A Taste of the Extraordinary
The impact rang out with a deafening boom—!!
The Origin Power Great Hand, infused with the power of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, slammed down onto the ground ahead. Nearby boulders shuddered violently, trees nearby tilted at precarious angles, and a heavy tremor spread across a surprisingly wide area.
Naturally, the creature that had taken such a devastating blow was left in a truly miserable state. More than half its body was embedded in the earth, its head and upper torso crushed into a bloody pulp.
The outer carapace it wore like armor had been completely shattered, and its original mantis-like form was now utterly unrecognizable. At least the lower half of its body, driven into the ground, had been somewhat preserved.
This isn’t the feeling I wanted.
Yet despite having just obliterated a monster that would have posed a serious threat even to an A-rank hunter, Han Yujin showed no sign of satisfaction.
This definitely isn’t it.
Although he had already grasped the core principle, he was still in the middle of experimenting with the finer details. So he continued mercilessly slaughtering every monster he encountered, focusing entirely on merging the Yin-Yang Five Elements power with the Origin Power Great Hand.
Whenever he felt bored in between, he would casually unleash martial techniques for no particular reason.
When a spider-type monster overflowing with feral aggression charged at him recklessly, he thrust out his fist.
It wasn’t a careless, random punch.
His stepping foot stamped firmly into the earth to stabilize his center of gravity. The natural rotational force generated traveled up through his waist to his shoulder, then from his shoulder down his arm, shooting his fist forward as if piercing a single point in the air.
Boom—!!
The resulting Origin Power Great Hand shaped like a fist and infused with Yin-Yang Five Elements power literally blew the charging spider monster into pieces. The surrounding ground, trees, and rocks were all pulverized and sent flying like shrapnel from an explosion.
Apparently in the mood now, he didn’t stop there. He spun his body and began performing a sword dance.
Each movement flowed seamlessly like water. At the end of every motion, when the sword qi slashed toward its target, the Origin Power Great Hand infused with Yin-Yang Five Elements power would stretch out in the air, slicing, splitting, and cutting its targets exactly like a real blade.
Since the Origin Power Great Hand itself was already a crystallization of overwhelming power, such refined control wasn’t strictly necessary. Still, there might come a time when this kind of precision would prove useful. And honestly, it looked pretty cool.
Only after every trace of the spider monster had been completely erased did he stop the sword dance. Then, like a cowboy blowing the smoke from his revolver, he exhaled softly toward the tip of his sword qi.
Jjik…?
Mu-yong poked her head out from his robe and looked up at him with eyes that seemed to ask if he was hurt somewhere.
“…To think the day would come when you’d look at me like that. You’ve really grown up.”
Having shed much of his earlier solemnity after regaining a sense of reality back on Earth, Han Yujin had recovered some of the lightheartedness from his more carefree days. Most of it was thanks to games and online communities. Whether that could truly be called a “good influence” was debatable.
“Back then you used to jump around, flip over, and put on a whole show just for a single drop of spiritual wine.”
Jjik! Jjijik—!
“You want to know what you looked like? Huh? You were all like, ‘jjik!’ and ‘jjijik!’!”
Jjijik! Jjik…!
While teasing Mu-yong like this, he continued hunting for a while longer until a sudden thought occurred to him. As if it had just crossed his mind, he took out the Blood Spirit Red Flower Wine Bottle.
Mu-yong’s eyes immediately sparkled with gluttonous desire, but he had no intention of giving her any right now. He simply wanted to ponder how best to modify it.
Thanks to everything he had learned while brewing nectar with Brenar, he now had a wealth of reference knowledge. He had also spent his spare time analyzing the artifact with dimensional power scanners and the like, coming up with several ideas.
The core characteristics must be preserved, of course…
The ability to instantly drain a living creature’s blood essence and transform it into Blood Spirit Red Flower Wine was truly remarkable. The concept and principles behind its creation could only be described as genius.
However, from a connoisseur’s perspective, there was one slight disappointment.
The fact that the resulting wine all mixed together into a single brew.
Having grown far more serious about alcohol after spending time with Brenar, he simply couldn’t leave it like this.
Using the nectar brewing and classification methods, the contents should be separated and stored individually. That way the flavors and effects won’t blend together, and I can enjoy the exact taste and efficacy I need whenever I want.
There was no need to rush. After roughly organizing his thoughts, he ignored Mu-yong’s longing gaze, stored the bottle away again, and resumed hunting.
Jjik! Jjik!
“I’ll give you some later. Later.”
He wondered when she would realize that he sometimes deliberately withheld it because her desperate reactions were just too cute.
After hunting monsters as if doing exercise and enjoying himself moderately, Han Yujin exited the Great Rift.
