5. Sweet Plum Martini (6)
5. Sweet Plum Martini (6) – In the end, parallel lines
The plum tree wrapped around the dragon danced.
A beautiful sword that depicts a volcano full of plum blossoms from long ago, even though it has been thousands of years since it left Earth.
The black energy that blossomed from the twenty-fourth sword spread like flower petals, and countless flower petals swirled like a storm following Yongjeoksan’s sword.
And in the middle of that storm, there was Mokjin.
It was a sword that was more than enough to bring out the martial arts of the original body. Mokjin raised the hand that was not holding the sword. Following the essence of the Twelve Stars’ Silent Thunder Heavenly God, black lightning streaked out through his hand.
A single bolt of lightning splits into three, the three split into ten, and the ten splits into countless branches. The black lightning spreads out irregularly like the shape of a lightning strike from the sky, forming a tight net that catches the red flower petals.
Mokjin lifted his sword and aimed it at Yongjeoksan’s sword.
The secret of the extreme illusion sword, where the real is soon fake and the fake is soon real, is revealed. Mok-jin’s eyes read the twenty-four and one swordsmanship in the storm of sword energy where the distinction between reality and fiction disappeared.
The spirit of a warrior who wanted to resemble a plum blossom, which has not changed even after two thousand years.
Even though he had filled his danjeon with machines instead of internal energy, his fundamentals hadn’t changed. Mokjin lowered his sword, feeling a hint of joy.
The sword of man, which divides the heavens and the earth, cut off exactly twenty-four changes in one blow.
And finally, when the tip of the blade reached the sword held by Yongjeoksan.
He brought winter to the plum tree guarded by his black dragon.
“How was my sword?”
Yongjeoksan asked among the twenty-four swords strewn about on the ground. The sword in his hand was cracked here and there and barely maintained its shape.
Likewise, Mokjin answered among the swordsmen. His black sword was in its original form, no different from the previous one.
“It was the most beautiful plum tree I’ve ever seen.”
Yongjeoksan asked again.
“Was that enough to discuss my dark universe?”
Mokjin smiled quietly and raised his left arm. The sleeve of his black uniform was sharply cut.
“It’s a bit tight, but it doesn’t seem to be lacking.”
Hehehe. Yongjeoksan laughed heartily and sat down on the floor. He looked like he had lost his dignity as the head of the Hwasan faction, but he looked relieved for some reason. After laughing for a while, he stood up again and bowed his head to Mokjin, politely handing him a winning ticket.
“Thank you for your teachings, senior.”
“Thank you for teaching me how to use a good sword.”
Mokjindo bowed his head and gave him a lottery ticket.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such good vibes.
The duel with Seocheon Sword Master wasn’t bad, but it had been a long time since a duel ended so cleanly and refreshingly.
Likewise, Yongjeoksan, with a cheerful expression, spoke to Mokjin.
“We’ve met such a good person, so it’s a shame to part ways like this. If it’s okay with you, would you like to have a drink? Hwasan’s plum wine is the best.”
“How could a man of great character refuse alcohol?”
As the saying goes, one sincerity is worth ten thousand words, and even though they only crossed swords once, the two talked as if they had known each other for over ten years. Such was the nature of life in the wilderness.
Yongjeoksan, who had been smiling while facing Mokjin, turned his head with a blinking expression.
“Oh, come to think of it, I forgot about the Yeoksam.”
“······ah.”
Seolyeong was lost in the afterglow of having witnessed an extreme martial arts that she couldn’t even keep up with with her current self. She suddenly came to her senses at Yongjeoksan’s words.
Yongjeoksan said to her with an apologetic expression.
“Actually, the Yeo-hyeop had business to attend to, but I felt sorry for neglecting that business and just standing there blankly.”
“Oh, no. I am just grateful for your generous favor.”
Seolyeong lowered her head with a bewildered expression at Yongjeoksan’s words. It was such a great coincidence that she couldn’t hide her embarrassment, even though she considered martial arts to be a means to an end, to witness the secret combat of the best masters in the entire universe right before her eyes.
Yongjeoksan Mountain, who was looking at her with a kind smile, waved to her.
“When you go outside, my aide will be waiting for you. I have something I would like to personally entrust to you, Yeom Hwa-kwae-geom Yeo-hyeop, so I would like you to speak with me.”
A request from the leader of the Volcano Sect. As expected, there was another reason for inviting Serin to this place. At the suggestion, Serin’s eyes instantly turned into those of a professional bounty hunter.
Nachals usually works as a bounty hunter, chasing down criminals, but due to his abilities, he sometimes receives requests from various groups.
Since it is a group-level request, the scale and income are extraordinary. This is not just a request from a sect, but a request directly proposed by the head of the Gupailbang. A request this big will not come up many times in one’s life. Seolyeong nodded to Yongjeoksan’s words.
