Chapter 16
Number One Thousand trained fiercely. For the past month, he had invested all his time in martial arts, except for eating and sleeping.
As if that wasn't enough, he reduced his sleeping time from three or four shichen a day to two.
He also reduced his eating time. He put rice and basic side dishes in a bowl, poured water, and slurped it down. Even the time to eat was precious.
In fact, he had made considerable progress.
His movements in performing the Six Harmonies Fist were clean and without any unnecessary actions.
The six moves that followed naturally flowed like water.
He had also mastered the essence of putting power into his fist, so when he extended his fist, the air would burst.
However, the eyes of Number One Thousand, who was retracting his fist, were gloomily sunken.
'This is not enough.'
Number One Thousand was not only fierce but also smart.
So, the more he trained, the more his problems loomed larger.
'I thought I could at least follow their heels if I worked twice as hard.'
It was a naive thought. What they had was too different. The difference in the martial arts they possessed was too great. It was not a gap that could be overcome simply by effort.
'What should I do?'
Number One Thousand tapped his temple with his finger.
It was foolish to just train in the Six Harmonies Fist.
Although he couldn't say that he had seen the end of the Six Harmonies Fist yet, even if he did, the result was too easily predictable. He needed a different method.
'I can't just steal it either...'
It was the easiest way.
He could just beat up some guy and take it.
Although he was at a disadvantage in a frontal confrontation, a surprise attack would work.
This was because even though the numbers were assigned in order of strength, the difference was not that big.
The time they had trained in martial arts was not long, so the gap had not widened that much.
But that wasn't the problem.
'They wouldn't just stand by and watch.'
Number One Thousand was not the only one who had this thought.
Not long ago, Number Eight Hundred and Thirty-Seven had the same thought as Number One Thousand and had attacked Number One Hundred and Twenty-One.
The surprise attack was a great success, and Number One Hundred and Twenty-One was in a difficult situation.
But just as Number Eight Hundred and Thirty-Seven was about to deliver the final blow to Number One Hundred and Twenty-One, they appeared.
'Two years... was it?'
They had said that life-and-death battles were forbidden for two years.
They had also said that a harsh price would follow if this was violated.
In fact, Number Eight Hundred and Thirty-Seven had to hang upside down from a tree for half a day.
But the bigger problem was that aiming for each other's manuals was forbidden even after two years had passed.
They had said that the manuals would be strictly managed.
The manuals of the dead were immediately recovered, so it was impossible to steal them.
Number One Thousand changed his thoughts.
'No. Even if the manual is impossible, wouldn't it be okay to watch and learn?'
In fact, those who knew each other had formed groups and reinforced each other's martial arts.
They would show their own martial arts and have others find and supplement their shortcomings.
If the martial artists of the martial world saw this, they would be flabbergasted.
But it was possible because those who belonged to the government did not yet have such awareness.
'I'll have to at least try.'
It would be good if it worked, but it was fine even if it didn't.
He would just have to hang upside down from a tree for a day.
It wasn't an easy thing to do, but the benefit of success was greater than the disadvantage of failure.
He could tell right away without even having to calculate.
Having made up his mind, Number One Thousand quietly moved.
'As expected...'
As expected, the recluses did not move.
Even though more than half a day had passed, there was no particular presence. This much was fine.
Number One Thousand began to seriously observe the martial arts of Number Five Hundred and Ninety-Four.
He focused all his attention, which had been dispersed due to the presence of the recluses.
Although there was a considerable distance, it was not a problem.
He widened his eyes as if he would not miss a single footstep or a small breath.
And when the sun began to set and the surroundings grew dark, Number One Thousand quietly retreated from that spot.
'Pine Wind Sword Art...'
Although it couldn't be said to be an early number, the sword of Number Five Hundred and Ninety-Four was certainly very different from the Six Harmonies Fist.
Unlike the Six Harmonies Fist, whose forms were simple, the sword paths were so diverse that it made his eyes dizzy just by watching.
To think that he had to face it with only the Six Harmonies Fist made his hair stand on end.
'First, I have to find a sword...'
The only sword he had in his possession was the dagger he had received at the beginning.
Since a dagger had a different center of gravity from a sword, training was impossible.
But he couldn't just get a sword right away either.
He broke a branch from a nearby tree.
He cut it with his dagger and made it a suitable size.
When he extended it as a test, it wasn't satisfactory, but it seemed usable.
'Shall I give it a try?'
He had been observing the Pine Wind Sword Art all day.
Although the eighteen moves were intricately intertwined to create numerous sword paths, it wasn't to the point where he couldn't memorize them.
If he couldn't even do that much, he wouldn't have been selected in the first place.
'First, in order...'
Number One Thousand started from the starting stance of the Pine Wind Sword Art and performed the eighteen moves in order.
Since it was his first attempt, it was difficult for his body to follow what his head remembered.
But that wasn't a big problem.
If it didn't work, he just had to do it until it did. He discarded his impatient mind and performed them step by step.
The awkward moves gradually became stable.
However, the problem came from a different place.
Before he could repeat the eighteen moves of the Pine Wind Sword Art even three times, Number One Thousand threw away the branch.
"Damn it!"
He couldn't put any power into it at all.
No matter how much it was his first time, he had to be able to put at least a little bit of power into it.
But there was no sign of that.
Not a single ounce of power was put into it. Unlike the sharp sword of Number Five Hundred and Ninety-Four, the sword of Number One Thousand was limp and weak.
The cause was not difficult to find.
'The problem is the internal energy.'
He couldn't figure out how to operate his internal energy at all.
Since he didn't know the path his internal energy should move, he couldn't put power into it.
