Escape from the Repentance Cave (1)
Seo Baek couldn't believe the man's words.
'If this isn't the precursor to qi deviation, then what is?'
He wanted to ask just that, but the laughter wouldn't stop, leaving him speechless.
Without a word from him, the reply came.
"I said it's not."
Now Seo Baek was certain. It wasn't true mind-reading, but the man was undoubtedly peering into his thoughts with some unfathomable technique.
"Have you recently circulated your internal energy manual for ten circuits—no, more than that—for a prolonged stretch?"
'Yes.'
Seo Baek answered inwardly.
When battling the revenant horde, and then against Dang Ryong, hadn't he run the Shika Heart Method at twelve circuits for over half a shichen?
"I only have time to say this once, so listen sharp."
'Understood.'
The two conversed through voice and thought alone.
"Strike the Gegu, Zhongting, and Tiandi acupoints—with your fist."
'Not Qihu and Xiaoyao?'
Qihu and Xiaoyao were the points that induced laughter.
With the inexplicable cackling refusing to quit, Seo Baek had figured those were the ones to seal.
"What kinda moron are ya? Student teachin' the teacher now?"
The man's words were curses, plain and simple.
"Do it now. No time. Hurry up!"
At the man's bark, Seo Baek snapped alert.
But raising his hand, he faltered. He'd never sealed his own points before.
The man bellowed again.
"Log jammed in your ear? I said strike with your fist—not seal!"
The nonstop scolding sparked defiance in Seo Baek.
'Fine. Let's see what happens.'
"About time some fire lit in ya, heh heh heh."
Seo Baek followed the instructions, slamming his fist into the points.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Gegu, Zhongting, Tiandi—shoulder and chest points.
Anyone seeing him now would've mistaken it for a man pounding his chest in suffocating frustration.
But the man roared anew.
"That the best a near-twenty-year-old whelp can muster? Harder! Your bones won't shatter—put your all into it!"
By then, Seo Baek's temper flared.
He swung with full force.
Boom!Boom!Boom!Boom!
Each blow boomed like thunder. So fierce it dizzied more than hurt. And still the laughter raged on—eerie as hell.
"Never suckled at mama's teat? Harder! More! More!"
'Never have.'
"Eh? True orphan, then?"
'Yes.'
"My bad. Retract that."
'No harm done.'
"Good. Next: Jingmen, Shenque, Tianshu."
The man rattled off points across the body. Each time, Seo Baek unleashed everything.
Boom!Boom!Boom!Boom!
Half a shichen slipped by before he knew it.
You can't really injure yourself bad hitting your own body. The power's always dialed back.
But the man kept jeering and howling, and Seo Baek, too stubborn to yield, hammered away with utter abandon.
His whole body bloomed purple with bruises. Bones intact, but not a spot without agony.
Then, pain wrenched a groan from him unbidden.
"Ngh……."
"Hurts, eh?"
"Why ask what any fool knows?"
"Pain's the price of growth, lad."
"First time I've taken a beating like this."
"Beating? Who laid hands on ya? Your own fists, heh heh heh!"
"Cheap talk."
Seo Baek's teeth ground at the mockery.
Then it hit him.
He wasn't just thinking—he was speaking.
Able to voice words meant the laughter had died!
Sure enough, the explosive fits had vanished clean.
"How in the……."
Seo Baek gathered himself, scanning his body.
Sweat poured like rain, drenching him head to toe. Bruises everywhere—a twitch brought fresh groans.
Yet his body felt refreshed.
As the weight lifted, so did his mind.
The Body Transfer Skill had felt like a boulder in his chest. Now? Crystal clear.
Sensing it, the man spoke.
"Circulate and regulate."
"Yes."
No backtalk now—Seo Baek obeyed.
Lotus pose, slow breaths. Energy flowed through meridians.
Qi deviation? Endless laughs? Forgotten worries.
His state was pure clarity.
Moments later, a long exhale. Eyes snapped open.
"Was that Pushing Palaces Over Acupoints I just did?"
"Figured you for flash without brains. Least the rust ain't total."
Pushing Palaces Over Acupoints.
Internal practice can stagnate qi or wound within.
Massage, sealing, or infused energy unblocks and smooths meridians—that's the art.
Usually masters or seniors on juniors, with superior arts.
But he'd done it to himself…….
Unheard of!
"Self-Pushing possible?"
"What're ya askin'? Didn't ya just do it?"
His body backed it up. Still, hard to swallow.
"Rapid leaps in manuals trigger this sometimes."
"The nonstop laughter?"
"Aye. Trouble was ya mopin' like heaven collapsed. Body and mind are one. Overflowin' energy, clogged heart—meridians twisted, anomalies followed."
"I see."
Cool reply, but inwardly awed.
Body and mind as one.
Simple words, dead-on diagnosis.
"Martial heights demand breakin' limits. Ten-plus circuits? Ya tried leapin' realms."
"Not qi deviation, then?"
"Nay. Left alone, no deviation—but no advance. Might've lost half your hard-won energy."
Seo Baek knew the risks.
Righteous sects keep masters bedside for young adepts.
No timely Pushing? Stagnation. Wasted toil.
"Ya vaulted stages sudden-like. Massage or seals too weak. Blocked solid—couldn't even seal."
"Hence the fists?"
"Full swings load energy natural. Won't smash your own frame."
"Left me black-and-blue everywhere."
"Beats croakin', eh? Heh heh heh."
"……."
Silence from Seo Baek.
Not ire—gratitude, pure.
Half shichen self-pummeling. Unblocked channels, energy surged free.
High manuals defy easy measure. Not gradual—sudden jumps.
Especially: surpass self. Why maniacs stake lives.
Death on fail; on win, gains safe paths deny.
Crisis Pushing success? Multi-stage vault!
"Success doubles a jiazi's worth."
Jiazi: sixty years pure accumulation.
Rare as hen's teeth—lifespans short.
Double? Beyond dreams.
"Not talk of ascension or top dog overnight. But candidate? Sure."
Seo Baek rose.
Bowed deep to the wall whence the voice came.
"Seo Baek of Shika Manor thanks this murim senior."
"Polite pup, heh heh heh."
"Know not which senior, but this junior's aid—lifelong debt."
"Hah, Shaolin might Body Transfer ya dry any second. Lifetime my foot."
Prodded the forgotten, with jeer.
Seo Baek no longer bristled. Smiled, played along.
"All the better, no? Higher pool—Shaolin'll rejoice."
"……."
Man hushed, caught off-guard.
"Might kill ya outright?"
"If it halts the revenant scourge? Worth it."
"Gutsy bastard."
True enough. No regrets now.
Half shichen back, massive gain. Before? Fretted uselessness against outbreak.
Now? Peace.
Body-mind unity. Petty cares dissolved in the leap.
Depth unrealized even by him…….
Silence broken, man spoke.
"Said birth's got no reason, aye?"
"You did."
"But dyin'? Needs one."
"Why?"
"Die pointless, turn ghost. Resentful, wander nine hells."
"Me? Fallin' to stop revenants—reason plenty."
"Think not."
Voice dripped mocking sneer.
"Way ya live."
"Safe Body Transfer method?"
Seo Baek smiled, parried.
Resolved firm. Unshaken.
Safe? Ideal. Risky? Still obey master.
But the next words? Utter shock.
"Nay. Way to heed master, halt scourge—without Body Transfer."