"Do you feel it? That is the profound principle of the Binding technique. It can pull anything and make it stick. Even qi is no exception."
"Qi?"
Is that the internal energy that martial artists speak of? Blue Spirit looked at Mok Gyeong-un with a dumbfounded expression.
"Don't tell me you didn't even know this?"
At her reaction, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders. Until just a short while ago, he had lived his life without even knowing what martial arts were.
‘So this was it.’
But this was definitely the first time he had learned of it. Yet, why did he feel like this wasn't the first time he had felt it? When he was first poisoned by poisonous herbs, his grandfather had gently stroked his back and stomach.
‘... It was warm like this back then, too.’
It wasn't that his palm was warm, but that the inside of his body had become warm, just like now. Could it be that his grandfather had also learned this thing called internal energy? A small doubt bloomed.
As he was thinking, the warm energy, no, the qi that was entering through his palm soon felt cold. Unlike just a moment ago, it was somewhat chilling and foreign.
"It suddenly got cold."
"Cold?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Blue Spirit tilted her head.
"Why is that?"
"You say it's cold? Hmm. That can't be."
"It's cold. Just like..."
It was close to the unique death energy or yin qi that the dead emit. Mok Gyeong-un had lived close to death while killing numerous people to find the enemy who killed his grandfather. That was why this unique feeling felt similar.
But it soon stopped. The veins on the back of Mok Gyeong-un's hand bulged. Seeing this, Blue Spirit nodded as if she understood and said.
"It seems your energy has been exhausted. Stop your breathing and stop performing the Binding technique."
"Alright."
Remembering the sensation from when he had stopped, Mok Gyeong-un held his breath and focused. Then, what was being sucked into his palm stopped, and the bulging veins soon subsided.
"Hoo."
Having calmed the Binding technique, Mok Gyeong-un could feel something else. It was that the qi that had entered his body was scattering at a rapid speed.
"The warm energy is scattering?"
"The fundamental nature of qi is to scatter. You could say it's like the air you mortals breathe."
"Oh. Is that so?"
"Why do you think those who learn martial arts obsess over breathing techniques? It's to gather the scattered qi from the air they inhale."
"Ah!"
Mok Gyeong-un wore an interested expression at this basic knowledge about internal energy he was learning for the first time. It seemed martial arts were not something that could be achieved by simply moving the body like ordinary martial arts. Mok Gyeong-un asked Blue Spirit as if he had realized something.
"Then, can the energy pulled in with the Binding technique also be used to gather qi, like that breathing technique?"
"Don't even think about it."
"Pardon?"
"Even if you absorb an opponent's qi with the Binding technique, you cannot make it your own."
"What do you mean you can't make it your own?"
"When qi is dissipated like this, you wouldn't know, but depending on each school's breathing technique, heart technique, or energy circulation system, it takes on unique properties."
"What are properties?"
"It means it takes on a unique nature. But once it takes on a unique nature, unless a person is adapted or trained in it, their dantian cannot withstand it."
"In the end, that means..."
"That's right. Even if you absorb another's internal energy, it cannot become your own."
"Aah. That's a bit of a shame. I thought there might be a way to quickly grow my qi."
"Did you think the path to becoming a master would be so easy? Well, don't be disappointed. The applications of the Binding technique are endless."
At this, Mok Gyeong-un asked back, puzzled.
"Even if I absorb qi, isn't it meaningless if it eventually scatters?"
"Even if the absorbed qi scatters, it can be utilized because it temporarily flows due to the Binding technique. For example, try concentrating that scattering energy into your fist."
"How do I do that?"
"With energy circulation... Aah."
Blue Spirit took a puff from her long pipe, looking exasperated. It seemed she was frustrated because Mok Gyeong-un knew absolutely nothing about martial arts. She exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and said.
"Hoo. To think this master is sitting here teaching such things."
"..."
Mok Gyeong-un silently scratched his head.
"Tsk, tsk, let's exclude difficult things like energy circulation techniques and whatnot. What's important is the heart image."
"Heart image?"
