I Became the Hidden Chapter 52

Hong Yungae's intense memory.

The sight of the old beggar stepping forward and dying in vain.

A sight that he still couldn't understand at all.

How could he have stepped forward with that old and shabby appearance?

Unlike the memory, Hong Yungae looked at the old beggar's back without collapsing.

The old beggar's back was bent, and his physique was small, so he had to bend his body and look down to see his back.

In that state, he continued to look at the old beggar's back.

Although it was very shabby, for some reason, he couldn't take his eyes off it.

Hong Yungae felt a sense of greatness from that shabby back.

Hong Yungae, whose head was not very good, had no way of knowing why he had felt that way.

But nevertheless, he could know one thing.

The small stubbornness, which was hard to even describe as a will, felt from that back.

To Hong Yungae's eyes, it looked great and magnificent.

And so, just before the old man with the shabby back was stabbed, Hong Yungae stepped forward.

Kaang!

Just before the sword reached the old man, the Dog Beating Jade Staff blocked the sword.

Hong Yungae, who had only seen the old man's back at that time, was now in front of the old man.

"Hey, old man, don't step up and die, live a long life."

Although he heard a voice from behind saying, 'Hey, this young brat is stepping up and acting crazy!', Hong Yungae just chuckled and held out the Dog Beating Jade Staff towards the martial artists.

"If you thought of stabbing someone, you must have also thought of your own head being broken, right?"

No questions, no answers.

Hong Yungae's Dog Beating Jade Staff was swung at the martial artists.

The martial artist in front of him raised his sword and tried to block the Dog Beating Jade Staff.

Crack!

But the sword was shattered, and the Dog Beating Jade Staff accurately struck the martial artist's head.

As the figure of the martial artist in front of him collapsed, Hong Yungae again struck both sides with the Dog Beating Jade Staff.

"Keok!"

"Keoheok!"

The martial artists who had rushed at Hong Yungae held their heads and collapsed.

Hong Yungae continued to swing the Dog Beating Jade Staff, and in no time, the group of martial artists were all collapsed on the floor, with blood flowing freely from their heads.

They were futilely weak.

They were dozens of times weaker than the martial artist he had fought to save Zhuge Hwaryeong.

'Were they this weak?'

Hong Yungae raised his head with a futile feeling.

At that, the martial artist in white who had appeared before was standing there.

However, for some reason, his appearance was not the blurry one that Hong Yungae remembered, but the appearance of his master, Baek Yoonjun.

The martial artist in the form of Baek Yoonjun asked.

"Why did you step forward? Is it because I am stronger?"

"No, sir."

Hong Yungae scratched the back of his head at Baek Yoonjun's question.

"At that time, it just felt terrifying, just like then. I never imagined they would be this weak."

"Then why did you step forward this time?"

Baek Yoonjun asked again.

Hong Yungae scratched the back of his head and turned his head.

There, the old beggar was sitting on the floor as if his legs had given out.

Just as his back was shabby, his sitting posture was also shabby.

Hong Yungae turned his head again and faced Baek Yoonjun.

"It's just that, for some reason, that old beggar's back looked big and cool, so I just followed him."

Even as he spoke, Hong Yungae wondered if this was right.

However, Baek Yoonjun's reaction was different.

Baek Yoonjun smiled faintly at such a Hong Yungae.

"You are a knight-errant."

The words that came from Baek Yoonjun's mouth, who was smiling faintly, were unfamiliar words to Hong Yungae.

It was unclear whether he had said it to himself or to the old beggar.

However, because of that word, he felt as if he knew something.

Why the shabby old man's back had looked so big.

The old man who had stood in front of Hong Yungae was a knight-errant, at least when he had stepped forward.

Although he was a shabby old beggar who didn't know martial arts and whose body was not strong.

Although he had just stood in front, been stabbed without being able to resist even once, and had died.

At least when he had stepped forward, he had been a knight-errant.

Only then could he understand why he had a satisfied look on his face as he was being stabbed to death.

The old man had just protected his own chivalry.

Hong Yungae thought so.

It was the best conclusion that could come from Hong Yungae, who did not have the talent to think deeply.

As Hong Yungae finished his thoughts, the surroundings had changed to the end of the passage of the cave he had been in.

The old beggar, the martial artist, and the master had all disappeared like a midday illusion.

As the hallucination disappeared, Hong Yungae, who was standing there with dignity, seemed to be emitting a different aura than before.

"Senior brother!"

Zhuge Hwaryeong, who had passed the gate first, called for Hong Yungae, and Hong Yungae was startled and looked at her.

"Huh? When did you come out?"

"I've been waiting for a long time! Why did it take you so long?"

"...Sorry."

In fact, it seemed not much had changed.

Hong Yungae followed Zhuge Hwaryeong in a drained state.

