Just One Line

Weger couldn't believe his eyes. In just one week, Kael's wrecked body had improved at a pace that utterly demolished his common sense.

'Finally reached the level of an ordinary person.'

When he first circulated the Taiji Mysterious Heaven Heart Method, even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gathering a tiny speck of energy the size of a grain of rice had been a struggle. But once he untangled the knotted threads of his qi and blood and opened the floodgates, the overflowing mana of this world synergized with the nutrient-rich meals Ella diligently prepared, rapidly restoring his flesh.

Of course, borrowing the power of inner arts meant his body was still frail and skinny compared to a normal person's. But the Taiji Mysterious Heaven Heart Method was peerless when it came to fundamentally rebuilding and improving a weak constitution from the ground up. At this rate, returning to normal was only a matter of time.

'Choosing the Taiji Mysterious Heaven Heart Method as my starting point was truly an excellent decision. My body feels so light.'

His current level was around third-rate. It was an unbelievable growth from a crippled body that couldn't even practice martial arts, achieved in just one week.

'At this momentum, first-rate won't be far off.'

His accumulated inner energy was still too scant in absolute terms, so pushing his qi and blood hard left him breathless and fatigued quickly. But Kael relished this sweaty, muscle-aching exhaustion—it felt like proof he was alive.

Back in his Heavenly Demon days ruling Shipman Mountain Range as an absolute being, his Return to Youth body never hit a physical limit no matter how much he pushed it.

The heavy pull in his legs, ragged breaths, the full-body cellular burn from a simple run—this packed sense of fulfillment was intoxicating. A grin spread across Kael's face at the long-lost sensation of human limits.

"Come on, let's hurry! Ella's probably waiting with our food, neck craned in anticipation!"

"W-Wait a sec! My heart's about to burst—let's rest five minutes!!"

As Weger collapsed spread-eagled on the dirt, Kael clicked his tongue and halted.

"Tch, and here I thought a big lug like you would have some stamina."

Living together had made it clear: not just the maid Ella, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but this Weger guy truly served and cherished the original owner of this body with heartfelt loyalty. Something about being warmly taken in as a kid. Even after Kael turned into a twisted, sickly brat tormented by illness, that one warm childhood memory kept them devotedly caring for the forsaken young master of the ducal house.

"Fine, let's rest here a bit."

Kael plopped down on a massive boulder. Cool mountain breeze cooled his sweat; warm, gentle sunlight poured from a cloudless sky.

'Perfect.'

A peaceful, blessed landscape he'd never seen in a lifetime atop Shipman Mountain Range. Kael closed his eyes, savoring the wind, and this unfamiliar, serene romance-fantasy world began to grow on him.

"Young master, what the heck happened? In one week, you've gotten healthy enough to outpace me climbing that mountain every day. No one's gonna believe it."

Weger, catching his breath, asked in disbelief.

"Hmm, maybe it's not that I've gotten healthy, but you've been slacking on training and stayed weak?"

"N-No way! Back in the territory guard exam, my stamina scored top marks! Before coming to the annex, my buddies called me 'Wolf Stamina Weger'!"

Kael burst out laughing at the indignant Weger.

"Heh heh, wolf? Oliver's way better than you."

"Woof woof woof!!"

Oliver had raced far ahead, but now flapped his ears, returning upon noticing they were gone.

"Energetic pup."

'Come to think of it, there was a martial art for beasts from the southern wilds.'

Oliver was too clever for a mere dog—better than Weger at times. Truth be told, Kael's reason for dragging Weger and Oliver out every morning, enduring the hassle to run the mountain and sweat together, was deliberate.

In his Heavenly Demon days, a mere burst of energy let him peer into an opponent's constitution and nature. But now, with a danjeon barely the size of a grain of rice, he lacked the capacity for such advanced feats.

So Kael panted and sweated alongside, observing this honest, loyal fellow's skeletal structure and muscle usage firsthand to pinpoint the perfect martial branch for his temperament.

'Yes, dense muscles, sturdy lower body for planting his feet. Not shallow swordplay—he suits a heavy, destructive mid-length sword. Perfect for Jungnam Sect's Heavenly Thirty-Six Swords. I'll teach him when the chance arises.'

"Woof!!"

"Heh heh, I'll teach you one too."

Weger, resting nearby, tilted his head.

