Episode 853
What is a Murim lord? (3)
Gurrrrr.
The sound of a bird was heard from somewhere.
Even though it was still cold, the voice sounded lively. It somehow sounded like a monotonous yet mysterious singing voice.
“Do you enjoy tea?”
“I drink just about anything.”
“It seems like you don’t have any particular tastes.”
“There is nothing to hide because it is a private affair.”
Cool the boiled water slightly and pour it into a teacup.
The tea water, which was dark green in color, gradually became lighter and became transparent.
“Even if there is nothing to hide, you need to know how to distinguish.”
“I know how to distinguish between alcohol.”
“Unless you live alone, cultured education is essential. “Some smart people are so sensitive that they risk their lives over things like this, so it’s tiring, but it’s still better than not knowing.”
“Is that so.”
“It’s important to know. “It’s difficult to have the humility to not reveal what you know.”
“I’m not good at that, so I don’t try to find out useless things.”
“Good words. “Eat it.”
Yeon Ho-jeong lifted the teacup to his mouth.
I don’t know much about cars, but I know that Namgung Seung’s skills are good. If you are not interested in the ability to bring out a rich aroma with only subtle temperature differences, you will not be able to bring out such a fragrant tea scent.
“It’s unexpected.”
“what?”
“I thought he was someone who would not be interested in anything other than the sword.”
“It’s not wrong.”
Namgungseung quenched his thirst with a sip of tea and looked out the window.
Although I couldn’t see it, I knew that Namgungpyo was outside the door. Namgungse had a unique heavy and sharp spirit, but his mind was complicated and his spirit was a little off.
Namgung Seung’s eyes deepened.
“I was born into a noble family and from the time I first started learning the sword, I had no interest in anything other than that. Since he was born as the eldest son of the family, he was naturally the heir, but he was not even interested in becoming the head of the family. “That wasn’t important to me.”
“….”
“But how can a person listen alone? Moreover, since I was born with the weight of my family on my back, I had no choice but to give up what I had to give up for the family that put the sword in my hand.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled bitterly.
“You’re definitely a lot more mature than a guy like me.”
“It’s nothing to compare to you. Regardless of who is better, we stand in different places. “Aren’t the world you see, the environment you live in, and even the place you were born different?”
“That’s true.”
“To be truly free, you have to let go of everything. But I can’t. “If I really want to let go of everything, I have to forget what I have learned and let go of the habits I have ingrained, but that means I am no longer myself.”
Laying down everything.
I forget my family, my blood, everything I have learned and learned, and in the end, I even forget myself.
Obtaining true freedom will be no different from the liberation of the Buddhist path of enlightenment as spoken of in Taoism.
“In the end, life is about doing your best in your own circumstances. “It’s just a question of how far we can expand the area of what is best.”
“I guess so.”
It may not have been a big deal, but it was something that stayed in my mind for some reason.
Rather, it can be said that for the current Yeon Ho-jeong, it is a much more impressive learning experience than swinging an ax or a fist. If you look at life from the perspective of martial arts.
“So do you have anything else to do with me?”
Namgung Seung chuckled.
“You have a short temper.”
“If you are going to continue your position for a long time, please give me something to chew on. “I’m not usually hungry.”
To Yeon Ho-jeong, Namgungseung was a quite unique person. There were some aspects that were similar to the people I had seen so far, but there were also many aspects that were completely different.
On the contrary, to Namgung Seung, Yeon Ho-jeong was an infinitely unique person. Aside from ascending to Seongcheon at a young age, it is absolutely rare for someone to show such an honest personality in front of his seniors in martial arts.
Is it because we competed once?
Namgungseung did not consider Yeonhojeong’s behavior arrogant.
‘Do you mean it’s comfortable?’
A martial artist proves himself through martial arts.
Most people think of the meaning of these words as proof of their worth as a warrior, but Namgung Seung was different.
Those who have elevated martial arts to the realm of art put their lives into the martial arts they use. So, just by competing with a few sums, you can get a glimpse of the other person’s personality and even infer their past life.
In Namgungseung’s opinion, Yeonhojeong was far from arrogant. Although his words and actions may seem arrogant, he was simply honest and bold.
It may be difficult to become friends with people whose personalities do not match, but if there is an understanding and acceptance, it is possible to become close enough to a talented person.
Namgung Seung said with a smile.
“Are you outside? “Please bring some dishes.”
After a while.
Four simple dishes were served. There were a lot of things, but the plate itself was very small.
“It looks like you have news?”
“I have never eaten so full in my entire life. It’s past lunchtime, so fill your stomach. It’s almost dinner.”
“Still, I’m glad I have alcohol.”
Namgung-seung, who was watching Yeon Ho-jeong playing with his chopsticks, chuckled.
“How does it taste?”
“It’s light and good. “It’s refreshing because I’ve only ever eaten spicy food.”
“You know how to eat.”
Namgung Seung did not lift his chopsticks. A cup of tea was enough for him.
How much time has passed?
“Are you all asleep?”
“Your hunger is gone.”
“If your hunger has subsided, it is time to come out of your delusion.”
It was a random comment.
Yeon Ho-jeong wiped his mouth with a clean cloth and quietly looked at Namgung-seung.
