Chapter 68. I'll Get Your Money Back (3)

She introduced herself as Bokgung Rin. Although her surname is Bokgung (北宮), it has nothing to do with the North Sea Ice Palace in New Wulin, and is just one of the common surnames like Nangung (南宮).

After giving this brief introduction, Bokgung Rin threw me a wooden sword and told me to get into position.

"I just want to check your level of martial arts. But you're a mid-level bodyguard, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

When I confirmed, Bokgung Rin nodded lightly and said,

"Then you must be quite familiar with martial arts. Let's see your skills."

"Alright."

I answered confidently and took a stance. When I gripped the wooden sword, I realized it was made of soft and light wood, not a hard material.

'Even if I hit with this, I won't get seriously hurt.'

I felt a surge of competitive spirit as I gripped the wooden sword, probably because I had gained a lot of confidence in my skills recently.

I had recently fought a desperate battle. After all, after a fierce battle, one often gains some kind of enlightenment. Although I hadn't realized it, I must have gained something.

'I need to show my skills.'

I tensed my forearm and gripped the handle firmly. I could feel the handle tightly fitting into my hand. I pointed the wooden sword at her and said,

"Then, I'll start."

"Yes."

Bokgung Rin answered briefly, as if she was ready for an attack at any time.

'First, I'll try to shake her a bit.'

After all, controlling the opponent is the basic principle of attack.

—Whoosh

I broke my stance and swung the sword horizontally to shake her. I expected Bokgung Rin to block it with her sword when I thought about the speed and timing.

'Then, I'll follow up with a series of attacks to get into close combat.'

That was my plan. After a light control, I would engage in close combat. Based on my experience, this strategy worked quite well.

However.

—Thud, Thud

But it was easily blocked.

Bokgung Rin simply stepped back and moved out of the attack range. My sword cut through the air in vain, and I stumbled, losing my balance.

"Huh?"

Before I could regain my stance, she moved in and hit my exposed knees and waist with the wooden sword.

—Thud, Thud

"Ugh..."

My attack was easily dismantled. Bokgung Rin had just slightly moved to break the flow of my attack.

I knelt, feeling absurd. I was trying to figure out what went wrong when Bokgung Rin said to me,

"Try again."

"…Yes."

Since I wasn't in pain, I immediately stood up and loosened my shoulders. I tried to think about what went wrong.

'Did I swing too wide?'

Now that I think about it, my first attack wasn't very smart. The wider the swing, the more exposed the weaknesses.

That's why, as one becomes a master, their movements become smaller and more precise. It's more effective.

In martial arts, it's often said that one progresses from 'kaejeon' (large and peaceful movements) to 'ginju' (small and precise movements). This means that one starts with large movements and then learns smaller, more precise ones, which is one of the principles.

At first, it's hard to accurately pinpoint the target, so one learns techniques with a wide range of attack. As one's skills improve, the target becomes more precise, and one focuses on smart and precise techniques.

'Should I try a thrust?'

I thought about narrowing the target and using a thrust as the first attack, but I shook my head.

'No, a slash is still better.'

According to Wijian, a thrust as the first attack is somewhat risky. If it fails, it easily exposes one's weaknesses.

Therefore, a thrust is best used when one can clearly pinpoint the target or when the situation calls for it.

'Then… I'll try a small horizontal slash to shake her, and then adapt flexibly.'

I thought this was a reasonable strategy. Although I didn't expect to win, I wanted to prove that I had some skills.

I regained my confidence and took a stance again. Then I launched an attack.

However.

—Thud, Thud

But it was easily blocked again.

Bokgung Rin blocked my horizontal slash, hit my wrist, and then struck my waist like water flowing. Although my wrist was hit, I felt more absurd than pain.

'I don't even know what I did wrong.'

It was so frustrating. Bokgung Rin, with her usual cold voice, said,

"That's enough. I have a general idea of your skills."

"Wait a moment. Can I have another chance…"

I really could do better if given another chance.

But she shook her head coldly and said,

"We'll move on. Can you show me your hand?"

