The next day, after eating breakfast, I went to Master Jin So-cheong.
Master Jin So-cheong had me sit down and began to explain.
"The martial arts taught at the Green Dragon Martial Hall are divided into three main categories: Weapon Techniques, Internal Cultivation Methods, and Body Agility Techniques. Do you understand what these are?"
"Yes."
Weapon Techniques are methods of using weapons, Internal Cultivation Methods are methods of cultivating inner energy, and Body Agility Techniques include all skills that make the body agile and light. As I nodded, Master Jin So-cheong continued.
"Which of the three do you think is the most important?"
"Internal Cultivation Methods."
"Why?"
"Weapon Techniques can be learned through practical experience, but it's extremely difficult to obtain a good Internal Cultivation Method even if you offer a fortune."
"You understand well."
Master Jin So-cheong said, sounding impressed. It might seem trivial, but it's a profound truth that children find hard to grasp. To children, the flashy Weapon Techniques and Body Agility Techniques seem more impressive.
"That's right. Internal Cultivation Methods are the most important and the deepest secrets, so we teach them last. If the cultivation of Internal Cultivation Methods goes wrong, it can lead to irreversible internal injuries. Therefore, we usually start teaching Internal Cultivation Methods only after a student has been a first-line disciple for at least a year."
Then, Master Jin So-cheong placed his hand on my shoulder.
"However, I have decided to teach you Internal Cultivation Methods first."
"Why is that?"
"Because now is the optimal time to spread the inner energy of the Three Treasures Cultivation Method throughout your body."
"......?"
I didn't understand at first. As I tilted my head, Master Jin So-cheong chuckled.
"You have an incredibly condensed inner energy from the Three Treasures Cultivation Method, which is hard to believe for someone your age. However, because the inner energy is compressed in your lower dantian, the speed at which it spreads throughout your body is slow. This makes you always a step behind when fighting other experts. This is the reason why the Three Treasures Cultivation Method is not a good cultivation method."
"Ugh...!!"
The speed is slow!
I was shocked to hear about this fatal flaw of the Three Treasures Cultivation Method, which I had never heard before. When I was a bounty hunter, I never had the chance to deeply study internal cultivation methods, and I was too busy surviving day by day to think about such things. But it turned out that the Three Treasures Cultivation Method had a slow energy transmission speed.
"Fortunately, your body is still in a child's state, and the fiery qi has not deeply penetrated, making it easy to change the nature of your inner energy. If you start practicing the Green Dragon Martial Hall's secret cultivation method, the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong, from today, the condensed inner energy will begin to melt, and you will achieve rapid inner energy cultivation."
"Rapid inner energy cultivation? How much exactly?"
"Hmm... If you successfully melt all of it, you can acquire at least 20 years of inner energy in a short period. This is a level of achievement that even the late-stage disciples of major sects find hard to achieve."
"......!!"
Melt the power of the Three Treasures Cultivation Method with Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong!
If you melt it all, you will have 20 years of inner energy, and the level will be that of a late-stage disciple of a major sect!
The realization that I had seized an incredible opportunity made my body tremble with excitement. The thought that the resentment from my previous life as a low-level bounty hunter might be resolved made me feel a bit elated.
Master Jin So-cheong said in a serious tone.
"Today, I will teach you three cultivation methods. You will repeat these three methods for a month."
"Yes."
"The first is Sitting Meditation. Through seated meditation, you cultivate inner energy, and this is the most efficient posture. The second is Walking Meditation, where you practice making your inner energy flow throughout your body through light movements in daily life."
After saying this, Master Jin So-cheong crossed his arms and continued.
"The last is Sparring."
"Sparring?"
I was taken aback by the sudden announcement. I didn't expect much physical activity since he said he would teach me Internal Cultivation Methods first, but sparring! I knew I would be beaten up by Master Jin So-cheong if we started proper sparring, and fear rose in my eyes.
But Master Jin So-cheong said calmly.
"Your Six Harmonies Sword Technique is filled with intense killing intent. It has a sharpness as if it has been honed in real combat. However, it ultimately includes the nature of a street fight and reckless slashing, which becomes a fatal flaw as you advance to the level of an expert."
"......"
Master Jin So-cheong's words, though phrased nicely, made my face flush as I understood what he was pointing out.
That's right.
The Six Harmonies Sword Technique, which I practiced as a bounty hunter, is ultimately for street fights and to stab enemies to death.
