The Weight of a Choice
Three months.
That was how long it took Han Yujin to create a basic mental cultivation method for handling Origin Power.
Considering it was the foundational framework of an entire martial art, the time was remarkably short. Yet when one factored in the abundance of exceptional reference materials available to him, it felt about right.
He had the stable and beginner-friendly Hoe-won Gong from the Ohaeng Sect, the flawless Taiji Hoe-won Gong that handled Origin Power without deviation, and the various mental cultivation methods he had seen in the Orthodox Alliance. The raw materials for creation had been more than sufficient.
And so today, in the order of their contributions to maintaining the ‘Geumryeon Estate,’ he had summoned each of them for a private audience in his quarters.
Dok Junseong, upon receiving the summons, arrived with a tense yet expectant expression, as if he had already guessed the purpose. He was clearly trying his best to remain composed, but the effort wasn’t particularly effective.
After a few rounds of small talk and a brief discussion about the management of Okhan Province, Han Yujin finally steered the conversation toward the main topic.
“One path requires you to abandon a significant portion of the martial arts you have cultivated so far. However, if you achieve success, you will be able to live for at least two hundred years and possess power comparable to my current level.”
In the terminology of this martial world, Dok Junseong was at the age where one began to gaze toward the Transcendent Realm. In other words, he was approaching fifty.
Normally, it would be far too late to begin the path of cultivation. But as a master of the Harmonious Realm, his body and soul were both robust, and his experience in handling inner energy was extensive. There was still a window of opportunity.
Moreover, when Han Yujin had measured him with his divine sense, the man’s spiritual root talent had proven superior to his own. It registered somewhere in the middle of the True Spiritual Root tier.
“The other path is relatively simple. You only need to switch your mental cultivation method. Success will come more easily, and you will be able to wield a special power called Origin Power instead of ordinary inner energy. However… even with heaven’s favor, the Life-and-Death Realm will likely be your limit.”
A brief silence followed.
“Does the first path… truly allow one to surpass the Life-and-Death Realm?”
“Yes. Two hundred years of lifespan and that level of power are merely the first achievement. There are second and third achievements beyond it. If you manage to reach that far, living for over a thousand years would not be impossible. Crushing Mount Tai with a single hand would also be within reach.”
It was clearly an unbelievable story.
Yet Dok Junseong knew Han Yujin would not have summoned him merely to spout nonsense. The man looked deeply conflicted.
“Would you like to see it once?”
“…You mean the first path, sir?”
“I will show you. Open your mind and do not resist.”
Soon after.
After giving him a moment to prepare himself, Han Yujin activated the Dream Illusion Mind Snatching Art.
Thanks to the synergistic effect of his growing divine abilities, which bloomed brighter in proportion to the refinement progress of his Dragon Heart, and thanks to Dok Junseong’s sincere willingness to open his mind and offer no resistance as instructed…
The spell unfolded without the slightest flaw, revealing to Dok Junseong a vision of the ‘cultivation world.’ It was an illusion carefully edited to show only the necessary parts, which made it all the easier to understand.
A short while later.
Even after escaping the illusion, Dok Junseong remained dazed for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice trembled slightly.
“M-Martial Venerate… you truly… you truly are an immortal sage.”
His tone wavered between awe and shock. Fortunately, it leaned toward the positive.
“I am hardly worthy of being called a sage. And as I have shown you, that path is by no means easy. Keep in mind that if you pursue it, you may lose even the power and honor you currently possess.”
“That is fine with me.”
Despite the warning, Dok Junseong answered immediately.
With eyes befitting a Harmonious Realm master—yet not merely the gaze of a skilled fighter, but the tenacious eyes of a man who had risen from a mere wandering warrior to become the leader of the Orthodox Alliance’s combat unit—he looked straight at Han Yujin.
“Even if I end up no better than a third-rate martial artist, I will walk the immortal path that the Martial Venerate has shown me. That would certainly be better… than choosing the latter path, enjoying a brief moment of satisfaction, and regretting it for the rest of my life.”
He truly was no ordinary man.
When Han Yujin had first seen him, he had thought Dok Junseong was similar to Park Seryong. But the more he observed, the clearer the differences became.
Dok Junseong’s desire for growth was far stronger than Park Seryong’s. To him, power was merely a tool—one he could discard at any time.
His quick-witted rationality and the experience that came with his career were simply the traits of a capable individual. They did not mean the two men belonged to the same category.
