I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 15.
Yoo Baek-jun trained under Ja-yeon.
Though he could mimic the martial arts she showed him in one go, he still needed proper training to turn them into skills.
“Heavenly Destruction, Counter Return. The martial arts book I found had these written under the title ‘Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique.'”
“Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique. It sounds similar to Heavenly Destruction Sword Technique.”
“Yet it’s also different.”
The name of the fist Technique Yoo Baek-jun was to learn was the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique.
Ja-yeon decided to teach it to him.
“To wield the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique more efficiently, you’ll need a footwork technique to complement it.”
As she taught him two skills, Ja-yeon also taught him a useful footwork technique.
“The footwork I’ll teach you, young master, is called ‘Ghost Phantom Step(鬼靈殘影步)’“.
Heavenly Destruction possessed tremendous destructive power but had a few drawbacks.
First, its magic power consumption was insane. Second, its preparation time was quite long.
In an actual fight, taking a stance and gathering energy would leave him wide open to enemy attacks.
“This footwork will compensate for Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique weaknesses.”
Saying this, Ja-yeon told Yoo Baek-jun to attack her.
Yoo Baek-jun closed the distance and threw a punch. The moment he did, Ja-yeon’s foot moved.
“Huh?”
Her foot moved, but her body didn’t. Yoo Baek-jun’s fist struck Ja-yeon—only for her figure to fade away like a vanishing ghost.
“Over here.”
Her voice came from behind.
Yoo Baek-jun turned his head. There stood Ja-yeon, her hands clasped behind her back.
“So what I attacked earlier was an afterimage.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Ghost Phantom Step—it leaves behind an afterimage to deceive the enemy’s eyes while you either create distance or move behind them.”
Ja-yeon smiled warmly.
“Watching your last spar, I noticed you prefer unconventional attack styles. I thought this would help.”
“Thank you. I think it’ll be a great help.”
Yoo Baek-jun bowed his head sincerely.
Completing <The Successor of the Martial God> allowed him to learn one of the martial arts the Martial God had used.
Additionally, he could obtain another skill at random.
‘To be precise, it’s based on Ja-yeon observing my sparring and deciding which skill would suit me.’
Even as a veteran, Yoo Baek-jun couldn’t predict which skill he’d receive.
But Ghost Phantom Step? It couldn’t be better.
“Then let’s train by chaining these three skills in combat. I’ll attack—try using them.”
Ja-yeon’s teaching style was less about verbal instruction and more about throwing him into the fray to learn through experience.
She’d demonstrate a skill once and immediately expect him to replicate it on his own.
‘Not the most considerate teacher, but well.’
Since she had demonstrated Heavenly Destruction and Counter Return before, he understood why she acted this way.
She likely believed there was no need for prolonged explanations or repeated demonstrations.
“Then I’ll live up to those expectations.”
For a week, Yoo Baek-jun immersed himself in training. Ja-yeon pushed him relentlessly, like a fish returned to water.
BOOM!
The training was so intense that not a single day passed without deafening explosions echoing through Ja-yeon’s training hall.
Exactly one week later—
Exhausted beyond measure, Yoo Baek-jun collapsed onto the courtyard and stared blankly at the sky.
“I’m out of Elixirs, This is tough.”
Having trained nonstop for nearly two weeks without sleep, fatigue was inevitable.
As he gazed at the sky, a cup entered his vision.
“Young master, this is an Elixir prepared by Pharmacist Joo Jung-won for your health.”
“Ugh…”
“And here’s a towel for your sweat.”
Han Seong-ah followed him like a secretary, assisting him in every way. Concerned about his relentless training, Joo Jung-won had also brewed multiple doses of restorative medicine.
“This is unexpected. I never thought Instructor Han Seong-ah would become the direct instructor of the family heir.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. She once told me she’d rather stay neutral than support someone and get tangled in the messy heir disputes.”