When low-level bounty hunters and bandits engage in sword fights, they inevitably end up grappling and using punches and kicks. During such fights, if an opening appears, they throw dirt or sand to blind the opponent and stab them with a sword. After decades of such fights, I became accustomed to street fighting and found it difficult to maintain proper distance from opponents.
Master Jin So-cheong said sternly.
"Do you know why experts are called experts? They are called experts because they are highly skilled. When fighting properly, they do not allow even the slightest opening to a lower-level opponent, and they gradually improve their skills while maintaining precise control of distance. I want you to become an expert, so I have decided to personally guide you."
"......"
"But remember this. I will continuously spar with you for a month to try to correct your habits. If it doesn't work out..."
I swallowed hard, and Master Jin So-cheong's eyes gleamed sharply.
"I will take away the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong from you and expel you. It would be a waste to give such a high-level cultivation method to someone who cannot become an expert."
"......!!"
Only then did I realize that Master Jin So-cheong was not an easy person to deal with.
He had accepted me after thorough calculation!
When he realized I had the inner energy of the Three Treasures Cultivation Method, he planned to cultivate me to the level of a late-stage disciple. However, when the low habits from the Six Harmonies Sword Technique became an obstacle, he decided to correct them as much as possible and, if I failed, to nullify my inner energy and expel me. The secret of Internal Cultivation Methods was like the life of the sect.
But I couldn't accept it and said.
"Even if I can't become an expert, can't I still be a disciple? Expelling me seems too harsh. Besides, other disciples, including Senior Brother Fang Yi, are also practicing the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong!"
"The children you see are not practicing the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong."
"Really?"
"They are practicing the Clear Cloud Cultivation Method, the basic method of the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong. Only a few with outstanding talent among the Three Line disciples receive the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong after practicing various martial arts, including the Clear Cloud Cultivation Method, until they become Three Line disciples."
"......"
I realized I had been mistaken.
'So, the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong is the true ultimate technique of the Green Dragon Martial Hall. Only the hall master, the chief instructor, and two other instructors have mastered it.'
While using disciples to expand their influence and earn money, the Green Dragon Martial Hall does not easily pass on their ultimate techniques. Instead, they teach the Clear Cloud Cultivation Method, a lower-level method, to test the disciples' potential. Perhaps, even after decades of practice at the Green Dragon Martial Hall, some might only have the level of a bounty hunter.
After organizing my thoughts, I said calmly.
"The reason you are teaching me the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong instead of the Clear Cloud Cultivation Method is that higher-level techniques are better at melting the inner energy of the Three Treasures Cultivation Method, right?"
"Yes. The disciples who practice the Clear Cloud Cultivation Method go through a similar process. The Clear Cloud Cultivation Method is similar to the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong and the Circulation Method, making it easier to absorb."
"But giving me only a month... If I had years to practice, I could improve. Why are you in such a hurry?"
As I strongly protested, Master Jin So-cheong's face changed strangely, and then he burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha!! You are really an interesting kid. Talking to you feels like talking to a seasoned veteran, not a child."
"......"
"That's because if you can't correct your habits even after hundreds of sparring sessions, it means you were never a talented individual to begin with."
It seemed he wouldn't teach me if I wasn't talented.
It meant he was dealing with me through thorough calculation.
Swish
Master Jin So-cheong turned his head as if he had nothing more to say and began preparing for the practice.
After a while, I understood what he meant.
After about two hours, Master Jin So-cheong taught me the Internal Cultivation Method and Walking Meditation of the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong, and then we started sparring. It was more like a beating; whenever I used the Six Harmonies Sword Technique, he would strike my legs with a wooden sword, targeting my weak points.
Smack!
"Oof."
A strong blow to my thigh made me feel dizzy. Intense pain, like being beaten with a cudgel, rose from my lower body. My vision went dark, and I staggered. Master Jin So-cheong's stern voice echoed.
"Are you not paying attention? Where did you learn such crude movements? Do you think you can stab your opponent's neck by charging recklessly?"
Smack!
"Ouch!"
I flew about a yard after being kicked by Master Jin So-cheong. I felt my chest crack and struggled to breathe. What was surprising was that despite the severe beating, I didn't lose consciousness. This was not due to my mental strength but because Master Jin So-cheong was controlling his strength. He was hitting me as hard as possible without making me pass out.
"Cough... Cough..."
"Don't underestimate martial arts. True experts never tolerate such sloppy mistakes! There is no such thing as winning by luck. Never!"
Smash
Crack
Bang
I was beaten until I was dazed. I counted about a hundred blows, but after that, I couldn't keep track. I was a mess, lying in a corner of the training hall, but I couldn't help but laugh.