“Very well.”
Feeling strangely satisfied, Han Yujin retrieved the introductory texts for Hoe-won Gong and basic cultivation techniques that he had already translated into this world’s script from his spatial storage.
Since he rarely used the storage pouch so openly, Dok Junseong’s eyes sparkled with wonder even though it wasn’t his first time seeing it. At the same time, his desire to become a ‘cultivator’ seemed to surge even higher.
“Your entry into cultivation cannot be called early, but it is by no means late either. Since your talent was already enough to reach the Harmonious Realm, there is a high probability you will be able to climb to my current stage.”
“Please allow me to call you my master. From the very first time I asked you, I have been waiting for this day alone.”
After a brief moment of consideration, Han Yujin chuckled softly and shook his head.
“There is no need to rush that. For now… just call me Senior. Those who walk the immortal path usually address those with higher cultivation that way.”
Dok Junseong’s expression briefly darkened, but he quickly composed himself and offered the most respectful bow possible.
“Understood, Senior. I will train without rest and do everything in my power… to one day become your true disciple.”
After offering a few more words of encouragement, Han Yujin sent him away. He was quite curious to see what results a martial artist from this world could achieve after converting to the path of cultivation.
The next person he summoned was Seogwang Gahu.
The conversation with him flowed in a similar manner to the one with Dok Junseong, and Han Yujin presented the same two choices.
However, since Seogwang Gahu was a different sort of person, his reaction was different as well.
“I… would like to know which choice the Martial Venerate believes is better.”
“This is a decision that could determine the next several decades—perhaps even over a century—of your life. You would entrust it to me?”
“I do not mean to entrust it entirely. I simply wish to receive advice from someone with far greater insight than I possess.”
Understanding the general sentiment, Han Yujin nodded.
Seogwang Gahu’s spiritual root talent… at best, it would be upper-tier False Spiritual Root.
In a world rich with spiritual energy, in a world where all kinds of spiritual herbs and elixirs could be easily obtained, it might have been a talent capable of reaching the Dharma Soul Stage without much difficulty.
But this was not that kind of world.
Even Han Yujin himself, who possessed a lower-tier True Spiritual Root, had only managed to reach the Dharma Soul Stage after training for over five years in the Primordial Forest—where spiritual energy was eleven times denser than here—while consuming all manner of spiritually rich foods.
Of course, if he had not aimed for Perfect Foundation Establishment, he could have reached that stage in roughly two years.
Yet even using those two years as a baseline, the time Seogwang Gahu would need to reach the Dharma Soul Stage was considerable.
First, since the spiritual energy density here was less than one-tenth of the Primordial Forest, he would need at least ten times longer. Without spiritually rich food, it would take at least twice as long again. And since his talent was merely False Spiritual Root, he would have to overcome at least three times the difficulty.
That would easily exceed a hundred years.
Even if he somehow managed to reach the Dharma Soul Stage before his lifespan ran out, he would likely only achieve less than fifty percent sublimation efficiency. His power would be nothing special.
The more he thought about it, the more it seemed that mastering Origin Power martial arts and reaching the Profound Realm was the far more realistic path.
Once he could wield Origin Power, his combat ability would not fall far behind that of an average Dharma Soul cultivator, and his lifespan would be considerably extended as well.
“In my opinion…”
Han Yujin concisely laid out these points. He spoke in a way that allowed the man to compare the pros and cons without bias.
Seogwang Gahu frowned slightly as he agonized over the decision, then soon gave his answer.
“I will learn the Origin Power martial arts.”
“Good.”
Since the choice had been made, it was best to ensure he would not regret it.
“There is a saying that if you only stare at the stars in the sky, you will miss the flowers beneath your feet. If I were in your position, I would have made the same choice.”
As he spoke, he took out the basic Origin Power mental cultivation method he had created from his spatial storage and handed it over. The name was straightforward—Wonryeok Sim-gong.
Suddenly.
Seogwang Gahu, upon receiving the book, prostrated himself in the manner one would before parents or a master.
For a moment Han Yujin felt a flicker of displeasure, wondering if this was a silent pressure to accept him as a disciple. But he soon realized that was not the case.
The man was crying as he lay prostrated.
“You must remember the grave sin I committed during our first meeting—one that is difficult to forgive.”
“Now now. Why bring up something that has already passed? Besides, it wasn’t entirely your fault.”
