Chapter 12
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Primordial Return to One Divine Art
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Primordial Return to One Divine Art.
I really like the name.
And the effect of the newly created Primordial Return to One Divine Art pleased me even more than the freshly coined name.
At that moment, Mae Hyang hesitated for a bit before clearing her throat and speaking up.
"Ahem, um... young hero?"
"Yes?"
"That is... could you perhaps teach me the Primordial Return to One Divine Art as well?"
Ah.
So that's why she was hesitating.
Yi Ho-chang grinned at her words.
"Of course. The foundation of the Primordial Return to One Divine Art is the Return to One Divine Art, so it's only natural I'd teach it to you. In exchange, I want you to teach me the Nine-Rhythm Finger Trap..."
"Huh?"
"Haha, just kidding."
Mae Hyang's eyes widened like a rabbit's at the mention of the Nine-Rhythm Finger Trap, then quickly narrowed again.
As if he would actually demand that.
Instead, he made a different request.
"In exchange, could I ask you to guide me in the Dragon Claw Palm and other sword techniques or bare-hand fighting skills?"
Mae Hyang broke into a wide smile at his words.
"Of course. I'll do my humble best to teach you everything I can."
"Thank you. But..."
"Yes?"
Yi Ho-chang sniffed at the smell coming from his own body, then frowned.
"I kept wondering where that stench was coming from, and it turns out it's me. My sweat never smelled this bad before... Does this smell usually come from me?"
A person often doesn't notice their own body odor, but Yi Ho-chang was extremely sensitive to smells.
So he'd been searching for the source of the foul stink from earlier, only to realize it was himself—and it shocked him pretty badly.
And understandably so, since back in the modern world, Yi Ho-chang had always been impeccably clean.
Mae Hyang chuckled softly at his question.
"The smell you're noticing now is probably from waste matter leaving your body."
"Waste matter?"
"Yes. Your body never had any internal energy flowing through it before. But now that the Primordial Return to One Divine Art has circulated energy inside you, the accumulated impurities have been expelled through your acupoints along with your sweat. It's something akin to Mud Washing Rebirth."
At the mention of Mud Washing Rebirth, Yi Ho-chang understood immediately.
'In other words, something like Bone Transformation.'
It was miraculous.
To think his body could undergo such a change just from internal energy flowing through it once.
Was this the martial world equivalent of a detox?
'Now that I think about it, my body does feel a bit lighter...'
But miraculous or not, the smell coming from his body was unmistakably foul.
"I get that it's a good thing, but I don't want to be a nuisance to my master like this, so I'll go wash up first."
"Of course. I'll show you where."
Yi Ho-chang followed her at a slight distance, embarrassed, as she led the way.
It had been several weeks since Yi Ho-chang started frequenting the White Go Hall.
Today was tribute fee day.
Yi Ho-chang handed the tribute fee to Chun Seom.
"Here's this week's tribute fee."
"Good work this week too."
"Thanks. I'll be going now."
"Hey, wait a sec, Ho-chang."
"Yes?"
"Uh... never mind, it's nothing. Anything tough going on lately?"
"No, nothing."
"Alright... that's good."
"I'll head out then."
Yi Ho-chang bowed politely and left the tent.
Chun Seom watched him go, tilting his head slightly.
'What an odd kid.'
At first, he'd thought the boy was a bit scatterbrained, but the more he observed, the more normal—no, impressively mature—he seemed.
Beyond normal, he exuded an adult-like poise, with outstanding tribute fee results and leadership over the kids.
'Did his head suddenly clear up or something?'
It was just baffling.
Just then, someone entered Chun Seom's tent.
It was Jun Hyo.
But Jun Hyo's expression as he entered wasn't good.
It was obvious what was coming.
"Um... Squad Captain... about this week's tribute fee... i-it might be a bit short..."
Jun Hyo's voice trailed off meekly.
But instead of scolding him, Chun Seom encouraged him.
"It's fine. Life has days like this. I'll explain your situation, so don't worry too much."
"Thank you..."
"More importantly, how are things with Squad 6 lately?"
"Squad 6?"
Jun Hyo tilted his head at the question.
Come to think of it, he hadn't seen much of Squad 6 kids recently.
"Well? I haven't seen their faces in quite a while myself."
"Really?"
"Yeah. We used to run into them three or four times a day begging, but now it's hard to spot them even once every few days."
That did sound a bit off.
And understandably so—before Yi Ho-chang joined, Squad 6 had always been dead last in results.
Yet they weren't showing up anywhere, but still paying their tribute fees on time.
'Are they stealing somewhere?'
Or robbery?
Considering Yi Ho-chang's punching skills, it didn't seem impossible.
'Nah, no way.'
Chun Seom didn't want to suspect Yi Ho-chang... or any of his kids.
But no matter how he thought about it, there were too many suspicious points.
After agonizing over it, Chun Seom decided to look into it himself.
If they really were stealing or robbing, as an adult and guardian, it was his duty to guide them onto the right path.
The next morning.
As usual, heading to the White Go Hall, Yi Ho-chang furrowed his brow in confusion.
'Why is he following me?'
The one tailing him was none other than Chun Seom.
He knew without even checking his face.
Ever since cultivating the Primordial Return to One Divine Art, Yi Ho-chang's aura sense had expanded far beyond before.