I awkwardly extended my hand, and Bokgung Rin grabbed my fingers. Then, with the fingers of her other hand, she pinched my palm.

I could feel the touch of Bokgung Rin's thin and soft fingers on the center of my palm. Then, from there, a very small and warm sensation seeped into my palm.

'Huh?'

It felt like my hand was dipped in warm water. Then, the sensation disappeared. She let go of my hand and said,

"I've checked."

"What did you just do?"

"I checked your internal energy. You've been practicing for about 5 to 6 years."

It seemed she had sent her internal energy to measure mine. I nodded in surprise at the accurate assessment, and she continued,

"To summarize, your internal energy is at a second-class level, but your martial arts skills are worse. Also, your internal energy is not very pure. Have you taken any medicinal herbs?"

"Yes, a little…"

"Then it makes sense."

Bokgung Rin nodded slightly, as if confirming her suspicions. She then gave some advice,

"In such a case, it's best to focus on the basics. If the basics are solid, your skills will improve quickly."

"I see…"

It wasn't much different from what Wijian had said before. It felt like they had planned it together. I nodded, and Bokgung Rin briefly examined my body from top to bottom and asked,

"Also, it seems you've learned external martial arts, but your muscles are lacking."

"Isn't this enough?"

I struck a pose that made my muscles look exaggerated. But Bokgung Rin shook her head.

"For external martial arts, the quality of muscles is more important than the quantity. You lack both."

"…"

That made me feel a bit… well, wronged.

But Bokgung Rin, as if she had no intention of saying more, immediately continued,

"Let's start the trial lesson."

***

Following Bokgung Rin's suggestion, I changed into the martial arts uniform of Fengyun Wuguan, and the trial lesson began.

The trial lesson was a fun and easy time. After an hour, during the break, I thought,

'This is the perfect time to run away.'

I wasn't doing this because it was too hard. At the beginning, Bokgung Rin had made me swing a wooden stick stuck in a stone, called 'Seokchugong,' a thousand times, but that wasn't the reason.

I just suddenly missed Wijian and wanted to return to his class.

'Wujian's class is better. This… the stone weighs about 30 kilograms.'

I was swinging it over my head, and it made me feel dizzy. I needed to escape and restart quickly.

I was putting all my strength into swinging it, and Bokgung Rin kept saying,

"Speed up a bit."

"My hands are…"

"Don't let go."

I needed to escape, but I couldn't find a way out. It felt like the first day at a gym when the trainer makes you do a thousand squats.

'But I have pride.'

I regretted saying I was a mid-level bodyguard.

I should have said I knew nothing about martial arts.

Now, I felt like someone who said, "I do a bit of sports," and then the trainer said, "Oh, you're an athlete! Let's do some intense training," and made me do a thousand barbell squats.

I couldn't say I couldn't do it out of embarrassment and kept swinging the stone, feeling like I was dying.

Bokgung Rin kept watching me with a cold gaze. After somehow completing a thousand swings, I fell to the ground. My arms felt like they weren't mine.

"Ugh…"

I was holding my trembling arms, and after a while, Bokgung Rin said,

"Time's up. Get up."

"Can I rest a bit more…"

"Long rest will make your body stiff."

The training resumed. This time, it was 'Seoksoegong,' a training with a stone similar to a kettlebell.

From a squat position, I had to lift it into the air and catch it with the other hand. The stone was as heavy as a cornerstone, and I could feel its weight even when I briefly held it.

"Wait. How much does this weigh?"

"It's only about 20 kilograms (12 kg)."

12 kilograms is the weight of six 2-liter bottles of water.

'Save me.'

I was made to do it a thousand times.

After four hours of this terrible training, I finally completed a thousand. The evening sun was setting. Despite the hot weather, Bokgung Rin, who hadn't even broken a sweat, said,

"Good job."

"…Mmm."

I didn't have the energy to answer and lay on the ground, feeling defeated. My arms felt like they were melting. Bokgung Rin gave a brief instruction,

"Come at the same time tomorrow. Pay the tuition to the supervisor at the entrance when you come."

