Chapter 268 – Researching Martial Arts. Anyway, It’s Researching Martial Arts! (2)
Hong Yeon-hwa took out the Absorption Star Great Law from her chest and shouted confidently.
“A pleasant stay…it’s time for martial arts research!”
“Are you talking about researching the Stay Technique?”
Samamaeng looked puzzled at Hong Yeon-hwa, who brought up the Stay Technique as soon as she returned and sent the superintendent away.
“Oh! The Stay Technique! It’s martial arts research!”
“But you just said the Stay Technique…”
“Anyway, it’s martial arts research!”
Hong Yeon-hwa suppressed Samamaeng’s doubts with her dignity and cleared her throat.
“Cough, cough. I was thinking of researching this martial art called the Absorption Star Great Law.”
“Is the title…the Absorption Star Great Law? It’s a grand name. Is it real or just a bluff? Or is it the Suction Technique? None of them are very efficient.”
“This one is different. It’s the reason why the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse suddenly became stronger.”
“…What?”
Samamaeng’s momentum became slightly sharper as the story of the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse came up.
“I went to catch Heuk-rang Seosaeng, and I found the scent he was using…What the hell happened?”
“I’m going to explain it from now on. However, my throat is dry. Do you have something to drink before that? If possible, something sweet like honey water would be good.”
No. Why are you looking for honey water so ominously?
I just followed along with the ordinary tea. However, since meeting Hong Yeon-hwa, I always carried it with me.
***
“Mmm. That’s how it happened. Do you understand?”
Hong Yeon-hwa finished explaining as she swallowed the last piece of tea. Samamaeng nodded with a dazed expression.
“Yes…I understand everything. But it’s so hard to believe that an individual can cause such a large-scale war…”
“It was a place where they liked to eat each other’s food, such as how to easily become stronger in Bonnyeo’s world, how to win without using force, etc. Of course, there would have been family affairs even in the midst of instigation.”
“Also, lucky. How many times would you have the chance to know the Absorption Star Great Law, which would be helpful to the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse, who was proficient in martial arts and color skills, to the extent of completing the improvement of some kind of gangsterism?”
“Um. That’s definitely a rare case even in Bonnyeo’s world. Considering the probability of such a guy coming over here…it’s usually impossible.”
After saying that, Hong Yeon-hwa let out a light sigh and…looked up her head.
“Ugh! The past is over now! Anyway, didn’t we win? Now it’s about the Absorption Star Great Law.”
“There’s something I want to experiment with, so I asked if you could bring some medicine. I asked the Daeyeongban, but…did you really find out anything in such a short time?”
“Heh heh. I’m a genius, so of course I found something. That’s why I asked you to bring me the medicine!”
Hong Yeon-hwa’s chest heaved and she reached out her hand as if possessed, stroking her head.
Pat pat.
“Ahem…you. I don’t mind, but can you do it a little later…?”
“Huh? Oh.”
Oops. I was stroking her chest, not her head.
I quickly removed my hand, and Hong Yeon-hwa took a deep breath before speaking.
“First, let me explain the purpose of the Absorption Star Great Law. It’s a martial art created to fight against me, as Heuk-rang Seosaeng said.”
“You failed?”
“Yes. You’re right, it’s a failed martial art. However, if it had succeeded, it would have been a martial art that could have given me an advantage in battle.”
“…That much?”
“The martial art itself is powerful, but there’s also the issue of compatibility. You know what martial arts I specialize in, don’t you?”
I do.
Hong Yeon-hwa is skilled in all kinds of martial arts, but especially in boxing and qigong.
That’s why I’m learning qigong too.
“Ah.”
Only then did I understand Hong Yeon-hwa’s words about compatibility.
Boxing is a martial art that involves direct physical contact during combat. Of course, it would be much easier to use the Absorption Star Great Law.
And what about qigong? As we saw in the past when Dang Gaju and Jegal Gaju were defeated by the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse, qigong is the weakest martial art against the Absorption Star Great Law.
In the case of Dokwang, he used his internal energy to imbue his poison, but…it’s basically a qigong-like attack that only uses internal energy.
In other words, if you take away the internal energy from an attack that is essentially made up of energy, what’s left?
Nothing.
In essence, qigong is sealed.
So what if Hong Yeon-hwa realizes this and starts using a different martial art instead of boxing or qigong?
She’ll still be stronger than most experts, but she’ll definitely be weaker than before.
In other words, a martial art that weakens Hong Yeon-hwa’s power in any way.
That’s the original purpose of the Absorption Star Great Law.
Did I reach the same conclusion? Paengsoso muttered with a pale expression.
“If it had succeeded, it would have been a really scary martial art…”
“But it failed. The most important thing is missing from the Absorption Star Great Law.”
Hong Yeon-hwa raised her head a few times and opened her mouth with a serious expression.
“Johwa.”
“Johwa?”
“Yes. This martial art is half-baked. It succeeded in absorbing energy and storing it in one’s own body, but it failed to harmonize that energy into one.”
