Chapter 32

After meditating for about an hour, my concentration broke because I got hungry.

*Growl~ Growl!*

Being hungry is proof that I’m a living being. I’m not a rock. I’m human.

…This training method doesn’t suit me. But I don’t want to give up.

Once I’ve decided to learn something, there’s no giving up. Even if it takes years, I’ll definitely learn it. However, that doesn’t mean it’s good to invest years in learning just one martial art.

I remember the various martial arts my master told me about. Each one was fascinating and something I wanted to learn.

…I laugh. It seems the meditation wasn’t completely ineffective. A childhood dream I had forgotten becomes vivid and rises to the surface.

I want to learn more martial arts.

Mystical Taoist Inner Energy Technique, Dog Chasing Stick Technique, Heavenly Polar Bear Formation, Empty Clarity Fist, Golden Eye Technique, Double Hands Fighting.

Each one is a great martial art. But it’s not enough. Far from it. It doesn’t even make a dent.

Even if I control my mind through meditation, I can never become an ascetic. A pitiful creature who can’t reach the state of enlightenment.

If I want to laugh, I laugh. If I want to cry, I cry. If I want something, I take it.

I’m a greedy human being, honest about my desires. That’s me.

Sima Mantian.

I open my eyes, dust myself off, and get up.

The world is full of things I want to learn. It’s a treasure trove. A feast.

I want to learn so much. I’m not a child anymore. Time is short. I don’t want to spend years learning just one martial art.

So I take a shortcut. I find my own path.

“Uncle, stop training for a moment. I have something to say.”

At my words, Mukgang slowly opens his eyes from his meditative posture and nods, as if telling me to speak.

“Our master said that everyone has their own constitution.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“This training method doesn’t suit me. If there’s no other method, then I have no choice, but if there is, I want to try different methods.”

Mukgang stares at Mantian’s face, shamelessly asking for a new training method.

‘…He’s not trying to escape because he doesn’t want to do it.’

It’s not the face of a loser making excuses to run away. There’s confidence in his face that he can truly find another method.

“To put it bluntly, there is another method. But very few people have accepted the King of Light’s energy through this method.”

Mukgang’s words, meant to warn of the danger of this shortcut, backfire. Mantian’s eyes sparkle.

A hidden secret training method, with only a few successful practitioners.

My heart races at the unheard words. My blood heats up. The desire to challenge grows.

“What is it? There’s a custom training method for me, the genius who deceives even the heavens, Sima Mantian. Tell me now.”

“…Crashing and breaking is also a form of training.”

Judging that persuasion won’t work, Mukgang gets up without a word and brings his fist to my stomach. A dark red energy flows from his body.

‘What? Why is a terrifying energy coming from his body?’

I instinctively realize something is wrong again. And my doubts and fears soon turn into certainty.

“The method to quickly store the King of Light’s energy in your dantian is to directly strike the Fudo Myo-o’s energy into your dantian.”

The dark red aura flowing from Mukgang’s body grows stronger, taking the form of the giant Fudo Myo-o, the guardian of the world.

Like transparent armor, it envelops Mukgang, taking the same posture. Yes, it prepares to strike my stomach.

“I warn you. It will hurt a lot.”

“Wait, hold on-”

No questions asked. Once spoken, there’s no taking it back. A loving iron fist for a trainee seeking a shortcut, not the right path. The Fudo Myo-o Punch.

“Kyaaaaaaah-!!”

Without any preparation, I take Mukgang’s punch head-on and scream like a champ hit in the solar plexus, flying through the air and crashing to the ground.

“Keu- Keu- Keuk-!”

The pain pressing down on my body makes it impossible to think. It just hurts.

My mind is getting blurry, but it’s not the sensation of falling asleep. It’s not that pleasant feeling.

Breathing is heavy. It’s hard to breathe. I don’t know if I’m breathing or if it’s stopped.

My soul leaves my body writhing in pain. It sinks heavily, endlessly.

Down- Down- I’m pulled by the hand of some huge being.

“Young trainee. Meet the King of Light. Realize how weak you are.”

Mantian loses consciousness, completely fainting, receiving Mukgang’s calm farewell, even though it’s just a training method, it’s irritating to be hit like that.

