Chapter 12
The golden sword energy rippling from my blade made the leader of the Black Tiger Gang grit his teeth.
‘I thought it was just a misunderstanding, but it really is peak level?’
Momentarily caught off guard, the leader racked his brain. Normally, sword energy consumed a lot of internal energy, so the best strategy in this situation would be to rely on overwhelming numbers for a war of attrition.
“Don’t engage; just try to protect yourselves!”
As soon as the leader’s command left his lips, I slammed my feet into the ground.
The shimmering golden sword energy traced a trajectory in the air. It pierced the eyes of one of the retreating guards, and without hesitation, I lunged forward, swinging my sword.
Swoosh—
With a smooth arc, my sword sliced through the air, severing the thug’s body in two.
“This punk…!”
Enraged, the leader charged forward, his sword gleaming with a dull light.
‘Sword and body as one.’
The ultimate realm where I become the sword and the sword becomes me. Normally, one would grasp the understanding necessary to wield sword energy before mastering it, but in my case, it was the opposite.
‘So this is how it feels.’
Creating sword energy through my understanding of qi, I retraced my steps to that earlier state.
My heart raced as I watched the leader swing his sword.
It was a technique I hadn’t unveiled until now. But now, having a glimpse of sword and body unity…
‘I can do this.’
Yellow Cloud Divine Sword. The first technique I’d learned among them.
Yunliuqingchuan (Cloud Flowing through Clear River)—
Like clear flowing water, clouds settled gracefully upon my sword. The sword met the tip of the incoming blow, flowing effortlessly like a cloud, slicing through with ease.
Shwaak—!
Blood spurted out. The leader’s eyes bulged red as he clutched his side.
“Ugh…!”
“Boss!”
Somehow, those black-clad thugs still rushed in with loyalty. I inhaled as the sword energy flowed regally over my blade.
‘More efficiently.’
No need to envelop the whole blade. Just a bit of energy around the thin edge was enough.
Swoosh—!
Thugs charged in from all directions. Clutching my sword tightly, I suddenly felt a sense of unity.
“The sword is me, and I am the sword…”
The sword felt like another hand. Wherever my intention led, the sword followed.
The breathtaking trajectory flowed smoothly, leaving no obstacles in its path.
“Gah…!”
“Ahhh…!”
Everything caught in the sword’s pathway was neatly severed.
The warmth of the blood rushing out made me feel alive. As I turned my head, my eyes met the leader’s, who bit his lips, livid.
“Damn…!”
The leader launched himself, but not towards me—towards the high wall instead.
“L-Leader!”
“That bastard!”
I discarded the frightened thugs behind me and chased after the leader. When he soared to stand atop the wall, I leapt up behind him.
“Get out of the way!”
The leader’s blade swung at a child blocking his path.
‘Wait, a child? At this hour?’
As suspicion flickered across the leader’s mind, the child swiftly dodged his blade and tripped him up.
“Ugh…!”
With a wound at his side and this surprise situation, coupled with the mental pressure of being chased, even a top-tier expert could trip and fall.
Bam—!
The fallen leader quickly looked up. My shimmering golden blade was aimed right between his brows.
“W-Wait…! You wanted elixirs, right? I’ll give you everything, just spare me!”
But I, standing right over him, wasn’t paying attention.
“No, Chun-bong. What are you doing here?”
“…Should I just sit at home and pray or something?”
“What if you got hurt?”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?”
Chun-bong pouted her lips.
“I’m still stronger than you, you know?”
“Did you really just say that? You keep flexing that strength and you’ll be heading straight to the underworld, kid.”
“Shut up.”
Sighing, I stabbed my sword into the leader’s brow. Thud. The leader was dead.
What am I going to do with this brat?
Shaking off the blood on my sword, I lifted Chun-bong onto my back and hopped over the wall. By now, all the guards had fled.
“Hold on tight; I’m gonna run, okay?”
Instead of answering, Chun-bong clung tightly to my shoulders.
Worried the thugs might run off with the elixirs, I hurried back to the leader’s room and surveyed the surroundings.
“I sense something…”
Hearing the leader mention elixirs before, it seemed they were indeed present. Plus, there was something subtly tingling my senses coming from somewhere in this room.
“Is it here?”
Standing in front of the bookshelf, I kicked it over.
Bang—!
The bookshelf shattered, revealing a safe hidden behind it.
“Steel, huh?”
“Looks like it.”
Chun-bong knocked on the safe. Thud, thud—it seemed quite thick as it echoed without a sound.
“Hmmm, maybe I shouldn’t have killed him?”
Scratching my head, I drew my sword. Chunbong quickly protested.
“Hey! You’ll break your sword!”
“It’s just a sword; I can buy another.”
