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Chapter 294: I Don’t Want It

One of the Three Eminent Beings in the world.

A man known as the Sword Sovereign, a pinnacle of the Martial Arts Category.

Born into the Bi Clan.

However, he wished to live as a martial artist rather than fulfill the responsibilities of his bloodline.

Pejon Bi Ju.

To summarize his life—

It could be boldly described as insanity.

A martial artist driven mad in the pursuit of mastering martial arts.

Born as a man who set his sights on surpassing the ordinary.

With a singular path ahead, he pursued it relentlessly, never looking back.

That man was Pejon.

From the moment of his birth, he was different.

When he was finally old enough to clench his fist—

He could already knock down all his elder cousins one after another.

His extraordinary talent from birth made the Clan Leader and Elders confident that the Bi Clan’s revival was assured.

Yet—

“No, thank you.”

One day, Bi Ju left a letter and vanished.

At the age of fifteen, Bi Ju set off, vowing to turn his back on his family.

This was, so to speak—

A running away from home.

The reason behind Bi Ju abandoning the various Bi family members was nothing less than—

To experience a broader world, gain insight, and create his own martial arts.

The Bi clan had a bloodline martial arts technique called Bi Ah’s Dueling Art,

But—

“It’s not fun.”

Bi Ju was not fond of it.

Though it could be called a secret art of the clan,

“I’ll forge my own path.”

Bi Ju desired to carve out his own way, and thus, his journey into the Central Plains began.

It started with sparring contests.

Wherever he could set foot, Bi Ju sought out masters to challenge.

Some did not accept, and he faced near-death experiences many times.

For years, like a thrilling dance on the line between life and death, he engaged in sparring.

Amidst countless defeats and victories,

He soon became a peak martial artist.

Perhaps that was the turning point.

– It’s pointless.

Disliking the clan’s martial arts.

Even after setting out on his journey of sparring, in the end, he was still using the clan’s techniques.

Having gathered quite an insight, Bi Ju sought another path.

Determined to create a martial skill that satisfied him.

Thus, the young genius, an unparalleled young peak martial artist of the time,

As expectations from the world mounted, he disappeared into a remote mountain village for ten years.

Ten years.

It was undeniably a long time,

Yet far too short for creating a new martial art.

Moreover—

Bi Ju had already absorbed a different essence within him.

Even if he crafts a martial art, if it doesn’t align with the essence, the Blood Qi would go haywire and be useless.

Because of this,

Bi Ju first decided to erase the essence contained within his body.

He had to clear everything he had painstakingly developed to the peak level.

Yet, hesitation was non-existent for Bi Ju.

As long as the Lower Dantian didn’t burn and the Blood Qi wasn’t harmed,

It took him a year to forget what he knew.

If he succeeded in erasing it,

This was only the beginning.

Pursuing a more efficient movement,

And creating a martial art to add to it.

He entered a daunting path,

But Bi Ju still faced it head-on.

The movements he dreamed of had long existed.

And the framework for those movements had been prepared during the year he erased the essence.

He merely had to act as he wished.

If others had seen it,

They’d wonder if it was as easy as it sounded.

Ironically,

Bi Ju possessed the talent to achieve it.

When he created a martial art, he shattered the framework, the essence, and the goal.

The fundamental purpose of a martial art, after all, lay in its destruction.

Solely to break and dismantle.

Efficient motions and control over his energy.

Bi Ju spent days and nights tirelessly working towards this.

And thus, ten years flowed by.

Crack—

Boom!

A massive boulder behind the mountain collapsed,

While Bi Ju gazed at the scene sweeping along the ground.

– Now, I can go down.

He felt it was time to return to the Central Plains.

At this moment, Bi Ju was just past his coming of age.

Having cut off all news and hidden away for ten years,

When he finally descended back into the Central Plains, everything had changed significantly.

The Nangong Clan’s Blue Dragon had taken the position of Clan Leader,

Simultaneously making a name for himself across the five great swordmasters.

While the Gale Sword, a middle-aged martial artist, was beginning to make his mark,

Bi Ju resumed his sparring journey.

At this time, he had not even formally named his martial skill.

Once again, Bi Ju relentlessly sought out masters to spar with.

He met three of the five great sword masters,

And even encountered the Iron Blood, known as the best among them.

He sparred without distinguishing between the righteous and demonic factions.

Though he had created a martial art,

Defeats still crowded in.

For there were many stronger than him.

But he never ceased moving forward.

If he lost, he stood back up again.

Winning did not bring satisfaction.

The Nangong Clan’s Blue Dragon was sharp.

The wandering Gale Sword was strong.

The rising star of Hwasan, Plum Blossom Sword, was swift.

And the foremost disciple of Kunlun pursued heavy swordsmanship.

