Microcosmic Orbit Breakthrough
Suhyeon gathered his wits and steeled his resolve. Whew. I died young and miraculously reincarnated—too pathetic to end it all like this. I absolutely can't let that happen again.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, he endured without faltering in his breathing, pressing on relentlessly. About half an hour passed as he clung to the brink between life and death with iron will.
Then, the qi swelling his entire body finally found its path, slowly converging toward the base of his spine at the coccyx.
Whew. The crisis is past, for now.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee, the qi gathering at his coccyx began compressing bit by bit. Another interval passed, like the time to boil a cup of instant ramen, and once sufficiently compressed, the dense mass of qi twitched suddenly.
Here it comes.
The moment Suhyeon thought start in his mind, the compressed qi at his coccyx surged up his spine in an instant, racing past the cervical vertebrae to his throat. It pierced through to the crown of his head and seeped into the center of his brain, spreading in all directions like lightning.
In that instant, an unbearable wave of ecstasy crashed over him.
I have to endure this. If I open my mouth now, it's all over.
To keep from crying out amid the profound pleasure surging from deep in his brain, Suhyeon clamped his teeth so hard they nearly shattered, letting out only muffled groans as his body shuddered violently.
Then, the qi scattered through his brain began reconverging of its own accord toward his forehead, independent of his will. Once gathered, it flowed onward like a mighty river—unimpeded past his jaw, through his throat and chest, settling into his lower abdomen.
There, as if it had always belonged, the qi coiled up. Over time, it solidified into a firm mass the size of a jujube seed—a dan.
At last, the Microcosmic Orbit was complete. Suhyeon savored the lingering afterglow for a moment before opening his eyes. His body was drenched in sticky sweat.
Gazing down at himself, slick with perspiration, he recalled a lecture from his previous life's clan instructor on the Microcosmic Orbit.
"Non-vessel, non-transmit... You must grasp the true meaning: do not teach those unfit or unworthy. Completing the Microcosmic Orbit entails extreme peril. If anyone who dabbles in basic Qi Circulation Breathing could achieve it, the Central Plains would be full of neigong masters. Fortunately, you've mastered our clan's time-tested methods—Body Purification, Meridian Washing, Acupoint Activation—with full warnings, minimizing the risks. But never forget: the danger remains. Extraordinary power always comes with peril..."
As he rose from his seated position to shower, Suhyeon continued the memory.
"Overcoming this peril and forming the dan truly sets you on the path of a high-level cultivator. From then on, you perceive what mortals cannot see, hear, or feel. Moreover, the rotating dan in your dantian stimulates the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, expelling impurities in a self-purification process. Your body grows healthier, aging slows, lifespan extends. These effects amplify through Grand Heavenly Circulation, Ren and Du meridians linkage, bone marrow replacement, and Aging Reversal..."
Soon after showering, Suhyeon sat in the living room, waiting for his manager's call.
"Yeah, hyung. You there? All set—I'll head down right away."
He hopped in the car and headed to the KBC Suwon Center in Suwon. He'd gotten word of a reshoot that morning.
Suhyeon asked Baek Seongcheol, "Drama airs in just a few days—why the sudden reshoot?"
"Not sure exactly. They just called asking if you could come today..."
"Hm. Thought as a supporting role with no scenes for a bit, it'd be next weekend."
"Yeah. Probably something from episodes 1 or 2 needs redoing. We'll see on site. But... your face looks super fresh even in the morning?"
"Does it? Must be from a good night's sleep."
Already feeling the Microcosmic Orbit effects, huh.
Arriving at the KBC Suwon Center, Suhyeon headed to the set and met PD Kang Min-cheol.
"Hello, PD-nim."
"Oh, Suhyeon. Sorry to drag you out on short notice—you're busy."
"No worries. BBG's on hiatus, so don't sweat it. Reshoot today? Issue with the previous takes?"