Despite the beating, I didn't have internal bleeding or severe bruises.
Master Jin So-cheong was skilled at hitting people.
Master Jin So-cheong placed the wooden sword on his shoulder and smiled.
"At least you have some perseverance. I'll do my best to correct your habits. We'll practice for two hours every day and then spar."
I would rather be beaten to death.
That day, after being thoroughly beaten by Master Jin So-cheong, I stumbled back to my quarters.
"Ouch!"
Suddenly, a hand shot out from between the buildings and grabbed my collar. I was dragged into a narrow alley where three boys were already waiting.
'Are they Second Line disciples?'
I could tell from the two stripes on their robes. One of the Second Line disciples, with prominent cheekbones, sneered.
"Is this you? The one who gets personal guidance from the chief instructor?"
One of them, seeing the blood on my lips, said in disgust.
"Ugh... Look at this guy. He's been beaten up badly."
"Looks like the instructor beat him up?"
Ha ha ha
The Second Line disciples laughed at my beaten appearance. They must have been waiting to beat me up, but they were surprised to see that I had already been beaten up. I looked at them straight, still being held by the collar, and said.
"Hey, seniors. I don't have time for this. I need to go eat and rest."
"Does this guy not understand the situation?"
"What situation?"
"The situation where you're going to get beaten up...!!"
A fist flew at me quickly. Since they had at least two years of training, it was faster than a street thug's punch. But even with my swollen eyes from Master Jin So-cheong's beating, I could see the attack clearly.
"Is that so?"
So, I dodged lightly and kneed the guy holding my collar in the chest.
Smack
"Oof..."
As one of them fell, I ran towards the other two with a blank expression. They started cursing and using their inner energy to kick and punch me. It was indeed difficult to avoid all the punches and kicks in such a narrow alley.
Smack
"Hey, you..."
But as I protected my head and lowered my stance, I didn't receive any significant hits. The other two seemed unaccustomed to such a fight and were taken aback when I blocked their attacks with my forearms. I grabbed their collars and pulled them off balance, then punched their faces. A dull sound echoed as they were hit by a properly powered punch, and they sank to the ground.
Thud, and both of them fell simultaneously. I glanced at the 'seniors' lying on the ground and muttered.
"Idiots. Did you think I was some pampered rich kid?"
I had lived as a servant and fought bandits non-stop in the lowest ranks of bounty hunters.
I was familiar with back-alley fights, even with life-and-death battles, and knew how to march through rivers, swamps, and forests, and how to ambush and attack. Surviving as a bounty hunter was not easy.
'But since I've been through so much, Master Jin So-cheong is trying to correct my habits...'
I felt a bit bitter.
Anyway, I thought that such fools would continue to challenge me, but with my current skill level, I wouldn't lose unless they came in groups of ten. I decided to focus on mastering the Thunder Dragon One Qi Gong and correcting my habits as Master Jin So-cheong wanted during the remaining month.
After a fight, I calmly ate in the dining hall, and some of the disciples, who were disgusted, kept their distance from me.
After about three days, I began to feel my body loosening up. More precisely, the unconscious habits ingrained in my body started to be corrected reflexively. I tried to change myself while being beaten continuously by Master Jin So-cheong.
"Ugh!!"
"Son of a bitch! I'll kill you!!"
Smack
"Idiots, do you think I'll die from this? Ha ha ha!!"
I laughed as I kicked the guy in front of me, sending him sprawling.
I continued to fight with the disciples. Fang Yi, the fat guy, didn't seem to want to protect me, as he ignored my fights in the back alleys with other disciples. Of course, I never lost in those street fights.
And on the last day of the month -
"......"
I sat quietly with Master Jin So-cheong in the training hall from the morning.
After a while, Master Jin So-cheong spoke.
"You've passed."
"Really?"
"Yes. Your habits seem to be corrected enough now."
I smiled, despite my swollen face from the beatings.
"That's good."
"From tomorrow, we will start a different training method. Today, go back early, treat your injuries, and rest."
"Yes."
I had finally advanced to the next level.
Strangely, no one picked a fight with me on my way back to the quarters or while eating in the dining hall that day.
Although it felt a bit awkward, I lay down quietly to recover my strength. From tomorrow, I would start learning high-level martial arts.
At that time, Chief Instructor Jin So-cheong headed to the Walong Hall, the deepest building in the Green Dragon Martial Hall. The Walong Hall was where the master of the Green Dragon Martial Hall, San Jue Li Guang, lived. It was a private space, and no one was allowed