It was around the time when two years had passed since I began my training.
A year had passed since I awakened the Mindâs Eye (Siman).
At the same time, I was in the midst of mastering the third form of Tua Pacheonmu.
And alongside thatâ¦
Fwooshâ!
Half a year had already passed since I started receiving training from my father.
The training halls of the Gu family were mostly constructed of stone, not wood.
The reason was simpleâany mistake could easily set the entire place ablaze.
While it was possible to control the flames and prevent ignition after gaining mastery,
situations where that level of control was impossible still occurred.
The stone construction was a precaution for such moments.
And now was exactly one of those moments.
Fwooshâ!!
Flames surged violently, filling the training hall.
The sparks scattered and began to heat the walls.
[Grrrâ¦]
A low groan escaped my lips.
Compressing these unruly flames into a single focal point was no simple task.
I had already experienced something similar while practicing Flame Jade (Yeomok),
but this was on an entirely different level.
This wasnât merely about compression and rotation.
It also required maintaining the formed energy independently after completion.
[Maintaining this... what madness.]
My Naegi was being drained continuously.
Even though the amount of energy stored within me was far beyond normal,
half of itâno, more than halfâwas being consumed just to create this single form.
Months had passed as I repeated this process countless times.
Creakâ!
[â¦!]
Once again, the result was the same.
The barely-formed orb of energy cracked and, shortly after, exploded.
Boomâ!
Light burst out in all directions.
The explosion was immense, owing to the sheer amount of compressed Naegi.
If left unchecked, the entire training hallâand possibly moreâwould have been obliterated.
But fortunately, such a disaster did not occur.
This was because someone capable of containing it was present in the training hall.
Rumbleâ!
The explosion collided with a barrier of energy enveloping the training hall, preventing it from spreading further.
Even such a tremendous explosion couldnât penetrate the thin barrier.
As the violent aftereffects gradually subsidedâ¦
[Another failure, it seems.]
I turned my head toward the source of the heavy voice.
The owner of the energy barrier shielding the training hallâ
Gu Cheolwoon, patriarch of the Gu family and my fatherâwas standing there.
I withdrew my energy and replied.
[...Indeed. Itâs not easy.]
A skill that allows the user to perceive the trajectory of attacks and their opponent's intentions through deep concentration and training.
The pinnacle of martial arts mastery, where strength is determined by pure intent rather than physical energy.
A martial arts technique that transforms the body. Mentioned forms include:
ì¼ì (Samsik) â Third Form
ì´ì (Ishik) â Second Form
í¬ë¹ìì²ê¶ (Tu Bi E Cheon Kwon) â Heaven-Cleaving Fist, a specific technique of the Second Form.
A technique that creates a shining aura or miniature sun. The original version hides the userâs presence, while the protagonistâs version amplifies it.
A technique that creates darkness or a shadowed space to suppress or control the opponent.