Martial Arts Ain't Anything Special-Chapter 105: Muscle Training (1)

They were in the Clan Head’s private training ground he now entered like it were his own.

As Seojun stood in the center and stretched, Namgung Suah approached from behind, embraced him, and rested her chin on his shoulder.

“I know. When you were gone, it felt so lonely practicing alone.”

“That won’t happen anymore. Now that Chunbong is back too, we can all practice together.”

That would naturally be after Namgung Suah reached the Transcendent Realm. It would be insane for a direct line of the Namgung Clan to venture near the frontlines during wartime.

“Hey! What’s with you two!”

Of course, Chunbong had more pressing concerns.

“W-Why are you two so close! Move apart!?”

Chunbong squeezed between Seojun and Namgung Suah, separating them.

“Ah.”

Seojun lamented the loss of the soft (all natural) flesh against his back.

Chunbong raised the corners of her eyes sharply.

“Hey you, watch this.”

She walked proudly to the center of the training ground and drew her sword.

The descendant of the Divine Sword Geum Clan, with her meridians now completely healed, flashed her eyes sharply.

“I couldn’t show you this before, but now I can.”

The essence of the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword. Although Chunbong had learned the Blue Cloud Divine Sword, it still shared common principles with the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword.

The Yellow Cloud Divine Sword that even Namgung Jincheon said he could not properly master.

However that was partly due to his high standards, and also because he had only learned a few forms of the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword by himself.

Chunbong had been guided by the Sword God, thus, she unleashed that profound martial art through the tip of her sword.

It began with clouds. Platinum-gold clouds drifted peacefully in the sky, then spread endlessly to cover the sky.

The thickened clouds became dark and blocked the sun. As they dispersed, rain fell.

A colossal being soon manifested from within the dark clouds.

An azure dragon wrapped in platinum-gold qi.

Chunbong’s sword became a dragon, governing the clouds and rain.

The dragon soared through the clouds and finally opened its massive maw to devour the world, fully executing the Blue Cloud Divine Sword.

She flashed her platinum-gold glowing eyes, drenched in sweat.

“You see?”

“Uh...”

Seojun was reminded anew that Chunbong was the heir of the Divine Sword Geum Clan.

A genius who had reached the Peak Realm at the young age of fifteen, the legitimate successor of the Divine Sword Geum Clan, and taught by the Sword God himself.

As he stared at her, she scratched her soft cheek and glanced at Namgung Suah.

“So, uh? The Sword Form of the Emperor is certainly an amazing martial art, but you know? The Yellow Cloud Divine Sword, right? I’m Just saying!”

“Waaah!” Chunbong shouted and pointed at Namgung Suah who was clinging to Seojun’s arm.

“So back off, big sis! Stop clinging to him, will you!?”

“Fufu, but Seojun likes it.”

“Stop being so disgusting!”

As she moved up and down, Seojun laughed.

After coming out of seclusion while he was away, they seemed to have talked quite a bit and become much closer than before.

Namgung Suah had mentioned that Chunbong was busy sitting at the inn during lunch hours, but otherwise, she spent time with Namgung Suah, sharing various conversations.

Common topics were, as expected, swords or Seojun himself.

Watching Chunbong shouting loudly and Namgung Suah responding with a warm smile, it was like seeing real sisters.

Which made him feel very left out.

“Big brother feels sad!”

“Wh-What?”

“Chunbong is my little sister!”

Seojun rushed over and hugged Chunbong.

Drenched in sweat, she panicked and struggled.

“Kyaaah...! Let go!?”

“Awww my Chunbubbie...”

“Ow...!”

“Aka!”

“Murasa... Oh shit! Seriously!”

Yep, that’s it.

Feeling refreshed, Seojun’s smile widened as he stretched.

“Anyways, look at this. My Chunbong will reach the Transcendent Realm in no time!”

“Hahaha! Is that so? This is truly a blessing for the orthodox faction!”

