Chapter 145: Decoction (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 145: Decoction (2)
Until now, the primary internal art he had utilized when opening his meridians was the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula.
This was his first time attempting to open a meridian with the Taiji Taoyuan Technique as the core, but he felt no fear. He trusted the goodwill of the boy he had met on Mount Wudang, and he trusted the long hours he had spent training.
He had achieved Great Completion in the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula, the ninth tier of mastery in the Spear King Azure Aura, and the eighth tier of mastery in the Taiji Taoyuan Technique. To succeed, he had to draw out and utilize the power of all three internal arts, making the role of the Taiji Taoyuan Technique the most critical of all.
Without it, he could never have attempted to open a meridian alone. The Taiji Taoyuan Technique was simply that indispensable to the process.
Hummm…!
His right foot sank lightly, as if treading on clouds, signaling the beginning of the Taiji Taoyuan Technique. His left arm rose slowly, as if floating, and curved gently to trace a smooth arc. A large circle formed in the air, as if gathering heaven and earth to bind them as one.
With the activation of the Taiji Taoyuan Technique, the internal energy slumbering in his dantian awakened. The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula and the Spear King Azure Aura, two energies that had previously harmonized without clashing, now chased each other’s tails in an endless, interlocking cycle. Eventually, they moved as if they were a single stream of energy.
It was the internal energy of the Taiji Taoyuan Technique that bound these two forces, which could harmonize but never truly become one. United, if only for a brief moment, the three internal energies surged toward the fourth blocked meridian of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian.
Swoosh!
Like drifting clouds, Namgung Jun's energy naturally filled the frozen channels. Sensing an invasion of its domain, the Nine Yin Severed Meridian unleashed a violent torrent of Yin Cold Qi, just as it always had.
However, unlike his previous breakthroughs, no violent clash occurred. The Taiji Taoyuan Technique embraced even the Yin Cold Qi of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian. Namgung Jun’s temporarily unified internal energy held its ground against the rampaging cold.
His own energy, centered around the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula, possessed a Yang nature. The Yin Cold Qi of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian possessed a Yin nature. Guided by the flow of the Taiji Taoyuan Technique, the two vast forces of Yin and Yang formed a small Taiji.
The newly formed Taiji approached the fourth blocked meridian.
Swoosh!
The immense energy, containing both Yin and Yang, enveloped the fourth meridian like a translucent veil. It was as if sunlight and moonlight were cascading over it in turns.
Opening a meridian with the Taiji Taoyuan Technique was distinctly different from before. What was once a grueling siege waged inside his own body—a tug-of-war of piercing and blocking—was now utterly peaceful. All Namgung Jun had to do was focus on using the Taiji Taoyuan Technique to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang.
‘The blocked meridian is slowly melting.’
The blocked meridians had always stood before him like impregnable fortresses. Every time he broke through one, he had to endure excruciating pain. But now, a massive energy in perfect Yin-Yang harmony was gently and slowly melting the blockage away. Recalling how each breakthrough had been exponentially more difficult than the last, the current process felt strangely unfamiliar.
‘Focus.’
Though the Taiji Taoyuan Technique was maintaining a rough balance between his internal energy and the Yin Cold Qi, there was no telling when an unexpected complication might arise. If he let his guard down, the balance could shatter, leading to disaster.
Namgung Jun focused even deeper, continuing to execute the Taiji Taoyuan Technique.
*
Having completed the full cycle of the Taiji Taoyuan Technique, Namgung Jun opened his eyes.
‘That was a very long breakthrough.’
He had successfully opened the fourth meridian. Unlike his previous attempts, there was no violent shock to strain his mind and body. It had simply taken a very long time.
‘Thanks to the Taiji Taoyuan Technique, I cleared the fourth meridian with relative ease, but the next one won’t be so simple.’
Even with the technique’s aid, Namgung Jun's fundamental internal energy had to be deep enough to balance the rampaging Yin Cold Qi. To attempt the next breakthrough, he would not only need to master the Taiji Taoyuan Technique to Great Completion, but his mastery of his other internal arts would also have to deepen. He would have to push the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula beyond Great Completion toward its absolute peak, and the Spear King Azure Aura would need to reach Great Completion as well. Perhaps he might even need to acquire a new internal art that surpassed them both before he could challenge the next stage.
Fortunately, he could rely on his master's help. Though he had challenged the breakthrough alone this time, there was no need to do so again.
‘I’ve confirmed that using the Taiji Taoyuan Technique as the core is effective.’
If they performed a Joint Meridian Opening like before, it would be much easier.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. I have successfully opened the fourth meridian."
"Hah. So this is the power of the Taiji Taoyuan Technique."
"How much time has passed?"
The Azure Medicine Pavilion Master clicked his tongue and shook his head. "A full ten days. That’s why the Azure Firmament Hall has been guarding the Azure Medicine Pavilion."
Sensing the familiar presences nearby, Namgung Jun nodded. "Thanks to the Azure Medicine Pavilion, I have taken another step forward."
When Namgung Jun bowed politely, the Azure Medicine Pavilion Master waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need for that. Isn't this a physician's duty? Besides, the medical books you brought from the hidden cave have been a great help to the Azure Medicine Pavilion."
"I am glad to hear it."
"The decoction you took was also created with insights from those medical books. Thanks to you, the Azure Medicine Pavilion will be able to save many more Cloud Rank members." The Azure Medicine Pavilion Master checked Namgung Jun's pulse and nodded. "Your body is perfectly fine. You may return."
"I will see you again."
As he stepped out of the Azure Medicine Pavilion, the members of the Azure Firmament Hall were waiting for him. It seemed they had realized his Qi Circulation was complete, ended their watch, and gathered together.
