Chapter 146: Tracking (3)

“That’s not it.”

I couldn’t tell the whole truth as it was.

If I wanted to explain how I had become stronger, I had to include a certain amount of lies.

“I trained using a different method. Have you ever heard about Lady Shangguan Mijong?”

“Yes, I heard that you cured her illness.”

“You can think of it as something similar. I tried to learn the martial arts of my clan, but suffered something like a Qi Deviation, which injured my mind. However, that actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise, making me stronger.”

But it seemed that explanation wasn’t enough, as Jegal Cheongyeong kept staring at me.

Her gaze told me she needed a better explanation.

Seeing Jegal Cheongyeong, whose curiosity hadn’t waned in the slightest, I smiled.

“As long as your curiosity doesn’t die, your martial arts won’t die either. You’ll probably become even stronger.”

“Brother.”

“Yeah?”

“I was really shocked when you cut off Eom An’s wrist. He was someone we couldn’t possibly defeat even if we attacked him together. But you repelled him without much difficulty.”

I silently laughed to myself as she brought the conversation back to martial arts.

“And?”

“I felt like I saw a completely different level from the brother I used to know. Do you think I could surpass my current level like you did? My level hasn’t changed from two years ago. Why can’t I break through?”

In my past life, I never imagined I would have this kind of conversation with Jegal Cheongyeong. Back then, our difference in martial ability was so vast that discussing martial arts with her would have been ridiculous.

But now, that very same Jegal Cheongyeong was asking me about martial arts, and it felt strangely moving.

I could guess what emotions and frustrations she was feeling right now.

And I knew the answer to her question.

It was a realization I could give only because I had lived a life spanning fifty years in my previous life and had trained in martial arts upon returning.

It was something one could never know without living through such a long time.

No matter how much Jegal Cheongyeong struggled, she couldn’t figure it out herself right now.

But saying it aloud could still be of great help to her, so I gave her my advice.

“Young Lady, do you know what all geniuses have in common?”

“If it’s about geniuses, I’d say they realize things faster and deeper than ordinary people, giving them superior insight. And they’re creative, thinking of things that ordinary people can’t.”

I nodded.

“That’s their strength. But what about their weakness?”

Jegal Cheongyeong thought for a while, then cautiously answered.

“The weakness of geniuses… is that they see and know more than others, so they become arrogant. They start to look down on ordinary people, thinking of them as fools. That’s probably a weakness too.”

I smiled softly.

Jegal Cheongyeong thought my smile looked as peaceful as that of an old man.

“Don’t you think what you just described sounds a lot like you, Young Lady?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You’re a genius too, recognized as one by the Jegal Clan.”

“I’m just someone who understands martial arts a little better than others. The real genius is Hye-a.”

She blushed as she spoke, embarrassed to be called a genius.

“To me, you’re a true genius. And you have all the weaknesses you just mentioned. You just didn’t realize it yourself.”

“Me? Really?”

Jegal Cheongyeong asked again, surprised.

“But how is that related to martial arts?”

I nodded again.

“Geniuses tend to become arrogant as they grasp the principles of the world. They start to believe their own thoughts are always right and stop trusting the words or ideas of others. That eventually narrows their perspective. On the other hand, ordinary people know they’re lacking, so they listen to others. That’s why their realizations often run deeper than those of geniuses. Since they know their own shortcomings, they’re more open to accepting the wisdom of others.”

“Ah!”

“In the end, if a genius doesn’t break out of that shell, they’ll be trapped in their own thoughts. A true genius is someone who breaks that shell and sees a bigger world. Once that happens, ordinary people can never hope to catch up to that genius.”

“Really!”

Jegal Cheongyeong’s mouth hung open as she listened to me.

It was clear that she had just experienced a major realization.

“Why couldn’t I think of that before?”

“Because you’re a genius. Other people’s thoughts didn’t seem that important to you, did they?”

“Yeah, now that I think about it, I really was like that.”

Because of that arrogance, she had failed to see who I truly was and had judged me using her own standards.

And now, hearing it from someone else and realizing it like this, being called a genius didn’t feel like a blessing at all.

Seeing Jegal Cheongyeong bow her head with a gloomy expression, I said,

“Do you know how Giyok completed the Pang Clan’s blade technique? He didn’t hesitate to listen to others. That’s why he’s stronger than everyone else.”

Jegal Cheongyeong had heard that after Pang Giyok mastered the Five Tiger Tang Blade Technique, there were no worthy opponents left for him.

Of course, even he could not match figures like the Red-Clothed Twin Demons or the White-Haired Red-Eyed Monster. However, he had still reached a level where he could fight them for around a hundred moves.

That alone was already an incredible achievement.

“You must understand the point I’m trying to make. You’re smart, Young Lady.”

“Yes. You’re saying I can only fill my shortcomings if I first recognize what they are, right?”

“As expected, you really are a genius.”

“Sheesh.”

Jegal Cheongyeong felt like a heavy burden that had weighed on her for ten years had finally lifted from her chest.

