Chapter 2 : Introduction to Martial Arts

Chapter 2 – Introduction to Martial Arts (2)

“Huh? Hall Master, you’ve arrived?”

“Hall Master?”

“Uh, uh, yes. Yes.”

Having experienced something so sudden, Yang Hyo-myung couldn’t gather his thoughts properly and repeated the same words several times.

Only after some time had passed did he calm down and open his mouth.

“What in the world happened?”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“The current situation, I mean.”

“The current situation… I was just practicing the mental cultivation technique.”

“You say you were practicing the mental cultivation technique?”

“Yes.”

It was unbelievable.

The mental cultivation technique he had taught shouldn’t have such effects.

He had taught many students, and Yang Hyo-myung himself had practiced for his entire life, but this was the first time he had seen something like this.

‘Does that mean…’

It meant that the Jang Woo-hyun before his eyes was special.

Perhaps he was a genius.

‘No, is he already a genius?’

The energy he felt was no longer below his own.

It had only been three months since he began internal energy training and four months since he had arrived at the White Tiger Martial Hall, yet he was showing such results.

At this moment, his level was between second-rate and first-rate martial artists.

With just a bit more training, he would be called a first-rate martial artist.

“Haha, I didn’t recognize a talent.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. I wonder if there’s anything left for me to teach you. Would you care to demonstrate some martial arts?”

In response to his words, Jang Woo-hyun picked up a wooden sword and took his stance.

Starting with the “Tiger Hero Stance,” he stepped forward and performed a thrust, “Tiger Leaps Forward,” followed by the slash, “Roaring Tiger Claw,” and then the Tiger Form Sword’s seventh technique.

The swordsmanship unfolded swiftly.

Watching the display, Yang Hyo-myung nodded, recalling his grandfather who had taught him the sword long ago.

While Yang Hyo-myung was overwhelmed with emotion, Jang Woo-hyun felt a sense of discomfort.

‘As expected.’

It was the same feeling he had when he first learned martial arts.

The Tiger Form Sword was an incomplete martial art.

The footwork was awkward, and the sword techniques were overly simplistic, without considering an opponent.

‘Should I say it’s too timid?’

Originally, the Tiger Form Sword was an all-offense martial art that required swift and aggressive strikes without defense, but the current footwork was too hesitant.

Moreover, the sword technique seemed to assume the opponent didn’t exist, as if he were cutting down a scarecrow.

It needed to be more fluid and adaptive, yet it was too clumsy.

After completing the Tiger Form Sword, Jang Woo-hyun noticed Yang Hyo-myung, tears brimming in his eyes.

“Hall Master?”

Yang Hyo-myung simply bowed his head in silence.

For him, the Tiger Form Sword display just now was a precious and nostalgic dream he thought he would never see again.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you. I thought I would never witness the completion of the Tiger Form Sword again due to my lack of skill, but thanks to you, I have enjoyed such a privilege. Though I have taught you martial arts, today I have learned much from you.”

It was an incomplete martial art, but Jang Woo-hyun couldn’t say that.

Yang Hyo-myung was too moved for him to point it out.

“Could you show me one more time?”

Tears were streaming down Yang Hyo-myung’s face by now.

Jang Woo-hyun gave a small nod and demonstrated the martial arts again, this time making sure to fully remember the flaws in the Tiger Form Sword.

Two days after Jang Woo-hyun had rapidly improved his skills.

Jang Woo-hyun and Yang Hyo-myung were facing each other in the same room where they first met.

“There is nothing more I can teach you. You’re no longer at a level I can keep here.”

Jang Woo-hyun had grown too much to remain at the White Tiger Martial Hall.

It had been less than six months since he arrived, yet he was already in a position where he needed to graduate.

Jang Woo-hyun stayed silent, unsure of what to say.

When he first found himself in this world, it was a struggle just to survive each day.

So, he couldn’t learn martial arts, nor did he have any interest in them.

In the remote village where he first stayed, martial arts were not something he could even witness, let alone learn.

But now, as soon as he began learning martial arts, he had been growing rapidly, and he was even identifying the flaws in the techniques he was taught.

Even he could feel it—this was no ordinary talent.

Though he had little experience, he knew that, just as Yang Hyo-myung said, there was nothing more to learn at the White Tiger Martial Hall.

