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Chapter 20.2
Chapter 20.2
Chapter 20.2
CONTINUATION…
Yooho came and reported that preparations for departure were complete.
“Young master, preparations are complete.”
When a decision was made to kill, there was no turning back, and the face changed without looking back.
I had just thought of him as a supporting character in a novel, but in fact, there was no one as unknown and frightening as him.
Jin Cheon-hee smiled calmly.
“I understand.”
The boy bid farewell to everyone and stood up. The Gongsun family, The Dragon bureau, all the servants were sorry to see Jin Cheon-hee leave.
The Gongsun Family. The Dragon bureau. Both were strategically allied. And Jin Cheon-hee received favor from these two groups.
After Jin Cheon-hee leaves, Gongsun Hyeon and Gongsun Yeong will leave the Dragon bureau with the martial artists of the Gongsun Family.
“Goodbye, little one.”
Gongsun Yeong hugged Jin Cheon-hee tightly.
“Hehehe, see you again, Unni. Oh, Gongsun Hyeon Unni, thank you so much for the gift. I’ll take good care of it.”
“That’s right. Before eating, be sure to show it to the master.”
Gongsun Hyeon emphasized again.
“Yes!”
Gongsun Yeong interjected.
“You have to use the sword well.”
“Of course!”
Gongsun Yeong smiled brightly.
“Thank you once again. Really, thank you.”
“I’m the one who should be thankful. And I didn’t say it earlier… Unni, congratulations on becoming a Jeol-jeong (Peak Master).”
According to the alliance, the attack on The Cloud Dragon escort bureau will now be investigated and handled jointly by The Dragon bureau and The Gongsun Family.
Jin Cheon-hee couldn’t know what role Gongsun Yeong would play there.
It was another future of Gongsun Yeong that was not written in the novel.
“I appreciate your kindness. Baek Rin Eui-seon.”
“No need to say that. It was in good fate.”
Master Woon Ji-Sung and Baek Rin Eui-seon faced each other.
It was a warm sight.
After all the farewells, Baek Rin Eui-seon got on the carriage.
Jin Cheon-hee followed suit.
Woon Ji-Sung looked at them with a regretful gaze.
‘Yes. The phoenix chick has to grow under the phoenix’s wings.’
He had been watching people for a long time.
In his eyes, the young Jin Cheon-hee was truly a young phoenix.
Gifts were generously given. Even the poisonous dragon from Gongsun Family seemed to have given something to the child.
How this favor would unfold remained to be seen.
At that moment, Jin Cheon-hee poked his head out of the carriage.
“Hey, mister!”
The boy waved at him cheerfully.
‘I look forward to the day when that young phoenix soars.’
Woon Ji-Sung thought to himself as they shook hands.
****
Several months had passed since then.
Jin Cheon-hee climbed the mountain carrying a water bucket.
It was an extremely steep terrain, but the boy’s breath never wavered.
More than a thousand steps, beside which the stream flowed.
An odd thing was that the stream’s color was milky white. Also, one more thing, steam constantly rose from the stream.
The area near the Gongsun Family’s medical station, Hwa Empire.
The water in this area turned into a hot spring.
The hot steam reddened the boy’s cheeks.
Despite the heat, the boy’s legs did not stop.
The water bucket did not shake either.
How much farther up the stairs did he climb? The large gate of the manor started to come into view.
“Ahh!”
Finally reaching the end of the stairs, the boy put down the water bucket for a moment and caught his breath.
When Jin Cheon-hee’s arrival was heard, the servants hurriedly opened the door.
Jin Cheon-hee picked up the water bucket again and exerted force, then walked back to the courtyard.
SFX: Thud—
“Master! I’m here!”
“I see.”
Baek Rin Eui-seon came out upon hearing Jin Cheon-hee’s voice.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. More importantly, it’s water. Master, look at this.”
“Where should I look?”
Looking down at the water in the water bucket, the master spoke in a surprised voice.
“It’s almost not shaking now. Impressive. To achieve this level of basic training that usually takes at least a year in just a few months.”
To move the water bucket from the bottom to the top of the mountain required more than just strength and stamina. It required sturdy lower limbs and a flexible upper body. Moreover, the distribution of strength was crucial; otherwise, it would result in a significant mistake.
Breathe in a predetermined manner; walk up in a prescribed way.
Now, the unconscious breathing and steps, previously not given much thought, had to be corrected one by one according to the designated method, and that was an incredibly challenging task.
But it had to be done.
Breathing is the foundation of cultivating internal energy in the Myojin method, practiced for internal strength. Walking is the fundamental principle of martial arts techniques, essential for developing the leg muscles needed to master martial arts.
Jaegal Lin, being a rational mentor, thoroughly explained the reasons for undergoing such training.
Jaegal Lin was impressed as he watched Jin Cheon-hee’s basic training for several months.
Even though people knew in their heads that effort was needed, executing it was another matter.
Jaegal Lin had told his disciples why this training was necessary in detail.
Yet Jin Cheon-hee was doing it.
‘It was said to be a very difficult task, but he’s progressing like this.’
Jaegal Lin said this to his disciple.
“I won’t teach you the actual martial arts yet. What you will learn is basic external practice and internal practice.”