He checked the progress of the knowledge and Awakening Incense supply operation through a message from Park Seryong, briefly considered which pieces of Galactic Empire knowledge should be distributed first, and then decided to meet Lee Won-hee before visiting his friend Park Heewon. A child needed more attention, after all.
They enjoyed a delicious meal of clam knife-cut noodles, followed by dessert at a famous shaved ice chain. While they were at it, he also checked her progress on studying the Dao principles for the Returning Origin Art, like reviewing homework.
She might have found it tiresome, but Lee Won-hee seemed to genuinely enjoy these moments. The way she visibly relaxed while stroking Mu-yong especially warmed Han Yujin’s heart and left him quite satisfied.
Of course, Mu-yong didn’t mind either. The child’s unusually careful and considerate way of petting her revealed a natural gentleness that clearly earned Mu-yong’s affection.
After the “homework inspection” was over and the shaved ice had been completely devoured, he was about to take her home as usual when a thought suddenly occurred to him. Perhaps it was time to show her a little more of his extraordinary side. It would make accepting her as a disciple later much smoother.
“Wonhee.”
“Yes?”
“Want to take a longer walk? Somewhere with beautiful scenery. You’re not tired, are you?”
“I’m fine. Where are we going?”
“Hmm.”
He glanced around, then led her a short distance into a nearby alley. Once they reached a spot where people rarely passed by, he opened the entrance to the Mountain Sea Pearl.
Whoosh—!
A burst of light poured out as a door to an entirely different space opened. Lee Won-hee’s eyes widened into perfect circles.
He then lightly activated the Carefree Cloud Dragon technique of the Supreme Yin-Yang Five Elements, creating a cloud platform beneath their feet. They rose gently into the air.
“Whoa…?”
The child was startled at first, but once she realized there was no sense of inertia or shaking, she looked absolutely fascinated.
“Let’s go.”
Just before entering, he took out a fist-sized metal cube from his Spacer Ring and tossed it into the air. It instantly disassembled into twenty-seven pieces, surrounding the entrance to the Mountain Sea Pearl and forming a concealment and defensive barrier equivalent to Level 6 spiritual ability.
It was a Phantom Phase Cube, a special stealth and concealment device used exclusively by the Galactic Empire’s military. Even if an S-rank hunter passed by, they wouldn’t notice anything unless they physically collided with it.
Lee Won-hee had caught a glimpse of the scene, but she was far more captivated by the fact that she was stepping on clouds and flying through the air. Once they entered, her attention was completely stolen by the breathtaking landscape of mountain peaks, a small sea, and lakes that unfolded before her.
“Wow…”
The pure sincerity in her awestruck voice made it incredibly pleasant to hear.
After taking a light tour of the entire area, he decided it would be good to reveal some of his inner power and show her his residence. He descended first at Mugeuk Manor.
He hadn’t originally given it a name, but after Brenar built her own residence, this place had naturally come to be called Mugeuk Manor.
“It’s built in an old-fashioned style, right?”
“Yes. Where… exactly are we…?”
Lee Won-hee asked cautiously, still visibly overwhelmed. Seeing Han Yujin reveal a level of mystery far beyond anything she had imagined seemed to have left her slightly intimidated.
“The truth is…”
He paused for a moment, then began telling her the story of his time in the martial world of the Jianghu.
He left out all the trivial details and focused mainly on his memories with Eun Miryeong.
By the time the story—short if considered short, long if considered long—came to an end, Lee Won-hee was shedding tears like any ordinary child. She didn’t seem particularly concerned about whether the tale was real or not. Instead, she was completely absorbed in the lingering emotions of farewell.
She didn’t even show any curiosity or doubt about the part where he had lived over a hundred years. At that moment, such details didn’t seem important to her.
“Let’s go to the next place.”
Since they were already here, he comforted the crying girl and headed toward Brenar’s house.
Unlike the old-fashioned Mugeuk Manor, this place was bound to astonish anyone who saw it. The painting in the second-floor living room was so extraordinary that no one could help but marvel at it.
Naturally, Lee Won-hee immediately recognized that the man in the painting was Han Yujin and kept stealing glances at the person standing right beside her.
After he had finished telling her even the stories from the Galactic Empire, the three of them spent a long time lost in thought while looking at the necklace that served as Brenar’s token. Eventually, they stepped outside before too much time had passed.
As they did, Han Yujin spoke.
“You can tell I possess a very special kind of inner power, right?”
“Yes… Are you… not actually from Earth?”
At her cautious question, he let out a small chuckle and shook his head.
“I am from Earth. I was born and raised in Korea. It’s just that my awakening ability lets me travel to other worlds and stay there for a long time.”