“Ugh…”
Chunbong fidgeted and stepped back, feeling embarrassed about being the cause of this chaos.
“Chun-bong.”
“What?”
“Just call me ‘oppa’ once.”
“…Where is this coming from? Why should I?”
“Then maybe I could break this thing.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
…My small demand made her chuckle involuntarily.
“Alright. Let’s see if I can’t break this safe.”
I lifted my sword high above my head.
‘The tip of the sword, knocking down the heavens to the earth.’
Though the Three Calamities Sword Technique are generally regarded as third-rate, I believe they aren’t as underwhelming as they seem.
The foundational techniques of the Three Calamities Sword Technique included essential skills. Yet the vision contained in the heart method sparked excitement just as much as the grandiosity behind it.
Even sword and body unity, even the formation of the techniques—it was all erased from my mind for now.
Where my talent lies, and where my will aims, is ultimately with qi. Instead of setting limits for myself, I pour my will into a single droplet of qi.
Crack—!
Thud. The sword lightly tapped against the ground. Exhaling softly, as I retracted the sword, Chun-bong blinked in confusion.
“What… are you? That was definitely not how it used to be…”
The safe door, looking like it had no scratches, was pushed open, and the half-cut door collapsed inward.
Reaching inside, I unlocked the safe, removing the now-lopsided door, revealing its contents.
“They say I’m the best at handling qi, so it’s true.”
I grinned as I retrieved a wooden box from within. Scattered beside it were silver coins I promptly discarded, lifting the lid of the box only slightly to let the fragrant aroma wash over me.
“Black Muguo Dan.”
At Chun-bong’s words, I looked up.
“Black Muguo?”
“Yeah. It’s a pretty good elixir. You should take it.”
“Why would I take it? You should have it.”
“Forget it.”
Chunbong smiled bitterly, shaking her head.
“You know what I need: Yang qi. Black Muguo has strong wood energy, but it’s focused on harmony, so it’s useless to me.”
I kept my mouth shut. I closed the wooden box, placing it inside my clothes, then stuffed the silver coins into a pouch slung over my shoulder.
“Let’s just head home for now.”
*
Returning home, I carelessly tossed the pouch of silver coins into a corner before heading straight into the yard.
“Yang qi… Yang qi…”
Wrapping my right hand with external energy, I lifted it higher. The faintly glowing golden qi shone like the moon in the night sky.
“Yellow Cloud Divine Art…. Hmm…”
As I muttered to myself, Chun-bong let out a sigh.
“I’m saying just eat it already. I mean, what do I care about what happens tomorrow? I can eat something else later on if it comes up.”
“Chun-bong.”
“Yeah?”
“Just be quiet.”
Fuming, Chun-bong leapt at me.
“You jerk!”
But Chunbong was just a small, weak kid. There was no way she could outmatch a top-tier expert.
“Whoa, take it easy now.”
I easily restrained her, sitting her down gently.
“This is still Yang qi.”
Yellow Cloud Divine Art ultimately aims to achieve Wuji (Infinity). They say once I get there, Yin and Yang will harmonize, but… right now, that’s a far-fetched idea.
In the end, the inner power of Yellow Cloud Divine Art leans more towards Yang qi. Wasn’t that why Chun-bong hadn’t learned the Clear Sky Divine Art? Women generally possess stronger Yin energy.
“Let’s see…”
I rested my left hand on Chun-bong’s back, closing my eyes. A cold energy surged up through my palm.
This is Yin energy. Specifically, it’s strongly correlated to cold Yin energy, right?
With my left hand against Chun-bong’s back and my right hand enveloping the power of Yellow Cloud Divine Art, I concentrated for several minutes.
“…Hey, it’s getting heavy; could you move a bit?”
Just as Chun-bong grumbled, I finally opened my eyes and nodded.
“I get the gist.”
“Get the gist of what?”
“You don’t need to know.”
With that, I slipped a hand under Chun-bong’s armpit, lifting her easily. I set her down in the center of the room, where Chun-bong’s eyes widened sharply.
“Am I just an object to you?”
“Shhh.”
I pressed a finger to her lips. Her lips felt cold—her condition was serious.
I then pulled out the wooden box, opening it once more. The familiar fragrance filled the room.
As Chun-bong gazed at me with confusion, I cautiously lifted the Black Muguo Dan.
A shiny, dark brown pill, it glistened enticingly.
I abruptly shoved it into Chun-bong’s mouth.
“Ugh…!”
“Swallow it!”
“Ughbuh…!”
“It’s already in your mouth! C’mon, if you keep this up, the effects will wear off?”
Here we go, entering the house.
Yin energy, Yang energy—all of it becomes meaningless before my talent, and I’ll show you why.
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