Chapter 10
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 5.1
Chapter Title: Juyang City
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This was precisely why a Second Hierarchy First-Rate martial artist could wield power comparable to the early stages of the Superlative Realm.
But if the opponent was An Hoe, the story changed entirely.
"Sword Qi Wounds Man should be feasible..."
The realm where sword qi alone could harm a person.
This wasn't just about coating a sword with qi.
It meant bringing the sword qi fully under one's control, detaching it completely from the blade, and allowing it to persist independently.
Only then could one truly grasp the essence of advanced sword qi techniques.
"It overcomes distance limitations. And you can wield even sharper, more powerful sword qi."
At the pinnacle of Sword Qi Wounds Man lay Sword Qi Pressure Point.
This allowed pressure points to be struck with sword qi alone, and victims couldn't dispel it without sword qi of equal caliber.
Mastering Sword Qi Pressure Point further enabled the release of qi threads.
"That's when techniques shift from intangible to tangible."
At first, one could only handle a single thread, but as proficiency deepened, the number increased.
Twisting these proliferating qi threads could manifest a hazy, blade-like form—that was aura.
"The Blade Lord has likely reached that level."
An Hoe knew better than anyone just how overwhelming aura was.
No matter how sharp sword qi might be, it couldn't compete with someone who wielded aura.
"Now, I have to choose one of three paths."
The first was the simplest.
He just needed to ask his mother to postpone expansion into Yeonam.
Request a delay of at least a year, then inform the White Crane Elder of the Mi Family Clan's rebellious intentions.
It seemed like the best option, but in truth, it was barely middling.
"The merchant group would struggle to expand for years."
If other forces backed the Mi Family Clan, the ensuing war wouldn't end easily.
With the Mi Family rising as rebels, the Honam martial world would shake.
This would plunge the stabilizing Yeon Kingdom back into chaos.
"Besides, Mother mentioned Honam for a reason. Without it, the An Family Merchant Group can't expand easily."
Her other mothers' maternal clans already dominated elsewhere.
With those branches entrenched, expansion outside Honam was tough.
"The second path: raise my realm, accepting the side effects."
He didn't need to go far.
Just reaching the Peak Realm would suffice.
Even facing the Blade Lord wouldn't be impossible then.
"Aura's tough... but an aura ring might be manageable."
If anyone else heard that, they'd laugh in disbelief.
Aura Ring was one of the advanced aura techniques unlocked at the pinnacle of the Peak Realm.
Yet An Hoe wasn't joking.
"Unlike the massive energy drain and recoil of full aura, an aura ring consumes far less qi and burdens the body less."
Combined with the Nine Yang True Scripture and Two Forms Divine Art, he figured he could weave a small aura ring from qi threads.
But this second path was the worst option.
"I don't even know the Blade Lord's exact level. He might've gained some fortune and advanced greatly."
If so, a hastily forged aura ring wouldn't stand a chance.
Above all, forcibly ascending to the Peak Realm came at a steep price.
He might end up confined to his room for twice as long as before.
"The third... is to cut off the Blade Lord's arms and legs."
Not literally, of course.
It meant eliminating the key figures plotting rebellion in the Mi Family Clan.
Given his current situation, this seemed like the best choice.
As long as it wasn't the Blade Lord himself, An Hoe could handle anyone.
The only drawback?
"I'd have to leave home for a while..."
An Hoe felt compelled to head to Juyang City, the Mi Family Clan's rebel stronghold.
He needed to scout their current status firsthand.
Troop movements, supplies, key personnel—plenty to investigate.
No one else could do it, so he'd have to go himself.
Despite knowing this, he dreaded leaving home.
It might seem odd, but it was natural for him.
Countless times in his past life, venturing out had filled him with regret.
"Ugh. No choice."
Truly reluctant, he grumbled for a while longer before seeking his mother.
The reunion brought joy, but equal sorrow.
How could she not know?
Her son had changed dramatically from before.
He tried hiding it, but she'd noticed from the start.
His mind and body weren't fully healed yet.
"And I couldn't even offer clumsy comfort."
Harsh as it was, she had no choice.
Any consolation would make him shut her out more.
So she pretended not to see or hear, cherishing their time.
Or rather, she wept silently.
