Chapter 2: Extreme Yang Body
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2: Extreme Yang Body
“My, I’ve never seen an escort who takes such good care of the horses!”
Outside the carriage heading toward the North Sea.
We had slipped out of the Heavenly Demon Cult as if we were fleeing under the cover of night.
There was no one to see us off.
“…The North Sea.”
I felt as if I could already feel the bone-chilling cold.
The moment I thought about the cold, the Yang Qi in my dantian reacted.
“It warms up quickly.”
With my constitution, I could easily withstand the cold. I almost wondered if I had packed too many clothes for nothing.
“Burn.”
Whoosh—
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s murmur, a flame began to flicker from his fingertip.
“Treating the acupoints as mana circuits and moving my internal energy makes manifesting Samadhi True Fire quite simple.”
In this life, ‘internal energy’ replaced the mana I couldn’t master in my previous life. Using this method, I could ignite a flame with even a handful of internal energy.
This was the embodiment of one of the mages’ ideological inspirations:
‘Innovation.’
I was certain that by utilizing this, I could drastically enhance all the martial arts I had mastered in my past life.
Furthermore, by utilizing the Extreme Yang Body, I could use Yang Qi to start a fire even if I lacked internal energy. If I combined this with the martial arts I remembered from the past, I wouldn’t die easily.
“Isn’t it cold outside?”
Weizhi Young was chatting with Baek Mu-yong on the driver’s seat, braving the wind under the pretext that the escorts needed to get to know each other.
“The wind is a bit chilly, but it’s bearable, Young Master!”
“It’ll get colder the further north we go. Come inside if it gets too much.”
“I’m touched that you’re worried about me, Young Master!”
Rattle.
“Just keep a firm grip on the reins!”
“Ah, sorry!”
If I relied on Weizhi Young and Baek Mu-yong, I didn’t think my backside would survive the trip. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom grumbled with a serious expression.
The inside of the carriage grew quiet.
Baek Mu-yong wondered if the Young Master was trying to get some sleep, despite the difficult environment. He naturally turned his gaze toward Weizhi Young, the Third Young Master’s maid.
“Is the Third Young Master usually so talkative?”
“Talkative? Yes, quite. He makes a lot of mischievous jokes, too.”
“I heard he was a lecher.”
“Hmm, you might think so just by looking at his words and actions, but usually, women are the ones who approach the Young Master first. As you can see from his face, he’s very handsome.”
“Is that considered a handsome face?”
“Yes. He has delicate features, but his body is actually quite sturdy if you see it… though tastes in the North Sea might be different. Anyway, the Young Master is the type who doesn’t turn away women who come to him, nor does he chase after those who leave.”
“So you’re saying he doesn’t actively seek them out?”
“Yes. Well, there are exceptions.”
“Exceptions?”
“I heard the Young Palace Lord is a legendary beauty?”
Unfortunately, Weizhi Young couldn’t bring herself to tell Baek Mu-yong that the Young Master was indeed a bit of a skirt-chaser. Besides, from what she had heard, it seemed he was planning to woo the Young Palace Lord.
“What’s the problem with that?”
“Well, the Young Master does have a bit of a soft spot for beauties.”
“The Young Palace Lord won’t like that.”
At Baek Mu-yong’s words, Weizhi Young’s eyes sparkled.
“What kind of person is the Young Palace Lord?”
“She is the one who will become the Iron-Blooded Empress. Among all the Young Palace Lords in the history of the Ice Palace, she is the one who mastered the Ice White Divine Art to the twelfth stage at the youngest age.”
“They call her the Ice Flower. Is her personality as cold as her face?”
“She rarely smiles. And no one can get close to her.”
“No one can get close?”
“Those who touch the Young Palace Lord end up frozen solid.”
“Then she’ll get along perfectly with our Young Master.”
At Weizhi Young’s remark, Baek Mu-yong looked back at her.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Our Young Master can burn his opponents to a crisp if he sets his mind to it.”
“Burn them?”
“Yes. He seems to be able to control it, but among those who have touched the Young Master, there was someone who was truly burned from head to toe. More than a few women who tried to sneak up on him ended up with burns. Perhaps the Young Master can melt the Young Palace Lord’s frozen heart?”
“A clash between fire and ice, then…”
Baek Mu-yong hoped that would be the case.
As the two were conversing, they suddenly stiffened.
“By the way, Warrior Baek. Why are those people gathered up ahead?”
“Hmm, I didn’t expect uninvited guests to appear so soon after our departure.”
A group of men in black appeared, blocking the path ahead of Weizhi Young and Baek Mu-yong.
“Stop.”
“Who are you? This carriage belongs to the Ice Palace.”
“We didn’t block you because we didn’t know. Leave the carriage and go. Then you shall live.”
“…The Cult Leader’s third son is inside this carriage. We are escorting the Third Young Master to the North Sea, so we would appreciate it if you stepped aside.”
