Breaking Through to Qi Circulation

A chilling, heavy silence hung in the air. It was I who broke it first.

"Senior."

[What is it?]

"Let's be honest with each other. I don't want to die, and if you couldn't even handle a piece of trash like Jeon Gu-seok on your own, it's not that you're just taking it easy—it seems like you're practically gasping for your last breath."

[....]

A brief silence ensued. Soon, she gave me the answer I wanted.

[Sigh... I admit it. It seems that if we are not honest with each other, this conversation will only run in parallel lines.]

"Thank you. Shall we start by introducing ourselves? I am Hayun, formerly the son of Jeon Gu-seok."

[Very well.]

"And your name is?"

[Mmm.]

I could feel her agonizing over a mere name. This meant one of two things: either her name was so famous that even someone like me could easily look it up, or she had some complicated circumstances. Personally, I leaned toward the former. After all, she was an entity who, without even a physical body, had used possession to instantly elevate a pathetic loser like Jeon Gu-seok to the Qi Circulation realm.

At least Samgeuk. Or even higher.

There were actually quite a few people in the Qi Circulation realm here in Yagwi City. Far more than one would think, in fact. But once you reached the Samgeuk realm, things changed entirely. A master of the Samgeuk realm was considered equivalent to an entire mid-sized faction just by existing, and they reigned as elders even in massive clans like the Kang family.

But what if she was beyond Samgeuk? If she truly was such an existence, it was a miracle I was even alive. Just looking at the descriptions in folk tales or ancient texts, beings of the Johwa realm and above made you wonder if they were even biological creatures.

[Eum-ra. Call me that.]

"You're not even trying to hide that it's an alias, are you?"

[...So you are certain, not just testing me. What makes you think so?]

"What kind of woman's name sounds so close to 'obscene'?"

[How scandalous!]

Her reaction, as if she had never even conceived of such a thought, was quite amusing.

[Ryeo-ah. Call me Ryeo-ah.]

"Hmm..."

[What scandalous word have you associated with it this time?]

"No, it's not that."

I just realized she still has no intention of hiding her alias.

[Is that so important?]

"Of course it is. Ryeo-ah knows me, but I have no idea who Ryeo-ah is."

The basics of negotiation require understanding your opponent. At the very least, even if you know nothing about them, you must make them believe you have seen through everything. But with her reading my mind so openly, this was proving to be incredibly difficult.

[Hmph. Do not think to play petty tricks on me, boy. I wonder how such a sly creature could emerge from among those barbaric Dokkaebi.]

Judging by her words, she isn't a Dokkaebi. This increased the likelihood that she wasn't from Yagwi City, where the vast majority of masters were Dokkaebi of the Night Goblin race. Ah, right. She just read my mind.

[...Frightening brat. You make it difficult to utter even a single word.]

"That's not what's important right now, is it?"

Further probing seemed pointless. All that was left was to align our interests.

"What do you want to do?"

[Did you not propose a negotiation first?]

"Fine. I'll lay out three paths we can take. First: we cleanly let go of our grudges and part ways right here. Second: we coexist in this body of mine. Third: we die together in perfect harmony."

Naturally, the third option was practically non-existent, and the second option left a very unpleasant aftertaste. Parting ways as if nothing had happened would be ideal, but that would leave me feeling uneasy. She was someone who had achieved a realm far superior to mine, and there was no telling when, how, or whose body she might borrow to reappear. If I let her go safely, I wouldn't be able to sleep a wink at night.

[Hmph. Then is the answer not already decided?]

"Huh? Senior?"

[Why so surprised? For a suspicious, calculating brat like you, wouldn't it be more reassuring to keep me where you can see me?]

That was true, but the moment Ryeo-ah said those words, a wave of anxiety washed over me. Could it be that the longer she possesses my body, the more control she gradually steals away?

[Hmph. If you are so suspicious, then cast me out.]

"Can you even leave?"

[...It is possible.]

"But it'll take a massive toll on you, won't it?"

Maybe I should just go to Kang Baek-jin and ask him to get rid of her... Ah.

[Try it. But do not expect me to die quietly. Though I have fallen this low, I still possess more than enough power to drag a mere insect like you down with me.]

"Then, do you want to leave?"

[...That is a bit...]

"You sure answered fast when I actually suggested it."

This was driving me crazy.

[....]

'....'

Another silence followed. The conversation seemed to flow, yet it remained at a standstill. I feared a future where I let such a dangerous entity run free, while she seemed to have her own reasons for hesitating to stay in my body or leave it.

Deducing from our conversation and her reactions so far, I could be sure of one thing: she had no intention of leaving my body right now. Whether she chose not to or simply couldn't was something I'd have to find out later, but for now, that was the reality. She must have a reason to stay for a long time. If she hadn't decided on a long-term stay, she wouldn't have reacted like that earlier.

[What on earth do you want me to do then! You reject this, you reject that!]

"You're the one stubbornly insisting on staying in my body, Ryeo-ah."

