전생검신 91권 10화

I struggled to grasp Yu Geon’s words. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make sense of it, and eventually, I had to ask him directly.

“What on earth do you mean by saying ‘baduk is martial (무)’? It’s just a game where black and white stones fight for territory, isn’t it?”

[But baduk embodies the principles of martial arts. Just a moment ago, you acknowledged that fact in the Three Treasure Technique, didn’t you?]

“Isn’t the concept of ‘living after a lifetime’ a universal principle beyond just the Three Treasure Technique?”

[If that’s the universal principle, doesn’t that mean it’s not related to martial arts?]

“…”

Hmm… that’s not exactly right, but…

I fell momentarily silent, then shook my head and replied.

“Well, martial arts are martial arts, and baduk is baduk. Just because a top-notch player in baduk exists doesn’t mean they are a master in martial arts, right? Martial arts involve using the body, while baduk is all about using the mind.”

[Ah… for someone who has reached such a refined state, you sure have a fixed mindset.]

The Thunder God Investigator, Yu Geon, shook his head and then made an unexpected statement.

[Then let’s go back to square one: what is martial (무)?]

“…?”

[Are you telling me you can accurately divide all realms of the world into what is martial and what isn’t?]

“Um… that’s…”

Isn’t it possible?

I almost wanted to respond that way. I felt confident in my hundreds of years of martial experience, convinced that my level was high. I thought my ability to discern whether something was martial or not was rather solid.

‘…No… is it really possible?’

But when I was about to respond, something in my mind tangled up, leaving me speechless.

I tried to find the reason for my discomfort, but that wasn’t easy.

Why?

While I was hesitating, the Thunder God Investigator, Yu Geon, spoke again.

[The very fact that you can’t answer easily indicates your depth of knowledge. Unlike the superficial definition of martial arts you express, deep down you realize that you cannot definitively conclude when you delve deeper.]

“Yu Geon, are you saying you think baduk is martial (무)? Please share your reasoning properly.”

I postured respectfully as I asked him. While I thought his martial level was probably below mine, I sensed that his insights into the essence of martial arts might be deeper than mine. Yu Geon gazed at me and then spoke.

[You just said martial arts is about using the body. You also said baduk is about using the mind, hence it’s not martial. However, if you think about it, don’t martial arts also naturally require a high level of the brain when it comes to the realm of upward momentum and basic techniques? Isn’t that often referred to as enlightenment (오성)? Although it’s a different type of brain ability than what’s needed in academics… from that perspective, it is wrong to simply define martial arts as merely a physical skill, and it belongs to a more comprehensive definition.]

I found Yu Geon’s words fascinating but I countered for the moment.

“However, conversely, baduk doesn’t require physical skills. No matter how skilled a player gets at baduk, they can’t become a master in martial arts, can they? If this reverse fails, then how can baduk not be seen as martial?”

[Are you sure? Do you really think it’s impossible to develop martial skills through playing baduk?]

“…Are you suggesting that it is possible?”

[Let me give you a bit more freedom of thought. For example, what if among the trials you received as a reborn person, there was a trial that required you to learn martial skills through baduk? Do you really think that would be impossible?]

“…”

I pondered over Yu Geon’s words. Finally, I realized what he was referring to and sighed.

“…It is indeed possible. If I create a formula combining mental energy (심공) and intent (의념)… it could definitely be possible to form a new martial art that stimulates the upper dantian while affecting the lower dantian.”

[I understand your reasoning perfectly. That’s exactly it.]

Yu Geon’s eyes sparkled.

[Intent! As long as a person can handle that realm, the limits of martial (무) approach infinity. Those who step into the realm of intent can harness that intent to draw other fields of humanity into the domain of martial arts.]

Indeed!

Yu Geon’s statements started to make practical sense to me.

‘I also rapidly built up internal power merely by awakening my upper dantian in Dalma’s outer universe.’

If I could use my intent properly with the upper dantian, it would indeed be possible to turn almost every action into a form of martial skills.

However, this martial discussion could lead to a greater heart demon if I didn’t dig deeper once I had a question. So, I earnestly battled back.

“But… while it may be possible, isn’t it a stretch? Sure, you could possibly create a bizarre skill through baduk while training martial arts, but that’s going to be overwhelmingly inefficient compared to the conventional martial art that requires direct physical movement and the balance of mind, skill, and body. Just because it’s possible doesn’t mean we can consider everything martial, right?”

[Why do you think that’s a stretch?]

“Huh?”

[Even if there exists a strange technique to train martial arts solely through baduk, if the learner finds satisfaction in that alone and feels sufficient need for it, hasn’t it already become a remarkable martial skill? It would be arrogant to argue whether something is martial based only on efficiency.]

“……!!”

Oh, arrogant?

No… did I really think like that?

