Chapter 34: How Can One Forget Without Drinking (3)

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Originally, Kim Hyul, the protagonist of "The King of the Vajra Fist," was Bi Wol's sworn enemy. The story itself began with her burning down his village when she was young.

Bi Wol, who came to enjoy blood and slaughter due to the karma of the Killing Star. She was originally a character who couldn't live without following that fate.

"Do you think you can block a sword with mere fists?"

However, now Bi Wol was living as my disciple without committing murder.

Then what was Kim Hyul doing and where was he now?

"Strength of mind is strength of body."

I recited Kim Hyul's original dialogue while smiling at her. Originally, he was the protagonist who mastered the Indestructible Diamond Body technique that could break all metal weapons like swords and spears.

"Let me show you how fists can be stronger than swords."

Since he might still be mastering the Indestructible Diamond Body technique, I needed to clearly teach Bi Wol how to counter it.

The Outer God who didn't know the original ending would expect a confrontation between protagonist and final boss.

"The mystery of the Six Harmonies Fist lies in unifying heaven and earth with the four directions. It's about combining three pairs of different forces into one."

More precisely, it was about perfectly achieving offense and defense by combining physical and mental strength into one.

"The first is the unity of Heaven and Earth. Heaven is the mind that moves the body unconsciously, and Earth is the will to perfectly understand and use technique."

It was like the method I used when demonstrating drunken fist. When forms are perfectly mastered, they come out naturally without conscious thought.

Whoosh, I used the Chicken Stance (imitating a chicken's movement) to maintain balance on one leg and flexibly bent my waist to avoid Bi Wol's sword path. My balance remained unbroken even in this strange posture.

"...Your movements have changed. Has the alcohol worn off?"

"There's still some intoxication left, but the martial art I'm using has changed."

Bi Wol looked at me with an expression that said this couldn't be possible. The martial arts she knew surely weren't refined enough to avoid such threatening sword blades.

Moreover, what she was using now was a demon sword surrounded by demonic energy. Even with just visual observation, one could tell it could slice through ordinary rocks and steel like radishes.

"Yet with just the Six Harmonies Fist to make such moves..."

A third-rate martial art commonly found anywhere - that was the Six Harmonies Fist I was using now, and what the original protagonist had used.

"Second is the unity of internal and external energy. This is the source of creating explosive power, as difficult as combining North and South..."

Kang─!

When my palm met the demon sword, I felt an impact like metal striking metal in my hand. A numbing sensation transmitted despite the ice covering.

"...It can be used like this."

I smiled while using explosive power.

Though blood trickled from my mouth from using internal energy, teaching my disciples was more fun right now.

"Third is the unity of shoulders and hips. This also represents East and West. Through this, one can attack and defend against Heaven, Earth, and all four directions."

Originally an external Shaolin technique, but it had become so commonplace that even third-rate warriors could use it after its secret techniques were leaked.

The Six Harmonies Fist, or more precisely the Mind Intent Six Harmonies Fist, was perfect because of its simplicity.

"Azazel, watch carefully. Since all the tentacles on your back are like your arms, mastering this technique will be useful later."

"It's like chicken movements, isn't it?"

I was demonstrating basic movements called the Chicken Walking Step, derived from the Chicken Stance, so Azazel could observe and learn.

Continuous movements connecting form to form. Among them were movements prioritizing flexibility and body balance by imitating chicken movements.

"I don't need such things...!"

While these stances might look somewhat ridiculous to complete beginners, Azazel angrily summoned tentacles to the ground trying to destroy the wine jar, but.

"Oops, that precious wine almost spilled."

I avoided the spaces between, bent my knees, and used my chest to support the wine jar. A flexible and soft posture like a standing crane.

"If you don't like fists, you can use pressure points."

Tuk, todok.

The Sinking Pillar Strike technique.

I blocked the movement by striking the tentacle ends with my elbow. Though they say touching an Outer God's divine body with bare hands is madness.

"Now your prized tentacles are blocked. What will you do?"

I was fine. After all, I had been able to escape Azazel's dream demon state on my own.

"Fine. I'll do it if I must. If I must...!"

Looking at her completely petrified tentacles, Azazel couldn't hide her bewilderment. After shaking her head a few times as if resigned, she began imitating the movements I had shown.

"You'd do well if you just tried, instead of grumbling."

Though her form looked very crude, it was admirable that she was trying to properly accept my teachings.

Is this how it would feel to raise a daughter?

"You're too relaxed, Master."

Seeing me smile contentedly, Bi Wol sharpened her sword strikes further. Her countless sword paths aimed for my wine jar.

Kang─! Kwang─!

The sound rang out as fist met blade, creating explosive sounds in the air. Without the Indestructible Diamond Body now, I was dealing with it using explosive power and ice techniques.

"Now I think I understand how to face you. Those strange movements, they're all based on animal forms, aren't they?"

After exchanging several moves, Bi Wol spoke to me as if finally understanding.

