Chapter 350: Encounter and Realization (2)

Listening to the two talking, Jegal Cheongyeong shook her head.

‘If I advance ten steps, they’re already moving into a place where I can’t even see them.

Who could possibly have such a calm conversation while using Movement Arts?’

Glancing at Jegal Yeongcheon, she saw that his expression was as grave as could be.

He was uncomfortable, realizing that his skill level couldn’t match theirs.

‘Haa… I hope this becomes an opportunity for Yeongcheon to push himself harder.’

Jegal Cheongyeong felt regret seeing Jegal Yeongcheon—who would one day lead the Jaegal Clan—having to compete with Yong Hwarin or Pang Giyok.

With his martial talent, Jegal Yeongcheon could never surpass Pang Giyok or Yong Hwarin.

She worried for Yeongcheon, who was forced to compete alongside them.

While she was calming her confused feelings, torn between concern for Yeongcheon and the joy of meeting Yong Hwarin again, the group had already arrived at the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.

“Giyok, sorry, but I’ll drop by the medical room first. Instructor Mo will guide you all.”

Leaving the group’s guidance to Mo Biyoung, Yong Hwarin took Jo Heon to the medical room.

His internal injuries were already somewhat stabilized, so all that was left was to treat the external wounds.

‘If his spine has been severely damaged and he can no longer live as a martial artist, what would a master like him live for?’

Yong Hwarin suddenly felt a twinge of pity for Jo Heon.

‘Still, his dantian is intact, so he won’t be a complete cripple.’

As he watched Jo Heon’s treatment, a thought occurred to him.

‘Ah, I should meet Myeong Gujeong first to find out where Hong Ayul is.

If I recover the Azure Dragon Three Marbles from Hong Ayul, all three will be mine.’

Suspecting he might not have time to visit Woo Hak Bookstore later while with Pang Giyok, Yong Hwarin went there immediately.

When he was nearly at Woo Hak Bookstore, he saw Myeong Gujeong moving stealthily toward somewhere.

‘She’s disguised, but judging by the qi, it’s definitely Myeong Gujeong.’

After reaching the Qi-Vision Realm, Yong Hwarin could clearly sense people’s qi.

He had only recently realized that the reason he could reach the Qi-Vision Realm was due to acquiring Hoi Eulshin’s Heaven Sea Divine Art.

Without it, who knew how many years and experiences it would have taken to reach that level?

Using Dragon Concealment Heavenly Art, Yong Hwarin tailed Myeong Gujeong.

She arrived at a teahouse, lingering nearby to check for any pursuers.

‘Who could she be meeting that makes her this cautious?’

If she were meeting someone from the Heavenly Demon Sect, this would be unnecessary.

Her caution meant the other party was not from there.

Believing it safe, Myeong Gujeong entered the teahouse.

Even with Dragon Concealment Heavenly Art, Yong Hwarin thought he might be discovered if he came within ten jang, so he climbed onto the roof.

Carefully removing a tile, he checked where she was seated.

Covering the tile again, he moved above her seat.

He planned to use Nature’s Energy, combined with the inner and outer realms of the Tai Chi Profound Heavenly Sutra, to eavesdrop on her conversation.

Qi fused with Nature’s Energy and flowed into the teahouse, but he couldn’t hear her voice.

‘Hmm, they’re using telepathy.’

Although briefly disappointed, he wasn’t desperate to hear the conversation.

It was only curiosity—hoping to learn the true identity of Myeong Gujeong—that made him want to listen.

After just a cup of tea, Myeong Gujeong stood up.

Through Nature’s Energy, Yong Hwarin sensed her leaving the teahouse.

Since he was originally heading to meet her at Woo Hak Bookstore, he intended to follow her.

But just as he was about to move, he saw a woman exiting the teahouse—and froze on the spot.

His whole body went cold, his head felt hot as if seized by qi deviation, and his dantian burned fiercely.

The shock was so great that his qi momentarily churned violently.

He nearly lost his balance and fell from the roof.

‘She looks so much like my mother. Could it be her?’

But he quickly shook his head.

‘No… unless it was my mother when she was young, she’s too young.

Still… she looks far too much like her.’

Without realizing it, Yong Hwarin followed the woman who resembled his mother instead of Myeong Gujeong.

As he trailed her, memories of his mother began to flow through his mind like a painted scroll.

‘It was always strange. Father kept a memorial tablet for Mother, yet he never told me when or why she died.

Whenever I asked, his face darkened, so I stopped questioning him.

Now that I think about it, Father never seemed to believe she was truly dead.’

Dark thoughts began to creep in.

‘Could it be Mother left to be with another man?

Is that why Father stayed silent?

Or maybe… Father and the woman Gi Yooyeon had feelings for each other, and Mother ran away.’

As all kinds of wicked thoughts tangled in his mind, Yong Hwarin slapped his own cheek hard.

‘Get a hold of yourself, Yong Hwarin! Don’t think now—just follow her! Think later!’

Passersby who saw a young man slapping himself in the street clicked their tongues, thinking him insane.

Calming himself, Yong Hwarin resumed tailing the woman.

