Chapter 72

“You died once today.”

His cold voice continued.

“Your limbs were cut off, you were subjected to Tendon-Splitting and Bone-Twisting, and your throat was cut. The degree and form of the pain may have been different, but you died. Without a doubt.”

Once the relief of being alive faded, anger took its place.

I rose on trembling legs, swallowed the blood pooled in my mouth, and glared at Jin Mukyung.

This fucking lunatic.

I wanted to drive my fist into that smug face right away, but I held myself back. Not because I was weaker than Jin Mukyung. Because I knew he was right.

“…So? What are you trying to say?”

His answer came immediately, as if he had been waiting for me to ask.

“That your days are numbered.”

“What?”

“You’re only half-finished. Neither a martial artist nor a wandering martial artist. Just an incomplete mess. A sloppy bastard like you is begging to die the moment he ventures into the Murim.”

Half-finished.

That might have been the most accurate description of my current state. I was both a Hunter and a martial artist.

“Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi? Supreme First Rate master? Even a passing dog would laugh. You’re nothing but a brawler. You’re sloppy for a martial artist, and you don’t even fight as pragmatically as a wandering martial artist. Don’t mistake surviving through good luck for skill.”

I barely managed to open my mouth.

“Then what about Jopil? According to you, was that just luck too?”

“Jopil, One Question, One Kill? He was obviously an idiot who let his guard down in front of an enemy. You just happened to have one last move that could turn the tables.”

“…!”

“What? Do you think I guessed too accurately despite not seeing it myself?”

Jin Mukyung clicked his tongue.

“Even a deaf old man knows that the Third Young Master of the Jin Family of Taiyuan is a wastrel. Did Jopil not know? The moment he let his guard down, he was finished too.”

What is this bastard, a stalker?

I felt like Sun Wukong trapped in the Buddha’s palm.¹ His guess was that accurate.

“Let me make this clear.”

Jin Mukyung fixed me with a somber gaze.

“That luck of yours ends here.”

“…”

“The Murim is crawling with all kinds of monsters. And they don’t let their guard down like Jopil did. You’re no longer the Jin Family’s wastrel of a Third Young Master. You’re the Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi.”

Every word stabbed straight into my vitals. Everything Jin Mukyung said was true, and it was time for me to face reality.

“Damn it.”

He was right. I was half-finished.

Thanks to the greatest stroke of luck in my life—the System—I had somehow survived this long. But it seemed that luck had taken me exactly this far.

But… I really am lucky.

Not only had I discovered the problem early, but an excellent problem-solver was standing right in front of me to help solve it.

“Help me.”

Jin Mukyung.

A fully realized Peak martial artist and a genius of martial arts.

And—

“…Hyung.”²

My older brother.

Ding.

System

Time Limit: 9 days 20 hours 23 minutes

Murim people were a proud lot. Even a Third Rate wandering martial artist who wore a rusty sword at his waist and drank cheap baijiu³ was like that, so the arrogance of scions from prestigious sects reached the heavens.

“Help me, hyung.”²

In that sense, this guy had become a decent human being. Three years ago, he would have run to his eldest brother with tears in his eyes… but he had grown. Far more than expected.

He’s a strange one.

Neither his personality nor his martial arts were easy to pin down. That was both a strength and a weakness. But one thing was certain: none of it would work against a true master.

But his talent is real.

Over the past three years at Heaven’s Gate Temple, Jin Mukyung had encountered countless prodigies, but none could match Jin Taekyung’s rate of growth.

And he has strengths they don’t.

He had the eye to grasp martial arts at a glance, excellent instincts in real combat, and an ear for other people’s advice.

Though for now, he’s still a half-finished mess with everything jumbled together.

Given time, his weaknesses would be filled in and his excesses smoothed out. When that happened, Jin Taekyung’s martial arts would be complete.

Like taiji⁴ achieving harmony.

Taiji? Is that a little too grandiose?

This was starting to become burdensome.

But he could not contain his curiosity. How would that bastard grow? How far would he climb?

I’m going to be busy.

He had to leave and return to Heaven’s Gate Temple within fifteen days at the latest. Jin Mukyung finally opened his mouth.

“What are you doing? Pick up your spear.”

“Hyung!”²

Seeing Jin Taekyung’s face light up, Jin Mukyung suddenly had a thought.

