Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 98

“It doesn’t seem to be a copy?”

-Yes. At least not this one.

At Mok Gyeong-un’s query, Cheong-ryeong said as if it was unexpected.

That’s because even if it was a copy, it was natural for a book to become worn out after a long time.

However, since it was newly transcribed and not frequently used, there was no way traces resembling bloodstains would remain.

“That makes sense. Well, there could be various reasons. Either they accidentally placed the original here, or the copy was clean, so they kept it in the main headquarters…”

-The original wouldn’t be mixed up for such reasons.

Cheong-ryeong firmly denied Mok Gyeong-un’s speculations.

“What?”

-You may not know yet, mortal, but the original holds a special meaning.

“Meaning? In what way?”

-Most original secret manuals are written by the creator of that martial art.

“In that case, it would have value as the creator’s original work.”

He seemed to have heard this from his grandfather.

The value of a poem transcribed from Confucius and a poem directly written by Confucius was different.

It seemed to be in that sense.

As they were conversing, Cheong-ryeong continued,

-While the creator’s value and such can be a reason, what’s more important are the engraved characters.

“Characters?”

-The strokes are traces. What did this venerable one tell you when teaching you martial arts, mortal?

“Traces are…”

-The martial art itself.

Would Mok Gyeong-un be able to accurately understand why she said this?

The breadth of understanding varies depending on one’s enlightenment.

Even if one’s cultivation reaches the pinnacle-stage of Peak Realm, if their enlightenment is still lacking, they may not understand what she means at all.

However,

“Nothing contains as much as the strokes. Each trace within them may contain the habits of the martial art’s creator. Those habits would also include the trajectory of the techniques.”

‘!?’

Cheong-ryeong couldn’t hide her surprise at Mok Gyeong-un’s words.

She hadn’t had high expectations.

Yet, Mok Gyeong-un had given the exact answer she wanted to hear.

‘This brat…’

He didn’t merely possess a superhuman memory.

His comprehension was also exceptional.

A little brat who had only learned martial arts for a short time was naturally speaking about the principles of Ascending Martial Arts, which would be somewhat understandable for those entering the early Transcendent Realm.

Of course, it wasn’t as if he had truly attained enlightenment, but it was quite astonishing.

‘…I wonder what would have happened if this kid had started cultivating martial arts at a younger age.’

Perhaps he might have displayed the remarkable feat of reaching the early Transcendent Realm before even coming of age.

Mok Gyeong-un’s talent was so fearsome that it felt frightening, regardless of whether she liked him or not.

As she was marveling, Mok Gyeong-un asked,

“Was I wrong?”

“…Well, you somewhat understood.”

She didn’t want to praise him excessively, as it could lead to complacency.

However, at her response, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled.

After he spoke, it took her a while to answer, so how could it be considered somewhat understanding?

‘I must have been accurate.’

However, he had no intention of boasting about it.

For him, mastering martial arts was merely sharpening a blade for the sake of revenge.

Cheong-ryeong said to Mok Gyeong-un,

–Ahem… Anyway, as you said, the original contains the creator’s true intention in each stroke, so it’s almost like condensed enlightenment. That’s why even high-level experts strive to broaden their insight by reading various original martial arts secret manuals.

“I see. I learned something valuable.”

-In any case, the presence of this secret manual here doesn’t seem to be a mistake.

Since copies didn’t contain the creator’s true intention, she believed it wasn’t a mistake or a replacement due to the book being dirty.

Mok Gyeong-un nodded and said,

“I understand. Since we don’t have much time, I’ll continue memorizing.”

-Go ahead.

-Rustle! Rustle!

Mok Gyeong-un turned the pages.

Just like before, he tried to imprint it with his eyes, as if stamping a seal,

‘Strokes…’

The human consciousness sometimes moves in ways contrary to one’s intentions.

Mok Gyeong-un, who had come to understand the meaning of strokes through Cheong-ryeong, started memorizing not only the characters but also the appearance of the strokes.

‘The thickness of the strokes…’

The movement of the wrist could be seen based on the thickness.

Then, at some point during the process of imprinting, a peculiar phenomenon occurred in Mok Gyeong-un’s mind.

This was something even Cheong-ryeong had not anticipated.

‘Ah!’

In Mok Gyeong-un’s mind, he saw an old Taoist with an unseen face softly tracing the trajectory of palm techniques as if dancing.

They were the techniques of the Supreme Ultimate Soft Palm.

It was an astonishing occurrence.