Bi Ju could not defeat anyone with the new martial art he had made.

But as time passed—

– Not bad.

Lying on the ground, spitting blood, Bi Ju nodded with satisfaction.

He did not hesitate.

For he had certainty.

His created martial art would one day become a secret art that would never lose.

Thus, he was not disappointed.

With limbs intact,

And his eyes clear.

Lucky.

He had thought that something might disappear along the way.

– Truly, not bad.

He moved forward, unceasingly.

The inadequacies he faced in battles revealed themselves.

Continuously pursuing martial arts—

This was the essence of a martial artist.

– Just a bit more.

The path remained visible.

The way remained treacherous.

No one had tread upon this path before, making it all the more arduous.

– It’s joyful.

To walk the path I created brings immense delight.

Wiping off blood, Bi Ju rose.

Before him lay three martial artists, bleeding and lifeless.

Who were they?

Famous demonic martial artists, perhaps?

As Bi Ju examined the bodies of those he had slain, a thought struck him.

– Your fist… breaks the heavens…

The one who spoke was someone with a title related to “heaven.”

Was it the “Sichuan Monster”?

It felt somewhat like that.

– Breaking the heavens.

Not a martial artist remarkable enough to be called “heaven.”

Considering he couldn’t even remember their face, they must have been someone insignificant.

When “heaven” came to mind,

It reminded him of when he had sparred with the Gale Sword.

His moonlit swordsmanship had far more semblance to it.

At least he—

Had truly sliced through the heavens.

Recalling that time, Bi Ju smiled.

It was a memorable spar.

Although it had almost cost him his life.

– Heaven, not bad.

Breaking the heavens.

What a fitting rhythm that is.

– With that in mind, the name of this martial skill shall henceforth be “Pacheon.”

Tua Pacheonmu.

This was the moment Bi Ju’s martial art received its name.

And thus Bi Ju ascended to the rank of an absolute master by slaying three renowned figures alone.

Bi Ju paid no heed to the trivialities that surfaced among gossipers.

Far more critical was completing his own martial art.

Time flowed.

While Bi Ju remained unaware, the Gale Sword had taken the position of the leader of the Beggar Clan.

The Iron Blood, once the greatest, had passed away due to an illness.

The rising star from Hwasan had become the Sect Leader, while a disciple from Kunlun also likely took a similar position.

Yet Bi Ju remained unchanged.

His title of martial artist sufficed.

So long as he was labeled as such, he felt it was enough.

It was only much later that Bi Ju realized he was hailed as one of the Three Eminent Beings.

To reiterate,

What mattered most to Bi Ju was the completion of his martial art.

That was his life’s goal.

Then one day—

– Ah.

While training as usual, Bi Ju attained a significant realization.

– This is troublesome.

It was the fact that he could not complete his martial art himself.

Though he upheld youth through elevated realms,

His aging body and twisted Blood Qi were the issues.

He possessed tremendous power, thus his martial arts did not fade away,

Yet the important fact remained that he could not progress.

He still had one step left toward completion.

– Oh dear.

He sarcastically laughed.

All the countless sparring, and the realms he forced his body to ascend—

Had turned into his poison.

– Haha.

Only just before reaching his twilight years did he discover the biggest problem.

His martial art could not reach its climax with an aging body.

No matter how much he harmonized his essence with that of youth,

He could not reach the ultimate peak of Tua Pacheonmu.

Given his body had already aged.

No chance remained to reverse it even with rare opportunities and elixirs.

On a winter’s day when the sky shed snow,

As usual, Bi Ju did not hesitate.

If time was insufficient,

And if a frail body was the problem,

Then he needed to turn back.

Rejuvenation Technique.

Bi Ju intended to practice the Rejuvenation Technique.

He was already aware of the side effects,

But if Blood Qi weakened and his vessel became small—

He thought he could grow it back.

At least if it was just a weakened state, it should be feasible.

With his now fragile physique,

The insights he had gained, alongside the energy he would accumulate—

He could witness the extremity of his martial art.

To Bi Ju, the renown and might he had built as Pejon were less important.

Completing the martial art he had created was far more crucial.

Bi Ju returned to the Bi Clan to prepare for the Rejuvenation Technique.

….

Although he had left the clan to forge his own path,

Being mindful of the grace he had received, Bi Ju sent back all the riches he had earned up to that point.

As Pejon of the Bi Clan, his fame had served the clan immensely;

No Clan Leader would despise the return of a Pejon.

Upon returning to the clan, he met with the Clan Leader, who was now his elder brother,

And from his elder brother, it had passed to his nephew.

Bi Ju felt with deep clarity that an immense time had passed.

When he told the Clan Leader that he would practice the Rejuvenation Technique, the Clan Leader expressed his concerns,

Yet Bi Ju’s heart was already resolute.