Smiling outwardly, she swallowed sobs inside.
Only after he left did she wipe her tears.
No—she raged.
At the heavens for cursing her son with such cruelty.
Why must her son suffer so?
Why must he rush into danger?
Why must her son...
She wept and fumed for a long while, finally calming and composing herself.
She washed her face and fixed her makeup.
But her red, swollen eyes betrayed her outburst.
Luckily, fixing it was simple.
-Whirr-
She circulated the Jade Flower Art her son had given her.
Already at the sixth star—twice as fast as An Hoe had predicted.
Even surpassing Song Hwa, who'd impressed him.
Odd, since An Yeong's talent wasn't on Song Hwa's level.
But knowing the context made it obvious.
Unlike Song Hwa, An Yeong knew Jade Flower Art's origins and purpose.
Completing it unlocked the Jade Maiden Heart Scripture, granting immense power.
She yearned to master it swiftly and become a true expert.
This shift wasn't sudden ambition.
"Could this help my son, even a little?"
That single thought.
Even if not helpful, she prayed not to burden him.
With such resolve, her progress outshone others.
At this rate, she'd reach Small Success before year's end.
Worth calling it Jade Flower Art?
One circulation restored her swollen eyes perfectly.
She finished her day's work as usual, then continued without rest upon returning.
To become useful, expansion into Yeonam must happen ASAP.
That's when An Hoe visited.
An Yeong welcomed him warmly.
"What brings you?"
"Well..."
"Speak freely. Your mother will listen to anything."
Her encouragement eased him, and he explained.
"For Yeonam, you're planning a branch in Juyang City?"
"Seems that way, doesn't it?"
"Appoint me as its branch manager."
"...Very well. So be it."
"!!"
An Hoe stared in shock.
Merely thirteen.
A boy with no merchant ties demanding a key branch position.
And she approved without question—naturally surprising.
Seeing this, An Yeong suppressed the urge to embrace him and spoke.
"Anything else I can help with? Speak freely."
"Aren't you curious why I'm asking?"
She smiled.
"I trust my son. That's enough."
"...Thank you."
Her attitude made him swallow the fabricated tale he'd prepared, like his Heavenly Mechanism Child alias.
He no longer wanted to lie to her.
Sensing his heart, An Yeong gently took and stroked his hand.
Whatever the reason, she wished only for his pain and suffering to end.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
With Yeonam expansion confirmed, the An Family Merchant Group buzzed with excitement for a time.
A long-awaited dream finally underway—who wouldn't rejoice?
Mentioning "for a time" meant the energy had fizzled.
Cold water had doused the heated stone slab.
"The young master as Juyang City branch manager? That's too much!"
"The Lady knows how vital this is—how could she?!"
"We all thought Manager Wang Sam would take it!"
"The Lady messed up this time."
"Hey! Mind your tongues!"
"..."
Wang Sam barked as the merchants' complaints grew insolent.
They flinched, bowing in surprise, but he glared and raised his voice again.
"I'll let it slide this once, but if I hear more nonsense about this, you won't get off easy!"
"......"
"Answer me!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
"Sorry, Manager."
His rare fury terrified them.
Yet their dissent lingered visibly, so Wang Sam shook his head.
Should he say more? No—they wouldn't listen.
'It'll just fuel backlash against the young master.'
Viewing them like petulant children, he turned away.
"Sorry to put you in this spot."
"Nonsense. I'm thrilled the young master is stepping up for the family."
"Thanks for understanding. Help him well."
"I'll do my utmost."
Wang Sam's loyalty eased An Yeong's mind.
She knew her decision seemed excessive.
But she trusted him completely.
She'd connected with Wang Sam a year after marrying into the family.
He was building his own merchant group then.
Diligent and trustworthy, he'd grown from small beginnings to mid-tier in under a decade.
"One more successful run, and we're set."
Buoyed by success, he leveraged his credit for a massive haul—several times his usual.
But luck ran dry.
The pivotal trip failed spectacularly.
Not bandits or thugs.
"Ah! Greed blinded me! How could I be so foolish..."
He'd underestimated the scale, failing to meet deadlines.
In trade, safety mattered, but timeliness was paramount.
A day's delay meant equal losses.
Yet Wang Sam's run dragged twice as long as planned.