While reading the text, how could each movement be seen so accurately?

He could even see where strength was applied and released.

It was truly a bizarre event.

Thanks to this, the most primitive techniques intended by the martial art’s creator were directly imprinted in Mok Gyeong-un’s mind.

At that moment, a mnemonic chant flashed through Mok Gyeong-un’s mind.

-Rustle! Rustle!

When he turned the last page, Mok Gyeong-un’s expression was somewhat elated.

‘What is this?’

It was an emotion he had never felt before.

It was as if, for a brief moment, he had become one with the creator of this martial art and tasted the true flow of the Supreme Ultimate Soft Palm’s techniques.

It was a completely different feeling compared to when he thought he would simply imprint and follow with his body.

‘Not bad.’

He wanted to savor this feeling again.

However, unfortunately, apart from this Supreme Ultimate Soft Palm manual, most of the other martial arts secret manuals would be copies.

In that case, he might not be able to experience this feeling.

Mok Gyeong-un, who had a disappointed expression, asked,

“…What would be good to learn next?”

-Not here. Look at the sixth from the bottom on the next bookshelf.

“Sixth…”

This time, it was a sword technique manual called Immeasurable Fifteen Swords[1].

As Mok Gyeong-un opened the secret manual, he naturally thought it was a copy, but due to the habit he had developed earlier, he couldn’t help but meticulously imprint the strokes engraved in the characters.

However,

‘Huh?’

In Mok Gyeong-un’s mind, he saw a middle-aged master displaying sword techniques again.

The middle-aged master’s sword techniques were performed with a heavy sword, and each time he swung the sword, the force carried at the tip of the sword soared abruptly, as if it were immeasurable, just like the name.

For Mok Gyeong-un, who had never learned a heavy sword with weight, this sword technique was a new experience.

-Squirm!

‘…This guy?’

Cheong-ryeong, who had been watching Mok Gyeong-un turn the pages, couldn’t hide her puzzlement.

That’s because Mok Gyeong-un’s speed of turning the pages had slowed down a bit compared to before.

Now, it took about twenty-five to thirty counts to skim through a single secret manual, slightly slower than before.

Of course, even the slower speed was still incomparably faster than ordinary people.

“Ah…”

-Why are you doing that?

“It took a bit more time, right?”

-…Even though it’s slower than before, didn’t it only take you about twenty-five to thirty counts?

“Was it only that much?”

-Yes.

At Cheong-ryeong’s words, Mok Gyeong-un was inwardly surprised.

Just like with the Supreme Ultimate Soft Palm, he had felt as if he had become one with the creator of this Immeasurable Fifteen Swords and experienced the feeling of performing the techniques together, so it seemed like time was passing very slowly.

Yet, it had only been that much?

“It’s peculiar. To think it only flowed that much.”

-…Wait, are you saying you felt as if time was passing slowly?

“Yes.”

-Ha.

She let out a sigh as if dumbfounded.

Mok Gyeong-un asked in puzzlement,

“Why are you reacting like that?”

-It’s a state of selflessness.

The state of selflessness *mu-a ji-gyeong, 무아지경 (無我之境).

As the name suggests, it refers to a stage where one’s mind is immersed in something, forgetting oneself.

Yet, Mok Gyeong-un, who still lacked enlightenment, fell into a state of selflessness while reading mnemonic chants.

Such cases were extremely rare.

‘Should I be happy about this?’

She wasn’t sure what to say to him.

Whether it was an ordinary genius or a martial arts genius, when learning martial arts, the order of learning and direction of enlightenment tended to flow in a somewhat similar manner.

However, Mok Gyeong-un’s order was completely jumbled.

Falling into a state of selflessness not during meditation but while memorizing martial arts secret manuals?

Had there ever been such a case?

‘But what did he immerse himself in?’

The process of memorizing secret manuals was even faster than speed reading, so what could he have immersed himself in during that brief moment?

Although she was curious, there wasn’t much time, so,

-Don’t be conscious of falling into a state of selflessness. It means you’re gaining something from it.

“Is that so?”

-Rather than that, let’s hurry and memorize other secret manuals. We need to quickly finish the second floor and move to the third floor.

The second floor could be considered a taste of the Ascending Martial Arts.

On the third floor, there were some Early Ascending Martial Arts that even she acknowledged.

If he memorized all of those, Mok Gyeong-un’s insight into martial arts would become incomparable to before entering this place.

‘What a pity.’

