Meeting the Golden Body (4)
“What are you doing?”
I was lying in bed, glaring at someone with pure annoyance.
“Came to check on you.”
I-gwon sat there with his usual blank expression.
The pain in my toes and arms, which had somewhat subsided, started throbbing again.
“If you’ve seen me, get lost quick.”
“No.”
“Got nothing better to do?”
“Nope.”
“You’re driving me nuts!”
“Water?”
“Yeah.”
Our conversations were always like this.
After the spar ended, I’d been carted straight to the medical hall. At first, my arm hurt so bad I worried it was broken, but the healer kept poking at my unbroken limb, marveling nonstop. I swear, I nearly headbutted his daegari right then—no joke.
His words still echoed in my head.
-What a shame. A bit more impact and it would’ve snapped. Honestly, breaking would’ve been better than this. Hurts, right? Feels like you’re dying? Impressive you’re still conscious. You should be screaming by now. Must be the martial artist in you. Rest a few days and you’ll be fine. Bones like iron, haha. What a pity.
After that day, the healer never showed up again.
“Here’s your water.”
“Thanks.”
I drank while eyeing I-gwon. So this guy had the Geumgang Jiche. He should’ve told me that crucial bit sooner!
“Hey!”
“What?”
Surprisingly, even as I ragged on him relentlessly, I-gwon stuck around.
“Thirsty. Fetch more water.”
“Got it.”
He clung to my side like glue. Almost like he was enjoying this. His eyes sparkled every time he looked at me—borderline creepy.
Wait a sec!
Is he into this...?
Why are there no normal people around me? I just want a normal life. What sin did I commit in my past life? I trained martial arts diligently, nothing else!
Speaking of, where’d those old fogeys go? They peeked in when I was brought here, then vanished.
Namgung Je-cheon was thrilled by my self-sacrifice, saying he couldn’t just sit idle—he was scouting the safest route to raid Sorimsa next time, roaming daily.
So here I was, stuck with damn I-gwon. At least he ran errands...
“Got your water. When will you heal? Wanna spar again.”
Gulp gulp. Ahh~ Cough!
“You nuts?”
I set the cup aside. “Why would I spar you? My bones nearly shattered last time. Still pisses me off thinking about it!”
“Didn’t though...”
I-gwon blinked innocently at me.
This creepy bastard, why’s he like that!
If I could move, I’d bolt.
“Bones fine... First time for me... It’s real... First experiences are precious, sasuk-nims said... Cherish forever...”
His gaze sharpened. Those eyes pierced me.
Hey, hey... Don’t get serious there! Why so scary?
Just us two here. Me, bedridden.
“Spar!”
I-gwon’s eyes gleamed.
“Haa...”
I shut my eyes. Should I just head back to Namgung Sega? Screw the Sawangjeon...?
Days passed. I could move somewhat now. One or two more days, and I’d be fully recovered.
“Amitabha. Feeling better?”
Jinheo, now former abbot, visited.
“Yeah, defrocked grandpa.”
“Can’t we change that title?”
“What else to call you? Not abbot anymore, ditched ‘Jinheo,’ so no name fits. And it’s not wrong.”
Are all Namgung Sega guys this rude?
Jinheo just chuckled helplessly.
“Call me whatever.”
Surrender.
“Planned to. Why’re you here?”
“Healer said you’re mostly healed, so I checked. Also, to ask your plans.”
Right on cue, I-gwon showed up.
He spotted Jinheo and bowed. “Third-gen disciple I-gwon greets defrocked grandpa.”
“Kekekeke.”
Jinheo’s face twisted oddly, itching to retort.
Tough luck.
“Hmph...”
Annoyed? Be abbot again then.
(P.S., I taught him that.) Bored these days, I’d schooled I-gwon a bit. Kid was pure as gold.
“Y-yeah. Why’re you here?”
“To cherish my first experience.”
“...”
Now my face twisted. Jinheo gawked at us.
“Ahem. Didn’t peg you for that taste?”
“Not sure what you mean, but the youngest young master is totally my type. Body itches for another round. That’s why I visit daily, urging quick recovery. Something wrong?”