Despite Baek Mu-yong’s polite request, the men in black showed no intention of moving.
Grin.
Instead, they broke into eerie smiles at Baek Mu-yong’s words.
“It seems the Cult Leader tried to help Hyeok Ryeon-yeom escape to the North Sea. Did he think we’d just let him go?”
The men in black pulled out round spheres. Upon seeing those spheres, Weizhi Young’s eyes trembled.
“You people…”
“We are from the Thunder Demon Family. Do you think we’d just let him go after he dared to make our Yeong-yeong cry?”
“Even if the Head of the Thunder Demon Family is a fool for his daughter, this carriage is officially heading to the North Sea. If the Cult Leader finds out you attacked it, he won’t stay quiet, you know?”
“We only follow the orders of our Family Head.”
They were people who simply wouldn’t listen to reason.
“The Thunder Demon Family… Aren’t they one of the Five Great Demon Families? Are you saying the Third Young Master messed with a woman from one of the Five Great Demon Families?”
“I told you earlier. The Young Lady of the Thunder Demon Family tried to do something to the Young Master and failed.”
“Not the other way around?”
In any case, it meant the Third Young Master was blameless. Baek Mu-yong drew his sword.
“Warrior Baek?”
“It is the Ice Palace Lord’s order. He told me to bring Young Master Hyeok Ryeon-yeom to the North Sea no matter what, so I will handle this.”
“Those are Thunder Bombs. If they explode, there won’t even be bones left!”
The Thunder Bomb was a device created by the Head of the Thunder Demon Family, the Flame Demon Buk Gung-son. Dozens of Orthodox masters had perished because of those bombs.
“A warrior of the North Sea is not weak.”
Weizhi Young sighed and began pounding on the carriage.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Young Master! It’s time to wake up!! We have guests!”
Thud.
A noisy sound came from inside. Soon, the carriage door opened.
“What’s going on?”
“Guests from the Thunder Demon Family have arrived.”
“I see.”
“…You look as if you already knew.”
At Weizhi Young’s question, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom curled his lips into a smile.
“Don’t just laugh, do something!”
As Hyeok Ryeon-yeom stepped out of the carriage at Weizhi Young’s call—
“Die! Hyeok Ryeon-yeom!”
Swish! Sizzle!
Seeing the flaming spheres flying toward him, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom swung his palm.
Then—
Fwoosh!
A massive wall of fire engulfed them.
Thunder Bombs flew at me the moment I stepped out of the carriage.
I blocked the path with flames before the explosions could occur. With my other hand, I snapped my fingers, setting fire to the bastard holding a Thunder Bomb in the back.
‘Inject Yang Qi along the circuits visible in the air.’
Whoosh!
Manifesting Samadhi True Fire from a distance was a piece of cake for Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
Then—
Boom!
“Aaaargh!”
At the sudden explosion from behind, the men in black were sent flying through the air with screams.
“How did you do that?”
Baek Mu-yong asked, seeing the Thunder Bombs explode behind the enemies.
“It’s a secret.”
While talking to Baek Mu-yong, I saw a man in black who had survived the explosion charging at us.
At that sight, Baek Mu-yong and Hyeok Ryeon-yeom reacted simultaneously.
As Hyeok Ryeon-yeom drew the sword at his waist, fire energy surged. When he slashed at the enemy in that state—
The opponent struck by the sword was engulfed in flames.
Slash—
At the same time, Baek Mu-yong cut down another man in black who lunged from behind a moment later.
“You are more skilled than I thought.”
“Why? Did I look weak?”
To survive, I had to make the most of the knowledge from my past life. My innate constitution, the Extreme Yang Body, allowed me to manipulate flames at will.
‘The name Fire Control Sword seems appropriate.’
Just by properly wrapping his sword in Yang Qi, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom could become a warrior who wielded flames.
“Yes, you did look weak.”
What a blunt fellow.
“Want to go a round?”
“Let’s have a duel later.”
He was an amusing guy.
“Is my partner strong?”
“If the Third Young Master is fire, the Young Palace Lord is ice. I’ve become curious whether the Young Palace Lord will melt or the Young Master will freeze when you two hold hands.”
The meeting of the Extreme Yin Body and the Extreme Yang Body.
What would happen when the two met? I was very curious.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s life would only be smooth if he managed to win the favor of Seol Yerin, the Young Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace.
“Young-ah, I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”
“It’s Weizhi! Young!”
Weizhi Young shouted back and began to finish off the gasping demon artists of the Thunder Demon Family.
Stab—
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom chuckled at the sight of Weizhi Young ending their lives without hesitation and went back into the carriage.
“Let’s go.”
“…Moving out.”
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Listening to the sound of horse hooves, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom tried to get some sleep inside the carriage again.
As they headed toward the North Sea, Baek Mu-yong began to observe Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who was to become the Young Palace Lord’s husband.
