The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld-Chapter 162

[Translator - Pot]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]

Chapter 162: Breaking Through the 5th tier

The Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique is a cultivation technique created by Vitenfeld Grunewald, who was hailed as the greatest of his time.

Who was Vitenfeld? To speak of this extraordinary man, he was a founding hero who contributed the most to the establishment of the Kingdom of Litvaleur 200 years ago—

And he was also the great ancestor who transformed the lordship of the Grunewald clan, once rulers of a small kingdom, into the rulers of a much larger duchy.

‘Moreover, according to Ludan, he was a martial arts enthusiast and genius who took pleasure in creating and refining martial techniques.’

People refer to such qualities as the makings of a grandmaster.

‘Grandmaster Vitenfeld.’

Some of the martial arts he created have been formally incorporated into the clan’s martial repertoire.

Among them, the most outstanding techniques have been adopted as advance martial arts, further strengthened and developed by many descendants.

“For example, the Solar Flare Sword Style practiced by Young Master Karl and the Snow Blossom Sword Technique practiced by Young Lady Ulbhild are both refinements of techniques he originally created.”

Furthermore.

“The supreme martial arts, which only the clan head and heir can learn, were also the sacred techniques created by Great Ancestor Vitenfeld.”

If that’s the case, then he must have been a genius, a master, a supreme martial artist, and an absolute figure beyond measure.

‘Interpreting and applying martial arts with the insight of a master hailed as the greatest of his time, he ultimately created new techniques.’

To be able to learn such techniques is an extraordinary opportunity.

‘Of course, just because he created them doesn’t mean every technique is a divine art.’

In fact, according to Ludan, this technique has its ambiguities.

“It is truly an exceptional cultivation technique when applied at the entry level—”

Nevertheless.

“Paradoxically, it is too profound for beginners to comprehend, and by the time one reaches the level to master it, its necessity diminishes.”

Moreover, according to Ludan, there is a commonality among the advance martial arts permitted to the direct descendants of Grunewald.

‘They fundamentally include a cultivation technique.’

For example, to practice ice arts like Ulbhild, one naturally needs a special cultivation technique to convert their energy into extreme cold.

The same applies to the Solar Flare Sword Style practiced by Karl and other martial arts.

‘In short, after laying a foundation with the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique which offers the highest stability and versatility, one learns new cultivation techniques according to their chosen path. This is the developmental stage of martial arts that Grunewald pursues.’

The Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique is said to be a bridging technique designed to be practiced before advancing to that stage. It was created by a genius who delved beyond the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique, assuming its mastery as a prerequisite.

‘So, objectively speaking, it’s an inefficient technique in terms of time investment.’

It’s no wonder it was left forgotten in a corner of the library.

‘But for me, it’s a different story.’

If this technique yields vastly different results depending on the practitioner’s insight, to the point of being talent-dependent?

‘Then it’s practically a technique tailor-made for me.’

Moreover, while reading the manual in the library yesterday, I realized something.

‘This is definitely not a technique that should have been forgotten.’

Although Ludan never practiced it himself, he had the discernment to recognize profound and advanced martial arts. His claim that this technique could become a divine art depending on the practitioner is likely true.

‘Originally inspired by the Big Dipper.’

Thus, as the name suggests, it is based on seven stars.

‘The Eternal Ocean Chain Technique revolves around the five organs, each serving as an island for circulation and amplification.’

These islands are the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen.

The Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique adds two more: the dantian and the stomach.

‘What’s even more intriguing is—’

The unknown force that once condemned me to a death sentence and later saved me by absorbing Nepherus’s breath happens to be deeply intertwined with my dantian.

Therefore—

‘Mastering the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique would mean gaining the shackles to control and harness that force.’

“Alright.”

I opened my eyes. Though it was the middle of the night, the soft, warm glow of the full moon enveloped me.

Through the wide-open window, a cold, salty, and humid sea breeze swept in, tousling my hair.

‘The black sea.’

I gazed intently at the night sea that gave birth to the name Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique. Among the twinkling stars, I spotted a familiar constellation.

‘That’s the Big Dipper.’

Come to think of it, the Big Dipper and the moon are never close.

I don’t know why they seem to avoid each other. But perhaps the Big Dipper, shining with its companions, feels less lonely than the moon shining alone.

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‘How symbolic.’

Karzan was a solitary man, but he never walked the night alone.

The same goes for the path Allenvert must tread.

“Let’s begin.”

I recalled the mnemonic verses of the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique I had read in the library.

‘Even if my insight is exceptional—’

That only applies to external martial arts like sword techniques or footwork. When it comes to cultivation techniques, I don’t think my talent is quite at that level.

‘So, let’s not rush.’

Even if I don’t find the complete path before the moon sets and dawn breaks.

Even if the sun rises and sets, and twilight returns.

I will never stop. I will stubbornly press on until I finally reach the depths of the martial arts left behind by the genius of a bygone era.

* * *

Morning arrived.

“You two, what’s going on?”

Jeffrey asked, puzzled, as he saw Peter and Olivier standing guard in front of Allenvert’s bedroom.

“Shh!”

Peter flailed his arms and pressed a finger to his lips.

“?”

Jeffrey tilted his head.

“It seems the Young Master has been meditating since last night.”

Peter whispered.

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes, when I went to wake him this morning, he was still deep in meditation.”

