Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Uha! It Broke Through!
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“Uha, uahaha! Uahahahahahaha!”
It was laughter that could aptly be called deranged.
Even calling him a madman wouldn’t feel off.
Why?
Because it had broken through!
One of those Nine Yin Severed Meridians that had toyed with his damn life had finally broken through!
Anyone who knew him might look at this and ask if the infamous Poison Blade of the world was really getting this worked up over something so minor.
But whatever.
He was thrilled!
‘Eight Yin Sever... nah, eight’s unlucky because of those damn immortals. Anyway, one blocked meridian down!’
He was so excited he could’ve done a shoulder dance.
In fact, his shoulders were already twitching halfway into it.
Nangong Hyuk cackled hoarsely as he started dancing around the Medical Department Head’s office.
“Uahaha! It broke through, it broke through!”
One of the channels that had always constricted him, irritated him, kept him on edge—it was now perfectly clear.
“Man, so this is how wide a meridian is? It’s like a damn highway!”
No matter how many times he checked, it was the same.
A massive, pristine highway now crossed right through his heart.
Nangong Hyuk’s mouth twitched upward.
He’d taken a step—no, five steps—away from death’s doorstep.
Sorry, grim reaper?
‘First step’s half the battle. Halfway there now.’
Nangong Hyuk nodded vigorously and checked the wide-open meridian again.
Who knew something so obvious could bring this much joy.
That’s when he was fully savoring the feeling.
Boom! Kwang!
The door shook like it might shatter, and someone barreled inside.
“Huh?”
Nangong Hyuk tilted his head and looked at the intruders.
“What is it?”
The Medical Department Head, leading Celestial Bow Squad warriors, scanned the room frantically.
“What, I said?”
“Uh, well...”
The Medical Department Head looked at Nangong Hyuk with an anxious face.
“We heard black smoke rising from here and came running. Do you know anything about it?”
Black smoke?
‘From my body?’
Come to think of it, the surroundings did look a bit sooty.
“No, I don’t really...”
“Fiiiire! Uwaaaah! Young Maaaster!”
Before he could finish, Geum Cheomsang shoved through the doctors and charged at Nangong Hyuk.
“Hyaaaa! Get out of the way, move!”
Geum Cheomsang tried to hoist Nangong Hyuk onto his back.
Nangong Hyuk watched the struggling man and let out a hollow laugh.
‘...What a circus.’
Nangong Hyuk lightly shoved Geum Cheomsang aside.
Thud crash.
“Ow!”
He’d pushed lightly, yet Geum Cheomsang flew to the wall and rolled.
Nangong Hyuk glanced down at his hand.
‘...Huh?’
He’d really pushed lightly, but that far?
Without drawing any internal energy?
“Oh?”
Nangong Hyuk clenched and unclenched his fist.
Vitality overflowed within his body.
He swung his limbs around, and strength filled his muscles.
‘Did breaking the meridian change my body too?’
Yeah, that made sense in general terms.
When meridians opened, innate essence in the heart strengthened, internal energy grew and flowed freely—naturally, the body would toughen up.
He’d just forgotten the obvious because this body had been such pathetic trash.
He’d gotten too used to this hunk of junk.
‘And my internal energy’s surged too.’
He’d recovered all the energy hidden behind that newly opened blocked meridian. Even Nangong Hyuk felt proud of the amount.
“How much will I have once they’re all open?”
Just how many elixirs did they stuff this kid with? No wonder the family went broke.
Anyway, his body improving was a blessing.
At least now he wouldn’t worry about cracking ribs when coughing.
“Puhehe!”
Laughter bubbled from Nangong Hyuk’s lips.
“...Young Master? Are you alright?”
“Not just alright. I feel like I could fly.”
Geum Cheomsang looked baffled, while the Medical Department Head rushed over, flailing to touch Nangong Hyuk’s forehead.
“I’m fine, hehehe.”
I know my own body best.
Nangong Hyuk couldn’t stop grinning, laughter leaking out nonstop.
“What side effects? I’m full of pep. Hehe.”
Geum Cheomsang snapped out of his daze, staring blankly at the beaming Nangong Hyuk.
“That’s not the issue right now! There’s a fiiiire...”
“Where?”
“So, black smoke was billowing from here, and there was a burning smell... Huh?”
Geum Cheomsang blinked in confusion.
“No, earlier I saw black smoke pouring from the door crack... right?”
More than one or two people had seen black smoke rising from the door.
That’s why they’d brought buckets.
Nangong Hyuk smacked his lips and clucked his tongue with a bored look.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?”
“I’m telling you, it’s real! I saw it! I’d just brought snacks! Flames like whoosh!”
“Forehead. Now.”
“N-No. The smell’s still here! Sniff! Smell it. Still reeks of burning...”
Geum Cheomsang’s frantic expression turned subtle as he sniffed.
“...Wait, doesn’t burning smell usually have more bite? Sniff?”
“What’re you on about.”
“The smell... sniff... this is...”
Geum Cheomsang closed his eyes and sniffed intently.
He was tracing the source bit by bit.
Nangong Hyuk chuckled dryly.
“What’s this nonsense now?”
“Wait. Just... wait.”
“Yeah?”
“Y-Young Master?”
“What.”
“Y-Young Master, you crapped... Uweeeek!”
What? Is this guy nuts?
Puking in someone’s face?
“I say I’m feeling great, and you pull this crap? You gunning for me today?”
“Uuuk!”
“Hey, you okay?”
“Uuuuk!”
As Nangong Hyuk stared in disbelief, Geum Cheomsang clutched his nose and retched.
“Argh. The stench is no joke. What the hell did you do?”