“That being said, I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal? What do you mean?”

“I have an acquaintance who is an elder of the Cloud Sword Sect. While the Cloud Sword Sect may not be as large as the Nine Great Clans, it is still a respectable martial arts sect. I’ll write you a letter of introduction—how about you go there to learn martial arts?”

Jang Woo-hyun also wanted to continue learning martial arts, so he agreed.

“Though the time was short, it was a pleasure teaching you. And this is a gift from me.”

Yang Hyo-myung placed a sword on the table.

“Try drawing it.”

Jang Woo-hyun unsheathed the sword.

Shing—

It wasn’t particularly special, nor did it have any fancy decorations, but he could tell it was well-made at a glance.

It probably cost more than the fees he had paid while staying at the White Tiger Martial Hall.

After looking at the sword, Jang Woo-hyun made eye contact with Yang Hyo-myung, who smiled as he spoke.

“This is a gift for graduating from the White Tiger Martial Hall.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing the pleased smile on Yang Hyo-myung’s face, Jang Woo-hyun also smiled back.

“I’ll write you a letter. When you get to the Cloud Sword Sect, look for Elder Gal Yoon.”

Yang Hyo-myung handed him the letter, and Jang Woo-hyun left the White Tiger Martial Hall.

Four months had passed since he first came to live there.

He, who once knew nothing of martial arts, was now on the verge of becoming a first-rate martial artist.

“Where is this?”

Contrary to the joy he felt upon leaving the White Tiger Martial Hall, Jang Woo-hyun found himself wandering the streets, lost.

Having stayed in a small village for several years without any outside activity, it wasn’t easy to navigate.

In the end, he changed course and stopped by a nearby village.

As lunchtime approached, he entered the only inn in the village, but as soon as he did, he tensed up.

The inn was packed with people.

Most of them were martial artists carrying weapons.

‘What’s going on?’

As he searched for a seat, a server approached him.

“Sir, it’s quite crowded today, so you’ll need to share a table. Is that alright?”

Jang Woo-hyun nodded slightly, and the server led him to a table where others were already seated.

“We only have a set menu today. You’ll have to eat whatever we bring out. Is that okay with you?”

“That’s fine. Bring it over.”

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

The server bowed his head and moved away.

Jang Woo-hyun sat down and observed the people around him.

The martial artists in the inn wore all sorts of outfits and had different appearances.

Seeing that few of them seemed to know each other, it appeared they weren’t from the same group.

“Are you headed to Sichuan as well, brother?”

A burly man with a scruffy beard sitting across from Jang Woo-hyun asked.

“No. I’m going somewhere else. Is something happening in Sichuan? I see so many people gathered here.”

“Hmm? It’s strange to meet a martial artist not going to Sichuan. So, where are you headed? Ah, if you don’t want to say, you don’t have to.”

“I’m headed to the Cloud Sword Sect.”

“Cloud Sword Sect?”

Hearing a name he wasn’t familiar with, the bearded man furrowed his brow slightly.

“The Cloud Sword Sect is east of Guizhou, but you’re headed in the wrong direction.”

A small man at the table chimed in.

“Am I going the wrong way?”

“This is the path to Sichuan. To get to the Cloud Sword Sect, you need to head east from here.”

“Oh…”

It was only then that Jang Woo-hyun realized he had completely taken the wrong direction.

Sichuan was located in the northwest of Guizhou, which meant he had been heading in the opposite direction from the Cloud Sword Sect.

“It seems your destination is different from ours. You look like a decent fellow, so I guess you’re not one of us.”

The bearded man’s self-deprecating remark made everyone at the table smile bitterly.

“Can I ask why you’re headed to Sichuan?”

“You’re not only bad with directions but also ignorant of the martial world, it seems.”

The small man chuckled and continued.

“Most of the people here are on their way to Demon Extermination Sect. They’re going to take part in the upcoming recruitment test. I assume you’ve heard of Demon Extermination Sect, right?”

Seeing Jang Woo-hyun’s blank expression, the small man shook his head, as if to

say, ‘You don’t know anything, do you?’ He continued speaking.

“If you don’t know Demon Extermination Sect, then I assume you don’t know Thousand Demon Sect either?”

Jang Woo-hyun nodded, confirming he didn’t know.

“Where should I even start…”

The small man began to explain slowly, realizing that he had to teach this martial arts novice.

