Chapter 130: Demonic Energy Absorption Art (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130: Demonic Energy Absorption Art (3)
Thud. Thud.
A man of massive build walked along the path.
To his left, an artificial pond, meticulously tended by human hands, came into view. After walking a bit further, he reached a sprawling lake.
He climbed atop a towering rock and surveyed his surroundings. In the center of the lake stood a pavilion. Inside, several men who appeared to be elders were deep in conversation.
The man moved toward the walkway leading to the pavilion. Just then, another man who had been waiting for him approached.
"I have been expecting you. Leader of the Golden Martial Association, please, step inside."
The man, who had the genial air of a tavern waiter, guided Cheol Mu-jin inside.
As they reached the pavilion situated in the heart of the lake, the two elders stopped their conversation and stood up. One was a small, hunchbacked old man, while the other was covered in deep wrinkles but possessed eyes that shimmered with a sharp, inner light.
"My, my, how long has it been? I was beginning to forget your face."
Hwang Il-guk, one of the Five Tyrants, clutched his hunched back and looked up, offering a crooked smile.
Beside him, Jeon Yi-yeong added his own greeting.
"We sent several messages, but since there was no reply, we feared you weren't coming."
Cheol Mu-jin offered no particular response to their reception. He removed his shoes, stepped up into the pavilion, and took an empty seat.
Hwang Il-guk glanced at Jeon Yi-yeong beside him and gave a subtle, inscrutable smile.
"Seeing as you are so quiet, I take it you have reached a very important decision?"
"……."
When Cheol Mu-jin remained silent, Hwang Il-guk lowered his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"This mouth of mine... my apologies."
Laughing like a sly old fox, Hwang Il-guk sat down. Jeon Yi-yeong also took his seat and waited.
Today was the day of decision—the final day of the grace period Cheol Mu-jin had requested. Though they felt every passing moment was a waste of time, they had been patient. Recruiting the Golden Martial Association, a massive Unorthodox faction that held sway over the lands of Sichuan, was more important than anything else.
"I have... thought deeply about this for several months."
As Cheol Mu-jin spoke, the eyes of the two elders fixed on him.
"And what is your conclusion?" Hwang Il-guk asked impatiently.
"I have decided..." Cheol Mu-jin paused for a moment before continuing slowly. "That I will not join you."
"……."
"……."
Hwang Il-guk’s face contorted.
In his view, there were a hundred reasons to join hands and only one or two reasons not to. First, Cheol Mu-jin had claimed there was no possibility; then, he asked for time to think; and now, a flat refusal. Hwang Il-guk felt as though Cheol Mu-jin was mocking him.
"This man, after all this time...!"
"If it isn't too rude, may I ask the reason?"
In contrast, Jeon Yi-yeong’s expression remained unchanged. He asked as if he had expected this outcome.
"A world ruled by the Unorthodox Faction. It sounds grand. I would join if I could. However, no matter how much I think about it, I see no possibility of achieving it."
Cheol Mu-jin answered without wavering.
"No possibility of achieving it, you say?"
"I have carefully considered the plan you presented last time. Even with the Samu Alliance, and even if we add our strength to yours, do you truly believe you can destroy three of the Nine Great Sects within a single year?"
Cheol Mu-jin pointed out a very realistic concern.
The Samu Alliance’s dream was the unification of the Central Plains. They had proposed that if the Golden Martial Association cooperated, they would be handed control over all territories in Sichuan.
However, the process they envisioned was the problem.
Their first objective: within one year, destroy three of the Nine Great Sects and wipe out one of the Five Great Families.
Within two years: destroy five more sects and wipe out two more families. Within five years: the plan was to annihilate every sect and family of the Orthodox Faction.
"We have no intention of just sitting back and reaping the rewards. It is only natural to perform great deeds if one wishes to receive a prize. However, no matter how much information I gather or how many plans I draft, you are far too optimistic. Have you not considered the hidden strength of the Nine Great Sects?"
"I see. So that is how far you were looking."
Jeon Yi-yeong did not look displeased. Rather, he looked as if he understood that specific concern.
"We have a countermeasure for that as well. I'm not sure if you've heard, but..."
"The Giant Demon that appeared recently? I know of it."
Cheol Mu-jin cut him off.
"Infiltrating the Qingcheng Sect's headquarters, wounding two elders of the Song generation, and causing dozens of casualties among the first-generation disciples. It is impressive that such a thing was possible with only five individuals. But in the end, that is the limit."
Among the Unorthodox leaders, Cheol Mu-jin was on the moderate and cautious side. He did not plot unless there was a clear profit to be made. He was different from the greenhorns who liked to show off their strength or the demons who were only satisfied when blood was spilled.
He was a man who understood the value of public sentiment, not just power and wealth. That was why the Golden Martial Association had been able to grow into such a massive organization, and why the Samu Alliance wanted them so badly.
"You aren't some kind of Jiangshi necromancers; you won't be able to keep producing such monsters indefinitely. To begin with, a Giant Demon is not a pawn that can be moved according to a person's will. If that is the extent of your hidden cards, well, I see no value in joining hands."
"Is that so?"
Jeon Yi-yeong shrugged. He looked troubled for a moment, thinking, then soon nodded.
"They said the Leader of the Golden Martial Association was cautious, and indeed you are. Then let us do this. In truth, we have a few more hidden cards."
"...You have more?"
"Do you truly think we could topple three of the Nine Great Sects with just a few Giant Demons? As you said, that would be far too optimistic."
"Hmph. Then shouldn't you have mentioned that first?"
