Chapter 491: Do you need it?

Shin Eui is looking for the Baekma-seok.

The branch chief definitely said so.

‘Baekma-seok.’

Centuries ago, back when Grade 100 demonic beasts used to appear. It was said to be an item that no longer existed, except for what remained after the warriors of that time dealt with them.

In terms of rarity, it was far rarer than the Yamyeongju and only existed in small quantities.

What’s more, the bigger problem was.

‘There’s no use for it.’

The Ma-seok (Magic Stone) that came from a demonic beast’s body was useless from the start.

Visually, they had beautiful colors, so one might think they could be processed like gemstones, but…

The Ma-seok that came out of a demonic beast’s body would lose its color after a few days and turn into an ordinary lump of rock, so they couldn’t be used that way.

That was also the reason why I bothered to hunt demonic beasts myself to extract the Ma-seok.

‘Losing its color means losing its energy.’

Because there was no need to bother paying attention to a Ma-seok that had no energy to absorb.

Moreover, it’s only because I possess the Madocheonheupgong (Magic Heaven Absorption Technique) that I can even use Ma-seok.

For anyone else, it was just another useless component.

Seeing as this is the case, the Baekma-seok, which hasn’t lost its color and still possesses energy, is peculiar, and…

It’s quite strange that Shin Eui needs this.

‘Why?’

Just why.

Is Shin Eui looking for the Baekma-seok?

Could this be the same reason Shin Eui came to Sichuan?

Furthermore, even if Shin Eui manages to obtain the Baekma-seok.

‘Do they have a way to use it?’

It’s simply astonishing that an ordinary human could use a Ma-seok to do something.

‘Hmm.’

As I was thinking about that, I couldn’t help but naturally recall the Baekma-seok I possessed.

The Baekma-seok I obtained from the Dangjemun’s secret archives; fortunately, like the Yamyeongju, I had brought the Baekma-seok out as well and kept it stored separately.

It was still in a state where I hadn’t absorbed it.

‘It wasn’t that I intentionally kept it aside…’

It was just that I didn’t have the time.

Shortly after reconstructing my vessel, I escaped the body that felt like it was about to die.

And at the same time, thanks to successfully solidifying my incomplete cultivation level, I was in a situation where I didn’t need to forcibly consume the Baekma-seok.

‘Because I didn’t need it immediately.’

While more energy is always better, if it increased too much at once, it would inevitably take a long time to manage.

If I rushed it, some energy would likely be wasted, so I had intended to consume it once things calmed down.

‘…And now Shin Eui needs it…’

If someone like Shin Eui went all the way to the merchant guild to ask, it seemed like a rather urgent situation.

‘Hmm.’

Once I figured that much out, something flashed through my mind.

A conversation I had with Wi Seol-ah in the past. It vaguely came to mind.

The time Wi Seol-ah, with the Sword Venerable’s wind, forcibly suppressed her power using Shin Eui’s strength and the efficacy of the Bongma-seok.

At the time, I couldn’t quite understand why she made such a choice.

‘This is perfect.’

Since the person I could ask about this conveniently appeared, the timing couldn’t be better.

Even more so.

‘…They even brought their weakness. And I have the key to shake it?’

It couldn’t have been a better situation.

Although I thought favorably of Shin Eui, my own situation wasn’t relaxed enough to dwell on such shallow sentiments.

After thinking that far, just as I was about to start organizing my thoughts on what to do.

“It seems like you have something urgent to attend to.”

“…”

I had to snap back to attention at the voice coming from in front of me.

Because the person I was currently facing was there.

It was the time when the moon had just risen.

It was right after finishing the schedule at the Baekhwa Merchant Guild, taking a short stroll through the area with the kids, grabbing a quick meal at an inn, and then returning.

There was only one remaining schedule after that.

“I called you, and you came all this way, yet you’re spacing out right in front of me. Tsk, tsk.”

It was facing Pae-jon.

As soon as I arrived at the Dangmun, I was meeting Pae-jon.