The Chicken Leg imitating a chicken's walk,

The Dragon Waist mimicking a dragon's ascent,

The Bear Thigh copying a bear's arm stance and blocking method,

The Eagle Grasp adapting an eagle's gaze at prey,

The Tiger Head Embrace adopting a tiger's intimidation and courage,

Finally, the Thunder Sound exploiting gaps in general animal vocalizations.

"So dodging around won't work on me anymore...!"

Thus, while the Six Harmonies Fist was simple enough for even a child to begin learning, it was a martial art requiring mastery.

Also called "Seven Fists in One Body," its strength lay in being able to attack and defend using seven body parts: head, shoulders, elbows, hands, knees, and legs.

"You're still far off. Don't assume victory is certain, but keep endlessly doubting your opponent."

I stepped forward with a weightless leg and spoke while grabbing Bi Wol's shoulders with both palms striking down.

"Ugh...!"

A dull thud rang out as Bi Wol grimaced, her expression showing the pain reaching her forehead.

It was a headbutt from the Six Harmonies Fist, also called the Tiger Pounce.

Bi Wol staggered from the attack but immediately tried to counter, and I didn't miss that opening.

This time, it was a technique called Cloud Closing Sun and Moon Grip.

I extended my elbow backward in a circle to deflect the incoming sword path, then immediately stepped forward in reverse and used my other hand to push up against her stomach.

With a thud─! Bi Wol's body rose into the air, drawing an arc as she flew far away.

"Senior...! Are you alright?!"

Watching this, Verdandi who had been observing the fight called out. The holy sword that had left Bi Wol's hand regained its form and began emanating light.

"The mystery of the Three Talents Sword Technique is the same as Heaven, Earth, and Human. That's called the Three Talents, and it's easier to think of it as expressed through thrusting, horizontal cutting, and vertical cutting."

I told Bi Wol while emptying the last of the wine. With this much instruction, she should be able to find solutions on her own.

"Now, shall we try the Six Harmonies Sword Technique?"

I took the leisure to smile while looking at Verdandi.

* * *

Verdandi trembled in disbelief at the sight before her. She hadn't known her drunk master could be this strong.

Even now, his rough breathing and blood-spitting appearance made it obvious something was wrong with his body, clear enough for even someone as innocent as her to understand.

However,

"Your form is still awkward. You just need to keep repeating one movement."

As if unfelt by the pain, Bing Yeon was calmly correcting Azazel's stance.

"Don't touch my body without permission...!"

"Showing through action is a hundred times better than explaining with words."

Though Azazel angrily tried to shake off Bing Yeon's touch, it seemed impossible for an ordinary person with no martial arts training to stop a master.

Would things have been different if Azazel had been a vanguard instead of a saint? She was now personally realizing that she was a weak person who only depended on others.

"Your hands and feet are moving separately. Didn't I say the basics of Six Harmonies Fist is the unity of shoulders and hips? Therefore, the connecting parts should also be unified."

Bi Wol had already been knocked far away and collapsed, and currently only Verdandi could fight Bing Yeon.

"What are you waiting for? Come at me."

"B-but Senior...!"

They hadn't known there would be such a difference just in trying to take one wine jar.

"I controlled my strength with Bi Wol so she'll be fine. Originally, her compatibility with Six Harmonies Fist is the worst."

Since in the original work only the protagonist Kim Hyul could catch the final boss, Bi Wol being knocked out so easily was, in a way, faithful to the source material.

"...I understand."

Verdandi glared at Bing Yeon while picking up the fallen holy sword. Since things had come to this, she had no choice but to learn the new sword technique and quickly defeat her master.

"Those are eyes with fighting spirit. For what do you draw your sword?"

"For what do I draw my sword? Is that important?"

At Bing Yeon's sudden question, Verdandi couldn't help but wonder. Until now, she had only thought about fighting people for justice.

Because she was chosen as the hero to kill the demon king. She thought she could be forgiven for anything she did.

But now, having become his disciple, she had begun judging people without distinguishing good and evil.

'Don't I draw my sword for justice?'

Verdandi briefly lowered her blade, deep in thought. For whom do I draw my sword?

"It's awkward to talk here, let's change locations."

Tuk, tuduk.

Bing Yeon pressed a point on Azazel's nape to make her faint, then immediately sat cross-legged in meditation.

'An opening...!'

The wine jar beside him was placed without any protection or guard, and seeing this, Verdandi thought it was a perfect opportunity and immediately swung her sword, but.

"...I knew you could see mental imagery worlds from before."

Along with ripples like waves, the surroundings changed. An emptiness felt beneath her feet.

Splash─!

Losing her balance, Verdandi fell into what seemed like the middle of a vast ocean, and looking up at the sky from the strange sensation, she saw a snowy landscape.

This was Bing Yeon's mental imagery world,

White Sea Snow Scene.

"Here, I shall teach you the Six Harmonies Sword Technique."

A winter landscape where white snow covered the sea spread out before Verdandi.