Chapter 61

-That’s impossible.

Yuseong’s eyes narrowed at the resolute answer that showed not even a hint of hesitation.

“Why?”

-Because the Jincheon Martial Arts family is not a sect but a clan. There’s no way a traitor would emerge from a clan united by blood ties.

“Here’s someone making unconvincing arguments. Didn’t you just say you yourself are an outsider, not blood-related?”

-Ahem, I should be considered an extremely rare exception. The outsiders in the Jincheon Martial Arts family are all just servants handling miscellaneous tasks.

When Yuseong showed signs of not understanding, Wi Jinmu immediately continued his explanation.

-According to what you’re saying, there must be a traitor who knows the skills and habits of everyone participating in this martial competition inside out, but take me for example – I’m someone who cut off almost all external contact years ago and focused solely on training.

“Why is that?”

-If someone knows even my strengths and weaknesses to that extent, they would have to be someone in an extremely important position in the Jincheon Martial Arts family, beyond both direct and branch families – someone like a chief administrator or senior instructor… Naturally, those people would never betray us, right?

“That’s not something we can be sure about.”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

Having lived in 21st century Earth and seen countless incidents and accidents, Yuseong knew all too well how untrustworthy humans could be.

When there are people who would cheat their acquaintances and family members for a small amount of money, what reason is there that someone couldn’t betray their clan?

-Stop this. I cannot tolerate any further smearing of the Jincheon Martial Arts family’s honor.

“Honor? The Jincheon Martial Arts family is about to collapse and people are about to end up on the streets, and you’re saying you have the luxury to worry about honor?”

-…

“If you don’t like it, we can stop this conversation here. I’ll just focus on winning the remaining two martial competitions, and you can handle what comes after. Just know that even if a crisis like this happens again, I won’t be coming to help anymore.”

He didn’t want to end up being criticized later after trying to help.

He had already achieved his goal of escaping Nord’s pursuit, and he had accumulated a fair amount of karma points.

Without needing to obsess over the fate change rate, Yuseong wouldn’t lose anything by getting a decent clear rank and ending the quest.

After staying silent for a moment at Yuseong’s attitude of not caring what happened, Wi Jinmu soon spoke in a small voice.

-…If there really is a traitor, how do you plan to find them?

“Why do you want to know? Didn’t you say there was no traitor?”

-I’m just asking just in case.

“Stop playing with words and tell me straight – do you want to hunt down the traitor or not?”

A firm question.

Of course, the answer was already decided.

-…Please do it.

“Well, that feels like you’re bowing down to me. But being the kind person I am, I’ll understand.”

-Then please tell me now. How do you plan to find the traitor?

“I’ll show you through actions rather than words.”

-What? Why?

Yuseong didn’t say anything.

Because it was obvious that Wi Jinmu would oppose if he heard about this method.

He would find out naturally later anyway, but by then it would be too late to stop it.

“Let’s leave that topic for now. This time, I have something I’d like to ask of you.”

-A favor? From me?

Wi Jinmu couldn’t help but be surprised.

Right now, he was in a situation where he could only communicate thoughts and intentions.

What kind of favor could possibly be asked of someone in his situation?

“I’d like help in creating a new martial art.”

-What?

Until recently, Yuseong had vaguely thought that martial arts created in the martial arts world would unconditionally be stronger than fighting techniques and martial arts from other worlds.

The preconception that martial arts worlds would be more advanced in martial arts, fantasy worlds in magic, and SF worlds in science wasn’t just Yuseong’s bias – it was a natural thought that anyone might have.

However, after synchronizing with Wi Jinmu and sharing knowledge and experience about martial arts, Yuseong realized it wasn’t that simple.

‘Martial arts weren’t superior to fighting techniques. Of course, the opposite wasn’t true either. They were completely different concepts from the start.’

Although both deal with the art of fighting, unlike martial techniques that can be performed with just the body, martial arts require internal energy to properly demonstrate their power.

