Chapter 113
Azure Heavenly Sword, Namgung Jin (1)
Brzzzzzzt-!
Unleashed Qi started to storm through my body as if a tempest was raging within.
I had no idea where this chaotic energy originated from, but it surged up sharply through my dantian.
My current dantian felt like a calm pond.
After a considerable struggle to subdue the unrest after reaching the peak, I finally managed to settle the waves inside me…
Only to have it feel like a massive boulder dropped down on it now.
‘God damn it.’
I couldn’t articulate that, though. The situation was too precarious; I couldn’t afford to even open my mouth lest it disrupt the flow of Qi.
Thud-! Slam-!
Like a possessed fool, I devoured the flower. The impulse was so sudden that I questioned whether it was even my own will.
Honestly, consuming it wasn’t the issue; that was part of my plan.
What wasn’t in the plan was the Qi the flower contained.
‘Is it simply Qi, Taoist Qi, or could it possibly be demonic Qi?’
There were too many types of energies I sensed from it. What kind of flower was this to yield such a variety?
“You also harbor quite a number of those oddities within yourself, don’t you?”
‘…Please stop teasing me; I’m trying to concentrate.’
Well, he wasn’t wrong.
‘If it weren’t for me swallowing this flower, I’d have likely died from my insides being ripped apart.’
I wasn’t exaggerating. This flower wasn’t some simple herb to be trifled with.
Demonic Qi was notoriously a perilous energy for martial artists.
It could drive them to madness, disrupt their original Qi, and ultimately ravage their bodies.
That’s why many never understood the blessings bestowed by the Heavenly Demon.
Those blessed with demonic Qi might go insane, yet their bodies wouldn’t decay nor would they face death.
In fact, the demonic Qi could amplify their strength and elevate them to even higher realms.
‘How can that be explained?’
One of the reasons I questioned whether the Heavenly Demon was truly human.
Not just the strength they possessed, but the bizarre realities they presented defied all common reasoning.
I had the conviction of a man’s life as a demon.
Demonic Qi couldn’t coexist with ordinary Qi.
So, the marvel of this flower only deepened.
‘What purpose did they have in growing this flower?’
This flower bore not just Qi and demonic Qi, but also Taoist Qi. Taoist Qi I could somewhat make sense of, considering it wasn’t that far from regular Qi.
But demonic Qi was a different beast entirely.
The only reason my body managed to handle all those energies was that it was supplemented with demonic Qi from the Heavenly Demon.
As I sweated while Qi coursed through me, Elder Shin spoke up.
“Looks like you can still hold on.”
‘Yeah, luckily I’m managing for now.’
The pain I felt wasn’t comparable to the agony from when I absorbed demonic Qi from the Sword Master.
That’s why I could have any stray thoughts at all.
‘Was this flower not intended for consumption?’
No matter how I looked at it, I figured this flower wasn’t something to be gobbled up; perhaps it was cultivated for another purpose entirely.
To withstand three different types of Qi, one must harbor the same mix in their body from the get-go.
If the distinct Qi couldn’t coexist, they’d just tear one apart.
‘This feels ridiculous.’
So, essentially, a miracle would be needed just to eat this flower.
Elder Shin chimed in again.
“Three types of Qi coexisting in the same vessel… It’s as if it was created with you in mind.”
That thought had crossed my mind too.
With all the absurdities I’ve faced, it was not that far-fetched to consider. Still, I couldn’t accept that as reality.
‘If it wasn’t meant for consumption, I have no clue what it was for. If it was meant to be consumed…’
That meant there was someone in the Black Palace just like me—someone who could consume the flower without consequence.
Who could that possibly be?
‘The Palace Lord?’
The Lord of the Black Palace, known by some as the Dark Pavilion, was among the foremost martial artists of the Unorthodox Faction. I didn’t know much about them; all I knew was that they were rumored to have perished after being defeated by the Murim Alliance.
But now, considering the circumstances, I found myself wondering if that person had truly met their end.
Given the Black Palace’s ties to the Demonic Cult, I had to question everything.
‘But what if it’s not that person?’
Could it possibly be the Heavenly Demon itself? Are they already pulling strings behind the curtain?
That was a chilling thought.
I had to hope that wasn’t the case. If the Heavenly Demon was already orchestrating events now, then all my knowledge of my past life could go to waste. The timeline would be completely warped.
Sssss…
The raging Qi inside my body began to subside. The absorption process was nearing completion.
