Chapter 8

Chapter 7: A 'Clan' Like 'Clan' (1)

The training with Master Zhang Sanfeng and Master Dharma was terrifying.

Just how terrifying was it?

"..."

For example, the training I am currently doing is like filling my body to the limit of what it can handle.

It's like pushing the water to the brink of overflowing, held back by surface tension.

If even one more drop is added, the water will overflow, and I will have to be prepared for permanent injury.

I didn't realize it myself, but I was walking a fine line just before becoming crippled.

It was overwhelming just to follow the teachings, but when I realized it, I was truly shaken.

Logically, training at the extreme always carries the risk of injury.

I should have been scared.

But strangely, I wasn't as scared as I should have been.

If I deviate even a little, a flood of scolding words immediately follows.

Yet, amidst this, something was being ingrained in me.

These teachings not only touched the conscious part of my mind but also the subconscious.

It felt like some kind of brainwashing.

I accepted all these teachings with desperate effort.

It was difficult, but there was something that helped.

The Earth Power Technique.

According to Master Zhang Sanfeng, it's a martial art called the Central Earth Technique.

While the Clear Mind Technique embraced the mind and spirit, this Central Earth Technique embraced the body, like the vastness of the earth that embraces everything.

Thanks to this, my body recovered faster.

It was said to strengthen the foundation, but given the high level of the two masters, I couldn't understand where the standard for this foundation lay.

I could feel the power flowing through my body, and recently, I was surprised to realize the nature of this power.

It was Qi.

What martial artists call internal energy.

Master Zhang Sanfeng and Master Dharma weren't just refining my body; they were cultivating my internal energy through the refinement of my body, and vice versa.

Instead of the traditional method of sitting in meditation to cultivate internal energy, they created a dynamic where the body and internal energy grew together.

While others cultivated internal energy through sitting and meditation, I was training my body and cultivating internal energy simultaneously.

Moreover, this wasn't just a simple addition.

By pulling each other up, the efficiency increased by several or even dozens of times.

I thought about this.

"Really?"

There were some incomprehensible conversations in between, but unfortunately, I didn't have the time to dwell on them.

What was truly surprising wasn't that.

Honestly, it was chilling.

I even felt scared.

What level were the two masters looking at?

What were they seeing, and what was the end goal they were aiming for?

It was scary and thrilling.

I shuddered.

I even wanted to see the world through the eyes of Master Zhang Sanfeng and Master Dharma.

It might sound absurd given my current level.

But someday, I will!

"..."

I'm sorry for saying something absurd.

Is it in Sanskrit?

Some smart person said that people who speak in a way that's hard to understand are often fake.

No, I'm not saying Master Dharma is fake.

"Aha."

When Master Dharma spoke, it was very difficult to understand, but when Master Zhang Sanfeng explained, it was much easier.

This makes Master Zhang Sanfeng seem more qualified as a master.

What is this uncomfortable feeling?

"There's no way. I respect my masters so much."

When they teach martial arts, I can't help but respect them.

When they teach martial arts, that is.

Personally, I feel a bit more irritable because I keep getting picked on, but I'll let it slide as just a spoiled tantrum.

However, there is a bit of a sticky situation.

For example.

"Yap!"

After being away for a long time and focusing solely on martial arts training, my younger brother, who had been lurking around, started to follow my training.

Like a puppy that needs attention.

My younger brother is naturally adorable, and everything he does is cute.

Thanks to his natural flexibility, he did Tai Chi quite well.

In the end, unless I was at the limit of my physical and internal energy training, I didn't push him away but trained Tai Chi with him nearby.

Both masters were strangely fond of my younger brother.

They even created a simplified version of Tai Chi for him and taught it to him.

It was simple enough for children, so they also taught it to my grandparents and parents.

When they heard that consistent practice could lead to a long and healthy life, my grandparents and parents eagerly learned it. They were at an age where they needed to start paying attention to their health.

Moreover, my parents are still active.

Half-jokingly, this might make my parents so healthy that they could have another child.

...But that's unlikely, right?

"Brother!"

"Yes?"

"Like this!"

Anyway, my younger brother often came to watch and imitated the movements of Wu Dang Tai Chi when I was training.

The two masters enjoyed watching him as if he were their grandchild.

If Lian Qingyun is a disciple who is fun to raise, Lian Qingwu is a child who is fun to watch.

It's natural that a cute child is fun to watch.

But there's no one like my younger brother.

From what I've heard from friends and childhood buddies, they often say that siblings are reincarnated enemies from past lives.

"You're doing well."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Hehe."

Lian Qingwu, with a bright smile that seemed to radiate sunshine, hugged me tightly.

Lian Qingyun, who didn't push him away, smiled.

