Chapter 22: Red Moon Pavilion (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22: Red Moon Pavilion (2)
"You punk, you went to a brothel, didn't you?"
Chun-bong’s gaze was sharp.
To be honest, Seo-jun hadn't done anything wrong, but her glare was the kind that could manufacture a crime out of thin air.
"Uh... I guess?"
"......"
Chun-bong’s eyes traveled slowly from the top of Seo-jun’s head down to his toes.
However, Seo-jun didn’t flinch.
I’m innocent.
He really hadn't spent a single cent.
Instead of making excuses, he squared his shoulders with confidence.
"...Hmph. Look at you, acting all proud."
"I didn’t spend a single penny!"
"Dumbass."
Pouting, Chun-bong grumbled as she lay back down.
"You smell like perfume. Go wash up before you sleep."
"Got it."
He washed thoroughly before heading to bed.
* * *
The next morning.
When Seo-jun snapped his eyes open, he saw Chun-bong fast asleep, clutching one of his legs tightly.
Is she not mad anymore?
He poked her chubby cheeks a few times before quietly slipping out of bed.
Lately, Chun-bong had been oversleeping frequently.
It was likely because her health wasn't great, a fact that weighed heavily on his mind.
"Good grief. Always making me worry."
Seo-jun grabbed a single sword and left the house.
He didn't plan on going far. His destination was the ruins of the Black Tiger Sect right in front of their home.
He stepped over the debris and stood atop the wreckage.
"The air is nice."
Unlike the stuffy pollution of modern society, this crisp dawn air cleanly filled his lungs.
Taking a deep breath, Seo-jun drew his sword.
Taiji... how hard can it be?
According to Chun-bong, the Yellow Cloud Divine Art was a martial art built upon the enlightenment of 'Wuji is Taiji.'
In that case, wouldn't he achieve something significant if he could just manifest Taiji properly?
With that thought, he began to circulate his internal energy using the New Primordial Unity Divine Art.
Crackle—
He converted the internal energy circulating through his body into Yin energy. Immediately, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and frost began to form on the blade.
When he coated the sword with Sword Qi in that state, a somber, bluish light erupted from the steel.
Now, if I just mix in some Yang energy...
This time, he used the Yin-Yang Reversal technique he had realized previously to substitute the Yin energy with Yang energy.
The air around him instantly turned sweltering, and a brilliant golden Sword Qi soared from the blade.
"Wait, what?"
Exactly. Forget Taiji; the Yin energy had simply transformed entirely into Yang energy.
The metal sword even let out an unstable, screeching sound, likely due to the rapid temperature shift.
"What the hell is this..."
It wasn't as easy as he’d hoped.
Sighing, Seo-jun sheathed his sword.
If it didn't work all at once, he just had to take it step by step.
This time, he decided to try holding Yin energy in his left hand and Yang energy in his right, then merging them.
Yin energy in the left hand...
He succeeded without much trouble.
Yang energy in the right hand...
Again, he succeeded easily.
But when he looked at his left hand, the Yin energy had already turned into Yang energy.
"Agh, seriously! Forget it!"
Seo-jun realized instinctively that his current level wasn't high enough to pull this off yet.
Clicking his tongue, he hopped down from the ruins.
"Were you training?"
"Yeah."
Chun-bong was leaning against a nearby wall, watching him. He wasn't sure how long she’d been there.
"Primordial Unity Divine Art?"
"Pretty much."
"...What about the Yellow Cloud Divine Art?"
"Training one naturally trains the other anyway."
Just because they were different martial arts didn't mean they existed in entirely separate categories.
In the world of martial arts, gaining enlightenment in one technique often raised the level of others simultaneously.
"...Hmph."
"Hey, why are you sulking again!"
Was she going through puberty or something?
A whole book’s worth of scenarios flashed through Seo-jun’s mind.
'I’m not sleeping in the same room as you anymore!'
'You stink, don’t come near me!'
'Ugh... disgusting.'
'I’ve decided to marry this guy. Don’t look for me anymore.'
He had heard far too many stories about how daughters in their rebellious phase treated their fathers.
"Gasp...!"
Seo-jun clutched his mouth, reeling from the shock of his own imagination.
This could not happen.
It must not happen.
"No, Chun-bong! I won't allow it!"
"Wh-what are you talking about...?"
"I won’t let you marry anyone weaker than your brother!"
Chun-bong’s expression turned grave.
