Chapter 22

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Translated by Seoulbound

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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**

The Greedy Wolf Unit disciples, who had imagined moving their bodies vigorously to achieve harmony with natural energy, now had headaches. More precisely, their upper dantians were burning hot.

“Uh… so you mean we split these variables and perform a partial differentiation?”

“Yes. Because you must be able to solve partial differential equations to predict the flow of true qi in a three-dimensional space.”

This was because they had never imagined such a thing when learning martial arts.

Mathematics study of all things.

Furthermore, the lessons of their youngest junior brother, who taught by pushing unheard-of concepts such as differentiation and integration, were not easy to follow. However, their youngest junior brother had perseverance, and his talent in teaching was also outstanding.

“Although knowing the detailed calculation methods would enable more sophisticated manipulation of qi… if you cannot grasp it with your mind, there is also a way to feel it with your body and realize it through intuition. Perhaps that method would suit Senior Brother better.”

The moment his fellow disciples seemed unable to understand his words, he instantly changed his teaching method. From then on, the Greedy Wolf Unit disciples also began to catch up quickly.

“Oho. Operating internal energy through the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin yields this kind of reaction?!”

“The true qi is taking on a strange flow; is this correct, Junior Brother?”

“You are doing well. However, since the meridian channel from the Yunmen acupoint to the Tianfu acupoint is curved, it would be better to operate your internal energy slightly faster. Fast enough to split a single breath into ten. Yes. Excellent.”

Even just following while understanding only the movements and the oral formulas made it easy to enter the first stage of the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art, and from then on, due to the nature of the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art’s oral formulas which were mixed with the oral formulas of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition, there was even an effect of heightened qi sensitivity.

“This feels like returning to the time of our old Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands sparring, doesn’t it? Shall we give it a try, Myeong-jin?”

“Indeed, I can feel the movement of your true qi as well, Yo Yeon-myeong.”

Thanks to this, there were also occasions where they verified each other’s achievements through sparring.

Of course, besides those who learned with their bodies, there were also members who focused on the functions of the upper dantian.

It was Senior Sister Yoon Heun, the oldest among the Greedy Wolf Unit disciples.

She was from the prestigious Yoon Clan of Jun County, where Mount Wudang is located, and she even enjoyed mathematics.

“My, this is quite interesting. When did Junior Brother Yeon learn such things?”

“My master sent me to the Library Pavilion to cultivate my mind, and I found a mathematics book there. I learned a lot of it back then.”

“How admirable, truly admirable.”

“You are the one who is amazing, Senior Sister. I did not expect you to solve such a difficult problem so quickly.”

“Hohoho. Is that so? Receiving praise from my junior brother makes me feel quite good as well.”

Aside from a few disciples of the lower generation who treated him without prejudice and his master Gangwon-jin-in, Yeon Baek-jung had never formed any deep human relationships. A master’s fatherly love and a senior sister’s benevolent affection possessed different temperatures.

‘It is warm.’

Yeon Baek-jung smiled faintly and said to Yoon Heun.

“If you continue to practice steadily, it will become much easier for you to observe the flow of natural energy, Senior Sister.”

“Yes. I shall practice hard. I may ask you if there is anything I do not know, right?”

“Of course.”

After a few days of training like that, as was usually the case with excellent students, the disciples of the Greedy Wolf Unit began to no longer need Yeon Baek-jung’s instruction.

“As the flux of internal energy increases, the flux of true qi also changes. The force field of true qi formed in this way moves the internal energy inside our bodies once again.”

“If we guide the direction of the true qi field, we can not only increase the amount of accumulated energy, but also guide and expel the turbid energy.”

“To think our youngest junior brother came up with this… He is a genius…”

This was because after mastering basic mathematics, the senior brothers and senior sisters had all grasped the profound significance of the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art.

Furthermore, Yeon Baek-jung did not highly agree with the embarrassing praises they heaped upon him.

‘The change in the flux of true qi in accordance with the flux of internal energy.

This was a phenomenon similar to the electromagnetic induction discovered by Faraday. And what about the changed and strengthened flux of true qi affecting the internal energy once again?

