Scholar Demon Venerable

The Blood Emperor looked over Cheongun's body here and there and nodded his head repeatedly.

[There is a method of opening the blood points by being beaten. It's a method of opening the major blood points by applying a certain amount of force, and you can get an effect similar to a kind of acupressure.]

"So you're saying those guys performed acupressure on me?"

[Something like that. You know that you've undergone bone and marrow cleansing, but it's a half-baked version, right?]

"Yes. You said so."

Cheongun had already heard about his body's condition from the Blood Emperor. His body had become optimal for learning martial arts, but his internal energy was scattered throughout his body.

[Usually, you have to gather the internal energy scattered throughout your body through mind-method training, but it's a time-consuming process. But maybe you can gather your internal energy much faster.]

Cheongun guessed what the Blood Emperor was talking about. So he was startled and asked back.

"Don't tell me you want me to get beaten by those guys again?"

[Originally, you learn martial arts by being beaten.]

At the Blood Emperor's words, Cheongun wanted to retort, asking what kind of nonsense he was talking about.

But the feeling of refreshment that was transmitted throughout his body was greater than before. The Blood Emperor's words seemed to have a point.

"Is there any basis for that story?"

[You don't trust me? I'm the Blood Emperor, the leader of the Heavenly Cult.]

If what he had said so far was true, the Blood Emperor was an absolute being who had dominated an era.

Since it was the words of such a person, he couldn't not believe him. Still, the thought of having to be beaten again was unsettling.

"Still, getting beaten again is a bit much."

[Ahem! I told you, you originally learn martial arts by being beaten.]

"..."

* * *

A huge mansion was in front of them.

It was the best mansion in Qufu, with over a hundred buildings. Officially, it was the largest mansion in the Central Plains, other than the imperial palace where the emperor resided.

The Kong Family Mansion.

The scale was enormous because it was the place where the descendants of Confucius, whom everyone in the Central Plains liked and respected the most, lived.

After passing through several gates and entering, Cheongun stopped at one place.

In front of a building with a simple plaque that said "Jeonsangbang."

"This is where the descendants of Confucius live."

[It's quite far inside.]

"Yes. Worshippers and travelers only come up to the Confucius Temple and the main hall. This is a place where people who have business with the Kong family come."

Since Cheongun was a scholar who studied academics, he knew well about the study of Qufu. He had visited this place several times and participated in the ancestral rites from a distance.

"Where are you from?"

A middle-aged man who seemed to be a servant in front of the Jeonsangbang stood in front of Cheongun.

The man bowed politely. Even though Cheongun's appearance was shabby and not good, he did not treat him carelessly.

Cheongun smiled and said calmly.

"Nice to meet you. I met with a disaster on my way here, so my appearance is shabby now. May I see a member of the Kong family?"

"Oh my, you must have met with bandits. If you wait a moment, I will contact the reception hall."

Sometimes, there were people who came here in beggar's clothes after meeting bandits or pirates. That was why the servants of the mansion valued the guest's face and way of speaking more than their clothes.

In Cheongun's case, his fair skin and well-defined features made it impossible to treat him carelessly. Anyone could see that he was not a commoner who did rough work.

Moreover, although his voice was low, it was implicitly powerful.

After a while, a person called the master of the reception hall came out, and Cheongun was able to enter.

Cheongun, who entered a place where antique furniture created a charming atmosphere, did not reveal his identity. If it became known that he was here in beggar's clothes, he didn't know how those guys would react.

Scholars had a rigid side. They would risk their lives for injustice and fight to the end. Moreover, this was a place where the descendants of Confucius were gathered.

There was no way the attackers of the Jinyiwei would be spared just because they were the descendants of Confucius.

"I am Lee Samwon from Henan Province."

Lee Cheongun used a pseudonym.

"I heard you met with a disaster. Please rest here and compose your body and mind."

The master of the reception hall was pleased with Cheongun's proper demeanor and recommended that he rest comfortably.

A graceful behavior that fit the etiquette could only come from being ingrained in the body for a long time. Since Cheongun had studied academics at the Cheonhyang Academy from a young age, he was flawless even in the eyes of the Kong family.

"May I ask for a brush, ink, and paper?"

When Cheongun asked for a brush, ink, and paper, the quick-witted master of the reception hall smiled brightly and said.

"Haha. You'll find them in your room, so don't worry too much."

"Thank you."

After the master of the reception hall left, Cheongun followed a servant to the room he would use as his lodging. It seemed to be a room shared by several people.

There were scholars all over the world. It was impossible to treat all of them lavishly.

Cheongun decided to get out of there first. He had things to do with the Blood Emperor, and if he shared a room with others, there would be many restrictions.

He went to the place where the brush, ink, and paper were, ground the ink for a long time, and then spread out the paper.

He began to write on a long piece of paper six feet long with a single stroke of his brush.

With every stroke, the Blood Emperor, who was watching from the side, let out an exclamation of admiration.

The four characters written in a single breath with a vigorous and soaring brushstroke were "Golden Sound, Jade Vibration."

[What does it mean?]

"It's a phrase used to praise the perfected personality of Confucius."

[Hmm... good.]

After writing, Cheongun carefully placed it to one side.

After a while, when the writing was dry, he took the paper and went outside. He called a passing servant and told him to deliver it to a member of the Kong family.

The servant bowed deeply and disappeared somewhere.

When famous scholars came, they often tried to show off their talents. There was nothing better than being recognized by the descendants of Confucius.

Since this was a common occurrence, the Kong family also had members who specifically discussed academics.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, someone came running, out of breath.

It was the servant who had disappeared somewhere after receiving Cheongun's request a little while ago.

