Martial Arts Ain't Anything Special-Chapter 14: The Peak Realm

After Chunbong’s condition had stabilized, they checked the inside of the Black Tiger Sect’s safe.

“Oh, oh...”

First off, there was quite a lot of silver. It was no small amount for a Black Path gang in the back alleys. This much would allow them to live comfortably for several years even if they just played around.

Besides that, there were some land deeds and a few martial arts manuals. However, Chunbong shook her head after skimming through the manuals.

“These are garbage. Don’t even bother looking at them.”

Seojun read them anyway out of curiosity, but he quickly understood.

“They really are trash, damn.”

“What, did you think I was lying?”

“Well, you never know. The Three Principles Sword Technique is pretty useful.”

“That’s because the Three Principles Sword Technique is at least a proven martial art.”

She explained that even common widely spread martial arts had reasons for remaining largely unchanged over such a long time.

It did make sense hearing it like that.

“Hmm.”

Anyways, they were rich now. Struggling to suppress a smirk, Seojun pocketed a few silver coins.

“Miss Geum. Shall we go shopping?”

“Sh-Shopping?”

“Yeah, let’s go buy some things.”

“What are we buying? We shouldn’t be wasting money just because we have some now.”

After pondering for a moment, Seojun nodded.

“Clothes... and a sword for you? We should buy some food too.”

Looking around, he saw their house on the verge of collapse. Though he had grown fond of it, honestly, it was starting to feel like it might actually collapse on them in their sleep.

“What should we do about moving? Wouldn’t it be fine to just move into the Black Tiger Sect’s place?”

“What about the corpses there?”

“Oh, right.”

“Also, it’s too big. Why would we need a place that big for just the two of us?”

While frowning and tapping his lips, Seojun suddenly raised his eyebrows. He had a good idea.

“Let’s buy clothes first.”

*After scrubbing themselves as best they could at home, they headed to the market. It would feel off to wear new clothes while dirty.

“Man, this is seriously wow.”

Seojun buried his nose on top of Chunbong’s head.

“You’re not secretly using something, are you?”

Naturally, Chunbong panicked and flailed her arms.

“W-What are you doing?!”

“Why do you smell so good?”

“It’s probably from all that marrow cleansing and stuff I went through as a kid, or whatever.”

She explained that with no waste in her body, there was no reason for odors. The pleasant fragrance was because of one of her ancestors adding the mysterious principles of fairy art to the Blue Cloud Divine Art.

“By fairy arts, you mean that martial arts for becoming beautiful?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm.”

Seojun’s eyes scanned Chunbong from head to toe.

“It doesn’t seem to have much effect on your chest grow— Ow!”

He got beaten.

Honestly, even he thought he deserved that, so he had nothing to say.

“Sigh... Forget all that chest talk. More importantly, I wanted to ask, how exactly did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“You changed yin qi into yang qi. Did you realize the principles of the Supreme Polarity or something? No matter how I think about it, there’s no other way.”

“Supreme Polarity?”

You mean that thermal equilibrium thing? Nope, don’t think that’s it.

“Well, you roughly know what yin qi feels like, right?”

“Of course. What I use is close to yin qi.”

“Right. And you have an understanding of yang qi, don’t you?”

“I do, yeah.”

Then isn’t it simple? Yin qi is calm and yang qi is active. Just beat up those quiet friends to make them lively, and that’s yang qi, right?

“They’re the same, aren’t they?”

“What’s with that bullshit? How could that work?”

“But it did work.”

“Well... I guess you’re right?”

While Chunbong was making a strange expression, they arrived at the cloth merchant’s shop. They mainly sold fabrics, but they had some clothes too.

As Chunbong took the lead and entered, something suddenly flew at them.

“I’ve got nothing for beggar brats! Don’t dirty the merchandise and get lost!”

Chunbong touched her cheek. The leftover soup dripped down her jawline.

“Fuck...”

Her face turned red like she was about to cry. It looked like tears were forming in her eyes.

What must it feel like to be treated like this after growing up in a prestigious family?

I don’t know exactly, but it must feel pretty fucking awful.

“Hey.”

CRASH!

A display stand shattered and went flying with a single kick.

This is murim. A world where you solve problems with force if you feel it’s full of fucking shit.

If you don’t like it, then you shouldn’t do shitty things, but many people don’t understand that.

“Did you just make my little sister cry, you fucking bastard?”

“I-I didn’t cry... And what’s with this third-rate villain act? Stop it.”

“Tch!”

Seojun drew his sword, scabbard and all. Seeing this, the cloth merchant owner shrank.

“Y-You damned scoundrel! This shop pays protection money to the Clear River Sect! Are you prepared for the consequences?!”

“Clear River Sect? What kind of no-name sect is that?”

Whoever the fuck they are doesn’t matter, there’s nothing wrong with taking off that bastard’s head.

“Come here, you fucker.”

“Eek...!”

The shop owner threw a bowl after being cornered, the food still inside. If you’re gonna eat like a pig, then how about turning into a damn pig yourself?

Swish—

Qi flowed from the tip of the scabbard, spreading to the size of a palm. As he swung, its afterimage transformed into a protective barrier.

“A sword v-veil...?”

For some reason, Chunbong was surprised behind him, but he paid no mind to that for now.

Splash!

From what was splattered on the protective screen, it seemed he was eating some kind of red soup. Smells fucking awful. The nerve to throw that kind of crap.

