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chapter 19
Dan-yeop spent the entire afternoon training the Heaven and Earth Technique in the Jeommun training hall.
He had grasped a few moves in a short span yesterday, so he challenged himself again, hoping for more progress.
But contrary to his expectations, he managed to learn only the three movements of the First Form.
Disappointed, he was consoled by Instructor Gomuk.
“Hah! Have you forgotten that you failed to grasp even a single move for fourteen years? To master three movements in just half a day is already commendable. At this pace, you’ll master the whole First Form in three days.”
“Yes.”
Dan-yeop nodded calmly.
There was truth in the instructor’s words.
Trying to accomplish in a day what he had failed to learn for over a decade was pure greed.
Instructor Gomuk is right. Three moves tomorrow, another three the day after… in three days I’ll have the First Form complete.
His mind cleared.
If he continued at this pace, in three days he could master the entire First Form.
The next day.
Morning training.
Dan-yeop began his practice of the Heaven and Earth Technique with high expectations.
But somehow, he kept getting stuck at the third movement of the First Form.
Individually, he could perform the fourth and even the fifth movement.
But once he tried them in continuous sequence, he was blocked at the third.
Considering that he had mastered the form so suddenly the day before, it was maddening.
Instructor Gomuk, who had been teaching him all morning, silently clicked his tongue.
Unbelievable. How can he fail to recall even a single move after an entire morning?
Eventually, Gomuk left Dan-yeop on his own and returned to instruct the 14th class.
Left alone, Dan-yeop clenched his teeth and devoted himself desperately to the First Form.
Without completing it, he wouldn’t be able to graduate from the hall.
Ten days passed.
During that time, Dan-yeop trained both morning and afternoon in the Jeommun hall.
Fortunately, there was progress.
He had managed to add one more movement to his repertoire—up to the fourth move of the First Form.
One evening, as he continued training, an envoy from Amun, Gwan Gujong, came looking for him.
“Senior Dan-yeop, Instructor Dan is calling for you.”
“Ah…”
Dan-yeop placed his straight blade back on its rack and headed to Amun’s training hall.
Amun Training Hall.
Dan-yeop approached Instructor Dan Bulwi cautiously and bowed.
“Instructor.”
“So, any progress with the Heaven and Earth Technique?”
“I’ve reached the fourth movement of the First Form.”
“Oh! That’s good. Slow, but better than being stuck in place. At this rate, you may master the technique within two months.”
“Yes.”
A shy smile tugged at Dan-yeop’s lips.
Compared to others, his progress was pathetic, but he was glad nonetheless.
If he kept going at this pace, he might truly complete the Heaven and Earth Technique before the year’s end.
“But forms alone aren’t enough to deal with even third-rate martial artists. To subdue someone using a foundational technique like this, you’ll need inner power to support it.”
As he spoke, Instructor Dan placed a thin book on the desk.
“This is the Prajna Method, the basic mind technique of Shaolin. It’s less about cultivating inner strength and more about cultivating the mind, which is why even secular disciples don’t bother with it. Even our Hao Sect ignored it. To martial artists, it’s like a chicken’s rib—neither useful nor worth discarding. But for you, it will be of great help.”
“Ah!”
Dan-yeop’s eyes fell on the booklet.
Seeing the characters for Prajna Method on the cover made his heart stir.
Instructor Dan slid the book toward him.
“If your sole purpose were to build inner strength, the Absorption Method of Sun and Moon from the Cha Sect would be better. But for stability and cultivation of the mind, nothing surpasses the Prajna Method. I believe it’s perfect for curing your deviation.”
“Thank you.”
As Dan-yeop picked up the book, Instructor Dan added casually,
“Don’t avoid inner training just because of the symptoms of deviation. If you keep ignoring it and continue practicing, a good day will come. Without challenge, nothing changes.”
For a moment, something struck Dan-yeop deep in the chest.
“…Yes.”
It was true.
He had trained Split Mind Technique and fallen into deviation.
Now, it was time to cure that deviation with the Prajna Method.
He had no wish to die a meaningless death, relying only on forms.
Back in his quarters, Dan-yeop opened the Prajna Method.
—When you perceive the essence of the world as emptiness, you overcome all hardships and reach its truth.
It was similar to the Heart Sutra.
But unlike the Heart Sutra, it included breathing techniques at the end.
Altogether, the text contained only 120 characters—he finished it in less than a quarter-hour.
A hundred characters on mindset, twenty on breathing.
Soon, an involuntary sigh slipped from him.
Haa…
He now understood why Instructor Dan called it mental cultivation.
The words were noble but felt like grasping at clouds.
Maybe it’s because I’m not a Buddhist?
Fortunately, the breathing instructions were short and clear.
Had they too been vague nonsense, it would have been maddening.
The twenty characters on breathing were simple enough for even his dull mind to memorize.
Curiosity mixed with obligation had led him to read the Prajna Method, but he didn’t start cultivating inner strength immediately.
He wasn’t a fool.
Though unspoken, he had felt the difference in himself since his split in personality.
Learning that form so suddenly wasn’t coincidence or miracle.
