Chapter 415
## Chapter 415. The Price of Connection (3)
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Though the absolute conviction that once drove practitioners of the Way had largely diminished, martial arts remained deeply woven into the daily existence of the populace across generations. As occurs in any discipline, widespread participation eventually yields eccentric and unconventional practitioners. This phenomenon manifested with particular intensity within the martial sphere. Rather than employing martial techniques to push physical boundaries, certain individuals sought to use their own physical forms as mere testing grounds for how far a martial technique could be evolved.
It was from the minds of such fanatics that point-striking arts (*Jeom-hyeol-gong*) were conceived. Originally, the manipulation of pressure points served a therapeutic function, correcting internal disruptions via targeted stimulation and encouraging proper circulation, or balancing the systemic vitality by reinforcing specific organs. If life could be preserved through the stimulation of these points, logic suggested the inverse was equally attainable. This straightforward hypothesis birthed the combative point-striking art, capturing the intense curiosity of the *Kangho* martial community during that era by offering a revolutionary tactical paradigm.
The ambition to forge a legendary martial discipline and etch one’s name into history is a universal desire among the denizens of the *Kangho*. Swept up in this fervor, countless variations of point-striking arts emerged. The fundamental premise—inflicting injuries akin to poisoning without employing actual toxins, and offering recovery without needing a physical antidote—possessed an undeniable initial appeal.
However, as these diverse point-striking techniques grew ubiquitous and saw regular application in genuine combat, the underlying reason why prior generations of the *Kangho* had refrained from elevating them to standard martial arts began to surface.
The primary flaw lay in the execution time. Activating a pressure point demanded close-quarters proximity, within striking distance of a fist, and identifying precise meridians through thick layers of robes or undergarments proved immensely difficult. Furthermore, a clumsy or hesitant attempt frequently resulted in the practitioner losing their life. In addition to the hazardous and prolonged setup required, the actual efficacy was underwhelming. A standard point-striking method failed to guarantee the definitive, lethal damage of actual venom. Depending heavily on the attacker’s proficiency, the refinement of their internal energy, and their mastery of energy manipulation, the effects could also be countered with relative ease.
To put it plainly, the practical returns were entirely disproportionate to the labor required. Validating the ancient adage that a historical absence always carries a reason, martial artists gradually abandoned and forgot these specialized techniques. Yet, at the twilight of that fading trend, an absolute manifestation of the art was realized.
If execution proved too difficult, the solution was to streamline the methodology. By striking paralysis points first to immobilize the target, one could subsequently neutralize them permanently by targeting only the most lethal vulnerabilities. If an adversary might dismantle the technique through superior internal energy and advanced energy work, the solution was to engineer an art so absolute that even the original practitioner could not undo it.
Defying the consensus of a skeptical world, a singular technique emerged to challenge all established limitations: the *Sura-swae-geum-tan-pa-ok-gyeol*. This specific point-striking art possessed a title more complex than the grandest sword styles.
*‘Damn it…… why this—’*
It was the designation of the destructive force that had just commenced its assault upon my internal systems.
*‘WHY MUST IT APPEAR AT THIS VERY MOMENT!!!’*
The *Sura-swae-geum-tan-pa-ok-gyeol* was designed with a malicious purpose: ensuring the target suffered the most agonizing and wretched death imaginable. Making matters significantly worse, no known counter-measure or remedy existed for this specific technique. It was precisely for this reason that the Black Way Murim, a realm populated by the world’s most depraved criminals, had categorized it as an outlawed art, systematically executing any individual who attempted to master or possess knowledge of it.
“You absolute bastard! How is this possible?!”
A martial discipline believed extinct for two centuries had suddenly materialized before my eyes. *“What did I do to deserve this kind of luck, truly!”* To compound the crisis, I was not targeted in a state of robust health, but immediately after being compelled to digest the Taiji Elixir. The internal dynamic resembled boiling liquid inside a vessel whose safety valves had all been welded shut.
