Chapter 13 You’ve Grown Up
You’ve Grown Up
Chapter 13: You’ve Grown Up
Suppressing the turmoil rising inside him, Mok Yeo-jin smiled brightly.
“Mother, thank you so much.”
It was a word that came from the depths of his heart.
Setting aside the secret between his mother and the Namgung family,
>the Chang-Gung Great Heavenly Formation Technique was without question the most vital training for Mok Yeo-jin at that moment.
During the past year in Byeon-Yeon Cave,
>he had fully absorbed the Hundred Beast Divine Pill,
>his internal energy had long surpassed what was normal for his age.
Yet because of the flawed cultivation technique he was using,
>the quality of his energy did not match its quantity.
>What now coiled around in his dantian was, in truth, only half-complete internal strength.
Before his regression, Mok Yeo-jin had cultivated martial arts entirely on his own—without a single master.
Swordsmanship, palm techniques, fist arts, footwork—
>even his inner energy method had been a crude creation of his own,
>a patchwork of insights born from countless battles where he danced between life and death.
“During the war with the Yuanum Cult, there wasn’t a single day without slaughter.
>There was no time to learn a proper inner technique.”
His sworn brothers had always pitied that about him.
Sworn Brother 1: “Youngest, how can someone said to be the direct descendant of the Four Heavenly Lords have such a shabby inner technique?”
>Sworn Brother 2: “Because of your method, half of your talent is wasted.”
>Sworn Brother 3: “Who cares about inner energy?! External strength is everything! And there’s nothing like horse stance for that! Come on, youngest—three hours of horse stance today! Hahaha!”
“Meng Hyung…”
Meng Ak of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace—an enthusiast of external martial arts.
Yet even he had practiced the superior inner cultivation method passed down in his palace,
>and had eaten countless elixirs since childhood,
>making his energy output the greatest among the sworn brothers.
Even so, every martial artist knows this truth:
>No matter how many times it’s said, the importance of inner cultivation cannot be overstated.
But where would Mok Yeo-jin find the top-tier inner cultivation technique he needed?
>Heaven wouldn’t just drop one into his lap.
Moreover, his father—Sado Heavenly Lord Mok Woo-myeong—was not the kind of man who would teach martial arts directly to his children.
And so, he had to rely on luck, on fate.
>Now, thanks to his mother, that wish had been granted in an instant.
How could he not be overjoyed?
Seeing her son’s visible excitement, Namgung Ryeong-ryeong’s lips curled up faintly.
“Memorize all the verses of the formula before the year’s end and focus on understanding their true meaning.
>Then, on your next birthday, I will personally guide your energy.
>You can begin cultivating then.”
Her suggestion was entirely reasonable.
But Mok Yeo-jin thought otherwise.
“I’ll begin today.”
For a moment, Namgung Ryeong-ryeong thought she had misheard.
>“What did you say?”
“I’ll start cultivating today. Just give me two hours, Mother.”
Time is urgent. I can’t spend a whole year with my nose buried in a book.
Two hours later.
As promised, Mok Yeo-jin sat before Namgung Ryeong-ryeong.
Her eyes were still filled with doubt.
To memorize the entire formula in just two hours was already unbelievable.
>But to also grasp its meaning?
>Impossible by any normal standard.
Yet she knew her son wasn’t the type to boast idly.
>And that made her confusion even greater.
Even so… it’s over three thousand characters long.
She could only assume he was showing youthful arrogance.
But then—
Seeing the calm, confident look on his face,
>something in her heart began to stir—a faint, rising expectation.
Trying to hide her unease, Namgung Ryeong-ryeong finally said,
>“…Recite the verses, then.”
“Yes.”
At her command, Mok Yeo-jin began to recite.
His voice was calm, deliberate, and unwavering.
>From the first verse to the last—
>without a single mistake or hesitation.
Namgung Ryeong-ryeong’s eyes widened in shock.
“Then—tell me, what do the third verses signify?”
Without hesitation, Mok Yeo-jin explained.
>Not just the third verse, but every single one from beginning to end,
>weaving each interpretation seamlessly.
Namgung Ryeong-ryeong’s pupils trembled violently.
Could someone have told him? …Impossible.
There was no one in all of Sado Heaven who could have revealed such a thing to her son.
