Chapter 492 - Do You Need It?
"Just what principle is at work here? It looks like a reverse transformation technique, but I've never seen such a precise and intricate technique before."
It had been about half an hour since I appeared before Paejon, prepared to be scolded, but Paejon still had no interest in my current condition and was solely focused on the Body Transformation Technique.
To the point that his eyes even gleamed with fascination.
"Amazing. Is it possible to shorten and lengthen arms and legs as well?"
"I haven't tried it... but I think it would be possible."
Using the Body Transformation Technique didn't require a great deal of internal energy, but it did require extremely delicate and precise manipulation.
So I wouldn't be able to use it in real combat the way Paejon wanted.
Would it be possible once I got used to it? I wasn't confident about that.
["It is likely possible."]
"Huh?"
I was slightly startled by Sin Noya's interjection while I was thinking.
Possible? Causing confusion by extending limbs in the middle of battle, just as Paejon had said?
["Since it is something Dang Jemun actually used in battle, it shouldn't be impossible."]
'...'
The nonchalant way Noya spoke made me picture it automatically.
Dang Jemun applying this in the middle of combat.
But what do you mean, arms and legs stretching out as if they weren't even made of flesh? I didn't know how efficient it was, but it felt like it would be a rather strange sight.
["...Leave appearances aside. The problem is that you must not show this martial art carelessly."]
Seeing him brush aside the appearance, it seemed Noya didn't think using it in battle looked very good either.
After hearing that much, I set the matter aside for now and asked something else.
'What do you mean, I shouldn't show the martial art?'
The statement that I shouldn't carelessly show the Body Transformation Technique to others. That was the problem.
["Rather than saying you shouldn't show it to others. To be precise, it means you should be wary of the Dang Clan."]
'Why is that?'
["You foolish boy, you probably already suspect as much. The Body Transformation Technique is one of the Dang Clan's secret techniques."]
I nodded slightly. It was just as Noya said—I had suspected as much.
Such a precise and outstanding reverse transformation technique was worthy of being called a secret technique.
["...Judging by the current situation, the Body Transformation Technique seems to have been lost."]
That, too, was obvious.
Seeing how such a reverse transformation technique was unknown, it was obvious that it was a martial art that had been lost a very long time ago.
'So if the Dang Clan finds out, their eyes will light up with fire. Is that what you mean?'
["Yes. Even if it was lost, the family head and the elders would definitely know of its records."]
'I understand what you mean, but... Noya.'
["Speak."]
'Would it be alright with you if I did so?'
[...]
I could feel Noya pondering my question for a moment.
The meaning of this question was none other than this:
Knowing it was the Dang Clan's lost secret technique, and that Dang Jemun had given it to me.
I was asking whether I had to return it to the Dang Clan.
Since it was none other than Dang Jemun who had given it to me directly, swallowing it up and not returning it to the Dang Clan might be somewhat problematic.
'Normally, I would have just gobbled it up without a second thought.'
But considering the relationship between Noya and Dang Jemun, I felt reluctant to do so.
If Noya wished to return the martial art's verses to the Dang Clan here, I would have done so without hesitation... no, I would have returned it after very great hesitation.
["There is no need for that."]
Noya refused.
Still, I asked once more whether it was truly alright.
This time, too, the answer was the same.
["That fellow Jemun didn't say anything in particular to you, so there is no particular need to do so."]
'...One thing.'
["Judging by that fellow's personality. If he had wanted that, he would have said so first. The fact that he did not means there is no need to do so. Furthermore."]
Noya paused for a moment, and a brief silence ensued.
["I do not wish to give it to the present Dang Clan."]
A rare, cold voice came from Noya.
Having heard that, I, too, had nothing more to say, so I stopped the conversation.
To be honest, it wasn't exactly a situation where we could keep talking anyway.
"Hmmm."
Because Paejon, who had been examining this and that as if entranced by the Body Transformation Technique, was soon touching various parts of my body.
"This doesn't seem to have been changed by a martial art."
As expected, Paejon noticed it immediately, and interest flickered in his eyes.
"...Yes. That's correct."
This was the main point, to begin with.
It had been strange that Paejon didn't seem interested in my changed body and only cared about the martial art.
If there was a slight problem.
"Your body has been tempered. Its density is astonishingly high."
"Elder...?"
Though I knew there was no strange intent, the feeling of being kneaded here and there wasn't very pleasant.
Was he checking the state of my muscles?
After touching me all over, Paejon briefly took his hands off my body and asked,
"It seems you have had a fortuitous encounter."
'...'
"It seems similar in nature to rebirth through bone transformation... yet somehow different from it. Is the internal energy gathered in your middle dantian also because of that?"
Had he grasped all that just from looking and touching a few times?
It was far too accurate for something he spat out so casually.
Paejon's gaze turned to my eyes.
I saw his unique pupils, vivid yet unfathomable.
"Your realm has changed stably as well."
"...That's right."
"I knew from the start that you were a child with many secrets. It seems they run deeper than I had anticipated."
"..."
Each word that reached my ears was heavy.
Paejon was always like that. While he seemed to have no interest in anything but martial arts.
'It felt like he saw far more than that.'
That peculiar sense of otherness always bore a heavy alienation.
"Yes."
Paejon asked me.
"Is this something you can tell me?"
I could not answer that question rashly.
Was he asking if I could explain what had happened?
As if. Even if I had entered as Paejon's disciple and formed a master-disciple relationship.
I had not yet built that level of trust with Paejon.
Paejon was likely the same.
Explaining this matter in that situation would be burdensome in many ways.
Did he read my emotions? Paejon turned his head slightly and spoke to me.
"It doesn't matter if you cannot speak of it. That is not what's important to me."