At Pae-jon’s words, uttered with a slight click of his tongue, I lowered my head slightly and said,

“…I apologize.”

There was just so much going on that my mind wandered for a moment.

I had called him, so this was extremely rude.

Fortunately, Pae-jon didn’t seem to mind it much.

“It’s fine.”

I looked at Pae-jon, who waved his hand dismissively.

Pae-jon seemed to have been training right up until just now, as his body was radiating heat and sweat.

It wasn’t just because my sense of smell had strengthened, but Pae-jon’s body almost never seemed to be without the scent of sweat.

As always, he always seemed to be training.

It was just that neither I nor anyone else could see it.

As I was looking at Pae-jon like that, Shin Noya spoke in my mind.

[Impressive.]

‘You mean Pae-jon?’

[Yes, it’s something I’ve wanted to say every time I see him, but that fellow is unusual. He feels different.]

‘Is that so?’

When I first met Pae-jon, Shin Noya was asleep, so this was something we couldn’t discuss then.

I wondered how Pae-jon looked to Shin Noya now.

It was something I suddenly became curious about.

Surely, Pae-jon must have experienced Banro Hwandong (Reverting to Youth) and his body should be in a significantly deteriorated state.

How is he different?

[His body is structured so well.]

‘Huh?’

Shin Noya’s words made me question it immediately.

His body is well-structured? After experiencing Banro Hwandong, that shouldn’t be possible.

As soon as I questioned it, Shin Noya continued his explanation as if to resolve my doubt.

[Normally, that’s the standard. The meridians and body damaged by Banro Hwandong can never return to their original state.]

The body of a warrior honed before experiencing Banro Hwandong.

Those who experience it can never recover to that extent.

No matter how much fortuitous encounter energy they absorb or enlightenment they gain.

Even if their cultivation level rises, the vessel of their body is already broken and cannot be restored.

But what was Noya saying?

[Saying his body is well-structured means his assimilation rate with energy and body is high. Unlike a broken body, to have integrated energy and body so well…]

It’s truly remarkable.]

‘…Hmm.’

Shin Noya’s words required me to rack my brain a bit more to understand the meaning.

At the moment a warrior reaches their peak, the internal energy in their dantian gradually permeates the body.

Thanks to that, their grip strength, as well as their five senses, change; hence, warriors referred to reaching the peak as a point of transformation.

I wondered if this was perhaps what Noya was referring to.

‘But a high assimilation rate…’

Mulling over those words, I examined Pae-jon’s body.

I hadn’t looked at his body in much detail before, and I still couldn’t see anything specific.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Pae-jon tilted his head slightly.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“…No. I just glanced because it seemed like you were training diligently.”

“Hmm.”

Hearing my words, Pae-jon’s gaze swept over my body.

Was he perhaps trying to check if I had been training or not?

‘…If that’s the case, I’m not too confident.’

Because for a while, instead of training, I had been rolling around here and there.

This was a part I really lacked confidence in.

As I endured Pae-jon’s gaze, harboring petty worries, I suddenly saw a spark of interest appear in his eyes.

Grip.

“…!”

As soon as I noticed that, he suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me.

It happened so quickly that I couldn’t even react properly.

“Elder…?”

I called out to Pae-jon, filled with bewilderment, but he held my arm and started staring at me with an intense gaze.

“What is this?”

“Huh?”

“What in the world happened to you? What is this body of yours,”

“…!”

At Pae-jon’s words, I tried desperately to pull my arm free, but his tight grip wouldn’t let go.

‘No way, did he figure it out?’

Even the Poison King hadn’t noticed the effects of the Giche Byeonyeok Sul (Body Transformation Technique), yet…

Pae-jon seemed to have noticed it the moment he saw me.

‘…Even I can’t tell. How did he notice?’

It was so subtle that even examining my body myself, I couldn’t feel the difference.

Does this mean Pae-jon noticed such a change so casually?

“What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into again?”

“…”

Pae-jon’s gaze was intensely strong.

It was a look that suggested he wouldn’t let go unless I gave a proper answer.

