Chapter 19: Encounter (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: Encounter (2)
Stepping outside, Seok Myeong made his way toward the lakeshore.
Located not far from Chaoyang Cave, Wolseong Lake offered a refreshing sight, its cool, clear waters seemingly washing away the heaviness in his heart.
“Ah! As I thought…”
Approaching the water’s edge, Seok Myeong finally caught a clear look at his reflection.
He had grown younger. The man who had been entering his thirties was gone, replaced by a youth so fresh-faced he could almost be called a boy.
“I’ve grown taller. My face is narrower, and my build…”
His entire physique, which had once carried significant weight, had been completely transformed.
One might expect him to be overjoyed since the changes were for the better, but Seok Myeong couldn't bring himself to celebrate just yet. He still didn't fully understand the nature of these physical alterations.
“Purple is Demonic Qi. Blue is the Azure Wind energy… and white is Taiji. Is it even possible for something like this to exist?”
Three distinct energies were flowing through his body. Moreover, they were energies of completely different natures.
Theoretically, such a state could be possible. Even within a single sect, there were auxiliary heart methods or various branches of a primary technique. However, he had never heard of three energies with such vastly different characteristics coexisting in one person.
Since the heart methods of the Qingcheng and Wudang Sects were both Orthodox Martial Arts, their coexistence was plausible, but the presence of Demonic Qi among them was unheard of.
Three energies in one person…
Seok Myeong attempted to deduce the cause of his body’s transformation.
The Azure Wind energy and the Demonic Qi possessed equal power. They must have collided and exploded, eventually retreating after failing to suppress one another. It seemed that the Taiji Empty Heart had intervened at that critical moment.
The Taiji Empty Heart likely absorbed the dissipated and overflowing energy, growing in size and claiming its own place within him. He surmised that through this process, the three energies had ended up coexisting, each claiming two Gapja of internal energy.
“Then the internal energy reaching six Gapja isn't entirely mine yet.”
The energy integrated into his flesh, rather than flowing harmoniously through his Dantian, was likely the power that had lost its original properties and scattered when the Demonic Qi went berserk and collided with the Azure Wind energy.
Seok Myeong sat down and began to meditate, observing his internal state. Ignoring the scattered energy throughout his body, he focused solely on his lower Dantian.
About one Gapja.
He estimated that was the amount of energy he could call upon instantly. To confirm this more accurately, Seok Myeong drew his sword and channeled his energy into the steel.
Whirrrr.
A faint blue light shimmered along the edge of the blade. Unlike before, no white or purple energy emerged. He applied more power.
Hummmm.
As he poured in a full Gapja’s worth of energy, a strange change occurred at the tip of the sword. The other energies began to interfere with the Azure Wind energy. White and purple light slowly began to bloom.
Seeing this, Seok Myeong realized the truth. Even if it appeared to be ordinary blue Sword Aura normally, once he exceeded the range of power he could comfortably control, the other two energies would leak out and mix in.
Seok Myeong didn't stop there. He decided to pour in even more energy. There was still uncontrolled energy remaining in his body alongside what he could manage, and he needed to know his limits.
Hummmm!
As he increased the load of internal energy, the sword began to vibrate violently as if it might snap, struggling under the influx of uncontrolled power. Then, after a moment, the sword miraculously stopped vibrating.
This was the point where he exceeded two Gapja.
“Ugh!”
Woooong—!
Seok Myeong momentarily stumbled and sank to the ground. His trembling gaze fixed on the tip of his sword. Only purple energy lingered there now.
The Demonic Qi moved…
The moment he let his guard down, thinking the test was over, the once-tame Demonic Qi had tried to run rampant. If not for the Azure Wind energy and the Dark Heaven Bracelet on his wrist, his mind would have been overwhelmed in an instant, turning him into a madman.
In the end, the task is to absorb this energy.
He possessed a vast reservoir of energy within his body, yet he couldn't use more than a fraction of it. To overcome this, he needed to reach a higher level of achievement.
It isn't mine yet.
Though he had failed to create a perfect heart method from the start, Seok Myeong wasn't in a bad mood. A vast internal energy of six Gapja was hidden within him. And he could freely use one Gapja—no, nearly two Gapja—of that power.
How he would make the rest his own in the future depended entirely on him.
*
“Where should I go first?”
Seok Myeong scratched his head, pondering his destination. Come to think of it, the date for the Qingcheng Sword Disciple exam was likely approaching, so he wanted to check on that first.
“Let’s head to my room for now.”
Seok Myeong took a breath and activated his footwork. Just as he felt his surroundings moving past him with incredible speed, he realized he had already arrived at his quarters.
“Why did I get here so fast?”
Seok Myeong blinked, stunned. Previously, this distance would have taken him at least fifteen minutes. Even running at full speed, it would have taken nearly eight. But now, it had taken almost no time at all. He had arrived in less than a minute.
What was even more surprising was that he wasn't even out of breath. His physical capabilities were worlds apart from before.
“Is this because of the changes in my body?”
Seok Myeong attributed this transformation to his altered physique. He wanted to test his physical condition further, but he decided to check his room first.
Creeeeak.
Seok Myeong entered the place where he used to live. As he scanned the room, a strange light flickered in his eyes. He had expected the place to look like an abandoned house since he had been gone so long, but it was spotless. The interior was well-organized and very clean.
