Book 3 Chapter 15

The lecture time for Cheonsuh Talhon Dangpyeong's hidden techniques.

"Listen carefully to what I'm about to say.

From now on, I intend to shatter the conventional, rigid, and narrow-minded common sense that you have held onto for so long.

I hope you won't be too severely affected by the collapse of your own common sense, and prepare yourselves mentally."

The lecture began with grand pronouncements.

"Most people seem to think that stories found in martial arts novels are impossible, don't they?"

With that, Dangpyeong began, surveying his surroundings with a calm gaze.

"Yes, they do."

The students replied reluctantly. The current session was titled 'Contemplation on the 108 Hidden Techniques Existing in the Jianghu,' and Cheonsuh Talhon Dangpyeong, from the Sachedang Clan, was the instructor. It was his first lesson, and thus their first encounter. Judging from his gaunt physique, gloomy yet sharp gaze, and overall demeanor, he was not a person who inspired immediate favor. The general consensus was that his personality was as eccentric as his appearance.

"It's not just ordinary people unrelated to the martial world. Even those who are called masters by others consider such things to be lies."

So, what is it? Shouldn't he at least state the topic before starting to talk?

"Instructor, but what are you referring to?"

It was a protest, urging him to clearly present the subject matter before launching into his talk.

"Huh? Didn't I mention it?"

To his half-witted question, the 40 disciples nodded.

"Ahem, well, what I want to talk about is eye techniques (Anbeop)."

The blackboard clearly stated today's lesson as 'The Relationship Between Martial Arts and the Five Senses,' so everyone knew the subject. Of course, the lesson was intended to familiarize them with countermeasures and usage for numerous hidden techniques.

"When people watch martial arts novels or hear stories about masters passed down through generations, they usually question one thing. That is, the discrepancy between time and thought."

"……?"

The disciples still couldn't grasp Dangpyeong's rambling lecture.

"You yourselves must have felt it at least once."

Master Dangpyeong looked around the room again, drawing their attention. This was the main point, and he wanted to ensure the disciples were more focused. Moyong Hwi was still diligently consuming ink and paper. Seeing him, a very satisfied smile spread across Master Dangpyeong's lips. It was a smile that seemed to say, 'This is the attitude of a true student.'

"How can one think for such a long time in a battle where every second counts? How can one judge the opponent's movements and martial arts while a sword flashes towards your neck? Doesn't something seem strange? Is it a lie?"

Only then did the disciples nod in agreement. This was a question anyone might have had while reading a martial arts novel. They were all well aware that such scenes often appeared, especially in popular comprehensive collections of absolute masters like "The Ten Thousand Martial Saints' Records" (Cheonmu Samsseong Muruk) or books about the immensely popular Taegeuk Sin-gun, Mu-shin Hyuk Wol-rin, like "The Unrivaled Chronicle of the Martial God" (Mushin Jeoldae Gi).

In this era, literature of the martial world primarily consisted of books chronicling the lives and deeds of past masters. Among these, those about Taegeuk Sin-gun, Mu-shin Hyuk Wol-rin, who saved the martial world from the demonic shadow of Cheongeob-ryeong a hundred years ago, and the Ten Thousand Martial Saints were particularly popular. Numerous stories by countless authors, with myriad titles, existed about them. They were stories everyone had likely read at least once in their youth.

"But it is true."

Master Dangpyeong declared solemnly. In these martial arts literary works that recorded such past facts, the protagonists in life-or-death battles or duels, where every second counted, seemed inexplicably relaxed. Even an ordinary master – aren't masters already extraordinary? – could cleave a tree into sixteen pieces with a single blink of an eye.

"Let me briefly quote from the 'Sword Saint' chapter of 'The Ten Thousand Martial Saints' Records' by Ilpil-eupcheon Jin Seo-wol, which is recognized as the most credible story, having been passed down orally."

Later, Moyong Jeong-cheon, later revered as the Sword Saint and one of the Ten Thousand Martial Saints, coincidentally encountered Cheok-hyeol Ma-geom Cho Gae-hyeon at a ferry crossing on the Yangtze River.

