"Can you feel it? That's the wonder of the method of Attachment. It can pull and attach anything. Even qi is no exception," explained the Blue Spirit.
"Qi?" Mok Gyeong-un asked, wondering if this was the internal energy martial artists spoke of.
The Blue Spirit looked at Mok Gyeong-un with an expression of disbelief. "Don't tell me you didn't know about this either?"
Mok Gyeong-un shrugged in response. Until recently, he hadn't even known what martial arts were.
'So this is it,' he thought. While this was his first time learning about it, he felt as though he had experienced it before. He recalled when his grandfather had gently rubbed his back and stomach after he was poisoned.
'It was warm like this back then too,' he remembered. Not just his palms, but his whole body had felt warm, just like now. He wondered if his grandfather had also cultivated this internal energy.
As he pondered this, the warm sensation flowing through his palms suddenly turned cold. Unlike before, it felt chilly and foreign.
"It suddenly got cold," Mok Gyeong-un said.
"Cold? Hmm, that shouldn't be possible," spirit replied, tilting her head in confusion.
"It's cold. It feels like..."
The sensation was reminiscent of the unique death energy or yin energy emitted by the deceased. Mok Gyeong-un, who had become intimately familiar with death in his quest for vengeance, recognized this peculiar feeling.
However, the sensation soon faded.
Suddenly, the veins on the back of Mok Gyeong-un's hand bulged. Seeing this, the Blue Spirit nodded as if understanding something.
"It seems the energy has been depleted. Try stopping your breath and ceasing the Method of Attachment," she instructed.
"Alright," Mok Gyeong-un replied. Remembering the sensation he had just experienced, he held his breath and concentrated. The flow of energy into his palm stopped, and the bulging veins in his hand subsided.
"Whew," he exhaled. After calming the Method of Attachment, Mok Gyeong-un could sense something else. The qi that had entered his body was rapidly dispersing.
"The warm energy is scattering," he observed.
"The basic nature of qi is to disperse. It's similar to the air you breathe," she explained.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Why do you think martial artists are so obsessed with breathing techniques? It's to gather the qi scattered in the air they breathe."
"Ah!" Mok Gyeong-un's expression showed interest as he learned this basic knowledge about internal energy for the first time. It seemed that martial arts involved more than just physical movements.
Realizing something, Mok Gyeong-un asked her, "So, can the energy pulled and attached by the Method of Attachment be gathered like these breathing techniques you mentioned?"
"Don't be ridiculous," the spirit scoffed.
"What?"
"Even if you absorb someone else's qi with the Method of Attachment, you can't make it your own."
"What do you mean by not making it your own?"
The Blue Spirit went on to explain that qi, when oxidized, takes on unique properties based on each school's breathing techniques and energy circulation methods. These properties make it difficult for someone not accustomed to or trained in that particular style to withstand the energy in their dantian.
"So in the end..." Mok Gyeong-un began.
"That's right. Even if you absorb someone else's internal energy, it can't become your own," she confirmed.
"Ah, that's a bit disappointing. I thought there might be a way to quickly increase my qi," Mok Gyeong-un said.
"Did you think becoming a master would be that easy? Don't be discouraged though. The applications of the Method of Attachment are endless," Cheong-ryeong reassured him.
Mok Gyeong-un asked skeptically, "Isn't it meaningless if the absorbed qi just scatters?"
"Even if the absorbed qi scatters, you can still utilize it temporarily while it's under the influence of the Attachment. For instance, try concentrating the dispersing energy into your fist," the spirit suggested.
"How do I do that?"
"By circulating the energy... Ah, right," she sighed, taking a puff from her long pipe. She seemed frustrated by Mok Gyeong-un's complete lack of knowledge about martial arts.
Exhaling a cloud of smoke, she said, "Hoo. To think I'm sitting here teaching such basics."
Mok Gyeong-un silently scratched his head.
"Let's set aside complicated concepts like energy circulation methods. The important thing is visualization," she explained.
"Visualization?"
"Yes. If you remember how the energy moved when you absorbed it with the Method of Attachment earlier, focus on moving that sensation to the part of your body you want."
Visualization, or shinsang, was a technique typically used by advanced martial artists to explore higher realms of cultivation. It involved observing one's mind and was not a concept that a complete beginner with no martial arts training should be able to grasp.
However, Mok Gyeong-un possessed something different from ordinary people: extreme concentration. Blue Spirit had noticed this extraordinary ability and decided to have him try visualization.
'I wonder if he can do it,' she thought. He had no concept of meridians or energy circulation methods. Attempting to move internal energy through visualization alone was unprecedented. It could potentially lead to qi deviation, but since the energy wasn't fixed in his dantian and was already dispersing, it was worth a try.
Mok Gyeong-un closed his eyes and focused on the dispersing energy. He recalled the sensation of how the energy had flowed into his body when he first used the Method of Attachment.
