Chapter 126

The old-fashioned customs and traditions,
so-called etiquette,
are setting and executing their own limits without them knowing.
That is foolish.
With that, one cannot expect development even in a thousand or ten thousand years.
Until a genius who can break all the molds appears...

---

• Recollection

-The Past

The master's simple yet profound view on how to become strong.

"Do you truly want to become strong?"

Three years ago!

Did he think I was lying?
The master asked again for confirmation.

I don't know which way the wind blew wrong, but Bi Ryu-yeon looked at his master, who was speaking with great weight, with new eyes.

A pine caterpillar should eat pine needles, and a sparrow should give up on catching up with a stork from the beginning. Anything overdone is bad for the body...

Today's master somehow looked like he had 'something'.

"Of course!"

Of course, it was an obvious answer. As I was about to give this obvious answer, my mouth automatically hurt. It was a side effect of having committed a not-so-economical act. Unfortunately, my body was too honest, unable to compromise with reality or make a deal with the world.

"The method is simple. Very, very simple."

Still with his back to me, facing the dawning light of the morning, the master said in a confident tone. It was a firm momentum that would not tolerate any counterargument.

'Now he's even lying without batting an eye!'

Now he finally looks like a master! Bi Ryu-yeon thought with a pure heart.

"What is it? That look in your eyes? It's a look that says you can't believe my words!"

Huk! As expected, the master is quick-witted. Does he have eyes hidden in the back of his head? It was a master who developed his nerves and attention unnecessarily only at times like this.

"Of course not!"

Such words to preserve one's life are called a white lie. Some also say it's an irresistible force. So Bi Ryu-yeon was not feeling any guilt at all.

At some point, the master's gaze, which had turned his head to avoid the morning sunlight, and Bi Ryu-yeon's gaze met head-on. At times like this, unconsciously avoiding the gaze because one has something to hide is a mistake that only a novice would make! Bi Ryu-yeon was not so naive as to make such an absurd mistake. (If he had, the time he had been trained so far would be a waste.)

That suspicious look! The master did not seem to have completely escaped from his suspicion yet. As expected, old ginger is too spicy. The old ginger said.

"The way to become strong is very simple. It is to not set any limits!"

It was a clear voice, as if to engrave it in his disciple's mind.

"Even more than you, master?"

Bi Ryu-yeon asked for confirmation. As expected, he had to get a definite answer for this to be able to apply it in reality later. It was not enough to just predict. (It could not be used as evidence later, and it could also not be a room for refutation.)

"Of course. Do not be bound by anything. When you do not set your own limits, you will be able to become endlessly strong. The children of other sects unconsciously set their own limits. No, it would be more correct to say that the sect systematically encourages limits. 'How can I dare to harbor the impure, conceited, and absurd delusion of surpassing the great and respected founding masters and masters, who are higher than the sky and wider than the sea?' they say. It's a joke that's not even funny."

The master's voice, which had been speaking in a cynical tone as if to cut to pieces, suddenly changed to a creepy voice that a three-year-old snot-nosed kid would utter. It was truly a bizarre voice that was frightening and detestable to hear even in a dream.

"Waaah, waaah! I can't become stronger than my master. So of course, I can't become stronger than my grand-master. 'How can I dare to commit the disgraceful act of becoming stronger than the great and respected founding master of my sect, by any chance, by any chance...' they say."

The master's face, as he continued his words, was full of a look of being pathetic.

"Is it all bullshit?"

Bi Ryu-yeon went through the confirmation process of the conclusion that had been derived after a very logical thought. It was a judgment that had come out after a rational and logical thought.

"Of course. What else would there be but regression? The old-fashioned customs and traditions, so-called etiquette, are setting and practicing their own limits without them knowing. That is a foolish act. With that, one cannot expect development even in a thousand or ten thousand years. Until a genius who can break all the molds appears."

"Hmm!"

Bi Ryu-yeon nodded his head as if he understood. Of course, he had no intention of losing to his master from the beginning. Although he might be weaker than his master at this moment, it was an impossible thing in his way of thinking to remain weak.

The master's passionate long speech continued to dig into Bi Ryu-yeon's heart.