*‘At this trajectory…… the pressure is going to blow completely…….’*
I possessed no luxury to analyze or ponder the true identity of that unhinged elder. Should the internal pressure rupture my system, I would lose the very capacity for consciousness, let alone logical deduction. As a creeping rigidity began to lock my meridians, a volatile, limitless heat erupted from deep within my Dantian. I attempted to assume a meditative posture, but the paralysis points had locked my musculature completely, rendering me immobile.
I could only find solace in my past mastery of “Moving Meditation” (*Haeng-gong*). Instantly mobilizing my internal reserves, I directed my energy toward dissolving the paralysis first. At bare minimum, I required the physical freedom to sit cross-legged. However,
“……Agh!”
The moment my internal energy surged through the meditation pathways, an agonizing spasm constricted my entire frame, forcing me to abort the cycle instantly.
“What sort of wretched trick is……”
A sensation akin to a multitude of sharp needles piercing my flesh resonated wherever the internal energy traveled. This degree of agony surpassed what a human mind could endure while maintaining sanity. The reality of the *Sura-swae-geum-tan-pa-ok-gyeol* far exceeded the grim descriptions recorded in historical texts. My energy pathways were actively petrifying, and my muscular and neural responsiveness began to fade into numbness. Concurrently, the perception of pure agony only grew sharper and more defined.
My innate internal energy was already tearing through my Dantian, destabilizing wildly as it struggled to channel the explosive influx of raw power. Consequently, my internal organs wrenched violently.
“Ugh, *cough*.”
Without any physical exertion on my part, a torrent of crimson fluid escaped my lips. Tasting the metallic tang staining my mouth, the grim reality became undeniable.
*‘If this persists…… my life ends here.’*
I faced a predicament where avoiding demise demanded surviving an agony that felt identical to death itself. The boundaries of the mortal realm seemed to blur, and fragments of my past experiences began to flash vividly across my consciousness. Indeed, this incarnation had been fraught with endless hardship—— wait a moment.
“I am not even falling in battle against the Demonic Cult…… yet I am meant to perish in this place?!!”
Regardless of how tumultuous my destiny was intended to be, the Jade Emperor had crossed an unacceptable boundary.
“Do not mock me!!!”
I refuse to succumb. I will persist through death itself!!! I clenched my jaw with immense force to prevent injuring my own tongue. Steel-hardened against the maddening torment, I forced my internal energy to move once more.
“Aghhhhhhhhhh!!!!”
The image of the elderly man, who had worn a mocking smirk amidst this horrific ordeal, blazed clearly in my mind. *‘I will make you pay for this!’* Forcing down the rising tide of blood, I forged an unyielding vow deep within my spirit.
“Are you not taking this amusement to an extreme?”
Hearing Hyeol-tu’s questioning tone, the elder gazing at the sealed cavern opening merely shook his head.
“Is he not the young man who accomplished our objectives for us? I am simply offering a proper return.”
“……Are you dissatisfied that Counselor Dam managed to survive and return?”
“What? Whatever gave you that impression?”
The two men tilted their heads in mutual confusion, each appearing baffled by the other’s perspective.
“Naturally, I am filled with appreciation. Furthermore, is that youth not a practitioner of the White Way? Given that he jeopardized his own existence to safeguard Dam Ak, who represents the prospective leadership of the Black Way, it is only proper that I acknowledge the favor. *Heh, heh.*”
“An acknowledgment…… you call it?”
Hyeol-tu shifted his gaze between the boulder blocking the cave and the elderly figure.
Heuk-ma-ryeong-sin. A legendary combatant from two generations past and a mythical figure within the annals of the Black Way Murim. An individual who had attained such a transcendent state that his name had faded into obscurity, yet he continued to walk the mortal earth. Yet, perhaps his fundamental origins retained their grip; despite reaching a status resembling an immortal, his bizarre behavior remained entirely inscrutable even to Hyeol-tu, a fellow product of the Black Way.
