Chapter 86

Sometimes, there are moments like this.

You might find yourself pouring out your worries to someone you barely know, someone you’ve only brushed shoulders with.

Perhaps, just as I don’t know them, they don’t know who I am either. It’s a perfect stranger relationship, which might be why I can speak freely without worry.

Anyway, my head is a mess thinking about the existence of Seol Modan, who is called the strongest assassin in the martial world, and the invincible, whom I can’t defeat with my current strength.

I quietly seek advice from a mysterious master who declared himself just a passing beggar.

“Old man… is there a way to defeat an invincible opponent stronger than myself?”

…Even if I say that, it would be embarrassing to hear it suddenly.

He might think some kid is slacking off in training and looking for a shortcut.

The advice he can give would probably be nothing more than to train hard and become stronger than that person.

“Long, long ago, there was an asura named Namuchi.”

…But the words that came out of the beggar’s mouth were completely unexpected.

“He was originally one of the strongest among the asuras, but to gain even greater power, he diligently trained and endured hardships repeatedly.”

“As a result, he became invincible during the day and night, immune to weapons made of wood, stone, or metal, and his body couldn’t be harmed by dry or wet weapons.”

He tells the old tale in a soft voice, like a grandfather telling a story to his grandchild.

“No martial god in the heavens could stop the invincible Namuchi, so eventually, the king of the gods, Jeoseokcheon, stepped in.”

He shows me a gentle smile, like an old man with a young face.

“Jeoseokcheon defeated Namuchi at dusk, using a weapon that was neither wood, stone, nor metal, and neither dry nor wet—a bubble.”

I tilt my head, confused whether to call it innovative or forced.

Dusk is one thing, but bubbles? Isn’t that a bit much?

…But when I think about it.

Games like Bubble Bobble (a classic game where cute baby dinosaurs trap monsters in bubbles and pop them to kill) or characters like Caesar from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, who fights with soap bubbles.

Using bubbles to fight is a setting that appears often.

“There is no such thing as an invincible existence in the world.”

“The moment the enemy becomes truly invincible is when you stop thinking and lose your will to fight, scared by their illusion.”

He lightly taps my head with the Dog Chasing Stick.

“…And what’s really important in a fight isn’t how strong the opponent is, but the reason to fight, right?”

“……!!”

It’s an obvious statement, but it’s the important one I wanted to hear, and I feel a sense of relief.

“If you’ve decided to fight, don’t hesitate anymore.”

Suddenly, the beggar’s Dog Chasing Stick swings down with a flourish.

Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Overhead Strike

Striking the head to scold.

Bang-!!

The sound of the stick striking the air echoes, and dust rises in layers like ripples in water, spreading out in a large circle.

“The most important secret of the Dog Chasing Stick Technique is speed.”

He retracts the stick and laughs like a child.

“If there’s a bad dog in front of you, just beat it without hesitation.”

For a moment, I couldn’t say anything. I pondered the basic form he just demonstrated.

The simple motion of swinging the stick down.

…But within it, I saw the path my stick technique should take.

It felt like the first time I saw my master perform the Dog Chasing Stick Technique.

“Old man, who are you…?”

“This old man has been meddling too much. …Well, see you again.”

With those words, the beggar disappeared as suddenly as he appeared.

To be precise, he just walked away normally, but it felt like he used some special movement technique.

With each leisurely step, the distance grew until he was out of sight.

“Huh…”

I blink, dumbfounded by what just happened.

It felt like I was dreaming while standing, but the clear ripples on the ground told me it wasn’t a dream.

…And it was no longer the time to worry about the mysterious beggar.

“If I take my eyes off for a moment, I’ll be learning martial arts from another master…”

Because from the front, my small master, Wang Miaoyang, was approaching with a cold, stiff face, like a lover catching someone in the act of cheating.

“Uh… Master? This is- that is- no, I was just having a little consultation…”

“Bow.”

Unfortunately, excuses didn’t work. I bowed to match Wang Miaoyang’s eye level.

Squish- squish-!

Her small, doll-like hands pinched my cheeks on both sides as if venting her anger.

“Ow! Ow ow ow- Master! It hurts!”

