Finding the Clue (2)
Night had fallen, and Ilseon Dosa and Mujikja slipped out to attend to some urgent matter.
In the courtyard, Namgung Daeso was training alone. For the past few days, he'd started practicing even at night. It had been four months now since he'd come to live at Sorimsa. Though they hadn't witnessed his rigorous sessions firsthand, rumors had spread, and they knew all about it. His lower body looked noticeably different—far stronger than before.
"Let's go."
Mujikja urged Ilseon Dosa, who was staring at Namgung Daeso.
In a situation where they couldn't predict how long this delicate balance would last, what they were doing now was a race against time.
"Hold on a moment. Take a good look at the youngest young master."
At Ilseon Dosa's words, Mujikja shifted his gaze to Namgung Daeso. The results of his training were evident in his body. By the time his stay at Sorimsa ended, he might not fully scale the wall... but he'd climb halfway at least. That alone would be an astonishing achievement.
"We need to hurry. We might miss the timing."
"Tsk tsk, haven't you noticed?"
Ilseon Dosa sighed.
"Noticed what?"
Ilseon Dosa took in Namgung Daeso at a glance and continued.
"Is there anyone as dense as you? Expand your qi sense."
Namgung Daeso stood motionless in place. No movements at all. Just breathing.
Mujikja grew impatient. Time was ticking away even now... And who were they suffering for like this!
He shot Ilseon Dosa a glare but held his tongue—arguing would just lead to a fight. Instead, he flung open his qi sense.
His eyes widened in an instant. Ilseon Dosa smiled knowingly.
"See it now?"
Mujikja blurted out in shock without thinking.
"Muryangsubul."
He stared at Namgung Daeso in astonishment. The young man still stood still. But with every breath...
The world breathed in sync with him, centered on Namgung Daeso.
"How... how is that possible?"
It wasn't impossible. This phenomenon had nothing to do with martial prowess. Even ordinary folk ignorant of martial arts could experience it.
"Exactly. Cheontong."
There were many ways to describe it. During meditation, five rings might appear above one's head. In Daoism, it was called ogi jo-won. Or three flower buds might form on the crown—samhwa chwijung. High-level martial artists often exhibited such signs, but these two states signified Daoist enlightenment. One could achieve it without martial arts, simply through realization.
Of course, that was just talk—it was never easy. In martial terms, ogi jo-won and samhwa chwijung equated to at least the Chojeoljeong realm.
"I'm not even surprised anymore."
Mujikja's voice trembled.
"At this rate, he might ascend to immortality. Heh heh."
Namgung Daeso had already shown enough jaw-dropping feats. A few more wouldn't faze them now.
"Haha! No chance of that. Cheontong is just a stepping stone."
"But most martial artists devote their lives to it. And..."
"Even if achieved, mastering and fully assimilating it takes decades. Or it might end with mere awareness."
Mujikja spoke; Ilseon Dosa replied. Ilseon Dosa spoke; Mujikja replied. These two had been in a rush to leave moments ago.
Thud.
Thud.
Suddenly, they plopped down on the ground, asses to the dirt.
"Argh! There goes the whole day, down the drain."
Mujikja grumbled. But his face beamed with pride for Namgung Daeso.
"Heh heh, witnessing this is our blessing, no?"
Cheontong was the crucial gateway one must pass to reach ogi jo-won or samhwa chwijung. Skip it, and you'd never advance. Disrupt Namgung Daeso's focus now... and no one knew when he'd enter Cheontong again. If lucky, tomorrow. For most, it was a once-in-a-lifetime shot.
Mujikja spread his qi sense wide, blocking any potential intruders preemptively. Ilseon Dosa formed a vast qi barrier to ward off disturbances.
It was just as the barrier completed.
"Youngest young master~!"
From afar, Namgung Je-cheon came running excitedly, calling out.
"I've found it! The fastest way to take over Sorimsa! Haha!"
Thwack!
"Huh?"
Namgung Je-cheon slammed into the invisible qi barrier, unable to advance.
Ilseon Dosa and Mujikja exhaled in profound relief. A moment's delay, and Namgung Daeso might have lost this irreplaceable chance.
Ilseon Dosa picked up a nearby stone and hurled it at Namgung Je-cheon.
Whish—thunk!
"Gah!"
Namgung Je-cheon clutched the back of his head and collapsed.
Snore... snore...
Only his breathing pierced the night's silence.
"Whew~ That lunatic nearly caused a disaster."
"Tsk tsk, I knew he'd cause trouble someday, but today? What a useless fool."
From then on, they vigilantly guarded until Namgung Daeso emerged from Cheontong.
By that time, Namgung Daeso was fully aware of the commotion outside. This stroke of fortune wasn't the Cheontong those two old coots imagined.
It was simply the triumph of adapting Samjae Geombeop into breathing.
He wasn't sure if it qualified as Cheontong or whatever, but he sent mental condolences to Namgung Je-cheon.
Poor Je-cheon, getting smacked around again today.
Anyone hearing that might think he got beaten randomly, but his assailants were fixed: the three here. Namgung Daeso, Ilseon Dosa, Mujikja. Outside them, almost no one in the Central Plains dared strike Namgung Je-cheon.