It was a movement according to the oral formulas that Grandmaster Maxwell modified from Ampere’s discovery. Moreover, the calculus equations for calculating the flux were based on the oral formulas created by none other than the genius of the century, Gauss.’

All I did was merely weave together the knowledge left behind by geniuses.’

Of course, Yeon Baek-jung was quite proud of himself for integrating such complex equations into martial arts.

But he did not get arrogant, as he was well aware that achieving such rapid progress was fundamentally supported by the outstanding comprehension of his fellow Greedy Wolf Unit disciples, as well as their already deep martial arts and realizations.

Instead, he watched the training of the other Greedy Wolf Unit members.

This was because he believed that through watching others practice, he could discover the gaps that could not be noticed when practicing himself, as well as new possibilities for the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art.

And just as he thought,

“If we utilize this true qi field well, couldn’t it also be developed into a Protective Qi Barrier, Junior Brother?”

“?!”

Myeong-hun’s words and thoughts left a trace like a flash of lightning in Yeon Baek-jung’s upper dantian. However, there was one thing.

‘Unless backed by internal energy at the Elixir Condensation Stage level, it will not yield the expected performance.’

From then on, aside from answering the occasional questions that came his way, Yeon Baek-jung spent his time refining the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art himself. This was to transition from the Resonance Stage to the Elixir Condensation Stage.

‘My internal energy has become slightly thicker and denser. The purer it becomes and the more energy I accumulate, the higher the density of true qi rises. However…’

The path of transitioning from the Resonance Stage to the Elixir Condensation Stage was not easy.

According to the senior brothers and senior sisters who had attained the Elixir Condensation Stage, when the internal energy of the Resonance Stage increases in density, it eventually transforms into something like a small pill.

However, they said a catalyst was needed. It was their common opinion that it was not something possible through simple energy accumulation alone.

-During real combat, the internal energy suddenly condensed…

-While training, my qi and blood got twisted…

-When I crossed the wall that appeared during Sitting in Oblivion…

These were not particularly helpful pieces of advice for Yeon Baek-jung. He could only infer that, much like how he had suddenly changed after his butterfly dream, all his senior brothers and senior sisters had undergone a similar process. From those words, Yeon Baek-jung deduced only one fact.

‘Couldn’t the Elixir Condensation Stage be thought of as a phase transition of internal energy? To trigger a phase transition in a substance, a catalyst is bound to be required. If it operates on the same principle as the phase transition of other matter…’

Various methods to trigger a phase transition more quickly came to his mind. among them were some that were worth testing right away. However, just like when he was creating the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art, realization did not arrive all at once.

Just in case, he had frequented the Wonseong Repository’s martial treasury, but even there, no books regarding a shortcut to realization existed. That was only natural. Realization in martial arts was something one had to attain on one’s own through training. Simply discovering the Primal Chaos One Qi Art could already be considered a stroke of heavenly luck.

Ultimately, the conclusion he reached was:

‘I must accumulate more experience.’

Around the time he was feeling the need for training and real combat experience, Hye-won approached Yeon Baek-jung.

“Martial Aunt.”

“You have accomplished a great feat.”

Showing a pleased smile as she watched the force fields shaking the training ground, the Primal Chaos Tai Chi Art’s force field could also be felt around her body.

Yeon Baek-jung offered words of humility toward her.

It was different from the Art of Tongue-Lashing he shared with his master; it was an authentic move, not a feint.

“If it were not for the insights left behind by my Grandmaster-Uncle, I would not have been able to complete it.”

“Yet, in all of Wudang Sect, you are the only one who has managed to harvest those insights and weave them into a true divine art.”

She looked at Yeon Baek-jung with glowing eyes. It was a light emitted by the eye technique of the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition.

“Your achievements in internal energy in such a short time are truly remarkable. I heard you were bestowed the Supreme Clarity Pill, but even taking that into account, you are fast. Already, in terms of accumulated energy alone, you would not lose to anyone in the Greedy Wolf Unit.”

“You flatter me.”