Ja-yeon’s eyes widened.
She and Han Seong-ah were acquainted—in fact, Han Seong-ah was one of Ja-yeon’s former students.
Han Seong-ah averted her eyes awkwardly.
“…People’s thoughts change over time.”
“Hmm, if that’s how you feel. You’re not one to act rashly—I’m sure you’ve thought it through.”
Ja-yeon nodded. Then, she glanced at the shattered magic power dummies behind them.
“They’re all destroyed.”
“Ahem.”
Every single magic power dummy lay in ruins—all by Yoo Baek-jun’s hands.
They had been destroyed during his training with Counter Strike and Heavenly Destruction.
“…I’ll pay for the repairs.”
“No need. These are expendable anyway. If their destruction aids your growth, this expense is nothing.”
“Should I take that as an honor?”
“Think of it however you like.”
Ja-yeon smiled warmly.
Though she had no children, her smile carried the warmth of a mother doting on her son.
“Lord Yoo Tae-rang will return in about a month and a week.”
“Yes, I’ve been keeping track.”
“You wish to succeed the Sword Saint’s family, don’t you?”
Ja-yeon asked quietly.
Yoo Baek-jun nodded without hesitation.
“It’s too late to turn back now. Once I’ve bared my fangs, my elder brothers and sisters won’t leave me be.”
“You could follow Lord Yoo Kang-ho’s example and join another heir’s faction.”
“Do you really think I’d do that?”
Yoo Baek-jun chuckled dryly.
Yoo Kang-ho had relinquished his claim as heir and submitted to Yoo Tae-rang’s faction—thereby preserving his life.
“Had Yoo Jong-min and Yoo Ri-an still been alive, the heir competition would’ve been even more complicated.”
“…You mean my elder brother and sister.”
“Yes. Especially Yoo Jong-min—Lord Yoo Jung-yeon cherished him deeply. I still remember how heartbroken she was when he passed.”
They were Yoo Baek-jun’s other siblings.
Of course, they are long gone now. Yoo Jong-min died in a gate, and Yoo Ri-an perished in an accident—at least, that was the official story.
“Young master, from now on, the other heirs won’t ignore you.”
Ja-yeon stepped closer.
“Be wary of Yoo Tae-rang and Yoo Jung-yeon. Both are deeply ambitious for the heir’s position—they won’t hesitate to use any means necessary.”
“I know. I know better than anyone.”
Yoo Baek-jun muttered bitterly.
“Better than anyone.”
* * *
Yoo Baek-jun left Ja-yeon Dojo with Han Seong-ah. He wanted to learn more, but he had too much to do and couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
“You’re here, young master.”
“Yeah, did you prepare what I asked for?”
“You mean the Somnium Bar? Yes, I’ve looked into it.”
As soon as he arrived, Choi Seung-min greeted him.
“The auction is scheduled for tomorrow, and they say items from another world will be up for bidding. But there’s one particularly unusual item among them.”
“What is it?”
“The corpse of a rare spirit beast.”
“A corpse?”
Han Seong-ah looked puzzled, while Yoo Baek-jun’s eyes gleamed. This was what he had been waiting for.
The auction house event.
“Do we have an invitation?”
“I managed to secure one. Here.”
Choi Seung-min handed over the invitation.
Written in an elegant calligraphic style was the word Somnium.
The auction was set to begin tomorrow at 9 PM.
“It’s 2 PM now, so we should pack and head straight to Seoul.”
“You’ve just finished your training, and now you’re going down to Seoul? To attend the auction?”
“Yeah. Master Han Seong-ah, you’re coming with me.”
“…Me?”
Han Seong-ah’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected to be called upon.
“No one’s likely to recognize me, but I’m a successor to the Sword Saint family. I’ll need someone to guard me outside, won’t I?”
“Ah, right. That… makes sense. It’d be an honor.”
Han Seong-ah nodded in understanding.
