Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time Chapter 424

◈ No pulse (5)

* * *

The old sliding door creaked.

As Jeong Yeon-shin closed the door and came in, the smell of old wood hit her. It was accompanied by the faint fragrance unique to a temple where a memorial service was held.

A temple located quite far from Shaolin Temple. Those sitting around a large, round wooden table turned their heads.

With just that small gesture, the air in the room ripples translucently, even though no one is particularly strong in releasing the air waves.

‘It’s dark.’

Jeongyeonshin thought.

Thanks to the pointless conversation with Yoo-Hyeon earlier, the burden of the meeting with the highest level of martial arts has been somewhat relieved.

But the weight of this meeting room would make even the invincible magic breathing heavy.

“The Purple One has arrived.”

The old man with the face of a boy smiled and reached out his hand towards the front seat.

At the same time, the non-partisan’s eye-catching method was winking at him with eyes that had been trained for decades, and Jeong Yeon-shin felt an invisible trajectory emanating from that gaze in all directions. It was a trick.

He sat down with a somewhat stiff mind.

Just as the people in front of him each individually represented the great faction of the Gudaemunpa, Jeong Yeon-shin was now the face of Iphwangseong in name and reality.

“The manager is coming. Please wait comfortably.”

Baekyaksaegae spoke to her with a gentle, wrinkled smile. Jeongyeonshin, who returned her greeting with a nod, tried not to look around.

It was because of the unfortunate incident that occurred after looking into Yulhanangrang earlier. His techniques were sufficient for practical use.

“… … .”

A quiet silence flowed.

Cheongseong, Ami, Hwasan’s long-sighted and high-level swordsman each glanced at Jeongyeonshin, or stared at him openly.

Among them, the only ones who gave them gentle looks were Baekyaksaetae and Yulhanangrang.

Jeongyeonshin averted her gaze from theirs.

My senses were running wild. It felt like threads were tickling my skin.

At that moment, the years seeping from the bodies of the four great masters of the Old School, their slightly pulsating muscles, acupoints, and internal breathing came as a great stimulation.

Suddenly, Yulhanangrang opened her lips.

“Have you all decided on the personnel for the non-competition?”

“I didn’t know that you would speak first. I guess the Hwasan faction is confident.”

He was Cheongsu Jinin, a long-spoken man of Cheongseong. As expected from a noble family, his voice seemed to have a soft melody, but his ears stood on end like divine swords.

As a person with a long history, it meant that he was sensitive to the results of the volcanic eruption.

Jeong Yeon-shin realized one thing.

‘Now the volcanic elixir is not a battle between the old and new.’

It can be said to be an arena of vast political battles.

What do martial artists live by?

Two things are all they have. Self-made martial arts and fame. Those who live in the world of Fengjin and Jianghu are respected for their martial arts and satisfy their desire for honor with nicknames.

Even if one is not interested in his own achievements and fame, he will choose to follow the Donggwi path when a situation arises that will tarnish the name of the Buddhist order.

Earlier, Gogeum said that he was the best martial arts master in the world. Even the old faction that was said to be free from personal gain such as wealth and power was not a position to be taken lightly.

“You? What.”

Yulhanangrang waved her hands excitedly.

“Our main school disciples are children who are not shameful no matter where they are shown, but the other sects are also very strong… … .”

With a clear voice, he exalts both the volcano and the other sects. Natural and noble words and actions. Jeong Yeon-shin thought of a plum blossom in full bloom without a single blemish.

Perhaps it was a more dazzling temperament than Baekdo Jeongjong’s new public service.

“Hwasan can be confident. Under Jangmun, there are Geomjeol, Sambo Geomryong (三寶劍龍), and Nangeom (爛劍). With all the distributions filled with excellent swordsmen, I envy Hwasan for not having to bother with personnel selection.”

As Cheongsu Jinin shook her head, Yulhanangrang’s lips formed a faint curve.

“That Cheongseong Jangmunin is said to have secretly trained a talent that combined the Cheongun Sword Technique and the Jeokha Sword Technique… With that, wouldn’t he be unrivaled in terms of disciple distribution? Didn’t you entrust the future Cheongseong to that disciple? Not Jeokunryong.”

