My Friend Called Cheonma - Chapter 53
Mu Yun shook his head vigorously.
‘Let’s end this.’
He didn’t want to stay here any longer. To leave, he had to wrap things up. Just confirm a few things. He was already almost certain.
“You knew I didn’t die, right?”
“You think only I know? Everyone in Nae-yang knows.”
“Then after I left, you could’ve spread the truth, couldn’t you?”
An uncontrollable tremor rose to Baek Ho-min’s lips. Now was the time to fully unleash his long-buried grudge.
“Heh heh! Why the hell would I? Because I got scared and handed over one demonic arts manual?”
“...Was it because of Eun-jin?”
Baek Ho-min chewed and spat out the resentment bubbling up from the depths of his chest, bit by bit.
“Yeah, you fucking bastard! I’ve liked Eun-jin since we were kids. I was too embarrassed, scared she’d reject me, so I never said it, but if you really saw me as a friend, you would’ve figured it out ages ago. I made it so damn obvious.”
“Yeah, I guess I did.”
“But you! You didn’t see me as a friend at all. Just some convenient guy to drag around. That’s why you yapped about Eun-jin right in front of me. Am I wrong?”
“...No.”
“The only one who noticed was that prick Jo Un-tak. Funny, right? Not you, who stuck to me pretending to be a friend, not even that Ham-ga bastard, but some Black Dao thug saw through me and actually gave a shit.”
Mu Yun regained his usual composure and stood from his seat. All his curiosities were satisfied. Now, as someone who had once been his friend, he had to say what needed saying. Advice straight from the heart, not some excuse.
“I’m sorry about Eun-jin. I apologize.”
“Heh heh! Damn, that apology sure took its sweet time.”
“But not seeing you as a friend? Even looking back now, I don’t regret that.”
Baek Ho-min’s mouth twisted immediately.
“You fucking bastard! A guy who never gave a shit then, what the hell now?!”
A wry smile crept onto Mu Yun’s face unbidden.
“You haven’t changed a bit. Not back then, not now. ...Even after those extra seven years.”
“...What the fuck are you babbling about?”
“Looks like Un-tak didn’t tell you either?”
“...Tell me what?”
“Blaming everyone else. Ever since we were kids, I hated that shit the most. But every time you opened your mouth, it was always that. Skipping over yourself every damn time. Just like now!”
“...?”
Mu Yun turned his back and walked away. He didn’t want to look at that face anymore. Still, he had to leave one final word.
“Don’t do it this time. Own up to it yourself. Then they’ll forget all about it.”
“What the fuck... ”
At that moment, Yeon Sa-gu’s sigh-laced scolding exploded as his form shot forward.
“Hey! That doesn’t mean we let it slide! You think that’s comparable? We should at least snap his goddamn legs!”
The moment surprised Baek Ho-min whipped his head around, his eyes bulged wide and his jaw dropped.
“Th-this...!”
The stern faces of countless martial artists bursting through the woods filled his vision. Especially those with Hyeong-sanpa robes fluttering.
Elder Geon-cheon’s eyebrows arched sharply. He locked eyes with Baek Ho-min, fury blazing.
“You’re the Baek family young lord?”
“...!”
Mu Yun silently strode away from the scene.
Dang Seo-ha’s wistful gaze turned toward the main garden.
“Bangju-nim?”
“Let him be. He probably wants to be alone.”
“...!”
As the gray thunderclouds parted, darkness slowly blanketed the sky.
A short while later, at the Hao mun residence.
Yeon Sa-gu had dragged Mu Yun straight here. When your head’s pounding, tackling something else can help.
Gwak Ho-san’s terrified eyes darted blindly through the air. With his eyes blindfolded, he had no choice.
Yeon Sa-gu’s sharp voice rang through the room. Truth be told, now was exactly the time for it.
“Xingju physician, Gwak Ho-san.”
“Wh-who are you people?”
“We ask the questions. You answer. Don’t, and this ends.”
“... ”
“Why’d you flee Xingju?”
“...I had business.”
Mu Yun’s hand pressed against Gwak Ho-san’s back. He flooded his body with the rage-infused qi of Sin-gi Sim-ui Gong.
Wooong!
“...Hngh!”
Gwak Ho-san’s eyes flew wide.
‘M-my body!’
Just a touch, and his chest heaved like a thunderbolt strike. His body trembled uncontrollably, wracked with storm-like spasms. No willpower could contain it. The shock forced even his pitch-black vision to squeeze shut.
He’d treated countless martial artists. A mere touch delivering this impact meant a realm beyond imagining.
His hunch from the first question solidified into certainty.
‘Not Hyeong-sanpa. ...The ones spreading the drug!’
Hyeong-sanpa wouldn’t lead with that.
But Mu Yun’s eyes were widening too. From the tremor transmitted through his hand.
‘It’s changed!’
The qi he’d been raising gradually suddenly swelled. It had been under perfect control.
His body revealed the reason.
‘Mind and intent have unified.’
Perfect synchronization with his past self’s mind. With memories fully revived, this was inevitable.
The alignment of heart-intent and body—the beginning and end of Sin-gi Sim-ui Gong.
He instinctively sensed the final barrier hindering that unity had vanished completely moments ago.
The fruition of over two years’ effort since Che-gi Bal-gyeong.
But the joy was fleeting. The wry smile that followed brimmed with complex emotions.
‘Couldn’t ask for better timing.’
Perfect mind-body unity signified the Cho-jeol-jeong realm of the middle dantian. For lower dantian arts, akin to Hwa-gyeong. It also achieved perfect harmony and fusion with lower dantian inner energy.
The difference? Not an instant realm leap, but a gradual embodiment into the body—taking months, up to a year at most.
