The challenge letter I sent to the Twelve Sects through Jeong Cheol-wook finally received a reply after about a month. The reply stated that all the Twelve Sects' leaders had accepted my challenge and invited me to visit whenever I wished. As I read the letter delivered by a messenger from the Jeong family, Hwa Seo-myeong asked me, "Baegung, are you really planning to confront the Twelve Sects?"
"It's not a confrontation. It's just an opportunity to improve our skills by testing each other's techniques."
"Don't use such smooth words. I led the Yimun (Medical Sect) in Central Plains and Hebei. Do you think I don't understand the ways of the martial world? For now, Jeong Cheol-wook's influence prevents them from acting rashly towards you, but the Jeong family's protection has its limits. If Jeong Cheol-wook falls from power, the Twelve Sects will not look kindly upon you."
I replied calmly, "But that would be at least a decade from now."
"Of course, the probability of that happening is low. The Twelve Sects are not just a collection of small-minded people. However, is it worth taking that risk to improve your martial arts?"
Worry was evident in Hwa Seo-myeong's eyes. I was practically his son, having been taught the Hwa family's medical techniques, so any harm to me would also harm the Hwa family. I closed the medical book I was reading and answered, "I still have a long way to go. There are too many things I can't resolve without improving my martial arts. And without strength, I can't protect anything. I am doing my best, and I believe there will be a good outcome at the end of this path."
"Hmm. If you think so, I won't say anything more."
After a moment of thought, Hwa Seo-myeong continued, "How well do you understand the principles of Xujixin (Empty Base Heart), Shijifu (Solid Base Abdomen), Qiangjijin (Strong Base Tendons), and Rujigul (Weak Base Bones)?"
"I have been practicing Huatao Wuxi (Huatao's Five Animal Exercises) for seven years, so I believe I understand them quite well."
Hwa Seo-myeong clenched his fist after a moment of contemplation. "Then... I will teach you their applications."
"Applications?"
I tilted my head in confusion.
Over the years, while learning medicine, I had also learned the Hwa family's 180 acupuncture techniques and Huatao Wuxi. While the 180 acupuncture techniques were powerful enough to be classified as martial arts, Huatao Wuxi was more like a health exercise. It was far from being a martial art, something that could be taught in a local martial arts school. Still, since Hwa Seo-myeong had encouraged me to practice it, I had diligently practiced Huatao Wuxi every day.
Hwa Seo-myeong said, "I planned to teach you this when your 180 acupuncture techniques improved further, but there's no choice. In fact, Huatao Wuxi contains hidden secret techniques."
"Secret techniques?"
Hwa Seo-myeong poured tea from a teapot into a cup. Holding the steaming cup with both hands, he asked, "What do you think a doctor is in the martial world?"
"Isn't it someone who treats the injured and sick?"
"That's just the surface. In reality, a doctor is the eye of the storm in the whirlwind of grudges and favors."
After taking a sip of tea, Hwa Seo-myeong continued, "Suppose a person named Jia is injured in a fight with Yi and seeks a doctor to save his life. If the doctor saves Jia, what happens?"
"He would go back to fight Yi again."
"And if Jia successfully avenges himself, who would Yi blame?"
"......"
"Exactly. To Yi, the doctor might be more hateful and resentful than Jia. Yi would have done his best to protect his life, but the doctor's actions put his life and family in danger. There's no greater enemy than that."
Losing my words, I listened as Hwa Seo-myeong said, "That's why most doctors try to avoid getting involved in martial world affairs. However, when their lives are on the line, martial artists desperately seek out doctors. A skilled and renowned doctor can hardly avoid being involved with martial artists. If you knew how dirty the methods martial artists use to get proper treatment, you'd be appalled."
"......"
"Thus, doctors who get entangled in these grudges are often unjustly killed by the blind swords of martial artists. So, the doctors who currently practice in the martial world have found a solution."
"What is it?"
