Episode 792.
Hegemony of the Black Sword (3)
“Is it snow?”
The sight of Yangcheon climbing up the hill outside for the first time in a while and looking at the sky had a strange charm.
bout! bout!
Even in the cold weather beneath the cliff, hundreds of shirtless warriors were practicing their spears.
Blood oozed from the hands of most of them. Even though I’ve been practicing for so long, my hands are torn and bleeding again. That’s how intense their training was.
Doo doo doo doo.
In the distance, hundreds of horsemen were training in battle.
We train with five and ten in harmony, not only on wide plains but also on mountain paths. The horseback riding was excellent, but the ability of the warriors to become one with the horseback and move to the right place at the right time was so great that it was difficult to find in the Central Plains.
Yang Chen smiled.
“As expected, the Iron Team’s training is worth watching.”
Hwang Seok-tae bowed his head.
“Your words always give me strength.”
“haha.”
There was surprise on Yang Cheon’s face as he looked back at Hwang Seok-tae.
“The Iron Knights are the Iron Knights, but the most surprising one is actually you.”
“yes?”
“When did your martial arts skills become so deep? “You seem like a completely different person than when I saw you a while ago.”
In fact, Hwang Seok-tae’s prayer was greatly different from before.
The intimidating feeling that intimidated the viewer through the strict and harsh prayer has disappeared.
His rugged appearance with his unique sharp eyes remains the same, but he looks much more flexible due to the change in prayer. Somehow, my body seemed a little thinner.
But Yang Cheon knew. That is proof that Hwang Seok-tae has not become weaker, but rather has become stronger.
Hwang Seok-tae’s prayers, which had always been maintained in a state of appropriate tension so that he could react immediately whenever a battle broke out, were now as soft as water.
It wasn’t just relaxation. It meant there was no need to be nervous anymore.
The principle that any area appears extraordinary when it reaches the extreme, but appears ordinary once it goes beyond the extreme, also applies to martial arts.
The prayer of a true expert, honed so that the body and will can respond at any moment.
Hwang Seok-tae has reached just such a level. There was no doubt that he had pioneered his own martial arts before Mugeuk.
Hwang Seok-tae said calmly.
“There are so many powerful people of our time. As a person living in the same era, shouldn’t we have no choice but to work hard to keep up with them?”
Yang Chen chuckled.
“You mean Yeonhojeong?”
“So are he and those who are with him. Even though they are all young, they have achieved amazing achievements.”
“Even though he’s young, he’s strong… Yes, that’s true.”
The time of growth is different for each person.
However, the majority can capture more when they are even one year younger. That’s why you need to practice hard when you’re young.
Yang Chen looked up at the sky.
The amount of snow that fell was not that much, but the seeds were quite thick. There might be heavy snow by tomorrow.
“Do you know why they became so strong?”
“Talent is talent, but isn’t it because you lived a fierce life?”
“that’s right. Talent is more important than anything else. But just living fiercely is not enough to explain. Aren’t you and the Iron Knights all equally fierce?”
“That’s true.”
“Everyone lives fiercely and hard. “The difference in talent may be obvious, but the reason they were able to become so strong is because there is more to it than talent and effort.”
“What is that?”
It was not an easy question for Hwang Seok-tae to ask in the past. This is because they would have thought it was rude to ask.
However, as his martial arts skills became deeper, Hwang Seok-tae became more relaxed. And Yang Cheon was a wonderful superior who could accommodate his subordinates’ leisure.
“It’s Yeonhojeong.”
“…yes?”
It was a very unexpected answer. It was like that for Hwang Seok-tae.
Yang Chen said with a smile.
“Is this a strange answer?”
“The answer is a little… difficult to understand.”
“Hehe, that’s possible.”
Yang Chen closed his eyes.
“If you think about it, the people he went with were different from ordinary martial arts people. To be precise, it has changed.”
“What has changed?”
“The eyes that see oneself.”
“…!”
“It’s the same as Yeonhojeong. He says he doesn’t have as much talent as others, but that’s not bullshit. In order to become strong in martial arts, it is not enough to simply have excellent muscles and a unique understanding of martial arts.”
“I know that.”
“yes. In order to achieve a certain level of growth in any area, you need to have a good understanding of it. However, after reaching a certain level of growth, you need eyes to properly reflect on yourself and an instinctive sense to know what you need now.”
“ah!”
“Yeonhojeong, that guy knows that. The same goes for those who follow him. Yeon Ho-jeong had eyes that could capture the things his people needed to grow at every moment. And what would happen if you worked with a guy with that kind of insight?”
“I guess I can naturally reflect on myself.”
“You have to look at yourself and eventually find it. What do you need right now? “What effort should I make and what should I learn to achieve that need?”
Ultimately, it is the direction of effort.
Everyone makes an effort. But among that many, only a handful reach the top.
If you all have similar talents and efforts, what ultimately separates you is your eye for what you need and your sense of how much you need to hone it.
“All those who have reached Holy Heaven are those who have such a sense. Intense life? Life and death experience? Among the saints, there are quite a few people who have not experienced much life or death. Nevertheless, they opened up martial arts and rose to the ranks of the strongest in martial arts.”
