Chapter 6: Do You Want to Reach the Hidden Realm?
The Great Elder's laughter echoed through the hall, and soon the rest of the Ye family burst into hearty chuckles.
At this rate, it wouldn't be impossible for the Ye family to become the greatest clan of the era in the near future.
Yeop Rang turned his gaze to Yeop Hyeon. Smiling, he opened his mouth.
"What right do you have to challenge the Great Elder? If you want to challenge him, you have to get past me first. We have only twenty days left until our duel on the Life-Death Platform. You know that, right?"
Yeop Hyeon glanced at Yeop Rang and replied with a smile.
"Thanks for the reminder."
He shifted his eyes back to the Great Elder and continued.
"Great Elder, I apologize for my rudeness just now. I'll seek your guidance again after my spar with your grandson. Farewell."
With that, Yeop Hyeon took Yeop Ryeong and turned to leave.
"Stop right there!"
The Great Elder, unable to contain his rage, bellowed.
"Elder Yeop Go died by your hand. You think you can just walk away from that...?"
"Great Elder."
Yeop Hyeon turned back, staring straight at him as he spoke.
"Shall we settle it right here, then? Or would you prefer your grandson steps in for you?
From what I see, you're afraid he'll lose to me on the Life-Death Platform. That's why you had Yeop Go stir up trouble—to use him as an excuse to get rid of me?
If that's the case... stop wasting your schemes and just come at me all at once right now!"
"You insolent wretch!"
The Great Elder's face turned pale with fury as he roared.
At that moment, Yeop Rang fixed Yeop Hyeon with a cold expression.
"Go ahead. We'll see each other on the Life-Death Platform in twenty days."
Yeop Hyeon shrugged.
"Great Elder, it seems your young grandson has more spine than you. Does age shorten your thinking?"
Yeop Hyeon led Yeop Ryeong out of the arena without another word.
The Great Elder, seething with anger, turned ghastly pale. He whipped his head toward Imok and the guards.
"Ungrateful wretches who forget the grace we showed in raising you... You just stood there watching an elder get killed? Guards! Drag these vermin away and beat them to death!"
Imok's face drained of color at his words.
Yeop Hyeon, overhearing from afar, turned back and said,
"Great Elder, just a friendly warning... Don't forget that Imok and his men are the clan leader's personal guard. Even you, as Great Elder, can't touch them without consequences. Unless... are you declaring rebellion against the clan leader right now? Is that what this is?"
"Sh... Shut your mouth!"
The Great Elder screamed in fury.
"Yeop Hyeon... you... say one more word from there, and this old man will stake his life to tear you apart on the spot!"
Yeop Hyeon smiled and replied,
"Great Elder, calm down. I was just giving you a heads-up in case. If you get so worked up you collapse, I'd be... well, not thrilled, that's for sure."
Yeop Hyeon turned and walked away with a grin.
Imok and the guards were deeply moved by Yeop Hyeon. Without him, they would all have been dead today.
No one dared approach the trembling Great Elder in his rage. Suddenly, he turned to Yeop Rang.
"Why didn't you fight him just now? Do we really need to let him live another twenty days?"
Yeop Rang answered,
"Because I'm on the verge of reaching the Control Qi Realm."
The Great Elder flinched in surprise. In an excited voice, he asked,
"Is that true?"
Yeop Rang nodded lightly.
"It's almost here. In our current situation, focusing on the greater cause ahead is more important than dealing with trash like him."
The Great Elder nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Of course! Then let's let that Yeop Hyeon live a few more days. He's nothing but a cripple anyway!"
Yeop Rang nodded.
"Even a cornered rat bites the cat. Leave him be for now. If he dies before the Life-Death Platform, it'll just stir up rumors."
The Great Elder replied in a stern voice.
"My judgment was shortsighted this time. Don't worry. I won't touch him for the next twenty days."
Yeop Rang nodded.
"By the way, I need a large quantity of spiritual stones for my training."
The Great Elder looked slightly troubled. Spiritual stones, infused with spiritual energy, were rare even within the Ye family.
Only the clan leader and crown prince could use them. Yeop Hyeon had never been allowed even one, thanks to interference from the Great Elder and others.
"Is there a problem...?"
Yeop Rang asked, and the Great Elder shook his head.
"No problem. It's just that we don't have many left."
Yeop Rang smiled.
"Don't worry. The Control Qi Realm won't require that many."
Hearing this, the Great Elder sighed in relief.
"Understood, then."
Yeop Rang looked up at the sky. The corner of his mouth curled up mockingly, as if sneering at someone. He muttered under his breath, too quiet for others to hear.
"What a worthless backwater... Perfect for using temporarily, though...."
Yeop Hyeon and Yeop Ryeong had just returned home when Imok and the guards hurriedly caught up.