“Even so, the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse had an enormous amount of internal energy, didn’t he?”
When I tilted my head in confusion, Hong Yeon-hwa did the same.
“That’s because he was already skilled in color energy. Even if you have a lot of it, wouldn’t it be useless if your internal energy is murky? But that’s not harmony. That’s digestion.”
“Digestion…I’m not sure I understand the difference. Isn’t it about taking the opponent’s internal energy and making it your own?”
“Hmm. Let me give you an example…”
Hong Yeon-hwa put her finger on her chin and began to think.
“First, let me correct your misunderstanding. Strictly speaking, the internal energy used by the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse was his own internal energy, but it wasn’t really his own.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s simple. Would internal energy accumulated through color energy be considered proper internal energy?”
“It would probably be quite murky.”
If your internal energy is murky, you need to spend more internal energy to create the same sword energy, and the sword energy you create is much easier to disperse compared to other sword energies.
In other words, it’s inefficient.
“However, even with such internal energy, the story changes when you reach the Hwagyeong. After all, isn’t the strength of a martial artist an impossible phenomenon that cannot be achieved simply by consolidating energy?”
“That’s right. It’s forcing something that can’t be achieved with sheer willpower. I think I understand now.”
“Yes. Even if the energy is murky, you can cover it with willpower.”
Although internal energy consumption is still high, the hardness and sharpness of the sword energy are influenced more by willpower than the purity of internal energy.
And if you’ve absorbed enough miscellaneous energy to make your internal energy murky, your total internal energy will be enormous.
Ultimately, if you can use the sword energy in the Hwagyeong, internal energy consumption is high, but your total internal energy will be so great that you can somehow balance it out.
So in the end, you can have purified internal energy and be as strong as those who have climbed the Hwagyeong.
Well…if your internal energy is murky, it’s harder to harmonize your internal energy and it’s much harder to climb the Hwagyeong, so purified internal energy is still better.
Anyway, by this point, I had a feeling I knew what Hong Yeon-hwa was trying to say.
“So the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse is just holding on with willpower, and their internal energies are actually separate?”
“Yes. Think about it. He absorbed Dokwang’s poison energy. But even if he developed immunity to the poison, he can’t use the poison energy himself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Johwa.”
“Johwa?”
“Yes. This martial art is half-baked. It succeeded in absorbing energy and storing it in one’s own body, but it failed to harmonize that energy into one.”
“Even so, the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse had an enormous amount of internal energy, didn’t he?”
When I tilted my head in confusion, Hong Yeon-hwa did the same.
“That’s because he was already skilled in color energy. Even if you have a lot of it, wouldn’t it be useless if your internal energy is murky? But that’s not harmony. That’s digestion.”
“Digestion…I’m not sure I understand the difference. Isn’t it about taking the opponent’s internal energy and making it your own?”
“Hmm. Let me give you an example…”
Hong Yeon-hwa put her finger on her chin and began to think.
“First, let me correct your misunderstanding. Strictly speaking, the internal energy used by the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse was his own internal energy, but it wasn’t really his own.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s simple. Would internal energy accumulated through color energy be considered proper internal energy?”
“It would probably be quite murky.”
If your internal energy is murky, you need to spend more internal energy to create the same sword energy, and the sword energy you create is much easier to disperse compared to other sword energies.
In other words, it’s inefficient.
“However, even with such internal energy, the story changes when you reach the Hwagyeong. After all, isn’t the strength of a martial artist an impossible phenomenon that cannot be achieved simply by consolidating energy?”
“That’s right. It’s forcing something that can’t be achieved with sheer willpower. I think I understand now.”
“Yes. Even if the energy is murky, you can cover it with willpower.”
Although internal energy consumption is still high, the hardness and sharpness of the sword energy are influenced more by willpower than the purity of internal energy.
And if you’ve absorbed enough miscellaneous energy to make your internal energy murky, your total internal energy will be enormous.
Ultimately, if you can use the sword energy in the Hwagyeong, internal energy consumption is high, but your total internal energy will be so great that you can somehow balance it out.
So in the end, you can have purified internal energy and be as strong as those who have climbed the Hwagyeong.
Well…if your internal energy is murky, it’s harder to harmonize your internal energy and it’s much harder to climb the Hwagyeong, so purified internal energy is still better.
Anyway, by this point, I had a feeling I knew what Hong Yeon-hwa was trying to say.
“So the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse is just holding on with willpower, and their internal energies are actually separate?”
“Yes. Think about it. He absorbed Dokwang’s poison energy. But even if he developed immunity to the poison, he can’t use the poison energy himself.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s simple. The Bloodthirsty Dark Horse is a slut who can’t even harmonize his own internal energy. He’s just using his willpower to hold it together. He’s a bitch who can’t even properly digest the energy he’s absorbed.”
“I see. So his internal energy is murky and full of impurities.”
“That’s right. And if you’re going to fight a long battle, you’ll need a lot of willpower to hold onto that weak internal energy. Eventually, your willpower will weaken, and you won’t be able to maintain your internal energy, no matter how much you have.”