“Hm?”
Nangong Hyuk glanced down at his robes. Dried blood and black waste stained them dark.
“Urgh. Yeah, it’s pretty rank.”
“You cra...”
“Enough!”
Nangong Hyuk smacked Geum Cheomsang’s forehead with a sharp crack.
“Ow!”
Geum Cheomsang clutched his forehead and rolled on the floor.
“Not crap. I expelled waste. Took an elixir, broke the meridian—obviously, built-up waste comes out.”
“...Pardon? What?”
The Medical Department Head’s eyes widened as he asked, and Nangong Hyuk shrugged.
“Expelled waste, I said.”
“N-No, before that.”
“Took an elixir.”
The Medical Department Head’s eyes shook like an earthquake.
“S-So the one who took the elixir from the Medical Department... was you, Second Young Master? Not a thief?”
“Yeah. Me.”
The Medical Department Head stared at Nangong Hyuk with blank eyes.
No way.
Who steals from their own house?
“W-Why on earth would you do that! The whole family’s in an uproar over it.”
“A few missing elixirs and they lose it. The mighty Nangong Clan. Tsk tsk.”
Nangong Hyuk waved it off lightly.
“I was gonna eat them anyway. Got better sooner—win-win.”
“......”
The Medical Department Head fixed Nangong Hyuk with the look reserved for the world’s biggest lunatic.
‘Then why’d you tear apart the head’s office, you psycho?’
It wasn’t lost, so he should be happy, but... should he?
Nangong Hyuk grinned at the stare.
“That stuff packs a punch. Hit me up for more next time.”
The Medical Department Head, giving up on understanding Nangong Hyuk, let out a forlorn sigh.
* * *
“Nice and fresh.”
Nangong Hyuk nodded at his reflection in the mirror.
After washing off the grime and dressing cleanly, he felt like he could float away.
Color had returned to his deathly pale skin.
Subtle enough others might not notice, but to Nangong Hyuk, the difference was stark.
‘It’ll get even better.’
Vitality surged through him, matching his improved complexion.
‘Let’s see.’
Nangong Hyuk raised his arm and swung it lightly.
Whoosh whoosh!
He could swing full force without issue.
No more joints popping or weird noises like before.
Hop hop!
He jumped in place, twisted his neck—nothing hurt his body.
‘Not dislocating.’
Shoulders broader, muscle fibers aligned.
Compared to his past life as Ha Hu-yeong, still puny, but after freezing hardship, even ice water feels warm—this seemed pretty good.
‘And taller.’
Twisted bones straightened, adding a full inch naturally.
But height wasn’t the big deal.
The key was his warped bones and muscles settling into harmony.
‘Finally...’
Strange feeling.
Just some muscle and straightened bones.
Not even Marrow Cleansing, yet complex emotions welled up.
What was it like?
A general demoted to foot soldier after wandering as a commoner?
“Hehe, hehehe.”
Laughter laced with tangled feelings filled the room.
Overjoyed at an arm that wouldn’t snap when swung.
“Finally at mortal level?”
Lean, but not skeletal anymore.
Nangong Hyuk smiled in satisfaction.
Not settling for this little, but enjoying the moment wasn’t bad.
“Been a while since I brimmed with vigor.”
One blocked meridian gone, body transformed—he could barely contain the power.
“Now that I think, this body’s nineteen now?”
Age to chew iron.
What was I doing at nineteen?
‘Busier than this punk, that’s for sure.’
Vague memories of clashing fiercely all day.
Ahh, good, so good.
This uncontainable vitality!
How long since I last felt it!
Siiiip! Haaa!
Even the air tasted different.
Nangong Hyuk looked around and dashed to the courtyard.
He grabbed a stone lion statue in one corner and yanked.
“Grrrr! Hah! Uwaaaah!”
Grrrrrr!
It dragged, carving a long groove in the ground.
Pure muscle power pulling this massive lion.
Nangong Hyuk’s face lit up.
“No dislocation! Arm’s fine! Uahaha! Uyaah!”
Ecstatic that his arm held, Nangong Hyuk yanked the statue harder.
“Uahahaha! Hahaha!”
Booming laughter echoed through the courtyard.
The louder he laughed, the deeper the furrow as the lion dragged.
‘What the hell?’
Geum Cheomsang, carrying snacks, froze at the sight of Nangong Hyuk’s antics from afar.
‘Good meds and he’s acting up like this?’
Why drag a stationary stone lion?
Half-naked, no less.
‘Did something snap in his head?’
Reasonable suspicion.
Whether from the Nine Yin Severed Meridians or elixir side effects, something was wrong.
Grrrr! Grrrk!
Amazed a skinny guy could drag it, but Geum Cheomsang shrugged it off.
‘Not the first weird episode. Sigh, hope no bones break.’
“Young Master, careful!”
“Uahaha!”
“Young Master?”
“Uahahaha!”
“......Sigh.”
Geum Cheomsang sighed, watching the bizarre display.
Like a thirteen-year-old unable to control his strength.
Nangong Hyuk dragged the lion a whole zhang before sprinting to the garden.
He hefted decorative rocks and ran, chopped tended trees with his sword, smashed plates he’d brought...
“Damn it! Stop thaaat! Argh, I’m losing it! That’s an irreplaceable plate by Master An Hu-seong!”
Argh, seriously losing it.
‘Why’s he suddenly like this? Ugh, wasn’t it easier when he was bedridden and feeble?’
Truly bizarre.
Why did this feel harder than when he couldn’t even eat alone?
As Geum Cheomsang’s worries deepened, Nangong Hyuk’s massive laughter rang out.
“Uahahahahahahaha!”