Damn it.

This wasn’t why I wanted to meet him.

‘What should I do…?’

I considered making up an excuse, but I could tell just by looking into Pae-jon’s eyes.

This wasn’t something that could be resolved by simply spitting out a few excuses.

‘Tsk.’

I had only wanted to ask how I should proceed with my training and martial arts, but…

To be found out the moment he saw me.

Had I underestimated Pae-jon too much?

As I was agonizing while having my arm held for a long time.

I finally made a decision.

Because I knew escaping was futile anyway.

Moreover, it was something I had to tell Pae-jon eventually anyway.

As someone learning martial arts, I couldn’t keep hiding it forever.

Swoosh.

I moved the energy in my heart.

Operating my internal energy according to the passage implanted by Dangjemun, I immediately felt a change in my body.

Creak, crackle.

“…!”

As my joints moved and muscles shifted, I saw Pae-jon’s eyes widen.

My vision gradually rose higher, my muscles expanded, and I felt my frame grow larger.

A good half-span.

My height increased by that much, and my frame grew considerably larger.

This is my original body now.

I thought the Giche Byeonyeok Sul didn’t use much internal energy despite changing the body so drastically.

But switching from shrinking my body back to its original state, the difference was greater than I expected.

Because I felt much more internal energy being emitted from my heart.

Feeling the heat that had begun to activate gradually, I slowly opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was Pae-jon’s eyes, unchanged.

They were the most intense eyes I had ever seen from Pae-jon.

Was he perhaps bewildered as to how such a situation had occurred?

Then again, if I were in his shoes, seeing his disciple appear like this after only a few days apart, I wouldn’t be surprised if I was shocked.

So, where should I even begin explaining?

Even if I couldn’t explain my left arm covered in scales, I had to talk about my body.

Because I knew the direction Pae-jon hoped for from me.

He wanted me to inherit his martial arts.

And he hoped I would reach its pinnacle.

Knowing what Pae-jon wanted from me made it even more burdensome.

‘Because I’m no longer human.’

To break through human limits and ascend higher.

Pae-jon hoped I would achieve that through his martial arts.

But it was already too late for me to do that.

‘I didn’t expect things to turn out like this, though…’

There was nothing I could do about feeling wronged.

Regardless of my intentions, this was the outcome, and…

It would surely be displeasing to Pae-jon, who had placed his faith in me.

Knowing that, it was difficult to speak to Pae-jon.

“…Well, about that…”

Looking at Pae-jon’s seemingly trembling eyes, I opened my hesitant lips to say something, but-

Grip.

Pae-jon grabbed my other shoulder in addition to the arm he was holding.

“What is this?”

He spoke while quickly examining my body back and forth.

“How did you do this?”

The moment I thought he was asking about the true meaning of the martial arts.

“What martial art is this? I’ve never seen it before? It seems it’s not just about transforming the body. What exactly is its principle? How does the internal energy move? Where did your dantian go? If so, does moving the internal energy start from the heart? Can you fight while in this transformed state? Then you could narrow the distance by just extending your limbs. It would also be good for launching surprise attacks by changing the distance through shrinking and extending.”

“…”

At the barrage of words, I couldn’t help but wear a dumbfounded expression.

How many words did he even utter in that short time…?

I couldn’t keep up with his rapid-fire speech.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“…No… well…”

I don’t know what or how to answer.

So many questions were pouring out that my head was starting to ache.

Contrary to my expectation of being scolded for how I ended up like this, Pae-jon seemed more interested in the Giche Byeonyeok Sul than my transformed body.

This was an unexpected reaction…

As I rolled my eyes, unsure of what to say.

[I see.]

Noya said to me, as if he had realized something.

[They say birds of a feather flock together; you’re like that, but that fellow is quite the pervert too. Of course. There’s no way anyone normal would be around you, brat. Absolutely not.]

“…”

His words, spoken as if relieved, were full of rather infuriating things, but…

What was even more infuriating was.

That I couldn’t even refute those damn words.