Of course, it’s not that you can’t perform martial arts without internal energy, nor that you can’t imbue martial techniques with internal energy.

But there was a clear difference between the two.

“Watch carefully the form I’m about to show.”

Though his side is stinging, it’s not bad enough to prevent movement.

Getting down from the bed, Yuseong raised both arms in a starting position and threw a punch.

-That’s Thunder Fist Form 1, Thunder Roar.

Named for how only thunder is heard while the movement can’t be seen.

While Wi Jinmu was admiring the remarkable perfection that made it hard to believe Yuseong had performed it, Yuseong raised both arms again.

“Next is this.”

Another punch thrown.

Though it was thrown with internal energy, unlike the previous one there was no thunder sound, and the trajectory of the arm was visible enough to be faintly seen.

“This is a technique called Thunder Thrust from Shadow Moon Style 16. What do you think?”

-Well, it’s fast and accurate, but compared to Thunder Roar…

Wi Jinmu’s assessment was accurate.

Simply in terms of power, Thunder Thrust was far inferior to Thunder Roar.

But this wasn’t the answer Yuseong had been hoping for.

“Right. But what I wanted to hear wasn’t just a simple assessment, but the fundamental difference between the two techniques.”

-Fundamental difference?

“Thunder Roar is certainly fast and powerful, but everything from the form of the fist to the shoulder position, stance, and method of using internal energy is fixed and must be performed according to those specifications.”

-That’s only natural. It’s a form created for the purpose of releasing internal energy raised through the Galaxy Cultivation Method at maximum speed.

“Right. But what about Thunder Thrust? Between Thunder Roar and Thunder Thrust, which would be more useful in a situation where you can’t use internal energy or have extremely little?”

Wi Jinmu finally understood what Yuseong was trying to say.

-You want martial arts that aren’t bound by the presence or form of internal energy?

“Right. What I need isn’t just powerful martial arts.”

He wasn’t a person with just one body, but a user who had to move various bodies while crossing multiple worlds.

Powerful martial arts?

Of course, having them wouldn’t hurt.

But those who can properly use martial arts are only those who can handle energies like internal energy or magic power – for beings with little or no such energy, no matter how powerful the martial art, it’s nothing more than decoration.

Rather, Shadow Moon Style 16, which can be performed without internal energy, would be more useful.

“Free martial arts. I want to create martial arts that can be freely performed without internal energy and become stronger when internal energy is available.”

-Are you crazy?

Having unconsciously blurted out harsh words, Wi Jinmu belatedly realized his mistake and cleared his throat.

-Ahem, how could someone like me who doesn’t have the talent of a grandmaster create new martial arts? This is impossible even if you brought in famous martial arts masters or renowned geniuses. I can say with certainty that rather than creating the martial arts you want, it would be faster to focus on martial arts training and reach the formless state that isn’t bound by forms.

“Sorry, but that’s impossible.”

If he had time to pour into martial arts, it would be more effective to complete quests instead.

Yuseong’s determination to get what he wanted from this quest was firm.

Of course, Wi Jinmu’s determination that it was impossible was equally firm.

-I agree. This is impossible.

“Really? Is it really impossible?”

-No matter how many times you ask, the answer will be the same.

“Then there’s no choice.”

For all the dramatic build-up, he gave up surprisingly easily.

However, Wi Jinmu realized from Yuseong’s next words that he had been taking the situation too lightly.

“I put in my full effort trying to help save a declining clan, but you won’t even provide this small help – I’m so shocked I think I’ll need to rest and not do anything for a while.”

-What? Then what about the traitor?

“Didn’t you hear what I just said? I said I’m so shocked I won’t be able to do anything for a while?”

-…

“Maybe it’s just my mood, but somehow I’m starting to feel like I won’t be able to win the martial competitions either…”

Creating new martial arts versus the destruction of the Jincheon Martial Arts family.

If one had to choose between the two, naturally the choice was already as good as made.

-…Show me that Shadow Moon Style 16 from beginning to end.

“Okay.”

