noveltune Chapter 198:
Chapter 198:
Great Talent
It has been fifteen days since Mu-jin and his group were confined in the Cave of Repentance.
Before Mu-gyeong left the Cave of Repentance, he went to see the Blood Demon one last time.
It wasn’t to learn more martial arts from him, as the transmission of the Blood Rain Demon Technique had already concluded two days ago.
“The transmission is complete. What brings you here today?”
When the Blood Demon saw Mu-gyeong, who had remained secluded for the past two days after finishing the transmission, he asked in a curious tone.
The Blood Demon didn’t resent Mu-gyeong for abandoning him immediately after learning the martial arts. He never had such expectations to begin with.
All he wanted was for Mu-gyeong to spread his martial arts and name widely. That was enough.
“I will soon be leaving the Cave of Repentance as the agreed time has come. We will likely never meet again, so I came to bid my final farewell.”
“Tsk. It’s a pointless act. It would be more beneficial for both of us if you used that time to train in the new technique I taught you.”
Despite the Blood Demon’s dismissive tone, Mu-gyeong nonchalantly took the preparatory stance.
It was the preparatory stance for the first form of the second half, Storm Only Leaves Blood.
Since it was a technique from the second half, it naturally required the energy of the Celestial Blood Absorption Technique.
‘He must have mastered the Celestial Blood Absorption Technique in the past two days,’ the Blood Demon thought, with a sinister smile.
But the result was beyond his expectations.
The fifty drops of rain formed around Mu-gyeong were still golden in color.
Then, as the fifty golden drops of rain fiercely whirled around like a storm, they lashed out violently at the surroundings.
The only difference was the color of the rain. It was a perfect execution of Storm Only Leaves Blood.
“...What kind of sorcery is this?”
When the bewildered Blood Demon asked, Mu-gyeong, who had regained his breath, answered.
“I merely altered the technique you taught me so that it can be executed without relying on the Celestial Blood Absorption Technique.”
“Is that truly possible?”
“It was possible.”
“Did you alter the remaining forms of the Blood Rain Demon Technique as well?”
“I have only altered the first form so far, but I intend to recreate the remaining four forms. And, from now on, this martial art will no longer be called the Blood Rain Demon Technique.”
“...What do you mean by that?”
“I will call it the Golden Rain Divine Technique (金雨神功) from now on.”
At Mu-gyeong’s response, a fierce murderous intent flashed in the Blood Demon’s eyes.
“Are you saying you dare to steal my martial arts and change its name?”
“I didn’t steal it. You taught it to me.”
“Hmph. Typical of a sneaky monk. But things won’t go as you think. My fame still remains in the martial world. Even if you claim it’s the Golden Rain Divine Technique in Shaolin, everyone will associate it with my Blood Rain Demon Technique!” RAƝỒβΕś
The intense killing intent and rough aura from the Blood Demon, who was supposedly stripped of his martial power, pressed down on Mu-gyeong.
However, Mu-gyeong, unfazed, shook his head with a calm expression.
“I am not stealing it. I have no intention of hiding your name. So, please tell me your name.”
“You know my alias well enough and yet you ask?”
“I am not asking for your alias. I want your name. The world should know this martial art not as the Blood Rain Demon Technique, but under your name and as the Golden Rain Divine Technique.”
At this, the Blood Demon’s expression turned bizarre as he began to understand what Mu-gyeong was implying.
The expression that started with anger turned into confusion, and eventually into a complex mix of emotions.
It was a face that didn’t seem to fit the alias ‘Blood Demon.’
After a considerable silence, the Blood Demon spoke in a low voice.
“My name is Gwak Gae (郭愷).”
“I can finally greet you properly. Grandfather, I have returned after completing everything.”
“You’ve done well.”
After a brief meeting without Namgung Muguk or any other person, just the two of them, Hyun-gwang asked Mu-jin.
“Was your time in the Cave of Repentance worthwhile?”
The Cave of Repentance.
A place where those who have sinned meditate and repent for their sins.
But Hyun-gwang was not asking if Mu-jin had repented. Mu-jin understood his intent.
“I was able to organize my thoughts somewhat during the fifteen days of contemplation.”
“Haha. Then, can you tell me what you have realized?”
In response to Hyun-gwang’s question, Mu-jin bowed his head first.
“I am sorry, Grandfather. Despite my contemplation, I was unable to understand your martial arts.”
As a grandson and disciple, it might have been a disappointing answer, but Hyun-gwang continued to smile gently.
“Does that mean you’ve given up on learning my martial arts?”
“I have realized that no matter what I do, it is impossible for me to learn it at my current level.”
“Haha. Isn’t it regrettable that you cannot learn it?”
“It would be a lie to say it isn’t, but there is nothing I can do about it.”
In response to Hyun-gwang’s question, Mu-jin shrugged.
Just as a sparrow cannot follow a stork, Hyun-gwang’s martial arts were something he could not follow at his current level.
Instead of feeling disappointed, Hyun-gwang seemed pleased with Mu-jin’s decisive answer.
After all, Hyun-gwang’s martial arts were not conventional. It was merely power obtained by understanding the principles of the world.
Moreover, while these principles could be explained in words, their true essence fades once they are expressed.
Nevertheless, anyone with a desire for martial arts would wish to learn Hyun-gwang’s techniques, especially Mu-jin, who was practically his immediate disciple.
Thus, instead of explaining it directly, Hyun-gwang showed it through a match and gave him a task.
So that Mu-jin could understand on his own and relinquish his desire.
Fortunately, the disciple he chose had come to him after finding the right path on his own.
But giving up desire and not making an effort are different matters.
“Have you given
up on everything?”
In response to Hyun-gwang’s question, Mu-jin shook his head.
Just as sparrows have their way and storks have theirs, Mu-jin realized this thanks to Namgung Muguk.
Namgung Muguk’s martial arts were like a towering structure, feeling both incredibly distant and significant.
While Hyun-gwang’s martial arts were like the sky, inherently unreachable unless one sprouted wings.
People naturally believed they couldn’t reach it, but Namgung Muguk did not.
Instead of hoping for wings that didn’t exist, he decided to build a tower so tall that it would reach the sky.
Some might laugh at the foolishness of challenging nature, but Mu-jin didn’t.
However, he didn’t plan to follow Namgung Muguk’s method either.
“With my current understanding, I cannot grasp your martial arts. Instead, I will create the largest and most perfect vessel in the world to contain it.”
The greatest vessel in martial arts terms is the body that performs martial arts.
Mu-jin decided to create the most perfect body in the world.
Instead of enlightenment, Mu-jin dreamed of a transformation through rigorous physical training.