Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1040

[The concept of stillness in motion isn’t that special.]

Park Yeon-guk couldn’t take his eyes off the screen. When the video lectures first started, everyone used their smartphones to watch them, but now most people were switching to using PCs.

It was difficult to see the demonstrations clearly on a small smartphone screen. Of course, the picture quality these days was good enough to see large movements without much trouble. But martial arts were about distinguishing the subtle differences within seemingly identical movements, weren’t they?

That’s why the newly established audiovisual room in the General Assembly was packed with martial artists, with no empty seats.

On the screen, Bang Jin-hoon chuckled and continued speaking.

The half-dazed look he had at the beginning of the lectures was gone, and now he looked like a seasoned star instructor, full of confidence.

[Why do you make a simple concept so difficult? It’s not your fault. Uh… this is a bit of a sensitive issue, but it’s actually the fault of the masters who taught you.]

Bang Jin-hoon seemed a little uncomfortable after saying that, and he made a self-deprecating joke.

[If anyone runs to their master to tattle about what I said, I’ll find you. This is just between us, okay?]

A chorus of agreement came from the screen.

At first, they had just set up a camera and recorded, but after some trial and error, they started placing a few trainees in front of the lecturer. It was better for understanding the flow of the lecture. This was based on the results of studying currently available video lectures.

[Why did a simple concept become difficult? It’s not really a problem with the concept itself, but rather a problem with translation.]

Bang Jin-hoon smiled sheepishly as he spoke.

[When learning martial arts, you often hear the term ‘comprehension’ (悟性) [a deep understanding or insight]. It’s a word that often appears in philosophical texts and martial arts novels… What do you think comprehension is?]

Park Yeon-guk stared intently at the monitor.

[Great, good answer. It’s an innate ability that humans possess to perceive things… I have no idea what that means.]

Laughter erupted.

[Comprehension isn’t anything special. It’s just understanding. The ability to see, hear, and understand something is comprehension. There’s no problem if you replace the word ‘comprehension’ with ‘understanding.’ Isn’t that interesting? If you replace it with ‘understanding,’ it becomes easier to understand. Understanding increases understanding… Sorry, it’s only funny to me.]

The dad jokes that popped up from time to time were hard to bear, but considering the quality of the lecture, it was something they could tolerate.

[But why do we use the word ‘comprehension’ instead of the easy word ‘understanding’? It’s simple. It sounds more impressive. And… this is a bit more sensitive, but it’s to make it harder to understand.]

“Huh?”

Park Yeon-guk tilted his head.

It was hard to understand what he meant. A master was supposed to teach their disciples, so why would they deliberately make it difficult to understand?

[You take it for granted that you receive instruction and training, but in the past, knowledge was power.

That was the same even between master and disciple. A disciple who had nothing more to learn from their master would not respect them, and a master who had nothing to do after getting old was just an old man in the mountains if they didn’t have any disciples. So, they wouldn’t share what they knew easily, and even if they did, they would make it difficult and sound impressive. That way, the disciples would think, ‘Ah, my master is definitely noble. I still have a lot to learn,’ and they would stick around and bring rice.]

“…Hic!”

This was more than sensitive; it was practically a bombshell.

But Bang Jin-hoon continued the lecture as if he hadn’t said anything controversial.

[So, the secret techniques and teachings are all incredibly difficult, and the secret arts of a sect are not easily passed down. They only teach lower-level martial arts for decades, and they only reveal the real secrets when they’re about to die. Why? Because there’s nothing more to squeeze out of them.]

When he turned his head, everyone was staring at the monitor with dumbfounded expressions.

[So, is the martial world a dirty and despicable place? No, it’s not that either. Because in the past, those who studied academics were all similar. So, you should be grateful that you were born in an era where you can learn as much as you want if you have the desire to learn. How did we get here? Ah, right. Stillness in motion is… simply put, it means moving while not moving. So, when boxers take a stance and twitch their shoulders, looking for an opportunity to throw a punch, it looks like they’re just facing each other, not moving. But inside, they’re moving. That’s stillness in motion.]

“That’s amazing.”

Park Yeon-guk chuckled as he watched the lecture.

The changes that this video lecture brought to the General Assembly were more significant than he had imagined.

As Bang Jin-hoon said, the martial arts of the General Assembly followed the master-disciple tradition. Although Lee Joong-geol had established the General Assembly and made young martial artists train there, they were still training under their own masters.

As a result, everyone’s knowledge was different, and there were many cases where interpretations of the same martial art were completely different.

However, as Bang Jin-hoon began his lectures, the mixed concepts began to be unified.

Bang Jin-hoon seemed to be aware of this, and as the lecture progressed, he focused not only on teaching martial arts but also on systematically organizing and conveying existing concepts.

When the concepts changed, reality changed as well. The martial arts they had known until now felt completely new. They could clearly see what they had been doing wrong.

