Chapter 7

Autumn passed, and winter arrived.

I succeeded in mastering the Empty Clarity Fist. Since it was originally a Taoist martial art, it had good compatibility with the Mystical Taoist Inner Energy Technique I had learned, allowing me to grasp it quickly. The problem was that I still hadn’t succeeded in performing the Golden Goose Technique.

It’s not that I failed to learn it. I just haven’t successfully executed the technique yet. In terms of progress, I’m already at about 99%. Once I fill in the remaining 1%, I can succeed at any time.

‘As expected, it’s better to extend the staff first rather than the left foot.’

Like pole vaulting, I plant the staff, push my body forward, focus my internal energy on my left foot, kick off the ground, and then extend the staff again… repeating this process.

Hmm… no. To efficiently draw out the power of the staff pressing against the ground, I need a running start. Maybe it’s better for the left foot to go first after all?

While chewing on jerky in my room, instead of studying as I should, I’m running a mental simulation on how to perfectly execute the Golden Goose Technique. My older brother knocks on the door.

Sama Rang, the eldest son of the Sima Family. He’s eight years older than me, and our relationship is neither good nor bad—just lukewarm.

Since childhood, he’s been fond of studying. He spends all day in his room flipping through classics and books, so I rarely see him except during meals.

A notable trait is his pale skin and good temperament. Although he’s a reincarnator, I’m so brilliant that people around me must have compared him to me. Yet, he’s never said a single harsh word to me.

“Father’s acquaintance has arrived. Let’s go greet them together.”

“Ah… yes! I’ll come out now.”

I grab my staff and follow my brother to the reception room. As we walk in step, he suddenly speaks to me.

“Your leg seems to have improved a lot lately. That’s good.”

“Yes. Well, it’s all thanks to our parents and you taking care of me.”

Learning martial arts is a secret from my family. It’s not that it would be a problem to reveal it, but if I did, I’d have to explain about my master too, so I kept it hidden. Now that I think about it, it’s not that it wouldn’t matter if I revealed it.

For some reason, my master hides his identity. It’s probably related to collecting various martial arts techniques. He’s such a kind master. Surely, he’s not hiding his identity because he committed some crime.

“There’s information that a martial arts criminal is hiding in this village.”

My body stiffens at the unfamiliar man’s words coming from outside the reception room.

My brother, uninterested in the conversation, doesn’t enter the reception room to avoid disturbing Father and his guest, instead waiting outside with his head bowed for the conversation to end. But I, unable to easily overhear, focus my internal energy to enhance my hearing and concentrate on their conversation.

“He single-handedly trampled Mount Hua, stole the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique, took the Emperor’s Sword Form from the Southern Dragon, and even the Evil Faction’s Yang Family fell victim to him, losing their secret martial art, the Yang Family Six Harmonies Spear.”

“Huh… so such a monster is in this village?”

“It’s just a rumor. But since you live here, I came to warn you.”

“I’m glad I have a good friend. But what kind of person would do such things?”

“I don’t know. All that’s known is that he’s an ugly old man, eight feet tall. The only person who had a private conversation with him was the Great Master of Shaolin, but he’s in seclusion and hasn’t said a word.”

“Hmm~ I don’t recall seeing anyone that tall in the village.”

“If you do see him, don’t approach him. I still can’t forget the sight of the head of the Hebei Peng Family, with his robust frame, writhing like a worm, begging for his life.”

“Huh… if you saw him, how are you still alive? Are you a ghost?”

“…Actually, despite his vicious acts of stealing martial arts, he doesn’t kill people. But if you recklessly challenge him, you’ll end up half-crippled. He’s truly a strange giant.”

An eight-foot-tall, ugly old man. It’s my master. Now I understand. Hiding his identity, all those martial arts techniques—it all makes sense.

…I knew he wasn’t an ordinary person, but to think he’s a martial arts criminal.

Even I, who was ignorant of the martial arts world, became interested in it as I learned martial arts, so I know what a martial arts criminal is from Jang Sam-i’s stories.

In terms of the Three Kingdoms, he’s like Dong Zhuo. A powerful and evil enemy who forces the various self-interested factions to stop backstabbing each other. A public enemy.

My mind goes blank as I finish a perfunctory greeting to Jiegal Bi-Young, the deputy commander of the Martial Alliance’s Dragon Unit and Father’s acquaintance, and return to my room.

…The person I’ve been learning from is a martial arts criminal. What do I do now?

Owls are hooting—or maybe it’s an eagle, but that’s not important. It’s late at night, when most people are asleep.

Sneaking out unnoticed by the servants, I stand alone in the backyard, looking up at the high wall.

