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Chapter 311: The Art of Transformation

“There are two major types of Taoist arts.”

Moon Gi said this while puffing out his chest. When Shar does it, it’s cute, but when Moon Gi does it, it’s somewhat less desirable to watch.

“The Taoists of Kunlun utilize pure cultivation to master their arts, but our Geumomun is a bit different. No matter what anyone says, at our core, we embody wildness.”

“Oh, really…?”

Emphasizing wildness rather than cultivation when using Taoist arts? It gives off the vibe that Taoism is something achieved through relentless practice.

“Due to individual differences, it’s hard to say it’s necessarily a virtue, but compared to Kunlun, the speed of learning has its advantages. It might be well-suited for someone like Yeon-woo, who wants to take a shallow dive into it.”

“I see. Looks like I made a good choice coming here.”

“Well, there are some side effects, but… shall we leave that aside?”

“That tone is incredibly unsettling.”

“Don’t worry. It’s a level of control that you can manage. If it’s you, Yeon-woo, you should be able to handle it without much trouble.”

I appreciate the faith. Knowing that there might be more risk than I initially thought made me slightly anxious, but I couldn’t just not learn either.

Moon Gi, with a slightly apprehensive face, changed the topic, a gentle smile on his face.

“Do you know what the first thing the beast folks learn is?”

“I don’t.”

“It’s how to manage their own desires. The beast folks can take a human form from birth, but to do that, they need to maintain a balance between wildness and reason.”

“Sounds more exhausting than I expected?”

“Haha, it’s far more tiring than you think, but not to the point of being unbearable. Well, for that matter, to take on a human form, one must exist between beast and human. And all the Taoist arts of Geumomun are based on this balance.”

“…Ah, I think I’m starting to get what you mean.”

“Oh? What could the answer be, Yeon-woo?”

Moon Gi said this while pretending to act like a teacher, which felt wildly out of place. Looking at him with a completely frozen expression, Yeon-woo spoke simply.

“If the beast folks of Geumomun wield Taoist arts by elevating their reason, then as a human, I must elevate my wildness, right?”

“Your comprehension is quite good! That’s exactly right. The Taoist arts of Geumomun are based on wildness. You must think reasonably with a wild mindset. At the same time, you have to be loyal to your desires.”

“What the… that sounds like something a polite barbarian would say.”

“Oh, that’s an accurate expression! From now on, Yeon-woo, you must become a courteous barbarian! Hahaha, isn’t that fun?”

“Not even a little.”

A polite barbarian? What on earth is that supposed to mean? Even the trajectory of Yuri’s sword would be easier to understand than this.

“Well, let’s give it a try. I’m sure you can handle it, Yeon-woo.”

I almost wanted to punch Moon Gi, who was smiling cheerfully.

‘But since he’s taking the time to teach, maybe I shouldn’t…’

I, who know how to consider others, am such a kind person.

*

“Hmm…!!”

“It’s about desire, Yeon-woo. You have to master your desires. When I use the teleportation technique, I think, ‘Why is my house so far?’ Because it’s too far, I decide to use the teleportation technique to get there faster!”

“No, what even is that…?”

Moon Gi threw this line at Yeon-woo, who was clutching his head, lost in thought.

Is this guy maybe a bit off in the head? It crossed Yeon-woo’s mind, but he didn’t say so out loud. That would be rude, after all.

“Think about it, Yeon-woo. You might think it sounds silly, but it’s incredibly important.”

“Hmm….”

At Moon Gi’s serious tone, Yeon-woo couldn’t help but ponder. Important? Just how important could it be? Honestly, it was hard to believe, but does he really consider it that vital?

“Just as Kunlun’s Taoist arts are based on cultivation, so too are Geumomun’s arts fundamentally similar. The only difference is the materials; the process of creation is the same. It all depends on the mindset. Don’t forget that part.”

“Ugh….”

I don’t get it, I really don’t. This is ridiculously hard. Is it really possible to master this in such a short time frame?

“…Hmm, I don’t feel like there will be any progress if we keep this up. Shall we call it a day for now?”

Moon Gi said this as he lifted his gaze to the sky. The sun had already passed over the forest, and the moon was rising. How long had they been stuck here doing this?

“Ugh, I guess so… maybe it’s better to take a longer view on this.”

“Well, it shouldn’t take too long. Grasping the method itself isn’t difficult. You might not be able to use it right away, but if you remember the method, you’ll be able to use it one day.”

“I appreciate the optimistic assessment.”

That was all he could say. While he appreciated the high praise, being viewed as talented in this abstract area was a bit much. He hoped they understood he had no talent for the arts.

Most of the understanding he had gained from Yuri’s difficult words came from having contracted with the Dragon and the tremendous effort he put into understanding it further.

“I’ll give it a shot.”

“If you put in the effort, you’ll succeed. Yeon-woo, you’re destined for greatness.”

“Since you keep mentioning destiny, can you explain what you mean by that?”

It felt like he was gilding his own face. Yeon-woo wished he could find out when he had started to realize he was a hero.

“Oh, saying this might feel a bit awkward for me.”