And so, Hong Yungae's party reached the end of the secret cave.

"Since senior brother was taking so long, I came first, but there was nothing special."

Zhuge Hwaryeong grumbled to Hong Yungae with a slightly drained look.

But such a grumbling from Zhuge Hwaryeong did not enter Hong Yungae's ears.

The countless traces on the wall.

The traces of a sword, the traces of a staff, and on top of that, the trace of a huge palm that seemed to be ten zhang wide, as if it had been pressed down.

All of them were traces of martial arts that Hong Yungae could not have imagined.

Although Zhuge Hwaryeong, who was not a martial artist, could not recognize them, Hong Yungae, who had become a martial artist through Baek Yoonjun's teachings, could definitely recognize those traces.

Although he couldn't tell what the traces of the sword were, only that the level was high, he could definitely tell what the traces of the staff were.

The traces of the Dog Beating Staff Technique.

Moreover, there were even traces of the advanced staff technique that Hong Yungae had not learned.

Since the traces of that advanced staff technique also continued from the Dog Beating Staff Technique, Hong Yungae was able to recognize it.

'Why are the traces of the staff technique that Master taught me left here? Could it be?'

Only then did Hong Yungae feel a strange sense of incongruity.

When he was about to die, Baek Yoonjun had appeared too exquisitely.

On top of that, a martial art related to the martial art he had learned from Baek Yoonjun was engraved on the wall.

It wasn't just the staff technique.

Although he couldn't tell the exact sword intent of the sword technique, it was a sword technique that was linked to the cultivation method he had learned.

There was no need to even mention the palm technique.

The trace of a palm technique that felt somewhat wondrous, and that he himself could sufficiently learn.

Hong Yungae knew by feeling the reason why all these traces were left.

"It is Master's arrangement."

"What?"

"Can't you feel it, junior disciple?"

At the words of Hong Yungae, who had a very confident face, Zhuge Hwaryeong also recalled the events so far.

Of course, since Zhuge Hwaryeong did not know martial arts, she did not judge anything by the martial arts.

'This place was mostly made of formations, and I did feel a strangely familiar feeling from the formations. Now that I think about it, the feeling is similar to the formation I learned.'

Only then could Zhuge Hwaryeong not help but nod her head at Hong Yungae's words.

"It's certainly as senior brother says. Since I don't know martial arts, I didn't infer it from the traces of the martial arts, but I did feel a familiar feeling from the formation."

"Right?"

Hong Yungae was relieved at Zhuge Hwaryeong's words.

Although he had spoken with confidence, he had inwardly harbored an anxiety of 'What if it's not?'.

His heart at ease, Hong Yungae once again looked at the traces of the martial arts on the wall.

'Besides the sword, just by looking at them, it seems the essence of the martial arts is flowing into my head.'

Hong Yungae sat in a cross-legged position.

"I will need time to sort out my enlightenment. Please wait a moment."

And at the same time, he did not forget to leave a word of request to Zhuge Hwaryeong.

"Then I'll stand guard, or something."

Zhuge Hwaryeong guarded the side of Hong Yungae, who had sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

And at the same time, she looked at the traces on the wall.

'Hmm, I don't feel anything... Should I at least memorize it?'

Since Zhuge Hwaryeong's comprehension was so outstanding that it would surprise Baek Yoonjun, she stored all the traces on the wall in her head.

Although she couldn't understand the meaning left in the traces at all, she had perfectly memorized the form.

In the meantime, Hong Yungae sat with his eyes closed for a long time.

Zhuge Hwaryeong ate and rested appropriately and guarded Hong Yungae's side.

And so, after a long time had passed.

"Phew."

Hong Yungae let out a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.

Zhuge Hwaryeong, who had dozed off by his side, immediately opened her eyes at that presence.

"Senior brother? Did you have any achievements?"

"I have awakened the sixth star of the Dog Beating Staff Technique, the first star of the palm technique, and I have no gains in the sword technique."

"I see. Congratulations."

Although Zhuge Hwaryeong, who did not know martial arts, did not understand at all, she accepted that since it was the sixth star, it was a decent achievement.

Hong Yungae nodded at Zhuge Hwaryeong's congratulations, got up from his spot, and held the Dog Beating Jade Staff in his hand.

He took a ready stance and swung the Dog Beating Jade Staff.

The Dog Beating Jade Staff that the previous Hong Yungae had swung was just dull.

Although it had a decent power, there was not much change.

But the swing of the current Dog Beating Jade Staff was truly ever-changing.

It seemed to strike the head, then it went to the waist like flowing water, and it seemed to strike the waist, but it seemed to strike the shin.

Although it was like flowing water, it was by no means gentle, but a strong and fierce appearance.

