802——————==

True Martial Home

From that day onward, I began training in Tai Chi. Unfurling the 24 forms of Tai Chi wasn’t a big deal; it was merely a matter of executing the 24 movements, so it hardly took any time at all. After effortlessly completing the first form, I glanced at the ghostly figure of Jang Sam-bong, but he didn’t say a word.

‘My posture wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t slacking off.’

I even tried to do it carelessly on purpose. However, even when I slopped through it a bit, Jang Sam-bong remained silent, and only the silence surrounded us.

“…….”

Is it okay to do it sloppily?

On the first day, it took me about ten breaths to unfold it a thousand times. Still, I had some conscience, so I paid a little attention to maintaining the right posture. By the end of the day, with about two breaths left, I sat down for a short break, and finally, Jang Sam-bong spoke up.

[Baek Woong, there’s no need to keep looking at me. I won’t supervise you during this training, and how you practice Tai Chi is up to your own heart.]

“What do you mean? If Grand Master Jang isn’t watching my accomplishments, how can this be considered training?”

[This training isn’t about perfecting the posture of Tai Chi. You should realize yourself that you’re not at the stage to be gaining the form anymore.]

Grand Master Jang continued.

[If you’re going to ask questions, don’t ask others; ask yourself.]

“What… why must it be so?”

[I hope you save that question too. Just remember not to forget that you must initiate a thousand times every day.]

There were no further exchanges. Grand Master Jang merely watched silently, showing no inclination to instruct me at all. Instead, his watching presence started to make me restless.

‘Ask myself a question?’

Why should I?

I couldn’t fathom the reason. It was my first time experiencing something so bewildering, but anyway, while I was resting, the sun came up again. I resumed executing the forms of Tai Chi under the morning sunlight.

‘Tch! If it doesn’t matter if I do it sloppily, then I’ll just finish this task quickly so I can train advanced techniques with the remaining time.’

Time is precious!

Swish

No matter how basic the techniques of Tai Chi are, there’s a significant difference between executing the 24 movements upright or half-heartedly. By boosting my internal power, I continuously executed the Tai Chi forms with the movements of a peak expert, completing more than a hundred in just half a breath, and when I hit around two hundred, I paused to refine the Seven Great Techniques.

‘As expected, Grand Master Jang isn’t saying a thing….’

He really seems like he’s just watching. With such speed in my execution, even though the movements were quick, they weren’t always in proper form. I felt a bit reassured and decided to polish the parts of the Seven Great Techniques that I had struggled with. However, as time passed, I realized that quite a few breaths had slipped by, and day’s end was approaching.

“Ah!”

Damn it, there’s no choice but to speed it up!

Whoosh

With the remaining time, I desperately unfolded the forms of Tai Chi. As I continued to practice furiously, I realized I had surpassed a thousand repetitions. I glanced at Jang Sam-bong again, wondering if he would say something if I executed it carelessly, but he had no reaction.

So, from now on, I’ll just quickly execute Tai Chi a thousand times at the start of the day!

The rest of the time is for other training!

Whoosh!

Wanting to use my time more efficiently, I focused on unfolding Tai Chi a thousand times quickly. Doing this, I realized I could complete the thousand in less than a single breath, and I found out that all my remaining time could be free!

But after about three days, Mangnyang told me.

“Baek Woong. That’s not right.”

Mangnyang had been training Tai Chi with me before leaving for the outskirts, as he had said. Of course, I was rushing through it, but he diligently practiced, maintaining the proper posture while tirelessly executing it a thousand times. I looked back at Mangnyang.

“Grand Master Jang said it’s fine for me to do it my own way. There’s no need to maintain the correct posture, is there?”

“…Baek Woong.”

Mangnyang sighed, sounding somewhat frustrated, then spoke.

“While this training seems like self-realization, you’re right that time is short. At this rate, it will take too long. So, out of friendship, I must say something.”

“Are you saying I’m doing something wrong?”

“Yes.”

“Grand Master Jang didn’t say anything about maintaining the posture….”

“It’s not about the posture.”