Surprisingly, Mok Gyeong-un could visualize the blood vessels along his palm and wrist. He even remembered the names of acupoints and meridians, knowledge he had learned from his grandfather along with herbal medicine.
'If that's the case, then in reverse...'
He guided the warm energy along various meridians, eventually concentrating it in his fist.
Mok Gyeong-un clenched his fist. He could feel the power gathering.
'With this kind of strength...'
He approached the cave wall and struck it with his fist, now infused with the warm energy.
The impact caused his fist to sink two finger-joints deep into the wall, with cracks spreading around the point of impact.
'Impressive,' he thought. So this was the power of internal energy.
Blue Spirit's eyes gleamed with surprise. She hadn't expected him to accomplish this on his first try. Visualization was nearly impossible without knowledge of energy circulation paths, yet he had done it.
'What exactly is this guy?' she wondered. In her long life, she had seen countless martial prodigies, but never someone who could grasp concepts so quickly without any prior exposure to martial arts.
Mok Gyeong-un turned to her and said, "I think I understand why people are so obsessed with martial arts. With skills like these, it would be much easier to kill people."
Her lips twitched at Mok Gyeong-un's nonchalant words. This guy understood the essence of martial arts perfectly. All that talk about achieving enlightenment through martial arts was nonsense. The essence of martial arts was how efficiently one could kill an opponent.
She puffed on her pipe and said, "The Method of Attachment, the first of the techniques, is just the basics of the Eight Techniques of Destruction. Mastering even one technique thoroughly can lead to endless possibilities."
"That's impressive. I'd like to learn these endless possibilities properly. Can you teach me like you just did?" Mok Gyeong-un asked.
The Blue Spirit's expression suddenly hardened. She had never intended to teach him in the first place. She had gotten carried away, impressed by Mok Gyeong-un's incredible focus and innate talent.
"Ha! I almost fell for your trick, mortal. How dare you try to deceive me," she scoffed.
"What?"
"Do you think I'm here to do you favors? Don't be ridiculous."
"Shouldn't we cooperate since we'll be together for a while?"
"That won't be necessary," she said, turning her head away abruptly.
Seeing her sudden change in attitude, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head. "Blue Spirit?"
She ignored him completely.
There was nothing he could do. Not being the type to persistently try to persuade someone, Mok Gyeong-un stopped calling out to her.
Instead, he became more interested in these Eight Techniques of Destruction. According to Blue Spirit, there were seven more techniques like the Method of Attachment. How was it possible to create such powerful techniques with just thirty characters? Whoever invented this must have been truly extraordinary.
However, despite Mok Gyeong-un's intelligence, he didn't know enough about martial arts to derive the other techniques from the thirty characters. 'It's a shame,' he thought. For now, he would have to be content with the Method of Attachment. He wasn't yet familiar with it, so with proper study, he might be able to use it in various ways.
After organizing his thoughts, Mok Gyeong-un was about to move to dispose of Jo Il-sang's corpse. But then he frowned, looking down at his lower abdomen.
'What's this?'
He hadn't noticed it earlier when he was filled with the warm energy absorbed from Jo Il-sang, but that cold energy still remained.
'Why is this?'
The internal energy had clearly dispersed without a trace, but this chilly energy remained intact in his lower abdomen. Although its quantity was significantly less compared to the absorbed internal energy, it was still there.
'Strange,' he thought. Even Blue Spirit didn't seem to understand this cold energy properly.
He considered asking her about it but decided against it. She probably wouldn't answer him now anyway.
'It's not bad to figure it out on my own,' he thought. This kind of effort was intriguing to him.
Mok Gyeong-un's lips curled into a smile.
In a dimly lit room with only a single lamp burning, a female warrior with one eye placed a pouch full of silver coins on the table. She was Hu-Ying, the bodyguard of Madam Seok, the wife of the Yeonmok Sect's leader.
"This is consolation money from Madam," she said.
"..."
"As discussed earlier, if you can handle the matter, she will provide four hundred silver coins."
After saying this, she looked at the lamp on the table. There was still no reaction from the lamp.
Perhaps it was because of the death of her comrade, Myosin.
Tired of waiting, she spoke again, "If this isn't enough..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the lamp suddenly went out.
Seeing this, Hu-Ying swallowed hard and got up to leave. The extinguishing of the lamp was a signal that the request had been accepted.
She quickly exited the dilapidated building that served as the headquarters of the Phoenix Pavilion, a group of sorcerers(shamans).
Every time she came here, she felt a chill and uneasiness. She hurriedly mounted her horse.
Shortly after she left, voices could be heard from inside the Hall.
"It must be 'Sal' (殺, kill)," said an old man's voice.
Then a middle-aged man's voice was heard, "It's certain, Gakju."
"That's fine, but what do you think, Sak?" the old man asked.
A woman's voice replied, "If it's definitely 'Sal', then Myosin must have been infected by something strange. But that third young master worries me."
