Heavenly Yang Divine Art
Upon returning from Suhwaru to Geongonmun, Cheonhwa shared the intelligence he had obtained from Haomen with the others.
"To think they would spread such baseless rumors just to bring Geongonmun down…"
Having learned the true nature of the attack on Geumbubang, Wijiun could no longer contain his fury. He slammed his fist down onto the armrest of his chair.
The conflict with Heukwibang had already left Geongonmun reeling—and now, if things continued like this, the black-path sects gathered in Baoji would fall upon them like a pack of wolves.
"First, let us take stock of the situation."
Jeokhwa lightly clapped her hands, drawing every gaze and steadying the atmosphere.
The situation itself was far from favorable. Yihwamun's schemes had made Geongonmun a likely target for the black path. The only first-class martial artist Geongonmun could still field was Wijiun himself, and even counting Cheonhwa's party, they numbered only four.
"Ordinarily we would have had no choice but to dig in and defend Geongonmun. But thanks to the information Junior Brother Cheonhwa brought back, a new option has opened to us."
Through Haomen, Cheonhwa had not only uncovered Yihwamun's plot—he had also pinpointed their current location.
"In other words, we can choose to strike Yihwamun first."
Jeokhwa spoke of eliminating Yihwamun without delay. The chaos now gripping the martial world of Baoji was the direct result of Yihwamun's manipulations. Left unchecked, that chaos would swell beyond all control. To keep it from worsening any further, Yihwamun had to be dealt with.
"But before we can purge Yihwamun, there is another problem we must solve: securing Geongonmun's safety."
Even if they crushed Yihwamun, the turmoil already unleashed would not simply vanish. Geongonmun would have to take on the role of steadily restoring order to Baoji's martial world. Without them, some other black-path faction would inevitably rise in their place. Protecting Geongonmun amid the chaos therefore had to come first.
"The difficulty is that we must handle both of these at the same time."
"So no matter how we turn it over, we come back to a shortage of people."
"Exactly as Junior Brother Cheonhwa says."
Eliminating Yihwamun and defending Geongonmun—both required first-class martial artists. If the remaining first-class fighters left to purge Yihwamun, no one would be left to guard Geongonmun. If they concentrated solely on defending Geongonmun, they could not stop Yihwamun. And splitting their thin numbers half-and-half would leave them unable to solve either problem.
"If only our own first-class martial artists were still sound, we could have managed somehow…"
Wijiun sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face.
"Is there no hope of the injured first-class martial artists recovering?"
At Cheonhwa's question, Wijiun exhaled heavily and rose from his seat.
"It'll be faster to show you than explain."
He led them to a chamber lined with several cots. Four people lay upon them, all unconscious, groaning faintly in their pain.
"These people—surely not…?"
"Yes. Geongonmun's first-class martial artists. The man over there is my father, the Master of Geongonmun."
Wijiun stood beside the middle-aged man's cot, his expression bitter.
"These wounds came from the Heukwibang Master's final, desperate thrashing. I only survived because Father sensed the danger and shoved me clear."
The martial art the Heukwibang Master had cultivated was a highly unusual form of scorching yang energy. The principle of a self-weighting water method was woven into the true qi itself, so that merely touching it risked severe internal injury. He had been so proud of it that he had named his unique art the Heavenly Yang Divine Art.
"In his final moment the Heukwibang Master detonated every scrap of his internal energy and swept the surroundings. The people who had been facing him head-on ended up like this."
Burn-like blotches mottled the bodies of those lying on the cots—traces of the scorching yang energy that had seeped into their flesh. That same energy was why cold sweat poured from them without cease.
"We had them examined by a physician, but all we were told was that recovery is impossible unless the scorching yang energy is drawn out."
Even Life-Continuing Pills, which normally aided recovery from internal injuries, had proven useless. Unconscious as they were, they could not circulate their energy through the Greater Heavenly Circuit either. The local physicians of Baoji had simply shaken their heads and said the best they could do was prevent the injuries from worsening.
"Originally we meant to send them back to the main mountain by escort for proper treatment, but…"
"The black-path rabble that poured into Baoji made it impossible to leave, didn't they?"