Mangnyang stated firmly.

“Grand Master Jang said he wouldn’t supervise, and he won’t nitpick your posture. Do you think he just gave you freedom to practice? That’s neither complete freedom nor neglect. What do you think he’s watching for?”

“……?”

“The reason to ask yourself questions. Think about that carefully. If you continue as you are now, a hundred years from now, Grand Master Jang will never tell you to stop practicing.”

Mangnyang finished those words and returned to silently practicing Tai Chi.

Hearing Mangnyang’s words threw me into confusion.

‘What? What am I doing wrong?’

I’m simply executing Tai Chi a thousand times and training in advanced techniques with the leftover time; what’s wrong with that? He hasn’t even criticized my posture. The situation felt entirely different from my past training, and it left me in complete turmoil.

… I don’t get it.

What’s wrong?

What am I supposed to ask myself?

‘Okay! I’ll maintain the proper posture like Mangnyang and try doing it a thousand times.’

It must be about the posture, right?

I reasoned that way and focused my mind on achieving a perfect posture for each movement. But maintaining perfect form took way longer than before, and I ended up with less time than on the first day. The fatigue I had anticipated felt like a heavy weight on me.

‘Damn it! Even though the Tai Chi movements are easy, doing them accurately is tough… especially a thousand times.’

In martial arts, maintaining proper form consumes a significant amount of physical strength, concentration, and mental strength. Therefore, there are many situations where practices demanding accurate posture could feel like punishment. So, having been warned by Mangnyang, I thought there was no choice but to abide by it.

I asked Mangnyang.

“Isn’t it difficult?”

“Not at all… this kind of training is nothing for me.”

“Most ordinary people would collapse from exhaustion after just half of that training; you’re impressive.”

Mangnyang shook his head.

“It’s not that. Right now, I have no concept of physical strength.”

“Hmm?”

“Baek Woong, touch my arm.”

I touched Mangnyang’s arm. It felt normal, but suddenly his arm seemed to dissipate like smoke, disappearing completely.

Whoosh!

When I looked at Mangnyang in shock, he reformed his arm and said.

“To become an Earth Immortal means this. I have a body made of flesh and blood; however, I also possess a special body known as the Immortal Body. The moment I passed through the Dragon Gate, I was endowed with a spirit body that transcends ordinary humans, and if I desire, I can vaporize my entire body. Also, since I’m half connected with the spirit realm, the concept of physical strength does not apply to me.”

“That’s amazing.”

“If I ascend in status to an Upper Immortal or a Great Immortal in the Celestial Realm, I will completely shed my human body and transform into a spirit. When that happens, I’ll possess an entirely different kind of power, but with it, there would also be significant restrictions.”

I understood Mangnyang’s words.

“That means one must borrow a human form to descend as a Great Immortal.”

“Exactly. You could say it’s a benefit of being at a lower rank; I haven’t fully abandoned my human form yet, so I can more easily interfere in worldly affairs than a Great Immortal. Of course, I do stick out like a sore thumb…”

With that, Mangnyang continued.

“Baek Woong. There’s no need to blindly follow my training. The reason I maintain proper posture diligently is just to uphold our promise; it doesn’t mean it’s the right way.”

“But Grand Master Jang hasn’t said anything….”

“Why are you so concerned about him? He hasn’t said a word about whatever you do from the start.”

“…….”

I truly became perplexed.

“No… if maintaining proper posture isn’t the right training, then what is correct?”

“Don’t you still get it? Reflecting on that is part of your training.”

“……?”

“Baek Woong. Calm down. And focus on shedding the worries and anxiety in your mind.”

I still didn’t completely understand, but I felt like I was beginning to grasp the situation a little.

‘Is it important to think with my own head…?’

I may not be bright, but I felt like I got a bit of the atmosphere. Anyway, it seemed wrong to simply copy others or to do whatever I wanted now.

So what should I do?

If neither fervor nor carelessness works, what am I supposed to do?

“Hmm….”

