A sharp wind, keen as a blade, was blowing.
Iron Staff Mountain.
At the edge of a cliff on this desolate peak, a shadow stood with eyes closed, precariously close to the precipice. It was none other than Bu Eunseol.
Whoosh!
At that moment, with a piercing sound, a fist-sized stone shot toward Bu Eunseol’s back. Infused with powerful inner energy, the stone collided with force enough to pierce through his body.
Crunch.
But the moment it touched Bu Eunseol’s back, the stone disintegrated into dust, scattering to the ground.
Boom!
This time, a massive boulder, accompanied by a thunderous roar, hurtled toward his back once more.
Crunch. Whooosh.
Astonishingly, the boulder turned to dust before it even touched him, scattering into the air.
“Today, you have reached the First Realm.” From behind Bu Eunseol, a towering man stepped forward.
The man, clad in monk’s robes, had skin covered entirely in scars. He was Blood Vajra, once a martial monk from Yunnan’s Tianlong Temple, now turned to the path of the demonic.
“Elder.” As Blood Vajra approached, Bu Eunseol slowly turned around.
He clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully.
Whiiing!
Suddenly, Blood Vajra extended his fingers, unleashing a fierce gust of energy.
Pop pop pop.
Three streams of energy struck precisely at the vital points on Bu Eunseol’s chest. Yet, he stood unmoved, as if he felt nothing.
“It is certain.” Blood Vajra nodded, retracting his hand. “When you reach the First Realm, your energy overflows through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, hardening your body as if you had trained in external arts.” He continued in a calm tone.
“Your foundation in inner energy is exceptionally solid. Moreover, the life-preserving techniques you’ve mastered align with the principles of the Ban-geuk Method… This is why you’ve achieved such a feat.” His eyes gleamed with pride.
But Bu Eunseol shook his head, his expression somber.
“I am ashamed.”
“What do you mean, ashamed?”
“Despite two months of training, my dullness has kept me stuck at the First Realm.”
“What are you talking about? I…” Blood Vajra, about to continue, fell silent.
The Ban-geuk Method is something even the most talented cannot master in a decade. Even he, once hailed as the greatest prodigy in Tianlong Temple’s history, took two years to reach the First Realm of the Ban-geuk Method. Yet Bu Eunseol, having achieved it ten times faster, was berating himself for being dull.
‘Utterly absurd.’
“Ahem.” Clearing his throat, Blood Vajra patted Bu Eunseol’s shoulder and said, “Your life lies ahead of you. If you train diligently, you will see great results.”
“Thank you.”
“Now that I think of it, two months have already passed.” Blood Vajra sighed deeply as he looked at Bu Eunseol.
The once-gaunt Bu Eunseol had transformed into a sturdy figure in just two months. By learning the inner energy techniques and circulating his accumulated energy through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, his body had become remarkably robust.
Whoooosh.
At that moment, a sharp gust of wind swirled around Iron Staff Peak.
“It’s already been that long.” Bu Eunseol gazed at the distant sky.
During those two months, he had learned the basics of the Ban-geuk Method from Blood Vajra. The pain and suffering he endured during that time were beyond words.
“Now, let’s begin training.”
“Yes.” At Blood Vajra’s words, Bu Eunseol climbed onto a flat stone in front of a hut and sat cross-legged.
Thanks to his mastery of the Muscle-changing Sutra, he could circulate energy in any position, but he followed Blood Vajra’s advice to sit in a lotus position.
– “Even when you’re alone, always circulate energy in the lotus position. If you do it in another stance, others might discover you’ve mastered the Muscle-changing Sutra.”
Blood Vajra always considered Bu Eunseol’s future with care and attention. Just as he did now.
Tremble.
Bu Eunseol’s body quivered lightly as he began circulating his energy. At the same time, black mist began to rise near his Baihui acupoint.
Crack.
A faint sound of bones shifting echoed through his entire body. ‘What?’ Blood Vajra, watching this, widened his eyes. What Bu Eunseol was displaying was a phenomenon that appeared upon reaching the Second Realm of the Ban-geuk Method.
‘Has he already reached the Second Realm, the state of Unblemished Sinews and Bones?’ Upon reaching the Second Realm of the Ban-geuk Method, one’s bones and muscles begin to realign into the optimal state for maximizing physical strength. As if to prove he had reached the state of Unblemished Sinews and Bones, his muscles and bones were visibly shifting.
Tremble.
Suddenly, Bu Eunseol’s body shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
“Oh no.” A sigh escaped Blood Vajra’s lips.
Having abruptly reached the Second Realm, Bu Eunseol was unable to control the overwhelming surge of energy.
Drip.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. If he couldn’t control the energy flowing through his meridians, he would suffer fatal internal injuries.
“Cast aside stray thoughts and focus.”
Thud.
Blood Vajra placed his palm on Bu Eunseol’s back, at the Mingmen acupoint. He began infusing his powerful Ban-geuk energy.
Tremble.
As Blood Vajra guided the energy, Bu Eunseol’s trembling gradually subsided. But in turn, Blood Vajra’s face grew deathly pale. To control Bu Eunseol’s rampaging energy, he had poured in his own primal energy.
‘Ugh.’
