Chapter 114: Changcheon Sword King (蒼天劍王) Namgung Jin. (1)
Changcheon Sword King (蒼天劍王) Namgung Jin ⑴
Rumble-!
Like a storm raging, a violent energy began to tear through my body.
The rough energy, whose origin I couldn't pinpoint, immediately surged up and struck my middle dantian.
The current middle dantian was like a placid lake.
I had barely quelled the waves that trembled from the unresolved energy after reaching the Peak realm, and then...
It felt like a massive boulder had been dropped right in.
'...Fuck, seriously.'
I couldn't open my mouth. It was a situation where I shouldn't even open my mouth in case the energy twisted.
Boom-! Boom-!
Like a madman, I shoved the flower into my mouth. It was such a sudden action that I wondered if it was even my own will.
Honestly, eating it was fine. I was going to eat it anyway.
The problem was the energy the flower possessed.
'Is it internal energy, or is it dao energy, or if not that, at least demonic energy?'
The energies I could feel were too numerous. Just what kind of flower was this to possess such a miscellaneous mix of energies?
[You're no different, having just as many miscellaneous things yourself.]
'...I'm concentrating right now, so please don't mock me.'
In a way, it was a valid point.
'If the one who ate this wasn't me, their meridians would have twisted and they would have died on the spot.'
That was no exaggeration. This flower couldn't even be called by the name spiritual herb.
Originally, demonic energy is a vicious energy to martial artists.
It fills one with madness, and moreover, it blocks one's inherent internal energy and causes the physical body to crumble.
That was why many couldn't understand the blessings the Heavenly Demon bestowed.
Those who received demonic energy through the Heavenly Demon's touch become maddened, but their bodies don't rot or lead to death.
Rather, because of the demonic energy, they were granted a stronger physique and extraordinary abilities, even rising to a higher realm.
'How could that be possible.'
This was also the reason I questioned whether the Heavenly Demon was truly human.
Not only because of his strength but also because of these matters that defied common sense.
Because I had lived as a demonic practitioner, I could be certain.
Demonic energy cannot coexist with internal energy.
That was why the flower felt even more bizarre.
'For what purpose were they growing this flower?'
A flower containing not only internal energy and demonic energy, but dao energy as well. Dao energy was understandable. In a way, I didn't think it was much different from internal energy.
But no matter how I looked at it, that wasn't demonic energy. It absolutely cannot coexist with other energies.
The reason my body could endure and allow coexistence was solely because of the Heavenly Demon's demonic arts.
As I was circulating energy while sweating, Elder Shin spoke.
[It seems you can endure it.]
'Yes, fortunately it's still bearable for now.'
The current pain wasn't the agonizing torture of when I extracted the Sword Queen's demonic energy.
That was why I could afford to have these stray thoughts.
'Perhaps it wasn't a flower meant to be eaten.'
No matter how I looked at it, this flower wasn't something meant to be consumed, so perhaps it was originally created for a different purpose.
To eat and endure three energies, the same energies had to already reside in the body from the start.
It meant that energies that cannot coexist had to be coexisting for there to be no problems when eating the flower.
'What an absurd notion.'
In the end, it meant a miracle had to occur for it to be edible.
Elder Shin spoke to me.
[Coexistence of three energies... It's as if it existed for you.]
It was something I had suddenly thought of as well.
Because looking at it a certain way, the situation truly appeared that way.
But that couldn't be.
'If it wasn't made to be eaten, I don't know what its purpose is, and if it was indeed made to be eaten.'
It meant there was someone in the Black Night Palace who could eat this flower without problems like me.
Then who could that be?
'...The Palace Lord?'
The Lord of the Black Night Palace, a martial artist called one of the pinnacles of the Evil Path—I didn't know much about him. I had only heard that he was killed after being defeated in battle against the Murim Alliance.
But thinking about it now, I only had thoughts about whether he truly died.
Given the connection between the Black Night Palace and the Demonic Cult, everything had to be questioned.
'If not him?'
If not that, then was the Heavenly Demon behind them? It was a chilling imagination.
I truly hoped that wasn't the case. If the Heavenly Demon had been coiled up from the beginning.
It meant all the information I knew might be completely wrong.
Ssssss....
The energy that had been pounding my entire body gradually calmed down. The absorption of the energy was nearly complete.