Even those who were learning martial arts other than Bang Jin-hoon’s started watching the lectures when the rumors spread.

It wasn’t just a simple transmission of martial arts; it was a re-establishment of concepts centered around the new martial arts of the General Assembly.

‘It’s been a while since I visited my master…’

Not only Park Yeon-guk but also others had been leaving the General Assembly less frequently recently.

Even if they didn’t visit their masters to receive new teachings, they could still gain knowledge within the General Assembly. And from a martial artist who was far superior to their own masters.

Park Yeon-guk didn’t understand it now, but through this process, the General Assembly was becoming much more united than in the past.

[Okay, let’s continue. Turn to page 320 in your textbook, and the part we’re learning today is important, so you must review it. And tomorrow… hey, when is this lecture going out? The day after tomorrow? Then… on the 25th, we’ll do a demonstration and correction at the Grand Training Ground, so make sure you have this part memorized and practiced repeatedly by then. Anyone who doesn’t do it properly will be… no, will be punished.]

Park Yeon-guk chuckled and focused on the lecture.

He could feel himself changing day by day. How could he not concentrate?

米 米 米

Whoooosh! Whoooosh!

Blue light emanated from the bizarre symbols drawn haphazardly on the floor. The blue lights that filled the air twisted and turned, forming rune characters.

When all the processes were complete, the symbols on the floor rotated, creating a small circle.

A small door, barely big enough for one person to enter.

Wiggins smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the door.

“It’s complete.”

After much effort, a portal connecting the General Assembly and the Round Table was finally opened. To maintain this door, mages on both sides had to infuse it with magic simultaneously.

A door that wouldn’t open if one side didn’t want it to.

It was a portal just as the Round Table had wanted.

Wiggins closed the portal and made a call.

“Master.”

[What is it?]

“I’ve completed the portal.”

[It took longer than I expected? Has your skill declined?]

“I didn’t realize that the materials for creating a portal were lacking here. I don’t know if my skills have declined, but my thinking has definitely deteriorated. I guess I’m getting old…”

[Enough with the nonsense. You’re still in your prime.]

Wiggins smiled wryly. Even if it were true, it wasn’t something he should say in front of the Master.

[When will the Guild Leader be visiting?]

“I need to ask him. How’s the atmosphere over there?”

[If the atmosphere were good, would I be urging the Guild Leader? Everyone is just keeping quiet, but they’re full of complaints.]

“Hmm.”

[But there’s nothing to worry about. In the end, it’s just their anxiety about their own limitations that’s being expressed as dissatisfaction with me. They’ll need more time to accept and understand reality.]

Even the Master, who was considered open-minded, had taken a long time to accept the current situation of the Round Table. If Kang Jin-ho hadn’t shocked the Master with his actions, he might not have accepted it at all.

Those who hadn’t seen Kang Jin-ho in person, those who had only heard about his exploits, would not accept the situation where the Round Table was bowing down to the General Assembly.

That’s why Kang Jin-ho needed to visit the Round Table continuously.

“Since the time zones are different, it should be possible today.”

[No. Not today.]

“Huh?”

[It’s too early. It hasn’t ripened properly yet. When complaints come out properly, that’s when it’s meaningful to crush them. If you suppress complaints before they’re properly expressed, they don’t disappear; they fester inside.]

“You’re planning to set an example.”

[It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped.]

‘He’s become cold-hearted too.’

The Master of the past was a rational person, but he couldn’t be called a cold-hearted person. Rather, from their perspective, he was a very compassionate person.

But the current Master was even willing to sacrifice the Knights to completely take control of the Round Table.

“This, this…”

[There’s no need to react like that. Aren’t you the one who made me this way? And isn’t this the kind of person you wanted me to be?]

“Of course, Master. I’ve always thought that you needed to be more decisive.”

[You sly fellow. Whatever, for now, please ask the Guild Leader to focus on his activities in Korea. When the time is right, I’ll request his dispatch, so he just needs to be here on time.]

“Are you sure you won’t be assassinated?”

[Don’t jinx it.]

Wiggins was about to hang up, laughing, when he heard the Master’s voice again.

[And this is just out of caution…]

“Yes?”

[Japan’s movements are unusual. We’ve received information that some big shots have been moving around since a few days ago.]

Big shots?

Wiggins’ eyes darkened.

Japan was different from Korea.

While Korea was a place where everyone gathered around the General Assembly, Japan was a place where everyone had their own territory and didn’t move around carelessly. But the fact that big shots were moving meant that they were gathering in one place.

“Is it an invasion?”

[It’s not certain yet. Anyway, it’s better to be careful.]

“…Thank you for the information, Master.”

[I’ll pass on any more information as it comes in. If any problems arise, the Round Table will not hesitate to provide support.]

“That’s reassuring.”

[Then.]

As the call ended, Wiggins stared silently at his phone.

Then, he jumped up from his seat.

It seemed he needed to meet Lee Hyun-soo.