*‘His historical eccentricities were notoriously difficult to comprehend as well.’*
The motivation that had compelled him and this ancient figure to depart from the Black Forest and enter the wider *Kangho* stemmed from an unforeseen and critical emergency. They had journeyed directly into Hubei, a territory universally recognized as the heart of the White Way’s domain, to ensure the safety of Dam Ak. Yet, precisely before implementing the intervention, the elder had physically impeded him.
“The scenario is developing into something quite entertaining. Let us observe the unfolding events.”
Despite the earnest entreaties of Cha Seok-du to assist on this singular occasion, the elder had dismissed the request entirely as an inconvenience. Yet, upon arriving in the secular territories, he had monitored the unfolding conflict with the amusement of a child discovering a new game. To be precise, that fascination seemed to catalyze the moment his eyes fell upon Jin So-un.
Even as Dam Ak, the specialized retainers of the Saheuk-ryeon, Jin So-un, and the members of the Tae-eul Sect repeatedly balanced on the precipice of obliteration, the ancient master who had traversed provinces specifically to extract Dam Ak merely watched from afar, consuming dried meat and imbibing spirits.
Remaining an inactive observer until the resolution of the conflict, the moment stability returned, he had materialized instantly before Jin So-un—the primary architect of the victory—and launched a direct assault. Furthermore, he had subjected him to a degree of agony that hovered on the brink of lethality. To any external observer, the action appeared identical to a punitive strike delivered out of sheer displeasure. Yet here he stood, discussing the concept of gratitude with an entirely serene countenance.
“Because he refused to abandon Dam Ak despite the immense peril and urgency of the circumstances, his conduct genuinely merits an honorable return.”
“If your intent…… is to repay a debt of gratitude, why choose to deliver a potentially fatal assault?”
“At what point did I initiate an act of hostility?”
“…….”
Was he suggesting that inflicting the *Sura-swae-geum-tan-pa-ok-gyeol* constituted a benevolent gesture? Or had his cognitive faculties deteriorated…… alternatively, had his prolonged isolation from society caused him to lose the fundamental meaning of language? As Hyeol-tu silently harbored these deeply irreverent doubts, the elder spoke again.
“In your estimation, what asset does that youth require above all else at this current juncture?”
The elder’s tone turned profoundly solemn, echoing through the mountain air. Pausing to deliberate, Hyeol-tu offered his assessment.
“In the grander scheme, it would be a deeper comprehension of martial principles, but regarding his immediate needs, it concerns his mastery of energy work (*gi-gong*).”
An advanced comprehension that could not be gleaned from standard instructional texts or esoteric scrolls. That was the specific element Jin So-un currently lacked. The deficiency was logical. Even if he had successfully retrieved the foundational techniques of his lineage, he had pursued their mastery in isolation, effectively engineering a personalized combat style. Though he had attained a high level of proficiency with remarkable speed, he was bound to encounter a developmental plateau eventually. Advancing solely through literature meant an artist had to carve out every subsequent step of the path entirely by trial and error.
“Precisely, your observation is accurate. It is for that exact reason I have provided him with an instructional experience.”
An instructional experience? What manner of instruction——.
“A transmission from none other than ‘Heuk-ma-ryeong-sin’ himself, an opportunity that will not manifest again for a millennium. By granting him this profound providential encounter (*gi-yeon*), have I not fully settled the account with the lad? In truth, one could argue he now owes me a significant debt. *Khahahaha.*”
*This absolute lunatic…….* Has his extreme longevity compromised his sanity?
“How can the deployment of the *Sura-swae-geum-tan-pa-ok-gyeol* be construed as a fortunate encounter!!”
“*Tsk, tsk.* If an individual successfully conquers a chaotic internal energy the likes of which the world will never see again, does that not equate to undergoing a total rebirth?”
The elder admonished Hyeol-tu, implying his companion possessed limited foresight. Prompted by this, Hyeol-tu inquired with measured caution.
“Has there ever been a single martial artist in history who survived the effects of the *Sura-swae-geum-tan-pa-ok-gyeol*?”