I spent another day maintaining a proper posture as I executed Tai Chi a thousand times. With about one breath left in the day, rather than doing separate training, I sat cross-legged on the cliff’s rock.

I didn’t sit there for internal power training.

I just wanted to meditate because my mind was in a tangle.

“…….”

Practicing Tai Chi a thousand times every day. Is this really the answer?

Even so, with the situation at hand, I might be trembling inwardly. The nightmare of losing everything in my first life for clinging to basic techniques haunted me. I directly felt that no matter how hard I trained, I couldn’t become a master.

But shouldn’t I have faith?

Instead of wandering and hesitating, wouldn’t it be better to leap into the unknown darkness ahead?

I thought, pondered, and thought some more. I hadn’t really practiced, just continued to ponder. And as my thoughts deepened, I submerged myself in introspection, and suddenly, useless thoughts and worries began bursting out from within.

I felt like I was experiencing an illusion where an inner voice was irregularly ringing in my ears. As I sat in a daze, Mangnyang’s voice reached my ears.

“Baek Woong. The sun is rising.”

“…….”

Then it’s time to practice Tai Chi again….

I had no choice but to stand up and begin unfolding Tai Chi. Unlike the first day, as I repeatedly executed Tai Chi, I felt all sorts of thoughts rushing through my mind. Far beyond just irritation, the worries of my life and experiences enveloped my body.

‘Why is this so hard….’

I could feel something sticky binding my hands and feet, making my fingertips feel increasingly numb.

And the next day.

And the next day.

And the next day….

When I came to my senses, I realized thirty days had flown by, and so was the day when Mangnyang would leave. After completing the day’s Tai Chi practice, Mangnyang called me at dawn and said.

“Baek Woong. Do your best for the remaining four years. I must now go fulfill my duty as an Earth Immortal.”

“…….”

Can I really last four years?

After just a month, I felt this drained and worn out?

I felt like my initial confidence had completely shriveled. The frustration of not gaining anything after a month made my mind feel blank. Mangnyang then chuckled and said.

“I was a bit worried at first, but with you now, it should be fine.”

“I’ve faced many arduous trainings, but I’ve never experienced such mental weariness.”

Mangnyang chuckled.

“Hehe! From my standpoint of having trained magic techniques in the Celestial Realm, I can see that you are a rather contradictory existence.”

“Hmm?”

“Considering the difficulties and hardships you’ve faced on your adventures, this training should be nothing at all, yet… you respond more deeply to the human afflictions than to chaos and despair.”

“…….”

“Well then, see you later.”

Leaving those words, Mangnyang departed. Even after he left, I continued to silently ponder, struggling through turmoil day after day. How to manage practicing Tai Chi became secondary as the inner demons began boiling within me.

Ah!

I don’t want to live!

But I don’t want to die either!

‘Is this a joke!!’

Once again, for three months, I continued training while feeling bewildered. Despite the madness of wanting to live, I simultaneously did not wish to die. Thoughts of conversing with my inner self kept bringing forth numerous nonsensical musings.

Soon, I found myself talking to myself out loud.

“Ah, I want to get stronger.”

If I could just get stronger, I wouldn’t have to suffer like this….

However, saying such things also made me feel a sense of revulsion toward myself. No matter how much I babble such nonsense, my reality doesn’t change, so I just kept training, didn’t I? Then, while experiencing that revulsion, my mind grew cold again, and I silently executed Tai Chi a thousand times each day.

Thud thud thud

Thud thud

Another six months passed. I had reached a point where I could unfold Tai Chi without any thought. I could say I was in a state of no-self, but instead, I became more obsessed with the concept of ‘I’ and started delving deeper into it.

What is ‘I’?

Why am I doing this?

What do ‘I’ want?

No matter how much I practiced, I could never forget myself. The more I tried to forget, the more my own consciousness rose uncontrollably from my unconsciousness. I vividly felt the ego nurturing every thought that would amplify my troubles. I gradually began to look at my inability to abandon that agony.

Then one month passed. I finally couldn’t hold back anymore and confronted Jang Sam-bong, who had been watching.