Seojun frowned at the sudden voice.

“Hey old man. You can’t just barge in here.”

“It’s fine since he came along too!”

Pae Jingwang pulled Namgung Jincheon, who had been walking in slowly.

“Haha...”

“If the Clan Head says it’s okay, who are you to say it’s not!”

“His son-in-law.”

“The Clan Head outranks the son-in-law!”

“Within the clan, I probably outrank you, don’t I?”

“Hey! Want to compare our ranks?”

“Ranks?”

Even as the Fist King, his rank would be lower than Chunbong’s as the Sword God’s disciple, but her identity wasn’t something he could reveal so casually.

“Grrr...!”

As Seojun gritted his teeth, Pae Jingwang laughed loudly.

“Haha! You insolent brat! I’ve finally won!”

“Yeah, whatever. If an old man is happy about winning against a young blood, so be it.”

“I’ve never met such an impertinent brat before!”

Pae Jingwang shouted with a grin. Seojun sighed and waved his hand.

“Seriously though, you shouldn’t come here, right? I can’t show you big sis’s training.”

“I can’t?”

“Could you?”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

Pae Jingwang scratched his head.

“But why are you training as soon as you get home? You should rest. Muscles need rest to grow, you know.”

“It’s not me, it’s big sis who’s training.”

“I see, I see.”

Pae Jingwang nodded.

Seojun looked at him with disdain, then spoke to Namgung Jincheon who appeared somewhat tired. He could guess why he was tired.

“By the way, father-in-law.”

“Mm, yes... son-in-law...”

“I’ve created a martial art that makes it easier to break through the Life and Death Entrance.”

“Yes... the Life and Death... Hm? What did you say?”

He suddenly looked up, Pae Jingwang having a similar reaction.

“Has this kid still not fully recovered from his madness?”

“Be quiet old man.”

“No! You should at least make sense! Do you think the Life and Death Entrance is like the door to your neighborhood restaurant?”

“Old man, you’re only Second Rate Realm. What would you know?”

“I know what needs to be known, you punk!”

“It’s not that impressive. It’s a martial art that can only be used by someone with the potential to reach the Transcendent Realm anyway.”

“This brat is talking nonsense again!”

Instead of answering, Seojun raised his middle finger and looked at Namgung Jincheon.

“Could you check it for me, just in case? It would be even better if you could check if big sis is ready to reach the Transcendent Realm while you’re at it.”

“Mm... mmm... Let’s do that...”

Seojun transmitted the sutra to Namgung Jincheon.

Namgung Jincheon closed his eyes and thought deeply, then nodded.

“This... may be possible...”

“Right?”

“However, it seems Suah is not yet ready... Her essence, qi, and mind have not grown enough yet and it would be dangerous...”

“Dang.”

As Seojun scratched his head, Pae Jingwang leaned in after quietly listening.

“Hey, Namgung Jincheon. Really? Did he really create such a martial art?”

“It’s hard for me to believe as well... but yes... It’s an amazingly intricate martial art...”

“That punk is capable of that?”

Pae Jingwang stared at him, recalling his previous memories.

The battle with the Qilian Sect Leader, his appearance at that time.

After thinking about it, he wasn’t an ordinary person.

“Well, it’s less surprising than having your head reattached after being cut off.”

“Want me to help you experience that too, old man?”

“No thanks. I would die if my head was cut off and reattached.”

“Coward...”

Clicking his tongue, Seojun suddenly realized something and grinned.

“By the way, doesn’t this prove that inner qi is superior to muscles?”

“What?”

“What’s the point of building muscles? You’ll still die if your head gets cut off.”

Pae Jingwang let out a hollow laugh.

“You crazy bastard. People are supposed to die when their heads get cut off.”

“I didn’t die though?”

“I guess you’re not human then.”

“Hey now, that’s harsh.”

“Harsh? Hardly. Even the Demonic Cult members would bow their heads to you, thinking you’re at least a Great Demonic Adept.”

