Chapter 35
Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Father's Gift and Breakthrough
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yuk Jin-yang returned to the Flying Stream Pavilion residence. The moment he passed through the main gate, his eyes met his father's, who had been pacing nearby.
"Shall we have a quick word?"
Yuk Eon jerked his chin toward the rear garden. Yuk Jin-yang glanced over absentmindedly and was slightly taken aback. The garden's scenery had changed dramatically. It was worlds apart from when the family had first arrived.
Back then, the Flying Stream Pavilion's rear garden had been downright desolate. Years of neglect had left it that way. But now, flowers bloomed everywhere. The neatly planted cypress trees bore the clear touch of careful human hands.
Yuk Eon gazed at the garden and murmured,
"The hydrangeas' fragrance is almost dizzying. Summer must be right around the corner."
"This is a sight I haven't seen before. When did you manage all this?"
"After you left on your mission, So-so was feeling lonely, so I put in some effort. She loves hydrangeas. I had people transplant them and took the opportunity to tidy up the garden as well. She seemed quite pleased."
The two slowly strolled along the path lined with blooming hydrangeas. It naturally led toward the training ground. That area, too, had undergone a striking transformation.
A new annex building had appeared off to one side of the training ground—one he had never seen before.
"I built a new training cave. Anyone who wishes can enter secluded cultivation there."
"You did all this yourself, Father?"
"No, your grandfather lent a hand."
Yuk Eon gave a curt reply and pulled an item from his bosom, wrapped in fine silk and tied with a golden cord. A faint chill and a sharp, refreshing scent emanated from it.
"What is it?"
"Doll Snow Ginseng. The prize from the last allocation ceremony."
Yuk Eon offered the Doll Snow Ginseng without hesitation.
"It's yours."
"But..."
"I saw how much your aura had changed when you returned from your mission. It's grown even denser. You're ready to fully assimilate this spirit medicine now."
"Is it really all right for me to take it? You could have it yourself, Father..."
"I have no lingering attachments to the martial world, Jin-yang."
Yuk Eon shook his head.
"Truth be told, even after returning to the clan, I spent nights talking with So-so, wondering if I'd dragged you into this unnecessarily. But since you seem to have found your path, I kept it to myself."
"..."
"Take it."
Under his father's insistent urging, Yuk Jin-yang accepted the Doll Snow Ginseng.
His chest tightened. He wasn't their real son, after all. It felt like a heavy stone had settled in one corner of his heart. It was a sensation he'd never experienced before.
In his first life, he'd never felt true human affection. Exploitation was the norm, so that was different.
But in this second life, the affection he now felt was, for some reason, burdensome.
Yuk Eon patted his son's shoulder.
"Let's go inside. I'll teach you how to consume the spirit medicine properly. It's precious, so you must absorb every bit of its energy without waste."
Yuk Jin-yang finally nodded.
Roughly eight days.
That was how long Yuk Jin-yang had been in seclusion after consuming the Doll Snow Ginseng.
Sitting in the lotus position, he looked haggard. Beside him sat a bowl of fasting pills, untouched. He hadn't eaten a thing.
The energy within the Doll Snow Ginseng was immense. He hadn't even had time for a sip of water. One moment of distraction, and it might have consumed him instead.
But the ordeal had borne fruit.
"Hoo."
A long, drawn-out breath escaped Yuk Jin-yang's lips. Natural true energy blended into the extended intervals between inhalation and exhalation. There was no rejection. It was the signal that he was ready for the next stage.
Yuk Jin-yang ceased his breathing exercise and turned his awareness inward.
A profound energy filled his lower dantian to the brim. The bone-piercing chill was gone. The Moon Maiden Divine Art's energy had successfully subdued the rampaging force of the Doll Snow Ginseng.
That was when it happened.
A intense stimulation arose near the Qihai acupoint. It wasn't pain. It felt like something knocking at the stuffy barrier in his solar plexus. Like a butterfly sensing its cocoon for the first time.
It was the precursor to opening the middle dantian.
'Is it possible?'
Yuk Jin-yang tested by directing his energy. It collided fully but didn't budge.
Not yet. An instinctive intuition whispered. To connect from Qihai to Yindu acupoint, he was one step short. With energy just newly absorbed, that was the limit.
Yuk Jin-yang accepted it readily. The time wasn't right.
'No need to get greedy.'
This life was different from the last, where opening the middle dantian had been a lifelong regret. He had to think long-term. There was no reason to take risks with reckless methods.
Yuk Jin-yang slowly relaxed his body. Muscles stiff from the prolonged posture screamed in protest. He staggered to the door and opened it, sunlight pouring in. It was dazzlingly bright.
As he squinted, adjusting to the light, Yuk Eon's voice came.
"Looks like you've made progress."
"Father? Have you been waiting here this whole time?"