I blinked in surprise and awkwardly spoke.

“I didn’t mean to be arrogant. Obviously, for someone immersed in the martial world, wouldn’t they desire to improve their skills further and reach a higher state? I was only discussing from a conventional perspective…”

[Your statement holds some merit. Anyone in the martial world should strive for that. The ideal for every martial artist is to possess extraordinary talent and reach high levels in a short time with efficiency. I have no intention of denying that, as I, too, was close to being a supreme being in the martial world in the past.]

Yu Geon slowly continued.

[But… is it only those immersed in the martial world who deserve to pursue martial (무)? If the martial realm were to vanish, would martial (무) also disappear?]

“……!!”

If the martial world disappears, does martial also vanish?

I contemplated his words carefully before ultimately shaking my head.

“…That’s not true. The martial world is merely where those who have trained in martial arts intertwine and coexist; even if the martial world disappears, the lineage of martial (무) will not be severed.”

[Ah-ha, indeed. Now we can have a proper discussion.]

Yu Geon chuckled with delight.

[Baek Woong! Do you still not believe that baduk is martial (무)?]

After a moment, I responded with a wry smile.

“No, baduk is indeed martial (무).”

[Ha-ha! That’s more like it.]

“However, I still don’t understand why you said not to think about the number of stones. Baduk is an area where precision in each move is intensely contested; is it possible to play well without any thought?”

[Think simply. You and I are not merely playing baduk, we are also engaging in sparring.]

“Sparring?”

Upon my question, Yu Geon nodded.

[Precisely. In fact, if we take this argument further, martial arts also requires an incredibly refined precision in each move. In some respects, it may be even more than baduk. But how do you possess such high skill as a super master in that world of meticulous refinement without the best brain and enlightenment?]

“…I’ve received lessons from super masters thousands of times below the level of Absolute Realm, and thereafter, I began to read the ‘flow’.”

[That’s it. When examining the journey of your martial arts progress, it’s not fundamentally different from the process of becoming a master in baduk. Essentially, baduk also requires memorizing countless moves and all the life-and-death situations to reach one’s own state. However, since we don’t have time now, let’s skip the accumulation process and start from a higher level, reading the ‘flow’.]

“…”

I understood what Yu Geon was implying and widened my eyes.

“Are you suggesting… using the ability to read the ‘flow’ of the Divine Realm to decipher the life-and-death situations of baduk?”

[Exactly.]

“Is that really possible? Maybe for martial arts, but applying that to baduk…”

[Don’t use the Three Treasure Technique; instead, just receive this instant.]

As his unexpected remark caught me off guard, Yu Geon suddenly attacked me using the Gun Gun Martial Technique.

Boom!!

In an instant, it felt like he was targeting my throat with a ridiculously fast thrust! It was a vicious Absolute Slash capable of killing even a peak expert in one blow, yet I read his technique as the ‘flow’, intercepted it before it gained momentum in mid-air, and seized his wrist with the Golden Needle technique. Yu Geon deflected the Golden Needle and activated his experience, causing the air to tremble as our internal powers clashed.

Once this rapid exchange of basic techniques took place, Yu Geon said,

[What was the reason you could slow down my thrust before it increased speed?]

“Because I read the ‘flow’.”

[Do the same in baduk. In baduk, black and white stones are engaged in martial arts against each other, and if you observe closely, you’ll see the ‘flow’ the opponent is trying to extend. If you can read that ‘flow’ in advance and intercept it, you will rapidly enhance your skills.]

“Hmm… is it really possible? To me, it only looks like black and white stones…”

As I frowned and looked down at the baduk board, Yu Geon grinned.

[Of course, it won’t be identical to martial arts. Even if you read the ‘flow’, there will be many aspects that don’t apply due to the laws of baduk where it might not fit, leading to mistakes. However, if you keep transforming baduk in your head into martial arts sparring, over time, you’ll start to feel like you’re doing martial arts.]

“Hmm.”

[And to help you feel a bit more reality, every time I make a move, I’ll attack you with a martial technique. Just to evoke the feeling of an aggressive board.]

“Do you really have to go that far?”

[You can block or dodge everything, can’t you? But you’ll have to read only the ‘flow’ without employing other internal arts.]

“…”

I realized this was a bizarre training method.

To play baduk as if it were martial arts!

‘This could be fun.’

For some reason, I felt curious about how fun it might be and nodded.

“Let’s do it!”

[From now on, we’re not going to sit at the baduk board, but keep a distance of three chairs and place stones using our ‘qi’ to control force.]

“Got it.”

Tap.

As I moved a stone into the air with ‘qi’, the next move was laid down, and at that moment, I felt Yu Geon’s shadowless palm wind stealthily rushing towards me.

Bang!

As I deflected that palm wind, Yu Geon commented.