Hearing the dissatisfaction with himself for not being able to immediately realize his thoughts in his voice, Hye-won shook her head.

“It is not flattery. You must know yourself.”

Although it was similar to what he had heard from his master in the past, the meaning was the exact opposite.

“You entered the True Martial Pavilion ahead of anyone else in Wudang Sect. You successfully accomplished your first mission in the Jianghu, and now you have created a divine art and shared your martial arts with your fellow disciples. This is not something a mere ordinary young expert could do. You are the future of our sect.”

Realizing that words which would have felt burdensome and overwhelming in the past now felt ordinary, Yeon Baek-jung newly realized that his own mental cultivation was growing deeper.

Of course, he could not help his nose turning stiff with pride without his realizing it.

“Therefore, if you assess your opponent’s capability and judge that they are an enemy you cannot defeat, you must flee without looking back.”

At her serious eyes, Yeon Baek-jung nodded with a reluctant expression. Even so, to tell a disciple of a prestigious righteous sect to run away… He could not help but feel a slight sense of rebellion. As if piercing through Yeon Baek-jung’s feelings, Hye-won continued speaking.

“If there is an opponent you cannot handle at your current age, it means there is no one among your peers who can face them in this vast Jianghu anyway, so there is no need to feel ashamed or disgraced about fleeing. Facing an unbeatable enemy is mere foolhardiness. You are growing faster than anyone else in our sect. Taking a step back does not mean you have fled forever. Rather, it is merely a strategy to wait for a better opportunity.”

Her words made Yeon Baek-jung think of his master.

This was because the point that stepping back did not mean losing was in line with what he had heard from his master, Gangwon-jin-in, in the past.

‘Indeed. Knowing yourself and knowing your enemy is the basis of military strategy.’

At Yeon Baek-jung’s seemingly convinced expression, a faint smile blossomed on Hye-won’s face.

“Good. It seems you are now ready to embark on a new mission.”

**

This mission was to subjugate the Green Forest bandits who were rampant along the border between Hubei and Shaanxi.

“The warriors of the Yoon Clan Merchant Association, who had set out for a transaction with the Sichuan Tang Clan, were completely annihilated, and all the transaction goods were plundered. This means they are no ordinary Green Forest bandits.”

If Martial Aunt Hye-won’s words were true, this was no ordinary matter.

This was because the Yoon Clan Merchant Association of Jun County was no ordinary merchant family.

The Yoon Clan Merchant Association was an affiliate branch of the Wudang Sect that maintained close ties with it. Thus, the merchant association’s escort warriors were said to possess a higher level of martial arts than the head of a typical countryside martial arts academy. Furthermore, there was even a member of the Yoon Clan Merchant Association within the Greedy Wolf Unit, namely Senior Sister Yoon Heun.

She threw a question in a trembling voice.

“Could it be that my father…”

“Great Hero Yoon Sang did not participate in this merchant trip.”

A look of relief appeared on Senior Sister Yoon Heun’s face.

Even so, her expression could not help but remain dark. Even if she had lived at the Wudang Sect for a long time, she was still a senior sister who must have spent her childhood in her clan. Anyone would make such a face if their family members were harmed.

“According to the intelligence from the Sea Fog Pavilion, some of the Green Forest bandits who led this raid were also wearing masks. Green Monkey masks.”

At her words, Senior Sister Yi Chae-yang spoke with a grave face.

“Does that mean the ones who raided the merchant caravan were the lackeys of the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest?”

Various animal masks were the symbol of the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest, one of the Six Great Evils. Moreover, if the bandits showed enough strength to annihilate the warriors of the Yoon Clan Merchant Association, one could not help but think of the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest.

“There is no definitive proof yet. There was only one surviving porter. Although a search is underway based on the sole survivor’s statement, the bandits’ stronghold has not been confirmed either.”

Saying so, Martial Aunt Hye-won pointed to a section of a map.

It was the vast mountainous region stretching from Hubei to Shaanxi.

It was too much to search such a vast mountainous region with only the personnel of the Sea Fog Pavilion.