"Yes. If you remember how the energy moved when you received it with the Binding technique earlier, focus on moving that sensation to the desired area."
Heart Image.
Blue Spirit spoke of it casually, but this was a method used by masters who had reached a certain realm to seek an even higher state. Observing the mind is precisely the Heart Image. Strictly speaking, this was not a concept that a beginner who had never learned any martial arts could grasp.
But Mok Gyeong-un had something that set him apart from ordinary people.
'Extreme concentration.'
Blue Spirit judged that Mok Gyeong-un possessed it. She didn't know if his martial genius was outstanding since he hadn't even started learning martial arts, but his unique concentration was beyond belief. That was why she had recommended he try the Heart Image.
'Will it really work?' He doesn't even know the concepts of vital points and energy circulation techniques. Yet, it was the first time she had told someone to move true energy to a desired location using only the Heart Image.
A single misstep could lead to qi deviation, but since it wasn't energy fixed in his dantian and was scattering energy to begin with, it was worth a try.
'Hmm.'
Mok Gyeong-un closed his eyes and focused on the scattering energy. He recalled the sensation of how the energy had flowed into his body when it first entered through the Binding technique. Then, in Mok Gyeong-un's mind's eye, the meridians along his palm and wrist were drawn.
'Inner Pass... Warm Flow... Extreme Gate...
Great Cleft...
Arm Three Miles...
Lesser Sea... Flank White...'
Surprisingly, Mok Gyeong-un knew the vital points and meridians. He had learned this from his grandfather along with herbology, so he could remember them even with his eyes closed. Therefore, Mok Gyeong-un could also recall the path the true energy, absorbed with the Binding technique, had taken to swell his dantian.
'Then in reverse...' The warm energy moved along the Sea of Qi, Yin Intersection, Vital Pivot, Great Palace, Dove Tail, Jade Pivot, and Hidden Spring. The remaining energy headed back towards his wrist along the Qi Abode and Flank White.
The energy that reached the Inner Pass of his wrist condensed in his fist. Mok Gyeong-un clenched his fist. It felt as if some power had entered it.
'With this kind of power...' Mok Gyeong-un approached the wall of the hollow. And he slammed the fist, where the warm energy had gathered, into the wall.
Thump! Craccck!
The moment his fist struck, the area of the hollow wall where it hit dented about two finger-joints deep, and cracks spread out around it.
'Hoh.'
So this is the power of internal energy? !? Seeing Mok Gyeong-un like this, a strange light glinted in Blue Spirit's eyes. She truly hadn't expected him to succeed in one go.
It was called Heart Image, but without knowing the path of circulation, moving internal energy was nearly impossible. But he had really done it. '... What in the world is this fellow?'
Blue Spirit was genuinely puzzled. In her lifetime, she had seen countless martial geniuses, but she had never seen someone with such an exceptional sense who had never encountered martial arts until he was sixteen or seventeen.
"Ha... What would this kid have been like if he had learned martial arts from a young age?"
She couldn't help but wonder. Just then, Mok Gyeong-un turned his head towards Blue Spirit and said.
"I think I understand why people go on and on about martial arts. If I learn this, I can kill people much more easily."
At Mok Gyeong-un's casual words, Blue Spirit's lips twitched for a moment. This kid knew exactly what the essence of martial arts was. All that talk about achieving the Dao through martial arts and whatnot was nothing but nonsense.
The essence of martial arts was how efficiently one could kill an opponent. Blue Spirit said, holding the long pipe between her teeth and crossing her arms.
"The first form, the Binding technique, is merely the foundation of the Eight Arts of Shattering Thought. Even properly mastering just one form offers endless profound principles."
"That's excellent. I'd like to properly learn this endless art. Can you teach me like you just did?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Blue Spirit's expression instantly stiffened. She had no intention of teaching him this in the first place. But she had gotten carried away by Mok Gyeong-un's unbelievable concentration and innate talent, and had become talkative without realizing it.
"Ha, I was almost tricked by this mortal brat. How dare he try to deceive this master."
"Pardon?"
"Do you think this master would do something good for you? Don't even think about it."
