Ultimate Martial Venerable - Chapter 38

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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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Episode 38. One is Enough
The Martial Stages scattered across the void began moving again.
Crunch-crunch-crunch!
Hundreds of islands locked together like a giant puzzle. The broken and cracked blue stone rippled like water as it settled to the ground, then returned to its original form without a single flaw remaining.

“It’s going back to normal?”
“Everyone’s surprised the first time. By next year, you’ll just be thinking about how much stone we’re saving.”

Yuk Beom adjusted the Weaponless Heavy Sword

slung across his back.
The final ten candidates stood in a line at the center of Yeonmu Plaza. The two who had advanced together thanks to the early termination looked at each other’s swollen faces and laughed.
Nine Sageun who had descended from the sky and the Academy Director took their seats in enormous chairs. The crushing presence of the instructors arrayed on either side pressed down upon the entire plaza.
The Academy Director opened his mouth.

“Those who have passed the first gate will await the instructor’s selection. Those within the top hundred may write down their preferred academy branch, and those within the top twenty may become a direct disciple of the instructor of their choice.”

His gaze, pausing briefly, swept across the ten who stood foremost.

“And you ten shall meet directly with a Sageun and choose your academy branch.”

A wave of sighs poured from those behind.
The new recruits who received brushes studied each other nervously, wondering which branch to write. Choosing an unpopular place meant safety, but aiming for a stronger one could cost them even the choice itself.
Yuk Beom had only one person to confirm.

‘Who is the Sageun of Ilwon Academy?’

The ten advanced a hundred paces forward.
The swordsman on the far left puffed out his chest as if he had been waiting.

“I am Mok Sak! I have mastered the Chusoo Sword Technique, and I have chosen the Cheonggeom Academy

to learn the deepest sword in the world!”

His voice was so loud that even the recruits far away turned around.
Sageun Hyeon Jin nodded with a smile.

“Good. Come to Short Sword Peak in two days. We’ll see then whether the deep sword I speak of matches what you imagine.”

Mok Sak dropped to his knees where he stood.

“Master, accept this disciple’s bow!”

Hyeon Jin’s eyes blinked.

“I haven’t said I’m accepting you as a disciple yet.”
“You will in two days, so I’m bowing ahead of time!”

Laughter erupted from behind.
Hyeon Jin let out a helpless chuckle and waved his hand.

“Once you’ve mastered my sword technique, bow again then. For now, get up.”
“I will surely do so again!”

As Mok Sak withdrew with pride, the senior students clicked their tongues.

“His face is thick, but he’s halfway to success.”
“Don’t you try that. You didn’t even make the top hundred back then.”

The recruits who followed either proclaimed themselves geniuses born once every five hundred years or insisted that their ancestors had dreamed of Cheonggeom Academy’s sword. The bulky Jang Han even stripped off his shirt and flexed his muscles.

“Look at my body! It’s harder than stone!”

Sin Do’s eyes flashed with interest.

“Come to Hengsan Academy.

I’ll make you strong like a mountain, not just stone!”
“I’ll trust only you, Sageun!”

The two understood each other so perfectly that they clasped hands at once.
Mong Un’s expression grew steadily darker.
Pyomyo Academy was undoubtedly the third strongest branch. Yet those who wielded swords went to Cheonggeom Academy, the ambitious ones to Eumyang Academy, and those who boasted of their bodies to Hengsan Academy.

“Do they all think movement doesn’t matter?”

At the low murmur, Sin Do beside him laughed.

“A person doesn’t need swift legs—they need not to fall when struck.”
“So the Sageun speaks more slowly than one might expect.”

Sin Do’s laughter died.
The eighth newcomer had made their choice.
Two to Cheonggeom Academy, four to Eumyang Academy,

two to Hengsan Academy.
No one had chosen a lesser branch.
The moment Yuk Beom stepped forward, the Academy Director’s eyes narrowed—a signal not to speak yet.
The small-framed woman beside him was twisting her clothing hem with both hands. Her face was flushed, but she remained among the ten finalists.
Mong Un leaned his body forward.

“What is your name?”
“Young Yo.”
“Young Yo, then. Which branch would you like to join?”

The hope that a true prospect for Pyomyo Academy had finally appeared colored his voice entirely.
Young Yo worked her lips for a long moment before speaking at last.

“I wish to go to Myungsim Academy.”

Mong Un’s smile stiffened.
Mu Su, who had been sitting with eyes closed beside him, slowly opened them.

“Do you have a reason for choosing Myungsim Academy?”
“I met an old master once. He told me I was well-suited to the Way of Still Heart Martial Arts.

And he left me this.”

Young Yo opened her palm.
As gangjing flowed, a faint character for “the Way”

rose to the surface of her skin.
Mu Su bolted from his seat.

