3 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

Chapter 3 - A Childhood Segment (2) The morning of the following day was bustling with activity. This was because Mok Liwon, unable to contain his excitement, had woken up before dawn and caused quite a commotion. "You really don't need to be so impatient, you know I'm not going anywhere." "Hehe... But still." "Rushing your heart is not a good habit when learning martial arts, so practice taking things slow." "Yes!" His response was impeccable. Mok Seon-oh chuckled at the thought. Having finished an early breakfast, he led Mok Liwon to the courtyard. "Alright, today marks the beginning of your earnest training. Are you ready?" "Yes!" "Really?" Mok Seon-oh narrowed his eyes as he asked. Startled by the gaze, Mok Liwon reconsidered for a moment. Then, concluding that he needed no further preparation, he responded again. "Yes! Really!" Mok Liwon's eyes sparkled with eagerness. Today was the day he would learn to spill stars at noon, and he was filled with anticipation of the wondrous teachings the old man would bestow upon him. Thump-thump. As Mok Liwon's young heart beat fervently, Mok Seon-oh spoke. "Then let’s start with Horse Stance." Mok Liwon’s face went blank. ** Horse Stance (마보, 馬步). A position where one stands with legs shoulder-width apart and knees bent at right angles. It's a fundamental part of training that every martial artist must go through and continue for a lifetime, but Mok Liwon lacked such common knowledge. His ignorance left Mok Liwon merely puzzled. He complied with performing the Horse Stance, yet he couldn't comprehend how such a strenuous stance had anything to do with spilling stars. Mok Seon-oh noticed Mok Liwon's bewilderment. And so, he offered an explanation. "Liwon, what sustains a tree?" "R-Roots...!" "Exactly. Does a tree with deep roots sway with every breeze?" "N-No!" "Martial arts is similar. It embodies nature’s principles within the human body, and before you start practicing in earnest, you must strengthen the lower body which serves as the body’s roots." Mok Seon-oh’s tone was stern. He left no room for Mok Liwon to dispute, as if he wouldn’t compromise on this matter. "They say that when classifying martial artists, they rank them based on the level of their internal power. However, that is only a general standard. Ultimately, it is the body that performs martial arts. Even if one has high internal power, if their physical body is feeble, the power of the martial arts won't be fully realized, wouldn’t you agree?" The lengthy discourse. Yet, Mok Liwon couldn’t focus. That was only natural. He was still just a seven-year-old boy. No matter how incredibly talented he might be, his current muscles were still quite soft, and his strength was lacking. Despite his efforts to concentrate, it proved difficult. All he could do was groan through the Horse Stance. "If you truly wish to become a great master, you must focus more on establishing a solid foundation rather than just yearning for an increase in internal power." "Roots…! Foundation…!" The weather was infuriatingly sunny. Beads of sweat trickled down Mok Liwon under the relentless sunlight, as he clung to a few words he recalled. A sturdy lower body. The long journey of training that lay ahead for Mok Liwon began with building that, just like countless others. ** Three months passed. The progress of Mok Liwon's training could be summarized in one word. Slow. So slow, in fact, that it was hard to believe he was being trained as someone born with the talents of the Heavenly Slaughter Star(천살성). However, it wasn't due to Mok Liwon’s lack of talent. It was more accurate to attribute the slow progress to Mok Seon-oh's strict methodology. "Feeling Qi will happen in an instant." Mok Seon-oh boldly predicted. When this child allows Qi to flow through his body, he will complete the Small Heavenly Circuit, reaching a level equivalent to second-rate status. This child’s abundant talent would accomplish that incredible feat in one stroke. Therefore, Mok Seon-oh refrained from teaching how to control Qi too early. "Qi too potent for the body would harm Liwon." Proper martial arts harmonize the three elements of mind (心), Qi (氣), and body (體) for balanced growth. If one recklessly learns to control Qi first, without balancing the others, how would it end? The overabundance of Qi within the body would overwhelm the physical form, damaging the meridians. "Slowly, it is right to strengthen the vessel first." It was all for when the time comes to sense Qi, so his body can withstand the Qi as it flows in. Everything over the past three months was to prepare for that. Mok Liwon was instructed in Horse Stance. Beyond that, he was taught to run up mountains, and also instructed in basic strikes and kicks. Thus his body was finally brought up to speed today. "Enough." At Mok Seon-oh’s words, Mok Liwon, who had been holding Horse Stance till now, collapsed to the ground. He was drenched in sweat, and his breathing was labored. Mok Seon-oh eyed him with satisfaction, then spoke. "It’s time." Flash–! Mok Liwon's eyes opened wide. His gaze, filled with surprise, turned to Mok Seon-oh. "Internal Power?!" The excited exclamation was only natural. Why wouldn’t it be? This was, after all, the reason Mok Liwon had endured the hardship thus far. Mok Seon-oh chuckled heartily and nodded. "Yes, it is time for you, Liwon, to learn how to sense Qi." With a grunt, Mok Liwon pulled himself up. Then he sat upright and gazed at Mok Seon-oh. "I'm ready!" "Ready? How can you focus on circulating energy when you're soaked in sweat? Go wash in the stream first." Mok Liwon dashed off to the stream in a hurry. Was his craving for learning really that intense? Mok Seon-oh burst into boisterous laughter, watching the bouncing figure of Mok Liwon run off. ** The front yard was silent. The child's excitement was filled with a nervous tension, giving rise to the quietness around. "Liwon, why don't you try sitting in the lotus position? You remember how, right?" "Yes!" Mok Liwon sat upright. When he first learned this position, it had been uncomfortable, causing him to fidget, but now he could settle into the lotus position without blinking an eye, accustomed as he was. "Now, what is the name of the mental cultivation method you will learn today?" "Star Engraving Divine Art(星鍊神功)!" "And what kind of martial art is the Star Engraving Divine Art?" "It's a martial art for engraving constellations in the heart!" "Well memorized. Very impressive." Mok Liwon smiled proudly. Mok Seon-oh placed a hand on Mok Liwon's back and continued. "The founder of the Star Engraving Divine Art told us, 'Even in the darkest of nights, we must leave behind a shining star to dispel the dark clouds over the martial world.'" "Yes!" "Thus, the Star Engraving Divine Art is the martial art of a hero. It is also a martial art for humanity. You must never forget this as you continue your practice." "Yes!" Mok Liwon replied vigorously, recalling the theory he had learned. 