"Who said the sky is infinite and cannot be torn? Who said the earth is wide and cannot be overturned? Have you tried it? Did you conclude after trying even once? Or, have you poured out endless effort to reach that place?"

Of course, there was no way Bi Ryu-yeon would do such an irrational, illogical, and ultimately, a thing that would not earn him a single penny.

"No! Are you crazy?"

Ttak!

"Ouch! Usshi!"

The master's hand immediately flew out. He was so impatient...

"Did you exchange all the golden rules I just told you for money? I clearly told you not to set any limits! This master thinks that there are no limits to humans, especially to the human mind. No, in reality, there are no limits, and the power of the mind that exists within humans is infinite. You are just not aware of it.

The sky can definitely be torn, and the earth can certainly be overturned. You can move faster than light, and rougher than a tsunami. Think like that. To deny it from the beginning is to already decide the limit."

'Usshi! He's making it so damn difficult.'

But very unsatisfactorily, every word of the master was planting an arrowhead in Bi Ryu-yeon's heart and was sending a shiver through his whole body.

"Do not think about the result, value the process. That is more important."

"Hmm!"

Now I understand the master's words a little. Isn't it a story that the more you try to tear the sky, even if you can't actually tear the sky, you can obtain a formidable power that surpasses common sense? Of course, you might actually be able to tear the sky. Has anyone even tried it?

At that time, a thought suddenly flashed in Bi Ryu-yeon's mind.

'Wait! But why only the sky? Isn't there anything wider than the sky? If the master is the sky, I can't stay in the sky! If the master has the power to shake the heavens and overturn the earth, I can't win later.

Then I should be more ambitious and obtain the power of the universe, no, the Thunder God. That way, even if the master has the power to tear the sky, I can win later, can't I!'

As far as his sharp eyes could see now, the master had the power to tear even the sky. Bi Ryu-yeon could instinctively feel that the master's words of breaking the sky were not an empty boast. Then there was only one conclusion! He could not win against the master with the power to tear the sky.

Only when his thoughts reached this point could Bi Ryu-yeon finally let out a sigh of relief.

'Huu, that was a close call! For the master to try to set my limits so cleverly... Hmm... As expected, he's a person I can't be careless about, the master!'

To try to set his own limits unconsciously with clever words, while telling him not to set any limits... It was indeed a side of his master. That's why Bi Ryu-yeon thought that he had to obtain an even stronger power.

Even while his thoughts were continuing like a string of sausages, the master's words for the disciple's mental education were continuing.

"Therefore, this old man says. If you are confident of winning, anytime, if you are confident of defeating this master, I will accept your challenge at any time. Will you try it?"

The master's strange gaze, a gaze that would be described as mischievous in the world, looked at Bi Ryu-yeon. The master was enjoying this moment. So if I were to fall for the master's trick and answer, 'Yes! I will!', the result was as clear as looking at a fire.

'How dare this punk harbor the thought of challenging his master, who is on the same level as the sky!' he would surely shout and beat me to death. At times like this, I must never get caught. I was not a child anymore. Hadn't the infantile time when I would fall for the master's tricks or sweet talk already passed!

"Later!"

For Bi Ryu-yeon, it was the most cautious answer.

"Hohohoho! You punk! That's what it takes to be a disciple of this sect! Although it is important not to set any limits, it is commendable that you have not forgotten that it is also an important lesson to grasp your current self and to develop the insight to gauge the opponent's skill. If you don't want to die a dog's death!"

The acquisition of an ability that knows no limits may be in the present, but it is more likely to be in the future. Therefore, grasping the present and reality is also a more important study than anything else. A study that can be called a life-preserving divine skill without any shame is the study of insight to grasp the difference in skill between myself and the opponent.

"Don't mention it! Wasn't this much a matter of course for me?"

Looking at me like this, the master added just one more word.

"You punk, so self-important! You've grown up a lot!"

And, three years! It was Bi Ryu-yeon, who had not forgotten that teaching even once during that time. And a part of that teaching was being passed down to his disciples and current junior brothers, the Vermilion Bird Squad.