As proof, as soon as the demonic energy settled in the dantian, the Nine Flames Flower Wheel Art immediately began its refinement.
Meanwhile, the dao energy that had taken up residence on one side had grown in size.
[Not bad.]
Elder Shin gave an affirmative voice at the mixed plum blossom scent of the dao energy that was showing off its distinct presence.
With this, the increase in dao energy would be even more helpful in controlling the rough energy.
My internal energy had also increased, already surpassing one gapja.
'...It took a long time to surpass this level before.'
One gapja. How long did it take? Probably around the time I started making a name for myself as a demonic practitioner was this level.
Fast. There had been much growth in less than a year.
'Still, I need to go faster.'
This was by no means a satisfactory position.
At the very least, before I passed my twenties, I had to reach even half the realm I had attained in my previous life.
Heat mixed in with my breath.
Fortunately, I was able to absorb most of the energy the flower possessed.
Chirp! Chirp chirp!
Sunlight shone through the window frame, and the sound of birds could be heard. Because I had been in extreme focus, time had flown by and it was already morning.
The greatest change obtained from this fortuitous encounter wasn't the increase in energy.
Whoooosh-!
I breathed fire from my palm. The color had changed somewhat, intertwined with Hwasan's dao energy.
Rules had formed in the roughly trembling flames. It meant the flames had become a little closer to my will.
Crunch.
I clenched my fist tightly and extinguished the flames. And a smile appeared on my lips.
That was how satisfying the result was.
"It actually works."
A few months after reaching the Peak, the Nine Flames Flower Wheel Art had also reached the Fifth Realm.
I hadn't slept a wink all night, but my body felt incredibly refreshed.
Perhaps it felt that way because the realm of my mental method had risen.
As soon as I came out of the room, I headed to the training ground first.
The training ground was already filled with flames. Recently, I had been training in compression, which Elder Shin pursued.
It had been a while since I released flames so carefree like this.
'It's definitely easier now that the realm has risen.'
The will of the flames, which had a distinct sense of self, had diminished.
The intensity had deepened and the destructiveness had become more pronounced, but conversely, it meant it was easier to control.
Burning everything as if to reduce it all to ash, yet without causing harm to the surroundings.
The ring made of flames around my body rotated even faster.
'Shall I try compression at this rate?'
How far could I go? I thought about trying it as a test, but I extinguished the flames at the vaguely felt presence of someone.
Brushing off the heat, I spoke.
"I was going to look for you anyway, but you came directly?"
At the entrance of the training ground stood a muscular giant over eight feet tall. An old man with white hair tied tightly, contrasting with his massive physique.
[...What is that ridiculous size.]
A giant impressive enough to surprise Elder Shin, who was himself a collection of muscle masses rather than anyone else.
Elder Li, who had shoved a ghost into me and sent me off to Hwasan, was looking at me with an expression full of surprise.
Had he seen the training just now? I could see Elder Li's pupils trembling.
"...How did you become like this in just a few months."
"The way you say that makes it sound like I got severely injured."
Become like this—anyone who heard that would think I was gravely wounded.
Whether he couldn't hear my muttering or not, Elder Li spoke in a trembling voice.
"...A dragon. Yang Cheon, you were a dragon."
"Why do you say such embarrassing things to my face..."
"I knew your talent bloomed late, but this old man didn't know it would be to this extent."
I could understand Elder Li being surprised. If it were me, and I sent someone off on a journey only for them to suddenly appear as a Peak martial artist, I'd have the same reaction.
"Did you obtain a fortuitous encounter?"
"Yes, I was lucky."
A fortuitous encounter—I didn't just eat one, but several.
Some were by my choice, and some were close to forced, but in the end, all of them were fortuitous encounters for me.
'Thanks to that, I quickly reached the starting line.'
A martial artist begins from the Peak. At least that was my standard.
Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Elder Shin spoke as if dumbfounded.
[Isn't your standard too high? For other martial artists, the Peak is like a dream.]
'Matching their standards is a bit too urgent for me.'
By other people's standards, it might certainly be so, but what I'm looking at is above the heavens.
Looking only at the surroundings, there was no end in sight.
"...The Family Head sure bore his children well."
'...I don't think that's the case.'
He seemed to have borne his daughters with great talent, but every one of their personalities was absolute trash.
'I'm somewhat normal.'
I was a bit hopeless when I was young, but I've come to my senses now, so shouldn't I be the most normal one?