Donggong, Dongungong.
It meant repeating the same movements to build up internal strength.
Among the internal practices, what Jin Cheon-hee would learn was a very basic one, a lower-grade internal practice that could be sold in the market.
The lower body had to be strong. It had to become one with the earth.
In Jaegal Lin’s view, this was not something that could be learned with the vision of the Jaegal family alone.
It was not a matter of knowledge, but a matter of will.
‘Jaegal Family has been strong in terms of internal aspects, but weak in terms of external aspects, that’s what has been said. It’s true. They’ve been complacent because they believed that if the internal strength was strong, they could easily overwhelm external strength. That’s why you’ll be learning differently.’
The Jaegal Family’s martial arts were called intellectual martial arts and were never lacking.
However, because he had been addicted to intellectual martial arts, he had neglected the basics.
Since he had been doing the work of using his head more than his body, the result was evident.
As Jaegal-lin redefined his Family’s internal strength, he realized how crucial the basics were.
“I will give you a vessel first. An unbreakable, large, and sturdy vessel,” Jaegal-lin explained this to Jin Cheon-hee when he accepted him as a disciple a few months ago.
While the vessel could be metaphorical for a training device, it also broadly referred to the body itself.
Jin Cheon-hee continued to train his lower body using Donggong.
Climbing the endless stairs was part of that. However, it was not as easy as it sounded.
Those who had mastered martial arts alongside Jin Cheon-hee using Qinggong passed by using high-speed martial art.
There was a temptation to want to fly like the wind.
But Jin Cheon-hee did not look away and endured it with gritted teeth.
‘I haven’t even mastered crawling yet, and I already know I can’t fly. Stamina is national strength. First, let’s do it step by step!’
Jin Cheon-hee had his own thoughts.
****
In martial arts novels, the methods of becoming stronger are usually divided into two:
- Gradually ascending through basic techniques.
- Using tricks to aim for the top in one breath.
Which one is stronger depends on the novel’s worldview. However, one thing was certain.
The path the protagonist took was usually the path to becoming the strongest.
Supreme Demon Yeo Ha-ryun took both approaches.
In terms of volume, it was one of the characteristics of long novels that exceeded ten volumes. However, the beginning was singular.
It prioritized basic techniques in the early stages of the Cheonsalsung theme.
To gain enlightenment through fighting, the body containing it must have a solid foundation, according to the principles.
In the early stages, he had taken Blood Pills and, along with the entry-level students of the Magyo, trained in the basics.
While other entry-level students were already putting effort into impressing the high-ranking members of the Magyo to gain enlightenment, our protagonist, true to his character, quietly honed the basics.
It might be a commonplace and predictable development, but Jin Cheon-hee liked this training scene.
Young and gruff Yeo Ha-ryun received much hatred from many entry-level students.
It would have been good to show a little smile. His cold demeanor seemed to be interpreted as picking a fight.
As expected, a conflict arose.
Dozens of entry-level students led by the head threatened Yeo Ha-ryun.
Here, Yeo Ha-ryun defeated everyone using only simple basic movements, without employing any martial arts techniques.
He wasn’t faster than others, and there were no visible changes, but the precise posture and appropriate strength derived from solid muscles.
In addition, he possessed the secrets of acupuncture obtained through long-term Mabo training.
To such Yeo Ha-ryun, dozens of trainees were nothing.
“It was cool. That, yes. Hmm.’
Although he also liked flashy and colorful swordsmanship, he also liked these simple martial arts.
The words of Jaegal Lin, the mentor who insisted on solidifying the basics for Jin Cheon-hee, were like a refreshing rain in a drought.
If he had taught in the original Jaegal Family style, Jin Cheon-hee would never be able to defeat Yeo Ha-ryun.
This was because the training methods used by the protagonist in martial arts novels are often described as shortcuts to becoming strong later on.
“Indeed, a genius remains a genius. Perhaps coupled with the vision and knowledge of Jaegal Family, that might be the case.”
However, Jaegal Lin knew this method even without reading novels. In fact, it might be more surprising not to know.
Being a genius with an unfortunate fate and having all the knowledge and vision from a great family, he had it all.
That’s why he made Jin Cheon-hee wake up early, use his eyes to fetch water, and during the time it boiled, he had him assume the Mabo posture.
The water Jin Cheon-hee fetched would be used for his own breakfast.
The sense of achievement was crucial.
Even with small tasks, he needed to feel the sensation of having accomplished something.
Jaegal Lin planned it this way so that Jin Cheon-hee could feel it as a daily habit.
T/N: Donggong, Dongungong
- Donggong (??):
- “Donggong” refers to a training method that focuses on fundamental and basic techniques in martial arts.
- It involves repetitive and disciplined practice of basic movements, stances, and forms to build a strong foundation in martial arts.
- Dongungong (???):
- “Dongungong” extends the concept further. “Dongun” can be translated as “movement” or “exercise,” and “gong” means “practice” or “training.”
- This term encompasses training methods related to dynamic movements, agility, and exercises designed to improve overall physical conditioning for martial arts.
These terms emphasize the importance of systematic and disciplined training in mastering the basics and developing physical capabilities in martial arts.