Heo Il, who had been idling with a gourd bottle at his waist, broke into a bright smile as his tense face relaxed. "Hall Master, are you alright? You were in Qi Circulation for ten whole days!"
"I apologize for causing you concern. I am fine now."
Twitching his scar-covered right hand, Heo Il pulled his sleeve down over it. "Besides, hot and cold energy kept radiating from you in turns. We were all on edge standing guard."
"I am in your debt."
"How could there be a debt between us? We are comrades walking the same path."
They chatted as they returned to the Azure Firmament Hall, where training was in full swing. The drills were being conducted with an intense ferocity. The members had already felt distinct growth while training in the Azure Firmament Martial Canon, but the real combat they experienced in their first deployment had ignited a different kind of exhilaration. This was especially true since their enemies had been the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp—not some common rabble.
Because of that, the training of the Azure Firmament Hall was even more heated than before.
When the group session concluded, Gong Jun-am, who had been directing the training, approached. "Hall Master. A new mission arrived two days ago."
Gong Jun-am handed over a letter from the Ink Fragrance Department and explained, "Several unorthodox sects in Shandong Province are moving systematically, indiscriminately attacking merchant groups and escort agencies."
"A significant number have been attacked. Is there a common thread among the victims?"
"They all seem to be groups that keep their distance from the unorthodox factions, but the connection is still a bit vague."
"Have the culprits been identified?"
Gong Jun-am shook his head. "That’s why another group has agreed to assist us with this mission. Do you remember the Yeongjun Merchant Group of Hefei?"
"Of course."
It was the very same group he had worked with on his first solo mission. They could have easily backed out, but they had shown their loyalty by helping him to the very end. Having formed a favorable impression of them, there was no way Namgung Jun would forget.
"Since the establishment of the Hefei Branch, the Yeongjun Merchant Group has been supporting our association from the shadows. They have agreed to help us with this mission as well."
Remembering the Yeongjun Merchant Group, Namgung Jun smiled warmly. "I will prepare to leave immediately."
*
The Azure Firmament Hall arrived quietly in Hefei and visited the Yeongjun Merchant Group.
"Young Hero Namgung! Look how sturdy you've become." Jang Il-su, who had come all the way to the main gate to greet him, grasped Namgung Jun's hand tightly in a warm welcome. "Ah. But now that you are a respectable supreme expert of the Jianghu, and a Hall Master to boot, the title of 'Young Hero' no longer seems fitting."
"Please, call me whatever you're comfortable with."
"Hall Master Namgung, you haven't changed a bit." Jang Il-su couldn't take his eyes off Namgung Jun, scanning him from head to toe. The image of the Second Cloud youth was still vivid in his mind, yet the man before him was completely different. His body was as solid as a seasoned martial artist's, and he had grown quite tall. Where he once had the impression of a boy due to his thin and slight build, he now carried the presence of a full-grown man.
"Please, come inside."
Namgung Jun sat down for a private meeting with Jang Il-su. "Thank you for assisting our association with this mission."
"Not at all. The merchant groups and escort agencies in Hefei were also growing quite frustrated. The attacks are happening so frequently, and so many of us have trade caravans and escort missions connected to Shandong Province. That's when the Azure Heaven Association's request for cooperation arrived."
From what Namgung Jun had heard, the Yeongjun Merchant Group had not suffered any significant damage yet. Since they primarily operated in Henan Province, they had little reason to cross paths with Shandong Province. Nevertheless, seeing their acquaintances in Hefei struggling, they had readily accepted the Azure Heaven Association's request.
‘This place hasn't changed.’
Knowing the full story, Namgung Jun could see that Jang Il-su possessed his own sense of righteousness. To step forward like this, in a situation where one could easily suffer massive losses, was no easy feat.
"Are we departing early tomorrow?"
"Yes. We plan to set out at the crack of dawn. I'm afraid you won't have much time to recover from your journey. Please understand."
"Do not worry about it."
After resting at the Yeongjun Merchant Group, the members of the Azure Firmament Hall disguised themselves as the group's escort warriors and naturally joined the trade caravan. The caravan was quite large, composed of three merchant groups traveling together.
While he had been a mere laborer last time, this time Namgung Jun took on the role of a sword-bearing escort. Beside him, dressed in an inconspicuous black martial uniform, stood a middle-aged man and a young man—two people he had met on his first mission.
It was Steadfast Blade, who had transitioned from a wandering warrior to an escort for the Yeongjun Merchant Group, and Un-chan, who had become his disciple, learning both martial arts and the merchant trade.
"Setting out with a trade caravan alongside Hall Master Namgung brings back memories," Steadfast Blade said.
"Indeed," Namgung Jun agreed, looking at the two of them. Steadfast Blade seemed to have trained diligently, as he had grown stronger than before. The same was true for Un-chan; despite not having learned martial arts for very long, his progress was decent.
"How have your martial arts been lately?" Namgung Jun asked.
"I've hit a plateau," Steadfast Blade admitted. "Every time I grip my blade, my fingertips tingle as if I'm on the verge of enlightenment, but grasping it is no easy task."
"Do not be impatient. It might help to retrace the path you've already walked."
Un-chan, who had been listening quietly, bowed deeply to Namgung Jun. "Hall Master. I heard the story from my master. Thank you so much. Because of you, my younger siblings no longer go hungry."
"I am glad. It is all thanks to your own hard work."
Steadfast Blade burst into laughter. "The disciple you recommended has such outstanding talent that I think he'll easily surpass me in a few years. I am truly grateful to you for introducing such an excellent disciple."
As Namgung Jun chatted with the master and disciple, his gaze suddenly shifted forward. A blue light flared in his eyes as he stared into the distance.
"Hall Master Namgung?"
"It seems our first ambush is upon us."
Sensing the numerous presences ahead, Namgung Jun grasped the hilt of his sword.