Chapter 83: Blessing in Disguise (3)
No one would believe it even if I told them this story.
That’s how coincidental and improbable the situation had been.
If I hadn’t thrown myself in to save Jong Seok, feeling pity for Jong Munhye, I never would’ve gained this kind of opportunity.
‘The things I’ve gained recently all came, in some way, from acts of goodwill. I saved Jong Seok out of chivalry, but because of those chasing them, I nearly died. Yet because of that, I was able to lay the foundation for the Tai Chi Dantian. The saying that one eventually receives reward for doing good deeds—even if belated—wasn’t wrong after all.’
The Dantian built through the Nine Dragons Heavenly Ascent Technique had formed centered along the spine, meaning it was essentially located in the middle.
The Lower Dantian was positioned around the Qi Sea point on the front of the abdomen and the Life Gate point on the lower back.
For that reason, I placed the Demonic Yin Qi in the Saman Point located right next to the Qi Sea.
Then, by gathering malice and yin energy through the Saman Point and forming a Dantian with it, it would become the Yin Dantian, while the Lower Dantian would become the Yang Dantian, thereby completing the Tai Chi Dantian.
‘However, this Tai Chi Dantian is going to have a fatal flaw. The Demonic Yin Qi isn’t refined energy suited to my body—it’s energy that causes pain. Like with Jong Munhye, there’s no telling when it might trigger a seizure. It could even happen in the middle of a fight, which is a huge problem. But I don’t have a choice. Without this Demonic Yin Qi, I can’t complete the Tai Chi Dantian… and who knows when I’ll be able to find an appropriate malice source?’
That was why I chose to endure the pain and use the Demonic Yin Qi to form the Yin Dantian.
In the end, it was impossible to complete a flawless Tai Chi Dantian using the Demonic Yin Qi.
Still, I chose this path because I believed in Jong Seok.
I believed Jong Seok would eventually complete the Black Death God Poison Art to the Eighth Level and erase the Demonic Yin Qi from my body.
Once the Yin Dantian had already been formed, it didn’t matter if the Demonic Yin Qi was erased afterward.
Shaking off all other thoughts, I focused solely on forming the Tai Chi Dantian.
Nan Myeonggwak had dropped by to speak with me, and when he saw me circulating Qi without any guard around, he was utterly stunned.
Others who had been through similar experiences didn’t react strongly, but it was Nan Myeonggwak’s first time seeing such a thing.
Startled, he informed the Twin Dragons of Fury and Mo Biyoung.
“Really, Young Lord acts like this without giving any notice. He’s like a child left unattended near water. I can’t relax for even a moment.”
While grumbling, Namwook stood guard outside my door.
Jungwook stood to the side, and Mo Biyoung took position by the window to stand guard as well.
Jong Seok, without being told, climbed up onto the roof.
He knew how critical this time was for his sworn brother.
Maybe I was still in the midst of struggling with the Demonic Yin Qi.
In such cases, even the smallest shock could lead to Qi Deviation, so he chose to stand watch from the roof.
He didn’t know then that he’d end up soaked in dew all night.
For some reason, I had no intention of waking from the Qi circulation and continued until dawn the next day.
When I opened my eyes, the sky was already bright, and I was startled.
Sensing Namwook and Jungwook’s presence just outside the room, I felt sorry.
They must have stood guard the whole night because of me.
So I deliberately let out a sign that my Qi circulation had ended.
When I saw a familiar energy leap down from the roof, I gave a bitter smile.
‘I was deep in circulation all night.’
Still, there was no sign of fatigue on my face.
I felt like flying, having succeeded in forming the Yin Dantian all night using the Tai Chi Profound Heavenly Sutra and the Dual-Mind Inner Art.
But it wasn’t yet the time to reveal that to anyone.
Even when the Tai Chi Profound Heavenly Sutra first appeared in the world, warriors had fought desperately to claim the secret manual, and many had died in vain.
To prevent such a tragedy again, I had to keep the secret of the Tai Chi Profound Heavenly Sutra completely hidden.