As soon as the words fell, Yuseong began demonstrating Shadow Moon Style 16.

A series of simple but supremely efficient techniques consisting of thrusts, strikes, kicks, throws, twists, and smashes.

-…

Wi Jinmu had planned to pretend to cooperate before eventually claiming it wasn’t possible with his abilities, but after directly seeing the Shadow Moon Style 16 Yuseong performed, his thoughts changed slightly.

-It’s an extremely unique martial art. It seems like it was created without even considering the use of internal energy, is that right?

“It’s more of a fighting technique than a martial art, but that’s about right.”

It’s impossible to build a massive building on empty plains.

It’s also impossible to take an already completed building and transform it into a new type of building.

However, adding outer walls and decorations to a building with just the frame might be…

-Maybe it might be possible?

* * *

In a dark underground without a single ray of light.

In a prison filled with stench and unknown crawling insects, a man was kneeling and sobbing.

“I didn’t do it! I really didn’t do it!”

A sincere plea from the depths of his heart.

However, unfortunately, the man’s plea didn’t have enough power to convince the person in front of him.

“If you’re going to lie, at least make it more plausible. Over a thousand people saw you using black magic that day. Are you saying all those people saw an illusion?”

“I’m not denying that black magic was used! But I’m saying it wasn’t me who used it – it was that damned Wi Jinmu!”

“Why would that promising young man use black magic? Even if he did use black magic, he would have attacked you with it, what reason would he have to harm himself?”

“That’s because he was afraid of losing the competition, so he planned to frame me…”

“How dare you, you!”

Crack!

“Arghhhhhh!”

In front of the mercilessly wielded leather whip, all Sa Taeryeong could do was scream.

“Just kill me! Kill me, you bastards!”

Sa Taeryeong was innocent.

He had never used black magic, nor had he ever been involved with or interested in black magic in his entire life.

He thought that while Wi Jinmu, that damned bastard, might be able to deceive people momentarily with his silver tongue and acting, the truth would soon be revealed once the Murim Alliance conducted a thorough investigation.

However, before even a day had passed since being imprisoned underground, he could realize that something was going wrong.

Merciless torture testing the limits of body and mind, and threats and persuasion applied without rest.

The investigation team had already concluded he was a black magic user and was only interested in getting a confession.

“Hehehehe…”

“Acting crazy won’t help. No, if you go crazy, that’s fine too. We have other ways of dealing with someone like that.”

“…I, I really don’t know anything.”

“You really are persistent.”

The investigator scratched his head while looking down at Sa Taeryeong.

Under Hwangbo Seong’s strict orders to uncover the truth, they had been torturing him without even letting him sleep for days, but this stubborn bastard showed no signs of admitting his crime.

At this rate, not only would they disappoint Hwangbo Seong, but there was also a risk of their evaluation as investigators dropping.

‘Should I just kill him?’

In ambiguous cases it might be different, but in this case the witnesses and situation were so clear that there would be no problem even if they killed him and then stamped a document saying he admitted to using black magic.

It was a method they tried to avoid using if possible due to various rumors, but with someone this stubborn, there was no choice.

Sa Taeryeong’s face turned pale as he sensed the killing intent in the investigator’s eyes.

Though he had said to kill him, he didn’t really want to die.

As a cruel smile appeared on the investigator’s face and Sa Taeryeong’s lips were about to move, a new sound drew both their attention.

Creak!

The sound of the firmly closed iron door opening and footsteps approaching.

And when a person appeared through the iron bars, a scream-like shout burst from Sa Taeryeong’s mouth as he was half-unconscious.

“Wi Jinmu! You cowardly bastard!”

Thud!

After silencing Sa Taeryeong with a single strike of his club, the investigator said with a disgruntled expression.

“What brings you here, younger brother?”

“I wanted to have a brief conversation with Sa Taeryeong. If it’s not too much trouble, could you give us some privacy?”

An inscrutable smile hung on Yuseong’s face as he looked down at Sa Taeryeong.