“Elder Song Gwan…”
Seok Myeong felt a lump in his throat. Thinking of the man who must have cleaned this room constantly in his absence made him feel a deep sense of guilt. At the same time, the feeling that someone was waiting for him made Seok Myeong’s heart race.
He stepped back out the door. He began to run quickly toward Chaoyang Cave to see Song Gwan. However, he didn't get far before he came to a halt.
“My face.”
Seok Myeong touched his face. It was far too different from before. He felt awkward about facing Elder Song Gwan with such a changed appearance. If he tried to explain the circumstances, he would eventually have to reveal the Demonic Qi inside him. If things went wrong, he might inadvertently bring harm to Song Gwan.
“It would be better to go to Seok Jin first.”
A person he could talk to comfortably. A junior disciple who would listen to him without suspicion, even if he didn't show his face. Having made his decision, Seok Myeong ran toward where Seok Jin lived.
*
In the late afternoon as the sun began to set, a young man was diligently practicing his swordsmanship.
Thrusting sharply in every direction—left, right, and into every corner—his sword skills were already beyond the level of an ordinary person. His skill was sufficient to be called that of a first-class master.
“Whew.”
Clack.
After practicing for a long time, he carefully returned his sword to its scabbard.
“Shall I call it a day?”
As a result of his tireless efforts over the past two years, Seok Jin’s skills had improved by leaps and bounds, rivaling other first-generation disciples. Though he hadn't reached half a Gapja yet, his internal energy had grown significantly, and he had reached the stage where he could manifest Sword Aura. Furthermore, the look in his eyes had become quite profound.
Exhaling a long breath, Seok Jin finished his training and turned his gaze. It was then.
“Seok Jin.”
At the sound of a voice drifting from somewhere, Seok Jin pricked up his ears. It was a familiar voice. Realizing who the voice belonged to, Seok Jin smiled brightly.
“Is that you, Eldest Disciple?”
“Yes, you recognized me quickly.”
“How could I not?”
He looked around with great delight. Judging by the voice, the person seemed to be nearby.
“I heard you were in closed-door cultivation. But where are you speaking from?” Seok Jin asked.
“Circumstances have arisen that prevent me from showing myself right now.”
“Prevent you from showing yourself? Did something happen that I don't know about?”
“I have achieved a truly remarkable breakthrough. I want to show you all at once later.”
“I knew it! I knew you could do it, Eldest Disciple!” Seok Jin shouted, his face flushed with excitement. He was genuinely happy to hear that the senior brother he followed had achieved such great success.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“Please, go ahead, Sahyung.”
Given the situation, Seok Jin stopped trying to locate Seok Myeong’s exact position.
“What is the date for the Qingcheng Sword Disciple exam? Has it already passed?”
At Seok Myeong’s question, Seok Jin replied while still glancing around.
“You didn't know? It’s tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? That’s a relief. I’m not too late.”
“What? Are you planning to participate this time, Sahyung?”
“I intend to.”
“Wow! That’s amazing. To think you’re entering. I heard a lot of first-generation disciples are participating this time, so it’s going to be exciting.”
“Heh.”
“You’d better hope you don't run into me first. I’ve been working hard every spare moment I had.”
Seok Myeong watched Seok Jin through a narrow gap in the trees. Standing tall and dignified, the boy was certainly different from before. Even the aura he radiated was different from how it had been before Seok Myeong entered closed-door cultivation.
“You’ve made great progress during this time.”
“Does it look that way?”
“It does.”
Seok Jin’s lips curled into a grin at the praise.
“Then I’ll be going. If the opportunity arises, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Ah, are you leaving already? Without talking more?”
“I have some matters to attend to. Get some rest.”
When the area suddenly fell silent, Seok Jin looked around. He expected to hear the sound of something moving, but he felt nothing.
“Seok Jin.”
Just as he was about to give up and turn away, Seok Myeong’s voice drifted from a distance. It was as if a ghost were playing tricks; despite hearing the voice, it was impossible to pinpoint the location.
“Yes, Sahyung.”
“Was the form you used at the end the tenth form of the Azure Wind Sword Technique, Crouching Dragon South Wind?”
“You saw it? Yes, it was.”
As Seok Jin nodded, Seok Myeong added, “There are two ways to perform Crouching Dragon South Wind: building up slowly like a gathering storm, or striking fiercely like a sudden gale. Neither is necessarily better, but simply alternating between the two is enough to put an opponent in a difficult spot.”
“…”
“However, just now, you maintained a consistent center of power. That isn't ideal. When you strike, it must be like a whirlwind; when you don't, you must leave an opening, like the eerie calm before a storm.”
“Ah…”
“I’ll see you next time, then.”
Sensing Seok Myeong moving further away, Seok Jin finally realized where he had been speaking from. Seok Jin clasped his hands in a respectful bow toward the dark, thick brush. He stared in that direction with eyes full of emotion.
Eldest Disciple has truly gained enlightenment.
Goosebumps broke out all over Seok Jin’s body. The problem he had been struggling with alone for quite some time felt as though it might finally be solved thanks to Seok Myeong’s advice.
“I will take your words to heart, Eldest Disciple.”
He spoke with sincerity to the empty air. Then, he quickly picked up his sword, determined not to let this moment of realization slip away.