"Keuk..."
"Ugh!"
"Crazy! Doesn't this mean Senior Brother Meatbun is stronger than Mr. Baek?
Under Number Four's relentless training, Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok fell to the ground countless times. Their bones, toughened by the Eighteen Strikes of the Viridian Forest, were fractured several times despite being stronger than iron. Bitter fluid welled up from their empty stomachs, mixing with blood each time they spat on the ground.
Eventually, their muscles screamed in agony, and even breathing hurt, but still they didn't give up.
"We can still... do more..."
"Just you wait! I'm going to beat those smug bastards down with what you taught us, Senior Brother Meatbun."
"Heh, I think... I'm finally getting the hang of it..."
They staggered to their feet, their eyes fixed on Number Four, still driven by the same fervent desire they'd had at the beginning. They yearned to observe and imitate his movements, even if only for a little while longer. Like young beasts learning to hunt by watching their mother, they learned the Savage Tiger Fist by copying their Senior Brother.
Number Four stared at the two boys in confusion. Despite being unsteady on their feet, they got into their fighting stances. He had knocked them down innumerable times, forcing them to their knees and making them writhe in pain. There was only the bare minimum of mercy in his fists.
They must've felt the fear of death several times, so why do they look pleased rather than angry or hateful?
He smiled self-reproachfully and faced Number Four.
Noticing the question in Number Four's gaze, Geo Sangwoong laughed awkwardly. "After learning the Savage Tiger Fist today, I'm going to show those juniors who's boss."
Ya Suhyeok wiped his bloody nose with the back of his hand, grumbling, "...Lately, they've been subtly holding back during sparring, calling it consideration. It's so annoying, I can't stand it anymore."
The Monochrome Bears boasted the best physiques among the Five Young Azure Dragons. However, this also meant that, besides their physical prowess, they had no other exceptional talents.
On the other hand, Wiji Cheon and Hyonwon Kang were naturally gifted in martial arts. Yeo Min excelled in the rare ice arts as well as movement arts. If she got serious, it was nearly impossible for the two of them to even get close enough to touch her.
"...We can't keep falling behind forever."
As they watched the gap between them and the others widen each day, they couldn't help but feel impatient. Occasionally, they even wondered if their choice to focus on external arts, which emphasized the body over inner qi, was the right one.
That is, until they met a somewhat suspicious senior brother who had reached the pinnacle with external arts.
"......" Number Four studied the martial artists who resembled his past self impassively. Inwardly, however, he could empathize with them.
In the past, Number One, Number Two, and Number Three had always advanced faster than him. Given Number One's overwhelming talent, that was to be expected. However, even Number Two and Number Three improved more quickly than him.
On the other hand, the Bandit King's martial arts were a late-blooming type. Apart from steadily strengthening the body, he had struggled to achieve anything great prior to learning the Savage Tiger Fist.
He clenched his fists.
I want to tell them that their strong bodies are divine gifts from the heavens. I want them to believe that, with time and effort, their talent will shine brighter than anyone else's. I want them to know that one day, the martial artists they envy now will envy them.
Since conveying his intention with words was impossible, though, he had no choice but to show them with his body.
Number Four quietly nodded, still staring at Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok in the distance.
RUMBLE!!
The entire mountain quaked from the stomp of a peerless master.
Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok gulped at the impact, which was unlike anything they had experienced before. Instinctively understanding that this was Number Four's final lesson, they widened their eyes and corrected their stances.
ROAAAAR...!
A colossal presence spread through the space within a radius of several hundred meters. The atmosphere distorted. The scenery twisted. Dust on the ground crept slowly upward.
And at the center of it all stood a giant who reigned supreme.
"C-Can't you show us just one more time?"
"Crazy...!"
"Is this really martial arts?"
Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok stood frozen with wide, horrified eyes. To them, Number Four looked like a heavenly general who had descended from above.
Number Four's figure blurred and then reappeared. His fists appeared right in front of Geo Sangwoong's and Ya Suhyeok's faces.
WHOOSH!
Number Four searched through his past memories.
The delayed wind pressure whipped the boys' hair back wildly. A moment later, the two giants fell backward with no resistance.
THUD! THUD!
""...!""
Although Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok nearly had their faces crushed, what shocked them wasn't the attack itself, but the immense energy that had overwhelmed them just before, rendering them immobile.
Now sitting on the ground, the two stared blankly up at Number Four, who surprisingly looked rather tired.
"Did the Savage Tiger Fist have a technique like this?"
"I've never heard of it..."
The Savage Tiger Fist consisted of five techniques: the Savage Tiger Rampage, the Bloody Claws of the Savage Tiger, the Heaven-Rising Tiger, the Savage Tiger Destruction Palm, and the Tiger Smashes the Mountain.
Although the boys hadn't learned the techniques in earnest, Baek Suryong had taught them the names and underlying theories. Today, through Number Four, they had experienced all five techniques firsthand and had been initiated into the core principles.
However, the technique they had just seen was new to them. No, could that even be called a technique?
They staggered to their feet and bowed to Number Four.
"Don't tell me... did you create a new technique, Senior Brother?" Geo Sangwoong asked.