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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Tai Chi…you say?”
An unexpected proposition.
I had anticipated a few pointers at most, but he was offering to teach me Tai Chi. Did he intend to make me a Taoist?
“Indeed. Tai Chi. Would you care to learn?”
“I’d appreciate a more detailed explanation.”
“Hmm. I’ve simply concluded that Tai Chi holds the solution to your problem.”
“My problem…?”
“Don’t you desire to ascend to a higher level?”
As the True Immortal said, I did desire to reach a higher level. But could Tai Chi truly help me achieve that?
And…
“Am I even permitted to learn Tai Chi? It’s a Wudang martial art, is it not?”
Teaching a Wudang martial art to an outsider seemed problematic.
While I wasn’t affiliated with any sect, learning Tai Chi still felt inappropriate.
The True Immortal, as if anticipating my concerns, placed his wine bottle on a table that had seemingly materialized out of thin air.
“Even old men learn Tai Chi for exercise. What harm could there be in you learning it?”
“But wouldn’t it be different if you were the one teaching it?”
“I’ll only teach you the forms. No narrow-minded Taoist would object to something so trivial.”
“…Should I offer a formal apprenticeship request?”
“There’s no need for such formalities for a simple technique.”
Tai Chi was a simple technique?
From the perspective of the unfathomable True Immortal, Tai Chi was indeed a mere trifle.
“…Thank you.”
“We’ll begin training shortly, so rest until then. I’ll be observing the child with the twisted fate.”
A child with a twisted fate?
I glanced at Hye-ryeong and Mokgyeong. They were staring at the True Immortal with tense expressions.
Mokgyeong, whose path had diverged from that of a revenge-driven martial artist due to my intervention.
Hye-ryeong, who had escaped the destruction of her sect thanks to me.
Which one was he referring to?
Ultimately, both of their fates had been altered by my presence, so I wouldn’t know for sure until he elaborated.
…Though Mokgyeong was the more likely candidate.
“The child of destiny has come before me…perhaps it is heaven’s will…”
The True Immortal looked up at the sky as he spoke.
He seemed to be reading the heavens, just as he had in my dream.
What level of mastery did one need to comprehend the will of heaven?
Perhaps he could even defeat the Heavenly Demon if he took on that task.
Of course, such a responsibility couldn’t be entrusted to him.
“Don’t be consumed by revenge. Follow the natural flow, and you will eventually encounter your enemies. For now, focus on honing your body and mind. Only a tempered body can wield your blade effectively.”
“…Thank you, Master.”
Mokgyeong bowed and expressed his gratitude.
“And…young child.”
“M-me?”
He was addressing Hye-ryeong as well?
“Though your connection was not meant to be, it has now become unbreakable. Be patient.”
“…Thank you, Master!”
…Just how perceptive was he?
His abilities defied explanation.
I seriously considered the possibility that the True Immortal was a reincarnator, transmigrator, or regressor. That seemed more plausible than anything else.
“Now that that’s settled…child, follow me. I’ll teach you Tai Chi.”
“Understood.”
I followed him as he turned and walked towards a small thatched hut at the peak.
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“…That tiger…”
“Don’t mind it.”
It was hard not to mind a massive white tiger staring at me. Though it seemed disinterested in me, licking its paw…
“This will do.”
“It’s quite spacious.”
“We’ll be training here, so this is sufficient. Stand here.”
I stood at the spot he indicated and met his gaze. The True Immortal surveyed me from head to toe, then spoke.
“Tai Chi consists of forty-two forms. But you will only learn twenty-four.”
“Twenty-four forms…?”
He was only going to teach me a little over half of the complete set.
“That will suffice. I’m not teaching you Tai Chi to make you a Taoist or a Wudang disciple, but to address your shortcomings.”
“Address my shortcomings…”
What exactly did he mean by that?
“I’ll demonstrate the overall flow. Watch carefully.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he began to slowly demonstrate the twenty-four forms of Tai Chi.
