My Friend Called Cheonma
Mu Yun's mind was equally tangled. Thanks to constantly probing while the man lay collapsed, he had a rough idea of the strange energy's nature.
It flowed from the Baihui acupoint at the crown of his head.
Upper dantian energy. That's why I didn't notice it before.
Back in his past life as Mu Lun, he had never encountered upper dantian energy. When Yeo Hwi had opened his upper dantian, Mu Lun's body had been too frail to sense it.
He also knew exactly why it sent shivers through his body.
It was fear.
The upper dantian energy lay beyond the reach of Sin-gi Sim-ui Gong, the middle dantian martial art. That wariness and sense of crisis was the signal it sent.
Now, two things remained to uncover. First, the man's identity.
From examining his inner energy, it was clearly orthodox cultivation, so the prime suspects were the Ha Hu family—or Ha Hu-tae’s maternal Seolmun family.
Start with the Seolmun family.
He chose words to test the reaction.
"Getting greedy for Chim-ju was a bit much. Even if it's the third city in Honam, it doesn't compare."
"……?"
"To Jangsan!"
Seolmun Yeom-ho's eyes flickered subtly. Mentioning Jangsan in the north, home to the Seolmun family, had elicited the response.
Mu Yun flashed a sly smile.
"Thanks for confirming it."
"……!"
Seolmun Yeom-ho squeezed his eyes shut. He ground his tightly clenched lips.
There was no way out but to end his own life.
"Kill me. I have nothing left to say."
"It was Ha Hu-tae who sent you? No, wait—not him. To move a warrior of your caliber, it must be that viper woman. Seolmun Chae-ryeong!"
"……."
He asked no more about her identity. Now, the remaining question was how Seol Do-seung and this man emitted such similar energies.
He broached it casually.
"How about this? We end everything right here. I don't want to clash with the Ha Hu family or your lot right now, either. But I'm curious about something else."
Seolmun Yeom-ho peered through barely open eyes.
"……?"
"How did you open your upper dantian?"
"……?"
"Some kind of drug?"
"……!"
A faint twitch rippled across his closed eyelids. Undeniable shock.
So that's it.
Mu Yun had his suspicions confirmed. The research at Gongya Yi-suk by the Five Great Families. The core of it had been opening the upper dantian, as Gongya Seong had insisted.
Of course, it couldn't be perfect, as Gongya Seong had declared.
Putting all the pieces together, his hypothesis formed.
They succeeded in partially opening the upper dantian. But with a drug, it can only be temporary. That's when Sin-gi Sim-ui Gong senses the energy.
If Seol Do-seung had taken the drug long ago, the theory held.
Still, one puzzle lingered. This man was orthodox; Seol Do-seung was unorthodox.
Of course, the unorthodox wouldn't avoid research either.
But the energies are too similar.
Orthodox and unorthodox wouldn't collaborate. The idea was absurd.
Separate research could yield similar results, though—their goals aligned, after all.
Yet Mu Yun couldn't quite accept it. Time to dig deeper.
"Want to hear an old story?"
"……?"
"Back in the day, I dabbled in herb research to make medicines. We were poor, couldn't afford to buy them. After decades, I got pretty cocky about knowing herbs better than anyone."
"……?"
"It's true. The guy with me was a genius physician, but herbs were my thing."
Seolmun Yeom-ho's mouth twisted. He wanted to retort.
"Impressive in some backwater? Big deal."
"No way. The guy was called a prodigy at Gongya Yi-suk."
Seolmun Yeom-ho's eyes flew wide.
How does this bastard know?
For a long moment, his gaping mouth stayed frozen, eyes locked in shock.
Mu Yun's gaze sharpened.
Jackpot.
"What startled you? Gongya Yi-suk? Or Gongya Seong?"
Seolmun Yeom-ho's lips quivered.
He didn't know the prodigy, but Gongya Yi-suk was where he'd gotten the drug.
One burning question.
"……Who the hell are you?"
Mu Yun had his answer. He waved it off lightly.
More to unravel.
"You don't know Gongya Seong? Fine. Anyway, let's finish the story. I know another guy leaking upper dantian energy like you. But he's unorthodox. Curious who?"
"……?"
"Jeok-un Mun leader, Seol Do-seung! His energy was eerily similar."
Seolmun Yeom-ho sneered.
Ridiculous nonsense.
"Cut the bullshit and finish it."
Mu Yun leaned in close. There was a reason for dredging up the past.
"I told you—I know drugs and herbs inside out. So when someone takes one, I can sense the energy it gives off, even the rough composition. That's how I figured out your drug's energy."
"……!"
Color drained from Seolmun Yeom-ho's face bit by bit.
He knew what was coming.
Mu Yun tilted his head innocently.
"Weird, right? Similar effects, sure. But the herb ratios are nearly identical. What does that mean?"
"……!"
Mu Yun's eyes darkened.
"No way the Five Great Families researched with the unorthodox without going mad. So there's one answer. Someone—doesn't matter who—is deeply spying on the other's research. Close enough to manipulate it. Where could that be?"
Seolmun Yeom-ho's eyes shook violently.
Anything but this.
"N-No... impossible."
"If it's on the Five Great Families' level, it's a big player. Probably the Sado-ryeon. Ah, just a guess—not confirmed. Time to find out."