I was momentarily startled to see him back down so easily.
I had thought he would somehow bite and hang on to find out.
He had been like that before too, but was there really nothing else important to Paejon besides martial arts?
As I thought about it, sure enough.
"What matters in the end is only whether or not you can inherit my martial arts. Is there a problem with that?"
Paejon was asking whether my changed body could learn the Tuapacheonmu.
To answer that.
"There is none."
Fortunately, there was no problem. Though I was no longer human and the location of my dantian had changed.
It didn't seem like it would be a problem for learning martial arts.
Hearing my answer, Paejon nodded slightly.
"Then it's settled."
As long as he could learn martial arts, that was enough.
For some reason, those words gave me slight chills.
It was because I truly realized that martial arts were everything to Paejon.
["That much is obsession."]
His obsession and longing for martial arts. The closer I was to Paejon, the more intensely I could feel it.
In a way, wasn't he the person most qualified to be called a martial artist?
"Your body has been strengthened, but watching you move, you don't seem accustomed to the distance."
"...!"
I had to widen my eyes at Paejon's words.
He hit the nail on the head.
Because I had been maintaining my previous body with the Body Transformation Technique since arriving, I had lacked time to adapt to my larger body instead.
Moreover, since I had been moving busily, I hadn't even properly checked how much stronger I had become right after my realm rose.
"Hmmm."
Paejon seemed to fall into thought about this for a moment.
"This is perfect timing, then."
Did some thought occur to him? He smiled slightly.
I had a feeling that smile was somehow frightening.
"What... do you mean by perfect timing?"
"If your body is unfamiliar and your realm is not yet comfortable, isn't there a perfect method?"
"What...?"
Puzzled by what he was suddenly saying, I tried to ask.
Paejon loosened his body slightly and said to me with a smile.
"Come at me."
Huh?
What?
"Elder?"
"I was just wondering how much you had changed. This is a good opportunity."
"Hold on. What kind of good opportunity?"
Did he mean a good opportunity to beat me up?
I looked at Paejon, wondering if he really meant that.
"You can tell by looking at your eyes."
"...?"
"Those are eyes burning with impatience to check for yourself. Would that not be a good thing for you as well?"
"...!"
I gulped at Paejon's words.
It was true that my changed body and strengthened power—how different I had become—had been frustratingly unclear to me.
Was he telling me to check it... in this manner?
As Paejon said, it was something I needed, but I hadn't thought to check by fighting Paejon.
It's not like I enjoyed being beaten one-sidedly, after all.
'Wait. Maybe it won't be one-sided now?'
Having risen in realm, I might be different from before.
Thinking so, I was about to grow slightly heated.
"I suppose I must also crush the arrogance of a disciple who has grown haughty."
"..."
Paejon spoke smiling, as if he had grasped even these thoughts.
Damn it, he sees right through everything.
How did every person I meet read my expression? It was absurd.
After that, I let out a slight sigh and raised my arms.
Judging by Paejon's demeanor, he didn't seem like he would let it go if I refused.
Besides, as he said, I needed to check once as well.
How long had it been since I fought Paejon?
I had engaged in one-sided spars several times to train in Tuapacheonmu.
But fighting seriously was a first since Sinryonggwan.
"This time, you may use things other than Tuapacheonmu as well. Try everything you can do."
"...Will that be alright with you?"
"Oh. Are you worried about me?"
Paejon chuckled, amused by my words.
"I am not so weak as to be hit by a snot-nosed young disciple, so do not worry."
Still, I couldn't help but think.
There was clearly a difference in realms, after all.
"I can plainly see what you are thinking, so let us make a bet."
"A bet?"
"Yes. If I am hit even once by you in this fight, I shall call you elder brother for seven days and nights thereafter."
"..."
"How about it? If you don't like it, another...!"
Whoosh-!
I thrust out a fist while he was speaking.
Paejon turned his head and evaded my outstretched fist.
Damn, I failed.
"Huh."
Paejon looked at me as if bewildered by my action.
His expression seemed to say he hadn't expected me to throw a punch while he was talking.
"It didn't work."
"Haha... How did I end up taking such a fellow as my disciple?"
I had thought it was the most suitable time for a surprise attack.
But I failed. What a pity.
Crack. The sound of bones came from Paejon's body.
"It seems... I must discipline you a little."
Feeling the slight anger contained in those words, I broke out in a cold sweat.
Because I thought I might have gone a bit too far.
["You foolish boy, somehow you always beg for a beating first."]
At the same time as the sound of Sin Noya sighing as if exasperated.
I gathered all my strength and charged at Paejon.
********
Around the time dawn broke after night had passed.
Sin Ui had to frown at the uninvited guest who had arrived early in the morning.
It was surprising enough that someone would come looking for him so early in the morning.
But he had to ask something else rather than get angry at the guy who had come like that.
"...I apologize for coming so early in the morning."
"I heard you had something to ask me..."
"Yes, it is regarding..."
"No, before that."
Sin Ui cut him off.
Because there was something he absolutely had to ask the other person.
"Just what happened to your face?"
"..."
At Sin Ui's words, Guyang Cheon fell silent.
The reason he asked this was none other than this.
Guyang Cheon's face, which had been fine when they met by chance yesterday, was now bruised and swollen as if he had been beaten all day long.
"...Did you get into a fight?"
He couldn't bring himself to ask if he had lost, but he looked like he had lost, no matter who looked.
However.
"Hehe."
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Guyang Cheon simply giggled.
Had the child gone mad from being beaten too much...?
Sin Ui felt slightly unnerved and furrowed his brows.
"Even so... I won the bet."
Guyang Cheon said something incomprehensible, only continuing to smile.
However, because his face was an absolute wreck, he looked quite ridiculous.