Chapter 68

For a moment, I trembled at the inhuman discrimination in martial arts, but soon a question arose, and I raised my hand to ask.

“Master, what if we use the Reverse Muscle Sutra or the legendary martial art of Shaolin, the Reverse Muscle Sutra, to completely change our appearance to become handsome? Wouldn’t that allow us to master the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra?”

The Reverse Muscle Sutra (易筋經) = A medical and internal energy technique said to be written by Bodhidharma. It allows free transfer and transformation of bones and muscles.

I thought my master, who is proficient in various martial arts, must have considered this, but I was still purely curious. It’s a world of curiosity.

And to my question, my master, with his usual kind yet stern voice, taught me.

“Body, hair, and skin are received from parents – a person’s body, hair, and skin are gifts from their parents.”

“Do not dare to damage them, for this is the beginning of filial piety.”

Wait… are we really bringing up ‘body, hair, and skin are received from parents’ here?

It’s very much like my master, but I couldn’t help but make a face of confusion at this old-fashioned Confucian thought, which I expected to hear in ancient texts.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t shave or cut your nails.”

My master stretched out his large hand and gently patted my round forehead.

“Mantian, as I said before, martial arts are just tools. What’s important is the person. I am the master.”

I somewhat understood what my master was trying to say.

“A gentleman should always have an open mind and be flexible, but that doesn’t mean…”

“You should damage the precious body given by your parents or be dragged around just to learn strong martial arts.”

My master bent down to my eye level and, with a kind yet serious face, gave me advice mixed with teaching.

“You might not fully understand yet, but in learning martial arts, if you don’t firmly set these boundaries, you could be swept away by the waves of martial arts like a small boat.”

I quietly looked at my master’s wrinkled, unattractive face, which bore the traces of time and countless experiences.

Honestly, given the times, even with flexibility, my master’s firm Confucian values felt a bit, or perhaps very, stifling from the perspective of a modern reincarnated person…

But considering my master’s caring heart for his cute disciple, I decided not to argue and let it pass.

Thinking about it now, I really was a good disciple.

Anyway, before the lesson ended that day, I asked my master how to deal with a martial artist from the Ancient Grave Sect if I ever had to fight one.

“There’s no need to be scared or shrink back just because the opponent uses the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, which counters the Jeonjin Sword Technique. You have the Dog Chasing Stick Technique, don’t you?”

My master, as if there was no need to worry, laughed ‘hehe~’ and patted my right hand holding the stick.

“The Jade Maiden Heart Sutra is indeed a great martial art. But in terms of the speed of basic forms, the Dog Chasing Stick Technique is not far behind.”

Yes, that’s right.

I had the greatest martial art of all time (?), the Dog Chasing Stick Technique (打狗棒法).

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Finishing my reminiscence, I looked at the powerful enemy who had subdued Wang Miaoyang.

Originally, this wasn’t a fight I should interfere with, but now is not the time to worry about such things.

I need to buy time for my little master to release the pressure points on her arms.

So, in this emergency, I spoke to my soul partner, whom I had just gotten back from Wang Miaoyang after a long time.

‘Are you ready, Ta?’

‘Tagoo~ Tagoo~! (Of course, man!)’

The heavy yet familiar sensation in my right hand gave me courage.

Even though you were dismissed as outdated due to the Ice Breaking Formation, you still reach out to me.

‘Good, let’s go.’

The opportunity is only once, and if you’re ready, there’s no more hesitation. You must not hesitate.

Golden Goose Technique (金雁功)

Sending the internal energy from my dantian throughout my body, I kicked off the ground and flew up. To attract the enemy’s attention and for my partner who responded to me, I shouted a battle cry and prepared to unleash my basic forms.

“The Dog Chasing Stick Technique is invincible-!!”

Clang-!!

…And then suddenly, something was cut in half and fell to the ground as a ominous sound echoed.

It was a sight I didn’t want to see, didn’t want to believe.

Kiiing-! Kiiing-!!

Longyuan, sensing its master’s danger, flew from the corner, cutting through the air and splitting Tagujang in two.

“The easiest way to defeat an excellent weapon user is to destroy their weapon first.”

Grabbing Wang Miaoyang’s slender neck to prevent her from escaping, Ma Yang, with a beautiful face and a sneer, ordered her seven disciples.

“Finish him first.”

