Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 184

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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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Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 184
Samyang-gwiwon-gong. One of the Dang Family’s most prized secret techniques.
Three streams of yang qi are redirected to become supreme.
As the name suggests, Samyang-gwiwon-gong was an internal cultivation method that wielded extreme yang force.
‘Except for the inability to reach the realm of ascension, it’s truly the most suitable martial art for the Dang Family.’
The Dang Family’s foundation rests on two pillars.
Poison mastery and hidden weapon techniques? These are merely results stemming from that foundation.
‘A physician and a blacksmith, both having lost their families to martial artists, came together to form the Dang Family.’
In other words, the Dang Family’s foundation is medicine and blacksmithing.
And Samyang-gwiwon-gong possessed advantages in mastering both arts.
Yang force fierce as blazing fire aids in handling steel through flame.
Moreover, yang qi can incinerate toxins that invade the body, allowing one to learn poison techniques more safely and freely.
‘Looking at it this way, Gu-pa and the Five Great Families did create martial arts most suited to the Dang people’s characteristics.’
This is why the Dang Family could not abandon Samyang-gwiwon-gong even as it carried on a hundred years of history.
Though its endpoint was fixed, it remained the most well-trodden path.
‘The problem is that it’s excessively one-sided.’
While heavenly circulation and qi movement might be impossible, Hwa-cheon-i-won-gong could nearly replicate the internal force characteristics of other schools.
I transformed my internal force into yang qi to match the formulas and mysteries of Samyang-gwiwon-gong.
Whoosh! Whoooosh!
As I released the cultivated energy from my fingertips, flames ignited.
Sammaejinhwa. A flame that only masters with profound internal force and high martial prowess could manifest.
In other words, Gihwa—qi fire.
Fire burns away the false and the impure, and thus qi fire carries the property of purification.
Therefore, any Daoist sect possessing secret alchemical techniques must have martial theories governing Sammaejinhwa.
This applies equally to the Dang Family, which handles toxins, so the qualities of yang force cannot be abandoned.
‘The same holds true when considering hidden weapon techniques. Yang force possesses the nature of explosive power.’
While wielding such extreme yang qi, I must resolve the imbalance.
So one must think about this.
If I keep piling things onto only one side of a scale, can I ever balance the weight?
It’s tilted to one side, and as I progress, the imbalance will only worsen, won’t it?
‘Of course it’s possible.’
The scale is tilted because so much has accumulated on one side?
Then I simply pile something on the opposite side to balance it. That’s all.
‘Whether I pile the same yang qi or accumulate a different force.’
If I choose to accumulate the same yang qi and weave together the enlightenment of ascension.
Samyang-gwiwon-gong would walk the same path as the Solar Divine Art of the distant Southern Barbarian Solar Palace.
Pursuing an extreme direction while maintaining balance, allowing it to run straight without deviation.
But…
‘The foundation of Samyang-gwiwon-gong is the Half Tai Chi’s Three Talents.’
Yin-yang tai chi is the source of all things and represents circulation.
I took only half of it, which is extreme yang—a cessation of circulation and incompleteness of wholeness.
I filled this discontinuity of principle with the subtlety of the Three Powers.
The Three Powers, though different from the circulation of yin and yang, contain the principle of exchange and connection.
It is a configuration where the empty half is concealed by the Three Powers.
Clearly empty, yet I traverse it as if laying a bridge across—a state of covering deficiency with willful ignorance rather than filling the void.
‘The easiest path is to achieve balance through yang energy alone.’
It is possible to reach the heights of ascension even through extreme bias.
However, as one would naturally expect, the difficulty is far greater compared to pursuing balance and harmony.
It is no coincidence that orthodox martial arts are said to reach greater heights than heretical and demonic techniques.
‘Moreover, if I pursue extreme yang, the problem arises that I cannot harmonize with poison techniques.’
The core subtlety of the Tanbeak Myohwa Formula I recently established is harmonization.
