Chapter 61: Plum Dragon Fall (4)

Plum Dragon Descent (梅龍落下) (4)

Squeeeze.

Force presses down hard through the soles of my feet as I step on the grass.

Starting from the soles, I channel strength step-by-step into my ankles, calves, thighs, and waist.

I steadily apply force, layer by layer, into my lower body, which must serve as the core.

The reason the lower body must be the core is the same whether wielding a sword (劍) or fists (拳).

It’s no different even for those who use archery (弓術).

That’s how much it needs to be the origin (原).

Once the force distribution is satisfactory, I use my breath as a conduit to draw out my internal energy.

Fwoosh-!

Flames surge up my body.

I immediately suppressed the flames that threatened to rage wildly.

Power beyond what’s necessary is ultimately no different from having no power at all.

The Nine Flame Wheel Technique (九炎火輪功) slowly formed a ring within my body and began to rotate.

Following its rotation, a ring woven from flames floated around my body.

[Not yet.]

At Shin Noy’s words, I exhaled heat and sped up the rotation slightly.

Fwoosh!

I felt my internal energy rapidly draining out.

At the same time, I felt the ring’s heat intensifying.

[Still not yet.]

His second utterance.

I carefully controlled the flames, strengthening them without destroying the surrounding environment.

This kind of training will be helpful later in concentrating and releasing flames during actual combat.

After rotating for a certain period, the internal energy within my body tapped lightly against something.

It was the middle dantian.

‘…It actually reached it.’

Even I found it absurd.

Rough cultivation methods possess immense destructive power, but the path to breaking through their barriers isn’t smooth.

If I hadn’t absorbed the demonic creature’s energy right away, that’s precisely why I wouldn’t have reached the fourth star.

Yet, now that the thorns on my cultivation method had shrunk, it was already nudging the middle dantian bit by bit, like a pesky little kid.

[That won’t do.]

I nodded at Shin Noy’s words.

As he said, it had only just touched it.

I shouldn’t try to force it open.

Even Shin Noy seemed dumbfounded, as I heard him let out a hollow laugh.

[…Truly chilling talent, to already be touching the middle dantian.]

Talent? Shin Noy might see it that way, but this was only possible because of my past experiences.

Whether a martial artist reaches their peak hinges on whether they can open the middle dantian through internal energy and perceive its sensations.

They might lack the internal energy to open it, and even if they were lucky enough to open it, their dantian would burst from being unable to withstand the vast energy.

The problem lies in reaching it without enlightenment, even when prepared.

And being able to open it anytime but unprepared is a world of difference.

“Hoo…”

The expanding ring had now reached the level I was at when facing Yeongpung last night.

The threshold of the fourth star.

It was around the point where controlling the heat became difficult, affecting the surroundings.

Just as I wondered how much longer I needed to train.

[…That’s enough.]

At Shin Noy’s signal, I immediately retracted my internal energy.

Though I stopped the cultivation technique, smoke billowed from my body due to the residual heat.

“How was it?”

[Your current state is your limit.]

Hmm, about the same level as yesterday.

If you were to ask what I was doing right now.

Shin Noy had mentioned something was acting up inside me whenever I drew out my internal energy, so I came out here in broad daylight to check my upper limit.

Upon checking, it seemed I could use enough internal energy to move my arms, but anything more was pushing it.

“…Hmm.”

I pondered, but no particular method came to mind.

Would going to Mount Hua provide a solution? I still wasn’t certain.

Nor were there any other options. The problem was that I had to go regardless.

[You still worry needlessly. We’ll figure it out once we get there, won’t we?]

Shin Noy was right.

I knew worrying wouldn’t yield any answers anyway.

Every time I went somewhere, trouble seemed to erupt, increasing my pointless worries.

I lightly dusted the dirt off my clothes, thinking I might do some basic form practice out of mild disappointment.

I sensed someone approaching from behind.

Checking who it was, I thankfully saw a familiar face.

“Young Hero, did you have a good night?”

It was Yeongpung, wearing a refreshing smile.

[Oh…]

Shin Noy exclaimed in surprise.

I wasn’t any different.

After being beaten so badly yesterday, I honestly thought he might not overcome it….

