Chapter 104

"We... we'll look away for a moment, so hurry and regulate your Qi." The students of Cheongseok had stepped forward—for the sake of Gwak Pyeong, who had hurled himself into danger to protect them. But it was only brief. The moment passed, and Jo Deok’s ferocious assault came crashing down. The students of Cheongseok collapsed in an instant. It wasn’t an attack they could possibly withstand. “Gahk!” “D-Dammit!” At this rate, it would be a massacre. Then, led by Jang Woon and Sunwoo Baek, the students of Baekyeong stormed in. Zzzeerrnng—! Having long mastered the art of formation through their rigorous training, the Baekyeong students instinctively fell into a convergence formation. At the very front, Bang Woon raised his shield and took point. The others channeled their Qi into him from behind. It worked. Jo Deok’s devastating strikes began to be blocked. Seeing this, Gwak Pyeong hastily began circulating his energy. He had to suppress his internal force quickly and join the others to subdue that rampaging monster. “Huff!” Gwak Pyeong's breaths came in fast, sharp bursts. Thuddd—! While Bang Woon held off Jo Deok’s onslaught, the Baekyeong students dragged the fallen upper division Cheongseok students to safety. BZZZZMMM—! “Khrrgh!” Bang Woon groaned—pressed down by the crushing pressure of the White Tiger’s Qi. But then, something stirred from within Bang Woon. A surge of Black Tortoise energy erupted from his body, rising up in defiance against the White Tiger’s Qi. The two forces tangled, clashed, intertwined—and soon, only the whites of Bang Woon’s eyes were showing. His consciousness faded. A phenomenon of resonance. The energies of the Four Guardian Physiques had begun to react to one another. And so, even in his unconscious «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» state, Bang Woon was ascending—a step higher on the path of cultivation. It was, in its own way, a form of divine opportunity. Jo Deok had lost consciousness too. But like Bang Woon, his realm was rising. Bang Woon’s energy continued to swell until the manifestation of a giant Black Tortoise appeared—and clashed midair with the manifestation of the White Tiger. As the two monstrous forces tangled and roared, waves of violent Qi spread in all directions, wreaking havoc on the battlefield. The students of Baekyeong, watching the scene, looked dazed and hollow. Now that they had seen the terrifying might of those born with Heaven-bestowed physiques, their own years of training suddenly felt meaningless. Train for a hundred days—what would it amount to? There was no catching up to monsters like those. Perhaps sensing the bitter feelings, Yeon Woo Jin approached them silently. He smiled faintly. The ones standing there in awe—those were the students who had only gone through the Reversal of Muscle and Tendon. “What’s wrong? Envious?” he asked. “Of course we are. We’ve nearly died training this far, and yet those guys gain realms just by letting their energies mix.” “I see. So you were envious. Fine. Once this is over, I’ll give you a splendid new body as well.” “Huh?” “I’ll transform you too—give you a Heaven-bestowed physique just like them. Sounds good? Feel better now?” “W-Wait, what? The Reversal?” “No, no. Something far beyond the Reversal. And naturally, the pain will be incomparable.” “P-Pain?” “Of course. Every part of your body gets completely remade.” “No thanks! I’m not the least bit jealous anymore!” “Yeah! Not jealous at all! We’re perfectly happy as we are!” “They say a man should know his place in life. This is our place, right here.” “Desire leads to disaster. Just let us live like this!” Even in the middle of this chaos, the students desperately tried to dissuade Yeon Woo Jin. Ordinary martial artists would do anything to grow stronger. But that was the thinking of those who hadn’t experienced the Reversal of Muscle and Tendon. There were legends of warriors who leapt at such so-called divine opportunities—enduring death, barely surviving, and emerging stronger. But that was only possible because they didn’t know what it entailed the first time. Imagine going through it multiple times. Would anyone still believe it was worth the cost? That’s what the Baekyeong students felt. They were grateful for the strength Yeon Woo Jin had given them—but this? This was going too