TOTMO 12

Chapter 12

Surely, I had seen something.
Surely, I had felt something.

“…Hey. Hye?”
“Ah, yes. Brother.”
“Are you that curious about the owner of Cheonggeumjang?”
“No, it’s just… I think I saw something interesting.”
“It would be good to familiarize yourself with their face.”

If someone was the owner of Cheonggeumjang, it meant that, barring any major issues, they would become the head of Cheonggeumjang.

With confident steps, Jegal Yun approached Cheongun and first offered a formal greeting.

“Pleasure to meet you. I am Jegal Yun of the Jegal family.”

It was a vague introduction.
The greeting was formal, but revealing himself first could be interpreted differently depending on the person.

Huukjeon, who was watching Cheongun’s reaction, immediately responded with a nod.

“…I am Huukjeon. Does the young hero have business with us?”
“Since this is our first time at the Gonlun Inn, we aren’t sure what’s good here. Is there anything you’d recommend?”

It was a typical question, so Huukjeon selected a few dishes he thought were good and shared them.

“Is there nothing that suits your taste?”
“Ah, this is my apprentice.”
“…I see. Thank you. I must return to my waiting companions.”

Jegal Yun left without another word.

“He knows me.”
“Hm? Really?”
“Yes. And it seems you know as well.”
“The Jegal family is indeed well-informed. It’s very likely.”
“I think that kid noticed me and came here directly. Let’s just finish our meal.”
“Yes. And that thug…”
“Leave him be. Not a drop of blood will be spilled.”

Upon checking again, true enough, no blood was flowing on the floor.

“How did you manage that? When the Acupoint Blood is severed, blood should overflow.”
“I added some heat.”
“Heat…?”

Huukjeon checked the thug’s body again.
After enhancing his vision with internal energy and inspecting carefully:

‘The wooden pillow used as a secret technique… has disappeared.’

“Samadhi… Is this evolution?”
“Impossible.”

It was a simple method.
The only difference from Samadhi Evolution was that it couldn’t be maintained.

Once removed from the hand, it cooled quickly.

“Why? Do you wish to know?”
“…Is the owner of Cheonggeumjang truly at the peak…?”
“Yes. Undoubtedly at the peak. Though just at the beginning.”
“No, but how…?”
“Internal energy. How one interprets this mystical skill makes the difference.”

The fact that Cheongun’s dantian had been broken actually turned out to be advantageous.

Because of that, he had tried to make the most of even the smallest amount of internal energy.
He had even studied ways to operate internal energy outside the body.

This was part of the results.

“May I report this to the head of Cheonggeumjang?”
“You are your father’s man, not mine. The decision is yours to make.”
“…Understood.”
“Finish eating. I need to rest now.”
“Yes, master.”

They filled their stomachs with the remaining dishes, and Cheongun and Huukjeon rose from their seats first.

And still, there was a gaze that continued to follow them.

“Hye. What did you see?”
“Brother, did you check the owner’s martial ability?”
“…Peak level. Though it looked like the beginning of the peak.”
“Someone our age at peak…”
“W-what? Peak?”

Namgung Jeyeon, who was quickly eating the dishes recommended by Huukjeon, choked at the word “peak.”

‘P-peak? Is that even possible?’

He looked to be about the same age.
Peak?

He considered himself top-tier. Talented enough to never fall behind. But peak?

Even if just the beginning, the difference between first-class and peak was enormous.

Usually, every time one crosses that wall, strength doubles.
And to cross that wall, enlightenment was required.

‘I can’t accept it…’

Not able to, and unwilling.
To admit it would be to admit falling behind.

As the second son of the great Namgung family, this was unacceptable.

“Brother.”
“Yes.”
“There’s a competition held by the Martial Alliance in a month, isn’t there?”
“You mean the ‘Rising Stars’ event?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Correct. There are others our age, but also younger rising stars like you.”

The Rising Stars competition usually allows participation for teenagers and older.
Even Namgung Jo and Jegal Yun of the Jegal family had previously competed.

The competition, hosted by the Martial Alliance at the heart of orthodox martial arts, drew significant attention.

If you were outstanding, you would receive corresponding recognition.
It was a chance to officially announce your presence in the martial world.

“Will the owner of Cheonggeumjang attend?”
“Hmm… I don’t know. As far as I know, no one from Cheonggeumjang has come before. Isn’t that right, Yun-hyung?”
“That’s right. Cheonggeumjang only recently became so large and didn’t care much about this side.”

Though Cheonggeumjang had a long history, its fame came largely from the previous head, Cheongin.
A person considered a heavenly-born business talent.

“Shall we invite the head to the competition?”
“I have no authority to do so.”
“Ah…”
“But you could speak directly to Father.”

Everyone knew Namgung Jeyeon had other intentions.

“Haha… I feel embarrassed on your behalf.”
“No, the head of the Namgung family is just extremely honorable and strict.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you, brother.”
“No need to even ask.”

Sending a letter to Cheonggeumjang would suffice.
The Jegal family also had ties with Cheonggeumjang, so it wouldn’t seem strange.