“It is still insufficient. If you do not properly enter the Cheongunjeokha (靑雲赤霞) state, you will be helpless against the ten-stage sword of the shaman Jangbong (掌鳳) and the hundred-step divine fist of the eighteen arhats of Shaolin.”

It’s really dizzying.

A slew of brilliant names emerged.

The history of the old school is the history of the martial arts world. Those who inherited the martial arts and elixirs of the Daebang school, commonly referred to as the Millennium Martial Arts School, and who displayed their chivalry gathered in Deungbong-hyeon.

Jeongyeonshin’s eyes slightly lowered. Even though it wasn’t a particular war of nerves, she felt pressured.

‘My pulse is… … .’

The reason why Jeong Yeon-shin was so obsessed with black appearances.

This is because it was difficult to predict the odds of victory in the lower ranks.

It is said that the true martial arts are to learn slowly by observing the chronic nature of the atmosphere, but Gupa was a great school because it overcame such limitations. It was said that the depth of the teachings was different.

Can Seomyeo Mu-maek take on Jeongjong Cheonnyeon Mu-maek?

Cha, who had been improving his shallow skills with his innate senses, was always having a hard time against the masters who had learned from the Daemun School.

at that time.

“Can No-nap transfer the worries of his donors to another place?”

A soft voice settles into Jeongyeonshin’s heart.

It wasn’t a voice that was recognized by the ears. It literally penetrated straight into the brain. Not a single word was heard in vain.

‘Wisdom and wisdom…!’

Jeongyeonshin’s eyes grew wide.

Suddenly, the shadow that had been cast over a corner of the temple began to sway in the shape of leaves.

The appearance of a lotus blooming in the darkness. There is no other way. It must be the Nine Grades of the Lotus Platform. It is said to be a peerless divine technique of Shaolin secrets.

Coming.

Phew―

It was a split second. An old monk with a hemp blindfold over one eye suddenly appeared.

Both sleeves were completely empty, leaving the orange hem of the robe fluttering in vain.

“Magic power…? I thought it smelled better than the grain tea I drank when I was seventy… … .”

An aged muttering scrapes the air.

The divine monk Beomheo is empty.

He was the head monk of Shaolin.

* * *

Deungbong-hyeon’s green jade sword.

Under a wall as green as melted leaves, two men stood with their arms linked, carrying thick scrolls and bundles behind their backs like weapons.

They were in the middle of a noisy commotion. They just stared blankly at the crowd that filled the area, their mouths moving.

“How many people came in?”

“There are more than a thousand. Now it’s not enough.”

“What if we include those who stay in the city, not just the estate?”

“You picked the wrong person. Go to the open-air fountain. I’m sure the old man, Jukwang Shingae, will be able to calculate it accurately.”

“Nonsense. It’s no secret that he doesn’t like the cult. Of course, he wouldn’t come to Hwasanjiyak. Anyway, this one should have been filtered out from the beginning. Isn’t it hard to control? Even in the garden, it looks like he’s having a hard time.”

“There are more than a thousand of them, carefully selected and chosen. Only those with a clear status and whose sect’s reputation is known to go back and forth between the castles are accepted. That alone is enough to cause resentment outside. They say they don’t even give third-rate sects a chance.”

The two men were Shaolin disciples. They were also famous martial artists in the martial arts world.

Dokhyeon (禿賢) and Dokgeon (禿見). After they had the chance to learn the Shaolin secret method of the Tathagata Myungan (如來冥眼), they recorded all the events and relayed them to Sungsan to prevent the precious Buksung Shaolin from being swept away by the worldly waves.

The relatively slender-bodied dog nodded.

“Sambok-ah.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

A servant wearing a faded yellow robe raises his head from sweeping the floor with a broom.

He was a young man with a dusty face and a roughly wrapped cloth that was torn here and there on his arms and legs, including his shoulders.

“Didn’t the manor give you clothes? Even menial tasks are considered noble. What’s with your appearance?”

The servant laughed.

“There’s a lot of work at home. I send my salary home as soon as I get it.”

“If you always live so poorly, when will you ever have any leisure time?”