With rumors of a martial arts criminal possibly being in the village, Father has ordered the servants to secure the gates tightly. The usual back door is unusable. I could ask Jang Sam-i to open it secretly, but if someone sees, it’s no longer a secret. It could expose my master’s location.

In the end, I have to jump over that wall. But can I do it?

Golden Goose Technique—a lightness skill that allows one to soar like a goose over slippery or steep terrain.

Expecting someone who can’t even run to fly like a goose. What a ridiculous master. And what a great master.

Even if I didn’t tell him about the Martial Alliance’s visit, my master would have fled on his own. But why am I standing here alone in the cold winter night, preparing to perform the Golden Goose Technique to jump over the wall?

I sigh, stretch my ankles, and grip my staff tightly.

I’ve learned a lot. So, I should at least see him off.

I look at the wall. I raise my head and look at the sky. Yes, what goose looks at a wall while flying? What I need to see is the sky, higher than the wall.

I don’t remember if the staff went first or the left foot. Maybe they went simultaneously. At this point, it doesn’t matter which went first.

I’ve lived with this staff since I started walking. My master is right. The staff is my arm and my leg.

The left foot touches the wall first. I kick off the wall and soar. But the distance isn’t enough. I press the staff against the wall. I soar again. I repeat the process.

With the sensation of internal energy draining from my body, a cool, refreshing wind envelops me.

…When I come to my senses and look back, I see the wall. It’s the same wall that was in front of me moments ago. The only difference is that before I was inside, and now I’m outside.

I’ve crossed the wall. I’ve flown through the sky.

The bitter memories of past failures and the sense of accomplishment from finally succeeding surge through me like an electric current.

Suppressing the urge to shout, I run, performing the Golden Goose Technique to show off to my master. Strangely, once I succeeded, the next attempts became incredibly easy.

***

Entering the abandoned house, I see my master as usual. But the atmosphere is different. His burning eyes glare at me with anger.

“I know someone from the Martial Alliance came to your house. You coming to see me at this late hour means you’ve heard about my identity from them.”

Overwhelmed by my master’s aura, my body freezes.

“You’ve heard that I’m a martial arts criminal. So why did you come to see me? Don’t think you can get away with saying something like, ‘Don’t expect logical reasons from a child.’”

As he finishes speaking, sensation returns to my neck and the upper part of my head. To immobilize someone with just aura—is this also a martial art? If I had time, I’d ask him to teach me this too. It’s such a shame. But why is he so angry?

Imagining my master’s angry face makes my knees weak, but since today might be the last, I boldly step forward.

“As your disciple, I respect you. But don’t meddle in what I believe is right.”

My cheeky words make my master’s eyes widen.

“What does it matter if the Martial Alliance has declared you a martial arts criminal? I was surprised, but it has nothing to do with me.”

I gather all the internal energy in my body to resist the oppressive aura. Honestly, it’s a futile resistance, but it’s a statement that I won’t be intimidated.

“From what I’ve observed, you’re not the kind of villain who deserves the title of martial arts criminal. You’re just an eccentric who loves learning and teaching.”

Somehow, the oppressive aura disappears. My master’s eyes no longer hold anger.

“I came to see you because I believed it was the right thing to do.”

My master’s massive body trembles. He looks up at the sky, quietly laughing with joy, then turns to me with his usual kind expression.

“To act on what you believe is right… I have nothing more to teach you. Shall we walk together for a while?”

“…Yes.”

I intuitively realize that this conversation will be the last one I have with my master.

No dogs bark. No owls hoot. Even the moon hides behind the clouds. The only sounds in the night are my questions and my master’s answers.

“Where do you plan to go?”

“Who knows. Far away, I suppose. Maybe I’ll go to the North Sea Ice Palace and learn from the famous Ice General. Or perhaps take a ship to the Western Regions.”

As we talk about this and that, we’re already nearing the village exit. Something white catches my eye, and I look up to see snow falling from the sky.

“It’s time to say goodbye.”

“Yes. Thank you for everything.”

We’ve already said enough. My master turns without hesitation and walks away, the snowflakes swirling around him. His figure, walking away silently, exudes the dignity of a nobleman.

“…Tell me your name.”

I didn’t realize it, but I must be the clingy type when it comes to farewells. At my unnecessary request, my master looks alternately at the sky and the ground, then gently turns his head toward me and speaks.

“I didn’t tell you my name because I abandoned it when I chose this path in life.”

In the quiet night, my master answers my final question with his usual kind and firm voice.

“So, if you wish to remember me, just remember me as the son of the Kong family—Confucius.”

The wind blows. The snow swirls. I can’t say anything.

Just as he suddenly appeared before me the first time, my master disappears into the swirling snow as we part.

Walking home alone through the falling snow. Midnight has passed. I’ve turned eleven.