‧


‧


‧

‘…Where am I?’

Can I say I’ve come to my senses? When I open my eyes, I’m floating in an unknown space.

It’s dark all around. Strangely, I can see ahead. It feels like being buried in warm mud. Fortunately, there’s no problem breathing.

In this endless dark space, I’m left alone, slowly sinking down.

No- I’m not alone. I just didn’t realize it.

In the darkness, a huge figure wrapped in blazing fire glares down at me with a terrifying frown.

Instinct tells me. That being is the master of this strange space.

One of the Five Great Wisdom Kings of Esoteric Buddhism, sitting at the center of the world, a giant burning evil.

Fudo Myo-o.

…Maybe I’m hallucinating from the pain of being hit too hard in the solar plexus by Mukgang, but meeting Fudo Myo-o is a mysterious experience.

As I carefully observe the Fudo Myo-o, whose authenticity I can’t confirm, the world suddenly shakes as if an earthquake has occurred.

[Say your name]

The world shakes at the King of Light’s voice. Just by asking for my name. The shockwave transmits, ruthlessly shaking my body.

My ego collapses. Like the Little Mermaid turning into foam, everything that makes up my body turns into foam and scatters into the darkness.

The King of Light’s presence and voice crush my inflated ego.

The true purpose of the hidden training method to learn the Fudo Myo-o Step is not to meet the King of Light and receive his energy.

It’s to humble the passionate trainee through the meeting with a huge being.

“Ah-! Aah-!”

I, my name… I have to say it… but I can’t remember-! I can’t remember-!?

If I lose consciousness here and completely scatter into foam, I feel like I’ll lose something important, so I try to maintain my ego, but I can’t remember my name.

Instinctively, I gather the scattered droplets. In them are the things that maintain me as a human, my ‘name.’

I have to gather them back into one.

Contrary to my collapsing, sinking body, I reach out towards the droplets floating up.

Splash~ Splish splash~!

With a sound that doesn’t match the serious situation, my outstretched right hand also turns into droplets and scatters. Frantically, I grab the droplets with my left hand, but they slip through my fingers.

Gradually… my mind is fading.

Instinctively, I realize. Even if I lose consciousness here, I won’t die. I can just close my eyes like this.

But my pride won’t allow it. Who do you think I am!

I am…!!

At that moment, my body collapses, and the droplets scatter. My memories fade.

I- I- Who am I?

‧


‧


‧

How much time has passed? I can’t even remember who I am anymore. I only remember that I must not lose consciousness and forcibly maintain my ego.

I continue to fight an endless battle, sinking without knowing when it will end.

Then, in my blurry vision, I see ‘something.’ ‘Something’ swims quickly towards me.

…What is that? A snake? A dragon? …A girl?

A being with clear, beautiful blue eyes like the morning sea hugs me. The warm energy gathers the scattered droplets back into one.

My mind slowly returns, but I still can’t remember.

Who I am… who the ‘something’ hugging me is… I can’t remember. But one thing comes to mind.

I must remember the ‘something’ in front of me. Even if the whole world forgets this being, I must remember.

I must not forget the name of ‘something.’ I must remember it.

I meet the blue eyes looking only at me. Beautiful eyes. Pure eyes.

Even as my body scatters, I’m captivated by the pretty eyes reminiscent of the blue sea, and words slip out unconsciously.

“Gwa…hae…Gwahae (過海).”

‘…I remembered.’

My right arm, which had turned into foam and scattered, bubbles~ and reappears. It maintains its form.

Yes! It’s not ‘something’! It’s Gwahae! The name I gave!

I reach out my right arm and hug Gwahae. So tightly it hurts, so tightly the trembling stops. I share the warmth.

I gather the scattered droplets. They were all mine to begin with. Scattering itself is nonsense.

I look at the droplets shining even in the dark space. They contain memories of Gwahae.

In the droplets, Gwahae is always looking at me, saying ‘something.’ Her small mouth moves, continuously muttering ‘something.’

[Say your name]

Once again, the Fudo Myo-o’s question shakes the world. But I no longer shake. I no longer scatter.

…Because I’ve already found the answer.

