Ch.232Side Story 2: When I Met Him (6)

# 02_When I Met Him_6

In the dead of night, while Dexter was collapsed in exhaustion after training all day.

The leader of the Ilwol Divine Sect, Cheonma, his wife and sect mother Hyeolbong, and the young sect leader Seonu Dan were gathered in the leader’s office for a meeting.

“He can freely infuse his body with qi?”

“Yes. I’ve had him practice through training for the past week.”

“Practice through training, you say? With whom did he practice?”

“The Chobaekdae.”

As soon as the word “Chobaekdae” left Seonu Dan’s lips, Cheonma’s expression darkened.

“Even with the condition of not using inner energy, the Chobaekdae is still essentially the representative group of our sect’s younger generation. Are you saying that boy won after learning external martial arts for just a few weeks?”

“No, Master. Even if I myself were to put in years of bloody effort, it would be difficult for any martial artist specializing in external arts to overcome Disciple Deok’s combat prowess.”

“Dan, Adeok is barely twenty years old. Is it possible for him to reach such a level? Even with a good physique and constitution receptive to external martial arts…”

In response to Hyeolbong’s concern, Seonu Dan shook his head with a light smile, indicating there was nothing to worry about.

“Sect Mother, you’ve examined the disciple’s pulse before, haven’t you?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“As the Master initially said, the disciple has unusually active qi. I believe it’s his natural constitution. It’s something you’d only read about in ancient historical texts.”

“Historical texts? Are you saying the boy was born with the Celestial Killing Star, the Purple Subtlety Star, or perhaps the Heavenly Bone Constitution?”

When Cheonma spoke with a hardened expression, Seonu Dan maintained an ambiguous look, neither confirming nor denying.

“To be honest, I’m not certain myself. However, if he had the Celestial Killing Star, the Golden Merchant wouldn’t keep him by his side. Who would embrace someone destined to commit countless murders?”

“Master, the same goes for the Purple Subtlety Star. Who would use someone destined to become an emperor as a bodyguard?”

After listening to both of them, Cheonma realized he might have been jumping to conclusions and added:

“If it were the Heavenly Bone Constitution, he would have reacted immediately upon encountering inner energy.”

“That’s why I believe there has never been a constitution like our disciple’s throughout history. Where in the world would you find someone who can accumulate natural qi in their muscles?”

Though Seonu Dan spoke lightly with a smile, the content of his words was profoundly weighty.

“Hmph, are you saying it’s a one-of-a-kind constitution in this world?”

“My knowledge is limited, so I cannot say for certain. There might be one or two others in the world. But it is definitely a rare constitution, something you’d only read about in ancient historical texts.”

Hyeolbong, who had devoted almost her entire life to medicine, added her agreement to Seonu Dan’s opinion.

“As Dan says, I’ve never heard of such a constitution. But what’s certain is that it’s beneficial for Adeok. Since he’s not permanently accumulating qi but temporarily storing it through mental focus, we don’t need to worry about qi deviation.”

“A constitution with only advantages and no disadvantages. If the boy were to settle permanently in the Central Plains, I would make him a new guardian of our sect and have him learn all our martial arts before I die…”

Cheonma clicked his tongue regretfully.

Of course, none of the three knew that this wasn’t simply Dexter’s constitution but rather a mutated gene inherited from his ancestors.

“So, what do you think?”

“About what?”

“Can’t we use the boy’s constitution to make him a better bodyguard for the Golden Merchant?”

“It seems that mental focus is quite important for his constitution. Physical training is good, but he needs training specifically for mental cultivation.”

“What methods are there for training mental focus…”

Both the sect leader and young sect leader could talk all day about effective physical training methods, but when it came to mental cultivation, they found themselves plunged into a deep sea of thought.

The two pondered for quite some time, but all they could think of was harsh closed-door training suitable only for those with abundant inner energy.

As the silence stretched on, Hyeolbong, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up.

“Master, I have a good method.”

“A good method?”

“It’s…”

* * *

After finishing a grueling external martial arts training session that left me drenched in sweat, I returned to find Grandmother Hyeolbong, Grandfather Cheonma, and Brother Seonu Dan sitting in my room.

“…Why are all three of you in my room?”

Besides them were numerous small medicine bottles of unknown purpose, and all three wore smiles on their faces.

Grandfather Cheonma’s smile was extremely subtle, but even that would have surprised anyone else who saw it.

Why are these people acting so unsettlingly?

“Disciple, why don’t you sit down for a moment?”

“I’ll sit, but… did I do something wrong?”

“Wrong? No. Rather, this will benefit you.”

“Benefit me?”

“Adeok, won’t you sit down so we can talk?”

With even the kindly smiling Grandmother Hyeolbong joining in, I couldn’t resist the atmosphere any longer.

Reluctantly sitting down, I heard Grandfather Cheonma speak first.

“We plan to perform a technique on you—a modified version of the Blue-Eyed Dream healing method, called the Dream of Ten Thousand Battles.”

“Blue-eyed… what?”

At my confused response, Grandfather Cheonma frowned and turned to Brother Seonu Dan.

“Is this boy who can’t even repeat what I just said really talented?”

“Hahaha, it’s natural to be confused when hearing something for the first time. I should explain the Blue-Eyed Dream first.”

According to Brother Seonu Dan’s explanation, with Grandmother Hyeolbong adding details, this is what I learned:

The Blue-Eyed Dream.

It’s a healing method created by Grandmother Hyeolbong’s family, the Seomun clan.

For people who have experienced war or accidents and show symptoms of madness or heart ailments—essentially mental disorders—treatment isn’t as simple as drinking medicinal decoctions or taking pills.

Grandmother Hyeolbong’s ancestor created the Blue-Eyed Dream healing method after observing a promising young martial artist from the Seomun clan lose his vitality after participating in a great war.

