Dan Cheong blinked several times.
He couldn't understand what Baek Yeon had said in that short moment.
“What do you mean, you want to trust this child?”
At Dan Cheong's question, Baek Yeon spoke calmly.
“This child's talent can be called peerless. With this level of skill, he will be able to pass the trial required by the Demon Palace.”
“The Fire Rain Sword Sect might be one thing, but do you think that man, Kang Yang-cheon, that Sa Gal-like fellow, will proceed fairly?”
Dan Cheong waved his hand as if it wasn't even worth considering.
“He will surely resort to dirty tricks to kill this child.”
“Of course.”
Baek Yeon's expression remained unchanged as he received the words.
“Because they know well that their demands are unreasonable, the Demon Palace has set the trial location inside the Demon Palace itself.”
“Whether it’s the Demon Palace or the White Horse Temple. What does the location matter?”
“The Demon Palace's goal is merely to save the face of the White Horse Temple Lord, who is grieving over his grandson's death. If they truly intended to kill this child, they wouldn't have summoned him to the Demon Palace.”
“It is not possible.”
Dan Cheong said with a serious face.
“No matter how great this child's talent is, right now he is just a fledgling. I can never send him to the Demon Palace.”
“Vice Hall Master.”
Baek Yeon said with an utmost serious expression.
“If we refuse this offer, a series of troublesome events will occur, to the point where the Pavillion Master himself will have to step in.”
“Let them do as they please. You stay out of it as well.”
Just then, Bu Eunseol stepped forward.
“I will go to the Demon Palace.”
“This is not a situation for you to act recklessly.”
“It is not recklessness.”
Glancing at Baek Yeon from the corner of his eye, Bu Eunseol continued.
“If they had agreed to harm me at the Demon Palace, they would not have relayed the message through Leader Baek.”
“So, you’re saying you’ll go to the Demon Palace and take that sham of a trial?”
To Dan Cheong's sighing words, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“What they want is to save face anyway. They will think that killing a greenhorn like me will not help them save face, but rather lose it.”
“Hmm.”
Dan Cheong let out a low hum.
Perhaps, as he said, the Demon Palace had summoned him just for the sake of appearances.
But he did not want Bu Eunseol to take risks because of the unreasonable demands of the Fire Rain Sword Sect and the White Horse Temple.
“It was bound to happen at some point anyway.”
At that moment, Baek Yeon stepped forward again.
“They are not the type to give up just because we refuse this offer. It would be best to grant their request when they are being unreasonable and make it so they can never find fault again.”
“What if something happens to that child?”
At Dan Cheong's words, Baek Yeon took a short breath and spoke again.
“It is the Vice Hall Master's duty to judge not with emotion, but with a view of the bigger picture.”
A brief silence fell upon the Clear Mind Terrace.
In truth, Nangya Pavilion had no ambition to kill exceptional successors or great righteous masters.
They had always just lived, diligently practicing their martial arts like flowing water.
But they had marked Bu Eunseol, a peerless talent, not as one of the Ten Demon Successors, but as the successor of Nangya Pavilion.
Therefore, he couldn't help but feel a certain way.
“I also…”
Just then, Bu Eunseol stepped forward.
“I, too, am a disciple of Nangya Pavilion.”
These were the words Dan Cheong had said earlier.
But when Bu Eunseol said the same thing, Dan Cheong felt an indescribable sense of pride.
‘This one truly seems like he can overcome anything.’
Sighing softly, Dan Cheong looked at Baek Yeon.
“Is a trial all they want?”
“That is correct.”
“Then relay this message. If he passes the trial, the matter of the White Horse Temple Lord will be put to rest. And they are to withdraw their unreasonable demands from the Fire Rain Sword Sect.”
As Dan Cheong continued, a dignity that could split Mount Tai erupted from his eyes.
“If even one of these two conditions is not met, consider the entire matter void.”
*
Clear Wind Terrace.
This was the place where Dan Cheong, the Vice Hall Master of Nangya Pavilion, resided.
Built along a winding stream, the Clear Wind Terrace was surrounded by large trees scattered here and there.
The relaxed and tranquil atmosphere closely resembled Dan Cheong's unique languor.
“Although our Pavilion is not too far from the Demon Palace, it will take four days for a carrier pigeon to arrive.”
Walking along the path in front of Clear Wind Terrace, Dan Cheong spoke to Bu Eunseol, who was following him.
“There is something you must do during that time.”
“Is it to learn martial arts?”
“You could say that, and you could also say it isn't.”
It was an ambiguous statement.
