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Skin Beauty.

Surprisingly, it is said that skin beauty can be obtained by visiting the place of an urban legend.

“…Well, it also supposedly gives men incredible vitality, and opportunities for warriors to achieve success. What do you think? Amazing, right?”

“Achieving success as a warrior must mean becoming a lord, doesn’t it?”

“Eh?”

Iarin tilted her head as if she found Jinseong’s words strange.

“That’s a strange thought. Brother, what does achieving success through such suspicious methods even mean?”

“Meaning?”

“Of course, it’s true that warriors are obsessed with fortuitous encounters and elixirs~ but that can still be understood traditionally, right? But things like meridians and vital energy seem a bit… off for the situation of warriors.”

Iarin paused for a moment to choose her words and then thought of a “funny word” that old warriors might say and chuckled softly.

“Right. Evil magic. It falls under the realm of evil magic.”

“Hahaha. Evil magic, huh!”

Evil magic.

It was a term frequently used by warriors of old.

If someone had a high achievement for their age, it was evil magic.

If their martial arts looked peculiar, it was evil magic.

If they relied on demon power, it was evil magic.

If they used dazzling, illusion-like martial arts to enchant people, it was evil magic.

If someone’s background was questionable but their martial arts prowess was outstanding, that was evil magic too.

If powers were enhanced through fortuitous encounters or elixirs, that was evil magic.

Even using special weapons counted as evil magic.

They would even say it was evil magic if someone used guns or bows to display martial arts.

This wasn’t even an old story.

It was something that happened mere decades ago.

Those who yammered about evil magic… as Iarin put it, “old-timers,” are still alive and well.

So, it made sense that Iarin laughed like this while talking about evil magic.

“Yeah, those old-timers~ they scream evil magic for everything~”

Then what exactly is the evil magic they speak of?

Is it referring to the arts of magic, as the characters suggest?

Or is it talking about wizardry that uses mana?

Did Jinseong use mana instead of qi like some warrior from Japan he’d seen?

Are they attempting to gain power through human sacrifices or offerings?

Are they seeking power through certain rituals or transcendent beings?

Inhumane experiments impacting martial arts?

Recklessly swapping out nerves through cybernetic surgery?

Enhancing combat abilities through Tactical Cybernetics?

Using lives as a price to elevate their realm?

Performing magic disguised as martial arts to obtain qi or enhance the body?

The answer is all of them.

Or rather, none at all.

All of that can be what they refer to as evil magic, or it can also not be.

Why, you ask?

Because the “evil magic” talk from the mouths of warriors is often a complaint about what they find hard to understand or accept, claiming their own righteousness while belittling others, and more often than not, it resembles the whining of old-timers.

So Jinseong couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Iarin’s talk of evil magic.

He was also someone who had grown weary of hearing the warriors’ grumbling about evil magic.

Much more so than Iarin.

The habits of warriors indeed were like this. Hehe.

Only by inserting a specific parasite into one’s body to forcibly release adrenaline, and they scream evil magic.

Even if making a biological bomb that infects enemies by letting parasitic eggs or protozoa roam in blood vessels gets them to scream evil magic.

If you pollute all nearby flora and fauna making it harmful to touch, they scream evil magic.

Even if using the remains of the dead to create divine objects or perform rituals leads to them screaming evil magic.

Despite being something that could seem slightly grotesque, they are, after all, warriors.

It’s disheartening to see those who usually emphasize their masculinity shuddering at the mere mention of evil magic.

Especially when considering that they are in a battlefield or an environment even harsher than the battlefield.

“It’s the same way at our school. Everything’s great, but there are too many old-timers complaining! When the new generation rides around on artifacts, they make a fuss about how they casually use evil magic, and when you wear stab-resistant suits made from synthetic fibers, they start going on about how it’s foreign instead, forbidding you from wearing it during sparring sessions. Even when you try using martial arts like gun kata or swordplay, they claim you’re just trying to show off and make a fuss. Once, there was someone who processed an elixir into pill form—do you know what they said? They yelled that making elixirs like that was doping! Like, come on, how is that not enhancing inner power with elixirs?”

Was Iarin just letting out frustrations that had built up over time?

She began to spill complaints one after another.

Everything seemed to revolve around tradition and whatnot.

There are quite a few instructors who recoil at the thought of using magic or the latest scientific technology.

Yet they are perfectly fine using smartphones, self-defense artifacts, and equipment forged in factories using magic.

Iarin excitedly expressed her grievances to Jinseong.

Then, when it seemed like she had let it all out, she playfully giggled and tossed her bangs back.

