Train Valiantly. (3)

“Ugh…”

Yu Jinsan groaned, curled up sideways like a shrimp.

Both hands were clutching his abdomen.

“Sorry, grandpa! It was my fault.”

He shouted at his granddaughter with a look of indignation.

“Didn’t I tell you to be gentle!?”

“I really was gentle. I hit you with this level of internal qi.”

She had insisted on testing the Wind Heart Fist at this power against him.

Of course he had agreed beforehand, but he hadn’t imagined it would hurt this much.

To break through the Vajra Indestructible Divine Arts and deliver that impact.

If he’d been hit with ten-star internal qi, he would have certainly died instantly.

“So why did you test this Unique Lethal Kill on your grandpa? If you’d hit a bit harder, I could’ve gotten internal injuries.”

Yu Seol helped her grandfather up and patted his back.

“I was curious what would happen. I’m sorry, grandpa.”

“This is the last time. Understand?”

No matter how much his granddaughter begged, he couldn’t allow it any longer.

Tears welled in his eyes as if he were heartbroken.

Seeing that, Yu Seol nodded with an apologetic expression.

“Okay, I promise. But how was it?”

What was the point of asking. It felt like being struck by a massive ingot of iron.

“What—your punch? It tasted like experiencing hell.”

“Really? It seems almost complete now.”

It certainly looked that way.

When she first demonstrated it, her striking points were all over the place and the force wasn’t refined.

But now it felt like a different martial art altogether.

A punch that hit the target precisely in an instant struck as fiercely as a lightning bolt.

“Anyway, it’s splendid. Wind Heart Fist must be the strongest fist technique in the world.”

“Really? But if you use it properly, I think you can only use it once.”

It was something Yu Jinsan had already suspected.

The technique consumed an enormous amount of internal strength and strained the body.

Still, as a trump card it had very useful value.

“In actual combat, one blow will be enough. When you meet the Murim Alliance leader, drive it into his belly.”

“Got it. When will you let me meet the child again?”

Yu Jinsan hesitated for a moment with his arms folded before answering.

Soon the Black Night Clan would post a challenge on wanted posters across the martial world.

But there was no need to tell her the contents in advance.

‘She has mastered Wind Heart Fist, so from now on she’ll probably be lax in training. But this isn’t the time to relax. She’ll need another motivation.’

One year remained until the duel.

He couldn’t let the remaining time be wasted. The Murim Alliance leader would surely not remain idle either.

“When you can perform the Governing Spear Flying Technique, I’ll let you meet him.”

Governing Spear Flying Technique.

It was a legendary state where one stands on the spear with both feet and flies freely through the sky; it meant being free from light footwork skill.

It’s a higher technique than simply controlling the spear with the Spear Control Technique, but whether it’s actually possible is uncertain.

He had mentioned it to his granddaughter before, but so far there had been no results.

But with effort she’ll gain something eventually.

“Really? Then learn it quickly and I’ll put you on my back.”

From the look in his granddaughter’s eyes, she had clearly set her goal.

Then Yu Seol gently raised her right hand above her head.

Then a spear somewhere spun and flew into her grasp like an arrow.

Thwack-!

“You’re going to train again already? Why don’t you rest today?”

“No. I have to take down the Murim Alliance leader quickly. Wait a bit.”

His granddaughter’s burning will never failed to make him shake his head in amazement.

Yu Jinsan managed his expression and waved a hand slightly.

“Y-yeah. Take care…”

While his granddaughter was engrossed in training somewhere in the gorge.

Yu Jinsan remained holed up in a room at the Soyo Mountain Villa and didn’t come out.

Of course, he wasn’t just idle for no reason.

He spent most of his day practicing his qi cultivation.

‘As expected, the final stage isn’t easy.’

Currently, the fusion of the Muscle Changing Technique and the Buddha Lion Roar Divine technique was in progress.

If he reached the ten-star state called Extreme Completion, the power of his martial art would double.

But it was also the most difficult stage to master.

Perhaps that’s why, despite training for nearly a month, there was no progress.

He heaved a sigh as he paused his training.

“Sir, are you there?”

It was a warrior from the Soyo Mountain Villa who attended the guests.

From the presence, it seemed they had come with a guest.

“Oh. Tell them to come in.”

His identity was not hard to guess.

As expected, the one who entered was Eun Hwa-rin of the Black Night Clan.

She politely clasped her hands together and spoke.

“You’re training; I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Not at all. Come in and sit.”

Eun Hwa-rin and Yu Jinsan sat facing each other at a small table.

“Thanks to you, things have been progressing smoothly.”

“Hmm. Do you mean the Soyo Mountain Villa joining the Evil Sect Alliance?”

“Yes. Soon Heterodox factions’ warriors will arrive here. They’ll take turns staying to help with defense.”

Things were going as planned.

Yu Jinsan’s expression brightened further.

“That’s a relief. Now we can move without worry.”

“Where do you intend to go?”

“I’m thinking of returning to Shaanxi. This place doesn’t seem suitable for cultivation.”

News that the Yin Yang Twin Monster was staying at the Soyo Mountain Villa had spread widely.

Perhaps because of that, people kept coming from all over, to the point of annoyance, making it hard to focus on training.

Moreover, when the Evil Sect Alliance’s masters arrived, it would become more tiring. He planned to leave quietly when they came.

Then Eun Hwa-rin smiled and said,

“Since the most famous person in the central plains is here, everyone will want to make connections. If it’s Shaanxi, are you thinking of going to the Defeating Blade Clan?”

Yu Jinsan nodded once.