"I feel the same," the old man, apparently the Gakju (leader), said. "'Sal' is originally an act of cursing or attaching a vengeful spirit. But the servant girl appeared at the third young master's call. That means..."
"He's controlling the vengeful spirit, isn't it?" the woman, Sak, finished.
"Hmm. This is no ordinary matter," the Gakju mused.
The reason for their concern was clear.
"To be able to summon a servant girl and use 'Sal', it must be at least a Yellow Spirit level vengeful spirit. Is it possible to use such a high-level vengeful spirit as a familiar?" Sak asked.
Vengeful spirits cannot be used as familiars. This was a fundamental principle among sorcerers.
While mischievous spirits or benevolent animal spirits could be used as familiars, corrupted vengeful spirits were entities that needed to be exorcised or sealed.
"Vengeful spirits are inherently uncontrollable," the Gakju explained. "Perhaps the third young master has had his soul stolen by the vengeful spirit."
Bang!
"If that's the case, we can't leave it alone," Sak said forcefully. "Gakju, please let me handle this."
"Sak, you want to go?"
"Yes. I'll deal with the third young master while also appeasing Myosin's vengeful spirit."
With this, the Gakju made his decision. "I permit it. With your ability to control the Crow spirit as a familiar, you should be able to exorcise it easily. Go."
"I receive the Gakju's order," Sak replied.
With that, a beautiful woman with one white eye emerged from the darkness. She casually picked up the pouch of silver coins from the table.
Thud!
Go-chan, sleepy-eyed , brought a small brazier to Mok Gyeong-un's bedside.
Having stayed up most of the night keeping watch, he was exhausted. When he had asked if he could catch a quick nap before dawn, he was instead given this task, which irritated him slightly.
Go-chan asked curiously, "Why did you ask me to bring this?"
"I have something to burn," Mok Gyeong-un replied.
"Something to burn? If you have something like that, you could have just asked me to..."
"I want to make sure it's completely burned."
"What exactly are you going to burn... !?"
Go-chan's eyes widened in shock as Mok Gyeong-un pulled out the [Yeonmok Sacred Sword Technique] manual.
'So it was true,' Go-chan thought. The story about using the strange creature to find out where the sect leader kept his secret manuals was actually true.
To see the Yeonmok Sect's exclusive martial arts manual in Mok Gyeong-un's hands was astonishing.
Go-chan swallowed hard and frowned. "No... Young Master, you're not planning to burn that, are you?"
Mok Gyeong-un smiled gently at Go-chan's worried tone and replied, "That's exactly what I'm going to do."
Go-chan was startled and tried to stop him. "B-burn it? Young Master, what you're holding is the exclusive manual that only the sect leader can learn. How could you..."
"I'm burning it because I need to," Mok Gyeong-un said.
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un kept only the cover and the first two pages of the Yeonmok Sacred Sword Technique manual, then threw the rest into the brazier.
It happened so quickly that Go-chan had no time to intervene.
The flames crackled as they consumed the pages.
Go-chan looked at Mok Gyeong-un in disbelief. Did this crazy fool truly not understand the importance of this manual?
Mok Gyeong-un spoke casually to the dumbfounded Go-chan, "Why are you looking at me like that? I don't quite like that look in your eyes."
"...Young Master, even if you're at an age where it's difficult to learn martial arts, having that manual could have been useful in some way," Go-chan said.
"That's precisely why I had to burn it," Mok Gyeong-un replied.
"But if you burn it, how will you..."
"It's right here," Mok Gyeong-un said with a smile, tapping his forehead with his finger.
Go-chan's eyes widened in surprise. Did he mean he had memorized the entire manual and that's why he was burning it?
If so, why didn't he say so earlier? Go-chan had been shocked to see such a valuable manual being discarded.
Before Go-chan could say anything, Mok Gyeong-un took out another manual, the Yeonmok Heart Transformation Technique. Just as before, he tore out all but the cover and first two pages and threw them into the brazier.
The flames consumed the pages once again.
Go-chan, utterly confused, asked, "What on earth are you doing?"
In response, Mok Gyeong-un handed Go-chan the remains of both manuals – just the covers and the first two pages of each.
"What am I supposed to do with these?" Go-chan asked.
"Take these manuals to the Madam and the second young master, one each. Ah, do it when dawn breaks," Mok Gyeong-un instructed.
"What?"
"Just deliver them without saying anything."
Go-chan frowned. What was this guy up to? He couldn't fathom Mok Gyeong-un's intentions.
But what could he do? With his life at stake, he had no choice but to follow orders.
"...Understood. Before I go, may I catch a quick nap until morning?" Go-chan asked.
"Sure, go ahead," Mok Gyeong-un replied.
"Thank you."
"Oh, I almost forgot. I killed that guard sent by the second young master," Mok Gyeong-un added casually.
Go-chan's drowsiness vanished instantly.
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A/N:
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