The Secret Manual of Joint Chamber Cultivation

The Secret Manual of Joint Chamber Cultivation. Wasn't the title itself incredibly suspicious? By now, Ma Ryun had resolved not to question most of his master's orders. Yet, the moment he heard that title, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes. When he had asked if that was something one actually needed to cultivate, the response he received was even more absurd.

Ma Ryun muttered, "I should have just entered a temple ten years ago..."

"Even if you did, you would have just slaughtered everyone in the temple and ended up bored out of your mind all by yourself," Banya replied.

"At least I would be alone."

Ma Ryun opened a book, only to place it back where it belonged. Like most of the volumes gathering dust in this storehouse, it didn't even have a proper title. He lost count of how many times they had come up empty-handed like this.

"And I wouldn't have to rummage through a secret underground chamber just to find a book about sharing a bed."

"I told you, it is not just a book about sharing a bed. It is a secret manual."

"Right, right," Ma Ryun replied half-heartedly. "You said it is a mental cultivation method to control or share the other person's emotions."

The sarcastic retort 'How incredibly useful' rose to the tip of his tongue, but Ma Ryun had survived a decade as the right-hand man of the fickle and ruthless Hwa Banya. He knew exactly when to keep his mouth shut.

"You might as well just curse at me to my face, Heavenly Killing Star."

"Why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would I dig my own grave?"

"So that I can kick you right into it."

Ma Ryun stopped rummaging through the chest and stared blankly into space. "Maybe I should shave my head even now..."

Banya was not one to let such a comment slide. He chimed in, noting that while it might have been possible ten years ago, the temples had changed their policies. "I hear they don't just accept anyone these days. Probably because they're flooded with debtors, escaped convicts, and murderers on the run."

"Then who do they accept?"

"Word has it you need to possess a useful skill."

"My skill at decapitating people is second to none, though..."

Banya let out a dry chuckle at his subordinate's remark. "And what use would a temple have for a monk who excels at decapitation?"

Ma Ryun stared blankly at his master, who was currently cursing him to be defrocked before sunset even if he did manage to enter a temple. As he did, his hand brushed against a book, and he lifted it up. Clearly written on the right side of its worn, dark green cover were the words: The Secret Manual of Joint Chamber Cultivation: Volume One.

"Say that again, please."

"...Are you threatening me?"

"What did you just say about me?"

"Even if you slice my neck a hundred times, the truth remains unchanged. Heavenly Killing Star, you are simply not destined to live as a monk."

Ma Ryun did not care for that answer. "And why is that?"

"Your karma pierces the heavens. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Tears of blood would stream from the Buddha statue before you could even set foot inside the Main Buddha Hall."

"...I can just live without a Buddha statue."

Banya opened his mouth to retort, likely wanting to ask, 'Then how is that any different from a regular mountain cottage?' However, instead of voicing the thought, he chose to placate his subordinate.

"Fine. When you retire later, I shall build a hermitage without a Buddha statue just for you."

The only reason such uncharacteristically generous words were spilling from Banya's mouth was, of course, because Ma Ryun was currently holding Volume One of the Secret Manual of Joint Chamber Cultivation. Satisfied with having gained the upper hand, even if only for a fleeting moment, Ma Ryun handed the book over.

Upon inspecting the contents of the manual, Banya's face lit up with absolute delight. He then began to share a story Ma Ryun hadn't even asked to hear.

"Yesterday, a female disciple of the Biwol Sect presented Baekri Yeongso with a joint chamber cultivation manual. The moment I saw that unusual title, a memory flashed through my mind of having seen it somewhere else before."

The moment Banya had returned to his quarters, he had opened the inventory ledger of the treasure vault. Sure enough, he discovered a record of Volume One of the Secret Manual of Joint Chamber Cultivation dating back several decades. Confirming that his memory had not played tricks on him, Banya had immediately summoned Ma Ryun and descended into the underground vault.

"I came down here once, right after I became the Alliance Leader of Cheonsaryeon. The title was simply too intriguing to pass up, so I opened it."

Banya flipped through the pages with a swift flick of his wrist.

