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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Zhuul Village
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Dang Mujin was completely immersed in his qi circulation training.
Ever since succeeding in the Small Heavenly Circulation with the Strange Physician's help and beginning to build his internal energy, he'd gained even more momentum.
Though his body was exhausted from walking all day, he cut back on sleep to cultivate his internal energy. He moved the small amount he'd gathered this way and that, like a child playing with a new toy for the first time.
The Strange Physician Yi Chung hadn't taught him any sword techniques or forms yet, so even with internal energy, it had no real combat value. At best, his body felt a bit lighter.
Yet Dang Mujin was captivated by the learning process because his daily progress was clearly evident.
'The amount of internal energy is a little more than yesterday.'
There was something inherently fun about steadily building something up.
Yi Chung didn't rush to teach him anything either. He simply observed Dang Mujin's qi circulation training and answered his questions.
This was the time to lay a solid foundation, not to get greedy and rush into learning or teaching.
"Elder, you said I have talent, right?"
Yi Chung had tacitly accepted the title of "Elder."
He'd specified it was a temporary label until a better one came to mind, but given the current situation, it didn't seem like they'd be switching anytime soon.
"Talent? Not bad. Normally, it takes about three days of True Qi Guidance to fully sense the qi, and ten days to complete the first Small Heavenly Circulation."
Dang Mujin had sensed it on the first day and succeeded the next. He'd accomplished in two days what usually took others ten.
Yet Yi Chung's assessment was just "not bad."
"Why the lukewarm reaction? It seems like outstanding talent, not just 'not bad.'"
"It's sharp senses, sure. But your talent is lopsided."
"Lopsided?"
"Yeah. Your sense for feeling and moving qi is excellent. But your internal energy accumulation speed is just average."
"Does that mean I can't become a master?"
"Not necessarily. My internal energy reserves aren't that vast either. Just avoid clashing weapons and trading raw power with opponents."
"What happens if I do clash weapons?"
"You'll find out if you try. Grab a suitable tree branch."
Dang Mujin snapped off a nearby branch, stripped the twigs, and trimmed it with a small knife, turning it into a passable club.
He handed the branch to Yi Chung, who in turn gave him the sword from his waist.
"Swing at me."
Dang Mujin eyed him suspiciously.
He knew Yi Chung was a master, but he had no idea just how skilled he was. In truth, Yi Chung's appearance wasn't all that different from an ordinary person's.
"It's really okay to swing?"
"If you so much as nick my clothes, I'll carry you on my back until we leave Sichuan Province."
Of course, Dang Mujin didn't seriously think he could win.
But Yi Chung's confidence was annoyingly absolute.
Dang Mujin gripped the sword hilt with both hands. With luck, he might slice a hem.
"Here goes."
He raised the sword high and brought it down on Yi Chung with all his strength.
To boost his chances even slightly, he angled the blade off straight.
Yi Chung lifted his branch playfully, positioning it to squarely block the incoming sword.
But a mere stick couldn't block a steel blade. Dang Mujin pressed harder, expecting to cleave right through.
Yet the sword didn't even scratch the branch. It clashed as if striking solid metal.
"Huh?"
"Grit your teeth and hold on."
At Yi Chung's warning, an explosive force surged through the branch and sword.
An old memory flashed in Dang Mujin's mind.
A few years back in summer, after days of torrential rain, the Min River embankment near Chengdu burst, flooding everything.
The young Dang Mujin had watched the massive torrent sweep away countless homes.
The sensation from Yi Chung's sword felt similar. A flood-like surge of his enormous internal energy.
One difference: back then, he'd watched the flood from a hillside. Now, Dang Mujin had to face Yi Chung's deluge head-on.
The internal energy from the branch shoved his sword aside, then rushed into his hands and shoulders.
Dang Mujin tried to resist with his meager internal energy, but it was hopeless.
His head spun, his guts churned. In the end, he vomited up the day's meal.
"Urk!"
Yi Chung watched, laughing so hard he nearly doubled over.
"See? Now you get how much raw internal energy matters."
Dang Mujin heaved a while longer, eyes watering as he spoke.
"This is ridiculous! So the one with more internal energy always wins?"
The gap in internal energy he'd felt for the first time was immense. It made him think quantity was everything for martial artists.
And Yi Chung said his accumulation speed wasn't even fast.
Dang Mujin felt despair before he'd even properly started training.
Even if he diligently cultivated now, if others built it faster, it'd mean nothing—especially if they'd started years earlier.
Yi Chung snorted and wagged the branch.
"If martial arts were that simple, the guy who scarfed the most elixirs would be the world's best. This time, I won't use internal energy. Come at me again."
"Here goes!"
Dang Mujin swung faster and harder.
Having just felt their skill gap firsthand, he held nothing back.
Yi Chung's branch blocked the sword.
But not head-on this time. It glanced off at an angle, deflecting.
The sword skimmed the branch's side and slid away.
Dang Mujin tried to push internal energy through like Yi Chung had, but contact time was too brief.
