The more I circulated my energy, the more accustomed I became to the path of circulation for the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art. Even when I boldly increased the thickness of my inner energy to that of two silk threads, there was no resistance or side effects whatsoever.
After circulating through my body with the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art and returning to my energy core, the nature of my inner energy did not change one bit, no matter how much I increased its volume. It was certain that it was of the same martial lineage as the Heavenly Steel Saber Technique.
When one circulates the natural energy with a specific inner cultivation method, the nature of the inner energy changes to match it. Each sect had a different inner cultivation method, and naturally, the nature of their inner energy was also distinct.
One could steal the forms of another sect, but to tamper with another sect's inner cultivation method would immediately result in qi deviation. Even Gwang-hyo, who had reached the realm of an absolute master, had his qi and blood twisted when he attempted the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art, so it was correct to see it as impossible.
Although it circulated smoothly, the difference between the two inner cultivation methods was clear. The circulation path of the Heavenly Steel Saber Technique was much more comfortable, and I could feel my inner energy building, albeit faintly. The circulation path of the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art allowed for a smooth passage, but that was all.
No matter how I looked at it, there was no energy accumulation at all. I was slightly disappointed, but if I could use this to draw out Jeok Chu-yeong's Hidden Force, I would be satisfied with that.
I had never performed a direct transmission of true energy on anyone before, but with Gwang-hyo's help, I should be able to manage it somehow. I shouldn't resolve all of the Hidden Force at once. I should leave about half and then ask about the whereabouts of Sister Soso and her family.
Then, this time, even Gwang-hyo wouldn't be able to shut Jeok Chu-yeong up. The plan was set, and the means were secured. Now, all I had to do was execute it, and I could meet Sister Soso and her family.
Just the thought of it made my heart swell and my mind race. I wanted to run to the Black Night Gang right away, but after much thought, I shook my head. How much inner energy would be needed to draw out the Hidden Force?
I didn't know. I couldn't guess or even estimate. To finish the job properly, I had to prepare thoroughly so I could circulate as much inner energy as possible with the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art.
There weren't many chances. If the direct transmission of true energy failed and Jeok Chu-yeong's condition worsened, or in the worst case, if he died, everything would be over. I had to succeed.
Calming my anxious heart, I entered into energy circulation and meditation again. Before I knew it, the sun had set outside. The room was submerged in darkness, and the charcoal embers glowing in the brazier slowly lost their heat and went out.
As the night deepened, the bushes on the back mountain rustled in the wind, making a dry sound. The cries of hungry beasts echoed mournfully. I did not break my meditative posture until dawn came.
With my eyes closed, I endlessly immersed myself in the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art. * "Jeong Dae-cheon paid a visit?" Du Ja-ryeom lifted his head, taking his eyes off the documents.
As their eyes met, Jo Gyeong-jik quickly continued his report.
"Yes. He came to the escorts' quarters at the Deep Fragrance Pavilion during the day."
"For what reason?"
"He asked about the fact that Bang Jo-in had purchased the house he is currently living in from its original owner."
Du Ja-ryeom's eyes narrowed sharply.
"... Is that true?"
"Yes. In the early days, when we were buying up land and houses under various names, weren't the escort agency members excluded? At that time, Bang Jo-in hadn't joined the agency yet. He became an escort as a reward for lending his name."
Du Ja-ryeom leaned back in his chair and turned his gaze out the window. Tapping his fingers on the table, he retraced everything from the beginning.
Jeong Dae-cheon…
He was sharp with a blade and quite a clever fellow. After seeing him put up a rather fine fight against Pung Kang-ik, I had considered taking him under my wing and nurturing him. But then Bang Jo-in was suddenly murdered, and the Inspector's pressure completely derailed things.
It was a shame, but I was planning to get rid of him. However, Jeong Dae-cheon boldly negotiated with the pavilion master and escaped the crisis. Then, out of the blue, he became a house guest of the Underworld Information Clan.
The Underworld Information Clan doesn't just accept anyone as a house guest. Both Won Seo-gang and Gwang-hyo were masters of such immense skill that their mere presence at the Deep Fragrance Pavilion was intimidating enough. Jeong Dae-cheon's martial ability was far below theirs.
And yet, he won the pavilion master's heart. Pavilion Master Hong Hee may have been a courtesan, but she was a veteran who had been through all sorts of trials. Being the branch master of the Underworld Information Clan and having the prefectural city on her side, no one in the Western Village could treat her lightly.
She was not a woman to be swayed by clumsy flattery or sweet talk. If he had the cunning to win over such a person as Hong Hee, he would have certainly been a great asset to the escort agency.
It was a pity the Dragon Sky Escort Agency couldn't keep him, but I thought I might be able to use him someday. That seemed to be completely out of the question now. Suddenly, he remembered setting up his foundation in the Western Village seven years ago.
It was something he shouldn't have done, but he had no regrets. If they hadn't established themselves in the Western Village back then, they would have all been dead and gone long ago. Thanks to the escort agency, the Western Village had also been able to grow this much.