"Baekri Yeongso has no idea that this manual is split into two volumes, as the book she received lacks any indication of being 'Volume Two'. Even the Biwol Sect disciple who gifted it to her probably didn't know. She likely just thought of it as a fitting gift for a married couple. In fact, she probably never expected Yeongso to actually read it, given that the Alliance Leader's wife is widely rumored to have no knowledge of martial arts."

It had been handed over merely as a memorable, tongue-in-cheek gift. Banya surmised that the original pair of manuals had been separated under some circumstance, and their covers had been rebound individually.

"Indeed, you did mention that the second volume the Lady received has a reddish-brown cover," Ma Ryun noted.

The cover of Volume One, which Ma Ryun had just unearthed, was a deep, dark green. Banya nodded slowly.

"But, Alliance Leader... do you truly intend to learn this mental cultivation method?"

Dragging his right-hand man down to the treasure vault—a place strictly off-limits to anyone but the Alliance Leader of Cheonsaryeon—just to unearth Volume One made it clear that Banya had a plan. Yet, no matter how Ma Ryun looked at it, this technique seemed far too trivial for the strongest master of the Unorthodox Path to learn. Even for a mere pastime, there had to be a limit.

And didn't he say that once the manual is fully mastered, one can even control the other's murderous intent?

That was practically no different from handing the hilt of a blade directly to the Lady. His master was already cursed to perform at least one good deed every single day—had he truly lost his mind? Ma Ryun stared at Banya with a deeply concerned expression.

"Look at this, Heavenly Killing Star."

Banya seemed utterly indifferent to whatever worries were plaguing his subordinate. He pointed to the open page.

"Volume One consists of questions, while Volume Two details the physical actions based on those answers. To learn this manual, the practitioner must obtain the answers to these questions from their partner."

Banya's long fingers tapped the page. "This is exactly why I needed to find Volume One."

Ma Ryun took the book with a skeptical look. Each turn of the page revealed a new question.

Having skimmed through the contents, Ma Ryun finally understood why Banya had been so desperate to find this. Hwa Banya was planning to pry loose the secrets of Baekri Yeongso—secrets he had failed to uncover even after killing her seventeen times in his past lives. This time, he meant to succeed.

"My lady, it seems you were deeply engrossed in your reading last night. There are faint shadows under your eyes." Banya spoke with a feigned tone of concern, continuing, "Could the book that captivated you so completely be... this Secret Manual of Joint Chamber Cultivation?"

When he reached for the reddish-brown book, which she had placed face down to hide the title, Yeongso flinched in surprise. She seemed to think he was going to snatch it away again, just as he had the day before yesterday. Yeongso swiftly grabbed the book and shoved it deep inside a small chest of drawers. She looked poised to stand guard in front of the chest, refusing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to budge until her husband left the room.

She looks exactly like a divine guardian protecting a heavenly treasure.

Banya suppressed the sly, wicked smirk that threatened to creep onto his face. To achieve his goal, he had to play it cool. He must not show even a hint of eagerness. Recalling how he had teased his wife into a frenzy the other day, Banya let out a soft, amused chuckle, assuring her that he had no intention of stealing it.

"How did you find it after reading?"

"...It was a bit strange."

"Well, it is a mental cultivation method that allows one to control their partner's desires, so it is only natural for it to feel strange."

"No, not that." Yeongso fidgeted with her fingers. "As I read through the text, there seemed to be many missing parts. I believe this manual was originally meant to be in two volumes."

"Two volumes, you say..." Baekri Yeongso was not the only master of deceitful acting. Hwa Banya's skills in this department were also improving by leaps and bounds, all thanks to his noble-born wife's talent for catching him off guard.

"Now that you mention it, I believe I might have seen a book with a similar title in the treasure vault of Cheonsaryeon. It was quite some time ago, so my memory is a bit hazy, though."

Yeongso looked suspicious, yet her interest was clearly piqued. "You saw the Secret Manual of Joint Chamber Cultivation?"

"I cannot say for certain... but surely there cannot be two books in this world with such a peculiar title. Hearing your thoughts, however, makes me wonder if what I saw was indeed Volume One."

Yeongso's large eyes rolled thoughtfully. Yes, that's it. Come along, little rabbit. Step right into the trap. Keeping his face perfectly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠innocent, Banya asked her:

"If you wish, my lady, shall I have the Heavenly Killing Star search for Volume One?"