While internal energy can relieve physical fatigue, it can’t do anything for mental fatigue. It’s a natural consequence.
“Of course, it’s not like the difference will be revealed in just a few hours. It takes several days of fighting to reveal weaknesses, so it’s not that important.”
“That sounds like there’s something else more critical.”
“I saw it with my own eyes. Do you remember the word ‘digestion’ that you mentioned earlier?”
“How long ago was that? I think I forgot.”
As I said that and nodded my head, Hong Yeon-hwa placed her hand on her stomach and continued.
“I don’t go to the bathroom, but don’t others? When you convert food into energy, waste is inevitably produced.”
“Well, yeah…you have to take what you need from the food and discard what you don’t.”
“The same goes for the Hupseongdae. When you absorb internal energy, you’re not using it as is. You’re using it as your own, so waste is inevitably produced during the conversion process.”
“So what happens then? Can you dispose of it later?”
“Impossible. If it’s just ordinary waste from living, it will settle in the blood vessels, but if it’s waste from internal energy, it will mix with your internal energy.”
So unless you get rid ofit, the waste will accumulate in your body, and your internal energy will become even murkier.
“And that’s where the problem lies. The Bloodthirsty Dark Horse doesn’t have a way to dispose of the waste. He’s just letting it accumulate in his body.”
“That’s…not good.”
“No, it’s not. The waste will eventually affect his internal energy, and he won’t be able to use his sword energy properly. And if he keeps fighting like that, it’ll eventually lead to his death.”
I could see the concern in Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes.
“So what can he do?”
“He needs to find a way to dispose of the waste. But that’s easier said than done. There’s no known method to do so.”
“I see. So he’s in a tough spot.”
“Yes. But that’s not all. There’s one more thing that’s bothering me.”
“What is it?”
“The Bloodthirsty Dark Horse has a hickey on his neck.”
“A hickey?”
“Yes. It’s a sign of carnal arousal. And that’s not all. His skin is covered in lotion.”
“Lotion?”
“Yes. It’s a type of oil that’s used to lubricate the skin during sex. And it’s not just any lotion. It’s a special lotion that’s used to enhance sexual pleasure.”
I could feel my face turning red as Hong Yeon-hwa continued.
“In other words, the Bloodthirsty Dark Horse had sex before the fight. And not just any sex. He used a lotion to enhance his pleasure. He’s vulgar and carnal.”
“I…I don’t even know what to say.”
“I know. It’s shocking. But it’s also a weakness. If we can use this information to our advantage, we might be able to defeat him.”
“I see. So what should we do?”
“We need to find a way to exploit his weakness. We need to make him lose his focus and concentration. And we need to do it quickly, before he realizes what’s happening.”
“I understand. I’ll do my best.”
“Good. Remember, we’re fighting for the future of our clan. We can’t afford to lose.”
With that, Hong Yeon-hwa stood up and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. The Bloodthirsty Dark Horse was not only weak in terms of internal energy, but he was also vulgar and carnal.
But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. This was our chance to defeat him and save our clan.
I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the upcoming battle. It was going to be a long and difficult fight, but I was ready to do whatever it takes to emerge victorious.
“The Blood Red Horse was originally a master of murky inner energy, with a family background in the art of color energy. That’s why he lasted so long.”
“Huh…what if he had used the absorption method to build up his inner energy?”
“If he had practiced for a few more years, he would have realized his limitations and put a stop to his growth using the absorption method. Of course, by then it would have been too late.”
Inner energy is built up through the heart. And conversely, inner energy can affect the heart.
“The power he accumulated will be useless, and he will spend his life fearing failure and unable to properly raise his inner energy.”
“So, it’s a failure.”
Regardless of the character’s personality, even the best martial artists who have mastered the art of color energy would have reached their limits faster.
They wouldn’t know how to handle murky inner energy.
It’s a martial art that can make you stronger quickly, but can also weaken the power of the Red Lotus. Even so, it’s a martial art that destroys itself before it can surpass the Red Lotus.
What do you call it if it’s not a failure?
“So, why are you talking so much about this dangerous martial art?”
“Cough cough. As I said earlier, the problem with the absorption method is that it leaves impurities in the inner energy.”
“Is that so?”
“However, such impurities can be removed in the face of the great harmony of yin and yang!”
“…What?”
“Have you forgotten the principle of the circulation of the sun and moon gods? It’s the harmony of yin and yang! That’s what the absorption method lacked!”
Does this all connect?
“No, wait. So, are you going to complete the absorption method that was created to kill Yeon-hwa?”
“That’s not it. The harmony of the circulation of the sun and moon gods is based on endless circulation. On the other hand, isn’t the absorption method a biased martial art that pulls in one direction?”
“Uh…so what will be completed then?”
“It will be the circulation of the sun and moon gods, not the absorption method!”
Hong Yeon-hwa’s face was adorned with a dazzling smile as she spoke.