far. Unfortunately, it was already too late. “No, no. Let me try my best. I didn’t realize you were all jealous of Bang Woon. Tch. I really am bad at reading people.” “Th-That’s not true!” “R-Really! We’re fine!” Yeon Woo Jin didn’t bother listening. He turned away, eyes locking on Bang Woon and Jo Deok. A smile crept across his lips as he stared at Jo Deok in particular. The students saw his expression and knew. Jo Deok would become one of them soon. Jang Woon asked, “Aren’t you going to stop them? Isn’t that about to get... seriously dangerous?” “Let it be for now. Their energies are fusing—they’re benefiting from it. Just in case, have everyone move far back.” “Got it.” Jang Woon called out, and the Baekyeong students immediately fell back. The Cheongseok students, confused, followed suit. Then one of them asked, “Who is that person, anyway? Why does everyone follow him like that? Is he a military officer?” Jang Woon replied casually, “That’s Baekyeong’s true number one.” “True number one? Not Gwak Pyeong?” “Nope.” “There’s someone above Peak-Transcendence?” The Cheongseok students looked stunned. Jang Woon smiled faintly. “Who said he was Peak-Transcendence?” “What?” “He’s not even Peak-Transcendence.” “Then how the hell is he the top?” “What kind of logic is that? He’s the top because he’s not Peak-Transcendence.” In that moment, the students from Cheongseok realized something had gone terribly wrong in their understanding. “W-Wait... above Peak-Transcendence? Heaven’s Realm?” Jang Woon shook his head. “No? Then... the Mythic Realm—? Oh, come on! You’re messing with us!” They thought Baekyeong was playing a prank on them. After all, it sounded absurd. But the expressions on the Baekyeong students’ faces were deadly serious. “Don’t believe it if you don’t want to,” one of them muttered. “It’s not like he’ll even remember you.” What the hell did that mean? Why wouldn’t he remember them? They weren’t idiots. “Whatever. Talking to you is just a waste of breath.” “Wait—look! Isn’t that dangerous? Shouldn’t someone stop him?!” The student from Cheongseok pointed, alarmed. All eyes turned— Yeon Woo Jin was walking calmly into the space between Bang Woon and Jo Deok. “H-He’s crazy! That’s suicide!” “What are you all doing?! Stop him!” But the Baekyeong students didn’t move. Their expressions were indifferent. Were they... scared? The Cheongseok students scowled. They were certain Yeon Woo Jin would be crushed between the colliding titanic forces of Bang Woon and Jo Deok. And then— Both Jo Deok and Bang Woon froze in place, just as Yeon Woo Jin reached them. “What... is that?” The students stared. The manifestations of the White Tiger and Black Tortoise—those overwhelming beasts—were now cowering in fear. An impossible sight. To be precise, it wasn’t the beasts that were afraid—it was Jo Deok and Bang Woon, and that fear had seeped into the very energies they radiated. Even in his deranged state, Jo Deok couldn’t bring himself to approach Yeon Woo Jin. His instincts, unshackled and raw, recognized a superior predator. Not just any predator, but a monster among monsters—one who devours all. Jo Deok trembled uncontrollably, stepping back. And with that, the tangled energies unraveled. The storm of berserk Qi vanished. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, and Bang Woon’s consciousness returned. “Huh? What... what happened? Did I black out just now?” Still dazed, Bang Woon heard Yeon Woo Jin’s voice. “Go back to your position.” “Okay.” As soon as Yeon Woo Jin gave the order, Bang Woon leapt backward, retreating. “Huh? My body feels light...? Why does it feel like I’ve ascended a realm?” Returning to his spot, still wearing a confused expression, he noticed the others staring at him with murderous eyes. He faltered, uneasy. “W-What? Why are you all looking at me like that?” Jang Woon ground his teeth. “Do you even know what you’ve done to us... because of you... what we’re about to go through?” “Because of me? What are we going through?” “We’re screwed now!” “Sniff... we’re dead. We’re all dead.” He had no idea what they were talking about. Ignoring the others, Bang Woon turned his head toward where Yeon Woo Jin and Jo Deok stood. The same Jo Deok who had been rampaging moments ago was now shrinking back, retreating from Yeon Woo Jin as if the fury had been a lie. Yeon