Cheok-hyeol Ma-geom, part of a vile group of evildoers, was a well-known mid-level master of Cheongeob-ryeong at the time, and he could not tolerate the young and vigorous new pillar of the Jeongcheon Alliance, Sword Saint Moyong Jeong-cheon, with his own eyes. The cursed demonic sword, Cheok-hyeol, of Cheok-hyeol Ma-geom Cho Gae-hyeon, who boasted a record of having drunk the blood of dozens of brave and spirited young talents of the orthodox martial world, was grasped in his hand, ready to draw blood. Like a minion of Cheongeob-ryeong, cowardly, insidious, and moreover, cunning, Cheok-hyeol Ma-geom Cho Gae-hyeon launched an unexpected assault.

"Blood Wave Sword Gathering (Hyeolpa Geomjwi)!"

A sword energy as red as fresh blood erupted from his cursed demonic sword, threatening the life of the rising sun, Sword Saint Moyong Jeong-cheon. However, Sword Saint Moyong Jeong-cheon was not swayed by the insidious sword technique of the Cheongeob-ryeong lackey. He began to respond cautiously.

'Sixteen variations. Ten are real moves, four are feints, and two are deceptive moves!'

Moyong Jeong-cheon realized that the insidious sword technique employed by the scoundrel Cheok-hyeol Ma-geom Cho Gae-hyeon was the unique Cheongeob-ryeong sword technique, Blood Wave Sword, which had caused the blood of countless orthodox talents to be shed. Furthermore, his divine eyes not only revealed the identity of the hateful and cursed sword technique but also pierced through Cheok-hyeol Ma-geom Cho Gae-hyeon's weaknesses.

'Hmm! Looking closely, there's an opening beneath the shoulder blade.'

Moyong Jeong-cheon's sword was not so dull as to miss such an opening. Judging that the most efficient attack in that state was the ultimate move of his Galaxy Meteor Sword Technique, Galaxy Ten Thousand Scales, he unhesitatingly unleashed the ultimate move of the Galaxy Meteor Sword Technique with all his might.

"Galaxy Ten Thousand Scales (Eunha Manrin)!"

Blood sprayed out like a fountain, and Cheok-hyeol Ma-geom Cho Gae-hyeon's arm was severed from his body. He was now in a pathetic state, unable to wield the cursed demonic sword and threaten the lives of the orthodox knights. Then, as Cho Gae-hyeon stammered in pain and confusion, Moyong Jeong-cheon's final strike landed, and his cursed, filthy life was returned to the heavens. Cho Gae-hyeon's soul departed his body to see the underworld.

As can be seen from the above, even in a fight against an absolute master, the protagonist Moyong Jeong-cheon swings his sword while thinking thousands of thoughts. But is this not a lie? If so, what is the basis for it? How can a person fight while having thousands of thoughts in a fleeting moment? It was an incomprehensible story.

"It is true. There is no lie here."

Dangpyeong said, looking at the students who still wore expressions of disbelief.

"Instructor, what is the basis for that then? I believe there must be a reason."

Hyoryong, representing everyone's curiosity, raised his hand. Dangpyeong inwardly praised Hyoryong's courageous action and nodded his head.

"Of course."

The real lecture by Cheonsuh Talhon Dangpyeong began. Perhaps because his grandfather's story was mentioned, Moyong Hwi was more enthusiastic than ever, diligently dipping his brush in ink and moving it across the paper.

"Do you know what is the most important and fundamental thing in all martial arts, including hidden techniques? It is the eyes! The cultivation of eye techniques (Anbeop) is the fundamental and core practice of all martial arts chapters. The eyes are the passage of emotion (Jeong) and energy (Gi). Because the eyes are the passage connecting the inner world and the outer world, many turbid energies can enter and exit through them. And various colors and wondrous shapes can bewitch us. That is why people close their eyes when they immerse themselves in internal energy cultivation and meditation. To prevent the spirit from heading outward and to keep it within. Everyone has experienced this, so I believe you can easily implement it."

This much was understandable to Hyoryong. Master Dangpyeong's lecture continued.

