Thunder Body Forged in Lightning
He crossed his arms.
The progress was faster than expected.
Bone Transformation, the first stage and entry to Mukhon Gong, was already complete, but he'd thought it would take at least a year—maybe three or more—to begin the second stage, Gyugong.
He extended his hand to check the kid's energy meridians.
A faint smile crept onto his lips.
Diligent little bastard. Practicing Mukhon Gong diligently too. Lives and breathes martial arts all day long.
To master even one thing properly, you have to devote your full mind and spirit.
"From now on, for the next hour, no matter what happens, keep your mouth shut tight."
"Why?"
Nam Eung-ryeol shot his disciple a fierce glare. Hearing backtalk like that made him feel how much the world had changed. Back in his day, no one would dream of questioning their master.
"Understood."
Quick on the uptake, this one.
"Close your eyes too."
"Yes, Master."
Kim Jun looked uneasy, but once he shut his eyes, the tension melted from his face, and his stiff body relaxed.
This kid really knew how to handle his mind and spirit.
Being able to steer his own psychology at will was why he was so formidable in real combat, where a split-second mindset could decide victory.
"Hoo."
Nam Eung-ryeol sat before his disciple and slowly began the Small Circulation. Mukhon Gong energy coiled in his dantian like a long serpent, sluggishly circulating once around his body.
The Mukhon Gong energy flowing from both hands burrowed under Kim Jun's body, lifting him upward.
Nam Eung-ryeol rolled up his sleeves.
Then he began the Great Acupoint Method.
His fingers never touched the skin. Only the qi emanating from them pierced the major acupoints across the body. After striking the front channels—throat, solar plexus, flanks—he flipped the kid over and targeted the points along the spine.
It was a way to forcibly suppress the activation of Thunder Heart Technique, not a fundamental solution. But it would buy the kid time to prepare countermeasures.
An hour flew by.
Nam Eung-ryeol's body was drenched in sweat. The disciple was no different. It must have been excruciatingly painful, yet he'd endured well.
"Good work."
Kim Jun looked up at his master, lips sealed tight, eyes asking if he could speak now.
Something about this kid made Nam Eung-ryeol want to tease him. He kept Kim Jun afloat with his inner power and headed out of the thatched hut.
Yeon Mu-jin startled at the sight of Kim Jun hovering in midair.
"The bo ssam?"
"Almost ready."
"We'll wash up. Set the table."
"Yes, Master."
Nam Eung-ryeol dashed to the cliff using Mokhonbo. He glanced at his dear disciple.
Kim Jun shook his head, as if sensing what was coming.
Nam Eung-ryeol hurled him over the cliff.
"Master!"
His voice faded rapidly.
Splash.
* * *
Every time Yeon Mu-jin saw Kim Jun, his gut twisted with envy. His master had a habit of saying it.
"Tsk tsk, if it were that guy, he'd be done by now."
He'd heard it so often it was burned into his ears. He knew exactly who "that guy" was.
Nam Eung-ryeol's first disciple.
The one who had automatically become his senior brother because of it.
Honestly, he felt a twinge of guilt. He'd learned later that the Cheonroegeom he'd stolen from Uramata Guild's vault was that guy's item. He had no intention of excusing it as the family head's orders.
The bo ssam was tender and perfectly braised. The kimchi, paired with makgeolli after so long, went down smooth.
At the Yeon Family estate, he'd never touch makgeolli. Now, he regretted not buying more—it was that good.
Kim Jun reached to clear the dishes.
Nam Eung-ryeol shot Yeon Mu-jin a sharp look. Knowing the old man's nasty temper well, he jumped in.
"Senior Brother, I'll do it."
Raiders didn't fuss much over senior/junior dynamics—they mattered but weren't rigid. Far from the military's strict hierarchy where juniors blindly obeyed superiors.
It used to be stricter.
Seniors treated juniors like servants, nitpicking academy classes, awakening test groups, magic school cohorts. Juniors grumbled but complied.
The change came because those relationships tangled too often.
A senior by awakening test might be junior by patronage. Martial school senior could be junior by magic cohort. Complaints piled up, causing raid mishaps.
As raid death rates soared, the Dungeon Association banned all hierarchies.
Exception: in-combat command structure. Expedition leader, chief team leader, team leader, team members—only that chain, active solely inside dungeons.
Raiders formed teams, risked lives against monsters. What mattered in battle wasn't blind obedience, but teamwork fused with authority.
His master entered the thatched hut.
Yeon Mu-jin took the dishes to the small spring behind the hut. As he scrubbed, Kim Jun approached.
"Tough, huh?"
Those words nearly brought tears.
Life here was hell. If he could return—if Yeon Family would take him back—he'd swim the whole way.
He'd tried twice.
Failed both times. Caught at sea.
That's when he'd learned Kim Jun had swum relentlessly to shore. The familiar tsk tsk echoed in his mind.
"Not right away, but you can return to Yeon Family."
Yeon Mu-jin's eyes widened.
Kim Jun explained the video. Yeon Mingyeon, that bastard, blabbing in front of thugs—filmed on phone, restored by Choi Min-su.
Yeon Mu-jin was speechless.
If the truth came out, he'd return to Yeon Family! Yeon Mingyeon would be the one cast out.
"Th-thank you."
His voice trembled. Kim Jun was a rookie, but he spoke politely anyway. Loose relations or not, manners mattered.
