Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Blessing
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Rustle, rustle.
Seven days had passed since the beating from Dam Un-cheon landed him in the infirmary.
At last, he was back on his feet.
An injury that should have required a full month of recovery, yet it had only been seven days?
Truly, what a fine constitution. Such an unbelievable recovery rate.
Or perhaps Han Ui-gyeom's medical skills were just that exceptional?
As he marveled at his own resilience, the white bandages swathing his body were carefully and delicately unwound by the female medics, starting from his head.
Like shedding an old skin, what emerged was the face of a young man.
His sharp eyebrows, slanted upwards at the ends, gave him an intense look, while the tiger-like eyes below them spoke of integrity, and his high, well-defined nose sloped down handsomely…
Shudder.
He could feel the medic's hand trembling.
Well, it was understandable.
Even Neung Un-bi himself had been startled the first time he'd seen his reflection.
While he might not have been a beauty of legendary proportions, he was undeniably handsome.
How should I put it? He exuded a strange charisma that drew people in.
He had the kind of looks that could make a young medic, in the prime of her life, blush and falter.
That's right, look all you want. This handsome face is a public good.
How could I possibly keep a face like this to myself? It must be shown off for all to admire.
“Ahem! What are you staring at so blankly? How long do you intend to keep the busy young master waiting!”
“…I-I'm sorry.”
“Move. I'll do it! You're too slow.”
But Wang Cheon, who had been waiting nearby, barked at her and pushed the medic aside.
Rustle, rip-rip-rip.
Neung Un-bi glared at Wang Cheon as the white linen came undone in a single motion and fell to the floor.
This guy always spoils the mood.
A little jealousy is one thing, but this is ridiculous…
His upper body now completely exposed, Neung Un-bi sighed and shook his head.
“Huh?”
“…?”
Suddenly, Wang Cheon's hands paused. He stared intently at Neung Un-bi's body.
“Um… Young Master?”
“What is it?”
“Did you secretly train while you were in the infirmary?”
“Hmm?”
“It's just that your physique…”
“What are you talking about?”
As Wang Cheon scanned his body with a questioning gaze, spouting nonsense, Neung Un-bi quickly threw on his clothes.
Hey, old man! This body isn't for your viewing pleasure, you know.
What's with that lecherous, perverted stare?
But oblivious to Neung Un-bi's disgusted glare, Wang Cheon's face was filled with confusion.
His physique had improved. No, that wasn't it. The bruises from the beating were completely gone, and his muscles seemed more defined, more balanced.
Having served him for so long, Wang Cheon prided himself on knowing Neung Un-bi's physical condition better than anyone, yet now he felt an inexplicable sense of unfamiliarity.
It was as if something familiar had changed.
He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something was definitely different.
“Hmm, you're all set. It seems you've made a full recovery.”
Ignoring the perplexed Wang Cheon, Han Ui-gyeom examined Neung Un-bi and spoke with a smile.
“Would you care to try circulating your energy?”
“Ah, yes.”
At Han Ui-gyeom's suggestion, Neung Un-bi closed his eyes and began to circulate his demonic energy.
“Huh?”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it's just… something feels strange.”
“What is it?”
Having lightly circulated his demonic energy, Neung Un-bi clenched his fist with a puzzled expression.
“My body feels lighter than before… almost refreshed, you could say.”
“…”
“You must be using some high-quality medicine lately.”
“Haha, the medicine is the same as always. My skills haven't changed either, so what you're feeling must be all in your head.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“Yes, I'm sure of it.”
“Well, if the Seventh Elder says so, I suppose it must be true. In any case, I'm deeply indebted to you once again.”
“Indebted? Not at all. Please, feel free to visit anytime.”
“What? Ugh, what an ominous thing to say… It sounds like you're inviting me to get beaten by the Cult Leader again. I must respectfully decline.”
“Oh dear, my apologies if it came across that way.”
“Haha, well then, I'll be on my way.”
“Yes, Third Young Master.”
Leaving the Seventh Elder bowing deeply behind him, Neung Un-bi walked away at a brisk pace.