The unity of different things. The unity of identical things.
Which is easier requires no deliberation—it is self-evident.
Considering the Tanbeak Myohwa Formula’s unity with poison technique and martial arts, the new Samyang-gwiwon-gong must also chart a course toward unbiased harmony.
‘I must become a guide. The Dang Family must discern what they cannot see and set the direction.’
In ancient times, those who embarked on long journeys would determine their path by observing the heavens, or so it was said.
I lifted my head blankly upward. My gaze pierced through the ceiling and extended beyond, touching the constellations embroidered across the night sky.
In truth, reconstructing the Samyang-gwiwon-gong itself was not difficult.
Had I not possessed memories of my past life, I would not have known—but for me, the Samyang-gwiwon-gong was one of the koan that accompanied me throughout my life.
The problem, however, was that the newly created martial art had to align with all of the Dang Family’s martial teachings.
Otherwise, the Dang Family’s core members would need to learn new martial arts.
‘So I replace the half-taiji’s Three Powers with the Six Harmonies of Three Powers Three Origins.’
From one and three.
To three and six.
Hungyuan. Taiji. Three Powers. Four Symbols. Five Elements. Six Harmonies. Seven Stars. Eight Trigrams. Nine Palaces. Ten Heavenly Stems.
The ten fundamental principles and origins that constitute all phenomena under heaven.
Among these, the principle I could confidently claim to have mastered was the Six Harmonies.
‘The Main Residence’s foundational technique, the Ihwa Six Harmonies Art. From it came Gaecheon and Hwa-cheon. My foundation is… the Six Harmonies.’
Then what is the Six Harmonies?
The four directions plus heaven and earth make six.
Hence, Six Harmonies.
‘The Three Powers are heaven, earth, and humanity. The Six Harmonies are heaven, earth, and four directions. If I distribute two of the Six Harmonies to one of the Three Powers… it does not align.’
Two of the Three Powers are heaven and earth, and two of the Six Harmonies are also heaven and earth.
The numbers differ, so the numbers are truly mismatched.
Any attempt to force the principles together would surely create discord.
‘Another method… another path….’
Sitting in lotus position, I continue to chase the threads of thought endlessly.
Thought is intention, and intention is the power unique to humanity that stands against the qi of heaven, earth, and nature.
Vivid qi of life—the qi born from unity with will naturally circulates through my body.
Unaware, my body had risen about a foot above the bed.
‘A different path… No. This is the right one.’
Samyang-gwiwon-gong must be reborn with the Six Harmonies Coordination of Three Tribulations and Three Origins as its foundation.
But how?
‘Taishang Laojun, the founder of Daoism. He left behind such teachings.’
One gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things.
Thus, the Three Great Poles.
Not merely Three Tribulations, but Three Tribulations and Three Origins.
In truth, Three Tribulations cannot become Three Origins.
Though humanity arose between heaven and earth, standing tall between them, how could it become a source equal to heaven and earth?
It may stand at an equal height, but it cannot be the source.
However.
‘If it is Three Great Poles rather than Three Tribulations.’
Three Great Poles are the same as all things, after all.
Three Great Poles also align each pole with heaven, earth, and humanity in the same way. Yet because the underlying principle differs.
If Three Tribulations are three separate pillars standing apart.
Then Three Great Poles are three blended into one.
‘Ha, there’s no end to wordplay.’
Yet enlightenment is ever grasping at clouds.
Finding truth within wordplay—that is the Way.
Thus, the Dang Family’s Samyang-gwiwon-gong shall forge its own Way through wordplay.
The path forward to that distant realm of ascension—the Way itself.
Whoooosh!
The vital energy naturally continues through the heavenly circulation.
Though my eyes are closed, I see what cannot be seen.
Indeed, to see something.
Has been the symbol and conceptualization of enlightenment since ancient times.
Whoooosh!
Vital energy is inherently colorless and formless, thus imageless.
Yet in this moment, the energy circulating through Yang Hwi’s body began to take on color and form.