"You’re not actually suffering from Qi Deviation, are you? You’re getting weirder by the day."
"Goo-goo ga-ga...?"
"No, seriously... whatever. Sure. Fine."
Chun-bong scratched her head, her face twisted in a grimace.
Guess I should stop acting like a clown. Seo-jun chuckled and patted Chun-bong’s head.
"Anyway, let’s go eat."
"Before that."
Chun-bong shook the sword in her hand.
"Let’s have a spar."
* * *
The spar wasn't anything grand.
Internal energy was limited to the First-rate level, Sword Qi was forbidden, and lethal moves were obviously off-limits.
Using real swords was a bit dangerous, but martial artists of Seo-jun and Chun-bong’s caliber could regulate themselves.
"Here I come."
Seo-jun moved forward smoothly, executing the Yellow Dragon Crossing the Clouds. His feet, hovering slightly off the ground, seemed to glide as if on ice.
Clang—!
Seo-jun’s light swing was parried.
Meeting Chun-bong’s eyes, Seo-jun recoiled and spun his body.
Flutter. His long robes whipped through the air. Chun-bong’s sword lunged through the gap, her blade moving rapidly as she targeted his entire body.
Clang, clang—!
Seo-jun’s eyes gleamed as he swung his sword wide. An opening. He lunged straight in.
Then, Chun-bong’s sword drew a smooth circle.
Skree—!
"Huh?"
He had definitely put power into the strike, but it felt as if that force was being diverted elsewhere.
While his sword was knocked upward, Chun-bong swiftly swung her own blade.
Seo-jun tried to block it somehow, but there was only so much he could do with his posture broken.
Seizing the opportunity, Chun-bong swung her sword like a flash of light.
T-tap!
The sword struck the same spot twice in rapid succession.
By the time Seo-jun managed to bring his deflected sword back, Chun-bong’s blade was already at his throat.
"Whoa..."
"You’ve improved a lot."
"What’s with that? Are you flexing on me?"
"Flexing?"
"I mean, is this a humblebrag?"
Chun-bong snorted.
"Do you have any idea how much longer I’ve been practicing martial arts than you? I’ve been doing this since I could walk. It would be weirder if you won."
"Then is the Azure River Sect Leader just a total loser?"
"Ah."
Chun-bong tilted her head, thinking it over.
"I guess so?"
"Gasp."
Seo-jun covered his mouth in mock shock.
Chun-bong chuckled and shook her head.
"Besides, your talent lies elsewhere."
"Well, true. In that case, want to go a round with Qi techniques?"
"No thanks. You’re a total scrub at that."
"What...!"
His recent record was zero wins and one loss. He couldn't argue.
"How frustrating...!"
"Cut the crap."
Seo-jun grinned and sheathed his sword.
"I just had a great idea."
Ignoring Chun-bong’s questioning look, Seo-jun fired a Finger Pellet at a nearby wall.
Crack—!
The section of the wall hit by the Finger Pellet froze over.
Chun-bong clicked her tongue, seeing him manipulate Yin energy so naturally now.
"Tsk, what a world."
"Hey, just watch."
Seo-jun flicked his middle finger with his thumb again. This time, with Yang energy.
Thud—!
The Finger Pellet struck the corner of the wall where the Yin energy still lingered.
That was it.
The wall cracked slightly due to the sudden temperature change, but that was all.
"Hmm... that’s not it."
"What are you even trying to do? What you just did is already amazing enough."
Freely manipulating both Yang and Yin energy?
If anyone else claimed to do that, they’d be dismissed as crazy or accused of using forbidden arts.
Or they’d be branded a Great Demon for practicing something like the Sun-Moon Demonic Art.
"No. One more time. I think I’ve got it now."
Seo-jun concentrated.
His inspiration came from Chun-bong’s sword—the technique that had repeatedly tapped his blade and knocked it away.
If he couldn't handle Yang and Yin energy simultaneously, he just had to break it down into stages.
"Phew..."
Closing his eyes, Seo-jun rapidly rotated the Yin energy gathered at his fingertips. He visualized a blue orb.
Opening his eyes, he fired the Finger Pellet.
Crack—!
The Finger Pellet embedded itself in the wall. But this time, it was different. The Yin energy remained there, swirling like a vortex.
Seo-jun quickly fired the next Finger Pellet, a faint smile on his lips.
He had a good feeling about this.
