The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 47
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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 47
Cheonma’s martial arts instruction began immediately.
The first lesson was internal energy cultivation.
“Among Mahu’s martial arts, the first thing you must learn is the Mahu Hwan-hon Shin-gong. I’ll teach you the incantation, so memorize it.”
“Um, Master. I’ve already learned internal energy cultivation.”
“I know.”
“But then how…?”
“I-geon did well.”
“…?”
“He didn’t let chaotic flowers bloom on the straight stem growing from sturdy roots.”
“What does that…?”
“It means he didn’t carelessly tamper with your blank space.”
“Pardon?”
This is the problem with martial artists.
Would they die if they explained things objectively, clearly, and straightforwardly?
The moment they open their mouths, they all become philosophers, going beyond pedantry to cloud-chasing nonsense that’s impossible to understand.
“Don’t you understand?”
How could I?
But my opponent was Cheonma.
I put on a guilty expression and managed my face.
“This disciple’s learning is insufficient, and I can only feel sorry toward Master.”
“No. As a master, I failed to match my disciple’s level. It’s my shortcoming.”
If you realize that now, please explain it simply.
I deliberately waited for Cheonma’s next words with bright, eager eyes.
“Right, this way will be easier to understand. Let’s assume we’re building a house.”
“A house?”
Suddenly?
“To build a house well, you must first solidify the ground firmly. Then you place solid foundation stones, erect pillars, and put up the roof.”
We went from talking about internal energy cultivation to construction.
Please, couldn’t you approach this more simply?
“The mental cultivation method you learned can be seen as a neatly organized plot of land. I-geon helping with your energy circulation to open the Dae Ju-cheon means solidifying that organized ground.”
“Then what does not touching the blank space mean?”
“What do you think would happen if you shaped the ground this way and that way while solidifying it?”
“Then… there would probably be constraints when building the house?”
“Exactly right. You understand well.”
Oh, now I’m starting to understand a bit.
At least I won’t be called stupid.
“The Gyeok Che Jeon-gong technique that I-geon used to open your eight extraordinary meridians is, in the big picture, a type of Beol Mo Se-su.”
Beol Mo Se-su is supposed to be incredibly difficult.
Eok I-geon really is a genius after all.
“Internal energy inevitably carries traces of the practitioner unintentionally. Even when learning the same mental cultivation method, people can’t be identical because of innate true energy. Despite transferring internal energy to your body through Gyeok Che Jeon-gong, I-geon left no traces. Do you know what that means?”
Traces that should naturally remain didn’t?
I don’t know well, but it seems like it would be an incredibly difficult and demanding task.
Why did Eok I-geon help me to that extent?
Thinking back to that time, I felt puzzled again.
Chicken noodle soup?
Rice balls?
I suddenly became curious which had more influence.
“Your current state is like pure white paper with no writing or pictures drawn on it. Let’s build the house that Mahu left behind called Mahu Hwan-hon Shin-gong there.”
The house that Mahu left behind.
“Master, your expression is so wonderful.”
What appeared on Cheonma’s face after finally finishing his explanation was pride.
His pupils, which had wavered every time I tilted my head in confusion, now seemed to have found stability.
He must have been quite flustered that his first disciple in his old age couldn’t understand what he was saying.
I now had one more worry: should I pretend to understand even when it’s difficult?
To summarize, our Shin Geum had originally given me clean internal energy, and Eok I-geon, whose eyes had rolled back for food, had very precisely and carefully opened my conception and governing vessels.
Now I’m planting Mahu Hwan-hon Shin-gong there, right?
Wow, is this what it feels like to have your heart swell with grandeur?
It was the martial art of the great senior Mahu, whom the demons said was so amazing they couldn’t even dare to admire her.
To think I would receive instruction in such a tremendous thing.
This isn’t really a hidden camera show, is it?
Vrooom!
Let’s say a luxury sports car is on a highway—no, let’s make it the German Autobahn with no speed limits.
When sixty years’ worth of internal energy boarded Mahu’s Mahu Hwan-hon Shin-gong, true energy raced through my blood vessels at a terrifying speed like a sports car on the Autobahn.
Of course, I had never ridden in a sports car.
It’s just an analogy.
How frustrating it must have been being a compact car all this time.