He was, after all, Namgung Sega's vice strategist. Who else could touch him? Except Namgung Ilro back home. All told, just four in the world.
Tsk tsk, gotta drag that fool into training starting tomorrow.
He was one of their own; couldn't let him keep taking beatings.
If Namgung Je-cheon knew Daeso's thoughts, he'd retort:
—Just don't hit me, and I'm good!
Then don't act like he deserved it. I'll toughen you up proper!
—I'm older than you!
Reaffirming his resolve, he focused on the new breathing.
Those two old fogies, who bolted every night like fugitives, called this Cheontong—a grandiose term for linking with the heavens.
Pfft!
He nearly broke rhythm. No big deal; he could restart. But his idea wasn't wrong: using breath to connect heaven, earth, and man in place of the sword.
He hadn't linked all three yet. Right now, he was merely mimicking Cheonse—the heavenly generation—through breath.
Even this much let him "see" the outside world with eyes closed, as clearly as if awake.
Simple reason: his mind cleared with each breath.
He didn't know the mechanics...
Recall the sensation of deploying Samjae Geombeop.
This breathing was just chasing a familiar feeling. Success would engrave that sensation into his body, akin to wielding the sword art.
And it worked. Though only about ten percent as effective as the actual technique.
Just the beginning.
One thread forward seized. No rush—he'd learned that the hard way. Step by step.
Gurgle.
His stomach growled. Time to stop.
He opened his eyes. Longer than expected—the sun was rising.
The old coots were gone again. But Namgung Je-cheon was tied to a tree, cloth in mouth, tears streaming as he stared.
Daeso quickly untied him.
"Sob sob! Young master!"
Namgung Je-cheon glared, half tears, half venom.
"There there."
Daeso pictured the scene easily. The old coots' handiwork. A few smacks would suffice—tying up the poor guy!
True discipline was short and sharp; reflection long and thin. He'd have walloped the back of his head good.
Of course, the fool deserved it.
"I can't take this anymore. I need to learn martial arts! I won't just keep getting beaten! Damn old coots!"
Unexpectedly sound words. Daeso asked,
"For real?"
Those old coots might seem flaky, but they were heavyweights in the martial world. Weaker than the Heavenly Demon or his family, sure.
"Teach me a martial art to get revenge on those old coots. Je-wang Geomhyeong should do it."
Even Daeso hadn't mastered that yet... But he could snag Changgung Mu-ae Geombeop.
Silence made Namgung Je-cheon glare like Daeso was ditching him.
"No way...! You're abandoning me too?!"
"Why would I ditch my Je-cheon? Forget Je-wang Geomhyeong—I'll get you Changgung Mu-ae the second we return to the clan, no matter what."
"Understood. Those damn old coots kept me up all night; I'm off for some sleep. Later."
Daeso grabbed his collar as he turned for his room.
Namgung Je-cheon grunted, looking back.
"Young master?"
"Sleep? I saw you dozing off over there. Come on! Starting today, I'll forge you into the world's untouchable madman number one!"
"Wh-where to? You know I can't sleep if my bed changes!"
You sprawl the worst.
"Don't worry. You won't die."
"..."
"Hey! For real. Why won't you believe me?"
"It sounded like you were describing my face."
"That's my vice strategist! Sharp as ever!"
"That means you're killing me!"
"I said you won't die? Just feel like dying a bit."
"..."
Same difference, you idiot!
Namgung Je-cheon was dragged off wailing by Namgung Daeso.
* * *
By the time the sun hit midday...
Crowds gathered at the foot of Song Mountain.
Lately, folks in Henan had a fun spectacle.
"They're here today too!"
"Leader Duck's arrived."
"Sorimsa lives up to the name! This grueling training every day."
"That new duck back there? Never seen the face."
"Nah, that's a panda. Check the black rings around both eyes."
"Haha! True enough. Chubby cheeks—total panda!"
The panda was Namgung Je-cheon. He'd tried fleeing one too many times, so Daeso gave him a light lesson.
Je-cheon sulked but didn't lag despite being dead last. Pride-worthy.
That's right—a man keeps his word.
Daeso turned forward. Sure enough, I-gwon was there.
Today, without fail!
Close the distance!
As the sun peaked exactly overhead...
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!
Sorimsa's 102 ducks took off.
102 people moving at once kicked up a dust storm.
Far faster than four months ago.
"Cough cough!"
Namgung Je-cheon, unable to keep up, inhaled dust and stared blankly ahead.
"What the— so fast?"
He recalled Namgung Daeso's bold promise.
—Can't reach the summit? You know what that means. Death.
Didn't say kill!
Namgung Je-cheon waddled up the mountain at a snail's pace.
Onlookers cheered.
"You got this, Double-Eyed Duck!"
"Fight on, Pig Duck!"
"Hang in there, just Pig!"
Teasing, right? I once moved the world with a finger!
"Whoa! Pig Duck's resting already?"
"After three steps?"
"Tell Leader Duck later!"
"Good idea!"
Damn it, I'm going! One day, I'll flip this wretched world upside down!
Up front, Ihu—trailing Namgung Daeso—had eyes twice their usual size.
Thud thud thud thud!
Namgung Daeso kicked up dust, charging up in a mad duck waddle.
"F-Fast..."