Then she left, as if she expected me to come back for the next class.

'I won't do it.'

I wanted to live.

No, I'm learning martial arts to live, not to die.

But this was a course that would definitely lead to death.

I shook my head, lying on the ground. I wanted to go back to the inn. I wanted to rest in my warm and cozy home.

'But my body won't move.'

My muscles were completely exhausted. I thought my arms were the only ones tired, but my entire body, from my waist to my legs, was drained.

I had no choice but to lie down and start circulating my internal energy, the Tianwang Houxin Gong, to recover.

Circulating internal energy is usually done in a cross-legged position, but it can also be done lying down, called 'wagong.'

Although it's not recommended in the manual, I had no choice because I couldn't move.

While lying down and circulating my internal energy, I understood why the manual said not to do it.

'I'm sleepy…'

It wasn't some kind of possession, just sleepiness. My body was exhausted, and my mind suddenly felt calm. The warm evening sun made me drowsy.

I stopped circulating my internal energy and fell asleep.

***

When I opened my eyes, the moon was high in the sky, and it was completely dark.

"Oh!"

I quickly got up. My arms still felt like they weren't mine, but I was much better.

Standing alone in the empty training ground, I felt like I had woken up in a corner of a cafe after a nap, with all the lights off.

'I need to go home quickly…'

I thought and got up to go to the locker. I quickly took out my clothes and belongings, determined never to come back. It was too hard, both physically and mentally.

'Was this the place?'

I was searching for the locker where I had put my clothes in the dark when I heard some voices. They sounded angry, like someone was being scolded.

"Because… always… that's it!"

"…"

I instinctively hid. I slightly raised my internal energy and listened. The angry voice belonged to a middle-aged man.

He was shouting so loudly that the building seemed to shake.

"You need to earn your keep!"

"…I'm sorry, Wuguanzhu."

I peeked to see who was being scolded and saw Bokgung Rin. She was bowing and listening to the scolding with the same cold expression.

The person scolding her seemed to be the Wuguanzhu, the head of Fengyun Wuguan. He was waving his arms and continuing to scold her.

"Or at least take some students, regardless of their background! Do you know that you're the only instructor without any students?!"

"…One student came today."

Bokgung Rin, who had been listening to the scolding with her head bowed, replied in a small voice. The Wuguanzhu, as if his chest was about to explode, pounded it and shouted,

"One student is something to boast about?! Is it? And how do you know when that one will leave? Do you know how many students have left because of you?!"

"…It won't happen this time."

"How do you know that?!"

The Wuguanzhu, as if his blood pressure was rising, grabbed the back of his neck. I was worried he might have a stroke.

'Being so angry at this age is bad for your health.'

Blood pressure must always be managed carefully. Bokgung Rin hesitated and then said in a low voice,

"I just have a feeling."

Even as a third party, I found her words unconvincing.

Or maybe it was just unconvincing to me, but considering the training content, anyone would find it unconvincing.

'What kind of feeling is that?'

It's completely baseless.

As soon as she said that, the Wuguanzhu, as if he had been stung, started to rage like a wild boar.

"Hey! Are you saying that, oh! Are you trying to make me die of a heart attack?! Are you trying to assassinate me? Did your expelled master hire you? How much are you getting paid? I want to know the value of my life. Yes?"

"…No, I'm not."

Bokgung Rin coldly denied the assassination accusation, but it didn't have much effect. The Wuguanzhu, as if he was frustrated, kept pounding his chest. I was worried he might break his ribs.

"I'm going crazy, really! I'm going crazy! I should have expelled you and your master back then! Really!"

After scolding Bokgung Rin for a while, the Wuguanzhu, as if he had run out of energy, shouted, "If you keep losing students, I'll really expel you this time!" and then went inside the building.

'This is… embarrassing.'

I felt like I had seen the true face of Fengyun Wuguan.

I was worried I would be caught eavesdropping, so I hid in a corner where no one could see me.

A while later, I saw Bokgung Rin come out of the building.

The moon