Of all things, it had to be the Absorbing Energy Technique. Was it a martial art?
"...Did I pray to the demon god of the demonic sect instead of Buddha...?"
After performing three thousand bows for ten days straight and squeezing every last penny to make offerings, the result was a demonic technique. A sense of emptiness enveloped him.
'Learning this might even bring trouble...'
Seoyun closed his eyes. Deciding to check other martial arts techniques first, he opened the book on Huangqi Buxue and began to read. After calmly reading through it, he set it aside.
"...It's a body strengthening technique. At least this one could be useful."
The problem was that mastering it required at least half a year of internal energy cultivation. Currently, Seoyun's internal energy was equivalent to about twenty years of training. If he accumulated just ten more years of internal energy, he could learn Huangqi Buxue. It was said that once he mastered it to ten stars, a yellow aura would envelop him, making him impervious to even an axe strike.
So he decided to keep it for now. But what about the others? He tossed aside the already mastered Three Calamities Technique against the wall. The Mara Three Techniques also required a special foundation from the Mara Sect, so he discarded that as well.
What remained were Taewon Mental Focus, Taewon Sword, Taeguk Fist, and finally the martial art of the Gonlun Sect—Sombre Water Technique. Taewon Mental Focus was similar to the Three Calamities Technique and had no significant differences, being close to a Daoist technique.
Taewon Sword, like the Three Calamities Sword, formed shapes of heaven, earth, and humanity in its swordplay, so it held little value as well.
"...At least the Taeguk Fist and Sombre Water Technique seem somewhat useful."
After drawing eleven times consecutively, it was disheartening that only Taeguk Fist and Sombre Water Technique were deemed somewhat useful. Seoyun felt utterly bewildered.
"Wow... After all that suffering, what great sin did I commit? Buddha, why are you doing this to me? Did it really have to come to this?"
Clutching the Buddha statue given by Myohae tightly, Seoyun gritted his teeth in frustration. Yet the statue continued to wear its gentle smile. Seeing that smile only deepened his overwhelming sense of futility.
"Ugh."
Seoyun picked up the main text of Absorbing Energy Technique. What good were five stars if they were useless? Even if it was easy to learn, it was still a demonic technique. If he were caught using something like this, he would be labeled as a criminal in the martial world.
Throwing it against the wall again in frustration, Seoyun picked up Taeguk Fist and began reading it thoroughly. After finishing reading Taeguk Fist, he rolled around on the floor in exasperation.
"Ah... I'm really going crazy."
He was so frustrated that he couldn't even absorb the contents of Taeguk Fist into his mind. Wiping his face in despair, Seoyun glanced at a corner of the room where the Absorbing Energy Technique had landed after being thrown against the wall.
"...Should I at least give it a read?"
After all, it was a five-star technique.
He had gone through so much trouble to barely obtain it.
No matter how much of a demonic technique it was, he couldn't just discard it without looking.
Trying his best to calm his mind down,
he slowly began reading through the main text again.
As he did so, he tilted his head in confusion.
"Wait..."
He brought back Taeguk Fist that he had just read.
Laying both main texts on the floor,
he alternated between reading them.
In shock-filled tones, he muttered:
"...Why is there a logic of Taeguk in a demonic technique?"
---
[In the beginning was Taeguk; from Taeguk came Yang Yi, which leads to thoughts and Eight Trigrams. Accordingly, Absorbing Energy is based on Yang Yi...]
After thoroughly reading through Absorbing Energy Technique's main text,
he also repeated reading Taeguk Fist's main text.
While there were differences in how internal energy flowed to activate techniques,
the basic concepts were similar to those of Taeguk.
Seoyun frowned.
"No matter how I look at this, it's clearly a Daoist martial art... Especially Sombre Water Technique seems somewhat similar too."
During his time with Chae Jisoo practicing martial arts,
he had heard repeatedly about the basics of both Buddhist and Daoist martial arts.
The logic behind Daoist martial arts and Absorbing Energy Technique resembled each other far too closely.
Comparing them with other techniques like Taeguk Fist from Wu Dang Sect,
Sombre Water Technique from Gonlun Sect,
Three Calamities Technique and Taewon Mental Focus,
and even Taewon Sword—all these Dao-related techniques shared remarkably similar principles.
Taeguk—the center of Daoist martial arts—was following natural order.
"How should I accept this...?"
If it's demonic art,
shouldn't there be some training methods characteristic of demonic arts?
Isn't reversing heaven basic?
But Absorbing Energy Technique starts by calming one's mind and emphasizes following natural order.
Thus confusion was inevitable.
Seoyun roughly rubbed his face.
"Ahh... They could have at least given me another righteous sect's martial art... Or even just some demonic art..."