“The elders’ heads may look poor at first glance, but aren’t they full of light? I’m sure I’ll have a day when I can see the light, too.”

“Hey… … .”

The dog shook its head.

The character ‘禿’ in front of their nickname means bald. However, the two were famous for taking pride in their appearance as the head disciples of Shaolin.

Dokhyeon, who had a thick body, clicked his tongue as he looked at the servant’s tousled hair.

“There’s a guy who’s famous in the whole country for his honesty… Stay back until lunchtime. I’m afraid he’ll get into trouble with the strangers.”

“Okay!”

The reason Dokhyeon talked about Sibi.

That’s why countless people were lining up towards the main gate of the estate. The crowd was made up entirely of martial artists.

The summer air that had been swaying in the sunlight became even hotter and sweltering, and dust caused by aerodynamic waves was common here and there.

“Get in line! Get in line!”

“Do you think I am like these insignificant people? Open the way. I am the Yongpae Ssangdao (勇狽雙刀) of Hyeongsan!”

“They think this is their market place. The martial arts world of the Jeongpa, no, the martial arts world of Gangho, are flocking to this land.”

“Leave it alone. You’ll end up dying like this.”

“what?”

They are trained in martial arts. They cannot help but be aggressive.

The eight great powers, such as Pengga, had opened their doors wide to allow the uninitiated to attend.

Countless crowds flocked to the volcanic crater for all sorts of reasons: fame, learning, or connections between people.

Among them, the Daebangpa unmanned forces were truly aiming for conquest and were in seclusion as if they were practicing in a closed room.

This is why all the ronin and warriors of small and medium sects are gradually relaxing at this moment.

However, when the swordsmen of the volcano or the shaman passed by, they would stiffen their bodies, but many of the old guard warriors standing guard were spread out among the houses of the residents.

Dokhyeon and Dokgyeon shook their heads.

“I wonder if something big will happen one day.”

“Most of them are fights between martial artists. It can’t be helped. Let’s continue with what we were talking about.”

Dok-Gyeon spoke secretly. The thick cheeks on either side of Dok-Hyeon’s mouth rose up in a smirk.

“Are you talking about a bet?”

“Yes, I heard there was a huge amount of money at stake among the subjects. On a scale that could even involve the Imperial Family.”

“It’s a gamble that everyone is paying attention to. ‘Which sect will dominate the Volcanic Land?’… Where did your brother bet?”

“Namjonmu-dang. It’s a showdown between two seoms of rice.”

“You’re going safely.”

“You?”

“Aren’t we the Shaolin clan? Even if Master Bangjang doesn’t step forward, I think the only big threat is probably the other Gupas or the Peng family who have acquired the Cheonchuk Yuga Gong.”

“What is the entrance fee?”

“I should get this straight. Isn’t it the nature of a weakling, not a savage? It hasn’t even been three years since it was born… .”

Dokhyeon suddenly trailed off. Dokgyeon nodded as if he understood why he was doing that.

“It hasn’t even been three years. Yes, the island of Ip Hwang Seong is definitely a monster of great strength. I also feel the shock that you are feeling once again. However… his pulse is different.”

“That’s true.”

“A single master can turn the tide of the battle, but some powerful martial artists… … .”

A famous monk from the Shaolin family slowly concluded his speech.

“Change the form of the rivers and lakes.”

The Hwasan faction was like that. If you go to the Shaanxi region, there are quite a few sects that were inspired by the Plum Blossom Sword and used the Quick Sword and the Hwan Sword as their seasonal skills.

The same goes for the shamans. In the north of Hogwang, when it comes to Taekwondo, there are more offshoots than mainstream ones.

In Hanam, the practice of body cleansing has been popular for generations due to the influence of Shaolin Buddhist scriptures. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a culture of martial arts.

Such famous martial arts masters also influenced the political situation between the major sects.

In times when the quick sword is particularly lethal, you develop self-defense techniques, and when self-defense techniques gain popularity, you develop internal stamina techniques, and when the status of internal stamina techniques rises, you develop boshin-gyeong and dong-gong, and from there, you develop paedo martial arts that can build up strength faster than dong-gong, which follow a huge trend.