To confirm the change, he first needed to test his limits clearly.
Rising from his seat, he headed for the Jeommun hall.
Another ten days passed.
Dan-yeop managed to learn up to the fifth movement of the First Form.
It had taken him ten days to memorize just one more.
By now, even the newly admitted 14th class had reached the same level.
He didn’t show it, but inside, Dan-yeop burned with frustration.
The 14th class was progressing faster than their predecessors.
Past classes usually took two months to master the First Form. The 14th would finish in just one.
This was because entrants were gradually getting older.
Of course, memorizing the form wasn’t the end.
They’d have to repeat it endlessly for a year before moving on.
But if the 14th surpassed him, he might once again be called a “Stone Monkey.”
Jeommun Training Hall.
Afternoon practice.
Watching the lively 14th class, Dan-yeop’s face darkened.
At this pace, they’ll finish the First Form a month ahead of me…
The thought of stumbling in front of them made his chest heavy.
Right now, they treated him like a respected senior, but that would change.
And yet, there was nothing he could do.
Grinding his teeth, he turned away.
Don’t be greedy.
He knew his limits.
Ten days of grueling effort for one movement—no more.
Go ahead without me. This is as far as I go…
Since he couldn’t compete with the 14th, he might as well focus on curing his deviation.
Dan-yeop trudged out of the hall.
Watching his receding figure, Instructor Gomuk clicked his tongue.
I had hoped he would outpace the 14th… but that’s not going to happen.
Of course, he understood Dan-yeop’s feelings.
The students’ eyes had begun to change.
Reverence for a senior’s mastery of a form only lasted so long.
Once the 14th class mastered the technique, their relationship would flip.
Dan-yeop went north of the Tomb of Soldiers, to see the Map of Mountains and Rivers.
It felt strange to look at it again after so long.
As a child, it had seemed enormous. Now it looked ordinary.
Seating himself cross-legged before the stone wall, he began to breathe according to the Prajna Method.
Or tried to.
But the moment he focused on his dantian, a white thread burst forth as if waiting, shooting up into his Heaven’s Eye (between the brows).
Flash—!
Dan-yeop opened his eyes, lost in thought.
Even he knew that cultivating inner strength led to personality splits.
And yet, he had sat cross-legged?
That meant he had been about to begin serious inner training.
“That must mean he was desperate.”
Otherwise, why would a dullard like him dare to train, knowing the risk?
“Tsk. With that brain, what could he possibly gain…”
Shaking his head, he rose slowly.
Training could wait—he first needed to understand the situation.
He rushed off like the wind to meet Instructor Dan Bulwi.
Amun Training Hall.
Afternoon training.
Instructor Dan noticed something different the moment he saw Dan-yeop.
His confident stride, his self-assured gaze—there was no need to ask.
It was Dan-yeop the prodigy.
Leaving the 4th class behind, the instructor approached him.
“What brings you here?”
“Father, how long has it been since I left?”
“Twenty days.”
“Ha! That long? This won’t do…”
Dan-yeop sighed heavily, his face clouded.
At this rate, just absorbing an Energy Pill would take ages, let alone achieving greatness.
“Don’t worry too much. Even that one knows he must practice inner strength to overcome deviation. I gave him Shaolin’s Prajna Method. Since he has a fascination with Shaolin arts, he’ll cling to it.”
“Well done. Please remind that dullard Dan-yeop that he must train regularly. He can’t go on like this.”
“Understood. But tell me—do you have any connection with him? Any resonance between you two?”
“None. Why do you ask?”
“Because three days after the graduation exam—when you fell asleep and he awoke…”
Instructor Dan explained how the dullard Dan-yeop had instantly mastered the First Form.
“…And in the twenty days since, he’s learned two more movements. Considering he had been stuck on the First Form for thirteen years, it’s nothing short of a miracle.”
“I can’t say. When the dullard awakens again, please confirm. If he’s achieved that much, perhaps there is a link between us after all.”
“Your memories remain blocked? You recall nothing of his?”
“None at all. Not even a shred. It feels as if I’m hearing about a stranger.”
“Strange indeed… Something flows between you, yet no memory remains? A mystery fit to baffle ghosts.”
“There are countless mysteries in the world. Let’s not be overly attached to this one.”
Hearing his composed words, Instructor Dan couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
This one is truly different from the dullard.
As he regarded him with fresh eyes, Dan-yeop spoke.
“Father, could you procure me some fasting pills?”
Instructor Dan pulled a pouch from his desk drawer.
“Here. I had prepared them in advance for your return. Enough for half a month—use them wisely this time.”
“Oh! Thank you, Father. If I succeed, I’ll repay your kindness.”
“Haha! Empty words, but appreciated nonetheless. By the way, I also told the dullard, but you should know—the sect’s situation is poor. The 4th class’s graduation exam may be moved up.”
“Ah!”
“At his current pace, he might even graduate alongside them. Keep that in mind.”
“Training in the Tomb of Soldiers is ideal, but if it can’t be helped, so be it.”
Dan-yeop accepted the reality without complaint.
He was but a lowly member of the Hao Sect—he had no choice but to follow orders.