I mimic Gwahae’s mouth shape. I shout ‘something’ following her.

“Mantian (瞞天).”

The droplets swirl around me, becoming one again. They take on a perfect form.

Looking around, Gwahae, who had appeared suddenly, has disappeared just as suddenly. Maybe I was seeing an illusion.

An illusion within an illusion is a funny story.

Anyway, there’s no need to stay in this dark, gloomy place anymore. I’ve sunk enough, now it’s time to rise.

Up- Up- I rise. And I stop for a moment.

I stop right in front of Fudo Myo-o’s face. I don’t look up, I stare straight ahead.

“You told me to say my name? I’ll tell you. Listen carefully.”

I take a deep breath with my whole body. I explode it all at once.

“I am- the genius who deceives even the heavens, Sima Mantian (司馬瞞天)-!!”

[I heard your name clearly]

“Hmph- Acting all high and mighty for an illusion… Disappear, clown of my memories.”

I move my hand and scatter the huge mass of energy in the shape of Fudo Myo-o.

The true identity of Fudo Myo-o is the energy Mukgang struck into my dantian earlier. I was just scared by the huge energy and mistakenly thought I met the real Fudo Myo-o.

Originally, I was the master of this space. So going down or up is my choice.

Yeonghwa said she’d make Western cuisine for dinner tonight. I don’t have time to hesitate in a place like this.

Leaving the shattered pieces of energy falling behind, I continue to rise. Gradually- a bright light appears.

***


Mukgang, without moving an inch, looks down at the fainted Mantian and frowns.

‘…Strange. It’s long past the time he should have woken up.’

The training method Mukgang used on Mantian is called a secret training method, but in reality, it’s a method used to teach trainees with outstanding talent but arrogant personalities.

Usually, upon seeing the huge mass of energy in the shape of Fudo Myo-o, they get startled and wake up. It’s a light training method that ends at the level of having a nightmare.

‘…Is he really fighting with Fudo Myo-o, even if it’s fake?’

That’s dangerous. There are people who realized Fudo Myo-o is an illusion and stored the King of Light’s energy in their dantian through this training method. But they are truly few.

If an ordinary person forcibly fights against a huge energy, their mind will wear out and eventually disappear.

If left like this, Mantian might die, so Mukgang approaches to forcibly wake him up, but the air around him changes.

Precisely, the air around Mantian changes. It sinks heavily. The King of Light’s energy begins to settle in Mantian’s dantian.

‘…Could it be? …Did he overcome it?’

Although he taught it, he never thought Mantian could truly store the King of Light’s energy. He thought he would give up halfway.

The unexpected appearance of a new seeker makes his heart race.

Mantian’s body trembles slightly. And the trembling grows larger, and he regains consciousness. He slowly gets up with dignity.

Certainly, the energy emanating from his body is different from before. Mukgang’s eyes widen.

-Now is the most important moment. It’s the time when he can best feel the King of Light’s energy. There’s no time to hesitate.

“Lift your foot and pull the energy of your body up at the same time!”

Without circulating his internal energy, only exuding killing intent, Mukgang rushes at Mantian. He throws a punch with the intent to kill.

“Stomp down with the resolve to stop the world!!”

Without internal energy, but with Mukgang’s body trained to the extreme. Depending on where it hits, it could cause at least serious injury.

But Mantian doesn’t run away. He doesn’t bend his body. He just proudly lifts his left foot.

Mantian also wants to test the new power he just gained.

The Fudo Myo-o’s energy settled in his dantian stabilizes his center of gravity. He strongly stomps down with his lifted left foot, stepping firmly.

With the resolve to stop the world, he plunges his leg into the earth.

『Fudo Myo-o Step (不動明王步)』

Mukgang’s heavy fist stops right in front of Mantian’s eyes. He didn’t stop because it was dangerous to hit. He threw the punch with the intent to hit.

…But it stopped. It was forcibly stopped.

For a moment, a moment so brief it was almost imperceptible, Mantian’s Fudo Myo-o Step pressed down on Mukgang.

For the first time in a long time, Mukgang’s face loses its calmness and looks at Mantian with pure surprise.

“I admit it. You truly are the genius who deceives even the heavens.”