"Not exactly. I snuck a peek at the final edit for tonight's Entertainment Relay via a junior PD. Chatted with the head writer after, tweaked your lines in eps 1 and 2. Just shoot the additions per the new script."
The PD handed Suhyeon the revised script. As Suhyeon read, the PD anxiously watched his reaction.
Finishing, Suhyeon spoke with a slightly stiff expression. "This revised script..."
"Yeah... it's a bit much, right?"
"Haa. Honestly... it's pretty pathetic and cheap. My character's a gang boss, for crying out loud."
"True. But dramas thrive on that stuff sometimes. It's cringy, I know—bear with us. We'll make you look cool from here on; the writer and I got it. Just this once."
"...Got it. I'll do my best."
"Oh, and no shaving till next shoot—grow some stubble."
"Stubble?"
"Yeah. Planning a shave scene. Hiding that handsome face behind a beard the whole drama would be a waste. We'll shoot it badass. Who knows? Might land you a razor ad."
"Understood."
Time passed; reshoot wrapped smoothly. Suhyeon drove to the YK Building and headed to Recording Studio 1.
Checking gear, he thought, Good, finished quick—won't be late.
As he tweaked the console, Haiyu entered—black flare skirt, pristine white blouse, glossy black slingback mid-heels, a touch tense.
Whoa. Mature career woman vibe today... event?
"You're here, Haiyu sunbaenim."
"Hi, Suhyeon."
"Out and about?"
"No, just left home... weird?"
"Nah. You look even more beautiful today—that's why I asked."
Haiyu relaxed, beaming. "Aw, thanks, Suhyeon—or Producer-nim. First recording, so drop the sunbae thing."
"You sure?"
"Of course! Today it's singer and PD, not sunbae-hoobae. Hard to focus otherwise."
"Haiyu-ssi or Haiyu-nim?"
"Haiyu-ssi feels comfy."
"Got it, Haiyu-ssi. Let's review the final draft."
After poring over her lyrics, Suhyeon smiled at her tense gaze. "Great. Cleaner than before, better flow. But..."
"But?"
"A few spots need tweaks. Record first, discuss after. Into the booth."
"Yes, PD-nim. Please take care of me."
As Haiyu entered, Suhyeon keyed the mic. "Haiyu-ssi, mic calibration—do-re-mi, slow octave, three times."
With his post-Microcosmic Orbit ears sharper than ever, Suhyeon caught a faint rasp in her voice—subtler than usual.
He keyed the mic mid-calibration. "Haiyu-ssi, voice a tad husky today. Throat okay?"
"Haha, could I produce this track if I missed that?"
Yesterday, maybe not—but post-Microcosmic Orbit, a cultivator's hearing? Perfect timing.
"Throat needs recovery—no singing yet. Narration first. Vocals later when better. OK?"
After her narration take, Suhyeon nodded and keyed the mic. "Come out. Need to discuss the narration."
Outside the booth, he conferred with Haiyu.
"Your narration splits into three parts: painful past struggles, fear of the future, current aimless wandering without conviction."
"Yes, that's the concept."
"A few fixes needed. Content we can tweak later, but first: not enough consideration for your fans."
"Fans?"
"Yeah. Young fans love you, but you've got tons of uncle fans too. Give them empathy hooks—makes the song explode. Better to hit big than flop, right?"
"Obviously."
"Look at the past part: [The grueling days I barely endured were so agonizing and burdensome. The wounds etched in my heart like grooves in bronze refuse to heal with time...] You pour out that pain, and the moon responds. Right?"
The grueling days I barely endured were so agonizing and burdensome.
The wounds etched in my heart like grooves in bronze refuse to heal with time...
"Yes."
"I think the moon's voice should be male. After your agony, give uncle fans a chance to comfort via the moon. Female singer plus female moon narration skews too one way."
"Sounds good."
"Second, the moon's reply drags. Simple is best. Comfort and solution should be short—lets listeners imagine their own. Too long feels boring or intrusive. Finally..."
"Finally?"
"Do you... like Mother Teresa by any chance?"