Furthermore, they could not focus the personnel of the Sea Fog Pavilion solely on this incident. This was because various incidents coexisted across the land beyond Hubei.

“Go, verify, and if possible, subjugate them.”

A stern voice rang from Martial Aunt Hye-won’s small frame. It was an order issued to all the Greedy Wolf Unit members gathered here.

Whether they were the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest or not, it was a task of thoroughly searching the vast mountains to locate the enemy.

“Yes.”

We nodded our heads and immediately dispersed to pack our belongings.

**

Leaving the green Mount Wudang, it took no time to reach Jun County where the Yoon Clan resided. This was because it was located right next to Mount Wudang.

We walked along the main road, we talked about this mission.

Of course, the one who spoke most actively was Senior Sister Yoon Heun.

“First, we must visit the clan, hear the testimony of the surviving porter, and grasp the extent of the plundered goods. Since it was a transaction with the Sichuan Tang Clan, it was likely medicinal herbs, poisons, or rare metals.”

In physics, physical quantities are generally conserved unless there is an external factor. However, when force is dissipated externally, signs must appear. In the form of sound, heat, light, and so on.

I thought that the same applied to wealth and stolen booty. If they did not circulate the wealth externally, it would be piled up in their storehouses, but conversely, if circulation occurred externally, that change would be detected.

In particular, the uses of medicinal herbs, poisons, and rare metals are limited. This meant that tracking them would be easy.

“After confirming the list of damaged goods, it would be best to check around the mountainous areas, focusing on the black markets in the cities.”

At my reply, Senior Sister Yoon Heun’s eyes lit up.

“Didn’t you say this is only your second mission, Junior Brother?”

“That is correct.”

After briefly shining her eyes, she exchanged glances with the other fellow disciples and nodded.

“Since you probably do not know much about the existence of black markets, Yo Yeon-myeong and Senior Brother Myeong-jin, you two should first investigate the black markets around Jun County. I will visit my family’s estate to confirm the detailed goods and let you know, but you should track down any signs of large quantities of medicinal herbs or iron being distributed.”

“Yes.”

“Sure.”

Around the time the two departed from the group and we neared the Yoon Clan Merchant Association, Senior Brother Myeong-hun spoke.

“Senior Sister, if it was a transaction established with a great clan like the Sichuan Tang Clan, the scale of the merchant caravan must have been quite substantial, right?”

“Yes. If it was a transaction with the Tang Clan, the scale of the caravan must have been at least fifty people, including the porters.”

A total number of fifty, combining merchants, porters, and escort warriors.

Considering the carriages and wagons as well, it was a scale that an average band of mountain bandits would not dare to target.

Yet, it was raided.

And so thoroughly that only a single porter survived.

Exchanging glances with Senior Brother Myeong-hun, I naturally recalled the contents of the military books I had read while dozing off in the Library Pavilion.

“Military treatises state that if your forces are tenfold, you can surround them, and if they are fivefold, you can attack.”

At my words, Senior Brother Myeong-hun also nodded.

“If experts from the Chaotic Heaven Green Forest were involved, they could have easily surrounded and annihilated them even without a tenfold advantage, but their numbers must have been at least double or more of the caravan’s personnel.”

No matter how outstanding one’s martial arts are, driving, surrounding, and annihilating people is only possible when there is a sufficient number of personnel.

Hearing Senior Brother Myeong-hun’s words, Senior Sister Yi Chae-yang thought for a moment before offering her opinion.

“I think we might find out something if we ask around the vicinity of the Zhushan pass where the incident occurred. Moreover, since Junior Brother Yeon and I have practiced the Tai Chi Diagram Exposition, finding traces of the Green Forest bandits in the vast mountains will be easier. Senior Brother Myeong-hun, Junior Brother Yeon, and I will investigate that area first.”

Senior Sister Yoon Heun nodded at her words.

“Yes. Then let us meet at Zhushan. Do not forget to leave secret signals along the way.”

“Yes.”

As soon as her words fell,

we began to exert our movement techniques,

heading toward Zhushan where the Green Forest bandits had appeared.