“Wait for me!”
“Stay back!”
“Hey, why?”
“Why do you think?! Just why!”
“But why?”
“I don't know, you blabbermouth!”
“Huh? What does that mean?”
Watching Neung Un-bi nearly break into a run to shake off the persistent Wang Cheon, Han Ui-gyeom smiled fondly.
When the Third Young Master was carried in on a stretcher, Han Ui-gyeom had been stunned while examining his condition.
Was it because he was beaten beyond saving?
No, it was the opposite.
The stagnant blood left in Neung Un-bi's body from his qi deviation had vanished without a trace. With the blockages in his qi and blood cleared, it was only natural that he felt refreshed.
Moreover, the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill he had been given to treat his qi deviation had dissolved, its energy seeping into every one of his meridians. It would take a long time for him to fully assimilate it, but this in itself was a great stroke of fortune.
Of course, this was all the Cult Leader's doing. He had given Neung Un-bi a reward disguised as a punishment.
It was a way of forcibly helping him, a young man with no power base, to catch up with the other disciples.
Even the Elder Council Head, who had watched from the side, had likely failed to notice the Cult Leader's hidden intent. The technique, known as Acupoint Percussion, was so subtle that to any other observer, it would have looked like a simple beating.
Still smiling, Han Ui-gyeom suddenly looked up at the sky.
“Heh, the Cult Leader must be showing me the firmness of his resolve. Forcing me to make a choice.”
Though Han Ui-gyeom had discerned the Cult Leader's intent while examining Neung Un-bi, he now shook his head.
It is still too early.
Even with the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill dissolved, he cannot absorb all of its energy at once.
The Cult Leader merely opened a locked door for him; what comes next depends entirely on Neung Un-bi's own efforts.
Whether he would become a fleeting breeze or a raging storm that could turn the world upside down remained to be seen.
“Hoo… in any case, the time for choosing is near. As an elder of the Demonic Cult, I cannot remain neutral forever…”
Lowering his head, Han Ui-gyeom's gaze followed Neung Un-bi's retreating figure until it was but a speck in the distance.
“Things are about to get busy.”
With that cryptic mutter, he turned and disappeared back into the infirmary.
* * *
“Hmm… no matter how I think about it, something's not right.”
“What is?”
Back in his hut, Neung Un-bi couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
He sat before the meal Wang Cheon had prepared, spoon in hand, but didn't take a single bite.
“It's just strange.”
“What is strange?”
“Strange.”
“…”
As Neung Un-bi just kept repeating the same word without elaborating, Wang Cheon narrowed his eyes and glared.
Ignoring him, Neung Un-bi kept his lips sealed, his brow deeply furrowed.
He didn't want to explain. If his loose-lipped guard found out about the changes in his body, he would surely blabber about it to the entire world.
He would never tell him.
But unable to find a reason, he couldn't help but fall deeper into thought.
Right after returning from the infirmary, Neung Un-bi had asked Wang Cheon to stand guard outside. Then, as usual, he had closed the door and begun cultivating his internal art.
But the flow of his energy was completely different from before. His demonic energy flowed without the slightest obstruction, as if someone had scrubbed clean the meridians that had been clogged with impurities from his qi deviation.
He had nearly lost control of the surging power.
After struggling to complete a single circulation, Neung Un-bi couldn't hide his astonishment.
His gaze had grown sharper, enough to intimidate someone with a single glance, and his clenched fists overflowed with power.
Not only that, but a faint demonic aura emanated from his entire body, filling the room and making the air feel heavy.
The problem, as always, was the murderous intent. An overwhelming urge to jump up and smash a wall began to boil within him.
Greatly alarmed, Neung Un-bi hurriedly chanted a Daoist mantra to suppress the surging demonic energy.
Twice, three times, four times…
Only after repeating the mantra several times did the murderous intent finally subside, but the overflowing power remained.
He carefully tried to circulate his energy again, but each time he felt it growing stronger.
Forgetting all about his training, Neung Un-bi was lost in thought, pondering the sudden change that had come over him.
What on earth could have caused this?