"When you keep your eyes open, fatigue comes easily. Because your spirit unknowingly becomes active. Through open vision, a massive amount of information flows into our brains, and our brains, whether they like it or not, are forced to undergo the arduous task of processing this vast amount of information. This is what comes to us as fatigue. However, when your eyes are closed, fatigue does not come easily, and accumulated fatigue is even relieved. If you take the time to try it, you can fully experience it. When your eyes are closed, Jeong and Gi are stored within the inner world. It becomes easier to accumulate Jeong and Gi in the inner world. If you have cultivated to your level, you must have all experienced this."

Of course, all the Heaven's Son disciples present had that experience. It was something one must go through to move from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Although sometimes people lose their minds at this stage, they begin with the acceptance of such risks.

Everyone listened intently to Master Dangpyeong's lecture in silence. Dangpyeong looked at them one by one with his sharp eyes.

"If you were to pick the senses most closely related to martial arts, you would choose vision, hearing, and touch. Just as eyes are the windows to the world, ears are another passage connected to the world. Of course, touch, which allows us to feel the Yin-Yang and Five Elements of sun and moon, water and fire, wind and earth, cannot be overlooked. However, unlike eyes, ears and touch are not as easy to control. All sorts of worldly thoughts enter through the ears and confuse us. But you must never be captivated by them. Most stray thoughts enter our bodies through the senses of sight, hearing, and touch, leading our minds into confusion. Of course, delicious scents or enchanting tastes can also confuse taste and smell, but they are not as fatal as these three. Meditation is necessary to eliminate this confusion and miscellaneous thoughts."

The lecture, which started with eye techniques and then abruptly shifted to hearing and touch, suddenly veered into meditation. It was still unclear what Cheonsuh Talhon Dangpyeong's ultimate point was. Unperturbed, Dangpyeong's lecture continued.

"Meditation is considered the highest achievement when one systematically eliminates countless thoughts that arise in the mind, one by one, until ultimately nothing remains, reaching a state of no-thought and no-mind. Our body and its inner world are miraculously and wondrously like a vast microcosm. Because of this, humans can become infinitely vast and grand beings. It is a deep and vast ultimate world with no end. Through inner contemplation and enlightenment, the spirit can soar endlessly and traverse this inner microcosm, this boundless infinite land, at speeds faster than light, reaching a divine state. There, through mental cultivation and discipline through inner contemplation and meditation, our spirit grows wings and soars endlessly. It soars endlessly through the infinite inner microcosm, the infinite universe, in a fleeting moment. And thus, we can obtain the ultimate sense that surpasses the six senses, the 'Seventh Sense'."

Dangpyeong's lecture was heading towards its climax. Moyong Hwi's writing speed was increasing. Bilyeon found it astonishing how he could fix his gaze on Dangpyeong while his brush danced across the paper without a single flaw.

"By cultivating the spirit through meditation and contemplation, and by pushing the five senses, including vision, to their limits and honing the six senses, the human sensory organs reach their peak, allowing us to obtain another new sense. It is the ultimate sense that can only be achieved through the parallel pursuit of enlightenment and practice. Do you know what is the fastest thing in this world?"

Dangpyeong suddenly asked the students a question.

"Is it light?"

Hyoryong answered. With a "I knew it" attitude, Dangpyeong shook his head.

"No. It is the speed of the soul. You can think of it as the speed of thought. When all the senses and the spirit of the entire body are cultivated to their limits, the human inner and outer worlds have different times. That is, thought precedes the body's actions. The wave of thought grasps this world at a speed faster than light and transmits that information to our brains, and our brains analyze and judge it to decide future actions. I call that state the absolute domain, super-sensory perception, or Cheongwan (Heavenly Gaze)."

Even those who had undergone countless years of cultivation looked disbelieving at Dangpyeong's explanation. However, Dangpyeong did not falter in the face of the students' disbelief.

"Upon reaching this state, using this sense gives the illusion that the world's time slows down. It is a gap created by our spirit moving at a speed faster than light. Our bodies feel sluggish and heavy, as if moving hundreds of feet underwater. Only those who have reached this absolute domain, this super-sensory realm, can act like the great Moyong Jeong-cheon, whom I cited as an example earlier. Ultimately, one can possess superhuman reaction speed."

