Chapter 13: This is the internal energy of the orthodox sect

The day had finally come when I would learn the true inner cultivation method of Shaolin.

My master took me deep into the basement. It was a stone chamber prepared just for us, separate from the space where others trained.

As I entered the room, the air felt colder. The lantern hanging on the wall dimly illuminated the room, and under its light, my master’s expression looked more solemn than usual.

“Junho, do you know what the fundamental inner cultivation method of Shaolin is?”

I knew this question.

As soon as my master’s question was finished, I answered immediately.

“It is the Muscle Change Classic.”

“Correct.”

My master nodded slightly and continued.

“But the true inner cultivation method of Shaolin is a battle against time. Just as the vast universe was not created overnight, true inner strength cannot be achieved in a single day.”

I took a moment to catch my breath and replied.

“I have heard that while the cultivation methods of the secular world seek shortcuts, Shaolin’s methods have chosen the slower path.”

My master’s eyes deepened.

“That’s right. The sentient beings of the Saha world are deluded by immediate gains and seek only the fast path. But as the Buddha taught, we have chosen the slower path. Like stacking stones upon stones, we advance one step at a time.”

“But Master, wouldn’t that method make us slower than other sects?”

My master smiled.

“The people of the world are only interested in who climbs first. But what truly matters is how high one can climb. Those who choose the fast path cannot climb any further from the middle and remain stagnant, but our path has its end above the heavens.”

I sat in the lotus position and began to recite the verses that my master had taught me.

Only my low voice echoed in the stone chamber.

How much time had passed? I sensed a subtle change within my body.

As if a flowing stream was changing direction, the qi within my body was subtly altering its flow.

I was lost in training, unaware of the passage of time, when suddenly…

Thud!

The entire stone chamber shook violently.

“T, this…”

A panicked voice was heard from outside.

I tried to calm my surprised heart. But my master remained calm.

“It would be good to do inner strength training later.”

There was not the slightest agitation in my master’s voice.

“Witnessing the martial arts of a master is also good training.”

As we left the stone chamber, a breathtaking sight unfolded.

Warriors of the Blood Fiend Hall in red uniforms surrounded us on all sides.

Their murderous eyes were directed at us.

Even in this situation, my master looked as calm as if he had come out for a walk.

Dozens of Blood Fiend Hall warriors.

Looking at them, I noticed a familiar pattern.

Most of the lower-ranking warriors were men, and many of the higher-ranking ones were women.

Among them, one woman in particular stood out.

She was wearing a gorgeous red silk robe.

The energy she exuded surpassed the realm of a first-rate master and reached the pinnacle.

Tap. Tap.

Her footsteps echoed through the silent air.

She was approaching me and my master.

The hair on my whole body stood on end. This was an instinctive fear.

Like a rabbit in front of a beast, I felt an absolute difference in power that I could not even resist.

“As expected… the bald-headed Guhyeong and his brat were hiding here.”

A cold smile spread across my master’s lips.

“As expected, Sixteen was the traitor.”

The Blood Fiend Hall’s pinnacle master scoffed. But my master’s eyes were cold.

“Because the others are trustworthy.”

The murderous intent contained in those words froze the air.

“Really? Are you sure there are no other traitors? Like Number Four…”

My master snorted before she could finish speaking.

“Enough nonsense, little girl.”

“Little girl? I am also a pinnacle master like you.”

“So?”

“Besides, I’m a woman. There’s no way someone like you can win.”

My master just smiled.

“That’s the kind of idea that only an ignorant brat would have.”

“Hmph! Even if you prepared a little for the attack, you’re still at a disadvantage.”

Those in red uniforms were similar in number to us, but the sharp murderous intent felt from a couple of female warriors and one male warrior was clearly that of first-rate masters.

On the other hand, most of our side, including me, were trainees still learning martial arts. Not a single one had reached the level of a first-rate master.

The Blood Fiend Hall’s pinnacle master took another step closer and said.

“So what are you going to do about it, you talkative brat.”

“Bald monk, just surrender.”

“What, surrender?”

My master’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“I’ll kill the others, but I’ll spare you and your disciple. You will be well-treated if you come to our side.”

There was a subtle seduction in her voice.

“Hmm…”

“It is never a fault for a man with a harmonious body to attach himself to a stronger woman.”

A confident smile appeared on her lips.

But that smile was soon frozen by my master’s cold laughter.

“Ahahahahahahahaha.”

Not ridicule, not mockery… but laughter filled with pure joy.

“What’s so funny, bald monk?”

“You don’t know the true power of our valley. The Thousand Slaughter Valley is a sect that destroyed even the mighty Cheongseong Sect. How could we possibly fear a mere Blood Fiend Hall?”

“Ha! That’s just because you defeated a crumbling Cheongseong.”

My master shook his head at her words.

“Even if we defeated a crumbling Cheongseong, the fact that the Thousand Slaughter Valley has been rooted in the site of the prestigious Cheongseong for decades and defended it is clearly the power of the Thousand Slaughter Valley.”

“That ends today.”