Yeongpung not only appeared before me as if nothing had happened, but he even looked considerably more at ease.

Had he overcome his inner demons, or had he never fallen into them in the first place?

[How does he look to you?]

To Shin Noy’s question, I wore a displeased expression.

He knew it, and so did I. Yeongpung had simply sorted out his thoughts overnight.

He didn’t seem to have resolved everything, but I could sense it from his much more composed aura and expression.

‘This is why those geniuses….’

I don’t like any of them.

Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Yeongpung slowly bowed his head towards me.

“Yeongpung Dojang…?”

“Thank you.”

“What is this sudden thanks for?”

Yeongpung flashed an awkward smile at my question.

“As my learning is insufficient, I don’t know the reason behind your actions, Young Hero, but I can tell you intended to teach me.”

[Oh! Oh!]

I wished he would just be quiet.

My displeased expression worsened to the point of contorting.

“…Young Hero?”

Yeongpung called out to me again, perhaps flustered by my expression, but my mood didn’t improve.

Honestly, I did intend to help, but I didn’t mean for him to show up like this overnight.

Moreover, he didn’t hesitate to bow to me, who was younger.

The genuine gratitude I felt made me feel even more uncomfortable.

Of course, there was no guarantee that sorting out his thoughts and gaining some realization would allow Yeongpung to overcome the obstacles he’d face in the future.

He’d be much better off than he was then.

I could be sure of that.

My stomach hurts.

My stomach hurt a lot.

Some people struggle desperately… they even try to achieve it even after death.

Finding enlightenment just by getting beaten in a spar? And in just one day? I couldn’t help but get angry.

[You brat.]

‘…Yes.’

[You look incredibly petty, so stop it.]

‘….’

Tsk.

I carefully hid my inner thoughts and spoke to Yeongpung.

“That wasn’t my intention, but… I’m glad you gained something.”

Yeongpung gave me a good-natured smile at my words.

While Namgung Cheonjun gave off a dark and creepy vibe, Yeongpung simply felt refreshing.

Not only talented, but well-mannered and handsome too….

…I don’t like this bastard either.

[…What a degenerate age.]

“…Originally, I harbored the shameful thought that I was the foremost genius, but seeing you, Young Hero, I realized there was another world out there.”

Yeongpung’s words weren’t exactly wrong.

Although Gu Huibi is called the top late-blooming talent, considering the age difference, Yeongpung wouldn’t fall behind, so it was understandable for him to think he was confined to a well.

“Young Hero must have put in efforts beyond my imagination.”

He seemed to have reached some strange conclusion on his own, but I had no way to argue.

I couldn’t exactly say it was thanks to my regression….

I decided to just let him think whatever he wanted.

“I can’t just be a scoundrel who only offers thanks… If you ever have a request for me later, Young Hero, I will grant anything.”

“A request?”

Asking a favor from the foremost genius of Mount Hua, Geomryong….

Yeongpung’s words sparked an idea in my mind.

I happened to have something I wanted to ask, so this worked out perfectly.

“Ah, then Yeongpung Dojang, may I ask you just one thing?”

“Oh…? Of course, you can ask me anything. Though I can’t reveal our sect’s secret techniques…”

“No, it’s nothing that grand…”

What secret techniques? What good are those anyway?

[Th-those things? This brat…! Mount Hua’s sword, historically…]

“Dojang, there’s something I wanted to ask.”

“Yes!”

“…Right now, how many generations is the current Sect Leader?”

“…Pardon?”

[…Huh?]

“It was something I suddenly became curious about…”

I remembered Shin Noy had suddenly asked how many generations the Mount Hua Sect Leader was.

Actually, I hadn’t had the chance to grab anyone and ask, so I’d forgotten about it for a moment, but now that such a good opportunity arose…

“Yes…?”

Yeongpung stuttered as if he had malfunctioned.

As if he misheard, Yeongpung asked me.

“…Is that… your request?”

“Yes, it’s a request for you to tell me.”

“…Ah.”

Yeongpung wore a dazed expression, as if slightly out of his wits.

Why is he acting like that?

Isn’t it a very simple request?

‘Did I ask something strange?’

