That’s Not How You Use Martial Arts

Chapter 23
Why There Is No Sword Qi (3)
『 Translator – Divinity 』

“What?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

The others vehemently protested.

But this was truly an unavoidable problem.

To be frank, Hwa-ryeon, Seol-i, and Master’s internal energy circulation techniques were nothing special.

Just fast. Constantly fast.

They were simple and crude techniques that clearly focused solely on enhancing physical abilities.

Yes, that simplicity was the problem.

If you simply circulated your internal energy quickly, its force would naturally become stronger.

The problem was that moving internal energy with such force would also drastically increase the amount released outside the body.

Simply put, it was like pouring water into a small cup until it overflowed.

With such a tremendous waste of internal energy, the dantian would naturally be emptied in an instant.

And what would happen if the dantian was empty? Defeat. Death.

Moreover, there was another problem before that.

Could the meridians withstand the release of such a forceful internal energy?

Usually, when releasing internal energy outside the body, it was done through the meridians.

For example, to gain the explosive power needed to jump over a high wall, you would release internal energy through the Yongquan acupoint on the soles of your feet. This release required delicate control.

When I was young, I recklessly released internal energy with full force and ended up smashing my head through the ceiling… It was a dark moment I wanted to keep buried in my memories.

Moreover, the Yongquan acupoint was damaged by the sudden burst of internal energy, and I had to limp for a while.

Anyway, the bottom line was that releasing internal energy required delicate control.

But could those who had never controlled the strength of their internal energy circulation in their lives suddenly achieve this overnight?

Absolutely impossible.

“Besides, we’re not learning to use Sword Qi just for fun. We’re learning it to use it in actual combat.”

“B-but changing our circulation techniques…!”

Hwa-ryeon stammered, which was rare for her.

She had realized the arduous path that lay ahead of them.

Changing their circulation techniques wasn’t just about changing the techniques themselves.

Why did each sect and clan in those martial arts novels cultivate internal energy techniques and martial arts that were compatible with each other?

Because the way each technique circulated internal energy complemented the martial arts, maximizing their power.

But what if the circulation technique changed?

Naturally, their power would decrease.

So, changing their circulation techniques meant that they would also have to revise their sword techniques.

It sounded nice to say “revise,” but it was essentially telling them to rebuild their sword techniques from scratch.

“……”
“……”
“……”

Everyone looked at me with dumbfounded expressions.

“Even if you look at me like that, it won’t change anything. I wish I could say I was joking.”

It took me four years to modify the Three Talents Technique, a third-rate martial art. How long would it take them?

I had to modify the internal energy cultivation method first, but I didn’t have to touch the sword technique much.

It was just a basic sword technique with three moves, after all.

But they didn’t need to touch the internal energy cultivation method itself; instead, they had to rebuild their sword techniques to match the changed circulation technique.

“Huh, hahaha…”

Master finally burst into laughter, and Hwa-ryeon buried her face in her hands.

And Seol-i…

“This, this is a dream. I need to wake up…”

She was in complete denial.

***

The next morning.

“Haaaaawm~”

I yawned widely as I drove the carriage towards Hefei.

I hadn’t slept a wink all night, explaining the intricacies of controlling internal energy.

“…I’m sorry. You must be very tired.”

“It’s fine. You’re just as tired, if not more.”

Hwa-ryeon was sitting next to me instead of Master.

Master was inside the carriage, diligently researching their martial arts with Seol-i.

After pestering me all night, preventing me from sleeping, they were working hard, weren’t they?

“It’s a relief that no one is giving up, saying they can’t do it.”

“We paid a hefty price; we can’t give up without even starting.”

Hwa-ryeon’s answer was firm.

I liked that she didn’t seem like she would give up easily.

“Yes, please master Sword Qi and spread it throughout the world.”

“…You seem very eager for other martial artists to be able to use Sword Qi.”

At her suspicious reaction, I shrugged.

“Of course, I am.”

“…What?”

She was bewildered by her own question.

I chuckled, looking at Hwa-ryeon.

Seeing me like that, Hwa-ryeon asked in a flustered voice,

“Wh-why? Why would you share Sword Qi, your secret technique, with others…?”

Hwa-ryeon, who had been rapidly speaking, suddenly widened her eyes as if she had realized something.

“…You were planning to teach us Sword Qi from the beginning?”

“Correct.”

As I answered with a playful smile, Hwa-ryeon, speechless for a moment, let out a deep sigh.

“Why? Are you upset that you were tricked?”