'I wondered why they didn't follow even after seeing someone else's martial arts...'
He should have noticed then.
It wasn't something that could be done just by memorizing the movements.
The proper power came out only when you knew the operation of the internal energy accurately.
Only then did he realize that was the reason why the recluses hadn't moved.
'The conclusion is the Six Harmonies Fist...'
But the Six Harmonies Fist was a fist art with clear limitations.
After seeing the Pine Wind Sword Art, those limitations were even more starkly visible.
His mind was intricately twisted. A frustrating feeling welled up. He couldn't hold it back and let it out.
"Damn it! What am I supposed to do! Ack!"
The voice of Number One Thousand echoed loudly.
A dozen or so birds that were nearby flew up all at once with a flutter.
But that was it.
Even after a long time, no one showed any interest.
He hadn't expected it in the first place.
Still, thanks to letting out what was inside, he felt a little better.
Number One Thousand took a deep breath.
However, the energy that had once started to boil did not easily subside.
Rather, it pounded even more severely. The more he took deep breaths, the more it caught fire.
In the end, Number One Thousand gave up on trying to calm his mind.
He left the boiling energy as it was. Every time he breathed, a wheezing sound came out.
"Only the Six Harmonies Fist?"
Number One Thousand said as if spitting it out, panting.
It was a desperate situation.
Nevertheless, the word 'give up' was not seen in the eyes of Number One Thousand. Rather, he made up his mind even more fiercely.
His bloodshot pupils gleamed precariously, as if he was thinking of something.
***
Moyong Gi's sword extended straight.
If she dealt with it carelessly, she would give up her neck.
It was not something to be dismissed as a simple threat.
She didn't know how he did it, but after being hit once, she felt like she would really die.
At times, her hands would tremble and cold sweat would pour down.
It was a terrible situation. Even though she had experienced it countless times, she couldn't get used to it. She wanted to avoid it unconditionally.
So Zhuge Yeon, with cautious eyes, stared at Moyong Gi's sword and took a step back.
At that moment, Moyong Gi's sword became faster. He had increased the speed to the point where it was difficult to follow with her eyes.
However, Zhuge Yeon was not shaken. She no longer closed her eyes. Rather, she narrowed her eyes sharply.
'I can't make a mistake.'
Zhuge Yeon swung her sword and deflected Moyong Gi's sword.
As if waiting, Moyong Gi's sword drew a circle.
'And then he aimed for the neck.'
She had been helplessly defeated several times by his cunningly moving sword path.
But this time was different.
Zhuge Yeon's sword stuck to Moyong Gi's sword like a magnet and pushed Moyong Gi's sword away.
It was the ultimate technique of the Formless Sword Art, the White Dragon's Return.
Of course, it was not in its complete form.
Originally, the White Dragon's Return was a sword move that drew a large circle, but Zhuge Yeon drew a smaller circle.
Since Moyong Gi was so skilled at twisting the sword path, a large movement became a poison, so she had modified it to fit her needs.
And it had worked properly. Moyong Gi's sword was pushed back.
'Finally!'
She had finally blocked Moyong Gi's one move.
It was a splendid achievement after a whole week.
It felt even sweeter because it was the result of racking her brains and pondering over and over again. Joy arose in Zhuge Yeon's eyes.
However, Moyong Gi was not one to stand by and watch that.
'Oh?'
He was not generous enough to see her happy after receiving just one move, not a hundred.
Moyong Gi grinned and pulled out the sword that was being pushed back helplessly.
It looked easy, but it wasn't. It was possible for Moyong Gi, who was skilled in controlling his strength, to do it freely.
If it weren't for him, it would have been pushed back helplessly as Zhuge Yeon had intended.
And the effect was also certain.
As Moyong Gi's sword was pulled out, Zhuge Yeon's sword lost its way, and her vital points were exposed.
Moyong Gi thrust his sword into that gap.
From Zhuge Yeon's perspective, it felt as if the sword had suddenly disappeared and then popped out.
Naturally, she raised her voice sharply.
"Oh my!"
She stumbled back with a surprised face and fell on her buttocks.
Due to the great shock, she didn't even feel the pain in her buttocks. Her heart pounded as if it would burst.
Moyong Gi clicked his tongue.
"You're happy and jumping around after blocking just that, so that's what you get."
Moyong Gi was merciless when it came to teaching the sword. Rather, he was sarcastic to the point where it was severe.
Zhuge Yeon, who was taking deep breaths with a flushed face, glared at Moyong Gi with her mouth pouting.
"Still, I blocked it."
Moyong Gi replied indifferently.
"You blocked it. But it's just one move. Are you going to dance if you block two moves?"
"Eek!"
Zhuge Yeon bit her lip with a frustrated face.
And Moyong Gi was satisfied with Zhuge Yeon's reaction.
At first, she was just gloomy with a scared face, but now she was even getting angry, which felt lively.
'It's a good phenomenon.'
Moyong Gi chuckled and extended his sword.
Zhuge Yeon flinched and trembled. Even though it seemed like a light tap, it was so painful that it would raise a bump on her head.
So she was instinctively wary, but this time the feeling was different. The flat of the sword was just naturally placed on her head.
"Still, you did well not to close your eyes."
At the unexpected compliment, Zhuge Yeon's eyes widened.
She soon understood the meaning and her eyes relaxed, but as if to protect her pride to the end, she pouted her lips.
"Hmph."
Moyong Gi just smiled gently.
So Moogyeol, who was watching that, his face contorted.
"Hey, you rotten bastard! Do that to us too!"
So Moogyeol, who was covered in holes and applying ointment, got angry and shouted.
(End of Chapter)