The traitorous Ma Yeon-jeok reigned supreme during that time.

Ultimately, the ones who influenced the flow of the vast martial arts world were the great martial arts masters who led the martial arts world.

“They said that four people, each with a different distribution, would compete against another Mu-maek. If it were Seomye alone, it would be different, but it is questionable whether the Mu-maek he created would be able to break through the old school’s time… … .”

Dok-Gyeon showed off his sharp chin. Dok-Hyeon, sitting next to him, did not deny it.

“Even in Shaolin, there were so many people who would go to the martial arts world that they even had internal competitions.”

“That’s proof of the great sect. A master of the Baekboshin Kwon, a master of the Geumgang Budongshin method who uses it on a daily basis, and even our brother who has reached the level of a master in the Pan Zen Sleeve… There are many cards that can be used at the right time and place. In the past, it is said that Seomye and Baekgirin competed before the life-and-death battle with Namgung Se-ga in Iphwangseong, but I don’t think Seomye Mu-maek, who is not even his true sect, would have such strength.”

“I agree. Even in the case of Pengga, they are busy organizing the dozens of destruction methods and the characteristics of each faction’s warriors. It’s the same for us too. Compared to them, the new Mu-maek, although he has his own flashy wit, is ultimately shallow and shallow… … .”

It was when the two gentlemen were whispering.

Suddenly, the thick line of people started to stir.

It’s not common. Originally, martial artists were people who trained alone in remote mountain villages, but their pride was sky-high.

If you feel the internal energy filling your body, it can’t be helped.

“It looks like a fairly well-known celebrity has arrived.”

“There won’t be any seats in the manor.”

“It could be that someone who went on a trip has returned. What these people are whispering about now… Ah, Namgung. Baek Gi-rin, Namgung Hwasin.”

“A young man who has nothing to envy in the world has returned.”

“He must have been in a hurry. The preparations of the Daebangpa including Pangga are very serious. It is possible that a sect of hermits could suddenly appear from anywhere.”

“Even so… I guess they must have lost their energy after the gathering of the Shingeomdan. There must be many Ip Hwangseong warriors scattered everywhere, but how many can truly be recognized as Seomye Mu-maek?”

At that moment, a refreshing voice pierced the evening glow.

[I command you in the ranks of black.]

It was a bright and cheerful battle. It spread with a feeling as clear as the blue sky.

[As of today, the secret expedition to Deungbong-hyeon by the Shingeomdan will be over. Each member of the armed forces who has studied the study of the Seomye Mu-maek in the Cheongeummugo of the main castle will accept me as their temporary leader and escort me to the quarters. After the competition, I will report the results to the purple king of the main castle.]

It was Baek Gi-rin Namgung Hwa-shin.

Dokhyeon and Dokgyeon’s eyes met. A sudden realization flashed through their minds.

This is a place where so many martial artists have gathered. There is no way that Iphwangseong can just sit back and do nothing.

Apart from the Seomyeo Mu-maek, countless others must have come to protect the houses.

However, Baekgirin’s six-way battle strategy limited the number of people involved to Seomye Mu-maek.

How many would apply?

Bam.

It was a sound that came from the wall behind the two men. The servant who had been crouching down as silently as a mouse had put down his broom.

Then he got up, tearing off the piece of cloth that had been messily attached to his shoulders.

The character “荒” was revealed.

“I’m sorry I gave you the mission to Hanam again. It was a quiet land.”

The servant Sambok muttered.

And as he was crossing between Dokhyeon and Dokgyeon, Dokhyeon, who had a blank expression on his face, suddenly came to his senses and opened his mouth.

“Why is that? There aren’t many people who can hone their internal energy as well as you do.”

“Because we’re a secret service. We only do undercover investigations.”

Sambok answered while moving his feet.

He walked straight towards the crowd of people lined up to enter the Nokjak Sword Hall, and each time his footprints left the ground, a strong wind blew and pushed people to the left and right.

It was as if the bushes were splitting apart.

“Hwanikbo… …?”

The dog’s muttering flowed out in a daze. New waves of energy were continuously bursting out from all directions nearby.

That day.

All the Iphwangseong warriors in Deungbong-hyeon stood up.