Before he could infuse any, his sword bounced into empty air.
And before he could recover, Yi Chung's branch tapped his brow, throat, and solar plexus in rapid succession—so fast it felt simultaneous.
"Could've killed you three times. Right?"
Yi Chung smirked smugly. Dang Mujin stared blankly.
"...How'd you do that?"
"When someone with little internal energy faces someone with a lot, there are two keys: don't clash head-on, and minimize contact time if you do. More internal energy gives an edge, sure, but it's not everything."
Yi Chung tossed the branch aside and perched on a low branch.
"Your accumulation speed isn't fast. You don't have some special constitution for massive bursts either. But you do have strengths. Your qi sense is keen, your internal energy control is quick and precise. You instinctively know how to use it. When I pushed mine earlier, you tried to counter by sending yours into the sword, right?"
"Yes."
"Reflexively deploying internal energy like that is second-rate territory at minimum. Be proud."
"So I'm already second-rate?"
Yi Chung's face twisted oddly, like he'd heard nonsense.
"Talk sense. What good's control without swordsmanship? Yours is below third-rate. Reserves below third-rate. Stamina below third-rate."
"Ugh."
As Dang Mujin grimaced, Yi Chung patted his back.
"Don't be too down. It's just where you are now—you'll improve. It's been less than ten days since you started. Doing this well already is impressive."
"So I am a genius?"
"This kid can't take a compliment..."
The talk ended with a short curse. They chuckled a bit, then prepared a meal.
Dried meat, some roasted grain powder, and a few wild fruits picked along the way—a simple spread.
As the meal wrapped up, Yi Chung paused and stared into the woods. He'd sensed an unfamiliar presence.
It had happened a few times before, so Dang Mujin calmly asked.
"Wild animal? Wolf? Wild dog?"
"No. Two legs. Human."
"Dangerous?"
"Not heading straight here. Moving slow. Probably not."
Soon, a person emerged—a young man about Dang Mujin's age.
Plain face, but small stature.
He looked half a head shorter, clothes ragged and torn.
The only intact thing on him was straw sandals meticulously woven from straw bundles.
A hemp rope hung from his waist, knotted three times.
Yi Chung muttered.
"Three-Knot?"
"What's that?"
"See the knots on the rope? That's how Beggars' Sect members show rank. Three knots means Three-Knot Elder."
"Beggars' Sect?"
"Yeah."
The Beggars' Sect was the clan formed by beggars.
With beggars everywhere in the Central Plains, Chengdu naturally had its share, but Dang Mujin rarely saw them since he lived right next to the Qingcheng Chengdu Branch.
Even free-roaming Beggars' Sect members hesitated to wander other sects' territories.
Instead, folks living farther from the branch suffered beggars' constant headaches.
These types would beg shamelessly at first sight.
Ordinary beggars could be shooed off, but trained martial artists mixed in made it tricky.
People ended up "donating" food or coins like half-banditry.
"Is Three-Knot high rank?"
"Exceptions exist, but usually branch leader level."
"Branch leader!"
The only branch leader Dang Mujin knew was Qingcheng's pinnacle master, Yellow Spirit Master.
But unlike the much older man, this beggar was Dang Mujin's age.
"A beggar at pinnacle realm?"
"No. Beggars' Sect branch leaders aren't as skilled as major sects'. Still martial artists, high or low. But Three-Knot at that age means high status."
Dang Mujin's view of the beggar shifted.
Moments ago, just a shabby vagrant. Now, a proper martial artist—and a talented one.
'Hiding his skill. Feels off.'
The beggar shuffled over upon spotting them.
Dang Mujin watched tensely; Yi Chung leaned back casually.
At three zhang distance, Yi Chung spoke.
"Hey, Beggars' Sect friend. What's brought you here? No village nearby. Not hunting alms, I hope."
The beggar stopped and introduced himself.
"I'm Hong Geolgae Hong Jusam, branch leader of the Beggars' Sect Zhuul Village Branch."
"Zhuul Village? That's two shichen away."
Yi Chung's question crumpled Hong Geolgae's face.
"Two shichen? Embarrassing, but it took me a day and a half from Zhuul Village."
"How the hell does it take that long?"
Hong Geolgae Hong Jusam hung his head, ears red with shame.
"I've never left Zhuul Village my whole life. Got lost in the woods. It's so remote, no paths to other villages..."
"Fair enough. Never left your village—what brings you all this way?"
"Need to fetch a physician. Don't know nearby villages. If you point me to one likely to have one, I'd be grateful."
Hong Jusam knelt and bowed his head.
Rare even for commoners, let alone martial artists. Must be desperate.
Yi Chung tapped his shoulder.
"Get up. Let's go."
"Pardon? Only Zhuul Village that way. I need a physician from elsewhere."
Yi Chung smirked and pointed at Dang Mujin.
"This kid and me. Both physicians. Lead on, no worries."
Hong Jusam blinked at Dang Mujin, then grinned, all worries gone.