As proof, my Destructive Flame Martial Arts initiated the purification of the absorbed demonic Qi. The amount of Taoist Qi within me was rising.
“Not bad.”
Elder Shin offered a positive sentiment as the rich Taoist Qi within me began to radiate with a hint of plum blossom fragrance.
The growing Taoist Qi would be beneficial for calming the wild Qi surging through my body.
Additionally, my Qi reserves had expanded, and I was surpassing the realm of those martial artists who had trained for sixty years.
‘It took me ages to reach this level before.’
How many months had it been? I think I hit this level when I first started to build my reputation as a demonic human.
Incredibly fast. In barely a year, my progress was phenomenal.
‘But I still need to speed up.’
I was nowhere close to a satisfactory position.
I needed to reach at least half of my past life’s peak level by the age of twenty.
“Whew…”
Heat escaped from my breath.
Fortunately, I managed to absorb most of the flower’s energies.
Tweet! Tweet tweet!
Sunlight streamed through the window, accompanied by joyful chirps. My intense focus made me oblivious to how quickly time had flown by; it was already morning.
The most significant change from this experience wasn’t merely an increase in my Qi.
Whoosh-!
I conjured flames in my palm. Their color was slightly altered, melding with the hue of the volcanic potash.
The flames that had once flickered chaotically now possessed newfound order. That meant I had gained more control over them.
Clench!
I snuffed out the flames with a tight fist, a satisfied smile spreading across my face—it was that gratifying of a result.
“I can’t believe it actually worked.”
Months after reaching the peak, my clan’s flame techniques also ascended to the fifth realm.
———————
I hadn’t slept a wink the previous night, yet my body felt revitalized.
Perhaps it was due to the elevation in my skill level.
The moment I stepped out of my room, I made my way straight to the training area.
The training area was already completely filled with flames. Recently, I had been focusing on the compression techniques Elder Shin had urged me to practice.
It had been a while since I could freely unleash my flames like this.
‘It’s clear my level has risen; I feel so much more comfortable now.’
The will of the flames that had once been so strong had diminished.
They’d become denser and more destructive yet were infinitely easier to control.
Although it felt as if they would incinerate everything in their path, I could manipulate them to avoid causing any damage nearby.
The fiery rings surrounding me twirled faster than before.
‘Should I also try condensing them even further?’
Curiosity piqued, I felt tempted to test my limits, yet I snuffed out the flames upon sensing a faint presence.
I released the heat as I spoke.
“I was thinking of visiting, but it seems you’ve come to me instead?”
At the entrance of the training area stood a hulking man over eight feet tall, his white hair slicked back.
“What’s that nonsense of a physique?”
Even Elder Shin, who was well-acquainted with muscle-bound warriors, looked taken aback upon seeing this giant.
The Second Elder, who had all but sent me off to Mount Hua with a keepsake, stood there with his jaw hanging open in shock.
Did he just witness my training? I noticed the trembling in his eyes.
“Timeframe elapses… How did you end up like this in just a few months?!”
“You sound like I’ve been mortally wounded or something.”
“Did you not?” The other person’s tone was dramatic—one would think he was referring to an injury.
Undeterred, the Second Elder kept speaking in a quivering voice.
“Dragon… Yangcheon, you were one all along!”
“Why are you embarrassing me with such outlandish claims?”
“I understand if you think your talent bloomed late, but I never anticipated you to become this extraordinary.”
It was understandable why the Second Elder was stunned. I would have the same reaction if someone I sent off came back as a peak martial artist.
“Did your Qi increase?”
“Yes, I got lucky.”
I didn’t consume just one, but several different Qis.
Some were voluntary, and some were closer to being enforced, but every experience played a role in my growth.
So, this fast start was thanks to those experiences.
A martial artist truly begins their journey upon reaching the peak stage.
At least that was my personal benchmark.
Elder Shin responded to my thoughts with a bemused tone.
“Aren’t your standards a tad high? For many martial artists, reaching the peak is but a distant dream.”
‘But I’m a little too eager to settle for their standards.’
While it made sense for others to aim lower, my sights were set on the heavens.
Stalling now would only doom my future.
“Your establishment really produced talented offspring.”
‘Not entirely certain about that.’
While the daughters’ talents were appreciable, their personalities were abominable.
‘Guess I’m the normal one among them.’
I may have been a handful as a child, but having reformed, I was probably the most stable one now.
“By the looks of you, is it that you have considerable luck with women, but your conscience seems shot? Have you lost your mind from lack of sleep?”