When did this bastard start speaking informally to me?

That was the moment the intensity of the training rose another level.

Bang.

Jin Wikyung stamped his seal on the final document, his eyes heavily bloodshot.

He had been freed from nearly twenty hours of backbreaking labor, but he was not happy at all. New work would be piled up by tomorrow morning anyway.

Are these things breeding behind my back?

At least the end was finally coming into sight. That was some consolation.

After completing his final review, Jin Wikyung rang a small bell. Before its clear sound had even faded, two sturdily built servants appeared.

“Did you call, Lesser Family Head?”

“Take these away.”

“Yes, sir.”

The servants skillfully stacked the documents onto a cart. Just as they were about to leave, Jin Wikyung spoke.

“Ah. You stay.”

The servant he had singled out blinked in surprise.

“Me, sir?”

“That’s right. You.”

Once the two of them were alone, Jin Wikyung began speaking in a solemn voice.

“So, how have you been finding the work lately?”

“Very well, sir. It’s all thanks to your kindness, Lesser Family Head.”

“Nothing causing you any inconvenience?”

“Oh, goodness. Of course not.”

The servant, Childeuk, did nothing but nod repeatedly. He was illiterate and could not even get through the Thousand Character Classic,⁵ but he still had ears to hear and eyes to see.

After its victory in the recent war, the Jin Family of Taiyuan had risen to become the foremost family in Shanxi. Its Lesser Family Head, Jin Wikyung, had begun to be called the Junzi Sword⁶ for his swift recovery efforts and fair handling of the aftermath.

Why would such a great man want me?

His heart pounded with nerves. Had he made some mistake? Or had Jin Wikyung perhaps noticed his talent for martial arts?

The former would be disastrous. The latter would be a chance to turn his life around.

My bones and muscles are sturdy, at least. I never even had a stomachache as a child.

He could already see himself wearing a sword at his waist and letting his hero’s headband flutter in the wind.

But when Jin Wikyung saw Childeuk’s eyes glaze over, he flinched.

What’s with this guy?

Childeuk’s eyes were filled with desperate longing, as if he were willing to offer his soul to obtain whatever he wanted.

It was not the sort of look one man should give another.

Don’t tell me…?

Male love, something he had only heard about…

No. That could not be it. He must not jump to conclusions. Childeuk was a member of the Jin Family household, someone he ought to trust and cherish.

Jin Wikyung forcibly erased his suspicions and spoke.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Y-You have, sir?”

“Of course. I’ve been keeping an eye on you for a long time.”

More precisely, not for a long time, but for the past three days.

Jin Wikyung had been searching for a reliable servant to entrust with a very important task, and Childeuk was the ideal candidate he had personally selected.

“A talented man possessing all four virtues—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom. That was you.”

“How can this be…!”

Childeuk, an exceptional servant possessing all four virtues, shuddered with emotion. Completely illiterate, he had no idea what those four virtues meant, but he understood the word “talented” perfectly.

I’m talented?

He had been praised for being strong and diligent, but no one had ever called him talented. And now he was hearing it from none other than the Lesser Family Head himself, a man as lofty as the heavens.

Was this a dream or reality? Childeuk was swept up in overwhelming excitement. He was so excited that even his tongue became tangled.

“I’ve always been watching you too, Lesser Family Head!”

Jin Wikyung flinched.

What did I just hear?

“…What do you mean?”

“I’ve dreamed of this moment for a long time. The day I would stand behind you, Lesser Family Head!”

“Wait. That sounds strange. Why would you stand behind me?”

“Ah!”

Childeuk sucked in a breath. Jin Wikyung was telling him not to stand behind him. In other words, he wanted Childeuk to take the lead and win glory.

“Then I’ll stand in front!”

“No! That’s strange too!”

But Childeuk’s charge, like a wild stallion, did not stop.

“I will gladly offer this one body of mine!”

Jin Wikyung’s vision went dark.

“No. Don’t do it! Don’t offer it!”

“Lesser Family Head!”

Huff, huff.

Childeuk panted heavily, and Jin Wikyung gathered his internal energy.

I never imagined something like this would happen.

No matter how open-minded he was, this was too much.

