Heavenly Thunder Sword and the Yodan Body
After a light greeting, Namgung Serin gave her father, Namgung Cheon, a report on this and that.
"The soul-fused jiangshi summoned the Demon Nachal? It must be Saseon-nyeo's doing."
"Indeed, family head."
"And yet you struggled against the Demon Nachal."
Suddenly, Namgung Cheon's aura sharpened.
"Even if it was deep in the labyrinth, know your shame. Is this how I taught you?"
"...I'm sorry."
Namgung Serin bowed her head, looking dejected. Wait, is this right? Her own daughter nearly died, and he's blaming her? That thought bubbled up, but families like this have their own way of raising kids. As martial artists, it was unavoidable.
While I stood there trembling a bit, Namgung Cheon turned to me.
"You saved my daughter. I am truly grateful."
"It was a do-or-die situation where I had to go all-in to survive, and it just worked out."
"Modest, aren't you? As thanks, I shall reward you."
A reward! Hell yeah!
"Bring it."
Creak.
The door opened immediately, and someone who looked like a servant brought in a long storage case. The moment I saw it, I knew. Isn't that a sword box?
Before I could even finish the thought, Namgung Cheon opened the case and drew out the sword inside. A striking blue hilt and scabbard—clearly a high-end blade at first glance. Is he really giving this to me? It looks fucking amazing!
"This is the Heavenly Thunder Sword. Use it well."
"Holy shit! Thank you!"
I took the Heavenly Thunder Sword with both hands and bowed deeply! This was on a whole other level from my piece-of-shit sword!
"Rest as you like in the annex."
"Yes, sir!"
With that, I finished my business with Namgung Cheon and stepped out of the family head's chamber.
"Congratulations, Geun-hyeop. That Heavenly Thunder Sword is given to warriors who have earned great merit for the family. Even avid collectors covet it—it's a famed blade of exceptional quality."
"H-how can a sword be this beautiful...!"
It was so exquisite, it felt like holding a work of art. Goodbye, my worthless hunk of junk! Time to sell this crap on Carrot Market!
"Is the Heavenly Thunder Sword super durable and all that?!"
"Hehe, of course. It's sturdy enough not to break under normal circumstances. You can use it for ages without special care."
"I'll treasure it like a family heirloom and make it last!"
With this sword, I feared nothing! Stroking it happily, I boarded the elevator with Namgung Serin.
But something felt off—Namgung Serin's mood had sunk. She looked kinda down, somehow.
Ah. Quick on the uptake, I clocked her vibe right away. Getting chewed out by Dad must've hurt.
"Lady Namgung Serin, are you feeling unwell? Your face doesn't look great."
"...No. Why would I be?"
She denied it, but it was obvious.
"The family head must've been worried too."
"Pardon...?"
"He probably just couldn't show it outright, right?"
"..."
She stared into my eyes for a moment, then sighed and looked down.
"Sigh. I hope that's the case."
Nailed it.
"It definitely is. Who wouldn't worry when their kid's in danger? Deep down, he treasures you, Lady Namgung Serin. Fathers are just like that—it's hard for them to express honest feelings to their children."
Namgung Serin was a martial artist. At a young age, she'd reached the Peak realm and earned the moniker Jade Flower Sword. She'd train her martial arts with utmost seriousness and surely revered her father, a supreme master. Wanting praise from him was natural.
"He probably wanted to praise you for slaying the Demon Nachal too."
"Really...?"
She asked again, hooked on my words.
"Yeah. That's how dads are. Us guys get it."
"Sigh... I see. Hearing that comforts me a bit."
Her expression softened.
"You're quite the smooth talker, Geun-hyeop. Truth be told, getting called pathetic made me worry the family head might be disappointed in me."
"Just show even better results next time."
That's what dads are for, right?
"Is that so? No need to worry, then."
Her voice sounded much brighter.
"Heh heh heh, exactly. Ah, man. Seeing you cheer up makes me happy too. Like it's my own win."
"..."
She looked straight at me. What?
"Geun-hyeop, you seem like a really good guy. Getting this happy over someone else's joy."
"I'm just naturally awesome. Back home, they even called me a sage."
"Hehe, impressive moniker. Then it wouldn't be bad to befriend a sage."
"Huh?"
"I think it would be fine to be close friends with you, Geun-hyeop."
"Whoa!"
Close friends!
"Feel free to drop the formalities from now on. You can call me Serin."
"For real?!"
"Yes. No one's ever called me Serin. Consider it an honor."
"This is too much honor!"
What an honor!
"Alright, Serin! Friends starting today!"
"You have zero reservations, don't you?"
She said with a soft smile. Expressionless was fine, but everyone looks best smiling.
And so, Serin and I arrived at the annex.