“Jang Sam-bong! How can I completely forget myself?”

The Absolute Realm and all that, I’m just in agony now.

I want to stop listening to my own ‘questions’ that torment me!

I expected Jang Sam-bong to remain silent. But to my surprise, he spoke as if he had been waiting for this moment.

[To learn is to daily add on (為學日益), to know the Dao is to daily lose (為道日損)…, to reduce and further reduce (損之又損), is to reach non-action (以之於無為).]

“Non-action…?”

[Yes….]

Jang Sam-bong slowly approached me, assuming the opening stance of Tai Chi. He very gradually executed the first Basic Movement and continued speaking.

[Doing without doing nothing (無為以無). Do you understand this?]

“…I don’t.”

[That’s alright.]

With that, Jang Sam-bong said nothing more.

However, I somehow felt something strongly resonating in my heart from what he said.

Non-action!

Wasn’t I too obsessed with forms? Hadn’t I thought I had to achieve something visible?

‘I feel like I can forget it now.’

I kept repeating this inquiry with myself. The questions and answers weren’t driven by my will but by my unconsciousness. Though I felt like I was going crazy not knowing how to stop, the concept of non-action provided a slight sense of resolution.

It’s okay not to have form.

I just exist as myself, and the unconscious outside of my ego merely exists too.

Isn’t it more important to acknowledge that duality and dual aspect?

Ssssss

Before I knew it, I was unfolding Tai Chi accurately and quickly without any thoughts, while alongside me, Jang Sam-bong was executing Tai Chi in perfect synchrony. It was unmistakably a bizarre scene, yet I said nothing. I simply immersed in the experience, gradually sinking into the depths of my uncharted unconscious.

Boom!

One day, I suddenly felt consciousness rocket up from my unconscious. Looking around, I noticed the mountainous region had become a pure white snowfield, and I had aged. As I stood there dazed, Jang Sam-bong, who stood beside me, spoke.

[It’s a shame. You were only a step away, but it seems your burdens have accumulated deeper than I anticipated….]

“A step away?”

[Baek Woong, accept this Basic Movement.]

With those words, Jang Sam-bong abruptly attacked me.

Seven Great Techniques

Fusion Skill

Mixed-Origin Breakthrough

A formidable energy surged toward me, as if embodying strength itself. No matter what protective energy technique I unleashed, I couldn’t resist that pitch-black energy, and even trying to escape with the Soul Removal Technique was too late. In such a situation, I would typically use the Three Treasure Technique to somehow deflect it, but I sensed that wouldn’t even work.

This was a peerless divine technique that could cleave mountains!

Is he trying to kill me?

But regardless of the panic, my hands moved automatically. And to my astonishment, I realized that the first Basic Movement I was executing from my hand was the opening form of Tai Chi, the Tai Chi Qi.

No way!

To withstand such an overwhelming Mixed-Origin Breakthrough with the Tai Chi Qi?

It would be unthinkable even to block it with Six Intent Saintly Heaven Diagram!

Yet, as the flow of Tai Chi Qi took over, my right hand stretched forward while my left hand accompanied it as a backup. The two hands soon extended along my trunk all the way down to my legs, stabilizing my balance, and a distinct harmony flowed between my limbs. I maintained a state of absolute equilibrium as I slowly absorbed the force of Mixed-Origin Breakthrough.

Non-action transformation

The force gradually dissipated.

It felt like the very concept of ‘force’ was being consumed.

Before long, the power of Mixed-Origin Breakthrough pierced through my body and shot out behind me, while I realized I was holding down the heavens and earth with my arms, maintaining my center.

Subtle Tai Chi.

In that state, I felt the fluctuations of my self rising and falling. As my ego, which had been vibrating and crossing the borders of unconsciousness, slowly returned, I snapped to my senses in amazement.

“Th-this is!!”

[How is it, Dharma Protector?]

“Could this be…!!”

At last, Grand Master Jang nodded slowly.

[That is what you call the Peerless Technique. After three years, you have finally stepped into its realm after forgetting your ego….]