Jeon Yi-yeong shook his head, his face hardening.
"Because once I show you this, there truly is no turning back. Think carefully, Leader. If I show you our final card, will you cooperate?"
"……."
Cheol Mu-jin scowled and glared at him. Eventually, he nodded.
"An old saying goes: if you're going to drink poison, you might as well lick the plate."
"Does that mean...?"
"Speak. If the card you hold is truly a convincing method... I will join hands. There is no reason not to cooperate if the conditions are reasonable."
"Hoo."
At those words, Jeon Yi-yeong smiled. He reached into his robes and pulled something out.
Thud.
He placed a manual down and kept it covered with his palm as he continued.
"This is interesting. Once you see this, you will understand what our plan is."
"……."
"Furthermore, you will find yourself promising your cooperation right here on the spot."
Cheol Mu-jin furrowed his brow.
Like a seasoned gambler revealing his highest card after hiding it, Jeon Yi-yeong slowly moved his hand away.
Slide.
The title of the manual was revealed. Cheol Mu-jin, who had been watching, gasped and bolted upright from his seat.
"Gah!"
< 脫魔吸氣功 >
Demonic Energy Absorption Art
Those were the words written on the cover of the book.
"It is a legacy of the old Demonic Cult. The application is a bit tricky, but... well? Is this enough to satisfy you?"
Jeon Yi-yeong chuckled, savoring the man's shock.
*
Cough. Cough.
"...Mm."
In the dawn before the darkness had fully vanished, Seok Myeong was awakened by the sound of coughing coming from somewhere.
Cough! Cough! Kah-ack!
"Saje? Saje!"
The coughing sounded familiar. Seok Myeong hurriedly lit a lamp and got up. Looking around, he saw Seok Jin struggling on the floor, having fallen from his bed.
"Seok Jin Saje! What's wrong!"
"Sa... Sahyung..."
"Heh!"
Blood was trickling from the corner of Seok Jin's mouth. He had vomited so much that the floor was soaked with blood.
"Sahyung? What's happening?"
Clatter!
Yeon-hui, who had rushed into the men's room late, looked on with a shocked face.
"Se... Seok Jin Saje!"
"Quiet!"
Seok Myeong barked the command.
He quickly lifted Seok Jin back onto the bed and felt his pulse. After sensing the vital points and meridians for a long time, Seok Myeong’s face filled with shock.
"H-How can this be?"
Seeing his reaction, Yeon-hui’s expression darkened as well.
"Seok Myeong Sahyung, what on earth is it?"
"The demonic qi... the demonic qi..."
"What about the demonic qi?"
"It's already full."
Seok Myeong gritted his teeth.
The results of the pulse reading showed that Seok Jin's body was filled with demonic qi from the Demonic Energy Absorption Art. It was nearly equal to his original Qingcheng internal energy.
This meant a transformation was imminent.
When the amounts of Qingcheng internal energy and demonic qi become equal, a full-scale operation begins using a single imaginary point to achieve a synthesis of the two opposing forces.
This is bad. The change is happening too fast.
Normally, this was bound to happen. The problem was that it had arrived far sooner than expected.
In his own case, it had taken nearly two years for the internal energy to begin merging. In Seok Jin's case, it had barely been two months.
Even a body undergoing rapid physical growth experiences growing pains. This was internal energy. Seok Jin was experiencing the growing pains Seok Myeong had endured over two years, compressed into just two months.
"Seok Jin Saje! Stay conscious! You must not lose your mind!"
"K-uuuugh..."
Seok Myeong grabbed the half-conscious Seok Jin and shouted repeatedly. Just as he placed his hand on Seok Jin's Gate of Life Acupoint to guide his true qi—
"Ugh!"
An intense, searing heat surged through his hand and into his body.
I'm too late. The window to intervene has passed...
Crack. Snap!
Due to the Dual Flow Exchange Technique, the two energies were slowly finding their paths. His meridians twisted, and a sound like roasting beans erupted from the bones and muscles of his limbs.
The intersection of freezing cold and burning heat. Amidst that, Seok Myeong’s face suddenly brightened.
"This... this isn't bad!"
He had missed the timing completely. Yet, Seok Jin was merely in pain. If he hadn't been able to suppress the demonic qi, he would have certainly become a Crazy Demon by now.
"Saje! Seok Jin Saje! Can you hear me!"
The fact that the transformation was stopping at this level meant the demonic nature was being controlled. It meant the Taiji Empty Heart within the heart method Seok Myeong had taught him was working correctly.
"Remember the mnemonic! Jin! Jin Saje! What you are going through is the same as what I went through! The internal and external qi are merging! Steady your mind and endure!"
Whether he could hear it or not, Seok Myeong shouted loudly into Seok Jin's ear while examining his body again.
The vomiting of blood—it was a massive amount of black blood, nearly a liter.
Seok Myeong himself couldn't be sure what this signified. However, no other side effects were visible.
"Yeon-hui."
"Yes, Myeong Sahyung."
In the midst of the panic, Yeon-hui forgot to call him 'Instructor.'
"We must leave Seok Jin alone for now. Forbid all noise and make sure no one enters. And inform the elders."
"A-Alright."
She turned and ran outside. Seok Myeong watched Seok Jin, beads of sweat forming on his own brow.
"Hang in there... Seok Jin Saje. Please..."
Thrum! Thrum!
Now, even when he tried to take a pulse, a violent energy repelled Seok Myeong’s hand. There was nothing more Seok Myeong could do.
He could only wait in blood-drying suspense.