Chapter 162

Namgoong Cheon looked at Hong Seol Hwa. “Take care of yourself while I’m away.” “Yes. Don’t worry about me. Just be sure to achieve greatness and return.” “Hahaha! Of course! I shall master the Emperor’s Sword Manual and restore the Namgoong Clan to the top of the Ten Great Clans of the Central Plains!” He said Ten Great Clans, not Five, because he was counting the Five Revered Martial Clans under Mushincheon as well. In other words, he was declaring his ambition to surpass even those of Mushincheon and make his clan the greatest in all the martial world. “I believe you’ll make it happen, Clan Lord.” “I do too, Father.” Encouraged by the two, Namgoong Cheon clenched his fist with resolve. “I will never let you down.” Then he kept glancing at Namgoong Myeong, clearly trying to give him a hint. When Namgoong Myeong tilted his head in confusion, Namgoong Cheon cleared his throat and spoke. “Ahem! Your father is going to be away from home for a while... ahem... There are things a husband and wife must speak of. Why don’t you go on ahead?” “Oh! Forgive me—how utterly oblivious of me. Then I shall excuse myself!” “Ahem. Good. And tomorrow, tell the retainers I’ve entered seclusion for closed-door training.” “Yes!” As Namgoong Myeong left, Namgoong Cheon looked softly at Hong Seol Hwa and reached out his hand. “Ahem. It’s late... shouldn’t we sleep before it gets any later?” Hong Seol Hwa raised her hand to her flushed face and nodded. **** Namgoong Cheon arrived at Sincheonjang. Yeon Woo Jin led him to a special training hall. Uniquely, it was housed within a building. When they opened the door and stepped inside, it was like entering a different world. “W-What is this place?” “It’s an indoor training ground that uses a formation array. Since it's sealed off from outside perception, you can train in the Emperor’s Sword Manual without concern.” “You’ve gone this far... truly, thank you.” Yeon Woo Jin smiled. “I suspect I’ll be relying on the Namgoong Clan a great deal in the future. And if that’s the case, it would be better for your clan to grow stronger. Everything I’m doing here is for my sake—so don’t feel burdened. Just train.” That made Namgoong Cheon feel much more at ease. He would devote his full strength to aiding him. “Understood. Haha... I hope the day I can be of service to you comes soon. I’ll stake the very fate of my clan to help you! And if my clan isn’t enough, I’ll follow you myself and serve you with my own hands!” His eyes blazed with determination. “Before that... may I check your pulse?” As Yeon Woo Jin spoke, Namgoong Cheon immediately offered his wrist. “Of course!” He didn’t ask why. Just a look was enough to tell—he trusted Yeon Woo Jin completely. To the point it would be easy to mistake them for a master and sworn retainer. After examining his pulse, Yeon Woo Jin looked at him and said, “As expected, your body is quite damaged.” “...What?” “The root cause... seems to be overexertion—probably from what you did for your wife.” “I feel fine, though?” Yeon Woo Jin shook his head. “If you attempt the Emperor’s Sword Manual in your current state, you’ll almost certainly fall into qi deviation.” “Then what should I do?” “You need treatment first.” “Treatment...?” “Yes.” “...No...” Namgoong Cheon was at a loss. Just how much more grace was he supposed to receive from Yeon Woo Jin? This... this was too much. He couldn’t bear any more favors. Guessing his thoughts, Yeon Woo Jin smiled gently. “I told you—if you want to be of use to me, you’ll need to fully master the Emperor’s Sword Manual. Or do you not intend to repay my grace?” “N-No, it’s not that. It’s just... you’ve already given me so much. And now this... I feel so shameless...” “Then help me with my plans. That’s all I ask.” At that, Namgoong Cheon hesitated, then nodded vigorously. “Understood! If this is something that will help you, I’ll accept it!” “You might end up hating me during the treatment.” “...Pardon?” Yeon Woo Jin gave him a cryptic smile, and Namgoong Cheon stared at him in confusion. **** “Gaaaargh!” Namgoong Cheon’s scream echoed endlessly. Now he understood why Yeon Woo