“And one more thing. Since we’ve come this far, let me add something else.”

“Go ahead. I don’t mind if it’s a hundred things.”

Without realizing it, Jegal Cheongyeong had returned to being the cute girl I remembered from long ago.

“When people train in martial arts, many try to understand enlightenment through their bodies. Even though martial arts techniques are executed through the body, the foundation of martial arts must first be established in the mind. Enlightenment is a mental matter. To gain such mental clarity, closed-door training or meditative wall-facing practice can be good. But I’ve found something even better—interacting with others, having conversations, and living together with them. That’s how it was for me. By living alongside others, I realized there were so many things I had not seen or felt, and that’s how my enlightenment deepened. If I hadn’t met that eccentric, I would’ve had to offer my wrist to Eom An too.”

I was indirectly referring to Namgung Bi.

If I hadn’t realized the principles and flow through Namgung Bi, I would never have reached my current level.

I had named this realization of the principle and flow as a specific state.

I called it the “State of Flowing Along”.

Since it was something I had never experienced before, I felt it needed a name.

“From your perspective, Brother, what do you think my mental barrier is? I feel like I’m going crazy because my progress has been stuck for so long.”

I could vaguely sense what that mental barrier might be. But if I explained it in words, would she be able to truly realize it the way I had with Namgung Bi?

I doubted it.

True realization had to come from within, so I refrained from saying it outright.

“Sorry, but if I tell you now, you might not be able to break through that barrier. However, if I were to give you a clue, I’d say you need to become more aware of yourself first. Then you can start thinking about the method.”

Jegal Cheongyeong looked disappointed as she listened.

She had expected me to explain it in a way she could easily understand.

“How am I supposed to figure it out like that?”

“If I tell you, it won’t be true realization but merely secondhand knowledge. There’s a clue in what I just said. But since I can’t be completely sure myself, I’m only giving you a hint. True realization is precious because it can’t be fully explained in words, right?”

Jegal Cheongyeong stared at me and said,

“From what I remember, you didn’t used to speak so well. When did you become such a smooth talker? I find myself just agreeing with you without realizing it. I’ve always been stubborn and never listened to others.”

I replied in a playful tone.

“I told you, it’s all experience.”

“No matter how much experience you have, your words aren’t really sinking in right now. When that happens, there’s no choice but to try it with my body first, right? Isn’t that so, Brother Hwarin? Can you give me such an opportunity too?”

“I don’t want to.”

I jokingly refused, and Jegal Cheongyeong shook her head.

“See? You’re not the kind and gentle Brother Hwarin I used to know. It’s so sad. Where did the Brother Hwarin I used to like go?”

“The Hwarin you knew died a long time ago.”

It was a joke, but also a truth.

Jegal Cheongyeong suddenly grew serious at those words.

“That’s true. The Brother Hwarin standing before me feels so unfamiliar. But… for old times’ sake, won’t you spar with me? I’m really curious about what level you’ve reached.”

Her pleading gaze was too much for me to refuse.

“Alright, but just for a bit.”

As soon as I spoke, Jegal Cheongyeong jumped up.

“No, the Brother Hwarin I knew isn’t dead yet. You’re still soft as ever.”

“Seriously…”

I shook my head, watching Jegal Cheongyeong pick up her sword and head toward the backyard again.

Muttering to myself, I said,

“Women really are unpredictable, whether in the past or now.”

After being tormented for several hours, I finally managed to escape from Jegal Cheongyeong.

Even though she hadn’t broken through her level after sparring with me, it seemed she had found a clue.

With more effort, it looked like she would eventually overcome her limits.

It was a good outcome.

The next day, I set out early with the tracking dogs.

And I only realized something was wrong after the tracking dogs had led me all the way to Myoseon Mountain.

“Do we need to investigate Myoseon Mountain? Or did the tracking dogs pick up the wrong trail?”

Jegal Cheongyeong asked.

“There must be a reason they came all the way here. Let’s start by asking around to see if there have been any places with a lot of foot traffic.”

Even though others said it was pointless, I believed there was definitely a clue about Ihwa Palace somewhere here.

After half a day of investigating and questioning locals, we still hadn’t found any leads about Ihwa Palace.

Even Namgung Yoo, who had been confident in her tracking skills, remained silent here.

“First, send a carrier pigeon to have the Namgung Clan’s tracking team join us here.”

“Are you planning to stay here? We should check other places.”

I shook my head at Jegal Yeongcheon’s suggestion.

“No. I plan to stay here longer and look for clues.”

“It doesn’t seem like anything’s here to me.”

Jegal Yeongcheon grumbled with dissatisfaction.

After thinking for a moment, I gave instructions to the Heavenly Central Flying Dragon Unit.

“From now on, divide into three teams of three and ask around in the nearby villages. Investigate whether people have been going missing for a long time or if any outsiders have disappeared here. If we start from there, I think we might find a lead. Report back within one hour.”

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