‘You said you learned from that old Fire Demon how to push a wine cup using Blazing Yang Force, didn’t you?’
Back then, Yi Geom had chuckled as he spoke.
‘It’s rarely used now, but in the past, demonic martial arts had many techniques like Gain Axe, Lose Axe—neither profit nor loss. Things like Borrowing Energy to Strike Force, which Fire Demon loved to use.’
Fire Demon had taught Bu Eunseol the secret of Borrowing Energy to Strike Force, a technique that neutralizes an enemy’s inner energy while redirecting it elsewhere.
‘Using Borrowing Energy to Strike Force, you can divert an enemy’s inner energy, but you can’t unleash your own inner energy against them.’
Crouching before Bu Eunseol, who was weaving a basket, Yi Geom grinned like a child.
‘But this seemingly useless technique shines particularly against Shaolin’s Heart-Striking Bell!’
Borrowing Energy to Strike Force doesn’t resist incoming energy but gathers and pulls it downward. While useless in most cases, it was exceptionally effective against the varied inner energies of the Eighteen Arhats’ Heart-Striking Bell.
Yi Geom had once escaped the Heart-Striking Bell using this technique when surrounded by the Eighteen Arhats, and he passed it on to Bu Eunseol.
‘Draw the incoming energy to the Yongquan acupoint.’
Hum!
Bu Eunseol shifted his counteracting energy, enveloping the Eighteen Arhats’ force and channeling it toward the Yongquan acupoint at the soles of his feet.
But then—
‘What’s happening?’ Something strange occurred.
As he tried to funnel the Arhats’ energy through his Yongquan acupoint, it naturally flowed into his meridians instead.
“…!” Bu Eunseol wasn’t the only one who noticed.
The Eighteen Arhats, pouring their full strength into the Heart-Striking Bell, stared at each other, eyes wide.
‘What’s going on?’ The energy that had been crushing Bu Eunseol was suddenly absorbed into his meridians.
‘Is he a demon?’ Kong Myeong’s eyes widened in disbelief. Each Arhat’s inner energy exceeded one jiazi, yet Bu Eunseol effortlessly absorbed and circulated it within his body?
This was something only a supernatural being could do.
‘No, he must have mastered the Demonic Art of Dissolution or the Ghost Sect’s Plains-Consuming Technique!’ Kong Myeong assumed Bu Eunseol was using a demonic art to absorb or dissipate their energy.
Hum.
Golden light began to shimmer around Bu Eunseol’s body, as the Arhats’ immense energy flowed ceaselessly through his meridians.
He looked like a Buddha radiating enlightened majesty. Only then did Bu Eunseol understand why this was happening.
‘The source of my inner energy… it’s Shaolin’s after all.’ Blood Vajra had said the breathing technique Bu Eunseol learned as a child was derived from Shaolin’s Muscle-changing Sutra.
And it was true.
When energy from the same source mingled, it naturally merged with his meridians.
‘Refreshing.’ The pure energy of the Eighteen Arhats cleansed and invigorated his qi and blood as it circulated.
“Ugh.” Kong Myeong trembled faintly, groaning.
If Bu Eunseol continued siphoning their energy like a vengeful spirit, their inner energy would deplete, leading to a miserable end.
‘Hmm.’ Bu Eunseol frowned, pondering.
Even if their energy shared the same source, the Arhats’ combined power exceeded ten jiazi. Though he was distributing it evenly, the sheer volume was overwhelming. For an ordinary martial artist, their meridians would have shattered.
‘I can’t keep this up.’ A faint pain stirred in his dantian.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed as he shouted, “Prepare yourselves! I’ll drain all your energy and cut your throats!”
Speaking during an inner energy clash is suicidal, as breath expels energy rapidly. Kong Myeong, shocked by Bu Eunseol’s shout, let out an undignified groan, and his energy wavered. As Kong Myeong’s dominant energy faltered, the other Arhats panicked.
“Ugh!” The Heart-Striking Bell required steady, pure energy. Their panic tangled the energy flows chaotically.