And when he began interpreting the sixth verse,
>his depth of understanding even surpassed her own.
There was only one possible explanation.
Talent.
She let out a small, helpless laugh.
The ones who once called me a monster of talent would have their jaws drop if they saw this.
She had always considered herself gifted—
>but standing before true brilliance,
>her own light felt like a firefly beside the sun.
Yet the one shining so brightly was her son.
The faint shadow of inferiority faded, replaced by pure pride.
“How is it?” he asked.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Namgung Ryeong-ryeong smiled widely.
“Excellent.
>Perhaps you should be a scholar instead of a warrior—you’d pass the imperial exams with ease.”
“I don’t care much for soup and rice,” he replied.
She chuckled softly.
“Then we won’t wait until next year. Sit here.”
“Yes.”
Mok Yeo-jin sat cross-legged before her, back turned.
Namgung Ryeong-ryeong placed her palm on the Mingmen acupoint on his back.
“Raise your energy slowly, following the verses of the Chang-Gung Great Heavenly Formation.
>I’ll guide you and help convert your inner energy.”
“Understood.”
A low hum filled the air.
Mok Yeo-jin immediately began circulating his qi.
As the energy from his dantian began to flow outward like unraveling silk, Namgung Ryeong-ryeong murmured in awe.
“Such vast energy… did you chance upon a great fortune?”
“I absorbed the Hundred Beast Divine Pill in Byeon-Yeon Cave.”
“…I see.”
She wasn’t shocked—
>only such an elixir could explain this much energy.
What truly surprised her was how delicately and precisely he controlled it.
He’s already able to move his inner strength as if it were part of his body…
A peerless genius, indeed.
But soon, her brow furrowed.
“The method you practiced in Byeon-Yeon Cave must have been poor.
>Your energy flow is coarse—like a third-rate street technique.
>And worse… it carries too much killing intent.”
Mok Yeo-jin flinched.
She noticed.
Every person—and even beasts—has their own nature.
>So too does energy.
The character of one’s inner strength reflects one’s path.
>Just as Taoists share similar serene energy,
>and demonic practitioners carry sinister qi.
Then what path had Mok Yeo-jin walked?
His cultivation was born amidst corpses and seas of blood—
>its fruit was vengeance, its root, slaughter.
The result was inevitable.
Of course it’s steeped in killing intent.
His mother had glimpsed the demon within him.
>During energy alignment, such things could not be hidden.
Luckily, she seems to think it’s from my time in Byeon-Yeon Cave.
That misunderstanding worked in his favor.
“A technique heavy with killing aura will eventually consume your heart.
>Fortunately, there’s no trace of demonic or corrupt qi,
>so we can proceed with the transformation safely.
>Now, focus.”
A low vibration filled the room.
Namgung Ryeong-ryeong’s qi flowed through him, mapping every part of his body.
>As it grew warmer, Mok Yeo-jin followed her rhythm, guiding his own energy.
Her gentle qi ran through his meridians,
>while his followed closely behind.
Her energy, cautious and nurturing,
>would constantly glance back as if to make sure her son wasn’t lost.
Feeling that motherly warmth even in her qi, Mok Yeo-jin smiled faintly.
The comforting flow almost lulled him into peace.
So this is Mother’s qi…
He wished that warmth would never end.
But…
Even now, the Yuanum Cult was preparing in the shadows—
>plotting to drown the Central Plains in chaos once more.
He couldn’t afford rest.
Leisure is a luxury I don’t have.
When his energy completed a full circulation, returning to his dantian—
A powerful surge erupted.
Danger!
Namgung Ryeong-ryeong thought his qi was rampaging.
>She pressed both palms to his back, pouring in energy to suppress it—
But then—
She froze.
Though his energy surged violently, it wasn’t chaotic.
>It was precise—
>flowing with purpose, with control.
He’s controlling it?
Mok Yeo-jin was perfectly mastering that wild tide.
Fierce yet gentle,
>violent yet refined.
Even she had never seen such control before.
His energy raced through his meridians—again and again—
>each cycle faster and more perfect than the last.
A faint azure hue began to tint his qi—
>the color of the clear sky.
Realizing her part was over, Namgung Ryeong-ryeong withdrew her hand.
Watching his back, she smiled softly.
You’ve already grown up…
When she turned, the full moon hung high,
>bathing the night in light bright as day.