How much does Jeong Dae-cheon know… If he keeps digging, it will become quite bothersome. Things were already tense because of the goods being stolen by those Demonic Sect bastards in Xinjiang and the Tang Clan members being urgently dispatched to the Western Village.
Fortunately, Pung Kang-ik had recovered the stolen opium. In the process, the Underworld Information Clan had caught their tail, but without clear evidence, they wouldn't be able to do anything for now. Seeing as they weren't kicking the escorts out of the Deep Fragrance Pavilion, there was still room for negotiation.
The Tang Clan had not yet made any hostile moves against the Dragon Sky Escort Agency either. When Tang Jo-hui visited the other day, she thoroughly searched the carrier pigeon hall but found nothing of note. Once the large-scale escort mission that left for Sichuan in the summer returns to the Western Village, everything will be sorted out.
It's difficult to pull out because the Tang Clan is running so rampant in the capital, but a suitable opportunity will come soon. Once they return, all that remains is to unfold the long-cherished ambition that they had held back for so many years and soar high. The long-awaited 'Hongmen Banquet' would finally be held.
Having organized his thoughts, Du Ja-ryeom cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
"I understand. You may leave now."
"Should I put him under surveillance?"
After a moment of thought, Du Ja-ryeom shook his head.
"Leave him be. He's a sharp one. Don't stir up trouble for no reason."
After Jo Gyeong-jik left, Du Ja-ryeom turned his eyes back to the documents. * For several days, I stayed cooped up at home without going out. I immersed myself in the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art all day until Gu-sam brought food in the afternoon.
Since it was cold, instead of training in the yard, Gu-sam waited in the room, warming himself by the fire until I finished eating. Chewing on the jerky I gave him for a long time, Gu-sam tilted his head.
"Great Hero, have you been eating only jerky and dry rations all day?"
"What's wrong with jerky?"
"They say if you keep chewing on stuff like this, you won't have any teeth left by the time your hair turns white."
"Among all the guys who carry blades, how many do you think will live to be old?"
The life of a martial artist is one where you don't know what lies an inch ahead, whether you'll die today or be cut down tomorrow. While you're alive, you should eat what you want and do what you want, so you won't have regrets after you die a pointless death.
It would be nice to have warm meals from the inn for all three meals a day, but I wasted too much time going back and forth. It was better to make do with jerky and dry rations for about two meals and use that time for more training.
After Gu-sam returned with the empty food containers, I took my long blade and stood in the middle of the yard. Having been sitting all day in meditation, I was getting restless and couldn't stand it any longer.
To loosen up my body, I drew up my inner energy through the circulation path of the Heavenly Steel Saber Technique and unleashed my saber technique. As I brandished the long blade without restraint, stirring up the yard, the chilly winter wind felt so welcome that it was as if my lungs had finally opened up.
After finishing the exhilarating saber technique, I was about to move on to sword techniques when a single, crazy thought captivated my mind. Could I supply inner energy to the Heavenly Steel Saber Technique with the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art?
It was a foolish curiosity perfect for getting oneself killed or crippled, but I felt like I could do it. Circulating a single strand of inner energy through the path of the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art, I performed the first eighteen forms of the Heavenly Steel Saber Technique. As expected, there was no qi deviation.
What was unexpected was that there was no effect at all. My inner energy was clearly circulating through my limbs, but my physical abilities were not enhanced in the slightest. My body didn't get faster, nor did my strength increase.
Why is this? Gwang-hyo's words came to mind like an answer. 'Their natures are similar, but not completely identical.'
Is that why I can circulate the energy, but can't actually unleash the power it holds? I was quite disappointed, but it didn't matter. The inner cultivation method of the Heavenly Steel Saber Technique was sufficient for using inner energy in actual combat.
On the third day of practicing the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art, the amount of inner energy I could circulate increased to the thickness of six silk threads. The maximum for the Heavenly Steel Saber Technique's inner energy circulation was eight silk threads. Would a thickness of six strands be enough to draw out the Hidden Force?
I couldn't be sure, but Jeok Chu-yeong's physical condition was also uncertain. It seemed best to give it a try before it got any later. I went to the Black Night Gang and stated my purpose, and Gwang-hyo met me in the Crouching Dragon Hall.
"Circulate the maximum amount you can."
Just in case, I circulated the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art with a thickness of five silk threads. Gwang-hyo's eyes trembled as he grasped my wrist and checked my inner energy.
"... With this much, we can at least give it a try."
"I have no experience with direct transmission of true energy."
"It's not difficult. Just do as I tell you."
Entering the bedroom together, Gwang-hyo carefully helped Jeok Chu-yeong sit up. Looking at Jeok Chu-yeong, I thought it was a good thing I came today. His condition had worsened in the past few days.
It seemed the Hidden Force, which had quieted down in response to my inner energy before, was once again gnawing away at his life force. He didn't even have the strength to maintain his posture; his head lolled and his body kept slumping forward. Gwang-hyo sat facing Jeok Chu-yeong, holding his shoulders with his hands to barely keep him upright.
I sat cross-legged behind Jeok Chu-yeong.
"Place your right palm on Master Jeok's back. Circulate your inner energy through the path of the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art."