‘Now!’ Seizing the moment, Bu Eunseol poured the energy in his meridians into the ground.
“Argh!” The Arhats screamed as their circulating energy vanished, stumbling back.
“My inner energy! It’s gone!” cried Kong Hak, the youngest Arhat, in terror.
Bu Eunseol broke through their energy barrier and escaped the Heart-Striking Bell.
“Huff, huff.” The Arhats, heads bowed, panted heavily, their minds destabilized from rapid energy depletion, falling into exhaustion.
Shing.
Bu Eunseol drew his black sword. Striking now could behead the Arhats instantly.
“…” But he didn’t.
Had he honorably broken the Heart-Striking Bell, he would have killed them. This victory, however, came from exploiting Shaolin’s breathing technique—a hollow win.
“Why didn’t you kill us?” Kong Myeong asked in a low voice, seeing Bu Eunseol stand like a statue. “You could have struck before Kwang Yeon could intervene.”
Bu Eunseol looked at the pale Kong Myeong coldly. “No need to know.” Sheathing his sword, he turned. “Go.”
Kong Myeong, watching his back, realized something.
‘Come to think of it…’ Bu Eunseol’s inner energy, which had enveloped theirs, was robust yet pure.
Such a technique couldn’t be mastered by a malevolent demonic mind. A bloodthirsty demonic practitioner wouldn’t spare the Arhats’ lives.
‘That’s why Wudang stopped pursuing him.’ Wudang had ordered Song Ak to kill Bu Eunseol, but he returned empty-handed. Yet Wudang didn’t pursue further, likely because Song Ak saw Bu Eunseol’s true nature.
“Martial world rumors are unreliable,” Kong Myeong sighed deeply.
The orthodox sects claimed a demonic Nangyang warrior had killed a righteous master, but Bu Eunseol was merely a cold martial artist.
“May I ask one thing?”
“…”
“Why does a martial artist like you keep antagonizing the Beggar Sect?” Normally, Bu Eunseol wouldn’t answer, but sensing a trace of goodwill in Kong Myeong’s voice, he turned.
“To find Geul Wang.”
“Geul Wang…” Kong Myeong nodded, understanding. “So the Beggar Sect revealed your location.”
“The Beggar Sect?”
“Yes,” Kong Myeong said with a faint smile. “Benefactor Gu, the Supreme Elder, isn’t on good terms with the sect’s leadership. You must know this.”
Bu Eunseol nodded slightly.
Geul Wang, Gu Hongcheong, was a prodigy who inherited the Beggar Sect’s purified martial arts and rose to deputy leader candidacy. His ambition was to transform the Beggar Sect, a den of beggars, into a sect surpassing Shaolin.
But the former leader, Sangguan Un, believed his ambition would ruin the sect and passed the leadership to Yeon Wiseong, Gu’s junior. Disheartened, Gu left to wander, but Yeon died suddenly.
Gu returned, hoping to become leader, but the Eight Paths elders chose the gentle Nobong instead.
When Nobong fell ill, Deputy Leader Haepung took over. Gu then planned to install Seong Ryun as leader to control the sect from behind, but Bu Eunseol killed Seong Ryun, thwarting him.
Now, Gu was building his own faction to become leader.
“Are you seeking Benefactor Gu’s whereabouts?” Kong Myeong asked.
“Do you know where he is?”
“I don’t. Even the Beggar Sect’s intelligence network can’t track him.” Then why mention this? Bu Eunseol raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
Kong Myeong smiled faintly. “But I know how to make him come to you.”
Taking a deep breath, he looked at the clear sky. “Go to Seonhwa Peak in Wonun Mountain.”
“Seonhwa Peak?”
“Yes. There, you’ll find a way to draw Benefactor Gu to you.” A cryptic statement, but Bu Eunseol nodded. Kong Myeong, leader of the Eighteen Arhats, wouldn’t speak nonsense.
“Amitabha,” Kong Myeong said, clasping his hands and turning. “I hope this helps.” How strange that Shaolin’s eminent monk would share such information.
‘Even Buddhist monks pursue their interests.’ Bu Eunseol saw through Kong Myeong’s intentions.