"Brother, you smell, this kid."

"It's fine! I like Brother's smell!"

"I see."

If you can smell your own sweat, it's a serious condition. Others would avoid getting close.

But my younger brother stuck to me, saying he liked it.

It was one-sided affection.

No one would dislike receiving such affection.

Especially from a child as sunny as my younger brother.

In the end, I gave up on pushing him away and allowed it with a relaxed face.

Watching the two of us, Master Dharma said with a voice full of satisfaction.

But.

Excuse me? Master Dharma? What do you mean by a picture?

I mean.

Showing brotherly love is one thing, but leaving it as a picture felt a bit strange.

But as a disciple, I couldn't say anything, so I just agreed with Master Zhang Sanfeng.

Agreed... Excuse me? Master Zhang Sanfeng?

Why are you suddenly changing your attitude? Yes?

What kind of picture was it?

Tell me, why are you doing this to me?

"Hehe."

Unaware of the situation, my younger brother continued to cuddle and giggle.

Brother, this isn't the time.

You're being sold in heaven (?!)

***

Although I feel very grateful to the two masters who have given me so much, after that incident, I developed a slight sense of caution towards them.

"Brother!"

Today, my younger brother came to hug me after training.

In the end, I couldn't push away his affection.

The two masters' voices became strangely silent.

Of course, this sense of caution is ongoing.

It seems they've taken another one today.

If I told anyone that Master Zhang Sanfeng and Master Dharma are like this, I'd be the crazy one.

If it got to the ears of the Wu Dang or Shaolin, someone might come to break my head.

'Just think of it as a tuition fee.'

From what I've heard, there are no children in the Heavenly Realm where the two masters reside. It makes sense when you think about it.

There are beings that look like children, but they are much older than Master Zhang Sanfeng and Master Dharma.

And they have no manners.

It's hard to imagine, but Master Zhang Sanfeng said to imagine my younger brother making a sarcastic smile every time he gets stuck while discussing the Analects.

Hmm! What bad luck.

Thinking about it, I could understand why the two masters were so enthusiastic about my younger brother.

So, I gradually accepted it.

Since I won't meet them in this lifetime, it's no big deal if they take a few pictures.

Thinking positively, if Master Zhang Sanfeng, who used to curse, suddenly changed his attitude, it must be a very good picture.

If it's something that can be circulated in the Heavenly Realm, it might even bring some benefits. If it falls into the hands of good people, they might even share some blessings.

"Yes?"

While thinking about these somewhat trivial thoughts, I felt a strange sensation and turned my gaze.

I looked at a place where no one was.

'Something tickled me.'

Since mastering the Clear Mind Technique, I sometimes get this sensation.

I stopped training for a moment and focused on the presence, and the source of the presence appeared.

My lips curled up slightly as I recognized the person.

Bai Wuhu.

A childhood friend who grew up playing together in the neighborhood.

Despite his manly appearance, he has a slick personality and often gets criticized for not living up to his looks. He also has a smooth side, which has helped him build a wide social circle.

He is also the son of a powerful family in Samyang.

Bai Wuhu's father is the head of the Bai Family Escort Service, the only escort service in Samyang, through which most of the logistics in Samyang are handled.

In a world where the confrontation between the righteous and the evil hasn't disappeared, merchants can hardly move without an escort service, making the influence of escort services in the current martial world significant.

The Bai Family Escort Service is the only one in Samyang, and its head, Bai Jinsheng, is a famous expert from the Huashan Sect.

As the eldest son of such a family, who doesn't act superior and maintains a smooth demeanor, he is naturally popular.

He must have come to see me after hearing that I had returned home.

Considering that I suddenly returned, it would be more appropriate for me to visit Bai Wuhu first.

'But not yet.'

There was a reason I felt a bit awkward about visiting his house after being expelled from the Wu Dang Sect.

One of the reasons I decided to become a martial artist was because of his family.

So, I was grateful and happy that he came to see me first, and I smiled...

"Did you poop?"

The cheapness of the first words in our long-awaited meeting.

"Wow, this is the smell of a ten-year-old constipation finally being relieved."

"…Yeah, I'm glad to see you too."

This is something you can say to a close friend.

You can speak freely because you're close.

Just as I was about to let it go.

"What, that's not the reaction I expected."

He must have been expecting a different reaction. Bai Wuhu, looking at me suspiciously, suddenly glanced at Qingwu beside me.

"Qingwu, you shouldn't be there. That's not your brother. It's a stinky monster disguised as your brother. Run away quickly."

It seems the slickness has gotten worse since we last saw each other.

Has he become dumber? Or is he just talking nonsense more?

"You need to taste real sweat."

I lunged forward, emitting the stench as described by this damn fool.