“It’s supposed to hurt! You said you’d bring dumplings, but you didn’t!”

In Wang Miaoyang’s pretty eyes, the shameless face of her disciple was reflected.

Just like the Martial Alliance leader, who seems to have some connection with Mantian.

What is it about this lame guy that makes masters step forward to teach him so willingly?

I don’t get it.

Of course, he’s a bit cheeky, but he learns diligently when it’s time to learn, and he’s a reliable disciple when needed…

But the masters are too drawn to him!!

“He’s my disciple… they should teach their own disciples…”

She mutters with a pouty face.

…And far away.

The mysterious master, who once again started a leisurely walk with the Dog Chasing Stick as his guide.

The mysterious master who readily taught someone else’s disciple.

One of the Ten Great Masters of the Martial World, the Golden Beggar Immortal, Lao Rouxin, thought of Mantian.

He smiled softly.

“Confucius… that friend taught an interesting kid. He’s lucky with disciples.”

***

After briefly explaining the situation to Mantian, Wang Miaoyang slowly nodded.

With a determined face, she opened her eyes wide and said.

“Alright. Let’s use this opportunity to practice one of the Jeonjin Sect’s secret techniques, the Seven Stars Gathering.”

“Seven! Stars! Gathering!?”

Seven Stars Gathering. Interpreting it as gathering the power of seven stars.

My body is already excited at the thought of learning such a great technique.

It’s a martial art I’ve never heard of before.

But with the Jeonjin Sect’s characteristic of symbolizing the seven stars of the Big Dipper, this name couldn’t possibly be weak.

“The Seven Stars Gathering was developed by the direct disciples of Wang Zhongyang after his death to defeat the martial arts of the Ancient Grave Sect.”

“But currently, I’m the only member of the Jeonjin Sect, so it was practically unusable…”

Wang Miaoyang blushed slightly and smiled confidently at me.

“But now you’re here! We won’t be easily defeated like last time!!”

I feel sorry for the happy Wang Miaoyang, but I sense something strange.

‘…Can’t it be used alone?’

And my unease was completely confirmed by the following action.

Wang Miaoyang took out a black mask with holes for eyes and mouth from her pocket, put it on, and her eyes sparkled.

“I prepared it just in case. I didn’t think I’d use it so soon.”

“…Huh?”

“Here, I prepared one for you too.”

Wang Miaoyang handed me the same mask, her golden eyes gleaming with the death star, the Big Dipper.

“Let’s show that Seol Modan what happens when you make an enemy of the Jeonjin Sect.”

Gasp-?!

I was shocked as if I had been hit on the back of the head, and my breath caught.

Seven Stars Gathering – gathering the power of seven stars into one.

Yes, the Seven Stars Gathering is, as the name suggests, a group tactic where multiple people combine their strength to crush one person.

I intuitively understood why the Jeonjin Sect was once called the strongest faction.

The tightly coordinated group buff technique, the Heavenly Polar Bear Formation, which amplifies each other’s energy.

And the martial art developed to allow fewer people to perform it by modifying the Heavenly Polar Bear Formation.

To counter the Ancient Grave Sect’s quick techniques, multiple people synchronize their hearts and minds to strike together.

The overwhelming group combination technique, the Seven Stars Gathering.

The mindset is completely different. If you’re weaker than your opponent, just gang up on them.

It can rival Shaolin’s 108 Arhat Formation.

How can other factions, which haven’t developed group tactics, possibly win? They absolutely can’t.

To explain, the reason the Jeonjin Sect developed group tactics more than other factions isn’t to gang up on a few with many.

Wang Zhongyang, the founder of the Jeonjin Sect, lived during the time when the Jin Dynasty attacked the Song Dynasty.

He personally led his disciples in militia activities.

Thus, there was a need to face the fully armed Jin army under command.

So, he created group formations for small groups to handle many-to-many situations.

The Heavenly Polar Bear Formation and the Great Heavenly Polar Bear Formation.

…But to Mantian, who doesn’t know these details, it just seems terrifying.

If there was a pillar nearby, he would have smacked it and shouted.

“Disgusting! Jeonjin Sect!!”