Chapter 3: The Challenge
“So, we have a duel with Yoon Si-hoo in fifteen days?”
It was comforting to know that there was no need for me to explain the situation further, as the details were already well understood.
“Can I be honest?”
“Feel free.”
“I’ll teach you how to make a poison using herbs from Mt. Mugang. You should mix it into that bastard’s food.”
“……”
What should one say to such a request?
I remained silent, listening.
“It won’t kill him, just make him ill for a few months. It’s better to face him after he’s recovered.”
“That’s quite drastic.”
It was clear that the upcoming duel with Yoon Si-hoo was going to be challenging, according to Master Jang Sam-pung.
“Is it really that bad?”
“Even a tiger cub can be killed by a wild dog if it’s not fully grown.”
That’s how I was compared to Yoon Si-hoo.
Eventually, I would become the master of the mountain, commanding the land and its flora.
Yoon Si-hoo would be nothing more than a wild dog.
“I do appreciate the comparison. It’s nice to be called a tiger cub.”
While it was a flattering comparison, it didn’t change the fact that I was merely a cub at present.
“If we fight now, I’d be torn to shreds.”
“The level of mastery as a martial artist is significantly ahead of yours. You won last time because you caught him off guard, but this time, such a lapse in vigilance is unlikely.”
“So you’re saying he’s going to be even more careful and try to make me even worse?”
“Yes.”
It was clear that Yoon Si-hoo, having discarded his complacency, would be much more formidable.
I knew the difference firsthand, having faced him before. Even the version of Yoon Si-hoo who played around casually was beyond what I could handle with my current skill.
Fifteen days seemed too short a time to make a difference.
“But if there’s a way to avoid injury, I’d like to know.”
It seemed that Master Jang Sam-pung had some idea.
“What should I do?”
“First, you need to relearn Tai Chi.”
“Is that all?”
It sounded like an easy request. I had some experience with Tai Chi, so relearning it shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Honestly, the Martial Arts you practice is so terrible that every time I see it, I want to gouge out my eyes.”
“Is it really that bad?”
“It’s at the level where you need to start over from scratch. The Martial Arts you practice has been corrupted through generations. What you’re practicing is not the original Martial Arts I taught the Wu Dang sect.”
Master Jang Sam-pung’s assessment was quite harsh, labeling my practice as a ‘fake.’
“It seems that fifteen days aren’t enough for a complete overhaul.”
Improving something versus starting over are two different levels of difficulty. It’s like trying to fix a faulty manuscript when it would be better to start with a blank page.
“Isn’t there something in the heavens, like a martial art that cleanses unnecessary habits?”
I said it, but I knew it was a long shot.
What sort of beings reside in the heavens? Surely, they wouldn’t have time for such trivial pursuits.
“As it turns out, I was actually going to teach you something quite similar.”
“Really?”
“Ahem! It’s a martial art I created myself.”
“……”
I might have briefly had an irreverent thought, but I hoped it didn’t show on my face.
Maybe it was just my imagination.
“Do I get a round of applause?”
“Wow!”
Forget it. Let’s move on.
I clapped my hands, putting those thoughts far away.
“Your reaction seems a bit excessive…”
“It’s just how a disciple expresses their appreciation for their master.”
“Hmm!”
I felt a scrutinizing gaze, though it might have been my imagination.
“Well, I’ll let it pass this time.”
It seemed like it was real, but it was a relief that it was accepted.
“Be prepared to be blamed later on. Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Don’t treat disciples as humans’?”
“……”
It seemed like I was having more trouble finding words today.
Maybe it was just my imagination?
“Anyway.”
While I was nervously listening, the words from Master Jang Sam-pung spread through my mind.
The tone was different from before.
“What I will teach you is the way to control your mind.”
It was solemn.
Master Jang Sam-pung’s voice had always been exceptionally clear and pure compared to ordinary sounds, but this time it carried an even deeper essence.
“This is a mental technique, a teaching, an enlightenment, and a guide for those who wish to walk the righteous path. Every word should be taken seriously.”
The words felt like they took shape and poured into me like raindrops onto the ground. The voice, the letters flowed like water inside me, filling every part of my being.
It felt like a stream from the heavens pouring onto my head and extending through my entire body.
The strange thing was the sharp pain in the center of my head while this refreshing stream flowed.
Was someone hitting my head with a stream from the heavens?
But the sensation of something moving inside me because of the voice drew me deeper into the experience.
I absorbed all that was being poured into me.
“……Thus, this is named the Clear Mind Technique.”
Just absorbing the words made me feel the fresh breath of the Clear Mind Technique flowing through me.
The energy was just as its name suggested.
It was clear and bright.
My body and mind were being harmonized with this energy.
Even after Master Jang Sam-pung finished speaking, I kept my mouth shut, waiting for the aftereffects to settle.
Master Jang Sam-pung’s voice then spoke with approval.
“This technique was refined by me after ascending to the heavens. It’s quite profound and will take time to fully grasp its true efficacy, but even the basic teachings will help correct unnecessary habits.”
‘Huh?’
But something seemed strange about what was being said.
Was what I felt not the true efficacy?
I clearly felt the refreshing energy flowing inside me.