Seeing a guy, presumably Chinese, use the word ‘awkward’ was somehow amusing. But what did he mean that it was awkward to say? Was it not a way of gilding his own face but a way of gilding that guy’s face?

“Do you remember what animal I am?”

“I do. Do you not remember that I pierced through you back then?”

“Right, let me introduce myself: I’m Moon Gi, a direct descendant of the God of Parting, member of the Black Qilin lineage. And when it comes to Qilin…”

“They are a auspicious mythical creature?”

At Yeon-woo’s words, Moon Gi made a scissor gesture with both hands, pointing at him. He could have just said ‘correct,’ did he really have to act so silly?

“It’s a sign that a sage will be born, and as the one who embodies that sign, I can’t possibly miss out on recognizing the only hero in this world.”

“Truly, speaking about it yourself must feel a bit embarrassing.”

“It’s not as bad as I thought! It’s my first time saying it out loud, after all.”

Such a bold fellow. Yeon-woo probably wouldn’t want to say that. But considering it that way, it made more sense.

If he was a sacred beast symbolizing a sage or king, it was no surprise he could recognize someone with a significant destiny.

“I see. Is your grandfather of a similar nature?”

“Oh no, my grandfather just knows how to read the stars. Maybe anyone who lives long enough learns that skill.”

“Huh… Shall we head back for now?”

“Yes, please go ahead. Let’s continue practice tomorrow at 9 AM. We’ll meet here again, is that okay?”

“No problem. Let’s meet tomorrow then.”

The two parted ways. In fact, it felt a bit silly to say they separated since they only lived a couple of houses apart. They were basically neighbors.

*

Thus, Moon Gi’s lessons in Taoist arts continued. Even though Yeon-woo found it difficult to comprehend, it was surprisingly shocking to see Shar, Tae-oh, and even Nea appear to understand what Moon Gi was saying.

Of course, Yeon-woo was gradually starting to grasp some of it. Particularly, he was beginning to understand the concept of desire that Moon Gi had mentioned.

When Yeon-woo shared his interpretation, Moon Gi nodded in agreement. After all, everyone’s thoughts differ. If you had that kind of thought, then that would be the essence of your Taoist arts.

Yeon-woo’s interpretation was profoundly human. It mirrored the history of human civilization itself.

The development of technology begins with discomfort. Just like bicycles and cars were invented out of the trouble of traveling long distances.

“It’s a study that’s hard to articulate.”

While it resembled magic, it was different from magic. I didn’t know if this was a unique characteristic of Geumomun, but that was the first impression I had.

Magic commands the world, while aura projects oneself as a microcosm into the world. The Taoist arts didn’t require a process of inputting oneself into the world.

Moon Gi, who was sitting down on a tree stump watching Yeon-woo with a complicated expression, chuckled.

It was only natural for Yeon-woo to find it difficult. Even someone who had only studied the arts for this long found it hard; if he picked it up too easily, it would be a concern for Moon Gi too.

“In any case, Yeon-woo’s goal is to grasp the flow of Taoist arts, right? I think it’s fine to take your time and solidify your feelings slowly.”

“Well, thanks to you, I think I got a sense of it. Actually using it is a different story, though.”

“That is indeed the case. If you’re really struggling to grasp it, strolling through the village could be a good study too. Observing how the villagers use their Taoist arts would also be one form of training, wouldn’t it?”

“Hmm, that sounds good. The kids seem bored, so maybe I’ll take a break tomorrow and explore the village.”

Seeing Yeon-woo subtly hinting he wanted to take a break, Moon Gi shrugged.

Honestly, it didn’t matter to him. During the time that he wouldn’t be helping train, he would be carrying out his own practices.

“Alright, I’ll give it my all until dinner.”

“Haha, that’s great! If that’s the case, I’ll gladly go along with you.”

Let’s just work hard until dinner. After all, diligent students are always loved.

Saying that this little effort made him Moon Gi’s disciple felt a bit excessive, but it wouldn’t be a bad thing to leave a good impression on the future Golden Moon Lord.

“Looks like you’ve got a decent grasp of the teleportation technique, shall we practice clairvoyance next? Since you’ll be observing the sword marks, practicing a technique related to sight wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”

“What’s that for…? Oh, but thinking about it, it can’t be that different, right?”

“Yeah, you’re correct. This is just a side note, but you know, regardless of gender, humans tend to pick up the clairvoyance technique the best.”

“Huh, that’s intriguing. What’s the reason?”

“There are various reasons, but perhaps the biggest reason is…”

Moon Gi suddenly blushed and hesitated as he spoke. What reason could possibly make him stutter and turn red? As Yeon-woo pondered this, he clapped his hands together dramatically.

“Eavesdropping?”

“Hahaha….”

For Yeon-woo, who already had a dragon’s eye, this wasn’t particularly enticing, but for your average hunters without that ability, it might be a talent worth striving for.

“Well, after hearing that using Taoist arts to commit crimes results in gradually losing your abilities, they all seem to have given up on eavesdropping altogether.”

Using desires is fine, but ultimately, it’s all about self-awareness. Does that mean once guilt starts to creep in, you can’t use them anymore…?

(Continued in the next chapter)

 

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