Chapter 105
Pung Oksan laughed.
"Didn't I just tell you? There's a qualification test."
If all the riffraff came out, the competition wouldn't end even if they did it for a month. When it first started, there was a time when thousands of martial artists flocked to the preliminaries, causing a huge uproar. So the current rules were made.
"Of course, there are some among the second-generation disciples who have achieved excellent results."
But that was mostly when they were about to become first-generation disciples from second-generation disciples. So they were often in their late twenties.
"The qualification test is not that easy. It's impossible for the current second-generation disciples of Zhongnan."
Since it was Pung Oksan's words, who knew the children's skills well, it must be true. But what if Mok Wigun taught those children? If he trained them up to the first or second stage, wouldn't there be a possibility?
"I'll try to teach them. If I focus on teaching only the ones with potential, I think it might be possible."
Time was tight. Because there was less than a month left before the preliminaries.
"You must have a plan. Alright. You do as you see fit."
Pung Oksan respected Mok Wigun's opinion. And he trusted him.
"Then we'll do that for the individual competition."
"What are you going to do about Chosan?"
"I have to practice him in the same way. With the second-generation disciples."
Pung Oksan asked as if he was puzzled.
"That guy has a strong pride, so I don't know if he'll be willing to do that."
"He'll do anything. Because we made a firm promise to do so."
He had promised to show him the paintings. But since that was a little weak, there was some conflict in the middle. It wasn't a time to waste time on such things. So he had said he would give him one of the paintings as a gift. At that, he had promised to do anything. With that, the situation was over.
"What about the group competition?"
"For the group competition, nine people from each sect participate."
Seven of them are second-generation disciples. The other two are one first-generation disciple, and for the very last one, anyone from the sect can come out. Most of the time, the leader, who is an elder-level person, comes out, but it's a rule made to accommodate the sects that don't have an elder-level person.
"Actually, anyone can be the leader. Because there are no set rules. But since they have to lead on behalf of the sect, most of them are elder-level, and that has become a tradition."
Anyway, he said that for the group competition, they would have one-on-one duels, and the side that gets 5 wins would be the winner.
"That's a pity. It would have been a little easier if it was a system where the winner stays."
"If the individual competition is to see the current power of a sect, the group competition should be seen as a way to gauge the future level of a sect."
He couldn't help but be deeply troubled. Whatever it was, it was disadvantageous for the Zhongnan Sect.
"If it were held right now, we wouldn't be able to pass the preliminaries."
In the individual competition, sixteen people from the preliminaries go up to the main competition. For the group competition, only four places go up.
"Because Huashan takes up a considerable portion."
"It seems it is a giant sect."
He said that the Huashan Sect takes about forty percent of the individual competition. It means that six or seven people go up to the main competition. The numerous sects belonging to the West Academy compete for the rest.
"There's also a story that it's because the Huashan Sect deliberately sends fewer participants to the individual competition."
The Huashan Sect is a place that has no reason to be verified. So he said there was a story that they had them do other external activities and sent only an appropriate number to the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly.
"We have to have at least one person go up in the individual competition this time. The same goes for the group competition."
"I understand. I've roughly confirmed the details."
Then it's time to check the skills of the participants. Mok Wigun decided to check his friends first.
* * *
"How are the kids?"
He asked Pyon Juksu. Since he had told him in advance to go and take a good look, he thought he would have found out something.
"I haven't seen them train directly."
"That's a given. Because they don't let people who are not from the sect see."
The secret arts of a sect are never allowed to go outside the sect. So there are also cases where they cut all the meridians when they are excommunicated and kicked out. It means that since it's a martial art obtained from the sect, they can't let them use it after being excommunicated and leaving. Or they destroy the dantian.
"According to the evaluation, they say they are guys who work hard but have no talent."
"Who said that?"
"The people who taught them martial arts."
They are all Elder Jo's people. Their evaluation is not to be trusted. Because it's obvious that they just killed time without any motivation or enthusiasm.
"What about their physique and other parts?"
"There were no special children. Ah. A child named Deungroe was huge."
He was a smart child when he was young, but he had an accident in the middle and injured his head. After that, his body grew huge, but he became a child who was a little slow.
"Then I'll have to see for now."
There is no one to interfere anyway. Not only Elder Jo, but his entire faction was kicked out of the Zhongnan Sect. Although the number of people had suddenly decreased, it couldn't be helped. You can't leave traitors just because you're short on people.
"What are the kids doing now?"
It was time to learn from the instructor, but all the instructors were gone. Mok Wigun went out to find what the children were doing.
"Oh. They're practicing."
"How admirable."
Pyon Juksu was also proud. To practice on their own without anyone telling them or watching them? It was a very good sign. Because it meant it had become a habit that much.
"But is it okay for me to watch like this?"
"You also know the martial arts of Zhongnan well."
Pyon Juksu also knows the martial arts of Zhongnan quite well because he had researched and practiced with Mok Wigun. So he can't be said to be a complete outsider. Besides, there's no one to pick a fight over such a thing now.
"Wait. But why are those guys only practicing the basic techniques?"
The Zhongnan Sect, like other sects, has an introductory martial art. And after learning that, they move on to the next stage of martial arts.
The introductory martial art was the Tae-eul Gong, and it was the most basic martial art. So it was also called the basic technique. But among the fifty or so children gathered, about a dozen were practicing the basic technique.