“The Heart-Marked Martial Technique—”

!”

In the next instant, Young Yo’s wrist was already caught in Mu Su’s grip.

“From today, you are my direct disciple. We depart for Myungsim Academy at once.”
“N-now?”
“Missed opportunities breed regret once over—that’s enough.”

Their bodies shot skyward in an instant.

“Wait, I haven’t even packed—”

Young Yo’s voice faded beyond the clouds.
Mong Un stared at the empty space and let out a long sigh.

“Once again, not my disciple.”

Sin Do spoke as if to console him.

“A swift-footed disciple will come next time.”
“And you, my lord, should wait for one who speaks slowly.”

Only Yuk Beom remained.
The gazes of nine masters fell upon him all at once.
Cheonggeom Academy had already been refused once, and both Hengsan and Eumyang academies’ eyes burned with desire.
Yuk Beom opened his mouth.

“I am Yuk Beom. I—”
“Wait!”

Sin Do rose from his seat.
The other masters’ expressions all turned sour at once.

“Here it comes again.”
“What will he offer this time?”

Despite their jeers, Sin Do didn’t blink an eye.

“Yuk Beom, come to Hengsan Academy.”

A large hand thumped against his own chest.

“I will take you as my direct disciple. And I’ll give you a complete martial technique right now. Hengsan Academy doesn’t speak in riddles. We feed our disciples well, teach them well, and if anyone so much as touches them, I beat them first.”

The Hengsan Academy disciples behind him cheered.

“That’s our master!”
“That last part is the most trustworthy!”

Hyeon Jin let out a scoff.

“Fighting comes before teaching with him, it seems.”
“Better that than failing to protect your disciples.”

Sin Do turned his gaze back to Yuk Beom.

“What do you say? It’s a complete martial technique. It will complement well with the Yeon Che Gong you’ve already mastered.”

To say he wasn’t tempted would be a lie. A complete martial technique and a place as a direct disciple—things even the entire wealth of the Yuk Clan would struggle to obtain.

‘Just a nod will do.’

But before leaving Ganglim Castle, O Jin had made one thing abundantly clear.
Go to Ilwon Academy and obtain the Ilwon Dao Jue.

There had to be a reason behind those words.
Yuk Beom brought his hands together in a proper bow.

“Thank you for looking upon me so kindly.”

The corners of Sin Do’s mouth were already rising.

“But I have already decided where I will go.”

His smile froze in place.

“You would be my direct disciple in martial arts.”
“I understand that.”
“A direct disciple of mine.”
“I’ve heard as much.”
“I said I would protect you myself.”

Yuk Beom paused for a moment before answering.

“That part does give me pause.”

Laughter erupted from those around them.
Sageun Sin Do waved his hand, uncertain whether to laugh or grow angry.

“Enough. It seems you want to go to Eumyang Academy. Well, Seong Yeon, that “eldest” title of yours must be quite convenient—good fellows flock to you of their own accord.”

Sageun Seong Yeon received it calmly.

“If you’re envious, become the eldest.”

Sin Do fell silent.
The Academy Director lifted his chin toward Yuk Beom.

“Now then, speak. Which academy branch will you choose?”

The answer was already determined.

“I will go to Ilwon Academy.”

Yeonmu Plaza fell silent.
Someone touched their ear, wondering if they had heard wrong.
The next instant, thousands of voices exploded all at once.

“Ilwon Academy?”
“He rejected Cheonggeom Academy and refused the direct discipleship of Hengsan Academy, and now he’s going to the lowest-ranked branch?”
“He must’ve taken a blow to the head in battle!”

Mak Un Bi let out a hollow laugh as if bewildered. A light of incomprehension flickered across Jang Wol Ham’s eyes as well.
The Academy Director’s voice fell like thunder.

“Silence!”

At the sound of his voice, several new recruits tumbled backward onto their rumps.
Il Cheong, stroking his round belly, regarded Yuk Beom with amusement.

“Why Ilwon Academy?”
“I wish to learn the Ilwon Dao Jue.

That is my reason.”
“You’ve come all this way with that as your justification?”

The smile faded from his lips.

“The Ilwon Dao Jue—no one has mastered it in a hundred years. At Hengsan Academy, you could learn immediate combat techniques and the Dae Il Noe Che.

Yet you cling to a single technique with no prospects of success?”

Yuk Beom did not answer.
His eyes alone were enough to convey that he would not retreat.
Il Cheong’s gaze turned cold.

“Those who rely only on stubbornness do not endure long in the Martial Way. Ilwon Academy will not accept you. Choose somewhere else.”

Something heavy settled in his chest.
Still, Yuk Beom did not press further.
He brought his hands together and bowed with proper courtesy to the Sageun.

“I understand. Thank you for your time.”