“Anyways, things like qi and vital energy are stories that shouldn’t concern warriors! You know those plots from martial arts novels? Like when the Zhuge family considers meridians to formulate formations, or when some aged Taoist talks about qi, or when blood sects use it to conspire…? That’s about the gist of it, right?”

“Indeed.”

Jinseong nodded along to Iarin’s words.

But…

‘If I know warriors well, they will undoubtedly be curious.’

Despite his outward demeanor, Jinseong was filled with a sense of certainty.

The chance of a warrior hearing that and not becoming interested was practically zero.

While Iarin may consider it just a fun tale, it wouldn’t be the same for others. After all, claiming something as evil magic was merely Iarin’s personal perspective.

Whatever they touch becomes a hook, and whatever they grasp becomes a bar.

Warriors didn’t think it was a flaw if they trained in places rich in qi.

On the contrary, they regarded it as a virtue.

From that standpoint, walking into a location known for “perfect martial arts training grounds” would be justified, and using vital energy to enhance capabilities would also be wrapped in talk of fortuitous encounters.

So,

“What’s the realm of that Sherala kid?”

“Hmm? It’s alright? Their grades are pretty good.”

“Pretty good…”

That simple word Iarin used was packed with various clues.

Saying something is good or bad involves a standard of evaluation and a comparison with certain aspects. Moreover, even though the Seoul Specialization High School for Ability Users mainly focused on curricula related to mastering abilities, it is not surprising that competition exists in a high school in Korea.

In such a place, to say “pretty good”?

“Do you know what martial arts they are mastering?”

“The arts from Huashan. You’ve heard of the plum blossom swordplay, right?”

“Ah, Huashan. I know about that.”

He was well aware.

How could one not know the Huashan Sect?

A sect rooted in the perilous mountains of Huashan in China.

A sect of warriors that emerges from steep, intimidating mountains.

Famed worldwide for the beauty and potency of their martial arts.

The Huashan Sect is famous for their plum blossom swordplay, which, upon reaching a certain level, is said to imitate the falling petals of plum blossoms and exude a plum fragrance. There are also the Plum Blossom Fist, and Plum Blossom Piercing that can pierce through all scattered plum blossoms, all of which are renowned martial arts.

Due to their fame, these martial skills are indeed popular among women.

They are elegant and beautiful.

Soft yet strong.

Dazzling but restrained.

The external appearance is essential when mastering martial arts.

And given the prestige and renown of their sect, who would hesitate?

Thus, it was no surprise that they would be immensely popular…

But Jinseong knew the underlying truth of these movements.

‘What truly represents their martial arts isn’t the soft styles symbolized by plum blossom swordplay, but the cutthroat landscapes, solid rocks, and the crushing power of the great mountains.’

The genuine martial arts passed down through the Huashan Sect differed from what was known.

While the flashy martial skills gained them fame, the true essence lies in those somber techniques.

Martial arts encompassing the essence of rock and earth, the sheer formidable might of mountains…

There were even records of spells preserved despite the pressure from the Chinese government.

Those martial arts represent the true body of the Huashan Sect, and that’s where their true terror lies.

‘Sherala kid. It seems they have seen or are aware of records involving spells.’

Pure conjecture, but it was likely.

The Taoists wandering about could utilize meridians and dragon veins…

That Sherala kid probably is misled because of that.

At the very least, using vital energy to elevate one’s realm should be possible.

To make that possible, at the very minimum, they’d need to perform a ritual, and even if they managed, the tremendous cost required would be unquestionable.

‘There’s always a reason why capable people keep their distance from rituals. Hehe. Just looking at history books can reveal lessons…’

Truly, it couldn’t be said that they weren’t foolish.

“I gathered a rough understanding.”

“Hmm? What did you understand?”

“So that’s how it is…”

“Brother?”

“I see…”

“Brother? What did you understand?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“No, what is it?! Trying to leave me hanging?! ”

“Hehe, it seems I should visit the school you attend soon…”

“What is it! Hey!”

* * *

Jinseong naturally concluded his conversation with Iarin.

However, instead of returning to the building immediately, he met Lee Yang-hoon.

The reason?

『…The terrorist group that attempted a hijacking and terror act has been fully apprehended. The passengers…』

『…A US government spokesperson dismissed questions from reporters, stating, ‘There were no negotiations with the terrorists. They have come to painfully realize the severity of their actions, and because of that, they chose to abandon the terror.’…』

『I will now provide information on the terrorists being transported. They are affiliated with a religious group based in the Portland area, and according to their testimonies, their doctrine states that an increase in high-rise buildings will lead to an irreparable calamity for the Earth…』

…because what he had told Lee Yang-hoon was precisely accurate.

 

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