He was considering asking the Renegade monk who had taught Shaolin martial arts there for help.

“Probably. By the way, how did the matter I asked about go?”

“Do you mean the challenge notices? They proceeded smoothly. We mobilized all Black Night Clan branches and posted flyers throughout the martial world.”

“Good work. Then it must have reached the Murim Alliance leader’s ears as well.”

“Yes. According to our informants, the Murim Alliance leader seems to have recently entered seclusion training.”

Probably to prepare for the duel.

How strong she might become during a year of seclusion training was unpredictable. She was a woman of extraordinary talent.

But that didn’t mean there was reason to worry.

Yu Jinsan firmly believed in his indomitable granddaughter.

“Now all that’s left is to wait.”

“Yes. And because of that challenge notice, the entire martial world is ablaze.”

“Hmm. That could be. It will look like a fight for the pride of the Justice Faction and the Heterodox factions.”

“You’re not wrong, but it means more than pride. The winning faction will dominate the martial world.”

The Heterodox factions’ Yin Monster and the Justice Faction’s Hwa Ryeong State.

Both were peerless masters of the Profound Realm, balancing power; the moment that balance broke, it naturally drew attention.

“Well, a large crowd will gather.”

.

Yu Jinsan responded calmly.

For the Heterodox factions or the Justice Faction meant nothing to him. Only avenging the Yu family foes mattered.

“An unprecedented crowd will flock to Muyang County.”

Muyang County in Henan was the region where his granddaughter and the Murim Alliance leader would duel.

It was also the place where the world martial arts tournament was held once every decade or so.

“That’s good news. You can humiliate them in front of everyone.”

“Yes. And actually, the reason I came today is because of this.”

She slid the scroll she was holding across the table.

It wasn’t hard to guess what it was.

It must be the order Yu Seol had stolen from the leader of the White Flower Blood Cult, translated.

“So you’ve finally deciphered it. Good work.”

“It was something that had to be done. Please, take a look at the contents.”

Yu Jinsan quietly unrolled the scroll and read the deciphered contents.

Half of it was praise directed at the Arahant, the leader of Tianzhu.

But as he reached the lower portion, a striking phrase appeared.

The content was utterly shocking.

“They will rise on the day of birth? Miri King will seize the Wudan Sect and Shaolin Temple and march on the capital, Kaifeng?”

“That’s how it reads. It seems Miri King was the hidden identity of Cult Leader Yeom Hwi.”

Yu Jinsan, dumbfounded, checked the next passage.

“The Southern Pyo Gong King and the Northern Killing Ghost King will join? Who are these bastards?”

“The Pyo Gong King is likely the Jeon Sa-ryong of Sea Dragon Island. As for the identity of the Killing Ghost King, we’ll have to investigate from now on.”

Yu Jinsan sighed and shook his head.

“They’re completely insane. If we’d left them alone, the Central Plains would have been devastated.”

If the Arahant led his main force from the west, while those terrifying men rose simultaneously on the other three fronts—just imagining it was terrifying.

“You mentioned before, sir, that Little Thunder Clap Temple, the pillar of Tianzhu, has the Blood-Thunder Temple Heavenly King.”

“Indeed. They’ve captured two of the four. There’s a Killing Ghost King in the north… the last one is a complete mystery.”

There was not even a scrap of information on the last of the four Blood-Thunder Temple Heavenly Kings.

Eun Hwa-rin gathered her thoughts for a moment and replied softly.

“Perhaps that one remains in Tianzhu.”

“That could be. But what is the problem?”

“Their strength seems beyond imagination. It would be best to track down and eliminate the Killing Ghost King before the invasion begins.”

Yu Jinsan nodded in agreement.

“That would be wise. If you need help, come and tell me anytime.”

“Yes. First we must discover the identity, so I’ll report back later.”

But how could they find them easily without clues? They were all people who had been hiding deeply for a very long time.

After pondering for a moment, Yu Jinsan spoke in a low voice.

“Request support from the Golden Army. Using their power will make the investigation much easier.”

To be precise, it was the Blue Dragon Troops disguised as the Golden Army.

Eun Hwa-rin already knew that the Golden Army’s commander was the head of the Blue Dragon Troops.

“Ah. Will they cooperate willingly? Our Black Night Clan doesn’t have the best relationship with them.”

“I guarantee it. If it’s about catching those Tianzhu bastards, the Blue Dragon Troops will help without hesitation.”

Yu Jinsan was certain; that was the very reason the Blue Dragon Troops existed.

“Understood. I’ll make contact first.”

“Have you discovered when they’ll invade? From this, it seems they’ll move to commemorate some day of birth or whatever.”

Eun Hwa-rin pointed to part of the deciphered text with her index finger and said,

“If you look at the content, the Arahant calls himself the reincarnation of Shakyamuni.”

“A lunatic. And those who believe him are just as mad.”

“I think so too. If he’s Shakyamuni, then I could be the reincarnation of Nuwa.”

“Hmm. Then I’ll be Bodhidharma.”

Perhaps because the two, who had been serious all along, exchanged jokes?

Yu Jinsan and Eun Hwa-rin faced each other and laughed for a long while.

After a moment, she barely suppressed her laughter and continued.

“In any case, in Tianzhu they hold a grand festival once every hundred years to commemorate Shakyamuni’s birth. It seems they will likely begin the invasion that year.”

“Hmm. When is that?”

“Four years from now.”

Four years can be both a short and a long time.

When training martial arts, such a period can pass in an instant.

Yu Jinsan crossed his arms and fell into thought for a moment.

‘Four years from now… It will be the year our Seol turns fifteen.’