It had been a while since she’d stepped outside the family grounds. Going out after so long wouldn’t be so bad.
“Get ready quickly, and I’ll see you later.”
“Young master! Aren’t you going to eat?”
“A sandwich.”
Yoo Baek-jun headed straight to his room. As he gathered his things, he suddenly caught sight of himself in the mirror.
“Looking better.”
Two weeks of training had built up his body significantly. His once scrawny frame now had a lean, well-muscled definition.
“…….”
Staring at his reflection, he recalled his earlier conversation with Ja-yeon.
‘Yoo Jong-min, Yoo Ri-an .’
His siblings, already dead—one in a Gate, the other in an accident. But was that really the truth?
No.
Those two had openly expressed their ambitions to become the family’s successors.
‘Yoo Tae-rang saw them as threats and staged both deaths as accidents.’
He had already bared his fangs.
If Yoo Tae-rang returned and learned the truth, he’d try to eliminate him too.
That’s why he needed to grow stronger.
“If my so-called father had been a decent human being, I wouldn’t have to worry about this.”
Yoo Baek-jun thought of Yoo Moo-hak’s face.
A man always expressionless, impossible to read. He showed no affection to any of his family members.
‘None of Yoo Moo-hak’s other children saw him as a father either.’
Having never received proper love growing up, how could they?
Moreover, Yoo Moo-hak had three wives—his first wife died, his second was separated, and his third was divorced.
“This family is a complete mess.”
It couldn’t get any worse.
The first wife bore Yoo Tae-rang, Yoo Ri-an, and Yoo Baek-jun.
The second had Yoo Jung-yeon and Yoo Jong-min. The third had Yoo Kang-ho and Yoo Min…
Now, all of them had left the family.
“I’ve got a month and a week left.”
To survive in this chaotic household, he needed power no matter what.
Yoo Baek-jun opened his status window to check his progress over the past week.
[Yoo Baek-jun]
- Strength: B (51/100)
- Agility: B (48/100)
- Stamina: B (62/100)
- Magic power: B (33/100)
[Unique Ability: The Book of the Martial God (EX, 2★)]
[Traits: Heavenly Martial Body (S), Energizer (C)]
Skills:
- Herbal Medicine Preparation (B),
- Lightness Technique (C, 1★)
- Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique (B, 1★),
- Heavenly Destruction Mind Technique (B, 2★),
- Heavy Strike (C, 1★),
- Elemental Manifestation (A, 1★),
- Ground Kick (C, 1★),
- Joint Strike (C, 1★),
- Gale Kick (C, 1★),
- Ghost Phantom Step (B, 1★)]
The skill window had become disgustingly cluttered.
Even after hiding the unnecessary Three Disasters Fist and Three Disasters Mind techniques, the list was still abnormally long.
‘I’ll organize it later.’
He checked the descriptions of his newly acquired skills: Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique and Ghost Phantom Step.
[Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique(B, 1★)]
—A fragment of a martial art once used by the Martial God, later refined by a master of exceptional talent. It allows the use of a destructive fist technique.
*Heavenly Destruction: Accelerates the body by stepping into a true stance, then charges at the enemy in an instant to deliver a devastating strike.
*Counter Return: Spirals a palm coated in a barrier of magic power to absorb and reflect enemy magic-based attacks.
[Ghost Phantom Step (B, 1★)]
—A movement technique so swift it creates afterimages to confuse opponents.
The rank of Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique was lower than expected.
But that made sense, it wasn’t a complete technique, just a fragment.
It was as if its grade had been downgraded.
‘The disappointing part is the stats… but another month should get them to a decent level.’
Yoo Baek-jun let out a long breath.
“Still not enough.”
And he still wanted to grow stronger.
If he could clear the upcoming auction event <Tears of the Snowfield>, he’d be able to do just that.
“Guess I’ll go sightseeing in Seoul.”
Yoo Baek-jun changed his clothes.
