Chapter 6

No. Are you saying there exists a martial art that even a clever person can’t learn? That’s just nonsense. Are you just making excuses because you don’t want to teach me?

Although it’s unlikely given Master’s personality, you never know. I really wanted to learn Double Hands Fighting, so I kept pestering them.

“No! You only taught me half of the Dog Chasing Stick Technique, and you won’t even teach me Double Hands Fighting. Am I really your disciple?”

I didn’t know this before, but the Dog Chasing Stick Technique is a staff technique performed with two hands. So, Master taught me basic forms that could be performed with one hand, considering my limp. Honestly, that alone is strong and useful enough, so I have no complaints.

But now that I’ve set my sights on Double Hands Fighting, none of that matters. I’ll change the past for the sake of the present.

I know I’m being ungrateful, but I really, really want to learn Double Hands Fighting. I’m sorry, Master. I’ll make it up to you later.

“Haha~ It’s not that I only taught you half, but I taught you what you needed. In fact, since the unnecessary parts were removed, it could be called the Dog Chasing Stick Technique (改: Modified).”

“Haha~ Half of the basic forms are gone. How is that a modification? It’s more like the Dog Chasing Stick Technique (僞: Fake).”

Master, who heard my words, chuckled quietly and then nodded as if they suddenly understood my behavior.

“Seeing you, who’s usually mature, throwing a tantrum like a child, it seems you really want to learn Double Hands Fighting. …Indeed, not being able to learn the martial art you want is truly frustrating.”

I tilted my head in confusion at Master’s unexpected empathy.

“Master, is there a martial art you couldn’t learn?”

Considering what they’ve shown so far, it wouldn’t be surprising if they knew all the martial arts in the world. Seeing them like this was intriguing.

“Of course there is. Mantian, the world is vast, and there are countless martial arts. …There are too many martial arts I don’t know.”

The last sentence was almost a sigh.

Martial artists love martial arts, but sometimes Master’s thirst for knowledge about them seems excessive. They already know dozens, maybe even more, of mysterious martial arts that would make them unbeatable if they mastered just one. So why do they wander the world searching for new ones? I don’t understand.

“I’ve heard that martial artists usually only learn and practice the martial arts of their own sect. So why do you, Master, learn and study so many martial arts? And do we even have a sect?”

I didn’t originally plan to ask this, but the opportunity arose, so I asked what I’ve been curious about. The atmosphere seems right for Master to share.

As I expected, Master paused for a moment, then looked at me with kind yet dull gray eyes, as if they had decided to tell me.

“It’s because I’m not a martial artist but a martial scholar. That’s why I don’t belong to any sect.”

“…A martial scholar?”

Using the body for martial arts and the mind for scholarship—these words don’t seem to go together. It’s a term I’ve never heard before. But well, in the martial world, there might be scholars who study martial arts.

“Mantian, what do you think martial arts are?”

It might seem like a random question, but I’m used to Master’s way of imparting life lessons. In such moments, it’s best to answer honestly without overthinking.

“Hmm… I’ve been too busy learning to think much about it. But if I had to answer, I think it’s a fun skill.”

“Fun skill?”

“Yes. Wind comes from a person’s hands, the scent of plum blossoms from swordsmanship, and through training, ordinary people can do things they normally couldn’t. How fun is that? I want to keep learning fun techniques.”

“I’m a wanderer, so I can’t keep teaching you forever. How do you plan to learn martial arts from now on?”

“Of course, I’ll find a new master. Whether they’re male, female, old, or young, it doesn’t matter. If they have something to teach and I want to learn it, I’ll take them as my master and receive their teachings.”

Depending on how you hear it, it sounds arrogant, like, ‘Even if you leave, I’ll just find a new master.’ But Master laughed. They laughed so hard it seemed like their head would touch the sky.

“That’s it! Exactly! If there’s something you want to learn, keep learning! If there’s something you want to ask, keep asking!”