Even if we generously assume that Absorbing Energy Technique follows Daoist principles,
what would people think if Seoyun used Absorbing Energy Technique?
They would surely consider him an incarnation of evil!
The stubbornness and arrogance that martial artists held could be terrifying.
They didn't see martial arts as merely tools.
It's people who learn martial arts; yet they believed martial arts governed people instead.
Martial arts were just weapons.
If someone used a knife meant for cutting meat on another person,
it would naturally lead to cursing that person.
However, most martial artists tended to blame the knife itself.
Thus Seoyun couldn't help but ponder over Absorbing Energy Technique.
As he contemplated this,
a mouse moved in the corner of the room.
Seizing it quickly,
Seoyun tightly closed his eyes.
- *Squeak!*
Thanks to having read through its main text thoroughly,
he used Absorbing Energy Technique without any difficulty.
As the mouse let out a painful scream and slowly withered away,
Seoyun set down its lifeless body.
'This confirms it...'
The life force absorbed from the mouse increased his dantian's energy.
He felt different types of internal energy remaining within his dantian.
Using Absorbing Energy Technique,
he sent that energy into empty space as gray screen appeared before him with words displayed:
[(5 Star) Absorbing Energy Technique - Main text usage completed.]
[(5 Star) Absorbing Energy Technique - Main text will be destroyed.]
[The record chamber has been activated.]
[Achievement: First achievement in acquiring 5-star martial arts.]
[As a reward: Free equipment draw rights have been granted.]
[(5 Star) Contents of Absorbing Energy Technique have been recorded.]
"...So they treat me like I'm worthy because it's 5-star..."
Seoyun slowly gathered up other useless secret techniques.
It was better to sort out those that held no value first.
He took everything except for Taeguk Fist,
Sombre Water Technique,
and Huangqi Buxue outside with him.
It was almost time to meet Dang Yuhwa.
He trudged toward Justice Alliance headquarters.
"If I get caught with this, it'll be troublesome."
The level at which Dung Wang treated him as an experiment subject was beyond reason.
If martial artists banded together against him,
they would surely tear him apart into countless pieces.
Absorbing Evil Demon was an enemy not just for himself but for all martial artists—including those from demonic sects.
If his incarnation appeared,
the chaos would ensue.
'So let's use this carefully without getting caught. Just because I obtained Absorbing Energy Technique doesn't mean I should act recklessly.'
Seoyun resolved himself to accept Absorbing Energy Technique.
'Absorbing Energy Technique doesn't reveal any demonic aura; if used cautiously, it will certainly prove helpful.'
According to its main text,
even if one mastered Absorbing Energy Technique up to ten stars,
it wouldn't emit any demonic aura or anything like that.
This meant hiding its nature would be possible unlike other demonic arts.
Absorbing Energy Technique wasn't an internal energy cultivation method nor even an advanced skill; rather according to its main text—it merely focused on how one utilized their internal energy.
Unless one completely turned their mind upside down regarding its principles—
as long as no one discovered him using Absorbing Energy Technique—there should be no reason for concern.
"...Sigh."
Yet there remained an unease within him as he headed toward Justice Alliance headquarters.
Even while walking through there,
the weeds where his footsteps landed lost their vitality as they turned into dust swept away by wind into empty space.
---
After stopping by a general store,
he sold off various secret techniques related to three types of martial arts.
Thanks to being main texts,
he managed to get quite decent prices for them.
With coins jingling in his pocket filled with silver pieces,
Seoyun entered Justice Alliance headquarters where Dang Yuhwa awaited him upfront.
"You're here?"
"Yes! Why didn't you come earlier today?"
"My sister returned; we had some discussions regarding Sa Yunyung since morning."
Dang Yuhwa looked extremely fatigued.
Seoyun forced a wry smile towards her: "And you? Are you done? Did you perform your three thousand bows well today?"
"Yes."
"Then you won't be going anymore? What on earth compelled you to do three thousand bows like that?"
"That's what I'm wondering too... What did I really want?"
'If I had known I'd end up with Absorbing Energy Technique, I'd rather not have done any.'
Whoever said high expectations lead to great disappointments certainly knew what they were talking about.
To go through all that suffering only for Absorbing Energy Technique which is treated like demonic art—it felt like a heavy blow even for someone as mentally strong as Seoyun.
As he lowered his head,
Dang Yuhwa quietly leaned closer trying to see his face: "Are you crying?"
"...Please don't."
"What do you mean 'please don't'? Quickly wipe your face; we need to go see grandfather."
As they entered Justice Alliance headquarters while Dang Yuhwa spoke up,
Seoyun weakly nodded along: "Yeah~ Why are you acting so uncharacteristically? Did something really happen?"