"Then, Instructor, have you already reached that state?"

Hyoryong, who had been listening intently, raised his hand and asked a bold question. It was a guess because Dangpyeong's story was filled with the conviction of someone recounting personal experience.

"No. I have not yet reached the complete state of the absolute domain. Unfortunately, I am only at the very beginning. However, I know that the Ten Thousand Martial Saints, the Lord of Cheongwan, and the Alliance Leader have already reached this state in the past. Of course, there are individual differences."

Even at the threshold of absolute sensory perception, the skill level is vastly different from that of ordinary people. Once one possesses this ability, they are largely unharmed by most attacks. Furthermore, they gain superhuman reaction speed.

"Another important point about this state is that it has little relation to the level of internal energy. That is, it can be reached through the cultivation of senses alone, without a significant increase in internal energy."

This was an incredibly tempting prospect. A state that could be reached without the accompanying increase in internal energy that was essential for the improvement of martial arts – how could it not be enticing?

"Before reaching this state, there is something to be careful about. That is, when one enters the super-sensory state of Cheongwan, all the body's nerves become extremely sharp, and if handled incorrectly, one can go mad. That is why even absolute masters cannot always maintain this Cheongwan state. There is a risk of mental breakdown… All this is fine…"

"However… Hah!"

A handful of throwing needles flew rapidly from Cheonsuh Talhon Dangpyeong's hand. The target was Bilyeon.

At this moment, Bilyeon, deeply moved by the wonderful harmony of nature – warm weather, refreshing breeze, and pleasant humidity – was in a state of meditation, almost half asleep. Bilyeon was not so stubborn as to defy the will of the great universe and the physiological activities of the human body, so he decided to conform to the natural order and laws and indulge in sleep according to his body's desires.

Bilyeon's act of conforming to the will of the great universe and seeking harmony with the bright nature was undoubtedly perceived as an unforgivable offense by Master Dangpyeong. Thus, Master Dangpyeong decided to show a taste of why he was called Cheonsuh Talhon and immediately put his decision into action. It was a severe punishment for a student who was daydreaming while listening to his impassioned lecture. While there were figures like the supremely benevolent Ok Hyeon-jin-in at Cheonmu Academy, there were also masters with fiery and impetuous temperaments like Dangpyeong.

In any case, it was dangerous. Even without poison, these were hidden techniques thrown by Cheonsuh Talhon Dangpyeong, whose mastery of them was unparalleled. Paradoxically, if Dangpyeong were not a master of hidden techniques, he would not have thrown the needles as a form of discipline. It was because he had confidence in his own hidden techniques that Dangpyeong had thrown the needles without hesitation. He had adjusted the target and force so that Bilyeon would not die even if hit.

However, Bilyeon, the intended target of the dozens of flying needles, had no intention of sitting idly by. He refused to become a living hedgehog. Bilyeon's hands moved as smoothly as flowing water. By then, Bilyeon's eyes were open.

"How can this be!"

Not only Dangpyeong but all the students in the classroom were astonished. Bilyeon's hands split into dozens in mid-air, catching all the hidden techniques that had flown close. It was an unbelievable feat.

Since he had convenient defensive powder that was impervious to ordinary impacts, Bilyeon did not hesitate to move his hands. Master Dangpyeong, who never expected that the delinquent student Bilyeon, who had been staring blankly in his class and dozing off, would be able to block his techniques so easily, was utterly surprised.

"Huh? What's going on?"

Bilyeon asked, his expression unperturbed, greatly raising Master Dangpyeong's blood pressure. However, Dangpyeong, for the sake of his reputation, could not reveal his embarrassment.

"Ahem, you. How many throwing needles did I just throw?"

Dangpyeong asked, trying to calm his thumping heart, which was beating like a threshing machine during the autumn harvest. He asked this question hoping to find some fault.

"There were 64."

Bilyeon answered without hesitation. But he was wrong.

"What are you talking about? Sixty-four? I don't remember throwing that many needles. Are you trying to trick me?"

