Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Chapter 47
When Fate Becomes Destiny (2)
What kind of feeling do you get when someone else does something you had planned to do first?
And what if the person doing it is someone you absolutely must kill?
The feeling is quite strange.
The Hunter and Hunter Hall are targets I intended to deal with. But others are doing that work instead.
Rena was a prime example, and there were also figures like the mysterious old man.
"It seems Hunter Hall will now proceed toward dissolution."
Jimun Seo-saeng opposed participating in the fight against Hunter Hall. From a strategist's standpoint, it was a natural opinion.
There's no need to take risks when the opponent will fall by someone else's hand without you having to step forward.
Though an uneasy feeling remained, I accepted Jimun Seo-saeng's opinion.
"It's time to strengthen our foundation."
Autumn and winter.
Six months passed that way.
So Iryeon released a full album after switching agencies, but drastically reduced her schedule once the three months of broadcast activities ended. During a period when members were handling individual schedules, So Iryeon refused schedules and devoted herself to training.
Since it was a matter already agreed upon with the agency, it wasn't a problem.
Jimun Seo-saeng began preparatory work for what he called the Korea Purification Plan, and Cheong Ak-sal endlessly repeated Blink magic.
I also devoted myself to training for six months.
'I can see the end.'
The discomfort of the state of no-self using Baekhoehyeol was almost disappearing. Now I had gained enough confidence to entrust myself to the state of no-self.
The core of this training lies in the growth of Yin energy to counter Yang energy.
In the process of balancing the two, the Yin energy naturally grew stronger, and the burden on my body disappeared.
As this happened, the energy meridians that had been transforming like steel pipes also returned to their original state. Rather, everything became much more natural.
'I'm certain. This is the right path.'
This was an instinctive judgment about martial arts.
'In the next training session, I'll break through the wall.'
My internal energy steadily grew, and I could see a new realm before my eyes.
Reverting to youth, ascending to immortality.
This is a different realm from those.
In my previous life, I experienced one Bone Transformation and three reversions to youth. I don't even want to ascend to immortality.
'Why would I go to the immortal realm? This world is better.'
There's one rumor I've heard about the immortal realm.
'I heard it takes a month just to play one game of Go.'
I absolutely cannot do that. I'd rather go to hell than become an immortal.
'It might take a long time.'
I deliberately stopped training. If I entered training again, it seemed I wouldn't be able to come out for quite a while.
To gain confidence that I could be absent, I needed to check the current situation.
I came out of the room in the lodging. Though I'm using it as a training room, its original purpose was as my bedroom.
"Have you come out?"
Jimun Seo-saeng always has the same appearance.
Calm and relaxed. If that's a talent, then it's a talent.
"How's the work going?"
"Are you thinking of doing secluded training?"
"Not quite secluded training, but... How did you know?"
"You always say that when organizing your surroundings. You normally show no interest."
I can't tell if he's nagging or expressing dissatisfaction.
"I was just stating facts."
"Can you read minds, too?"
"I'm just answering in advance because you asked the same question six times in your previous life."
I can't win with words. I shouldn't even start the fight.
"So are you saying there's a problem or not?"
"There isn't."
"Got it."
I was about to turn around when I saw a ring on Jimun Seo-saeng's finger. It was unexpected since he's someone who doesn't wear accessories.
"What's that ring?"
"It's a Teleport ring. The Warp Zone construction is complete. Would you like to see it yourself?"
I was curious too, so I quickly went outside with Jimun Seo-saeng.
The Warp Zone was built in the form of a small warehouse behind the lodging. It was a structure that didn't catch other people's eyes, and a large magic circle was drawn on the floor.
"What is all this?"
When I entered through the entrance and looked to the left, there was a marble wall with a large world map drawn on it.
"When you activate the ring, it becomes like this."
When Jimun Seo-saeng removed his ring, thirty red dots on the world map emitted laser-like beams.
"If you align the ring with the desired light and activate Teleport, you'll be transported."
"There are more dots than I expected?"
The place with the most dots was Korea. Korea alone had 10 dots, and there were about 20 overseas.
"Protector So adds more whenever she goes on overseas performances."
I could also see the two dots in Nigeria that I had marked. I felt somewhat attached to those dots.
"I marked that one."
"You got angry about it, didn't you? You said the map became messy from marking useless places."
I felt stung for no reason and closed my mouth.
"Where's my ring?"
"She said to come get it yourself."
Leaving Jimun Seo-saeng behind, I headed to the research lab.
There was no response when I knocked, so when I tried to open the door and enter, the Grim Reaper appeared before me.
—Not now.
"Why?"
—She's in training.
"When will it end?"
—Soon.
I was curious about the Witch's training method. I had never seen it even once.
Most of her time was spent in the research lab, but I didn't know what she did there.
'Well, she seems to collect data and do many things.'
After waiting briefly, the Grim Reaper stepped aside. Then the door opened.
"I came to get the ring."
It's the result of a transaction. I demanded it confidently.
"I'll engrave it on that ring. Leave it and go."
Perhaps because it was right after training ended, she felt even colder than usual.
But that coldness stirred my curiosity.
"Have you seen the end of coldness?"
At my question, the Witch looked at me with surprised eyes.
"Why would you ask such a question?"
Come to think of it, this kind of conversation is a first.
We always tore at each other or only talked about objectives.
"I've become interested in Yin energy."
At the mention of Yin energy, the Witch snorted.
"Are you being a man?"
"The Yin energy I'm talking about is cold energy. Don't interpret it in a strange direction. You're the one who planted this."
The Witch nodded and spoke simply.
"Follow me."
She guided me to the training room.
"Why here?"