The battle with the Thunder Demon Family had made him realize that the Third Young Master was no pushover.
“We should rest here.”
The road from Xinjiang to the North Sea consisted only of barren land. Since not a single village was in sight, the three naturally had to camp out.
Fortunately, Weizhi Young began pulling out tools needed for camping one after another.
“Young Master, please start the fire!”
Whoosh.
At Weizhi Young’s request, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom ignited a flame as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
‘Samadhi True Fire.’
He didn’t look that impressive at first glance, but the Third Young Master used Samadhi True Fire effortlessly. It was impossible to tell just how high his martial arts level was.
“Here, flour noodles are served!”
Weizhi Young, who whipped up steaming hot noodles in no time, was also a world apart from the person who had killed the demon artists without hesitation.
“Ah!”
After tasting the noodles Weizhi Young made, Baek Mu-yong thought—
Exquisite!
“…It’s delicious.”
“Oh, thank you for the compliment.”
Weizhi Young’s noodles tasted completely different from the ones he often ate in the North Sea.
“I didn’t know Young-ah was such a good cook.”
“It’s Weizhi! Young!”
Slurp.
Baek Mu-yong, who was practically inhaling the noodles, spoke briefly after hearing the conversation between Hyeok Ryeon-yeom and Weizhi Young.
“The Young Palace Lord hates lechers.”
With those words, Baek Mu-yong headed back to the driver’s seat. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom wore a faint smile.
“If you’re done eating, let’s go. Time is of the essence.”
“I’ll clean up.”
Weizhi Young hurriedly packed the cooking utensils. Once she was done—
Fwoosh.
Flames surged.
“…What are you doing?”
“It’s better to burn all traces.”
It seemed Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s enemies weren’t limited to the Thunder Demon Family.
“We’re moving again.”
“Right.”
“Let’s gooo!”
After that, Baek Mu-yong began to race toward the North Sea without another word.
At the same time Baek Mu-yong was heading to the North Sea Ice Palace with Hyeok Ryeon-yeom and Weizhi Young.
North Sea Ice Palace. Palace Lord’s Hall.
A massive figure sitting on the throne asked.
“Is Squad Leader Baek bringing the Third Young Master?”
“Yes, Palace Lord.”
The Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Ice Emperor Seol Baek-ho, hoped Baek Mu-yong would bring the Third Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult as soon as possible.
“Is it true that the boy has the Extreme Yang Body?”
“Yes. I’ve heard the information is accurate. So, once the Third Young Master arrives, the Young Palace Lord will surely regain her senses.”
“Can he really melt Yerin’s ice?”
“We’ll have to meet him to be sure, but we must hope so.”
Seol Baek-ho slowly began to walk. The Chief Officer of the Ice Palace, Seol Su-hyeok, who assisted Seol Baek-ho, followed behind him.
The place they headed to was the Young Palace Lord’s residence.
“Yerin.”
“Don’t come in!”
Crack!
At Seol Yerin’s shout, an immense chill from inside the room tried to leak out.
“Palace Lord.”
Seol Su-hyeok’s expression hardened as the chill leaked out.
The North Sea was cold. Everyone knew that. However, freezing the space itself with just a shout was something even the Ice Palace Lord would find difficult.
“Just endure a little longer, Yerin. The Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult will arrive soon.”
“Nothing will change even if that person comes. It will just be one more corpse to clear away.”
“That… the Third Young Master is said to have the Extreme Yang Body. I heard that, unlike you, he possesses Extreme Yang Qi powerful enough to burn those he touches.”
“I still don’t want to. I won’t meet him.”
Inside the Young Palace Lord’s room.
Crackle.
Seol Yerin’s current condition was so bad that frost was forming on her face.
“Even if he has the Extreme Yang Body, he will eventually freeze once he touches me anyway.”
All those who had recklessly tried to touch Seol Yerin had become ice statues. A nature that froze all internal energy. That was the nature of the Extreme Yin Body Seol Yerin was born with.
“Think about it again, Yerin. He might be able to melt your ice.”
“…I won’t get my hopes up anymore.”
Seol Yerin shouted toward the outside.
She had repeated numerous expectations. She had tried spiritual herbs full of Yang Qi that the Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho, had procured, and she had tried everything that could warm her body.
But the conclusion was always the same.
“I don’t want to… fail again.”
In the end, Seol Yerin had no choice but to hide her face and stay holed up in her room.
“Fine, I understand. Let’s talk more once he arrives. Get some rest.”
Seol Baek-ho felt pity for Seol Yerin. If she hadn’t been born in the North Sea Ice Palace, if she hadn’t stayed close to the Ice Crystal… Seol Yerin could have lived a normal life like anyone else.
“I hope he arrives soon.”
That was why the Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho, had no choice but to pin a sliver of hope on Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who possessed the Extreme Yang Body.