Carrying Munyu in her arms, Do Munhyang headed toward the Healing Hall on Haedan Peak.
Do Munhyang was a direct disciple of Haedan Peak, and despite being only at the first layer of the Condensation Realm, she was already the direct disciple of Haedan Peak’s Elder, Geum Soryeo. Using that authority, she secured the best position in the Healing Hall and settled Munyu there.
Munyu’s condition was severe.
A fierce blow struck while all his consciousness was focused on attacking, leaving him defenseless. That alone was fatal, but Yongyu’s technique was utterly unbelievable as something unleashed by a Qi Refining Realm third-layer disciple.
*The energy I clearly felt was at the Qi Refining Realm third layer. But how did it produce such power?*
While flying over, Do Munhyang’s head had cooled, and with a calm expression, she analyzed the strangeness she had felt.
The Heat Palm Seal was an extremely basic technique where one simply released fire-attribute spiritual qi or spiritual power strongly through the palms or soles. They said that if one merely possessed the Fire Spirit Root, anyone could master it in a single day with focused effort.
Yet the Heat Palm Seal Yongyu used had burned away everything within a range of ten jang (30 meters) in a single instant, and as if that weren’t enough, it left Munyu—who had reached the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Realm—in a near-death state.
Had it not been for that strange energy Munyu had cultivated over the past ten months, he might have been reduced to ashes in an instant.
*If Yongyu ascends to the Condensation Realm and becomes able to refine spiritual qi into spiritual power, that means he could instantly incinerate a range of one hundred jang. How is that possible?*
As could be seen from the fact that she had become an elder’s direct disciple at the first layer of the Condensation Realm, Do Munhyang was a genius.
She possessed only a single Water Spirit Root, making her a single spirit root holder, and matching that, her cultivation aptitude was exceptional as well, allowing her to reach the first layer of the Condensation Realm at the young age of twenty-one.
Even such a Do Munhyang had already learned several techniques back when she was in the Qi Refining Realm, but none of them had been able to demonstrate power like Yongyu’s.
“Disciple, what is the matter?”
Just then, a gentle voice came from behind Do Munhyang.
Startled, Do Munhyang turned around to see a beautiful woman clad in a silver-blue ceremonial robe standing there.
“Master!”
Do Munhyang hurriedly bowed her head to her master, Geum Soryeo, and Geum Soryeo patted Do Munhyang’s shoulder.
“I heard you stopped by the Healing Hall and came because I was worried. Fortunately, it does not seem you are the one who is injured.”
“Master, thank you for your concern. Your disciple is unharmed. However… my dao partner….”
As Do Munhyang trailed off, Geum Soryeo looked at Munyu lying on the sickbed.
Munyu’s condition was wretched.
His whole body was burned bright red, and in places, his scorched dao robes were melted and stuck to his skin. Every hair on his body was completely singed, and the area near his solar plexus, where he had taken Yongyu’s Heat Palm Seal at point-blank range, was deeply caved in the shape of a palm.
If he had not been a cultivator, and if he had not mastered the Dual Origin Art, it would have been a critical injury leading to death long ago.
“Hmm. If he is your dao partner, Munhyang, then this must be that child, Munyu. Which peak’s disciple would dare do this to our Haedan Peak’s outer sect disciple?”
“It was Yongyu of Hyeonyak Peak.”
“Yongyu. Yongyu, you say. Was there a Condensation Realm disciple by that name on Hyeonyak Peak?”
Naturally, having assumed the culprit was a Condensation Realm disciple, Geum Soryeo revealed her anger as she spoke, and Do Munhyang urgently corrected her.
“H-he is not at the Condensation Realm. He is at the Qi Refining Realm.”
“Hmm? …The Qi Refining Realm?”
“Yes.”
At the words that a Qi Refining Realm disciple had committed such an act, Geum Soryeo set aside her anger and revealed her interest.
“Tell me in detail.”
Do Munhyang dared not think of lying to her heaven-like master and explained in detail all that she knew: the relationship between Yongyu and Munyu, the reason they had fought a duel, and the process and result of that duel.
“A child with such martial arts aptitude is rare… Are you saying that child Yongyu became an inner sect disciple thanks to his talent for making spirit wine?”
Geum Soryeo, who adored geniuses, instantly showed interest and fondness toward Yongyu, and feeling anxious, Do Munhyang answered.
“Y-yes.”
“Then the elder of Hyeonyak Peak has yet to realize Yongyu’s value. I see. Indeed.”
Geum Soryeo tapped her own lips with her delicate index finger as if sinking into thought, then spoke.
“Then we must bring that child called Yongyu to our peak.”
“What?! Master, that is…!”
“A child with outstanding martial arts aptitude is precious. Very precious. If you keep him by your side, he will be of great help to you, Munhyang.”
Having said that, Geum Soryeo exerted her divine ability toward Munyu.
Thanks to Geum Soryeo’s divine ability, Munyu’s body recovered rapidly, and Do Munhyang’s face brightened noticeably. However, Geum Soryeo paid no attention to her disciple’s expression and spoke.
“Then, from now on, I shall go to Hyeonyak Peak to transfer Yongyu’s affiliation to our peak, so you, Munhyang, go speak with Yongyu beforehand.”
“What?”
“Since he is someone you will be using going forward, it would be good to become acquainted in advance.”
Having said that, Geum Soryeo transformed into mist and disappeared. Do Munhyang stared blankly at the spot where her master had vanished before turning her head to look at Munyu, tightly closing her eyes and thinking of Yongyu.
Do Munhyang hated Yongyu for having done this to Munyu.
She despised that cruel man who had shown no mercy whatsoever, wielding his technique with true intent to kill.