That night,

Bi Ju cast aside everything he had built up,

And turned back the clock on his physical body.

– …Oh dear…

As he sensed the miserable vessel and Blood Qi, curses slipped from his lips.

It was far worse than expected.

Training in martial arts had become nearly impossible.

Years turned into over a decade since experiencing the Rejuvenation Technique.

Bi Ju had discarded his name.

He was now living as Bi Yi-jin, a member of the Bi Clan.

Having barely raised his agility from a state where learning martial arts was almost impossible,

This was only achievable because of the hidden elixirs he had kept stashed while known as Pejon.

‘What now?’

Basking in the gentle sunlight while lying on the ground, Bi Yi-jin pondered incessantly.

How could he achieve greatness in martial arts?

Tua Pacheonmu.

Even though he had created it, the martial skill was far too challenging.

Only after experiencing the Rejuvenation did he truly grasp it.

How to use his joints.

How to harness muscle power.

In what direction energy flows during the technique.

Everything had to meld harmoniously for the martial skill to unfold.

Because he had crafted it with destruction as its focal point,

If even one aspect is off, it wouldn’t unfold properly.

Among these, the body remained paramount.

‘Foolish.’

The body of Bi Yi-jin, ravaged by the Rejuvenation Technique,

Could not properly wield the Tua Pacheonmu he had created.

His body couldn’t keep up with his mind.

‘Was I too greedy?’

How much rare opportunity would he need to completely restore his physique to that of his past?

No.

‘It has to be even more than that.’

Even grasping the degraded state of his body led him to realize—

His martial art required a near-perfect physique.

What level could it be at?

Prior to turning twenty,

If he had met his own energy needs, he could’ve reached the peak long before.

‘…sigh.’

Thinking it over, Bi Yi-jin couldn’t help but sigh.

It was a truth he hadn’t known until he experienced it himself.

Such a physique would be a challenging find even within the Central Plains.

‘What now?’

With his current body, reaching the peak was impossible.

He had underestimated the Rejuvenation Technique far too casually.

Had he known it would be like this, he would’ve collected every single elixir in the world before starting.

‘Will I truly not achieve greatness?’

When he first attempted the Rejuvenation Technique,

He thought he could rebuild everything somehow.

Bi Yi-jin’s original life was like that.

He believed it would be possible again this time,

Yet the circumstances were exponentially worse.

Climbing back to a previously reached realm was a monumental challenge.

‘I need to find a way.’

He couldn’t let it end like this.

As always, he had to find a solution.

He could no longer rely on brute force against his body.

Rather, he needed something more… something different.

“Big Brother!”

‘Oh no.’

Having lost in thought for so long, Bi Yi-jin temporarily forgot he was hiding.

Though he attempted to conceal himself belatedly, it was too late.

Someone appeared beside Bi Yi-jin.

“Again! What are you doing hiding here?”

It was Bi Bi, a clan member.

Besides the Clan Leader, she was known as Bi Yi-jin’s younger sister,

But she was just a descendant, far younger than him.

Moreover, she was someone who—

Was the reason Bi Ju persevered in life, even after realizing he couldn’t achieve his martial art, obsessing over martial arts with near madness.

“Seriously… why do you keep hiding?”

“Since you’re being such a nuisance, I have no choice but to hide.”

“What have I done to be so annoying…!”

“And… what is the matter?”

Letting out a deep sigh, Bi Yi-jin asked Bi Bi.

It was probably just another annoying proposal about eating together or training.

Such was the routine.

But contrary to his expectations, Bi Bi brought forth a different topic.

“Big Brother, have you heard the news about the Dragon Meeting?”

“…No?”

The Dragon Meeting.

The very name made Bi Yi-jin feel annoyed as soon as he heard it.

His current alias was Tua Long.

At least until he restored his strength, he didn’t want to capture the spotlight.

– Please! If you come this time, I won’t bother you for half a year!

He had unwillingly gone due to Bi Bi’s relentless persuasion for days on end.

He intended to just slack off while there.

‘These youngsters are just too weak, that’s the real problem.’

The Late-Stage Talents were pitiful.

Claims of being the most talented generation, of Yuseong’s era, yet they were far inferior to when he was a Late-Stage Talent.

Of course, there were genuine gems among them.

But they still lacked maturity.

“What does it matter?”

Bi Yi-jin asked with displeasure.

Was she about to bug him for not attending this Dragon Meeting?

“Apparently, there’s a dragon emerging from this Martial Arts Tournament.”

Thank goodness, that wasn’t the case.

“A dragon?”

Was she referring to the Seven Dragons?

Was she joking with a title again like now?

“Yes… they say it’s Jin Ryong.”

Jin Ryong (眞龍).

Among countless dragons, meaning a true dragon.

