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Chapter: 14
Late at night, after everyone had gone to bed.
A faint light still flickered through the window of the detached residence where Jin Cheong-un was staying.
Rustle.
Under the glow of an oil lamp, Jin Cheong-un turned another page.
One page.
Then another.
He would pause on a single page for a long time, hesitate, occasionally flip back a few pages, then continue once more.
Only when the night had grown deep and the moon had begun to sink behind the western mountains did he finally close the book.
Thud.
His eyes remained fixed on the manual resting atop the desk.
Eight Desolation Martial Arts.
The title was written in neat, elegant brushstrokes.
After a brief hesitation, Jin Cheong-un flipped through it again.
“I’ve studied quite a few martial arts in my life, but this…”
It was profound.
Yes.
That was the only word that truly fit.
‘It’s a step beyond the Myungwang Ten Absolutes… No, in some aspects, it’s several steps beyond.’
Even the Myungwang Heart Art had been classified as a supreme martial art within the Martial Alliance’s secret archives.
The problem was that it was only superior in certain aspects.
‘It’s too extreme.’
His gaze deepened.
Most orthodox martial arts emphasized balance and harmony.
But if he had to compare the Geoncheon Art to something…
It was like an awl.
It specialized to an extreme degree in certain areas.
To the point where it almost felt as though entire sections had been deliberately left incomplete.
As if it expected those shortcomings to be supplemented with other martial arts.
‘That’s more characteristic of demonic arts or unorthodox evil techniques…’
Could it be…
Was his master actually part of the demonic path?
“…No.”
Surely not.
His eyes drifted to the words written on the very first page.
“Volume One…”
‘So that’s why.’
Even so, those overwhelmingly powerful strengths more than compensated for its weaknesses.
If even half of what was written here proved true…
It might be enough to restore his ruined body to what it once was.
Tapping the manual lightly with his finger, Jin Cheong-un pondered.
‘No… perhaps…’
Could he hope for something even greater?
In his previous life, he had always been rushing.
He constantly needed stronger techniques.
Greater internal energy.
More power.
As a result, he built an impressively tall tower.
But in doing so…
He also reached its limits.
What he lacked was only one thing.
A foundation.
The broad, solid base upon which the towering structure of martial arts should have been built.
But now?
Both his body and martial arts had once collapsed.
And now he possessed a new martial art powerful enough not only to fill those cracks, but to exceed them.
It was like gathering spilled water back into a container.
No…
Perhaps he could craft an even larger vessel and fill it beyond what he’d ever possessed before.
Of course, once he actually cultivated it, unforeseen side effects or hidden flaws might emerge.
But there was no way to know until he tried.
Besides…
Knowing his master’s personality…
If it truly were dangerous, the old man would have left at least a warning somewhere.
Sometimes…
You simply had to trust.
“So I’m really going to start over from the very beginning.”
Without hesitation, Jin Cheong-un crossed his legs into meditation and slowly took a deep breath.
Woooooom…
He sensed an endless, boundless sea.
The Sea of Qi.
That was the name given to the acupoint of the lower dantian.
But at present…
His Sea of Qi resembled a stagnant lake rather than an ocean.
Water that merely sat still instead of flowing.
But from this moment onward…
That would change.
“Hoooo…”
Softly reciting the cultivation formula of the Geoncheon Art from the Eight Desolation Martial Arts, he stimulated the Geoncheon Primordial Qi.
The instant he did—
Whoosh!
The oil lamp went out.
“Sss… Hooo…”
Inhale.
Exhale.
The ancient breathing method known as Exhale Old, Inhale New.
Simply called Breath Cultivation.
External qi entered with every breath, transformed into internal qi, and gathered within the Sea of Qi.
Tsssss…
Then…
The unwanted tenant occupying his dantian finally awoke.
A pure yet majestic current flowed through his injured, shriveled meridians.
Soon, the Geoncheon Qi spread through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and every smaller channel, moistening and filling each one.
‘Good.’
Now…
Time to rebuild the foundation.
His meridians had already been completed through the Myungwang Heart Art.
Although he’d confirmed the two energies didn’t directly clash…
He still needed to proceed with extreme caution.
‘There’s no need to rush. I’ll begin with Qi Accumulation, just like when I first learned internal cultivation…’
That was when it happened.
BOOOOOOM!
A deep, heavy vibration spread through every meridian, like an enormous temple bell ringing inside his body.
“…?!”
The tension he’d just begun to relax instantly tightened again.
His expression stiffened.