There was no hesitation in his turning away.
If he could not enter formally, he would find another path—he would learn the location of Ilwon Academy and create an opportunity to glimpse the Ilwon Dao Jue.
He had not taken more than a few steps when a voice called from behind.

“Stop.”

Yuk Beom turned around.
Il Cheong was smiling again.

“I did not expect you to leave just like that.”
“You said you would not accept me, sir.”
“You have no thought of choosing another branch?”
“None.”
“Then you would abandon the Martial Arts Academy altogether?”
“I will first seek another way to learn the Ilwon Dao Jue.”

Il Cheong’s laughter deepened.

“Your face shows you were already thinking of stealing into another branch.”

Yuk Beom did not deny it.
Seong Yeon spoke sharply.

“That troublesome spirit of yours suits Ilwon Academy well.”
“I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Il Cheong rose from his chair.

“If you had hesitated even slightly, I would have refused you. You have abandoned immediate combat mastery and the rank of Direct Disciple for the sake of a single technique—I acknowledge your resolve.”

Yuk Beom’s eyes brightened.

“Then…….”
“Follow me. But whether I show you the Ilwon Dao Jue is for my senior brother Do Gwang to decide.”

Kkamangi burst from between the onlookers as if he’d been waiting for this moment and leaped onto Yuk Beom’s shoulder.
The Academy Director called out to Il Cheong, who was already receding into the distance.

“You won’t be observing the other new recruits?”

The rounded back did not turn even once.

“One is sufficient.”

At those words, the remaining masters either laughed or clicked their tongues.
Yuk Beom turned his back on thousands of eyes and followed Il Cheong into the distance.
Half a day passed and the sun began to sink, yet not even a shadow of Ilwon Academy appeared. Il Cheong seemed leisurely in bearing, yet covered dozens of zhang with each stride. Yuk Beom kept pace behind him, channeling Fusion Qi into his feet.
Il Cheong glanced sideways at Kkamangi.

“What can that creature do?”
“He can breathe black fire and fuse his body with mine.”
You can manage Spirit Beast Fusion

already?”

For the first time, his pace slowed, ever so slightly.

“Then you mustn’t raise him separately—you must train together. As he grows stronger, your power will rise as well.”
“Master, do you know how to cultivate Spirit Beasts?”
“I know a little. Not as much as a true expert, but I can manage one young creature like this.”

Yuk Beom’s expression brightened.

“That’s fortunate. I was at a loss as to what to feed him.”

Kkamangi whined in displeasure.

“He likes it well enough if you just give him meat.”
“That’s not training—that’s fattening him up.”

Kkamangi’s front paw swatted Yuk Beom’s cheek.
Il Cheong watched the exchange with a smile, then picked up his pace again.
Darkness fell, and they walked several more watch-periods into the night.
Finally, Yuk Beom asked a question.

“Master, is Ilwon Academy very far?”
“Not particularly.”

Just as Yuk Beom was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the next words came.

“At this pace, we’ll arrive in about ten more days.”

Yuk Beom’s steps faltered.
Il Cheong turned back calmly, a few zhang ahead.

“If it becomes too difficult, tell me. I’ll carry you on the wind.”
“No, thank you. I’ll keep walking.”
“Ten days, though?”
“But you said it wasn’t far at all.”
“By my standards, it isn’t.”
“Then I’ll adjust my standards too.”

After a moment of meeting his eyes, Il Cheong smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s right. The Martial Way is not a path traveled on another’s back. There may be an end to the distance others carry you, but there is no end to the path you walk with your own feet.”

He moved forward again, both hands clasped behind his back.

“A thousand leagues of mountains crossed through empty sky, ten thousand lengths of dust vanishing as if they never were. To cultivate the Martial Way is to cultivate the mind—why then would one raise a weapon and aim only at heaven?”

A low melody spilled across the night path.
“A bottle of wine, a single song. A bent moon, one fleeting dream. The Martial Way hastens, the mind hastens. What could be so urgent?”

Yuk Beom’s gaze turned toward the Weaponless Heavy Sword strapped to his back.
Heavy sword without blade,
great skill without form.

The eight characters carved into the sword gleamed faintly beneath the moonlight.

‘To cultivate the Martial Way is to cultivate the mind.’

Speed and brilliance were not everything. At the moment of greatest necessity, one poured forth strength in its simplest form.
His feet continued forward, but his awareness sank deep into the weight of the sword and the words of Il Cheong’s song.
The blade that had rattled softly against his back grew lighter with each step.
Il Cheong, walking ahead, glanced back slightly.
Yuk Beom’s eyes were open, yet they saw nothing around him.
Seeing this, a smile spread across Il Cheong’s lips.

“Listening to the Dao Boundary Song and falling into awakening while walking?”

A low chuckle mingled with the night breeze.

“One was truly all that was needed.”

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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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