Personal sexual preferences were one thing, but he had no desire to become their object. Jin Wikyung swallowed hard.

“Then… are you really into men?”⁷

Childeuk’s eyes flashed. His heart pounded at the thought of wearing the navy-blue uniform of the Jin Family’s martial artists.

“Yes! Just give the order!”

“How dare you set your sights on me? Not a chance, you bastard!”

Smack!

A slap from a Peak master was powerful. Childeuk collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Jin Wikyung stared down at him, breathing hard, then hurriedly rang the bell.

Ding. Ding.

“Lesser Family Head, did you call—? Gasp! Childeuk!”

Jin Wikyung spoke to the horrified servant.

“Drag him out immediately!”

“W-What happened?”

“That bastard tried to… No. Never mind.”

He could not possibly say such a thing to a member of his household. For the first time in his life, anger and wounded sorrow brought him close to tears.

“I-I’ll take care of it.”

Just as the quick-witted servant hoisted Childeuk onto his back, Jin Wikyung added the most important part.

“And that man.”

“Yes?”

“Remove him from his post.”

“Ah.”

The servant suddenly remembered Childeuk’s assignment.

Delivering meals.

The most important duty given to Childeuk, an exceptional servant possessing all four virtues, was to bring every meal to Jin Mukyung and Jin Taekyung.

“Don’t let him anywhere near my younger brothers. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

Training Day 1

I decided to start keeping a diary today.

So I won’t forget what I learn during this training.

Under Jin Mukyung’s guidance, I did nothing but swing a spear all day. Every day begins and ends with a spar. I got beaten half to death, but it’s bearable.

This is my first time grinding ink, and it’s surprisingly fun.

Training Day 2

I swung my spear to the point of death again today. Maybe that’s why my Strength and Stamina stats increased, and the Jin Family’s Spear Technique reached the ninth stage.

I’m progressing much faster than when I trained alone, but I can’t help thinking I’d be better off spending this time learning another Peak martial art.

Still, Jin Mukyung must have his reasons.

Grinding ink is getting a little annoying. I’m tired.

Training Day 3

The Jin Family’s Spear Technique again. I asked him to teach me another martial art and got beaten half to death. He said my mind was rotten.

While desperately dodging his attacks, the Jin Family’s Manoeuvre Technique rose to the eighth stage. Damn it. This is surprisingly effective.

Training Day 4

I haven’t slept more than two hours a day since training began.

Most of my time is spent repeating the same cycle with Jin Mukyung: training, sparring, training, sparring. Starting yesterday, I began using fasting pills instead of wasting time eating.

Even with the System, I’m starting to reach my physical limit.

Training Day 5

My arms hurt, so I only ground a little ink.

The sky is yellow.

Going to sleep.

Training Day 6

I don’t understand why the System doesn’t have a notepad function.

I got pissed off while grinding ink and broke the inkstone. Jin Mukyung beat me.

Training Day 7

The Jin Family’s Manoeuvre Technique reached the ninth stage. My Level also increased by one.

I’ve practiced it so relentlessly that these days, I even use the footwork when I’m just walking around.

I got goose bumps.

Training Day 8

My hands and feet keep getting tangled today. It feels like these aren’t the martial arts I know anymore.

The martial arts I’ve performed thousands—even tens of thousands—of times feel unfamiliar. Jin Mukyung said it was a natural phenomenon.

What the hell is he talking about?

I got beaten because my expression was disrespectful.

Training Day 9

I think I get it.

Bang!

Compressed air erupted from the tip of the wooden spear. Jin Mukyung skidded backward and clicked his tongue as he looked at his broken sword.

“That was a narrow success.”

I did not answer. I stood there blankly, gripping my spear.

So this is what it was.

I had thought I knew the martial arts I’d learned inside and out. But I was wrong. I had merely mistaken the middle of the mountain for the summit.

Whenever my martial arts rose to a new level, a new landscape came into view.

Just like now.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

System

• You have achieved mastery of Jin Family’s Spear Technique!

• You have achieved mastery of Jin Family’s Manoeuvre Technique!

• Achievement Master a First Rate Martial Art completed!

• As a reward, a new Skill, Martial Arts Manual Creation, has been generated!

• All Stats have increased significantly!

• Level Up!

• Level Up!

A wave of System notifications swept over me.