Jin had warned him he might come to resent him during the treatment. But with superhuman endurance, Namgoong Cheon managed to suppress any resentment. Yeon Woo Jin, impressed, commented, “You must be in a lot of pain, and yet you’re enduring it surprisingly well.” “Huff... Huff... I, Namgoong Cheon, am no weak man! This pain is nothing! Hahaha!” He was in agony, as if he were dying, but pretended to be fine. Yeon Woo Jin chuckled. “I’m glad to hear that. If you’re holding up this well, then there’s no need to worry once the actual treatment begins.” “...I’m sorry, what?” “This is just a preparatory stage to let your body adjust to the pain.” Good heavens. What kind of treatment required a preparation stage just to get used to the pain? Wait—this insane level of pain was only a warm-up?! “But once it’s done, your qi flow will become smoother, your muscles and bones will strengthen, and your vitality will dramatically improve...” Vitality. Namgoong Cheon’s eyes lit up. “Pain... I can endure as much as needed!” He bit his lower lip and nodded with fierce determination. Yeon Woo Jin tilted his head, puzzled. He hadn’t reacted to anything until now—but the moment he mentioned vitality, he changed completely? “...You’ll also become exceptionally virile—” Flinch. “—and bring joy to your wife as the emperor of the night—” Flinch. Flinch. Yep. That was the trigger. It was definitely the vitality part. Yeon Woo Jin smirked. Truly an easy, simple man to read. And maybe... that was what made him likable. “That’s it for today. You’ll go through several more days of this adaptation phase.” “Understood. But... um...” “Yes? Do you have a question?” “It’s really true that my vitality will improve, right?” That’s what you’re worried about? “...Yes.” “I’m counting on you, Benefactor!” “...Yes.” It seemed he’d already forgotten the pain. Yeon Woo Jin watched Namgoong Cheon practically skip back to his room with excitement and shook his head. **** After the pain adaptation period ended, the real treatment began. “The method I’ll be using is something I developed myself. It’s called the Yugayeokgeuncheonmujin—a modified version of the Yugayeokgeunjin.” “I’ve heard of the Yugayeokgeunjin. Isn’t it a special formation technique used in Tianzhu?” “That’s right. I took that as a foundation and reinterpreted it in my own way. The Yugayeokgeuncheonmujin is far more effective.” “Is that so? I trust you completely, Benefactor.” “Then let’s begin.” He had spent a week enduring excruciating pain to adapt. He thought he could endure anything now. Crackkkk— But as soon as it began, his entire body twisted violently, and a mind-shattering pain surged through him. “GAAAGHHHH!” It was the kind of pain that made it feel like his bones and muscles were being ripped apart. And that was no illusion—they really were being separated and reconnected, becoming even stronger in the process. At the same time, the tremendous stimulation of his qi channels began forcing out all the accumulated waste from inside his body. The powerful force rising from the formation melted that waste and pushed it out of his body. Black liquid burst from Namgoong Cheon’s pores like sweat, and the pungent stench quickly filled the chamber. Yet even within the pain, Namgoong Cheon felt... refreshed. It truly felt like the toxic energy in his body was evaporating. He felt overwhelming gratitude toward Yeon Woo Jin. For paying such close attention to even the most minute details. At this point, he felt as though he could do anything for him. Even die for him, if it came to that. He didn’t realize yet... that what he was feeling was loyalty. It was the day Namgoong Cheon was reborn—soon to rise as the proud lord of the newly established Five Revered Martial Clans under Mushincheon. **** When the treatment ended... Namgoong Cheon was stunned. Every cell in his body felt reborn. Is ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) this what it means to be reborn through bone and flesh? His skin had cleared, and even his wrinkles were gone. But more than that, his internal qi was now flowing furiously through every channel of his body. In this