It Just Works
He needed to master martial arts quickly if he was going to leave this place...
At the very least, he had to be able to run.
Right now, Jeong Gwang couldn't even escape from the arms of young women, let alone stand among Murim's masters.
"Kyaaah! Little Taoist!"
"Oh my! He's too cute!"
The female cultivators visiting Kunlun swarmed him, hugging and fussing over Jeong Gwang.
His astonishingly adorable face. The simple Taoist robes tailored perfectly to his tiny frame.
Where in the world could you find such a combination?
His popularity soared beyond the lofty heights of Kunlun, piercing the very heavens.
"Little Taoist, what's your Dao title?"
"...Jeong Gwang."
"Eeee! I wanna bite you!"
Some women even gave him a gentle nibble.
It didn't hurt.
Far from hurting, it felt good.
He wasn't awakening to some strange fetish.
It was just novel.
In his past life, he'd walked the path of blood, so he knew women well enough. In fact, countless women had worshipped him.
But that was all because of his position. None had ever liked him purely for who he was.
Reincarnation opened up a world like this, huh.
He was on the verge of muttering prayers to the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.
"Sisters, that's enough now. He's still a Taoist, you know."
"Sigh, you're right. Sorry, little Taoist. See you later."
When the women left, an emptiness settled in. Was this what loss felt like?
It was an emotion he'd never known in his previous life, where he had everything and took what he didn't.
Come to think of it, it felt similar to when his master had died.
"...Huh?"
Jeong Gwang realized something.
His previous life hadn't been living at all.
Learning martial arts to protect his father, fighting, killing—that was it. Nothing for himself!
How unjust.
He'd smelled enough of people's regret and weariness. That's why he'd only thought of leaving, but his reasons had been wrong.
Now it was time to enjoy.
He'd leave to enjoy it all.
He decided to set concrete goals for what he'd do once he ventured into the world.
But...
There was too much he hadn't tried.
So?
He'd try everything!
Jeong Gwang's expression turned serious.
First, master martial arts.
He was confident he could become a master in no time.
Why?
Because he'd been the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Aside from his father, he'd inherited the title of the world's greatest martial artist, generation after generation.
The Central Plains Murim folk wouldn't acknowledge it, but that only made them look pathetic.
Even previous cult leaders weaker than him had toyed with Central Plains Murim.
He couldn't run yet, so maybe start with horse stance?
Even that was impossible with this body.
He'd have to begin with Qi Circulation and Breath Regulation.
For the fastest progress, lay the foundation with the Soul Slaughtering Heart Technique, build the pillar with the Asura Demonic Blood Art, then crown it with the Heavenly Demon Shaking Heaven Divine Art...
That's when he caught sight of Kunlun Taoists demonstrating their martial arts.
"Hah! One Stroke Severing Clouds!"
An elegant scholar's brush stroke parted the clouds like a graceful sword dance.
"Hup. Cloud Dragon Soaring to Heaven!"
A mystical lightness skill that looked like a dragon rising through the clouds into the sky.
Their skills were mediocre, but the martial arts themselves were stylish.
Jeong Gwang's little mouth fell open.
"Ah..."
This was it.
He didn't want to be called One Hand Thousand Bloods or True Heavenly Demon like in his past life, titles reeking of blood.
Wandering Jianghu with elegant forms like those—that was a man's true style.
Un Hu's words came to mind.
'It is the will of the Supreme Old Lord. This was destined to be.'
Yes. That's why it was Kunlun.
Kunlun, the most mysterious of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang!
It was stuck in the boonies, but public perception was what mattered.
If he used Heavenly Demon Divine Cult techniques in the Central Plains, he'd be branded Murim's public enemy. He'd spend his life swatting down swarms of righteous sect dogs.
But Kunlun martial arts? That changed everything.
He'd learn techniques mirroring the majestic energy of Kunlun Mountain and its mysterious clouds.
Then head to the Central Plains!
Just being a Kunlun disciple would make him a sensation.
How rare and stylish!
His desire to train grew stronger.
Not just to escape, but to wield the arts themselves.
'Huh?'
A day like this would come.
In his past life, as the cult leader's son, he'd had to learn.
His immense talent kept him going.
By the time it grew tedious, he had to continue for his father.
Jeong Gwang thought he hated martial arts.
But no.
His mind said no, but his body loved it.
The difference now? Learning prestigious orthodox arts with catchy names and flashy forms that stuck in his ears.
He needed to start as soon as possible.
"Sigh."
The Taoists looked at him pitifully, lost in thought.
They mistook it for trauma from the female visitors.
"You've suffered so much."
Heo Cheong stroked Jeong Gwang's head with a wry smile.
"...Saje."
"...!"
Like a miracle, Jeong Gwang spoke.
"Teach me inner arts please."
Kunlun flipped.
"Such a prodigy!"
"Already speaking like this!"
"Hmm. Isn't this normal around this age?"
"Huh? Maybe."
Kunlun's all-bachelor group had never raised a child.
So they asked the female visitors.
And got roasted for their ignorance.
"Oh dear. How could you say that."
"At this size, he can't even be a year old yet? Pronouncing full sentences clearly at this age is a miracle."
"Sigh. Will our little Taoist grow up properly?"
"We'll visit often to help!"
Kunlun Sect, at the edge of remote Qinghai Province, suffered severe manpower and financial shortages.
Suddenly, people gathered.
Women brought women, men followed.
Devout cultivators willing to brave Kunlun Mountain were few, but now they multiplied.
Vitality returned to Kunlun.
People brought money, money improved life.
Even the stern sect leader smiled faintly.