[From what I see, you have a lot of fortune with women but your conscience has died. Not sleeping at night must have made you lose your mind.]
'...'
Ahem.
I cleared my throat once and approached Elder Li. Elder Li's expression was still full of surprise.
"Keep that up and your jaw will drop."
I said that because he had his mouth wide open.
I went to Elder Li and showed him the bracelet bound to my arm.
"Plum Blossom Immortal said you left this with her—what is this?"
"Ah, right. This old man did send something like that."
It was a reaction as if he had completely forgotten. He sent it for me, and this old man...?
"It's nothing much."
"You said the Hwasan Sect's spectral object wasn't anything much either last time..."
"That was half a joke, this time it really isn't anything much."
Because it was Elder Li saying this, there was zero credibility.
As I was staring at him with flat eyes, Elder Li flicked my head with his massive fist.
Thump!
"Argh!"
At the sudden massive impact, I clutched my head and rolled on the ground.
'This crazy old man, seriously...!'
Even after reaching the Peak, I couldn't dodge Elder Li's flick.
"You brat! I come to see your face after so long and you're doubting me!"
"Even so, how can you just start hitting right away! What if my head cracks...!"
"Crack, my foot! I gently flicked you!"
"Gently flicked...?"
I just heard a thump! from my head and he calls that a flick...?
[...Having no conscience seems to be a genetic trait of your household.]
As my head throbbed dully, Elder Shin's piercing words sank deep into my chest.
Elder Li spoke to me as I vigorously rubbed my head.
"Anyway, it really isn't anything much, so just keep wearing it."
"If it's nothing much, why do I have to wear it...?"
"Want to get hit again?"
At Elder Li's words, I quietly hid my hand. Just you wait....
It was the same with Gu Hwibi before—I don't know why they keep attaching annoying things to my body.
Elder Li let out a hollow laugh as he watched me pretend not to know and avert my gaze.
"Your realm has risen but your prickly personality is still the same... I don't know whether to like that or hate it."
"...What brings you here so early in the morning?"
"I told you, I came to see your face."
"Then why didn't you summon me through a servant? I was going to come find you today anyway."
"I came out while training as well."
His words didn't seem to be a lie, as Elder Li's thick muscles were more swollen than usual.
It seemed he had actually done some training before coming.
"Oh right, did you hear the news that Yeonseo has come out?"
"You mean Second Sister?"
It was news that Gu Yeonseo, whom I hadn't seen since the Nine Dragons Assembly, had come out after finishing her closed-door cultivation.
Since we had parted on somewhat bad terms, I was a bit concerned, but.
'There's no need to go find her.'
If there's business, she'll come find me herself.
"Later..."
"Ah, and someone came from the Namgung Family as well."
I was about to respond casually, but my eyes widened at the words Elder Li brought up.
"From the Namgung Family?"
"Yes, it seems they came because of your fiancée, Yang Cheon."
It had only been a day since Namgung Bia arrived in Sanseo. Even accounting for the time for a messenger to travel, there was no way they could come this quickly.
'They were already waiting.'
It seemed they had been waiting for Namgung Bia to arrive at the Gu Family.
"First the Tang Clan, and now this—why do so many expensive guests keep coming."
"Excuse me, but I'll step out for a moment."
"Hm? Where are you going..."
I turned my steps, leaving Elder Li behind. I was going to walk quickly, but internal energy wrapped around my body of its own accord.
Internal energy moves according to one's will. This meant my emotions were reflected in it.
'I'm urgent.'
I was aware of my own impatience, but I didn't know why.
Reaching the detached building where Namgung Bia was staying was quick.
Thanks to running while using internal energy almost wastefully, which had increased in my body.
When I arrived, Namgung Bia was already outside the detached building.
However, the situation was flowing strangely.
Namgung Bia looked as if she had just woken from sleep, and her pale, thin arm was being held by someone.
Seeing the tension in the arm that was grabbed, it didn't seem like a weak grip.
Feeling it wasn't a good situation, I first thought of approaching and intervening.
I needed to properly assess what the situation was.
"Excuse me, what is this—"
Slap-!
I stopped in my tracks at the sharp sound that reached my ears.
Namgung Bia's head had been roughly turned.
A cheek flushed red, and blood flowing down the corner of her lips.
Whoosh.
Along with scorching heat, flames wrapped around my body.