—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Maintain the Immovable Heart Method and channel your energy into your eyes. Enhance your vision.”
Unlike the first movement, the grounding technique, which could be executed under normal circumstances, the second movement required the Immovable Heart Method.
‘This footwork is awfully complicated.’
But a thirsty man digs a well, so he dutifully channeled his energy into his eyes.
With his eyes closed, he took slow, deep breaths. The energy of Fudo Myo-o already flowed through his veins, circulating throughout his body.
Maintaining Wisdom King Mode was the difficult part; channeling the energy to his eyes was simple.
He extended the energy from his upper dantian, connecting it to his eyes, enhancing his vision.
He slowly opened his eyes. With a mind cleared of emotion, he observed his surroundings, perceiving the world not through human eyes, but through the eyes of a Wisdom King.
‘This is the secret of the second Fudo Myo-o Step. This footwork is truly broken.’
If he weren’t in Wisdom King Mode, he would be screaming in shock. After all, time had stopped. Or rather, it had slowed down.
It was like viewing the world through the slow-motion feature of a high-speed camera.
He could perceive every detail: the flow of the river, the individual scales of a leaping fish, the droplets of water scattering in the air. It all registered clearly in his mind.
He had wondered how Muk-gang had been able to evade his attack with a single step. Now he understood. It was simple. He had seen it coming and moved out of the way.
By observing the opponent’s movements in detail in this slowed-down world, one could predict their next move, anticipate their attack, and evade it with a single step.
An evasive maneuver that required minimal movement. This was a technique even he, with his crippled leg, could execute.
Objectively, he wasn’t sure if it could even be called “footwork,” but he wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
As he pondered this, he saw Muk-gang’s fist flying towards his forehead. Judging from his posture, he was aiming for a flick to the forehead.
It was part of the training, a necessary step towards mastering the Fudo Myo-o Steps, but he still sighed internally at the unexpected attack. Then, a smirk played on his lips.
‘Slow.’
Muk-gang’s fist, moving at a speed he would never normally associate with the man, approached slowly, almost lazily.
He could easily evade it now, but that wouldn’t be any fun, so he waited, intending to dodge at the last possible moment, making it look cool.
And then he realized he had made a grave mistake. He should have dodged the moment he saw the fist. There was no time for stylish maneuvering.
‘M-My body won’t move?!’
Or rather, it was moving, but far slower than he anticipated. At this rate, he would be hit square in the forehead.
‘Noooo- Don’t come any closer!!’
He screamed internally, but the fist continued its inexorable approach, slowly, inexorably, connecting with his forehead, the force of the blow pressing down on him.
“Ow?!”
The impact shattered his concentration, the slowed-down world vanished, and he reverted from Wisdom King Mode back to his normal self.
“If you see an attack coming, move immediately. Don’t hesitate, or you’ll get hit.”
Muk-gang looked down at him, a hint of exasperation in his eyes, as if he had seen right through his intentions.
“You could have mentioned that before hitting me.”
Rubbing his aching forehead, he realized the weakness of the Fudo Myo-o Steps.
Muk-gang hadn’t taken a single step to evade his attack because he was trying to look cool. He had only taken a single step because that’s all the time he had.
While the world moved slower, so did he. He needed to move as quickly as possible within that slowed-down perception.
While the ability to perceive the world in slow motion was undeniably a powerful advantage, to move quickly within that slowed-down world required enhanced physical abilities. A strong foundation was essential.
“My body is moving much slower than I anticipated. I suppose physical training is the key?”
Muk-gang nodded in agreement.
“Muscle is speed. Enhanced vision alone will not allow you to evade all attacks.”
He was right. Enhanced reflexes were useless if your body couldn’t keep up. He would have to increase the intensity of his physical training.
He hadn’t even mastered Twin Hand Combat yet, and it seemed with each new technique he learned, the list of things he needed to practice grew longer. It was endless.
“While there are still areas that need improvement, you’ve learned the technique faster than I expected. You truly are a genius who deceives even the heavens.”
‘Is he being sarcastic?’
He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Muk-gang’s face, but the man’s usual impassive expression gave nothing away.
He had been unable to read Muk-gang from the start. He couldn’t decipher the man’s thoughts or intentions.
He wasn’t an expert on Esoteric Buddhism, but the Fudo Myo-o Steps wasn’t a technique one would casually impart to others. It felt like it was on par with the Jegal Clan’s Heavenly Mystery Evasive Steps.
Honestly, if Muk-gang had simply apologized and walked away, there would have been nothing he could do. The difference in their power was that significant.
He should be grateful to be alive. And yet, Muk-gang had not only taken responsibility for his actions, but had also taught him a secret technique of Esoteric Buddhism.
It was a heavy burden of responsibility, almost overwhelming.
“This might be a strange question after having learned the technique, but… are you sure it was alright to teach me the Fudo Myo-o Steps? I could use it for nefarious purposes, you know?”
He wasn’t sure why he asked. The words had simply tumbled out. And Muk-gang, in his usual calm tone, answered.