Yeop Hyeon said to them,
"Coming to see me at a time like this could get you in danger!"
In truth, after Yeop Hyeon's dethronement, the brothers who had rolled through battlefields with him had vanished. It was clear who would become the Ye family's master.
Not Yeop Hyeon, but Yeop Rang. Imok clasped his hands in respect toward Yeop Hyeon.
"Brother Yeop, thank you for what happened back there."
Yeop Hyeon lifted his head slightly.
"I'm the one who's grateful—you didn't step in. Now go. If the Great Elder spots you, it'll be trouble."
Imok hesitated before speaking.
"Brother Yeop, if you need any help, just say the word. We won't refuse."
With that, Imok and the guards departed.
Yeop Hyeon watched their retreating figures and shook his head. Seeing this, Yeop Ryeong asked softly,
"Oppa, don't you trust them?"
Yeop Hyeon smiled.
"They're saying that because I look strong right now. If I seemed weak, who knows when they'd change their tune."
Yeop Ryeong gazed at him innocently.
"You can trust me, though. I'll always be on your side forever!"
Yeop Hyeon burst out laughing at her words.
But suddenly, Yeop Ryeong's condition worsened dramatically. Her body began shaking violently, turning ice-cold.
Startled, Yeop Hyeon hurriedly laid her on the bed and pulled a white jade vial from his bosom. He quickly uncorked it and poured a single pill into her mouth.
Moments later, her complexion began to improve.
Eventually, Yeop Ryeong slowly opened her eyes. Yeop Hyeon's hand still gripped hers tightly. In a mosquito-like whisper, she said,
"Oppa... I don't think I can live much longer.... If... if I die, please keep my ashes by your side... I want to always be with you...."
"Don't talk nonsense, you fool!"
Yeop Hyeon shouted, eyes wide.
"Who's dying? You're not going to die, so just trust me. Once I reach the Control Qi Realm, I'll take you to the Imperial City. Your illness can be cured there. Got it?"
He softened his voice.
"You're my only family... Promise me you'll live for my sake. Okay?"
Tears streamed from Yeop Ryeong's eyes as she looked at him.
Yeop Hyeon gently wiped them away.
"Don't cry, or you'll get ugly. Then no one will marry you later."
Yeop Ryeong shook her head vigorously.
"I won't! I like Oppa the best!"
She beamed brightly.
"You're the fool! Come here, I'll tell you an old story.
Once upon a time, there was a temple on a mountain, and in that temple...."
About a quarter-hour later, Yeop Ryeong had fallen into a deep sleep.
Yeop Hyeon's face darkened as he watched her. Lately, she slept much more. And only three pills remained in the vial.
He pocketed the jade vial, tucked her blanket snugly, and returned to the Gyeok Ok Tower.
Training trance!
What Yeop Hyeon needed now was to madly boost his strength and reach the Control Qi Realm as soon as possible. Then he could take Yeop Ryeong to the Imperial City.
Moreover, only twenty days remained until his life-or-death duel with Yeop Rang. If he lost, even if he didn't die on the spot, the Great Elder and others would eventually kill him. And then his little sister would be doomed.
As Yeop Hyeon called for his shadow to begin training, the Heavenly Maiden's voice rang out.
You can now enter the hidden realm.
"A hidden realm? What is that?"
The Heavenly Maiden answered his question.
The mortal body realms go from first to sixth grade. Between the sixth-grade Qi Transformation Realm and the Control Qi Realm lies the Golden Body Realm. This is a hidden realm unknown to most.
"Golden Body Realm? I've never heard of it."
The Heavenly Maiden continued.
That's why it's called hidden. Ordinary people don't know. Reaching it will make you at least twice as strong as now. Shall we proceed?
Unable to hide his excitement, Yeop Hyeon asked,
"Really? My strength will double?"
Yes!
Yeop Hyeon answered hastily.
"Yes, let's do it!"
The Heavenly Maiden said,
You already have sword qi within you. Though you can't wield it fully yet. Use that sword qi to stimulate your meridians and five viscera.
Until now, you've trained the outer body. From here, train the inner. Harmonize inside and out. It will be a bit painful, though.
Yeop Hyeon waved his hand dismissively.
"I can handle a little pain. Let's start!"
Good. Simple. Summon your sword qi and let it circulate freely throughout your body.
Yeop Hyeon sat cross-legged and followed her instructions. Moments later—
"Arghhh!"
He felt as if tens of thousands of needles were racing through his body. The pain was so intense he nearly blacked out.
"This isn't 'a bit' painful!"
Is it? I thought it would only hurt a little...
"Surely I'm not the first to train in this realm!?"
There was one long ago. Died at the start, but who knows if it was the pain.
"Ah...."
Can't be helped. I can't hurt in your place... But I'll cheer you on with a laugh. Haha...
"Ugh...."