"... We'll have to be together for a while, wouldn't it be better to cooperate?"
"That will not happen."
And then she whipped her head away. Seeing her sudden change in attitude, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head.
"Blue Spirit?" ...
She didn't even pretend to hear. There was nothing to be done. It was not in his nature to try to appease someone, so Mok Gyeong-un didn't call for Blue Spirit anymore.
Instead, his interest was more focused on these Eight Arts of Shattering Thought. If what Blue Spirit said was true, there were seven more forms like this Binding technique. How was something like this possible with just thirty characters?
Whoever created it, they must have been a truly remarkable person. But no matter how outstanding Mok Gyeong-un's comprehension was, he knew little about martial arts, so it was difficult for him to create other incantations from the thirty characters. 'What a shame.'
For now, it seemed he would have to be satisfied with the Binding technique. He wasn't familiar with this either, so if he studied it well, it seemed he could use it in various ways. Having organized his thoughts, Mok Gyeong-un was about to move to dispose of the dead Jo Il-sang's body.
But then, '!?' Mok Gyeong-un frowned and looked down below his navel. 'What is this?'
He hadn't realized it when the warm energy, no, the internal energy he had absorbed from Jo Il-sang was present, but that chilling energy was still there. 'Why is this?' The internal energy had clearly scattered, leaving not even a trace behind.
But this chilling energy remained as it was. Compared to the internal energy he had absorbed, its amount was significantly smaller, but it was still there, right below his navel.
'Strange.'
Even Blue Spirit didn't seem to properly know what this cold energy was. He thought about asking her just in case, but soon gave up the idea. It didn't seem like she would answer him even if he asked now anyway.
'It's not bad to find out for myself.' This kind of effort was a form of entertainment. The corners of Mok Gyeong-un's mouth lifted.
An empty room, lit by a single lantern.
Clink!
A one-eyed female warrior placed a pouch full of silver coins on the table. She was Ho-aeng, the Guard of Madam Seok, the great madam of the Lotuswood Sword Manor.
"This is a consolation payment from the great madam."
"..."
"She said she would pay four hundred silver coins if you can handle the matter as we just discussed."
After saying that, she looked at the lantern on the table. The lantern still showed no reaction. Perhaps it was because her colleague, Myo Shin, had died.
As she waited, she opened her mouth.
"If this is not enough..."
Fwoosh!
Before she could even finish her sentence. The lantern suddenly went out. Seeing this, Ho-aeng swallowed hard, stood up from her seat, and went outside.
The lantern going out was a signal that the request had been accepted. Therefore, there was no reason to stay any longer.
Tatatak!
She emerged with quick steps and looked up at the shabby building that seemed ready to collapse. This was the Ghost Shadow Pavilion of Dream City, the base of the Occultist group. She felt it every time she came, but just being here gave her the creeps and made her feel uneasy.
She hurriedly mounted her horse. Not long after she left, voices could be heard from within the Ghost Shadow Pavilion.
"It is undoubtedly a killing curse."
The first was an old man's voice. Then, a middle-aged man's voice was heard.
"It is certain, pavilion master."
"That is so. Sak, what are your thoughts?"
In response to that question, a woman's voice was heard.
"If it is indeed a killing curse, then Junior Brother Myo Shin must have been consumed by an anomaly. But that third young master weighs on my mind."
"This pavilion master feels the same. A killing curse is fundamentally an act of placing a curse or a vengeful spirit on someone. But it was said that a handmaiden appeared at the third young master's call. That means..."
"Does it not mean he is controlling a vengeful spirit?"
"Hmm. This is no ordinary matter."
The reason they were taking it so seriously was this.
"To be able to manifest a handmaiden and inflict a killing curse, it must be a vengeful spirit of at least the Yellow Spirit rank. Is it possible to command a vengeful spirit of that level as a Spirit Guardian?"
Vengeful spirits cannot be commanded as Spirit Guardians. That was the established theory among Occultists. While evil spirit monsters or the good souls of beasts with pure vital energy could be commanded as Spirit Guardians, a corrupted vengeful spirit was a target to be exorcised or sealed.