Namgung Seung said while looking out the window.
“Do you remember what I said earlier? “It is said that people cannot listen alone.”
“I remember.”
“Humans can never attain freedom in its true meaning. “Because the moment you understand freedom, that freedom oppresses people.”
When you think about the meaning of freedom, there is no such contradictory statement.
“But small freedoms can be achieved with effort.”
“A little freedom.”
“You boldly asked for food from the previous head of the Namgung family to relieve your hunger. “I granted your request, and as a result, you are free from hunger.”
“…?”
“An enemy has appeared who wants to harm me. I killed him to save my life. “By destroying those who sought to oppress the freedom of life, I gained another freedom.”
“…!”
“Small, small, small freedoms came together to form me. “I guess it’s the same for you too.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes wavered.
Namgungseung slowly turns his head and looks at Yeonhojeong.
His eyes were indifferent. Like a person who has achieved complete freedom and is unable to feel anything.
“Compared to that, how insignificant is the process of abandoning the existing martial arts that you thought were your strengths and characteristics and acquiring new ones?”
Exciting!
“Isn’t it my prejudice to think that it will be difficult and arduous? If you think of it as just letting go rather than giving up, it may be difficult, but not impossible.”
Excited!
“I knew the essence of the Mangeom (萬劍), but I did not even change the heavy and solemn kendo (劍道), which is the basis of Changgung Muai Sword. Because you can’t change it? No. There was no need to change it. “Because just by placing numerous key points on the sword, the ultimate meaning of the sword without love has been reached.”
Namgungseung’s indifferent eyes gradually turned blue.
“I wanted to go further than that, so I created the Emperor Sword type. There was a lot of trial and error, but by letting go of everything I thought were my specialties and strengths, I was finally able to acquire martial arts that were truly my own.”
“…!”
“Why can’t you do that?”
“I…”
“Even if each of the four energies has distinct characteristics, that is not everything. “It assumes everything from attack, defense, evasion, and counterattack, but martial arts is not everything.”
Woooooo!!
“Is martial arts, which assumes all combat techniques, really the end of martial arts as you see it?”
“…!!”
“Is martial arts simply limited to fighting techniques using limbs? Is there anything more than that?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes shook greatly.
Namgung Seung suddenly speaks of martial arts. The question of why he would say this gradually disappeared as he continued to spit out words.
“Your fighting skills were perfect. There was nothing to add or subtract. The offense was strong and the defense was strong. His evasions and counterattacks were flexible, and his killing techniques were as fierce as fire. “It would probably be difficult for anyone in the world to use perfect fighting skills like you.”
“….”
“But what will you do if someone stronger than that pressures you?”
“…!!”
“Are you planning to solve the problem with combat techniques that have already reached perfection? “In front of someone who has the power to crush even that perfection?”
Yeon Ho-jeong swallowed his saliva without realizing it.
“Even the realm of perfection ultimately lies within the martial arts that I have drawn. “It is entirely up to you to decide whether to shatter perfection and move beyond it, or to let go of perfection and move toward another perfection.”
“…perfect.”
“Do you know why I am saying this?”
“I do not know.”
Flash!
Monk Namgung’s eyes sparkled with fire.
“How can you know yourself more than any third party!”
A voice echoing throughout the room.
Yeon Ho-jeong flinched for a moment at the sudden outburst.
“If I hadn’t had sufficient contemplation of myself, I wouldn’t have been able to reach that level! “Is there any other case in the world as ridiculous and pathetic as this, where one does not know where one’s martial arts is heading?”
“What on earth is that…?”
“Martial arts are essentially one thing! Even if one is divided into two, four, and eight, in the end it comes back together again! “It is a truth that no martial artist in the world can escape from!”
“…?!”
“How could I, who realized the secret of the Ten Thousand Swords, not repair the Changgung Muai Sword? “Why did I go through the trouble of making a new sword?”
“…!!”
“Because Changgung Muae was perfect in itself! At least it was that way for me! But are those four martial arts skills really perfect for you? Is there really no place for the four martial arts to return to?!”
Namgung Seung’s expression became stern.
“Open your eyes! “Don’t just become obsessed with murder and think about killing people, but find the foundation that made you grow like this!”
“…basis.”
“The foundation is the truth and the destination we must reach! Is it still invisible? “Those four energies are desperately looking for a place to return to, but you still don’t realize it!”
“…?!”
“Can you really be confident that you have reached the ultimate goal of martial arts?!”
It was then.
Flash!
Yeon Ho-jeong felt the world change in an instant.
‘uh?!’
It wasn’t just a feeling. In reality, the visible sight has completely changed.
The separate room in Mugokgak, which had a quiet atmosphere, suddenly turned into a dry land with no end in sight.
The dark sky in the land where even wild grass did not grow was gloomy, as if it was going to rain at any moment.
And Yeon Ho-jeong stood alone on that desolate and dark land.
Phew.
The blowing wind began to randomly tease the sand and dirt that covered the ground.
‘Soil….’
The basis of life.
The ancient martial arts that originated from this huge land and was later given the name of the best in the world, but has not yet developed and is just hovering in place.
Excited!
The ground shook.
Something beyond imagination was moving beneath the ground.