“The fact that you only sent one of you, even though you know I’m here, is proof that you know nothing.”

At that moment, I felt my master’s energy change subtly. Something was about to begin.

Flash-!

The first battle began. My master moved leisurely as if he were taking a walk,

The Blood Fiend Hall’s pinnacle master moved quickly like a red shadow.

A battle between true pinnacle masters. But I couldn’t even properly see their fight.

I could only hear the occasional sounds of fists and weapons colliding and feel the aftermath of exploding energy.

Their fight was at a level that my eyes could not even follow.

The Nancho and Nanpa siblings stood guarding my side.

They just protected me and didn’t move separately.

The warriors on both sides maintained a certain distance as if they had drawn an invisible line and did not move.

Even the first-rate masters of the Blood Fiend Hall guarded their positions and only watched the battle between the two pinnacle masters.

The escorts on our side were the same.

They watched the battle between the two masters, not moving a single step from their respective positions.

We all knew. The fate of everyone here depended on that fight.

At this moment, we were just like duckweed caught in a huge whirlpool.

Gokyeong of the Blood Fiend Hall. She was known as the Blood Fiend Hall’s greatest genius.

She learned martial arts from a master who had been expelled from the Emei Sect, and reached the pinnacle at the age of twenty-four.

She was the youngest master in the Blood Fiend Hall, but her pure combat power was by no means inferior to the other pinnacle masters of the Blood Fiend Hall.

Gokyeong wielded twin daggers and attacked.

Guhyeong leaned his upper body back slightly to avoid the attack.

“You’re just defending, as always.”

With Gokyeong’s mocking voice, even more fierce continuous attacks followed.

Although the twin daggers were short weapons, they clearly had a longer range than bare hands.

As the length of the blade was short, the speed of movement was equal to Guhyeong’s fist techniques.

Therefore, the tactic of penetrating the weaknesses with the fast movements unique to bare hands also did not work.

Her twin daggers were weapons that were like natural enemies to those who used bare-handed martial arts.

But Guhyeong remained silent. He only swung his fists.

The corner of Gokyeong’s lips twisted. As the provocation did not work, her voice became venomous.

“Hehe… don’t think I’ll let you off just because you’re a man. You can still do a man’s job even if you don’t have an arm, right?”

With mocking words, her twin daggers cut through the air even more fiercely.

Guhyeong still maintained a calm expression and evaded or blocked each of those attacks one by one.

The fist armed with strong energy was as hard as steel, and sparks flew every time it collided with Gokyeong’s sword energy.

About 30 rounds of fighting proceeded in that way.

Gokyeong, who had initially thought she would win easily, felt something strange after more than 20 rounds.

‘Why? I’m clearly in a superior position, but…’

She felt like her attacks weren’t hitting at all.

Gokyeong’s sword momentum became even fiercer. The trajectory drawn by the twin daggers became more and more dense, and attacks without a single gap continued.

But Guhyeong’s movements evaded all her attacks so smoothly and naturally.

Gokyeong’s twin daggers aimed for Guhyeong’s thigh.

This was a sure attack this time.

But Guhyeong’s left hand grabbed her wrist as if he had known it in advance.

And a right-handed fist flew in from an unexpected angle.

“Ugh!”

Gokyeong’s face contorted as the fist grazed her side.

She was clearly in control of the attack, but since when did it seem like she was taking more effective hits?

No, before that, had she even given Guhyeong any effective hits?

Gokyeong bit her lip hard enough to draw blood when she thought that far.

‘Just a man.’

This was a matter of pride.

‘Shaolin is just that sect that used to be famous 30 years ago.’

If her master had read these thoughts, she would have run at her with a club.

The older masters knew the potential of Shaolin.

Especially her master, who came from the Emei Sect.

Once again, Guhyeong’s fist turned her attack into nothing.

Then, a thought flashed through Gokyeong’s mind.

‘Yes… it’s an internal energy duel.’

No matter how skilled a master is, they cannot win against a woman in an internal energy duel.

That was common sense for everyone living in this era.

Rather, it was strange that Guhyeong was accepting this duel without any resistance.

The moment the two palms met, the stone chamber shook.

The sound of dust rising and rocks splitting echoed loudly.

Gokyeong’s internal energy rushed in fiercely, and Guhyeong’s body gradually moved backwards.

Her eyes shone as if she was sure of victory.

But right then.

Hehe-

A faint smile appeared on Guhyeong’s lips.

The tables turned in an instant.

“This… no way…”

Gokyeong’s eyes widened. She realized that her internal energy was no longer moving as she intended.

At first, it was a slight vibration. But as time passed, her control rapidly collapsed.

As if poisoned, her internal energy gradually fell into an uncontrollable state.

His neat and tidy internal energy devoured Gokyeong’s chaotic energy one by one, but relentlessly.

“You… why…”

Gokyeong sensed that her internal energy was completely under Guhyeong’s control.

Her internal energy, which had been built up pursuing only quick results, was thoroughly weakened in front of Guhyeong’s internal energy, which had been walking slowly but on the right path. And before she knew it, he had completely taken over the control of her internal energy.