Chapter 36: Black Lotus Union (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: Black Lotus Union (1)
“Alright, everyone! Now that the wedding is over, it’s time for the cake-cutting ceremony!”
“H-Hieeeek…!”
As Seo-jun drew his sword and strode forward, a terrified Mr. Seong scrambled backward. He tripped over his own feet and landed hard on his backside with a heavy thud. Pale with fright, he waved his hands frantically.
“W-Why are you doing this?! You can’t solve everything in the world with brute force!”
“Wow, look at this guy. Why are you suddenly trying to act all logical?”
“I’m not acting! It’s the truth, isn’t it?!”
“Wrong.”
“Huh?”
Taking a large step forward, Seo-jun leaned down and stared directly into Mr. Seong’s eyes.
“Let me give you a piece of advice.”
A faint golden current swirled within the depths of Seo-jun’s dark eyes.
The moment their eyes met, Mr. Seong found himself unable to twitch a single finger. It was as if he were facing something entirely beyond description. His mind went blank, consumed completely by the primal urge to survive.
“In the Murim, might is the law, and the weak are the sinners. Sometimes, people suffer injustices for no other reason than their lack of power.”
Each word was etched clearly into his blank mind.
Mr. Seong’s mouth hung open, his body trembling uncontrollably.
“The reason chivalrous heroes are praised is the same. It’s because they don’t just look out for themselves in this world of survival of the fittest; they look after the plight of the weak.”
He couldn't defy it. He couldn't resist it.
The words carved into his mind became absolute laws, shackling Mr. Seong’s body.
“But I’m no hero. You get it? Hmm? If you keep acting like a piece of shit, you’re dead.”
Heave… heave… Mr. Seong’s breathing grew ragged.
As the golden energy in Seo-jun’s eyes deepened, Mr. Seong felt his consciousness fading.
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
“Guh….”
Thud. Mr. Seong’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.
Seo-jun blinked, his eyes darting around in confusion.
“What? I didn't even do anything…?”
When he turned toward Seong Yi-hyang and the nameless man, the man grabbed Yi-hyang’s hand and subtly backed away.
“No, seriously… this is so unfair….”
It really hurt his feelings.
* * *
He learned the man’s name. It was Yang Chu-il.
It wasn't particularly important information. Seo-jun was just satisfied that, through Seong Yi-hyang’s testimony, he could let it be known that he was an innocent citizen.
“So… you’re saying that was all an act?”
“Wasn't it obvious? I guess I really don’t have a talent for acting.”
“Ah, well… um….”
Yang Chu-il couldn't bring himself to speak. It would be far too rude to say that Seo-jun looked like such a genuine nutcase that he hadn't even had the chance to wonder if it was an act.
Since Yang Chu-il remained silent, Seo-jun idly stroked his chin.
“Maybe I have more talent for acting than I thought.”
It wasn't true at all, but Seong Yi-hyang nodded for now.
“Yes… thank you. To be honest, the blood rushed to my head and I acted on impulse, but… I’m still not sure. Am I really not being a burden to you, Mister…?”
“Hyang, what are you saying? Not at all.”
“Mister….”
“Hyang….”
Seo-jun clicked his tongue as the man and woman immediately fell into their own little world.
“This is giving me a stomachache.”
Here he was without a single girlfriend, and they were doing this right in front of him?
Tsk, tsk. Seo-jun clicked his tongue again, picked up the unconscious Mr. Seong, and tossed him carelessly into his house.
Before throwing him, Seo-jun had messed with his internals using internal energy; the man would have a hard time whenever he tried to exert strength in the future.
Actually, he had originally planned to chop off a limb or two, but… he’d lost the motivation. This was more efficient anyway.
Even if Seong Yi-hyang fought him one-on-one now, Mr. Seong would probably get beaten to a pulp.
“Anyway, keep an eye on that guy. Who knows if he’ll suddenly come at you with a knife.”
“I doubt that’ll happen unless he’s so terrified he decides to end his own life… but I understand for now.”
Nodding at Yang Chu-il’s response, Seo-jun stretched vigorously.
Anyway, with this, Operation Matchmaking was a huge success!
The only mission left was to soothe the pouting Geum Chun-bong.
* * *
Returning to Grandmother Chun’s house, Seo-jun hopped over the wall and entered the room.
Looking inside, he saw that Miss Geum Chun-bong was still fast asleep.
Thinking she was sleeping far too long for a mere nap, he shook her awake.
“Hey, hey, Chun-bong. You won’t be able to sleep tonight if you keep this up.”
“Ugh… shut up… five more minutes….”
“Uh-huh! You’re not getting up? If you don’t get up right now, I’m gonna go get married!”
Chun-bong’s eyes snapped open.
“Aaaagh…!!”
Her face turned beet red as she flailed about.
“I…! I finally managed to forget that…!”
“Hmm. The effect is certainly reliable.”
“You bastard!”
After being subjected to a flurry of Meow-Meow Punches, Seo-jun hoisted her up and gave her a shoulder ride.
“Alright, our little Chun-bong. Shall we go for a walk with your big brother?”
“…Where to this time?”
“The mountain fortress?”
“…You never go anywhere normal for a walk.”
Sigh. Chun-bong let out a long breath.
However, Seo-jun knew she would follow him despite all her grumbling. And so, with Chun-bong on his shoulders, he left the room.
* * *
“Wow, looking at it again, this is pretty badass. Doesn't it look like a work of art?”
Seo-jun marveled at the mountain fortress, which was still frozen solid.
Because he had poured quite a bit of power into it earlier, the Yin energy covering the fortress still hadn't dissipated. It looked like ancient remains buried in volcanic ash excavated from Pompeii.