Then, he suddenly realized it: the knot of the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill that had been lodged in his dantian was gone.
The thing that had felt like a stubborn stone, immovably lodged within him, had vanished without a trace.
Stunned, he frantically searched his inner body and managed to find traces of it.
But… in his meridians?
The pill that had been sitting stubbornly in his dantian had suddenly dissolved, seeping into every meridian in his body.
It was an unexpected blessing. He had thought it would take years to dissolve it.
While the result was certainly welcome, not knowing the cause was why Neung Un-bi had been worrying this whole time.
Seeing him just sitting there, lost in thought with his spoon in hand, Wang Cheon couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.
“Young Master, what is it? What in the world is it? Please, just tell me, won't you? Do you have any idea how worried I get when you're like this, wondering what kind of trouble you're about to cause?”
“Hmm…”
Even seeing Wang Cheon, so restless he couldn't even touch his own food.
“If you keep this up, I'll… I'll resign as your guard! You hear me?”
“…”
Even at this long-awaited offer, Neung Un-bi remained silent.
“Aish, seriously! Young Master! What is wrong with you? After getting beaten like that by the Cult Leader and carried off to the infirmary! What are you planning to do now? Huh? This time, not even the Cult Leader will be able to protect you!”
“Ah!”
It was only when Wang Cheon shouted in frustration that Neung Un-bi's eyes lit up.
“That's it! The infirmary!”
“…Huh?”
“Of course. That has to be it.”
“…What has to be it?”
“Anyway, you have to give it to the Seventh Elder for his consideration.”
“…”
Muttering to himself, marveling to himself.
Watching Neung Un-bi carry on a whole conversation by himself, Wang Cheon puffed out his cheeks like a child.
“This is no time to be sitting around. Wang Cheon, we're going to the infirmary!”
“The infirmary? Why? Are you hurt again?”
“It's not that I'm hurt…”
Neung Un-bi, who had put down his spoon and shot to his feet, suddenly stopped talking.
“No, that's not right. Yes, this isn't the way. He's not the type to go around bragging about his deeds, unlike some people.”
“…Unlike some people? Who might that be?”
“…”
You! I'm talking about you!
Even without the half-lidded glare or the pointing finger.
Wang Cheon knew, and Neung Un-bi knew, but they continued their pointless back-and-forth.
“Are you going to tell me who it is?”
“There's someone like that. More importantly, I should pay my respects.”
“Why a sudden bow… No, that's not it, who are you talking about? Who's the blabbermouth?”
“You don't need to know.”
With a smirk, Neung Un-bi turned in the direction of the infirmary and bowed deeply.
Seventh Elder, Han Ui-gyeom.
Yes, you must be the cause of this miraculous change.
But I mustn't thank him directly.
If it were something he could do openly, he would have given some hint.
The fact that he didn't must mean he wants to keep it a secret.
He has always maintained his neutrality, whether on the fringes of power or at its very center. Whatever path he chooses, he must bear the consequences.
If word got out that he had helped me, he could be dragged into a difficult position against his will.
Therefore, even though I received his help, I must never speak of it.
“Thank you. I will not forget this. Someday, I will surely…”
Leaving the promise to repay the favor unspoken, Neung Un-bi bowed respectfully.
Never imagining how this misunderstanding would affect the struggle for supremacy within the Demonic Cult.
“So who is it! Who! Who's the blabbermouth!”
“…”
Wang Cheon's furious shout echoed through the otherwise quiet hut.
He knows who I mean, yet he still gets angry…
Ignoring him completely, Neung Un-bi was lost in his own thoughts.
With this, he was one step closer to his grand ambition.
The difference between having power and having none is immense.
After all, wasn't the whole point of learning demonic arts to gain the power to escape?
But he would not reveal his new strength until he was certain.
Still, this overflowing power was a clear sign that he was closer to his goal: escaping the Demonic Cult.
The Demonic Cult? The Cult Leader?
Let someone else who wants that crap have it. I'm just going to leave.
Since I can't escape right now anyway, I'll just have to take everything I can get before I go.