“Everyone, thank you for your hard work.”
“No, not at all. Did you gain anything?”
Mo Biyoung, more than anyone, would be genuinely happy if I gained even a little insight.
“Yes, a little.”
She beamed and said,
“Congratulations, Young Lord.”
If I’d said I’d gained nothing and later showed surprising skills, they might have thought it strange.
That’s why I told them I’d gained insight.
And since I had formed the Tai Chi Dantian, it wasn’t a lie to say I’d achieved something.
A single carriage sped down the official road, kicking up dust.
A young man and a grown man ran alongside the carriage like escorts, while two horses without riders pulled it from behind.
Inside the carriage was cramped.
That was because the fight with the Self-Revolving Blood Demon had left several injured.
Jong Seok, unable to use his arms for now, rode in the carriage.
Jong Munhye, Mo Biyoung, and I were in it as well, making the otherwise spacious carriage feel tight.
Thankfully, Jungwook had recovered enough to ride a horse.
If he had also been inside, someone would’ve had to sit on someone else’s lap.
“Is your body alright?”
Mo Biyoung asked me.
Since leaving Limyoung Prefecture, she hadn’t taken her eyes off me even for a second.
She was wary that the Demonic Yin Qi might trigger a seizure at any moment.
Only after a day passed without issue did she finally let out a sigh of relief.
“There’s no major issue moving around.”
She found it remarkable that I hadn’t suffered significant injury despite the fierce battle with the Self-Revolving Blood Demon.
During the fight with his subordinates, they hadn’t had the capacity to worry about me.
Even his followers were formidable opponents.
From that battle, they came to realize once again—
They were called elites even among the Heavenly Central Sect, but found themselves struggling against the Self-Revolving Blood Demon’s men.
‘Just like our level, the status of our main sect in the martial world is probably similar.’
Since leaving the sect, they had come to understand exactly how others in the martial world viewed the Heavenly Central Sect.
From Limyoung, riding for another day would bring us to Namphyeong County.
From Namphyeong, traveling two more days would lead us to Mount Cheonjung.
For Mo Biyoung and the Twin Dragons of Fury, Namphyeong was a familiar place they passed through often, so it wasn’t a strange region.
To enter Namphyeong, one had to pass through a small city gate, normally guarded by four local soldiers.
But for some reason, nearly ten guards stood there today, thoroughly inspecting everyone passing by.
It was something that hadn’t happened even once in recent memory.
What’s more, they were mainly inspecting women, which meant something had happened.
Female warriors carrying swords were called aside for questioning.
When it was our group’s turn, I got off the carriage.
The guards, seeing our group full of injured people, looked on with suspicion.
“Where are you coming from?”
Namwook answered with a hearty grin.
“We’re from the Heavenly Central Sect.”
Namphyeong County wasn’t far from Mount Cheonjung.
Although technically outside the Heavenly Central Sect’s direct territory, there weren’t any other reputable martial clans near Mount Cheonjung. So, most of the people in Namphyeong County knew about the Heavenly Central Sect.
“You’re people from the Heavenly Central Sect?”
One of the guards glanced at Mo Biyoung and asked.
“Is there someone among you known as the Sword Hero of the Heavenly Central Sect?”
Everyone in the group turned to look at Yong Hwarin.
Their expressions suggested surprise that even a low-ranking guard would know Yong Hwarin’s nickname.
“My comrades in the martial world call me that.”
When Yong Hwarin stepped forward, the guard stared at the young man in disbelief for a moment.
Then, other guards nearby began to gather around.
“Are you the one who killed the great demonic leader known as the Self-Revolving Blood Demon?”
Yong Hwarin tilted his head.
If Limyoung Prefecture’s magistrate hadn’t spoken about it, this information should never have become public.
He had specifically given the credit for killing the Self-Revolving Blood Demon to that magistrate.
“Why do you ask?”
When Yong Hwarin asked back, the guard replied,
“Last night, a woman delivered the head of Limyoung’s magistrate to the authorities in place of the great demon’s. Right now, nearby counties are in an uproar trying to catch that woman. As you can see, we’ve also tightened security to capture that demon’s woman.”