No, more than that.
The video was his only hope. If it got him back, Kim Jun would be his lifesaver.
As a martial artist, he had to repay that debt. Only then could he live honorably.
"Number Two."
Nam Eung-ryeol's voice.
Yeon Mu-jin bolted to the hut.
Kim Jun followed.
"Yes, Master."
Yeon Mu-jin bowed before Nam Eung-ryeol.
"Fetch the generator from the shed."
"Generator?"
Nam Eung-ryeol stared silently.
That look was just like Family Head Yeon Un-jae. Did everyone turn into a stuck-up geezer with age?
Yeon Mu-jin dashed to the shed.
It wasn't a proper building—just a massive pit dug in the ground. Stored potatoes, radishes, ingredients. Plus weird junk piled everywhere.
He frequented it, yet never knew about a generator.
A red one sat in the corner.
Heavy, but he hefted it out, closed the lid. Placing it before Nam Eung-ryeol, he felt the piercing stare.
What'd I do wrong?
"Tsk tsk, you really... Jun."
Nam Eung-ryeol clicked his tongue, then eyed his prized disciple. Kim Jun whispered to Yeon Mu-jin.
"Gasoline."
"Ah..."
Yeon Mu-jin ran back. Found the can easily, but irritation surged. Not at Nam Eung-ryeol or Kim Jun.
Why hadn't he thought of the obvious?
Generators needed gasoline.
Why did Kim Jun know so simply what he missed?
He rushed back with the gas. Nam Eung-ryeol sighed deeply, hands behind back.
Yeon Mu-jin glanced at Kim Jun. What now?
"Funnel."
"......"
Pouring straight risked spilling from the tank hole. Obviously needed a funnel. He'd even kicked one while hunting gasoline.
He wanted to crawl into a rat hole.
Digging through the shed, he found the funnel, grabbed cables too, raced to the hut. Under his master's disapproving gaze, he fueled the generator.
Nam Eung-ryeol connected the cable to the generator, stripped the other end to expose wires.
Yeon Mu-jin grew anxious at the caution. Some insane generator training was coming.
Thankfully, not for him.
Nam Eung-ryeol wrapped the copper wire around Kim Jun's wrist. Even the unflappable Kim Jun looked rattled.
For the first time, Yeon Mu-jin felt like equals with his senior brother.
"Now you must get used to lightning qi. Reach a state where electricity can't harm you."
One word flashed in his mind.
Thunder Body.
Even in Yeon Family, who treasured Cheonroegeom, Thunder Body was exceedingly rare. Innate immunity to electricity made mastering Thunder Heart Technique easy and boosted chances of becoming Cheonroegeom's master.
Yeon Chung-jae had been one.
Thunder Body was innate. Couldn't be forged. Yet "that state"? Unbearable.
"Master, impossible!"
"Impossible?"
Yeon Mu-jin couldn't believe his eyes. Nam Eung-ryeol's gaze was gentler than ever.
"You can't create a Thunder Body."
"Didn't you say Bone Transformation was impossible by human effort?"
"It's true."
"Feel this kid's pulse."
Nam Eung-ryeol pointed at Kim Jun.
Yeon Mu-jin hesitated, then approached. Kim Jun raised his hand. Gripping the wrist, sending a trickle of inner power... he was speechless. Meridians this vast? Unprecedented.
Even more shocking: the flow speed.
This body... unimaginable.
Had he truly undergone Bone Transformation?
Nam Eung-ryeol gestured at the hut; the door opened, a newspaper flew out, stopping before Yeon Mu-jin.
Carrier Becomes Raider!
Not only passed the awakening test, but became team leader raiding dungeons with raiders. Even top guild Jushin acknowledges it!
Yeon Mu-jin stared at Kim Jun.
Those clear eyes forced him to admit Bone Transformation was possible.
Master was right.
With a gesture, the newspaper returned; door shut.
"Now we can start real training. Number Two, your task is crucial. Screw up, and he dies. Watch closely—shut off the generator if his life hangs by a thread."
Yeon Mu-jin doubted his ears.
Screw up and Kim Jun dies? No training like this existed!
He looked at Kim Jun.
Just startled, no real resistance. Did this kid think he could become Thunder Body? As Kim Jun closed his eyes, Nam Eung-ryeol flipped the engine switch to ON, yanked the starter grip. Generator hummed to life.
Kim Jun's body shuddered.
"H-how do I turn it off?"
Yeon Mu-jin shouted.
"Flip that switch to OFF. Do it right. Don't want to kill your only senior brother. And if Jun doesn't reach Thunder Body in a week, I'll make you one myself."
With that, Nam Eung-ryeol vanished into the hut.
* * *
Whoosh.
Fist slicing air.
Unfolding Gunma Divine Fist First Form: Jeongma after so long felt perfect.
Go Cheolmin smiled.
Thinking of Kim Jun's plight, he shouldn't smile. He knew, yet unleashing Gunma Divine Fist freely felt like a dream.
Jeongma flowed into Second Form: Jeolma.
If Jeongma was potent basic offense, Jeolma was solid basic defense.
Next: lunging forward to crush foes—Doma.
Then Sangma, Bokma, Gakgong, final form Bungmyeong.
Gunma Divine Fist: seven concise, powerful forms. Paired well with wood attribute inner arts, so he'd trained steadily.