Heuk-ma-ryeong-sin responded with cheerful immediacy, as if the query answered itself.
“Not a soul.”
“…….”
“Due to the absolute virulence of that wretched technique, no practitioner possessed the fortitude to survive it.”
Hyeol-tu found himself so utterly stupefied that he could not even muster a cynical laugh.
“……Then by definition, it cannot be classified as a fortunate encounter, can it?”
“*Hmph. Tsk!* This demonstrates the ignorance of the younger generation. A true providential encounter is fundamentally a ‘precipice’ scenario, is it not? To achieve a breakthrough of destiny, one must first experience the fall from the heights!”
In reality, the overwhelming majority of individuals simply perish upon impacting the base of a cliff. If you deliberately hurl someone into an abyss under the guise of orchestrating a fateful awakening, that is not a blessing; it is murder. A weary, prolonged breath escaped Hyeol-tu’s lips.
“So your premise is that he must navigate the absolute threshold of demise.”
“The youth lacks a formal instructor. He has forged his path through independent study thus far, and he must continue to do so moving forward. Consequently, for an individual of his circumstances, this particular trial represents the ultimate crucible of learning.”
“…….”
“Furthermore, it provides excellent entertainment. *Heh, heh.*”
Suppressing the strong conviction that this final admission revealed the elder’s actual motivation, Hyeol-tu directed his focus toward the sealed cavern. He felt a strong impulse to shatter the obstructing stone barrier and offer aid to Jin So-un immediately, yet he recognized that even if he intervened, he possessed no means to alleviate the condition. The *Sura-swae-geum-tan-pa-ok-gyeol* was absolute in its finality. The only remaining option was to offer silent appeals for the youth’s spirit.
*‘I pray that in your subsequent incarnation, you are received as a cherished pupil within an honorable sect. A prominent figure who will never find their destiny intertwined with an unhinged martial artist of the Black Way.’*
*Snap, pop, crack.*
In that instant, alerted by an unusual auditory shifting of compressing skeletal structures, he turned to witness a physical metamorphosis occurring within the elder. The curved spine straightened fully, and the deeply etched lines across his features smoothed out instantly. Apart from the pristine white of his hair, his physical appearance now resembled someone who could be Hyeol-tu’s own descendant. From the lips of the elder—now transformed into a youthful figure—a resonant, melodious voice emerged.
“Did you indicate that the young man intended to journey to the Black Forest?”
“Indeed. That was his stated objective.”
Hyeol-tu, electing to suppress the retort *‘But he has perished by your hand……,’* simply confirmed with a nod.
“Instruct him to seek me out when the time comes. I am curious to observe the nature of his transformation.”
“…… shreds.”
How could a deceased individual manage a journey to the Black Forest? Hyeol-tu silently fell into step behind Heuk-ma-ryeong-sin, choosing once more to keep his thoughts entirely to himself.
“*Sigh*……”
Jegal So-myeong exhaled a lengthy, weary breath after consuming his beverage. Noting that expression of relief, Hyeok Mu-gang proffered an expression of solidarity.
“Your efforts have been extensive.”
“The true labor has scarcely commenced.”
Though he had successfully apprehended the individuals tied to the conspiracy at the Bong-an Pavilion and transferred them to the custody of the Inspection Pavilion, he did not view this as the true baseline of resolution. The process of categorizing their specific offenses and executing formal judicial proceedings presented a mountain of bureaucratic demands.
“Our immediate priority must be a comprehensive restructuring of our staff.”
It remained an inescapable reality that the personnel operating within the Murim Alliance aligned their actions with the political objectives of their independent sects. The Murim Alliance, by its very nature, did not function as a monolithic entity. Even so, the infractions committed on this occasion had transgressed all acceptable boundaries. His decision to detain the Master of the Cheonmok-gak, who had proffered his formal retirement, and deliver him directly to the Inspection Pavilion was dictated by this exact principle. An offense of this magnitude could not be absolved simply by utilizing a resignation as an escape mechanism.