“…It’s scary.”
“It’s scary. The growth of a martial artist is the same as the growth of a magician. There are no people who say that they have become top-notch just because they have mastered the Samjaegeombeop (三才劍法) common in martial arts. However, those who improve the Samjae Sword Technique to suit themselves and advance to a deeper level become first-class.”
Yang Chen opened his eyes.
“Succeeding in martial arts is like reaching another starting point. “Being able to excel in martial arts is an area of ‘talent’ such as muscle and understanding, but to go beyond that, you need insight and feel.”
“….”
“Maybe even that insight and sense are a type of talent. But having lived to this age, I definitely think that is a different area from talent.”
“….”
“In that respect, Yeon Ho-jeong is right. He doesn’t have any outstanding martial arts skills. “I just have something more than nothing.”
“And that’s what the Vice Lord has too.”
“only me?”
“yes?”
Yang Cheon looked at Hwang Seok-tae.
“Isn’t it the same for you too?”
“yes?”
“Didn’t you go around with Yeon Ho-jeong and learn how he and his people live in the world?”
Hwang Seok-tae’s expression became a little awkward.
“It was different from me.”
“You were able to grow because you understood and accepted something different. That too is effort. “Would you have been able to grow if you had just interpreted their differences as wrong or left them as differences?”
“…!”
“You have been stagnant for a long time. Even though it’s been a long time since I reached that point, I haven’t been able to achieve an inch of growth. But now that you have come back after gaining new experiences with Yeon Ho-jeong, you have changed so much.”
For some reason, Hwang Seok-tae found it difficult to open his mouth. This is because Yang Cheon’s words sounded as if he was asking whether Yeon Ho-jeong was a better person than himself.
In the end, Hwang Seok-tae said this.
“If it weren’t for the blessings of my father, how could I have reached this position?”
Originally, Hwang Seok-tae was not good at speaking.
Yang Chen chuckled.
“Don’t misunderstand. No matter how strong you become, my faith in you will never waver. And I know that your loyalty to me will also remain unwavering.”
“I am truly grateful.”
Yang Chen looked back at the iron base again.
The sight of the Iron Knights wielding their spears with loud cheer was a spectacular sight to see again.
“You guys must be a big help.”
“of course.”
“For the next generation.”
“…?”
“I have ambitions. “That ambition is so strong that it may become another tragedy for the post-war martial arts world.”
“….”
“There are many people in the world who dream, but not everyone achieves their dreams. “Maybe I am too.”
Hwang Seok-tae’s face hardened.
“My lord, you will definitely make your dream come true.”
“Hehe, I hope so. However, this group called the Mukryongbu is still maintained by my power. “The Black Daoists who have gathered together only see the fighting king, Yangcheon, and do not see the Mukryongbuju.”
It was the limit of the Mukryongbu. A large group with a short history can easily collapse like a sand castle.
“I hope. I hope my successor will raise the current Mukryongbu to a higher position. Of course, I will make my own preparations before handing over this position, but things in this world are as you wish.”
“I don’t know anything else.”
Hwang Seok-tae’s eyes lit up.
“I will continue to fight for the leader of the Mukryongbu until the end of my life.”
“Ah yes. That you are that kind of person. “That’s why I’m even more thankful.”
Yangcheon, who was calmly looking down, suddenly stretched out loud.
“I was frustrated so I came out and it was really good. I feel relieved. “It must have been hard for you to talk to me.”
“Oh no!”
Yangcheon, seeing Hwang Seok-tae’s embarrassed face, burst into laughter.
“Train the kids properly. “Don’t we need quality rest just as much as training?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“okay.”
The two people turn around and go down the hill.
How far did it go like that?
“Master!”
A white paper came running from far away.
Yang Chen’s eyes lit up.
“What’s going on?”
White Paper, who was kneeling on one knee, spoke in a somewhat flushed voice.
“I received word that Deputy Yeon Ho-jeong and his group will arrive in half a day.”
“Oh really?”
Yang Chen grinned.
“I finally see that face. “Please come quickly.”
* * *
The appearance of the group entering Honam was beyond words.
The money that Peng Wugang gave him was quickly used up. They came all the way to Honam and trained with Jinyang, and when they saw it, Mukbi and Kangryang seemed to get itchy and joined in the training.
Long march and training. I couldn’t help but feel hungrier than usual. And their stomachs were big enough to evaporate the money Peng Wu-gang gave them in five days.
Mukbi said.
“Anyway, wouldn’t it be better to take a shower and go?”
“That’s right. I feel uncomfortable. “But since I’ve already contacted you, let’s go take a shower and get some rest.”
“is it so.”
Kang Ryang and Jin Yang came hurriedly behind the two.
“Huh! Huh! Where the f*ck are you going to rest?”
“I’m going to rest on the base you see over there. But are your legs still like that?”
“You broke it yesterday!”
“I was able to catch up well with those legs.”
Jinyang looked at Yeonhojeong with eyes of disbelief.
Kang-ryang waved his hand.
“I don’t care, hyung. “My brother is always like that.”
“this person…!”
Yeon Ho-jeong clapped his hands.
“Now, let’s fill our bellies first before we go into the jaws of hell.”