Wijiun nodded weakly at Cheonhwa's words. If the wounded were intercepted by a black-path sect while being transported, the consequences were too grim to contemplate.
If only the first-class martial artists could recover, we could leave Geongonmun in their hands and strike Yihwamun…
In that instant a flash of insight struck Cheonhwa like lightning. If the scorching yang energy within their bodies was the root of this crisis, could it not be driven out?
Conveniently, both Junior Sister Yeonhwa and I can wield cold yin energy—the direct opposite of scorching yang.
Hoping against hope, Cheonhwa sought Yeonhwa's opinion.
"Junior Sister Yeonhwa, do you think it's possible?"
"I'll check."
Yeonhwa examined the pulses of the injured. After a moment she stated flatly:
"I can fix them."
Wijiun's eyes flew wide. He almost lunged at her with his questions.
"I-is that true?!"
"Mm. But it won't be easy."
From the pulse diagnosis she had seen that the true qi of the Heavenly Yang Divine Art possessed a highly unusual nature.
"It's different from ordinary scorching yang energy. Far more vicious and tenacious."
Not only was the heat intense; it refused to die down easily and ceaselessly sought something to burn. It was almost as if the energy existed solely for destruction.
"With qi like that, even a martial artist who uses true energy would struggle to stay intact."
Zhongnan's Dark Heaven True Qi and Flame Heaven True Qi both carried the risk of internal injury if mishandled because of their natures—yet compared to the Heavenly Yang Divine Art, they were gentle as fairies.
"Still, it's not as if there's no method."
The martial artists of Geongonmun cultivated Zhongnan arts, so they could readily accept the Dark Heaven True Qi of their own sect. Merely driving the scorching yang energy out of their bodies with cold yin energy would improve their condition dramatically.
Of course, it would not be as simple as it sounded. In the process of forcing the scorching yang energy out, the internal injuries could easily worsen. Completely extracting scorching yang energy with cold yin energy demanded internal energy control of a level few could reach—unless one possessed extraordinary talent.
And Yeonhwa was a genius who had long surpassed that ordinary measure. Only someone with her innate sense could accomplish it.
"Shall I treat them?"
"Please!"
Wijiun nodded with vigorous force. Yeonhwa turned to Cheonhwa.
"I can't do it alone. Help me."
"Understood."
Following her instruction, Cheonhwa stood behind her and placed his hands on her back.
"I'll start from the Hand Greater Yin Lung Meridian of the left hand and drive the scorching yang energy out of the Twelve Meridians and the Conception and Governing Vessels."
"Essentially the same as performing a Greater Heavenly Circuit."
"Mm. So it's crucial that the internal energy never stops flowing midway."
If one were circulating the Greater Heavenly Circuit alone, one could replenish energy through breathing. Pouring internal energy into another person's body to circulate it for them, however, was several times more difficult. Total concentration on energy control was required, which meant someone had to replenish that energy from outside.
"Pour your internal energy in slowly, a little at a time."
"Like this?"
"Yes. That much is enough."
Yeonhwa closed her eyes and focused every thread of her senses on her energy perception. Cheonhwa likewise concentrated on transmitting his internal energy at a steady rate. The winter aura that held the northern sky began to flow into the body of the Master of Geongonmun.
Before long the heat drained from the Master's body, and the blotches that had covered him faded little by little.
When the treatment was finished, the Master of Geongonmun let out a soft groan and slowly opened his eyes.
"Ugh… where…?"
"Father, are you awake?!"
"Un? What on earth…?"
"A great many things have happened, Father. Truly a great many."
Wijiun spoke with tears of joy barely held in check, a smile still touching his lips.
Thanks to Yeonhwa's treatment, every first-class martial artist of Geongonmun regained consciousness. Once the Master of Geongonmun rose from his sickbed and heard the full situation from his son, he expressed his gratitude to Cheonhwa's party.
"I am Wijiyeon, Master of Geongonmun. I hardly know how to face the disciples who have come from the main mountain. Because of you, Geongonmun has been preserved."