“Hm!”
The group fell silent in shock as things unfolded exactly as Jong Munhye had predicted.
Although Yong Hwarin had planned it, he hadn’t expected someone from Blood Demon Castle would really behead the magistrate and display his head.
“To think things would go exactly as the Young Lord intended…”
Namwook muttered.
Yong Hwarin asked the guard,
“You don’t know who the culprit is?”
“She’s a woman, but her exact identity is unknown. However, they say five red snakes were embroidered on her martial robe.”
Upon hearing that, Yong Hwarin had a pretty good idea who it was.
‘So it’s Self-Revolving Blood Demon’s wife, Crimson Temple of Deung Hwaun.’
Yong Hwarin hadn’t imagined even the wife of the Self-Revolving Blood Demon would take action.
‘So it wasn’t just the Self-Revolving Blood Demon who was chasing Hyemae. His wife was after her too.’
“Now that your identities are confirmed, you may pass.”
At the guard’s words, Yong Hwarin’s party passed through the city gate.
“Be careful. That criminal might be targeting the Sword Hero of the Heavenly Central Sect.”
The guard even offered a polite farewell as he guided them inside the gate.
Namwook thought again how important it was to gain fame. He had passed through this gate countless times, but not once had the guards ever shown such courtesy to someone from the Heavenly Central Sect.
“Thank you. Take care.”
Once the guard disappeared, Jungwook spoke up.
“Young Lord, wouldn’t it be better to tell them that the one who killed the magistrate was Deung Hwaun?”
“There’s no need. By now, Deung Hwaun has likely disguised herself, knowing there would be inspections. It’s actually better that they don’t know her identity—the chances of catching her are higher that way. Besides, it’s better if the authorities identify her through their investigation. If we tell them, we might end up being part of the investigation ourselves, which would be a hassle.”
Yong Hwarin, knowing all too well how troublesome official investigations could be, saw no reason to provide that information.
And even if they did, he doubted she’d be caught anyway.
As they passed through the gate, a loud commotion erupted from the inspection area where armed women were mainly being checked.
“We have nothing to do with this! Let us go already!”
Recognizing the voices, Yong Hwarin approached to get a better look. It was the Three Sword Heroines of the Jeong Family from Shaanxi—three sisters they had met at Limyoung Prefecture’s government office.
‘What are they doing here?’
“I said wait! If you won’t cooperate with the investigation, we’ll have to bring you to the authorities.”
The guards weren’t backing down either.
Just then, Namwook called out to one of the guards.
“Aren’t you Officer Im?”
“Ah, Brother Nam. It’s been a while.”
“I was so disappointed when I heard you got transferred.”
“Hahaha, you were the only one who cared, Brother Nam.”
After exchanging greetings, Namwook gestured toward the Three Sword Heroines with a nod.
“What’s going on? Why are those lady warriors so worked up?”
“They got angry when we said we had to search them for the investigation.”
The man called Officer Im was someone Namwook had gotten to know over drinks during one of his outings beyond the sect, and he had recently been transferred from Hayun Prefecture to Namphyeong County.
“We came all the way here chasing the Crimson Flower Bandits!”
The hot-tempered second sister, Jeong Suji, glared at the guard as she spoke.
“Crimson Flower Bandits? Who do you mean?”
When the guard asked, Jeong Suji replied,
“We’re talking about Black Killing Sword, Wonho!”
Black Killing Sword Wonho was an infamous member of the Crimson Flower Bandits, a demonic figure who murdered women. The local authorities had even placed a bounty on him.
However, Wonho was also an expert in disguise and had always managed to evade capture.
Moreover, he was a master-level martial artist, far beyond first-rate, so even when several local sects formed encirclement squads, he repeatedly slipped away.
Upon hearing this, Yong Hwarin’s body stiffened.
‘What? They chased Black Killing Sword Wonho all the way here?’
Stunned, Yong Hwarin suddenly began to tremble.