But Bu Eunseol did not press for an answer.
As always, he tried to find the answer himself.
“If so, it might not be about learning new martial arts, but about further developing what I have already learned.”
“Hehe. Something like that.”
Dan Cheong, who had let out a satisfied laugh, soon wore a bitter expression.
“The martial arts of our Pavilion pursue practical combat, so they have not yet been systematically established. Strictly speaking, they can be called incomplete martial arts.”
His voice, expounding on the principles of martial arts, was solemn.
“Nevertheless, the martial arts of our Pavilion can be expressed with the single character ‘wu’ for Enlightenment. Because it can develop infinitely according to one’s enlightenment.”
Looking down at Bu Eunseol, Dan Cheong let out a sigh.
“But there is a paradox in this statement as well. No matter how outstanding one's talent is, one cannot completely ignore or skip the stages of martial arts.”
Having accepted the unreasonable demand, Dan Cheong demanded a definite reward from the Demon Palace.
And during the time he waited for a reply, he intended to impart martial arts to Bu Eunseol.
“Then, is there a martial art that can be completed in four days?”
“Of course not.”
At Bu Eunseol's question, Dan Cheong shook his head firmly.
“The True Martial Arts of our Pavilion are as deep and boundless as those of Shaolin. No matter how much of a genius you are, there is nothing you can learn in a short period.”
In the meantime, Dan Cheong and Bu Eunseol had passed through the path and reached a wide reed field.
“Then what should I learn?”
“It is not about learning, but about seeing.”
As they exchanged words like a Zen riddle,
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
Two shadows were running towards the bamboo grove.
The two men, running through the rustling reed leaves, were both wearing unique martial robes with their forearms exposed.
And one held a sword in his right hand, while the other held a large saber.
Clang!
As the weapons of the two men, who had run at full speed, clashed in the air, sparks flew in all directions.
Clang! Clang, clang, clang!
The sword and saber spread out like a fan, chaotically intertwining.
“In a fight between masters, it is rare for weapons to clash.”
Dan Cheong said, watching the two men fighting with all their might.
“Nevertheless, do you know why their weapons are clashing?”
Clang!
Watching the weapons clash once again, Bu Eunseol answered calmly.
“Because the distance is too close.”
As he said, the two men, though holding weapons, were using their sword and saber in short movements, engaged in a life-and-death struggle at close range.
“Is there nothing else?”
At Dan Cheong's words, Bu Eunseol once again watched the fierce fight.
Psh! Psh!
Each time a weapon grazed past, blood spurted from their bodies.
From the weapons wielded by the two men, sharp and cruel killing moves poured out.
“And it is not a training… they are fighting for real.”
“Exactly.”
Dan Cheong said grimly, with his arms crossed.
“This reed field, and the bamboo grove over there, are where the masters of our Pavilion refine their practical combat techniques.”
“Practical combat techniques…”
“That's right. It is not some clumsy training; they develop their first forms while actually fighting.”
Dan Cheong stared intently at Bu Eunseol's unfocused eyes.
“From now on, for four days, you must stay in this reed field and bamboo grove and observe the duels of our Pavilion's masters.”
“You mean just watch?”
Bu Eunseol wore an expression of incomprehension.
In four days, who knew what might happen at the Demon Palace.
Yet, he was told to leisurely observe the bloody battles of masters.
“To learn practical combat techniques, you must reach a state where you can grasp and comprehend the enemy's aura and first form just by watching.”
“You mean I can grasp the enemy's aura and first form just by watching with my eyes?”
“That’s right.”
Dan Cheong pointed again to the two men fighting in the reed field.
“Earlier, you said their duel was a life-or-death battle, but that is only half true. What they are doing is, in the end, a training. It only looks like a bloody battle because they comprehend all of their opponent's first forms and unleash killing moves accordingly.”
Dan Cheong continued his explanation.
“Just because it’s called a practical combat technique, it doesn't mean you just fight blindly. On the contrary, before that, you must witness numerous fierce battles firsthand.”
Towards Bu Eunseol, who was listening intently, he spoke each word clearly.
“To have eyes that can quickly grasp the enemy's information just by watching. That is the foundation of practical combat techniques.”
“Eyes that grasp the enemy's information…”
Bu Eunseol's eyes narrowed.
Since he had not yet formally learned the martial arts of Nangya Pavilion, he had thought of the concept of practical combat techniques somewhat simply.
‘The foundation of practical combat techniques isn't about fighting, but about quickly grasping the enemy's information and responding to it.’
