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chapter 19
Jumryeong had tasted alcohol properly for the first time yesterday.
He had occasionally tried fruit-infused drinks back on Heukam Island, and once or twice had drunk alcohol after entering the Central Plains, but he had never consumed it the way he did yesterday.
After drinking with Jeok Hwamyung and Eui Doki until dawn, Eui Doki brought the two of them to his home, the Sinchang residence.
“Alcohol can scatter one’s reason, but drinking like this in moderation isn’t so bad.”
For Jumryeong, alcohol was like water—no matter how much he drank, he wouldn’t get drunk.
Ordinarily, martial masters would burn off the alcohol’s energy using their own willpower, but Jumryeong had already surpassed that stage.
His inner energy burned away any harmful substances entering his body automatically, so intoxication simply could not affect him.
The only reason Jumryeong enjoyed drinking late into the night was simple: being with good people made the experience enjoyable.
Jeok Hwamyung was a good person, but Eui Doki, too, seemed like a pure martial artist who longed to grow stronger, which gradually erased Jumryeong’s prejudices about the Sinchang residence he had formed because of Eui Doki.
So when Eui Doki invited him as a guest to the residence, Jumryeong accepted and entered without hesitation.
Ta-at!
The faint sounds of people’s shouts and exertions signaled that morning had arrived.
Jumryeong left the room he was staying in.
The day wasn’t fully bright yet—it was just beginning to dawn.
He was in one of the smaller annexes prepared at the Sinchang residence. Standing in front of a small courtyard, he took a deep breath.
“Shall I loosen up a bit after such a long time?”
Jumryeong lightly moved his hands and feet, beginning his warm-up.
Ududuk!
The sounds of bones shifting caused him to smile awkwardly.
“Shows that I’ve been slacking off.”
After a light warm-up, Jumryeong began his formal martial training—but his movements were unusual.
Slow… almost ridiculously slow. Yet his expression was serious, and small beads of sweat formed on his brow.
Anyone watching would see a solemn face, despite the seemingly playful pace of his actions.
This was Jeongjungdong 靜中動, Dongjungjeong 動中靜; Dunjungkwae 鈍中快, Kwaejungdun 快中鈍—movement within stillness, stillness within movement, speed within slowness, slowness within speed. Jumryeong’s movements embodied this principle perfectly.
Energy began to converge around him.
Though the space seemed calm, swirling qi churned all around him. Anyone approaching Jumryeong could easily be overwhelmed by the vortex of energy.
Jjjeo-eo-eok!
In the direction his hands pointed, a stone wall stretched out, faint cracks forming along its length.
Hwiliririring! Ppeo-eo-eong!
The wind collided with the swirling energy around him, making a low sound before dissipating completely.
After an hour of training, morning had fully arrived, and the sounds of the Sinchang household preparing breakfast could be heard beyond the walls.
Hoo…
Jumryeong returned to his original stance and exhaled deeply, finishing his practice.
“As expected, for loosening up, the Slow Sword of the Solitary Old Master is the best.”
Although he had mastered countless martial arts, Jumryeong favored the Dun Sword taught by Cheon Nam-yeon of the Solitary Old Master.
The Dun Sword wasn’t simply slow—it was so fast that it appeared slow to the observer.
This subtlety was why he had lightly touched the faces of Eui Doki and Eui Dok-gun the day before—it was the art of the Dun Sword.
“The only person who ever dodged my sword in the martial world was Gu Yeong-cheol,” Cheon Nam-yeon had said.
Gu Yeong-cheol, the Ghost Demon Master, could dodge Cheon Nam-yeon’s sword because he wielded the fastest sword in the martial world—a sword faster than sound itself.
Though speed and slowness seemed opposed, they shared the same nature, much like yin and yang reaching their extremes. This was why Gu Yeong-cheol could evade Cheon Nam-yeon’s blade. Conversely, even the fastest swordsman, Gu Yeong-cheol, could not best Cheon Nam-yeon.
