Chapter 563. New Divine Transformation Art (2)
My master spoke calmly to me, as if there was nothing to worry about, seeing my startled expression.
"There's no need to be surprised. It's not harmful to Jin Yu Warrior. When he wakes up, he'll feel renewed."
Then he turned to Palgap.
"Lay him down in his chamber."
I nodded, and Palgap approached Jin Yu Warrior, lifting him into his arms.
"Thanks."
"No need to worry, young master."
Soon, only my master and I remained in the room. I asked him,
"May I ask for an explanation?"
He nodded and replied,
"I released the seal."
"Pardon? A seal... you mean?"
"Someone had placed a seal on Jin Yu Warrior's body—one that compelled him to obey orders without question."
So that's why he was staring so intently at Jin Yu Warrior.
"If my guess is right, the one who placed the seal was likely the Alliance Leader himself."
The Alliance Leader?
Given Jin Yu Warrior's original status, it made sense, but he was supposed to be dead now?
"Then doesn't that mean the Alliance Leader knows Jin Yu Warrior is alive?"
"Not at all. From what I discerned, the seal only enforced obedience to commands. It had no other functions... but if he had issued a recall order, Jin Yu Warrior would have had no choice but to comply."
"But there was no sign of that."
"That's because the energy from the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art you taught him suppressed the seal's power."
"Ah, I see!"
"Even so, if he'd been nearby, the Alliance Leader might have noticed... but it seems that didn't happen."
It must have been thanks to keeping him indoors at the inn in Luoyang as much as possible, just in case.
"Truth be told, the seal was so deeply hidden that I hadn't noticed it before. But thanks to Jin Yu Warrior's elevated realm, I was able to detect it."
"Pardon?"
"I sensed his meridians and vital points were blocked and suppressed by something."
"So you released the seal that was suppressing those points."
"Exactly. Using the energy of the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art, I eradicated the seal's power."
My master smiled.
"Jin Yu Warrior's efforts paid off. Without his relentless training, I might not have noticed it."
Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.
If we hadn't detected the seal and he'd continued relying only on the transformation art while operating in Luoyang, the Alliance Leader might have found out...
"You've done us a great favor, Master."
"He's the future of our Snow Wind Palace, after all. How could I not pay extra attention?"
"I'll make good use of it."
Jin Yu dreamed.
Of his childhood in the Snow Wind Palace.
A warrior from the North Sea Ice Palace would visit him often.
She always held him in her warm embrace, and he loved falling asleep in her arms.
She spoke to him in a gentle voice.
"Your name, Jin Yu (進裕), takes one character each from your father's and my names. I hope you live a happy life in this world."
As time passed and he began to understand the world a little, he realized the truth.
That female warrior was his mother.
But from the moment he knew, she never came again.
Being precocious, he vaguely sensed it.
That his mother could no longer visit him.
Instead, he imagined his father, whom he'd never met.
Then, on the day he turned seven.
People from his father's clan arrived, and he went with them to his father's family.
His heart pounded with anticipation of living with his father.
But he gradually felt something was off, and upon arriving at the clan, his suspicions were confirmed.
His father had already passed away.
The clan members, who hadn't even asked his name, immediately sent him to an unfamiliar place.
That was when his winter began.
It was a time of agony.
There were so many moments he wanted to give up everything.
Even as the children enduring the brutal training died one by one, cruelly, he gave his all to survive.
Perhaps it was because of his mother's words, still etched in his memory.
"I hope you live a happy life in this world."
He believed that if he just survived somehow, a chance at happiness would come.
Having endured that hellish training, he finally understood why he'd faced such trials.
It was all for the Martial Alliance Leader.
They needed people willing to lay down their lives for him.
On the day he officially became the Alliance Leader's hidden sword, he received the name Yeon-gae-seung.
Until then, he'd only been called by a number. Finally, he had a proper name.
Then he drank a mysterious red liquor and lost consciousness.
When he awoke days later, he felt an oppressive tightness.
He could no longer defy the Alliance Leader's orders, and when commanded, he had to kill—man, woman, elder, or child—guilty or innocent, without hesitation.
Desperate to end such a life, he tried to take his own, but his body wouldn't obey.
The Alliance Leader hadn't permitted it.
One day, the Alliance Leader issued a command.
"Go to the Formless Sect and kill a man named Ji-un."
"As you command."
That day, his life changed.
Thanks to the Formless Sect leader's consideration, he became Eun Seo-ho's bodyguard.
In truth, he hadn't wanted to hope for more.
But realizing this was the happy life his mother had spoken of, greed began to stir.
So he never told Eun Seo-ho about his condition.
He feared that revealing it would end this life.
Besides, he hated the thought of burdening Eun Seo-ho.
And being with him had eased much of the oppression.
Yet lately, the tightness had worsened, like a noose around his neck.
He had resolved himself inwardly.
If he caused trouble, he'd end his life at once.
That would be his repayment to Eun Seo-ho and his comrades, who accepted him without condition, and to the Snow Wind Palace that had cared for him.
But...
Jin Yu looked at his hands.
The constriction was gone.
His body felt light.
It was a first. So light he felt he could go anywhere.
He ran freely, and ran some more.
As he moved without restraint, a voice called him.
"Jin Yu."
He turned.