“Precisely because of that, the Martial Venerate has repeatedly saved this unworthy one’s life with boundless magnanimity. And today, you have even bestowed upon me such a divine art… I can only express my gratitude in this manner.”
Even while sobbing, he somehow managed to speak without stuttering or slurring his words. Precisely because of that, every single word carried the weight of his utmost sincerity and effort.
“I will serve you for the rest of my life, for as long as the Martial Venerate desires. Please forgive this insolent one for daring to regard you as my lord without permission.”
Han Yujin, momentarily at a loss for words, used a gentle manipulation technique to help him rise, then patted his shoulder.
“I have received your gratitude sufficiently, so calm yourself. There is no need to be so solemn. As long as your heart remains true, simply helping me in small ways from the side is more than enough for me.”
Jjik-! Jjik!
From the corner of the room, Mu-yong, who had been quietly watching the situation, made her presence known. Han Yujin glanced at her, let out a small chuckle, and used a purification technique to wipe away the tear stains on Seogwang Gahu’s face.
Of course, the fresh tears that immediately flowed out again rendered the action rather pointless.
“Go drink some warm tea and compose yourself. While you’re at it, call Eun Miryeong over as well.”
“Yes, Martial Venerate…”
“And from now on, just call me Senior.”
“Yes… Senior…”
With a voice that had grown completely hoarse, he answered, wiped his tears with his sleeve, bowed respectfully, and left the room.
Jjik! Jjijik-!
“Mm, yeah. Receiving such sincere gratitude really does feel good. It feels good.”
He spent a moment stroking Mu-yong, who was still fully dressed in her little outfit, while holding her in his arms.
Soon, Eun Miryeong arrived.
Han Yujin once again set the mood and presented her with the choices.
“I will choose the first path.”
Her decisive answer, given without the slightest hesitation, left him momentarily speechless.
This was because Eun Miryeong’s spiritual root talent was similar to Seogwang Gahu’s.
In other words, even reaching the Dharma Soul Stage with a mere forty percent sublimation efficiency was uncertain—whether she could achieve it before her lifespan ran out.
No. It was not uncertain. It seemed outright impossible.
“Is there a reason?”
When he finally asked, Eun Miryeong gave a faint smile and answered in a quiet voice.
“I once read in an old book that the immortal and the mortal are fundamentally different. Since you, Eun-gong, are an immortal, you are clearly different from a mere mortal like myself.”
“I am not an immortal.”
“But at the very least, you are walking the path toward becoming one, are you not?”
Watching him nod quietly, Eun Miryeong continued. Her tone was gentle, yet the will contained within it was as firm as a mountain.
“I, too, wish to follow behind you, Eun-gong. If I do not even attempt it, I will surely regret it until the day my last breath leaves me.”
Silence followed.
A moment later.
Letting out a mental sigh, Han Yujin eventually accepted her decision.
He handed her the same books he had given Dok Junseong and made a mental note that, when the time came to conduct ‘transactions’ in the future, he would need to gather as many spiritual talents from this world as possible.
* * *
About a month after giving the three ‘juniors’ their choices.
Suddenly, Han Yujin declared that he would visit the Yunhoeseongbul Temple. Dok Junseong and Seogwang Gahu immediately began preparations, as did Eun Miryeong.
Since they all knew well the extent of Han Yujin’s unfathomable abilities, and since the Yunhoeseongbul Temple was not particularly far, the travel preparations were completed quickly. Leaving the estate empty for a short while posed no problem either.
And so the four of them departed Okhan Province in simple attire.
Their outfits were so plain that none of the martial artists lingering nearby in hopes of catching even a glimpse of the Geumryeon Martial Venerate’s face recognized them as they left.
Since it was not an urgent journey, the group occasionally stopped at scenic famous sites along the way to enjoy the sights.
Thus, despite the relatively short distance, it took them about ten days before they finally arrived at the Yunhoeseongbul Temple.
The Yunhoeseongbul Temple, seen after climbing the well-maintained mountain path, was indeed a monastery that lived up to its fame in both scale and solemn dignity.
Ancient wooden buildings spread across a vast and beautiful mountainous region, blending seamlessly with nature, creating a truly harmonious atmosphere that inspired reverence.
“Let’s go.”
After pausing briefly to take in the sight, Han Yujin spoke and led the group toward the main gate of the Yunhoeseongbul Temple. It was a place where a considerable number of worshippers came and went.