Chapter 36

Dan Qing blinked several times.
He couldn’t comprehend what Bai Yan had said in such a short time.
“Trusting this child, what does that mean?”
Bai Yan blurted out in response to Dan Qing’s question.
“This child’s qualities can be said to be exquisite. At this rate, he’ll definitely pass the tests required by the martial arts hall.”
“Aside from the Hua Wu Test, Kang Yangtian, do you really think that someone like that Sagal will be able to conduct things fairly?”
Dan Qing threw up his hands as if it wasn’t worth the trouble.
“He’ll definitely use dirty tricks to kill this kid.”
“Of course.”
Bai Yan’s expression didn’t change as he accepted the words.
“They know that their demands are unreasonable, which is why they’ve set the test inside the majestic hall.”
“Mazen or Baekmasa? What does the location matter?”
“The only purpose of the majestic hall is to dignify the White Magician, who is grieving the death of his grandson. If he really wanted to kill this child, he wouldn’t have brought him to a joust.”
“Impossible.”
Dan Qing said solemnly.
“No matter how great this kid’s qualities are, he’s just a sun chick right now. We can’t let him go to the martial arena.”
“I see.”
Bai Yan said with a serious expression.
“If you refuse this offer, the palace will be in for one annoyance after another, to the point that you’ll have to step in.
“You can do as you please. You can mind your own business.”
At that, Bu Eunseol stepped forward.
“I’ll go to the battlefield.”
“This is not the time for you to be rude.”
“It is not.”
Bu Eunseul glanced at Bai Yan out of the corner of her eye.
“If I had agreed to harm me in the warren, I wouldn’t have bothered to tell the story through Lord Bai.”
“So, you’re saying that you’re going to go to the Demon Hall and take that bullshit test?”
At Dan Qing’s sigh, Bu Eunsul said calmly.
“What they want is prestige anyway. They’ll think that killing a brat like me isn’t really dignified.”
“Mm.”
Dan Qing salivated.
Maybe it was true what he said, the martial artist was only here to save face.
However, he didn’t want Bu Eunsul to take any chances because of Hua Wu’s inspection and the White Master’s insistence.
“It’s bound to happen at least once.”
That’s when Baek Yeon spoke up again.
“They’re not the kind of people who will give up if they refuse this offer. The best way to deal with them is to give in to their demands and make sure they can’t argue with us again.”
“What if she’s wrong?”
Baekyeon paused for a moment at Dan Cheng’s words before speaking again.
“It’s your job to look at the big picture, not to judge emotionally.”
There was a moment of silence on the platform.
In truth, Nang Ya Gak had never been an exceptional warrior, nor had he ever had any desire to kill the great masters; he had always been like flowing water, devoted to martial arts.
However, a great martial artist named Bu Eun-sul had predicted Nangyagak’s successor, not a ten-horse warrior, so he couldn’t help but be tempted.
“Me too…….”
At that moment, Bu Eun-sul stepped forward.
“I, too, am a disciple of Nangyagak.”
This was what Dan Qing had said earlier.
But now that Bu Eun-sul had said this, Dan Qing felt an indescribable sense of pride.
“This kid really is capable of overcoming everything.
With a low sigh, Dan Qing looked at Bai Yan.
“I guess all they want is the test.”
“That’s right.”
“Then tell them this. If you pass the test, you’ll drop the matter with the White Horse Master, and you’ll withdraw your demand for Hua Wu’s inspection.”
As he spoke, Dan Qing’s eyes flashed with a majesty that could split a mountain.
“If either of these things are not acceptable to you, I’ll pretend it never happened.”
* * *
Qingfeng Zhai.
This was the residence of Dan Cheng, the centerpiece of Nangya Pavilion.
Built alongside a meandering stream, it was surrounded by large trees.
The relaxed and tranquil atmosphere closely resembled Dancheng’s own languor.
“The location of the main building is said to be not too far from Mazen, but it will take four days for the entire army to arrive.”
Walking down the path in front of Qingfeng Jie, Dan Qing turned to Bu Eunsun who was following him.
“In the meantime, I have something for you to do.”
“Is it to learn martial arts?”
“Yes and no.”
It’s a tricky question.
But Bu Eun-sul didn’t press for answers. As usual, she wanted to find the answer for herself.
