Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Meridian Stimulation Training
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A moment later, after finishing his qi circulation meditation, Cheonhwi felt his body lighten up.
"Feels refreshing. Maybe I should exhaust all my inner energy every once in a while."
Thanks to roaming around while deploying the Flying Heaven Footwork, which had depleted all his inner energy, Cheonhwi savored the true delight of qi circulation meditation for the first time in ages.
"Hmph."
Cheonhwi leaped down from the peak and approached Jeokgeom and Seollan.
"I heard you two got beaten while I was gone."
The two subtly avoided Cheonhwi's gaze before biting their lips.
Then, they bowed their heads in unison.
"We're sorry."
"We're sorry."
Cheonhwi waved his hand dismissively.
"Eh, what apology? Forget it."
Not expecting such words from Cheonhwi, the two froze in slight bewilderment.
"It's my fault for raising you two so weakly."
The two broke out in cold sweat.
He said it was his fault, but the tone and implication were obvious.
"I wanted to let you progress step by step, but given the situation, we need to hurry a bit. Otherwise, who knows what'll happen to you."
Cheonhwi looked at Jeokgeom.
"For now, don't do any other training for four days. Focus solely on the Plum Blossom Qi Art and circulate your qi."
Jeokgeom's eyes widened slightly.
"'Nothing at all'... does that mean no footwork either?"
His voice grew louder as he spoke.
"Oh? Feeling good about slacking off?"
"N-no, not at all."
Jeokgeom waved his hands frantically, but Cheonhwi didn't buy it, seeing his face light up with joy.
"Except for eating and sleeping, you'll circulate qi non-stop for three full days. If you slack even a little... you know what happens then, right?"
Jeokgeom's expression, which had brightened inwardly at the thought of no training, stiffened awkwardly, his lips twitching upward.
"H-ha ha. Of course."
"Good. We'll check then. To see if you did it properly or not."
"Understood..."
A shadow fell over Jeokgeom's face.
'I thought I'd get a little rest...'
It was clear Cheonhwi would notice even a single day of skipped training.
'At least no footwork.'
As Jeokgeom tried to think positively.
"And Seollan."
Cheonhwi turned his gaze to Seollan.
She snapped her head up.
"Did you call me?"
"Want to get stronger quickly?"
"...!"
Facing Cheonhwi's serious expression, she swallowed hard before cautiously speaking.
"...Is there a way?"
"Why wouldn't there be."
Cheonhwi glanced at Seollan's navel area.
"There's the energy of that Platinum Pill stuck in your lower dantian. Absorb that properly, and you'll be twice as strong as now."
Seollan bit her lip.
She knew that well.
The Platinum Pill was an elixir containing far more inner force than imagined. Over half its energy still clung to her lower dantian and meridians, unabsorbed.
But there was a problem...
"However, Martial Uncle, even when I circulate qi, the absorption is too slow. At this rate, it'll take at least a year."
"No. One week."
"Really?"
Seollan's eyes went wide.
If anyone else said it, she'd snap at them for talking nonsense.
'But if it's Martial Uncle...'
She swallowed dryly again.
To her, Cheonhwi made the impossible possible.
"How?"
"Ever heard of meridian stimulation beating?"
Seollan nodded.
"I've heard of it. Beating to unblock stagnant qi and meridians..."
Her face paled more and more.
It meant he would perform meridian stimulation beating.
Imagining the already ruthless Cheonhwi doing that turned her pallor ghostly white.
"Right, that's it. Don't like it?"
Cheonhwi lightly rolled his wrists.
"If you don't, we'll drop it. But then no more whining about wanting to get stronger."
It was no different from an eviction order.
"...I'll do it."
Seollan replied in resignation.
"Good choice."
Cheonhwi picked up his scabbard.
"Oh, right. No time, so attack me while using your techniques. I'll point out your weak spots as we go."
"Is that possible?"
"You think I can't handle that?"
"N-no."
"Then draw your sword."
"Yes!"
Seollan gripped and raised her sword.
"Come to think of it, you entered the Plum Blossom Seven Halls, right? How far did you get?"
"...Up to the Plum Blossom Third Hall."
Seollan's voice trailed off weakly.
"Sigh, still only that far? At this rate, you'll never pass even on your deathbed."
Cheonhwi shook his head.
"Fine, let's see your skills. Think of me as the enemy and come at me. Hm, yeah. Pretend I'm the guy who made Jeokgeom shit himself and charge."
"M-Martial Uncle!"
Jeokgeom cried out in panic from the side.
His face flushed with shame.
'I'd forgotten since he stopped mentioning it...'
Cheonhwi furrowed his brow at Jeokgeom.
"You, shut up and circulate your qi. Opportunity knocked, and you're kicking it away?"
"O-opportunity?"
"Focus steadily on qi circulation, and your realm will rise a level."
"R-really?"
"Have I ever lied?"
Jeokgeom pondered.
He truly hadn't.
"Understood!"
Jeokgeom immediately sat cross-legged.
As he soon immersed in meditation, Cheonhwi turned to Seollan and mouthed.
"That guy's gonna get strong in half a year. You planning to stay the same?"
"No!"
Seollan's eyes changed.
She and Jeokgeom had built equal skills through friendly rivalry.
Jeokgeom getting stronger alone? Unacceptable.
Resolution filled her eyes, her grip tightening. Cheonhwi nodded approvingly.