"It's nothing serious; rather because of Sa Yunyung's incident—the support from Hanam branch has decreased due to collective responsibility."
"What can we do about that? At least we should feel grateful things are still manageable."
Yet now Hyun Hye seemed oblivious while glancing over suspiciously at them.
Feeling heat rise within him due to her gaze,
Seoyun thought back when he might have simply bowed down for self-preservation in past times—but now he too was part of martial world—a powerful one possessing Absorbing Energy Technique!
'My mood is already sour; should I just go on a rampage? Ugh… Just hold back…'
If he used Absorbing Energy Technique here,
Dung Wang might smash his skull into pieces or worse—treat him like Sa Yunyung until death!
Considering all these possibilities made holding back unavoidable right now:
"Sigh… Those righteous sects really… tsk."
"But isn't Tang Sect also considered righteous?"
"They're stuck somewhere between righteousness and evil."
Perhaps feeling similarly annoyed by Hyun Hye's gaze,
Dang Yuhwa clicked her tongue briefly before stopping near Dung Wang's quarters upon entering deeper into Justice Alliance headquarters: "Why are you out here?"
"Heh-heh! Just enjoying some fresh air! Yuhwa!"
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry but may I borrow your servant for a moment?"
With her usual cheerful smile plastered on her face while speaking softly like before—Dang Yuji asked calmly:
Dang Yuhwa hesitated before shaking her head: "I'm sorry but right now isn't convenient; we need Seoyun's clothes fitted..."
"If it's just for a moment then it's fine! Huh? I'm 'asking' nicely!"
As Dang Yuji's smile deepened further while showing her teeth threateningly—Dang Yuhwa stiffened up visibly.
When she bared her teeth angrily intending confrontation—Seoyun gently grabbed her arm: "But she said just for a moment."
"...I'll give you one moment; you know we have many things left undone right?"
In truth there wasn't anything specific left undone—it simply bothered her seeing Seoyun alone having private talks with Dang Yuji—but oddly enough Seoyun who worked surprisingly well with Dang Yuji smiled back cheerfully:
"Oh absolutely! I know you're busy today! Then take care Miss."
"Okay then; follow me for just a bit."
As Dang Yuji walked ahead leading them both—Dang Yuhwa held onto Seoyun's arm tightly: "If anything happens shout immediately okay?"
"Yes yes! You think she'll eat me or something?"
Watching Dang Yuji already quite far ahead turning around waiting for them made Seoyun chuckle softly: 'She won't eat me but maybe she'll try killing me if I refuse her request.'
Once they reached near Justice Alliance's Okyunjjeon where work was underway—Dang Yuji calmly spoke up: "Good job."
"It's nothing special."
"Thanks to you though we now know there exists countermeasures against Vice Secretary; once returning back home things will get busier right?"
"You must be going through tough times."
Dung Wang interrogated Sa Yunyung finding out countermeasures against Vice Secretary's tactics; thus now they could identify weaknesses based on those findings and reinforce them accordingly making Vice Secretary even stronger than before—not necessarily bad news from Tang Sect's perspective either!
"Thanks again! It seems I'll need another year or two remaining here at Tang Sect then!"
"You must feel fortunate; enjoying delicious meals at home while relaxing sounds nice!"
Listening briefly while hearing how Dung Wang spoke casually—Dang Yuhwa maintained her cheerful smile while asking: "Why do you sound sarcastic?"
"Hahaha!"
At her question—Seoyun chuckled lightly before stopping abruptly wearing an expressionless face saying: "I am being sarcastic indeed; didn't you suspect Sa Yunyung from start anyway?"
"...What are you talking about?"
"Isn't that right? Upon thinking deeply—I found myself questioning why suddenly you'd teach me about Vice Secretary's tactics or mention anything regarding Sa Yunyung?"
"That was merely me helping out with my request!"
"I doubt it's just that; isn't fulfilling your objectives more likely?"
A thicker smile appeared upon Dang Yuji's lips yet still she kept silent regarding her mission's success without revealing anything further.
"I don't know what you're saying; why act so scary~?"
Scratching his cheek nervously—Seoyun replied: "If you don't understand then fine."
If she didn't want questions asked then so be it—there wasn't any need digging deeper into matters either way!
Seeing how easily Seoyun gave up surprised Dang Yuji who widened her eyes in astonishment: "You're not asking questions nor curious about anything huh? As long as things went well then that's good enough!"
'Although we're merely puppets dancing under your strings—it isn't entirely bad from my perspective.'
Feigning ignorance while smiling brightly towards Dang Yuji—Seoyun felt pleased inside: 'Let's wait and see how this unfolds! The price for your assistance better not be weak considering how much effort went into securing Vice Secretary's tactics!'