Woo Jin approached slowly, calmly, like a man coaxing a wild beast. “Graaagh!” As Yeon Woo Jin stepped closer, Jo Deok trembled and roared in warning. It was a clear threat: don’t come any closer. His entire posture mirrored that of a wild tiger possessed by a savage soul. But Yeon Woo Jin didn’t stop. At last, Jo Deok—driven by fear—lunged forward and slashed his arm through the air. His hand, cloaked in a vicious blue aura like a tiger’s claws, tore forward with enough force to shred anything in its path. Thunk. Yeon Woo Jin caught it—without flinching, without effort. “Got you,” he said with a smirk. Jo Deok’s body trembled. He struggled to wrench his arm free, but it was useless. With a growl, he swung his other arm—also sheathed in claw-shaped energy—at full force. That one was caught too. “Come to your senses. If you keep this up, I’ll get angry,” Yeon Woo Jin said coolly. Jo Deok flinched. He had felt it—the energy emanating from Yeon Woo Jin’s body. His beast-like instincts, sharpened to their limit, told him just how terrifying the man in front of him truly was. And that primal sense of fear overtook him. Jo Deok, trembling, slowly lowered himself to the ground. His entire frame hunched forward, eyes cast downward like a scolded animal. “There we go. Good boy,” Yeon Woo Jin said, patting his head as he slowly calmed the raging White Tiger’s Qi. He could hear it—Jo Deok’s silent scream for help. He was terrified of being completely devoured by the White Tiger’s energy. As the turbulent Qi settled, the whites of Jo Deok’s eyes vanished, and the light of reason began returning. Soon, his consciousness fully returned. He stared at Yeon Woo Jin. He had been swallowed by the White Tiger’s Qi—but he remembered everything. Shudder— The first thing that came to mind was the overwhelming force Jo Deok’s instincts had recognized. A strength not of man. A power vast enough to consume the entire world. “W-Who... who are you?” Jo Deok stammered. Yeon Woo Jin answered with a faint smile. “A lower division student of Baekyeong’s upper academy.” “Baekyeong? Lower division...?” Jo Deok glanced at his chest. The emblem of Baekyeong was emblazoned there. A lower division student—this strong? This was Baekyeong’s true strongest. Then he remembered what Go Seung had said once. That Baekyeong’s number one was someone he couldn’t possibly stand against. He had thought it referred to Gwak Pyeong. He had been wrong. As Jo Deok sat there, dumbfounded, Yeon Woo Jin spoke again. “That energy rampaging through your body just now—it was the Qi of the White Tiger.” “The White Tiger’s... Qi?” “Yes. It’s the power possessed only by those born with the White Tiger Physique, one of the Four Guardian Physiques.” So he was... “You mean... I have the White Tiger Physique?” “Yes. Your cultivation must have risen faster than others, hasn’t it?” “Y-Yes, it has...” “That’s the White Tiger’s Qi at work. As you’ve grown, it’s only gotten stronger.” That explained it. Why his cultivation had risen so easily—even without much effort. “Don’t you want to make the White Tiger’s Qi truly your own?” Yeon Woo Jin asked. Jo Deok’s eyes sparkled. “Do you know how?” Yeon Woo Jin grinned. “What do you think?” “What must I do?” “Come to me.” Jo Deok hesitated. “I... I’m not worthy.” “A man born with the White Tiger Physique says he’s not worthy? There’s a point where humility becomes a flaw.” “I just...” Jo Deok tried to speak, but Yeon Woo Jin took both his hands and held them tightly. “Right now, I’m telling you—I want you.” It was the first time. The first time anyone had ever said they wanted him. Jo Deok’s pupils trembled. And then, as if a decision had finally solidified in his heart, he dropped to the ground in a full bow and shouted: “I will follow you, my lord!” “First, get out of that house. It’s not a place you should be.” Jo Deok’s eyes widened in surprise. The mention of his home—he knew. Yeon Woo Jin already knew everything about him. Had anyone... ever cared enough to learn so much about him? It was overwhelming. But abandoning his family? Jo Deok couldn't decide so easily. “But still...” As he hesitated, Yeon Woo Jin frowned. “They’re not your family. They’re people who’d rather see you gone. Stop forcing yourself to stay there. You’re old enough to stand on your own. I’ll provide you with a place to stay.”