"Please direct your praise to Junior Sister Yeonhwa here. Without her efforts we could never have woken any of you."
"Is that so? Then I am deeply indebted to Daoist Yeonhwa."
"I only did what needed doing. And I couldn't have managed it without Junior Brother Cheonhwa's help either."
Yeonhwa answered, then gave a light yawn. Treating five people in succession had heavily drained both her internal energy and her concentration. Unlike Cheonhwa, who had only needed to maintain a steady flow of energy, she had examined multiple pulses and kept her energy circulating without rest; fatigue was inevitable.
Unable to fight the drowsiness any longer, Yeonhwa finally rested her head against Jeokhwa's shoulder and closed her eyes. Looking apologetic, Jeokhwa spoke to the Master of Geongonmun.
"Forgive her. Junior Sister Yeonhwa is… rather free-spirited by nature."
"Hahaha, it's quite all right. After healing five people's internal injuries one after another, she has every right to be tired."
The five first-class martial artists of Geongonmun, including the Master himself, had fully shaken off their internal injuries. Part of it was that the Life-Continuing Pills had finally taken effect once the scorching yang energy vanished—but the greater part was that Yeonhwa had used the healing properties of Dark Heaven True Qi to mend the damage. Though they could not yet claim full strength, they could now bring nearly eighty percent of their power to bear.
"I have heard everything from my son. To quell the chaos in Baoji's martial world, Geongonmun will cooperate with all its strength."
"Thank you. In that case, I would like to discuss the allocation of personnel for both the defense of Geongonmun and the elimination of Yihwamun."
Once the Master of Geongonmun had awakened, the division of forces proceeded smoothly. The newly recovered first-class martial artists of Geongonmun, along with Yeonhwa—still exhausted from the treatments—would remain at Geongonmun. Cheonhwa, Jeokhwa, and Wijiun would set out to purge Yihwamun.
"When do you plan to depart?"
"As soon as preparations are complete. We intend to finish this within the day."
"You are in quite a hurry."
"To settle the chaos in Baoji we must seize the offensive as quickly as possible. Right now, this is the best course we can take."
In his heart Cheonhwa would have preferred a full day of rest to prepare thoroughly—but the situation would not allow it. With every passing hour more black-path groups would assault Geongonmun, and in the midst of that Yihwamun might notice something amiss and launch yet another scheme. They had to crush Yihwamun in a single, decisive stroke before that could happen.
Before long the prepared group gathered before the hastily repaired main gate. Cheonhwa addressed those assembled for the purge of Yihwamun.
"From this moment we march against the true culprit who has plunged Baoji into chaos."
He briefly outlined the plan to the martial artists of Geongonmun.
"I will personally face the Master of Yihwamun. The rest of you, hold back Yihwamun's fighters."
The greatest threat within Yihwamun was the Heavenly Yang Divine Art wielded by its master. Rather than swarming him with numbers, it was better for a single fighter capable of firmly suppressing him to take him alone. As a user of ice arts, Cheonhwa was the ideal match.
"Let us go. To put an end to this interminable chaos."
At those words, resolve hardened in the eyes of Geongonmun's martial artists.
Cheonhwa led the party toward the manor where Yihwamun was staying. Perhaps because of the sharp aura radiating from the group, no black-path rabble dared approach; instead they discreetly cleared out of the way. Thus they reached Yihwamun's manor without incident.
The main gate stood firmly shut, looking difficult to force—but that meant nothing to Cheonhwa.
Yihwamun smashed Geongonmun's gate. Returning the favor in kind is only proper etiquette.
Dark Heaven True Qi, Vast Heaven Qi Art, Balanced Heaven Qi Accumulation Art—three layers of energy stacked into a single surge of internal power. He unleashed a form of the Five Elements Fist: the Metal Wall Fist.
Overwhelming internal power and explosive force release fused into a single palm strike that hammered the main gate.
KRA-BOOM!
With an explosive roar the gate shattered into splinters, laying bare the interior of the manor. It was a declaration of war that returned Geongonmun's humiliation in full measure.