As instructed, I placed my hand on Jeok Chu-yeong's back and, circulating the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art, slowly infused my inner energy. The inner energy that flowed into Jeok Chu-yeong's body remained under my palm. It couldn't find a path and didn't move anywhere.
"I will guide it, so follow my energy toward the energy core."
A faint golden energy from within Jeok Chu-yeong's body approached my palm. It was the inner energy Gwang-hyo had infused. Following the extremely fine inner energy, about a quarter of a silk thread's thickness, I carefully circulated the inner energy of the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art.
As it neared the energy core, the Hidden Force suddenly stirred, as if reacting to Gwang-hyo's inner energy. Jeok Chu-yeong's body trembled like a madman. Gwang-hyo quickly withdrew his inner energy.
I immediately surrounded Jeok Chu-yeong's energy core with my inner energy. If the Hidden Force shows a rejection response here, Jeok Chu-yeong will die. I watched, prepared to quickly withdraw my inner energy if necessary.
The Hidden Force prowled like a living beast, probing my inner energy. After a brief standoff across the energy core, from inside and out, the Hidden Force completely subsided, as if it had caught a familiar scent.
"It's working. The Hidden Force is responding. Slowly draw the Hidden Force out of the energy core. Don't try to pull it all out at once. One wrong move and his heart meridians will be severed. You must caress it with the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art as if cupping ice in your hands, melting and drawing it out little by little."
That was exactly what I had hoped for. If Jeok Chu-yeong's Hidden Force was cured all at once, there was no guarantee that Gwang-hyo would keep his promise. I let a very slight amount of inner energy flow into the energy core.
The Hidden Force was gently enveloped. Just like that, I stealthily pulled it out. The Hidden Force came out in a long strand, like a fish caught on a hook.
To prevent it from scattering inside Jeok Chu-yeong's body, I quickly wrapped it in my inner energy and slowly moved it toward his back. Through the palm placed on his back, the Hidden Force seeped into my hand. In that moment, a shiver ran down my spine from an instinctive revulsion to the Hidden Force.
My heart pounded with the fear that my qi and blood would twist, my meridians would tear, and I would die bleeding from all seven orifices. Cold sweat ran down my head and back. I desperately calmed my mind and focused on the direct transmission of true energy.
Fortunately, the Hidden Force did not go wild. The Hidden Force that entered my body through my palm flowed along the circulation path of the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art and seeped into my energy core. Strangely, it did not mix with my inner energy but began to accumulate, drop by drop, on one side of my energy core.
When the Hidden Force reached about the size of a fingertip, I reduced the amount of circulating inner energy and stopped the absorption of the Hidden Force. Even if it was made of similar inner energy, I didn't know what side effects the Hidden Force might have. This was enough for today.
After gathering all my inner energy back into my energy core and ending the Primordial Chaos Unified Qi Art, I removed my hand from Jeok Chu-yeong's back. I quickly examined my energy core with the inner cultivation method of the Heavenly Steel Saber Technique.
The Hidden Force that had tormented Jeok Chu-yeong so much was extremely docile and peaceful inside my energy core. There was only a slight sense of foreignness, but no pain, no discomfort, and no reverse flow of qi and blood. It was as docile as a shy cousin visiting a relative's house.
"Hoooo."
Greatly relieved, I opened my eyes. As I wiped the sweat from my forehead, I realized Jeok Chu-yeong's posture had changed. He had already lifted his head and was sitting up straight.
When I got up to look at him, his hollow eyes and sunken cheeks were the same, but a bit of color had returned to his face. His gaze also faintly rekindled the sharpness of his prime, similar to what I had seen on his portrait. Gwang-hyo's face twitched violently as he examined Jeok Chu-yeong's condition.
"... You succeeded."
"There is still a lot of Hidden Force left in Master Jeok's body. What I've drawn out is not even a tenth of it."
"It doesn't matter. What's important is that you succeeded. With this much improvement from a single transmission, you'll be able to draw out more next time."
An unfamiliar smile, one I had never seen before, spread across Gwang-hyo's face. I thought he was a cold-blooded man devoid of emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, but surprisingly, that damn monk was a human who knew how to smile.
I didn't know what their relationship was, but seeing him cherish Jeok Chu-yeong like his own flesh and blood, it seemed a deal could definitely be made this time. I went to the table, put my mouth to the teapot, and gulped down the cold tea.
After taking a breath, I checked the back door and windows with my eyes and threw my gambit.
"Alright, then let's talk again. The Western Village natives that Master Jeok took with him, where in Shaanxi Province are they living?"
If you want to continue receiving the direct transmission of true energy, you have to pay the price. Until I hear the information I want, there will be no more direct transmissions of true energy, even if a blade is at my throat. Jeok Chu-yeong's lips trembled, and he turned his eyes to Gwang-hyo.
The smile vanished completely from Gwang-hyo's face. He looked back and forth between me and Jeok Chu-yeong with a worried expression, then sighed and nodded his head. Having received permission, Jeok Chu-yeong looked straight at me and opened his mouth.
"... The Western Shadow Sword Sect in Red Wave Village, Shaanxi Province. They are staying there."