"Now, Geum Chun-bong! This is the true Taiji—!"
BOOOOOOM──────────!!!
Eeeee— A high-pitched ringing filled his ears.
"Cough...! Cough...!"
After a few dry coughs, Seo-jun looked down at Chun-bong, whom he was shielding in his arms.
"Holy crap... you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah..."
Chun-bong stared blankly at Seo-jun before suddenly flinching and grabbing his arm tightly.
"Y-you! Are you okay?!"
He let her spin him around, and he felt a cool breeze on his back.
This was a new outfit. I’m going to have to buy another one already.
As he sighed, he felt the light tapping of small hands on his back.
"Phew... you aren't seriously hurt."
"Of course not. I blocked it with internal energy. If I coat my back with Qi... is that Back-Qi? No, is it called Baegi?"
"Stop talking nonsense and put some medicine on."
Slap! She smacked his thigh.
"But seriously, wasn't that insane? Wait... what’s with that face?"
She wasn't crying, but she looked like she was on the verge of it.
Startled, Seo-jun cupped Chun-bong’s cheeks.
"Are you hurt somewhere?"
"...No."
"Then why the long face?"
Even as he squished and stretched her cheeks, she didn't react. This was serious.
Seo-jun bent his knees slightly to meet her eyes.
"Is something wrong?"
"...It’s nothing. It’s fine."
"What is it? Just tell me. Your brother will listen to anything."
Was she upset because he’d been using the Primordial Unity Divine Art more than the Yellow Cloud Divine Art lately?
Or maybe because he was doing weird things with Finger Pellets instead of using the sword techniques she had taught him.
As he held her gaze, Chun-bong finally spoke through trembling lips.
"I was just thinking... that I’m not helpful anymore..."
What kind of nonsense was this? Was it really puberty?
He swallowed the thoughtless remark that almost slipped out.
Chun-bong wasn't joking.
"Hey, what are you talking about?"
"...I’ve taught you everything I can. You can do everything well on your own now. Since you have the Primordial Unity Divine Art, the Yellow Cloud Divine Art isn't even that much of a help. You’re struggling to find spirit herbs because of me... and just now, you got hurt trying to protect me... I’m only ever on the receiving end..."
Her lower lip trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She was so fragile, despite all her tough posturing.
He’d noticed she’d been lost in thought lately; was this what she was brooding over?
Seo-jun scowled and scooped Chun-bong up.
"Listen here, Geum Chun-bong. To be honest, I got hurt just now because I was being an idiot."
"Still..."
"Agh, this won't do."
Seo-jun expertly hoisted Chun-bong onto his shoulders.
The dust settled, revealing the completely demolished wall.
Seo-jun walked past the ruins, using the Yellow Dragon Crossing the Clouds to head toward the marketplace.
As people came into view, Chun-bong hid her face with her hands to conceal her red, swollen eyes.
Realizing his mistake, Seo-jun lowered her from his shoulders and tucked her into his arms instead. He patted her back gently and spoke.
"Look."
"...At what."
"Hurry up."
Chun-bong peeked out. Seeing her glancing at the crowd, Seo-jun shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Look at all these idiots!"
"What?"
Chun-bong looked bewildered. Naturally, the passersby looked bewildered too.
But Seo-jun remained undaunted.
His words might sound like nonsense, but he meant them sincerely.
"Take a look at all these idiots, then look at yourself again. You’re actually pretty incredible, you know?"
"...Is that supposed to be an insult or a compliment?"
"A compliment, obviously."
It was okay if she wasn't "helpful." She was his sister. If it weren't for her, he would have ended up as a corpse in a back alley long ago. He couldn't even begin to describe how much he relied on their daily banter.
He didn't bother saying those obvious things out loud.
"They say you’re a prodigy and a genius. You’ll be able to fix those Severed Meridians soon, so just try to keep up with me until then. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get so strong that you’ll end up supporting me."
"......"
"Well, I’ll probably be in the Super Peak Realm by then, so that won't happen."
It was meant to be a joke, but there was no reaction.
But this time, he was confident.
"I’ll probably be super popular too. The line of women waiting for me would probably wrap around a training field five times over—"
"...Shut up, you moron."
"Yes, ma'am."
He shut up.
But Seo-jun smiled anyway. Because he had won.
Chun-bong’s face, as she let out a tiny, pouting laugh with her swollen eyes, was a sight far too precious to keep to himself.