Chapter 33

“Oh, you’re out. Boss, did it go well?”

The first to greet Namgung Woo as he exited the Training Cave was none other than Yang Kwae.

He had his sword slung casually over his shoulder, his hand flicking as if practicing the hand movements of the Lightning Flash Sword Technique.

“Yang Kwae, huh. Where’s Yang Jeong?”

“He’s on guard duty, so he’s probably resting in his room.”

Yang Kwae unconsciously gulped after answering.

Something had changed.

Namgung Woo’s aura was noticeably different from before he entered the Training Cave.

Even a mere subordinate like Yang Kwae could tell.

‘How much time has passed… Is this what a true genius is like?’

The difference in level.

It was an overwhelmingly oppressive gap.

Namgung Woo, revealing a more stable and heavier aura, stopped in front of Yang Kwae.

“Yeah? How many days has it been?”

Moments where he had forgotten the outside world and entered a state of selflessness. Namgung Woo had even lost track of time.

“About two days.”

“Longer than I thought.”

“You do know, right? The Paeng Family was about to go crazy.”

“I did cause some inconvenience.”

Not only did he immediately ask for a place to train, but he also went into seclusion for two whole days. It must have been quite absurd.

However, Namgung Woo did not regret his actions. It was a necessary process. And this was the fastest way to fulfill the Paeng Family’s wishes.

“By the way, why did you suddenly go into seclusion like that?”

“I didn’t know myself.”

Namgung Woo answered with a light laugh, patting Yang Kwae’s shoulder before walking past him.

Yang Kwae followed him from behind, understanding that further explanation was unnecessary.

“What about the Paeng Family? I thought at least one of them would be watching.”

“Ah, they were worried about being a disturbance, so they completely vacated the Training Cave. My brother and I were left behind since we’re your subordinates.”

“Is that so?”

But it seemed there was a device to detect when someone exited the Training Cave.

Something called a Mechanical Formation.

Namgung Woo, sensing the approach of the Paeng Family members, circulated the third divine energy quietly in his Upper Dantian.

Perhaps sensing the change in energy, Yang Kwae asked with a voice full of astonishment.

“Boss, did you… perhaps gain some enlightenment?”

“Maybe.”

It wasn’t something as grand as enlightenment.

He just understood himself a bit more.

“But that’s enough.”

§

Among the many buildings within the vast estate of the Hapbuk Paeng Family, the largest by far is the Family Head’s Hall. Serving as both the residence and office of the Family Head, it can be likened to a sort of private audience hall for an emperor or king.

Next to it is the Family Matron’s Hall, where the Family Head’s wife resides, and behind it is the Council of Elders, composed of those with outstanding character, martial arts, and talent.

The fourth building, following these three, is quite different in nature. It is not for the family members but for outsiders.

The top floor of the Hall of Beginnings, serving as a guest hall, had its doors opened for the first time in a long while to welcome a visitor.

“First of all, I apologize for suddenly entering seclusion.”

“Not at all. We permitted the use of the Training Cave, and it was only two days.”

Paeng Ja-ryeong spoke calmly, but Moyong Hye beside her was in a different state.

She looked as if she hadn’t slept a wink in two days, with deep fatigue etched around her eyes. Her martial arts were practiced, but her achievements were modest. Staying up for two nights, especially while exhausting her mental strength with endless imaginations, had taken a toll on her.

Yet, her eyes still shone brightly and clearly.

The thought that the decade-long obsession might finally be coming to an end kept Moyong Hye awake.

“Let’s get straight to the point.”

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration. But… um, benefactor.”

Paeng Ja-ryeong felt awkward bringing it up in such an important setting, but he couldn’t help but point it out.

“Is it really okay?”

He subtly pointed behind Namgung Woo with his finger.

There, clinging tightly to Namgung Woo’s back, was Paeng Ye-ryeong, holding his head and staring intently at his crown.

“Ugh…!”

Of course, everyone initially tried to stop Paeng Ye-ryeong from targeting Namgung Woo’s crown.

Paeng Ha-ryeong blocked the path in front of Namgung Woo, Moyong Hye hugged Paeng Ye-ryeong’s waist like a doll, and Paeng Ja-ryeong sternly scolded her as the eldest son.

But it was Namgung Woo who stopped them.

“It’s fine. It actually helps.”

The Paeng Family might vaguely know, but Paeng Ye-ryeong’s mental state was far from normal. They just vaguely thought it was due to heavenly punishment or her nature.

However, Namgung Woo, with knowledge from a future where psychiatry was systematized, could more accurately diagnose Paeng Ye-ryeong’s condition.

Her mind, which should have built its own world after the heavenly gate closed, had instead fallen into a separate world and failed to grow. It could be seen as a form of autism. Fortunately, it was high-functioning autism without intellectual disability.