It seems like a treatment for PTSD, though I don’t know much about medicine, so I just accepted it.

The treatment’s effects were remarkable, and martial artists who received the Blue-Eyed Dream technique showed improvement.

While this sounds like an excellent treatment method, it had many difficulties that prevented just any physician from performing it.

The Blue-Eyed Dream technique couldn’t be performed by physicians with little or no inner energy.

Moreover, since it involved directly accessing someone’s mind, it could potentially harm innocent people if misused.

Just as everyone knows what might happen if you give a gun to a serious criminal, the Seomun clan’s ancestral physician thought the same.

“But when used by the right person, there’s no better method. The Blue-Eyed Dream is a treatment that cares for patients with a warm gaze within their dreams.”

I’d seen TV shows where therapists sit on sofas talking with patients to treat them.

But I’d never heard of treating patients within dreams.

“Um, even if that’s the case, are the three of you entering my dream? How do you enter a dream?”

“You’ll naturally understand once you enter the dream, but are you still curious?”

“Well, since I’m the one experiencing it, you should at least give me a general explanation.”

Brother Seonu Dan smiled and said:

“We won’t directly enter your dream, but we have ways to guide you. Isn’t that right, Sect Mother?”

“Yes, Dan’s explanation is correct. We’re not immortals—how could we directly enter dreams?”

Grandmother Hyeolbong nodded slightly, affirming Brother Seonu Dan’s words, and he continued his explanation.

“There are few places as easy to observe mental imagery as in dreams. The Seomun clan’s ancestral physician who created the Blue-Eyed Dream technique said that patients need to take specific combinations of medicines to enter a state of suspended animation.”

When I looked at him, asking for more explanation with my eyes, Brother Seonu Dan continued:

“Don’t worry, these aren’t harmful substances. After drinking them, you’ll soon open your eyes in a dream. Then you just need to follow our guidance.”

Grandmother Hyeolbong placed her hand on the back of mine with a warm smile and said:

“Adeok, you worry too much. Would I ever ask you to do something harmful?”

Hearing that, I was left speechless.

Just a few weeks ago, these were strangers to me. Their treating me so kindly now showed they trusted me.

“Well, Grandfather Cheonma, do you have anything to say?”

“If you don’t want to do it, don’t.”

As expected, he’s cold as ever. It feels like a chilly wind blows every time he speaks.

Of course, despite his frosty expression, he continued explaining:

“The Seomun clan’s Blue-Eyed Dream technique is one thing, but my modified Dream of Ten Thousand Battles is different. The Divine Sect doesn’t treat its disciples gently. I’ll put you through the wringer in the mental realm, true to my title.”

With a snort, Grandfather Cheonma continued his explanation.

“After coming up with such a method to train your mental focus, try whining again about not wanting to do it like you did earlier.”

“Who said I didn’t want to do it? I was just questioning its safety.”

As soon as I said that, Grandfather Cheonma raised his fist and struck the back of my head with a thud.

“Argh!”

“You brat! I am Cheonma, Cheonma! Do you think I would make such a mistake with someone like you who doesn’t even properly understand martial arts!”

“Master, you’ll kill the child at this rate.”

“Master, please calm down.”

Ow, my skull feels like it’s splitting! Beyond throbbing, I can barely keep my senses. If I hadn’t learned external martial arts, my skull would have cracked wide open.

While I was frantically rubbing the back of my head, Grandfather Cheonma stood with his arms crossed, repeatedly snorting.

“So, are you going to do it or not? After all this explanation, can’t you decide quickly!”

Finally, thanks to Grandfather Cheonma’s outburst, I gave up and bowed my head deeply, saying:

“I’ll do it…”

Though I answered promptly, he still wasn’t satisfied and bellowed again:

“Give him the medicine already!”

“The disciple is an adult; surely he’d understand if we just explained.”

“That slippery fellow! When his senior tells him to do something, he should just accept it, but he keeps adding comments, that’s the problem!”

Brother Seonu Dan smiled at Grandfather Cheonma’s words and picked up a medicine bottle, saying:

“We can set aside the Master’s words for now; first, you need to take this medicine.”

The liquid in the glass bottle, rare in the Central Plains, was transparent and had no discernible scent.

“It will dull your physical senses and make you feel drowsy.”

I took the bottle and drank it in one go, feeling a sweet yet salty liquid on my tongue.

After smacking my lips a few times, I soon couldn’t taste anything.

And… I felt strange. It was like being in that hazy state just before taking a nap. Just like being drunk.

As a feeling like being covered with a soft blanket spread throughout my body, I faintly heard Brother Seonu Dan’s voice:

“Next is this medicine. It will induce light sleep, not deep sleep. Even if I speak to you, you won’t fall completely asleep.”

I took the bottle and drank it nicely.

Hmm, I feel sleepier than before. I’m drowsy, but I also don’t want to sleep. It felt like someone was stroking my head, and I unconsciously flopped backward.

My eyes were closing gradually. I wanted to surrender myself to this feeling. But I also felt I shouldn’t.

“My mind is like a reed…”

“Haha, seeing the disciple talk like this, the medicine must be working.”

“I should step in now.”

The ceiling was spinning. I could feel Grandmother Hyeolbong’s hand on my forehead.

“Surrender yourself to sleep.”

I closed my eyes at her comforting voice.

“Yesss…”

“We need to insert golden needles into the Neiguan, Shenmen, Solgok, and Jigu acupoints.”

Insert what? Hmm… flower arrangement? If you put flowers in my body, am I a person, a flower bed, or a flower pot?

“The last is the Gihae acupoint. Since Adeok doesn’t have a dantian, it should be fine…”

Before Grandmother Hyeolbong’s hazy voice finished, I lost consciousness.