“No. I’m actually relieved that I paid the price beforehand. It would have been more expensive later.”

Hwa-ryeon, sitting up straight and speaking primly, glanced at me and asked in a low voice,

“Why are you really doing this?”

“Well, because I want that kind of world to exist?”

Hwa-ryeon looked confused at my answer.

It was understandable.

What was the point of being the only one who could use Sword Qi in a world where no one else could?

It might sound a bit embarrassing, but wouldn’t I be like the number one expert in the world?

“But that’s not what I want.”

Yes, that wasn’t what I wanted.

What I wanted wasn’t weaklings who would be swept away like autumn leaves by a single strike of Sword Qi, but worthy opponents I could fight on equal footing.

What I wanted wasn’t a shabby battle where people just swung their swords on the ground, but a spectacle of Sword Qi with martial artists flying through the air.

What I wanted was to bring the illusions that existed only in the minds of countless people into reality.

Yes, that was what I wanted.

A world filled with romance, a world that all those who loved martial arts novels like me dreamed of.

I hoped that the flapping of my butterfly wings, now and in the future, would become a massive hurricane that ushered in that romance.

Hwa-ryeon looked slightly taken aback by my answer.

“…You’re a strange person, Young Master. You always have been, ever since you were young. Talking about lightness skills and such, without a care for what others thought.”

“I’d prefer it if you used positive expressions like ‘extraordinary.'”

Hwa-ryeon shook her head at my joke.

Chuckling at her reaction, I suddenly remembered something.

“Speaking of strange, I just remembered something. Back then…”

“Back then, when?”

“Back then, when you challenged me to a duel with a real sword, why did you set that strange condition?”

Even now, it seemed like a very strange condition.

A condition where I would learn about her circumstances whether I won or lost.

“Ah…”

Hwa-ryeon’s lips curled into a wry smile as she recalled the condition she had set back then.

“Actually, I wanted you to join us. And I was certain that you would, once you knew our circumstances.”

Hwa-ryeon chuckled as she added, “And indeed, you are here next to us.”

But I couldn’t understand how she could be so sure that I would join them.

“You were certain? How?”

“I told you, didn’t I? We’ve known each other for ten years, like it or not. Just like you can read my expressions, I also know your heart to some extent. Especially the fact that you longed for adventure, I’ve known that for a very long time.”

Hwa-ryeon’s words left me slightly dazed.

It was as if I had become aware of something I hadn’t been conscious of before.

Just as I had been observing Hwa-ryeon for ten years, she had been observing me too.

Realizing that, I felt a warmth spreading through my chest.

Somehow, it was difficult to meet Hwa-ryeon’s eyes directly.

The atmosphere also felt strangely soft.

I tried to change the mood by asking playfully,

“S-so you made that strange proposition? To seduce me?”

“S-seduce? How can you be so blunt…!”

Just as I was about to launch my next attack while Hwa-ryeon was flustered, something caught my attention.

…Clang! Clank!

Agh!

“…!”

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

The sound of metal clashing against metal.

High and low-pitched screams.

A fierce battle was taking place up ahead.

“Whoa there.”

I immediately stopped the carriage and jumped out.

At my sudden action, not only Hwa-ryeon, but also Master and Seol-i, who were inside the carriage, poked their heads out.

“Young Master?”

“What’s going on?”

“It seems like someone is being attacked up ahead. I’ll go check it out first.”

“Wh-what?”

There was no time for a lengthy explanation.

I quickly circulated my internal energy through my body to lighten my steps and then sprinted down the road at full speed.

Bang!

The internal energy released from the Yongquan acupoint on the soles of my feet propelled me forward, allowing me to swiftly pass by the trees lining the road.

***

“Wh-what is that…?”

Dae-un’s eyes widened as he watched Ja-seong’s retreating figure, moving at an unbelievable speed.

Considering his speed alone, it looked as if he was riding a horse, not running on two feet.

How could a human possibly move at such a speed?

As Dae-un marveled, he suddenly recalled something Ja-seong had said when he was just a first-year student at the school.

To be precise, it was what Ja-seong had retorted when Dae-un had scolded him for talking nonsense about lightness skills.

—Someday, I’ll create a lightness skill and surprise everyone, so be prepared to be shocked!

“…Huh.”

Lightness skills.

A fictional martial art from novels that supposedly allowed one to lighten their body and travel a hundred li* in a single day.

[TL/N: 1 Li = 0.31 mile, 100 = 31 miles]

Dae-un, witnessing another illusion become reality after Sword Qi, let out a hollow laugh.