‘Watching grass blades scattered by the morning breeze.’
‘Marveling at the movements of a tiger hunting a deer.’
‘Lost in appreciation of the sunset fading from a mountain peak.’
Long ago, the great Patriarch Mujak masters gained enlightenment from nature as commonplace as daily life and created extraordinary techniques.
‘From the hawk’s wings that blanket the sky, I once drew the Heavenly River.’
The creation of martial arts is thus the imitation of nature.
At its essence, it is humanity embracing heaven and earth through internalization.
Recognizing the flow of nature through human perception and defining it as one’s own.
In other words, wordplay itself is the true Way.
‘Now, let me add even more wordplay to Samyang-gwiwon.’
Floating spirit and body. Blossoming foundation and vital energy.
The supreme joy felt upon reaching a higher plane of existence—enlightenment and awakening.
I continued my thoughts beyond the self.
What, then, is the Samyang-gwiwon-gong?
Let me internalize it and define it.
From the three, all things are born; thus, before all things is the three.
‘Return heaven, earth, and humanity to primordial unity, achieving the singular vital force.’
Moreover, the Samyang-gwiwon-gong is the yin-yang Taiji with one standing between heaven and earth—humanity added to it.
Then I need a definition of humanity that harmonizes with the Taiji.
What is humanity?
…Humanity between heaven and earth. Humans are beings of the space between.
‘Born between heaven and earth, yet striving to stand equal with them.’
Merely a part of nature, yet facing nature and desiring to reach the same height.
Truly, a most toxic thing.
Thus, humanity is toxicity.
‘That is, of the three elements, heaven is yang-force. Humanity is toxic-force.’
The principles of yang-force are already inherently contained.
The principles of toxic-force have been established through the Tanbaekmyohwa-gyeol.
The empty direction is earth. Thus, yin.
So, the essential subtlety of the newly born Samyang-gwiwon-gong crystallized into a single line.
Return the three elements to their origin.
Three principles, the three elements.
Returned to primordial unity—that is, returning to the origin.
Pursuing the harmony of all creation.
Whooooom!
Enlightenment regarding the three.
Yang Hwi still did not know.
Yet above his head, three flower buds were quietly sprouting.
Though not yet bloomed, this was unmistakably the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

* * *
Day after day, I discussed the martial way with Patriarch Mujak, looked after Chu Dal and Baek Heon-so, and passed my time in contemplation.
What I devoted myself to most was the pursuit of understanding martial arts.
With this rare leisure time, I indulged myself in meditation until satiation, losing myself in the five truths.
Even now, I had been sitting in lotus position for quite some time, alternating between circulating my energy and observation, until hunger finally forced my eyes open.
“Phew… that was exhilarating.”
The establishment of martial philosophy seeking the unity of principles—from the Three Tribulations and Three Extremes of the Tai Chi all the way to the Three Origins.
Though I had called it wordplay, it was also the fundamental way all martial techniques came into being.
In that process, I found myself immersed in an enlightenment that had arrived without my notice.
“Three Tribulations. Three Suns. Three Origins. Three Extremes of the Tai Chi. Perhaps… this could be a new path to reaching the trinity.”
I had not yet grasped one of the three enlightenments needed to reach the pinnacle—the vitality of life, the absorption of emptiness, or the unity of spirit and sword.
After all, playing with the trinity of three elements was closer to crafting a vessel than establishing pillars.
‘Trinity. Heaven, earth, and man are three. The Tai Chi is three. Mind, energy, and body are three. Essence, energy, and spirit are three.’
To ascend to the pinnacle, one must create transformation through the unity of mind, energy, and body, and within that transformation, establish three pillars.
But the supreme pinnacle was the opposite.
One must establish three pillars through three enlightenments, and through them, raise the roof of the unity of essence, energy, and spirit.
To stand upon that raised roof and gaze toward the heavens.
That is what the supreme pinnacle truly is.