‘…’
Cough.
I cleared my throat and walked over to the Second Elder, who still wore an expression of disbelief.
“Keep your jaw from unhinging, or you may hurt yourself.”
I remarked as his mouth hung wide open.
Approaching the Second Elder, I held up the bracelet on my arm.
“The Celestial Plum Blossom mentioned you left it for me. What’s all this?”
“Oh, right. I did send that.”
His reaction implied he’d completely forgotten about it.
“It’s nothing substantial.”
“Last time you claimed the same of the treasure from Mount Hua…”
“That was partly a jest; this time I truly mean it’s nothing.”
The credibility of a remark such as that coming from the Second Elder was practically nonexistent.
Glaring at him with bemusement, I was met with a hefty tap on the head from his massive fist.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
The sudden impact sent me sprawling to the floor, clutching my head.
‘This old man has truly lost it!’
Even after reaching the peak, I couldn’t dodge the Second Elder’s playful smacks.
“You cheeky brat! Coming back to see you after ages only to face suspicion!”
“Still, attacking me outright? What if my head breaks?!”
“Break? Nonsense! That was a gentle tap!”
“A gentle tap…?”
I distinctly heard the loud thud echo along my skull, and he dares call it a “gentle tap”?
“Shamelessness must indeed be some hereditary trait of your clan.”
As a ringing sound buzzed in my head, Elder Shin’s stinging remarks landed heavily in my chest.
The Second Elder spoke up while I rubbed my head.
“Anyway, don’t fret about it; it’s truly nothing substantial, so wear it without a care.”
“Why must I wear it if it’s nothing special?”
“Would you prefer tasting another of my fists?”
I silenced myself at his admonition. ‘I’ll take my revenge someday…’
Unsure why everyone had been keen on attaching accessories to my person lately, whether it was the Second Elder or Gu Huibi.
The Second Elder watched me avoid eye contact with an amused grin.
“Despite reaching a remarkable level, your cheeky temperament remains unchanged… Not sure if I should be delighted or concern myself with it.”
“…What brings you here so early in the morning?”
“I told you; I just wanted to see your face.”
“Then you should have sent someone to call for me. I intended to visit you today.”
“I came out to train; that explains my visit.”
Seemingly honest, given how much more pumped up his muscles appeared today.
It seemed he must’ve put in some time training before our encounter.
“Oh, have you heard about Yeonseo coming out?”
“Do you mean my second sister?”
The news indicated that Gu Yeonseo, whom I hadn’t seen since the Nine Dragons Day, had finally ended her closed training.
Considering how our last interaction hadn’t been the best, it did linger in my mind.
‘There’s probably no pressing need for me to seek her out.’
Should anything arise, she would surely come looking for me herself.
“I’ll—”
“Oh, and it seems someone from Namgung Clan has also dropped by.”
The Second Elder’s interjection caused my eyes to widen in disbelief.
“The Namgung Clan?”
“Indeed, it appears they’ve come regarding your fiancée.”
It had only been a day since Namgung Bi-ah arrived in Shanxi. There was no feasible way for them to arrive so quickly!
‘Wait, had they already been here prior?’
It appeared they had been awaiting Namgung Bi-ah’s arrival at the Gu Clan.
“I can’t help but wonder why so many significant guests are arriving lately, be it from the Tang Clan or the Namgung Clan.”
“I’m sorry, but I need to excuse myself for a moment.”
“Hmm? Where are you going…?”
I dashed past the Second Elder, my urgency propelling my steps. I intended to move quickly, but Qi began to swirl around my body.
The Qi responded to my will. This indicated my emotions were involved.
‘This is urgent!’
I sensed a sense of urgency within me, yet I couldn’t grasp the reason.
I reached the guesthouse where Namgung Bi-ah was staying in next to no time.
Thanks to the increase in my Qi, I got there quickly.
Upon arrival, I noticed Namgung Bi-ah already outside the building.
Yet, the situation was far from normal.
Namgung Bi-ah appeared as though breaking from sleep, and a slender arm of hers was gripped by someone.
Considering the force being applied to the arm being held, it didn’t seem like the grip was weak.
It didn’t seem promising, so I decided to approach and ascertain the situation.
“What’s going on here—”
Slap!
I halted my steps upon hearing the sharp crack.
Namgung Bi-ah’s head whipped around.
Her cheek flushed red, blood trickling from her lips.
Whoosh.
A tempest of heat erupted, engulfing my body in flames.
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