“The resistance generated by the Jeongdo-hoe will be substantial.”
“True, yet we cannot simply replace those vacancies exclusively with representatives from the Baekdo-hoe either.”
Observing the troubled expression of the General Counselor, who was deeply immersed in strategy, Alliance Leader Hyeok Mu-gang offered a recommendation.
“Might we consider evaluating prospective candidates from the One Hundred and Eight Peaks, or perhaps individuals who maintain no formal sectarian allegiances? Would that approach not prove more advantageous?”
“I allowed myself to believe the tempest had finally abated, only to find myself inundated with an even greater volume of administrative duties……”
Amused by Jegal So-myeong’s quiet complaints, Hyeok Mu-gang permitted himself a reserved smile.
“Even so, is the outcome not a massive positive? At the very minimum, we avoided the outbreak of open warfare……”
“Looking at the situation through that particular lens, it is indeed a fortunate outcome.”
The dialogue experienced a brief intermission. The expressions of both individuals began to shift into matching grins simultaneously.
“*Ahem*, it is impossible to properly calculate the sheer magnitude of the obligation we owe to that youth, Jin So-un. *Cough.*”
“General Counselor, there is no requirement to suppress your amusement in this setting. *Fufu*, we are without external witnesses, are we not?”
Prompted by Hyeok Mu-gang’s lighthearted observation, Jegal So-myeong finally abandoned his restraint and laughed openly.
“As I concluded previously, I must secure that fellow’s talents for the Bureau of Everything (*Man-tong-bu*). Where else across the land could one discover an individual capable of resolving crises with such supreme efficiency? He is undeniably an elite talent among elites! *Mwahahahaha!*”
Jegal So-myeong poured forth such extravagant commendations for Jin So-un that a spectator would struggle to reconcile him with the same official who, a mere matter of days ago, had been consumed by fury—denouncing the youth as a ‘renegade’ and an ‘insurgent’ for facilitating the flight of Dam Ak without delivering a prior report. Hyeok Mu-gang elected to concede the point. The young man possessed a caliber of talent that could never be confined by standard boundaries. Furthermore, given the vast array of systemic challenges Jegal So-myeong faced in the immediate future, providing a conceptual commendation in advance seemed an effective method to sustain his administrative drive.
Raising his vessel with a sense of internal contentment, Hyeok Mu-gang inquired.
“What is your anticipated timeline for initiating the judicial hearings?”
“Primarily, we require the physical presence of Jin So-un, who serves as our primary material witness.”
*Freeze—*
Hyeok Mu-gang’s motion as he elevated his beverage arrested mid-air, his features clouding with confusion.
“Pardon? Are you stating he has not yet reached our location?”
Had they not dispatched the specialized contingent of the Red Dragon Pavilion to provide safe transit for Jin So-un several days prior? The revelation that he had failed to arrive was unexpected.
“The trackers who navigated the entire route to Eun-hyeon reported that they discovered no physical signs of Jin So-un’s movements.”
Instantly, the liquid within the vessel trembled slightly, causing a single droplet to spill over the rim.
“Could it be…… has he encountered some manner of misfortune?”
“Given that his survival was verified up to the point the Saheuk-ryeon established their presence in Eun-hyeon, a secondary catastrophe seems improbable. Concurrently, the Gaebang intelligence network has resumed its regular dispatches.”
Hyeok Mu-gang let out an involuntary sound of concern.
“……The situation invites apprehension.”
“Do not distress yourself unnecessarily. Would a youth as resilient as Jin So-un truly succumb easily? In all likelihood, he is recuperating in an undisclosed location, enjoying spirits for a brief interlude before making his formal return.”
Receiving Jegal So-myeong’s reassuring words, Hyeok Mu-gang signaled his assent and consciously sought to dispel his misgivings. Meanwhile, the stray droplet that had escaped the vessel slid down his skin, falling silently to the ground below. And vanished completely into the earth.