Above all, Jegal Yun was curious.
Had Hye seen something he hadn’t?
The strange method of operating internal energy was so mysterious that he wanted to learn it.

“Finish eating. Don’t let the delicious food go cold.”
“Yes, brother.”

Leaving the inn, Cheongun glanced at a crowded alley and then continued on his way.

Most of those who had died were unidentifiable.
Only an expert above peak level could determine the direct cause of death.

After spending several days resting at the inn and focusing on training, the day to leave arrived.

And along with that day, a guest came looking for Cheongun.

“It’s me.”
“I’ve been waiting.”

Now, he could sense the energy.
Such a sharp and aggressive aura was typical of the Gonlun Sect.

“I’ll step aside.”
“Very well.”

As Huukjeon left, the chief elder of the Gonlun Sect entered.

He looked serious.
Yes, it must still be complicated.

“Our head is not affiliated with the demonic cult, right?”

True to the Gonlun Sect’s bluntness.

“Yes. Not at all.”

His gaze was unwavering.
Those eyes spoke only the truth.

But that didn’t change reality.
The demonic sect was far more ruthless than one could imagine.

“May I verify something?”
“What do you mean?”
“I need to check the body of your head.”

The chief elder’s gaze was unshakable.
This wasn’t a request.
It was a notice: if you refuse, I will interpret it as I see fit.

To entrust your body to a martial artist was to surrender life and death.

“What will you offer?”
“Haha, arrogant.”
“A fair exchange is demanded.”
“No need to know in advance. Turn your back.”
“If you do not know, you have no obligation.”
“Indeed!”

The pure and steadfast aura pressed tightly against Cheongun’s body.
It felt like a massive force was crushing him.

But Cheongun endured, biting the inside of his lip.

“I am… someone who could become a noble of Gonlun.”

Blood trickled down from his bitten lip.

The chief elder’s gaze seemed to pierce through his heart, but Cheongun remained unfazed.

“…Then I will comply, so don’t resist and turn your body.”

Eventually, the chief elder stepped back.
Gonlun’s strong and assertive martial aura was directed only at the demonic sect, not at a child yet shedding his youth as the sect heir.

“…Understood.”

Cheongun didn’t push further.
There was nothing more to push for.

As he turned, he felt the elder’s hand on his back.
The powerful aura seemed to probe every part of his body.
Even though it was just an inspection, it was painful.

“……”

Soon, the elder’s probing power faded.

“It is done.”

The internal energy felt so serene, it was almost noble.
Anyone would confirm it was definitely not from the demonic sect.

“Accept this.”

An old wooden box, carrying an antique elegance.

“What is it?”
“See for yourself. You will like it.”

Inside was a pill, gleaming with a pure blue light.

“Could it be…”
“The Cheongsong Divine Pill.”

A pill embodying the essence of the Gonlun Sect.
Making it was difficult enough, preparing it even more so.

“Thanks to my head, I can make one more pill in my later years.”
“Originally…”

Cheongun hesitated, and the elder looked briefly surprised, then laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! You don’t even remember the name.”
“My memory tends to be good.”
“Oh? Good?”
“I remember even useless things, so I forget the unimportant.”
“Haha, that’s fine. The human mind is too limited to hold all principles.”

If anyone else had said this, it might have seemed boastful, but it did not.

“The original owner of this pill was Ju Hyukjo.”
“I will remember.”
“Haha. That settles it. Now, let’s proceed.”
“Proceed with what?”

Cheongun looked puzzled, and the elder smiled again.

“It is precious; it must be fully absorbed.”
“You will assist my internal energy directly?”
“Yes. Consider it recompense for doubting you.”
“Understood.”

Cheongun, who had only eaten the Wall Valley Pills instead of real meals, could not believe he was about to consume something so precious.

Even holding the Cheongsong Divine Pill brought a clarity of mind.
Even before consuming it, he could feel the immense internal energy contained within.

As he seated himself, the elder’s hand was felt on his back.

“Take it.”
“Yes.”

As the pill entered his mouth, he began to feel the Gonlun Sect’s energy.
Simultaneously, the elder’s internal energy was felt.

A pain that felt like his organs were being torn apart surged.
This was the spirit that had resisted the demonic sect for so many years.

‘Hm?’

But the elder’s aura, which he expected to control, instead provoked him as if ready to fight.

“Ugh…!”
“I mustn’t lose consciousness.”

The pain wasn’t just tearing; it was as if he was being slashed and scorched with a heated blade.
He had never felt such pain before.

Blood began to gush from his bitten lips.
In this paradoxical moment, as he was about to lose consciousness from one pain, he had to hold onto another.

The elder’s internal energy stimulating the pill was nearing Cheongun’s dantian.

Ah, he felt the pain from before again—the pain when his dantian was broken.

The sensation was similar, yet this time the effect was reversed.
The elder’s internal energy surrounding his dantian collided with the pill’s energy.

Though mentally mature, his body was still that of a fragile child.
The moment the two energies clashed, Cheongun’s vision blurred instantly.