But the insight from painful memories came at a cost. Sin-gi Sim-ui Gong slowed progress if one didn’t squarely face their heart.
‘No avoiding it.’
His family issues had grown more tangled. He couldn’t ignore or forget them. He had to dive in and unravel them somehow.
Solving the problems wasn’t the point. Humans cycled through worry and vitality endlessly.
Just confront without burying it.
But Mu Yun lacked the experience. His only worry was that they might get hurt in the process.
Meanwhile, sensing something off, Yeon Sa-gu immediately sent a transmission.
-What’s wrong?
No point hiding. Entering the mental image would shorten integration time.
-Wrap this quick. Got something urgent.
-What?
-Enlightenment hit.
-...Big one?
-Huge.
-...Fucking annoying bastard!
-Sorry.
-Integrate first. We can interrogate slow.
-Time’s fine. Won’t fade quick.
-...!
The interrogation resumed.
“Last warning. Next time, wrists. Or ankles first? You’re a physician—better for you?”
“...I’ll answer.”
“Why flee?”
“Strange drug circulating in Hyeong-sanpa. I reported it, but they seemed ready to silence me, so I ran.”
“What drug?”
“Overdose wrecks the mind. Might aid martial arts at first, but definitely later.”
“How far spread?”
“Ten I know—all first-generation disciples. Obviously more.”
Mu Yun stepped in.
“No elders?”
“Bound to be. They said it started with an elder.”
“Geon-cheon?”
Gwak Ho-san flinched. Geon-cheon held more real power than Sect Leader Geon-su.
No need for full truth.
“Don’t know for sure, but he likely agreed.”
Subsequent questions sketched out Hyeong-sanpa’s situation.
Now for the rest.
Mu Yun cut straight.
“Who’s behind it?”
“I’m just a physician—how should I know?”
“Guess.”
“I really don’t.”
“Don’t? Then how’d you know it was Ha-pum among upper dantian drugs? Without even trying it?”
“... ”
“Ankles?”
“...I know one place that could make it.”
“Where?”
Gwak Ho-san let out a deep sigh.
‘Might as well.’
Dead meat anyway. Might as well spill and satisfy his curiosity.
“I’ll tell if you want. But knowing it... you won’t walk away unscathed. It’s that kind of place.”
Mu Yun guessed immediately. An orthodox physician would know the obvious spot.
That sparked another question.
“How’d you know it was Gong-ya Ui-suk?”
Gwak Ho-san jolted like struck by lightning. A retort burst out.
“Who the hell are you people?”
“Answer!”
Those who knew that place were foes of equal weight. No way they’d let him live.
His only hope now: “I’ll tell all. But... make it quick, please.”
“Talk first.”
A regretful sigh escaped toward the void.
“Ha ha! Knew if I didn’t quit the clinic, this day would come. Only regret is not letting go!”
“...!”
“Twenty-odd years ago, I was their physician. The lord was secretly researching demonic treatment drugs at the Five Great Families’ request. I didn’t participate, but I saw and heard plenty. Later learned part twisted into aiding demonic cultivation.”
“This drug back then?”
“No. Just investigated similar effects.”
“Heard all involved vanished?”
“Ha ha! Vanished? They’re dead. Research went deeper underground after—no leaks, and that drug emerged quietly.”
“How’d you survive?”
“Lord kicked me out for no reason. Murdered three months later. Whew! He did it on purpose.”
“Cared for you? Or another reason?”
Gwak Ho-san’s doubts surged again.
‘Why ask about me?’
He’d spilled on the drug. But digging into near-thirty-year-old events? Curious intent.
“Can’t fathom. Private matter—why care?”
“Answer first.”
“...The lord had sworn brothers. I was the youngest. Probably why. Couldn’t save everyone.”
Mu Yun’s eyes flashed. One name sprang up.
‘Bi-do!’
When Gong-ya-seong first met Ju Son-hak, he’d handed over a bi-do to check. The giver was the youngest sworn brother.
If he knew that, the man spoke truth.
‘Then take him to Chim-ju.’
No family, already a fugitive—best option.
“Sworn brothers. Any gifted a bi-do?”
Gwak Ho-san trembled beyond control. Retort exploded.
“Who are you really? How know that? Only dead brothers knew!”
“Who’d you give it to?”
“...Big brother Ju Son-hak.”
“...!”
A while later, as Mu Yun’s explanation wrapped up.
Gwak Ho-san poured out endless tears. The whirlwind of joy and emotion left no choice.
Mu Yun quietly relocated.
The next day, at the Hao mun residence.
As the waning moon lingered faintly in the dawn mist.
“R-really in there?”
“Yes, Mother. Definitely inside.”
“When’ll he come out?”
Yeon Sa-gu had no choice but to repeat himself.
“Mother, no idea how many times I’ve said this, but longer’s better. Means more gains.”
“Sorry. I get it, but it’s just... taking too long...”
Ga-ju Cheon Jung-seo gripped his wife Ryu Hwa-seon’s trembling hand tightly.
“Dear, you know this. Rare chance for a martial artist. No worries—let’s wait.”
“Sniff sniff! I know. I do, but...”
Mu Yun had entered trance two sichen ago. The Cheon Ga-jang family, rushing over upon hearing, had been pacing for one sichen. Parents, elder sister, younger brother, little aunt, and half-sister—all gathered.
It warranted it.
Yeon Sa-gu, scanning around, switched tactics. Tired of repeating the same line.
‘Bastard, say something. Well, bit embarrassing from his mouth.’
Of course, sneak in a tease. Rare chance to mess with him.
After a moment’s thought, he picked the opener.
“His name now’s Dam Sa-un. You can guess why, right?”
“...!”