When Namgung Woo casually said it was fine, Moyong Hye, though unsure, didn’t argue and let it go.

“Ah, yes.”

No matter how much they observed, fully understanding Namgung Woo’s condition was impossible, but they could grasp a bit. Especially since Paeng Ye-ryeong’s five senses were unparalleled.

Perhaps she might understand something beyond what Namgung Woo had guessed.

‘That would be even better.’

Martial arts are ultimately about understanding.

Especially internal energy techniques, which refine breath and mental state to transform external energy into internal energy.

If she could see the answer sheet, it would help her understand the process of internal energy techniques.

“Please don’t mind me and focus on the discussion.”

Though the person in question was unbothered, it was still awkward for the hosts welcoming a benefactor and guest.

‘But it’s hard to say anything more here…’

Paeng Ja-ryeong tried to divert his attention from Paeng Ye-ryeong and focused on Namgung Woo’s words.

“First, during my seclusion, I pondered over the constitution of Miss Paeng and myself.”

“Huh? Benefactor, you haven’t seen Ye-ryeong since the first time, right?”

“My memory is good.”

And so are my eyes.

He added that, but whether such a vague reason would suffice… Yang Jeong, slightly worried, glanced at the Paeng Family members, but they seemed to accept it surprisingly easily.

“To be precise, Miss Paeng’s and my constitutions are different.”

Yang Jeong, observing their faces, clearly saw the shock ripple through them.

Moyong Hye clenched her fists tightly. The veins on the back of her trembling hands bulged.

“…Then, benefactor, are you saying it’s difficult for you too?”

“Let me finish.”

There’s a saying where Namgung Woo comes from: listen to the end.

He intended to explain in detail, but it seemed to only heighten their impatience.

“In Miss Paeng’s case, the heavenly gate is open. Commonly known as the Baihui Acupoint.”

“Yes, we know that.”

“In my case, it’s not the Baihui Acupoint, but a special eye I was born with.”

The eyes have no acupoints. There are no energy pathways connected to them.

However, the eyes have a special quality.

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. They are like a passage connecting the internal and external.

Indeed, humans perceive the world through their eyes.

The eyes are the boundary between the external and internal universe, the organ that most directly transmits external information to the brain.

“Thus, fundamentally, Miss Paeng’s and my states are very similar. Whether through the Baihui Acupoint or the eyes, they ultimately connect to the Upper Dantian.”

“Then… benefactor, can you cure Ye-ryeong?”

When Paeng Ha-ryeong asked that question, a silence fell where even breathing was inaudible.

In the quiet where even the heartbeat of the person next to you could be heard, Namgung Woo’s mouth opened.

“That’s not certain.”

“Ah…”

Moyong Hye, perhaps feeling dizzy, swayed with her pale hands still clenched. Paeng Ja-ryeong quickly supported her.

“Madam. But it’s worth a try.”

“What, what is it?”

Moyong Hye, feeling like she might collapse first, asked Namgung Woo to skip further explanations and get straight to the solution.

Namgung Woo answered.

“Learning to control the Upper Dantian.”

“…Upper Dantian Martial Arts. We’ve thought about that.”

Unfortunately, all of the Paeng Family’s martial arts were centered on the Lower Dantian.

Among the Nine Sects and One Gang, only about half possessed Upper Dantian martial arts. Such arts were rare and difficult to master.

Even among those sects, few directly practiced them, mostly passed down to one or two individuals.

But even if they learned Upper Dantian martial arts now, the problem remained.

The Baihui Acupoint would open faster, and the time given to Paeng Ye-ryeong would decrease exponentially.

Learning Upper Dantian martial arts, in the terms of Namgung Woo’s era, was literally a time attack.

However, Namgung Woo had a way to solve both problems.

“I have mastered Upper Dantian martial arts.”

Void Spirit Divine Art.

This was the last internal technique Namgung Woo had acquired.

While the Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Art and Vast Heaven Divine Art were inherited from the Namgung Family, the Void Spirit Divine Art was something Namgung Woo had obtained alone.

It was a secret martial lineage that existed only once within the Chasing Deer Murim.

Its level was no less than the other two divine arts.

“And achievement doesn’t matter.”

Just the true energy is enough.

To prevent the true energy gathered in the Upper Dantian from opening the Baihui Acupoint.

After hearing Namgung Woo’s explanation, the Paeng Family members looked at him as if they couldn’t believe what they had just heard.

“Benefactor, are you saying…?”

Of course.

To martial artists, the martial arts they have mastered are sometimes more sacred than their own lives.

If it were a divine art of Upper Dantian martial arts, it would never be taught to an outsider.

“Are you saying you will teach Ye-ryeong your divine art?”

Yet, Namgung Woo had said he would teach it.

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