The Weight of Secrets
It felt like discovering an entirely new truth, yet at the same time, it somehow made perfect sense.
The battle had been between an 11-level spiritualist of the Luminous Galactic Empire and a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Demonic Path sect.
Although 11-level spiritualists were generally considered equivalent to mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, the opponent had been far from ordinary. Even though the fusion intelligence of her Ethereal Weapons was exceptional, the opponent’s original cultivation method had not fallen far behind.
‘He was an elder of the Harmonious Demon Sect.’
Even from the fragmentary information alone, that faction gave off an aura that could not be taken lightly.
In other words, as a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator belonging to such a formidable power, it was only natural that he had been significantly stronger than an average practitioner at the same realm.
And against such an existence, Brenar had barely managed to win.
She must have used a secret technique that caused severe overload without even giving her time to worry about the aftereffects. Looking back at the battle’s progression, that impression had been unmistakable.
‘……Yet in truth, even after using that secret technique, she still couldn’t win.’
After she collapsed, the Nascent Soul of the Demonic Path cultivator had appeared and attempted to seize her body. If Han Yujin himself had not been present, the final victor would have been the Demonic Path cultivator.
Only now did everything fall into place with greater plausibility.
With that realization, Han Yujin recalled the incantations of the Illusory Transformation Circulation Heaven Art and began to gauge what special benefits he might expect from it.
“I’ve tried many other methods until now, but none showed much effect. And with dual cultivation techniques, both parties must thoroughly understand the method. It’s not something one side can simply bestow upon the other. Besides, it’s rather awkward to attempt it with just anyone.”
Her words were undeniably correct.
‘The Illusory Transformation Circulation Heaven Art is… hmm.’
As he traced the incantations, wondering whether it would truly help with soul-related aftereffects, he suddenly realized that it held a profoundly deep connection to the Yin-Yang harmony he had been contemplating recently.
In the meantime, Brenar continued speaking.
“Yujin, now that I understand your circumstances and goals, you don’t have to marry me. Just… help me as a comrade. I’ll definitely compensate you properly.”
Snapping back to his senses, he shook his head firmly and replied.
“Compensation isn’t necessary. If not for you back then, Commander, I would have been dead anyway. If there’s anything I can do to help, it’s only right that I do so.”
Especially considering that he had hidden himself instead of lending his strength during that fight.
After giving that answer, a slightly awkward silence settled between them.
“Ahem.”
Brenar cleared her throat awkwardly, took a sip of her drink, and quickly regained her usual demeanor.
“Then let’s compare the contents of the Illusory Transformation Circulation Heaven Art. There might be gaps in the memories I obtained from the Soul-Eating Dao-Achieving Pill.”
“That’s a good idea.”
He had been curious about exactly how she believed the technique could treat soul aftereffects, and how it might allow one to experience Yin-Yang harmony and gain enlightenment.
As if the heavy atmosphere had never existed, the two dove into an enthusiastic discussion.
The first dual cultivation session took place during their return journey.
The Illusory Transformation Circulation Heaven Art was, like the Five Elements Circulation Art that Han Yujin had acquired from the information archive, both a cultivation method and a special technique. It could be used as a primary practice or only when a partner was present.
Since it was the first time for both of them to engage in this type of training, they were slightly lost at first. However, true to their statuses as an 11-level spiritualist and a decisive Nascent Soul cultivator, they quickly grew accustomed to it and began to see results.
If he were to describe the sensation, it made sense why dual cultivation techniques had not only survived in the cultivation world but continued to evolve.
‘It’s simply taking solo training and infusing it with the principles of Yin and Yang, yet the synergistic effect is this tremendous…’
It felt as though one was tempering both body and soul while simultaneously resonating with the primordial chaos, much like seated oblivion meditation, thereby gaining mental enlightenment as well.
And it wasn’t just a feeling—it was reality.
When he diligently practiced the Illusory Transformation Circulation Heaven Art and then trained in the Taiyi Five Elements Dao Scripture alone, his progress surged forward as smoothly as if he were retracing a path he had already walked.
Moreover, flashes of inspiration would strike him with startling clarity, bringing unexpected gains—especially when contemplating Yin and Yang.
It was as if concepts that should have required intellectual understanding were instead preemptively grasped on a profound, sensory level. At times, it even felt like he was simply organizing knowledge he already possessed with crystal clarity.