Only then did Lee Won-hee seem to understand.
“Regarding that…”
He had been about to tell her about the future Earth where she had become an incredibly powerful vengeful spirit, and how he might soon bring that ghost here. But he suddenly shook his head.
It felt entirely inappropriate to tell such a story to a child. If it ever became necessary, he could explain it in a gentler, roundabout way later.
“Let’s go home now.”
He created another cloud vehicle with the Carefree Cloud Dragon and took them out of the Mountain Sea Pearl.
Having properly shown her the elegant and mysterious demeanor of a transcendent today, there would be no obstacles when he eventually accepted her as his disciple.
Next, he went straight to meet his friend Park Heewon.
It was already evening with the sun having set, but it was still a perfectly fine time to meet a friend.
He took the guy—who specifically wanted to eat pufferfish sashimi—to a restaurant and treated him. When Heewon said he still wasn’t full, they stopped by a nearby franchise pub and demolished some chicken and beer.
Finally, at a small independent café, Park Heewon ordered an Americano, took a sip, and frowned slightly.
“Ugh…!”
Han Yujin, who had drunk his own beverage at almost the same time, immediately understood why. It was incredibly bitter.
Mu-yong looked at both of their expressions and began staring at the coffee ordered for her with an extremely conflicted look, clearly debating whether to drink it or not.
“The owner here is a bit…”
Heewon lowered his voice while glancing around and shook his head.
“Looks like Jang Hui-bin died after drinking this stuff.”
“…You’re really sitting there making Jang Hui-bin jokes.”
It was the kind of line that made one laugh involuntarily. Han Yujin took another sip and definitely felt the bitterness and burnt taste were too strong. He suddenly looked at Park Heewon.
“Want to see something fun?”
“Something fun? What, are you gonna chug some deadly poison in one go to prove you’re S-rank?”
“Crazy bastard.”
Letting out another helpless laugh and curse, Han Yujin snapped his fingers.
In that instant, a faint light wrapped around the three cups of Americano, flashed brightly, and disappeared.
Having clearly witnessed the phenomenon, Park Heewon looked back and forth between the cups and Han Yujin with a strange expression.
“What did you just do?”
“I made it taste good.”
As he spoke, he took a sip of the previously bitter and burnt Americano and smiled in satisfaction.
Even a complete amateur would have no choice but to acknowledge the aroma and acidity as top-class. There had been a similar beverage in the Galactic Empire, and this was a very minor spirit technique that made it delicious.
“Holy shit, I’m dying.”
“…If you did something weird to this, I’ll make sure you die for real.”
Even as he issued the threat, Heewon took a sip. His eyes widened slightly and his face went blank. The sight was so funny that Han Yujin laughed quietly. Only then did Mu-yong seem relieved. She began happily drinking her own Americano using her telekinesis.
Park Heewon stared in fascination for a moment at the bizarre sight of the coffee rising through the air and flowing into Mu-yong’s mouth. Then he drank some more, nodded, and set his cup down.
“I believe you. You really are an S-rank hunter.”
“Thanks for believing me.”
They spent some time chatting nonsense.
“Honestly, I thought it’d be hard to see you from now on. But why does it feel like we’re meeting even more often?”
Park Heewon said. From Han Yujin’s perspective, it was something he couldn’t agree with at all, but instead of denying it, he simply chuckled.
Then he suddenly spoke.
“Want me to tell you one important secret?”
“What is it?”
Immediately afterward, the guy suddenly put on a serious face.
“Don’t tell me… you’re gay?”
“…Ugh!”
His hand rose instinctively. Heewon flinched in surprise.
“You crazy bastard! If you hit me I might actually die!”
“Then don’t do things that make me want to hit you. You’re the first person in nearly two hundred years to make my hand rise on its own.”
After pretending to threaten him and laughing once, Han Yujin continued.
“If there was a special medicine that could allow a non-awakened person to grow all the way to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, would you take it or not?”
“What?”
“However, it can only grow you up to late Foundation Establishment, and you’d have to learn a predetermined cultivation method. There’s currently no way to break that limit. It might stay that way in the future too.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
When the guy couldn’t immediately understand—or rather, understood but found it so absurd that he couldn’t readily accept it and asked again—Han Yujin took out one of the usual Awakening Kits from his Spacer Ring.
The Awakening Kit he placed on the table looked extraordinary at first glance. There was no way it could be mistaken for a mere prank item.
After staring at it silently for a moment, Heewon suddenly spoke as if narrating.
“Your Yin-Yang Five Elements Heavenly Spiritual Root has been replaced with some unknown Foundation Establishment injection.”
“Ugh!”
Han Yujin’s hand rose again.