Even Zhuge Hwaryeong, who did not know martial arts and was watching from the side, was impressed.

Hong Yungae, who had been swinging the Dog Beating Jade Staff for a long time, held the Dog Beating Jade Staff in his left hand and spread his right palm towards the wall.

Hong Yungae's palm, which stretched out towards the wall.

Thump!

At the same time as a large vibration, a very small palm shape was faintly engraved next to the original large palm mark.

"I still have a long way to go."

Although a sigh flowed from Hong Yungae's mouth, his expression looked very satisfied.

Hong Yungae, who had performed the staff technique and the palm technique, sorted out his energy and turned his head towards Zhuge Hwaryeong.

"Let's go out now."

"Are you all done?"

"It seems I have done everything I can do here."

Hong Yungae turned his body to go back the way he had come.

"Wait a moment, senior brother."

Zhuge Hwaryeong called for such a Hong Yungae and pointed to a corner of the wall.

"I don't think we need to go back."

"What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, Zhuge Hwaryeong smiled brightly and headed to a corner of the wall.

A place where there was nothing at a glance.

On the wall, only two very small characters were written.

[Exit]

"There's an exit here."

Although Hong Yungae also discovered those characters, he couldn't understand what was what at all.

"This is the exit?"

"Are you just going to stand there and watch? Follow me."

But as Zhuge Hwaryeong confidently set foot towards the exit and her figure disappeared, he had to believe it even if he didn't want to.

As Hong Yungae carefully set foot in the place where Zhuge Hwaryeong had set foot.

A short while later, Hong Yungae had returned to the entrance of the secret cave.

The dumbfounded Hong Yungae was unable to come to his senses for a moment and scanned his surroundings.

Unlike him, Zhuge Hwaryeong immediately headed to the entrance and rushed into the arms of Baek Yoonjun, who was waiting in front of it.

"Master! I passed!"

"Right. You've worked hard."

Baek Yoonjun nonchalantly accepted Zhuge Hwaryeong and stroked her head, smiling.

At that, Hong Yungae frowned slightly.

'What is a man doing?'

Deciding that he shouldn't do that, Hong Yungae quietly headed towards Baek Yoonjun and performed a fist-and-palm salute.

"I have returned, Master."

Stroking Zhuge Hwaryeong's head, Baek Yoonjun was pleased with Hong Yungae's dignified appearance.

"Did you have any achievements?"

"Thanks to you, Master, I was able to obtain an achievement that does not fit my station."

Baek Yoonjun opened his senses and scanned Hong Yungae's condition.

Indeed, there were achievements.

Although, by Baek Yoonjun's standards, it was nothing more than third-rate or lower.

'Where is there an achievement?'

Good was good.

Looking at the pleased Baek Yoonjun, Hong Yungae recalled the martial arts of the cave.

Although there were many questions, the one that was the most questionable.

"The insight of the palm technique of the cave is extraordinary, so may I ask the name of that palm technique?"

Hearing Hong Yungae's question, although Baek Yoonjun was calm on the outside, he was flustered on the inside.

'Huh? Palm technique?'

No matter how he thought about it, Baek Yoonjun had never left an insight about a palm technique.

Although he had clearly left two things, a sword technique and a staff technique, Hong Yungae was referring to a palm technique.

As Baek Yoonjun was flustered and kept his mouth shut, Hong Yungae felt anxious.

'Why is he not saying anything? Was my explanation insufficient?'

Looking at the quiet Baek Yoonjun, Hong Yungae hesitated and began to explain.

"W-well... it's the insight engraved with a large palm mark near the staff technique insight of the cave..."

The dignified appearance from before was gone, and Hong Yungae was completely cowering.

Baek Yoonjun had no time to mind such a Hong Yungae.

The large palm mark inside the secret cave.

Baek Yoonjun barely recalled the palm.

'That's not an insight, it's interior design...'

Since the end of the secret cave was too empty and there was nothing that particularly fit, he had just plausibly stamped a palm mark on the wall.

Baek Yoonjun was sweating profusely inwardly.

"P-perhaps, can I not know the name of that palm technique?"

Since Hong Yungae was continuously looking at him with an expectant gaze even while cowering, he couldn't help but be even more flustered.

'What should I do? Is there a plausible name?'

Baek Yoonjun's head spun.

And so, as numerous plausible names passed through his mind.

"The Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms?"

Among them, the most plausible name flowed from Baek Yoonjun's name.

"Ooh! It is truly a name that suits a peerless palm technique! I definitely want to learn it!!"

Hong Yungae's reaction was explosive.

As the reaction got better and better, the cold sweat inside Baek Yoonjun could only increase.

'What should I do? I haven't thought about a palm technique separately.'

Baek Yoonjun's worries, who had never learned a palm technique separately, continued to deepen.

(End of Chapter)