Something…
Awakened.
There was no better way to describe it.
As though something that had slept for countless years stretched awake.
A terrifying force suddenly raised its head from deep within his lower abdomen before surging upward.
‘What the—’
Just as he hurriedly focused his mind—
BOOM!
A shockwave like exploding thunder shattered through his meridians.
BOOM!
His body trembled violently.
“Kh!”
He forcefully swallowed the groan that almost escaped.
The Geoncheon Qi rampaged madly through every meridian in his body.
Jin Cheong-un clenched his teeth.
‘Qi deviation? Right now?’
No.
The circulation path was perfectly correct.
Yet…
As though furious he’d only now awakened it…
The Geoncheon Qi tore through his meridians without pause.
‘Easy… easy. You’re an orthodox cultivation art. Orthodox arts move slowly. I literally just started. Listen to me.’
Carefully soothing the Geoncheon Qi, he guided it back toward his dantian.
Hummm…
Fortunately…
Its momentum gradually weakened.
It quietly returned to the Sea of Qi.
‘Whew… that’s better.’
For a second there…
He thought he’d retire from the martial world only to die from qi deviation immediately afterward.
But…
Why had it suddenly become so restrained?
A moment ago it looked ready to kill everything in sight.
Now…
It felt like a beast crouching moments before pouncing.
‘Before pouncing?’
Jin Cheong-un suddenly froze.
His dantian already had an original owner.
The True Qi he had cultivated throughout his entire life.
The remaining internal energy of the Myungwang Heart Art, not yet completely dispersed.
His brows twitched.
Surely not…
An orthodox cultivation art wouldn’t do something like that…
Would it?
BOOOOOOM!
“Ghk!”
The Geoncheon Qi exploded outward.
As though refusing to coexist with such an inferior presence…
It slammed directly into the remnants of the Myungwang Heart Art.
BAMBAMBAMBAM!
His entire body shook violently.
Fireworks seemed to explode behind his eyes.
As unbearable pain twisted every meridian…
Jin Cheong-un noticed something changing.
‘Ah…!’
An indescribable sensation washed over him.
His mind turned blank.
Having completely seized control of every meridian…
The Geoncheon Qi began burning away everything it found impure.
Paradoxically…
Alongside the agony…
He felt relief.
A refreshing sensation unlike anything he’d experienced since his injuries.
Something forced its way up his throat.
“Cough! Cough! Cough!”
Splaaash!
A basin’s worth of pitch-black blood burst from his mouth.
It wasn’t ordinary blood.
It was the impure qi burned away by the Geoncheon Qi.
Fssssssss…
Thin white vapor slowly escaped from the crown of his head…
Between his eyebrows…
The centers of both palms…
And the soles of his feet.
Before he realized it…
His consciousness began slipping away.
Yet even then…
The Geoncheon Qi continued flowing majestically through his meridians.
The Geoncheon Art.
One of the Eight Desolation Martial Arts.
Geon (乾) was the first trigram of the Eight Trigrams.
It symbolized Heaven.
Strength.
Purity.
True to its name…
The Geoncheon Art instantly incinerated every trace of impurity remaining within his body like a raging wildfire.
Then it seeped into his muscles, bones, and meridians…
Forging an unshakable foundation.
It was no longer merely qi.
It moved as though it possessed its own will…
Its own spirit.
Within the martial world…
Such techniques had a name.
A Divine Supreme Art.
Chirp! Chirp!
The cheerful cries of morning birds filled the air.
Jin Cheong-un’s eyes snapped open.
“Hooo!”
He stretched his body…
Then abruptly froze.
‘The pain…’
Although his miraculous recovery hadn’t erased every injury…
His wounds had never truly disappeared.
Even stretching had previously felt like every muscle would seize up.
Yet now…
None of that remained.
Hurriedly examining his body, he clicked his tongue.
“Hah.”
The blocked and twisted meridians caused by his internal injuries had returned to normal.
His damaged muscles and tendons had regained their elasticity.
After continuing his inspection…
He finally smacked his lips in disappointment.
‘Not completely healed.’
Well…
It would have been absurd if learning one martial art erased every devastating internal injury overnight.
‘Besides… the Myungwang Ten Absolutes have completely disappeared without leaving even a trace.’
The martial art he’d cultivated for half his life…
Gone.
His internal energy had fallen to half…
No.
Perhaps not even a quarter of what he’d possessed during his Martial Alliance days.
But his disappointment lasted only a moment.
He could feel it.