"A vengeful spirit is a being that cannot be commanded in the first place. Perhaps the third young master had his spirit snatched by the vengeful spirit."
Bang!
"If that is the case, we cannot leave it be. Pavilion master, please leave it to me."
"Sak, you will go?"
"Yes. I will handle the third young master, and also appease the vengeful spirit of Junior Brother Myo Shin."
At those words, the pavilion master gave the order as if it was decided.
"I permit it. You, who handle the Guyeo as a Spirit Guardian, should be able to exorcise it easily. Go."
"I accept the pavilion master's command."
With that reply, a beautiful woman with one white eye emerged from the darkness. The woman who appeared naturally picked up the pouch of silver coins from the table.
Thump!
The sleepy-eyed Guard Go Chan brought a small brazier to the front of Mok Gyeong-un's bed. He had stayed up nearly all night on watch and was exhausted. He had asked if he could get a little shut-eye nearby since dawn was breaking soon, but he was a bit annoyed at being ordered to do this instead.
Go Chan asked, puzzled.
"Why did you tell me to bring this?"
"I have something to burn."
"Something to burn? If you have something like that, you can just tell me to..."
"I want to see if it burns completely."
"What on earth are you planning to burn...!?"
In that moment, Go Chan's eyes widened. What Mok Gyeong-un took out was none other than the [Lotuswood Sword Formation Art]. 'I-it was real.'
It was true that he had found out the location of the secret manual from the Manor Lord through the anomaly. To think that the secret manual for the Lotuswood Sword Formation Art, the martial art exclusive to the Manor Lord, was in Mok Gyeong-un's hands. Swallowing dryly, Go Chan frowned.
"No. Young Master. Surely you're not planning to burn that, are you?"
To Go Chan's anxious cry, Mok Gyeong-un replied with a faint smile.
"I am going to burn it."
At this, Go Chan was startled and tried to stop him.
"B-burn it? Young Master, what you have in your hand is an exclusive secret manual that only the Manor Lord can learn. How could you..."
"I'm burning it because it's necessary, right?"
Rip!
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un left the cover and the first two pages of the Lotuswood Sword Formation Art, then tossed the rest of the secret manual into the brazier. It happened before he could say anything to stop him.
Fwoosh!
Go Chan stared at Mok Gyeong-un in disbelief. Does this crazy bastard really not know the importance of this secret manual? To the dumbfounded Go Chan, Mok Gyeong-un spoke casually.
"Why are you staring at me like that? I don't quite like the look in your eyes."
"... Young Master. Even if you are at an age where it is difficult to learn martial arts, if you had that, you could have used it in some way."
"That's why I must burn it even more."
"If you burn it, how will you..."
"It's right here."
Mok Gyeong-un smiled faintly and tapped his head with his finger. '!? ' At that sight, Go Chan's eyes filled with shock. Does he mean he's burning it because he memorized the entire secret manual? Then why didn't he say so earlier?
He had been shocked, thinking he was just throwing away such a precious secret manual. As he was about to say this, Mok Gyeong-un took out the secret manual for the Lotuswood Heart Transformation Method this time, and just as before, tore off everything except the cover and the first two pages and threw it into the brazier.
Fwoosh!
At this, Go Chan asked with a completely uncomprehending expression.
"What on earth are you doing?"
In response to this question, Mok Gyeong-un handed him the unburnt covers and remaining two pages of the Lotuswood Sword Formation Art and Lotuswood Heart Transformation Method secret manuals.
"What should I do with these?"
"Take these secret manuals, one to the great madam and one to the second young master. Ah, when dawn breaks."
"Pardon?"
"Just take them and come back. Without a word."
Go Chan furrowed his brow. What on earth is this fellow trying to do? He couldn't fathom his thoughts at all.
But what could he do? With his life on the line, he had no choice but to do as he was told.
"... I understand. Then, before I go, may I get a little shut-eye until morning?"
"Go ahead."
"Thank you."
"Ah, I forgot. That Guard the second young master sent? I just killed him."
"..."
Go Chan was wide awake.