She left the bustling main streets and turned onto a quiet path, which made following her harder.

With so few people around, it was difficult to hide himself.

Fortunately, a passing cart piled high with charcoal came by, and he concealed himself behind it.

It was probably charcoal for a potter’s kiln.

Just then, light snow began to fall.

Winter had fully settled in.

But Yong Hwarin had lived without noticing the flow of seasons.

‘Have I ever lived as fiercely as I do now, in all my life?’

Thinking about it, in my previous life I had never lived a fierce and desperate life.

Because of a strangely powerless body and a figure that swelled up despite eating little, I had to live with an inferiority complex.

Even with training and learning martial arts, my weight never went down.

So, physicians treated it as a kind of illness and were reluctant to treat me.

Looking back on that previous life, the past few years now had been nothing but busy.

‘As I learned martial arts and my cultivation deepened, it seems I barely felt the cold anymore.’

Even in a season when sleet drifted down, I barely felt the chill.

After entering a quiet street, the woman walked slowly, allowing me to watch the falling sleet and sink into reflection.

The cart kept a steady distance as it followed the woman.

Even if a cart went fast, it wouldn’t go far, but fortunately the woman’s slow pace maintained the gap.

As I tailed her, the sleet gradually grew thicker.

White flakes melting on the black charcoal gave me a strangely fresh sensation.

The charcoal absorbed the falling sleet without leaving a trace.

At first, I was only watching to clear my mind.

But as time passed, it felt as if an iron bell was ringing thung, thung inside my head.

‘Ah! Ah! Ah!’

I shuddered with joy as enlightenment struck me.

I finally understood why people say that if you gain enlightenment in the morning, you can die content in the evening.

The joy of realization held a power that transcended life and death.

‘If the sleet is the enemy’s attack, then the charcoal takes it without resistance, accepting it without any shock.

Charcoal may look solid, but it’s filled with countless holes, and through them it instantly absorbs water.’

I imagined the sleet as an enemy’s attack, and myself as charcoal defending against it, then entered meditation.

‘If I make my Protective Energy not a flat wall, but like charcoal with countless holes, those holes would absorb all of the opponent’s qi, making the impact negligible.

But… how can I make qi like charcoal?’

As I thought that, I shivered once more.

‘My heavens! Now I finally know why the clan’s Azure Bamboo Sword is called Azure Bamboo Sword!

I never understood the last technique of the Azure Bamboo Sword, but now I know why it’s called Extinguish the Void (消空滅虛).

I thought Azure Bamboo Sword was only a defensive martial art, but in truth it’s a technique that creates countless long holes, like charcoal.

Extinguish the Void—when space itself disappears and even emptiness is gone, that is when perfect defense is formed.

At the moment Extinguish the Void is completed, a defensive barrier forms like an endless line of bamboo hollows.

The clan truly never knew the real essence of the Azure Bamboo Sword.’

Tears fell from my eyes at the realization.

The tears vanished without a trace as they fell onto the charcoal.

‘The Azure Bamboo Sword is an incredible martial art.

Without knowing this fact, even if someone gained this insight, they couldn’t leave it behind as a true comprehension.

Some ancestors must have become masters by realizing the Azure Bamboo Sword, but without knowing this principle, they couldn’t record it in oral formulas or leave it as true comprehension.’

If I had not possessed the deep knowledge, learning, and experiences from my previous life, I too might have realized this yet failed to preserve it as true comprehension.

It was because I already knew how charcoal worked from my past-life knowledge that I could realize the Azure Bamboo Sword.

And I understood one more thing.

‘If I hadn’t followed the woman who looked like my mother, I wouldn’t have gained this miraculous encounter.

From now on, I should call this not Protective Energy, but Mother-Longing Energy (想母罡氣).

When forming a sword barrier with Mother-Longing Energy, I’ll call it the Mother-Longing Sword Barrier (想母劍膜).’

Mother-Longing (想母) meant to yearn for one’s mother.

I then pondered, recalling the oral formula of Extinguish the Void, on how to create countless long bundles of holes with qi.

Clack!

When I opened my eyes, still filled with exhilaration, the cart had stopped.

If it had stopped during my meditation, it would have been a lifetime’s regret.

Thankfully, it stopped only after my meditation ended.

The woman turned right and entered a small thatched hut.

As I stepped down from the cart, the old man driving it jumped in surprise.

“Eh? Who’s this young man?”

His face was tense, wondering if I meant to steal the charcoal.

“Elder, thanks to you, I traveled comfortably.

This is payment for that.”

I untied my wallet and handed it to him.

“No, no… there’s no need for that just for riding the cart.”

But when he suspiciously opened the wallet, his eyes widened wider than they ever had in his life.

“T-This is too much, Young Master!”

There wasn’t a single copper coin—only gold and silver.

It was the amount one could earn from selling charcoal for a year.

“It’s my sincerity, so please take it.”

The realization I had gained riding on that charcoal cart was worth a hundred times the amount I gave.

“Are you sure I can really take this?”

“In exchange, I’ll take some charcoal from your load.”

“Of course! No, you can take all the charcoal here if you want.”

“No. This much will be enough.”

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