Hearing Dan Cheong's explanation, Bu Eunseol realized that practical combat techniques contained a much more profound and deep principle than he had thought.
“If you can reach such a state, you can gain enormous benefits just by watching others fight, without having to fight yourself.”
Having finished all his explanations, Dan Cheong turned his body.
“As is the law of the martial world, it is forbidden within Nangya Pavilion to secretly watch another's training or duel. Just by watching, one can steal the opponent's weaknesses or enlightenment.”
Dan Cheong, having turned his body, said in a solemn voice.
“But since the situation is what it is, I will grant you special permission to observe.”
“Thank you.”
Bu Eunseol gave a deep bow.
Only now did he realize the immeasurable benefit Dan Cheong was giving him.
“Do your best.”
Leaving those words behind, Dan Cheong slowly departed from the reed field.
*
From that day on, Bu Eunseol constantly moved between the reed field and the bamboo grove near Clear Wind Terrace, observing the training.
Though it was called training, it was a fight that rivaled real combat.
What if it were a martial artist whose skills had reached the peak? Just by watching such a bloody battle, one would have gained immense enlightenment.
Fourth day.
As it was the last day, Dan Cheong also stood by Bu Eunseol's side, observing the training together.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Today's training was taking place in the bamboo grove, where bamboos were densely planted.
Clang! P-p-p-pak!
In the center of the bamboo grove, five martial artists were surrounding one man in a circle.
The man standing in the center was astonishingly blocking the attacks of the five enemies with only his flesh palms.
Swoooosh.
But then, the positions of the five martial artists subtly changed.
Seeing this, Dan Cheong asked Bu Eunseol.
“The next first form?”
“It seems he will use Heaven and Earth Split Strike.”
Simultaneously with Bu Eunseol's low murmur as he watched the fierce battle, five swords were raised to the sky.
They were about to unleash the first move of Heaven and Earth Split Strike.
Shhhng.
At the same time, the man who had been fighting bare-handed drew a very short sword from behind his back.
It was a heavy sword used by assassins.
“The next sword technique?”
“Looking at his stance, he will probably use All That Exists to create a sword barrier.”
Hwi, hwi, hwi, ik!
As Bu Eunseol predicted, the man who drew the heavy sword was quickly swinging it to create a transparent sword barrier.
‘He’s good.’
Glancing at Bu Eunseol's side profile, Dan Cheong tilted his head.
‘But he’s too fast.’
To perform a sword technique, one must hold a sword, and to perform fist techniques, one must make a fist.
Indeed, every form has a starting point.
Grasping that is the first step of practical combat techniques.
But Bu Eunseol was deciphering the first forms with ease, as if he had been honing the basics of practical combat techniques for a long time.
‘Even an old veteran of the martial world who has gone through numerous fierce battles would take three months to learn how to predict the first form.’
Dan Cheong couldn't even fathom how Bu Eunseol had learned to predict the first forms so quickly.
‘Anyway, since he’s doing well, I should praise him.’
“Quite impressive. It is rare to grasp the basics of practical combat techniques so quickly.”
At Dan Cheong's praise, Bu Eunseol shook his head with a gloomy expression.
“I only predicted the movements by the muscles' movement. I could not predict the form by comprehending the principles of martial arts.”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t true masters show movements that transcend the limits of the body? In the end, I have only built half of the foundation.”
Dan Cheong's mouth fell open in disbelief.
Predicting movements according to the principles of martial arts was something only a great righteous master like Dan Cheong could do.
But Bu Eunseol, unaware of this, was berating himself for his shortcomings.
‘I don't know if he's being audacious, or if it's because he has only been learning martial arts for a short time.’
Bu Eunseol always surprised the one teaching him.
And Dan Cheong was no exception to that rule.
‘I really look forward to his future.’
As Dan Cheong was secretly smiling in satisfaction,
Whoosh.
Just then, a figure came rushing at a fast speed with the sound of splitting the air.
“Vice Hall Master.”
The figure that approached Dan Cheong was a young man.
And his attire was strikingly similar to the martial robe Baek Yeon had worn before.
“This is Biun of the Wind and Cloud Squad.”
The man, who bowed his head, took out a small letter from his bosom.
“It is a reply from the Demon Palace.”
“Hmm.”
Dan Cheong, who received and read the letter, nodded his head.
“Is that so.”
Then, he looked at Bu Eunseol and his eyes flashed.
“The Demon Palace says they will accept all of our Pavilion's demands.”
Bu Eunseol nodded with a resolute gaze.
The time had now truly come to go to the Demon Palace.