NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34
*
In the original work, King of Diamond Fist, the protagonist Kim Hyul is a sworn enemy of Bi-Wol. It all starts with her burning the village he lived in when she was younger.
Due to the Heavenly Demon Star’s influence, Bi-Wol has come to enjoy blood and slaughter. She was someone who couldn’t survive unless she followed that fate.
“Did you think you could block the sword with just your fists?”
However, the current Bi-Wol has been living with me as a disciple while refraining from killing.
Then where is Kim Hyul now, and what is he doing?
“The strength of the mind is the strength of the body.”
I quoted exactly what Kim Hyul said in the original work, smiling at her. Originally, he was the type to cultivate the Diamond Indestructible and break metal weapons like swords and spears.
“Let me show you that fists can be stronger than swords.”
He might still be practicing the Diamond Indestructible, so I had to make sure Bi-Wol was prepared for that.
What foreign audiences expect is the showdown between the protagonist and the final boss.
“The secret of the Six Harmonies Fist lies in the union of heaven and earth in all directions. It’s about merging three pairs of different strengths into one.”
More precisely, it’s about combining physical and mental strength to achieve perfect offense and defense.
“The first is the unity of heaven and earth. Heaven is the unconscious movement of the body, and earth is the mastery and use of technique.”
It was just like the technique I used when demonstrating Drunken Fist. Once you’ve mastered it completely, it flows naturally from your body without conscious thought.
Whoosh, I used the Chicken Leg (mimicking a chicken’s movement) to maintain balance, flexibly dodging Bi-Wol’s blade by twisting my waist. Despite the strange posture, my balance remained intact.
“…Your movements have changed. Have you sobered up?”
“I’m still a bit tipsy, but the martial arts I use are different now.”
Bi-Wol looked at me with a look of disbelief. Surely, the martial arts she knew weren’t precise enough to dodge a blade like this.
Moreover, the weapon she was using was a demon sword surrounded by magic. One could tell even with just their eyes that it could slice through ordinary rocks or steel.
“But to think you could pull off such moves with just the Six Harmonies Fist…”
A low-tier martial art, so common it’s found everywhere — that’s what I was using, the same one the protagonist used in the original work.
“The second means the union of internal and external energies. This is the source that produces the Origin of Movement, which is as hard as combining the north and south…”
Boom—!
As my palm struck the demon sword, an impact rang in my hand, like metal clashing. Even though it was wrapped in ice, I felt a tingling sensation.
“…You can use it like this.”
I grinned while using the Origin of Movement. A bit of blood oozed from my mouth due to using internal energy, but I was enjoying teaching my disciple more.
“The third is the unity of shoulders and hips. This also signifies east and west. This allows you to attack and defend in all directions.”
Originally a style of Shaolin martial arts, the leaks of this technique have become so common that even third-rate martial artists can practice it.
The essence of the Six Harmonies Fist, or more specifically the Heart and Mind Six Harmonies Fist, can be said to be perfect because it is straightforward.
“Azazel, be sure to watch closely. All those tentacles behind you are like your arms. If you master this martial art well, it will be useful later on.”
“Isn’t this just like the movement of a chicken?”
I was demonstrating the basic footwork known as Chicken Leg (鷄行步) for Azazel to see and reference.
Continuous movements arise from the basic postures. Among them, the flexibility of mimicking a chicken’s movement and prioritizing bodily balance.
“I don’t need that sort of thing…!”
To someone who doesn’t know, these postures might appear ridiculous, and Azazel got angry, summoning her tentacles to try and smash my wine barrel.
“Oh dear, almost spilled my precious drink!”
I ducked and leaned against the barrel, maintaining a posture as graceful and smooth as a standing crane.
“If you dislike fists, there’s always pressure points.”
Thwack, thunk.
Using the Sinking Pillar Strike, I jabbed at the tip of her tentacle with my elbow, rendering her movements immobilized. It’s considered madness to touch a foreign deity’s physicality with bare hands.
“Now your boastful tentacles are blocked. What will you do?”
I was completely unfazed. After all, I could break free from Azazel’s illusion myself.
“Alright, I just have to do it, right? Just…!”
Looking at her tentacles, which had become completely stiff, Azazel appeared unable to hide her panic. She shook her head several times, finally trying to mimic my movements.
“If you just did it well, you wouldn’t have to whine.”
Her actions looked quite uncoordinated, but I was impressed that she was at least trying to take my instruction to heart.
If I were raising a daughter, would I feel this way?
“You’re too relaxed, Master.”
Bi-Wol sharpened her sword strikes even further upon seeing me smile contentedly. Countless sword paths targeted my barrel.
Crash—! Bam—!
With a loud clap, my fist and her sword clashed, producing a burst of air. Since I didn’t have Diamond Indestructible now, I was responding using Origin of Movement and Ice Control.
“Now I think I understand how to deal with you. That bizarre style of yours is all modeled after animal shapes, isn’t it?”
After testing the waters a few times, Bi-Wol looked at me as if she was finally starting to comprehend.