As Blood Vajra poured his immense energy into the Mingmen acupoint, Bu Eunseol, who had been circulating energy in a trance, slowly opened his eyes.
Flash!
His eyes gleamed like the sun, and he gradually regained his senses.
“It’s done.” As Bu Eunseol stabilized, Blood Vajra, exhausted, removed his hand from the Mingmen acupoint.
Stagger.
In that moment, Blood Vajra’s body swayed. He had overexerted his primal energy to stabilize Bu Eunseol’s meridians.
“Elder.” Bu Eunseol knelt before Blood Vajra. “Why do you show me such kindness?”
Not only had his tangled meridians been stabilized, but his Eight Extraordinary Meridians were now filled with powerful Ban-geuk energy, something he couldn’t have cultivated at his current level. Blood Vajra had unreservedly poured his primal energy into him. For a martial artist, inner energy is more precious than life itself. Blood Vajra had essentially sacrificed his own flesh and blood to protect Bu Eunseol.
“Hmph. If you fail to master the Ban-geuk Method properly, how can this monk leave Nangyang?”
“Elder.” Waving his hand dismissively, Blood Vajra spoke with a nonchalant expression.
“No need to make a fuss.” Bu Eunseol simply bowed his head in silence.
‘His tone and appearance may be rough, but he’s a man of great compassion.’ Having spent two months with him, Bu Eunseol realized that despite his fearsome appearance, Blood Vajra was a deeply kind-hearted man. And that weighed heavily on Bu Eunseol’s heart.
“I will never forget the kindness you’ve shown me, Elder.” At Bu Eunseol’s words, Blood Vajra’s eyes wavered for the first time.
“Forget it.” Sighing, he looked directly into Bu Eunseol’s eyes and said,
“Forgetting this monk’s existence is the way to repay that kindness.” In that moment, Bu Eunseol recalled the last words Sa Woo had said.
“Forget. That’s the way of the martial world. Be it kindness or grudges… If you can forget, that’s the best path.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes dimmed. Why did those who showed him kindness always ask him to forget their favors? Why did they wish to be forgotten?
“Is there no other way to repay your kindness?” Bu Eunseol asked persistently, his voice filled with emotion. “If there’s something you haven’t accomplished or left unfinished… I will do it.” Blood Vajra’s willingness to expend his primal energy, akin to his life force, suggested he had no lingering attachment to life.
Perhaps, Bu Eunseol thought, he had an unfulfilled wish.
“The Ban-geuk Method is the pinnacle of all martial arts.” For a moment, specks of light glimmered around Blood Vajra’s eyes. “But my lack of talent meant I could only reach the edge of the Fifth Realm.” A serene smile, like that of a Buddha, spread across his face.
“In the future, attain enlightenment and reach the Eighth Realm, the state of Great Perfection. That will be the way to repay my kindness.” Blood Vajra seemed to have transcended worldly desires.
Bu Eunseol bowed his head, his voice choked with emotion.
“I understand, Elder.”
***
The next morning. After resting at his quarters, Bu Eunseol stepped outside to head toward Iron Staff Peak.
Murmur murmur.
At that moment, unfamiliar voices reached his ears. Looking outside, about twenty men were entering Nangyang. Their bodies bore the marks of fierce battles, and they appeared slightly weary, as if returning from a campaign. At that moment, Wang Geol, the blacksmith hammering iron at the forge, muttered,
“The Changsindae has returned.”
“What’s the Changsindae?” Glancing at Bu Eunseol, Wang Geol continued in a low voice,
“The Changsindae is a martial force specialized in dealing with factions that oppose the main sect.”
“Opposing factions, you say?”
“Exactly. This time, they wiped out the Blue Dragon Sect.”
Blue Dragon Sect.
Though not part of the demonic path, it was a faction that dominated the Yellow River, with over five thousand warriors. Yet Nangyang had annihilated the Blue Dragon Sect, a major faction, with just twenty men. Unaware of this fact, Bu Eunseol nodded casually.
“Why did they target Blue Dragon Sect?”
“Because they dared to touch a disciple of the main sect.” Wang Geol’s eyes sharpened. “Those who touch a disciple of the main sect die. Factions that encroach on our territory are eradicated.” Turning his gaze back to his work, Wang Geol spoke in a low voice.
“That is the creed of the main sect.” Only then did Bu Eunseol fully understand why Nangyang was one of the Ten Demonic Sects.
‘Nangyang is Nangyang. Even among demonic factions, they show no mercy.’ Nangyang was like a pack of ferocious beasts. They spared no one who invaded their territory. If provoked, they exacted bloody vengeance.
‘That suits me just fine.’ Definitive vengeance over half-hearted mercy. Bu Eunseol found himself liking Nangyang’s creed.
“…” At that moment, a massive man with a prickly, hedgehog-like beard strode toward the forge where Wang Geol stood.
Clang.
The bearded man set his large sword on the table with a grin.
“Master Iron, please take a look at this blade.”
“Hm.” Wang Geol picked up the sword, frowning. “Not only the edge but the entire blade is damaged. I told you to use a mace instead, didn’t I?”
“Hahaha! If I used a mace, wouldn’t people mistake me for a gorilla instead of a man?” The bearded man, laughing heartily, tilted his head.
“Huh?” Only then did he notice Bu Eunseol standing nearby.