Since we both knew each other's situations, deception was useless. In that case, the time had come to make a compromise. Ah, compromise. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The word I hated most.

"...Let's compromise."

[How?]

In the end, this wouldn't end unless I kept Ryeo-ah inside me.

"I'm going to charge you rent."

[You want me to pay a fee for residing in your body...? Normally, I would not even deign to look at such a proposal, but given my current state, I have no choice.]

"Of course you should. I'm making a huge concession here."

[And what you desire is my knowledge, I presume?]

"Exactly."

The experience and knowledge of an entity beyond the Samgeuk realm. That in itself was a treasure of immeasurable value.

[Ufufu. What is it you desire? Peerless cultivation arts? Secret techniques of alchemy and blacksmithing? I even possess designs for puppetry, talismans, and formations. Knowledge of value far beyond what a creature like you could ever fathom.]

"Are you going to give me all of that?"

[As if. Did you not call it rent? Every month, I shall impart a suitable piece of knowledge of the kind you desire.]

"Sounds good. Now we're finally getting somewhere."

I thought the conversation was wrapping up, but...

"So, what's the real reason you won't leave my body?"

[Is such a trivial matter so important?]

"If you don't tell me, the deal is off."

I glared at her, standing my ground. I made it clear that this was a non-negotiable condition. She hesitated for a moment, then sighed at my stubbornness and spoke.

[Haa... If one has a physical body to return to, it is a different story, but possession in a purely spiritual state is highly dangerous. The more one possesses, and the more vessels one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠passes through, the more one's mind and consciousness are permanently eroded. And the only end to that path is absolute ruin.]

"Hmm."

[It is not a lie! If you doubt me, you can look it up yourself later! It is written even in the most basic manuals of possession...!]

"I understand."

Let's wrap up this issue for now. Though it was an unwanted cohabitation, she was someone I'd have to share a bathroom with for the foreseeable future, so we might as well get along.

"Ryeo-ah."

[Call me Lady Ryeo-ah, you insolent brat.]

"Our first meeting wasn't the best, but still, I look forward to working with you."

[...Well. There is no harm in getting along, I suppose.]

Was she surprised by my suddenly polite tone, so different from before? Her resentful, edgy voice seemed to soften slightly.

"Oh, by the way, Ryeo-ah."

[Insolent wretch. Fine, call me whatever you please.]

"Shall we start with the security deposit?"

I could practically feel her staring at me with utter disgust. Well, what? It's only natural to secure a deposit beforehand.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

"Is what your concubine heard true?"

"Yeah."

"Have you perhaps lost your mind?"

"No."

"Mmm... No wonder a Qi Circulation cultivator emerged from such a backwater village. So that senior was the reason."

"That's how it is."

I didn't hide it from So-wol. If I didn't tell her the truth, she'd probably think I was a lunatic who cracked his own skull open to become a rock turtle. Besides, she was my ultimate insurance policy. If my roommate tried anything funny, So-wol would be the first to notice and run to report it to Kang Baek-jin.

[Thorough bastard. Am I truly that untrustworthy?]

"How can I trust someone whose first move upon meeting me was to possess me?"

[And how do you think I feel, having to associate with a monster who poisoned and killed his own father upon our first meeting?]

"Let's call it a draw."

[Hmph!]

With that, her voice fell silent. Was she just sick of dealing with me, or was this also due to some kind of restriction? There was no way to know.

"So, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what do you plan to do now?" So-wol asked as she got off, having arrived at the Kang family estate where we resided.

"First, I need to get my hands on a mental cultivation art."

I had to secure a basic safety net first. Even if the worst-case scenario occurred, I needed to be able to fight for control of my own body. And it had to be at least on the level of the Great Mountain Demonic Wisdom Art.

"Where would you find a mental art that would likely only be kept in the Silver-grade library? Your concubine cannot think of any way."

I tapped my head.

"She's right here. A senior who possesses an immense wealth of knowledge."

"Your concubine can only marvel at Master's wisdom."

Naturally, I had no intention of blindly practicing whatever art Ryeo-ah threw my way. Who knew what kind of traps she might have laid in it? Having practiced cultivation arts, I realized they were a lot like coding—if you accidentally added a single wrong line of code, it could lead to a catastrophic disaster later on. However, the world possessed a primitive yet wonderful system called bartering. I could simply trade a high-level art she gave me for a mental defense art.

"The Samadhi Calamity Fire Art. It is a fire-attribute spiritual medium art worthy of being stored in the Silver-grade library. If you donate this to the family, you will receive a large amount of contribution points, or you may copy and take one art from the Silver-grade library. However, leaking it to the outside is strictly prohibited."

"Yes. Do you have any mental defense arts? Especially one that's useful when possessed."

"That is quite specific. Please wait a moment."

The keeper of the Silver-grade library stepped inside for a moment and returned with a book in his arms. Judging by the crisp paper, it wasn't the original but a copy. Well, as long as the content was the same, it didn't matter.

"Thank you."