“So we’ve been standing guard here like sentinels.”

At Olivier’s words, Jeffrey clicked his tongue.

“You could’ve just told me. I would’ve had our members stand guard.”

“Well, it’s morning anyway, so it’s fine.”

Olivier chuckled.

“It seems he’s overly eager to break through a wall he’s been stuck at recently.”

“I’m not sure if that’s what you’d call a wall.”

“Haha.”

Both of them, having trained in martial arts to a considerable level, understood what he was feeling.

“……Still, wouldn’t it be better not to overdo it?”

Peter's concern made Jeffrey shrug his shoulders.

“It’ll be over soon anyway. If you’ve been up all night, you must be at your limit by now.”

“Yes. Practicing meditation and energy control for more than half a day takes a huge toll on both physical and mental strength.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Contrary to their expectations, however, Allenvert continued his practice from sunrise until the sun set again.

“……Isn’t this the second day he’s been at it?”

“……Seems like it.”

* * *

It had already been two days since Karzan left.

“B-Boss.”

One of Zizek’s subordinates, pale-faced, approached him as he was drinking conspicuously at their usual tavern with Gareth and Rob.

“What is it?”

“Y-You need to come see this right away.”

The subordinate lowered his voice.

“We’ve caught the ones who were watching us.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. The boss wants you to identify them personally.”

Zizek had relayed Karzan’s orders to the assassin organization, asking them to find out who was surveilling them. And within just a day, they had actually caught the rats.

“Got it. Let’s go.”

Zizek roughly set down his glass.

.

.

.

“……Haha.”

As soon as Zizek saw the faces of the captives, he let out a hollow laugh.

“Well, well, look who it is.”

They were faces he recognized.

“B-Boss.”

The captives trembled in fear as they saw Zizek’s expression.

“……So it’s you.”

There was no need to see more. The meaning behind this was clear.

“The Black Night Society leader has finally decided to turn against me. That son of a bitch.”

Rage flickered across Zizek’s face.

“What’s the reason? That I killed Vincent? Didn’t I go to him personally and explain everything clearly? I even made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, and he accepted it.”

“……P-Please spare us.”

“We were just following orders……”

Of course, Zizek wasn’t unaware of how things were unfolding.

‘It’s probably pressure from higher up, most likely from Huten.’

Perhaps the Black Night Society leader had been ordered to act after his subordinates were caught. Or maybe he had anticipated this and set it up as a pretext for conflict.

‘Either way, it doesn’t matter.’

The fact that the Black Night Society leader had looked down on him remained unchanged.

‘You’ve not just stagnated, but regressed, Society Leader.’

The Black Night Society leader he had met recently didn’t seem as strong as he once was.

‘If Boss Karzan were to step in…’

How could the Black Night Society leader even hope to stand against him?

“Boss, what should we do?” Rob asked.

“Don’t feed them. Lock them up. Kill them if they try to escape.”

“!”

Zizek left the room, leaving the captives behind.

‘The Black Night Society leader, and that bastard Huten.’

He wasn’t sure what they were after, but it was clear they had turned against him.

‘I’d love to charge in and settle this…’

But starting a conflict with the higher-ups, to whom they paid tribute, was something rarely tolerated in the underworld’s strict code.

‘……I need a bigger justification.’

Getting caught surveilling them wasn’t enough. They could easily deny it.

‘For now, I’ll have to wait until the Boss returns.’

It wasn’t his place to decide on starting a conflict.

* * *

I opened my eyes.

“……What the hell is this?”

The sun had already set. I had started my practice at night, but when I opened my eyes, it was evening again.

“How much time has passed?”

It felt like I had only closed my eyes for a moment, yet it also felt like I had slept for an eternity.

“Tch.”

Despite that, my chest felt oddly itchy and irritated. It was because I still hadn’t fully grasped the intricacies of the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique.

‘It’s like getting stuck halfway through solving a ridiculously difficult math problem.’

Of course, in my past life, as Karzan, I could only solve math problems that, as Adeline put it, even a child could handle.

“Karzan, where did what I just said go? Why did that equation suddenly disappear?”

“……I don’t know.”

“No, don’t just say ‘I don’t know’! I’m asking why it disappeared!”

“Why are you getting so mad?”

“Let me be clear, this level of problem is so basic that even a child could solve it……”

“Damn it, I get it.”

Looking back now, maybe Adeline just enjoyed teasing me. She always seemed to find it amusing.

‘Let’s put those memories aside for now.’

The Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique was the most profound and esoteric martial art I had ever studied. If I were just skimming the surface, it wouldn’t have taken this long, but I was determined to understand every nuance, which made me lose track of time.

‘Even so.’

After spending an entire day delving into the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique, my progress was, at best, only at the level of second stage.

‘The more I think about it, the more I realize that Vitenfeld was a genius.’

What I’ve understood is only a fraction of what he achieved.

So, how strong will I become once I fully make this my own?

“Heh heh heh.”

I chuckled and conjured the aura of the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique in my palm.

Like gold dust sprinkled over the endless blue of the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique, or like the shimmering light of stars, a sparkling radiance swirled around.

Finally……

‘I’ve broken through the wall of the 5th tier.’

This achievement, which made the seven-year gap feel insignificant, was now in the palm of my hand.

[Translator - Pot]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]