“It doesn’t matter. It is your power, earned through your own efforts. How you use it is your choice.”
Muk-gang paused, then continued, sighing, a rare display of emotion. A flicker of something akin to anguish flashed in his dark eyes.
“Besides, good and evil are not absolutes, easily defined by individuals. Perspectives shift constantly. Therefore, do not dwell on such matters and simply follow your heart.”
Muk-gang, his usually serious face even more somber, spoke to him, offering advice not just as a teacher, but as a mentor, despite the short time they had spent together.
“However, you must always take responsibility for your words and actions.”
“Responsibility?”
“Whether you choose to do good or evil, you must never run from the consequences of your choices.”
Fudo Myo-o, the Immovable Wisdom King. Immovable, not out of laziness, but because his power was too great to be wielded carelessly.
“Without a sense of responsibility, one’s words and actions become meaningless. Unburdened by consequences, one remains blind to their own failings, losing all hesitation to harm and hurt others.”
Muk-gang placed a hand on his shoulder, the weight of it got a tangible presence.
“Mancheon, I do not know what path you will choose, but remember this.”
‘Is he… is he going to say it?!’
He knew, he just knew, what words were coming, so he swallowed nervously, meeting Muk-gang’s serious gaze.
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
If he was the Spider-Dancer of the martial world, then Muk-gang was Uncle Ben. And Uncle Ben was an essential part of the Spider-Man mythos.
“Uncle, can I call you ‘Uncle’ from now on?”
“I have no intention of becoming sworn brothers with your father. Just call me ‘Mister’ like a normal person.”
He was slightly puzzled by Muk-gang’s genuinely disgusted expression, but he had only been joking, so he didn’t dwell on it.
“So, Mister, I’ve learned both the Immovable Heart Method and the second movement of the Fudo Myo-o Steps, though imperfectly. What’s next?”
While he had learned everything he had initially requested, Muk-gang had offered to teach him until the end of the day, and he intended to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Muk-gang considered his reasonable question, then suddenly looked past him, a look of surprise on his face.
“You two… have a close relationship.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
He turned around at Muk-gang’s strange remark. There, standing behind him, was Yeonhwa, her beautiful black hair adorned with leaves, a bright smile on her face.
“Older Brother, I brought you lunch.”
She held up a three-tiered lunchbox wrapped in cloth.
“Huh?”
He let out a dumbstruck sound at the unexpected lunch delivery.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Mmm… that was delicious. Yeonhwa, your cooking is amazing.”
“I’m happy to cook for you anytime, Older Brother.”
Yeonhwa smiled warmly at Mancheon, who was practically in tears over how much he enjoyed the meal, and offered him tea. It was a blissful moment.
Her older brother appreciated her, needed her. The thought filled her with warmth and joy.
She plastered on a polite smile and offered tea to Muk-gang as well.
“Here you go, Teacher.”
“Why… are you calling me ‘Teacher’?”
“Well, you’re teaching my older brother martial arts, so naturally, you’re his teacher.”
For some reason, Muk-gang seemed uncomfortable with the respectful title.
As a member of a Buddhist sect, even if it was Esoteric Buddhism, he couldn’t refuse an offering of food. It was also considered disrespectful to leave food uneaten.
True to his beliefs, Muk-gang ate every last grain of rice in the lunchbox Yeonhwa had prepared. It was a delicious meal.
She was a remarkably skilled cook for her age. Each dish was carefully prepared, made with high-quality ingredients.
He took a sip of the tea. The tea leaves were of high quality as well. It was truly exceptional hospitality.
And such exceptional hospitality… usually came with a request, a favor to be asked.
“I’ve heard tales of a powerful fist technique of Esoteric Buddhism, the Wisdom King Fist. Is there any truth to these rumors?”
Muk-gang glanced at Mancheon, silently urging him to control his younger sister, the little fox who had asked the question with such an innocent face, but Mancheon ignored him, looking away.
“Mmm… that was a delicious meal. I want more tomorrow.”
He stared at the empty lunchbox. Muk-gang sighed softly.
‘Ah… I’ve fallen into the trap of a devious sibling duo.’
Having accepted the offering, it was his duty as a Buddhist to at least offer a sutra in return. Yeonhwa’s red eyes gleamed seductively.
“I may not know much about martial arts, but even chopsticks require a pair to be useful. Since you’ve taught him footwork, wouldn’t it be only fitting to teach him a fist technique as well?”
Muk-gang, realizing that he was about to be swindled out of all the secret techniques of Esoteric Buddhism, decided to offer a few words of wisdom and make his escape, when…
He felt a surge of nauseating, malevolent energy, a foul stench that made his stomach churn. The unmistakable reek of the Heavenly Demon faction.
Muk-gang rose to his feet, positioning himself protectively in front of Mancheon and Yeonhwa. He would protect the humans from the monster.
That was his duty, his responsibility, as Muk-gang, the Dharma protector of Esoteric Buddhism, the Immovable Wisdom King.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
An ambush! Let’s show your new tech mancheon!!
System Notification 