[Each move has been made as closely resembling the attributes and attacks as possible. Think about its meaning.]

“…?”

He made the moves closely resemble their attributes and attacks?

What does that mean…?

‘Ah!’

The wind without sound!

That actually meant each move Yu Geon made on the board was a secret attack!

‘So that’s what it is!’

I began to engage in this peculiar form of baduk as much as possible alongside Yu Geon. With every move, Yu Geon launched a variety of attacks utilizing all kinds of techniques, while I maintained the mental connection, continuously comparing them with the baduk moves.

After one or two games wrapped up, I felt more exhausted than I expected.

“This is tougher than I thought.”

[It couldn’t be any different. You’re constantly using the martial techniques of the Divine Realm while also keeping an eye on baduk, right? You must have built up significant mental fatigue.]

“Hmm. In that case, let’s take a break…”

[There’s no time for that. A lot of time has already passed, and there’s only about a day and a half left. To stimulate your spirit, you must keep pressing on until you fall!]

“…”

[Why do you look at me like that?]

“Are you possibly not a master from the Thunder God lineage?”

[Ha-ha-ha! Of course not.]

With those words from Yu Geon, I finally grasped the truth behind the Four Great Families.

[Our Su Shin Sect does the Hell Training frequently!]

“…”

It wasn’t just the Thunder God lineage that would go through such hell!

Tap.

Tap!!

After perhaps playing dozens of games, I finally realized what Yu Geon was talking about.

‘…I can feel the ‘pulse’ (맥)!’

What I couldn’t see when I thought of baduk simply as a stone game had now become apparent to me. Each move made in baduk felt like Yu Geon’s hyperfast Gun Gun Martial Technique, and with each response to his moves, I also felt as if I was responding with my techniques. Initially, it didn’t resonate, but while playing dozens of games and trying to integrate it all in my mind, I gradually began to read the ‘flow’ from the baduk board.

However, that ‘flow’ wasn’t as precise as martial arts. Whenever I thought I had spotted the right move, it would often lead to counterattacks or being devoured by Yu Geon instead. Yet the more I played, I began to perceive the ‘flow’ itself much faster than merely thinking with my head, and I gradually realized that this was what the baduk masters referred to as the ‘pulse’ (맥).

“…Huff… huh… Huff!!”

But when I finally reached that point, my spiritual energy and stamina were so depleted that I felt incredibly drained. It felt even more exhausting than a hundred thousand piercings, likely due to continuously using the martial techniques of the Divine Realm. As I collapsed onto the ground, Yu Geon remarked.

[You’ve grasped the basics of the pulse. If you keep this up just a little longer, your baduk skills will surely soar!]

“I can’t believe this method of training is even possible.”

[It’s only natural. Since baduk is also martial (무), having reached the extreme of martial arts, you can excel in anything. This is what we call ‘returning to one’s true nature’ (만류귀종).]

“…!!”

As I marveled anew, Han Jin-seong, who was beside me, said,

“Baek Woong! It’s time to head to the tournament. Only a couple of moments are left.”

“What’s the big deal about that tournament… I’m not going. I’d rather play baduk than participate in that nonsense.”

Truly, this baduk training itself felt like an achievement to me.

There’s no way I’m going to the Dark Realm Martial Arts Tournament!

As I declared firmly, unexpectedly, Yu Geon spoke up.

[No. You must participate in the Dark Realm Martial Arts Tournament.]

“Huh?”

[From what I’ve heard, that’s the case. Only by competing in the Dark Realm Martial Arts Tournament can you elevate this baduk training to a much higher level. Because…]

Yu Geon began to explain.

Hearing that made my expression twist.

“Do I really have to go that far?”

[If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.]

“Hrum…”

I pondered for a moment, and then stood up and said,

“Alright. I’ll participate in the Dark Realm Martial Arts Tournament. But before that, I have some preparation to do.”

[What’s that?]

“Normally, I’d stop by Master Mangnyang’s village, but since I’ve already been there to receive the blessing, going back feels like a hassle…”

Muttering that to myself, I raised my divine power and summoned a seal into my palm.

I shouted while holding the seal in my palm.

“By the authority of the Jade Emperor, I command… the Primordial Void Ruler to appear before me!!”

Boom!!

The next moment, the Primordial Void Ruler appeared before me, looking perplexed amidst colorful mist clouds.

[……?]

[……??]

“What in the world is this…?”

What do you mean what?

I used the power of the Jade Emperor to summon the heavenly minister, the Primordial Void Ruler, at will!

I spoke to the bewildered Primordial Void Ruler.

“Hey.”

[Human… Were you the one from last time…?]

“I don’t care about that. Just grant me my request.”

At my words, the Primordial Void Ruler widened his eyes.

“Give me the blessing of great luck! Stack it up!”

[……?!]