‘Perhaps… I might be able to bloom three new flowers.’
Three flowers gathering at the crown. Three blossoms converging at the apex.
Here, flowers represent enlightenment, and also the internalized forms of nature itself.
‘Haha, how absurd. It seems I’m always walking the path in reverse.’
I had not yet obtained all three enlightenments—vitality of life, absorption of emptiness, and unity of spirit and sword—yet I had already gained the enlightenment of refining essence, energy, and spirit.
Perhaps because time had been reversed, even my path forward seemed to be going backward.
‘For now, let me write it down before it slips away.’
With a single stroke of my brush, I inscribed the mysteries of the Three Origins Returning to One into the prepared blank manuscript.
For now, I had only grasped the foundational stage, so encoding it into a secret manual was impossible.
But even this much would be enough to make the Dang Family beg me to share the latter half of the secret formula.
‘Remarkable, truly. Whoever wrote this…’
Both the content and the calligraphy were excessively beautiful—if this manuscript were a person, it would be a peerless beauty.
With such frivolous thoughts, I stepped outside my quarters.
“Oh! Elder Brother! You’ve awakened!”
Baek Heon-so’s expression brightened with joy, though confusion lingered in his eyes.
“Awakened?”
I had locked myself in my room around midday, and it was still midday now.
In other words, despite my hunger, not much time had actually passed.
“You’ve been in there for seven days, Elder Brother. It seemed enlightenment had come upon you, so I waited without disturbing you.”
No wonder my hunger was so intense.
“Go ask them to prepare some food for me. I need to meet with Elder Dang.”
“Understood, Elder Brother.”
I headed straight to Dang-gun’s office and thrust the manuscript toward him.
“Hwi’s Younger Brother. What is this…?”
When I first heard the incantation of Samyang-gwiwon-gong.
That is, three months ago from now.
Yang Hwi had spoken the name Samyang-gwiwon-gong aloud.
And the four characters written on the manuscript’s cover—Samwon-gwiwon.
“Could it be…?”
“Yes. I’ve roughly systematized it. It’s still only foundational, though.”
Since I only heard the foundational incantation, it’s natural that only the foundation emerged.
What matters is that I’ve newly established and laid down the framework and cornerstone.
“Read it. I’m curious about Elder Dang’s thoughts too.”
Dang-gun read the manuscript with complete absorption.
After reviewing it all to the end, he returned to the beginning and savored each character as if licking them.
After roughly half an hour had passed like that.
Bang!
Dang-gun, clutching the manuscript, kicked open the door without a word and rushed out.
“Hey, Elder Dang?”
He came back in, hoisted me onto his shoulder, and kicked off with his body.
Our destination was the office of Dang Seong, the Dang Family Head.
“Family Head!”
“Second Family Head.”
Seeing his distant cousin—holding the manuscript and carrying Yang Hwi on his shoulder—Dang Seong wore a puzzled expression.
“That’s quite an unruly display. But whenever you act like this, there’s always a reason, isn’t there?”
“Please look at this first! No, before you look, please summon all the Elders!”
Though still young and not yet beyond the mid-stage realm, Dang-gun was the one Dang Seong trusted most among all his retainers, including the Elders.
After Dang Seong instructed a servant to announce the meeting, he slowly read through the manuscript.
Soon, Dang Seong’s body began to tremble violently.
“You systematized this…in merely three months…?”
Just then, the servant reported one fact.
“All the Elders have gathered in the great conference hall.”
Dang Seong tucked the manuscript into his robe, hoisted both Dang-gun and Yang Hwi onto his shoulders, and launched himself forward.
‘I feel like I’ve become a display piece.’
A moment later, a different feeling emerged.
Standing at the center of the great conference hall, I had to receive everyone’s gaze all at once.
‘Now I feel like a prisoner being interrogated.’
Well, come to think of it, I was about to undergo something resembling an interrogation from this point on.
I would have to respond to a barrage of questions pouring down for quite some time.

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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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