Master stood up abruptly. They always seemed big, but today they looked even more imposing, like a giant mountain.

“No matter what martial artists say, no matter if they bring up sects, history, or bloodlines, don’t pay attention! Martial arts are just tools!”

The usual gentle Master was nowhere to be seen. A strong, overwhelming energy filled the surroundings, and their kind eyes now overflowed with ambition.

“Is there a righteous sword or an evil sword in this world? No! Martial arts are the same. Righteous martial arts, evil martial arts—it’s just people labeling them as they please.”

Master paused for a moment, then cautiously added.

“…Some martial arts, called demonic arts, involve eating human skulls and flesh, but those are just superstitions and not worth mentioning.”

Even during a grand speech, Master added a lesson for their disciple. Truly Master-like.

“In the end, it’s about how you wield the sword. The person is important. Righteousness and chivalry are important. True righteousness isn’t bound by tools.”

Martial arts are just tools. Just tools. If martial artists who take pride in their sects heard this, they’d probably want to tear Master apart. …No. Maybe countless martial artists have already tried to kill Master.

“Even if heaven itself stands in my way, I will learn and study all the martial arts in the world.”

“…What do you plan to do after learning all the martial arts in the world?”

Respect for Master. And fear of an incomprehensible being. These mixed emotions made my voice tremble. And Master answered in their usual kind yet firm voice.

“After learning, of course, you must teach.”

It’s an obvious statement, but somehow it feels anticlimactic.

For a moment, I had the absurd delusion that Master might gather all the martial arts in the world to create one ultimate martial art, defeat all martial artists, and conquer the world.

“Find a house with a large yard. I plan to teach those with aspirations the virtues of humanity—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity—and then teach them martial arts.”

Master, who walked a thorny path alone to gather treasures and now plans to share them, made me laugh. Truly Master-like.

Gathering all the martial arts in the world to teach people in a yard—what a grand yet simple and splendid dream.

But that’s that, and this is this. I laughed along with Master, creating a harmonious atmosphere, and then asked again.

“Master, thank you for the wonderful story. …But when will you teach me Double Hands Fighting?”

To cut to the chase, I didn’t learn Double Hands Fighting.

Well, I learned the theory. But… when I think about it, I don’t really need Double Hands Fighting to live. It doesn’t seem that great anyway. I should practice the Heavenly Polar Bear Formation…

…To be more precise, I learned it, but as Master said, I can’t use it. I memorized the theory perfectly, but when I try to perform it, my hands get tangled.

It’s fine. Double Hands Fighting must have been a tasteless new grape.

With my pride hurt, I pouted like a duck. Master, finding it both funny and pitiful, brought out a new martial art.

“Haha~ You’re hopeless. Instead of Double Hands Fighting, I’ll teach you a new martial art.”

“A new martial art?”

As I showed interest, Master raised their left hand and explained.

“Earlier, when my two hands were fighting with Double Hands Fighting, the left hand used a fist technique. It’s called the Empty Clarity Fist, a martial art reflecting Taoist teachings.”

Empty (空). Clarity (明). Fist (拳). A fist technique that empties light? Since ‘空’ can also mean sky, a fist technique that illuminates the sky? Just from the name, I can’t grasp what kind of technique it is.

“And I’ll also teach you a lightness skill called the Golden Goose Skill.”

“Huh? A lightness skill? Master, I’m a cripple. I can’t even run. What use is a lightness skill to me?”

“Isn’t your cane your arm and leg? Use your good left leg and the cane to perform the lightness skill.”

“Is that even possible?!”

As I asked in disbelief at Master’s nonchalant words, Master teased me with a mischievous smile on their ugly face.

“Aren’t you the genius Sima Mantian, who can deceive even the heavens? I thought you could easily handle this.”

Provoked by Master’s teasing, I clenched my round, chubby face and shouted with determination.

“How dare you doubt my genius! I accept the challenge!”