"Yes, that's the look. Come on."
"Understo—!"
As Seollan moved.
Thwack!
Cheonhwi's scabbard struck her side first.
"A real sword would've killed you already."
Seollan grimaced.
True, but wasn't this sneaky?
"But ambushes are cowardly..."
"Say that after you die."
Cheonhwi's gaze turned icy.
"Win first, then complain about fairness."
Harsh words.
But he was right.
Seollan gritted her teeth, suppressing the pain from her left side.
"Got it...!"
Smack!
The scabbard hit her back.
"Tsk tsk. You fought those unorthodox bastards like that and still haven't learned? Think they'll wait for you to get ready?"
Cheonhwi slung the scabbard over his shoulder.
Thud!
Perhaps from the two hits, Seollan, eyes filled with venom, swung her sword wide.
Cheonhwi grinned.
"Yes. You can do it when you try."
He easily stepped back to dodge.
"But your sword's too straightforward. Didn't I teach you that?"
Smack!
It struck Seollan's body as she passed.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Not sword arts or forms—just pummeling.
"Kyaa!"
Seollan let out a short scream, regripped her sword, and turned.
"Good reaction. But if you're using Jade Ring Wondrous Step, dive deeper into the flow. Tsk tsk, now your footwork and sword are separate."
Cheonhwi dodged her attacks while striking her side.
"And your waist has been exposed since earlier. Advertising 'kill me'?"
Seollan frowned.
Pain was one thing, but the constant nagging stuck in her ears like glue.
"I told you, right? Footwork is most important in martial arts. What's the point of stomping with brute force? Think from your feet up to your sword and thrust."
Cheonhwi conveyed profound principles lightly.
But Seollan, head spinning, couldn't absorb it and staggered.
"I-I get it, can't you explain later..."
Unable to endure the endless advice any longer, she spat out words she'd swallowed repeatedly.
"Later? You need to hear it now to remember properly."
Cheonhwi replied coldly.
"Ears open and listen well. This is becoming your blood and flesh. How do you expect to become an expert otherwise..."
"Eek!"
Already hurting, the nagging pushed Seollan over the edge, her eyes rolling back.
"Yes. Swing like you want to kill me, full of murderous intent."
Cheonhwi smiled warmly at her venomous charge and swung the scabbard.
"Block well then."
Whack-whack-whack!
In an instant, dozens of strikes landed. Cheonhwi lightly prodded the trembling, sprawled Seollan with the scabbard tip.
Then he pressed her acupoint firmly.
"Ugh, uuu..."
Seollan clutched her head and rose.
"Wh-what was that just now...?"
"Now circulate your qi."
From the beating—no, meridian stimulation—she reflexively obeyed and immersed in meditation.
And moments later.
"Hah!"
Finishing, Seollan widened her eyes and touched her lower dantian.
"My inner force... increased!"
She jumped for joy.
Unbelievable.
Inner force grew so minutely day by day it was hard to notice.
Yet here, a month's worth had piled up at once!
"The Platinum Pill really got absorbed..."
"See? Told you."
Seollan nodded vigorously at Cheonhwi's interjection, eyes shining.
"B-but how? Even meridian stimulation shouldn't yield this much inner force so quickly..."
"By stimulating the meridians stuck to your body, pulling the energy into your inner force and..."
Growing annoyed mid-explanation, Cheonhwi changed tack.
"Just accept it."
"Still..."
"Fine, like this. Land one hit on me, and I'll explain."
Seollan looked dubious.
Hitting Cheonhwi of all people? Near impossible.
Then Cheonhwi added.
"Oh, and! If you succeed, I'll teach you a technique that lets you hit me."
Strength entered Seollan's eyes.
"Really?"
"Have I ever lied about something like this?"
Seollan shook her head.
He never had about martial arts or training.
Her eyes gleamed as she declared.
"Don't forget then!"
As Seollan burned with zeal, Cheonhwi chuckled inwardly.
'It was a technique I planned to teach anyway. Nice to see her motivated.'
He'd never say that aloud. Picking up the scabbard, Cheonhwi said.
"Alright, again. This time, I'll check if you remember my earlier lessons."
"Pardon...?"
"Same as before, so dodge well."
Seollan's face drained of color in an instant.
Cheonhwi unleashed the same, but fiercer, barrage.
"It'll hurt more this time."
The freshly meditated Jeokgeom was greeted by a gruesome sight.
Smack! Smack!
"Kyaa! Kyaak! M-Martial Uncle!"
The bold challenger Seollan couldn't endure the relentless pummeling and turned tearful.
"Forgot what I said? Unite footwork and sword..."
Crack!
Struck on the back, Seollan eyed Jeokgeom, who had opened his eyes, pleading silently.
'H-help me, Senior Brother!'
Desperate plea.
But Jeokgeom averted his gaze, pretending not to notice, and squeezed his eyes shut.
'Sorry, Junior Sister.'
Amid rising screams echoing through Mount Hua.
Thud.
Seollan collapsed spread-eagled.
"Hah, hah... s-stop now..."
Her heaving chest rose and fell dramatically.
"Not bad."
Finishing the beating—no, meridian stimulation—Cheonhwi dusted his hands with a smile.
Seollan, catching her breath while lying down, flinched at the smile.
It looked refreshed, even evil.
And his next words confirmed it.
"Rested enough? Get up."