"Rest as long as you like, Geun-hyeop."
"Heh heh heh, I'll chill appropriately and bounce when the time's right. Ah, can't wait to play with this sword."
"Heh... Still, it's not as good as mine."
"What?!"
She showed me her sword.
"Heavenly Thunder Infinite Sword. This is my blade's name. Far superior to the Heavenly Thunder Sword."
"Show-off...!"
"Calling it showing off? Funny. Ah, you there. Has the physician been summoned?"
Serin, mid-chat with me, called over a maid.
"Yes, miss. Shall I bring him now?"
"Do so."
"Right away."
Oh, the doctor's already here?
"Go inside and wait—he'll be here soon, Geun-hyeop."
"Kinda exciting."
We entered the annex together and waited for the physician. Not one to just sit, I thought about grabbing a snack, but host Serin brewed tea right away. Delicious green tea.
"This hits the spot! Worlds apart from guesthouse swill!"
"Compare like to like. I train not just in martial arts, but the tea ceremony too. Incomparable to inn trash."
Serin seemed proud of her tea skills as much as her martial prowess. If only I had instant coffee, it'd be a showdown. I'm a pro at brewing that stuff—no one comes close.
"No way—a beauty who wields a sword and brews perfect tea."
"Hehe, indeed."
Swish.
As she spoke, Serin ran a hand through her hair—pure princess vibes, smug as hell. Anyway, mid-convo, the maid brought the physician.
"Finally, a proper pulse check!"
Serin rose, opened the door, and welcomed him. The physician was an elderly man with striking white whiskers, posture ramrod straight—tough-looking.
He bowed to Serin, then eyed me.
"Hello, doc! Kim Geun-hyeop here!"
"Ma Jun. I hear you ate yodan and walked it off fine... If true, astounding."
"Ate it, sure. Mind checking my pulse?"
"Was gonna anyway. Remove your top and lie face-down here."
I grabbed the hem of my shirt. But with Serin watching, should I strip? She watched unfazed, so whatever.
Shh.
Off came the shirt; I lay down.
"Let's see what constitution lets you eat yodan unscathed."
"I'm curious too—what secret lets Geun-hyeop consume yodan unharmed."
Time to reveal the mystery.
Smooth.
The physician placed his hand on my back. After about five minutes?
"Hmm... Walk me through exactly what happened."
"Well."
I explained eating the inner core from the horned tribe chief.
"And I got inner energy."
"Heh heh, well now."
Laughing?
"Is this really a yodan-eater's body? No foul qi, no impurities in the energy."
So I'm clean?
"Ate yodan, no issues, and gained energy... First time I've seen this."
"For real?"
"Yodan isn't for humans. You're spotless—not even a trace of yokai essence."
"Whoa!"
Confirmed clean!
"So, doc! Am I some heaven-sent prodigy like a Heavenly Martial Body?!"
"No such thing as Heavenly Martial—hush. Constitution... yes, a special one."
He pondered.
"Dunno... Truly don't know."
"Huh?"
"First case for me—can't say. Unique constitution, unknown type. Maybe you're the first."
"The first...!"
Am I the pioneer yodan body?
"No, doc, seriously. No humans ever ate yodan and survived?"
"Not that I know."
"Really?"
"Historically, many tried using yodan. No success stories, so all failed. Though demonic cults like the Demonic Cult or Blood Cult still hoard and research it... Who knows."
I listened intently.
"Demonic Cult, Blood Cult—terrifying."
"Rumors of horrific experiments. And hearsay: survive qi deviation or heart demon, and you gain yodan tolerance."
What?
"Never confirmed. Surviving qi deviation's rare anyway, and survivors wouldn't touch yodan. Plus, more energy means higher risk."
Hold up.
"Uh, after eating yodan, I had nightmares and woke up. Was that qi deviation?"
"A third-rate like you? You'd be dead. Just nightmares."
"..."
"You're fine. Perfectly healthy."
Conclusion: all good. So I decided.
"Alright! Doc, while you're here, I'll eat the Demon Nachal's yodan!"
Test it now!
"O-oh! Really?!"
His eyes lit up like a kid's at yodan talk. This guy's a mad scientist for real. Tang Clan origins?
"Geun-hyeop, dangerous. Horned chief maybe, but Demon Nachal's mid-tier yokai demon. Don't ingest now."
Serin tried stopping me, but impulse gripped me.
"Just a nibble. Safer with doc here. You're a famed physician with a title, right?"
"Selected Physician Ma Jun. Even if qi twists, I'll fix it. Eat—I'll save you."
He gripped my hand—cult leader vibes, trustworthy.
"Trust me and eat...!"
This dude's dying to see yodan ingestion.
"Hurry...!"
No stopping his curiosity. Mine neither!