“Um, uhh...”

The shocked owner slumped to the ground.

“I-I didn’t know you were a Master... Please, have mercy just this once...”

“Hey, friend.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Let’s start with a beating.”

He beat the shit out of him.

*“Ah, what shall I do with this merciful heart of mine?”

“Well done.”

“Eh? Really? I thought you’d scold me.”

“Why would I? That was pretty mild, all things considered.”

The shop owner didn’t lose his life, nor did he lose a limb. He didn’t even break a bone anywhere. Just getting beaten up was indeed a relatively lenient outcome.

“I was just worried you might kill someone again.”

“What am I, some kind of murderer? I don’t go around killing people.”

“Oh, you don’t? That’s surprising.”

“What did you just say? You little...”

Seojun and Chunbong walked along, chuckling, their attire now neatly changed.

These were clothes they had taken from that cloth merchant’s shop. They took a few for free as a reward for their mercy, vast as the ocean, of a gentle beating.

“Now let’s go buy a sword.”

“My sword?”

“Well it’s not gonna be mine, is it? I already have one.”

“Isn’t it damaged? It looks like you used it pretty roughly.”

At her question, he drew his sword. The people around them panicked.

“Hey, you bastard! Don’t just draw your sword out on the street!”

Led by Chunbong, they tucked themselves into a corner. She examined the sword’s condition and nodded, seeming surprised.

“Oh? It’s perfectly fine. Hm, that’s interesting.”

“That’s cause I use it well.”

“Yeah, seems so.”

What? Completely caught off guard by this unexpected response, he quickly backed away. Chunbong glared at him fiercely.

“What’s with you? Why’d you just do that? What?”

“Who are you?! You’re not Geum Chunbong!”

“Shut your mouth.”

Chunbong threw the sword. He quickly grabbed the handle and sheathed it.

“That’s dangerous.”

“What’s dangerous about this for someone who’s reached first-rate? No, wait. What was that thing you did earlier?”

“The what now?”

“The sword veil.”

“Ah... that thing? I just thought I could do it, so I did?”

“Fuck, that goddamn talent... seriously.”

Chunbong cursed and smacked her forehead.

“Congratulations. You’re a Peak Master now.”

“...Peak Realm? Really?”

“Yeah, you bastard.”

“Hmm.”

As he pondered something with his hand on his chin, Chunbong looked at him with disdain.

“Out with it, what now?”

“It’s nothing really, I’m just asking because I don’t know, so...”

“Fine, what is it? Out with it already.”

“Martial arts has got to be some kind of sick joke, right? It’s way too fucking easy.”

“...You fucking bastard!”

Chunbong flew through the air with a kick. It was quite fierce. He quickly reacted, dodging it, then grabbed her waist and set her down on the ground.

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“Whew. Well, Miss Geum Chunbong. You’ve become quite agile, no?”

“Just shut up.”

Pouting, Chunbong raised a platinum qi above her finger.

“Oh...?”

“I can use my power to about the first-rate level now.”

“What? I thought you were seventeen. Were you already first-rate before?”

Hmph, Chunbong snorted and raised her head high.

“I was at the Peak Realm, you know? I told you, I was once called a genius and prodigy.”

The Peak Realm at fifteen. It was an event hard to find a precedent for even in the long history of murim.

There was even quite an uproar at the time, but now in this situation, it was of no use.

“Damn them all.”

“Why are you sulking again?”

Seojun patted the top of Chunbong’s head and spoke.

“But wait, you little brat. What did you just say? Peak Realm at fifteen? And now you’re like this with me? Is this some kind of high-level scam?”

“Are you and I the same? Forget it, let’s just go buy a sword.”

Chunbong’s mood seemed to have suddenly plummeted and started walking ahead. Seojun quickly picked her up from behind and gave her a piggyback ride.

“U-Uwah...!?”

“Let’s go, Chunbong!”

“W-Wait...! Put me down, you asshole!”

“No can do~”

Chunbong’s tight grip pulled out quite a bit of hair. What a shame.

*That crazy bastard Lee Seojun.

He actually arrived at the blacksmith’s shop while giving me a piggyback ride. Is he insane? I nearly died of shame from everyone staring at us.

“...Put me down.”

“Okay~”

As I stepped onto the ground, it felt like I hadn’t walked on it in ages, it was rather strange. When I looked up at him, this bastard grinned and ruffled my hair.

“Stop that.”

His touch, rough yet gentle, felt a bit nice, though I hate to admit it. I pretended to dislike it and pulled my head away, but his hand followed through to the end, messing up my hair, and it made me feel a little better.

“Anyways, don’t get too cocky. Your realm and actual combat ability are different things.”

Your realm is measured by how freely one can control their inner qi.

Taking that bastard Seojun as an example, his skill in manipulating qi was indeed at the peak realm, but his swordsmanship could be considered only at an early stage first-rate level.

Even that didn’t make sense. Like what? He grasped the beginning of unity of body and sword while using sword qi?

It sounded crazy, but I couldn’t say anything because his swordsmanship had genuinely improved dramatically.

“Yes, yes, I understand, Master Chunbong. Anyways, shall we go look at swords?”

— Old man! It’s been about a year, hasn’t it?

Geum Hee, watching Seojun’s back as he confidently entered the blacksmith’s shop, pouted.

“He never listens to a word I say... Hey! Wait for me, you bastard!”

Chunbong chased after her big brother’s back with her short legs.