So he pondered why Chun Seom was following him.
Of course, he had a hunch.
'Did he finally notice?'
It seemed highly likely.
Chun Seom wasn't a fool, and it would be weirder if he hadn't picked up on Squad 6's changes. After all, he was their mid-level manager.
Yi Ho-chang figured it was time to explain everything that had happened.
But not right now.
He had business at the White Go Hall first.
'I'll explain after work when I visit him.'
With that, he quickened his pace and slipped into the White Go Hall.
Chun Seom visibly panicked, then looked up at the White Go Hall sign and jolted again.
'White Go Hall? Why here...'
Chun Seom knew the White Go Hall well.
Any resident of Zhejiang who didn't was practically a spy.
Which made it all the more strange.
The White Go Hall was an elite among elites—a go parlor where lowly beggars like them had no business entering.
His suspicions only grew, and in the end, Chun Seom decided to hop the wall.
'Normally, I shouldn't, but...'
It was for Yi Ho-chang.
Come to think of it, the boy's clothes were exceptionally clean today—hardly beggar-like.
So what exactly was he doing inside?
If he was doing something shady and getting paid for it...
'I absolutely can't allow that...!'
They were just beggars, not the type to sell their souls for money.
After checking for onlookers, Chun Seom attempted to scale the wall.
That was when it happened.
"Hey! You there!"
It was Dae Jin.
True to his role as the White Go Hall's gatekeeper, Dae Jin spotted Chun Seom's wall-climbing like a ghost and grabbed him, demanding answers.
"Who are you?"
"Uh, well..."
"Who? How dare you hop the White Go Hall wall?"
Oh no.
He'd been caught, and properly so.
Chun Seom panicked so hard he couldn't even make excuses, his mind going blank.
That was when it happened.
"Mister."
A familiar voice.
It was Yi Ho-chang.
"Young hero?"
"He's my guest. Sorry about that."
"Oh? You should've said so sooner."
At Yi Ho-chang's single word, Dae Jin released Chun Seom's wrist.
Then he scratched his head and apologized to Chun Seom.
"Didn't know he was your guest, young hero. Sorry about that."
"No, no. It's fine. I should be the one apologizing."
Yi Ho-chang led the bowing Chun Seom naturally inside the White Go Hall.
Once they were alone, Chun Seom hurriedly asked.
"Ho-chang, what on earth is going on? Why are you here?"
"I'll explain everything later. Let's move to a seat first. Someone I want to introduce you to."
Yi Ho-chang led Chun Seom to the annex.
There, Jo Jung-seon, who had arrived early, greeted them with a smile.
"Young hero. Is the one beside you that Chun fellow?"
"Yes, Hall Master. Squad Captain, say hello. This is Jo Jung-seon, master of the White Go Hall."
At those words, Chun Seom's eyes widened like saucers as he prostrated himself lightning-fast and bowed deeply.
"I, Chun Seom, pay respects to Zhejiang's Foremost Intellect, Elder Jo!"
"You know of this old man?"
"Who in Zhejiang doesn't know of you, Elder? Especially us beggars—we have to know people like you all the better to avoid any mistakes."
Jo Jung-seon chuckled and said.
"Rise already. You'll get dirt all over your clothes."
"Yes, sir!"
Jo Jung-seon stood from his seat, clasped his hands in formal salute, then cautiously asked Yi Ho-chang.
"Um... Ho-chang, why did you bring me to Elder Jo?"
"That's what I'm about to explain. By the way, the Hall Master has agreed to serve as witness to my words."
"Witness?"
"Yes. This might take a while."
And with that, Yi Ho-chang's explanation began.
A while later, Chun Seom had heard everything that had transpired.
He couldn't suspect it was a lie.
Right before his eyes was none other than Zhejiang's foremost intellect, Jo Jung-seon, vouching for Yi Ho-chang.
When the full explanation ended, Chun Seom was too stunned to speak.
But soon enough, he bowed deeply to Jo Jung-seon once more with clasped hands.
"...First, my deepest thanks to you, Elder Jo. As their guardian, I will never forget your grace in taking in our gang's children and will surely repay it."
"Heh heh, glad to hear it. But you should thank this young hero first, before me."
At that, Chun Seom bowed deeply to Yi Ho-chang.
"Ho-chang, on behalf of the Dragon Pearl Gang, thank you truly."
"No need, really."
"No, this is the least I could say. Adults should have handled this, yet you've done it in our stead—it's so shameful I can't even look up."
Yi Ho-chang felt the sincerity in Chun Seom's words.
So he responded in kind.
"I'd rather you didn't think that way. The Dragon Pearl Gang was the first to extend a hand to an orphan like me. So this is just what I ought to do. And from another angle, as Squad Leader tasked with protecting the kids, I'm simply doing my duty."
Chun Seom's eyes widened briefly in surprise.
Was this really the same kid he'd met at first?
No, not at all.
The Yi Ho-chang before him was an entirely different person... not a child, but a mature adult.
Perhaps that's why Chun Seom smiled faintly and said.
"Thank you for saying that."
"Haha, no problem."
"Still, I'm relieved I know now. But after hearing your story, one thing suddenly worries me."
"What is it?"
"Have you heard of the Dragon Pearl Association?"
Dragon Pearl Association.
Yi Ho-chang tilted his head at the words.