Master Dangpyeong, remembering that he had thrown exactly 32 needles, thought he had caught him and pressed Bilyeon.

"But there were 64. Please check."

Saying so, Bilyeon extended his hand. There was not a single scratch on his hand, and upon seeing this, Master Dangpyeong was once again greatly surprised.

Dangpyeong ran over to check immediately. He thought he would not let him off if he lied… However, as Master Dangpyeong received the items from Bilyeon's hand, his eyes were filled with unexpected astonishment.

"Thi… This is impossible…"

Master Dangpyeong's head whipped back towards Bilyeon.

'That impudent fellow!'

Upon receiving the needles he had thrown from Bilyeon, Dangpyeong was astonished to find that there were exactly 64 of them. Bilyeon's calculation was accurate. The problem was that all the needles he had thrown were shortened by half.

"You… You rascal! My precious Flying Bee Needles…"

Cheonsuh Talhon Dangpyeong was speechless. His Flying Bee Needles were made with a mixture of pure silver, and particular care had been taken with the sharpness of the needle tips. As small as they were, creating good Flying Bee Needles required countless meticulous tasks. And he had broken 32 of them…

Master Dangpyeong was momentarily speechless, a mixture of despair, anger, and surprise. Although the end of his cherished Flying Bee Needles was heartbreaking, he had to admit he was impressed. He had never imagined that someone could read and catch the needles he threw with such precision. Seeing Bilyeon's skill, he had nothing to accuse him of.

Ultimately, Master Dangpyeong continued the lesson without a word, simmering with unspoken frustration over Bilyeon's lapse. To recover from the embarrassment caused by Bilyeon, Master Dangpyeong quickly resumed the lesson.

"The lesson was briefly delayed due to an unpleasant incident. Unlike this absolute domain of super-sensory perception, there is also something called 'Dragon Eyes' (Longan) in the world."

"What is a Dragon Eye?"

"It is a type of precognitive eye. You might think it's similar to the absolute domain, but its nature is entirely different."

"Precognitive eye?"

"That's right. Or you can think of it as a mind-reading eye. While the super-sensory perception of this absolute domain, Cheongwan, can be ultimately achieved through specific acquired training, Dragon Eyes can be attributed to innate ability. There are people born with special abilities to read the minds or actions of others. They unconsciously interpret the energies and information filling the world, foreseeing a short future, even if only for a moment, and can peer into people's minds without their permission."

Master Dangpyeong's voice was filled with conviction.

"Are there really such people?"

The idea that there were people with the ability to predict the immediate future was hard to believe. If such a person truly existed, wouldn't they never lose to anyone?

"Are you implying you doubt me?"

Master Dangpyeong's eyes flashed sharply, glaring at Yun Jun-ho. His gaze was as sharp as a viper eyeing its lunch.

"Ah… No."

To the timid Yun Jun-ho, his gaze was too overwhelming. Yun Jun-ho immediately shook his head left and right, indicating denial. Master Dangpyeong's sharp gaze then softened slightly.

"Then that is fortunate."

What would he have done if it wasn't fortunate? Just like in Bilyeon's case, he might have thrown a steel needle right in front of Yun Jun-ho's nose. Fortunately, that didn't happen. Yun Jun-ho breathed a sigh of relief. And he resolved never to contradict Master Dangpyeong's words again. It was a valuable lesson learned through the direct experience of life.

"Although the probability is one in millions, owners of Dragon Eyes undoubtedly exist in this world. They are extremely few, but if their abilities were combined with martial arts, the results would be truly terrifying. What would be the power of a person who can read their opponent's next move wielding a sword? Dragon Eyes are precisely such an ability."

Cheonsuh Talhon Dangpyeong, the instructor in charge of hidden techniques, was convinced of the existence of Dragon Eyes. While such abilities are often seen in legends and folktales, it was still questionable whether such unbelievable abilities truly existed. However, seeing that someone of that caliber was so confident, it seemed they did exist in this world. Master Dangpyeong concluded his lecture with a strong admonition to be extremely cautious if one ever accidentally encountered an owner of Dragon Eyes in the future.