Before Seojun could raise his middle finger at those words, irritated Chunbong deeply furrowed her brow.

“What? Great Demonic Adept? Who do you think you’re calling a Great Demonic Adept?”

Pae Jingwang laughed heartily at her growling. It was like the laugh of a grandfather enjoying his grandchild’s antics.

In fact, he was having a good time playing with the wild Chunbong, running around with her energetically.

My Chunbong is indeed cute.

Seojun smiled contentedly and subtly approached Namgung Jincheon.

“I suddenly got curious about something.”

“Hmm...? What is it, son-in-law...?”

“I mentioned meeting the Qilian Sect Leader earlier. He was really strong.”

Namgung Jincheon nodded.

“I have heard he is a difficult opponent to face, using both martial arts and sorcery... I am most relieved that you are safe...”

“Ah, it wasn’t that bad.”

Seojun chuckled and whispered.

“So, how does he compare to you, father-in-law?”

“Hmm... Though I haven’t faced him myself... based on what I’ve heard, about ten moves...”

“What?”

“I could take his head within ten moves...”

There was no arrogance in his declaration.

He said it casually, like telling someone what he had for lunch yesterday.

His attitude was simply stating an obvious fact, which made Seojun blink.

“Wow...”

So his father-in-law was seriously incredibly strong? It seems even among Unrestrained Realm, the difference was greater than he expected.

Though he had no intention of doing so, he strongly felt that he shouldn’t act too cocky in the future.

*“So that’s the conclusion.”

Pae Jingwang proudly thrust out his chest, his split pectorals were visible even through his clothes.

“Oh no, Chunbong close your eyes! You shouldn’t look at things like that.”

After covering her eyes, he frowned.

“What’s with this random bullshit?”

“It’s simple! Try training with my method! I guarantee you’ll be... well, twice as strong might be a stretch. Either way, you’ll definitely become stronger.”

“I get stronger just by lying down and scratching my belly for a few days, you know?”

Pae Jingwang’s eyebrow twitched.

As a bonus, Chunbong and Namgung Suah beside him also seemed irritated, their expressions subtly distorting.

But Pae Jingwang didn’t back down.

“Look at your scrawny body! You’ve hardly done any outer training from from the looks of it!”

“Didn’t I tell you that I don’t need to?”

“Think about the muscles that would fit your body! Wouldn’t you naturally become stronger if your inner qi and muscles combined?”

“Wouldn’t I become even stronger if I spent that time on other training?”

Pae Jingwang’s expression contorted as he turned to look at Namgung Jincheon.

“Am I right or wrong!?”

“It is not entirely wrong...”

“See!”

He had an extremely irritated expression. Seojun looked confused.

“For starters, I don’t want my muscles to get too big. Don’t you know the current trend is being lean?”

“Hah! No matter how hard you train, muscles don’t grow that easily!”

“Don’t you think so too, Chunbong? Lee Seojun with bulging muscles is a bit...”

At his words, her eyes swept over his body.

“Well, it might not be so bad...?”

Seeing Chunbong slightly averting her gaze, Seojun gaped.

“W-Wait, really?”

“Too much would be excessive, but a firm body isn’t bad... No! Why are you asking me that!?”

Shocked, Seojun turned to look at Namgung Suah.

“Fufu.”

Her expression was somewhat lascivious. Just seeing those blue eyes visible through narrowed lids, he could guess what she wanted to say.

“This can’t be happening...”

Seojun fell into serious contemplation. Pae Jingwang’s large hand landed on his shoulder with a thump.

“Then starting tomorrow, we’ll have special training. I’ll make your scrawny body be reborn!”

“Hey, are we being serious here...?”

I can’t accept this. I must prove that inner qi is superior to muscles.

Since I had some ideas after seeing the Qilian Sect Leader’s domain, training wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“Well, sure. Whatever. But before that, let’s do one experiment.”

Is your fist stronger, or my sword?

This was a matter of pride.