Was it an illusion?
I needed to confirm this.
I wasn’t sure if it was an illusion.
I stood up.
Interestingly, the refreshing breath and energy of the Clear Mind Technique continued to flow within me even as I moved.
In that sensation, I felt as if I had become a serene lake.
A lake so clear that it reflected the autumn sky without a ripple.
Despite the headache starting from the crown of my head, I kept moving my limbs, maintaining the refreshing breath.
Swish! Swish!
My moving hands and feet left traces like ripples on the surface of a tranquil lake. The start of change was clearly visible.
In the calmness, the changes were vividly perceived from start to finish.
The clarity removed the confusion and provided a clear path.
Swish! Swish!
And then, when I moved again.
“……Why is that working?”
My clumsiness had diminished significantly.
It felt almost miraculous.
The Clear Mind Technique, which Master Jang Sam-pung had declared nearly impossible to master immediately, had integrated so deeply into my being.
“So it worked?”
“Yes.”
“The Clear Mind Technique?”
“Yes.”
Master Jang Sam-pung sounded incredulous.
“……Is it really working?”
But his voice was softening.
It sounded somewhat like the voice my mother used when she was gently scolding my father.
Was that just my imagination?
“Close your eyes.”
He gave a directive as if he needed to confirm something. I followed his instructions.
“Visualize the breath of the Clear Mind Technique. Imagine you’re submerged in a heavy liquid from head to toe. Strongly imagine that.”
I closed my eyes and focused on Master Jang Sam-pung’s voice.
Maybe it was due to deep concentration, but I truly felt as if I was submerged in a heavy liquid.
“You’re in the water of the world right now.”
“Yes.”
“Even a small ripple in that water will do.”
“A small ripple…”
Making a ripple in water is simple. Just lightly touch the surface with a fingertip.
“……Making a ripple on the surface.”
Strangely enough, it felt like I was really creating a small ripple on the water surface, as if I was lightly stirring the water with my fingertips.
The water was within me. The refreshing energy of the Clear Mind Technique communicated with that sensation and flowed calmly.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
With the sensation of resistance at my fingertips, a headache surged through my head as if someone had placed a drop of water on my brain.
The sensation of resistance and the refreshing energy of the Clear Mind Technique collided and shot through the center of my head.
As I opened my eyes, feeling the pain in my head, I saw a slight burst of sound and traces fluttering in the air.
It looked like someone had lightly kicked the ground, and a few blades of grass had flown into the air.
“This, could it be?”
I realized that I had caused the phenomenon of a slight disturbance.
There was no one around to create it but myself.
Seeing this phenomenon and the thought that arose, I spoke.
“Jing?”
The term “Jing” refers to the energy at a level above Qi, as described in the writings of Zhang Sanfeng. It was the level that should be mastered only when one reached the peak of martial arts.
“Oh, yes. So you were able to create it.”
Master Jang Sam-pung had confirmed my observation.
“So this was the Clear Mind Technique’s ultimate level?”
Master Jang Sam-pung’s expression remained enigmatic. His face had an impression of tiredness.
“Jing…”
It’s not just an ordinary technique.
And yet, despite the joy and surprise, there was no sense of happiness.
It was strange.
In the space where only the sound of the wind could be heard, the Clear Mind Technique seemed to touch something beyond imagination.
While feeling the profound realization, Master Jang Sam-pung’s voice continued.
“The Clear Mind Technique is at a point where you have acquired some understanding of its effectiveness. I have nothing else to teach you now.”
The effectiveness and ultimate purpose seemed to have been reached. Yet, the fresh breath that lingered within me left me with an unprecedented feeling.
Master Jang Sam-pung looked at me. It was evident from his gaze that he was relieved yet somewhat disheartened.
“I’m sure you can handle the duel with Yoon Si-hoo.”
The words, though sincere, felt more like an acknowledgment than a guarantee.
“Master, this technique, can it be used immediately?”
“It’s indeed usable. I can’t say it’s perfected, but it’s at a point where you should be able to use it.”
“Then, how should I prepare?”
Master Jang Sam-pung did not answer immediately. He seemed lost in thought.
“So, you’re feeling the same as I did?”
“Yes. It’s quite different from how I imagined.”**
“Be aware that the technique you’ve just learned is not a common technique. It’s something I created and refined personally, and it is not widely known.”
“So what’s the difference?”
“The way it affects one’s mind and body is distinct. Your emotions might be heightened, and your thoughts may not be as clear as you think. It’s best to use it with caution.”
“Understood.”
I could feel that the Clear Mind Technique was subtly transforming my thoughts and emotions.
The transformation was somewhat gradual, and the emotions I felt were likely to evolve with time.
“Thank you for your guidance, Master.”
“Just remember, every technique has its time and place. Use it wisely.”
Master Jang Sam-pung’s advice echoed as I left.
The Clear Mind Technique’s influence would likely help me in the duel with Yoon Si-hoo. Yet, it was also clear that the challenge was far from over.
The final preparation was in my hands.
“I’ll be ready, Master.”
I left the training area, feeling a blend of uncertainty and determination.
“I’ll be ready.”
The upcoming duel was an important step, and I knew I needed to be prepared.
Comment