The Chicken Leg imitating the way a chicken walks,
The Dragon Waist mimicking a dragon’s ascent,
The Bear Stance imitating a bear’s posture and defenses,
Eagle Grasp applying the gaze of an eagle,
Tiger Hug Head borrowing the grandeur and ferocity of a tiger’s demeanor,
Lastly, Thunder Sound, aiming at the gaps in the sounds produced by animals.
“Thus, evading you now won’t work on me…!”
Although the Six Harmonies Fist is accessible enough for even a child on the street to understand, mastery is required for it to become effective.
It’s often said that “one should be equipped with seven punches (拳) in one body (身),” meaning you can execute attacks and defenses using the seven body parts: head, shoulders, elbows, hands, knees, and feet.
“So, don’t think victory is assured just yet. Instead, keep doubting your opponent endlessly.”
I stepped forward with a weighted leg, bringing both palms down to grab Bi-Wol’s shoulder.
Ugh…!
Thud! The dull sound rang out as Bi-Wol grimaced, revealing her pain on her face.
It was a headbutt from the Tiger Slam also known as the Six Harmonies Fist.
Bi-Wol staggered from the attack, trying to retaliate immediately, but I wouldn’t let that opportunity slip.
This time I used the technique known as Cloud Close Sun Moon Technique.
I flowed my elbow back in a circle as her sword came in, and immediately stepped forward, pushing up on her belly with my other hand.
Puh-wak—! Bi-Wol’s body soared into the air, tracing a path far away.
“Senpai…! Are you alright?!”
Seeing her, Verdandi, who had been watching the fight from the side, called out. The holy sword that left Bi-Wol’s hand regained its form, shining brightly.
“The essence of the Three Talented Sword Method is identical to Heaven, Earth, and Man. Consider it as the Three Talents, and it can be expressed as thrusting, slicing horizontally, and slicing vertically.”
I poured all the remaining liquor into Bi-Wol and told her this much. With this much guidance, she should be able to find a solution on her own.
“Now, is it the turn of the Six Harmonies Sword Technique?”
I grinned at Verdandi, radiating a sense of ease.
*
Verdandi trembled in disbelief at the scene before her. She never expected her drunken master to be this strong.
Looking at her coughing up blood, even the innocent her could tell she wasn’t in a good state.
But,
“Your posture is still awkward. You only need to repeat one action.”
Bing Yeon calmly adjusted Azazel’s posture as if she felt no pain.
“Don’t touch my body without permission…!”
“Much better to act than to just talk a hundred times, isn’t it?”
Azazel tried to brush off Bing Yeon’s hands in anger, but it seemed impossible for an ordinary person without martial arts to fend off a master.
I wondered if things would have been different if Azazel had been a frontline character instead of a saint. Right now, she was realizing firsthand how weak she was by only relying on others.
“Your hands and feet are not in sync. Didn’t I say the basics of the Six Harmonies Fist revolve around the unity of shoulders and hips? Therefore, the connecting parts must be the same.”
Bi-Wol had already been thrown far away and was now down, leaving only Verdandi capable of fighting against Bing Yeon.
“Why are you just standing there, hesitant?”
“But Senpai…!”
I didn’t expect such a difference would arise over just taking one liquor barrel.
“In Bi-Wol’s case, I managed to control my strength, so she’ll be fine. After all, her compatibility with the Six Harmonies Fist is the worst.”
In the original work, the only one capable of defeating the final boss was the protagonist Kim Hyul, so Bi-Wol falling this easily was, in a way, quite accurate.
“……Understood.”
Holding the fallen holy sword, Verdandi glared at Bing Yeon. Now that this happened, she had no choice but to learn a new sword technique to quickly take down her master.
“You have a determined look in your eyes. Why do you draw your sword?”
“Why do I draw my sword? Isn’t that what’s important?”
Suddenly faced with Bing Yeon’s question, Verdandi couldn’t help but feel puzzled. She always thought she needed to fight for justice alongside others.
She’s been chosen as the hero to slay the Demon King. She believed she was someone who could be forgiven for whatever she did.
But now, she was under the tutelage of someone, judging people without distinguishing between good and evil.
‘Am I not someone who draws my sword for justice?’
Verdandi briefly sheathed her sword, diving into deep thought. For whom do I draw my sword, anyway?
“It’s tricky to talk here, so let’s change the venue.”
Thwack, thunk.
Bing Yeon pressed the pressure point on Azazel’s neck, knocking her out, then immediately sat down in a lotus position, meditating.
‘An opening…!’
Next to her, the wine barrel was left unguarded, and Verdandi seized the opportunity, thrusting her sword at it.
“…I knew you could see the imaginary world this whole time.”
With a ripple like waves, the surrounding scenery began to shift. A void felt underfoot.
Splash—!
Losing her balance, Verdandi found herself plunged into what felt like an endless sea. Looking up at the unfamiliarity, she saw a snow-covered landscape.
This was Bing Yeon’s imaginary world,
White Sea Snow Scene.
“I will teach you the Six Harmonies Sword Technique here.”
A winter scene engulfed in white snow spread out before Verdandi.