“I look forward to your good answer. Oh, I’ll borrow this Daehyeop for a moment. Since you are a distinguished guest at Hwasan, I’d like to introduce you to some of Hwasan’s famous cocktails, such as the Sweet Plum Martini and the Ambassador.”
“Yes, please do so.”
Seolyeong looked at Mokjin. The two intuitively felt that now was the time to part ways. Seolyeong nodded.
“It was a short time, but it was quite fun, sir.”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I was able to see a new world and broaden my horizons. Thank you.”
“I should be the one to say thank you. Thanks to you, I earned so much money. If you need any work in the future, please call me anytime. I’ll give you a special discount. Okay?”
Seolyeong smiled. It was a rather charming smile, even though it was the smile that Mokjin always made when talking about money.
If there is a meeting, there is also a parting. However, Mok-jin felt that he would meet her again soon. Mok-jin smiled lightly and saw her off.
“If we are meant to be, we will meet again. Please take care.”
“Hey, sir, you’re so strong that telling you to take care of yourself doesn’t really work. Take care. Next time we meet, try to change that old lady-like tone of voice. You look like you’re in your twenties, but because of the way you talk, you keep calling me sir.”
Seolyeong giggled and waved her hand lightly before immediately turning around. Mokjin muttered with an expression that looked like he had been hit.
“Huh. What’s wrong with my speech······.”
She has a very bold and clean personality, just like her appearance. But somehow, she is a personality that cannot be hated. Mok-jin watched her back as she left the training ground, secretly thinking about learning the language properly.
Now it’s time to finish the original purpose of coming. Mokjin said to Yongjeoksan with a faint smile.
“Then I’ll leave the matter of that child to you. If you raise him well, he has the potential to reach great heights.”
“Hmm… I leave it to you. It seems that this great swordsman still does not know the biggest problem.”
“problem?”
Mokjin raised one eyebrow at Yongjeoksan’s embarrassed words. Could it be that he was planning to change his words after finishing such a clean-cut battle? However, the man he saw called Yongjeoksan did not seem like someone who would say two things in one go.
Let’s talk as we go, Yongjeoksan said as he walked. Mokjin followed him with a dubious expression.
“It’s not that hard to teach the child the volcano’s internal qigong. Even the Jahashin Gong, which only those with outstanding qualities in the direct lineage can learn. Did you happen to see the book at the entrance to the long room next to the reception room?”
“You mean the book that was on the decorative table?”
Mokjin recalled the book he had seen when he first entered. It was a book that looked like something from the era Mokjin had lived in, placed on a fancy decorative table. He had thought that there were books from the past in the future world, and had passed by in wonder.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
But why that book all of a sudden? Yongjeoksan smiled and answered Mokjin’s questioning gaze.
“That is a copy of the ancient Jahashin Gong secret recipe.”
“What!?”
A scream-like scream burst out of Mokjin’s mouth without him knowing.
Martial arts are basically everything about a school. But to display not just any martial arts, but the divine art of martial arts that only a long-time master can handle, in such a public place!
From Mok Jin’s perspective, who usually risked his life fighting for a single martial arts skill, it was absolutely crazy.
“Ah, but it’s not completely secret. I omitted the specific paths for circulating the energy when I transcribed them. And contrary to what you see, the security is pretty tight.”
“Of course it was, but that’s not the problem! It’s ridiculous to say that it’s okay to omit the energy and blood for luck, but what kind of crazy sect would show the Shingongjeolhak, which is like their roots, to others?”
Does the value of the secret disappear just because the part that moves the energy is removed? No, the path of the energy and blood is simply a part of the martial arts.
The true essence of the secret is the author’s thoughts and understanding of martial arts, and the short summary of them, the martial arts manual. Mokjin could not understand what was good about the fact that the true martial arts principles were still intact.
Yongjeoksan continued speaking in a calm voice, as if such a reaction was natural.
“Senior, the current martial arts world is not something that can be easily stolen just by looking at the ancient secrets. Without the specific path that the energy moves through and the data accumulated over thousands of years, it is nothing more than a shell of martial arts.”
That’s the difference between my qigong and my internal energy drive, he said.
“I’ve heard that the official training for martial arts requires you to build it up little by little on your own, through countless failures and trial and error, relying on vague teachings. However, modern martial arts are different.”
Yongjeoksan turned around and looked straight at Mokjin. Even in defeat, his eyes were filled with the unwavering conviction and stubbornness of a modern warrior.
“To reach the perfection of martial arts by evolving endlessly based on the experiences accumulated by countless seniors of the Buddhist sect. That is the martial arts of our time. You can never steal our martial arts by stealing a few words.”
Only then did Mokjin realize that Yongjeoksan was not influenced by his thoughts.
No, on the contrary, he was the lawyer of the universe that had bowed down to power and was protesting to Mokjin.
We were not wrong.
Even if your way is right, it doesn’t mean their way is wrong.