Mok Wigun, who thought it was strange, went down to where the children were.
"Huh? Wigun."
So Jeonghak waved his hand at Mok Wigun with a happy face. When Mok Wigun appeared, the children stopped practicing and gathered.
"I don't know if you've heard, but I'm going to take a look at your martial arts."
At Mok Wigun's words, a few children showed their displeasure. In fact, it was understandable to be in a bad mood since they were being evaluated by Mok Wigun, who was of a similar age. But a few said it was fine.
Mok Wigun remembered the children who had said it was fine.
"But is Physician Pyon also going to watch the martial arts? Outsiders are not allowed to see."
"Actually, I couldn't tell you, but Physician Pyon is also related to Zhongnan."
A few children had expressions of disbelief. In times like this, it's simple to clear up the suspicion. You just have to show them directly.
- Hey. Show them.
- What should I do?
- Since it's a special occasion, something flashy and cool would be good.
Pyon Juksu stepped forward in front of the children. And he began to perform a fist technique.
"Huh? It's the Byeokun Cheongangsu."
The Byeokun Cheongangsu, the palm technique that represents Zhongnan. The children recognized it right away. And he continued to perform a sword technique. And a lightness skill as well.
"It's the Tae-eul Bungwang Sword Technique."
"Isn't that lightness skill the Eunha Yuyeongbi?"
The children were amazed that Pyon Juksu was performing the martial arts of Zhongnan. But there was one more person who was watching it. It was the sect leader, Jeung Yakcheon.
"Oh. Grand-master Sect Leader."
When a child spoke, everyone paid their respects to the sect leader. Except for Pyon Juksu. He was stopped in an awkward posture while performing the Tae-eul Bungwang Sword Technique.
"What is the meaning of this?"
He had a very confused expression. Mok Wigun thought it was rather a good thing. So he talked with Jeung Yakcheon with Pyon Juksu. As they moved to the sect leader's room, Mok Wigun firmly told him.
- Act well.
- Who am I? I'm a complete master at acting.
For some reason, he felt like he was going to cause another accident.
"Tell me, how does Physician Pyon know the martial arts of Zhongnan?"
At those words, Pyon Juksu suddenly straightened his back. And then he said to the sect leader.
"I can't help it. It wasn't that I deliberately tried to deceive you."
Jeung Yakcheon had a dumbfounded expression. Because Pyon Juksu, who looked to be around thirty, had suddenly used the expression 'old man'.
"It must be strange that I look like this. I understand. Actually, I have undergone the Reversal of Aging."
Mok Wigun was relieved for now. He had been worried that he would say something strange, but this much was a smooth progression.
"The Reversal of Aging. You mean it really exists?"
Jeung Yakcheon seemed to have a hard time believing it. Of course. If someone says, 'I have undergone the Reversal of Aging,' can you believe it right away? You have to show evidence.
"How was my martial art that you saw earlier?"
"Uh..."
Jeung Yakcheon was suddenly at a loss for words. Earlier, he had been focused only on the fact that Pyon Juksu knew the martial arts of Zhongnan, but the level of the martial art was considerable.
"If it's you, you can tell that he has trained for a long time."
"That's right. Especially the Tae-eul Bungwang Sword Technique was to the point where even I was surprised."
Jeung Yakcheon's tone of voice changed. He was convinced. He didn't know what had happened to the other things, but the fact that Pyon Juksu's age was not around thirty.
If he was thirty, he couldn't have performed the Tae-eul Bungwang Sword Technique, the Byeokun Cheongangsu, and the Eunha Yuyeongbi so skillfully with that medical skill.
"Do you perhaps know other martial arts?"
"Do you know the Five Thunder True Seal?"
"No. Do you know the Five Thunder True Seal?"
Jeung Yakcheon was startled. The Five Thunder True Seal was a martial art that had been lost in Zhongnan. One of the martial arts that had disappeared during the great cataclysm a hundred years ago.
It was once a palm technique that represented Zhongnan, and when it hit, a palm print was left. The peculiar thing was that since thunder qi was mixed in the palm technique, the place that was hit would burn black as if it had been struck by lightning.
Pyon Juksu looked around once. Then he raised his hand.
"Hmph!"
Thud!
Pyon Juksu sent a palm strike at the desk. At that moment, with a sound, smoke rose from the place where the palm strike had been imprinted.
"Oh oh!"
A clearly imprinted palm print. And a color as if it had been scorched black. And the smell of burning.
"This is the Five Thunder True Seal!"
There was no mistake. This was definitely the Five Thunder True Seal. The Five Thunder True Seal that he had only heard of in words and had seen in records.
Jeung Yakcheon raised his head and looked at Pyon Juksu. Now there was not a bit of doubt left. Pyon Juksu was a person who had undergone the Reversal of Aging.
"I have been rude."
Jeung Yakcheon was so moved after seeing the Five Thunder True Seal that he couldn't speak for a moment. Then, as if he had composed himself, he asked a question.
"But how do you know the martial arts of Zhongnan?"
Knowing that he had lived for a long time and knowing martial arts are different problems. Pyon Juksu said with a grin.
"I am your master's master. So your grand-master..."
When the sign was strange, Mok Wigun quickly sent a telepathic message.
- If you say something strange, I'll cut off your research funds.
At that, Pyon Juksu quickly changed his attitude.
"I had a special friendship with your grand-master."
"Ah. I see."
(End of Chapter)