No matter his skill, Bu Eunseol couldn’t defeat Gu Hongcheong, who had reached the Extreme Heaven Realm. If he faced Gu, the Arhats could maintain martial world peace without bloodshed.
“Then,” Kong Myeong said, leading the Arhats away.
But Kwang Yeon lingered, looking at Bu Eunseol as if he had something to say.
“Speak,” Bu Eunseol said.
Kwang Yeon clasped his hands. “Seeing Benefactor Bu shames this monk.”
“…”
“Even as a Shaolin disciple, I can’t help but pursue my temple’s interests. The Arhat Hall leader used Benefactor Gu’s hand.”
“I know,” Bu Eunseol said casually. “My goal is to face him anyway.”
“I see,” Kwang Yeon said with a faint smile. “Did you know? Mastering Shaolin’s Prajna Great Strength grants abilities akin to mind-reading.”
“…”
“Not truly reading minds, but sensing emotions or predicting movements through energy flows.” Bu Eunseol stared at Kwang Yeon. “A similar technique is the Sword Pavilion’s Equal Enlightenment Turn.” In a soft whisper, Kwang Yeon added, “Reaching the Extreme Heaven Realm allows such feats without learning specific techniques.” Bu Eunseol’s eyes wavered, understanding Kwang Yeon’s meaning.
‘Mind-reading, Equal Enlightenment Turn… that’s it?’
Kwang Yeon’s ability to counter Lament of the River wasn’t coincidence. He had likely mastered Prajna Great Strength and analyzed Bu Eunseol’s Supreme Heavenly Flow forms, predicting Lament of the River to some extent.
‘If I faced Geul Wang unaware of this…’ Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes. In his current state, even a hundred Lament of the River strikes would lead to defeat against Gu Hongcheong.
‘Small pieces form a complete picture.’ Kwang Yeon, with Prajna Great Strength, partially grasped Lament of the River despite not reaching the Extreme Heaven Realm.
Gu Hongcheong, in that realm, would surely see through it.
“Benefactor Bu embraces all trials and achieves enlightenment,” Kwang Yeon said, gazing deeply. “But for great achievements in martial arts or Buddhism, a good teacher is needed.” He spoke as if seeing into Bu Eunseol’s heart.
‘Hmm.’ Bu Eunseol’s gaze deepened.
Nangyang’s martial secrets relied on enlightenment.
Having mastered various techniques, he no longer had a teacher, evolving his arts through life-or-death battles. This method allowed rapid insights but required self-discovery of profound principles.
“In the past, Nangyang produced many top masters, yet it still lacks systematic training,” Kwang Yeon said softly. “Achievements depend on the learner’s insight, making it hard to produce outstanding figures.”
“Why tell me this?” Bu Eunseol asked, unable to understand Kwang Yeon’s intent to enlighten him. “Aren’t I your enemy?”
“I’m a Shaolin disciple,” Kwang Yeon said, smiling. “Benefactor Gu’s ambition isn’t limited to the Beggar Sect. Rather than a figure who could disrupt the martial world prevailing, a simpler person winning isn’t bad.”
Bu Eunseol was incredulous.
‘Is Shaolin this terrifying?’ The Arhat Hall leader used Gu Hongcheong to eliminate Bu Eunseol, while Shaolin’s prodigy preferred a straightforward demonic figure over an orthodox one causing chaos.
“Buddhist disciples seem fond of using others for their gain,” Bu Eunseol said sharply.
Kwang Yeon smiled unshaken. “It may seem that way.”
‘He should’ve been a lay disciple.’ Kwang Yeon suited the secular world more than monkhood. Perhaps Shaolin gave him a minor monk status for this reason.
“Then, until we meet again,” Kwang Yeon said, clasping his hands and vanishing with his movement technique.
Watching him fade like the wind, Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
“It begins now.” Kwang Yeon’s advice revealed a major flaw in his martial arts.
And he had finally caught Geul Wang’s trail.
“But…”
He needed to overhaul his plans and urgently address his martial weaknesses to stand a chance against the formidable Geul Wang.