Having learned the Dun Sword, the Quick Sword, and the Illusory Sword, Jumryeong had mastered the martial roots of three legendary masters—but he favored Cheon Nam-yeon’s Dun Sword the most.
The reason was simple: it felt weighty, like a true man.
After warming up, he felt refreshed.
Ta-at!
The faint shouts indicated the household was still practicing in the courtyard.
“Shall I go watch?”
With nothing else to do, Jumryeong stepped out to observe the spear techniques of the Sinchang household.
Although spying on someone’s martial arts was frowned upon, as long as he wasn’t caught, it didn’t matter.
He appeared atop the roof of the highest building in the residence, looking down at the practitioners below.
The Sinchang spear techniques, renowned alongside the Shandong Evil Sect, were powerful.
The spear, primarily a thrusting weapon, could also maximize destructive power when spun with rotational force.
Hwepung Paryu 回風擺柳!
When one shouted the move’s name, dozens followed in perfect synchrony, spinning and stepping, leaping while twisting to thrust their spears toward the ground.
“Spears or staves… just a matter of whether metal is attached at the tip,” Jumryeong thought, simply noting the lack of difference he perceived between the two.
Chunpoong Byeokryu 春風擘柳!
Watching closely, he noticed many wind-related techniques: circular winds, spring winds, small winds, fresh winds, cold winds, raging winds…
“I’ve heard that the household head, Byeokryeokchang Eui Jemin, mastered the Twelve Thunder Spears, incorporating wind and lightning… could that be why?”
After observing for a while, Jumryeong lost interest and disappeared from view.
Descending to the annex courtyard, Jeok Hwamyung opened the door.
“You okay?”
“Yes, I didn’t drink much, anyway.”
“Have you been drinking since birth?”
Jumryeong’s casual answer made Jeok Hwamyung feel as though he had met a true drinker.
“They say he was fed alcohol instead of milk.”
“Ah, joking this early in the morning… seems we’ve become close since yesterday,” Jeok Hwamyung chuckled.
Jumryeong merely smiled, used to people doubting his truths.
“Came out to loosen up?”
“My body’s already loosened.”
“Really? Then I’ll warm up too, right?”
“Go ahead. I’ll step aside.”
Knowing that observing others’ martial arts could be impolite, he offered space.
“No, no need. Just stay. It doesn’t matter if you don’t step aside while I warm up.”
Jumryeong sat on the wooden deck of the annex as Jeok Hwamyung began his exercises.
In the martial world, one must always be prepared for unexpected situations, a rule strictly observed by masters.
Jeok Hwamyung’s movements were neither fast nor slow, seemingly random but orderly. Jumryeong recognized that order—it mirrored the essence of the Residual Life Sword.
“Seeks strength rather than elegance, but it’s not bad,” he thought.
“Softness can overcome strength,” Cheon Nam-yeon had said—a principle known as Yuyi Jegang 柔以制强.
“But people don’t realize one thing: extreme strength exists. Absolute strength. When fully perfected, nothing can stop it.”
Though Gu Yeong-cheol had been taciturn, his words had profound impact. Jumryeong smiled faintly at Jeok Hwamyung, who, seeing this, misinterpreted it as admiration for his warm-up, feeling proud.
When Jeok Hwamyung finished, Eui Doki entered the annex.
“Brother! Breakfast is ready. Let’s eat together.”
“Is that so?”
Jeok Hwamyung glanced at Jumryeong, wondering if yesterday’s events with Eui Doki might make things awkward.
“Cooked much good food?”
Jumryeong didn’t care about such matters; his only concern was tasty food. So far, food had been the only pleasure he found in the Central Plains.
“Although morning dishes may be simple, the head chef here is renowned even in Guangdong. You’ll be satisfied.”
“Really?”
Jeok Hwamyung looked concerned, but Eui Doki reassured him.
“I’ve already given strict instructions, so don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