His blurry vision sharpened. Yuk Eon's gaunt face came into clear view. He smiled faintly.
"How could I relax while my son was in secluded training? Anyway, I can feel you've absorbed all the energy. Your aura has changed again."
"Yes, I've taken it all in. But I narrowly failed to open the middle dantian."
"Wait, what do you mean? You sensed the middle dantian on your first try?"
Yuk Eon asked urgently.
"Pardon? Oh, yes. I felt a sensation near the Yindu acupoint."
"Even that is no small feat. Most struggle just to contain the energy filling their lower dantian. Your uncle and I were the same. How did you..."
Yuk Eon shook his head.
"It seems you've inherited Grandfather's blood the most. Hereditary talent across generations."
"Haha..."
"Anyway, now I need to get some sleep. So-so gave me an earful about it."
Yuk Jin-yang saw his father off and headed to the grand training ground. To personally test his improved internal energy realm.
From early morning, many warriors were immersed in their training. A few glanced at Yuk Jin-yang, but most focused silently on their own tasks.
Yuk Jin-yang stood before the grand training ground's wall.
It was built of renowned pitch-black Kun stone, famed for its hardness that absorbed even elite strikes. A perfect benchmark for martial prowess.
Those who absentmindedly turned their gazes were startled.
"Hey, shouldn't we stop the youngest young master? Looks like he's about to test his skills on the pitch-black Kun stone wall."
"Why bother? He must have his reasons. It won't be easy, but..."
"He's bound to fail anyway. It's all experience. Let's mind our own business."
Yuk Jin-yang ignored the chatter and took a light breath. Abundant energy surged from his lower dantian. The speed of gathering and releasing internal energy had greatly improved.
His muscles expanded explosively. Even pouring true energy generously, the vessel felt no strain.
With no intent to hold back, Yuk Jin-yang moved.
Yet there was still leeway. Amid the thrill, he traced the form of the Ten Thousand Rivers Single Source Art. His arm drew a semicircle as if grasping the air, then shot forward fiercely.
A wave of energy erupted from his palm like a raging tide. It crashed unyieldingly into the wall.
Boom!
The pitch-black Kun stone wall, said to rival steel in density and hardness, crumbled in ruins. Yuk Jin-yang couldn't help but grin.
Suddenly, he felt eyes on him. Everyone in the grand training ground stared in stunned silence. They alternated between the pitch-black Kun stone and Yuk Jin-yang, unable to believe it.
"Is he truly a once-in-a-millennium prodigy?"
One Yuk Clan warrior muttered. A few idle members had gathered in the quarters, enjoying tea. Everyone knew whom he meant.
"Suddenly?"
"Word from Flying Stream Pavilion is that his realm advanced again."
"Heavens, he's improving daily—day by day anew."
Yuk Jin-yang's exploits in Hainan were already legendary. Tales even circulated of the clan head clapping in delight.
"Makes me think of transferring to Flying Stream Pavilion."
"Can't blame you. Distant River Pavilion's atmosphere has been tense lately."
"But the clan head rescinded the punishment. With the pavilion master back, things should normalize."
"What's the point? No prospects for promotion."
For them, the successor competition was a major issue. Aligning with the right side determined their career paths.
They had affiliations, but loyalty was weak. Transfers were freely allowed—except for the pavilion master's personal guard, perhaps.
"Lately, Distant River Pavilion has fallen far behind in the successor race. Flying Stream Pavilion is rising fast. Isn't that explanation enough?"
"That's exaggerated. How could green youths wield major influence in the elders' competition?"
"Because the previous generation couldn't settle it."
Agreement followed the nonchalant retort.
"And the clan head always favored the Flying Stream Pavilion master. He fell from grace for marrying a Dang family daughter without permission, but raising a fine son might atone for that."
"Heard a strange rumor lately. The youngest young master might take the pavilion master's seat."
"What about the pavilion master?"
"He's not one to cling to position. Even if he is, it depends on the clan head's will."
"A talented grandson beats an incompetent son."
Distant River Pavilion master Yuk Gyun was already lagging in the successor race. His immature temperament and skills were the reasons.
When his two brothers were appointed clan heads, Yuk Gyun received the lesser pavilion master role for the same cause. It wasn't just a title—real authority differed too.
Now, he was even being outshone by his exiled younger brother.
How would Distant River Pavilion master react? With Yuk Jin-yang's rise, it was the concern of every clan member.
Clop clop clop!
The awkward silence was broken by prolonged external noise. The sound of a horse galloping breathlessly. A warrior peering out muttered blankly,
"Violating the horse decree...?"
Riding horses or using lightness skills within the Yuk Clan Great Compound was strictly forbidden. Even branch units under Zhejiang jurisdiction dared not breach it.
Exceptions were only urgent messengers signaling extreme haste or imperial envoys delivering edicts.
In an instant, the warriors' faces hardened.