Quite a grand expression it was.

“What’s the big deal about that?”

Dragons can come and go endlessly.

In any case, being titled was just a matter of reputation at that gathering.

To Bi Yi-jin, who was the Sword Sovereign, expectations towards the faded old gathering were nil.

At Bi Yi-jin’s curt responses, Bi Bi seemed to flare up.

“That Jin Ryong is rumored to be a disciple of that person…!”

“That person? Who?”

“Our Great-Granduncle…”

“…?”

Bi Yi-jin frowned at Bi Bi’s words.

Bi Bi’s granduncle.

If we talk about the upper echelons of the remaining Clan Leaders,

‘Me?’

It could only be Pejon Bi Ju, himself.

“Pure nonsense.”

Bi Yi-jin resolutely shot back at Bi Bi’s words.

He certainly hadn’t taken any disciples.

Such matters were far more important than completing his martial art…

‘Wait a second.’

“Wait, hear me out! That Jin Ryong, the Late-Stage Talent, they say he brought a recommendation letter from you…”

A disciple?

Though Bi Bi babbled on, Bi Yi-jin’s thoughts were elsewhere.

Disciple.

‘Yes, a disciple.’

Bi Yi-jin’s life goal—

Was the completion of a martial art.

If he couldn’t finish it with this body,

‘Then someone else could do it in my place.’

Finding someone with the talent and physique to witness the peak of his Tua Pacheonmu—

He could find someone to see through the core of his martial art in his stead.

“Moreover, they say he’s not yet eighteen… but has already reached the peak. How could that be?”

“The peak? Who’s saying that?”

“That Jin Ryong.”

At Bi Bi’s words, Bi Yi-jin’s eyes widened.

“You know the name too?”

“Who? Jin Ryong?”

“Right.”

“W-What did he say? I don’t recall exactly. But I heard he’s the little brother of So Sword Peak.”

“…So Sword Peak’s little brother.”

So Sword Peak.

Bi Yi-jin was familiar with that clan.

A den of monsters hiding their fangs,

The foundation of a handful of close friends.

‘Staying there, he must’ve heard of it.’

Some memories surfaced of encounters where Gu Ryoon had mentioned that character’s increasingly bizarre behavior.

“…The peak, before eighteen.”

“Big Brother?”

“Ah, I get it… that’s what it is.”

“Big Brother? Where are you going… Hey!”

Disregarding Bi Bi’s shouts from behind, Bi Yi-jin moved on.

In his mind arose the name Gu Yangcheong.

Thus, at this point—

When he face to face with Gu Yangcheong, his level was far beyond expectation.

‘What an astonishing level.’

He recalled hearing that the Beggar Clan’s raccoon had come to this place at Gu Yangcheong’s behest.

Did their intentions overlap?

How much had he laughed upon hearing that?

He thought it was a stroke of luck.

“What do you think.

A body and talent that has surpassed the peak at a young age.

Plus, a physique almost aiming for perfection that he longs for.

With martial arts as the category,

The joints and all should be well trained as one desires.

This is, in all respects—

‘A being born to learn Tua Pacheonmu.’

Everything is fitting.

It matched perfectly with the conditions required for completing his martial art.

So much so that, he must have briefly thought of Gu Yangcheong as a martial artist who underwent the Rejuvenation Technique.

He was at that remarkable state.

What’s more,

Even before, he had slight suspicions,

But as he clutched Gu Yangcheong’s neck,

Bi Yi-jin knew.

There was no way a body that experienced Rejuvenation could possess such a clean, strong Blood Qi and vessel.

Recalling that, Bi Yi-jin spoke.

“Just in time, my Master is recruiting disciples.”

To be honest,

The thought of selling himself felt quite shameful,

But Gu Yangcheong wouldn’t know about it anyway.

No promises had ever been made using the title of Pejon, but he understood how enormous that status was.

This time, he had to make use of it.

If it’s in the name of the Three Eminent Beings,

He wouldn’t refuse under any circumstances.

Gazing at Gu Yangcheong, Bi Yi-jin daydreamed.

‘The talent of that body. Combined with my teachings.’

He could finally see the peak of Tua Pacheonmu.

Come on…

If he just said yes,

A new history would begin from that point.

As the new successor of Tua Pacheonmu, he could rise even higher.

“Not going to happen.”

“What!? I’ll just… what did you say?”

Bi Yi-jin wore a blank expression upon Gu Yangcheong’s reply.

“What did you say?”

“No, I mean I won’t do it. I’m not interested.”

“Don’t you quite understand? As I said before, my Master…”

“Yea, I know, but I’m not doing it!”

At Gu Yangcheong’s response,

Bi Yi-jin felt stung with a reaction he hadn’t felt since his Rejuvenation Technique.

 

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