"Experience it directly. It'll be better than an explanation."
A smile appears at the corners of the Witch's mouth. That smile I saw at the Ice Castle in my previous life.
'Should I stop?'
I hesitated briefly but just let it be.
'It's better to know properly.'
Soon, a magic circle was drawn in the center of the training room. I sat on it, and following the Witch's incantation, the environment changed drastically.
It was a snowy field where a blizzard raged.
Just watching was a sight that made my body tremble. The snow touching my body was cold as ice, and the fierce wind seemed to sweep past my bones.
I drew up my internal energy. The cold energy retreated, and I no longer felt the fierce energy of the blizzard.
Then the sky darkened.
The snowy field after sunset had a gloomy atmosphere.
The wind became calm. And heavy snow began.
The snow stuck to my body and quickly turned to ice.
My body was soon covered in ice, and cold energy slowly penetrated inside as if soaking into water.
I tried to melt the ice with internal energy. The ice momentarily melted but soon froze again. Rather, the chilled internal energy came back into me.
My body began to tremble.
Extreme cold.
It wasn't a fierce blizzard but invoked fear like a slowly encroaching swamp.
Inside the ice, everything slowed down. Even thoughts and the flow of blood moved slowly as if they had lost time.
'I'm dying.'
That thought crossed my mind.
In that moment, the internal energy within my body wrapped around my entire body as if struggling desperately.
The internal energy awakened by the survival instinct filled the interior with heat, using the skin touching the ice as a boundary.
Balance was achieved. My body no longer trembled.
Then, a foreign cold energy penetrated.
Cold energy enhanced by magical power.
It stabbed into me like a sharpened blade.
'A death struggle.'
I confronted the cold energy.
Then the cold energy that penetrated my energy meridians and internal energy caused pain.
I had experienced this before.
'I accept it.'
I gave up the fight. Instead, I sucked in the cold energy.
When the intense cold energy entered inside, my body seemed to freeze. Enduring this, I mixed the cold energy with my internal energy and circulated it through energy circulation.
My energy meridians felt like they would tear, then Yang energy suddenly surged up sharply and achieved balance.
'The cold energy is strong.'
The balance soon broke again.
The cold energy arbitrarily created by the Witch was not at a level I could handle.
Perhaps sensing danger, the Witch adjusted the cold energy.
The cold energy that was gradually weakening achieved perfect balance with the Yang energy in one moment.
Instinctively, I sucked this in. I stimulated the Witch so the cold energy wouldn't weaken further.
The balance persisted for a long time.
Baekhoehyeol became cold as ice. In contrast, my Danjeon was hot as if on fire.
This was a different phenomenon from before.
Until now, I had controlled both Yang and Yin energy while maintaining balance. But now both reached extremes and naturally achieved equilibrium.
'I can break through.'
No other thoughts arose.
The wall I thought would take a long time was right before my eyes now. I felt certain that I could cross the wall if it was now.
I entrusted my body to the movement of internal energy. My mind became distant, and an intense state of no-self approached.
'Oh no! The Witch...'
The moment I recognized the external situation, I fell into the state of no-self.
In my previous life, I faced the Taeguk Sword Technique.
In a confrontation with the Wudang Sect Leader, I clearly felt how powerful the harmony of Yin and Yang was. But I shattered it with force.
After that, I erased thoughts about the harmony of Yin and Yang. Because I was stronger.
I was shocked during the fight, but after winning, I erased it. That was my way.
But now I feel that power again. And it's happening inside my body.
Harmony was like the surface being calm, but its depths being an abyss where even sunlight doesn't reach.
Quiet yet powerfully flowing. The state of no-self achieved by this energy seemed to suck everything in.
'The Witch.'
Another person entered into the state of no-self.
The Witch continuously maintaining the balance of cold energy.
She was desperately holding on.
'If it stops, we both die.'
Now, to survive, I must quickly break through this realm.
'Let's concentrate.'
I erased my thoughts again.
A fleeting thought. The state of no-self.
This continued to repeat.
The internal energy that had been divided into Yang and Yin became one at some point and became heavy like a massive rock.
Baekhoehyeol expanded no less than Danjeon and began creating deep barriers.
Again, time wasn't felt this time. In fact, it wasn't even recognized.
A state of no-self where nothing is important.
I savored the long state of no-self as if dreaming.
My body twists. Bones protrude and organs coil. But it doesn't hurt.
The dreamlike feeling of the state of no-self is disappearing.
The long state of no-self is seeing its end.
Though I didn't perceive time, it was longer than any state of no-self I had felt until now.
A new path.
I'm reaching the end of it.
My body no longer changed. And the heavy internal energy became light as if it lost gravity.
Baekhoehyeol and Danjeon.
All internal energy is divided between both sides and gathered into small points as if falling into whirlpools.
Kwang!
Then an explosion.
Craaack!
The skeletal structure of my entire body reorganized, and everything was born anew.
'Bone Transformation.'
The second Bone Transformation that I didn't experience even in my previous life was accomplished that way.
When I opened my eyes, everything around was ice.
The entire training room was covered in massive ice.
The Witch also opened her eyes inside ice so transparent it felt clean.
The Witch was sitting facing me.
As the ice slowly disappeared, the Witch stood up from her place. But she couldn't stand properly and staggered.
I quickly ran over and caught the falling Witch.
Her appearance was haggard. The complete opposite of me, who had achieved Bone Transformation.
Her skin that had been white, turned blue, and she had even lost flesh so that blood vessels protruded. The muscles that touched my hand hung limply as if deflated.
That sight moved my soul, opening my mouth.
"I'm sorry."
I apologized, something I had never done even in my previous life.