Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Absorbing the Henesis Essence
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“You made a pretty big profit off just one basic Gangsigong, didn’t you?”
Paeng grinned brightly as he looked at Geon-woo, who sat across from him.
He was talking about the deal with Olka.
“Hmm, even if it’s just a basic Gangsigong, leaking it to the outside world is something I have to be cautious about. These guys aren’t idiots, after all.”
“You mean it’ll get dissected piece by piece?”
“Yeah. And from that, they might create something similar, or even figure out countermeasures.”
“Countermeasures to Gangsigong? Something like that exists?”
Paeng had also learned Gangsigong.
That was why he reacted sensitively to the word countermeasures.
“There’s always a counter to every method due to matchups. Gangsigong is a training method that boosts physical abilities using drugs. So if they learn about those drugs and the training, they might find the weaknesses.”
“Oh?”
“But even if there are weaknesses, you think I’d tell you about them myself?”
“So it’s better not to know? Meaning it’s not something that’ll come out easily.”
Paeng’s expression relaxed, as if Geon-woo’s attitude actually reassured him.
“By the way, it bugs me that all this happened while I was away.”
He regretted not being there when Geon-woo fought Olka.
“You were handling the task I gave you. Why the sorry face? On top of that, you overdelivered on it.”
When Olka clashed with Geon-woo, Paeng had been in another city with Jumper.
It was to secure medicinal ingredients to improve the clinic’s boosters and Jiangshi refining fluid.
It wasn’t just buying them; it involved gathering them directly, so Geon-woo had even sent Jiangshi along. But Paeng returned with greater results than expected.
“Still, it doesn’t sit right with me. There’s a difference between being together in tough times and not.”
“With all the time we’ve spent together so far, you’re making a fuss over this one thing?”
Geon-woo chuckled at Paeng’s words.
Paeng’s lips curved up slightly in response, his mood lightening a bit.
“So what’re you going to do about it? The Henesis Essence and the dominion rights.”
Feeling better, Paeng asked Geon-woo about his future plans.
Even from what he’d heard, the essence and rights held immense value.
Paeng looked genuinely curious about how Geon-woo would use them.
“The essence awakens the Mind Power passed down in the Henesis family, so I’ll absorb it. The dominion rights... I need to think about those.”
“Think?”
“Yeah. The dominion rights are great, but using them means exposing myself. It’s like becoming a public figure.”
“Ah, I see.”
“But when the time comes, I’ll have to use them. It must be worth that drawback.”
“And that time is when your abilities are ready, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Then I’d better work hard too.”
Paeng said with a broad smile.
“You should. Otherwise, the guys below might catch up and surpass you.”
“Muhammed and Cheon Su-wan?”
“Yeah.”
“You said you’re giving them Gangsigong too?”
“They earned that much. They risked their lives.”
“Pfft, didn’t you say they weren’t much help?”
“Not entirely unhelpful.”
“Fine, got it. You’re the leader anyway, and they acknowledge that. During that time, they’re comrades.”
“It’s not just that. I’m the leader, but in a way, I’m also their client.”
“You mean they think they’re working for you?”
“That’s right.”
“But if you think about it, it’s not just for you—it’s for ‘us.’ Honestly, you’re the only one we can rely on here.”
“Enough. It’s not worth nitpicking that far. They have their own skills. Especially their potential for growth going forward.”
“Whatever, it’s your call.”
Paeng had no major objections, so he accepted Geon-woo’s decision.
“Anyway, things seem wrapped up for now, so I’ll leave the clinic to you for a bit.”
“Huh? Why? Going somewhere?”
“No, the Henesis Essence.”
“Oh, you’re absorbing that?”
“It’ll take at least a few days, maybe months if it’s long. So...”
“Got it. But call out Illyeong.”
“Huh? Illyeong?”
“You think I wouldn’t know? Illyeong, Iryeong, Samryeong. Names like that?”
“Oh! Haha.”
Geon-woo scratched the back of his head at Paeng’s words.
He’d thought he’d hidden Illyeong’s identity well by using those names.
“It’s obvious with a little thought that Illyeong is the first and most special Jiangshi. So bring out Illyeong too. We need to guard the clinic together while you’re gone.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Geon-woo agreed and immediately summoned Illyeong.
‘You heard? Come out.’
- Yes, my lord.
At Geon-woo’s command, Illyeong used the multiplying metal fused with her soul to form a body.
“Hello, it’s been a while.”
She’d spent time with them on Geon-woo’s island on Earth, so Illyeong casually waved and greeted them.
“Yeah, let’s get along from now on.”
Paeng lightly returned the greeting and extended his hand.
Illyeong’s official joining the group was sealed with that handshake.
* * *
Geon-woo placed the Henesis Essence on his palm and focused his mind.
The Henesis Essence was a brown bead.
What was unique was that it felt like liquid both to the touch and to the eye, clumped together.
It looked like a solid bead, but felt like liquid.
According to Olka, most essences were like this.
‘The Henesis Mind Power is Growth.’
Growth, meaning vitality brimming and growing, was the Henesis family’s Mind Power.
‘This is broad in scope, encompassing regeneration and healing, as well as preventing aging or even rejuvenation.’
