not just Hao Gate’s talents, but we’ve gathered everyone with some ability from all over the Central Plains.”
“Yes. Is this work related to the government? More than that, was the Supreme Gate Master a government official?”
“No, he wasn’t a government official, but he became one this time.”
“Ah, then his position isn’t very high yet. What about the Golden Guards following beside him?”
“They’re not just Golden Guards, but the Commander who leads the Golden Guards.”
“What? No, what is our Lord’s position that a Commander provides escort?”
“Grand Scholar of the Inner Cabinet.”
“What? But… didn’t you say he hasn’t been a government official for very long?”
“That’s right. He receives the Emperor’s complete trust.”
“Wow… He really is an amazing person.”
“By any chance… does gathering us have something to do with the Imperial Palace?”
At Snow Sword’s question, Hao Gate Master nodded.
“That’s right. Because the Emperor appointed our Lord as Grand Scholar of the Inner Cabinet, all the Hanlin Academy Scholars submitted resignation letters and left the palace. Thanks to that, there’s no one to handle practical affairs in the palace.”
“Then we’re going to enter the palace and do the work that the scholars do instead?”
“Right. If you want, you can obtain government positions and continue doing that work.”
“Really? More than that, is it okay? Is it possible for people of our status to enter the Royal Palace and become government officials?”
“Originally it would be absolutely impossible. But not anymore. Your descendants will also be able to achieve success and fame. Our Lord said he would change the world that way.”
“Our descendants… will rise in status?”
“That’s right. In the future, a world will come where anyone can become a government official regardless of their social status. You are the first step toward that. That dream can only be realized if you enter the palace and do your work properly.”
At Hao Gate Master’s words, the eyes of the four people changed with determination.
“We will definitely succeed!”
“That’s right. How much could those who only shout ‘Confucius said this, Mencius said that’ really know about practical work? This time, I’ll show them clearly. That talent knows no class distinction.”
“If I had known it would be this kind of work earlier, I would have done it without needing to acknowledge you as my lord or anything.”
“Then you would have taken my lord’s orders lightly. That would have been more dangerous.”
“Is that so? In the end, it worked out well.”
“Indeed.”
“Then we can select the talent we need from those waiting outside?”
“That’s right.”
As soon as Hao Gate Master finished speaking, Snow Sword kicked open the door and rushed out.
Seeing this, the rest urgently chased after him.
Hao Gate Master smiled warmly at the sight.
“Now Hao Gate is no longer a place where the ignored gather. It will become a sect that moves the world.”
As he said this, he thought of Jeok Wigang.
“Thanks to my lord, a new world has opened for Hao Gate. Thank you.”
Hao Gate Master bowed in the direction where Jeok Wigang had disappeared.
Insimdo Yu Muncheol’s house was shabby.
“The house looks quite poor.”
He knew the reason why the house was so shabby.
He had squandered all his family fortune trying to treat his parents.
Though the house was shabby, Insimdo had properly furnished the room where his parents stayed.
He was a filial son.
He was only twisted toward the world, but his heart toward his parents was utterly sincere.
“Father, Mother. A guest would like to see you briefly.”
A strained voice came from the room.
“Did you… bring another physician…?”
“No. This is a high-ranking person from where I work.”
“Such a person… coming to this humble place… Quickly bring him inside.”
Opening the door and entering, he saw two elders who looked clearly unwell, struggling to sit up.
Jeok Wigang quickly went in and laid the two elders back down.
“You don’t need to get up. Please lie down comfortably.”
Insimdo was surprised by Jeok Wigang’s words.
Since he spoke casually to someone much older without any concern, he had thought he would treat those beneath him rudely, but that wasn’t the case.
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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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