Chapter 90

Namgung Woo’s demands were quite excessive, to say the least.

However, Myorin had no choice. He wasn’t outright asking for the Cheongjeong Sect’s martial arts, secret techniques, or manuals. He simply wanted to verify what kind of techniques she had and how powerful they were.

The Changcheon Pavilion Myorin knew was a rogue faction, and it was only natural for them to conduct basic background checks and skill assessments for those seeking to join.

As the saying goes, a thirsty person digs a well. Right now, it wasn’t Namgung Woo who was desperate—it was Myorin herself.

“Right now?”

“I can verify it later, but I’d like to hear about your techniques first. Especially that spatial traversal technique. How can you use it so consecutively?”

After his fight with Yi Ja-ryong, Namgung Woo stayed with the Hapbuk Paeng Family and gathered information about techniques.

The Hapbuk Paeng Family, which had dabbled in techniques to treat Paeng Ye-ryeong, was quite knowledgeable.

From what Namgung Woo learned, techniques seemed omnipotent but were far from it.

A technique consisted of three main components: the incantation spoken aloud, the material components (tools), and the physical actions required to activate it.

For example, in Yi Ja-ryong’s case, the altar he built on Manse Mountain was the tool, the incantation he chanted was the spell, and the hand seals and energy manipulation were the actions.

Thus, while techniques had broader applications than martial arts, they lacked the immediacy of martial arts. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that technique users weren’t actively utilized in martial arts battles because their casting speed couldn’t keep up with the superhuman speed of martial artists.

Even top-tier technique users like Dongbang Hwa or Yi Ja-ryong could somewhat overcome these limitations, but they still had to learn martial arts to keep up with martial artists’ speed.

But Myorin didn’t seem to be at their level, yet she cast techniques even faster than them. How? If Namgung Woo had properly observed her with Azure Tranquility Eyes, he might have figured it out, but at the time, his mind was preoccupied with the Five Tones Demon Emperor and his inner enlightenment, so he missed it.

Noticing that Namgung Woo had some basic knowledge of techniques, Myorin explained simply.

“It’s because I can omit the tools and actions.”

As she spoke, Myorin fully removed the robe she was half-wearing. Namgung Woo was shocked—what the—! But when Myorin turned around to reveal her back, a different kind of shock silenced him.

On Myorin’s upper back, near her shoulder blades, was a tattoo resembling a phoenix’s wings.

The tattoo, etched on her pale, almost translucent skin, looked like a masterpiece painting.

“It’s called a Curse Script. Like the Palace Guardian Mark, it’s made with special materials infused with techniques and inscribed on the body’s meridian points. It allows me to cast techniques with just the incantation, replacing the tools and actions.”

One might wonder why other technique users didn’t use this, but the Curse Script was one of the Cheongjeong Sect’s most secretive legacies, passed down since the Southern Song Dynasty.

Using one’s body as a tool was incredibly dangerous, and even the Cheongjeong Sect, with its centuries of history, hadn’t fully overcome the Curse Script’s flaws.

Most technique users avoided such risky methods.

Why use your own body when you have other options? Why risk twisting your meridians and becoming crippled? That was the general sentiment among technique users.

Instead, other technique users sought alternative solutions to their casting speed issues.

A prime example was setting up altars on dragon veins. Yi Ja-ryong had used an altar on Manse Mountain’s dragon vein to unleash absurdly powerful techniques.

But the Cheongjeong Sect’s Curse Script was special. Despite its side effects, it offered groundbreaking casting speed and incredible power.

Namgung Woo grasped this just by looking at it once.

“The rest?”

“Huh?”

“That’s not the only one, right? There are three, connected to each other.”

“…Yes. Three more… a total of four Curse Scripts.”

Phoenix, Dragon, Qilin, and Spirit.

Myorin used the tattoos of the Four Divine Beasts to cast her techniques.

As Myorin hesitated over whether to show the other three, Namgung Woo nodded as if he’d seen enough.

“That’s enough. I get the gist. Put your robe back on. We can check your martial arts later.”

Though he said that, Namgung Woo had already roughly estimated Myorin’s level.

Four techniques that could be cast instantly with just an incantation. Plus, her internal energy wasn’t insignificant. Compared to Paeng Ha-ryeong, who came from a prestigious family, consumed rare medicines, and had her meridians opened thanks to Namgung Woo, Myorin didn’t seem lacking at all.

At the very least, she was a Peak Master. Even without her techniques, her martial arts alone seemed capable of giving Paeng Ha-ryeong a good fight.

“So… is it done?”

“Yes. You’re now a member of Changcheon Pavilion. But don’t forget. The responsibility for what happened in Beijing hasn’t disappeared. All I can do is share that burden with you.”

“That’s enough for me.”

The test was over.

Though she had worried about what would happen if Paeng Ha-ryeong fully opposed her, it was done. Myorin had successfully climbed onto the back of the tiger that was Namgung Woo.

Feeling relieved to have found a way to survive, Myorin relaxed and let out a deep sigh, revealing her sense of relief.

But she didn’t realize it wasn’t over yet.

The Changcheon Pavilion she knew, which aimed to be an ordinary rogue faction, was already dead.