I focused all my attention on his movements, determined not to miss a single detail.
This was another opportunity granted to me.
It felt like less than a day had passed by the time he finished the twenty-four forms.
He stopped and looked at me expectantly.
“What did you observe?”
“Fluidity.”
“Correct. Wudang martial arts emphasize fluidity and the harmony of Tai Chi. While Tai Chi is considered a basic technique, it embodies the essence of Wudang better than any other martial art. That is why you must learn it. Now, since I’ve demonstrated, try to replicate it.”
…He wanted me to replicate it after seeing it only once?
Could I do it?
I recalled the forms of Tai Chi in my mind.
Twenty-four simple yet complex movements.
I began to perform the forms, mimicking what I had seen.
My movements were clumsy and awkward, full of holes.
But one couldn’t expect perfection on the first try.
I finished the twenty-fourth form awkwardly and looked at the True Immortal. He watched me with his arms crossed behind his back, then spoke.
“I’ll demonstrate a few more times. Learn slowly. There’s no rush.”
The True Immortal began to demonstrate the forms again. I observed his movements meticulously, refining my own.
Fortunately, most of the Tai Chi forms were simple, making the learning process relatively easy. It wasn’t considered a basic technique for nothing.
Several hours passed as I practiced the forms of Tai Chi.
I diligently moved my limbs in the darkness that had enveloped Heavenly Pillar Peak.
“That’s enough. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
“There’s a small room where you can sleep.”
“Thank you for offering me lodging.”
“Don’t mention it. You brought me some worldly wine…”
He turned and disappeared into the hut. As soon as he was gone, the white tiger stood up and vanished as well.
“…I could believe this was a dream.”
Though it couldn’t be.
I dragged my weary body towards the small room.
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“Your movements are starting to look respectable.”
“Is that so?”
After several days of practicing Tai Chi, my movements seemed to have finally reached a level acceptable to the True Immortal.
I finished the forms and exhaled, waiting for his feedback.
Experience told me he had more to say.
“What have you learned from practicing Tai Chi?”
“…It feels like flowing water.”
“Why do you feel that way?”
“Each form seamlessly transitions into the next. The flow continues naturally until the very end. How could it not feel fluid?”
“Have you observed anything else?”
“…I’ve sensed the principle of overcoming hardness with softness. Each movement appears slow and gentle, like a dance, yet within them lies a firm core capable of deflecting any force.”
“Hmm…not bad.”
“You flatter me. My own martial arts share similarities with Tai Chi.”
“Similarities…in what way?”
“The swordsmanship and grappling techniques I’ve learned emphasize softness. Using softness to subdue the opponent. However…the purpose is different. Like any military martial art, it’s meant to kill effectively.”
Softness.
But whether it concealed a blade or a will determined its nature.
Kampfringen became a martial art imbued with killing intent, hiding a blade within its softness. Tai Chi, on the other hand, became a living art, infused with will.
The True Immortal nodded at my words, stroked his beard, and spoke.
“Your body radiates an undeniable killing intent. A potent killing intent that could eventually consume you. While killing intent is inseparable from a martial artist, yours is far more intense.”
…Even the most notorious Madu couldn’t have killed as many people as I had.
Considering the number of lives I had taken, the stench of blood clinging to me must be far more pungent than the smell of decaying corpses.
“So that’s why you taught me Tai Chi.”
“Indeed.”
“But I don’t know what to do. Please, guide me.”
The True Immortal answered my plea without hesitation.
“Let’s practice Pushing Hands.”
Pushing Hands? So suddenly?
I assumed the starting stance of Tai Chi as the True Immortal did the same.
A duel between a seasoned master who had practiced Tai Chi for decades and a novice who had just begun.
My chances of winning were slim to none, but this was a learning experience.
The goal was to gain something from this exchange.
“I’ll be in your care.”
“Very well. I’ll yield the first move. Come at me.”
At his words, I kicked off the ground and closed the distance.
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Thanks fusion!