state, he felt as though he could master the Emperor’s Sword Manual in just a day. “For today, just circulate your qi and adjust to your changed body. Starting tomorrow, you can begin training in the Emperor’s Sword Manual.” “Thank you.” “I have high expectations. You’ll have to help me a lot from here on out.” “No need to even ask. Once I’ve fully mastered the Emperor’s Sword Manual, I’ll immediately pass down my position as Clan Lord and follow you.” “Oh, that reminds me. Your son—the Young Lord—he knows about me, doesn’t he?” “...Pardon?” “I know what you told him.” At Yeon Woo Jin’s words, Namgoong Cheon lowered his head, faltering. “I—I’m sorry. As the next Clan Lord, he needed to know... I only told my eldest son. The others still don’t know about you.” “It’s fine. Bring him to me.” “For what reason?” “I plan to treat him as I’ve treated you.” Namgoong Cheon’s eyes lit up. This was fortune beyond measure. If he let this opportunity pass him by, he’d be a complete fool. “I’ll bring him here at once!” “No, not right away. Finish mastering the Emperor’s Sword Manual, then return home and send your son separately. If you’re both gone, who’s going to run the Namgoong Clan?” “Ah! You’re right. That was careless of me.” “Then give it your all!” “Yes! And if I get stuck during training, I’ll come ask you for guidance.” “As if I’d know anything.” “No, I feel like you’d know it better than me. Actually—would you care to read the Emperor’s Sword Manual yourself?” “I’m fine. But if you do get stuck, we can sit down and puzzle through it together.” “Thank you.” **** Around the time Namgoong Cheon began training in the Emperor’s Sword Manual... Sincheonjang remained a whirlwind of activity. But given its scale, the lack of manpower created many gaps. Jang Woon and Sunwoo Baek were giving it their all, but there were limits to what so few could accomplish. Eventually, Jang Woon, with dark circles carved under his eyes, came to find Yeon Woo Jin. “Lord, I’m dying. Please... for the love of heaven, bring in more people.” “You’ve been working hard.” “Can’t you see these bags under my eyes? I’m going to drop dead like this!” Running the manor was easily twice as exhausting as cultivating. What they needed most was someone to act as the Chief Steward and take command of everything. “I already summoned them. They should be arriving any moment now.” “Seriously?” “Mm. Right over there.” Jang Woon turned his head in the direction Yeon Woo Jin pointed—and saw familiar faces pouring into the manor gates. “Gwak Pyeong! Go Seung!” Two of the most welcome faces he could imagine. Behind them came a line of graduates from the Mushincheon High Division. All of them had once fought alongside Baekyeong. There was Ho Cheon and Yuk Gwang from the northern Heukho, Yang Gang and Pyeong Cheon from the eastern Hwangyong, and even Bango of Heukseok and Yoo Ji Gwang of Cheongseok. After graduation, they hadn’t entered any Mushincheon organization. They’d waited. Waited for Yeon Woo Jin to call them. And that wait hadn’t been in vain. Yeon Woo Jin had truly summoned them. Overjoyed, they had rushed to him at once. Once gathered before him, they knelt and shouted in unison: “We greet our Lord!” These were once the strongest names at the Mushincheon High Division—now gathered here to serve Yeon Woo Jin. With a smile, Yeon Woo Jin said, “You came well. I’ll be relying on you.” “At your command!” Then, right there, he began issuing assignments. “Gwak Pyeong.” “Yes, sir!” “From today on, you’re the Chief Steward of Sincheonjang.” “At your command! I shall serve with all my being!” “Go Seung, you’ll assist him.” “Yes, sir!” “The rest of you, support Jang Woon and help stabilize the manor as fast as possible.” “Yes, sir!” “But before that... there’s something we need to do first.” “What would that be?” “Let’s just say... it’s a kind of initiation ceremony.” Gwak Pyeong and Go Seung looked like they knew exactly what he meant—and slowly backed away. “Come on, seniors, you too.” Yeon Woo Jin’s words made both of them jump. “W-What? Us too?” Seeing Yeon Woo Jin nod, the two slumped and followed him with dragging feet.