Chapter 51: Counter-Proposal (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 51: Counter-Proposal (2)
About three days had passed since Song Hak and Yeon-hui had departed.
Seok Myeong opened his eyes, greeted by a searing, white-hot pain.
“…Where am I?”
The first thing he saw were aged rafters. They appeared to be made of ancient pine, and while the building was old, it didn't seem dilapidated. If anything, it felt elegant. It wasn't just a matter of age; the structure possessed an air of antiquity, likely because it had been constructed from massive, sturdy timber.
Right, I lost consciousness back then…
Faint memories began to surface in Seok Myeong’s mind before slowly settling again. He remained lost in thought for a while.
His body felt weak, but there didn't seem to be any major structural damage. From his hands to his feet, he could move—albeit sluggishly—exactly as he intended. Gathering his strength, Seok Myeong tried to push himself up.
It was then.
“Urgh!”
The moment he tried to sit up, an agonizing pain surged through him, as if his entire body were being torn apart. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, crimson droplets splattering across the blanket.
“Tsk. Don’t push yourself. Just stay lying down.”
A voice drifted from nearby. Seok Myeong looked up to see Cheol So-yeon.
“You’ve been out for a week. No matter how tough your constitution is, if you don’t recover carefully, you’ll be left with a permanent disability.”
“Seven days… My junior sister… and my Martial Uncle?”
Seeing Seok Myeong’s questioning gaze, Cheol So-yeon felt the need to explain.
“Those stinking Taoists from Qingcheng? They all went back.”
“Why?”
As Seok Myeong tilted his head in confusion, Cheol So-yeon continued.
“Your condition is serious. You have Stagnant Qi that has become so fixed it’s difficult for you to even move. The physician said it would take at least six months, maybe over a year, of treatment. If they had tried to take a patient in such critical condition all the way back to Mount Qingcheng, they would’ve ended up hauling a corpse.”
“I see…”
The doubt in Seok Myeong’s eyes softened somewhat. Perhaps the pain had subsided for a moment, as Seok Myeong tried to sit up once more. He let out another groan.
“Ugh!”
“Hey! You really don’t listen. I told you to stay still and rest…”
“Did my Martial Uncle give his permission?” Seok Myeong asked, ignoring her grumbling.
“Martial Uncle? Who?”
“Martial Uncle Song Hak. I’m asking if he agreed to leave me here after coming all this way.”
“Ah, that.” Cheol So-yeon nodded. “To be honest, our Golden Martial Association was the one who demanded this duel, right? So, we have to take responsibility.”
“Responsibility…”
“Actually, I don’t get it. That Martial Uncle of yours—he must have known your condition, yet he still tried to take you back. My grandfather refused. He said if we let that happen, our association’s reputation would be ruined.”
“By grandfather… you mean Elder Cheol Mu-jin?”
Seok Myeong finally understood. Song Hak would have naturally prioritized the Qingcheng Sect’s position, while Cheol Mu-jin stood his ground for the Golden Martial Association. In the end, after a war of words, Song Hak—being of lower seniority—must have conceded.
Come to think of it, this is for the best.
What would happen if Seok Myeong returned to Mount Qingcheng in this state? He would have nothing left. He had boldly declared he would become a Qingcheng Sword Shield but failed to attend the examination. He had set out to build a reputation to earn that title, but if he returned now with a broken body and an incomplete heart method?
Forget becoming a Sword Shield; he might be expelled under the suspicion that a Taoist had fallen into the ways of the Demonic Path.
But to think my Qi has become stagnant…
Stagnant Qi was a symptom where energy refused to move—an internal injury caused by severe trauma to the meridians. It was also a form of Qi Deviation that often occurred when one tried to force internal energy beyond their capacity.
Did I force my internal energy?
Seok Myeong tried to recall his final memories. It felt like he had, yet it also felt like he hadn't. The only thing he remembered clearly was swinging his sword with the intent of gathering all his strength into a single point, moving in perfect harmony with the flow within his body.
But what was that intense energy back then? What was it that allowed me to pierce through even a Sword Bullet?
“I’m going to head out now. This time, stay lying down and don’t you dare move.”
Seeing Seok Myeong lost in silent thought, Cheol So-yeon stood up, seemingly bored.
“…I understand. Thank you for your concern.”
“W-Who’s concerned about who?!” Cheol So-yeon’s face suddenly flushed bright red, and she stomped out of the room.
“…Did I say something rude?”
Seok Myeong tilted his head for a moment, but soon pushed the thought aside. He began to check his physical condition and attempted to circulate his energy.
Sshhh.
A tiny amount of internal energy began to stir at the center of his lower Dantian. However, the energy was sluggish. A spark of energy no larger than a mustard seed began its journey through the Small Heavenly Circuit at a snail's pace, passing through the Huiyin, Miryeo, and Geogwol acupoints.
In the span of fifteen minutes, it had moved a mere half-foot. Nevertheless, Seok Myeong observed his body with a calm expression.
Fortunately, my Dantian hasn't collapsed.
It was slow, but it was moving. All he had to do was wait for it to complete one full circuit. Since he had already passed the Life-Death Barrier—meaning he had cleared the Ren and Du meridians—the energy would grow larger and faster with every completed cycle.
It was at that moment, as the energy was slowly climbing through his meridians.
Thump!
Seok Myeong’s face washed over with bewilderment. The energy that had been steadily rising felt as if it had slammed into a massive wall.
This is…
His meridians hadn't shifted out of place. He was sure of that. But it felt as if something was blocking his acupoints—like a boulder obstructing a stream that should have been flowing smoothly.