"The first is to develop self-defense techniques, the second is to find a powerful protector, and the third is to develop a way to die."
"......!!"
"Huatao Wuxi includes self-defense techniques and a way to die. The Hwa family has managed to survive as a renowned medical family in Hebei for a long time without suffering major disasters, thanks to the effectiveness of Huatao Wuxi. I will now teach you these techniques."
Not understanding, I asked, "A way to die? Do you mean pretending to die?"
"Exactly. In fact, the Daoist techniques and health practices are far behind those of the medical field. If you can control all the involuntary muscles and internal structures of your body through proper breathing, you can withstand an opponent's attack and pretend to be dead with minimal damage."
Hwa Seo-myeong smiled. "It might look cowardly, but over the centuries, hundreds of people have saved their lives using Huatao Wuxi. It's the ultimate survival technique."
"If it's so good, why didn't you teach it to me earlier?"
"To perform the secret techniques of Huatao Wuxi, you need to have reached a certain level in the 180 acupuncture techniques. You need to understand the flow of true qi and the meridians used in the 180 acupuncture techniques. I've been waiting for your medical knowledge to improve."
"I see."
"I don't know what results you will get from your match with the Twelve Sects. But if you master the secret techniques of Huatao Wuxi, you will return safely without serious injury."
Over the next six months, I learned the secret techniques of Huatao Wuxi from Hwa Seo-myeong. As he said, it was impossible to master these techniques without knowledge of the 180 acupuncture techniques. Only after this did I feel confident enough to challenge the Twelve Sects.
My first opponent was the Changryongmun (Blue Dragon Sect).
Swish—
On a rainy day, I stood in front of the large wooden door of a building. After the gatekeeper of Changryongmun received my challenge letter, I was soon led to the internal training hall of Changryongmun.
Drip, drip
The cold dampness and sound of rain echoed through the windows. Occasionally, the sound of insects could be heard. However, the interior was eerily quiet, with about a dozen Changryongmun disciples sitting in a circle around the training hall.
In front of me stood the leader of Changryongmun, a middle-aged man with a hearty appearance, carrying a large sword at his waist. He was the master of the Changryongmun, the sect known for wielding large swords in the Twelve Sects.
The Changryongmun leader said, "I was wondering when you'd come. It's quite an honor to be your first opponent in the Twelve Sects challenge, Baegung."
"I've heard that the Changryong Dao Fa (Blue Dragon Sword Technique) is one of the best in the world. I wanted to witness it firsthand."
"Ha ha ha, who said that? You're flattering me."
"Jeong Cheol-wook said it."
The Changryongmun leader narrowed his eyes slightly at my answer. Joy and suspicion flickered in his eyes.
"Is that true? That's quite an honor..."
"I wouldn't lie in such a situation."
"Hmm, you're quite clever for your age."
"I believe sparring with the Changryongmun leader will be a great blessing for me."
Seeing that I wasn't showing any weakness, the Changryongmun leader smiled wryly.
"Alright, let's see the skills of the Central Plains' prodigy that even the leader of Biryumun praised."
Clang—
The Changryongmun leader's large sword and my spear were almost simultaneously drawn, emitting a strange sound. In reality, the sound of drawing the weapons was barely audible, but it was the result of the collision of our qi. A shockwave momentarily appeared in the air, causing some of the Changryongmun disciples to suffer internal injuries and spit blood.
"Cough."
"Ah! Gather your true qi."
"I am ashamed."
The Changryongmun leader frowned, and the injured disciples were helped away, moving to a safer distance. They began to watch from the eaves of the building, almost getting drenched by the rain. The Changryongmun leader placed his large sword on his shoulder and said, "Have you reached the realm of Fanbo Guizhen? I've heard your internal strength is incredible, but it seems to be tightly condensed and latent inside you."
"Reaching the realm of Fanbo Guizhen isn't something to be taken lightly. I've just sealed my techniques for convenience."