The benefits were truly immense. No wonder so many in the cultivation world sought Dao companions.
‘I heard that many sects even half-force their core disciples to form such bonds.’
If the advantages were this great, it was perfectly understandable.
At the same time, he roughly realized why it was only “half-forced” rather than completely mandatory.
Dual cultivation techniques tempered both body and soul through the principle of Yin-Yang harmony while resonating with the primordial chaos. The key point here was the concept of “harmony.”
Harmony became difficult if one party was uncooperative. If that lack of cooperation crossed into outright opposition, not only would there be no achievement—one might even suffer a backlash.
‘Unless, of course, the technique was created from the beginning with the purpose of forcibly exploiting an uncooperative partner.’
But in that case, it would no longer be a dual cultivation method but rather a demonic seduction technique. There would be no reason to base it on Yin-Yang harmony.
In any case, the reason he could achieve this level of progress was because he and Brenar had already been emotionally close from the start.
It was also because she was an 11-level spiritualist far more skilled than he was.
And so.
When less than a day remained until their arrival at the Ebenrak family estate.
Han Yujin, who had been deeply lost in thought while stroking Mu-yong in his room, finally opened his mouth.
“Muyong-ah.”
Jjik?
“It seems I’ll have to reveal part of my secret.”
Considering how meticulously he had hidden his identity until now, the statement felt almost foolish.
Although innocent, Mu-yong had already reached the Dharma Soul stage and was no fool. She immediately showed signs of confusion.
Jjik? Jjijik…!
“Yeah, it might be a stupid thing to do.”
Since their relationship had begun with deception, revealing his secret now—even if only partially—could easily lead to serious problems.
‘But……’
Although the time had been short, he had roughly grasped how much benefit he could expect from the Illusory Transformation Circulation Heaven Art.
The fact that Han Yujin stood to gain significantly more because Brenar was an 11-level spiritualist meant, conversely, that she had less to gain from their arrangement.
‘The aftereffects that even many other methods failed to alleviate. There’s no way this level of benefit would improve her condition.’
While he acknowledged the profundity and uniqueness of dual cultivation, he also had to consider that it was not originally a technique designed for healing and recovery.
‘Therefore, I must fully mobilize my Taiqing Profound Water as well.’
Taiqing Profound Water, one of the special elements of the Taiyi Five Elements.
The techniques created based on it possessed such tremendous healing power that they could extend a cultivator’s lifespan by roughly three hundred years.
If used together with the dual cultivation method, it would surely show results. To do that, however, he had to reveal his secret.
‘I could try to gloss over it with more lies, but……’
That was easier said than done.
Jjik-! Jjijik!
“…….”
Besides, he didn’t want to do that emotionally. The thought that this was the best timing to reveal at least part of the truth kept circling in his mind.
He was already prepared to accept whatever outcome came. For the sake of his own conscience, if there was a way to heal her, he could not simply avoid trying.
“Stay inside for a bit.”
Jjik! Jjijik-! Jjik!
For some reason, the little one seemed convinced that everything would work out and showed little worry.
After giving Mu-yong a thorough petting, he sent her into the Mountain Sea Pearl and left the room to find Brenar.
On the way to her quarters, the few crew members they passed all greeted them politely, yet each revealed subtly different expressions.
Some seemed eager to make a better impression, while others carried a faint hint of envy.
‘Has the rumor already spread?’
Come to think of it, it was only natural.
They had been practically glued to each other for nearly two weeks. In the confined space of a warship, such behavior could hardly go unnoticed—especially since neither had tried particularly hard to hide it.
However, neither he nor Brenar were ordinary people who needed to concern themselves with every single gaze.
A short while later.
When he arrived at the commander’s quarters, the ship’s AI automatically opened the door. It seemed she had granted him full access rather than requiring permission each time.
“Hm?”
She had been handling some sort of work through her augmented reality interface. Upon seeing Han Yujin enter, she smiled warmly.
“I thought you were doing personal training. Finished already?”
“Not exactly. There’s something I need to…”
“Just wait a moment… or should we do it together?”
As she spoke, she rose from her chair. Han Yujin felt an instinctive pull but quickly spoke before the mood could shift any further.
“I have something very important to tell you. Truly important.”
“……Is that so?”