Which is to say, there were ice statues of bandits everywhere.
“You call this a work of art? Is there seriously something wrong with your head?”
“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
“I think the state of your brain is harsher. I’m not joking, I’m serious.”
“Gasp.”
Pretending to be shocked for politeness' sake, Seo-jun entered the fortress and looked around.
“Let’s see… is there anything useful here?”
“Who knows.”
Chun-bong hopped down from Seo-jun’s shoulders and began rummaging through the fortress as well.
They called it a mountain fortress, but it was basically just a village in the mountains. For bandits, they had a surprisingly decent taste in interior design.
“Oh, this must be where the boss lived.”
One building in the fortress was particularly large. Seo-jun smashed through the wooden door and marveled at the interior.
“Wow… did this guy live here without ever cleaning?”
It was a total mess. Even though it was frozen solid, some bizarre smell wafted up, making him feel foul just standing there.
“Ugh… do men always live in such a mess?”
“Uh-huh, Geum Chun-bong! Such sexist remarks can get you into big trouble!”
“Bullshit.”
Snorting, Chun-bong covered her nose with one hand, drew her sword, and began poking through various spots. Seo-jun joined in, lifting piles of luggage and trash.
“Oh. What’s this?”
Amidst a few silver taels, various trinkets, and plain old trash, he found something that looked somewhat useful.
“Let me see.”
Chun-bong opened the small pouch, inspected the contents, and clicked her tongue.
“It’s a Giant Spirit Pill.”
“A divine pill? Is it good?”
“Most people call them Giant Spirit Junk. Because they’re trash-tier elixirs.”
“What?”
Then why name it a 'divine pill'? He’d gotten his hopes up for nothing.
“The Green Forest lot are always like that. They call their own martial arts the Giant Spirit Divine Art and whatnot, but 'Divine Art' my ass. It’s just a shitty technique.”
“They’ve got quite the ego, those guys.”
“But the Chief of the Green Forest is in the Super Peak Realm.”
“What?”
Doesn't that make it a Divine Art then?
When Seo-jun blinked, Chun-bong let out a mocking laugh.
“The Chief is just an outlier. If he’d joined a proper sect, he would’ve made a name for himself. I don’t know why he joined the Green Forest with that kind of talent.”
“Oh….”
“'Oh' nothing. He’s a total scumbag.”
It seemed Chun-bong really disliked the Chief of the Green Forest.
When Seo-jun stroked her head until it made a scritch-scratch sound, Chun-bong reacted with a mix of annoyance and secret delight.
“Gyaaa! Stop it!”
“Aww, so cute.”
“Stop calling me cute, too!”
“Yes, yes. Our Chun-bong is so pretty!”
“Eeeek…!”
Chuckling at the fuming Chun-bong, Seo-jun casually tossed a Giant Spirit Pill into his mouth.
“Why the hell are you eating that?!”
“A brief verification of its effects is underway.”
“No! You lunatic! Spit it out! That’s a pill that makes your internal energy go berserk, you idiot!”
Chun-bong turned pale and lunged at him, but he had already swallowed the Giant Spirit Pill.
“Spit it out! Now! Throw it up!”
Chun-bong clenched her fists. It looked like she was planning to punch him right in the solar plexus to force it out.
Startled, Seo-jun waved his hands and backed away.
“Hey! Wait! I’m fine, just a second! Spare me!”
Chun-bong stomped her feet in anxiety, but Seo-jun remained perfectly calm.
Along with a nauseating taste, he felt the Giant Spirit Pill slide down his throat and seep into his body, tickling his internal energy.
‘I see. So this is how it works?’
The flow of his internal energy became coarse and crude. Also, as if to justify the name 'divine pill,' there was a sensation of his internal energy momentarily surging.
Seo-jun kept his eyes half-closed and observed the flow.
Berserk internal energy and a heating body. It felt strangely exhilarating, as if the pill contained some kind of narcotic component.
“Whew….”
Exhaling the residual medicinal effects of the Giant Spirit Pill in a single breath, Seo-jun nodded with satisfaction.
“Ah, so this is it. I have grasped the level of the Giant Spirit Pill.”
“A-Are you okay…?”
Chun-bong stood on her tiptoes to check Seo-jun’s complexion.
Seo-jun smiled, squishing her cheeks with both palms.
“Of course. It does have some effect, though.”
It wasn't a spirit herb. As Chun-bong had said, it was more like a stimulant that made one’s internal energy go haywire. To be precise, it exploded a person's latent potential.
It was the kind of pill that would leave someone bedridden for days after burning through every ounce of strength in their body.
“I shall personally bestow the name 'Giant Spirit Divine Art' upon this technique of mine.”
“…What, you punk?”
“It’s a technique that explodes latent potential to exert power beyond one’s limits.”
In short, a limit break. Though it would hurt quite a bit after use.
However, that wasn't the part Chun-bong was hung up on.
“Giant Spirit Divine Art is the name of the Green Forest’s technique, you moron!”
“No, think about it. The Green Forest guys are criminals anyway—people we’ll either behead or hand over to some sect when we meet them, right?”
“And?”
“So, since I’m going to crush them the moment we meet anyway, if I wipe them all out, doesn't that make me the original user of the Giant Spirit Divine Art?”
“You think other people are going to look kindly on you saying you use the Giant Spirit Divine Art?”
“It’s not like I’m going to shout 'Giant Spirit Divine Art!' every time I use it, so what does it matter?”
Chun-bong tilted her head.
“Is that so?”
“That’s how it is.”
“I guess that makes sense?”
“Right?”
Then it was settled.
From now on, this was the Giant Spirit Divine Art.