There was once a sect called Thousand Demon Sect in Qinghai Province.

It was less of a martial sect and more of an alliance of shamans, primarily those who summoned and controlled demons.

After settling in Qinghai Province, they caused chaos, summoning demons to disturb the martial world.

Unable to tolerate this, the imperial court moved to suppress them, with the help of major righteous sects.

“We thought the Thousand Demon Sect was destroyed, that it was all over.”

But the Thousand Demon Sect had not disappeared.

It was far larger than anyone had anticipated, and a significant number of its members had escaped or gone into hiding after the imperial attack.

Naturally, these remnants harbored a desire for revenge.

“They began summoning demons indiscriminately all over Qinghai Province.”

Unable to ignore this, the imperial court established the sect known as Demon Extermination Sect, tasked with rooting them out and destroying them.

But the Thousand Demon Sect was tenacious, and the fighting dragged on for a long time.

“As the fight went on, the sects that initially assisted began to withdraw. This led to a manpower shortage, and to fill the gaps, they started hiring wandering warriors and lower-level martial artists. The plan was to overwhelm the remnants with sheer numbers, as the Thousand Demon Sect members weren’t particularly strong but were numerous.”

With the imperial court backing it, Demon Extermination Sect received abundant support, not just in terms of finances but also with medicinal elixirs and martial arts manuals.

For wandering warriors and lower-level martial artists who lacked access to proper sects or schools, this was an opportunity, and many flocked to Demon Extermination Sect.

Thus, Demon Extermination Sect naturally grew into a martial force in its own right.

For wandering warriors, Demon Extermination Sect represented a path to rise in the world.

“Of course, you’d have to risk your life. But then again, who in this line of work doesn’t consider that? People know what they’re getting into. That’s why all these martial artists are gathered here—it’s the time of year when Demon Extermination Sect is recruiting warriors. They’re all headed to Sichuan because the main base of Demon Extermination Sect is on the border between Sichuan and Qinghai.”

After listening to the explanation, Jang Woo-hyun finally understood the situation.

“We thought you were one of us—someone trying to make a fortune or rise up in the world by risking their life, like a moth to a flame. But it seems you’re different.”

The bearded man downed his drink, his gaze already deadened.

He didn’t appear to be heading to Sichuan for any grand ambition; it seemed more like a last resort, as if he had no other choice.

Feeling out of place in this gathering, Jang Woo-hyun quickly finished his meal and left the inn.

Leaving the brief encounter with the wandering warriors behind, Jang Woo-hyun set out once again for the Cloud Sword Sect.

This time, he made sure he was heading in the right direction.

As he walked alone, Jang Woo-hyun began reflecting on the Tiger Form Sword technique he learned at the White Tiger Martial Hall.

‘Is this how I should do it?’

He positioned himself differently from the footwork he had learned.

The Tiger Form Sword was an offensive-only sword technique, with no emphasis on defense.

But the footwork he learned felt clumsy. It didn’t drive forward immediately, instead hesitating as if it were held back by lingering doubts.

‘A bit stronger.’

He stepped forward with force, quickly closing the distance and swinging his sword.

The sword cut through the air with a sharp sound, demonstrating the simplicity of the technique.

The swordsmanship was too basic.

There was no consideration for responding to an opponent’s movements, only an honest thrust with each strike.

‘I’m not just hitting a scarecrow.’

Jang Woo-hyun meticulously dissected both the sword technique and footwork.

It took quite some time, but he didn’t mind.

There was no need to hurry, nor was there a time limit.

‘I want to learn more.’

He wanted to learn advanced martial arts, superior techniques.

He wanted to understand the extent of his talent, and he wanted to climb to higher levels.

For Jang Woo-hyun, practicing martial arts was a joyful experience.

He had started late, so he was even more eager to learn and train harder.

While making his way to the Cloud Sword Sect, he continued refining the martial arts he had learned at the White Tiger Martial Hall, further improving his skills.

Though his level hadn’t officially advanced, he could now wield proper martial arts.

Because he was training while traveling, what should have taken a week stretched into nearly a month.

Finally, he arrived at a large estate in the city.

Even from afar, the massive signboard made it clear that this was his destination.

With a pounding heart, Jang Woo-hyun walked towards it, excited at the thought of learning proper martial arts.