What remained was the Changcheon Pavilion that would become the foundation of the Namgung Family—something Myorin didn’t know.

The kind Namgung Woo personally made her realize her ignorance.

“Let me reintroduce myself. I’m Namgung Woo.”

“Myorin… huh? Namgung… Woo…?”

“Yes. Namgung Woo.”

Namgung Woo grinned. In contrast, Myorin’s expression, which had been relaxed, slowly hardened.

By revealing his name, he had no intention of hiding anymore. That meant he was prepared to confront the Dokgo Family.

If Myorin were to leak his name before he revealed it to the world, Namgung Woo would have a legitimate reason to cut her off, no longer considering her his life’s savior.

‘Was it me who put on the leash…?’

Perhaps, in trying to avoid the tiger, she had walked into the wolf’s den?

Though there was no place as fearsome as the Imperial Family, she had at least hoped they wouldn’t pursue her.

But under the Namgung Family, she would inevitably face their enemy—the Dokgo Family.

“Don’t worry. I’ll never, ever forget that you saved my life.”

To Myorin, Namgung Woo’s words sounded like this:

It’s already too late to back out.

§

Meanwhile, silence filled another room in the inn.

It was the room where Hangwi had stayed before Namgung Woo left. Geumshin, who had been sitting beside Hangwi as he meditated, stood up and closed the window upon hearing the commotion outside.

“It’s noisy outside. It seems like a sparring match is happening.”

“…Geumshin.”

“Yes, Grandmaster.”

“You’ll soon be turning thirty-one.”

It was nearing the New Year. Geumshin, who was about to turn thirty-one, acknowledged Hangwi’s words.

Hangwi continued.

“Time has flown. When I took you in, you were just a young boy, but now you’ve grown into such a sturdy man…”

“Grandmaster.”

“Yet, I feel like I’m still stuck in that immature past.”

Hangwi recalled his encounter with Namgung Woo.

He had thought of himself as a safe guardian who would help Geumshin, trapped in Hwaseong Temple, experience the martial world peacefully.

“My vision was clouded. I thought I was ignorant of the world, but in reality, I was quietly observing it.”

Hangwi muttered bitterly.

Yet, until the very end, Namgung Woo had been polite. He respectfully told Hangwi, who had tried to use him, that he wasn’t the safe guardian Hangwi thought he was.

“Perhaps staying in Hwaseong Temple for so long has clouded my vision. Namgung Woo will become the eye of a storm that will bring great upheaval to the martial world. I almost sent you to him. Soon, the world’s currents will revolve around him.”

Why hadn’t he realized it? After living for over half a century, he should have seen it many times before.

“It’s always been like this. When those who reach peerless mastery at a young age reveal themselves, the world shakes and turmoil follows.”

As Mencius said, when heaven intends to entrust someone with a great task, it first tests them with trials.

Those born with the talent to shake the world often brought storms with them.

Fifty years ago, when Heonwon Kang of Extreme Light reached peerless mastery, the Blood Sect’s calamity occurred.

Twenty years ago, when Dan Un-ak of Extreme Chaos appeared, he personally ignited the Jeongsa Great War.

“The orthodox factions have Hagyeong Jinin, and the unorthodox factions have Woljon, but their appearances didn’t drastically change the world.”

But Namgung Woo was different.

The Beijing Rebellion, where Namgung Woo revealed himself, and the subsequent Unyang Great War—his actions were like the trajectory of a storm.

“Geumshin.”

“Yes, Grandmaster.”

“If you truly wish to throw yourself into this turbulent martial world… follow Namgung Woo.”

“But, Grandmaster, Hwaseong Temple might also get dragged into this…”

Hangwi smiled faintly at Geumshin’s words.

“Your heart is already with him, isn’t it?”

What Geumshin desired.

A life where he could fight to his heart’s content as a martial artist.

But his origins in Hwaseong Temple and his identity as a monk stood in the way.

If Geumshin were a reckless person, he might have abandoned his sect and left like the Banunbang faction members, but he couldn’t do that.

In the end, he followed the path Hwaseong Temple had laid out for him.

“It’s fine to leave. Even Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha refused to become a Buddha and descended into the underworld. You don’t necessarily have to be a monk. As long as you perform virtuous deeds, it’s enough to live as a martial artist.”

At Hangwi’s words, Geumshin’s eyes trembled. Though they had spent only a short time together, Geumshin was certain. Namgung Woo didn’t speak empty words. If he said something, it was either true or something he firmly believed in.

So if Geumshin followed Namgung Woo, Hwaseong Temple might also get caught up in the ensuing chaos.

“But, Hwaseong Temple…”

“Leave the monastic life.”

“Huh?”

“Why? If you leave, it’s not like we’ll break your dantian or sever your meridials like Shaolin.”

At Geumshin’s bewildered question, Hangwi joked.

“Our Hwaseong Temple doesn’t stop those who come or hold back those who leave. It was founded by the reincarnation of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, who came from distant Silla. If someone can come from so far away, it’s fine to take a look around this small martial world.”

Hangwi stood up and approached Geumshin.

“When you’ve had enough of the martial world, come back then.”