"Your Excellency. Elder Gong of the reception hall requests to see you."

A smile appeared on Cheongun's lips.

"Lead the way."

* * *

Cheongun's lodging was changed to a separate house.

It was a detached house with a small garden and a courtyard.

The Kong family, who had recognized Cheongun's writing at a glance, began to treat him with utmost care.

They had the eye to recognize the opponent's skill with just a single character of writing. Also, Cheongun's unique writing was enough to fascinate them.

They didn't pay much attention to the name Lee Samwon, which they had never heard before.

Moreover, while drinking tea with Cheongun and discussing academics, they were surprised by Cheongun's scholarship, which unfolded without hesitation.

In the end, even the most learned members of the Kong family attended and had a heated discussion.

Cheongun was satisfied in his own way, and the Kong family praised Cheongun as a learned scholar who had visited the family after a long time. To them, age was just a number.

In the detached house that was assigned separately, Cheongun sat opposite the Blood Emperor and drank tea.

"But are you serious about staying here for a few more days?"

[Yes, no matter how I think about it, this place seems to be helpful to you. I think it's necessary to stay here a little longer.]

It was an unexpected statement. He had thought he would suggest going into some deep mountains to build up his strength and then start his revenge. But he was puzzled that he suggested resting before going.

"You're not telling me to study, are you? What's the reason?"

[You can study on your own, and let's do some martial arts training before we go.]

"You want me to learn martial arts here?"

The Blood Emperor quietly nodded. There was no reason why he couldn't train at the Kong family.

But that didn't mean he understood everything.

"Is there a reason?"

[Didn't I tell you during the day?]

At the Blood Emperor's words, Cheongun's face hardened as he recalled something.

"Don't tell me... I have to get beaten?"

[You know well. Let's get beaten by those guys a little.]

"Phew."

Cheongun let out a deep sigh.

During the day, the Blood Emperor had definitely said that he needed to be beaten more. He himself hadn't particularly opposed it. But now that it was becoming a reality, his future seemed bleak.

Thus, Cheongun's strange martial arts training began in Qufu.

* * *

"Get him!"

"Where does a young punk like you dare to challenge your elders?"

Before the sun set, Cheongun left the Kong family and headed to the place where he had been beaten during the day. It was to find the men who had beaten him.

Finding them was easy. Two of the five from the day were loitering around.

Cheongun went straight to them and bumped his shoulder against them. The men recognized Cheongun and started punching him again.

After a long time.

"Huff huff huff. This bastard is really trying to die."

"Hey, huff huff. That's enough. Stop it. Phew... If we're not careful, we'll have to clean up a corpse."

They beat him without rest. They stomped on him until their whole bodies were tired and they were out of breath.

Since they were tired, they thought Cheongun would be half-crippled.

Cheongun, who was curled up on the floor, was covered in dust and sprawled out. He looked greatly defeated.

"Kaak, ptui! You bastard, if we see you on this street one more time, you're dead."

"Hey, hey! Let's go. Let's go get a drink of rice wine."

After the two men disappeared, Cheongun got up from his seat and brushed the dust off his clothes.

"I thought I'd be fine, but my whole body is aching."

[Even if it aches, you won't die.]

"I'm bleeding too."

[Tsk tsk. Of course you're bleeding, you were beaten.]

"Are you really sure I can learn martial arts this way?"

[I'm the Blood Emperor. You don't trust me?]

Thus, a day came to an end.

* * *

Cheongun's daily routine was simple. He woke up in the morning and discussed academics with the members of the mansion, and in the afternoon, he trained in martial arts in a separate room.

The Blood Emperor first taught him the fist and palm techniques.

[Clench your fingers like a talon.]

He corrected Cheongun's posture one by one.

Cheongun had thought that performing martial arts would be awkward, but he was excited when it went surprisingly well.

"This is easy."

The Blood Emperor didn't say much and taught him various fist and palm techniques.

[That's enough. You've learned the forms for now. I'll teach you how to apply them.]

Learning the forms did not make one a master of martial arts. One had to know in what situation to unfold the moves.

Repetitive practice through sparring was also necessary before engaging in actual combat.

In that respect, Cheongun was missing the sparring that he had to do before engaging in actual combat.

[If the opponent's fist comes at your chest, you can basically deal with it in four ways. Dodge, deflect, block, or attack. And...]

The Blood Emperor explained how to apply the moves with movements. The intelligent Cheongun nodded his head repeatedly and absorbed what he was learning.

[The Eagle Claw Hand you just learned is all about making your hand shape like an eagle's claw and snatching the opponent.]

The Blood Emperor swung his hands and feet, demonstrating the motion of snatching Cheongun's hand. Cheongun also unfolded the Eagle Claw Hand against the Blood Emperor.

Pajijik.

Still, whenever the Blood Emperor tried to touch Cheongun's body, lightning energy would rise from his body and repel the Blood Emperor.

But in the opposite case, the lightning energy did not rise.

[This is a strange thing.]

"It's fine if I grab you."

They couldn't grab each other. But when the Blood Emperor grabbed him, there was a repulsive force. It was a strange thing, but he didn't know the exact reason.

[That's enough training for now. It's time, so let's go out.]

"Do I really have to go and get beaten again?"

Cheongun was worried.

After one night, the bruises all over his body had disappeared as if by magic. Still, the feeling of being beaten was not good.

[You must have had difficulties while learning academics. Keep in mind that learning martial arts is accompanied by the pain of carving your bones.]

"Still..."

[Didn't you say you would get revenge? Do you think the saying 'enduring hardship for revenge' just appeared out of nowhere?]