The Henesis family had greatly prospered based on that power.
‘But more fundamentally and universally, it’s about food—they controlled the food supply.’
The Henesis family gained great fame in medicine through the power of growth.
But even more crucial was food.
When the Henesis family was wiped out, it caused a massive food shortage in this world for a time.
‘Mind Power is ultimately a matter of mental strength. But no matter how strong the mental strength, without knowing the essence of the power, you can’t use it properly.’
Geon-woo could wield Mind Power in quite varied ways.
When overcoming Demon Tribe Perben’s barrier, he infused piercing and passage will into the arch bridge.
Against Olka’s analytical power, he used the strength to firmly endure in his body.
But Geon-woo’s methods were crude, ad hoc.
Thanks to the enhanced mental strength from Cheonnoe Bunsim Jeryeong Gangsigong, he’d pushed through with sheer force.
Quantity overwhelming quality, so to speak.
‘Demon Tribe Perben’s power was crude like mine, but Olka’s analytical power was completely different.’
Geon-woo felt a chill whenever he recalled Olka’s analytical power.
It was...
‘Like moving according to a precisely designed program.’
In Geon-woo’s view, Mind Power was mental strength evolved one step further.
‘Depending on the program directing it, the manifestation, power, and efficiency change.’
Geon-woo rolled the essence in his hand, deeply pondering Mind Power.
In that process, he organized his thoughts and deepened his understanding of Mind Power.
‘Good.’
Geon-woo opened his eyes with a pleased expression and stared intently at the Henesis Essence.
Now it was time to absorb it.
“Hup!”
Geon-woo cupped the essence with both hands, brought it to his forehead, and projected the will of ‘absorption’ into it.
Ssssh!
“Kuuh!”
At that moment, the essence was absorbed straight into Geon-woo’s forehead, imprinting the principles refined by the Henesis family over long years into his consciousness.
“Kuhhh!”
The pain of vast knowledge being forcibly etched into his mind was unimaginably horrific.
Even Geon-woo couldn’t endure it and let out groans of agony.
- My lord!
Then, Illyeong sensed something wrong and connected to Geon-woo’s consciousness.
- Kyaaah!
In an instant, Illyeong also screamed in agony as she shared part of the Henesis knowledge.
‘Nngh!’
But Illyeong’s intervention became a great help to Geon-woo.
Thanks to her taking some of the essence’s knowledge, Geon-woo’s burden lessened significantly.
‘What if I connect my entire elite guard’s consciousness and share the knowledge?’
The elite guard’s living Jiangshi were freely connectable to Geon-woo’s consciousness anyway.
And as perfectly subjugated kin, sharing knowledge wouldn’t be a burden.
‘After sharing, I can take it back bit by bit as they can handle it. Plus, that way the elite Jiangshi can use parts of the Henesis Mind Power too.’
Henesis of Growth.
But examining it revealed various forms of power usage.
‘The essence’s knowledge can’t be directly transmitted to someone just because you want to. Teaching it verbally is nearly impossible. But sharing through consciousness during essence absorption like this is possible. Lucky break.’
- That’s right, my lord. Even if we share the essence’s knowledge, you can always peer into what we’ve imprinted.
‘Mm, the reverse wouldn’t be easy, though?’
- How could we presume to peek into your consciousness? Even connected, we can’t influence yours.
Illyeong bristled at Geon-woo’s words.
Geon-woo chuckled at her reaction, then connected with the other elite Jiangshi and shared the surging Henesis Essence knowledge flooding his mind.
‘Hm, I need to pay special attention to Dokryeong, Sulryeong, and Gwonryeong.’
By nature, Henesis Mind Power wasn’t suited to blades like swords, bows, or spears.
So Geon-woo transmitted more varied growth applications to Dokryeong, Sulryeong, and Gwonryeong.
‘The others can use regeneration for defense and infuse neutral Mind Power into their weapons. If needed, I can intervene directly through the elite guard to wield it.’
- Yes. Dispersing it too finely wouldn’t be good.
Agreeing with Geon-woo, Illyeong diverted some of the incoming knowledge to Dokryeong, Sulryeong, and Gwonryeong.
Of course, the diversion was coordinated with Geon-woo through their consciousness.
After some time passed like that, Geon-woo emerged from the deep underground training hall to the surface.
“What? You said it’d take at least a few days, but you’re back in less than one?”
Paeng looked incredulous, scanning Geon-woo up and down.
“Thanks to Illyeong, absorbing the essence was easier.”
“Illyeong did what? I thought she was mixing potions?”
“Hm, it got urgent, so I called her in a hurry.”
“I see. So that was possible?”
“Her essence is spiritual anyway. Without the multiplying metal in her soul, manifesting in reality was tough.”
“Got it. But more importantly, you’re really done absorbing the essence?”
Remembering that essence absorption was more pressing than Illyeong right now, Paeng asked.
“Got lucky.”
“So it succeeded?”
“It’ll need some adaptation, but for now.”
“Wow, congrats. Hohoho.”
Paeng approached Geon-woo with a joyful expression as if it were her own success and hugged him tightly.
“Yeah, thanks.”
Geon-woo lightly returned the hug and expressed his gratitude.
- Tch.