Her previously welcoming smile faded into a serious expression as she gestured for him to take the seat across from her.
Once seated, he waited until she had dismissed her augmented reality interface and was looking directly at him before speaking.
“Has the Illusory Transformation Circulation Heaven Art shown any improvement in your aftereffects?”
“……Not yet.”
“In my opinion, it will be difficult to see any effect.”
She remained silent for a moment, then closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh.
‘As expected, she was thinking the same thing.’
Now certain, he continued without hesitation.
“That’s why I have another method.”
“Another method?”
She, who had looked deeply disappointed—perhaps even slightly despairing—now turned to him with renewed interest.
“However, this method……”
Now that the moment to reveal his secret had arrived, his mouth refused to move easily despite his resolve.
Of course, there was no turning back now.
“To use this method, I must first confess that I have been deceiving you all this time, Commander.”
“You’ve been deceiving me?”
“I am not a nomad. I come from an entirely different sanctuary.”
At his calm statement, Brenar simply stared at him with an unreadable expression.
“Why are you revealing this now?”
“Because without doing so, it would be difficult to explain this power.”
As he spoke, he raised one hand. From his fingertips, endlessly clear and azure water appeared, swirling gently.
It was Taiqing Profound Water, brimming with an unmistakably potent restorative force.
Brenar gazed at the Taiqing Profound Water for a long time before closing her eyes again. Her expression remained impossible to read.
“So…….”
She spoke slowly, continuing in a measured tone.
“A great many things were lies. From the appearance you showed during the selection test, and perhaps even the story about saving me with the Soul-Eating Dao-Achieving Pill.”
“The latter was not a lie.”
“……I see. If that had been false, you wouldn’t be revealing the truth like this. Not when you’re trying to help me.”
A heavy silence descended between them for a while.
“Actually, I had faintly noticed that you were hiding some other secret.”
Having spent so much time together, it was only natural. No—being an 11-level spiritualist, she would have had no choice but to notice.
But she probably hadn’t expected the secret to be this significant.
Han Yujin carefully gauged the sense of betrayal she must be feeling and steeled his resolve once more.
Hiding his identity had been an entirely rational choice at the time.
He had believed he could avoid numerous risks and inconveniences while thoroughly absorbing the essence of the Galactic Empire, and in fact, that plan had succeeded.
This was simply the price of that rational choice. Nothing in the world was purely good.
‘I can’t keep hiding the truth and delaying treatment out of fear of that price.’
Retracting the Taiqing Profound Water, he said.
“I won’t make any other excuses now. I only ask that you believe one thing—that I genuinely want to do my utmost to heal you, Commander.”
Suddenly.
Brenar opened her eyes.
“You’re saying useless things. You already know, don’t you? When practicing the Illusory Transformation Circulation Heaven Art, it’s impossible not to sense each other’s emotions.”
“…….”
“I believe that you didn’t harbor any particular malice. Even if I couldn’t before, now I have no choice but to believe it. And……”
Unexpectedly.
What appeared in her eyes was not the betrayal or anger he had anticipated.
“Even if that weren’t the case, I pride myself on having a decent eye for people. Yet I never once felt any discrepancy between the you I saw during the selection test and the you I’ve observed all this time.”
Han Yujin felt a far stronger sense of relief than expected and was startled by his own reaction.
Perhaps because of that, she smiled faintly, as if she had read his inner thoughts.
“Since you’ve gone through the trouble of revealing one secret, I’ll reveal one of mine as well.”
Her following words naturally sparked his curiosity.
“What secret?”
“The truth is.”
She paused briefly, and her gaze seemed to drift away for a moment.
“I never once believed that the Illusory Transformation Circulation Heaven Art could cure my aftereffects.”
“……What?”
Before he could even fully process the meaning.
She abruptly stood from her chair and approached him.
Then, with natural grace, she sat straddling his lap, facing him directly. Han Yujin could do nothing but remain still.
In her eyes, which held a subtle expression that was neither quite a smile nor quite anger, a fierce black-and-white energy flickered for an instant.
“Those other excuses you said you wouldn’t make—just say them all now.”
She revealed a bit more of her emotions. Her expression made it difficult to tell whether she was smiling or slightly upset.
“While doing your utmost to heal me, do everything you can.”
Immediately after.
She wrapped both arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his.