"I say this out of concern, but leaking a Silver-grade art is a matter that would prompt the Hall of Law Master himself to take action."

The Hall of Law Master. Just the name sounded incredibly powerful. In reality, he was indeed monstrously strong. A martial institution that dealt with traitors and enforced the clan's laws couldn't possibly be weak. It was a secretive organization directly managed by the clan's patriarch and elders. In other words, if I didn't want to be hunted down by a Samgeuk master, I had better behave.

"Don't worry."

"Haha. As one grows old, one tends to worry more."

With a light farewell, I returned to my room.

"Young Master? So, when will you reach Qi Circulation..."

"Just wait."

I was too busy mastering my newly acquired art.

...Is it just me, or am I accumulating too many random skills in my build? Martial arts, spells, and now even a mental art. No matter how much I loved hybrid builds, wasn't this a bit too much for someone still in the Yeondan realm?

"But it's not like I can just skip it."

Looking on the bright side, let's just say I was walking a path destined for greatness from the very beginning.

[Hmph. You are wasting your time.]

"I need to have insurance too."

[I took a brief look at that Black Shadow whatever. It is a piece of absolute garbage. You traded the Samadhi Calamity Fire Art I gave you for this trash? Both that old man and you must be blind! Do you have any idea what kind of art that was? Foolish boy. Truly foolish.]

As they say, when someone starts rambling, it means they're getting nervous. Realizing my judgment was spot on, I began to master the Black Shadow Soul-Locking Great Art.

And three months later.

Clang, rattle!

[You! What is the meaning of this!]

"I'm just trying to raise my realm. Honestly, if you don't have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠any bad intentions, just stay tied up for a bit."

[What kind of mind do you possess to be able to forge and manipulate mental chains in such a short span of time!]

Who knows? I've always been good at concentrating.

After securing Ryeo-ah's "understanding" through somewhat rough means, I checked the state of my body and mind and swallowed the Qi Circulation Pill. Soon, a freezing pain surged through my veins.

"Ugh..."

The effects of the Qi Circulation Pill were twofold: opening up the body's fine meridians to make it easier to project energy, and forcing one to experience the sensation of the Qi Circulation realm.

"Fuuu."

A thick haze rose over my body, and just like Jeon Gu-seok in the past, the energy began to take shape. It collapsed, merged, tried to forge itself, and then scattered.

*Cough.*

I coughed dryly and collapsed on the spot. The first attempt was a failure. Disappointing, but within acceptable parameters.

I rested my body fully for three days and analyzed the cause of the failure. I engraved the good attempts and sensations into my mind, while isolating and analyzing the causes of failure.

"Second attempt."

The second attempt. I swallowed another Qi Circulation Pill. The same freezing pain rushed in, but it was less intense than before. My body had grown accustomed to it after just one try. Or had I already developed a tolerance to the pill on my second try?

*Cough, hack.*

Failure. But unlike last time, I had truly reached the threshold of success.

I sent away So-wol, who had brought a meat dish to nourish my exhausted body. Instead, as soon as my body recovered slightly, I immediately attempted to break through the realm. It wasn't out of impatience. I was certain. I wouldn't need any more Qi Circulation Pills. At the same time, I knew this would be my final attempt.

And a moment later...

"Strip."

"Pardon? Ah... Yes."

At the same time, I confidently grabbed So-wol by the waist and threw her onto the bed. Now that I had reached Qi Circulation, I could proudly and openly fuck her.

[Y-You pervert! What do you think you are doing in front of me! Put that hideous thing away this instant! Do not strip! Do not get hard! Pull your pants back up!]

"You're noisy. Just shut up for a bit."

I pulled down only my pants, hitched up her thigh-high cheongsam, and pushed myself inside. Underwear? I just shoved it aside and slid straight into her wet slit. As my cock buried itself to the root, So-wol's hips shuddered, and her spine arched.

"Ahhn~❤︎"

"You've gotten quite used to this, haven't you?"

The way she wiggled her hips, taking in my cock as if begging me to move quickly, was incredibly slutty. Even though I fucked her whenever I was bored and made her give me morning blowjobs every single day, she had become far too lewd.

Or maybe not? It would be weirder if she stayed normal after all this.

"Mmm... Master's cock is so energetic today as well~❤︎"

"Your pussy is delicious too, clamping down so tight with those ridges."

"Your concubine may not know much else, but she certainly has a talent for pleasing Master's cock."

"...Do you study how to talk so dirtily?"

"Did Master not teach me himself?"

Was that so? I did teach her whenever I had free time, but to think she'd progress this much. If there were a cultivation art that made you stronger through sex, So-wol would have reached Qi Circulation long ago.

"Your tight pussy is amazing today too. I love it."

"Please... ahn! Enjoy it whenever you wish."

She lacked her past innocence, but I liked her much better this way. I kneaded her exposed thighs and ass cheeks over her bunched-up dress as I thrust my hips.

[Scandalous wretches. Truly scandalous... How can you do this in front of another? You beasts...]