Finding Yeongpung’s reaction odd, I asked Shin Noy.

Shin Noy remained silent for a while before blurting out.

[It’s embarrassing, so don’t talk to me.]

…Wait, why?

Although he ended up wearing a blank expression, Yeongpung granted my request.

He said the Sect Leader was the 16th generation.

And Yeongpung added that he wouldn’t count this as a favor, asking me to ask him again next time.

It was fine by me, so I agreed.

---

If there was one inconvenience after the spar with Geomryong, it was drawing too much attention from the disciples of the Mount Hua sect.

Before being Mount Hua’s Geomryong, though considered inexperienced, Yeongpung is undeniably one of the Plum Blossom Sword Saints.

He had beaten an elite martial artist, who could be considered a main force of the Mount Hua sect, as easily as catching a mouse.

And he did it while still appearing as a boy with plenty of growth ahead of him.

I had expected this when I caused the commotion, but the gazes were hotter than I anticipated.

“Yeongpung Sajil collapsed? By that young Young Hero?”

“I still can’t believe it. He just completely demolished him.”

“They say he broke his arm.”

“He probably broke his legs too, and his arms.”

“For someone like that, Yeongpung Sajil was walking just fine earlier…?”

“Never mind then.”

“…You didn’t see it, did you.”

It seemed the rumors were spreading quite strangely, but they would likely die down soon. It was, at best, just a fleeting spar.

…Probably.

According to the report, they were scheduled to leave for Shaanxi again after lunch.

Thanks to that, I could experiment with various things, so it wasn’t a bad time.

I could see the servants preparing food in the distance.

Since it was a long journey, there wasn’t anything elaborate for the meal, but…

From the perspective of just needing to fill my stomach, anything was fine.

“…Huh?”

But as I got closer, I sensed a strange atmosphere.

Namgung Bi-ah, who appeared out of nowhere and naturally inserted herself into the group.

And beside her, Wi Seol-ah, picking at her food.

It was understandable that she ate first, as I had told her to.

But the important thing was this.

Wi Seol-ah was picking at her food.

‘…Is she sick?’

Could she be seriously ill?

Namgung Bi-ah next to her also seemed to sense something was off, her eyes twitching slightly.

But perhaps unable to bring herself to speak, she just seemed to eat quietly.

Namgung Bi-ah’s chopsticks reached for a piece of food.

Wi Seol-ah, who had been sulking, suddenly snatched it away.

Oh…. She isn’t sick?

I felt relieved, but the problem was that afterward, whenever Namgung Bi-ah tried to eat something, Wi Seol-ah kept snatching it.

After this repeated several times, a question mark popped up above Namgung Bi-ah’s head.

“…??”

She tilted her head, seemingly wondering what Wi Seol-ah was doing.

Namgung Bi-ah paused as if contemplating, then nodded and picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks.

This time, Wi Seol-ah was too late.

Her expression showed the shock of not being able to snatch the food.

Then, Namgung Bi-ah brought the food she had picked up to Wi Seol-ah’s mouth.

“Do you want to eat…?”

No, she didn’t look like she wanted to eat at all….

Namgung Bi-ah seemed unfazed by Wi Seol-ah’s antics.

Instead, Wi Seol-ah suddenly teared up at Namgung Bi-ah’s action.

“Sis, you’re a fool!”

She yelled that and bolted out.

However, she didn’t get far before Hong Wa caught her, saying she needed help with laundry, and dragged her away.

…What the heck?

I felt like I had just watched a poorly acted play.

Namgung Bi-ah, holding her chopsticks and looking in the direction Wi Seol-ah had run off, turned her head towards me.

Her gaze seemed to ask for an explanation, but how could I possibly know…

“…Don’t look at me like that, I don’t know either.”

I pondered why they were acting like that, but nothing came to mind.

Ah, maybe…puberty?

[Sigh, you dimwit.]

Shin Noy’s voice reached me, but since he often spouted strange things, I just dismissed it.

Afterward, as we headed back towards Shaanxi.

Wi Seol-ah stuck to me more than usual, which was slightly annoying.

…But if I pushed her away out of annoyance, she seemed like she’d really get sulky, so I had to keep my mouth shut that day.