Jeong Gwang was already earning his keep more than anyone.
"Heh heh. Primordial Heavenly Venerable. You are the sect's blessing."
A normal child might preen, but not Jeong Gwang.
The female attention was fresh only at first.
His mind was full of martial arts.
But his master, Heo Cheong, had no intention of teaching.
"Saje. Saje."
"Not yet."
"Saje. Teach me please."
"You're too young. Eat well and sleep now."
Sensible, but could he follow?
Jeong Gwang observed his surroundings.
Sword forms, fist techniques, lightness skills—all etched in his mind.
But forms without inner cultivation were worthless.
He mimicked Heo Cheong's breathing, always nearby.
Inhale, exhale.
Just varying rhythm and count—the basics of Basic Tuona Breathing.
Complicating it for efficiency was inner cultivation.
Basics sufficed for now.
First step: find the dantian, sense qi.
A single thread of qi took root in his vast, fertile field—thanks to the Kunlun elders' Transmitting Power Across Body that had healed him long ago.
End of rainy season: one became two.
Falling leaves: two to four.
After snow: eight.
Budding flowers: sixteen.
Time passed.
At five, his dantian reaped a bountiful harvest.
From basic Basic Tuona Breathing alone.
No one in the world was so faithful to the fundamentals. Jeong Gwang was satisfied.
By then, he spoke his thoughts clearly and freely.
Everyone had grown used to it, taking it for granted.
'Time to teach him.'
Sensing the moment, Heo Cheong sat Jeong Gwang down gravely.
"We'll begin martial training. Lay the foundation with inner cultivation."
The prepared Jeong Gwang clenched his tiny fist.
Finally.
Good. Skip the trash.
At minimum...
"Great Pure Qi Art?"
"What? Haha. Basics first. Learn proper breathing."
"I already can."
"...What?"
"I've expanded my dantian and gathered pure qi."
"Nonsense... Let me see."
"H-how...?"
"I mimicked your breathing, Master."
Following Heo Cheong, he'd mastered Kunlun's breath.
"And reached this level? Impossible!"
"It just works."
"..."
Heo Cheong couldn't argue.
He'd seen it himself.
After much turmoil, he realized it—and clenched his fist like Jeong Gwang earlier.
'My disciple is a genius!'
Smart and quick to speak—he'd been proud before.
But a true genius among geniuses!
Time to fulfill his duty.
Brag!
He dashed around Kunlun boasting!
"Brothers! Jeong Gwang is a real genius!"
"Nephew! Your martial uncle's disciple is a real genius!"
They nodded with smiles.
Thinking:
'What a show-off.'
Heo Cheong wasn't dumb; he caught their thoughts.
But he wasn't mad.
His cultivation wasn't that shallow... No, his disciple was a real genius!
He scooped up Jeong Gwang and raced to the elders' hall.
"Master! Martial uncles!"
"What is it?"
"Don't be shocked!"
"Hmm. What news?"
"My disciple is a genius!"
"...Y-yes. A clever child."
The old Taoists chuckled and nodded.
Every parent thinks their child pretty; who stops disciple-bragging?
Even serious Heo Cheong went blind for his disciple.
"We can't teach Jeong Gwang by the book. He needs genius-level instruction."
"...Yes, yes. So be it."
"I'm not joking."
"Heh heh. We know."
Heo Cheong grinned at their awkward smiles.
His smile brimmed with confidence.
"I'll prove it."
Proof came from Jeong Gwang's dantian, not words.
The elders infused qi and gaped.
Such vastness! Such sturdiness! Beyond common sense! And the qi inside!
"Immeasurable..."
"How is this possible."
"The Supreme Old Lord watches over Kunlun!"
The elders pondered.
Was it right to teach secret inner arts to a five-year-old? Even a genius risked danger.
Un Hu stepped in.
"I'll oversee with Heo Cheong."
"Senior Brother?"
"Heh heh. My dantian is ruined, but I can sense and teach qi."
"You know that's not the issue."
In the end, they agreed.
Jeong Gwang would learn not Great Pure Qi Art, but Lesser Pure Qi Art.
Even geniuses needed steps to build solidly.
Un Hu and Heo Cheong taught passionately.
Jeong Gwang absorbed even more.
"Heh heh heh."
Heo Cheong asked the beaming Un Hu.
"Why the laugh, Grandmaster?"
"Because of your disciple."
"Jeong Gwang? Did he do something wrong...?"
"Wrong? Draining my reserves daily—if that's wrong, yes."
"Hahaha. That's what you meant."
Un Hu and Heo Cheong laughed heartily.
Grand-disciple and disciple—Jeong Gwang's growth thrilled them.
Such absurd feats at that age! Where else such a child?
Exactly three years later.
Jeong Gwang tilted his head at Un Hu.
"Grandmaster."
"Heh heh. Speak."
"I've mastered Lesser Pure, but I have a question."
"Haha. Mastered Lesser? What nons—"
"It just works."
"...Show me."
Un Hu placed a hand on Jeong Gwang's meridian. As circulation began, his eyes widened. Not Lesser Circuit—Greater Circuit in an instant! Qi converged, surpassing Lesser Pure to Great Pure!
Un Hu gaped in shock as Jeong Gwang stopped.
Perfect start and finish—the realm of intent.
"Grandmaster. That's Great Pure, right?"
Un Hu nodded blankly.
"No need for Great Pure Qi Art then. Teach me Supreme Pure Unsurpassed Divine Art at once."
"H-how...?"
"It just works."
"...Just works?"
To Un Hu's strained question, Jeong Gwang replied innocently.
"It does for me."