Seok Myeong quickly pulled off his clothes and began to press on the blocked acupoints. Normally, one would strike the points on the back to expel poison, but he had no one to help him. This was the Golden Martial Association; while they weren't on bad terms, the idea of entrusting his body to an Unorthodox physician was unsettling.
“Urgh!”
And so, Seok Myeong twisted his aching body, striking his own acupoints to force the energy channels open.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.
The moment he struck the sixth acupoint.
“Aaaagh!”
He screamed at the sudden, overwhelming surge of pain. Then, he checked his condition once more.
Clunk.
Centered around his chest, something was wedged into his meridians like a stake. It was invisible Qi. His internal energy was bound tight by a chain-like restraint. Any martial artist would have been terrified by this, but what shocked Seok Myeong even more was that the restraint felt familiar.
“This is the Five Elements Four Changes Formation. Why… why is something like this in my body…?”
It was a representative internal energy sealing technique of the Qingcheng Sect—a formation that blocked four paths using the Five Elements, leaving only a single path open for communication. A Life Saving Method that only those of Elder rank or higher could perform had been cast upon his body.
“Could it be…”
Seok Myeong’s expression darkened significantly.
Stagnant Qi was an internal injury that took a very long time to heal even with meditative recovery. Since the Qi and blood were twisted, it was difficult to operate the Great Heavenly Circuit normally. But to make matters worse, the very act of moving his internal energy was now under a seal.
At this rate, he couldn't even perform the Small Heavenly Circuit. Meditative recovery was impossible; he could only hope for natural healing over a long period. And there was only one person here capable of casting such a sophisticated seal.
“Martial Uncle Song Hak… why?”
Seok Myeong’s face was a mask of complex emotions: despair, anger, and suspicion.
*
“Brother, how is your body?”
Hyeok-jin entered the room, speaking cautiously after confirming that Seok Myeong had regained consciousness. Seok Myeong, who had been deep in thought, softened his expression and welcomed the boy.
“I see. And how are you?”
“What is there for me to be? I didn't do much. I’m perfectly fine. I’m more worried about you, Brother. I heard your Qi is stagnant?”
“I wasn't asking about that. I was wondering if your cultivation is going well.”
“Ah… well, I try to do it every day, but…” Hyeok-jin scratched his head.
Seok Myeong advised him with a hint of sternness. “Cultivation is not something you do one day and skip the next. Cultivation is about keeping your body in peak condition whenever possible. Only then can you move on to the next level.”
“A-Ah, I understand.”
Hyeok-jin did not take Seok Myeong’s words lightly. For some reason, the man felt like a master to him.
“Anyway, Brother Seok Myeong.”
“Yes.”
“The Association Leader said he wanted to see you once you woke up.”
“The Association Leader? Elder Cheol Mu-jin of the Golden Martial Association?”
“Yes. What should I do? Should I tell him you’ll see him tomorrow after some rest, or…?”
“No. A guest cannot simply do as he pleases. However, given the state of my body, tell him I apologize for the discourtesy, but I would be honored if he could visit me here.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
At Seok Myeong’s words, Hyeok-jin ran off immediately. His pace was fast, as if he had been told several times already. Once he disappeared from sight, Seok Myeong’s gaze turned cold.
Martial Uncle Song Hak… one day, I will surely demand an explanation for this.
He made an effort to calm his mind. He couldn't afford to reveal his sect’s internal strife while meeting a giant of the Unorthodox Faction.
“I’ve brought him!”
A moment later, Cheol Mu-jin entered following Hyeok-jin’s loud announcement. He gave Hyeok-jin a small nod.
“I’ll leave you two to talk!”
The quick-witted Hyeok-jin hurried back out the door. To him, the Association Leader was a difficult person to be around in any capacity.
*
“I watched the duel. It was a truly magnificent fight. In the end, it was a draw.”
Clatter.
Cheol Mu-jin pulled up a chair and sat down, offering his praise.
“You flatter me. It wasn't a draw; it was a fight I lost.”
At Seok Myeong’s words, the corners of Cheol Mu-jin’s mouth curled up. “You say the same thing he did.”
“Who else…?”
“That stinking Taoist you call Martial Uncle. Heh heh.” Cheol Mu-jin grinned, showing his teeth. “Though I suspect he meant it in a different way than you do.”
“Pardon…?”
“No, it’s nothing.” Cheol Mu-jin laughed and changed the subject. He scanned Seok Myeong from head to toe and asked the standard question. “So, is your body alright?”
“It is not good. But thanks to your consideration, I seem to have narrowly escaped the worst of it.”
Cheol Mu-jin shook his head at the grateful greeting. “What consideration? I was the one who dragged you into this in the first place. It was only right.”
“If you put it that way, the fault was mine to begin with. Besides, this duel was a great help to me.”
“Hoh. Do you truly think so? You nearly died.”
Seok Myeong nodded under Cheol Mu-jin’s peculiar gaze. “Before coming here, I received a teaching from Elder Baek Yang-cheon. He said that one must accept the consequences of seeking fame. No matter what anyone says, everything is one’s own responsibility.”
“Those are good words.”
“Yes, I keep them engraved in my heart.”
After listening to Seok Myeong’s humble response, Cheol Mu-jin paused for a moment before speaking. “So, have you decided where you will go once your body heals?”
“Ah, that is…”
“It won’t be the Qingcheng Sect, will it?”
“Pardon?”
“Ha! Seeing you look so surprised, it seems I’m right.”
“…Elder. What is it you wish to say?”
Seok Myeong’s expression shifted, and his voice dropped. Cheol Mu-jin spoke slowly, a playful glint in his eyes.
“Actually, I have a proposal I’d like to make.”