Whoa... this guy. Making me look bad.
Was the innocence an act? Most he’s ever talked. Should’ve chattered like this sooner.
“Ahem, ex-Sorimsa here, can’t judge tastes. I support you. Not against rules. You’re Sorimsa’s hope.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll do both.”
“R-right.”
“Hold up!”
Couldn’t let this slide—I’d look like a weirdo. Jumped in.
“Hey! Explain straight. Defrocked grandpa’s misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding?”
I-gwon asked innocently, boldly shameless.
Don’t flaunt it here!
“First, that ‘first experience’—explain. First time seeing someone spar you and walk away bones intact, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And ‘another round’ skips context. Means another spar.”
“Need to?”
“Yes!”
You iron-headed bastard!
“Got it. So spar!”
Haa...
Finally grasping this guy. Sneaky Namgung Sega type.
(My term for martial-obsessed maniacs.)
“First, squat in the corner.”
“Got it.”
I turned to Jinheo. He stared, shocked.
What? I cleared it up!
“When’d you two get so close?”
“He’s here half the day. Weird if we didn’t. Listens well enough.”
I-gwon obediently squatted.
“And you asked my plans?”
“Ah, yes.”
Forget already? You were top dog here days ago!
“Up top decided: follow Namgung Sega’s youngest, Namgung Daeso’s lead. As long as no harm to Sorimsa.”
Generous. I’d traded nominally with Sorimsa, but my antics warranted instant boot. Wonder how No. 7’s doing—clean break, they said reattach stronger. Weird place.
“But a condition.”
Figured. I tensed, eyeing him.
Jinheo gazed warmly at squatting I-gwon. “Stay with that kid while at Sorimsa.”
Wait... that’s what I hate most?
“If no?”
“You know. Leave.”
Haa... Really leave?
Jinheo left. I-gwon grinned at me like an idiot.
Wanna smack him. Nah, hurts my hand.
I had to accept. Good reason too.
“Good?”
“Good.”
“Suuuuper good, huh.”
“Very.”
Days with I-gwon let me glimpse his strength’s secret. Why I hadn’t seen his true nature sooner.
A wall. Between us, insurmountable for current me.
From afar, I might’ve noticed. Long ago, I clocked Ilseon Dosa and Mujikja hiding in Namgung Sega instantly.
Now miraculous, but proximity blinded me. Close, see trees; far, forest.
Ignorance is bliss? I was ignorant then. Now, just the wall.
“Release it.”
I-gwon untied his pant cord slowly.
“No! Iron-head idiot! Release your qi!”
“Oh, that? Got it.”
Air thickened instantly. Like draped in iron weights.
Thud—the wall crumbled.
Finally, I-gwon’s true form emerged. Massive boulder. Like facing a millennium monolith. Overwhelming.
Humanly impossible to surpass. Haven’t felt this small in ages.
“Seal it back.”
“Got it.”
Reason to stay at Sorimsa. Maybe found a way...
Just a hunch, but sparring this iron-head was the key.
We’re alike, sort of. Geumgang Jiche vs. Cheonmu Jiche.
One difference: I wasn’t born with mine. He was.
Facing his body (not naked! Training glimpses), I knew. How he built that wall. My lacks.
I trained Samjae Geombeop basics a year, but not fully. Just swordplay. Fists, kicks, throws, grapples—skipped basics for advanced.
Encountering the wall? Inevitable. Pure sword training would’ve advanced me more.
Can’t fill gaps quick. Needs time.
But my biggest lack wasn’t that.
I scanned his body. Muscles perfectly balanced.
That! Usually first in training, but my Cheonmu Jiche and Yang-ui Simgong skipped body-building.
No time.
If I fully controlled my body? Faster. Stronger.
Assuming same physique as I-gwon, could I surpass now-me? Climb the wall?
Simple: martial arts wielded by this flesh.
I can reach it.
I thought, eyeing the iron-head.
“Sorimsa stay might drag on longer than thought.”
“Really? Great! Stay forever!”
Uh... did I say that out loud?
“Live in my room!”
Crazy...?
“Nah, pass.”