"Teach what, young master?"

Kael smirked at him.

"Something like that."

After that sweet rest, Kael returned to the annex with light steps. But as he crossed the open gate, his keen senses caught Ella's presence—and a stranger's.

"Hm? Someone's here?"

Kael paused, narrowing his eyes. Inside the parlor stood a hooded man in a deep gray cloak, conversing with Ella.

"Who're you?"

The cloaked man spotted Kael, lowered his hood slightly, and bowed politely.

"It's been a while, Lord Kael. I'm here on orders from the main estate."

"Main estate?"

"Yes, by order of Lady Silina, the acting head."

Kael already knew that was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his stepmother's name—from studying hard with Ella and Weger over the past week.

"Mother sent you? What's the business?"

"Nothing major. Just checking if you're faring well in the annex and how your health is."

The man's eyes quickly scanned Kael up and down. Kael snorted inwardly while meeting the gaze.

'This guy's no ordinary messenger. He wields a sword—a live blade.'

In the old Murim world, it'd be laughable first-rate at best. But stronger than current Kael.

'Sending a killer swordsman just for a messenger? Really?'

"Then I've confirmed you're well. Take care of your health."

With those loaded words, the cloaked man left without lingering. Weger eyed his back suspiciously.

Kael turned to Ella.

"Ella, what'd he ask?"

"Uh, just about your health and recent status."

"What'd you say? That you were on death's door a few days ago, but fine now?"

"Did you mention memory loss or anything?"

Ella bowed her head, face crumpling.

"S-Sorry. Should I not have said...?"

Kael smiled.

"No, you did well. It's more believable from you than me."

"Huh?"

"Never mind. What's for lunch?"

Ella brightened, listing the menu.

"Oh! Fresh chicken came in, so I made herb chicken broth for lunch!! Your favorite, young master!"

Herb chicken broth: a restorative simmered with fragrant herbs and chicken, eerily like Korean samgyetang or baeksuk just from the smell.

Kael's eyes lit up.

"Oh yeah? Perfect timing—I'm starved from the mountain. Let's eat."

"Hehe, yes! The chicken's so tender, simmered to perfection!"

Ella beamed, her usual lively self as she set the table.

'Out of the blue from the main house...'

He needed to look into it.

'But first, this.'

Diamond Mountain after a meal, as they say.

With a full belly, Kael sank into thought.

'Hmm, sending a first-rate level expert just for a messenger.'

Over the past week, he'd grilled Ella and Weger on ducal affairs. But years isolated in this annex meant they knew little of internal details—just the family tree, which Kael had memorized too.

Later wife Silina. The villainess from the novel Sword Duke Household who tormented the protagonist countess relentlessly. Insatiable for power, no scruples for her gain.

'And... probably the one who killed this body's owner.'

Why hadn't Heavenly Demon Kael recalled him upon hearing the name? Because in the original work, Kael appeared in just one line—indirectly at that. Drawing on his terrifying memory from Murim days, Kael recalled it.

'First wife's eldest son. That's me.'

The Restis heir mentioned in one line. That was Kael's identity.

Rapidly weakening after first wife's death? No way without cause. "Died of illness"? That greedy stepmother did it. And a ducal house can't save one sick heir?

Kael chuckled instead.

'No easy path. Central Plains threw me in hellish training grounds; now assassination?'

And weaker than then.

'Meant to take it slow, but no time.'

Kael ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sat cross-legged, preparing a heart method unlike the Taiji Mysterious Heaven Heart Method he'd practiced till now.

Heavenly Demon Illusory Art. The one that crowned him unrivaled under heaven.

Circulating Taiji Mysterious Heaven Heart Method these days revealed something: it was surprisingly half-complete. Jang Sam-bong: founder of Taiji Fist, immortal via neidan cultivation, Taoist warrior-monk who exorcised spirits in old age.

From that, Kael inferred: this method didn't operate on one energy type.

'Taiji means harmony of yin and yang. What Jang sought was balance. Pure essence of the living fused with death qi of the departed.'

Demonic and pure qi—thought incompatible—but Taiji Mysterious Heaven Heart Method could harmonize them into something new: Chaos Qi.

'If not?'

Cross that bridge later. Dive in headfirst—that was Heavenly Demon Cheon Woo-jin's way to survive Murim.

'Here goes.'