A mother bird trains her cute chicks by throwing weakened prey at them.

Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, Yao Guang.

Named after the Big Dipper, Ma Yang’s seven disciples, as assassins, thought it best to kill Namgung Sososo first, as Tang Wu suggested, but they were orphans taken in by their benefactor.

Not wanting to defy their respected master’s orders, they each drew their swords and charged at Mantian.

Seven coldly gleaming sword tips rushed to pierce the enemy’s flesh.

Clang-! Kakakang-!!

…And then, a single sword wrapped in blue sword energy intercepted the seven blades.

Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique (蒼穹無涯劍法) – Sky Flying Star (蒼天飛星)

Like a meteor shower drawing a trajectory across the night sky, it cuts and pushes away everything in its path.

It subdues the ruffians who dared to harm the benefactor in front of the king.

The little emperor, known as the top talent in the martial world, the Sword Dragon, Namgung Sososo, has arrived.

“Guh…!!”

At the heavy strike that seemed impossible from such a small body, Ma Yang’s seven disciples widened their eyes in disbelief and stepped back.

‘…She applied the Thousand Jin Pull to add weight to her sword momentarily.’

Ma Yang, with just one move, realized that Sososo was not just a talented late-stage practitioner as the information suggested.

A small frame barely over 6 feet (150cm), beautiful and delicate like a glass artwork.

A body not suited for wielding a heavy sword at all. Almost no physical talent.

…And yet, at such a young age, she mastered the intricacies of the heavy sword.

Was her other talent that outstanding? Or was there a reason she had to become this strong?

Personally, as someone who likes cute girls, I was interested in Sososo, who seemed both strong and delicate…

But I glanced down at Wang Miaoyang’s golden eyes, glaring at me with resentment, and tightened my grip on her slender neck.

“Keuh, guh…!”

I can’t take my eyes off my cute junior sister. But I can’t let my disciples get hurt either.

The difference in strength is too great.

If we use the Heavenly Polar Bear Formation (天罡北斗陣), we might win, but at least three would die.

Kiiing~! Kiiing~!!

…So, Ma Yang gently stroked the handle of Longyuan, which had come to her side after breaking the stick and asking for praise, and shouted the activation phrase.

“Go wild, Longyuan (龍淵).”

Following its master’s command to play, the reckless dragon charged to eliminate the disruptors.

“Master Sima, danger…?!”

Longyuan, having absorbed the surrounding water to take the form of a water dragon, snatched Sososo, who had stepped forward to protect Mantian, and took her away from the battlefield.

Kwakakaka-!!

With Sososo, the strongest among us except for the currently subdued Wang Miaoyang, being swept away helplessly by the water pressure, Wolhwa and I-

“Brother Namgung-!!”


“Brother Sososo-!!”

Like Pat and Mat who caused an accident, we couldn’t help but shout Sososo’s name in panic.

…And judging that there was no longer a threat to the disciples.

“Tian Quan and Yu Heng, deal with the man in front. The rest, handle the North Sea Ice Palace warriors.”

Ma Yang, with a calm voice, gave the order and turned her gaze back to Wang Miaoyang.

The terrifying sight of seven warriors raising their sharp swords and approaching.

The enemy is strong, my little master is defeated, Tagujang is broken, and Sososo is gone.

Truly, a dire situation.

…So, whether it’s possible or not, I lift the broken stick and prepare to unleash my basic forms.

Dog Chasing Stick Technique (打狗棒法) – Vicious Dog Blocks the Road (惡犬攔路) – What to do when a vicious dog blocks the road.

From now on, it’s time for improvisation.

***

A little away from where the battle is taking place, at a hot spring.

Longyuan chose a secluded hot spring to fight in a favorable location and dropped Sososo there, but that was a clear mistake.

A sword with a gorgeous scabbard made of red jade, which wasn’t there before, appeared and nestled in Sososo’s arms.

It was a sword Longyuan knew well.

Born from the same father.

A sword that only one destined to be king can draw, the treasure sword that assists the throne.

Sososo, who no longer needed to hide her strength due to the lack of eyes, called the name of the noble princess waiting for her master’s call.

“Reveal yourself, Zhanlu (湛盧).”

Tiiing-

Zhanlu (湛盧), known as one of the top ten swords in the world, a masterpiece of Goujian, now reveals its deep blue blade under the king’s command.

Each of their battles begins.