“Then maybe it’s not about learning a new martial art, but about improving what you’ve already learned.”
“Hmm. Something like that.”
After a satisfied chuckle, Dan Qing’s expression turned bitter.
“The martial arts in the main hall are not yet systematized, as they are more practical. Strictly speaking, it is an incomplete martial art.”
His voice is solemn as he explains the rationale behind the martial arts.
“Nevertheless, the martial arts of the main hall can be described as a single ‘O’ to be realized. This is because it can be infinitely advanced by realization.”
Looking down at Bu Eunseol, Dan Qing sighed.
“However, there is a paradox in this statement. Just because you have great qualities doesn’t mean you can completely ignore or jump over the stage of martial arts.”
Since he was being forced, Dan Cheng demanded a definite reward from Ma Zhen.
In the meantime, he would teach Bu Eun-sul the martial arts.
“So, do you have any martial arts that I can complete in four days?”
“Of course not.”
In response to Bu Eun-sul’s question, Dan Qing shook his head firmly.
“The True God Martial Art of the main hall is as deep and vast as Shaolin. Even if you’re a heavenly cultivator, there’s nothing you can master in a short period of time.”
Meanwhile, Dan Cheng and Bu Eun-sul had left the path and come to a large reed bed.
“Then what am I supposed to learn?”
“You don’t learn, you see.”
They talked like a Zen master,
Sasasasas.
There were two shadows running toward the bamboo grove.
Rushing through the reeds, they both wore distinctive robes that left their forearms bare.
One carried a sword in his right hand and the other a greatsword.
Cha-chang!
Sparks flew in all directions as the two men’s weapons collided in midair.
Cha-ang, cha-ra-ra-ang!
The swords and daggers stretched out like butcher paper, tangling in a dizzying array.
“It’s rare for weapons to clash in a fight between masters.”
Dan Qing looked at the two men fighting with all their might.
“Nevertheless, do you know why their weapons are clashing?”
Cha-ang!
Watching the weapons clash again, Bu Eunsul calmly replied.
“It’s because the distance is too close.”
True to his word, the two men were fighting at close range, using only their weapons, and using only short sword and sword attacks.
“Do you have anything else?”
At Dancheng’s words, Bu Eunsul watched the fight rage on once more.
Pow! Pow!
Blood spurted from his entire body as each weapon swung past.
The weapons wielded by the two men were sharp and brutal, raining down killing blows.
“And not in a haze,…… because they fight with their hearts.”
“Exactly.”
Dancheng crossed his arms and spoke heavily.
“This reed field, and the bamboo forest over there, are where the masters of the main hall practice real martial arts.”
“Practical martial arts…….”
“That’s right. Not sloppy practicing, but actually fighting to develop their cultivation.”
Dan Qing stared into Bu Eunsun’s unfocused eyes.
“From now on, you will stay in these reed beds and bamboo groves for four days, and watch the battle between the masters of the main hall.”
“You want me to watch?”
Bu Eun-sul looked incomprehensible.
He didn’t know what would happen in the battlefield in four days, yet he was expected to sit idly by and watch the masters fight.
“In order to master practical martial arts, one must reach the point where one can grasp and comprehend the enemy’s momentum and numbers just by looking at them.”
“You mean, you can recognize the enemy’s momentum and numbers just by looking at them?”
“Yes.”
Dan Cheng pointed back to the two men fighting in the reeds.
“Earlier, you said they were fighting for their lives, but that’s only half true. What they’re doing is just a haze. It only looks like they’re fighting to the death because they’ve calculated all of their opponents’ numbers and deployed their forces accordingly.”
Dancheng continued.
“Practical martial arts doesn’t mean that you just fight blindly. Rather, you have to see countless battles firsthand.”
Turning to Bu Eun-sun, who listened intently, he continued, point by point.
“To have eyes that can quickly grasp the enemy’s information just by looking, that is the foundation of practical martial arts.”
“Eyes that grasp the enemy’s information…….”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.
Since she hadn’t yet learned the Nangyagak’s martial arts in earnest, she had been thinking about the concept of practical martial arts a little too easily.
“So the basics of practical martial arts are not about fighting, but about quickly grasping the enemy’s information and responding to it.
After listening to Dan Cheng’s explanation, the concept of practical martial arts was much more subtle and deep than Bu Eun-sul had thought.