'The goal is 10 stars.' The Star Engraving Divine Art consisted of ten stages, from one star to ten stars. With each achievement, a star is engraved in one's mind, and by successfully engraving all ten stars, one can aim for the supreme accomplishment in martial arts. 'Now I will become a second-rate fighter.' Today, he would engrave one star. This would finally bring him to the level of a second-rate martial artist. The thought of it made Mok Liwon's smile unfaltering. Mok Seon-oh looked at Mok Liwon with an inevitable smile, then commenced with the task at hand. "Then let us begin. Remember what you must do?" "Yes! I will recite the formula while allowing Master to guide me in channeling Qi to complete the Small Heavenly Circuit!" "Good, it's fortunate that you remember it well." Without saying more, Mok Seon-oh began to release the internal energy from his energy core. Sa-a-a- A cool starlight emitted from Mok Seon-oh's body. It enveloped Mok Liwon. Mok Liwon felt a strange sensation. A new world layered over the world he had known, a sensation of an invisible substance touching his skin felt surprisingly natural, making him wonder why he hadn't realized it before. He was now sensing the Qi (氣), the very source of all things, for the first time. 'It's fascinating...' How could it be so warm? And how could it be so comforting? Although he encountered it for the first time, Mok Liwon's thoughts began to calm in the feeling of it being more familiar than anything else in the world. Qi touched the skin. It seeped in and flowed through his body. The boundaries of self and the world began to blur, and this great flow started to etch itself inside the young body. State of No-Self(無我之境). An enlightenment where one forgets even one's existence, something an ordinary martial artist might never experience in a lifetime. The fate of the Heavenly Slaughter Star(天殺星) with which Mok Liwon was born was offering him such enlightenment from the moment he first felt Qi. A star emerged in his imagery. A star yet to be fully defined, a star of possibility. Such a star began to slowly take its place. Creating a star the very day he started sensing Qi was an astonishing achievement, but Mok Liwon was not satisfied. Not with just one star, but desiring to reach an even higher state. Toward the hazy spot where the second star lay. As Mok Liwon delved deeper into this moment of enlightenment, attempting to grasp it... "Stop!" Mok Seon-oh shouted sternly. Startled­— Mok Liwon jolted and opened his eyes wide. Turning quickly, Mok Liwon saw Mok Seon-oh drenched in cold sweat, looking at him. "Master?" Mok Liwon tilted his head in confusion. However, Mok Seon-oh couldn't respond. It was due to a certain unexpected trait of Mok Liwon that even Mok Seon-oh hadn't anticipated. It wasn't an issue of the depth of internal power. Mok Seon-oh had considered such a scenario from the moment he decided to teach him. It wasn’t too early for enlightenment either. It is only natural for someone with immense martial talent to be engulfed by waves of enlightenment; he himself had gone through such processes. Mok Seon-oh's face displayed his astonishment for one reason alone. 'The meridians...' Mok Liwon's meridians were substantially different from those of a normal human. No, a more fitting term replaced just "different." '...They are flowing in reverse.' The meridians were inverted. The paths of blood, energy essence, and life itself extended against the typical course taken by ordinary people. Mok Seon-oh understood. He grasped the significance of such a physique. The human body is modeled after nature. Among this, the meridians represent the natural order they ought to follow. The fact that they extended in reverse meant that Mok Liwon’s meridians existed in a form that defied this natural order. …In other words, this body was designed for Demonic Arts(魔功). * The practice of internal cultivation was canceled. Mok Liwon pouted as he kicked at the stones in the courtyard. Already a week had passed. Filled with dissatisfaction, Mok Liwon acted out because Mok Seon-oh, who had remarked that it was premature for internal cultivation, hadn’t conducted any training at all. ‘Did I do something wrong?’ He wondered if he did something inappropriate while attempting to sense the Qi. Or maybe the body he had trained was not up to Mok Seon-oh's standards yet. Mok Liwon's expression turned sullen. As he pondered these thoughts, he concluded the idea that perhaps he had disappointed his master. Thunk. Thunk. The sound of his toes tapping the stones echoed in the yard. As his eyes began to well with tears from the mounting sadness, about to overflow— Step­. A footstep resonated through the space. Mok Liwon abruptly lifted his head. Although his master should be inside the cottage, the footsteps were coming from the opposite direction. ‘A stranger…?’ Mok Liwon had only known Mok Seon-oh all his life. Thus, when he thought of a ‘stranger,’ the first thing that came to his mind was tension. Step. Step. The sound of the footsteps grew louder and closer. Mok Liwon gulped down dryly, his gaze fixed on the source of the sound. Rustle— A scruffy-looking middle-aged man emerged through the bushes. His appearance clearly indicated he hadn't bathed, and his clothes were ragged enough to be considered rags. Knowing no other way to describe such an individual, Mok Liwon uttered the word he knew for this type of person. "A b-beggar?" The beggar blinked. Then, with large strides, he approached Mok Liwon. And then, smack—! "It’s the King of Beggars(乞王), you brat!" The beggar, King of Beggars Ma Ilsuk, gave Mok Liwon a flick on the forehead. ---