She had no confidence that she could hold back her anger if she met Yongyu again.
However, Geum Soryeo was a master who, as much as she loved geniuses, despised having an arrogant disciple who defied her words, like a true genius would. Do Munhyang dared not defy such a master’s orders.
In the end, she had no choice but to leave Munyu’s side and set out to find Yongyu.
* * *
I’m screwed.
Completely screwed.
I should have just protected my arm and lost. That way the protagonist would have resolved his resentment and cleanly forgotten about me.
Far from avoiding having my arm cut off and losing, I had taken him down in a single blow right in front of Do Munhyang.
Do Munhyang was the heroine who appeared steadily from the early chapters all the way to the latter half of the work, and the one Munyu had harbored feelings for from the very beginning….
He got beaten miserably without being able to do anything in front of such a person? And this right after he had obtained a fortuitous encounter and was just about to start a new life?
*No way. This… he’ll never forget this grudge. If it’s that narrow-minded Munyu, he’ll brood over it again and again and take revenge once he gains power.*
If so… I just need to fight one more time and suffer a miserable defeat. If I forcefully let him take his revenge and give him that satisfying catharsis, wouldn’t the grudge be resolved?
“Is that even possible?”
Munyu, who has reached the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Realm, is on a completely different level from me, who is still at the Qi Refining Realm, 3+1st layer.
Munyu would develop at a terrifying speed from now on. He would catch the eye of Geum Soryeo, that lover of geniuses, and be given opportunities to obtain all sorts of support from the sect and various fortuitous encounters, rising meteorically.
*Stealing fortuitous encounters for myself… no. I’m going to retire eventually anyway. If I hold onto troublesome things like cultivation arts or items obtained through fortuitous encounters, it’ll only attract annoying cultivators.*
If possible, the best method was to clash with him again as quickly as possible after Munyu recovered and then get beaten to a pulp.
*Munyu was originally the type to endure because he lacked power. Seeing how he often tormented his enemies or nearly upset the balance between virtue and karma because Do Munhyang didn’t caution him, he must be impulsive and short-sighted. If I provoke him moderately, he’ll take the bait. Hmm.*
Having sorted out my thoughts, I drank my liquor, pleased that there was still a way out.
I had to build up even a little cultivation so it would hurt less when I got beaten. In the novel’s descriptions, getting hit by karmic power felt like your soul was being torn apart.
*If I cultivate the Oonmyeonggak Gong even a little deeper, the power of the karmic force will weaken, so it’ll hurt less.*
As I resumed my cultivation like that, I suddenly recalled the duel I had fought with Munyu.
The hot energy that had surged up from deep within my body. The auspicious energy that had gently enveloped and guided that hot energy.
And the astonishing result that occurred when those two energies burst forth from my palm.
If I had to name the most powerful weapon I had ever wielded in my life, it would be the grenades I had thrown in the army… but the Heat Palm Seal was far more powerful than such grenades, and even looked cool on top of that.
To be honest, my heart had pounded.
But I knew.
That following this pounding of the heart would lead to causing accidents and making trouble.
That is why I suppressed the pounding as much as possible and simply devoted myself to drinking and cultivating in my stolid way.
How much time had passed while I focused on cultivation?
Suddenly, the formation on my abode was dispelled, and an outsider entered.
“Who….”
Turning my head to check the visitor, I opened my eyes wide in surprise.
Beautiful black hair resembling the night sky. Clear, deep eyes like mirrors reflecting the world. And a sensuous figure wrapped in a beautiful pink ceremonial robe like a celestial maiden’s winged garment.
I had thought so from the first time I saw her, but it was a beauty that made it understandable why Munyu, despite being capable of ascension, had waited decades for Do Munhyang to ascend as well.
She was beautiful.
“Miss Do… what brings you all the way here?”
“You opened an abode in a place like this?”
As soon as Do Munhyang entered my abode, she looked around here and there and opened her mouth with a prickly tone.
“Well… as you know, I lack strength but became an inner sect disciple thanks to my talent for making spirit wine, so I am grateful even for a place like this. If you live here, you’ll find it’s quite a nice spot.”
“…….”
Do Munhyang listened to my words quietly, then turned her gaze to one spot and went still.
*What is she looking at?*
When her eyes, which had been wandering all over the abode the entire time, stopped, I turned my head wondering what was going on, and saw a mountain of books stacked in one corner of the abode.
“Those are….”
“Books on spirit farming and spirit wine brewing. It’s nothing much, so please don’t mind them.”
“…….”
Do Munhyang, who had opened her mouth for a moment only to close it, barely spoke after quite some time had passed since entering my abode.
“Might I be so bold for a moment? Senior Brother Yong.”
“Senior Brother? But I am a disciple of Hyeonyak Peak?”
“In a few days, your records will likely be transferred to Haedan Peak.”
Do Munhyang spoke with a face that seemed to truly hate this, yet also looked resigned as if there was no other choice.
“My master learned of the duel between Senior Brother Munyu and Senior Brother Yongyu, and took a deep interest in Senior Brother Yongyu’s martial arts aptitude, deciding to accept you as an inner sect disciple of Haedan Peak. She is currently speaking with Elder Gungkyungseung of Hyeonyak Peak, so in a few days, Senior Brother Yongyu will become a disciple of Haedan Peak.”
Having quickly finished her explanation, Do Munhyang let out a sigh and spoke.
“Hoo… Therefore, there is no problem with me calling you Senior Brother Yong, is there?”
“……Mmm.”
I didn’t know what to say at Do Munhyang’s extremely troubled appearance, so I cautiously held out a gourd bottle.
“For now, would you care for a drink?”