“If you can reach such a state, you can gain immense benefits from watching others fight without having to fight yourself.”
After explaining everything, Dan Qing turned around.
“Just like the Martial Law, it is taboo within the Nangya Pavilion to secretly observe the haze or battles of others. Just by looking, you can steal your opponent’s weaknesses or strengths.”
Turning around, Dan Qing spoke in a stern voice.
“However, given the current situation, I’ll grant you special permission to observe.”
“Thank you.”
Bu Eun-sul bowed deeply.
He now realized that Dan Qing was giving him an indescribable benefit.
“Do your best.”
With those words, Dan Cheng slowly walked away from the reeds.
* * *
From that day forward, Bu Eun-sul would often go back and forth between the reeds and bamboo groves near Qingfengjie to watch the haze.
Although it’s called a haze, it’s more like a real fight.
A martial artist at the peak of his powers would have gained immense proficiency just by watching these battles.
Day Four.
Today was the last day, so Dan Qing stood beside Bu Eunsul and watched the haze together.
Hmph!
Today’s haze was coming from a bamboo forest, densely planted with bamboo.
Cha-ang! Papa-papa-pap!
In the center of the bamboo forest, five warriors surrounded a man in a circle.
The man in the center of the circle was fending off the attacks of the five enemies with nothing but his flesh.
Shhhh.
However, the five martial artists’ defenses had subtly changed.
Seeing this, Dan Qing asked Bu Eunsul.
“What’s the next move?”
“I think I’ll use the Heaven and Earth Divine Strike.”
With a low mutter from Bu Eunsul, who was watching the battle, the five swords rose into the sky.
They were about to unleash a second of the Heaven and Earth Divine Strike.
A roar.
At the same time, the man he was fighting with his bare hands drew a very short sword from behind his back.
It was a heavy sword, the kind used by the Salsu.
“What’s next?”
“Judging from your stance, I’m guessing you’re going to use the Ning Yu Jin Yu to create a sword shield.”
Whiz, whiz, whiz!
The man who had drawn his heavy sword quickly swung it, creating a transparent sword film, just as Bu Eunseol had predicted.
“You’re good.
Dan Qing glanced at the side of Bu Eunseol’s face and shook his head.
“But you’re too fast.
To execute a sword technique, one must hold the sword, and to execute a fist technique, one must make a fist.
Every martial art has a starting point, and grasping it is the first step to practical martial arts.
But isn’t Bu Eun-sul’s grasp of the basics of martial arts as easy as if he had laid the foundation for it long ago?
“Even an old master who has fought countless battles would need three months to learn how to guess a starting number.
Dan Qing couldn’t fathom how Bu Eun-sul had learned to estimate the number of seconds so quickly.
“Anyway, she’s good, so I should praise her.
“That’s good. It’s rare for someone to grasp the basics of practical martial arts so quickly.”
Swollen by Dan Qing’s praise, Eunseul shook her head with a sullen expression.
“I only used muscle movements to predict the movements. I didn’t predict the number of seconds, which is the essence of martial arts.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t true masters move beyond the limits of their bodies? After all, you’ve only laid half a foundation.”
Dan Qing opened his mouth in disbelief.
Predicting movements according to the logic of martial arts was something only a martial arts master of Dan Qing’s caliber could do.
But Bu Eunsul didn’t know that, and was blaming herself for her own inadequacies.
“I don’t know if it’s because I’m crazy, or because I’ve only just learned martial arts.
Bu Eun-sul always surprised her teachers, and Dan Cheng was no exception to that rule.
“I’m really looking forward to the future.
Dan Qing secretly drew a wry smile,
Whirrrrr.
At that moment, Yin Ying rushed over at high speed, accompanied by the sound of waves.
“Mr. Zhu.”
The young man who came in front of Dan Qing was a young man.
His attire bore a striking resemblance to the plain clothes Bai Yan had worn earlier.
“I’m Fengyun of the Fengyun Clan.”
He bowed his head and produced a small letter from his bosom.
“This is a reply from Mazen.”
“Mm.”
Taking the letter and reading it, Dan Qing nodded.
“I see.”
His eyes flashed as he looked at Bu Eunseol.
“It seems that the Mazen has agreed to fulfill all of the demands of the main cabinet.”
Bu Eunseol nodded, her eyes filled with pride.
The time had come for her to go to the battlefield.