“We first complete the form, then read the scriptures deeply and practice for a long time to hone our martial arts. The branches may be different, but in the end, we can say that they all end up in the same Manryu Gui Sect.”
“That’s crazy. Even if you do that, do you think you’ll be able to reach where I am?”
“You’ll get there someday. You just haven’t found the way yet.”
Mokjin glared at Yongjeoksan with a stern face. It was an opponent he had never seen before.
In the world of martial arts, power is law. The strong are right, and the weak are wrong.
The loser cannot refute what the winner says, and he must not refute it. In the martial arts world he knew, that was a natural law, like water flowing from top to bottom.
But what about the man in front of him? He held his head up proudly, even though he was defeated, and admitted defeat, but he said that he was not wrong. He was a strange opponent that Mokjin had never faced before.
These are the people I will have to face in the future. Mok-jin realized that it would not be easy to persuade these people in the future.
Mokjin didn’t know what to say to convince him.
However, I had no intention of trying to persuade him.
“Those words must be broken for me to be given the right to say them.”
Yongjeoksan shut his mouth at Mokjin’s words. He couldn’t refute this. After all, the fundamentals of martial arts, where power determines everything, have not changed.
“This story ends here. If we continue talking, it seems like we will never reach an end.”
Mokjin lightly waved his hand in the tense atmosphere. He must have had this conversation before. The differences in opinions on martial arts were like endless parallel lines, so talking more would only hurt feelings.
“······I will do as you say.”
Yongjeoksan bowed his head in gratitude for Mokjin’s consideration. Mokjin stared at him blankly and tried to bring up the topic.
“By the way, I don’t think you’ve heard yet why I’m going to teach that kid.”
“Come to think of it, that’s what we were talking about. Do you remember what I said earlier about not being able to steal martial arts skills with an ancient secret weapon?”
“That’s right.”
“There is another reason for this. It is······.”
There is no one who knows how to practice Qigong. Mokjin sighed involuntarily at Yongjeoksan’s words.
In the modern world of martial arts, proper training methods for ascending the Naegigong have long since been lost. In this situation, even if you steal the secret recipe, it is difficult to learn it, so what’s the point?
“Do you understand now? Why that child needs your help?”
I am not asking you to become my master and teach me martial arts. I am simply asking you to guide me so that I can learn qigong by looking at the ancient secrets.
Mokjin said with a soft sigh.
“I’m telling you in advance, I don’t plan on being tied up for too long.”
In fact, it meant that he would help Hwarin practice Naegigong. Mokjin, who hoped that more people would learn Naegigong as soon as possible, had no other choice.
information)
Mokjin acknowledged Yongjeoksan’s sword.
Although Yongjeoksan’s level is lower than that of the martial arts masters Mokjin had faced in the past, his martial arts skills are not far behind.
Volcano’s plum wine is a valuable product exported to all corners of the universe. It accounts for a significant portion of Volcano’s financial income.
Cocktails made with plum wine from the volcano are a popular specialty of the volcano.
Sweet Plum Martini Recipe: Stir 3 oz pink gin, 1/2 oz plum wine, and 1/2 oz dry vermouth into a martini glass. (The ratio can be adjusted to taste.) As a garnish, place 4 plum petals soaked in plum wine on the inside of the glass in a row. If you had alcohol before, reduce the number of plum petals by the number of glasses. (When making the actual drink, Beefeater Pink Gin is good for the pink gin, Maechwisoon is good for the plum wine, and Dolin or Noilly Pratt is good for the vermouth.)
The Master’s Recipe: Pour 2 oz of bourbon whiskey, 1 oz of plum wine, and pour the whiskey and plum wine in a glass on the rocks with ice in that order. Serve without stirring. Use quartered plum pieces or plum petals as garnish. You can add 1-2 dashes of plum extract according to your taste. Again, do not stir.
The level of skill of the two was too high for Serin to handle. Still, it helped a little.
The commission fee for the Volcano Clan was 50,000 credits in advance, and when all credits were added together, it was close to 700,000 credits.
An ancient copy of the Jaha Shin Gong is displayed for decoration in front of the Jangmun Insul.
For those below the peak level, even looking at the martial arts manuals that contain a lot of information won’t help much. Only masters at the very top level or higher, and even then, it’s meaningless unless you’ve learned the martial arts directly.
Therefore, even if a copy of the Jahashin Gong ancient manuscript is stolen, there is no major problem for the Hwasanpa other than the fact that the temple’s security has been breached.
Modern martial artists cannot learn this martial art even if they are of the same level as the ancients. Since there is almost nothing in common between the internal qigong training method for health and the internal qigong training method for ascending, it is safe to say that the method for learning the internal qigong for ascending has been practically lost in modern martial arts.
Mok-jin doesn’t teach martial arts to Hwa-rin, so they can’t be called a teacher-student relationship, but since he helps her practice qigong, they have a kind of tutor-student relationship.