Cheong-ryeong suddenly couldn’t help but feel regret.

If this were the main headquarters’ treasure vault, she knew of a few hidden secret manuals.

However, since this place was a collection of copies, there was no way those hidden ones would have been transcribed here.

In this manner, Mok Gyeong-un memorized 45 martial arts secret manuals on the second floor of the treasure vault during those few moments.

Originally, he would have read a larger quantity, but as he fell into a state of selflessness for a longer duration with each book, it took this much time.

Although it wasn’t a very long time, it felt lengthy to Mok Gyeong-un.

-Now, let’s go to the third floor.

“Yes.”

Having memorized all the useful ones on the second floor, they went up.

Upon going up, unlike the bookshelves on the lower floor, some empty spaces could be seen here and there.

Unlike the secret manuals on the lower floors, most of the ones on the third floor were Ascending Martial Arts, with occasional Early Ascending Martial Arts mixed in, so there was naturally a limit to the quantity.

‘…They really replicated it almost identically.’

Looking at the bookshelves on the third floor, Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue inwardly.

That’s because although some parts were different or the number of secret manuals had increased, it was quite close to the arrangement she remembered.

Even though they were copies, they were organized well enough to remind her of the past.

If this memory was correct, in the original library, on the top right end of the third bookshelf from the right, there should be that secret manual she had hidden…

‘!?’

For a moment, Cheong-ryeong doubted her eyes.

Exactly in that position, the secret manual called Yang White Sword Technique, which she had placed on the bookshelf, was there.

‘They made a copy of that too?’

That couldn’t be.

Except for the two torn pages hidden inside, it was a sword technique manual with a composition that would only be helpful for second-rate or first-rate practitioners.

There was no way they would have transcribed it as a copy.

Even if they did, excluding the damaged part, they would have moved it to the first floor, not the third floor.

“…Ryeong.”

-…

“Cheong-ryeong.”

-Ah!

“Which secret manual would be good to look at next?”

At that question, Cheong-ryeong said, just in case,

-Take out the one on the top right end of the third bookshelf from the right.

“Yang White Sword Technique?”

-Yes.

Following her instructions, Mok Gyeong-un went to the third bookshelf and took out the secret manual called Yang White Sword Technique from the top right end.

However, the ink on the outer part of the book was smudged, and the front page was slightly curled up.

-Ha!

Seeing this, she let out a fake cough as if dumbfounded.

Mok Gyeong-un asked in puzzlement,

“Why are you reacting like that?”

-…Why did I realize it only now? This venerable one is quite foolish.

“What are you talking about?”

-They moved it here.

“What do you mean by moved?”

-The secret manuals here are the originals.

“What? Are you saying these are the originals?”

-Yes. I thought something was strange. Now that I’ve seen the secret manual in your hand, I’m certain. Sigh.

At her words, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.

In fact, although he hadn’t mentioned it to her, Mok Gyeong-un had also fallen into a state of selflessness while memorizing the secret manuals she had selected for him.

So, he had inwardly questioned whether the secret manuals here were really copies.

However, judging from her words, it seemed the secret manuals here were indeed the originals.

But Mok Gyeong-un didn’t show it and opened the secret manual.

Then,

“Hm?”

A folded piece of paper was inserted between the pages of the secret manual.

-Ah, ah. It was still here.

“You know about it?”

-How could I not know? This venerable one personally placed it here. To think it remained until now.

“You seem quite delighted.”

-Ahem.

“That’s understandable. But what is this?”

Mok Gyeong-un said as he took out the folded piece of paper.

Then, she spoke in a somewhat meaningful tone,

-It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this is where this venerable one’s completed Sword Techniques of the Moon began.

“Oh-ho.”

Curious, Mok Gyeong-un unfolded the piece of paper.

Upon unfolding it, the front and back of the paper contained mnemonic chants of sword techniques.

On the front, the name of this sword technique and the techniques were written first.

“Moonless Void Sword[2]…”

-Consider it your fortune. These are the only remaining sword techniques of the Moonless Void Sword, one of the Five Great Sword Techniques that once symbolized the Old Martial Arts World.

At her words, Mok Gyeong-un visually imprinted the sword techniques.

Then, in his mind, he saw someone with a pale face and a scholar-like appearance holding a sword and displaying the techniques.

-Shudder!

For a moment, goosebumps rose all over Mok Gyeong-un’s body.

The sword techniques were on a different level from the ones he had seen so far, bringing a thrilling sensation.