The Geoncheon Art resting within his dantian.
The transformation it had brought to his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
The incomparably purer flow of True Qi.
‘And…’
Joy flashed across his eyes.
His clenched fist trembled.
‘My back doesn’t hurt!’
Even his joints felt incredible!
He’d worn his body down wandering the martial world since childhood.
His joints always ached.
Who cared if it wasn’t something a martial artist should celebrate?
Anyone who’d never suffered chronic back or knee pain had no right to comment.
They had no idea how much it ruined one’s quality of life.
Unless someone had grown up in a prestigious family, pampered from birth…
Most martial artists gradually destroyed their bodies through constant hardship.
Joint pain became inevitable.
‘Now this is what you call a Divine Supreme Art.’
Exactly.
What else could possibly deserve that title?
At that moment…
He heard someone outside the door.
“Master? Are you still asleep?”
It was Jeong Soso.
Tilting his head, Jin Cheong-un replied,
“I’m awake. But what brings you here so early? I thought I said there wouldn’t be training today since you’ll be packing to move.”
“Ah… it’s about that. May I come in?”
“…Sure. Come in.”
“Yes! I hope you had a peaceful ni—”
Gasp!
Jeong Soso suddenly covered her nose in horror.
Jin Cheong-un blinked.
“What’s wrong?”
“W-What is that smell? Why does your room stink so badly…?”
“Stink?”
Confused, he slowly looked around.
That alone made Jeong Soso recoil several steps.
“S-Stop! Please don’t move! Th-the smell… Ugh!”
Looking mildly offended, Jin Cheong-un said,
“I almost took that personally.”
“I-I’m sorry… but…”
“What exactly smells?”
His wandering gaze eventually settled on one spot.
Jeong Soso’s eyes followed.
The place where he’d been meditating the previous night.
Dark…
Large stains covered the floor.
The impurities and filthy residue expelled from his body during cultivation.
“…”
“…”
Jeong Soso stared at him with utter disgust.
“…How can a person even…”
“Fine… let’s just say that’s what happened.”
“I’m telling you that’s exactly what happened! Look at it yourself!”
“I am saying that’s what happened! Stop pointing at it! Don’t shake it! Ahhh! I don’t want to see it! No! Absolutely not!”
Even after explaining everything from beginning to end…
Jin Cheong-un still felt deeply wronged.
“So.
What did you actually come here for?”
“Ah! Master… could I ask you to watch Soryong today?”
Jeong Soso spoke with an awkward smile.
“I’m working at the pharmacy today, and it’s a bit far away. If I take Soryong to Baegun Inn first before going to work, I don’t think I’ll make it in time.”
The Jeong siblings had decided to leave home that very day.
Baek Seogun had only visited the previous night.
Technically, there was no need to rush.
Still…
Better to act quickly than invite trouble through complacency.
“Very well. The stonemasons are coming to the martial hall today anyway, so I have business there. I’ll take him to the inn after work this evening. I was planning to examine my condition during the day regardless.”
“Thank you!”
“You remember what I told you?”
“Yes, Master.”
A short while later…
Jeong Soso finished preparing for work.
Looking out the window…
She saw Jeong Soryong rubbing his sleepy eyes as he came to see her off.
“Why are you awake? You could’ve slept longer.”
“Mmm… it’s okay. How could I keep sleeping while you’re leaving?”
“Good boy. Then I’ll see you later. Listen to Master, okay? Don’t bother him too much. Behave yourself at the inn and listen to Uncle Seo. I’ll come after work, so make sure you eat… and if you feel sick, don’t keep it to yourself…”
Even while listening to her endless stream of nagging…
Jeong Soryong answered calmly.
“I’m fine, Sister. You should worry about yourself instead. Don’t overwork yourself. If you get sick, then everything’s backwards.”
His mature response made Jeong Soso chuckle.
“This little crybaby is worried about me?”
“When am I ever a crybaby?”
“You brat.”
She vigorously ruffled his hair.
“Don’t worry. You’ve been healthy lately, so I actually feel full of energy! I’m off!”
“Okay. Have a safe day.”
“I will!”
Beaming brightly, Jeong Soso stepped through the front gate.
A moment later…
She lightly slapped both cheeks and muttered to herself like a spell.
“Everything’s going to work out!”
Leaning against the window, Jin Cheong-un smiled faintly.
She’d lowered her voice, probably thinking no one could hear her.
It seemed…
His disciple still didn’t realize just how sharp a martial artist’s hearing truly was.