There was a radiant glow, and within it, a pair of man and woman.
Their faces were indistinct, but he knew who they were.
His father and mother.
"You've gained true freedom!"
"Now live happily."
Jin Yu reached out to them. When his hand touched them, he felt his parents smiling.
"...!"
He awoke from the dream.
Before his eyes was Eun Seo-ho.
"L-Lord!"
"How do you feel?"
"Well..."
Come to think of it, something was different.
The recent oppression was gone, replaced by surging power throughout his body.
Was it a dream?
The headaches and the strangling sensation were no more.
He answered Eun Seo-ho.
"Very good. Clear and refreshed."
"I'm glad. Congratulations on your great accomplishment."
"Pardon?"
"You've entered the Super First-rate realm."
I watched Jin Yu Warrior, sitting on the bed with a bewildered expression.
He must be quite shocked.
"Me, Super First-rate?"
"Master told me. You were under a seal."
"..."
His face hardened without surprise—he must have suspected something.
I didn't press, waiting for him to speak.
"Lord."
"Yes."
"I've deceived you all this time."
He bit his lip.
"Considering the grace you've shown me, I should have told you something was off... but I didn't."
"It's fine."
"It's not fine for me. Doesn't it amount to betrayal?"
His expression was one of deep torment.
But that doesn't suit Jin Yu Warrior.
"Were you planning to kill me?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Jin Yu Warrior jumped up.
I smiled, calming him.
"Then how is that betrayal? I'm grateful, actually. You protected me despite your situation, even when it must have been so hard."
"Lord..."
"If you're thankful, thank Master. He's the one who released the seal."
I stood.
"Rejoice fully in reaching the Super First-rate realm. It's entirely due to your own efforts."
.
.
.
Word that Jin Yu Warrior had become Super First-rate spread to my bodyguards.
"Is that so?"
"Something to celebrate."
"Quite enviable."
They congratulated him sincerely.
But sparks flew from their eyes.
They'll redouble their training now.
I said to them,
"Just a word of caution—don't overdo it. Collapsing or falling into qi deviation would be disastrous."
"Understood."
"We'll keep it in mind."
With this, can Jin Yu Warrior properly learn the transformation art from Master?
Good timing.
I'd felt his absence keenly in Luoyang.
The next day.
Master began teaching the transformation art in earnest.
"The transformation art I'll teach you is called the New Divine Transformation Art."
New Divine Transformation Art (新異變容術).
It meant a transformation art that created something entirely new.
"The New Divine Transformation Art has six stages. Upon mastery, you can even alter your energy, becoming a completely different person."
Master looked at Seo-hyang and said,
"With your realm, Seo-hyang, you can probably reach the first or early second stage. Even that lets you change your aura, so it's plenty useful."
"I'll do my best to learn it."
Master nodded and continued.
"Since the New Divine Transformation Art requires inner energy to maintain the form, it has a drawback: you weaken while using it."
"How much weaker?"
"From my experience, it feels like dropping one realm."
So for me or Jin Yu Warrior, we'd be limited to peak strength.
Then Jin Yu Warrior spoke.
"As long as I can guard you, Lord, a little weakness doesn't matter."
I nodded in agreement.
I wouldn't use the New Divine Transformation Art constantly, just when needed briefly.
That drawback was more than offset by its power.
Several days passed since Jin Yu Warrior's incident.
I trained in the New Divine Transformation Art while handling business without delay.
Currently, it was the supply issue for the Zakpung Machines.
"Young branch leader, please review this."
"Sure."
I took the documents from Seo-hyang and was checking them when Palgap's voice rang out.
"Young master! A guest has arrived."
"A guest?"
Ah, now that I think about it, I sense a familiar energy.
I stood, saying,
"I'll be right there."
It was Jin Yeong Daehyeop's energy.
Why come to the office instead of the reception room?
Is it that urgent?
I opened the door and said,
"Daehyeop, you don't need to go that far—I won't run away."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Put your hand on your heart and say it again."
"...Please wait a moment. I'll prepare to go out."
A short while later.
I headed to the imperial palace with Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
On the way, I asked,
"So, what's this about?"
"I don't know the details. His Majesty summoned you urgently, so I'm here to fetch you."
From his expression, he knew something but was playing dumb.
What on earth is it?
I arrived at the palace and went straight to the Emperor's office.
The eunuch announced me, and the doors opened.
I performed the utmost courtesy, and the Emperor said,
"Raise your head."
"I am immensely grateful for your imperial grace."
"So, you ran an errand for the Martial Alliance Leader this time?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
You already know everything—why ask?
"It was quite laborious, thanks to that."
"You remember the letter I sent?"
"Of course. No need to worry—I'm not going anywhere."
I continued,
"Why would I leave the side of the empire's greatest benefactor? That would be the biggest loss."
"A fitting answer from you."
The Emperor laughed.
"The reason I called you is to ask one thing."
"Please command."
"Do you know a man named Kwak Myeong-hyeon, the escort chief of Changin Escort Agency in Hubei Province?"
"...!"
That name startled me.
I never imagined my master's name would come from the Emperor's mouth.
He must know not only our connection but that he's staying at the Beijing branch now.
I have to answer carefully.
Feeling like I was walking a tightrope, I replied,
"He is my master. May I humbly ask why Your Majesty inquires about him?"