Eyes in the Void and the Ghost Fire Palm
"Hmph...!" I crossed my arms, legs spread wide in a power stance, glaring at Sihaeseon's yodan.
Was it really okay to eat this thing? Sure, it was from Sihaeseon, but the original was human. Saseon-nyeo had just revived a dead Taoist's corpse—probably a good guy in life. Eating something like that... was it really fine? Felt kinda like cannibalism, and that worried me.
This wasn't some xianxia bullshit where they refine pills from people. How the hell did this happen?
"If it hadn't dropped, I wouldn't even be stressing! This is driving me fucking nuts!"
It was making me agonize! I'd been agonizing ever since I picked it up!
"Honestly, I think it's best not to eat it..."
"More than that, I'm shocked Sihaeseon even had a yodan. By that logic, shouldn't warriors and Taoists form inner cores too? But there's no record of that."
Serin voiced her concern, while Hayeong analyzed coolly.
"Yeah, that's weird."
Why did Sihaeseon have a yodan, but not warriors or Taoists? Thinking about it, it was pretty bizarre. Spiritual beasts rarely formed inner cores, but yokai often did.
"Maybe it's because ghost energy clumps easier."
"Huh? That actually makes sense."
Hayeong perked up at my words.
"Right? I'm sharp like that."
"Ghost energy clumps easy... yeah, that explains why Sihaeseon dropped one. It's creepy, but probably safe to eat. I'm voting yes."
"Wi Hayeong, we can't judge rashly. If something happens to Geun-hyeop..."
"If it was bad, it wouldn't have dropped in the first place. I say it's fine."
"Hmmm..."
Alright. Decision made.
"Let's eat it!"
This was an experiment. Was Sihaeseon a full yokai or not? No one knew. But I'd keep devouring yodans from all kinds of yokai. Classifications were fuzzy in this world anyway. Couldn't pussy out every time.
"Are you sure?"
"Serin, think about it. Are yokai labels even accurate? Some come from hell, some are native to the Central Plains. I've eaten both, no problems. No need to freak."
"..."
Serin looked unhappy at my logic, but...
"If that's your decision, Geun-hyeop, I'll follow."
"Good. Just trust me. But better safe—Hayeong, scan it? Anything off?"
"Already did. Just ghost energy, nothing special."
"Then down the hatch."
Not 100% safe—never was with yodans. But I swallowed Sihaeseon's anyway.
Shaaa...
Familiar chill. The yodan's eerie energy melted, sinking toward my dantian.
What effects this time? I focused, circulating qi to build new inner energy.
* * *
Vision darkened, consciousness fading. My mind drifted somewhere unknown.
The usual yodan vision—heart image. What would it show this time?
I'd eaten so many, I had a hazy guess even in the daze.
But...
"..."
Nothing. Just pitch-black infinite void, like I'd been tossed alone into it.
I twisted around, checking everywhere—pure darkness. Like space without a single star.
Suddenly, fear seeped into my brain.
What kind of heart image was this? As I shook off the terror...
"Ah."
I saw it. Countless massive eyes staring at me.
"Gahhhh!"
"Geun-hyeop! Geun-hyeop! Pull yourself together!"
"He's fine! No qi reversal!"
"Huff, huff!"
Eyes snapped open to Serin and Hayeong bustling around. What happened? Did I freak out during the heart image after eating the yodan?
Panting hard, I checked my body. Inner energy and qi flow fine. Just heart pounding, cold sweat.
"Geun-hyeop! You okay?!"
"Y-yeah... just spooked. Saw something scary, but memory's fuzzy."
"Told you—Sihaeseon's yodan was the problem. He needs rest. Wi Hayeong, examine him."
"On it!"
Hayeong brought tools, checked me out. I lay still, calming down.
What the hell...? Only the sharp sense of terror lingered. What did I see? Saseon-nyeo in the heart image?
"Hmm... no issues. You're good."
"Phew, glad. Thanks for worrying, guys. Body's fine."
I sat up.
"But a scary heart image?"
Hayeong frowned.
"Yeah. Memory's hazy—just the fear sticks. With the dog or mole yodans, I remember swimming or digging clearly. This one's just scary vibes."
"Sihaeseon was higher level, so stronger yodan?"
"Maybe."
Inner energy had grown, at least. Time to test.
"Serin, sword."
"Y-yes."
Post-yodan sparring was routine. She handed it over casually. I headed to the backyard, swung.
Paat!
Basic: Cheong-han Sim-gong fueling Dae-ryu Geom-beop.
Then, imagining foes:
Chwak!
Flash forward, thrust, explode on impact. Follow with power burst for a big slash. One set done.
"Whew."
Gui-hon-il-seom, Gwi Hon Gyeok Ryu Pa, into Gui-gyeok-cham combo. Perfect.
Launched that assault, still had stamina and qi to spare. With this leeway, I could do more. Needed another technique—maybe for crowds.
"Gui-gyeok-cham!"
Imagining it, spun in place for a wide horizontal slash.
Chwahak!
Worked...? Like a top spewing flames.
"Oho, Geun-hyeop. Spinning Gui-gyeok-cham? Purple flames lingered a full rotation. Power held to the end."
"Yeah?"
Qi spare, so I tried. Seemed viable.
"But spin's weak. Too slow—fine vs yokai, but humans would exploit the gap."
"Good point. Let's amp Gui-hon-il-seom's thrust for spin."
Still qi left.
"Like Gui-hon-il-seom... thrust-spin!"
Peong!
Ghost energy blasted from my soles, explosive acceleration. Rode it without losing control, slashed Gui-gyeok-cham full spin.
Chwahak!
"How's that?!"
"Much better. Speed's great. Tweak more, it's battle-ready."
Serin clapped in praise!
"Kahaha! Nice! Call it Gui-ryun-cham—Gui-gyeok-cham derivative."
"Perfect."
Mastered a spinning slash. Great for yokai swarms or encirclement.
But just a Gui-gyeok-cham twist. Not fresh. Could I invent something new?
Just ate a magic-user yokai's yodan. Maybe sorcery vibes?
"Hayeong, Sihaeseon was a Taoist. Can I sling spells with ghost energy now?"
"Idiot. Sorcery ain't like that. Think eating gives magic?"
"Worth a shot."
"Try it then."
Ranged attacks—I wanted those.
"Practice time!"
After that, I drilled new tech whenever free. Sihaeseon's yodan sharpened that sense—qi flow and release felt smoother. Couldn't stop.
Worked at it, and finally...
Hwaruk!
Purple ghost-flame orb in my palm!
"Whoa!"
Sinister fireball danced above. Entranced, I punched forward.
Hwaruk!
It flew...
Peong!
Exploded on the tree!
"Yesss!"
Success!
"Guys! I did it! Look!"
Overjoyed, I ran to brag to my wives.
"Mmm... been practicing. It worked?"
"Yeah! Get up! Get up!"
"It's early morning..."
Woke Serin and Hayeong, dragged 'em to the yard. Demo'd again.
Peong!
"Heavens! Shooting fireballs from your hand now? What kinda Murim guy are you? A Taoist?!"
"Truly astounding, Geun-hyeop... how..."
"Heh, shocked?"
Named it.
"Not that weird. It's a palm technique."
"Palm technique?"
"Yeah. Gui Hwa Jang."
Palm-fired flames—close range, pure palm strike.
"Anyway, proved it works. My ghost energy's unique—not pure Murim qi or Taoist. Hybrid operation possible."
Warriors were fighters, Taoists mages. Me? Magic swordsman class.