Mu Yun stood.
Nothing more to learn from him.
His playful expression vanished. At least for now.
"Ready to end it? Any last words?"
Seolmun Yeom-ho's trembling lips parted softly.
One real curiosity.
"You're really the Cheong-ho Bang leader?"
"Yes."
"……You used sword aura. And everything you said... Would you believe it?"
Mu Yun pointed skyward.
"Why lie to someone about to meet him? All true. He might explain more up there."
"……"
"Farewell."
That night, in the Cheong-ho Bang leader's quarters.
Gongya Seong couldn't hide his bewilderment.
"Really that similar?"
"You know my energy. Certain."
"……!"
Joo Son-hak, beside him, struggled with his conflicted feelings. A bitter smile formed unbidden.
"Heh! What a mess. If only revenge—if I could use them, I'd hope the unorthodox exposed it."
The Gongya Yi-suk matter couldn't be handled directly. Speaking out would be easily crushed by the Five Great Families' power, endangering those around him.
But if the unorthodox revealed it, the landscape might shift unpredictably.
Gongya Seong's face darkened after a moment's thought. His view differed.
"Uncle. Neither side benefits us. Even if it's the unorthodox."
"Why?"
"No matter who uncovers it, we're targets for both. The Families will erase us; the unorthodox will exploit us."
Joo Son-hak let out a hollow laugh.
"Heh! You're right. Revenge clouded my judgment."
"We can only stay cautious for now."
"Sigh! Yes, let's."
Gongya Seong turned to Mu Yun.
"Jeok-un Mun side too?"
"No reason to tip our hand. Stick to the plan. Punish any schemes. Sado-ryeon won't suspect."
"Ha Hu family?"
"They're the frustrated ones."
With the immediate issue resolved, Gongya Seong let out a profound sigh.
"Heh! What is the world coming to?"
"……!"
Mu Yun could only muster a wry smile. He felt the same.
Too tangled. Not easy to unravel.
It wasn't just the Families and unorthodox. Every major power in the jianghu was likely knotted like tangled hemp.
How many could survive caught in those threads?
Mu Yun's eyes deepened.
Soon, he'd head to Nae-yang, his clan's home.
Assess carefully, then decide.
His own situation was similar. Proving he wasn't a demonic cultist was easy now.
But the aftermath needed scrutiny.
He could reveal and leave, but his family remained. Nae-yang was their livelihood.
One thing first: honoring Yu-seon's request.
Behind Cheong-ho Bang, in the manor.
Jin Seo-yeon's large eyes widened round.
She waved her hands without thinking.
"I can't accept it."
"I have to give it. We agreed."
She had chosen her path.
"I appreciate your heart, but I'm a martial artist too. If I've learned enough to walk my own road, letting me go is best for you and So-ryeo."
"My role is to pass it on. Whether you learn it is yours."
Jin Seo-yeon had to add,
"You know I have a sect. It's a precious heart method. Not that I think it's worthless."
The response was ready, laced with a white lie.
"Jeonhyeon the nun knew from the start this dance held martial arts. She searched years for its matching heart method, assuming one existed."
Her eyes widened like saucers in shock.
A reflexive question burst out.
"Really?"
"Yes. With Bo-ta Mun's scriptures, she found the lost heart method. It doesn't violate sect rules."
Jin Seo-yeon shook her dazed head.
It was always meant to have one?
This complicated things. Her task was showing Yu-seon's progress to little So-ryeo and passing it on. She'd assumed any heart method just needed to harmonize with the dance—no dilemma.
But if it was the original... different story.
The conclusion was obvious.
I need to learn it properly to teach.
After agonizing, she decided.
But one check.
"If it's from that nun, no doubts. But is it okay for me to learn yours?"
"One promise."
"What?"
"Don't pass it to others. I have someone else to give it to."
Jin Seo-yeon recalled Yu-seon's words.
She said she has someone else.
A woman's heart method—likely who.
Handing it over so readily with a promise. No suspicions.
She knew how Yu-seon viewed and treated Mu Yun. And Mu Yun's sincerity stirred her heart.
A firm decision, unshakeable.
As a martial artist, confirm first.
"Fine. I'll decide after reviewing. If not, I'll return it."
Mu Yun smiled brightly.
"Understood."
No such thing would happen.
What kind of guy made this, anyway.
A sudden curiosity arose.
How far will she unravel it?
Reviewing for Yu-seon had revealed details. Recalling them drew a chuckle.
That eccentric guy's handiwork.
Yeo Hwi had made the heart method simple. Unsure of the woman's level.
Instead, paths tailored to her eye level, easy at first for her skill.
But higher paths? Made deliberately hard without guidance.
The workaround: transmit directly with the body, as Mu Yun had with Yu-seon.
Yeo Hwi's ulterior motive shone through.
Especially the end—subtly weaving in middle dantian martial arts.
Clear effort for Mu Yun's woman.
Mu Yun handed over the heart method.
"Leaving right away? Or stay here?"
"Might return it, so a few more days."
"Of course."
Not a few days. Especially for Jin Seo-yeon's talent.
A meaningful smile played on Mu Yun's lips.
Curious to see.
Watching would tell.