Though I had possessed an enormous amount of internal energy worth sixty years, I only now realized that my mental cultivation method couldn’t fully unleash Mahu’s martial arts.
Superior martial arts required matching mental cultivation methods.
The compatibility between them was also a variable that couldn’t be ignored.
Ironically, only after learning Mahu Hwan-hon Shin-gong did I finally feel like I had become a martial artist.
In the center of the quiet training hall.
Whoooosh!
Seolha’s body, sitting in lotus position, lifted off the ground and slowly rose into the air.
At the same time, red energy starting from her crown chakra enveloped her entire body.
The red energy repeatedly expanded and contracted as if breathing.
‘Oh ho.’
Amazement filled Cheonma’s eyes as he quietly watched that sight.
They say everything has its rightful owner.
Usually, humans choose objects.
But sometimes, objects choose their owners.
Mahu’s martial arts were exactly like that.
As if they were high-minded scholars, they wouldn’t give their loyalty to just anyone.
Mahu’s martial arts, which had nearly disappeared because they couldn’t find a successor, had finally found their master.
He had begun teaching in earnest after seeing her make Mabang Bicheongang her own, but he hadn’t thought it would be this perfect a match.
Cheonma’s expression watching Seolha bloom red flowers was quite subtle, seeming both pleased and not.
Have you ever heard the word déjà vu?
In French, it means “already seen.”
A feeling or illusion that you’ve already seen or experienced something despite it being your first time.
Why am I suddenly bringing up déjà vu?
Because that’s what I feel like right now.
Swoosh!
The sword rushed in like a raging wave, powerfully cutting through the air.
The sword technique was backed by solid internal energy.
Internal energy and swordsmanship are like a three-legged race.
When you thrust the sword, internal energy must thrust too, and when you slash with the sword, internal energy must slash together as well.
What does that have to do with a three-legged race?
It’s because they don’t all move the same way every time.
Not all sword techniques are the same.
There are feints, killing strikes, and variable techniques.
When you thrust with a feint, your internal energy must be withdrawn one beat faster in the opposite direction, and when you slash with a killing strike, you must push the sword as if exploding your internal energy.
The ever-changing variable techniques between feints and killing strikes require you to deploy your internal power through improvisation each time.
This isn’t as easy as it sounds.
The oral instructions were incredibly difficult to interpret, making them hard to understand at once.
But it’s working.
This is working!
Why is this working?
It felt as if my internal energy was alive and moving on its own.
“Ahhh!”
It was working so well that I was startled and ended up dropping my sword.
Do martial arts techniques get possessed by ghosts too?
If I asked that, everyone would probably treat me like a crazy woman.
Then is it déjà vu after all?
I have no idea how to express this strange feeling, as if I’ve done this before at some point.
“Are you alright?”
While I was calming my startled heart, Eok I-geon ran over and caught me as if embracing me, asking with concern.
Since I had dropped my sword while practicing swordsmanship alone, he probably thought something had gone wrong with my body.
“I apologize. You said I should never drop my sword, but I’m still inexperienced…”
“As long as there’s no problem with your qi flow, that’s fine. Continue.”
“…Yes.”
Honestly, practicing Mahu’s martial arts was incredibly exciting for me.
How many times had I imagined this while reading martial arts novels?
Stories of becoming a renowned female master, punishing villains, having romantic tension with handsome male leads, and traveling through the martial arts world.
Lately, I often pinched my cheeks, wondering if this might be a dream.
That’s how unbelievable my current situation was.
Except for not being able to leave the Demonic Sect, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the greatest peak of my life was just beginning.
But there’s a proper limit to everything.
No matter how important the martial arts tournament is.
People need to rest sometimes too, don’t they?
Eok I-geon, Cheon-gang, and Seo-ryeon.
Taking turns sparring with these three was exhausting enough to kill me, but I wasn’t given any personal time except for meal times.
I was only allowed to sleep for exactly two hours a day, and I wasn’t allowed to contact anyone.
I pleaded with Eok I-geon that I missed Grandmother, but all I got back was that everything would be possible after the martial arts tournament ended.
Ruthless bastard.
He’s ready to attack and kill me if I don’t win the tournament.
If he wants to win so badly, he should enter himself instead of tormenting me.
Just wait until the tournament is over.
I won’t even go near Geonyeong-gak.
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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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